CRAIG PRODUCTIONS LLC

Our big day has finally arrived...and not a moment too soon! I am so excited to get up there on stage and DO THIS!!!

I'm not going deep this morning, just a little play-by-play for what my day is going to look like. It's about 3:30am and I actually got a decent night's sleep last night (well, I guess for most normal people it still is "last night"). I'm heading to Gold's to do some time in the sauna to drop  this last little bit of water. Holding at 17lbs in weight loss just this week...IN-FREAKING-SANE!!!! I had clients tell me this week: "I want to try that." No really, you don't. Living with an impressionable 14 year old daughter, I talk to her about this a lot. I want her to understand that this is not a healthy process for losing weight. It's been a rough week...I've been in contact with my buddy who's an Everett medic off and on the last 3 days. Dehydration is dangerous and it's important that you monitor it very carefully. A big thanks to my friend, Rich Langford!

Alright, off my soapbox...after the sauna, I'll come home and shower and wash my hair for the first time this week (YAY!!!). Then I'm heading to the Brown Bag Cafe in Kirkland to meet up with my pal and amazing suit designer, Christie Skelton, for some carbing UP! Christie will be backstage for prejudging and finals to help all the figure and fitness competitors. I love having Christie backstage - she is so positive to everyone and goes out of her way to make sure all the girls have a great experience.

After breakfast it's off to Rosaline Hampton's for the big GLAM SESSION!!! My favorite part of the prep. I don't care what anyone says...it DOES matter how you look on stage if it makes you feel different on the inside, which for most of us girls, looking amazing on the outside goes a long way for our confidence. So bring it on Rose, make me a ROCK STAR! After I leave Rose, I'm headed to see Bill for my Jan Tana 1-Coat...ick. No offense, Bill. The tan is my least favorite part of this...it's sticky, it's stinky, it's kinda freaky looking....just not my thing.

And then...it's off to the Snoqualmie Casino to do prejudging!!! Today is going to be AMAZING!!!!

Okay, so maybe one deep little thing that I will share. I am a big fan of Ed Viesturs (google him...he is freaking AMAZING!) and this quote popped into my head a LOT this week:

"Getting to the top is optional, but getting down is mandatory. A lot of people get focused on the summit and forget that." ~Ed Viesturs

Whatever your circumstances are, I can almost guarantee that SOMEONE is depending on you...including YOU! As a mother of 4 beautiful children, I've had to give myself a reality check a few times this week..."I won't do this if the price is too high." Getting on stage, looking amazing and maybe, just maybe "winning" (however you define that) is wonderful, but it certainly is not worth the risk of your health, mentally or physically. I will only summit if I know that I can make it back down safely to my loved ones.

One last thing I have to say...Elaine Craig is one AMAZING woman!!! Elaine is truly a superhero herself. She is so incredibly giving and selfless and has gracefully put this show together while completely focused on making sure this is a wonderful experience for each competitor. I am truly blessed and grateful to call Elaine my friend and mentor. Countless times I felt like giving up and giving in and Elaine just picked me right back up, told me to get focused, dust myself off and get back in the game. She is INCREDIBLE! I personally cannot give Elaine enough thanks and for those of you who don't know Elaine all that well, let me just tell you...she has been working her ass off to make this an amazing experience for all of us. Make sure you thank her...And Brad too...they are both the best promoters a competitor could ask for. Be prepared for a great time! THANKS BRAD & ELAINE!!

~Julie~

Fearless, with cape in hand

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