The Journey to the Stage is OVER....

The Journey to the Stage is OVER....

But it truly was the best journey yet. I approached this journey knowing that it was not going to be easy. All offseason I struggled to lose and maintain weight. My slow thyroid and slow metabolism always makes this a battle. I either have to give up eating or enjoying ANYTHING not on my diet plan or starve myself for the day to eat a treat. It's nuts! So I knew a lot of cardio was in my future and that it would take low calories and hurting to get me where I wanted to be...shredded!

Mentally I spent the offseason taking Dahn Yoga, finding my true self, building my self esteem and realizing that it is okay to be ME! I learned strategies to deal with stress, anxiety and the negative voices that try to talk to me. I took hip hop dance class for two session and worked on my stage performance. Hired a posing coach, had my dance teacher work on my routine with me and sat back and watched all the pieces fall into place. I didn't complain once or make the people around me miserable. I get very neurotic about dieting and am a perfectionist in everything I do. I am often my own worst enemy. I often drive others nuts in the process of contest prep. I question everything cause I want to learn and drive people nuts with my "Do you think my glutes will come in?" kinda questions. I need to know I am on point every week.

Here are a few things I HAVE to remember for next year:
1. Take out stock in Gas X-The chewable kind will seem like crack at 4 weeks out...really!
2. Go to Cosco and buy as much toliet paper as possible! As you diet not only do you pee every 15 minutes but your bathroom habits change frequently day by day.
3. Buy baby wipes! See #2-they are a lot nicer on your tooshy when you get lean!
4. Have someone hold you accountable for your weekly cheat meal-I didn't go overboard this year and it seemed to work!
5. Icksnay on the PAM....it does have fats and calories and they do add up. It is not spray butter and if you eat to much you get nasty acid reflux....
6. Super Dieter's Tea is your friend! Get some!
7. Buy a case of liquid Stevia...if you go to the store to often you get questioned by the cashier's! They will think you are drinking the stuff!
8. Try NOT to chew gum and drink diet pop...it WILL bloat your stomach and make you feel full, but it will also make your stomach distend and make your weight go up!
9. It's okay to create "ME" time and shut your phone off....
10. NAP...it will keep you alive!
**11. Only give yourself a FEW days to eat whatever you want after the show...a week is TO long! UGH!

So I had a great contest prep...and a great week of eating. Now it's back to dieting and creating my NEW and IMPROVED physique for next year! Bringing it.......going to be unstopable!