50 days to the Fort Lauderdale Pro

Hi Everyone-

Last month, I was at the CBBF Fitness, Figure and Bikini Nationals 2010 – it was a well organized event and I have posted many photos with friends on my facebook page. 

Liana and I created some fabulous images that you all are just going to have to wait for.  She is undeniably the most fearless person I have ever met.


“Doing something scary every one and a while makes me realize I am alive”

Personal Training
Speaking of scary; my personal training is going great.  Still slow but getting there. I am making new contacts everyday, and with each client am learning more and more.  It has been almost 4 month since starting my new position.  Although I still have much to learn, I am excited to get up everyday – including those days at 4:30am to get to work.  When I was teaching I would have many days, especially this time of year at the end of September when the days just felt so long, and the amount of work was just so great getting to the end of each day was an accomplishment.


I am extremely happy for the change.  It is so easy to just be ‘me’.  My decision to leave teaching for a year is one of the best decision I have ever made.

 
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  ~e.e. cummings


Upnext
The Fort Lauderdale pro is the next show on my schedule this year.  November 20, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale.  My goal – top 3.  


I want to make the Olympia qualification for next years event.  I just finished watching all the girls compete from the Bodybuilding.com webcast, and always get inspired when I see fellow competitors and their talents. In fact just seeing bodies in shape keep the inspirational juices primed. 


I have about 54 days to get ready for this show.  I love dieting in the fall much more than in the summer. Not sure why, and I never figured it out.  Being cold can lend itself to extra calorie burn I am sure.


Week 1: Photos (13 September 2010)
Here is what I look like last week.

Some improvements.
 
The suit I am wearing is for sale.  I have a bunch that I am willing to sell. Not sure why I hold on to everything but I will be liquidating.


Photos and price to come soon.  I do have some routine outfits that I will be selling as well.


Placings Perspectives
Competing is a journey with the focus being on where you have come from to where you end up on the day of the show.  Holding the outcome to be the ‘be all end all’ of your journey is a very dangerous barometer to measure your competition experience.  You just NEVER know where you will end up and certain placings are more frustrating than others.  Such placings as 2nd, 4th, 7th, 11th, and well last.  Last can be frustrating but not the most frustrating.  Actually if you are last there is no where to go but up the next time you compete.  I have been last before, and in the other placings listed.   

In relation to the IFBB, making 4th is crummy (unless the other 3 are already qualified) as then you are not in the Olympia qualification position, and well 7th as some shows the top 6 qualify for the Olympia which makes being 7th all that more hard to accept. 
Unless you have been last and then moved to 7th. That would be a huge improvement. 
11th is bad as you are out of the perennial top 10. 
And well last depends on how you define yourself, and compare yourself to the others in the group. 

You never know how things are going to go on the day of the show – really anything can happen.  Those who are seen as contender end up a few placings lower than what the buzz was about.  It is a disappointing moment?  It could be. However in this sport, and the industry having things be inconsistent should be seen as the most consistent thing.   You just never know.  No matter how hard you have prepared, there are always others who are doing the same thing.  When you put yourself out there like that – competing – lined up ready to be judged by others, and the public, it takes an immense amount of courage. Then when the awards are announced, you either get to bask in the spotlight with a placing that satisfies you, or have an extreme amount of a resilience to be able to get back up if the results knock you down.  

It is just one moment and there are always more shows around the corner. 


Of course, there are worse things that can happen in life than losing a game, but we all know the pain we can feel after a difficult loss, or even the joy we feel after a great win. This game is one of joy and pain. If you want to feel the joy, you must be willing to suffer; like taking the final shot, planning a different strategy, etc… This game is not a matter of life and death — it only feels that way sometimes!

Until next time,

A.