Finally A Blog - Just 7 Days Until Comp #1!!

Yes, Yes – I hear you!!! The silence has been deafening!!! I had so much to say and now not a thing for weeks on end!! I have some defences and here they are;

• I am currently on a work course in Darwin and I only have access to pre-paid wifi. Do you have any idea how much this costs???? Holy heck!! And then, top matters off, I had some sort of bug in the computer system that meant I chewed through $100 worth of internet in about 5 days!!! Thank god for a great system security program and I’m back on track – but that sure put me off the computer for a while!!
   
  My work course is morning-til-evening of legislation, case law and all things paperwork. I love it and am learning a ton but it sucks the life out of me and I have had no desire to sit and write in the evenings.

• Comp prep is pretty hard yakka. The endless food prep, sluggish training sessions that take twice as long as normal, routine practise, posing practise and ensuring all of the bits and pieces come together with regard to bikini, shoes, bling, hair, makeup, airfares, accommodation etc etc etc – they all take time and are extra challenging when I’m away from home and trying to fit them around homework.

So that’s the reasons for my silence – nothing sinister lurking in there.

Not to say I haven’t been hit with the usual trepidation and self-doubt that always hits in the final hours of comp prep. I have. As I’ve alluded to all along, the battle with making the scale weight has been intense. I’ve thrown the scales away for now because there is literally nothing more I can do to make them happy. My food is immaculate, my training instinctively proportionate, and my focus is firm. But there is no denying that this body has been under plenty of stress – from all of the factors mentioned above and remembering that I am yet again away from my family and out of my ‘normal’ lifestyle routine. I believe that my system got to a point where it shut-down and became a little unresponsive for a time. Ingrid came up with a plan and we backed right off the hard cardio, added in some stress-busting secrets and I decided to do what I needed to without engaging the old emotions too much. Has it worked? I think so. Not sure the scales do but I’m quite happy with how I’m progressing.

In literal terms – how am I progressing? Well, I’m very dry, very thin-skinned, very veiny and looking more muscular than I ever have. And I’ll tell you the overwhelming lesson that this has reinforced;

Competition is fought in the off-season – NOT during the comp prep!!!

Any of you that are thinking about competing and have decided on whom to engage for your comp prep, that 's all well and good but comp prep is NOT where you’ll be making the difference. That is just the place you will be uncovering it. The work and difference will be made now for next May and next September. Make no mistake about that.

With regards to nutrition, I’m definitely in that place of food denial. I’m hungry. I’m a little lethargic in the times where I’m doing nothing – but have managed to keep my mind focused and sharp for my classes which is great.

I’m missing certain tastes and starting to daydream about food groups. All normal and what happens when you deny yourself. Is there a way to incorporate all food groups right down the final days of comp prep? No one has convinced me of that yet. They try, and I read many articles on all different styles of comp prep – but the bottom line is this; if you are leaning down, you must eat less than you require. That’s the whole essence of leaning – being in calorie deficit. Not really rocket sciences. Those that claim the final stage of prep is still full of yummy treats and full tummies - I have one word for you - bullshit. That is all.

I’m getting tons of, “I could never do that” comments and quite frankly, I draw great strength from them as I realise that I choose to delve into an area that many fear to tread. And I love that realisation!!

I have also been asked why I don’t post pictures very often. Simple. I’m not that confident in putting myself out there for comment. I really don’t ever want to be in the position that I rely on good comments for my assurance that I’m looking on track. I like good comments - who doesn't? - but I want to be assured of where I’m at myself.

In saying that, I have added one little ‘arm selfie’ for a bit of comparison.

                               Picture 1 – September 2012                             Picture 2 – September 2014

That's all for now!