Long time no blogging! Sorry, friends! Life has been a blur since the competition and I have severely neglected the blog. I apologize! I know some of you have kept up with my via Facebook but I wanted to update here as well and continue blogging as I figure out the next steps in my fitness life.
First of all, the competition was a BLAST! I had so much more fun than I had anticipated. The other competitors were so friendly and once I relaxed a little I really did have a good time. I measured (height-wise) in the medium category (5'2"-5'5"). I did the first round in my 2-piece suit (which arrived TWO days before the competition dontevengetmestartedabouthatone!). I was so nervous but kept my composure the best I could. I then came out and did my walk in my 1-piece suit. That was better than the first round just because I was less nervous. Then, we had a break for a little bit of the afternoon and then did our walk routine again in the evening. Strutting around to Miley Cyrus all bedazzled and tanned was all that I expected and more :)
I ended up winning my class, which earned me a trophy and a medal :). I then had to come back out on stage and compete against the winners of the other classes (short and tall). The woman from the tall category won the whole thing (they didn't do 2nd and 3rd place). I was so happy to have won my class--it really made the hard work feel worth it. Winning my class qualified me to compete at a pro show within the NPA organization. However, if I accept my pro card and compete in a pro show, I cannot compete in an amatuer show in that organization again. I'm not sure I want to close that possibility out and my pro card (earned from this competition) is good for 3 years (I think). I spoke to a judge afterwards who said I should definitely do the pro show (which was in October) but I was just not in the mindset to continue this journey...I was too hungry to even think about it! Here are some pictures from the day:
Before I update you on what I've been up to the last 1.5 months and tell you my plan for the future (which is still very unclear, don't get too excited ;)), I have to first say thank you to many, many people. I know this is a little cheesy, but without these people, this would not have happened. Thank you to:
-My family for always supporting me! My mom, dad, preggo sister, her husband, and my baby niece all came to the competition!
-Greg-- thank you doesn't even begin to express how grateful I am for all that you have helped me do...
-Mike Davies, my coach who sent me workouts and diets and helped me "bring my booty down."
-Stacy Wig, my posing coach, who took me from a complete novice to a competitor with some confidence :)
-Lisa Lutz for doing my spray tans, hair, and make-up and being SO flexible and accommodating!
-April Hickory for taking some AMAZING professional pictures of me that I will cherish forever! I will post some of those in my next post. Take a look at her website!
-Shea, my training buddy back when the thought of this competition was really just a reason to motivate myself to get to the gym. Thanks for being there from the very beginning!
-Shea, Kat O., Mikey, Sarah, Tanno, Caly, Kat K., Lolo, Cijlvere, Justine, and Mara (my coach who helped me prep backstage) for making the trek down to Richmond, giving up part of your weekend to support me...thank you! Your support has meant so much to me, you have no idea.
I know these thank-yous are LONG overdue and I apologize for that! Thank you times a million plus infinity!
So...the big question...now what?? The short answer is, I have no idea! Honestly, I'm struggling right now to figure out some kind of balance in my life, both in the gym and with the diet. Since the competition, I have put on about 15 pounds, which is fine, but it's still so weird to see my body change. I'm still trying to motivate to get to the gym, but it's so much easier to miss a gym session when a competition is not looming in the near future. I'm trying to eat clean and healthy during the week and giving myself a little leeway on the weekends. I have a whole post about balance coming up soon :)
I have toyed with the idea of doing a competition in the spring and that is still a realistic possibility. Right now though, I'm taking a break from the super intensity of it all. I'm so busy teaching 5th grade, tutoring, trying to see my family, getting settled in our new place...I am just not in the mindset that I know I need to be in to tackle the physical, emotional, and monetary needs that go with training for a competition. So, basically, I'm trying to figure out how to be a normal eater/worker-outer with possible competitions in the future. :) That's my plan right now.
One thing that has not changed is my early bedtime :) And if you've been reading this blog for any amount of time you know that since it's 8:30, that means it's almost my bedtime :) Stay in touch! I will do the same and keep you posted on thoughts I have swirling in my head about all of this fitness/nutrition stuff :) I also have some more pictures to share!
Happy Tuesday!
xoxo
