Last Visit: Nov 23, 2009 9:17am Last Forum Post:Never Last Photo Upload: Sep 19, 2009 2:59pm Last Profile Update: Nov 22, 2009 12:30pm Last Blog Post: Nov 22, 2009 8:20am
Overall Goal: My goal for this next year is to compete in a few regional figure contests and to successfully represent the great state of Wyoming. I have also considered training for the new Bikini division.
Fit Status:
I am going to begin my off-season training program that was devised to build some much needed mass to my shoulders and calves.
I grew up competing in cheerleading, long-distance running, and dance and started doing my mom's Jane Fonda and Buns of Steel tapes in middle school. I was extremely skinny, so I was motivated to start doing resistance training to not only improve my performance in athletics, but also to add some much needed shape to my lanky body. One day, while rewinding a Tae-Bo video, I caught a Fitness America pageant on ESPN2. I had never felt more inspired by anything in my life! I watched Marla Duncan grace the stage and realized that I too could use my past experience in performing arts, sports, weight training, and modeling to compete in fitness. When I graduated from high school and moved from Iowa to Arizona, I immediately became a certified lifeguard, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor and lived at the gym. I did some local fitness/bikini modeling as well as two regional figure contests.
Why I Love It:
I was always intrigued by muscle, which is something I severely lacked when I was young. I love bodybuilding because it integrates art and science. I get to put my knowledge of Kinesiology to good use and since I am just as much of jock/tomboy as I am an artist/girly-girl, I love that you can sculpt muscles to look very beautiful. It is so exciting to spend years getting all sweaty in the squat rack and then to step into a spotlight in a fabulous posing suit with grace...and bling! I am only 26 and I know that I want to look/feel the same 50 year from now as I do today, which is AWESOME and EMPOWERED!
How I Stay Motivated:
I was initially inspired to train like a bodybuilder after witnessing my first fitness pageant. I also discovered Oxygen and Muscle and Fitness HERS around this time and I know I was motivated most by seeing everyone from Monica to Marla, Davana to Adela (yeah Latinas!), and Valerie to Alicia...these ladies are all on a first name basis here:-) My clients are the people who encourage me to keep doing what I do best; educate others about exercise and nutrition AND set a healthy example.
BB Accomplishments:
Performance-wise, I am up to 100 push-ups with no rest and I am proud to say that I can do wide grip pull-ups unassisted! I was squatting double my bodyweight (no Smith machine) leading up to my second figure show. I want to be as strong and functional as I look! I competed in my first natural show in 2003. I choreographed my own fitness routine, designed my own diet and training plan, AND applied Pro-Tan to my back all on my own. I had no help or support going into my initial show and I actually feel most proud of this experience because it is something I worked for by myself. I got 2nd place out of seven girls and qualified for nationals!
My goal for this next year is to compete in a few regional figure contests and to successfully represent the great state of Wyoming. I have also considered training for the new Bikini division.
Goal (Long):
As probably one of only a handful of women physique competitors in Wyoming, I've been inspired to start training for a show again after realizing that Denver has a growing fitness industry. I finished my degree in Exercise Science at Arizona State in 2005, when I was competing in natural bodybuilding. I moved to a very rural area in the Black Hills (no gym or GNC for 100 miles) and am readjusting to my new lifestyle but I am still as active as ever! I've inspired my husband to train and diet with me so that we can "enjoy" the experience of contest preperation together. My dilemma is deciding on what division I will enter, as I lack the muscle size/maturity to compete successfully in figure but also do not possess the curves that are a plus in Bikini. A specific aesthetic goal of mine is to work on bringing out the tie-ins of my delt/tricep area and of the glute/ham region. Essentially, I would like to refine the hard-earned muscle I have accumulated from over a decade of dedicated lifting. My performance goal is 10 unassisted wide grip pull-ups. My nutritional/supplemental goal is to consume no less than a gallon of water daily.
I am trying to make a little extra money over the holiday season. Unfortunately, in the fitness world, group fitness class schedules may be abbreviated since there are gym closures during the days of observation. To make up for the times I will be traveling or for when the workouts...
Resistance
I do a split routine for the most part and if I have the time and energy in the gym, I will focus on two muscle groups, i.e. legs/delts, back/tri, chest/bi. I am not working as much to build my arms since I feel that they are filled out enough and any more development would take...
see that you went to school in iowa that is where i am from see you live in wyo. now that is my favorte place i go camping in yellowstone almost every year
Sup WyoGal,
Great reviews on those products, I just read them.I may try out those bars and use it as a meal replacement or as my mid afternoon snack. Hope your having a good Labor day, ciao for now, John.
I am making my first trip to IA this weekend to do some volunteer work. Have been to ND and MN more times than I can count. Hope to find some protien that is cheaper than in Canada. Enjoy your visit back.
W
