coachcinziaOn the flight to LA with my men. Boy, I actually can’t believe it! We arrived! Well, not quite yet, as we still have to land in Portland for our layover of 3+ hrs before we take our second flight to our final destination, but I do feel we did make it after all!
These last four weeks have been like a roller coaster with sharp changes of direction and gears, suspenseful climbs and fast descents. Of course, along the way I found myself wondering if I was going to be ready to step on stage in the conditioning I usually present myself when show day arrives. I kept on going everyday, never skipping a beat, as this time I didn’t have that little extra time I usually like to build in my contest prep to allow for some margin of error. I knew as well as my supportive trainer and nutritionist, I had to stop any negative thoughts and focus on the positive outcome that comes from following and trusting a well thought out plan. I focused a whole lot less on me than previous contest preps, and that helped not being too worry about how much time I really had. I dedicated more time to life around me.
Of course, having done this many times before has helped a great deal as I knew what to do and how my body tends to react to the process. But, even now, I still actually wish Father Time would grant me a two more weeks of prep, one to rest a little, awww wouldn’t that be nice! Cruising in neutral to catch my breath. The second week, I would use it to push some more and even harder, coming in even tighter.
Well, Shawn keeps telling me I have to put more worth into this last critical week of training I just entered. And, of course, I know he is right. Although, I have been here before many times and saw my body transforming in a matter of hrs, it sure is easy to forget so I need to be reminded. That is what a good coach and mentor does – be there as you get close to standing on stage with an honest and grounded voice. Feelings can be very deceiving, trust only the theory behind the plan, the research and the experience! Amen, Coach Shawn! 😉
Overall this contest prep has been a new discovery for sure. It is my first time competing in the newly formed Women’s Physique Division (WPD). While Fitness is and will always be my passion as it is where all got started, the years of training both as a competitive gymnasts and a fitness competitor dictated a necessary change in directions in order to maintain the health necessary to continue to simply train to stay strong, fit, balanced and happy for years to come! With the formation of the WPD I began finding a new spark within me – a new passion! Women’s Physique gave me back the enthusiasm I needed to take my training to the level I been wanting to take it to for a while. Women’s Physique is the epitome of women’s “bodybuilding”. It is what, in my opinion, women’s bodybuilding was meant to be all along! Women’s Physique does not include fitness routine which has made training a whole lot easier for sure! I bow to my fellow fitness competitors who continue training as fitness pros and those who are not pros quite yet, you are amazing and have all my appreciation! In training to compete in Women’s Physique I have been able to be more involved in managing our personal training studio, training my clients, spending time with my son and homeschooling him, train with my husband, grow the promotion of our bodybuilding events in Alaska, the NPC Alaska State Championships and the NPC Midnight Sun. Also very dear to me, is taking special care of every member of our well establish team of women in Alaska, Team 907 Muscle GIrls. They are an amazing group of women who daily make me proud of their accomplishments both physical and mental as individuals and as the amazing team they are! I set forth this journey 9 weeks ago as I knew deep in my heart it was time for me to step on stage again no matter what, to start once again being competitive all year around, to represent Alaska, as well as walking the talk for my team. Since 2009, for two years, our business had to take priority and competing was definitely not an option. I had to be patient and pour my perseverance, passion and strength into the growth of our business. I am so blessed to have a partner in business who is as passionate, perseverant as me and whose strength, values and dedication to his family are without doubt. I owe so much to him for where our life, business and family is today and I can’t tell him thank you enough for all he has and continues to do daily. This contest prep has been about meshing competing with everything we do as a family, studio owners, promoters, coaches and parents. So, yes, I feel I have arrived as I accomplished so many of the things I set forth to accomplish in all of these segments of my life! 😉
