If the whole world was blind, who would you impress?

This week I was speaking with someone who I had just met, they had asked me how had I gotten the courage to get up on stage, they felt they could never do it because they were scared. I had to think about it for a minute, I could remember being scared but I never took the time to think about why. I wasn't scared to walk out onto stage in front of a crowd of people, although initially that's what most people must assume would scare you about a competition. In fact, I was scared to disappoint myself. I had an overwhelming feeling of terror inside the whole time backstage that I wasn't going to do what I set out to do. I knew I only had those two minutes on stage and I have never wanted anything more in life than to perform what I had practiced for hours upon hours for months leading up to the date of the competition. I saw this quote this week and felt that it rang true to my personal experience with competing as well as so many other aspects in life. I think far too often people worry too much about other people's perception of them. As I grow older the decisions I make in my life are more about me and my goals and what I want to achieve personally, and less about what others think about my decisions. The moral of my story is, praise and acceptance is a part of life, and is more than appreciated, but what molds you into the person you are meant to become is the standards you hold for yourself and the goals you set for yourself to achieve a more powerful, stronger YOU.

Accountability

ac·count·a·bil·i·ty noun accountability1. the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility. It's been awhile!! I kept pushing off writing a blog, something always came up, I had a meeting, I had to work, I had nothing to write about, I had no motivation myself so how could I give anyone else motivation? Well... Here we are, about 6 months post comp. I've had some definite ups and downs with finding a balance post show. It's not until about 6 months later that I looked back and realized, I didn't have ups and downs, I was living my life….That piece of cake I had at a friend's birthday party wasn't going to ruin my life or the body I had worked so hard for. That one missed work out because I was busy studying for my personal training certification wasn't going to make my muscle disappear. You are seriously so wrapped up in the "process" of training, you forget that once it's all over, life goes on, just like it had before you started training. I have lots of new goals and things to focus on for the next 6 months. My head is telling me I'm extremely stressed and overwhelmed, but my heart is telling me that everything will happen as it should and I just need to "trust the universe". The reason I posted a "selfie" is to show that maybe in my head I don't think I look my best but you have to tell that little voice to go away and realize that a fitness journey is much more than having the best body you can achieve, its about finding balance with your mind body AND soul and figuring out just how tough you are mentally and physically. Finding what "works" for you is what keeps you accountable. Eating 6 measured meals a day and spending half of my free time in the kitchen does not WORK for me, so how do I maintain an off season body, I use isagenix health and wellness products to keep my BODY in check. I am not much of a reader, not because I dislike to read, it's just I never find the time to sit and relax and let my mind stop racing long enough to concentrate on a book. How do I keep my MIND in check? I exercise!...because I LIKE to work out and I genuinely enjoy it. I focus on helping others that look to me for guidance and advice. Lastly, your soul...how do I keep that in check, well I think I am still working on that, I know it involves surrounding myself by loved ones who keep me grounded and make me laugh and help me not take life TOO seriously. And a glass of pinot noir always helps the soul too!

LIVE OUT LOUD!

Right now I am blogging to you thousands of feet in the air!!! Thank you southwest for the in flight WiFi! To set the record straight, I am NOT on my way to Las Vegas to compete. After I won my pro card at Fitness Atlantic I did not feel mentally prepared to train balls to the wall for another 16 weeks until worlds. When I do something, I do it at 10000% and when preparing for my first pro show I knew that I needed some time off from intense training to give it my all. That being said....I am on my way to Isagenix LIVE OUT LOUD 2013 convention at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas! I love the theme of LIVE OUT LOUD because it's so true. Do what you love, love what you do, and be passionate about it!! I started using Isagenix products in December, and I haven't looked back since (well maybe to check out my bootayyy in the mirror for a few selfies here and there ;-)) Corny I know, but their products have truly changed the way I look and feel. Isagenix is the ultimate transformation system to combat the toxins in our environment, improve body composition and slow the aging process. Today’s lifestyles put more demands on our bodies than ever before. Environmental pollutants, work/life stresses, poor nutrition and other daily pressures are constantly increasing. Our bodies require specialized support to help in removing toxins and impurities. ISAGENIX is that support! I plan to learn as much as I can about their new (and old) products, specifically all of their features and benefits. I want to learn how to expand my business side of isagenix in order to help me boost product users. I am also excited to meet so many people in one place who are as enthusiastic about the products as I am. This video is from last year's celebration...I can't wait! http://isagenixcelebration.com/ There is always time for some fun in the sun and of course a few cocktails!! I will be posting updates about my adventures out west!! Peace Love & Bikinis. Kelly

The icing on the cake...

When you enter the world of competitive fitness training you are exposed to a whole new world of athleticism.  Fitness competitors are often ridiculed for being  only concerned with how they look.  I’ve realized that people either are inspired by your determination and motivation, or they can’t wait to click you off of their newsfeed.  You learn to build a thick skin because there are going to be people out there that are jealous and want to bring you down.  Are fitness competitors being self-absorbed or are they loving our bodies enough to feed it the right foods and train to look its absolute best.  I think there is a huge difference between being called self absorbed and loving yourself.  There are many traits that can easily be misinterpreted by those who don't compete and do not fully understand the world of competitive fitness training.

 

The process to complete a goal is pretty simple to me.  You set a goal, now what many ask?

Well now you need to  find a mentor/someone you trust who has achieved that goal and follow every step of advice they give you.  If you want it that badly why wouldn't you follow all of the steps and put in the #twerk that needs to be done.  Once you have achieved that goal, are recognized and validated for it, is that self-absorbed? Or is that rewarding?  Did you achieve your goal because you "got lucky" or were there steps you had to take to get there.  Those steps are not always easy and many times you question why you are doing it.  Than at the end you realize it was all worth it.  It was worth it because you loved yourself enough to have faith that you COULD do it regardless of what anyone else thought.  

 

Contest prep is like baking a cake to me (anyone who knows me knows I love cake)  There are so many ingredients that go into a huge mixing bowl of emotions, hard work, and dedication.  The final product is more delicious than you could ever imagine. Showing off the final prize winning cake once it's done is just the icing on the cake.  Realistically, most fitness competitors don't bake because if they are like me,  I will eat the whole dessert.  Their prize winning cake is their body and to me that is the best prize you could ever reward yourself with. 

 

Peace Love & Bikinis,

 

Kelly  

A simple hello could lead to a million things....

Ok well here we go...my first ever blog posting!!!! How come it's so easy to pose and take a "selfie" but to actually sit down and write about one self made me cringe a little!  Yikes...I don't know where to start!  I decided that it would make sense to introduce myself and explain a little bit about why I started this blog/fitness page.   

 

I can still remember the torture of being in gym class throughout my elementary, middle, and high school years, being picked last for any type of game that involved skill.  I am by far the CLUMSIEST person alive.  Playing volleyball in high school only because it was the only sport I didn’t absolutely hate and because my friends were playing. I remember my child years as being chubby and never really into sports.  Whenever I show my friends now photos of me growing up they want to put me on some type of Montel Williams “look at her now” show!  One of my first memories was when I was a toddler, maybe 3 or 4 years old?  I went into a restaurant with my mom and stuck my WHOLE face in a cake on the dessert cart as the waitress walked by with it.  I told everyone it was because I wanted to see how the cake “smelled.”  My love for cake will never exactly go away but if you told me that day I was swimming in frosting that one day I would be competing in my first fitness show…and winning it, I would have giggled in their face, and asked for more cake.…BUT that’s my story. 

 

I always loved being outside as a child.  I have never really been big into TV and was always outside in my pool growing up in the summer.  Again, back to the lack of coordination skills, I couldn’t ride a bike very well, but I still loved being outside and taking “walks” around the neighborhood with my girlfriends.  At age 15, I joined a local gym, and continued to workout religiously even throughout college 6-7 days a week.  After college I heard about this new crazed work out Cross Fit, and really only joined because I was told that I could never do it.  I took that as a challenge and was hooked by the “cult” instantly, and Shoreline CrossFit became (and still is) like a second home to me. I set some PR’s, lifted some serious weight (or so I thought) for awhile and than realized I needed a new fitness goal.  I wanted to find something that incorporated my love for working out with my love for being one sexy, sassy, and classy son of a bitch! Than I found myself jumping head, feet, arms, pretty much every body part first into training for my first ever fitness competition in December of 2012.  After 16 weeks of intense training I competed at the WBFF (world beauty fitness & fashion INC) Fitness Atlantic Show in April of 2013.  I placed first in the fitness diva tall category, EARNING MY PRO CARD and I placed fourth in the bikini division tall. 

       

Working out is truly the highlight of my day; what I look forward to.  The contest prep journey and the attitude of a fitness competitor were what I needed to bring my fitness to the next level.  The competitive, yet supportive atmosphere is what I needed to crank my workouts up a notch.  This is the first time in my life that I can confidently say that I feel like an athlete and I’m not tripping over a ball, stick or being picked last.  Competing has made me more mentally and physically stronger than I ever have in my life.  Even if it's not to step on stage, my goal is to motivate and bring out the inner fitness diva in every girl because I know deep down everyone has it and it has become my passion in life.

Until next week....

Kelly
#peacelove&bikinis :o)