Ms Bliss Fit

Four Things Competing Has Taught Me About Life

The decision to become a competitor in any sport is a serious one that teaches a lot of lessons about life. Not only are you competing against other people who are just as talented and committed as you; you are competing against yourself. In order to be successful you have to take the process full on and accept all that comes with it. I would say good and bad, but the bad is only “bad” if you allow it to be that way in your life. Competitions can either set you free or they can cause you to reevaluate your decisions. As for myself, it has been a freeing experience and I have learned some very valuable life lessons that I can apply to all areas of my life:

1. Not everyone will support you. Sure, you think you are doing the greatest thing in the world. You get up at 4am in the morning, you stick to your diet, you workout faithfully, and  you still find time to be there for everyone; however, not all of your friends and family will understand or support the process. You have to understand that it is not their responsibility to make life easier for you. They are not competing…you are. So instead of blaming everyone else, you have to just listen to them and know that they don’t see the process the way you see it. As long as you don’t allow them to distract you…just take the comments and move on. Don’t be mad about what you can’t change.

2. You can’t halfway be in it. You have to go all in or nothing. First of all, you don’t want to embarrass yourself and second, you won’t be successful if you are not committed. People at the top don’t get there by being lazy.

3. If you have the desire, you can do it! There is a reason why you have a desire to do something. Not everyone wakes up and says, “I want to compete in a bodybuilding competition.” So take the nudging as life’s way of telling you to get off your butt and do it!

4. One day at a time…change takes time. We can’t predict how long but what we can predict is that eventually change will come. It is up to you stick with it.

After the Competition…

With my trainer, Kelly Curtis, after the show.

It has been a while since I posted. Mainly because I was extremely busy in the last couple of weeks of competition prep and work has me busy as well. Today I am taking time after my Saturday morning clean-up to share my experience with competing. First of all, I have to say that it was so much fun!! I enjoyed it so much that I am already preparing for my next show which will be on July 28th. I am also going to compete in a different class. (More on that later). :). All I am going to say is watch out world! LOL! The past few months have really been soooo amazing. I have done things that I never would have imagined I could do in my wildest dreams. Getting up on that stage is like nothing I have ever experienced. Yes, I was nervous. I was so nervous when I was standing behind that curtain and the MC called my name. But once my foot hit the other side, I did all of the things that I learned in practice with my trainer Kelly and from all of the videos I watched.

I loved it. I met some really great women that night. These women worked very hard to get to where they are…some had children (I could not imagine prepping and having to deal with children! They really taught me a lesson!), some were older, and some were young. It is just great to meet people from all over the country who are really into fitness and who love pushing themselves beyond the norm.

With Rishawn, the fabulous winner!

I won 4th place in my class (Tall Figure Open)! I never would have thought I would actually place in my first show. I placed 4th out of 8 women. Only the top 5 were given awards. After the show, I sought feedback from the judges. They all said that I looked really great and should work on my posing. They also noted that I was extremely lean and too lean for figure. Two of the judges told me that I should try to compete in the bodybuilding class because my physique and condition are suitable for that class. I had the pleasure of talking to Penny Ruff and she really encouraged me to do bodybuilding and/or Ms. Fit Body. She said that I could go really far and is providing me with help! I can’t even express my thankfulness and joy enough. This woman is a WNBF pro and is taking time to help little ole me!

It has been quite a journey and I know that I am just at the beginning. You never know where life may take you. God knows I never thought I would be doing this but I have learned that sometimes life leads you to an unexpected place!! If you are open and willing to learn, grow, and ask questions, the sky is the limit! Don’t limit yourself or set your standards by what other people think is right and wrong. If you want something, go for it!!

The winners!!

I went from this in 2007 to figure competing in 2012!!! ALL things are possible.

One more day…

Wow! It has been a long road. I can’t believe I am almost finished with this process. If you would have asked me two years ago,if this is something I would consider doing…I would say “heck no!” I mean who wants to get on a big stage in front of a bunch of strangers in a bikini! ME! The results come from all of the hard work. Man, I have never felt so much pain, been so disciplined with my eating, done so much cardio, and been so challenged in my whole life. People who think this is easy are delusional. Even practing the posing and stage presence are very tough. You have to pose and smile even when you are exhausted! And it burns! LoL. It looks pretty but inside your muscles are screaming. 🙂

I have definitely developed more confidence because I placed myself out there…fear and all. I always wanted to do this for some reason but never thought I had the courage, Fear and doubt crept up the whole time but I could not disappoint myself or the people who are coming to watch!

A few ways I have developed from this process:

1. I don’t care what people think anymore! I was a pleaser. I always stopped myself from doing things because I cared so much about what other people thought. Preparing for a competition is like going to war. You have to be firm and say “no” to a lot of people for various reasons. This is necessary to stick to your plan. Not to say that I have changed from a giving person but I make sure to look out for myself. I can’t always bend over backwards for other people. People will drain you if you let them. So a piece of advice…DO YOU! Do what you want, fear and all.
2. Clean eating is actually fun! Lol! I have so many new recipes now because I was forced to find ways to make delicious meals that fit certain protein, fat, and carb requirements. It’s not as bad as you think. I can mix kale with anything now. 🙂
3. Your body will eventually respond if you just stick to your plan. It took me 12 weeks, that is 3 months, to get results but I had to be CONSISTENT. This means doing all of my cardio sessions, all of my weight sessions and planning, planning, planning. If you plan right you can combat any unexpected situation.
4. I can’t get mad at what other people do. When you are so restricted, your mind plays tricks on you. Low carb is not easy so there are times when you get really irritable. EVERYTHING is magnified by ten. I really had to learn to control my emotions. Hey, they are not training, I am! 🙂

Alright, I am off to pack my bag for Saturday. Come out and support if you can! 🙂

Only Figure Competitors…

1. Eat about 90% of food with their hands and care less who is looking. (I have eaten scrambled eggs, salad, mashed sweet potatoes with my hands! LoL). No fork? No problem! 🙂

2. Eat cold chicken and think it is delicious!

3. Can scarf down a meal in 5 seconds flat.

4. Bake, and cook gourmet meals for thier families and can only dream about eating them.

5. Watch the food network religiously and plan all the meals they are going to eat three months from now.

6. Smell  bread baking a mile away.

7. Stare you down if you dare bring donuts, cake, and cookies within 2 inches from them!

8. Drop EVERYTHING when it is time to eat. (That line can wait! LoL!)

9. Move hell and high water to not miss thier training sessions. (“Oh, boss, I’m feeling a little sick…”).

10. Get in attack mode if they see you place a hand on THEIR food. (Sorry husbands. For twelve weeks you better not touch that protein powder, chicken, or those almonds…unless you want to PAY…deeply).

Oh, the joy of competition!! That is what I call focused.

Excuses Be Gone!!

I am learning so many new things during my 12 week contest prep. No, not only what annoys the hell out of me! 🙂 I am learning things about life that I would not have paid attention to if it wasn’t for the careful attention I have to pay to EVERYTHING these days. I have developed several mental strategies to stick with my diet and workout even though I feel like crap sometimes. One of the things I have been listening to is Wayne Dyer: Excuses Begone. I’m telling you, after listening to this, you can’t really come up with an excuse for anything. I mean he is pretty much putting all of the responsibility on YOU as the sole person who is in control. Yes, it is true that we cannot control everything that goes on outside of us. But, it is true that we CAN control how we react to it. We can acknowledge our feelings and move on.

When you say to yourself, “I am too tired to workout,” or “I will never be able to control my eating,” you are already giving up before you even try. One thing I have learned how to do is think about what I want and not about what I don’t want. I know what I want, and I know why I am competing. Why should I spend time dwelling on my fears or thinking about what could go wrong? As Wayne Dyer says, “You attract what you are.” You attract in your life what you think about. Think negative, and that is what you will get. Think positive, and that is what you will get. Yes, it is that simple. When you live in the present moment, you really have no excuse for anything. Just focus on that moment in time. When you are working out, just focus on that moment. Think about your muscles and how they are growing. If you are running, enjoy the breathe and the feeling of the blood running through your veins. When you are eating, think about how the food is nourishing your body. Stop worrying about everything. If you want to reach your potential, you have to get rid of excuses.

Winners don’t look for excuses, they look for ways to get it done. Plain and simple.

Here are some things to say to yourself when you start making excuses:

1. How bad do I want this? Do I want it bad enough to suck it up and do it?

2. I will regret not doing it, I never regret having done it when I am finished.

3. Will this help me or hurt me? This will either take me away from my goal or draw me near it.

4. One step at a time.

5. I am the captain of my fate. No one can make me do anything.

6. Is it worth making a bad choice which will leave me feeling guilty or toughing it out and having a feeling of victory for the rest of the day?

Need more motivation?:

http://www.drwaynedyer.com/daily-inspiration

http://www.joycemeyer.org/

http://www.positivelypositive.com/

http://www.inspirationpeak.com/

Eat, Sleep, Train, Supplementation (Tips You Can Use Too!)

Basically I have been doing these four things for the past 4 weeks and will continue to do so for another 8 weeks. 8 weeks is not that much time so I really have to stay on top of it. I can confidently say that I am seeing changes and I am continuing to drop body fat which is very important. It does not matter how much I weigh. What matters is my percentage of fat to lean muscle. Last night I saw that my hard work is paying off! My trainer took my measurements and I have dropped 4% body fat, lost 3 inches from my waist, added inches to my thighs and calves, and I am getting leaner overall. Yay me! I needed that boost because I started my twice a day cardio sessions this week and I am pooped!  I have never been so sore in my life! LOL! Right now I am on auto-pilot. Wake up, train, work, train, eat, train, eat, sleep!

My days consist of 2 sessions of high intensity cardio and 4 weight training sessions per week. (2 on my own and 2 with the trainer.). There are days when I work out three times a day but the minimum is twice. I have found that if I do my 2nd session of cardio at lunch time, it helps me stay energized throughout the workday. Also, on days I go to the trainer, it keeps me from having to do a very late night cardio session. Getting to a lower body fat is not easy at all…especially for women.

This Does Not Come Easy!

 It’s tough but I am learning so much in the process. I am learning a lot about food and its effects on the body in addition to various supplements and what they do. I use B-12 for energy which works wonders! I also use caffeine to help stay energized. Emergen-C Lite is good too and it gets your body enough Vitamin C which is crucial when you are training hard. I only use the lite version right now because of my restricted diet but I recommend you use the regular kind because it tastes better and only has 5 grams of sugar which is nominal. Another supplement my trainer put me on is Cal-Mag, which is Vitamin Shoppe’s version of calcium and magnesium. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, so I take this before bed to help me relax. Calcium is added for absorption and plus you need calcium for your bones. I use the lemon flavor powder and mix it with peppermint tea. Peppermint tea helps with digestion and it is great before bed. I get plenty of amino acids and of course always add in a little protein powder as well.

I have found that if I eat a lot of broccoli I feel fuller throughout the day. Also, I feel fuller when I eat more meat instead of protein powder and egg whites. Feeling full is very important when you are restricted on the number of calories you can eat. One thing that you have to come to grips with as a competitor is the fact that you will be hungry sometimes. This just comes with the territory. Obviously you will be uncomfortable, because what you are doing is on the extreme end of fitness. It’s just a mind game. You have to understand that you don’t need that food, you just WANT it. So my trick is to eat whole natural foods like broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, beans, and lean meat. Also, I drink A LOT of WATER. Water keeps me alert and keeps me full too.

If you find that you are always hungry, make sure that you are not eating a whole bunch of “diet” foods like protein bars, and 100 calorie packs. Those foods do nothing for your appetite so you end up eating more. I carry my food with me everywhere now. I have gotten over the fact that someone might look at me crazy when I pull a chicken breast out of my purse. Frankly, I don’t care because they don’t know what I have to go through in this process. I will tell you that the only way you can be successful is to carry your food with you. Don’t rely on someone else to make it to your specifications. Only you have control over what  you cook. There are tons of ways to make your food portable and you can eat it at room temperature. Here are some ways that you can make a portable meal to eat when you are on the go or busy at work. It only takes 5 or 10 minutes to eat!

Ground Turkey Muffins

Baked Egg White Muffins

Homemade Protein Bars

Tuna Burgers

Protein Shakes

Fruits and Veggies on the Go!

Grocery Shopping Tips: Eating Healthy on a Budget!

Many people use the excuse that they cannot afford to eat healthy. After all, isn’t it cheaper to eat at McDonald’s or buy a whole bunch of ramen noodles and cheap meat? WRONG! While it might seem that junk food is cheaper, in the long run you pay more not only in doctor bills but you buy more food because you are not preparing all your meals for the week. I have learned many ways to eat on the cheap and still eat healthy. When you are prepping for a competition, money is spent on many items such as your trainer, supplements, the gym, suit etc….so food has to be affordable for me. Below are tips that I use every week to eat healthy and keep it affordable at the same time. 

10 nuggets for $2.00 is not that great of a deal! You can buy a whole chicken for the week for $4.00!

• Peruse the discount stores weekly. Food-Lion, Kroger and Big Lots often have food items on close-out. This means that they need to get rid of them for new stock. These items are perfectly fine. You have to think…grocery stores have a ton of items come in on a weekly basis so they are always making room. Make it a point to check once a week. When you find something really cheap, stock up! For example, today I found Pictsweet frozen vegetables at 50% off. I stocked up, knowing that these last a long time and I always need green vegetables. This way, when next week comes, if I am short on money, I always have green vegetables to eat. I also found natural sweetener at Big Lots for $1.00 a box! I grabbed 5 boxes because this is a staple in my pantry.
• Shop during the week instead of the weekends, and shop early in the morning. You might think I am crazy, but sometimes I shop at 5:00 in the morning after my workout. Grocery stores stock their supplies overnight and any sale/clearance items are plentiful at 5:00 in the morning! I have found meat, eggs, almond milk, vegetables, yogurt, and many other things at cheap prices…and I had my reign of the shelf because no one else had gotten to them yet! Try it…you will begin to like it and you can avoid the annoying grocery crowds that you run into on the weekends. By that time, the deal items are all gone!
• Create your recipes AFTER you shop NOT before. I used to have a recipe I wanted to try, and then I would go and purchase the items. This became expensive. What I do now is purchase the items that are on sale and then I create my recipes after that. It has actually helped me to become more creative with putting different foods together.
• Take advantage of your clubs! Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s are great for purchasing items in bulk. It is worth the trip to these stores to buy items you use all the time such as eggs, fruit, vegetables, and meat. You can get a big package of broccoli for $5.00 and it will last the entire week. Also, I’ve found that buying bananas here is a good deal if you eat them everyday. Some other items worth purchasing at the clubs are the huge containers of nuts, granola bars, and milk.
• Take cash! Set aside how much money you want to use each week and stick to that. This will keep you from buying items you don’t need. I tend to overspend in the grocery store and this is something that I have really had to work on.
• Don’t get stuck shopping at one store! Wal-mart is not the only inexpensive place to shop. Find out where the deals are in your Sunday paper or online. Plan your trips for the week.

Now, you know what to do to eat healthy and still have money to spare! NO EXCUSES. Eat clean, train hard, live lean!