Hi bloggers! It's been a little while since I've posted a new blog topic, and I`m sure you're all wondering what happened so I`ll fill you in on this trainer's life currently!
In the last few weeks, I have hired a coach / coaches (a male & female - they work as a team) to help me achieve my goal of competing Figure Fitness NPC Nevada State on June 9,2012. I've been on a diet for 3 weeks now, as well as a new training program. Last week, I went in to see my coaches in my bikini / heels for the first time at 14 weeks out for them to see where I need to improve. Let's just say, I have A LOT of work to do! Improvement & fat loss needed everywhere. While I am striving for Figure, I may end up competing Bikini to get stage-time and experience if I have not gained the necessary muscle mass... We shall see. Shooting for the stars! I am 13 weeks out today.
While I thought I was emotionally prepared, knowing where I stand, I wasn't. It's funny how when you work so hard, and are so passionate about something you want perfection. Perfection does not happen overnight, if at all. So I left in tears, but I also left motivated & encouraged by the amazing people my coaches are. I got a text a couple hours later when I was feeling down about the visit, that said "Keep striving! You`ll be great!" That text alone made me think about my future, progress to come, hard work, and also about myself as a coach and a motivator.
Since that meeting, I have been working extremely hard in the gym in the mornings with my amazing workout buddy Joel who is also working with one of the coaches. He is not competing (yet!), but he is an amazing support to me. Him and I get on the treadmill & the stairmill at 5:45 am and go to town for an hour. We encourage each other, and he nudges me a lot when I rest on my forearms, and tells me to stop cheating! Haha. So, two days ago, I got him back and did the same thing. Within this last week, we have already gone up a level for our intervals. It's painful; especially after leg days!
The most difficult part for us is that we both work long days, and I have split shifts. Days starting at 5 am and sometimes I don't get home until 10:00 pm. This means, my workout bag must be packed the night before with my shower stuff, work clothes, workout clothes for my pm workout 4 days a week, as well as every single meal / snack for the day. Every morning I leave my house at 5:30-5:40 carrying all of these things down 3 flights of stairs (and my gallon of water if I forgot to leave it in my car!). Good thing I cut out coffee, that used to be in my hand too. LOL. My 6:30 am client is on vacation until Wednesday, but I will now have to adjust to doing cardio alone at 4:45 in the morning, so that I can get in my full hour and still have time to shower / eat & get all my work day layed out by 6:15 am. I foresee an emotional & physical obstacle coming up this week.
The point of this is not to say "Look at what I`m doing", but to say this is a lot of effort & hard work before I even get to my car to head to the gym and get there on time. BUT if you are willing to pay these prices, and put forth the dedication to keep showing up prepared, you will eventually succeed! At least, this is what I keep telling myself.
I love Michael Jordan's quote "I believe if you put in the work, eventually the results will come". Again, the key to fitness is consistency. No matter how much time, effort or how many early mornings or late nights your goal may require, you must be passionate and willing to put forth the work every day that it is scheduled. If I can do this, and wake up when I LOVE sleep, you can certainly get to the gym my recommended 3-5 days a week. NO EXCUSES.
I am learning already, that this is an emotional process, and you must be willing to alter your schedule to any degree possible to optimize your results. For example, I no longer take Sundays off of the gym because my work days can be long, so instead I take Wednesdays off; which typically my work schedule is booked from 6:30 am - 7:30 or 8 pm with only a 2 hour break in the afternoon. I now enjoy my Sunday workouts knowing that I can relax and get some immediate recovery afterwards. Plus, weekends are when I struggle most with my diet because I am at home or out and about more.
I have also found so much encouragement from other competitors; some that I haven't even met yet other than Facebook! The entire arena of this game is so supportive! There is a lot of pressure (mainly the pressure put on by ourselves, as we are striving to compete & expect a lot of ourselves), but there is also so much motivation and inspiration. People who I have already found sharing their struggles, and success with me. I am so thankful for all of the encouragement. I have found that it's hard to find people who understand the mind of an aspiring competitor unless you talk to someone else who has competed, or is striving for the same goal.
I have much to learn, am an amateur, and am sure I will have many failed days along the way, but I am excited to pursue this process and see progress and transformation in the next 13 weeks! I`ll keep you posted!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND STAY HEALTHY, DISCIPLINED & DEDICATED.
Since that meeting, I have been working extremely hard in the gym in the mornings with my amazing workout buddy Joel who is also working with one of the coaches. He is not competing (yet!), but he is an amazing support to me. Him and I get on the treadmill & the stairmill at 5:45 am and go to town for an hour. We encourage each other, and he nudges me a lot when I rest on my forearms, and tells me to stop cheating! Haha. So, two days ago, I got him back and did the same thing. Within this last week, we have already gone up a level for our intervals. It's painful; especially after leg days!
The most difficult part for us is that we both work long days, and I have split shifts. Days starting at 5 am and sometimes I don't get home until 10:00 pm. This means, my workout bag must be packed the night before with my shower stuff, work clothes, workout clothes for my pm workout 4 days a week, as well as every single meal / snack for the day. Every morning I leave my house at 5:30-5:40 carrying all of these things down 3 flights of stairs (and my gallon of water if I forgot to leave it in my car!). Good thing I cut out coffee, that used to be in my hand too. LOL. My 6:30 am client is on vacation until Wednesday, but I will now have to adjust to doing cardio alone at 4:45 in the morning, so that I can get in my full hour and still have time to shower / eat & get all my work day layed out by 6:15 am. I foresee an emotional & physical obstacle coming up this week.
The point of this is not to say "Look at what I`m doing", but to say this is a lot of effort & hard work before I even get to my car to head to the gym and get there on time. BUT if you are willing to pay these prices, and put forth the dedication to keep showing up prepared, you will eventually succeed! At least, this is what I keep telling myself.
I love Michael Jordan's quote "I believe if you put in the work, eventually the results will come". Again, the key to fitness is consistency. No matter how much time, effort or how many early mornings or late nights your goal may require, you must be passionate and willing to put forth the work every day that it is scheduled. If I can do this, and wake up when I LOVE sleep, you can certainly get to the gym my recommended 3-5 days a week. NO EXCUSES.
I am learning already, that this is an emotional process, and you must be willing to alter your schedule to any degree possible to optimize your results. For example, I no longer take Sundays off of the gym because my work days can be long, so instead I take Wednesdays off; which typically my work schedule is booked from 6:30 am - 7:30 or 8 pm with only a 2 hour break in the afternoon. I now enjoy my Sunday workouts knowing that I can relax and get some immediate recovery afterwards. Plus, weekends are when I struggle most with my diet because I am at home or out and about more.
I have also found so much encouragement from other competitors; some that I haven't even met yet other than Facebook! The entire arena of this game is so supportive! There is a lot of pressure (mainly the pressure put on by ourselves, as we are striving to compete & expect a lot of ourselves), but there is also so much motivation and inspiration. People who I have already found sharing their struggles, and success with me. I am so thankful for all of the encouragement. I have found that it's hard to find people who understand the mind of an aspiring competitor unless you talk to someone else who has competed, or is striving for the same goal.
I have much to learn, am an amateur, and am sure I will have many failed days along the way, but I am excited to pursue this process and see progress and transformation in the next 13 weeks! I`ll keep you posted!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND STAY HEALTHY, DISCIPLINED & DEDICATED.
It's not just what you do inside of the gym that shapes your body, but it's what you do in your daily life that shapes your opportunity.
