Latest and Greatest...

Well, as you can see, it has been awhile since I've posted to this site. Obviously, I decided to take a break from competing this year. I worked hard and enjoyed training for Jr. Nationals, and have enjoyed the rest of the summer NOT stressing over a show! Honestly, I am not sure where I stand as far as future shows go. I have enjoyed competing in the past, but haven't decided whether the stress is worth it. That being said, I am happy to be in great shape and be a mom to my super kid, and I am happy enough with that!

I want to take a quick minute and remember a wonderful man who expedited the 2 national level shows I competed in, as well as countless others. Steve Stone was at the Olympia this past weekend, doing what he loved backstage (making sure all competitors have what they need and are where they need to be), and right there, backstage, he had a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis~a blood clot that broke loose), and died backstage. I want to say that this was a wonderful man and I am happy that I had the distinct pleasure of being backstage with him 2 times. He ran things back there the way they needed to be run, and made each one of us feel like a "pro", and set us at ease. I know if I do any further national shows, backstage won't be the same without Steve Stone and that reassuring smile of his. He was only 51 years old.

Show's Over!

Marcus and I after the night show!

One Piece

Two Piece night show

Jr. Nationals is officially over, and although I didn't place anywhere near the top 10 like I wanted to, I seriously can't complain. This is a subjective sport and I had a great weekend. There were 176 girls total who were competing in Figure, 6 height classes, and I was in the C Class (over 5'2 1/2" up to 5'4") and it was the largest height class there with 40 girls competing. I placed 31st in my class. Everyone there was in great shape, so I am glad I was not a judge! I want to give a huge thank you to my husband, who was with me every step of the way along this journey. I love you Jeff and thank you for your unwavering support of me! Also thanks to all my other friends and family who were in touch with me and encouraging me! Thank you to Marcus Haley, my trainer, for his knowledge and guidance!

I think that next on the list for me is Lenda Murray's show here in Norfolk, Virginia. I have to make some changes to my body before I feel like I can compete at the National Level again. Stay Tuned.....
One Piece Evening show

Two Piece Prejudging on Saturday

One Piece Prejudging on Friday


Standing on the diagonal with some of the girls in my height class

Chicago, Here I Come!

I am updating today because I know I won't have time to update tomorrow. We leave for Chicago tomorrow afternoon for Junior Nationals. The anxiety and nerves have officially kicked in, but I am sort of looking forward to it, too. I cut my water intake in half today, and I will half it again tomorrow (down to 1/2 a gallon), then Friday, I won't have any water until Marcus is able to see me. The first half of prejudging is Friday evening, the rest takes place on Saturday morning. The top 15 in each height class will return for the night show.

I will have my laptop with me, and I hope to post an update at some point during the weekend to let everyone know how things are going...

5 Days to Go...Nerves Kicking In....

Holy Cow!! 5 days to go before I am standing on stage in Chicago, being judged against the best of the best. Jeff and I fly out of Norfoik for Chicago on Thursday afternoon and come back on Sunday afternoon. Prejudging for figure starts on Friday evening with the one piece round, and ends on Saturday morning with the 2 piece round. The top 15 in each height class will come back in the evening for the night show. As the time creeps closer, I am getting a little more nervous about the whole thing. I know I have done the work, now, it is up to the judges to decide....

9 More Days

Hard to believe that this time next week, I will be in Chicago, checking in at the registration desk for the show. This is the tough time...waiting...and not being able to really "eat", so I am always hungry, and very carb-depleted, so I am a pretty crabby person right now, too. Poor Jeff and Kenden. And anyone else who happens to get in the way. I decided that Jeff and I need to have a little cookout here once this show is over to celebrate, and since Marcus is going to let me eat...a little...

Stay tuned for more pics in the near future. As the show creeps closer, Marcus needs updated pics closer together.

And just a quick shout-out to those of you who have made the effort to be in touch with me and encourage me: Sandra, Kelly, Mary, Quinn, Ivan, Mom, Dad...it does mean a lot to me that you have supported me. This can be a lonely sport sometimes and one that is not very "understood", so your words have helped me on this journey. And yes, Jeff is also included on this list, but he lives with me and doesn't have to go out of this way to be "in touch" with me like those of you who have made the effort to email me! Ha! He tends to be my more "brutally honest" encouragement...telling me what I don't always want to hear, but it too, makes me better....

2 Weeks to Go!

So, here I am at the 2 week mark and I feel like I am finally where I need to be (minus water depletion, etc, needed for the show). I am now in "cruise control" mode. No more agility now, just cardio for another week (2 times a day) and lifting (and tanning). It has been a long road, but now, it seems like time has flown by and the next two weeks are going to go by CRAZY fast. Stay tuned for further updates, as I am sure that as the show gets closer, I will have to take pics more frequently....

3 Weeks and Counting!

My new one piece suit! It is CRAZY pretty...this pic doesn't do it justice! Tamara Oakley does all my suits and she is the bomb! Her suits are like a piece of artwork. Her site is www.bikiniguru.com THANKS TAMARA!



Well, here we are at the 3 week mark already (and since it is Monday, it is really almost 2 and a half). Amazing how time is flying by. I feel like I look better from last week's pictures. I was very bloated in those and hopefully don't look as bloated now. I was retaining water big time. I still have a bit to lose, especially in the backs of my legs and butt area and a little in my waist, but overall, I am happy with how things are coming along. Stay tuned for further updates!

In the 2 Piece...

4 More Weeks to Go...Getting Anxious

Here I am at the 4 week mark and it is occurring to me that I still have a ways to go and I am a little freaked out about it. I guess the next few weeks I will be busting my butt for sure...

5 More Weeks and Counting...

So here I am at the 5 week mark...can't believe how quickly time is flying by. I feel like I am seeing changes now, but still feel very "under the gun", so to speak. Jr. USAs was this past weekend, and originally, that was the show I was going to do. Jeff ended up having a conference this past weekend (and is still gone), so I bailed on that show. Hard to believe I would have been competing now. I have seen the pics from that show already, and the top 4 or 5 in each class are good...I feel like I can hang. The thing about bodybuilding is, it all depends on who shows up that day, and what condition are they in. It is a blind sport. I just have to bring my "A" game....

6 Weeks Out...

Okay, so this week has been one of the most trying weeks I have ever experienced in my life, at least emotionally. My brother and his wife lost their baby at 21 weeks pregnant, from a severe case of spina bifida. Amazingly, I was able to stay focused and luckily I had the gym to go to, just to get frustration out. That being said, through this whole experience our family has gone through, I have learned to appreciate my health and what my body is able to do....and in honor of my late nephew, who, if he'd survived, would have never been able to accomplish the ability to simply walk, I train for him, Connor Liam...

7 More Weeks to Go...

Well, here I am with only 7 weeks to go. Time is flying by and I sort of feel like I am in the home stretch. I have come a long way, but still have a ways to go...I am happy with my progress though, and hope to see more change in the next 2 weeks....

8 Weeks Out...the Booty is Shrinking...

The title says it all...8 weeks to go and the butt is finally shrinking. I totally can't believe there is only 8 more weeks to go. I have to get my reservations done and paperwork submitted soon! YIKES!

9 Weeks Out Pics...

Well, I can finally fit into my show suit...work in progress...

Oh Yeah! Guess Who Can Fit into Her Competition Suit NOW!!

It is on now....I can finally fit into my competition bikini again!! Decided to try it on yesterday because Marcus wants pictures in a suit this week, so I did, and IT FITS!!! Talk about a morale booster...stay tuned...almost 9 weeks to go and things are looking up!

Happy news from Marcus and a compliment from my doc!

Okay, so check it out...after Marcus got my pics yesterday, he called to tell me that I was "right on point" and he was "very happy" with how things were coming along! HOORAY! AND he said if I kept it up like this, I would definitely be "right in the mix", meaning I stand a good chance to place well in Jr. Nationals! Needless to say, it was the news I wanted to hear and very motivating. AND a relief. I have been stressing hardcore, so now, I can relax (well mentally) and continue to work hard.

Today, I went to my Ob/Gyn for my annual exam, and all is well. Dr.Lackore started asking me about lifting and competing, and as I am trying to explain what I do, he reaches up and feels my arms, and says, "Well, you are DEFINITELY NOT the normal person!" After he finishes his exam, he wanted to know if I had any pics of my during competition, to which I said yes, that I did (I often carry pics with me from a show because some people don't understand or know enough about the figure/bodybuilding industry, so having pics is usually pretty self explanatory). I pulled out the pics, handed them to him, and he proceeded to very quietly strum through the pile...I had to admit, I was wondering what was going through his head because he was so quiet....then he looks at me, raises his eyebrows and says, "Well, you know what the first thing is that I think when I look at these?" And I said, "no, but I hope it is good!". He said, "I think you look like art work. Like a piece of art. That is hard work". WOW. What a compliment. I mean, no one has ever said anything so nice and been so sincere. All I could do was say thank you. Of course when he left the room, he told all the nurses, so they all wanted to see the pictures and were so sweet and full of questions. I often find it amazing how complete strangers or those who don't know me nearly as well can be more supportive and sincere than friends and family when it comes to this. Dieting and competing, learning how to fit it all in, employing the self control, everything...it is not easy. I guess what I have learned from this is to be happy and supportive of others, especially friends and family. It is nice to hear nice things once in a while....

Until next time....I will be in the single digits come this Saturday (9 weeks out)....also got my NPC card in the mail today, so it became more official....let the games begin!

10 Weeks to Go...

Had to do pics at home this morning because Jeff is going out of town for work, so we didn't go to the gym. I feel like I am finally starting to see changes and when I talked to my trainer Marcus this week, he was happy with what he saw in the last set of pictures, so I felt more at ease with the direction I was going. Of course, it is not an excuse to slack off!

Pics at 11 weeks...

Okay, so personally, I don't see much change between this week and last week, but if I look back at my 16 weeks out pics, I can see a difference. Time is really flying by. I will be sending in the info for my NPC card this week, making hotel reservations in Chicago, and looking into flights as well. I have to look into the flights now, because it sounds like the price of flights will be going up this summer. Great. Anyway, there is still a lot of work to do....but for now, at least some progress is being made!

11 weeks...look for new pics tomorrow!

Tomorrow is picture day! Look for new ones at some point tomorrow afternoon....I am officially 11 weeks out now and luckily, things are starting to happen. Marcus wanted me to do pics today, but I forgot, therefore I didn't get my cheat meal. Oh well...

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

This was really supposed to end up on Kenden's Blog, but this is fine too! Kenden is walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies here in Va. Beach this month, April 27th. We are walking with Team Baby William...he is the son of friends of ours, the Yancys. He was born a shocking 3 months early at 1 pound, 14 ounces. He was not expected to live, but he is here, nearly a year and a half later, and he is striving and doing better than doctors or anyone ever expected to do! He still has many struggles ahead of him though, which is where the March comes in! Babies like William need your help!! If you feel so inclined to sponsor Kenden, please go to his link and make a donation~no matter how large or small, it is all appreciated!!!! Thank you in advance!

If you want to know more about Baby William, you can visit his site www.caringbridge.org/visit/babywilliam He is truly a miracle!

12 Weeks to go...

Front....

Side.....

And Rear....

So here we are at the 12 week mark. Some folks don't starting dieting for a show until now, but not yours truly. I need the time. Feels like a just posted the 13 week update, but that is because I was late taking the pics for 13 weeks (I usually do them on Sunday, and I don't think I took them until Tuesday this past week). Either way, I feel like things are finally starting to happen, so that is good. Now, if I can just get over this nasty sinus/allergy thing I have going on. Off to the doctor tomorrow to get an antibiotic for that!