Here today, gone tomorrow!

Unfortunately that's how many of us competitors feel about our ripped "in shape" bodies.  I am one of those people right now.  I have a little over 16 weeks to prep for my first IFBB pro physique show here in Sacramento.  Honestly part of me couldn't wait to start my competition diet today and part of me wasn't quite ready to give up the cheat meals.  I've really enjoyed being able to go out to eat with my husband and kids without having to bring my own food.  Honestly its a good thing that I went ahead and got back into my competition dieting phase because my cravings have gotten a little out of control lately.  Hunger has been my enemy and my stomach issues were just making the situation worse.  I started thinking that I may as well eat if I'm looked bloated and fat anyways! 

So, starting off this week fresh, I'm physically feeling a little better and my stomach issues have gotten a little less intense.  But, mentally I've got to wrap my head around the next 4 months of dieting for this show. I just remind myself that the earlier I start dieting, the earlier I'll be ready for the show.  To me that means less cardio and more time to spend with my family and personal training clients.  Those competitors who waited too long to start their diet understand what I'm talking about when it comes to being ready early.  I refuse to be in the gym for 2 hours of cardio, starving, and brain dead just to be able to show my face on stage.  To me, that's not bringing my best package to show.  So in honor of my early start to the season, I've created some goals for myself:

1. Don't get hooked on the scale's # because it doesn't tell me the real story about what's going on with my body.

2. Do Yoga once or twice a week to help with my mental blocks and stiff muscles.  It'll lengthen, strengthen, and guide me back when my mind wants to wander off the path.

3. Give my all at each cardio session.  No half-a*%ing it!  I gotta get those calories burned asap.

4. Be good on my cruise in December!  Yep, you read that right.  I'll be competition dieting while on a week long cruise in the Caribbean...it sucks but oh well.

5. Stay true to myself and my beliefs. I am a natural competitor and am determined to stay that way. I use only natural, holistic training and nutrition principles.  They are key to my success!

There you have it.  Make your list of goals-  It will put things into perspective and create a home base for when you lose your way.

Need help with your diet or training plan?  Message me or visit www.ironaddictiontraining.com

Get me my mojo, asap!

So after looking at the 2012 contest schedule for the Pro Physique division online and I actually felt a little sick to my stomach.  While I had that familiar excitement and energy, I also had a small bout of nausea that quickly followed. I've competed on the pro level in the natural divisions, but this just seems like a totally different league.  I know that there's a possibility that I could be the only natural competitor on that stage.  And while that makes me feel good inside, it also scares the crap out of me.  I don't know much about what women in non-tested shows take to get ready for a contest but I do know that it'll probably take me twice as long to lose the same amount of fat.  That's the sacrifice that natural competitors make to look their best on stage, but I must day that it does stress me out a bit.  Gotta love those sabotaging thoughts that your mind can produce!

One of the reasons I felt a little sick to my stomach are the issues I've been having with my digestive system (to put it nicely).  I've been a bloated mess for weeks now.  I have this huge distended stomach (looking like I'm way pregnant), have terrible cramps, and awful irregularity.  So immediately I start looking for resolutions.  I ordered some probiotics and enzymes which are helping a little, but I've now had to revamp my diet to see what the culprits are (I'm guessing vegetables?). 

Needless to say that with all of these physical issues come the mental ones too.  I need to get my mojo back asap!  That March contest will be here before I know it so I decided that it's time for a fresh game plan.  The first thing I'm doing is changing up my diet.  I've gotta figure out what's bothering my stomach so the diet change is imperative.  Second thing I'm gonna do is change up my workouts. I think that giving myself a new schedule and body part split will help a lot.  The last change I'm going to make right now is my cheat day meal plan (or lack thereof).  I currently eat whatever I want on Saturdays, but feeling sick and nauseated all day is no longer cool with me.  So to remedy this I'm going to eat clean all day & pick something special for dinner.  Lets see if that will fix me up...

Jiggly butts and flabby guts do not a winner make!



Bodybuilding- Never once have I said that this sport is easy.  In fact, I guarantee it's one of the toughest sports out there (aside from maybe an Iron Man race).  When you choose to prepare for a contest, you have just committed your body and mind to months of dieting, cardio, and heavy lifting- even on the days where you're feeling like a complete zombie. Then, you have all the sacrifices that go with this contest preparation which may include- missing parties (because you can't drink or eat so what's the point?), opting out of going to the movies (the smell of popcorn is just too much to handle!), ignoring the fast food restaurant you so often would visit (who really wants to watch other people eat hamburgers and fries while you're eating fish and asparagus?), and then trying to ignore the Starbucks on every corner (this is not easy cuz that caramel latte is calling my name!).



Me and my team at
the Sac ABA show



We do all of this to look our best on stage and ultimately to prove something to ourselves.  I've been competing for a few years now and after taking a look at myself, my team, and fellow competitors, I've come to the conclusion that many of us have issues with our body image or just food in general.  After all, getting up on stage in a teeny bikini leaves little to the imagination and will definitely show any lapses we've had in our diets or workout discipline.  I was at a contest this last weekend with my team and I was shocked at how many girls and guys got up on that stage when they truly weren't ready.  I mean jiggly butts and flabby guts do not a winner make!  But for those of us who stick to the plan 100% and come in on point...what happens after the show when its time to look like a "normal" person again?  I always see people I know at these shows (its a very small community) and this last show proved no different.  I saw a girl that I've competed with in the past and she said to me that I must not be competing because I'm "usually way more ripped than now". I wasn't quite sure what to make of that comment so I just reiterated that it was my "off-season" and that I had until next year before I had to be stage ready again. Gotta love people that put in their 2 cents...



I realized last night while talking to my husband that I have my own body image issues.  Unlike the skinny anorexic chicks of the world, my issue is what some may call Bigorexia.  Although mine's not an extreme case by any means, I do see myself as a much smaller person (muscle wise) than I really am.  My loving husband pointed this out to me last night when I compared myself to another figure girl that I competed against in the under 5'2" category.  I honestly thought we were the same size or that she was more muscular than me, but it turns out that I'm wrong- really wrong.  The picture above is a great example.  There I was, thinking that I'm close to the same size as the girls on my team, that is until I looked at that picture.  Triceps anyone? Even the photos from Oxygen and Flex magazines below show that my eyes don't see what's really in the mirror.  Having that person (whether its your husband, wife, or trainer) be honest with you and snatch you back into reality is crucial in this sport and lifestyle.  I must say that I'm thankful to have my husband's support and (sometimes brutal) honesty, because without it, I probably wouldn't be able to see what really standing (or flexing) in the mirror.  So...Who's gives you your reality check?



Oxygen magazine



Flex magazine





Oh cheat day, how I miss thee...

I went almost 8 months without a single cheat meal or deviation from my contest prep diet, yet now after only 1 week without my beloved cheat day, I'm ready to rip someone's head off!  It's amazing how if you don't have something for a long period of time your body doesn't really miss it that much. Getting into a routine is tough at first, but once I do, I find comfort within that. The idea of getting up on stage when I'm not looking or feeling my best really freaks me out.  I've seen some competitors get up on that stage knowing that they should've stayed home and given themselves an extra couple of months on the diet, and I really don't want that to be me!

I must say that I have iron-clad willpower when it comes to my contest diet, but dieting for a photoshoot doesn't really have the same urgency as getting up on stage does.  I know that these pictures will last FOREVER and are important, but unlike the upcoming contests, it doesn't seem real to me.  But honestly, it would be hard to ever forgive myself if I ruined the opportunities that this shoot could bring.  Great pictures are not only awesome for my website, but a woman needs some Sponsors to afford this sport/ lifestyle!

I went to a store last weekend to look for some outfits for the shoot (bikinis, athletic wear, etc) and was totally bummed out when I went into the dressing room to try the stuff on.  The lighting was awful (at least I hope it was the lighting) and I could see every dimple and imperfection on my butt and thighs.  If you ever want to deflate a woman's ego just take her into that store!  Talk about a reality check.  That afternoon I decided it was time to change up my workouts and add back in that 2nd leg day that I had quickly eliminated after my last contest.

So this week has had some challenges, but I'm actually feeling comfortable getting into my old routine, even if it is sans cheat meal- at least for the next couple of weeks.  So as of today, I'm within 3 lbs of my contest weight which is a relief.  I've never been able to keep my weight off for this long after my contest season has ended (notice I've omitted the term "off-season"). But I will say that I'm looking forward to being done with this shoot so I can have some chips and salsa, or maybe some Chinese food, or maybe yogurt with toppings, or maybe....I could go on and on but I think I'll stop while I'm ahead.

Off-season? What's that?

I've been competing for a while now (going into my 5th season!) and every competitor looks forward to their "off-season".  It's usually a time for us to become more relaxed with our diets, cut back on the cardio (or sometimes eliminate it completely), and rest up for the next season of competitions.  The questions I get a lot from new clients/competitors are: When do I take my season? How much weight should I gain? Do I have to do cardio?  To answer that question I will say only this: What off-season? 

I used to be a firm believer in living it up in my off-season.  I loved eating those carb-filled meals and not having to do the stepmill for 45 minutes at a time, but I hated trying to get all that weight off when it was time to start dieting again.  That's when I decided to change my habits from the "gotta eat to grow" mentality to my stay lean and win reality!  I've found that having one afternoon a week to eat whatever I want while following my "competition diet" the rest of the week works really good for me.  It gives me something to look forward to and feels like a reward for eating the right foods all week.  

Since I started doing this last year, I found it much easier to keep the weight off, therefore making my dieting down phase a lot less intense.  I noticed that while I only gained 8 lbs last year in my off-season, I still looked bigger and more muscular than the year before- last year I competed at 106 lbs and this season I ended at 101 lbs. I've posted a comparison photo from my contests in 2010 (left) and 2011 (right). 

The biggest difference I see is in my hamstrings and glutes.  Like most women that's the hardest area for me to lean out, so seeing the difference just in that area alone is motivation enough for me to keep the fat off this season!  That, plus the photoshoots I'm scheduling through out the year...

In a little less than 3 weeks I have a photoshoot with a couple of girls from my Iron Addiction team down in LA.  So, I've cut out my cheat day to harden up for those pics.  Man, I really enjoy those Smash Burgers and Barbeque, but it'll be worth it to have some awesome pics :-)  Plus, it'll feel good to not have to lose 5 lbs of water (at least I hope it's just water) each week to maintain my weight!  You read that right, I actually put on about 5 lbs after my cheat day.  It makes me sick to know how quickly I can put weight on!  Weighing myself before and after that cheat day keeps me in check.  Lord knows that weight sure does creep up on ya!

Better check yo'self b4 you wreck yo'self!



Me with my family after I won my IFBB Pro Card at the USA's.



If any of you reading this have ever dieted for a prolonged period of time (for me it was 8 months) you will understand my feelings over the last couple of weeks.  As a competitor, I dieted for 8 long months to get to the pinnacle of my conditioning.  I normally give myself 4 months so that I can get there in a heathly way and this season I ended up needing to tweak some things to get my conditioning perfect for the USA's.  While it really paid off in a big way, I now am sitting here with a sort lost feeling.  It's difficult to describe, but when you put all of your energy into something and seek perfection from it, the result can be bitter sweet.  I exceeded my own expectations this year by getting my IFBB pro card, and now I want to gear up for the 2012 season...but transitioning into my "off-season" is a little scary for me. 



My goal is to stay within 5 lbs of my competition weight- (and bummer for me) that includes water weight gain that you get immediately afterwards.  If I can stay right where I am now, I'll be fine.  I've decided to help me stay motivated I'm going to schedule a couple of photoshoots for Sept/Oct/Nov time frame.  I won't know when my first pro show will be until October so I figure having someone take photos of me in tiny outfits before then will surely keep me in shape!  It really can be hard to keep yourself in check when you don't have something coming up for a while.  It's so easy to have your slip ups and not really worry about them until you get on the scale and you're 10 lbs up!  I've decided that I'm not gonna let that happen to me this year.  Here's my game plan:



1. Eat clean all week long.  Basically I'll stay on my competition diet during the week and then have one day (Saturday) to eat pretty much whatever I want for 1/2 day. 

2. Keep up my cardio, but less than competition season.  This is more for the mental aspect of it than anything.  Cardio keeps my mind in check and just makes me feel good :-)

3. Schedule photo shoots farther out from contest to keep my motivation to stay in shape.  Shoots are easy right after contest because you're already in shape...its the ones set farther out that keep your eating in check!

4. Only eat cheat meals that are really "worth it".  I'm not gonna just eat crap because I can.  I'm working hard for those meals so they better be the most amazing things I've ever tasted! 

5. Weigh myself every week whether I want to or not.  I need the accountability and it'll help me to control myself on my cheat meal days.  It's amazing how many foods you start to crave after you've had a "taste".  Sugar and fats really are addictive- that's I leave them out completely during my competition prep.  I rather not even have the temptation!

So this weekend after my cheat day, I actually weighed myself for the first time since contest.  I haven't had that much anxiety in a long time.  But thankfully, I'm staying within 5 lbs of my contest day weight still.  It's like I have to re-train my brain after every competition season.  In my head I know it's not healthy to keep really low body fat all year round, but my ego wants to...Therin lies the issue. 

OMG, I won!....Now what?

Last month seemed like a huge whirlwind.  I had 3 contests in July and looking back it all seems like a blur.  The first contest of the month was the San Jose show where I placed first in my class in figure and bodybuilding.  Then it was on to the natural IFPA show in Sacramento.  I placed 2nd there again to Chrissy Z. but I was happy nonetheless because I'd shown up in great condition.  I had a hard time this season with bloating the day of the show.  For some reason I kept retaining a lot of water throughout the day and by the time I went on stage I felt like a bloated mess and my suit was tight!  Talk about frustrating.  But thank God that my hubby is a genius and he came up with a perfect peaking plan for my last show in Vegas- the NPC USA's. 

The USA's was really important show to me for a couple of reasons.  The first being that I was ready to move away from the figure division and into either the new NPC physique division or natural bodybuilding.  I was tired of "the heels" and not getting to really flex my muscles.  The second reason is that I knew I needed to make a choice between the IFPA or the NPC as they had sent out letters to some fellow competitors warning them that they needed to compete in either one or the other division.   So in my head I was already debating on which organization I should choose.  I knew that if I won my class at the USA's and earned my pro card in the IFBB that the decision would be so much easier for me.

I went into the USA's without any expectations.  I just focused on nailing my poses, making eye contact with the judges, and tried to keep my nerves in check.  There was a huge crowd there and it included my parents from Oklahoma as well as my sister and her boyfriend from Texas, so the pressure was on!  I wanted to do well for myself but also for my husband who had put up with me for all those months while I was dieting and kept tweaking my diet and workouts until I hit my perfect peak.  I went into that show without any bloating, Liquid Sunrayz gave me the perfect color, and Saleyla had fixed my suit for me last minute while in Vegas.  Everything was working out for the best and it all fell into place when I was moved to the center during the first callouts. 

Talk about an amazing feeling!  Hearing my name being called out for the 1st place trophy and IFBB pro card was surreal!  I can't even explain how I felt except that I wanted to cry and throw up all at the same time.  I went to IHOP after the contest and got my long awaited pancake platter and then realized that my off-season had just started....There aren't any pro shows for physique until next year...so now what?  I guess I'll just try not to get fat.

Trish's 2011 Competition Season- Sprint, woman, sprint!

Even though I've been dieting since the 2nd of January, I still feel like it's a sprint to the finish before a big show. My two biggest or most anticipated shows this year are the IFPA Pro in Sacramento 7/16/11 and the NPC USA's in Las Vegas 7/30/11. Having these contests fall within two weeks of each other is pretty stressful, but I'll finally get to have a cheat meal after the Vegas show! I try not to think about that because it seems so far away still, but I want pancakes!!!! Anyways, all I can say is that I'm glad I started dieting down so early this year. It's given me and my husband/ diet coach plenty of time to make the needed adjustments to my diet and cardio schedule. It's fascinating how much my body changes each year! It 's not just the outward physical appearance that changes, but also my reaction to food, cardio, sleep. stress, etc.

After the last contest I did at the end of May, I decided to kick up my cardio and my husband tweeked my diet a little to lean me out more. This year I wanted to get that "hard" look. My body loves to hold onto water, so getting rid of that excess has made all the difference in my appearance. I must say that going into this contest, I am in the best condition I've ever been able to achieve. I really wanted to have a great 2011 season & with 4 wins so far this year I'm definitely satisfied with my performance.

Last weekend I competed in the NPC San Jose Championships in both Bodybuilding and Figure . I actually placed first in my class in both categories! Talk about a shocker (especially with the bodybuilding)! Of course the girl that took the overall in bodybuilding was about 40 lbs heavier than me, so I really wasn't expecting to win the whole thing. Getting up on the bodybuilding stage after not having done it in 3 years was terrifying and exciting at the same time. I was so nervous trying to remember all of the tips and tricks I've been taught and actually remembering to flex my muscles (which I don't do in the NPC figure division). Wouldn't you know that when it came time to do my routine my music didn't work in their stereo (talk about my worst nightmare!)...So, I ran off the stage to get my back up copy while the other lightweight competitor did her routine. I gave my disk to the DJ and when that one didn't work either I could literally feel my stomach sink. The DJ let me look at a list of songs and thankfully he had the song This is why I'm Hot on his computer. I did my first routine in 2008 to that song so I told him to just play that one. Talk about nerve wracking! Anyways, I did it and thankfully didn't mess up or fall, etc....

While I had a bit of a technical challenge during the bodybuilding portion of the competition, it made me realize how much I miss doing the bodybuilding division. Figure is fun with the jewelry and glitzy suits, but I just love flexing my muscles and doing the routine portion. I'm really looking forward to competing at the USA's in the new Physique division. It think it's the best of both worlds- glitz without the shoes!

So we'll see what the future will hold for me after these two shows. I've got a big month ahead of me and will be sure to keep posting!

To carb or not to carb...

That is always the question!  Unfortunately in my case the answer is almost always NOT to carb, but every competitor is different.  We all process foods differently and my stubborn body just doesn't really seem to do much with carbs or fat except store them under my skin.  So this causes my poor husband to change my diet every so often to shock it into submission (as I like to call it).  I say my "poor" husband because once those necessary changes are made, my hormones seem to get completely out of wack and I become a complete Biatchhh.

It's absolutely insane how much food affects my mood, personality, and yes even my brain power.  I know that I'm lean enough to compete and have done well in my competitions so far this year, but I'm one of those people who want to take it further.  I want to challenge myself in new ways every chance I get.  So to switch things up a bit, I'm competing in both bodybuilding and figure at my competition on 7/9 in San Jose .  I'm really just doing the bodybuilding for fun because I miss flexing my muscles.  Believe me, I'm not naive to the fact that I'm a natural competitor who'll be trying to compete against women who may (or may not) have had some pharmaceutical help along the way, but it'll be fun nonetheless.  So, my point was that I want to get harder & a little leaner for my upcoming shows- San Jose bodybuilding show, the natural Pro figure show, and the national level Physique show in Vegas.  Needless to say I talked to my husband and after taking a good look at me he decided to go ahead and cycle my carbs a bit more drastically (at his own risk!). 

These jeans fit me in '08 during my
 1st contest prep.
I weigh more now than I did then!
.

I've gotta admit that I'm not "fun" right now.  It always takes my body about 2 weeks to adjust to even slight changes in diet.  So following this revised plan has been extra tough on me- especially mentally.  I get frustrated (like I'm sure all of you do) when I follow a program perfectly and then don't see the result right away.  It's our nature as humans (and Americans for that matter) to want immediate gratification.  It'll be 2 weeks on Tuesday that I've been following the new plan and I'm finally starting to see the fruits of my labor!  I see new veins and muscle definition as well as the hardness I've been working towards in my legs. 

Yesterday, after walking around like a zombie for a week, I decided to "flip the switch".  I get tired of people telling me how exhausted I look all the time so I decided that I'm done with that!  I'm going to go to bed at a decent hour, get my cardio and workouts in, and love every second of it!  I chose this lifestyle and I need to remind myself (maybe even daily) why I do it.  I do it because I love the challenge, I love stepping on that stage, and I love feeling like I've accomplished something that very few people are able to do.  But, in all honesty, I couldn't and probably wouldn't want to, if my husband wasn't behind me 100%.  His support is everything to me...the least deserves is for me to be nice to him!  I'm off to a good start today and tomorrow I'm going to make even better than today! :-)

Let the craziness subside...for now.

What an insane couple of weeks I've had!  Between my own competitions and my clients' contests, I feel like I haven't even taken a deep breath in the last few weeks!  Our team's had 3 contests in the past 3 weeks, 2 of which were out of town.  But I must say that both our company Iron Addiction and I are off to a really good start this year.  All of our competitors have placed in the top 5 in each contest and a few even placed first.  I feel like such a proud mama watching them on stage :-)

As for myself, I've done 2 contests so far- the Contra Costa May 7th and the Cal State May 29th (both were NPC contests)  and I placed first in figure A in both.  I'm off to a great start this season and am getting revved up for the next ones now: the San Jose- July 9th (NPC), the IFPA Pro USA in Sac July 16th, and the NPC USA's in Vegas July 29th.  After that?  I have no idea really.  I'm really waiting to see how I do in these next big contests.  It's almost like my recent contests were just warm-ups for the "big ones".  I know that I need to get a little tighter and leaner for these next shows, so that's where my focus is going to be for these next few weeks.

I have a lot going on right now, but I feel really good about the upcoming contests and the decisions I've been making concerning my future competition plans. I've decided to switch over to the NPC Physique division at the USA's this year.  It took some serious soul searching, but I'm excited about making the change.  I've missed being able to really flex my muscles!  Since Physique is pretty similar to "regular bodybuilding", I figured I'd go ahead and compete in both the bodybuilding and figure divisions at the NPC San Jose show in July.  Those girls are going to out-weigh me by about 25 lbs, but  I really just want to do it for fun. I miss the performance aspect of bodybuilding- doing that routine was my favorite part!  The figure stage walk just isn't the same high as the one you get from bodybuilding.  I also think it'll help me to condition for the 30 minutes we'll be on stage in the IFPA show....

 

I've come to a couple of realizations over the last few weeks of watching my team compete.  First of all, I absolutely LOVE this sport!  It doesn't matter what side I'm on- whether be coach or competitor, I know that I'll always want to be involved in competing in one way or another. Secondly, I realized that I've been taking it too seriously and putting way too much pressure on myself to win and set the perfect example for my clients.  It really can be challenging sometimes, especially when I'm having a bad day, to keep up that image of  "Mrs. Iron Addict".   Everyday I train these awesome competitors and then I go home to my coach/trainer/husband extraordinaire at night.  I feel like not only do I need to succeed for my clients but I don't ever want to let my husband down.  He works his butt off so that I can get on stage in new blinged out suits, purchase the best supplements, and I can't forget about all of the entry fees, videos, pictures, photo shoots, and so on...

It's not everyday that I feel like hitting the gym hard and staying on my strict diet (of which I've been on since Jan 2nd by the way...but who's keeping track), but I'm going to do it simply because I love that stage and the feeling I get from being up there.  There really is nothing like it in the world and I keep competing because of that enjoyment.  Once that joy is gone, then I'll take a break. But until then...ya'll better watch out if you see my name on that competitor list :-)

 

Trish's 2011 Competition Season- Decisions, decisions...

After the Contra Costa competition I emailed the promoter to request feedback from the judges of the contest.  Even though I placed 1st in my class, I placed 6th of 6 competitors in the overall comparisons.  I was curious as to why I placed so low compared to the other girls so getting the judges' feedback was  important to me.  Figure is a hard sport because it is so subjective.  There is no set "look" so getting the right amount of muscle, hardness, and symmetry is tricky. The fact is that the physical requirements vary in each organization. The natural organizations want you harder, leaner, and more muscular and according to the judges I heard back from this week, the NPC is going toward a softer look for the figure girls. At the check-ins the night before the contest, the promoter of the Contra Costa show recommended the new physique division to the "more muscular figure girls".  I never really had considered myself a more "muscular" figure girl until I heard the feedback from the judges.

All 3 of the judges told me that they think I'd do well in the new physique division, so now I've got some decisions to make.  Back in 2008, I started my fitness journey by competing in bodybuilding.  I really enjoyed it, but was afraid that I was just too small to really progress in the sport.  So in 2009, I competed in both bodybuilding and figure to see where I fit in the best.  I ended up placing first in both, but the size of my legs seemed to put me more into the figure category (at least in the natural divisions).  Over the past 2 years, I've really focused on building my legs up to match my upper body and I feel like I've made some pretty good progress; increasing my symmetry and overall muscular development.

But the amount of muscle I carry on my frame now may be a little much for the NPC figure division.  Personally I love having muscle.  I think it helps me to stand out because it's not often that you see a woman with "delts" not shoulders.  I love having "cuts" and definition and I'll even admit that I like having both guys and girls stop me in the store to ask me how I got my arms to look like they do. 

So, now it's time to make a decision.  July 29-30th (USA's in Vegas) is the first NPC physique division contest that I can do.  I was planning on doing the show as a figure competitor, but now I'm thinking it would be a good time to try out the new division.  I love performing routines and you do get so much more time on stage.  Plus, I feel that I can really bring a femininity to the sport that I think has been lacking in bodybuilding, with the exception of the "natural" female bodybuilders. 

I've decided to start practicing the new physique poses, but I'm going to still compete in the Cal State Figure show next weekend in Culver City and just see how I do.  I've leaned out my legs a little and tightened up my glutes and hamstrings, so hopefully I've have a good showing there.  The fact is that I love to compete and whether or not it's in figure, bodybuilding, or physique I'm going to have fun, express myself, and show off my muscular (yet I think feminine) physique!

Culver City here I come!  One week and counting!

Trish's competition season- Contra Costa recap

For the past 4 months I've been writing about my journey to get ready for my first contest of the season, which I finally was in this past weekend. What a great way to start off the season, by winning my first show! While getting ready for this show was much easier this season than last, I've had some serious self-doubt and self-criticism creep in. In fact, instead of relishing in my victory, I've been focusing on how bloated I felt all day, how washed out my abs looked, and how I don't think I looked as good as I could have. It just goes to show that no matter how much experience you have your mind can really mess with you!

The roadtrip to the show was eventful to say the least. We left home about 2 hours later than I'd planned so traffic was a nightmare, our GPS got us lost and added an extra hour to our trip (needless to say, I almost chucked that thing out of window at the lady who wouldn't let me over on the Bay Bridge), and the competitor check-in meeting went WAY long so we didn't even check into our hotel until 9pm!

About 10pm, after I tanned my client with our fancy new machine, my poor husband attempted to do my color. He'd never used the spray gun before and let's just say that he has a very heavy trigger finger. It was so dark that if you would of put me against a black curtain I'd have disappeared! So, I had to wash it all off the next day and redo it myself in the morning. Talk about having some added stress! In spite of the tanning fiasco, I woke up feeling really good. I wasn't holding water and I could see all the definition in my abs and legs. Somehow though, throughout the day, I became totally bloated and had some major issues with holding water. Talk about a competitor's nightmare! I felt terrible right before hitting that stage, so Mike and I have to re-visit my competition day food strategy before this next one in 3 weeks.

The actual competition itself was good though. There were some strong competitors and they moved through it quickly, which is one thing I really like about the NPC organization. I saw several competitors from past competitions and lots of new faces too. While I was in line backstage, waiting to go out, these two girls behind me asked me if I'd competed before. I answered "yea, a few times." and they asked me for some advice, any advice. I just told them to have fun on stage because that 10 minutes you're up there is what you've dieted and worked for this whole time.

That truly is the best advice I can give to new or even seasoned competitors. Have fun! If you look scared, miserable, or tuned out, the judges are probably gonna notice and you'll pay for it. But, if you get up there, strut your stuff, enjoy it, smile genuinely, and really try to light up the stage, the judges won't want to look away from you! I've seen several girls with "ok" bodies place higher than the girls with the best bodies there. That's proof that it's all about how well you present your physique to the judges!

Now it's on to the next one! The "Cal" May 28th!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 16- Let the countdown begin!!!

Starting weight: 113 lbs, Current weight 104.7 lbs

Well, let the countdown formally begin!  As of tomorrow, I will be 1 week out from contest.  For so long it feels like contest day will never come and then all of a sudden, it's here!  I went yesterday and bought all of my contest day odd and ends- dry shampoo, super dark makeup, travel sized toiletries, etc...  Just shopping for that stuff made me so excited, knowing that I'm getting so close to stage time! 

Feeling so enthusiastic yesterday reminds me of how emotional of a time this is for all competitors- seasoned or novice.  We all have our ups and downs during contest prep and it's a real test of someone's emotional strength and ultimately their willpower.  I've definitely had my share of mixed feelings this season.  I've had really bad weeks, like last week, and then I'll have a great week, like this week.  But it is an awesome feeling knowing that I've stuck to my diet 100%, given my workouts and cardio 100%, and have been able to stay married through it all! It's a tricky time because my hormones are going crazy (not in a good way either!) and the physical changes occur so slowly that it often feels like a plateau.  I just keep trying to remind myself that is was the tortoise who won the race, not the rabbit.

It's important to remember that in this type of dieting it's not about fitting into a certain size jeans anymore, it's way beyond that.  It's hard core now!  The workouts and strict diet are about sculpting and refining my physique, carving out every muscle, and losing only fat while retaining every ounce of muscle possible.  That's what it's all about...taking my body to that next level that so few people will ever be able to reach!  That in itself is an awesome accomplishment! I've gotta pat myself on the back sometimes too, right?

So far this season, I've gotten some great feedback on my blogs and competition prep from various people (you all know who you are) and I'm really thankful for all of it.  I may train competitors for a living, but even I need some encouragement and reinforcement every now and then!   In fact, one of the other trainers I work with (who is also a competitor) and I were chatting about how easy it is to focus on our clients' goals and often push our own needs to the side, squeezing in that client's workout or training session.  All I know is that judge on the panel sure isn't gonna care that I was too busy to practice myr posing or get my personal workouts in!

So, this week I start my peak week.  I think my hubby's got a great plan laid out for me, but we'll see how it all turns out next week.  Mike's never done me wrong in that department, so I'll roll with his insight and I'm sure it will turn out for the best. We did a trial run this week and it worked pretty good so I should be ready for the stage May 7th! 

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 15- Do you see what I see?

Starting weight: 113 lbs, Current weight: 105.6

So this week the scale moved but my body fat stayed the same...frustrating!  I feel good some days and other days I just feel like crap.  I wish that my mind would quit messing with my competition prep already!  I didn't even want to work out on Sunday.  Mike actually forced me to go to the gym, telling me that I'd feel better once I was there.  He was right, again.  I felt great once I started the workout and ended up lifting heavier than I have in a while.  I don't think I'm over-trained or anything, I think my head is just messed up right now.  Mike kindly pointed out to me today that I do this before every competition- about 2 weeks prior.  I start psyching myself out and saying stuff like: I'm not ready, not conditioned enough, not lean enough, etc.  Some days I wish I could just snap out of it and get some freaking self-confidence!

I know that many people go through this stage in dieting.  Some people are in it longer than others.  I guess that I would call it the competition jitters.  It's a combination of excitement about getting on stage again and nervousness about what the judges will think about my physique changes over the past year.  I know that my body changes every year and hopefully this year it's for the better.  I have put on more size, but I'm also leaner than last year, which should be a good thing. I really want to stand out from the other competitors but once I step on that stage it's all up to the judges.  And Lord knows they have their own opinions and visions of what they want. All I can hope for is that I have what they envisioned...

With the past couple of weeks being pretty tough on me mentally, I'm in serious need of an attitude adjustment.  So this next week, my goals are the following:
*to stay positive and not get down on myself
*to keep myself on track with my workouts and diet
*to get plenty of sleep and rest my body (because it will really help with the grumpiness)
*to not put so much pressure myself to place high and just enjoy the sport that IS figure competition!
*condition, condition, condition!

Two weeks until contest......let the countdown begin.

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 14- Note to self: you don't suck!

Starting weight- 113 lbs, Current weight- 106.7 again...


This week I was really anxious about my weigh-in. I wasn’t worried about the actual weight number on the scale but the body fat and water weight info. It was one of those mornings where I woke up bloated and had a stomach ache to go along with it. On Saturday (after my terrible weigh-in Friday) my hubby changed my diet. This was actually the first change we’ve made a change in my 13 weeks of dieting! Mike always says “If it’s working, don’t change it!” So for my first diet change of the season, he increased my carbs by about 15%, kept my calories the same, and just adjusted my ratios. He also took out my high carb day (which I must say that I was not happy about) but my cardio remained unchanged.

Although my weight stayed the same this week, I did see some downward movement in my body fat. At least that tells me my body is responding favorably to the adjustments he made. I get so nervous about making changes close to contest (only 3 weeks left!) but that’s where the whole trust factor comes in. You’ve got to trust your trainer 100%!!! In this case my trainer also happens to be my husband, but the trust does need to be there even if you’re not actually married to them…

I find that right about this time on my competition dieting I tend to start the self-sabotaging. I starting thinking things like “Am I ready? How will I compare to the other girls? Should I be doing more cardio? Why won’t that little bit of fat under my butt go away?” You know, stuff like that. I imagine that pretty much everyone does it regardless of how good of shape they’re in. I’m an optimistic person in general, but I do tend to criticize myself- especially when it comes to my body/outward appearance. I’ve struggled with weight my entire adult life and I know how easy it is for my body to get off track if I let it. But I’m learning that while I can’t control many things in life, I can control what I choose to eat, how intensely I spin on the bike, and how I treat my loved ones while I’m in this dieting phase.

I was talking to a friend at the gym yesterday (she’s also competing this year) and she was telling me about how she’s been trying to date & diet at the same time. That just has disaster written all over it! It’s hard enough for a competitor to have much of a social life let alone trying to go on “a date” with someone. Bringing your own food to Mikuni’s would really suck…but it’s the lifestyle we choose when we get into this sport. The idea of belonging on that stage outweighs all the buffets, candy, Girl Scout cookies, and yes even alcohol one can handle. What may seem crazy to the “average” person is the norm for us…but it’s all for the love of the sport!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 13- Dear body, I'm listening...

Starting weight: 113 lbs, Current weight: 106.7 lbs

My weigh-in was awful. I’m convinced that the body fat machine is wrong….it has to be! I haven’t strayed from my competition diet at all, my workouts are as intense as ever, and my cardio is on point. So, I know that it’s got to be either that freaking machine is wrong or my body is asking for something different. I’m hoping what it needs is more food…

It’s funny because I woke up feeling yucky. I don’t know if you’ve ever just kind of woken up and felt different? When you train like I do, you become very in-tune with what your body’s doing and how it’s functioning. I can feel if I’m holding water, I can see if I’m looking a little stringy, and sometimes I will wake up feeling like I’m going to have a “bad body day”. I always make sure to weigh myself at the same time and day every week. It’s always before I eat or drink anything- I want it as close to the true numbers as possible. I know, I know, the number on the scale game is a bunch a crap, but it’s a necessary evil in this sport. It keeps me on track and focused knowing that I have to get on that scale every week- I think it’s become more mental than anything. The problem is that the weigh-ins can sometime make for a really bad day, but this week I was able to pretty much just brush it off. After I took my progress picture, I actually felt a lot better (I also take a picture every week on my weigh-in day).

But these past two weeks have been challenging for me. I’ve been fighting this cold which has now turned into an allergy thing. I have to do “open mouth” cardio because I can’t breathe through my nose and that makes for some tough sessions. I’m in the home stretch for my leaning out phase and the weeks seem to be picking up speed. The closer the contest gets, the faster time flies by! These next four weeks my focus needs to shift over to conditioning and posing. I’ve got to hard up my muscles and get those poses imbedded in my brain so they’re second nature. Like my client, Linda, said this morning, “There’s always room for improvement. Whether it’s physical or mental, there’s always something we need to work on.”

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 12- Does anyone have a tissue?

Beginning weight: 113 lbs,  Current weight: 107.4 lbs (WTF?)


Yep, you looked at that weight correctly…I’ve given up on thinking I’m going on stage at 100 lbs. In fact, I’ve gotten to where I really don’t even care how much I’ll weigh at contest. The only thing I do care about is that my body fat went down and I’m getting leaner! That's a huge step for me as a bodybuilder- not caring about how much I weigh. In fact, I'm only getting on the scale once a week because I want to make sure my body fat is going down and that I'm not losing any of my hard-earned muscle. Other than that, I don't really care about "the number" anymore. Honestly, that's like a monumental breakthrough! I've always focused too much on my weight (as most women do) instead of relying on my eyes to tell me how I'm doing on my diet.

Truth be told, I wasn’t even expecting to lose anything this week since I’ve got this freaking head cold. Seriously though, training and dieting are hard enough when you’re feeling good but when you’re under the weather it becomes a true testament to how bad you want something. In the past, I would have curled up with some ice cream to make my sore throat feel better, some greasy french fries to make my stomach feel better, or fast food of any kind just so I didn’t have to cook. Now I'm so much different. First of all, I very rarely get sick and even when I do get “sick” it’s never really that bad. I usually just the head cold type stuff, like what I have now. You know where you blow your nose for 5 minutes at time and repeat every 30 minutes or so? Normally I can just take some Nyquil at night and some cold medicine during the day and it’s all good. Those days of feeling sorry for myself & making excuses are finally behind me! Now, I eat even if I’m not hungry and force myself to cook whether I feel like it or not. It’s all part of the program and the life of a competitor.

I've always heard that it's the tough times that make you stronger and I've become a firm believer in that. In fact my husband has a great little saying, "If everything was easy, there'd be nothing worth earning." I've had my fair share of weight loss issues and I feel like I am finally coming to terms with my "self". I've accepted that I'm not a "skinny girl" and never will be. In fact, I don't want to be! I actually get insulted when people tell me how skinny I'm getting. I often think to myself "If they could only see what's under this jacket & pants!!!" Well, now they can...May 7th, 2011 baby!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 11- I need a tan!

Beginning weight: 113 lbs, Current weight: 106 lbs


Every time I take a photo for these blogs I say something to the effect of “Man, I need a tan!” I think its amazing how different muscles (and fat for that matter) look when you have some color. My husband always says that "tanned fat looks better than pale fat!" I remember the good ole days where I’d lay out at the pool for hours on end to get that gorgeous golden brown color. I just lay there, read my fitness magazines, and cook myself, but those days are no longer. Ironically enough, I stopped going tanning when I started to compete in bodybuilding 4 years ago. I always look forward to the super dark stage color because that’s when I really can see all the cuts and know that the hard work has paid off. It’s always fun to plan a trip to Wal-Mart or somewhere public right after I get my color put on, the night before a contest. The looks I get from people are priceless! I’m sure one day I’ll end up on “The people of Wal-Mart” website...

This is the best stage of the competition dieting I think. It’s the time when I really start to see what “the finished product” is going to look like. I actually think I’ll end up heavier this year than last which is okay considering that I’m leaner now than I was at my competitions last year. In fact, my hubby and I think that I could be in better shape now than I was in 2009…but it’s too hard for me to tell without the color on.

It has actually been a rather uneventful week for me. I’m sleeping a lot better, now that my husband’s not snoring, and I don’t feel like a raving lunatic anymore. In fact, now I’m feeling pretty good. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and now it’s time to start my posing conditioning. It’s crazy because I’ll arrange for all my clients/competitors to get plenty of posing conditioning and I help them with their individual poses, but when it comes to my own conditioning I tend to procrastinate. Thankfully, the NPC doesn’t tend to leave us up on stage very long (not nearly as long as the natural divisions), but I still have to make sure to hit those poses flawlessly! So posing practice starts for me this week- no excuses.

This is also about the time I start making all of my arrangements and checking that I have all of my necessary competition supplies- at least the stuff I may have to order online.

Here’s the checklist that I’ve started:

Suit alterations- I have a local gal I use just in case…
Affiliation card- for NPC, IFPA (NANBF), etc.- depending on the organization. It’s better than doing it the morning of the show and being stressed about it.
Hotel- for the show if it’s out of town
Heels- clean them up make sure they’re in good shape
Tanning- arrange for the night before the show (this year I’m doing my own)
Waxing- the week of the show
Hair appointment- the week of the show
Dream tan- the morning of the show (it fixes smudges & gives my tan some shimmer on stage)
Bikini Bite- no wedgies on this chick!

Just talking about this stuff gets me so excited…I have the competition bug for sure!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 10- Say hello to my little friends!

This has been an interesting competition prep season for me. Last season I lost so much weight during my prep (about 25 lbs) that I got really used to seeing the scale move every week. It was an expectation because of how much I needed to lose. But this season, since I didn't gain as much weight off season, I haven't really seen see the scale move at all! It's a real mind trip to look in the mirror & see new veins and muscles popping out but then I step on the scale and....nothing. Thankfully, the scale at our gym does measure the weight of your body fat, water, and muscle, so I can see some sort of progress (losing tiny bits of fat or water). But for those of you who don't have that nifty machine I definitely feel for ya. It really can be frustrating to work so hard and not see that dreaded number go down.


I've talked about how pictures can do a world of good in tracking your progress but taking the time to pose & look at yourself in the mirror is another good way to see progression. I haven't even had the time to take my own pictures these last 2 weeks, but you bet I have time to pose in the mirror! It was during one of those moments that I flexed my bicep & saw a bundle of new veins in my shoulder that I didn't have last year! Seeing my new “little friends” made me really excited (I even had to show my husband) and motivated me to push through this week’s workouts and diet with a vengeance! It may seem trivial to anyone else, but to a dieting competitor it’s like an instant high. Knowing that your hard work is paying off works wonders for your mental state and your motivation.

I know that I must be getting as lean, or am leaner, than I was at contest last year. I tried on a pair of jeans that I never was able to wear because they were too tight and they fit! I noticed that I’m also more vascular throughout the day, not just during my workouts. Now, since my weight’s not really changing, but my body is, I can only hope that I’m preserving muscle and only losing fat (which has been my intention all along). Now, if I can just get that last bit off of my thighs and butt I’ll be stage ready!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 9- "Does my neck look fat?"

Starting weight: 113, current weight: 106.7


I can't believe that I'm on week 9 of my competition diet already. It's been flying by and I'm glad for that. I think that going into the 3rd month totally reveals how hard you've worked in the previous months. At this point, you're either really glad that you started early because you're going to cruise into contest shredded or, you're freaking out because you've got to squeeze yourself into a teeny bikini in no time at all....As for me, I'm going to glide into contest ready to win!

This week I actually had 6 different people tell me that I look like I've lost a lot of weight. Earlier this week, a guy at the gym said "No offense, but you didn't look like this a couple months ago!" and a lady at the gym tonight said "You must compete because you're the only one that looks like that here- except for the guys". I wasn't sure how to take that one...

But, almost every person that's made a comment also said that my neck and face look thinner...so were they fat before? I think it's funny, because my weight has only changed about 6 lbs since I started by diet 9 weeks ago- and 4 of those pounds were from the first week of water loss! The comments people make are pretty flattering for the most part and this is about the time I get people coming up to me left and right (at the gym especially) asking me questions about my diet, workouts, and supplements. It like I should carry a list, containing my diet and supplements, around with me to hand out to people! Usually, I wear my headphones to prevent the questions during my workout. But, many times that doesn't work because they'll either just stand in front of me or even tap me on the shoulder to get my attention...really? Is it that serious?

It's funny because about 95% of the time, people who come up and talk to me always think that there's some Magic pill they can take to fix their weight loss issues and boy are they bummed to learn that it's only hard work and discipline that produce my results! Anyways, for those of you who are also dieting I feel your pain, hunger, tiredness, and ultimately your excitement!

It's about this time that I start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I have 7 weeks until my May 7th contest and I'm getting that familiar jittery excitement to get back up on stage! There really is no feeling that's been able to compare to the satisfaction I get from showing off my hard work and dedication to fitness. That's what I keep in mind when I'm losing my motivation or am just plain tired. I never want to be one of those competitors that just show up to a contest (like they had nothing better that night to do so they decided to compete at the local bodybuilding show). I want to be the competitor that people see backstage and makes them wish they'd worked a lot harder in their contest prep!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 8- "Back off cookies!"

Sitting here at my “day job” I’m wishing I could just take a nap. A short nap would work- maybe 15-20 minutes? Maybe if I shut my office doors, put the phone on Do Not Disturb, & turn out the lights they’ll forget I’m here? I can’t believe how bad I’ve been sleeping the last 2 nights. My poor husband is having allergies or sinus problems and can’t breathe at night, so his snoring has been awful. I find myself waking up in the middle of the night to go sleep on the couch. I wake up exhausted, feeling like I haven’t sleep at all- and that makes for a worn out wife, step-mom, and dieting competitor!


Getting enough sleep & recovery during competition prep can be tough, even without a snoring husband or wife, but it really is crucial to my success. I find that when I’m tired, I’m not only grouchy, I’m starving! Right now I’m craving pretty much any sugary thing that will give me the quick fix or sugar rush, but that’s when my common sense training competitor side has to come out & tell me “NO!” There’s no way in hell I’m letting a couple of sleepless nights ruin my 8 weeks of completely clean dieting! I know that if I take a bite of something sweet, I’ll eat the whole thing, and then push back my contest ready date. I’ve worked too hard to let myself down like that. Plus the fact that I’d probably have a terrible stomach ache and be on the toilet all night- to make for a 3rd sleepless night…

Needless to say, I’m going to bed early tonight! Maybe I’ll invest in some ear plugs or some Tylenol PM, but either way I’m determined to keep myself on track and reach my goals. I’m not going to work this hard for nothing!

Trish's 2011 comp prep, week 7- Is it nap time yet?

Starting weight: 113 lbs, Current weight: 106.8 lbs


I must say that finishing up week 7 of my competition diet feels pretty good. I’ve stayed on track, I haven’t strayed at all from my food plan, and from the look and feel of it I should be ready on time- if not early! As good as it feels to see the inner buff chick finally coming out; my attitude doesn’t seem to be reflecting that.

Yesterday morning my husband told me that for the past 3 days I’ve been pretty bitchy (he said it as nicely as he could…). The worst part about that remark is that I didn’t even realize it! I admit that I haven’t slept well the last week and it must have caught up to me. So last night, I took a Tylenol PM & woke up feeling really good. I just needed a good night’s sleep- one where I’d wake up feeling rested instead of worn out! I finally felt like that this morning. I work long days where I wake up at 4:45am, get home around 8:30pm, and then crawl in bed around 9pm. Granted this is not the best schedule for a dieting woman to be on, but you do what you gotta do.

As focused as I am on these upcoming competitions there are some very important things that I’m gonna remember to do:

1.Pay attention to my husband and step-kids- and try not to get so easily annoyed by any of them J

2.Get plenty of sleep & rest my sore muscles. I'll switch around body part workout days when needed, especially if I’m still sore from a previous workout

3.Remind myself that competing is not a requirement, it is a choice!

I think that's the most inportant thing for me to remember. No one is forcing me to be a bodybuilder/figure competitor. It's my choice to stay on a strict diet while everyone around me pigs out on fast food. I choose to get up at the crack of dawn to do my cardio while others sleep. I choose to give max effort in every workout while others stand around and talk for the duration of theirs. That’s part of the competitor’s lifestyle and therefore it’s part of mine…and I love it!

Trish Comp prep, week 6- Come on scale, move!

Starting weight: 113, current weight 108.2

I feel like I’ve turned a corner this week. The last couple of weeks were rough to say the least, but this week has been much better. It’s nice not feeling like I’m ready to rip someone’s head off for no reason! Although I still haven’t seen the scale budge, I do feel and look different. If you’ve been reading my blogs, you’ve noticed that I take photos of myself every week. I figure that since the scale’s not doing much, it helps me to see some progress!

Taking pictures on a weekly or bi-weekly basis is a reliable way for me and my husband/coach to judge how I’m progressing in my dieting and workouts. Every month I’ll put those pictures side by side and evaluate if I’ll be ready for my contest in time, if I need to increase my cardio, change up my workout split, calories, etc.

When it comes to dieting down for a contest, I have a number in my head at which I think I should compete. Since I know what weight I competed at last year, I have this need to get back down there again. But, I have to keep reminding myself that as long as I’m losing body fat, it doesn’t really matter what the scale’s saying. I’m learning to pay attention to the details…seeing progression in photos, feeling my skin’s “thickness” (it’s definitely feeling thinner!), and also looking for new striations and increased vascularity (especially during my workouts).

I’ve actually read articles that discourage people from dressing to see their muscles during workouts! As a trainer & competitor, I think that it’s important to make the visual connection between mind and muscle. Watching my muscles contract helps me feel the flexion not only in gym but also up on stage where it really matters! Time to eat…

Trish's 2011 Comp Prep, week 5- Stay focused!

Bodybuilding and Figure competitions are one of the toughest sports around. I’ve trained for a triathlon before and played various sports, but I’ve never had to be as disciplined and as structured as I am with contest prep. As with any sport, the diet is key- whether it’s to fuel up for a race or to recover from workouts, it’s the diet that will make or break you. Last week was rough to say the least.

My calories are normal for a female my size, but I’ve had a really hard time watching my husband eat 5000+ calories a day. His cheat day is on Saturdays and not surprisingly, that’s the toughest day of the week for me. This Saturday I came home from training my clients to fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, then it was Chipotle for lunch (picture me there with my lunch bag in hand), then more cookies, and don’t forget about the chips or cereal, then Dickie’s BBQ, and finally frozen yogurt for dessert…Holy cow!

I never realized how tough it would be to have one person in the house that’s trying to lose weight; while the other’s trying to gain weight (I’ve never had that problem!). So I guess the point to my ranting is how do I stay focused? Bodybuilding is tough enough without fattening food being sat in front of my face, but where do I find the will power to stick to the diet and not give in to temptation?

Here’s a list of my top 5 distractions:

1. I look at my past competition photos and photos of people whose physiques I admire.
2. I clean up, organize, and keep myself busy to take my mind off of wanting to eat.
3. I shop! Buying clothes or searching online for something I want is always a great distraction.
4. I walk my dog around the neighborhood or just get my heart pumping a little (nothing strenuous  though  because I don’t want to over-train).
5. I curl up and read a book or magazine and sometimes will sip on a hot tea with calorie free sweetner to curb my appetite.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, spend some time trying different things to get your mind off of food and on to winning that trophy! It’s just like they say, out of sight, out of mind…