Tag Archives: NPC

Hello from Offseason!

Contest Prep, General Fitness, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve been so focused on sharing my fitness and healthy eating tips and tricks, that some of y’all probably forgot about how things are going for me as a Figure Competitor!

Oh man.  I AM SO READY TO GET BACK ON THAT STAGE!!!  Especially after watching the Olympia this weekend!!  That’s the Super Bowl of this sport, and all of the Figure competitors looked amazing!  As you know, my last (and only) show was six month ago in March.  I did great in that show, and was originally planning to compete again in November.  For me to be show-ready in November, I would have started prepping again in AUGUST.  Honestly, both me and my coach felt like that just wasn’t enough time for me to GROW!  All great competitors take significant time between shows to really focus on growing muscles and changing their physiques.  That’s the only way to improve!  You cannot grow muscle and stay stage lean year round.  Our bodies cannot do both at the same time.  End of story.  Theoretically speaking it takes about 3 months (12 weeks) to prep for a Contest, and 2-3 months (6-10) weeks for your body to get back to normal after being that lean after a show.

So what have I been up to since our last update?  EATING and LIFTING!!!!!   I love the freedom and strength I have in the gym.  I’ve set some amazing PRs, and have really able to focus more on training and having fun with my workouts!  You can always have fun with your training (hell, it SHOULD be fun!) but as you progress through a contest prep you definitely lose your strength and energy, and eventually just use what energy you have to just get through the workout!  My coach is very pleased with my progress—I’ve added CONSIDERABLE muscle mass, particularly in my back and shoulders.  My quads have grown as well!  It took me a few weeks to adjust to the weight gain I had from rebounding so badly after the show (classic rookie mistake!), but I’m feeling more confident in my body now.  I’m hovering around 142-143 pounds these days (I’m 5’4) and was roughly 115 on show day.  If you do the math, that’s about a 30 pound difference!  Things don’t fit like they did a few months ago, and I’m still a little “fluffier” than I’d like to be, but it’s all part of the process.   Just like in prep, I take this one day, one meal, one workout at a time.  This is a lifestyle!  I don’t feel deprived with food thanks to my weekly cheat meals.  You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I begged my coach to take some of my carbs away because I was never hungry!!  We’ll see how long that lasts!!!

I’ve also been focusing a lot on taking care of my body with preventative/ recovery measures to keep from getting injured and enable my muscles to get the most out of their training.  I’m now getting monthly sports massages in addition to my monthly chiropractic adjustments.  Massage is important because it helps your muscles grow and aids in the recovery of your muscle tissue.  Sports massages aren’t exactly relaxing, but they hurt so good!  My chiropractor helps me feel balanced and with neck and back pain I have from a car accident several years ago.  I will also be incorporating cryotherapy into my routine as well.   My training has remained mostly the same, but I am able to go HEAVY and push myself in every workout.  Legs are definitely the area I want to grow the most, and even after all this work and time, I’m still dissatisfied with how slowly they are progressing.  I’ve noticed how I’ve always sort of had “issues” with my legs, and my coach and I noticed that one of my hamstrings (my left) is definitely more developed than my right.  I was also beginning to experience stiffness and soreness in my left hip, especially after sprints or leg day.  He suggested I visit an MAT (muscle activation techniques) specialist in our gym to help facilitate better activation and utilization of my leg and hip muscles.  Believe it or not, after only a few muscle tests on my first visit, the MAT therapist said I was maybe getting 50% of my full potential out of my legs.  ONLY FIFTY PERCENT!!!!!  No wonder I’m not seeing the growth I want to.  That was also the reason for the lopsided hammies and hip pain.  My lack of muscle activation in my legs is caused by a combination of factors—muscle range of motion, genetics, strength, etc. , but the good news is that it can be fixed!  Muscle activation techniques focus on restoring BALANCE between muscles, and retraining your muscles to activate or “fire” the correct way so that they are getting the most out of training.  A lot of professional athletes get MAT training right before a game so that they can perform at their best.  Think of it like a chiropractor for your muscles.  My MAT therapist restructured my leg day workout so that I start with calves, move to hip abductor and adductor exercises, seated leg curl, and then glutes before doing any compound movements like squats, deadlifts, or leg presses.  This way my leg muscles are 100% activated and can fully “absorb” the training.  So interesting!  I’ve just started MAT, and have only had two sessions. After both sessions, I immediately  trained legs, and WOAH does it make a huge difference.  Performing certain exercises feels totally different after the MAT therapy.  It’s hard to explain, but I can already see a difference in my legs in just three weeks.  My MAT therapist also prescribed a series of hip flexor exercises and stretches to do every day that will help as well.

I have three more months of growing season, which seems like a lot; but it’s really not!  I have just 15 weeks before prep starts again.  That’s only 15 workouts per muscle group.  See, not a lot—right?!  I’m itching to pick a show date (dates haven’t been released for 2016 yet due to some changes with NPC Texas), anxious to start the countdown again, go to posing classes,  have discipline and structure, pick out a suit, and get ready to shine!  Every time I throw on my heels for check-ins with my coach, it makes me miss the anticipation of getting ready for a show!  I’m confident, though, that all of my hard work is going to pay off when I hit that stage in the spring.  I can’t wait to show off a totally different version of myself.  The best part of bodybuilding is that you are really competing against yourself.  It’s a constant, evolving process.  Just like life.

Till Next Time,

-Mere

Good Things are Worth the Wait

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hey gang!  Y’all are probably wondering where I went!  Between a crazy hiring season at work, a move to Fort Worth, and a spontaneous trip to Vegas for the hub’s birthday, I have been one BUSY girl!

We’re getting settled into our new neighborhood—it’s so nice to be closer to family and for Shane to not have an hour and a half commute!  We found a great gym here in Fort Worth and have been busy getting our workouts in and exploring our new city.  Getting away to Vegas for the 4th of July weekend was awesome!  I had so much fun gallivanting with my favorite person.  Even after being together for 10 years, we still have so much fun spending time together!  Although this was our sixth trip there together, it was the first one we’ve taken to Vegas by ourselves—every other one we’d been with friends or family.  It was a quick 2 and a half days but we managed to see all of the beautiful hotels, had a couple of great meals, took a ride on the new High Roller, and caught the most AMAZING Cirque Du Soleil show, “O”!  If you haven’t seen O yet, you MUST!  It’s one of their older shows, and it’s at the Bellagio.  I’ve seen several Cirque shows, and this one blew them all out of the water—literally!  My jaw was on the floor for most of the show.

Vegas with the hubs!
Vegas with the hubs!
Happy birthday to Shane!
Happy birthday to Shane!

Since it’s been a little bit since my last post, I thought I’d just give you all a general update about how offseason is progressing.  My last couple of check-in meetings with my coach have been great!  We’re both pleased I’ve finally “stabilized” with my weight for a while, and have put on quite a bit of muscle mass in the 3 months post show.  I’m having a blast training hard and heavy, and enjoying my weekly cheat meal!  That said, I’ve known for the last few weeks that if I really wanted to do the show in November, then I would go back into Contest Prep in August.  Man that got here FAST!  A little too fast actually.  3 months just flew by, and I just now feel sort of settled into my post-show body.  After much deliberation, I decided I really want to take the rest of the year to really grow and have a true “off season”, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice.  My coach and I both feel like this will give me a GREAT change in my physique since it will roughly be a year between shows.  I will now start prep January 1 for a show in early/mid April, likely Better Bodies here in Dallas.  If I had done the show in November, I would have just gone right back into off season, and would have to put my body through another prep quickly to do an early show next season.  This can be dangerous and wreak havoc on your metabolism, and we don’t want to risk that.  By finishing out this year in off season, it will set me up to do more shows if I need or want to next season.  Additionally, I already know what it’s like to be in “prep mode” for January, February, and March, which is when I’d be doing it for the April show.  To me, that means a lot.  I was already questioning how I’d get through an August, September, October prep when it’s football season and pumpkin EVERYTHING for Fall!!  You’d best believe I’ll be catching me some TCU football games this season since we’re back in Horned Frog country over here, and the pumpkin everything— gosh that would be hard to avoid!

Anyway, I’m excited to have a few more months to get some work in and make more changes!  I know 5 months sounds like a long time, but if you do the math it’s only 25 weeks, which is essentially 25 more workouts per muscle group the way my split is set up.  Not long at all!  But, with the 3 months I’ve already put in, it makes me really optimistic about what’s going to happen.  I can already see so much more muscle in my legs, and my strength now is awesome too!  I’m doing lat pulldowns at 115lbs.  When I started training over a year ago, I could barely do 70-80lbs!  I’m really enjoying lifting to lift and grow, and the clean eating part, well, it’s just how I eat so I’m used to it.  This is a lifestyle, and I’m really remembering what it felt like to workout because you really are doing it solely out of choice, because it’s part of your lifestyle and you really want to, not necessarily because you really have to with a show goal you’re working towards, even though most of the time I really wanted to workout then too.  Waiting a little longer to get back on stage will be worth it when I bring a much better package as a competitor, and I’m sure by then I’ll be SOOOOOO ready to lean out and get back out there to smile, sparkle, and strut!

Dem wheelz!
Dem wheelz!

Coach is going to put together a “mini project” for us to focus on through the rest of this year, so I’m looking forward to finding out what that is.  Rest assured, you’ll be along for the ride!   Hope you all are doing well!

Till next time,

-Mere

Offseason Got Me Like….

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you saw my IG post I put up the other day, then you know where I’m going with this.  Let me first start by saying that I still believe that deciding to compete is one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I love the discipline, structure, and drive it fires up in me, and I know that the longer I continue to train and live this healthy lifestyle the more my physique will continue to develop and muscles will continue to grow.  Bodybuilding is a process.  A continual process.  Every opportunity I have to push myself makes me love this sport more.  And I’m still only just beginning.  Competing is just as much you competing against yourself as it is you competing against others.

The Journey

You all should know by know that I tend to be pretty honest here about my fitness journey.  That said, I haven’t been fully transparent with you guys about post-show life.  Everyone’s body is different, and what we’ve learned about mine is that it apparently is taking me a while to “balance out” after the show.  Prep is really hard on your body physically, particularly with hormones and your metabolism.  Your body gets used to surviving on a very low caloric intake, and carbohydrate intake, and as you know, your diet is extremely restricted and super clean.  No alcohol, no sugar, etc.  My downfall was really those first two weeks after my show when I was travelling and not really sticking to my structured diet and eating on plan.  Lesson learned.  DO NOT GO TO NEW ORLEANS or ANYWHERE on vacation right after a show!!!  Your body needs to be able to acclimate back to a normal diet, and it is much easier to do that when you have time and a routine.  I won’t lie.  I was still getting my workouts in those first two weeks, but I was pretty wheels off with my nutrition.  After those first two weeks though, I was totally back on the bandwagon and have stayed on since then.  I haven’t binged, haven’t skipped a workout, haven’t skipped cardio, haven’t skipped meals.  I’ve stuck to the plan.  2 months and 20 pounds later here we are.  Not going to lie, it has taken me 2 months to adjust to the “softer” look I have.  I go back and forth between feeling like the Michelin Man, and feeling like a damn linebacker because my shoulders feel so much bigger!  My clothes fit differently, and the scale and I have a mutual hate-hate relationship.

Legs are coming in!
Legs are coming in!
Makin' some gains!
Makin’ some gains!

The good part?  I’m strong as hell in the gym.  I’m pushing myself to add weight on exercises, have had fun changing up my workouts, and am having a blast when I train.  If there’s one thing I want to make sure I stick to, it’s my love of lifting and how much fun I have working out.  I freaking love it.  I’m enjoying my weekly cheat meals with Shane, and the occasional cocktail.  This is a lifestyle, and it works for me.

Here’s the not so good part.  Any competitor will tell you though that it’s a total Mind F&%k watching your body morph into something totally different post-show.  In short, I spent the first probably 5 weeks after my show feeling like a fatass and a part of me felt angry at my body for turning on me.  You were so cooperative during Prep!  What the eff is going on?!?  Why do I keep gaining weight?!?!  I wouldn’t be as mad if I had been frequenting drive-thrus, eating copious amounts of peanut butter, or wolfing donuts and cupcakes on every whim, because then I would have had myself to blame.  But again, I wasn’t.  What the eff was going on?!?!   I’m so glad I have such an awesome coach, and great friends and teammates that understand and can mentor me as I enter this “offseason” phase.  Offseason is when a competitor is consuming more food (still on a “clean” diet), and focuses on building more muscle (gains) so that they ultimately will have a better physique at their next competition.  Weight gain is an automatic after a show, but in a true offseason it’s pretty much your focus.  Good weight gain though.  Muscle.  There’s as fine line to balance between fat weight gain and muscle growth.  After my show, my coach and I set a goal to hopefully do my second show in the Fall, giving me an 18 week offseason before I started another prep.  If I do the show we’re planning on in November, I would theoretically start Prep again in August, but honestly we’re in a watching and waiting mode right now.  Luckily I have check-ins with my coach every two weeks, where he can monitor my progress and see how my body is changing with my diet and training.  I’m still doing cardio several times a week, and this week we decided to start carb cycling again at dinner a few days a week so that I can keep my body fat under control while my metabolism sort of resets.  I’m not going to go quite as crazy with cheat meals for the next two weeks just to see how things go, because honestly, I really don’t want to get any bigger than what I am right now (body fat wise) and my coach doesn’t want me to either.  It’s a learning process for both of us.  As frustrated as I’ve been with my body, I’m happy to say that I feel like I’ve really turned a page this week.  I’ve learned that being frustrated and pissed off at myself won’t make me any leaner.  Sticking to my diet and kicking ass in the gym and focusing on that and the other positives in this process (like the growth of my legs and my strength building!) will make accepting my new “look” easier.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could all walk around all shredded all the time?  Sure!  But honestly, yeah right.  That’s totally unrealistic.  You have to have balance, and being that LEAN for an extended amount of time isn’t healthy!  Nicole Wilkins (the Figure dynasty and one of my biggest role models) looks totally different in her offseason than she does on the Olympia stage.  Why I am I holding myself to an unrealistic standard?

The Queen, Nicole Wilkins.
The Queen, Nicole Wilkins.

I have this image in my mind of what I want to look like at my next show, and I’m not stopping till I get there.  In order to change and grow your physique, you have to EAT more to TRAIN harder and build more muscle.  This is all part of the process.  If it were easy, everyone would do it, and many competitors can’t deal with this part of competing, so that’s why they quit.  As for me, I’m sticking to my diet, sticking to training, and trusting the process.  This is me embracing my fluff, embracing this part of my journey, and embracing what’s ahead.

Till next time,

-Mere

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming… sort of.

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have officially decided that I am a creature of habit.  Yes, I love traveling and being spontaneous, but 90% of my day-to-day life (at least the Monday through Friday part) is spent with work, eating, sleeping, and working out.  Throw some TV watching and some Junior League in there and that’s pretty much it.  And I’m okay with that!  I have a great job, great friends that also pretty much have the same routine, pretty awesome family, and it makes for a relatively drama free life.  New Orleans and Florida were awesome, but I am so glad to be back in my routine!  Let’s not forget—this is the first week in 3 weeks that I haven’t gone out of town!  I don’t know how jetsetters do it.

That said, I was finally able to meet with the “boss” a.k.a. my coach Saturday, and debrief about the show.  It felt so good to have some encouragement and reassurance both from him and my teammates that what I had been thinking and feeling and, more importantly, what my body was doing the last couple of weeks was totally normal.  Coach and I were both were on the same page—I needed a few months to really develop some muscle and work on my legs more in order to bring the total package to my next show.  If you take into consideration another 12-week prep, that would put us into the fall show lineup.  In an ideal world, at least 3-4 months is needed to put on muscle and “bulk”.  So, as of right now, we’ve picked either the NPC True Strength Games on September 26th or the NPC Texas Fall Classic on November 7th.  One is just 23 weeks out (giving me only 11 to bulk!) and the other is 29 weeks out, which would give me 17 weeks to bulk.  More than likely, we’ll go with the November show, but the September one is a possibility.  Ideally, I’d like to try to do both, but we’ll see.  If I did both, I would have 2 chances to get NQ’d which means (nationally qualified) for next year.  The True Strength Games would also be a cool show to do, because a year ago it was the first bodybuilding competition I ever went to.  It’d be pretty neat to return to the True Strength Games as a competitor just one year later!

This meal is on plan during the off season. Yay!
This meal is on plan during the off season. Yay!

In any case, now that it’s “off season” my focus is to EAT and GROW!  This is the fun part!!  I can focus on lifting heavy, and making sure that I’m eating all of my food.  Cheat meals are back—HELLO!  My diet has changed considerably.  I’m now doing 5 meals a day instead of 6, and I have a higher percentage of my calories coming from carbs and fat in order to get the right macros to build muscle.  The water weight bloat is slowly coming off.  I’m now 8 pounds above stage weight, and could see 4 of my abs yesterday!  Thank goodness I’m getting back to normal!!  My coach advised me that in 2 weeks, I’d have a much better representation of what my “off season” body will look like, and I’ll likely be a lot happier with how I’m looking physically. He also said that it usually takes your body and metabolism 4-6 weeks (without a trip in there!) to get back to normal and recover after a contest prep.  Have I mentioned how much you really should have a good coach if you’re going to compete?  My workout split (or schedule) has changed too.  I now have 2 off days (WHAT?!?!) and I am lifting 4 days a week, plus a fifth that can be circuit training or hot yoga, plus I’m slowly tapering off on the cardio as well.  Hooray for spending the Summer building muscles!  I see some pool time in my future!!

This is a whole new chapter of my journey.  To be honest, I had to sort of do a mental check earlier this week.  Sure, a lot of competitors just do one show… and that’s fine.  But for me, this new diet and new routine are taking me to the next level.  It’s exciting but it also makes me nervous.  I’m human—the nasty, negative side of me was rearing it’s ugly head, and negative thoughts were creeping in.  What if I screw up? What if I can’t build muscle fast enough?  What will I look like?  Will I get fat?  What if I lose?  What if I’m not strong enough?  Then, I reassured myself and said “Self. You’ve already proven you are strong, you are capable, and you are building YOUR body.  Not anyone else’s.  Let’s do this!”

I have to eat all of the food!
I have to eat all of the food!

This is a process.  Bodybuilding is more than a sport;  it’s a lifestyle.  Prep is more than just 12 weeks;  it’s making the choice every meal and every workout,  and committing to a goal and making healthy choices every day that get you closer to that goal.  I’m so glad that I have shared my journey here and on Instagram because it motivates me and encourages me to see how far I’ve come!  I’m so excited to see how much I grow inside and out these next 6 months.  Remember, the outside changes are just an indicator of the changes happening mentally and emotionally as well.

Till next time,

-Mere

Worst Idea Ever

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , , , , , , , , , ,

So, going on vacation right after the show was definitely not my brightest idea.  As I mentioned in my last post, the “post show shenanigans” started right after the show.  I had a burger, fries, a cocktail, cake (oh my God, the cake was so ridiculously good), then Sunday it was brunch with mimosas, some treats on the drive home….I had worked hard and earned it, right?

Sort of. Going into the week after the show, I knew that my body would be adjusting as I transitioned off of a very strict, clean, structured diet, and I had several fellow competitors, my coach, and friends all tell me that I’d put on a few pounds of water weight (hopefully mostly water weight) quickly, but I still thought “No way, I’ll be fine!!  Not me—I’ve got the metabolism of a genetic super freak, I can handle it!”

During Peak Week, my coach gave me a reverse diet and reverse cardio plan to adhere to after the show. He knew that I was leaving Wednesday after the show to celebrate my birthday in New Orleans, and we both knew that I wouldn’t really be on plan the entire trip, but I went into it with good intentions!  I would enjoy myself “in moderation”.  Monday I did my 30 minutes of moderate cardio like a good girl, and I ate on plan!  The Girl Scout cookies and crap I bought at Buc-cee’s went to work where someone else would eat them, and then came Tuesday.  I did the cardio, ate on plan most of the day, then had an amazing birthday dinner with my friends at my favorite Mexican restaurant with a couple of skinny margaritas and of course birthday cake… and beer afterwards!

Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday to me!

Needless to say, by Wednesday night after our first day of New Orleans deliciousness, my feet were looking pretty swollen, and I could tell that I was definitely carrying A LOT of water.  By Thursday, I felt like Jabba the Hutt, and was starting to resemble him as well.  What the hell was going on?!?!  We were easily walking 6-7 miles a day, and I did cardio on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but the combination of alcohol, sugar, fat, and carbs, was making my body go into a tailspin.

Hand Grenade away!
Hand Grenade away!
I'm a cool customer with my classic cocktail and killer shades.
I’m a cool customer with my classic cocktail and killer shades.

By Sunday afternoon I was literally WADDLING around the French Quarter, absolutely miserable.  My legs, feet, and ankles hurt from how swollen they were.  This was a bad situation.  Mentally I was feeling pretty good, just exhausted and kind of a little checked out.  I was enjoying myself and letting my mental and physical self just recoup a little bit.  We got back to Dallas Sunday night, and I was “good again” Monday and Tuesday.  I ate on plan—lots of protein, veggies, and good carbs—did my cardio and got lifting in too.!  I was starting to feel better, but in just a week, my body looked COMPLETELY different from how it did on stage.  I was embarrassed and self-conscious, and so discouraged.  Had I really just undone in 6 days what it took me 6 months to work for?  I could not stop Googling post-show bloat, weight gain, and rebound articles.  How long would this last??  Would it ever go away? Was I destined to be a fat cow?

An accurate representation of me in New Orleans!
An accurate representation of me in New Orleans!
Hello there cankles!
Hello there cankles!

Wednesday I left for Fort Lauderdale for a work trip, and brought my egg whites and oats to eat on the plane, and a couple of Quest bars and peanut butter for snacks.  I was only going to be gone 36 hours, but I didn’t want to do any more damage.  Wednesday night was dinner and more drinks with our executive team and then I headed back to Dallas on Thursday afternoon.  It was a great trip, but boy was I ready to get back in my routine!!!

Prior to my show, I knew that my metabolism would be in a funk right after the show.  Your body gets so depleted and dehydrated, to look “stage ready” for a matter of hours, and it is impossible to keep that conditioning for very long.  And it’s not healthy!  The problems come because (A) you will engage in post-show binging where you allow yourself to eat foods that had been so restricted for so long, and (B) your body will not be able to handle or know how to deal with all of the extra calories and carbs that you are consuming and therefore your body will turn it to excess water weight and body fat.  I was lucky because I had a couple of cheat meals during my prep, but I really think that it was the booze that did me in.  I had gone 12 weeks without it, and although we didn’t go crazy in NOLA, my body just didn’t know how to process it.  My saving grace was probably all the walking we did and sticking to my cardio.  That and trying to be at least somewhat healthy with what I ate on the trip. A po-boy with a salad instead of fries is a good swap, right?  The hardest part though is the mental part that comes with this.  You beat yourself up and think, “wow, two weeks ago I looked completely shredded and was in the best shape I’ve ever been in and now I’m a fat ass…  cool.”  It’s very discouraging.  VERY discouraging.

THIS. IS. WHY. I. GOT. FAT.
THIS. IS. WHY. I. GOT. FAT.
Gooey deliciousness. Oh so good!
Gooey deliciousness. Oh so good!

Yes, a week of eating and drinking and two trips had definitely taken a hit on my body, and I looked as bad as I felt.  The good news, though, was that I knew what it would take to get it back.  Get back in gym, and starting feeding my body with the right fuel.  As I write this, I’m 10 pounds above stage weight.  Is it all fat?  No, likely not, but some of it definitely is, and it’s not the end of the world.  I will work it off as my body readjusts.  Every day gets better.  But, I know that I will NEVER go on vacation right after a show again.  You need to have control over your diet as you reintroduce foods and recover from contest prep, and being out of town makes it really difficult to do that.  Clean eating and training has now become a lifestyle for me.  I feel better when I exercise and eat the right foods.  It’s not about just competing, or doing it for one show and then letting it all go to waste.  Bodybuilding is about building your body—physically, emotionally, and mentally.  I am ready to move forward and build an even better me.   Oh there’s my wagon!  I’m hopping back on.

Till next time!

-Mere

So this is what this feels like…

Contest Prep, , , ,

I should have written this post sooner after the show.  It was just a week and a half ago, but it already feels like much longer.  Needless to say, I’ve been a little pre-occupied with a birthday and a trip to New Orleans.  Lesson learned—don’t EVER go on vacation right after a show.

I’ll write more on the “post-show” aftermath in my next post, but I know all of you are probably anxiously waiting to hear about what the show was actually like!  So that’s what we’ll talk about in this post!

We headed to Houston Friday morning—I spent most of Thursday night packing and meal prepping (literally I was elbow deep in chicken and sweet potatoes!) since my diet was pretty different the day before and day of the show.  It was more work to pack all the food than it was to pack for the weekend!  Nerves and excitement were building.  I had finished out Peak Week and made it!  Holy freaking crap—this was really happening.

I got my number and competitor pass.
I got my number and competitor pass.

I remember going to get a mani/pedi Thursday night, after I had met with my coach for a final posing class and pep-talk before  we left for Houston.  That’s when the nerves really set in, but really that’s the only time I got nervous!  Well that, and right before I went onstage! J

We made it all the way to Houston, stopped at Buc-ee’s on the way of course!  After several stops to heat up my chicken and/or steak, we checked-in and got settled into the hotel.  Friday was a busy afternoon of tanning, athlete check-in, eating, and more tanning.  The excitement kept building and I was over the moon!

There were almost 1,000 athletes competing at the 2015 Phil Heath—it was nuts!  This was the biggest show in NPC history.  Go big or go home, right?  By Friday night I had my competitor badge, dark sheets on the hotel bed, 2 coats of oompa-lompa tan and a lot of carbs with very little water.  Saturday morning came early—I had makeup at 5:55am, followed by a 3rd coat of tan, and I had to be at the venue at 7:30 to pick up my competitor number (eeek!), then I went back to the hotel for hair, then back to the venue to wait until it was time to go on stage.  It was a very busy morning that turned into a day of mostly waiting around in sweats, resting, and eating.  I was very glad though that I (a) had purchased a duffel bag with wheels at Sam Moon to haul all my stage crap around in, (b) had a 6 Pack bag to carry all my food and keep it cool (every other female competitor apparently had the same idea with bringing the pink one too!) and (c) brought EVERYTHING I needed for the day.  Shane of course was with me the whole time, mostly waiting, and keeping me company.  It was great to have girls from my Team there who were also competing, but we barely saw each other because of the scheduling and chaos with SO. MANY. PEOPLE.  Did I mention there were nearly 1,000 athletes, plus their entourages, plus vendors?  Needless to say the Bayou Music Center was CRAZY.

Relaxing in the hallway before taking the stage.
Relaxing in the hallway before taking the stage.

Before I knew it, it was time to go on stage!!!!  That was definitely my WTF moment! Because of the number of athletes, and the chaos of trying to coordinate getting 1,000 people on and off the stage, the backstage process was a little confusing, but I made it through just fine.  Here’s the scoop— I had to stuff my face with rice cakes, peanut butter, and honey (delicious but messy!), touchup my makeup, and get my jewelry and heels on all in a matter of minutes.  That part was an absolute blur!  It felt really real when I put on my sparkly jewelry, and got my glaze, bikini bite, and tan touchups.  Again, also a blur considering I was one of the last ones to get in line! Thankfully my coach could go backstage with me to keep me calm, walk me through the pumping up part and practice posing before I went on.  One of my favorite parts of the day was him just telling me to give him lateral raises and curls with my resistance band.  “Just give me lateral raises, nice and easy”—just like I had heard him say time and time before when we had trained in the gym.  My heart was beating out of my chest, but somehow that calmed me down.  There were so many girls—I looked better than some, and some were absolutely just shredded.  But, we were all there in support of each other and all proud of what we had accomplished just to get to that point.  I have to say, I got teary when I could see my biggest fan and supporter, Shane, peaking at me from a curtain and blowing me kisses just before I went on stage since he was in the front row.  Definitely got a little teary.   I got to the stairs to the stage, the NPC officials were running us through what to do, and there we were.

As soon as I stepped across that stage, I could feel how big my smile was on my face.  I was so excited, so proud, so confident, that I just did my best and posed like I had 1,000 times in the last six months.  It was over in about 15 seconds, but man was it freaking AWESOME!  I stood in the diagonal line to the side when I had finished my model turns, and gave the judges my best “pick me, pick me!” face!

My first time on stage!!!
My first time on stage!!!

I got to First Call outs!  The head judge starts rattling off numbers.  I knew if I didn’t make First Call outs Novice (which was the only “alone” time I would get with the judges) that there was no way I would make them in Open.  Yes, it was just a goal, but damn I really wanted to get First Call Outs at my first show.  Then I heard, “Competitor 174!”  I was the last number called for First Call outs.  There are only a few other times in my life I can remember being that freaking proud of something I had worked my ass off for.  Getting into TCU, getting hired at both companies I’ve worked for, and this.  This takes the cake for sure.  I strutted out to the front line and did my quarter turns like nobody’s business.  There were easily 25+ girls in Novice class B, and I had just made the top 7.  At the biggest show in NPC history.  Holy freaking crap.  Yeah, I may have been the last one called in Novice but who freaking cares—I got FIRST CALL OUTS!!!!!  I then went back on stage for Figure Open, where there were ALOT more girls (not sure, but I think closer to 35 or 40) and was the first girl they called out for 2nd Call Outs, which means I had made the top 10.  Not too shabby for a girl’s first rodeo!

First Call Outs!
First Call Outs!

We finished up onstage (all of maybe 5 or 10 minutes but it felt like 15 or 20!) and I headed to the audience to hug my coach and hug Shane.  They were both so ridiculously proud!  I was too.  Now it was time to wait until Finals that night.  We knew that the top 5 Competitors in Figure Novice Class B would get medals, and it would be tough for me to get a medal since I had likely come in 6th or 7th based on when I had been called out in prejudging, but I had to remind myself (all damn day) that I wasn’t doing this for a medal.  I had already won just by getting on that stage and had gotten what I came for, First Call Outs!  Most of the day was spent eating, resting, and watching other competitors.  We didn’t leave the venue because it would have just been too much of a hassle, so in total were there from 9am until about 10pm.  Long freaking day!

I did it!
I did it!
Coach and I posing after the night show!
Coach and I posing after the night show!

Some of our closest friends made the drive to cheer me on at finals that night and I was super excited to see them!  They were all thrilled to see me and cheer me on as well, and it meant the world to me to have them there!!!  All of the Facebook posts and texts and messages and well wishes from other friends and family encouraged me more than you can imagine.  It was such a great weekend!

Me and the gang enjoying a post show champagne!
Me and the gang enjoying a post show champagne!

After hours of waiting, finals finally came, and although I didn’t bring home hardware, I was still really excited and proud of my journey.  It was time to celebrate!!!  We went back to the hotel, and my fan club had surprised me with cake, champagne, and the cutest little tote back of goodies.  We took some great pictures, and I changed clothes to head downtown for a burger and a craft cocktail!  It was 11pm so our options were limited, but my post-show party was a low-key night with great friends at a cute little gastropub in Downtown Houston.  I went to bed that night (after nearly falling asleep in the shower from sheer exhaustion since I had been up almost 22 hours at that point) an incredibly happy girl who couldn’t wait to get back on that stage.

Food!!! AND Drinks!!!
Food!!! AND Drinks!!!
My biggest fan and I!
My biggest fan and I!

Till next time,

-Mere

The Finishing Touches

Contest Prep, , , ,

This week is PEAK WEEK!  I’m so excited that it’s finally here!  Everyone keeps asking how I’m feeling, and honestly, I feel prepared and ready.  And hungry!  My coach has done a FANTASTIC job with my conditioning, diet, and stage prep, and I feel 100% ready to smile, sparkle, and strut come Saturday.

Peak week is an interesting process—it’s really a science project.  During peak week, a competitor drinks a lot of water (I’m downing 2 gallons a day!) early on in the week, cuts carbs, artificial sweeteners, condiments, and sodium-laden seasonings, and then starts a controlled dehydration process closer to the show.  Meals Friday and Saturday will be carefully measured, unseasoned, combinations of proteins carbs and fats.  Another great reason to hire a coach:  I have a step-by-step, day-by-day plan for Friday and Saturday, as well as a plan for  what to do AFTER the show to keep my metabolism and body fat levels in check.  Think of your body readjusting to your diet and exercise regime like a scuba diver adjusting to water pressure—this is apparently very much the same thing.  You essentially have to reverse diet and reverse train, tapering back in both slowly rather than just eat whatever you want and stop working out cold turkey.  From what I have researched and been told, too many new competitors don’t take the reverse dieting and post-show training seriously enough, and it can undo months of hard work in a matter of days.

I have to drink lots of water for most of peak week!
I have to drink lots of water for most of peak week!

Posing and stage prep are also critical areas that many new competitors don’t pay enough attention to.  In the NPC, judges are looking for very specific criteria with body symmetry, conditioning, and overall stage presence, most of which is POSING!  I’m so glad that I have spent an hour with my coach and team every Saturday working on my posing!  I was also able to get one-on-one help from my coach, a former judge.  Yes, it was pricey, but to me worth every penny.  Honestly, I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what to expect Saturday for both prejudging and finals, even though I’ve never done this before.   If I’m spending so much time training and dieting with the end goal of being a successful competitor, why would I not want to make sure I present myself in the best possible way come show day?

My workouts this week have been shorter and lighter, and I feel so laser focused on the goal, that I’m just powering through them!  I’m definitely looking forward to a couple of days off, and getting my strength back to lift heavy again after losing it from being so carb-depleted.

My suit and shoes!!!
My suit and shoes!!!

I got my hair done last night and I’m getting my nails done tonight. After that’s taken care of, all that will be left is one more posing class, packing, and meal prep for Friday and Saturday (obviously, I’m taking my food – there’s no way I’m going to risk my hard work by trying to find a restaurant that can prep what I need)!

I haven’t quite decided what food I’m looking forward to eating most—honestly, I’m really just looking forward to the whole experience, and celebrating with my friends and loved ones regardless of the outcome!  First call outs would be AMAZING at such a big show, but the only real expectations that I have are to have fun, do my best, be proud of doing my best, meet new people and LEARN!   I’ve worked so hard these past few months, that I just want to enjoy, have fun, and celebrate!  As far as the food goes, I can’t wait to have some alcohol, COFFEE WITH REAL CREAMER, and breakfast with my friends on Sunday!  We aren’t yet sure of the schedule of events for Saturday night, but I’m sure great food will be a key part! J  I also have Thin Mints and Samoas coming to Houston with me for my post show treats!

I wanted to take a minute to say thank you all so much for all of your support and motivation every step of this journey. It has meant the absolute world to me and I wouldn’t have been able to get here without you!  Lipglossandlifting will definitely keep going after the show!  I want to use this platform to help motivate and inspire others to live healthier, happier, more fit lives.  This has been a wonderful journey and we’re just getting started!

Wish me luck because the next time I post will be from the other side!

Till next time,

-Mere

What’s it like to be married to a figure competitor?

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , ,

So, what’s it like to be married to a figure competitor? That’s a very complicated question that has a lot of answers. Obviously, Mere looks amazing. But, it’s not all hot wife and rainbows in figure competitor husband land.

First, this is a very, very expensive sport. Mere’s suit was $750. Personal training and coaching is over $1,000 so far. Weekly food bills are more than they used to be (admittedly, much of the increase rests on my shoulders – I have to eat a lot). Supplements get expensive fast, especially when two of you are taking them. Then, there is the cost of the show itself and the expenditures related to it – tanning, hotel, hair and makeup, etc. All in, we’ve probably spent $4,000+ on “fitness” and contest related stuff in the last six months. While I’m sure that it’s possible to do it for less (I have the attitude that if you’re going to do something, do it the best way that you can), you will probably have to make sacrifices in order to compete. But, some of the money that we’ve spent of fitness stuff has been offset by money that we aren’t spending on other things.

Our wedding day in 2006.
Our wedding day in 2006.

This brings me to a point that will likely kill many competition dreams and cause strain on relationships if only one person in the family lives the fitness lifestyle. During prep mode, Mere and I can’t really go on dates. Sure, she gets the occasional cheat meal, but we can’t just pop down to our favorite bar on a Tuesday night after an especially bad day at the office and have a beer to let off some steam. Sure, I could go by myself, or with friends, but I love spending time with my wife (even if it’s at the gym or chilling watching Netflix at home), so I don’t. Plus, I see it as part of my job to support her in her competition journey – to me, that means that I don’t drink when she can’t and that we generally have the same diet (obviously, I eat more – and I get some cheat meals (my coach’s orders!). If I didn’t live a fitness oriented lifestyle all of the restrictions on Mere’s diet would be really, really hard for me to deal with.

As far as spending time together is concerned, our options are pretty limited due to workout requirements and meal times. We see each other at the gym almost every day (sometimes she goes earlier than me or later than me because of work schedules), but we don’t always train together. If our routines for the day happen to overlap we’ll certainly workout together, and we’re always available to spot each other, but some days seeing each other at the gym is as quick as a peck on the cheek and waving to each other between sets. Other than gym time, we tend to spend time together watching Netflix and movies or playing board games or video games at home – going out is hard because of the temptations, and because we have to schedule everything based on who needs to eat what when (we both tend to eat six days a week). Plus, during prep mode, she has posing class during the middle of the day on Saturday, so even weekends have to be scheduled.

Jealousy could also be a really big issue if you’re prone to it. Mere looks great, and that draws a lot of attention, especially at the gym when she’s in full beast mode. She always has someone complementing her or trying to flirt with her. It doesn’t really bother me though – we’ve been married for almost nine years now and I think we have one of the most tender, loving, honest relationships any two people could have. However, if you are prone to jealousy, you need to go into this with your eyes wide open – if your husband or wife decides to compete, they will draw attention to themselves and that’s something that you need to be prepared for.

If you’ve made it this far, you probably think that I hate this sport and that I don’t want my wife to compete. But, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, there are parts of the sport that could put stress on your relationship, if you let them, but I believe the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Valentine's Day 2014. Mere got a cheat!
Valentine’s Day 2014. Mere got a cheat!

Because both of us live a fitness oriented lifestyle, we’ve really bonded over this experience. I know what she means when she complains about having to eat more chicken (seriously, bleh), and she knows the feeling of being exhausted but hitting the gym anyway because it’s back day. We’re both in better shape that we used to be (obviously) and this means that we will live longer, better lives with each other. Because of all of the training, we’ve got more energy when we’re not in the gym. Mealtime is a breeze – there’s no fighting over “what’s for dinner” in our household! Did I mention that Mere is crazy hot?

In all seriousness, if your husband or wife wants to compete, be prepared. You have to be their rock. You have to support them and be there to listen and encourage them when they are dog tired and crying in the gym because they’re on a low carb day four weeks out from their show questioning why the hell they ever got into this sport. And, if you love them, you will – gladly.

I’m writing this just under a week before Mere’s first show and I want to use this last part to give her some words of encouragement:

You are the strongest, most determined person that I’ve ever known. I’ve seen you put your head down and power through workouts long after most people would have quit. I’ve seen you turn away wine and drinks when we’ve been out celebrating friends’ birthdays. Your dedication and commitment are unending. I’m excited. I’m excited to see you walk the stage next Saturday and to watch you stand in the limelight. I’m excited that I got to share your journey with you and to support you. No matter the outcome, I am proud of you. Now, do what you do best – show up on game day, bring your beast face and kill it. Finally, I love you always.

-SL

These are a few of my favorite things… what got me through my first prep!

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , ,

As I type this, I cannot believe that 1 week from tomorrow I will be headed to Houston!  Peak Week starts Sunday!!!  I have 1 more fasted cardio session this week, one more lifting session, and a date with the Stairmaster and yoga this weekend.  The worst part is over.  That being said, I thought I’d take tonight’s post to share some of my favorite products, suggestions, and tips that have helped me get through the good and not so good parts of these last 11 weeks.

Everyone’s prep is different, but they usually have a few things in common.  Most athletes will eat 5-6 meals a day consisting of lean proteins, fibrous vegetables, healthy fats, and “good” carbs.  There are a few different philosophies, but most contest preps strictly prohibit alcohol, cheese/ most dairy outside of Greek yogurt, sugars, wheat based carbs, etc… Essentially anything with flour or sugar, or that is processed is out of the diet and not on plan.  Luckily, I knew this before I made the decision to compete, and have always been a healthy eater, maintaining a “clean” diet for the past couple of years.  Think of this as the “uber-clean” diet.  No alcohol?!?  No bread?!?!  NO CHEESE OR BAKED GOODS?!?!  How does one survive?!?  Here’s what got me through it.  The best part—you can use these as part of your healthy lifestyle too!

  • VARIETY IS EVERYTHING- If you are thinking about competing and don’t love vegetables, are a vegetarian, and/or a picky eater, you might really want to reconsider thinking about competing.  Prep would be very, very hard f you were picky, considering the limited options you have during prep.  In my case, I LOVE vegetables, and have no problems eating meat of all kinds.  My nutrition plan was comprised (like most are) of lean proteins—chicken, turkey, white fish.   If I had chicken at lunch, I’d have fish or turkey for dinner.  Vegetables can be roasted, steamed, eaten raw, or—my favorite—SPIRALIZED with a spiralizer!  Every Sunday, when I went grocery shopping, I always made sure to come home with plenty of options to choose from for the week
  • SPICES AND FLAVOR ARE KEY- I learned very early on that effective use of spices and flavors when I was cooking or meal prepping could completely change the flavor of a particular vegetable or meat. Vinegars (apple cider, balsamic, rice vinegar) are great ways to pack a punch of flavor without adding calories, sodium, or sugar.  FlavorGod seasonings, and Mrs. Dash have been regulars in our pantry for a while—we love FlavorGod Everything Spicy!!
Spices! The savior of bland food!
Spices! The savior of bland food!
  • CRYSTAL LIGHT DROPS- Plain Greek yogurt is my favorite snack.  You pair it with two quick squeezes of the Tropical Coconut Crystal Light drops and boy howdy is it freaking delicious!  No calories, no added sugar.  Yes, artificial sweeteners aren’t the healthiest, but this stuff has helped keep my cravings at bay and gives me variety.  I also like the Tang and Koolaid Grape and Fruit Punch flavors.  Game changer in the yogurt.
Chrystal Light drops and extracts. A girl's best friend!
Chrystal Light drops and extracts. A girl’s best friend!
  • EXTRACTS AND FLAVORINGS- You can add extracts and flavorings (almond, vanilla, etc.) to your casein shakes. Seriously, chocolate casein and mint extract = a Thin Mint Shake!!! Freakin’ delicious! Put coconut extract in with chocolate and BOOM, you’ve got a Samoa!
  • WALDEN FARMS PRODUCTS- I think they have fairies that make this stuff calorie free. The caramel dip, pancake syrup (on protein pancakes and in oatmeal!), and strawberry syrup (in my casein shakes!) have all helped me feel like I was cheating while still staying on plan and keeping my coach happy!
  • PEANUT BUTTER. Skippy Natural and Peter Pan Natural are the best.  Jiff is for the birds.  Every person who’s ever prepped would agree that the peanut butter is a definite perk.
  • PLANNING IS EVERYTHING- Honestly, you have to be really organized to handle this. Your prep life and routine revolves around your workouts and meals.   Before you leave the house every day (weekends included!) you have to think about what food to bring with you, pack your gym bag, grab a change of clothes, and figure out how much time you will need to fit in your workouts.  That’s a lot to think about!  Grocery shopping and meal prep are CRUCIAL.  I always have chicken cooked, and sweet potatoes baked and in the fridge.  If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.
  • EAT EVERY 2.5-3 HOURS! Personally, I tried to space my morning meals 2.5 hours apart, and the next 4 meals 3 hours apart, and my last one (a casein shake) just before bed time.  I never woke up in the middle of the night hungry, and really wasn’t ever starving.  You just have to stay on top of your meals and EAT when you’re supposed to!
  • SUGAR FREE GUM- I think I have about 10 packs in my purse right now. #truestory
  • HOT TEA- Caffeine free Peppermint with Stevia was my go-to when I got hungry in between dinner and my Casein shake.
  • TEMPERATURE OF MEALS- Food tastes much better served cold or hot. Lukewarm sucks, but I guarantee of the 500+ meals you will eat in a 12 week prep that you will certainly be eating a lot of them on parking lots, and at room temperature.  That said, whenever possible, refrigerate and microwave.
  • A SIX PACK BAG OR COOLER- All the cool kids have Six Pack Bags. I also love my Vera Bradley cooler for when I pack less food. Plus, I look like a badass carrying my Six Pack bag around. “What’s that?” say people. I respond, “My food because I’m a badass.  And yes I eat all of it.”
My Six Pack Bag. Never leave home without it!
My Six Pack Bag. Never leave home without it!
  • BUY PROTEIN POWDER THAT TASTES GOOD! My favorites:  Cellucor Red Velvet Cake Batter (whey), Dymatize Elite Casein Chocolate Peanut Butter and Cinnamon Bun.  Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Toffee Fudge (seriously, the best whey I’ve tried—knowing I get it at the end of a workout has helped me power through!) and Cake Batter are both excellent choices for whey too.
  • GOOD SUPPLEMENTS COST MONEY- You get what you pay for both in flavor and in quality.
  • CUTE WORKOUT CLOTHES- Never too much neon here. God bless Lorna Jane, Nike, and Lululemon.
  • MY COUNTDOWN BOARD- I went all Pinterest and hit up the scrapbooking sections and craft stores to make myself a bulletin board full of motivational quotes and some bling. In the middle, I made a tear of sheet to help me count down the days until the show.  I hid little notes on a few pages—things like “keep pushing”, and “work hard”.  Every day I get to look at it and get excited all over again.  I can reuse it for my next one too!
108 days out, still a long way to go.
108 days out, still a long way to go.
20 days! Eek, it's getting close!
20 days! Eek, it’s getting close!

Lately everyone’s been asking what I miss the most, and what I can’t wait to eat or drink after the show.  Disclaimer:  as much as I say I want to eat and drink, I’ve worked my ass off to have this amazing physique, and I DO NOT want to screw it up!!  Reverse dieting will be key after the show to keep my metabolism and body weight in check.  Another good reason to have a coach to walk you through this.  Here’s what I’m looking forward to enjoying!

  • A cocktail, champagne, and wine.
  • Dinner with my friends and family after the show!
  • Mexican food and birthday cake—my 30th is April 1st, 3 days after the show, and we’re doing a big party at my favorite Mexican restaurant and have a chocolate cake ordered from Society Bakery. I can’t freaking wait.
  • COFFEE CREAMER!!!! The sugar free, fat free CoffeeMate.  Any flavor will do.  Almond milk just sucks as coffee creamer.  It really does.
  • Breakfast! Seriously, a biscuit, omelette and pancakes.  AND BACON.  Ohmygod bacon.  Sunday after the show, then right back to my egg whites and oats!
  • A burger…maybe Monday??

Seriously though, I don’t want to go to crazy with post-show indulgences and super caloric and fatty foods.  A lot of girls put on pounds QUICKLY after a show because they binge for days and weeks, and I’ve worked too damn hard!!!  Moderation will be key.

Till next time!

-Mere

Figuring it Out—What I’ve Really Been Up to the Last 10 Weeks

Contest Prep, Living the Fit Lifestyle, , , ,

Let me just start by saying that for me, “this” (meaning clean eating and training) has really become a lifestyle.  When I made the decision to compete, going into it I knew that I wanted to do more than one show, and really wanted to put 110% into this.  It’s more than just a hobby to me, especially now that I’m seeing the payoffs both physically and mentally.  Every day gets me more and more excited to train hard, eat all of my meals, share my knowledge and passion for this with others, and live another day in a healthy, happy body both physically and mentally.  Those of you that know me personally know that I don’t half ass anything, and when I put my mind to something, I really go full throttle.  If anything, I’ve learned that my over-achiever, type-A, uber competitive personality has served me well!  When you compete in this sport, you realize that prep and conditioning your physique to become “show ready” requires tons of time, work, and effort. Plus, you learn the best part about this sport —the longer you do it, the better your physique gets and the better you become as a competitor.  Some people do this for only one show though, and that’s okay too!

A “contest prep” is usually about a 12-week strict program with special nutritional and dietary macros guidelines (protein, fats, and carbs, remember?)  and workouts designed by a coach (although some people do this alone—more on that later) to get one’s body stage ready.  Mine started right after New Year’s, 12 weeks out from my show.  At first, my training and nutrition were very similar to my “off season”, cheat meals included, but I knew it wouldn’t always be that way!  From the beginning, I was concerned about my legs and lower body not being up to par with my upper body (arms, shoulders, and back) but I knew that if I “followed the plan” as prescribed by my coach, I should be A-OK come March 28th.

My mantra for this entire process, and quite frankly it can be applied to health and fitness in general, has been “One day, one meal, one workout at a time”.  It’s so true—I quickly learned that if I just focused on my next meal (every three hours!), or that day’s workout, the less I would be concerned with pre-show jitters, or focused on what I couldn’t eat or the things that I was “missing out on”..  That being said, if you are even CONSIDERING competing, I would encourage you to give it A LOT of thought and research everything before deciding whether or not it is for you.  This is not for the faint of heart.  Some people do their own prep, and I can’t even IMAGINE, especially as a first-timer, how one would know in the slightest what the hell they were doing!  Having a coach to guide you, support you, and mentor you, is CRUCIAL.  I’m so thankful for mine—I’ve probably asked a million questions since I started working with him, and he’s answered every single one with patience, encouragement, and knowledge.

I was fortunate too, that I have a whole team of Competitors that train with my coach (a lot of ladies, too!) that I could lean on, cheer for, and bond with.  That has been so great!  Having Shane here with me though, has been the biggest part.  Honestly, I probably couldn’t have done this without him.  He has been my rock through this, encouraging me every step of the way, from eating meals with me out of Tupperware in parking lots (I do that a lot!), meal-prepping, high-fiving me in the gym, and taking all of my progress pics, I could not be more blessed to have him by my side. We really are swole mates!

We really are swole mates!
We really are swole mates!

I’ve also been very open with my journey on social media, which for me, has just opened the doors for me to motivate and inspire others, which in turn motivates and inspires me to keep going.  Again, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies.  Yes, the abs and guns are awesome, and yes, I got to have a blast getting all dolled up this weekend for a photo shoot to show off my hot new body, but I’ve also been absolutely busting my ASS in the gym, and have essentially sworn off all restaurants and alcohol for the past three months.  Sometimes I forget the busting the ass part! I knew exactly what I was getting into before I signed up for this because I did lots of research before committing, just as you should.  Your life becomes a never-ending cycle of Train. Eat. Work. Eat. Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.  It’s also very expensive and time consuming—also something I knew before I started this journey.  I am also extremely fortunate that I don’t have a crazy work schedule or stressful job to deal with, or kids that needed time and attention.  I am able to work my 40 hours a week, I have a relatively drama free life, and I can really focus on my diet and training.  My efforts have really paid off.

Practice makes perfect.
Practice makes perfect.

If you’re the type of person that trains hard and eats six times a day already, then your day to day won’t change much if you decide to compete.  What you will learn though, is how much this is a mental and emotional transformation just as much as it is physical.  You can have a coach write down to the T what to eat and drink, how much and when, what to train, how to train, and when to train, but the 24 hours a day 7 days a week of this thing is all you.  No one’s looking over your shoulder to make sure you really only had 32g of peanut butter, and you must have  the self-control necessary to stay on plan, no matter how much Chick-Fil-A and Chipotle are begging you to pay them a visit.  You have to take it one day, one meal, one workout at a time.  In the beginning, the cravings were much harder to resist than they are now.  As much as I’ve talked about what I’m going to eat after the show, I really don’t want to sabotage all of the work that I’ve done and the sacrifices that I’ve already made, so I already know I’ll be right back on plan after a couple of days.  When I can drink again, though, I’m pretty sure my tolerance will be zero all over again!  Red wine and I are planning an awesome reunion.  I do NOT miss the hangovers!

I bet that I don't eat everything on this for a year or two!
I bet that I don’t eat everything on this for a year or two!

Carb depletion and fasted cardio will make your brain feel very fuzzy and strange.  I speak from experience on this one!  I’ve been working out twice a day for the last 8 weeks, as most competitors do for most of their prep.  I have made lots of sacrifices, don’t see my friends as often as I used to, and have closed down the gym more nights than I can count.  I’ve gotten up to get my fasted cardio in (I have NEVER missed a session, including a post-lifting cardio session, even if it meant tabatas in my living room at 11:30pm) regardless of the weather— I have gone to the gym in snow, sleet, pouring rain, ice, and freezing temperatures.  A workout was never skipped, a rep never missed.  I’ve eaten all of my meals, many of which were cold and boring, and not what I wanted to be eating.  I didn’t have a cheat when it wasn’t allowed, and have followed my plan down to the last letter.  I’ve worked too damn hard to not crush it this last full week of training, since the week before the show or “Peak Week” as we call it, is essentially just light workouts and a science-project of water and carb loading, and dehydration.  As far as the workouts go, only you know when you’ve given it your all. If you want to succeed, you really have to push through that last burning rep and leave the gym feeling like you just kicked your workout’s ass. Every damn day, good or bad.  I absolutely love that feeling.  There really is nothing else like it.

Working out is more fun when you're wearing awesome tights!
Working out is more fun when you’re wearing awesome tights!

Honestly though, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I’m not sharing this with you to brag or to get you to pat me on the back, but instead I am reflecting on what I’ve accomplished these last three months, and hoping that my journey will inspire you.  Even on my worst day, which included a melt-down in LA Fitness where I literally cried and F-bombed my way through a workout in a sheer state of exhaustion, and drinking sparkling water at my FAVORITE cocktail bar, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself these last 10 weeks.  These last 10 weeks I have perfected my 100 Pandora Stations with the hours I have spent in the gym, and never missed a 1pm Saturday posing class with my coach, and have done more laundry loads full of workout clothes than I care to admit.  I have pushed myself, motivated myself, and challenged myself in ways that I never thought possible and that means more to me than a trophy or medal ever will.  The discipline and pride that I have built are stronger than any muscle will ever be. I cannot thank you all enough for all of your encouragement and support every step of the way.  Every Facebook or Instagram Like, text, hug, Facebook post and message that my friends have given me, have helped carry me through this process.  I can’t wait to make y’all proud when I hit the stage at the Phil, and then do it all again for my next show!

Till next time!

-Mere