Life is just so damn full of surprises! I suppose I should always expect the unexpected, but dammit, all of life's challenges seem to fall in my lap every time I diet. For a while, I felt that it was just me and my bad luck that I've faced more than my fair share of tough times while trying to diet. Perhaps it's just coincidence or maybe, because I spend more than half the year dieting, it's merely 'life' happening before my very eyes. It sure feels like a test though...a huge test of my strength and dedication. I suppose shit happens all the time, but more so during the particular period of time when I'm dieting or maybe it just seems that way. Given my calorie depleted state of mind and my rigid prep schedule, my patience and tolerance for interuptions/occurences/incidents is particularly low.

I know I'm not the first competitor to face hardships/adversity during contest prep. At one point or another, each of us has had to rise above our own personal turmoil to press onward to a show. I guess there are really only two choices, move forward or give up. For me personally, I know that either one is difficult.
Pressing forward can make you feel guilty and selfish while giving up can make you feel even worse. My point is that in this sport,I know I need to be selfish to be successful.....during my prep I need to make myself a priority instead of dropping everything and running each time a family member or friend needs me.

We've all suffered through a loss of a loved one, an illness, family issues or some form of challenge. In my family, food has always been a source of comfort in both celebration and during hardship so, when 'shit hits the fan' all I really wanna do is EAT!!! Having said that, you can obviously understand why dieting can be so difficult when things aren't going smoothly. I have always had the strength/dedication to stick to my diet, but I'm miserable when I can't eat normal food during tough times.

Ah..there is that 'food' thing again....maybe I need some damn food therapy...LOL!

Having the strength to persevere through the tough times is what separates those who succeed from those who don't.



The journey to the competitive stage is never an easy road to travel, but arriving there despite every hurdle or road block on the way makes it that much more rewarding.

The weekend is almost upon us once again.....thank goodness! I could really use a day off :) This weekend is actually a long weekend for us.

Last weekend was an absolute blast! As I had mentioned in my previous update, I got together with a bunch of friends for a b'day party. Of course, I volunteered to make the b'day cakes for the two friends celebrating.....and although it was a belated celebration for both, we had a ton of fun. We had dinner at a restaurant called the Smoke n' Bones cookshack. I won't venture off on a tyrade regarding the 45 minutes we sat in the lounge waiting to be seated for our reservation nor will I elaborate on the 'ditzy' waitress who forgot part of my order, but I will mention that the food was decent. Regardless, that will be my first and last trip to that particular restaurant. After dinner, it was time for dessert. I made a 'strawberry, fudge brownie cheesecake' and a 'choclate chip cookie dough cheesecake'.....and decadent they were...LOL! WOW! They were so rich!

And yes, they were very time consuming to make, but they were worth it!
I'm in my 'element' when I'm in the kitchen cooking. I swear it was something I was born to do and I really enjoy it. I tend to bake the most when I'm dieting.....while I lose weight, everyone around me tends to gain some. What fun would it be to bake if I didn't share it???? I do have some recipes in mind for my next day off, but somehow, I know I'll find a way to bake more than I had planned.'Food' seems to be making its way in to my journal more regularly....I'm not so sure that's a good thing....I may just seem a wee bit obsessed :)

As for sharing food/desserts......a few of my closest friends are always happy to consume anything I create! They've probably eaten more than they care to admit.


The outcome of the NY Pro was interesting! I was so pleased to see that Cathy L had won, she looked great!

As of Saturday, I've got 3 weeks left before I hit the stage to guest pose!!! My music is finished, my costume is ready and now, I just need to ride out the remaining days until it takes place.

On that note..I should get some sleep.

Our first competition of the season was incredible!!! The number of athletes competing at this event was mind boggling and considering it was a novice level competition, the calibre of athletes was impressive. It's apparent that many new competitors are doing their homework before hitting the stage for the first time.

It's already Wednesday, which means the NY Pro is only 3 days away!!!! I'll be on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting pics from pre-judging and the results. The competition should be fierce. The number of women competing in one class and the diversity in physique types should make the outcome quite interesting. I could make some predictions, but the placings will depend on 'who brings what' to the stage. I wish I could be there to see the show.

So far, my prep for my guest posing appearance is going very well...only 4 1/2 weeks to go. Now I just need to get my costume fully assembled! I recall being very nervous about guest posing the first time I did it, but this time around, I'm much more excited than nervous. I still don't have a copy of the poster for the event, but as soon as I have one, I'll post it.

In other news, my new glasses (yes,I wear them to read and drive) have arrived!! I'll be picking them up later today....I'll be sure to get a pic with them on soon enough. Also, with the small amount of spare time I've had lately, I have managed to get some baking done....my neighbor and I got together once again to make cinamon buns....mmmmm...I'm not sure there is anything better than warm, gooey dough fresh from the oven.

This upcoming weekend, a bunch of us are getting together for a belated b'day celebration for one of my friends. Of course, I'm in charge of making the birthday cake...as of now, I'm unsure as to what kind of crazy cake concoction I'll create, but I'll come up with something, I'm sure of it. The one thing I can guarantee is that it will be VERY rich! I'll have some pics for my next update :)


Enjoy the rest of your week!