8 weeks out- "Visualize, then materialize!"

"Visualize, then materialize!" is a quote I love from the movie, The Secret. I'm referencing it because as I'm sitting here writing this blog I have several thoughts and feeling swirling around in my head.  I've been training clients for many years now and it seems that they fall into 1 of 2 categories. The first category is the client who's really motivated and willing to do anything and everything I say to see results and reach their goals.  They are successful at resisting the urge to cheat on their meal plans, they utilize the support of their family members and friends, and they have a true desire to succeed.  The second client is what I call the excuse-giver.  The one who says they're really motivated and willing to do what I tell them, but their heart just isn't in it.  These are the clients who cheat on their diet (or just don't follow it), don't get their workouts in, and allow outside factors like schedules and functions to affect their results-"but there was a birthday party for my child, I was on vacation, there was nothing for me to eat there, etc, etc". I could list about 50 other excuses but I digress...

Although clients training  for everyday health and those training for competition seem like completely different animals, they are in reality very similar.  It'd be impossible to count the number of times I've heard the words "I can't" or "it's just to hard to stay on the diet because...".  In fact, I think that I've heard every excuse in the book.  But what people often forget is that I too am leaning out for my contest season. Which means that I also am doing cardio everyday even if I don't feel like it, taking my workouts to the max every time, and eating 100% clean every day of week (even on birthdays and cruises!).  What I'm getting at is while I understand the challenges of getting healthy, I have less sympathy than someone who has never struggled with their weight.  I know that seems harsh, but the reality is that you are able to lose weight and get in shape....but do you really want to put in the work?  It took several years for me to get into the shape I'm in now and I still have to put in the work each day to maintain it! 

Chances are that you know someone who's been on a "diet".  In fact,  I think we all have at least one person that comes to mind immediately. Let me tell you as a person who has been fat (yes FAT...I said the F word) that diets are a waste of time!  The word diet refers to a temporary solution to a long-existing problem.  How long has your weight or your friend's weight been creeping on?  Why should you expect to get it right off?  Your body doesn't work like that unless you're using something synthetic to help with those extra pounds and that just gets plain dangerous!

 I know I sound like a preacher on a pulpit, but keep in mind that I'm in the midst of leaning out myself...so I totally get it! The mood swings, hunger, fatigue, and the irritability that comes along with watching your loved ones eat those yummy looking hamburger, fries, pizza, ice cream, and cupcakes (my favorite).  In the end, you need to come to terms with what it is that YOU want.  Do you want the meal or do you want the vitality that comes along with eating clean?  That's the decision that only you can make.  All in all, it's your body and only you can make those choices.  Personal trainers, like me and my husband, Mike, can only show you the path.  You have to choose whether or not to follow it!!!

10 weeks out- What's your motivation???

All day long I train clients (including many competitors) and help them to get motivated and in shape.  Whether you're training for a contest, a special event, or just to get healthy you need to find your motivation.  For some people its easier than others but necessary nonetheless.  When I first start training my clients I ask them what they want to achieve.  Do they want a stage-ready body? To run a full or half marathon?  Or do they just want to tie their shoes without losing breath?  No matter what the ultimate goal is, you have a reason for changing your lifestyle.  

Many people ask how I got into doing contests.  For me, it started with a photo, well actually two photos...I'm really hoping you can tell which ones are my before pictures!  The one in my awesomely huge tank top was taken the day of my college graduation.  I was barely fitting into a size 14 at that time.  I never really thought that I was fat either.  My family and friends never mentioned my weight...obviously that was for a reason.  But, after seeing that photo, something inside of me clicked.  I went out and joined Jenny Craig (because I didn't know any better). Thanks to their lack of guidance, I was only running (or trying to run) and eventually got down to an unhealthy 107 lbs with 30% body fat.  Needless to say, I started putting weight back on over the next few years and eventually climbed back up to about 130 lbs. 

I stayed at this weight for about 5 years.  I met my husband at this weight and he always tells me that he never thought that I was unhealthy or needed to lose fat.  But deep down inside I knew that I wanted more of a challenge.  My workouts and diet were stagnant and I was bored!  I needed a reason to get the extra weight off and finally keep it off.   It wasn't until 2008 when a complete stranger (you may know who she is...Jamie Eason) encouraged me to compete that a light bulb went off.  She planted the seed and gave me the little push I needed to make "the switch".  It was six months later that I competed in my first bodybuilding contest and have been hooked ever since!  

So what's my motivation to get and stay in shape?  Simply stated, its bodybuilding.  I love the sport and the thrill of competition.  The mental and physical challenges that a competitor faces are unparalleled.  The sport keeps me in shape and motivates me to keep my weight in check.  After all, I come from a long line of short, fat (sorry family), Italians.  I know that genetically, I'm predisposed to gaining weight easily.  That's why I look to bodybuilding to strengthen me as a person, as a woman, and as a trainer.  Now it's time for you to realize what motivates you and go for it.  It's up to you to make it happen!  I'm giving you your "push"....

11 weeks out- Time to get serious!

Starting out this season has already had its share of challenges.  It started out with severe stomach problems that I've finally been able to tame and included an 8 day cruise in the Caribbean.  I also caught what I'm calling the "super cold" that still won't go away, and to top it off, my husband and I opened up our new training studio in Roseville, Ca.  All of this has stuffed itself into the first couple of weeks of my season 5 competition prep!   So needless to say, I'm off to a bit of a rocky start this year.  Fortunately for me, I only allowed myself to gain about 7 pounds in the "off season" this year, plus I didn't gain anything while on my cruise.  I'm really hoping my discipline will end up working to my advantage and help me condense my prep time into 11 weeks instead of my normal 16.  All competitors encounter challenges during their prep, but it's how you handle them that matters.  I think overcoming those challenges and issues is all part of this sport and as my husband likes to say, "If everything in life were easy, there wouldn't be anything worth doing!"

  

 So, with those words in mind I am pushing forward to my first contest of the season- The Governor's Cup in Sacramento, CA on March 24th.  I have to keep my mind focused on the "finished product" and my eye on the prize!  Here are some things I 'm doing to keep my motivation on point:

• I watch posted videos of my future "competition".  This gets me pumped because I'm so freaking competitive!
• I start looking at suits and have also started listening to different types of music to pick out a posing song.
• I switch up my workouts frequently and start incorporating different varieties of training.  For instance, yesterday I did some exercises with the TRX at our studio.
• I also look for inspiration from past competitors that I admire like Rachel Mclish.  Women like her set an impressive standard for women's bodybuilding in the 80's and I'm hoping that my femininity and muscularity can inspire a new group of female competitors to join my Iron Addiction team!

Until next time...the 10 week mark.