One day to go!

This photo was taken June 8, 2006 without pro-tan, makeup, show suit, and hair done.
Today I weigh in at 132.8 pounds.

It's Friday and that means lie detector test. I will be participating in a natural show so they want to make sure all of us contestants are clean. With all of this chicken I have been eating---I am afraid I might squak all my answers!

Tonight I will be painting the pro-tan again. Then tomorrow a.m. it will be up with the chickens, makeup, hair, baby oil...a light weight session and then the competitors meeting at 9:15 a.m. at Bloomington Jefferson High School.
Pre-judging for my class starts at 10 a.m.
This is when all the decisions are made...according to my friends who have competed. I will have about a minute to demonstrate my accomplishments.
It's amazing when you think about the nearly three years it took me to get here...and it boils down to about a minute.

As for winning, I believe I have shared this with you before...I have already won. THIS has been a real empowering event in my life. Yet another turning point along the Body for Life path to fitness and health.

Learning about yourself and your abilities is the best gift you can give yourself and those you love.'
I hope to post show pictures within the next few days.
Thank you all for your support and love!
Your bfl buddy,
Michelle

show progress update

133 pounds today. The show is Saturday. Today my trainer will "paint" me in my first coat of pro-tan. I will have a full day at work. So it will be interesting to see if I can hide the color.

There will be no workouts, cardio or tanning...now. That's a good thing, cause I need the time to practice my posing.
Posing really burns up energy. I have to hold each pose for 60 seconds. And I have to do five times each.

My Trainer Donna, www.bodybydonna.com suggested that these last few days will be an real eye opener...as your body will change every day. I am a believer! Today when I looked in the mirror I couldn't believe it was me.

Two more days...and then pre-judging at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Finals are at 6 p.m.
Sunday will be a day of rest and a modified freeday.

While I do not want to stay this lean in maintenance mode I do not want to blimp out. Any weight gain will be done scientifically in the attempt to add new muscles. I will be going back on my EAS creatine and more to meet those new goals.

That's the secret to this BFL. Once you meet a goal (In this case the show) you create a new goal. Without goals it is hard to move forward!
Eat clean, train hard and be at peace with yourself...you deserve to be happy!

Turning points....

For me there have and continue to be so many turning points--along the BFL Path. One, is sorta funny and I'd like to share it with you.

In Oct. 2003 I was returning home from EAS Energy Camp in Golden, Colorado and had used my frequent flyer miles to upgrade to first class.
I was sitting there feeling so elated and so excited as my first transformation was just beginning.

In the airport I had picked up the Body Sculpting Bible for Women and a few exercise magazines to read on the trip.

Then an obviously well-to-do, older man sat down next to me in the plane.
We chatted briefly and I began to read my homework.

Later we started to talk again, he looked at my reading material and then looked at me quizically.
I explained to him that soon, I too would look as good as the women in the magazine.
He sorta smiled and asked my age.
After I told him he nodded his head and looked at the pictures and then at me and said: "Don't you think its kinda late for that?"

I didn't say a word...just went back to my reading.

This guy was a bit overweight himself. His designer clothes or his Rolex couldn't hide the extra 50 pounds...he was packing. After a few moments I made a self promise to finish what I set out do. I was going to look like those women. Or I should say...look and feel the best I could by adopting and living the Body for Life, lifestyle for ever.

As many of you know, from personal experience it doesn't happen over night and it takes hard work and determination. But hey---that's life. You get what you put into it.

To make a long, long story short...Here I am less than three years later, in the final week of prep for my first ever Body Building Figure Competition. I may not be as lean as most going into a show like this....but I am the best I can be.
I take great pride in what I have done.
I believe anyone, with their Doctor's blessing, their family's support, the BFL Model of success can do the very same thing!

As for Mr. Frequent Flyer, Rolex, Designer clothes guy?
If I could find him today I would track him down and plant a big "kiss" on his cheek. He has NO idea just how much he inspired a dowdy, old woman in a brown pant suit to shape up.

Set the bar high, go for your dreams....they can and do come true!

Goals....

This is my favorite topic. Until a few years ago I never had personal goals. Didn't even occur to me to have them. I just floundered along...reacting to what ever life brought me.

Since BFL taught me the importance of goals I can't live without them.
Today I was interviewing a trainer who said many people set goals that are just to low.
That made me think about all of my past BFL challenges.

On the challenges where I really set big goals my results were big...and on those where the goals were tiny? You guessed it. Tiny results.

My upcoming figure competition is perhaps one of the biggest goals I have ever set for my personal transformation/fitness effort. Keeping my eye on this goal since March 13th...I have had to raise the bar nearly every day.
With each day, comes new confidence and a sense of self-respect for what I am doing.

WOW!
I guess the point of this blog today is that goals work. Don't short changed your effort by setting the bar too low. You deserve so much better.

While we are on the topic of goals...successful people verbalize them to others. They take a public stand and fight against failure...day in and day out.

Today...if you've developed a new personal goal---use this blog to tell us about it. Here's your chance to take a "Public Stand" on behalf of your best transformation ever!

Down to the wire...

This is my last week of training before the Body Building figure show on Saturday at the Bloomington Jefferson School in the Twin Cities.

I am still at work this week (except friday) and still trying to fit in all the stuff you need to do contest week. Each day I am earning a greater respect to the men and women who do these things and do them well.
Along with goals, you have to believe in yourself and be so focused!
On these low carb days I find it hard to do that.....

But again, I have to say this training period which began in late March has been a real learning experience for me. I am learning my strengths and weaknesses, I have picking up a few new friends along the way...and I am still having fun!

Today I did two cardio sessions, an upper body workout...and I still have to have a tanning session.

Now it will be cardio---eating very, very clean....lots of water for the next couple of days. Then the cardio stops, the water dimishes and the pro-tan sessions begins! Oh and I have to fit in my posing practice. (man oh man...I sure could use another three weeks!) But I know that I will be in the best shape of my adult life on June 10th. I am competing with no one but myself. I have won the battle with myself already...thanks to Body for Life!

Today I weighed in at 135. I am 5' 8". I hope to drop two to three more pounds before Saturday pre-judging in the morning.

I'll try to blog again mid week.