Let's Raise a Glass to all the Stay at Home Moms

If I wasn't 3.5 weeks out from a show I would raise a glass to all the stay at home moms and especially those who are training for a show this summer. Holy Moly! It's hard! My last show was on May 25th so I only had one week where the kids were out of school before I had to compete. This time however, I have been prepping for World's the entire summer. My job allows me to make my own schedule but I have hardly worked at all this summer.

I am a stress eater (and drinker). And listening to mommy, mommy, mommy, 15 gazillion times a day and mommy he hit me, or it's my turn to play the game...well that can certainly drive you to the loony bin or to the pantry. But never as much as when you are in serious show prep mode. I have learned to take a deep breath...then another....then another. Until eventually, I am OK or I pass out. LOL

I don't want to say it is easier to train for a show without kids, but I am going to anyway. It is easier to train for a show without kids. My husband is very supportive so I can only imagine what it must be like for those of you who are training and doing all the kid rearing without the help of your spouse. Kudos to you!

So for those of you who struggle with the balance of it all, know you are not alone. And in the end, it is worth it. No one can take away your achievements or your success...even though your children may try to destroy your trophies in a battle to determine the strongest woman alive!

Sponsorships

As I prepare for my first Pro show in 3.5 weeks, I am beginning to get ideas about where to go from here. Since becoming a pro I have learned that you have to sell yourself more than ever. Everyone thinks, "Hey you're pro now, why don't you get a sponsor?" Well, Gee! Why didn't I think of that? LOL That is so much harder than you think. “The next big fitness model or athlete” is approaching companies daily. Most of them just want to give you their products and that's it. I want and NEED more than that. My show in Vegas will cost me about $2000 and that is with me having my supplements and suit sponsored. And I will be wearing the same formal again. UGH! 

Hearing NO can get you down as well...but only if you let it. I have been told NO many times and now I am being told yes by some. Others make promises and never deliver...shame on them. And some just disappoint you so bad you are paralyzed for a short time. This happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I was turned down by my gym for sponsorship. Yes, I do a weekly fitness segment for them on a local morning show for FREE! And yes I get asked all the time where I workout. They do give me a free membership, but two other gyms do that as well for me.  My dilemma stems from the fact that I LOVE the people from my gym. They have supported me so much throughout my years of competing and some have supported me financially. I really hate to ask again to be quite honest. Maybe that is pride getting in the way.

Despite these setbacks, I honestly feel God has a bigger plan for me. I am not sure where all the money will come from, but I know it will come. I had one young man offer to do a boot camp and a meet and greet and give all the money raised to me for my show. I have another young man printing t-shirts with his logo on them and putting my name on the back and sharing the proceeds with me as well. Such support. I am blessed to have people like that in my life. Not because of what they can do for me, but because I learn from them on how I can help others.

I still have a couple of different options that I will pursue. I will keep you updated on that. As for as what I am going to do after World's, that is to be seen. My goal is to have my website up and running by the end of the year. I have several different ideas on how I could share my knowledge and supplement my income as well. Wish me Luck!

You can watch me live on August 24th