Prep Update – I’m Not Ready

If you saw my social media last night, you know that I made a big decision (in my little world) to cancel my first show this fall. This was a tough decision for me for many reasons. First off, I am a stickler about commitment. You said you were going to do something, then do it. I am hardest on myself when it comes to this, which is why I think carefully about commitments before I make them. I also planned a nice trip out to Cleveland to visit my best friend (whom I may still go see that weekend if I am progressing accordingly), and I really wanted to spend time with her. Not to mention the hundreds of dollars that I said goodbye to after a “no refund” policy. Competing is EXPENSIVE, and this show, with registration, hair and makeup, tanning and hotel, would have cost me over a thousand dollars. Luckily my makeup artists were kind enough to refund me the $250 for hair and makeup since they know they’ll fill my spot.

I sent a check-in video to my coach yesterday and we both agreed that stress was STILL holding me back from progressing. My lower body was tightening up faster than my upper body which never happens. Stress is held in the mid-section usually. Cortisol signals the body to store fat around the organs where it thinks it needs it. We knew something was still off. It was just yesterday morning that I talked with my husband in the kitchen at 6am before he left for work and told him I’m not going to be ready for October 13th. He gave me a hug and texted me a motivational video and told me to chill out. He reminded me that this was a hobby and it should not be negatively affecting my mental state the way it has recently. Sometimes my brain makes this hobby much more important than it actually is and I lose sight of the fun that it should be. Try competing, and you might find the same.

I knew I made the right decision when I finally listened to my gut and cancelled my first show. The end goal is to win the Yorton Cup. Last year I placed 2nd.  If I competed two weeks earlier in a stressed state feeling not ready, I would surely not win on October 27th. The Yorton Cup is my Superbowl, and I’m coming for the number one spot. If you’d like to join me, here is a link to the event details.

It’s 6am and I’m eating my preworkout meal (1 egg, 3 ounces egg whites). It’s time to get dressed and hit the gym. Trust your gut. It’s usually right.