Letting go....

Ok, where do I start? The last time I blogged was the day of the competition and I was waiting on the results. Well, lets just say I didn't do so well! But thats ok, there was some tough competition there. The competing season is over for now and I feel like this year I was just getting my feet wet. I had a blast competing and met some awesome girls. I look back on the competition pictures from this year and it is hard to believe I actually did it. I loved every second of it and can't wait for next year.
As far as life in general, I have taken a step back and just letting God be in control. Isn't it funny how you wake up one day and find yourself calling the shots, controling everything and making every minute of the day about you and your wants and desires? I have learned many lessons this year, both good and bad, and I am ready to let go. I am ready to sit back and let God be in control. He has been faithful to me this year and I am so gracious for his love and patience for me. I know I have put Him on the back burner for way too long. It is very easy for me to want to take all matters in my own hands and not just let God be in every situation. Something I have discovered this year about myself, is that it is very tiring to try to do it all yourself!!!
This year has been bittersweet for me. I have had an awesome year in training anf being in the best shape of my life. I have felt more confident in myself than ever before. However, it has been a year to do much self-evaluation and learn some really tough lessons. Ultimately, the lesson of just letting go and let God be in the driver seat is the biggest and the toughest battle I have had this year. That is not a very easy task for me to do. Well, it used to not be easy, I am more than happy to let go today. Isn't it funny how God molds your heart and mind to what He wants for you.

WHOO HOO Round 1 is over...

I am sitting here drinking coffee! Mmmmmmmmmm! I haven't had any in 3 days! Can I say "HEADACHE"??!! We finished round 1 this morning and now just sitting here waiting for round 2. The show is in Marietta so we will have to be back at 5:45. There was some TOUGH competition. These girls were Smokin!!! I am not sure how I did. I honestly don't think I placed in top 5. Oh well, we are having fun.

I will keep you posted.

THIS IS IT!

Today is the day! In approximately 4 .5 hours I will be on stage with lots of extremely fit girls. Am I ready? I guess so. I don't feel ready. Am I nervous? More so this time than I was for my first show. Do I love competing? YES, I love this part...getting make-up done, big jewerly, etc. You work so hard that today is the day to show it off. Not that I feel I have a lot to show off, but you know what I mean. lol

I will keep you posted......

Here are some cutsie pictures in the mean time.

Checking out the driver's seat while I wash my car.

Helping mommy sweep.

Hanging out with her cousins.

A lot of people ask me what I eat...here is a sample. This diet is what I eat 2 weeks before the show:

Breakfast: 3 egg whites

Mid morning: 4 oz. fish

2 cups green veggies

Lunch: 4 oz. fish

2 cups green veggies

Mid afternoon: 4 oz. fish

2 cups green veggies

Supper: 4 oz. fish

2 cups green veggies

**Lots of water. I never realized how technical the diet, cardio and supplements get when competing. This year has been a learning experience for me and I hope to be better next year.

Someone asked me the other day if I will keep competing.....for now I would say yes. I love the structure and discipline! I love having a goal and seeing the results.

The diet before the show is unrealistic. However the weeks leading up to this point is reasonable and just healthy eating. It takes a lot of discipline and "tunnel vision". I read in an article the other day about a competitor who said the only way she can stay on track and not cheat is to have tunnel vision. That is SO TRUE!!

Rainy day...

Kaley and I are staying in today enjoying the rain....NOT! Kaley would rather be outside playing with her car.
I am still preparing for my November show. I get measured tomorrow so I will see where I am at. I just don't feel I will be ready.
Anyways, I have posted some random pictures of Kaley. I am just totally loving this mommy thing!!! Kaley is so much fun and she makes me laugh ALL the time!!!

Kaley loving on memaw. This is Casey's grandmother. Her husband died 2 months ago, so we try to go visit every 2 weeks. She just lights up when Kaley comes around.

Getting ready for church.

A picture with mommy after the Dallas Fall Festival.

Oops! Duplicate. I still haven't figured out how to delete pictures...

Kaley hanging out with her cousins. They are on the back of the golf cart ready to go for a ride.

Eating supper with her cousins...yes they come over every night!

A big smile for the camera while playing in her mustang.

Hanging with her favorite man at the Dallas Mud Bog.

Sportswear routine???

So I am getting ready for the November 7th show and I got measured this past Tuesday. Overall it was good news from my coach. I am stepping up my cardio a few days a week to twice a day. I am doing bleachers in the morning and sprints in the afternoon. This particular show involves a sports wear routine, meaning I have to do a routine in addition to posing. YUCK! Can I tell you that God did NOT bless me with any kind of coordination or dance abilities!!!! In fact, Casey advised me NOT to do this show for that very reason!!! But I decided to go with tennis. Now I just have to decide what the heck I will do.....
Below is what the coach had to say about my measurements....

Pretty good two weeks. Since April you have had only two better measurements. Getting ready for the Birmingham show you averaged .57 % loss every two weeks. The past two measurements you have averaged .91%. If you were to continue at that rate (.91%) you would be at 11.02% by the November show. If you do better you can be at 10%.The .80% loss put you are 13.28%Your tape measure dropped 1.68% - now at 25.84%your 6 Critical Pinches dropped 3 millimeters. 5 millimeter loss will put you where you were at Birmingham and a 7.5 mm loss will put you at the Charleston show.. You need to lose 3 mm every two weeks to be at the Charleston point you lost all fat - 1.06 pounds. Your lean mass stayed about the same (a .06 pound gain)Keep up the good work.Stay focused on the diet - no cheating.RAB

Afternoon walk

After Kaley's nap today we decided to go for a walk. I thought I would take my camera and try to get some cute pictures. She loves to cheese it up for the camera...well except for my friend Dez!!! lol

The diet is going good. NO CHEATS since last Sunday!!! I ran bleachers this morning and plan to again tonight! I am having to increase my cardio since I decided last minute to do the show!!! Will I be ready is the BIG QUESTION!!! We will see....

6 Weeks

I have been taking time off since my competition in July. My training partners just did a show last weekend and ALL weekend I was envious! I wanted to be there with them. It is hard to describe it, but the feeling of being with all the girls who have worked so hard and being on stage with my partners is so neat and rewarding. Although I should think more toward wanting to beat them or be better, but I totally don't. Is that weird? So I have decided to compete in the November show here in Marietta!
I have my work cut out for me. I have 6 weeks to drop my body fat down from 14% to 10 %!! That may or may not sound hard, BUT IT IS! That means STRICT diet and LOTS of cardio. But I am going to give it my best. So far my diet has been awesome. Cardio on the other hand has not! Ugghh.....

"Amen"

The cutest thing happened today that I just have to blog about. As I sat Kaley down at the table to eat lunch, I noticed her bowing her head and mumbling. I was thinking to myself, "What is she doing?" Then all a sudden she yelled "Amen". It was absolutely the most precious thing she has ever done. We always say a quick prayer before she eats but she has never joined in. She just looks at me and sometimes closes her eyes and sometimes repeats what I say. But today she did it all solo! I was quickly reminded that she is paying attention to what I do which keeps me on my toes.
As for training, I am not doing a competition again until spring but I am trying to get my body fat back down to around 12%. Right now I am at 15%. For my shows it was 11.5%! Whew, it is hard. I am still having to eat pretty strict and do lots of cardio. However I love the discipline of the diet. I guess it is a love/hate thing because I am still having to give up things I LOVE like CHOCOLATE!!! My coach told me this week I have to give up the wine that I also love. One glass every night is so relaxing for people like me that are SO uptight!!! But oh well, I can do it.

Kaley turns 2

Kaley turned 2 on August 27th. It is hard to believe that my sweet doodle-bug is 2!!!! Here are some pictures of her birthday. She is so blessed with awesome people in her life....

This is her next to her ELMO pinatta! She has seen this hanging in Publix for a year now and we have to go see it every time we are in Publix....which is several times a week!

Kaley playing with her new babies!!!

Kaley giving her grandparents lovin for her new babies!

Kaley PROUDLY carrying around her OTHER new baby.

Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Kaley with the cake I made for her!

A quick cheesy picture with mommy!!! These are RARE!

Having breakfast with daddy on my actual birthday.

Enjoying my new mustang.

Close-up of the ELMO cake.

These next few are from the lake 2 weeks ago!

NO FEAR!!!!!!!!

5 Random Things About Me

5 Random Things About Me:

1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE nutrition/fitness. I have been a member of a gym since age 15.
2) I love romance and chessy mushy stuff.
3) I love animals, especially dogs. If you ever see a crazy woman on the side of the road rescuing a dog, dead or alive, its probably me.
4) I love being around children with Down Syndrome. They have a unique sweet spirit. When I was in college, I visited a home specifically designed for unwanted children with Downs.
5) I love waking up every morning and drinking coffee. There have been several nights when I tell my husband I cannot wait till morning to have my first cup of coffee.

"No clothes now..."

Those are Kaley's famous words before she heads outside to play..."No clothes now." For whatever reason, she LOVES playing with the water hose NAKED! I was in the kitchen while she was playing outside the kitchen door and I heard her talking. I went to check on her and this is what I found... I did not know she could even climb on that bike by herself....a little scary!!!

Charleston Update...

Well I am finally done with show #2 and I am pooped!!!! We had a great time this weekend. Let's just say that I didn't do so well in Charleston. There were 6 girls in my class and I placed 6th! WOOHOO! No, really, I knew when I got there and seen the other girls that I might not do so well. The show in Birmingham was a natural show, meaning no steriods. The Charleston show didn't drug test, meaning it was not a natural show and you could tell by looking at some of the girls! For the most part, these girls were pretty big muscularly and I just haven't got that much muscle yet. However, my gym partners and myself agreed that if we came in last at every show due to not enough muscle, that would be fine with us...we want to keep our femine features!!!LOL!!! Nonetheless, we had fun and really enjoyed ourselves!


First, here are some pictures we took this past Sunday at the lake. My mom has been watching Kaley while I have been doing the shows on the weekends. We got home early Sunday morning and decided to take Kaley and her cousins boating!

This is Kaley and her cousin, Carson at the Disney store in the mall! This is what they wore the entire shopping trip!

This is me, Coach Bailey, Jen Hendershott, Brittney and Carmen. I train and compete with Britt and Carmen. Jen Hendershott is the one who organized and put on this particular competition. She is a two time gold medalist and the recent winner of the Arnold Classic Figure Fitness and Bodybuilding. I was looking forward to getting a picture with her....however, she looked nothing like I thought she would. I guess I was expecting to see her the way she looks in magazines, etc. Of course, thats when shes in hardcore dieting and competition mode and at her best. She is obviously in her off season right now. She will tell ya that right now shes enjoying pizza, burgers and BEER!

A picture with Jen Hendershott.

Carmen and I in the dressing rooms. Carmen did bikini instead of figure this time and won 1st place!!!

I have TRULY enjoyed the last 15 weeks. I have met some GREAT people, put myself to the ultimate test of dieting and training. I plan to take some time off and start back again in January. I will start training again for the April show. I have to say that for the last 2 weeks, I have prayed that God would allow me to not worry about things that are out of my control, relax and enjoy this moment in my life and He did! I cannot explain how much fun I had and how confident I felt, even with getting last in Charleston.

Round 2 is over and...

I placed SECOND! I was really shocked! But even if I would have placed last, I was truly enjoying EVERY minute of it! I even told one of my training partners after I finished my T-walk, I wanted to do it again! Now for those who know me, knows that I tend to be insecure and easily intimidated! I really surprised myself. I LOVED every minute of it! The crowd was awesome and you felt like ALL the HARD work the last 12 weeks was worth it!
Al last week I prayed that God would just allow me to relax and enjoy. I wanted to be able to take it all in and enjoy being in the moment! Well that is exactly what happened. I cannot tell you enough how comfortable I felt and how I could not stop smiling. I never did feel that "I've gotta win" attitude. I just felt relaxed and totally confident. Now, I do have areas I need to work on and improve. But being this was my first show, I am proud I did it!

The picture is blurry because flash wasn't allowed and my camera stinks! You can't see the other girls in this picture either.

This is me after the show eating MEXICAN!

After the show and after some trailmix....feeling bloated!!!

I had bought this for after the show! I LOVE trailmix with chocolate!

I am doing show #2 this coming weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.

Round 1 update...

Well, round 1 is over and I'm just hanging out in the hotel room waiting to go back for round 2. I am a little surprised at myself. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. However, this morning we all walked out together. Tonight we have to walk individually and pose one last time for the judges! I think I will be more nervous for that round!
All the girls backstage are really friendly and supportive of each other. I was picturing catfights going on backstage, but its nothing like that! I am meeting awesome girls and having so much fun!

Here are some pictures from this morning...
After round 1

Leaving hotel for contest being held at Hoover High School. Yes, I am suppose to be that DARK!

Getting ready in hotel room.

I will keep ya updated. Round 2 starts in 2 hours!!!

3 More Days!!!

Just 3 more days until the BIG DAY! The day that I have been preparing for for the last 12 weeks! I wasn't getting nervous until yesterday. I was making a list of things I need to take care of before I go to Birmingham and I began to freak out a little! It has been tough and time consuming, but overall I feel the best I ever have. I have really enjoyed training with my friends at the gym and doing this journey with them.
After the show, I will post some pictures. Pray for me and wish me luck!!!

Pictures of my suit

I wanted to share some pictures of my competition suit and shoes. I LOVE my suit. It is black velvet with clear and baby blue rhinestones.

As of Saturday, we will have 3 weeks left! WOW time has flew by!