Keeping it in perspective!
Where I practice posing - in my basement amidst my son's toys! :)
2.5 weeks are left until my next competition. I am excited, anxious, nervous, confident, among so many other emotions. But of all that I am feeling, the one emotion that has really come about this week, for the first time, is feeling completely and wholeheartedly ready. I have poured my entire heart, soul, and being into these last 8+ (and 18 total, if you count my last show's training) weeks of training. I have had days where I have put my head in my hands, cried at the thought of the next cardio, gagged with egg whites in my mouth, and yet, all the while, I keep moving forward. The work I have put in, the time I have committed, the hours upon hours of training will all be there at the end, reminding me that this journey, while at times unpleasant, is mine for a reason. I want my son to grow up knowing that his mom never gave up, never started something that she couldn't finish - and really, that at the end of the day, fighting for your goals and dreams builds character and makes you stronger (or, at least, I tell myself that when I am doing my 5 a.m. cardio!).
Some have asked me what I will do once this next chapter at Provincials comes to a close in a little less than 3 weeks. Well, firstly, I'm going to soak in that competition, breathing in all that it has to offer. Especially with the show being at Mohawk College where I work and have taught for the last 5 years, it seems so fitting that the cards would line up in such a way to have me compete where I feel most at home (though, if I see any of my students, I will surely look VERY different from how they are used to seeing me at the front of their classes!!!). And there is no doubt that I will be bringing my "A" game while getting up on that stage to enjoy every moment, being so very proud of the body I have been building for the last 9 weeks. After some serious celebrating with my family and friends, no matter what the result, I'm going to take a much needed rest from the double cardios - eat a few really amazing meals that I have been dreaming about (oh food, wow, how I miss you!) and look back on this journey knowing I gave it my all - day in and day out - never missing a cardio, a lift, or a scheduled day of training.
You know, this journey really makes you very reflective on the battles and struggles you face when you take on such a challenging and grueling training schedule. This is not the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life, but it is definitely up there in terms of the discipline, focus, planning, and preparation it has required.
One thing I will say is that, at times, it is very easy to complain about the training, dieting, posing, etc. But, you know what? Everyone has something -- some obstacle that they are facing in their lives, a struggle that they are trying to overcome, live with, or find their way around.
I had a new student come to me at the end of one of my classes today and fill me in on the major health struggles she has faced with her child. When she left the classroom, I sat back down on one of the desks in the room, and thought to myself,
"Wow. She's amazing."
As I drove home today, I thought of her again, and had tears in my eyes. Maybe because her story hits a little too close to home with me because it is so very similar to my own with my son, but also because here she is, doing all that she can to create a better, brighter future for her and her little girl. Today was the first day of her journey toward her goal.
So while my journey has been exciting and important for me, there are so many people out their working so very hard at overcoming obstacles 100 times greater than what training for a fitness show entails. And, in my eyes, they are the ones really deserving of the trophies.
Some have asked me what I will do once this next chapter at Provincials comes to a close in a little less than 3 weeks. Well, firstly, I'm going to soak in that competition, breathing in all that it has to offer. Especially with the show being at Mohawk College where I work and have taught for the last 5 years, it seems so fitting that the cards would line up in such a way to have me compete where I feel most at home (though, if I see any of my students, I will surely look VERY different from how they are used to seeing me at the front of their classes!!!). And there is no doubt that I will be bringing my "A" game while getting up on that stage to enjoy every moment, being so very proud of the body I have been building for the last 9 weeks. After some serious celebrating with my family and friends, no matter what the result, I'm going to take a much needed rest from the double cardios - eat a few really amazing meals that I have been dreaming about (oh food, wow, how I miss you!) and look back on this journey knowing I gave it my all - day in and day out - never missing a cardio, a lift, or a scheduled day of training.
You know, this journey really makes you very reflective on the battles and struggles you face when you take on such a challenging and grueling training schedule. This is not the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life, but it is definitely up there in terms of the discipline, focus, planning, and preparation it has required.
One thing I will say is that, at times, it is very easy to complain about the training, dieting, posing, etc. But, you know what? Everyone has something -- some obstacle that they are facing in their lives, a struggle that they are trying to overcome, live with, or find their way around.
I had a new student come to me at the end of one of my classes today and fill me in on the major health struggles she has faced with her child. When she left the classroom, I sat back down on one of the desks in the room, and thought to myself,
"Wow. She's amazing."
As I drove home today, I thought of her again, and had tears in my eyes. Maybe because her story hits a little too close to home with me because it is so very similar to my own with my son, but also because here she is, doing all that she can to create a better, brighter future for her and her little girl. Today was the first day of her journey toward her goal.
So while my journey has been exciting and important for me, there are so many people out their working so very hard at overcoming obstacles 100 times greater than what training for a fitness show entails. And, in my eyes, they are the ones really deserving of the trophies.
