6 days out from what will be my 3rd competition & I still feel like a bit of a rookie.  I believe even on the 25th competition there will still be the unknown factor.  This might be the very craze that lures us competitors to return time & time again.  It involves understanding you will push through grueling workouts, spend hours prepping food & practice posing till every muscle screams… without a guarantee of how the finished product will turn out. Yes, it is indeed that thrill of taking the adventure towards being your best & never checking out regardless of an unforeseen outcome.

I’m feeling extra amped tonight.  This afternoon I went to a team meeting discussing the backstage come show day.  This team, N-ER-G & Laser Sharp Fitness, have been phenomenal at eliminating several of the unknowns that come along with competing.   Behind the curtains can be just as nerve racking as the actual stage so it is extremely comforting knowing I have amazing people who I admire ready to help me.  I’m feeling very fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of a team that cultivates such positivity & enriches the sport.

To also alleviate some of the anxiety that accompanies the unknown I meticulously log my contest prep.  Aware I cannot predict how my body will respond to upcoming preps it still creates a useful blue print to refer to (Actually I just finished looking over my last prep log & am reminded of some great insight going into this final week).  If I could only offer 1 piece of health/fit advice it is to log it.  Whether you are cutting body fat, race training, muscle building or wanting to feel good (<–my favorite) log your food, workouts & outcomes.  Perhaps not for the rest of your life but long enough to see what does & does not work for your body.  Even when I’m not in the midst of contest prep I log my food & I record personal victories & short comings via lifting, run times, new exercises.  Why torture yourself by repeating errors?  I’ve been there, done it & it was a waste of my valuable time.  Now knowing how my body previously reacted to different types of fuel & training I put in it allows me to continue to grow.  If you think it’s too time consuming or labor intensive then you don’t want to achieve your goal bad enough.  It’s up to you & it’s only a chore if you believe it is.

What unknowns are you going to conquer?

Picture by: Joey Lyday