|
|
Diane| Journey to USAs - Part 1 |
| 08.10.2010 13:59:13 | |
|
As you all know, this has been a tremendous time of emotional growth, stretching and pushing the 'limits' in my life. All I know is that I have never been so pressed and stretched by God in my entire life and it has been a remarkable journey. My journey to the USAs started out as my journey to my first national show - Hard work and dedication would be involved of course - But I simply wanted to step on stage in Vegas in my best shape yet. Little did I know, God had His own plan and it involved a journey between me and Him that sculpted my life and brought it to a whole new level. So this is how the weeks leading up to and the week of USAs began and ended...although I may have to make this a two or three part series ;) But this is me..my journey..raw and exactly how it was. During my prep: As I decided to do the USAs it started out as just another show. Yes...It would be my first national show and yes it would be a whole different level of competition, but it would be just another journey of dieting and training hard to build UP and sculpt my body as I prepared to hit the stage. Then God rocked my world. I was called to do something He wanted me to do and something that I did not want to do. As I stepped out in faith to follow His will for my life, I experienced heartache like no other, yet have also experienced blessings that I never thought were possible. Training became my therapy. I hit it hard..I lifted hard and heavy. I knocked out awesome cardio and I loved it. It was something that I had control over and was able to dive right in exactly how I wanted. So I spent my entire prep for USAs hitting the gym hard and boy was I fierce. So that's a plus and it was a remarkable learning experience. I was able to channel my emotions into my training and push past what I thought were barriers to my training efforts. Dieting...That is a whole different story. As I hit the gym hard every single day...Diving into supersets, dropsets and simple heavy lifting, I was also diving into muffins, candy, burgers and fries. I would release my emotional stress in the gym and then for some reason felt the need to release it some more with tasty food. As you all know, no matter how hard I was kicking my own butt in the gym, I was not making the progress I needed to make to hit the stage looking lean and mean. I felt so discouraged after being so in control of my eating habits for the past couple years...I would think to myself "Wow...why are you eating this...why are you drowning your emotions in food - this is NOT you!"...But thankfully with encouragement from John and Roxana Kreklo, with support from my amazing friends and after many prayers to God - I finally got my act together and I can honestly say that although it was tough and I experienced emotional eating at its worst - God was right there stretching me the entire time and He used this time to help me learn and grow and eventually overcome the emotional eating. At about 5 weeks out, I finally got my act together and began to eat clean food in order to build myself up! Friends and Support: WOWZERS...this is one way God worked in my life that I never could have possibly imagined. He showed His faithfulness and love through all of my dear friends and I'm forever thankful. As soon I stepped out into the unknown and began my journey of faith - He threw AMAZING people into my life. I would get texts/emails/messages of encouragement JUST when I needed it most. My dear friend, Jessica Watson, in Florida would offer the PERFECT words of wisdom or Bible verses JUST when I felt too weak...God literally placed her in my life for such a time as this and wow.... Rose would offer that endless encouragement JUST when I thought USAs were not a good idea. Erin White...this girl would text me basically EVERY single morning as the show approached with the kindest, most inspiring words so that I could kick off my day right. Elaine Craig offered her words of wisdom about following God's will JUST when I thought His way would be too hard...Tanji did her thing and reminded me WHY all of this pain is worth it...why following God's plan is so worth it..Hillary Jones would send encouraging quotes every day.. The list goes on and on. THAT is what amazes me...This prepped was filled with so many flourishing, loving and grace-filled relationships that I would literally have to write all night to share them with you. That is why this prep has stood out above any other experience in my life..Through my pain and healing God worked His miracle and created this awesome and inspiring support system for the perfect time when I needed it most. So that wraps up the months leading up to USAs. It was painful, blessed, amazing, testing...above all else: A miracle. The week leading up to the USAs - Talk about peace. I was completely at peace about competing in Vegas. There was something in me that was just so thrilled and excited to be heading to the sunny state of Nevada to step on stage with some of the most beautiful and inspiring women in the country. To be honest, I was really not that nervous. I was joyful, thankful and simply PUMPED to be experiencing USAs for the first time. I carefully packed my bags - I wanted to make sure I had EVERYTHING I needed - and I prepped all my food for the trip. It's so different to compete in a show out of state because you have to remember and plan EVERYTHING...I had to make list and check it several times over just to make sure I had everything. I packed my cooler, my Bible, my clothes, my make up, my suit, my heels..Then off I went. I had been praying the entire week before the show that God would use me in Vegas. That I would be sooo incredibly focused on Him that I would not be concerned with the competition. Yes I was prepared to compete, but God and His plan was what got me really pumped to be down there. I knew that if I kept my eyes entirely on Him the entire time I was there - He would guide me and keep me joyful through all circumstances. So I spent my plane ride listening to Casting Crowns, Third Day and other Christian artists and also read Crazy Love. If you have not read that book, I would definitely recommend it. It hit it hard and reaffirmed me of the true reason why I was going to Vegas. It's about the Lord and not me. It's about Him using me in any way that He needs to and me being open to that - It's about truly loving Jesus Christ and serving Him entirely. So that's what I did and the book was the perfect reminder as I landed in Vegas. I headed to the host hotel and got myself all checked in. I could feel the energy from all the competitors in the hotel and it was such a great feeling. To look around and see so many people who had worked their butts off to get to Vegas really inspired me and reminded me of the bigger picture. It is about pushing yourself as hard as you can...reaching that peak physique..one that you possibly doubted was even possible. Its about dedication and discipline that is beyond what the average person can possibly comprehend. THAT is the energy I'm talking about and boy was it amazing. It filled me up and by the time check-in came around, I was ready to rock and roll with a huge smile on my face. I met many amazing people at check-in including fellow ON/ABB Athletes and Pastor Mike and Fred from Stronghold Ministries. All I have to say is that THEY ROCK. They prayed with me, encouraged me, offered to grab anything I needed etc...They were there to truly serve all of us competitors and I'm forever thankful for all that they did for myself and everyone else around me to bring such a LIGHT to the show. They SHINED God's light brighter than many people I know and to see that in such a vain and self-focused environment was so inspiring. After check-in, I headed up to my room and waited for Pastor Mike and some others to come up for a prayer meeting. As we all gathered in my room, Pastor Mike spoke an amazing Word that inspired each of us to stay focused on Serving God during USAs weekend and boy was that ANOTHER reminder from God about my true purpose for being down at USAs. God must have been trying to tell me something ;) We prayed and it was a great time to connect with competitors, Pro and Amateur, who love Jesus AND love bodybuilding! After our prayer meeting, Alicia Harris stayed behind and helped me with my color. I ended up doing all my own color for the show and I'm SOOOO thankful that Rose was able to supply Jantana and that Alicia was able to paint me like a pro. Overall, things went SOOO incredibly smooth on Thursday and I was feeling so at peace with how the weekend was beginning. I had a chance to meet with GREAT and inspiring people AND my color turned out awesome. Let's just say I was floating...Floating in pure joy and that is a very rare experience the night before a show :) So that's it for now. I'll check back in tomorrow and share my experience of Friday/Sat of the show. Overall, what I learned is that if I truly surrender myself to God and His will for my life - He gives me more than I ever thought I'd EVER need. He fills me entirely and gives me the strength and joy to literally be BEAMING a big smile at check-in when I would normally be feeling tired, nervous, anxious and hungry! There's something about staying focused on the BIGGER picture that makes every day a miracle in itself. Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane
Tags: |
| Updates... |
| 08.07.2010 01:35:02 | |
|
Alright guys...I have NOT forgotten about writing on here - Although it does seem like I have! I had such an amazing time at USAs...Then came home to attend an amazing church conference: TC2010 at Champions Centre... And now I'm enjoying my last day at Emerald City Smoothie and getting ready to start my new job next week! I will be starting with Optimum Nutrition as their Washington Sales Merchandiser! Anyways...So I have TONS to write about and TONS to share (I guess that is what I get for taking so long to write!)...far too much for me to write right now, but I wanted to stop by and let everyone know that I WILL be sharing my USAs experience with you ASAP :) Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Amazing Support! |
| 07.23.2010 22:22:09 | |
|
I have experienced such a peace with this prep and words cannot explain the feeling. Yes...I have my doubts. I sometimes wonder 'Will I be ready?", but there has been something truly amazing about this entire experience as I have prepared for USAs. God has placed so many people in my life JUST at the right time and He has used everyone around me to feed me bits and bits of encouragement just when I need it most. That support system is what makes the entire journey something so beautiful. It makes the journey itself SHINE when I look and see all of the God moments...all of the moments that God has used the people around me to keep me striving for my goal. I have experienced a HUGE life change over the past two months. It was a change that needed to be taken, but let me tell you...It was TOUGH. I cannot explain how many days I busted butt in the gym and dreaded leaving just because it was back to the reality of my situation. BUT through all the tests, trials and struggles - Something absolutely beautiful is ALWAYS formed. I know that it sounds incredibly cliche..but each struggle sculpts, molds and shapes you into something more beautiful and strong than you ever thought possible. It gives you a chance to push your limits, build mental/emotional strength and literally rise ABOVE what you thought was possible. So as I have endured this show prep I experienced heartbreak at its worst -- Yet I have also experienced God's love in a way that I have never experienced before. It's been a bittersweet experience and it gives this show prep for USAs a "zest" that has truly made me ALIVE in the experience. It goes to show that when you are following His will, things just feel SO right and He will provide you with all that you need and for me that has been the amazing support system that the Northwest has to offer for competitors. All of my fellow competitors up here in the Northwest have been so support, inspiring and encouraging and I am forever thankful for that! You have all said JUST what I needed to hear at the right time and I give God MAJOR props for pulling this all together ;) I also have to mentioned that I was connected with Pastor Mike Wenger from Stronghold Ministries - If you have never heard of his ministry for the bodybuilding industry, check out his website! He sets up booths, networks, builds relationships and prays with competitors all around the United States! - and he has connected me with two amazing girls, Jessica and Andrea, in FL who compete and have also supported me through this entire process. All I can say is WOW - Life is great, God is GREAT and the people that He puts in my life are such true blessings. So that's my tid bit for today...It's that support system that you NEED as a competitor. When you really open your arms to the people around you and build TRUE heart-filled relationships with other competitors, something truly beautiful happens and I'm so thrilled that through all this struggle I have had the opportunity to do so! As far as my training and prep...Whew!! I am exactly one week out from stepping on stage and I'm feeling great! As I mentioned, I have my moments of doubts about being ready, but I do my best to shut those thoughts out and have faith in the process - Faith that it will all come together in the end as I continue to work hard! I'm currently doing anywhere from 90 - 100 min of cardio/day and my lifting has been high volume as well. I'm keeping my lifting as heavy as possible, but also focusing on those high reps, drop sets and supersets! I'm doing what it takes to make me sweaty and get my heart thumping! In addition, I've been drinking tons of water and eating fairly low carbs! Overall, I'm feeling pretty darn good and excited to really push through the next week with everything in me! I can't wait to see what I look like at the end of next week! Woot Woot! I'm also going to spend this weekend packing my bag for Vegas so that I do not have to worry about it during the week. I want everything to be organized and ready so that I am not stressing out as I prepare to fly out Thursday AM! So that's it for now...I'll keep checking in to keep everyone posted! 1 week out and I'm ready to rock and roll! Woot Woot! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| 3 Weeks Out! |
| 07.09.2010 22:47:04 | |
|
I am officially three weeks out from USAs! I have pre-judging on Friday July 30th...Three weeks from now I will be stepping on stage at my first national show and I am filled with so many emotions. I'm so excited, pumped, happy, nervous, anxious - Everything rolled into one! Training has been going great! I've been in the gym all the time it feels like...I honestly feel like I live there. But it has been good bc it has been my "ME" time and I've been enjoying every minute of it! There's nothing like my gym time as a mental/emotional release! My training is still high volume with a lot of dropsets and supersets...This definitely gets me sweating and keeps my heart rate up while I'm lifting! Cardio has been great as well! We haven't increased my cardio yet, but we'll see how I'm looking through next week and we'll adjust it accordingly. Since John and Roxana are doing my diet, they also give me an outline for cardio to ensure that my diet is matched up with the amount of cardio I'm doing! So to be honest, I don't know what next week holds for me, but I know it will be good! Diet..Now that has been amazing as well. I have a brand new obsession: Angel Hair Shredded Cabbage. It's funny because I go through phases in diet prep where I'm completely obsessed with some sort of food/meal and right now it is my cabbage all the way! I buy the bags of shredded angel hair cabbage and I put it in a pan and "stir fry" it (although you all know that I'm not using oils!) with natural rice vinegar, which has zero sodium, and TONS of Mrs. Dash - Southwest Chipotle. YUMM...Just thinking of it right now makes me want a bowl of it SOOO bad! I mean...I'm literally obsessed. I broke down last night and made an entire bag of it, poured it in a huge bowl and savored every bite of it! I'm flying through several bags of it a day :) The great thing is that is tastes good to me, it is low in carbs/calories AND it keeps me full! So that's my new obession! I also started making a certain drink mix that I carry with me everywhere. My fellow ON/ABB athlete, Tim Rice, recommended a gallon of water mixed with 15 grams of ON's BCAAs, 10 grams of ON's Glutamine, 2 servings of Beta Alanine (I use ON's Threshold in Fruit Fusion flavor) and then 1 pack of Orange Crystal Light. I make this and sip on it all day - in addition to another gallon of water. The Fruit Fusion Threshold and the Orange Crystal Light taste delicious together and I also get a good amount of amino acids and the beta alanine to keep me going strong all day! So that's another new obsession of mine as well! Overall things are going amazing and this has been such a great journey. This will be a show prep that I will remember forever because I've never been more challenged before and that is why I have grown so much as a person through out the last several weeks. I've been knocked down, shoved down, tested to the extremes, yet the Lord's amazing strength and grace have been there for me every step along the way and I feel so blessed to have grown and 'stretched' so much...It is so true when people say that your darkest moments will bring the greatest LIGHT and victory! AMEN! Well I'm off to eat my second meal of the day! Woot Woot! "Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion...You must set yourself on fire!" --Arnold GaslowThis is so true. To be a successful competitor, you must really SET YOURSELF ON FIRE...You must keep that fire burning SOOOO strong if you're going to make it to the end. It is that burning fire in you that will keep you pushing through another meal of chicken and veggies and through another hour of cardio. No Fire = No Success. So get fired up. Do whatever it takes to light yourself on fire. That passion in your heart is there for a reason and you need to do everything in you to keep it ALIVE and burning strong. Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| 4 Weeks Out! |
| 07.03.2010 12:25:25 | |
|
I'm 22 years old. I just graduated from college. It is also Friday night on a holiday weekend and I'm laying in bed about to go to sleep. Yes... It is 9 o'clock PM on a Friday night and I'm getting ready to go to bed. And to be honest, all that I can think about is how much progress I want to make this weekend. I can't get my mind of cardio and lifting. I want to spend time practicing my posing and enjoying some delicious food. When I say delicious, I'm referring to the meal plans that John and Roxana have prepared for me. Chicken..Ground Turkey...Shredded Cabbage. All the goods :) Overall I'm finally feeling like my heart is so focused on my prep that it is all that I can think about. My point is that I never thought I'd be 22 years old spending my days training hard, going to bed early and eating clean. NEVER would I have dreamed of this. I grew up loving my tasty food and loving the late nights with friends. BUT when that passion..that tug at your heart for something occurs, you don't care how far it is from what you "imagined" or "thought" you'd be doing, all you want to do is get at it..make it happen. Do whatever it takes to fulfill that passion. And that's exactly where I'm at. This prep for USAs has been truly unexplainable. Each show prep is its own journey. Each show prep has it's own "feel" and "flow"...My prep for USAs is COMPLETELY different from anything I have experienced before. I am truly focusing on myself and taking time to really discover WHO I AM and WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. Yet it has also been one of the most unselfish preps as well as I have spent way more time reaching out to other women and helping in anyway that I can. It's been a complete journey between me and God...I'm beginning to walk closer and closer to Him and it has been a remarkable last four weeks. It's HIS love that keeps me pushing and I'm telling you...there's nothing like it. So that's that! As far as my training and diet... My diet is going great. I've been keeping 100% clean and on plan. Although I do have to admit that I had a slight breakdown last night as our internet was not working and I desperately needed to get online..So what did I do..I ate a few strawberries. Okay. So not SO bad, BUT it was still not on plan. SO I have to admit that I did get slightly off track. Other than that, I've been rockin' it out and staying focused on getting lean and mean! Training has been going fabulous as well! I'm doing the stepmill almost every morning and then either treadmill or stepmill after weights. I've also incorporated some sauna time and that feels sooo good! Overall I am watching my body change...watching it tighten up...and THAT feels GREAT because I sure have been working my buns off these last couple weeks! So that's all I've got right now. I'm about 4 weeks out from USAs and my registration is in...my suit is ready...hotel is booked..flight is scheduled. Woot Woot! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| A Little Country Motivation... |
| 06.29.2010 02:11:53 | |
|
**I work like it is all up to me and pray like it is all up to Him** I heard these words in a country song this morning and they really spoke to me. It applies so strongly to all areas of my life and especially to my prep as I get ready to step on stage at the USAs. As a Christian competitor who is focused 100% on the Lord, those words represent how I see my competition journey: I will train my butt off to win a national show as if it is all up to me, but at the same time I pray that GOD's WILL and plan within the industry, not my own, will be fulfilled. I want to win my pro card....Really bad. I will work my butt off every single day as if it is all up to me to win a national show. I will give every ounce of strength in the gym to train hard and fierce...to sculpt a strong, beautiful and healthy body. Yet every single night I will get on my knees and pray that God's will and purpose for my life will be revealed and that He will give me the strength and courage to follow HIS way - No matter what that is. If He has a very special place for me somewhere that does not involve a pro card and competing within this industry, then I will follow His plan with a happy and grateful heart. BUT in the meantime I will continue to work my butt off to rock the stage for every single show that I have the opportunity to compete in! So that's my thought for the day :) I think it's so important for us to work hard to succeed, yet also keep God's will and plan our top priority! My training has been going great! I've been in the gym every single day and thankfully my diet, sleep and supplements are giving the strength/recovery to hit it hard each day of the week. I'm trying out a new split and it seems to be working great right now! I have arms later today, followed up with the sauna and cardio. I'm keeping high volume training a priority. Going as heavy as possible with a lot of sets! It's bringing me the results that I need/want to see, so I'm excited to see the changes that my body makes this week! As far as my diet goes...I've been doing AMAZING!! I've actually been staying right on plan and it's nice to know that I'm giving this prep all that I have from here on out..I will step on that stage knowing that I gave every ounce of strength and focus into USAs and that is truly a remarkable feeling. Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Highs and Lows |
| 06.25.2010 23:41:48 | |
|
We have our highs and lows during contest prep. I have my days where my energy levels are soaring and I'm feeling 100% determined to work my butt off for the stage. Yet I also have those days where my body is literally dragging...You know, the days when 20 min of cardio is brutal no matter what song you are listening to, no matter how much you try and pump yourself up. That's just the way it is. You will have good days and bad days, yet your relentless focus on your end goal is what will keep you pushing through the tough days so that you can enjoy the moment you get to step on stage and shine. I'm writing about this as a reminder to myself because all week I have been killin' my workouts. I mean killin' it! I've been training hard and fierce and feeling great. My nutrition has been 100%...Completely on plan. THAT feels amazing. I literally followed everything I was supposed to follow all week long and it wasn't even that difficult. Today...Now that is a different story. I only had to do 30 min on the stepmill this morning and I was dying. It's kind of funny because yesterday AM I did 60 min on step mill at level 12-14 and felt AMAZING...But today I could barely do level 8 for 30 min. That's the tough part about prep..Those days of low energy come more and more often as show time approaches and it is so important that I stay focused on my goal. It's important that I make the best of my high energy days and do everything possible to push through those tough training days. Yes I am tired. My legs are feeling worn down, but I CAN do this and I need to stay focused on what I can do. If I can push through these tough days, I'll break through and experience another smooth and energized day and trust me...I can't wait for that :) Contest prep is about pushing yourself...through the highs and lows to achieve more than you thought possible. So that's that. I'm feeling super darn weak today and definitely need a nap sometime this afternoon. Then it is back to the gym to hit quads! Ohhwwwee that is going to be tough. Quads are tough enough on my high energy days, so I really have to muster up all the mental strength that I can to kick major butt later today! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Six Weeks Out! |
| 06.22.2010 23:13:45 | |
|
I am officially six weeks out from USAs! Time sure does fly like crazy! I know that I say that ALL the time, but I feel like it was just yesterday that I decided to compete at USAs! And now it is almost show time. I'm happy to say that my diet is back on track. As I mentioned in my last blog, I let emotional eating get the best of me as I struggled through calling off our wedding... But the good news is that I didn't get too far off track and now I'm officially back on track. It is always those first few days eating 100% clean and on plan that are tough...the cravings can be brutal. Let me emphasize...the CRAVINGS are brutal. This is not hunger. It's not a need. It's a mental craving. I know a lot of people who experience cravings and assume that they are hungry. In order to reach your goals and your strongest and healthiest body it is important for you to determine whether or not you are experiencing cravings or hunger. Most likely..whether you want to admit it or not, it is cravings. So anyways, I'm back on track and just starting a brand new diet plan for USAs and I'm excited! These next six weeks will not be easy by any means, but I'm excited to push my body to its limits and see what I'm really made of. In addition, training is going very well! I did arms yesterday and let me tell you...My biceps are SORE! As painful as the soreness is at times, I absolutely LOVE it. I crave that sore feeling after a great workout, so I was excited to feel the soreness coming on this morning. My workout yesterday consisted of Seated Curls, Seated Hammer Curls, Standing Barbell Curls Superset with Standing Curls..Followed up with Tricep exercises like the Rope Pull Down and Kick-Backs! Overall it was an awesome workout and I left there with no juice left in my arms :) My cardio has been great so far. I'm doing anywhere from 45-60min in the morning...Usually stepmill. Then I'm doing anywhere from 35-45min after my weights as well. I'm actually enjoying my cardio WAYYY more than I have in the past. Especially since I was able to add some new tunes to my iPod. There's something about the "perfect" music that can really get me moving and pushing my intensity. It's actually kind of pathetic when I REALLY think about how much I rely on music for my workouts. That just goes to show how much of this is based on your mentality/mood/emotions - Your body CAN do the work regardless...It's your mind that you really have to work on bc it will make or break your progress. So that's where I'm at. New nutrition plan. Heart-thumping cardio. A newly found mental focus. All thanks to our amazing Lord - God is SOOO good and I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to experience His love and grace every single day. Without Him...NONE and I mean NONE of this would be possible. As I heard this morning while listening to my Christian tunes.. "Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me". I have NEVER felt so joyful and in love with Jesus and THAT is truly giving me the strength I need to push through this prep. Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Big Changes. |
| 06.16.2010 22:36:26 | |
|
Big changes on my end and that explains why I haven't been on here as much as normal! "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within." --Elisabeth Kübler-RossStay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Tags: |
| No Excuses... |
| 06.01.2010 06:41:22 | |
|
I'm going to be straight-forward with all of you... I'm getting slightly frustrated with the fact that people are putting their dreams/goals/aspirations/health on the sidelines because they are "too busy" to pursue all that they want to accomplish. When I hear people say that they are too tired or too busy I can definitely relate because I live a VERY busy life, but at the same time I want to slap some sense into these people and say "Stop with the excuses and start LIVING". We have ONE shot to accomplish all that we are here to accomplish...Literally...One shot. Although we're only on this Earth for a short amount of time, it is enough time to accomplish SO many things and make a huge difference in the lives of people around us. Most of you know this already, but I am VERY busy. For the past two years I have left my house at 4:00am and gotten home around 8:00pm M-F. Why? I do this so that I can do AM cardio, work my job, take a full course load at UW Bothell, lift weights and get myself one step closer to achieving my goals and dreams. Does it get tiring? Yes. Absolutely exhausting at times? Heck yes. Do I sometimes consider myself crazy? YES! But I put it all into perspective: What would my life be like if I took the easy route and didn't pursue all the wonderful things I'm meant to accomplish? My life would be boring...lacking purpose..I'd simply be going through the motions and there's no way I'm going to live my life like that. So what do I do? I step it up...I kick it up a notch and remind myself that I HAVE to reach my goals...no matter what it takes, I WILL get there and if this means I struggle along the way, great. Struggle is good. It stretches me...it pushes me to become a better and stronger person and I will NEVER regret that struggle...I'll never regret the exhausting days when all I want to do is go home and crash, but instead I push forward and accomplish my daily tasks. What I will regret is NOT doing all that I can to live a strong and healthy life the way God desires me to live. So that's my thought for the day... It's been on my heart to write about this because I've encountered so many people lately who "want to get in shape, but don't have the time" or "want to compete, but can't make it work with their schedule"...you know, people who WANT to achieve certain things, yet "can't" find the time or energy to make it happen. It actually hurts me when I see people going through life like this because I KNOW that if they would just soldier up...be strong...be fierce and push through, they would be SOOOO happy that they did. They will reach their goals and think "WOW! I really did it" and that is truly the best feeling in the world. I urge all of you to make it work...I don't care what your schedule is like (well I do care...but you know what I mean :) ), I KNOW that you can make it work if you want it bad enough. It will be tough, but you'll never regret pushing yourself to your limits to achieve something great. So that's it for today. I'm off to push through another amazing day of opportunity. Training Hard...Staying Focused. Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Burnin' Something Fierce |
| 05.25.2010 11:38:20 | |
|
Big Things Coming...I am incredibly excited to start the next chapter in my life. 13 Days Until My Last Day Of Class 13 Days Until I Can Start Studying To Get Certified As A Personal Trainer (if not earlier) 19 Days Until I Graduate From College 66 Days Until My First National Show in Vegas Woot Woot! So to say the least...I have some exciting things coming up! I cannot explain the joy that I feel about my life right now. It is kind of funny actually because there are a few things in my life that are not going well at all, BUT I am choosing to focus on the the GREAT things coming up and I am choosing to focus on all the amazing things/people the Lord has blessed me with over the past couple years! That's really what it is all about people...Perspective and attitude. You ultimately decide how to live your life...You decide upon your outlook and your attitude and how you react to the things thrown at you. It's your choice...Turn around and avoid the challenges in your life or soldier up and be strong...Meet those challenges straight on. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches and do so with a big thankful heart and a big happy smile. Cliche...I know. But it is SOOO true! So that's where I'm at. I actually just got home from the gym and had a fabulous workout...I mean KILLER workout. I started off somewhat slow and then that fire in me started burnin' something fierce and I finished weights very strong and then my cardio was even more fierce. It made me think of Julie's blog AWHILE back about giving it your all when you have that burst of energy...Heck if you're feeling energized and strong, THAT is your time to truly push your limits. So that's what I did. My 25 min on the stepmill and 10 min on the treadmill left me absolutely dripping in sweat and it felt so refreshing. Nothing feels better than building up my body...Making it stronger, healthier, faster and just BETTER! So I'm pumped and can't wait for my cardio tomorrow AM! Then I'll be heading to work...then to LA Fitness for a Chest/Bi/Tri workout + cardio. Busy day, but as always it will be absolutely FULL of opportunity and I better be ready to rock and roll! Bless you all and please please please spend some time tonight planning how you can get one step closer to your goals/dreams tomorrow. Life is so short and you've got ONE life to live...I hope you are all pushing forward through your life achieving all that you are meant to achieve. We each have something truly special to offer to the people around us and it would be soooo silly for you to not grasp that tight and make the most of it! DREAM BIG! ;) Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane
Tags: Determination | Goals | training | energy | posingfocused | determined |
| Time to Soldier On... |
| 05.22.2010 03:58:03 | |
|
So how bad do I REALLY want to reach my goals? Can I literally taste, see and feel myself accomplishing all that I want to accomplish? Yes! I have to stop and ask myself these kinds of questions when I'm starting to lose it...and trust me...I almost lost it! I've had a billion things going on - Which is a wonderful blessing, yet sometimes very overwhelming! I have exactly 2 weeks of class left and then finals on June 7! WOWZA! I cannot believe that I am so close to graduating! This entire year has flown by. I still feel like prepping for the 2009 Ironman was really not that long ago, but now here I am finishing up my last year of college and getting ready to compete at the USAs in Vegas! But anyways...back to me almost losing it. After returning home from ID, I kept slipping on my diet. You know how once you allow yourself some sweets and treats (like I did in ID) those cravings really start coming back? Well that's what was happening. The week after ID I was constantly battling cravings and I was unfortunately losing the battles! Nothing CRAZY...but I just wasn't staying as consistent with my diet as I needed to and I was allowing little treats here and there. That in combination with a crazy amount of school work and smaller paychecks than normal to pay my bills...well I started to burst with stress and lose it. Part of me was thinking..Maybe I should just not compete. Maybe I should do it at a later time..Maybe I should quit this craziness.. BUT luckily I reminded myself of my goals and my dreams. I reminded myself of all the great people in the industry who have achieved GREAT things...did they ease through the entire process with no worries? Heck no. They pushed through with everything in them in order to fight for their goals and dreams to be accomplished. So I decided to buckle up and soldier on..Push through and fight this amazing fight. Yes I will finish school strong, even if it means slightly less sleep than normal. Yes I will stick to my diet as consistently as humanly possible. And I'm happy to say that I have been doing a great job of this so far! I will train hard and fierce over the next three crazy weeks no matter how tired I'm feeling. It's time for me to remember that no one who ever did anything HUGE and GREAT got there easily...They all worked very hard to get there and that is EXACTLY what I'm going to do. So that's it for now! I won't be on here as often as I'd like while I finish up school bc I simply have SOOO much to get done, BUT once June 7th hits (my last exam), I'll be on here blogging my journey to the national stage as often as possible! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Bodybuilding.com Fit Expo! |
| 05.12.2010 22:53:29 | |
|
I apologize for not being on here as much as I used to! Life has been busy busy! I spent Friday-Sunday in Idaho for the BB.com Fit Expo and then I have been swamped with school work in addition to that, so it has been hectic, but amazing :) First off - the Bodybuilding.com Fit Expo was amazing! It was truly such a blessed experience and I was able to meet so many inspiring people. Traveling there and working the ON/ABB booth really made me realize how much I love the bodybuilding industry and reminded me why I am here doing what I'm doing. I worked the Optimum booth with Jen Turnbull, Kristina Lum, Alicia Harris and Charles Glass and boy did we have a blast! Jen, Kristina and I flew into Idaho together on Friday AM and met Alicia, Charles and the rest of the ON/ABB crew at the hotel/venue. I roomed with Alicia and I gotta tell you...She SHINES the Lord's light and I was able to see it as soon as I met her. She has such a happy and giving spirit and it was so inspiring to see her interacting with all the people at the expo. While signing our calendar for people at the expo, she made sure to get people's names and talk to them. It was simply great to see someone care so much about every single person that approached our booth for either samples or for a signed calendar! Then there was Charles. I have never met someone SO humble in my life. He was constantly being approached to sign shirts and take pictures and he sincerely spent time with each person that approached him and that was so inspiring me to. Instead of taking a quick picture and moving on with the day, he truly demonstrated sincere interest in every single person that approached him. Overall it was a fabulous time and I'm so thankful that I was blessed to meet so many of the people that I met and I have to say that Alicia was one rockin' roommate! While the expo was fabulous, I did get slightly off track with my diet! The fact that we were ordering room service for our meals and going out to dinner with the ON/ABB team was not the best thing for my diet. Don't get me wrong...I didn't go COMPLETELY off the deep end, BUT I did not eat 100% how I would have liked and now I'm paying for it. I'm feeling slightly sluggish and my midsection is feeling slightly softer than normal! Being out of town and trying to eat healthy really gave me a lot of respect for competitors who are always traveling. It is tough to always eat on time and 100% on diet while traveling/working booths and I completely admire those people who can travel all year and still stay on track! This weekend was a good lesson for me and taught me how I can better manage my meals/training while traveling in the future. So although I got off track, I did learn how to better improve my travels in the future and I also gained a lot of respect for those competitors who are always traveling to shows/expos! That's it for now. I need to go eat my next meal and get ready for a long day at school. I have exactly 31 days until I graduate with my BA in Business Administration and as soon as that is, I still have A LOT of work to do :) But soon enough I'll be FREE and done with this chapter in my life! Whoo!! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| 89 Days Until USAs |
| 05.02.2010 13:21:01 | |
|
So I'm am back to finish up what I started the last time I was on here! Since I took so much time off from writing on here, I definitely have some catching up to do. Well, I'm exactly 89 days out from the USAs and feeling good. As of right now, the key thing for me will be to focus on the hour ahead of me and nothing more. Of course I'm going to have to stay focused on the future and my overall goal, but I want to spend more time focusing on the hour ahead of me and that's it! I think this will help me stay focused on sticking to my diet as close to 100% as possible for the show! As long as I can ask myself, "Am I doing everything possible RIGHT NOW to make the most of my USAs experience?" and can answer YES! I will be happy :) So that's where I'm at! Sticking to similar nutritional program as of now and high volume training as well! In addition to USAs, I'm going to be flying a LONG flight to Idaho ;) on Friday AM for the Bodybuilding.com Fit Expo!! I'll be flying over there with Jen Turnbull and Kristina Lum and we'll be meeting Alicia Harris and Charles Glass there to work the Optimum Nutrition and ABB booth! I'm SOOO excited for this! It will be a great time to get away for a couple days and also a great time to meet some fabulous people at the expo who share the same passion that I have for training, competing and living a HEALTHY and STRONG lifestyle! Should be a great time :) This also explains one reason why I've stayed pretty good on my diet/training since the ECUP! I don't want to show up to a FIT expo lookin' all out of shape! So overall I'm feeling great about where my body is and I'm really excited to spend a couple days working that expo next weekend! If you're in the area, make sure to stop by the BB.com Fit Expo going on Friday and Saturday of next week! Should be an awesome expo with tons of great guests! Hmm I THINK that is it for now. I swear I had a lot more to talk about...But I'm sleepy and maybe my mind is simply heading to bed already! Also...I went to dinner last night with Rose Patterson, Elaine Craig and my fellow bloggers Bren and Julie and I had a BLAST! There's something about getting together with fit and inspiring women that just fills me up! Each of them touch my heart in their own unique way and I'm so thankful for their friendship. Rose will be competing at the WA State show in July and Bren is competing at the Ironman in October, so it was great to see them in person and witness the progress that they are making! They are lookin' great folks...so watch out ;) NOW I'm really off to bed! Getting up early for church! Whoo! I seriously LOVE going to church on Sundays. The fellowship, worship and the sermon always give me that extra boost that I need to start off my week! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Been a LONG time!!! |
| 04.29.2010 11:53:01 | |
|
Alright folks. It has officially been FOREVER since I have been on here. To be perfectly honest I have been BEYOND swamped with school work since I got slightly behind with ECUP prep AND I've been trying to spend my little bit of spare time working on Saving Strength and getting things moving in that department! So I have A LOT that I want to talk about! We'll see how much I actually cover...Worst case scenario, I'll make this a two-part blog ;) So first things first! The Emerald Cup!! Let's just say it was an AMAZING show! I did not place as well as I had wanted (7th) BUT I have never felt so great about my progress and the package that I brought to the stage! So in that regard, I'm happy as can be! The way that I look at it is that I'm in this for the long run...I'm going to be around for a LONG time in this industry and the 2010 ECUP was just ONE of many shows that I will compete in! Although I did not place, there is something truly remarkable about stepping up on that stage feeling healthier, stronger, more confident and more fit than I have EVER felt in my life. THAT is why I work my butt off day in and day out to compete...to push past my own limitations that I put on myself and reach new levels of health and strength! I train to inspire other women to live STRONG and HEALTHY lives and I train in order to honor and glorify with this healthy body that the Lord blessed me with. Taking that into account, I've never competed as successfully as I did at the ECUP! I inspired some women that I know of around me and I did everything in my power to build my body UP to glorify the Lord and I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to step on stage with such amazing women. So overall it was an amazing show and I have SOOOO many people to compete! I have such a great support system and that truly makes ALL the difference when competing! You have to surround yourself with the BEST and most INSPIRING people in order to truly become a champion! So I'm very thankful for all the amazing people in my life. Thank you to Elaine and Brad for such a great show! Everything ran so smoothly and every person backstage was so helpful to all of us competitors! The Lord has truly blessed the Craig's with the ability to put on an inspiring event full of energy and God's love and I'm so thankful to be part of their competitions here in the Northwest. In addition...I HAVE to thank my fiance and my family for being so incredibly supportive over the past 2 years of training! They are always there to encourage me to go after my dreams and they seem to put up with my dieting mood swings just wonderfully :) Love you guys! I also started working with John and Roxana Kreklo for my diet in addition to my training with Pete De La Rosa and the combination of their diet and Pete's training was amazing. As I mentioned before, I've never felt so STRONG and HEALTHY in my life and I'm so incredibly thankful that I have the opportunity to work with such inspiring nutritionists and trainers! And of course...Optimum Nutrition and ABB (I hope all you ECUP competitors LOVE the Hydrowhey! It is one of my favorites!) The ON/ABB team of athletes have been so encouraging to me as I have prepped for my shows and they products have definitely improved my health and performance! I cannot tell you how many nights that ON 100% Whey Chocolate Coconut SAVED my sweeet tooth! Then of course all of my competition friends...ALL of you inspire me in your own way and I'm so incredibly thankful for all the amazing women that I have met! You are all fabulous and fill me with your energy on a daily basis to get me through my own day!! Finally...to the craigproductions.com bloggers - You all ROCK and all of your blogs have inspired me along the way! You keep me focused with your blogs and I really appreciate each of you taking the time to share your experience with all of us! Whew!! So much more to talk about! What is next for me?? NPC USAs in Vegas!!! WHooo!! I'm so incredibly excited to compete at a National show and with the 93 days that I have until show time, I feel confident that I will make MANY improvements for that show! I'm zoned in..I'm focused and I'm ready to hit it hard over the next 93 days. I CANNOT do this alone and I'm so thankful that I have the Lord to lean on when I feel like prep gets too tough. Without HIM none of this would be possible and I'm so thankful to have His guidance because I could never ever do this without Him! THANK YOU LORD!!! So that's it for now!! I still have a lot to talk about...But I think I'll finish that up tomorrow ;) “The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion when no one else is watching.” --Anson DorranceStay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| And The Emerald Cup Has Arrived.... |
| 04.16.2010 23:59:02 | |
|
First off!!! I'm so excited for Julie and Kimberly to step on stage today for Figure! Both of you ladies have been such an inspiration to me on this journey and I'm so thankful that I have met the two of you! You will shine - No doubt about it! Please soak up every single moment that this day has to offer you two! It will be a great day for both of you and I hope that you THOROUGHLY enjoy it! I'll be there later tonight for Check-In and to work the ON/ABB Booth, so I'll see you two ladies rock it out tonight! As for me...I'm feeling GREAT! It's funny because I climbed in bed at around 8:30-9:00ish last night... I laid in bed WIDE awake with my heart racing away until about 2:00am! It wasn't even nerves...I am literally so excited for the ECUP that it kept me up all night! Pure excitement, joy and praise for God's glorious love filled me up all night - Causing me to get NO shut eye! Then I wake up this morning bounding with energy...Odd? Yes. I'm still fairly low on carbs, so I was very surprised by my endless energy! I'm actually still feeling really good! Today will be busy busy! I'm actually going to get in one more light cardio session, shower, get sprayed baby, stop by Target for last minute things and then off to the Snoqualmie Casino I go for Check-In and the ON/ABB Booth! Whooo!! Anyways, I just wanted to check in with everyone and wish all the Figure and Fitness gals amazing blessings today! Get up there and let all your hard work, blood, sweat, tears and your soul SHINE for every single person watching - Including the judges of course ;) You've all experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey and this is YOUR time...YOUR time no matter what! ENJOY!!! See you all tonight and tomorrow! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| Feeling Tired Yet Excited! |
| 04.16.2010 04:53:14 | |
|
"The real winners are not just those at the top but those who have come the farthest over the toughest roads. Your victory may never make the headlines. But you will know about it, and that's what counts." ~ Ernest A. Fitzgerald I saw this quote on someone's facebook page today and I thought it was PERFECT for this coming weekend! It sounds so cliche to say that we are ALL winners, regardless of how we place, but I think this quote really speaks to that subject. Every competitor that is stepping on stage tomorrow/Saturday has put so much hard work and dedication into their prep. It's a very tough road to the stage...It takes many days of training hard, practicing posing, avoiding unhealthy foods and instead focusing on clean and perfectly portioned foods. It's tough. Very tough. That's why everyone is victorious in their own way and as I've said a million times before, I truly admire everyone for working so hard to step on stage! You are all REAL winners, especially in a society that is so focused on insane amounts of sugar/fat/calories and a sedentary lifestyle! I can't wait to see all of you get up there and ROCK IT! As for me...I'm feeling pretty good! I would have to say that yesterday was my first day feeling 'out of it' and tired. This morning was my last depletion workout and I have one more session with my best friend tonight: The Stepmill. Then I'm done :) It's taking a lot of drive from WITHIN to get me through today! I'm just feeling tired and my legs are feeling weak, yet I know that I need to push through and give this everything that I have! I can't tell you how many times I've prayed for strength - And trust me, He ALWAYS follows through ;) So I'm ready for Saturday to arrive so that I can wake up and hit the stage with everything in me. I'm ready to shine and I'm ready to watch all the other women shine as well! Oh, I just can't wait! Overall, I'm feeling peaceful, confident and excited for Saturday! I'll check back in before I hit the stage to let you all know how things are going! Enjoy these next couple days. They are PRICELESS...Whether you are a competitor or a supporter, these moments are AMAZING and priceless (along with EVERY moment!) So ENJOY! Soak it up...Make the most of it - Reach out to people and make friends! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane
Tags: |
| One Day Closer - We CAN Do It! |
| 04.14.2010 00:30:03 | |
|
So I'm all pumped up! I'm actually surprised at how much energy I have right now! I've been working my butt off and blasting through depletion workouts, yet I'm still feeling energized. I think it is MENTAL energy more than anything...The excitement and joy that I'm feeling about the ECUP is helping my body push through my workouts. And OF COURSE the Lord is helping me! I've been blasting my Worship music as I train and do cardio and it is helping me stay strong! There's nothing like Point of Grace, Big Daddy Weave, Third Day, Casting Crowns and Mandisa to get me through my workouts! I see my workouts and cardio as my way to Praise Him and Thank Him for ALL that He has blessed me with, so my Worship music seems to be the perfect fit! So that's where I'm at as far as energy goes! Of course I still hit my "walls" throughout the day when I feel tired and weak, but I remind myself of my goal. Overall - I'm feeling great! I thought I'd share with all of you a thought/moment I had today as I was driving into work. I started to drift into my world of worry...Wondering how I would look, how my competition would look, what the judges would think etc etc etc...You know the drill. Well I stopped and pushed those thoughts out. BE GONE DOUBT AND NEGATIVITY! I recognized that thinking like that would not get me anywhere...So I instead brought in encouraging and positive thoughts. I began to go through my last year...I took note of all the changes and improvements that I have made since the 2009 WA Emerald Cup! Pictures alone will show you the difference in both my physique and my spirit! Not only do I have more muscle and am leaner than I was at the ECUP last year, but I am filled with more confidence, joy and LIGHT than I was a year ago AND THAT is truly such an amazing thing...That is what counts. Yes - I want to win. I want to win REAL bad! BUT I'm also SOOOO very proud of myself and thankful for all the progress that I have made over the past 12 months. I've stayed zoned in on the BIGGER picture for my life and have sculpted and built a stronger and healthier body/mindset along the way! So honestly...This is what it is all about. It is about pushing yourself to become the BEST you - Inside and Out! It's about looking back and thinking WOW! I really did it...I really put in the effort and made the changes that I wanted to make for myself. The competition itself is simply my chance (and yours of course!) to show case all of your hard work..all your sweat and tears along the way! It's your chance to really "test out" all the effort you've put in and show people what you are really made of! So that's that! I'm feeling healthier and stronger than I ever have before and I have NEVER EVER been so filled with Joy from our AMAZING creator - I have never felt so close to the Lord and have never felt so thankful for all that He has done in my life and in the lives around me and THIS is exactly why I feel so darn excited and energized! All I have to say is that it has been an AMAZING journey and I'm SOOO thankful for everything...Every little thing along the way! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: 2009 Emerald Cup | Mindset | Thoughts | Journey | Emerald Cup |
| Show Week!!!! |
| 04.12.2010 22:38:55 | |
|
Good Morning Everyone! So far it has been a beautiful Monday morning and I'm simply so excited to get my week started! Saturday is the BIG day and I'm seriously excited to see everyone and to step on stage with so many beautiful women! Since I last wrote, things have been amazing! My diet has been 100%, my training has been strong...and most importantly... I'm feeling joyful, confident and strong! Yesterday was a hectic and stressful day, but the important thing is that I pushed through and still accomplished all that I needed to accomplish. I started yesterday AM off with my first depletion workout. I pushed it hard - Chest, Triceps and Shoulders - and I left the gym feeling tired, yet amazing! Then I went to church and listened to a GREAT service! Both the worship and the sermon gave me that EXTRA boost that I needed to get through yesterday. After church is when things got a little crazy.. My plan was to head to school and work on several assignments until about 3 or 4pm. Then I was going to head to the mall to get some last things wrapped up for the show...Then to the gym for cardio! But as we all know, things do not always go as planned. Lets just say that my first assignment that I assumed would take me two hours ACTUALLY took me almost FIVE hours to complete!!! Talk about a major setback in my "planned" schedule for the day! So I finally left school at 5:00pm with only 1 of my 4 assignments completed. So what did I do...I stayed flexible and went with the flow. I skipped the mall and instead went to the gym and pushed through an amazing cardio session! That cleared my head and freshened me up for the rest of my evening. Overall, it is CRUCIAL to stay flexible and realize that things will not always go as planned! The key to success is the ability to adapt and do the best with what you have! So that's what I did! I could have easily skipped my cardio since I still had soooo much to get done, yet I knew that was not an option! I pushed through and finally got in bed (LATE!!) knowing I did all I could! Then this morning was amazing! I did another depletion workout before work. Although I was feeling more tired than usual because of my lack of sleep last night, I still pushed through with determination to finish strong! As for the rest of the day...I have about another gallon of water to drink..I have 5 meals left and I have 1 more cardio session left after school as well. Whooo! Honestly...I'm on FIRE with drive and determination and I can't wait to successfully endure yet one more day before the ECUP! ECUP competitors... Take sometime to visualize yourself on stage! There's something about visualizing the stage and how I will look that ALWAYS helps me push through and get myself mentally prepared to compete! Visualize your BEST self...Get your mind in the right place this week! From here on out it will be ALL mental...Okay...So it will be physical too, but it will be your MENTAL strength that is going to get you through! So build that strong mind ;) Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
| One Day Closer.... |
| 04.11.2010 03:50:37 | |
|
Well we are now ONE DAY closer to the big show! Whoo!!! Next Saturday I will be stepping on stage to shine! To shine for the Lord, my family, my fiance, my trainer, my nutritionists...All those people who have given me ALL their support and love on this amazing journey! It is easy to get wrapped up in what the other competitors will look like, what the judges will think...all that superficial stuff that really means NOTHING to me in comparison to what it means to have all my supportive friends and family there to show their love for my journey and all that hard work that I put into this! It truly has been a crazy journey. I've had countless things to focus on all at once. Talk about craziness... Not only am I driving to work every morning thinking about my training session and meals for the day, but I'm also thinking about the multiple chapters I have to read, the assignments I have to complete, the presentation I have to give, the schedule I have to write for work, the order I have to place for work...All of that and more. So I have to admit I haven't been AS focused as I would have liked. Not because I was lazy and simply lacking the focus, but because I've had to split my attention up among several very different areas of my life: Work, School and Training! ANDDD that doesn't even include my family, fiance or my dogs! So to say the least, it has been ONE heck of a ride :) As Dave Patterson told me a few weeks back, sometimes life just gets in the way! So true. I simply have to do what I can with the moment that I have. While I may sometimes get lost in the fact that I have soooo much going on...I do remember that I am strong. I am confident. I am healthy. I have been blessed with the opportunity to train hard every day. I am able to life weights - Something that many women fear. I have made the deliberate choice to nourish my body and build it up and I'm beginning to reap the benefits of days of training and eating clean. In the midst of all my craziness, I cannot help but feel so incredibly blessed to be living such an energizing, healthy and strong life! This is what makes me excited to step on stage. I'm excited to embrace the opportunity that I have been given to stand up on stage with some of the most beautiful, inspiring and strong women that I know! It is a blessed opportunity and all I have to say is THANK YOU LORD! So here it goes..To a week of strength, determination and digging OHHH so very deep to do everything that I can to make the ECUP a success. For all you ECUP competitors...We are yet another day closer to show time. What are you doing today to make the most of your show experience? Make sure that you are truly diving into the competition and soaking up the entire experience. This next week is going to be tough. At times you will stop and question why you even bother...But remind yourself of the changes you've made, the progress you've made and the ability for you to get up there and SHINE for all of your closest friends and family. Keep your TRUE reason for competing hugged VERY close to you this week because THAT is what will keep you going when you physically feel that it is impossible! Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE! Diane Tags: |
Page 1 of 6
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next > End >>