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Hey Everyone!

So I am 2 weeks out today :) And I have to say this week has been my hardest, not physically but mentally... The mind games had to creep in at some time! People who have experienced it before will understand what I mean. You look in the mirror one day and your awesome, the next day you are a skinny fat lol. I have experienced this enough times before to know not to over analyse the way that I look. Always closer to comp I get that overwhelming feeling of am I going to be ready and my gosh I need to pose!! I drum into everyone the importance of posing so much that I am so critical on myself, but thats the only way to be.

I would say a big part of the reason why this week is harder is cause my best friend, bombshell buddy has taken off to compete in the Arnold Classic. Not only do I work side by side with Nina, we do cardio together every morning (cardio/venting sessions lol) and we are the closest of friends. In 2010 when I won my Pro Card I helped Nina prepare for her first ever competition, when they announced my name on the speak for winning my pro card I didn't hear them until the second time as I was too busy hugging Nina after her winning her first ever show. I was so excited for her and so proud lol.. To see her develop into the IFBB bikini star that she is today makes me so unbelievably proud. I actually lost my shit completely and started crying last weekend when she posed in front of me for the first time since 2010! (after all my moving back in forward I haven't seen her compete since then which I am not happy about!) Luckily for whats app and Skype we have been in contact everyday and I can't thank her enough for being the amazing woman she is and having her by my side once again in comp prep.

The one thing I missed the most about WA was our bodybuilding community and the support that the IFBB WA has for competitors. Every single person makes IFBB WA what it is today and I am so thankful to be apart of such an amazing association with such beautiful people in WA, Australia and all over the world. Sometimes it is hard for others to understand what it is all about, why you compete and what gives you that drive. Don't expect them to understand or hold it against them, let your experience and happiness within yourself be what shows them of how much you benefit from your lifestyle. Your happiness is what matters. Words can not express the feeling of self satisfaction on show day and everyday leading up to it when you can look in the mirror at what you have created. No matter the criticism you get never let it get to you, hold your head high and keep on pushing forward to live the life of your dreams. Surround yourself with positive people that will bring you up and never hold you down.

I am forever thankful for where I am in life and although I do the hard work I could not have done any of it without the support to keep me strong. A massive thank you to my partner, best friend and my everything Brett for being so patient when I am so busy with work, my business, clients, training and constant eating. It takes a lot for someone to stand by you with a lifestyle as hectic as mine. My family and friends forever understanding that I am always busy, can't come out for dinner but love them always. Thank you to my sponsors, BeautyFit, for believing in me to represent my favourite supplement products on this earth which have completely helped shape my new physique and to my BeautyFit sisters who show ongoing support although we have never met. My bosses for understanding and supporting me with my career at work as well as a Professional Athlete. Last but not least my coach Shannon Dey and Team Bombshell for completely transforming me and teaching me the meaning of comp prep and moving your ass!

Much Love xoxo
and remember never look back unless it's to see how far you have come...

Food for Fuel, Cheat or Treat?

Its blogging time again! I thought I would touch on an important topic in regards to competition prep and also a Lifestyle approach to nutrition and goals! This is something that took me years to get my head around as I have touched on in recent blogs, but it is something that my clients ask me about on a regular basis.
I can not stress the importance of having a healthy relationship not only in your mind and with your body but also with food! I find that people do either one of two bad things. 1 - uncontrollably binge out on foods when they are giving the chance to have a cheat meal or just struggle during the whole week and have slip ups and punish themselves so badly for it emotionally and mentally or 2 - feel so unbelievably guilty about having a cheat evening if it is as small as a yoghurt and beat themselves up about it. Your not a lone if you do either of these things and I am just beginning to realise how common it is. We get swept away with achieving results as we become so driven that sometimes we don't even notice it being an issue.
Well, myself I use to be number 1. Instead of a cheat meal it was a cheat day which was a free for all, if i couldn't get my hands on it I would drive head first and then feel like death from all the sugar and bad fats until about Wednesday. I actually got really depressed, not about eating food but just about everything in general because of all the toxic crap I would put into my body.
The approach I took began mentally, I started calling it my treat meal! As it is exactly that, a treat a reward, something that would benefit my body so in no way could be classified as a cheat as that implies something naughty correct? I have just that, one meal which consists of no sugar or highly processed foods. It is something I am now wary of and I go into that day ensuring that I am
I find that as my clients always have strict guidelines to follow during the week they benefit more by knowing exactly what they shouldn't have to give them more direction, so if this helps you make yourself a list too. The best way to judge whether it was a treat or a cheat is by how you feel the next day. Did you wake up feeling energised and have a fantastic workout which therefore refuelled your body or did you feel like you have a food hangover, lethargic and tired? You can base the way you feel as to how much your body actually needed and what not to eat.
My pre contest treat meals are also different to those when I am not on my pre contest plan so therefore this will differ depending if you are a competitor or not.
Above all else the most important thing is not to beat yourself up over it, don't feel guilty and learn from every experience! Simply build a bridge, get over it and don't cross over the bridge again. So when it comes to that time of week when you get to reward your body ask yourself, is this a cheat or treat? Love your body inside and out and treat it right. Also be big enough to assess your thoughts, feeling and actions to whether you do have a healthy relationship with food or not and seek someones advice. My door is open, as always
Much Love xoxox

5 weeks out :)

The past week has definitely been easier physically than the last. Its amazing how quickly your body can adjust to the extra workload. Still by Friday my body was ruined, but it was easier than the previous week. After two weeks I have seen a massive improvement in my body. My legs are leaner, shoulders are popping and stomach is still inching smaller and smaller. Still perfectly on track for being in the best shape I have been in to date. My visit to my physio will keep my body in check for the next 2 weeks before my last dry needling session before competition. I find that dry needling is the best way to release the tension as it is the only way to deeply penetrate into the muscles. As I work my glutes so much through the week with all the leg training and cardio I was lucky to have 5 needles per butt cheek this week! OUCH!! Today, I don't feel any tightness what so ever. Completely worth it ;)

I finally picked my bikini colour/colours and designs with help from my ever so creative partner and Claire Skeet from Creative Costumes. It will be by far the most blinded up and bright bikini I have ever had and you will have to wait for the day to see it ;) The biggest thing is perfecting the cut to those of the IFBB Pro's in America as this will be the bikini I take to the US with me so it needs to be perfect!

So with flights and accommodation booked, my athlete contract signed and bikini in the making I am on my way to being organised for my first show for this year!

I have been enjoying some down time as much as possible and yesterday actually swapped my runners for flipper and went snorkelling with my partner, which was unbelievably enjoyable. I am the biggest beach bum at heart and grew up in a beach town so the ocean is my most relaxing thing to be around. I highly recommend to anyone competing or striving hard towards their goals to have some time out to relax in your most relaxing environment from time to time. It is great for the SOUL!

This competition preparation has been very different than any other, not only because the changes that I have applied but because of those who are with me on my journey and whom I share their journey with. I have superstar bikini girls whom are preparing for the IFBB O'Mara Classic. Coaching them has bought me so much satisfaction as well as keeping myself in check. Explaining to them , the do's the donts and how to over come mental battles with this sport has honestly made this comp prep for me. Encouraging them to be strong, healthy and happy reinstates to me how much power you feel when everything comes together and you achieve what you set out to. I feel happy knowing that I help these girls and have nothing but their best interests at heart in regards to getting them to their best condition yet and most importantly ensuring that they are healthy both mentally and within.

Now its time for me to enjoy my sunday and spend so much over due time with my gorgeous mother who has been my biggest supporter from the get go.

Much Love, stay strong and train hard! xoxox