CRAIG PRODUCTIONS LLC

After I did my first competition (Ironman 2008) my girlfriend came up with a new title for my personal blog..."Julie's Quest for the Tiara". I really wanted one of those pretty little tiaras. I had my heart set on it. I would visualize the tiara while I was forging through a cardio session - gotta keep your eyes on the prize, right?

I've done 4 shows since that Ironman and I've definitely learned a lot along the way. I don't think I really totally "got it" until this last November - it really isn't about the tiara at all. Being first place really isn't all it's cracked up to be. Although, truth be told, I wouldn't know because I've never been first place. Hah!

What I can tell you is that I was so proud of everything I had accomplished to stand on stage in November, personally, emotionally, physically, professionally...I had grown so much on so many different levels over the last 10 months. When it came around to trophy time at the night show I didn't place where I had hoped and for a while I was pretty bummed. After all, just like everybody else, I had trained my a$$ off and put all of myself into this competition. But after I had time to reflect on it I realized that I was really proud of the physique I presented that day. I liked what I saw when I looked in the mirror and considering that I was mid-way through a divorce, a stay-at-home-mom just returning to work...it was a minor miracle that I made it to the stage at all that day. And I didn't just "show up", I BROUGHT IT. I had made huge gains over 6 months.

Bodybuilding/Figure/Fitness is such a subjective sport. You put yourself up there on stage and have multiple judges scrutinizing every inch of your body. I've learned that I will build the physique that I like to look at in the mirror. I may reach a point where I"m not comfortable putting on more size and it may take me out of the "game". I figure as long as I can answer the question: "Why am I doing this?" I will keep plowing ahead. I reassess after every show and I do ask myself that question. What I can tell you now...I'm not doing this to win (although it sure would be a nice perk!), I'm doing this because I love seeing the results of my training and nutrition. I love seeing my hard work and dedication paying off. I love the way it makes me feel about myself. And I really love that other moms see where I've been and where I am now and realize that it really IS possible to achieve the body of your dreams.

Fortunately for me, Elaine has the trophy girls wear tiaras, so I get my time to be the princess. :)

~Julie~

Fearless, with cape in hand.

Tags: