2.5 months to Nationals

Hi Everyone-

It has been a while since I have updated. over the next few months updates will be more frequently as I will off on summer vacation once again, and thus have more time on my hands.
Right now I am in the midst of exams and final prep with my students. Two more weeks of prep for them, and then they are writing exams. This year has been uber busy as we are going through a huge ‘reform’ in Education in Quebec, and funny you never hear about it on the local news. I will not go into my rant on this topic as that is another side of me. The year is almost finished, and I want to remain positive and help my students the best I can under the circumstances.

Well, what have I been up to? After drowning my sorrows in food for a bit (it does happen to the best of us), I have been training really hard in the gym (ahem, heavy) in order to gain back the muscle I have lost through dieting and bringing up my upper back and shoulders. I have a few ideas of things to change in my presentation and will be working on that through the summer in order to make sure I show my best in August.

The next show for me is in August – THE Nationals – in Vancouver – the 2009 Canadian Fitness & Figure Nationals to be held on the weekend of August 15th. It is promoted by Sandra and Ross Wickham – www.sandrawickham.com for more information.

It is the next event and my 4th try at an IFBB pro card. I have the same routine with a few minor changes – Star Trek theme, and will be trying to ‘wow’ the judges once again. My physique is always tough, as I come in very lean and it seems to be the new trend not to go with the old school leanness that once was favored. But I do see the hardness, including the capped shoulders in the pros – so all I need to do is get there. On the CBBF website they have pictures of what the figure and fitness athlete should strive towards, see here, and well, they are not currently rewarding that look. It does leave me confused. I am not sure how to look but I will bring in a shape that I am happy with and then let the judges decide.

People have said some things to me, nice and well not so nice this year. I am surprised at how mean some people can be. When I competed for FAP, FAME and Tri-Fitness and Ms. Fitness I never experienced cattiness and mean spirited people. Now that I compete for the IFBB and NPC there are moments when people will say not the nicest things to me. Or say not so nice things about the girls around me. I find this to be very surprising as this is not the type of fitness environment I grew up in. Perhaps I am a bit naive but I have strong belief that in everyone there is good.

I think I just have to surround myself with a good group of people that can support me all the way to the Pros and beyond. It does begin at home, with my family, friends, and co-workers. They are so funny. For me to eat ‘diet’ food is considered normal. When I am not dieting that is when they make comments like, ‘hey you are not supposed to be eating that’. We always have a laugh about that. For me to be ‘not normal’ is normal.

Then I have Erik Ledin of LeanBodiesConsulting.com. He has been putting me to the test over the past few weeks. My training has been quite intense. I love beating myself up in the gym, and I do have him to thank for that. I am sure the next program will be just as intense, in order to continue my preparations for Nationals.

There are others as well, who have helped guide, and shape me. I am going to have to make one special post to thank all those who have helped me over the years. I am going to keep them nameless right now, as well, you can’t give away all your secrets. I will getting help where I can over the next few months, in order to improve. Which this is one of my main goals – always to improve and be better than I was the previous year. I have been doing this fitness thing for a while, by myself, and now I know I need to call upon others who have more knowledge in order to bring me to a higher level physically and mentally.

I will post some off season pictures sometime next week. Yes, I have gained weight. More than usual. We can talk about that later.

This weekend is the Jr.USAs. How lucky those girls are to be able to compete Nationally at least 4 times a year in order to earn a pro card. Here in Canada we have one Nationals and one pro card. Luckily the back up plan is the North Americans – yes, I heard about that show and the divisions they added. I will probably be there

A.

Post show feelings.

Hi Everyone -

It has been about 4 weeks since my last show and basically I have been eating myself through my emotions. Who knew about this post show depression? I have never experienced it like this– ever. Sure there would a week or two I would feel like I would want to eat everything in sight. But this time I wanted to eat and had moodiness that I could not shake. Feeling lost, confused, frustrated, all the emotions that go with a post show competition. Usually I am able to put things in perspective quite quickly, but it has taken this long for me (since March) to get my feet back under me. Luckily I have great friends (and made some excellent new ones) in the industry who have helped me put everything in a different light, and I am able to re-group and move forward. Thank you all who I have spoken to about this, and I am taking each of your advice.

Lately I have been re-working my routine to take some of the judges suggestions for CBBF Nationals. I think that I have not been putting my best ‘routine’ forward. I need to continually challenge myself to get better. When you do not know your competition (as I do not really know the fitness girls in the CBBF), it is hard to develop a routine. Or at least this is what I find. I knew so many girls in the other federations, that when I saw them at the show you know what they are capable of and how good they are, so you would have to really up your game. CBBF is still to me, and I am still learning the girls.

Physique will always be a challenge for me. I am not a naturally curvy girl. I am a small athletic shape. I will be working hard between now and August 15th to put on my size and shape to my overall physique. I will also be working on posing and my tan – I am never dark enough – anyone else have this issue??

It is 18 weeks till Nationals. I have some ideas, and people that I will using to help me in my prep. I have been doing this for a while, but I feel that I have so much still to learn.

I realized the other day that I will be doing this fitness thing for a few more years. Ok, maybe more than a few. I had my son back in 2006, and I made a comeback. I will probably have another child and then make another comeback. I asked myself what would I do with my extra time that I have if I did not do fitness, and well I could not come up with an answer. Would I always go to the gym? Yes. I love that part. The thing I would miss the most is the routine. Performing the routine is something that I love. So, keeping that in mind, I will probably be around for a while. I am only 32 and have plenty of ideas to keep me going for another decade. Plus I have years and years worth of routines that no one on this side of the fence have ever seen. So, whether the pro card happens this year, or does not I am no longer stressing about it. I have plenty of time to turn pro and compete as a pro, and do well as a pro. Most girls are pushing 40 years, and there is even master divisions, so there is no limit to what direction I can go when choosing to compete. Knowing that I have time on my side, to achieve whatever I set my mind to, gives me great comfort.

A.

19 Weeks till Nationals.

Hi Everyone-

Thanks for all the kinds words post show. I know that sometimes one needs to vent for at least a moment to be able to put everything in perspective. I mean, we all work hard, and we need a moment to get grounded, and then move forward. I am completely ok with everything that has happened this year. The results, the feedback, the ups and downs. I have had a great year so far in 2009 and I am sure it can only get better.

The next show on my list of competitions will be the August 15th, Canadian Fitness & Figure Nationals in Vancouver. Already have my flight and hotel booked, and ready to go. I might just add one more show at the end of August, but I have not decided for sure yet. I have discussed with my hubby and prep lands at our end of summer vacation. He gave me the ok, but still you never know how opinions and perspectives change when that time comes.

I was off to Los Angeles for a few days, and will hopefully have some good news to post and a few other pics, as I shot with Michael Neveux. He does amazing work, and am very honored to have had the chance to work with him – twice!

Back to the grind now, working out without the pressure of competition – which I love. Nothing like going to the gym in the morning and setting up your day, feeling accomplished all before oh….6am. I love going to the gym. I have not felt that way for a long time. Perhaps it is that I have scaled back at work, and have more time to do my workout properly. I no longer have to rush to get through it in order to get to my other job.

The other job, teaching, well there are still many changes that I have to deal with on a daily basis. And if you are a teacher you probably can relate.

The Quebec Gov’t has created a situation in which:
students don’t actually have to pass math to move on to the next grade
students have memory aid (cheat sheets)
students have a hard time doing a test – asking, “am I doing this correct?” is not an appropriate question during a test
the lowest mark I can give a student is 24% (meaning 24% is the new zero – do nothing and get a 24%)
grade 9 math is what I teach, but I really teach a grade 8 lite math

I love being around the students as they keep me young, but wow, the changes that I have seen in my short span of my career are exponential. I can see why new teachers don’t stay. But I do love coming in everyday, and enjoy my students. Mainly I beat them up (not literally) and am a bit hard on them which in grade 9 is necessary. They challenge me in a way that always makes me better.

Teaching and fitness could not be more different. This is probably why I love both.

A.