"You can't always get what you want....

...but you get what you need."  Just like the song, sometimes things don't turn out like you envision them or the way you want.  Last night's Empire Classic was one of those things. I had strong competition from 6 other awesome ladies, and didn't place in the top five like I had hoped to.  And yes, I was disappointed, but I will always value the experience and know I accomplished what I set out to do, which was compete.  I'm much stronger, leaner and will always have the experience as a positive one. 

Waking up Sunday morning, I felt like one chapter of my story had ended, and another one was beginning. I don't plan to compete again, but am excited about a new goal - what I haven't figured out yet...I'm thinking triathlon...hmmmmm....swimming isn't my fondest activity, but it's a new challenge.  I can run and bike, so I think I'll ponder that one, and find a new 'team' of support....I may not be quite ready for Ironman, but maybe something a little less crazy!  Stay tuned...and oh yes, THANK YOU God. I am grateful for my health, my life and all my experiences.  May I never stop seeking a new challenge!!

Finishing What You Start!

April 28th - on one hand, I thought it would never get here, on the other, it came too fast!  Today I competed in the Empire Classic Bodybuilding Show in Masters Figure, Over Age 50.  There are 7 competitors in my age category this year, which is great as it means as women continue to age, they keep themselves in shape and still look amazing and will just keep competing!  There is also a record number of participants in the show - 247 or so, which points to the stature of this show and that people come from all over the Northwest and Montana to compete! 

Judging took place this morning, and now the wait for the evening show. Time to just chill out, not think about the fact you've hardly eaten or drank any water in 24 hours so you 'dry out' and show your leanness! It's a little uncomfortable, but doable.  It's hard to do all the waiting, to begin, to pose, to wait, and then to start all over at the night show. I'm not good at the waiting part. 

Whatever the results, I can say I made the challenge to myself, I worked the program, ate clean, and stood on stage as ready as I could be.  I will always second guess myself if I could have done another set of squats or more time on the treadmill - but I also know I gave it my best - 100% and I can feel pride in the effort. 

There are lots of people to thank  - my family (some of whom think I'm nuts for doing this); my wonderful and many friends who cheered me on; my trainers -- Team Pitcher, Jacques and Kris; Scott Totton, friend and trainer at Oz Fitness; my 'posse' of Toms - my massage therapist, and my chiropractor, who kept me going when things were sore and painful, and most importantly, my son Josh who is my biggest fan.  Hopefully his dad is watching from heaven and cheering too. 

Results will be posted here at a later date.  I will hang up my sparkly bikini and 5 inch stilleto's - and just be a spectator next time, to cheer everyone who persevered and hit the finish line - we are all champions!

Perseverance

per·se·ver·ance

1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

In 10 days I will step out onto the stage of the Empire Classic, Masters Women's Figure Competition. I started this process in January, making it a goal of mine to compete. I was going to do this last year, but didn't put in the work, frankly, to be ready, so I vowed that I would make it happen this year.  I've experienced difficulties and days when I wanted to quit, but then I knew how disappointed I would be in myself if I did. 

I was reading a blog by one of my mentors, Susan Sly, and she listed a 2007 article in Bloomberg Newsweek, by Goldsmith and Goldsmith, that pointed to the top five reasons we give up:

1. Ownership – we simply put ‘our toe in the water’ and say that we are going to ‘try’ something rather than fully commit.
2. Time – we quit before giving the task the adequate amount of time to see it through.
3. Difficulty – when we perceive that staying the course is too challenging, we give up.
4. Distractions – we do not maintain focus long enough to achieve the goal.
5. Maintenance – we perceive that maintaining the course is more challenging that leaving. 

So true.  Most of us feel we can just quit if we have any discomfort - whether a dream, a marriage, a goal to lose weight or be healthier - we are a nation of quitters. Oh yes, there are legitimate reasons to leave a situation that is unhealthy or unsafe, but all too often we quit before we give it all we've got.  I often hear from friends or clients the excuses, "It's too hard", or "I don't have the time", or "I'm too tired".  But it you want to succeed you need to persevere beyond all the objections, excuses and distractions.

I come not to challenge anyone...just me.  My motivation comes from within, to be the best person I can be and to listen to that inner voice that challenges me daily to persevere.        

The PRIME of my life!

Well, an article about my story appears in the April/May issue of PRIME Magazine.  It is another step out of my comfort zone to have it be so public. I generally am not about 'tooting my own horn', more about applauding others, but sometimes you are thrust out into the limelight. Just like being on stage in a competition. You do it for yourself, not for anyone else. It's a challenge, a mental and physical and emotional challenge to master.  If my story does any good, I hope it inspires and motivates someone (maybe you) to take a step out of your comfort zone and putting one baby step in front of the other, get a little healthier, or a lot healthier and fitter.  Take a class, join a gym, dance around your living room to your Wii, walk around the block or blocks, but just take a step forward for yourself first, then maybe your family or someone else.

Here's the link -- oh, and thanks to everyone who supports me, coaches me, motivates me and shares in the journey.  Applause.   http://primespokane.com/

No Foolin' It's April!!

"The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret."  It's April, and only 25 more days until the 28th. What's the 28th you ask? On April 28th I will step on stage at the Empire Classic Bodybuilding Show at Northern Quest Casino in the Masters Figure Division...(over age 40 if you must know, and I'm WAY over 40). It's a goal I set for myself at the beginning of the year.  I don't know who coined the quote above, but I have to repeat it to myself daily as I pass up on some foods to keep on my diet regime and stay focused. I've been up and down the last few months...some good days, some not so good, but mostly good. I try and not beat up on myself and focus on the big picture, but now it's getting close, and truth be told, I'm freaking out. All the hard work hopefully will pay off and I will feel confident and comfortable walking out on that stage.

I did not do this alone, I have a support team of trainers and friends, plus I've made it very public to keep me from bailing out. It would be much easier to not have made this commitment to myself, but I like the challenge of taking a risk and working toward a goal. Some people think I'm crazy or obsessed.  But when I look around at all the unhealthy people I can pat myself on the back that I am healthy and fit at my age. 

Each day counts as I countdown the month....No foolin.