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.

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.

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