Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!

Alright...as promised, I had no posts between announcing I was competing and actually competing.  I did even better...I didn't post the whole week after I competed!!   I am long overdue for an update!

I placed first in both the Bikini Tall Novice division and the Bikini Tall Open division.  I didn't take top two in the overall, but I seriously couldn't be happier with the entire experience.  I finally feel like I've found my fit - competing in the NANBF was like coming home for me.  In the words of my coach, it's an entirely different vibe.  When I compete again, NANBF is where I'll be stepping on stage!

I've always wanted little statues!!! FINALLY!!!

With a new friend, Pristine, backstage.

This was, without a doubt, my most rewarding competition experience so far.  I enjoyed the people, I enjoyed the venue, I enjoyed the well-run show...but more than that, I enjoyed the journey to the stage.  I was honest in my last blog entry that my prep to Team U hadn't been ideal for me.  I didn't live the Christ-centered life that I've committed to, and it really bothered me.  This time around, I did the very best I could, even if I felt at times that was less than what I had done previously.  I spent less time posing this go-round, but more time with my family.  I spent less time fretting over my physique and more time with my women in my lifegroup tackling the journey that is life.  That's not to say that I didn't spend time or effort on my prep or getting ready for this show...I just managed to keep my priorities in line.  The truth is, y'all, I can do it on my own but I will always fall short of perfection.  I can do all things through Jesus, who gives me strength, though, and he never fails.  He makes up for my imperfections and shortcomings.  I made a conscious decision to give it to God.  Keeping sight of that, and stepping on stage knowing that I was happy and proud of what I'd done to get there and that I had done all I was capable of doing, made this one of the highlights of my competing history.

You may be asking what's next for me.  You can get in line behind my husband, coach, family, and friends.  HAHA!!  No, seriously though...I have some ideas but nothing is set in stone yet.  I'm about as indecisive as they come.  I took the entire week off from lifting last week, although I was mindful of my macros and what I ate.  I am still rehabbing an injury and expect to spend the next seven weeks just working on corrective exercise, treatment, and altered training in order to get back to 110%.  At that time, I'll  know whether heavy squat work is in the picture for me again, and if it is...it's time to lift heavy stuff again!! If it isn't...then there will be an altered training plan.  No matter what happens though, know that I will be training!!  Until then, I'm enjoying growing in my faith walk, time with my husband, daughter, family, and friends, investing some time in my business and lifegroup, and soaking up every second I have in this life.

I do have some things up my sleeve, and they're coming quickly.  Expect another blog post this week to learn about some big plans for 2014 and to hear about what fuels me.

Until then...

TRAIN HARD - LIFT HEAVY - FEED YOUR BODY - FUEL YOUR FAITH

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