My review of Muscle Mania/Bikini Universe

After competing at Jr. National's this summer I have been toying with the idea of competing in another organization. I did some research on line and came across the INBA, the WBFF, and the Bikini Universe (Muscle Mania). It seems as if the closest one to the NPC and IFBB is the WBFF. But for some reason I was interested in finding out more about the Bikini Universe. I spoke with a local competitor and drilled her with one question after another. I then decided I wanted to go watch a show. I ended up choosing the Space City in Houston. This was a beginner show and I needed to keep that in mind when watching.

As far as the way the show was ran, it was great. They had two hosts for the morning show, which I really liked. We got to hear what the judges were looking for and we also heard about each contestant. I enjoy that. These competitors have worked so hard and it's nice when we can learn a little about them.

There was every physique imaginable, all which looked pretty good. Of course I was drawn to the more athletic look instead of just the thin, in shape look. The judges must have agreed because my pick won. Judging is quite different from the NPC as well. First of all, they actually have judging criteria. If you are in bikini then your "looks" play a role. If you are in figure you are only judged from the neck down. Each criterion is scored 1-15 or whatever the promoter or judge decides prior to show beginning. So if they think you are gorgeous you will score a 15. If they are scoring your muscle tone it is the same way. You are basically being scored against yourself. The judges did not talk amongst themselves and there did not seem to be scoring during the line-up itself. That seemed to be more just for show. Below is the judging criteria from their website.

MS. BIKINI JUDGING CRITERIA

Themed Sportswear Round – 50% of Score

· Poise & Presence – 33%

· Sports Wear Selection – 33%

· Appearance – 33%

You have a chance to show your modeling talents and your creativity. Just like in the swimsuit round you will be asked to walk from one side of the stage to the other performing quarter turns at a specific point outlined on stage. The themed apparel you select should best represent your character, personality, athletic interests and/or any other appearance you’re comfortable wearing. Just make sure it compliments your body. Work your magic – before you go on stage relax, enjoy your presentation and remember to smile.

Contestants must provide a brief description of their outfit in the Themed Sportswear Round. This is an opportunity for contestants to get creative with their costume and also mention the clothing sponsor, if any. No offensive costumes will be allowed (see through tops, etc.)

Swimsuit Round – 50%

· Body Condition – 33%

· Facial Beauty – 33%

· Appearance – 33%

Judges will analyze body shape, tone, symmetry, complexion, poise presentation and overall condition. Also, they will be looking for fit, toned feminine body that display proper conditioning. Contestants will be judged individually and in group comparisons. Facial beauty will be judged during this round as well. Posing in an overly sexual or manner including bending over in a reverse position, moves indicative of a stripper or other provocative body positions and/or movements will result in a deduction of points at the discretion of the head judge. In the Bikini Round, Contestants must wear a two-piece, bikini swimsuit and high heel shoes. If a contestant is competing in both the Fitness America and Ms. Bikini America, she does not need to wear a different swimsuit in each event. G-String or thong type swimsuits are not allowed. Contestants whom have a muscular appearance and/or walk and generally carry themselves in a masculine manner will be negatively scored by the judges.

Judges & Officials

Please note that the Ms. Bikini America is judged by commercial photographers, fashion designers, cosmetologists, fitness magazine editors, beauty pageant experts and other mainstream orientated professionals. No bodybuilders, coaches or personal trainers will be empanelled.

 

There are different divisions as well. There is the Bikini Model division. This division has club wear, bikini, and costume. Bikini division does costume and bikini. Figure has 2 piece and athletic wear. That's a lot to take in and can get confusing. Most of the girls crossed over in model and either bikini or figure. Model seemed to be a more athletic physique which I liked; probably even more so than the bikini division.

They pride themselves on being "tasteful". These are not my words. They have a huge problem with the way the NPC poses. I think it is the wide stance back pose they oppose the most. I would have to agree with them on this. I did that pose in 2011 and changed in 2012 because it just didn't feel right for me. However, the costumes raised my eyebrows a bit. You think the NPC stance is trashy, but you have the girls parade in, and let's be honest about this, a naughty Halloween costume or stripper outfit. I know that sounds negative, and that is not my intention. Just making a point. They were very tasteful in their modeling of these outfits and quite frankly, I think the physiques (as different as they each were) were showcased exceptionally well with these costumes. Verdict: I liked it.

I was not able to stay for the night show and that's when they compete in their bikinis. However, looking at photos the bikini bottoms are a bit more conservative, but the NPC style of suits are allowed. Well, many of them anyway.

They do have measures in place to prevent politics from running rampant in this organization. First of all, there are different judges for each show. That helps ensure that favoritism does not form between judges and competitors. Many of the judges are from local media and from fitness magazines and such. In the NPC most of the judges are males. This particular show, in the am, had all females except for one male and they were spaced apart from one another. Once the competitor was scored, the cards were picked up and tabulated in the computer.

From what some competitors told me and from what I have read, there is a media day. This gives the organization a chance to promote itself as well as give some of the competitors their own exposure. I really liked this. It's not just about the organization, even though we know it is, but they do promote their competitors even at a beginner level. I have personally never seen this in the NPC.

There is drug testing in this organization. I believe it is urine tested. This impacts more of the bodybuilders and figure competitors more so than the bikini competitors where size is not necessary. This organization does have pro levels for bodybuilders and figure competitors but not bikini.

All in all, I am impressed. While it is a much smaller organization and does not have the prestige like the NPC and IFBB it is a great way to compete. I am planning on competing in this organization next May in Galveston.

 

Next on my list to investigate: The WBFF

 

Off Season Training

Well, summer is gone. My boys are back in school and I am hitting the gym harder than ever in the off-season. OFF SEASON, is there such a thing? Not for a competitor. We are always trying to up ourselves. Six weeks ago I met with my trainer and established my goal for the next few months. My last show was in June and since then my body fat has gone from 9% at show time to 14.5%. That's pretty good. I want to put on another 5 - 8 lbs of lean body mass with the primary focus being on increasing the size of my legs. After the first 6 weeks I managed to put on 3 lbs of muscle and lost a percent of body fat. My weight is up to 120lbs.

This is pretty amazing to me because I remember in 2008 and 2010 I stepped on stage at 102lbs. Today I have 105lbs of lean body mass, weigh 120lbs, and am 13.5% body fat. I no longer worry about that dreadful number being a negative thing. My goal for next year is to have 108-110 LBM.

If you have been following me for any length of time or have read some of my other posts, you will recall I am debating about remaining an NPC athlete or participating in another organization. I recently went and watch a local Bikini Universe show (part of the Muscle Mania organization) and my next blog will document my observations and opinions on what I saw.

As always, I welcome any feedback and/or questions.

Then and Now

Summer is in full swing (actually it has been I am just catching up with it). My kids will go back to school in about 3 weeks. It has been over a month since I have competed and while I am looking at other organizations to compete in, I have not even decided if that is what I want to do. My physical goal is to work on my legs over the next year. Put on a little size there.... not too much, just a little.

I had the opportunity to help with a small NGA show here in Tyler. Purebody Extravaganza- and it was the first year for this show. It was well ran and fun to watch. I am always competing and forgot how much fun it is to cheer on my friends. Did I desire to be on stage? NOPE, not this time. I was very content in spray tanning several of the competitors and offering my support to them.

As I watched many of the competitors (most were new to this industry) I realized how far I had come since my first competition in 2008 where I competed in figure. So I thought I would document those changes with photos. Now, don't laugh, I was a skinny little thing, but I worked hard, put on some muscle and today's physique is the result of that.

This first set of photos is from my first year of competing in 2008. I got seventh in the Heart of Texas and next to last in the Alamo showdown in San Antonio. That is where these pictures were taken.

This next group of pictures is from 2010. This was my first year to compete in Bikini. I won my first show that year and placed in the top 5 at the next. This is the look I really have strived to go back to.

This next group of pictures is from 2011 when I competed at my first national qualifier and qualified for the national level. This look is not my best and I spent the subsequent year getting back to the look I had in 2010. My muscles were flat and I just didn't look as good as I could have that year.

This is my most recent picture. Love this look. It's not for everyone, but I like it. My legs could be bigger and the connection between my butt and hams could be smoother. I will achieve this over the next year hopefully.

As you can see "Rome was not built in a day"... and neither was I. It can be a long hard road but worth every mile.

Competition Photos

I just realized I had not posted any pictures from Jr. Nationals. This is my personal best. I cannot complain (well, I shouldn't anyways) about how I came in. I was tight and muscle tone was there. I could use some more size in my legs and tighten those glutes a hair. Another year and I should accomplish both.

Ok, Now what?

It's been a couple of weeks since Jr. Nationals and I have taken some well-deserved time off from dieting. I found myself getting sick most of the time so I only splurged a little. Now I am in limbo and almost "frozen" because I don't know what to do next. I will not be going to Team Universe. If you read my last entry you will understand why.  

One note to my last entry: I did meet a nice young girl as we hung out till our time to go on stage. Meeting new people is always nice and following them thru their journey can be uplifting and encouraging as well.

For the most part, due to all I have seen and heard, I will probably not be competing in the NPC again. I am currently looking for another organization or show to compete in. I have no ill will towards the NPC, it is what it is. I just want a fair chance. When I make a decision I will share it with you. 

I am getting ready to do another photo shoot for myself to remember this moment. My goal is to send some out to magazines and see what happens. Actually, I want to see if anyone is willing to help me learn what you have to do to get in a magazine. This is what I will work on next. There are many successful women out there who say they want to inspire and help women. I am setting out to see if they are sincere or not. Women don't like to share this kind of information so this will be a challenge. Nothing else, it will give me a great subject to blog about. 

I have uploaded a recent commercial in which my legs made their debut. LOL Enjoy!

Pre judging

So last night was pre-judging and it didn't go so well for me. I didn't mess up and I looked my best ever. It just wasn't going to be good enough. The show started at 3pm. I did not go on till 7:15pm. That is ridiculous. That screws up meal times, what your hair looks like, plus your feet hurt and you are tired. I remember being back stage about to go on and thinking this..."Am I having fun?" No this is not fun. I'm tired, my feet hurt, and these girls are not overly friendly. They hang out in there groups and don't try to meet anyone. By groups I mean like the "Bombshells". Smaller shows you can usually meet more people that you will stay in touch with. I did meet one girl at the airport who was very sweet and who I will likely keep in contact with, but no one at the show.

They escorted us on the stage one at a time. You had 10 seconds to do your thing and then exit off. You were then brought back on 10 or so at a time. They had us turn around once and that was it. You exited off the stage again. They brought everyone back on stage and started callouts. There was only 4 in the first callouts. That is very strange. Usually its five. Some classes there was 3 called out or 6. This is confusing. I noticed the head judge talking to some man sitting beside her. I kept thinking, they are not really judging this group.

I was unfortunately in the last call outs, which was probably the back half of the group. We had 22 in class B.  I was probably so far back I won't even be scored. So I exit off the stage, strip off those 5 inch heels and head back to the dressing room. I feel defeated, but not really too upset. If I deserve to be in the back then that's that. I didn't know what my competition looked like so I couldn't really complain. Fast forward an hour or so when I have had time to look at the pictures. I could see why 3 of the 4 were in first call outs. After that, it's anyone's game. I do believe I looked better than some that were called out before me. Now I'm a little pissed. All this time and effort for what? I feel a little politics being involved.

I had the opportunity to talk to someone who knows this industry quite well, actually judges. Learned a lot. When you have certain trainers who girls always do well you take notice. Never mind they have been in town with their limos taking the judges out and partying (many times I hear) with them. These groups bring in tons of money to the NPC/IFBB. If you require your girls to purchase so much in NPC products, do so many shows a year, don't you think the organization would want your girls to win? You are a commodity to them. Overheard as well is that the NPC really does not want to let in any more trainers. What does that mean? Well, only so many girls can win and when you have several groups swooning you, you eventually max out on these top fives or wins. What a dilemma. I call bullshit on all of it. I saw several girls in the taller classes that should have been in the first callouts that didnt even make second callouts. I can at least understand some of  the reasoning behind some of the callouts in my class.

The sad part is to see the disappointment on these girls faces. They are women like me who went in actually thinking they had a chance. I always believe, and still do, that God is in control. Things can only happen if God allows them to happen. It is not his will that I win or place in this show. In fact, I don't think it was an accident that that person was sitting beside my husband and friend and shared his own frustration as a judge. Maybe my competing days are over, or maybe doing small local shows just to stay in shape is what I am supposed to do. Either way, I am at peace this morning. I will get dressed, eat my grits, tan, do my hair, put on my makeup, and bring the swagger tonight just as if I still had a chance to WIN. Why bother you ask? Because I am a COMPETITOR!

Just tired

This is what I meant to post last night.

Long day. I really wanted to be able to post some video from the show tomorrow, but this show will kick you out if you are seen with your video camera (or phone) out. I will however try to blog my reactions and thoughts on the show. I'm having trouble with my iphone being inconsistent with which way to hold the phone when recording video. Frustrating!

Chicago Bound

Jr. Nationals

It' finally here, the show I have been training for now for a year. I am actually headed to Chicago as I write. I am at 9 percent bodyfat at 112 lbs. With the exception of my last show five weeks ago, this is the most I have ever weighed at show time. In fact, I have never weighed more than 106lbs. That is major improvement. And let me tell you...you can certainly see the difference. I am going to try doing video entries throughout my experience here at Jr. Nationals. Stay tuned.

Are you a HATER?

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you are very aware I write from my own experiences. Today's blog is meant to cause a reaction within your soul. You will either completely "empathize" not sympathize, with me or you will feel as if you have been CALLED OUT. That's right! Be prepared to feel something. If you are honest with yourself you will find out if you are "that" HATER!

As an NPC competitor I endure all sorts of reactions for what I do. Some are encouraging while others are not. Your first thought is that this will be about the girls I meet at the competitions. Quite the opposite. Those girls are usually very nice and supportive of one another. We understand the hard work we have put into these shows and that respect shows in most cases. I decided to write this when I had had enough. When I recently uploaded a video to youtube lifting my max weight on dumbbell chest press, I did so mainly for my friends to see. I had no idea it would bring out the haters. Accusations that I wasn’t lifting the weight and that my workout partner was helping too much became a big issue to someone. Ugly comments and banter continued before I finally had to block him from my site. What was the point in that? I meant this for fun and someone was missing that. Why? Probably because hating on others made him feel better about HIM. I, being a bit naive I suppose, was a bit taken back by how quickly someone was willing to say something that would insult me instead of build me up. But then again, as I got to thinking, this has been going on in different forms my whole life.

Most of my criticism comes from females. Jealousy amongst us females is and always will be present. I think it's very hard for females to truly be happy for those of the same sex. I remember being that way myself. I think with age and doing these shows I have gained the confidence I never had and learned to be happy with me. Now I can truly say I enjoy seeing other women succeed. It actually empowers me. If she can do it, then so can I.

One example of being "hated" on occurred last year. After my show, my workout partner hung some pictures of me from my competition at the gym. Boy, the uproar that caused. They were up less than a week. I am sure some insecure woman was threatened by my pictures being up for her husband to see. She probably buys magazines with photo-shopped movies stars on the front of them, but heaven forbid you put up a picture of a "real" woman. You are a HATER! You just disguise it as "morals" "values" or some other name that makes you feel better. Get over yourself.

Don't forget about the "silent hater". Let me tell you what they look like. They are one of your 350 + friends on facebook who won't even "like" you winning a show or tell you congrats. Don't want to do that. If you "like" it, one of your friends will see it (probably a male) and how will that make YOU feel? You are a silent HATER. Get over yourself.

That's not the worse silent hater. How about that person (usually a woman) who knows and is aware of your success or training for a show but offers no Good Luck or Congrats! She will look you square in the eyes and think about it, but nothing. Sorry to say it, but you too are a HATER.

These HATERS will preach love and kindness, but when your success forces them to look at themselves and face their own insecurities, then you become the bad guy. Let's face it. I am an easy target to hate. I am young (ok maybe not so young), attractive, and having some success. What is there to like about me. I am everything you want to be...at least that's what you think.

Don't forget that I am human just like you. I have had and continue to have my own insecurities and struggles. Naturally I want people to like me.........just like you do. So the next time you whisper something negative about me because of what I do as a competitor, STOP and think, am I being a HATER? Instead perhaps, offer me some encouragement. Don't assume I get enough, because as my first example shows, there is always someone willing to HATE. Don't be "that" HATER.

And the Winner Is........

We all want to hear our name being called out as the winner....no matter what it is. Whether you are a seven year old hoping you won a coloring contest or you are 38 and competing in a NPC bikini competition.
" CANDACE HARMON!" Whooh! First place in master's, now I just have to wait and see how I did in the open (all ages) division in my height class. "And the 1st place trophy goes to, with her second win of the night, CANDACE HARMON." Wow! I am feeling good. I won the Optimum Classic back in 2010 and here I am again repeating in 2012. At this point I am excited, but no time to celebrate. I have only a few minutes then I go back on stage to compete against the Class B winner. A lot of things are going thru my head at this point. I have never competed for overall and really want to sweep this show. I am motioned to join the class B winner on stage at which point the head judge takes over and tells us to do our front pose, back pose, walk 5 steps, then walk back. "Swagger" I think, "I have to bring my swagger". I have no idea what this chic brings to the table so I have to leave everything on the stage. After a very brief minute of posing, the judges make their decision and the results are announced. " the  winner of the overall trophy and title of Optimum Classic's 2012 Bikini Champion goes to CANDACE HARMON".
 I am thrilled! My first overall win could not have come at a better time. Jr. Nationals is only 5 weeks away and this will just boost my confidence. Granted the show was small, but the competiton was good. My trainer and I did so many things different with this show and it was either going to fail miserably or hit the mark. Well, it hit the mark. I could not be more satisfied with the way I looked regardless of the competition. I received some good feedback from the judges and will hopefully take this version of me to Chicago. I would love nothing more than to have a top five finish there, but I am going in to WIN!

Here are some pictures from this weekends show.

How much weight can you move?

You have probably heard the saying; Big things come in small packages, or Don’t judge a book by its cover. That could not apply to anything more than weight training. We all assume the biggest guy in the gym can lift the most weight. Or perhaps the guy who is in the best shape (ripped abs ect.) is surely stronger than the other guys. Not always so...and I am living proof of that. At 113 lbs I recently did my max of 65lb DBs in each hand for chest press. Yep that's right. I can push some weight around.

So the question I get a lot is "Do I have to lift heavy?" My answer to that is...only if you want to see some physical changes. What's the point in going in to lift weights if the weight you are doing does nothing to challenge the muscles to grow? "I just want to tone" I hear some of you saying. Well you get the tone look from decreasing your body fat not by lifting light. Now don't misconstrue what I am saying. Rotating in higher reps is a great way to challenge your muscle endurance from time to time. But higher reps means you go as heavy as you can to get 12-15 reps and getting number 15 took all you had. Doing a weight where you are pushing out 20 reps is not going to initiate any major physical changes in your physique.

When all else fails, as I like to say, LOAD IT UP!

To check out my weight lifting go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApPEqw_I6Cc

Below is a picture from 2 weeks out.

Calories and Cardio

Wow! 3 weeks out already. Weighed in this week at 114 and 10.7% bodyfat. That's right where I need to be. In fact, I have never been ready for a show this for out. I usually come in right at the last minute. I will just try to coast in from here. Goal is to lose very little muscle and if my bodyfat does not change in the next two weeks that will be OK too. The week of the show I will probably drop another percent. I do not want to look too "skinny" or lean. I have more muscle this time and honestly just appear "fitter" this time around. Is that a word?

Anyway, someone asked me about my caloric intake. Believe it or not I have been taking in 2000 calories from about 6 weeks out and back. I was decreased to 1700 for a couple of weeks and then at 4 weeks out and continuing now, I am on 1650 calories a day. My breakdown is 60/30/10 carbs/protein/fat. Even on the 2000 calories I was losing fat. I was also gaining muscle. There is a saying that you have to eat in order to get lean...that means eating "clean" of course. You must journal your food or have a printed out meal plan when doing something like this. You think you are taking enough calories in but your not...or you think you are staying within your caloric range but you are greatly over consuming calories. You can't be for sure if you are not doing one or the other. It is science. I can figure out mathematically how many calories it takes to maintain my weight of 114. Guess what? Your trainer can also figure out how many calories it takes to maintain your 190lbs. So you might as well be truthful about it. You deserve to be honest to yourself. It's the only way you will change your eating habits.

I was also asked about cardio and whether or not I do any. Honestly, this time I have done no cardio at all in order to get where I am. Typically within the 6-week mark I will start doing 15 minutes of moderate cardio after each weight lifting session. This time however, since I have already reached my goal, there is no reason to do this. You should be able to, with proper diet and intense weight lifting sessions, reach your goal without cardio. I know I can hear it now..."What about your heart"? If you are working out hard in the gym, then your heart is being exercised. I realize I can't go run 5 miles without getting winded...but I'm not training for a marathon either.

If you have never read my blog about cardio vs. weight training you may want to do so to get a better of idea of how I fit cardio into my plan. Just go into my archives and check it out.

Next blog: How much can you bench? Updated photos to come.

Your suit is fine....No it isn't

Since I recently met with the woman who is making my suit I thought it would be appropriate to talk about what is and is not "suitable" for competition. Well, your guess is as good as mine. I have talked with several people, including the woman making my suit, and there is some confusion at the amateur level about what is and is not acceptable. My seamstress has had to redo several suits at the last minute because judges are throwing them out at weigh in. Can you imagine? Spending all that money only to have no suit for the competition. Well it's happening quite a bit apparently. One judge was asked about this and this was her response. It seems to depend on the head judge. So and So (I won't mention any names to protect the innocent) is more conservative and so and so lets just about anything go. But what are we supposed to do then? Well, I guess this brings me back to a previous blog I wrote regarding knowing who your head judge is. I would not hesitate if I had any doubt, to email the head judge a picture and get his/her feedback. Just don't alter the suit if you get the Ok...you are just asking for it to be thrown out. The NPC rules state the back has to cover 50% of the glutes. Bet you didn't know that. Especially since you have never seen 50% of the glutes covered since I competed in 2010. LOL That year I was told my suit needed to be smaller by one judge...the judge who tends to throw out more suits today. LOL Times change. My suits are less conservative today than when I started, but still more conservative than others today. I do not want to have to purchase an extra suit, so I am going to make sure I don't walk that line.

I have posted some progress pictures. My bodyfat is the same but my weight is down. This is not good. This means I have lost some muscle. Frustrating to say the least. But I just tweak things a bit and keep going.

6 weeks out!

So here I am at 6 weeks out. My water retention is better but I could tell some difference in the pictures. Not as good as I had hoped but not bad either. I met with the lady making my suit today. I know exactly what fabric I want. I just hope they make it in the color I am going with this year. While I am focusing on this show, I am already looking towards the Junior Nationals. I will try to get my flight booked and make hotel reservations soon. I will get quotes this week on my t-shirts. I have narrowed it down to a couple of different sayings but need to get that finalized as well. Six weeks out means workouts have to be even more focused than before. I throw in extra lunges and step-ups to lift that booty and I always LOAD IT UP! No time for slacking now. I'm just getting started.

I'm gettin crazy all up in here!

Wow! One week of my fat being cut back and I am officially "loco". I can't even think good enough to know if that's how you spell loco. I will never complain again about having to stuff my face because it is way better than lean out time. Usually I don't feel like this until closer to show time.... that’s when the calories are cut back which means the fat is cut. I am retaining fluid, but have no idea why. My trainer assures me it is probably from lack of water consumption, my lack of sleep, and stress. Apparently, I need to make some changes because I'm not coping well because I'm not thinking well. Guess I will increase my water intake, take more naps, and send the kids away until after the competition. LOL This is the hard part of preparing for a show. Everyday things that are typically no bigger deal than the last become enormous obstacles. I can see how being single and living alone would make it easier to prepare for a competition. But I play with the cards that are dealt and I deal with the choices I make and I choose to compete. I won't lose any money, but I may lose a few friends along the way. LOL.  I will admit however, sometimes I want to get away from myself, but no matter where I go, there I am.  I can be pretty contrary during this time. Once my body adjusts I should be fine.

 I am four days past due on a cheat meal...TONIGHT I am cashing in!

*no matter what I look like this week, I will post 6 week out photos....ACCOUNTABILITY*

Silly Me!

This week was a great week! I weighed in with my trainer and got great news. I gained 3 lbs of muscle and my body fat actually went down. Whoo Hoo! This is what I needed to hear. I thrive off  hitting the mark and this last month I did. Now instead of setting my short term goals to every 4 weeks, they are set for every two. I however made a bit of a mistake in my planning. Apparently, I got the date wrong for my competition and it is a week earlier than what I thought.  Silly Me! Not sure what brain fart I had, but thank God someone brought it to my attention. Now I am going to recheck all the dates for shows I have chosen to compete in. Normally this could be a huge deal, but I am ahead of the game as of now. I do worry about my workout partner who is competing in his first show as well that weekend. I hope my mistake doesn't affect his outcome. A week can make a huge difference.

Mentally, I have been somewhat somber this week. Here is some advice you ladies need to hear. When you are on your period, don't put your swimsuit on and critique yourself as you normally would. I swore to my husband I had put on fat and my skin was sagging. This was two days after my weigh in. I actually began to worry that maybe I wouldn't be ready in 7 weeks. Craziness! Oh! and get a tan. I have a spray tanning machine and when I go on and on my husband will say....you just need a tan. Believe it or not I instantly feel better. I may not look better, but I THINK I do. Silly Me!

9 weeks out

9 weeks out

I cannot believe competition time is just around the corner. My first show will be the Optimum Classic in Shreveport in May. This is a warm-up to my show coming in June. It's been a little hard getting into the "show" mind frame since I have not had to start the leaning out process yet. I have been in contact with the lady making my suit (by the way I am selling my turquoise suit if anyone is interested) and I will be meeting with her in a couple of weeks to go over design and fabric. I am working on my
 t-shirts that I will be selling to help off-set some of the costs associated with competing this year. All and all it's just time to get things together and get re-focused. I posted some recent pictures. Along with recent pics I posted a picture from last year. You can see that I am ahead of the game this year. I still have to lean out, but I am confident in my look this year.

9 weeks out

This is me last year 5 weeks out from my show.

Disappointing yourself

Sometimes competing can bring out a whirlwind of emotions. More times than not, disappointment creeps it's little head up. This off-season has been one of my most successful off seasons. I maintained a great look with my body fat only going up to 15%. I am "always" training for a show, but have really focused on building muscle for the last two months. The first month went great. I put on 3lbs of muscle. My total goal is 9. The second month, didn't go so well. It was no ones fault but my own. I just didn't eat what I needed to eat. Bottom line is you have to eat if you are going to build muscle… and I didn’t. My numbers stayed exactly the same. This is great for everyday life, but not for bodybuilding. I did not try at all to maintain, it just happened. But I was supposed to be gaining muscle. 4 wks lost. Good news is my body fat is low enough right now so I don't have to lean out just yet. I will give this building muscle thing another shot. This time there will be no excuses. I will cram the food down in order to get the calories in.

Saying I love you

 

Have you ever thought about how hard it is to say I love you? We live in a society where sleeping with different people from time to time has become the norm, but saying I love you to your friend almost never happens. Is that not messed up?  This past September I lost a dear friend to her two year battle with breast cancer. She was only 6 weeks away from her 40th Birthday. She left behind a loving husband and three adorable kids ages 2 to almost 7. The thing she left behind was the ability to say I love you. Anyone who truly knew her will always remember that Kelli would always say I love you instead of just saying good-bye. What an awesome way to be remembered.

  After her death I became more aware of how little I said those words to my friends...and how hard it was. What is the deal? I think the word love is automatically associated with an intimate kind of love affair. But reality is, it's not. It is an emotion, a feeling of fondness for someone. Webster's definition of love defines love as....

a (1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>

This leaves the door open to anyone, not just someone you are in an intimate relationship with or just family. I think also, we are afraid of rejection. You remember that kind of rejection when you told that special someone you loved them, but didn't get the response you had hoped for. I think those memories make such an impact that we become afraid to use those words again. There are people in my life who have made such an impact on who I am today, and I love them for that. If something were to happen to them I would be affected greatly, yet I have never told them. I know we all have "best friends" whom we care about greatly and love, but again, we don't tell them. I do have a friend that I now say I love you to. And wouldn't you know it, she now tells me. What a great thing to pass on. Love is not something to keep to yourself. Everyone needs to love and to be loved.

For those of you who have friends of the opposite sex, and most of us do, whom you would say you "love", I think it's OK to say so. You need to approach this a little more conservatively by maybe preceding I love you with "I admire you or you are a dear friend", but I wouldn't stray away from saying the words all together. This world has made LOVE a word appropriate for couples only. Let's be realistic folks. If we took time to tell each other how much we loved each other, there would be less depression, loneliness, suicide, heartache, regrets, and the list goes on and on. Moral of this story...Get out of your comfort zone and tell someone sincerely...You love them!

Choosing your competition

  Every year about this time I start getting the question " Do you have a show coming up?" Very few times do I have someone ask how I come about picking a show. Recently however, I have been getting this question more often.

  First of all, I pray about each show. I really feel that the Holy Spirit guides me to picking my shows. Case and point.... I had my heart set on doing the Master's Nationals this year. I have wanted to do this show for two years and just knew this was the year. God would have different plans for me this year. At least that is what it looks like thus far. I was asked to do the spray tanning for a new local show coming up. Wouldn't you know it would be the same weekend. I told the promoters I would have to pray about it and that's what I did. I prayed that God would make it clear what I needed to do. Do I do what I have wanted to do or take this job that could prove to be quite lucrative? Remember, I have my kids in private school so every penny counts in this household. It would be no longer than a week when I would get another offer to work as a nurse at a camp for blind kids. I have done this camp for two years and it always falls around the fourth of July. Well, not this year. They opted to move it.... yep you guessed it, the same week as the competitions. It was very clear to me that I could not give up this financial opportunity. Assuming contract negotiations go smoothly, I will be skipping the Master's Nationals this year.

  What size show should you pick? For me, and I have said this before, I want to compete. At this stage of my training I want bigger shows. I believe if you are starting out, then smaller shows are a great place to start. You can get the experience of competing in a show without the overwhelming level of competition. What constitutes a small show? I think a show where you have less than 10 competitors in a class is small. There are many shows where there are less than five. I personally, won't compete in these right now. I'd rather be number five out of thirteen than number one out of three. Smaller non-qualifying shows tend to be less competitive. Now don't get me wrong. I have been to small shows with three people and number one was in it to win it. But I have also seen where number one would not have made top ten in a National qualifying show. So you have to decide what do you want? Do you just want to get a feel for competing? Do you just want a trophy? Or do you want to compete with the best? There is a place for all of these. You decide which one is the right fit for you. 

  I also consider who the head judge is going to be. After competing in and attending a few shows, you can get a good idea of which judges you feel will like your look, or those who don't play favorites as often. I don't want to bash anyone in particular, but let's be honest...there is politics just about everywhere you go and everyone knows it. Keep at it long enough and you will likely get your break. I call or email and ask who the head judge is. I do this because the head judge has a huge influence in picking the first call outs. If I get a name I don't want to hear, I do not do the show. I look for another show who's head judge is a better fit for me.

  My plan this year is to compete in two National level shows. I have also chosen to compete in a smaller show only 2 hrs from home. I made this decision for three different reasons.

#1. My workout partner, who is an older gentleman, has decided to enter his first show. He has supported me for years and it’s my turn to show my support for him. While I would be very content to just go and watch, he wants me to compete in the show as well. This would put us dieting at the same time and our goals very similar.

#2. It would be a great opportunity to "play" with the diet. This show will fall only a few weeks before my first National level show and I can use it as a practice. This is what will be a challenge. I felt I was a little flat last summer at my show, but I was too scared to add more carbs. I guess I was worried about making it worse with too many carbs. This time I am going in with the attitude that I have to see what works. I will consult with my trainer while at the show and make the necessary adjustments.

#3. I am READY for another show. Plainly said, I just want to do another show and don't want to wait till June. 

So regardless if you are new to the industry or a regular fixture on the competition circuit, there is a show that is right for you. If you feel confused and lost about picking a show, then ask someone who competes regularly. You can also go watch some shows. Do the call outs make sense to you? Were the judges consistent in their call outs? These are just a couple of things to look for when attending a show. Above all, have fun. If competing is not fun then it has all been for nothing. Hang it up and pick a new hobby. J

BACK Again!

My intentions were to post a blog on aging in the NPC. Well, I guess when my computer shut down I lost the whole thing. Sometimes I hate my computer. I will have to rethink it and try again with that one later.

In its place I thought I might just share a couple of pictures of me training back. Anyone who trains as hard as a competitor knows its hard to get a good look at your own back. I was surprised to see how much muscle my back has. I look "little" in real life, but I think I look pretty big in these pictures. Or maybe that's just what I want to see. LOL

When doing back I keep to the same motto "Load it up". I go heavy and yes, I do real pull-ups. I may only get 10 on my own, and that may be only for two sets, but I will finish with some help from my partner for four sets. I firmly believe pull-ups are one of the most effective back exercise to build those lats.

Feel free to message me some ideas you would like me to blog about. Someone asked me recently to blog about picking a show. Small vs. larger shows. I'm working on that one now. I would love to hear from you.

These were taken recently. You may be able to click on them for a larger view.

Plastic Surgery Part II

In my last post I discussed plastic surgery as it pertains to the NPC. Today I want to discuss this topic as it pertains to the everyday woman. Remember, these are just my opinions. I don't claim to be an expert by any means on this topic.

        

Lets first discuss who I think make the best candidates for plastic surgery.

The best candidates are those women who, for the most part, are self- confident. This would be someone who doesn't constantly look at herself in the mirror and complain about everything she sees. There will usually be one or two things she would love to change if given the opportunity. That’s just normal. The person who should rethink surgery is just the opposite.  She will have low self-esteem. Low self-esteem will not be cured with surgery. She will have to continue to have procedures done and will never meet her own expectations or be satisfied.

Another good candidate would be someone who just wants what she wants. She may know she doesn't "have" to have it, but she wants it anyway. Of course, the above statement regarding self- confidence would apply here as well. She won’t have surgery because her spouse or boyfriend wants her to have it. This is a mistake. I would never have surgery to "please" someone else, not even my spouse. I may meet a little opposition to this statement, but its true. If your man is pushing you to have surgery and doesn't love you for who you are, then you have bigger problems than you think. Let's face it; There is always someone out there prettier, skinnier, sexier, and so forth.... even after surgery. So you better make sure you are doing it for you.

Women vs. Women- It is and will always be the case, that women will be other women's biggest opposition to plastic surgery. We love to look at a girl with nice enhancements and ask sarcastically; YA THINK THOSE ARE REAL? BET SHE PAID SOME GOOD MONEY FOR THOSE!  I could go on and on. But let's be honest, it's because we are a little jealous.... or in some cases a lot jealous.

But come on, if you are going to have surgery, don't lie about it. You don't have to post it on facebook, but if someone has the balls to ask, either tell them it’s none of their business or fess up. You look like a fool when you deny the obvious. Case and point, true story... I was at the pool at SFA this past summer and myself and two other ladies were looking and admiring how cute this young woman looked in the pool. She was almost 9 months pregnant. The next thing I hear is a lady looking at me saying, "That's my daughter and they are real". What? I thought as she continued around the lazy river. Before she made it back around, we quickly realized she thought we were looking at her other daughter who was truly "blessed by God" if they were real. Calling bullshit on that one (in my head of course), I caught her on the way back around and told her it was not that daughter we were looking at but rather her pregnant daughter. She chilled out after that, but my point is, I didn't care if they were real or not.... but I’m not an idiot either. Nevertheless they looked great!

Be subtle about it - I want to be the one where people go; Are they or aren't they? HMM! Not sure. Or the one where when they do realize they think...wow that's obvious, yet they have been around me for a couple of months before noticing.... yeah really obvious huh?

Men- Someone wanted me to give the man's perspective on this. UH Seriously? This will be easy. YES AND YES. If they say they are not a boob man then you get a boob job, I am betting they become a boob man. LOL Not much else to say about that.

In the end, it's your body and your decision. As for me...Well, let's just say, my pictures won't lie and I won’t either.

Plastic Surgery and the NPC Part I

NOTE: I WROTE THIS LAST SEPTEMBER BEFORE ABANDONING MY BLOG FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

As I started to write this blog, I realized that I might have to divide it into two parts. As with just about all my blogs I spend some time thinking and writing about the chosen topic. This one was no different. I thought I would first blog about plastic surgery as it pertains to the NPC then in part two, as it pertains to women in general.

PLASTIC SURGERY AND THE NPC

Go to any site where pictures are posted of NPC competitors and you will see something very common. Most have had plastic surgery, breast augmentation to be exact. What are my thoughts and opinions on this?

  First of all, I do consider breast augmentation "cheating" in competitions. If you look at a woman's physique that has not been enhanced by breast surgery and compare her to someone who has, you will find the following. I will be the example in this scenario of someone all natural. I have to work my pecs (chest muscles) a lot to achieve the same look as someone who has enhancements. My pecs are pretty impressive for someone this small. Compare side-by-side pics and you will see in most cases (not all) the other girl does not have defined pecs. What a rip off. I press anywhere from 40-55lb dumbbells in each hand in order to achieve the same look. I get the short end of that stick for sure.

  Let me also mention how enhancements give your shoulders a more distinct rounded look, almost broader. I am not sure why, but it does. It can also give the "illusion" of a smaller waist. Once again, these are all illusions, but they work.

  Do you have to have plastic surgery to do well in the NPC?  Well, you could increase your chances for the reasons I stated above, but I say NO! The judges are not thinking (in most cases) look at the rack on that girl. They are just innocently drawn to a more balanced physique that implants offer. This isn't the Hawaiian Tropics. A good set of boobs is not going to win you a show. You also have to have the full package. Nice looks, toned abs, nice muscular legs, and what I believe to be the most important, a nice firm round butt. Your butt will be the deciding factor. I promise! In my last show I counted 4 of us back stage that did not have implants. I know two of us placed in the top 5. Let's not forget I won my first bikini show in 2010 + 3 out of the 5 of us who made top 5 in another show were all "natural". So while I believe it can give you an "edge" up, I would never have surgery just because I thought I would place better. You will likely be disappointed if you bank on that.

  It may sound as if I am against surgery. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I am to be honest, a bit jealous. Not from the competition side of things, just from the loss of my youthfulness.  I am actually a supporter of it, if you are doing it for the right reasons. I believe most women who opt for surgery are given a bad wrap for that decision. That’s really unfair. Which leads me to take a more in depth look at plastic surgery; not only for competitors, but also for all women in general.

In part II I will discuss the double standard in plastic surgery. Not just between men and women but also for women of different sizes. There is an obvious bias that most people overlook. I will also discuss my opinions on who makes the best candidates to have plastic surgery.