I cannot believe I’m already 11 weeks out! This Prep is flying by!! How is it already almost FEBRUARY?!? I’ve been busy training with my coach once a week, and have started going to posing on Saturday. So far so great! I’m slowly leaning out, and although the scale’s not changing, my appearance definitely is. It’s so exciting to start to see subtle changes in your physique—such a big motivator! I forgot how great it is to see muscles!!! And I’m so glad to see my abs back!! 🙂
My diet hasn’t really changed from off season, other than doing more carb cycling with meals 2 and 4, and carbs with dinner on Sunday. Oh and no more cheat meals, duh. Whomp whomp. Cardio is slowly increasing, but I’m still doing only 30 minutes after training 5 days a week, and then an hour on Sunday. Not bad! Fasted cardio will likely start in another week or two. This isn’t my first rodeo, so I am ready to PUSH!
I gotta say though—the first few weeks of this Prep weren’t as golden. I was still excited, but just not as naïve this time going into it at all. I definitely needed to get out of my own head. We all know we are our own worst critic. As a competitor, it’s so easy to compare yourself to things you see on social media, or other pictures that you’ve taken where you were so much leaner. It can be so discouraging! This time, I feel like I’ve been much harder on myself because I want to do well and I’ve put so much pressure on myself in offseason to GROW. I’ve had to remind myself that this process comes slowly, and that I need to TRUST THE PROCESS. The scale is not always indicative of the changes going on in your body. Being around my competitor friends and teammates the last couple of weekends definitely helped though because you can learn from their experiences and be encouraged by their journeys. No successful competitor does this alone!!! You have to have a support system. I’m so fortunate to have so many amazing, encouraging, supportive people around me, not just competitors, but friends and family as well.
It finally started feeling REAL when I got my suit ordered, and compared progress pictures from 15 weeks out to 11 and 12 weeks out. The process WORKS! Stick to the plan, and the plan will work. My suit is going to be AMAZING!!!!! The incredible Tamee Marie designed my suit last year and I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else to do a better job, so she will be designing this year’s as well. I went with a gunmetal / dark shimmery gray material, and the stone colors will likely be different shades of pewter and silver, but she hasn’t finalized those yet.
In other news, I’ve done some serious research on getting certified as a Personal Trainer through NASM. I love being able to share my knowledge and experiences with others to help them on their fitness journeys. Being certified would give me the credibility to be able to do that on a larger scale. Ideally I will take the exam later this summer/ early fall, and start doing online training and nutrition/ lifestyle coaching programs. I have a heart for women and ladies who are “scared of the gym” and have no idea where to start with eating clean, because I was one of those girls just a short time ago. I love learning about fitness and nutrition, and feel like getting certified will just further my knowledge. For now I’m focusing on my training and getting ready to rock that stage in just a few weeks!
At the end of the day, this is me competing against myself, to be a better version of myself inside and out. I fell in love with Bodybuilding because at it’s core, it is all about building yourself from the outside in. Stronger physically, stronger emotionally, stronger mentally. Some of my worst days have given me some of my best workouts. Isn’t that cool? I read a quote not too long ago that was something to the effect of” you will have people come and go, good days and bad days, but the iron is consistent, 200 pounds is 200 pounds.” That’s powerful.
I’m just so, so excited to see this journey unfold, and am even more excited to share it with all of you. Keep grinding!
Till next time,
-Mere