It's Over Already?

Wow, that was such a whirlwind of a day but so amazing and fun. I can't wait to do it again. If you didn't get to read my mobile blog last night, I placed 3rd in my class. There were 5 girls in my class and I'm very proud of my placing for my first show. I emailed the head judge this morning to get feedback. I also emailed the promoter to find out where and when pics will be posted online. We're getting proof photo packages in about 2 weeks but I'm hoping to see stage pics before then. Ok so I wrote about my expereince on the Oxygen Journal so I'm going to copy and paste it on to here...

Good morning Girls,Yup, I'm up early but I feel really well rested and I got the most consecutive hours of sleep that I've in the last few days. Ok, show details. Here goes... Oh, pics will have to wait until later today because our digital camera is horrible and they came out dark and very far away so I have to work on them and hope that some of them are salvageable. Anyway...The day could not have gone better or smoother. From Friday night when I got spray tanned to all day Saturday, there's absolutely nothing I can complain about. My tan, both full applications and my touch up between shows on Sat. went on great and looked really natural under the lights. A few weeks ago I emailed the girl who was spraying me and tried to explain to her how light I was for being black and she was like "oh, you'll only need like 1 coat or so..." Well, I get there and she's like "wow, you really are fair skinned So yeah, we sprayed me pretty heavily. Angie, (spray tan girl) was so helpful the entire time. She knew that it was my first show and that I didn't really know anyone so she kept checking on me and making sure I was ok and did my bikini bite and glaze and everything. She was soooo awesome!

In terms of the number of figure girls, it was much smaller than last year. Master's class was the biggest with about 8-10 women, Class A had 3, Class B (my class) had 5 and class C had 2. Oh, and bikini had 1 in tall and 2 in short. The tall girl won the overall in bikini and she totally deserved it, she looked like she had just stepped off a beach.

For Prejudging, I felt like I did a really great job, I remembered to smile the entire time, I remembered to thank the judges. I was 3rd in line so when we went to do comparisons I was in the center and they kept me there through quarter turns. They only moved 2 girls but I felt like I was in top 3 based off them not moving me. As for physiques, the 2 girls who came ahead of me were a little leaner (but not by a lot) and more hard and dried out. I emailed Julie after the show and told her that I felt like I was still holding some water throughout the day. Also, I was kinda timid in my carb up because I was so afraid of spilling over so I didn't feel that I was full as I could have been. Even so, I still had the biggest V taper.

The woman that one overall also won Masters and short class. She was by far the most muscular and the hardest so her placing was no suprised and much deserved.

It's so funny how totally different everyone eats during comp day. I pretty much stuck with goo for my carb ups (pp, honey, pb mixed together) and did a couple candy bars and sweet potato before the night show. Others were doing rice cakes w/ pb or goo with oats in it. What was really unexpected to me was how many girls went out for junk food in between shows. One girl did pizza, another did McDonald's quarter pounder and fries. The McDonald's girl said that she depletes all week and then starts loading up on crap food on Friday Hey,whatever works for you I guess. Then there were those who were eating chicken and asparagus through out the day and did basically no carb up. I dunno, just interesting.

As for my post comp eats....Can you believe that I from like noon on I was totally not interested in Ihop? I think this whole time I've wanted it because I couldn't have it and now that I could I was like "I've eaten sweet junk food all day, not as excited about it"....but we still went!!! HAHA! I got the smokehouse sampler w/ smokehouse sausage, 3egg whites, hashbrowns and 3 harvest nut and grain pancakes w/ sugar free syrup (I actually like sf syrup!). I didn't eat much of the egg whites because they tasted sooo salty after not eating salt for the last 3 days. Everything else was perfect! I ALSO had a lemon bar and an apple fritter.

Today, I'm trying to start clean things back up a little but still enjoying myself. For breakfast I had Kix w/ blueberries (an entire small container), sugar snap peas, and reduced sodium bacon. Oh, and 2 pieces of my Godiva Chocolate although they tasted a little too sweet for me. Soooo weird!

I had a blast competing and would probably keep going and do the other 2 shows I had planned if A-I didn't feel like my body needed a break B-I didn't feel like Derrick needed a break! So, the plan for now is to go on maintenence and not gain back all my hard work then to start prepping for Oct/Nov shows sometime in August. I'm definitly doing atleast 2 shows in the Oct/Nov. window.

Ok, question. How do I clean my suit? It's disgusting and I want to sell it but need to clean it first.

Once again, thanks for all your help and guidance everyone. I could not have done any of this without you guys and your encouragement, advice and support. I apologize for my whineness and hope it didn't annoy any of you too much :-) I think now that I know what to expect, and now that I'm NEVER starting 19 weeks out, ever again, comp. prep will go more smoothly.

Ok, can I just say how much I LOVE what is left of my tan after my shower last night. I actually look tan, not weird contest tan but just browned and sunkissed. I wish I could keep this color all the time because it looks perfect!

PS- I kinda want to go to the gym and just do a little cardio. I've been off for 4 days and I miss it :-(

Have great days all!

3rd!

5 in my class they kept me in the center

Just testing my mobile blog

Holy Spray Tan Batman!!!

Spray Tanning was so fun and the girl who does the tanning has an amazing body! I'm so glad she's not competing tomorrow LOL. Anyway, I'm super tired and about to eat my last meal of the night and enjoy my glass of wine but I'll catch up with you guys tomorrorw before I leave for the day. Have great nights :-)

Waterlogged!

So, for all of you who have competed before...if you did a sodium/water load and then a deplete, when did you start feeling "less fluffy"? this was my first day of no sodium and reduced water but I still feel so waterlogged. I'm afraid it's not going to go away in time. Did you see major changes between Thursday and Friday and then between Friday and Saturday. I'm trying to remind myself that I'm also carb depleted right now too so that's probably making me look extra smooth and watery or something ???RIGHT???Please say I'm right :-(

Last Workouts Done! All Diet and Water from here!

WOOHOO!!! They're done, they're done!!! No more cardio, no more weights. (Can you tell I'm alittle excited???) I'm ready for a little break and don't intend to go to the gym for a week after my comp. I'm long over do for a gym break and I think my body will thank me.

My hamstrings are mega sore from my workout on Sunday. I foam rolled and stretched this morning and tonight so I'm hoping they start to loosen up. I have a massage scheduled for Friday morning and am sooo excited!!!

Tomorrow is my last shift at work until after competition. Unfortunately it's the 5am-10am shift so I have to get up at 3:45...no fun! But once it's done, it's done for while. I'm going to come home after work and take a little nap then go to get my nails done, come home and finish my suit (have a couple stones left, I procrastinate), then paint my toe nails, prep my food for Friday and start to pack my comp bag [making a list, checking it twice]. Ok, I'm starting to fall asleep and I still have chicken to eat. Hasta la pasta!

4 Days Out and Still Drinking Water

Ok, I'm officially over water and kinda actually excited about scaling back the sodium starting tomorrow. At first, I was really happy about all the salt because I love salt but now I'm ok with moving on. (you just watch, by Friday I'll be begging for my salt!) Anyway, sorry I didn't post yesterday but I didn't really have anything to say. The day was kinda uneventful. I had to drive 45minutes away to go buy hair for the extensions I'm getting put in tomorrow. Actually, I already have extensions but I'm getting some longer ones in tomorrow. I also got my bikini wax done. I wanted to get that out of the way early in the week because someone told me that spray tan stuff doesn't always adhere to newly waxed areas very well.

Today is going to be a long day....last Friday I wrote out a day by day competition "to do" list and for Tuesday is just says "Get through the day". I'm about to go to the gym to do my 2nd out of 3rd full body workout of the week, 15minutes of cardio and then some posing. Then I have to come home, shower, go back to the gym to work the front desk until 2. Then drive to the other gym (since the one I work at doesn't have an arc trainer), do 30minutes of cardio. Come home, take a nap for 45minutes then go teach dance for 3 hours! But the light at the end of the tunnel is that Tuesdays are my hardest day so after today it gets easier!

Ok, going back to chugging water now! Have great days :-)

Peak Week Day 1- Last Leg Day!!!

Today is officially begins. I'm almost done with my 2.5 gallons for the day, I think I have about 2 more liters. I had 2 great workouts today, this morning 30min on the Arc trainer and this afternoon my last leg workout, 20min on the stepper, and posing practice. I have one more posing session to get done tonight. I also want to do a makeup run through. I may wait until Thursday to do my makeup run because I'm getting my extensions lengthened on Wednesday and that way I can do a hair and makeup run through. From all my years on stage I'm good with makeup and lashes and all that and have a nice collection of colors so I'm not too worried. For my fouundation, a competition makeup artist recommended ERA Face which is an airspray foundation. It was in of pricey but I think it will last awhile and it's water/sweat resistent which is always a good thing. My other makeup colors are MAC. I'm thinking purples for my eyes, they always look good on me and that's what I use for the theatre stage.

I'm so glad I'm done with work for the week after my shift at the gym on Thursday morning because I feel like I still have a lot to do. I have a little left to finish on my suit and am waiting for more crystals to arrive they should be here by tomorrow. I also need to buy an umbrella because they're calling for thunderstorms this weekend and the last thing I need is a runny tan.

Ok, I think that's all for tonight. More to come tomorrow :-)

1 Week Out!!!

I'm sooo cloooosssseee!! I'm almost there guys...and I'm ready to be done. 19 weeks of dieting is enough for me. I'm so proud and excited and how far I've come. Yesterday was especially difficult and Julie ended up giving me the day off from training because I was just so totally drained. I'm feeling better today, still tired but better. Tomorrow I start water and sodium loading. I'm trying to figure out where I need to sit in church to make sure I have access to the bathroom since I'll probably going every 6 seconds LOL! Ok, I promise I'll be posting updates this week on what's going on during Peak Week. I can't wait to share this final week with you all!

4 Days Out from Peak Week!

I'm getting so close girls. I'm really excited but training is getting harder and harder :-( I just got back from my 2nd cardio session at the gym today and it was a major struggle staying on the Arc Trainer for the full 45minutes. I just gotta put my head down and keep moving forward because I am determined to finish strong.

Ok, I know this is a really short post but I wanted to check in with you guys before I went to bed. Tomorrow's my early work day at the gym...3:45am BOOOOO!!!!

Have great nights! :-)

Peak Week Plan Has Arrived

Julie emailed me my peak week plan today, I'm very excited and very nervous about peeing the bed since I'll be downing 2.5 gallons of water for 4 days in a row. Peak week plan is pretty basic and straight forward, lots of steak, asparagus, grapefruit, and fish. I get to have a glass of red wine the night before my competition, WOOHOO!!!

So, for my during the day carb up, I'm trying to decide between mini candy bars (thinking fast break or twix) or "goo" which is a mix of honey, peanut butter, and protein powder mixed with a little water. I'm thinking I'll go with the fastbreak bars! Oh, I can also do trail mix but I want something sweeter.

After this competition I've decided to take a break instead of doing a comp on May 30th and June 20th. I've been dieting for almost 20 weeks and I'm tired and hungry and just don't feel like I could give anymore prep time my all. I'm going to keep working with Julie and then start preping at the end of August for a comp on October 31st. Hopefully in working with Julie I'll stay lean enough that I can pull off a shorter prep time.

Ok, on my way to sleep. Hope you all have great night! :-)

2 Weeks Out

I just ate and I feel like I could eat an entire restaurant right now....such is 2 weeks out I guess. Not gonna lie, this week was hard and kinda sucked. All week I've been like "why am I doing this? What's the point? I'm hungry and tired....food tastes good and I love it!" This week Julie told me to stop anything with caffeine in it because I was having such a terrible time sleeping...big mistake! Apparently, caffeine was the last thing separating me and a walking zombie so basically now I'm the zombie. So, I'm going to add back in 1/2 the amount that I was taking before, just so I can get through my workouts and my day. Lifts have been so pathetic, I'm embarrassed in the weight room. I actually picked up an 8lb dumbbell for bicep curls the other day :-( I'm only breaking like 140bpm on my cardio. Diet has been 90% but I know it needs to be 100%. I'm totally rethinking a 2nd and 3rd show, I'm just hungry and ready to eat and ready to have a raspberry framboise! (or 2...3...4)

Ok, now that I've gotten my rantings out here's the great stuff. I only have 2 weeks left!!! And I can't believe how much my body has changed in the last 17 weeks. (Oh God, it's been 17 weeks). I do want to do another show, either in the fall or next year but this off season, I'm going to make sure I stay lean enough that I can start no more than 12 weeks out, I will never ever start 19 weeks out ever again. I'm also trying to decide right now if I want to keep Julie on as my trainer for the off season. I kinda really like having someone write my diet and training plans and email them to me every week and, when I figure it out, she's less than my weekly voice lessons which I've taken a hiatus from. I still have awhile to think about it. I'm going to keep her on until atleast the end of July so that she can help me transition into the off season.

Ok, I really need the gym to open so I can go workout and not eat my house! Hope all is well with you guys :-)