4th...

Last weekend I placed fourth at the INBA NSW State Titles in the Fitness Model Tall Division.
 

I went in to the competition not caring if I placed but when I was actually up there I wanted it so badly. I would have loved third, I am not going to lie, but at the end of the day I achieved what I set out to achieve and placing fourth in my first ever comp against some really stiff and experienced competition was a massive achievement! I am too hard on myself, and this is something that I am making a conscious effort to work on. I should just be proud of myself; I am proud of myself.

The 48 hours before the competition were hard. After seven days of no carbohydrates, the two days before the comp were spent pumping myself full of starchy carbs. After going weeks and weeks on a very strict and limited diet you would think being told that you can eat nine meals a day, each with a portion of meat and a massive portion of carbs would be easy. The first two meals were and then each meal became more and more challenging after that. Like the rest of my prep, I focused, knuckled down and shoveled those meals in to me like they were my last.

The night before the comp I went to bed and I was solid as a rock. The carbs had had the desired effect and I had filled out and hardened up.

I stopped drinking water at 6pm on Saturday night. Throughout the night I ate half a kilo of peanut butter and strawberry jam. Again, sounds good after six weeks of no sugar but after about the third spoonful it starts to get a bit sickening.

I woke up and noticed big changes in how I looked and felt.

I was thirsty and I was only allowed 100ml of water an hour for the whole day. To go from drinking 6-8 litres a day, down to 1litre was more of a mental challenge than I expected. To go from making such a conscious effort to drink as much water as you can during ketosis to then having to ration yourself was the weirdest feeling mentally.

I enjoyed the day. I loved being at the competition and seeing all the other competitors. I loved being able to eat snickers bars and lollies guilt free to help fill up my dehydrated muscles. I was so happy with how I looked and I really don't think there is anything I could or would do differently if I decide to compete again.

I will practice my posing and really try and perfect it and get more confident at it. I think this is what did let me down a bit on the day. The girl who came first had been competing for three years and you could tell by how well she posed and how confident she was on stage. I think this comes, like anything, from experience.

Sunday night was awesome. We went straight from the comp to Nield Avenue in Rushcutters Bay for my celebratory meal. Amazing Lebanese/Mediterranean food and a few glasses of champagne. This was my idea of heaven!

Then on to Max Brenner for a waffle with ice cream and extra chocolate sauce. I was so full I thought I would burst. I had missed that feeling!

The next morning I woke up super early and went for a big walk. Mentally I felt really good and I didn't feel this big come down or anti-climax that a few people had told me I would feel.
 

Monday was spent relaxing and eating out with a few more glasses of wine. By Tuesday I was ready to get back to the gym and back on track with my clean eating. I am back on the diet of five meals a day, every three hours with protein, starchy carbs, fibrous carbs and good fats. I have gotten in four awesome weights sessions with three one hour power walks outdoors. I feel amazing, I feel strong and I am happy that I have filled out a bit since last weekend. And I think Simon is glad to have me back to "normal".

I just wanted to say an incredibly huge thank you to my awesome trainer, Chris Dufey from Vivid Fitness, who's unwavering support, knowledge and guidance saw me achieve big last weekend. Without you I would not have been able to prepare to get on stage nor have the confidence or drive to compete. You gave me the tools to transform my body into exactly what I wanted and I am looking forward to an exciting future working alongside you and your beautiful wife, Lauren. You are a truly gifted and generous person and trainer! Your testimonial and my photos* are on their way to you shortly!

And next weekend Simon and I are off to Bali for 10 days. Eating and training over there will be interesting. I am undecided about whether to have a big rest from it all or whether I should try and watch what I eat and try to train every other day so that getting back to where I am now is not too hard when I come home. I think I will see how I feel and go with the flow!

* I am a lucky girl; my boyfriend Simon is a photographer so I do have some awesome professional photographs that he took on the day. He is a perfectionist and wants to fiddle with them so I will share them in a later blog post.