Time to FLY : My First Figure Competition

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 !! )