Recent comps:
**May 7, 2016 RPS Mid-Atlantic Powerlifting - Raw 132, Pro total
**Sept 24, 2016 NPC Indianapolis Grand Prix - Women's Physique
Scott Paltos has been doing my programming since March 2015 for both powerlifting and physique. The off-season was programmed to add more size and work my technique on my raw lifts. Then slowly transitioned to raw powerlifting meet prep for May. In June 2016, we began prepping for the September show for a bigger and thicker package.
"But I was the only one in my weight class," my client said to me. "Of course I came in 1st... I had no competition!"
"That's ok!! You went out there. You performed. You set some PR's. You had another learning experience."
"I know," she said, "Just feels weird to get "first" without having any competition."
I've talked a few clients through those scenarios and while, yeah, they feel like their 1st place is "undeserved", there really isn't much you can do about what competition does or doesn't show up. In all reality, most of us compete for ourselves anyway. (I've known a few who have gone to small meets or entered 5 divisions just to win a bunch of trophies).
Anyway.......... why is that story so pertinent? Well, because that was me this past weekend at the NPC Indianapolis Grand Prix. When I checked in Friday night, I noticed I was the only Women's Physique competitor. Needless to say, I was bummed. I *LIKE* competition. I like competing against the best of the best. So I sulked back to my room and felt defeated already.
What's the point in competing now really? But then I thought about my clients who have gone through the same and I changed my attitude. Because in the end, I'm here for me anyway. I chose to compete to see what I've built. To see if we could bring a bigger, thicker, leaner package. So whether it's me standing up there with 10 women, or by myself....
that doesn't negate all the work I've put into prepping for this show.
So yeah, I'll be honest... when people ask "How did you do?" or "What place did you get?" I feel weird saying 1st. Because I know the truth that there was no one else in my class. But it is what it is.
Now........... that having been said....... yay me, I got 1st!! 😉 But what's cool is it qualifies me for any National show in 2017. So no matter which one I choose, I know I'll have some steep competition to go up against.
Now a quick recap of Friday & Saturday:
* Leading up to the show, we depleted Sunday - Wednesday then started carbing up again on Thursday
* Pulled water and began the drying out process
Friday consisted of about 30g carbs every few hours. So far so good as we kept an eye on how I looked, how dry I was and how much I was filling out. Visited one of my best friends, picked up some cupcakes and checked in. Got all tanned up Friday evening as well so was able to really start to see how things were looking.
Saturday, I woke up early to get started on my meals. We knew I would need a few before stepping on stage.
5am - french toast and eggs
7am - rice
9am - rice cakes and PB
10:15 ish - rice cakes, sour patch kids and a little something else that I think was a success. 🙂 The men had started their prejudging at 10, so I knew I would be up soon. Based on years past, I had learned that a quick, fast and hard pump was what I needed. Some shows I started too early and just wasn't able to hold it. Some of those shows you get nice and pumped then end up waiting in line for 30 minutes. BUT, lesson learned and I was able to time the pump and food pretty darn good.
This show had no weights in the warm-up room and no mirrors either. Thank goodness I brought my own elitefts bands (light, minis and micros) and kept them with me.
**This was pretty cool. Being the only physique competitor, all the figure and bikini girls seemed to be super impressed with my physique. Haha. I'm standing just off stage getting pumped and one of the girls working the event asked if she could take a couple pictures of me. I said sure! Then I said, "This may sound weird, but could you text those to me?" She happily obliged. I was so thankful for her getting a few shots since I had no one to take any candids. So random girl... thank you.**
Got called out on stage and the head judge was very kind. He said he wished I had more competition but I did what I had to do to prepare and I showed up. Hit quarter turns and all mandatories. It was actually a blessing in disguise because it gave me a chance to take my time with my poses. I had actually worked with a posing coach a few times in the weeks prior to the show and felt more confident than ever about my presentation. So this was great practice for me. (Although I still got shaky and could feel my nerves kick in.)
Stepped off stage and breathed a sigh of relief. Now it was time to rest, get some more food in me and see what we can bring to the night show.
At this point, it was a great experiment for us. Not having any competition didn't mean we took it lightly... not at all... but it did give us a chance to see what I could bring.
12pm - rice
3pm - rice/ rice cakes & PB (ran out of rice at this point)
5pm - cold pizza, half pop-tart, sour patch kids. I know, it sounds like a lot. I grabbed a pop tart bc I was literally all out of other carbs. And from training sessions in the off season, I knew pop-tarts were one of my go-tos for great pumps. Again, timed it all up pretty well. Did my 60 second posing routine and had a blast with it!! I used a Lindsey Stirling song (she rocks the electric violin). After watching the routine, I see a few things I'd like to change and some poses I would add in, but overall, I was very happy with it. Considering I came up with it all myself, I'll take it.
Obviously I was presented with a trophy and gift bag. Kira Neuman, who had just placed 4th at the Olympia, presented the women's physique award so that was pretty fun.
I stepped off stage and while I was somewhat relieved it was over, I was so very very happy with the day. I felt that I was more prepared than ever. I felt we brought a better package than years past (and isn't that really all we ever try to do?). I felt I had represented my teams (team elitefts and team pump) and my coach well. And I actually felt proud of myself.... for grinding through another prep, for showing up and doing the day solo, and for changing my attitude and finding joy in the process, regardless of the competition. I'm going to write more about the emotional side and thought process and some of the stories from the day in another post, because really, there were so many little things that occurred that made me realize why I do this and that there are others still out there watching.
I remind myself even a few days after the event exactly what I said above... being the only women's physique competitor does not negate all the work I've put into prepping for this show.
Thank you Scott, for your coaching and guidance, the new ideas and evolving strategies. And for allowing my input and collaboration. It's been a great 18 months of learning and growing. You pushed me far beyond what I've ever done.
Thanks to my closest friends and teammates who texted all weekend.... April (for inspiring my fierceness), Jessica, Ashley, Meg, Jason, Marshall, Casey, Yessica.... You guys rock.
Soooooooooo.... what's next?? Well, my plan was to indulge in some cupcakes, enjoy a big breakfast and just slowly get back into things. But after a quick discussion with Scott, in which he said, "It's gonna suck, but I'd like to you diet hard for another 2 weeks to see if we can figure out your legs," I said, "why don't I just do another show?"
And so, I found one in now 11 days where we will experiment with a couple more things. We know, based on past shows and this show, that my legs don't lean out as fast as my upper. But if I diet hard, I lose size in my upper. Even speaking to the judges, I got great feedback. Basically said my upper was incredible, good size and symmetry, but needs to be balanced with a harder lower body. I've known this for the past few years. Part of why I'm doing another show now so we can experiment and have some ideas to bring to a bigger show next year. #letsdothis
***I can't wait to get the stage shots from the photographer back. It was terrible find good lighting in this place (which made it difficult to take pics to see how dry/full/lean, etc I was).
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