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Competed at the APF-AAPF Orlando Barbell Florida State Meet and won Best Female Raw Lifter: 297/181/352.5.

Current total: 830.5 at 132 lb BW

Qualified National Strongman competitor and will be competing in Nationals this coming October to qualify for The Arnold in 2016

I am here to live, learn, and pass on.

I'm back!

These past weeks have been so crazy: from going out of town EVERY weekend to school and work overload. But I am starting to find my balance again. Literally just starting.

But I do love the fact that I get to re-live my meet I just competed in a few weeks ago and I couldn't be more happy with the results. I took 1st place in my weight class; best female raw lifter; and if the records are up to date and accurate, I beat the APF Florida State records in squat, bench, deadlift, and total. I just submitted the record application, so hopefully those will be posted soon.

Leading up to the meet

I would have to say this meet was the most worry free meet I've competed in since the SPF Outlawz meet I did a few years back with my fellow teammate, Jennifer Petrosino. Why? I honestly came to the meet with an open mind and with conservative numbers I wanted to hit. I didn't even weigh myself before weigh ins, I kind of just went for it. I'm at a point where I know what I have to do and how my body will respond to it. A week prior I was weighing between 138-140 but I wasn't necessarily cutting out my carbs and hydrating enough either. From previous experience, I knew that I needed to do a few cardio/GPP sessions and watch carefully of what I ate. This may sound weird but not worrying about worrying about my weight helped the process. Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone. This also reminds of me of what Matt Wenning posted about -- law of individuality: each person will respond to a stimuli differently. So you have take into consideration all the factors to implement what is most effective for you and your performance.

Something I did do a little different was not go balls to the wall stuffing my face with brownies and cake and candy and ice cream and fast food. I didn't have to make a drastic cut, so why change up how I eat? And the times I did that before, I was breathing very heavily, which concerned me at the time haha. After I weighed in, I ate foods that I usually eat on a daily basis, just a little more than my regular serving. I acted exactly how I wanted to in this meet with the mindset of "this is just another day at the gym." So I had my rice, my steak, my burgers, and of course, a small serving of beer. You know I love beer.

Meet results

I have to congratulate Brian Schwab and the Orlando Barbell team for putting together a heck of a meet. Besides the Women's Pro Am, I've never seen so many girls not only compete, but actually run a meet in my years of powerlifting. There were girls from all ages, all so impressive! The sport is growing and that's a beautiful thing to witness and experience.

I ended the day with:

297 lb squat with no knee wraps, 181 lb bench (missed 202 lb attempt just off the chest), and a 352.5 lb deadlift for a TOTAL 830.5 lbs. This will be a 22 lb PR in squat -- which I am happy about considering my best squat with knee wraps is 295 lbs and APF meets do not allow knee wraps, a 1 lb PR in bench, and a 47.5 lb PR in deadlift. Making it a 75.5 lb PR TOTAL.

The speech

I'll make it short since I am constantly thanking the people around me for their continuous support and guidance. I know that without my teammates, friends and family, this experience would not be as fun and as smooth as it has been. This is also the first powerlifting meet I compete in since joining the team, and I know that has positively impacted me as a lifter and as a person. I am just completely grateful to have the opportunity to share these moments with you guys. I know the sport is a one man battle but empowering others and working as a team, makes this journey all worth while.

Enjoy!