August of 2013, I made a decision to compete in my first
figure competition. When I made this decision, I knew that the road would be a life
lesson as well as difficult at times. What I didn't know was that I would
encounter and face fears that I had buried since middle school. I had not
imagined that I would go through such ups and downs within myself and that
there was a battle that was yet to be fought within myself in order to complete
this goal.
When I sign up for a goal or make a conscious decision to do something different,
yet challenging, I know well enough that there will be up and downs. Honestly,
I believe that’s exactly why I sign up for them. This keeps me alive and also
very vibrant to the world around my children and I. It allows for growth and
also opens new doors that were never visible previously. It brings me joy and
satisfaction, knowing full well that I will have to challenge myself to the
limits I know as well as learn to push through to new limits. It allows me a
chance to grow as a human being and learn more about another type of
personality within the human race. There’s so many lessons I learn with each
new goal/task/challenge that I seek out and to this day, I've not been
disappointed in the least from any of them.
Competition prep is not a joke. You either have to be willing to put yourself
into the prep 100% or move on. There’s nothing shy of a challenge when it comes
to diet and training. Then add on to that any fears or growth needed within. It
takes a solid team to get one individual through such training and for me I had
an amazing team!!!
After making my decision, I was training with a good friend of mine at the time
and I sincerely believe that she knew deep down that I would eventually sign up
for this challenge. She helped me to let it sink into my mind as a possibility
as well as get me started on a diet that a competitor would follow. She helped me
learn about muscle groups and heavy weight lifting. She started me on a path
that I will forever be grateful for and will always hold close to my heart.
My training has never been shy of 6 days per week with one day of rest, so that
part of the regimen was already instilled when I went to my current trainer and
asked him if he’d add me onto his team. I sought out a body builder trainer (
Dave Myers ) as for me it’s important to make sure that I surround myself with
those that are winners in the business or sport that I’m stepping into.
 |
Dave Myers
(Human Performance Specialist)
Aka: Amazing Trainer |
With Dave, what impressed me the most was that he didn't look at the negatives
on my physique, yet he only looked at the positives and how he could improve
what was needed to get me on stage. I didn't feel judged at any time with my
initial visit with Dave, nor have I since in my training. When I shared with
Dave, on our first call, that the only way that I would follow through with
this competition or training, was that if it began to interfere with my
parenting or my children, I was done. His immediate response was: “I’d have it
no other way “. He shared with me what his expectations would be of me as well
as sharing with me when he was disappointed during my training. While training
or learning my diet, I was always taught new techniques, shared the appropriate
information on nutrition and also taught constantly from Dave. He is very into
teaching while he trains and that is much needed in the sport of body building,
plus, I have such a long ways to go I need as much help as one will give me.
When I was handed the diets, I would hand write them down or print them off and
tape them to my kitchen counter doors and make sure that my grocery list always
matched what was on the plan. My children joined in and would call me out when
I wanted to ‘cheat’ or they would call me out when I did. Everyone that was
around me, was in the ‘know’ about my diet and that it was very important (and
still is) that I keyed in on what to eat when. The dieting was actually not
difficult for me and I can honestly say that if I choose to compete more in the
future, which I’m already prepping for another show in the future, this way of
eating does not bother me. For with the nutrition portion of the body building,
you literally learn what your body needs to operate and when. As well as how it
reacts to certain nutrients. If it weren't for body building, I’m pretty
confident I would not know this type of information. Your diet is very
important in your life and it’s not only for body builders, but humans in
whole. Until the world gets that, there will be issues. I’m just grateful that
the children and I were introduced to this way of life and are able to apply it
to our daily regimens.
Training was not that difficult, but towards the competition
time, the extra cardio and the time needed to get it done, was trying to say
the least. With being exhausted and handling a full plate, it was a challenge,
yet the challenge didn’t last long as I was able to get used to it fairly
quickly and integrate what was needed when.
I believe the most difficult thing for me was the sizing and
ordering of the suit itself. I not only had the ‘fears’ to deal with, I also
had extra skin and my body fat levels were still a little high for competition.
Not that I won’t be able to work on that on my next competition or that I ‘should’ve’
done better, yet it was the hardest part for me to swallow- getting up on that
stage, with the extra skin, fighting through demons hid so deep and the
physique I knew I had the chance to do better with.
When I was a younger girl, in middle school, I compared myself to the popular
girls. I always thought of them as ‘prettier’ or ‘skinnier’ or etc. and I never
looked at the good within myself. Not that I was horrible on my temple, yet, I definitely
degraded my physique and who I was while growing up. I was never as good as. I
always wanted to be better yet I didn’t know how to. I always felt as though I
would never amount to much and that no one would ever look at me like they did
those pretty girls.
That was my largest hurdle. The fears.
This competition was not about placing.
This competition was about Lori learning about Lori.
This competition was a success.
I came out a winner. You see, I faced those fears. I even
gained oodles of confidence while on stage and realized that I wasn’t alone up
there. I realized that the ladies standing next to me, worked hard to get up
there as well and most of them were as frightened as I was. My children were
there to see me finish my goal that I set out to achieve. My friends and family
came to support me, they were there the entire prep and a lot of them held my
hand while I was in dire need of support.
People believing in me is what got me through the really rough times, my
network and support group are amazing and I’m pretty sure that I was blessed
beyond most with some of the most phenomenal individuals to get me on that
stage.
When I needed a boost, God put the right angel there to help me through. It was
the footwork that I needed to do to get to the next step. I know that without
faith that first step would be impossible. The second wouldn’t even be in
sight. That’s not how I choose to live. Today I choose to hold onto faith and
hope. For they have served me well in my 37 years here on earth and with them I’m
able to conquer the impossible.
The night of the competition was foreign to me, so I now know what to expect
back stage. Per se in the pump room or for tanning or gluing, heck I even know
when to take a breather and also when to start eating what is needed. I’ve
gotten my feet wet and I’ve enjoyed how the experience went over all. I was
shown more love and respect then I’d ever imagined and I didn’t look to bad
achieving that.
Until the next competition, this is my ‘write up’ on my first competition.
·
BTW: If you ever try a competition, make sure
that you have a great support group, oodles of containers and blender bottles,
connections with experienced body builders, a posing coach and know that power
naps are a great thing!!!!
o
FYI: Out of three categories these are the
results -
* Beginner Short : 9 / 10
* Beginner Novice : 9 / 10
* Open Short: 11 / 11
“Faith without works is Dead “
“Impossible is Possible “
#ONWARDTOEPIC
Much appreciation and gratitude goes out to:
~ Dave Myers (Human Performance Specialist)
~ Tara Thatcher (Perfectly Prepared – posing coach)
~ Annette Carlson (Hair / Make up and Mom on call)
~ Valerie Willis (for always believing and teaching me new ways)
~ Anita Ferguson (the best friend a girl could ever ask for)
~ Kathy Nelson (for the sweat suit and support)
~ Angela Thoen (a great friend who’s never left my side)
~ Heather Brandt (the best neighbor and friend a crazy single
body builder mom could ask for)
~ Sam Van Nevel ( a friend a girl couldn't do without )
~ Sharyce Baartman ( the long lost best friend that arrived through the bumps and stayed for the journey)
~ Mark Adafin
~ Rochester YMCA
~ Vault Fitness ( Edan Prarie )
~~ And MOST importantly: My children, Leah and Dylan ( they
are by far the best angels God has ever sent to me !! )
