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Yes, I have decided that yesterday's water photo is going to have to count for yesterday's "day 4" photo. As you all can probably relate...things are crazy-busy this week and energy is at an all-time low. My brain is so foggy that it's hard to focus on one topic to write on. Aaaanyway....

Tonight was my last lift in the gym before the E Cup. I have been fortunate this prep to have a training partner which has really helped me take my training to the next level. I've been friends with Joel since back in my "married, stay-at-home-mom" days and I am so grateful that he has become my training partner this year. He always pushes me to get those last few reps. I injured my left shoulder a couple months ago and he has to hand me dumbbells so I can still do bench presses and military presses. Really, I could not have done this without him.

Thanks Joel...for being not only the best training partner a girl could ask for but for being an AMAZING friend too! I am a LUCKY girl!! (and PS...you're stuck with me!!!)

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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I don't think this picture counts as part of my countdown, but I reserve the right to change my mind later today if I'm struggling to finish off my day.

I hate straws. I think straws are dumb. I especially hate drinking water out of a straw when I'm working out...it's really just not very badass and I like to feel like I'm a badass. On the other hand, I think it's equally dumb (maybe even moreso) to carry a gallon jug of water around the gym to let everyone know that you're a "bodybuilder", which let's be honest, MOST of the people that do this aren't bodybuilders and don't really look like bodybuilders but they have the jug and a gym bag full of supplements they're carrying around with them while they work out. (If you like to carry a jug around the gym, that's cool. This is merely my personal opinion which I am not trying to impress upon anyone else)

Okay, so now that you know how I feel about those two things, let's get on with the matter at hand...

I'm water loading. So I've got the gallon. However, when I have to pound lots of water I find it easier to drink a LOT of water through a straw. Yesterday I walk into the gym with my gallon jug and my Evergreen Hosptial Family Maternity Center "Creating Memories for a Lifetime" water bottle with straw. My training partner Joel, looks at me, points to the floor and laughs and says..."What is THAT?" Because he knows how I feel about both.

I'm a double dork right now. I'm cool cause I'm a bodybuilder with my gallon jug and I'm trying to make people think I just had a baby with my maternity center water bottle. I'm just waiting for the other gym moms to come ask me..."How did you do that so fast?" A magic pill, of course! ;)

I could be all sappy and say I'm using the water bottle because it reminds me of where I've been, but really it just kind of pisses me off that I had TWO babies and left with ONE water bottle. What's that about?! I think Evergreen owes me a water bottle...or a refund. Because yes, they do charge double when you have two babies.

Today is the last day with the water bottle. Then I'll just be dorky with my jug for the next day or so. And repeat all this again next week - PEAK WEEK SQUARED!!!! Emerald & Empire!!! Fun times!!

Tags: 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure

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7 DAYS!!!!!!

Someone said to me yesterday..."Are you excited?" I answered, "yes". And then he said..."You've been excited for this show for the last 6 months, haven't you?" Another "yes."

I have said it before, but I really DO feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.

Yesterday the competitor list came out. The list is huge! This is going to be a BIG show! I ran down the list, scanning very briefly the classes until I came to my own. Yep, there's my name. Yep, Elaine, even in her sleep deprived state, spelled it right. ;) That girl, Julie Michaelson, IS my competition. Soon as I saw her name on the list I took my ass to the gym because I know exactly what she did the day before and my goal was to beat her, to be better than that.

This sport isn't about "beating" the others on stage. At least not for me. For me, it's about being better than I was last time, being the BEST I can possibly be. Challenging myself to pull out all the stops, to push myself beyond my perceived limits, to really find out what I am capable of. The rest of it is completely out of my control. It is a waste of my time and energy to worry about what other competitors are doing or how they are looking. I've got to give every ounce of energy and focus to my own self, my own contest prep so I know I am bringing everything I've got...and then some!

So, if the competitor list has you freaked out, don't let it. Focus on what you can control: YOU. Beat yourself at your own game. Pull out all the stops. Push yourself harder than you thought you were capable of pushing yourself. Show up next week being at your PERSONAL BEST!

Today's picture is a goal that I wrote at Lululemon the day I decided to do the Washington Ironman. My goal was to be MY PERSONAL BEST and I've decided to carry that goal to each competition I do going forward...which means I just have to keep getting better and better and better...

Be YOUR BEST!! 7 Days - DO IT!!

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Goals | 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson

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I don’t know about you, but I’m very depleted. Right now it is “one foot in front of the other, just keep going” mentality. Yesterday was my high carb day and my body is so depleted it just sucked it all up with no real boost in energy and not enough to get a pump. At 8am I was feeling pretty good…sent my workout partner a text: “We’re gonna KILL legs” and by 1pm I sent him another text: “Yeah, so I ain’t ‘killing’ nothin’ today.”

As for cardio, as long as I’m moving, I’m okay. I feel foggy and kind of in this out-of-body experience, I guess. Once I stop I feel like I could just collapse. I’m exhausted. My legs feel like they’ll give out and I just want to drop to the gym floor and sleep.

This morning as I started the second part of my cardio I was just feeling like I couldn’t go anymore. And then I remembered a quote that I have loved for a long time and used in many challenging situations in my life over the last few years:

“Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish that your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.”

~James J. Corbett

In July 2006 I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with my twins. Every day was excruciatingly painful. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to sleep. It hurt just to BE. But every day that I kept those babies in my body was another day that made them stronger. And so, kind of like using every day to make my babies stronger, I tap into that mentality and use each of these last 8 days to make myself stronger, both mentally and physically…which makes me better both mentally and physically.

This sport is not for everyone. Only the MENTALLY strong will survive. Use whatever mental “tricks” it takes for you to survive this “game” and see it through to the finish line. 8 days...that’s all…

Day 8 photo…some things in life are definitely worth the pain and suffering (these are 2 things in my life that I would suffer for anyday!)…

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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HO-LY BUCKETS!!!! 9. Seriously...9??!!!

You either hear that number and think 1 of 2 things:

1) SAH-WEEEEET!! 9 Days!!! I'm so excited, I can't wait!

...or...

2) Oh geez, I gotta crank it up and do whatever I can to be ready.

I hope you're with me on #1 because scrambling at the last minute is so not fun. Been there, done that. But, my advice if you are thinking #2...don't quit. Keep going. Push harder. See this through to the end. Give it all you got...and then some. Pull out all the stops!...uhmmmm within reason, please. (been there, done that one too!)

Okay, so my picture for today is the friendly face I see when I roll into Gold's Gym every morning at about 4:20am. So this morning I look at Pete and say..."Dude, we got a problem! We either need to fix this stepmill or we need to boot that slow lady off the only working stepmill in this place." Well, we decided that since there is no speed limit posted for the stepmills we really didn't have the authority to boot Slow Pokerson from the stepmill so Pete crawled under there and started playing with the electronics to see if we could get it working. I helped. We totally screwed it up...ok, in all fairness, *I* probably screwed it up. Now it REALLY doesn't work. And of course, as soon as we threw in the towel, "Slow" gets off the stepmill. Of course!

Thanks Pete! You ROCK!!

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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I'm starting to get foggy and confused...

This morning I tweeted that we've got 11 days to go...I Facebooked that we have 12 days to go and now I'm posting photo 11. I'm going by the counter on the home page in case anyone was wondering. For Facebook purposes this morning I was using my fingers and counting through the 19th. I hope I got it right. Shoot, I dumped my eggwhites into my oats this morning instead of the water. Yikes! Losing it!!!

I chose today's photo because right now I am pulling out all the stops, mentally and digging deep and staying DETERMINED and this photo is a client and friend of mine who showed extreme determination on the day of the photo. Watching her RELENTLESSLY tackle the obstacles (every last one of them) at the Gladiator last fall was inspirational to say the least. And being that she is someone I have been friends with since I was 15 it was especially meaningful to me.

So here it is...Photo 11...My Inspiration when I am digging deep and forging thru my workouts RELENTLESSLY...

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Determination | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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If I knew Then

Just wanted to take a quick minute to post some thoughts about the importance of competing because…it matters to YOU.

Two years ago I stepped on the Emerald Cup stage out of, what I felt was, obligation. I felt it was expected of me. My heart wasn’t in it. I was far from prepared, and if you’ve followed my blog for the long haul, you know I paid a heavy price for that. But among the many lessons I learned from that experience is: only step on stage because it matters to YOU. Only step on stage if your heart is in it 100%. Only step on stage because it is something you deeply desire and are passionate about.

You see, what I learned was, after it was all said and done, no one really cared if I got on stage or not. I wasn’t letting anyone down by not getting on stage. My friends didn’t like me any less if I chose not to compete. No one thought more of me because I competed. Turned out, I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone…just me.

Competing is about YOU and while your friends and family support you, to be totally honest, the only one who really cares about your training and your nutrition is YOU and the coach that you are paying to care.

My heart is so in this right now it consumes me…in a good way. But I’ve learned that if it wasn’t, if this wasn’t the right time to get on stage, there would be no shame in waiting for another competition.

That’s my “food for thought” today as we are 2 weeks out. It’s tough right now, but keep pushing. Depleted and tired is normal…that’s a totally different thing than just not having your heart in the game. If you’re not tired and depleted I would be surprised. Take that passion and desire and keep pushing hard to the end!

Mind. Over. Matter.

Photo 14 is from last year's Emerald Cup - Elaine and Me backstage after figure & fitness finals. Funny to think that competing was the farthest thing from my mind at that point in time.

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson

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If I gave this post an actual title, aside from a number, it would be:

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

I decided to make this more about the content of the post than the picture today...killing two birds with one stone, you could say.

So, I've got a bunion on my left foot and usually it is fine provided I wear my custom orthotics in my training shoes. Well, I haven't been lately and I've been logging some time on the stepmill and my foot is KILLING me! Not only is the bunion painful and inflamed, but it also has a really painful blister. I know you're probably thinking..."big deal"...but it is actually so painful I can't sleep at night. I force myself, mentally, to go to a place in my head where I'm not thinking about it but as soon as I get off the stepmill it hurts and I"m limping my way out of the gym.

I do not care how much it hurts. It's not going to stop me. It's not going to slow me down. Why?

Because I want it THAT bad. I will do whatever it takes to work through it and around it. I may have to go buy some new shoes today. I only have one pair that have a wide enough toe box to work for me right now. I'll be wearing flip-flops unless I'm working out and popping ibuprofen like candy. I'll rest it in May.

It would be easy to use this as an excuse. It would be easy to use my shoulder injury as an excuse. But you know what they say about those excuses...they are for people who don't want it bad enough! And that, my friends ain't me! I hope it's not you either!! Keep going. Push through the pain and discomfort.

I can already tell you that the quote is true..."The victory lies in the attempt"...and I am so proud of myself every time I kill it, every time I push myself harder, every time I dig deep and pull out a little bit more. That's where we win...doin' the hard work!

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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I was really thinking that I was going to have to wait until tomorrow for a 16 day picture, but fortunately, my second cardio session gave my photographic inspiration! :D

Tonight I did arms with Joel and was really not looking so forward to my second cardio session afterwards. I had decided before I went to the gym that I would do 60 minutes, which is a little more than I've been doing for my second session. When I got on the stepmill and set it for 60 minutes my legs felt tired right away and I wasn't going as fast as I normally do.

I have this little game I play with myself on the steps...I refuse to let my average step rate fall below 101 steps/minute. It was all I could do to hit 92/minute when I first started. About 10 minutes in I decided in order to get my average up I was going to have to do some serious intervals for the remaining 50 minutes. Somehow and from somewhere I hit "auto pilot" and started kicking ass on the stairs. Welllllll...truth be told I started using some mental strategies to kill it but I can't share them...hey, can't share ALL my secrets. :)

I ended up averaging 110 steps/min and hit over 400 floors during my 60 minutes. I can't lie...I got off that thing feeling like a true bad ass beast! And now I'm ready for bed!

'Nite all! Keep killing it! Hit auto pilot and GOOOOOOO!

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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If you're going to walk through the fire...make sure you've got a firefighter by your side!

17 days to go and I was pleasantly surprised to find this awesome friend of mine sneaking into my kitchen this afternoon...as I was yelling at my son. Oops. It's okay, this is a friend who has seen me during my very worst of times and stuck by me.

Butch is a really special person to me for many reasons...but mostly because he told me I could walk through the fire and I did. And he didn't make me walk alone, he was always my friend and always there for me. And I know if I had to walk through a fire again, he would be there.

When I doubt myself I hear his voice..."Jules, if anyone can do this...it's YOU."

And he also gives me a ton of crap which is pretty annoying, but all in all, he's a really great friend! ;)

Tags: Emerald Cup | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown | Bodybuilding | Figure

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At this time, 3 weeks from tonight the Emerald Cup Figure & Fitness finals will be underway! I. Can't. Wait. :D

So, this afternoon, I was presented with a rare opportunity to take a nap. I'm really tired nowadays. It's just that time of prep when tired is just the way things go. I went to curl up on the couch and found my daughter's "bunny" waiting for someone to snuggle with him. The way he was just laying there, in just the right spot, made me certain that this was a sign that I absolutely SHOULD take a nap.

Now, I know what you're thinking when you see this photo..."WOW!!! That Julie Michaelson sure is amazing!! She can take self-portraits with her iPhone while she's sleeping!!! That's just plain crazy!" But before you go thinking I'm all that and a bag of chips, I must confess...I'm faking it in the photo. I know, it totally looks real. The sad part is...after only 10 minutes of laying on the couch trying to fall asleep I got up because my mind was going non stop with all the stuff I needed to accomplish today. Oh well...I tried.

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown

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Just 3 weeks until it’s time to hit the stage. As I sat down to write this post I was planning to give an update on me and how things are going on my end but then I realized I don’t really have anything new and exiting to report. I’ve already told y’all what my days are like, how my training goes, etc and nothing really has changed. At this stage of the game it’s “heads-down”, nose-in-the-book mentality for me. What I thought might be helpful is to share some of my strategies for getting thru these final weeks and days.

I remember the last two weeks before my first contest and I thought for sure I was going to die. I didn’t. And now, going into my 10^th competition, I have developed some techniques that help me power through. As you all know, I have a ton on my plate, I juggle a lot in my life and I don’t have the luxury to let anything slide because I’m close to contest.

First of all: Stop talking about how “hard” it is. If you label it hard, if you post it on your Facebook status how “hard” it is and how “tired” you are you are making it your reality. Stop. I’m not saying you should tell yourself it’s easy because it most certainly is not. But rather than say how hard it is, just remind yourself…”I am strong. I have what it takes. I’ve got this.” And it will be your truth.

Secondly: Your world is small right now. The only people who understand you are those who understand the sport, either as competitors themselves, past competitors, or those individuals who are extremely close to competitors (ie: spouses, significant others, etc). Don’t expect your friends to understand and while I’m sure they love you dearly, don’t expect them to care a whole lot that you can only eat tilapia and broccoli (which, btw, if that’s your diet…so sorry!!

Focus on your prize! This is different for everyone. For me, the Gold Tiara is definitely a prize I’m after but it’s actually my secondary goal in this competition. My primary goal is very personal, so I’m not yet blogging about it but I will post contest. My primary goal is what keeps me going every day. It’s what has me excited to wake up and kick my tired ass on cardio and finish off the day doing more of the same. It’s what makes me happy to go to bed sore and tired and wanting MORE! Figure out what your primary goal for doing this competition is and then give it 100% of your focus and discipline and don’t settle for anything less. When you repeatedly and consistently remind yourself of your goal and the end result you want to achieve, it makes it easier to deal with the challenge of pushing through these final stages of prep.

Do NOT let your body run the show. Train your body to be powered by your mind and then use your mental strength to push your body to places you never thought it could go. If there is one thing I cannot stand hearing people say is…”Oh, I can’t” (most often said in a pathetically annoying whiney voice). Sure you can. If you want to, if you decide to…you can do anything. But you cannot be afraid of that four letter word…W O R K.

That is my Three Weeks From GOLD mojo for y’all. Keep on pushing. Don’t let your body rule your mind, make your mind rule your body. Stay focused, stay excited. You have come this far…SEE IT THRU!!!

(PS…If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend reading Napoleon Hill’s Three Feet From Gold)

BE RELENTLESS…Refuse to surrender!!!

~Julie~

Fearless, with cape in hand…RELENTLESSLY pushing to the GOLD tiara!

www.juliemichaelsontraining.com

Twitter: @IrieFitGirl

Tags: Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Bikini | focus | Determination | contest prep

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Give it up for my little man friend TY!!!! Ty has been a client of mine for over a year now, so as you can see, I've had the chance to see him grow into a LOT this last year +. Ty also happens to be the child of one of my super badass MILF (Mothers In Love w/Fitness), Ava, who is absolutely amazing...hard worker, no excuses, a delight to work with in the gym.

At JMT we start these kiddos young with the weights! Ty will be doing barbell squats before his 2nd birthday...just watch!! ;)

Tags: Emerald Cup | Julie Michaelson | 50 day countdown | Figure | Bodybuilding

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As promised...it's MY BATHROOM!!!

This is my favorite room in my house, mostly because it's the one place that is MINE. No one bothers me here. My kids don't get to share this space with me. It's all mine! My closet is big enough to be a 5th bedroom, especially now that I don't share it with anyone. My bathtub is like a small swimming pool (that never gets used) and nobody bitches at me for the array of coconut body washes in my shower. It's my haven.

It's also the first place I go in the morning and the last place before I go to bed at night. It's the mirror I use at 2:30am the day of contest to assess the "situation." So I've made it the place where I get my MOJO! As you can see, I have stuff written all over my mirror (my ex husband's blood pressure would surely shoot thru the roof!!) and I have a framed 30th Anniversary Emerald Cup poster ready to be hung on the wall above my towel bar. (anyone good at hanging frames?)

Every morning when I wake up and walk into my bathroom I am recharged, refocused and determined for another day to step closer to my goals...leaving fear and doubt in my rear view! This works for me. Figure out what works for you and do it!

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson

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The photos are suffering. No excuses here...the fact of the matter is, I'm crazy busy and the photos are not on the top of my priority list. But I'm still committed to posting them! :)

Photo 27 is Friday's photo. If you've visited my website: www.juliemichaelsontraining.com you may have found that I like to write blog posts about Starbucks nutrition. The reason for this: so many of my new clients come into my office asking about the healthy options they can eat at Starbucks. And if you're a physique athlete you likely know...there are none. After bootcamp on Friday morning a couple of my clients (Char & Jess) and I went to the Starbucks down the street from my gym and had coffee together (with our packed meals) and had fun shooting this photo in front of the pastry case.

And for photo 26...the long-awaited 2012 30th Anniversary EMERALD CUP POSTER has arrived!!!!

My pantry mojo has been upgraded! And I have a framed version in my bathroom...I'll put up a bathroom photo today as well as my bathroom is my primary place of "MOJO" in my home. My mirror is kind of crazy with positive affirmations. Having the poster on my pantry reminds not only me, but everyone in my house and anyone who visits, what my goal is and to stay focused on that goal...at all costs!

Tags: Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson

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One of my twins woke me up at 3:35am this morning because her blanket had fallen on the floor. The twins share a room and sleep in loft beds, so I couldn’t really use light to see as I didn’t want to wake the other twin and they, of course, can’t get down and get their dropped items themselves. (rolling eyes) So picture me scrambling around on all fours on the floor trying to feel for a blanket that’s actually still in her bed and I’m still pretty much asleep. Then she announces…”Oh here it is! I have it.” I pout, tell her that was mean and crawl back in bed.

When I looked at the clock and saw that I only had about 20 minutes until my alarm went off I decided to wake up. I laid there reading emails on my phone still half asleep. When I opened my inbox I saw there was an email from Elaine and I swear it said “Stacking Strength.” I thought…”Oooooh Elaine, that’s goooood!!!” And then as I read the email I saw it didn’t say anything like that…anywhere. Next email…junk from Kohls…”stacking” sales or something like that. Well, needless to say, I still liked the “stacking strength” idea.

It’s true. This is the time when you have to find every ounce of strength, stack it all up and power through the next few weeks. It ain’t easy, but I’ve found the most rewarding things in life take hard work and have the greatest payoff in the end. So, I am totally okay with sucking it up and stacking strength and getting to the end!

Where does my strength come from? Well, I overheard my children having a conversation yesterday and I thought I would share it with you because this is one of those instances that replays over and over in my mind…when the going gets tough…this is the kind of thing I hear in my head and it keeps me going, makes me dig deep and push harder and want to be better…the best me I can be. Because there are 4 really important people who are watching everything I do. And I do mean everything!!!

So yesterday I overheard my 8 year old son talking to his 5 year old sisters…

Brenden: “I’m stronger than both of you combined. But mom is stronger than all of us put together. Actually mom is the strongest person in the WORLD!!! And….(dramatic pause by 8 year old with little sisters gazing up in awe)…she has TROPHIES!!!”

Heather: “And she has CROWNS too!!!”

Hannah: “She’s gonna get another crown she said.”

Last night when I was doing my second cardio session on the stepmill I was really having to mentally power through. My body felt tired and everything was burning. But I thought about what my son said and I thought…”What if they knew I was supposed to do 40 minutes and I quit at 38? What would they think? They would ask why I stopped and what would I tell them? What if they look out here (they were in the daycare) and I’m not working as hard as I could?”

Powerful little people, huh?! In their eyes, I’m a superhero and I’m absolutely NOT going to give them any reason to think otherwise!

Figure out what makes you GO, what makes you push through when the going gets tough. I remind myself over and over when I’m trying to push myself through a tough day, a tough workout, a tough cardio…

My MIND controls my body, my body does NOT control my mind. I believe I CAN and I absolutely WILL do what is necessary.

4 weeks…make your mindset that of a champion…ALL THE TIME!!

BE FEARLESS. OWN YOURSELF.

~Julie~

Fearless, with cape in hand…RELENTLESS for that GOLD tiara!

www.juliemichaelsontraining.com

Twitter: @iriefitgirl

Tags: Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | Bikini | Determination | focus | drive

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I say it often…I do this sport for ME. It is for me, about me but that’s only one of the many reasons I do this sport and why I love it so. Among those many reasons are my 4 children: Natalie (15), Brenden (8), Heather (5) and Hannah (5).

I want my children to grow up feeling strong, capable and independent. I want them to believe that they can do ANYTHING…ANYTHING they deeply desire to do and that they can BE whoever they choose to be. If they grow up and feel that way then I will have succeeded. I may not be the PTA mom. I may not build a good leprechaun trap. I may feed them donuts and yogurt with HFCS but…if they feel on the inside the way I do then none of that other stuff really matters. It doesn’t make a mom great.

Yesterday as you may have seen in my photo, I bought my 3 youngest kiddos donuts after school when I had to bring them to work with me. My son was really misbehaving and so I took his donuts away. He says: “What are you going to do with my donuts?” I said…”I’m going to eat them”…to which he quickly responded: “No you’re not! They’re not on your diet!!!” Called out by an 8-year-old! My children know what I do. They are very much a part of my process and my support team. I feel like it’s really important that they see me eating healthy foods and eating often. And every once in awhile I can get them to eat something I make for my contest diet.

And then this morning I flashed my abs for Natalie and her eyes get big and she says…”WOW, mom you are going to look AMAZING on stage!” Now, you might be thinking: “Well, what does a 15-year-old know about physiques?” She’s not a judge, she’s not a bodybuilder, she’s just a kid. But…she’s MY kid and we have a unique bond that I don’t think many parents have with their children. You see, for 6 years it was just me & Nat. I was barely 21 when I had her and quickly became a single mom trying to figure out how to navigate life. She was my sidekick. She went everywhere I went. She would sit for hours with my girlfriends and me at Caffe Ladro playing at the table with her toys while we chatted. She watched me get married, have a baby, lose a baby, have twins and then get divorced. Natalie saved me. At 20 she saved me and she saved me again and again and Natalie is ultimately the reason I ended my marriage. Sometimes we rationalize why we let someone treat us badly and we put up with it. But when it comes to our children…HANDS OFF!!!

When I break down from life-overload Natalie comforts me. She tells me I’m amazing. She tells me I’m a wonderful mother. Maybe she just wants me to let her use her iPhone without questions, but I know my kid is genuine.

I love for her to watch me go through this process. She gets to see my dedication to my plan. My determination to stop at nothing. Without Nat I could not do this sport. She is a huge part of my support system. I hope that she recalls to memory, as I hope my other children will as well, the discipline that I display. I can’t teach them crafts (totally suck at that), probably not a whole lot of kitchen stuff I can teach them either (although, my cookies kick ass!!). What I can teach them is perseverance, determination, discipline and to hang on to hope at all costs and to dream really big dreams and don’t let anyone or anything stop them from achieving their goals!

So, while some might say that my sport, my dreams get in the way of being a really good mother. I couldn’t disagree more. This is who I am. This is what I love to do. I love to challenge and to be challenge. I love to inspire and prove to people that anything is possible if it’s truly your heart’s desire. Doing what fills me up allows me to give the best of ME, of who I truly am at my core, to my children.

That is my IMPACT. I hope they’ll forgive me for not being so amazing at the “other stuff.” Every morning they ask me…”Do you have the ‘crown’ yet mom?” And it makes me work a little bit harder than I already was.

BE FEARLESS. OWN YOURSELF.

~Julie~

Fearless, with cape in hand…RELENTLESS in my pursuit of that GOLDEN tiara!

www.juliemichaelsontraining.com

Twitter: @iriefitgirl

Tags: Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | Figure | Bodybuilding | Determination | Goals | fitmom

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Ahhh...high carb day. It was like waiting for Christmas...and then just as soon as the presents were open the day was over. The after-Christmas sales have started and all the carbs are slashed! I just keep reminding myself...Costco has PLENTY of oats! There is no shortage of oats and I can eat as many oats as my heart desires in 5 weeks. It's not likely that I'll do that, but just telling myself I CAN is enough.

So, today's photo is my Washbellies (Heather & Hannah) and me. I'm a sucky mom...there, I said it. I buy my kids donuts. I do it as a bribe. Hey - no judgements until you're a single mom of 4 trying to rule the world single-handedly. ;) It's supposed to keep them on their good behavior when I have to take them to work with me after school but as my clients can attest, they still run around like freakin' crazy people. I guess they get that from their father. ;)

This afternoon was kind of nice out, so I "made" them eat their donuts outside. Sorry, don't mean to torture you with the donut photos but hey...welcome to MY world!! Photo credits go to my 8 year old son, Brenden!

PS...I did 25 extra floors on the stepmill just for LOOKING at the donuts.

Tags: 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | Bodybuilding | Figure | npc

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I've got a feeling that the 2-fers and 3-fers may be a regular thing as we head into the final 4 weeks of contest prep before the Emerald Cup. As much as I would love to make it happen every day, given my other commitments I may not be able to do that...but I sure will try my best! :)

So yesterday was my 37th birthday and I was lucky enough to get to see one of my "knew you when" friends (I also refer to these friends as my "lifers"...the friends that ain't goin' anywhere.) Char and I have been friends since high school. We played basketball together, we were band geeks together, she loved me the same when I was an ugly teenager with zits and braces as she does now. We were babies having babies together...well, sort of...you know. We've been through jobs and husbands but we are still "WE" and I just love her to pieces!

She found me the perfect birthday card...completely made my day! Thank you Char, for always believing in me, loving me and making me feel special whenever I'm in your presence. I am blessed by your friendship! Forging on FEARLESSLY in pursuit of that tiara, baby!

In addition to being my birthday, yesterday was also CHEST day for me and my training partner, Joel. I am nursing a shoulder injury, so when it comes to chest and shoulder days, I can't lift without Joel. I depend on him to hand me dumbbells, spot me and take it away at the end of my set. He even puts up with my low carb crabby BS and pushes me through when I think I'm done. Hands-down...he's the BEST training partner EVER! Just so happens to be an awesome friend, too!

Anyhow...while I was lifting yesterday he grabs my phone and says..."You gotta see what I see." So, photo 29 is Joel's perspective of my chest. Sounds kinda funny...but as you can see, I don't have a "rack", so it's not like Joel has some amazing view of my boobs.

Tags: Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | 50 day countdown | Figure | Bodybuilding | Bikini

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I did not forget my photo countdown, however, this weekend was crazy busy! I get 48 hours (or less) every couple of weeks when my children go to their dads houses. I would love to use this time to decompress a bit, but usually I end up working even more than when they're home and I spent much of the time getting caught up on household chores and errands that are more difficult to do when they're home. It seems these "solo" weekends always fly by, leaving me little or no time to catch my breath.

So, I'm kind of "cheating" a little on my photos tonight. This afternoon we celebrated March birthdays at the Craig home which, is really hard when dieting but fortunately I was in good company with Cindy Goodrich and Tony Ruggeiro who are both gearing up for the Cup too. Rocco, Mark and Ursula were at the ready with "props" to get some fun foodie photos for my blog.

And no...I did not touch any of it! I swear!! :)

Rocco tempting me with birthday cake...

And then there was Mark with the huge plate of chocolate chip cookies...

And Ursula got in on the action with the ice cream...

Tags: 50 day countdown | Julie Michaelson | Emerald Cup | Figure | Bodybuilding | Bikini

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