Europa Super Show of Champions Recap

I had a lot of fun making my pro debut last weekend at the Europa Supershow of Champions in Orlando, FL. Ed and Betty Pariso created a very welcoming environment, and with so many new pros competing at this show, we were all really in the same boat! The backstage area was really spacious and my favorite part of competing is hanging out with my friends and making more friends at each show! It also just felt SO good to get back up on stage after a 10 month absence. I absolutely love the stage and the excitement of competing :) No one really knew how the judging would go, with this being the first show pro show of the year since the Arnold Classic and also with this being a new IFBB show altogether. Congratulations to the top 3 winners (Nicole, Heather and Monica)! You all looked fantastic! I know what I need to do to better my physique from show to show this year...this is only the beginning! There is already a game plan going into my next show, and the judges have already been responding with feedback for me. I feel good about where I am at, and the minor tweaks and adjustments I can make between now and The Cal Figure Pro! Yes, I am headed straight to California in 4 weeks to jump back on that stage again. I'm very excited with this decision...which we only made Saturday night after the finals!

2 Weeks Out Pics

Yes, I chopped my head off again...it was 5:15am! LOL 2 weeks out now and still feeling good. I posed my legs just a little harder in the front shot...not sure if I'll do that come show day; that will just be one of those show-day calls :) My weight has been right around 125 - 126 lbs when weighing first thing in the morning. I only went up 2 lbs after my cheat meal last Saturday and dropped that weight plus a pound by Tuesday. I'm just following the plan, every detail from nutrition to training and cardio and I'm happy with the results :) I'm definitely more fatigued and tired by Friday/Saturday, but that's only to be expected at this point. I'm working on posing 2-3 times a week, just to work out any rust from not being on stage since last June :) More posing practice after chest and boot camp tomorrow!

3 Weeks Out Progress Pics

Pictures were taken at 7am this morning, and I feel like my body responded really well to my diet and cardio update this past week! Still lots of step mill interval training and a boot camp workout once a week. I need a little more rest at this point; my daily nap is essential!! But really, I'm feeling great mentally, and just excited that the show is one week closer!

Mike Yurkovic Preview Pic

I just got this photo from the shoot I did with Mike Yurkovic the Arnold Classic weekend (March 7th); the full gallery will be posted to my website in the coming weeks. I just love what he does with the colors! We squeezed in a quick hour and a half shoot Saturday early morning before I had to run back to the expo. There were lots of other pro girls at the shoot that I had a great time meeting and hanging out with: Felicia Romero, Kristal Richardson, Mindi O'Brien, Sherlyn Roy, Juliana Malacarne.

4 Weeks Out - Progress Update

Less than 4 weeks to go now until making my pro debut at the Orlando Europa Supershow of Champions on April 17th!! These pictures were taken Friday evening (3/20). I was down to 125.5 lbs Saturday morning, which is almost 5 lbs less than my stage weight last year at Jr. Nationals. I'm so pleased with the changes I've made this year, primarily bringing down my legs and butt and building a more COMPLETE overall package. I just feel so much more stream-lined. Not only that, but I am in the BEST shape of my life! I've never felt like super woman at this point in my prep! Don't get me wrong, there are days when I am definitely dragging and dog tired and just want to eat, eat, eat (I try to tell myself during those time, 'it's ok though, I get atleast 8 meals a day, thank goodness')...but the style of training Mike has me doing is so athletic and dynamic, I just love that there is a really fit athletic girl created in this process, not just a lean physique. It's empowering :)

It's the home stretch now...I'm just ready to get on stage!! I sent in my figure athlete contract for the Europa show this past week, so you should see my name on the competitor list shortly :)

Arnold Classic Weekend Review

I had a blast the weekend of March 6-8th working for Species Nutrition at their booth and doing picture and calendar signings. It was a whole team of athletes: male and female bodybuilders, as well as us figure competitors. We got a couple one hour breaks and of course being amongst competitors, when it was time to eat or drink water, no one complained or told you no! LOL I was honored to be a part of the team working the Arnold Classic booth. Tons of people stopped by and the Species name was well represented and promoted. I've attached a picture of me from Sunday of the AC weekend...a lil sleepy eyed by this point!!

I flew into Ohio a few days before the AC and trained with my coach, Mike Davies, and did posing practice with the other girls competing in the AC. Friday night we watched the women's figure, fitness and bodybuilding. It's always so exciting to see what direction the judging is heading early on in the season, and after watching the show, I'm just that more excited and ready to get on stage!! Saturday night after the men's bodybuilding, we went to The Party with the Pros with our VIP passes - oh yeah! :) This was a top notch party with great entertainment, music, and a GREAT food spread in our area upstairs! Fun times with the fitness friends the whole week...I did have a mad craving for lots and lots of protein bars after being at the expo all weekend! LOL

Mike Davies Fitness Camp - Atlanta

Just got back from a great Fitness Camp weekend in Atlanta! I trained with Mike Davies all weekend and got to hang with some of my good friends. There were 30 of us girls in all. Friday night we had an intense boot camp workout; Saturday I trained at 6am! I was in the early (hard core) training group with Dolores and the Louisiana boys. All three of them are prepping for the Arnold amateur, then there is me, now 11 weeks out. Saturday morning we trained Legs, followed by an incline-interval cardio program on the treadmill, then posing was at 11am. Mike had us posing for over an hour! It was really productive input and feedback. My mid-low back is so sore now! Saturday afternoon, it was back for more training: Chest and arms...later that night we all met up for dinner; I had my weekly cheat meal - Chipotle..mmmm! Sunday morning we were in the gym at 6am again, this time training back and shoulders.

I'm spent now, but those weekends always feel so productive and it energizes me being around all of my fitness girlfriends :) The support and passion shared for our industry is huge at these camps. I'll be make every effort to see Mike every 3-4 weeks leading into my pro debut. I was in Columbus 3 weeks ago, this weekend in Atlanta for his traveling camp and in 3 weeks I'll be back in Columbus to train...I'll keep ya posted as I go along and with my progress. I feel good about my progress and Mike says I'm right on point, and actually ahead of schedule - yes!