Check out my two-part guest blog on balancing a career with fitness on the ISS Research and OH YEAH Nutrition Website! More to come…
I was honored to be invited as a guest on Muscle Girls Inc Radio 11/23/2010 with hosts Miss Fitness Olympia Adela Garcia and Miss Bikini Olympia Sonia Gonzalez. My interview starts at 50:00 in the hour long broadcast.
My fitness debut was this past weekend at the Fort Lauderdale Cup and I finished in 8th place. I met the most amazing women and had an awesome experience. I learned so much about myself throughout my contest preparation time and am proud of what I was able to accomplish. Thank you so much to all my family, friends and supporters for the constant encouragement and motivation. What an incredible journey!
As I embark upon my first fitness competition weekend, I realize what an incredible journey this has been. Regardless of the outcome, I couldn’t be more satisfied with the amount of discipline and perseverance I have demonstrated over the course of the last couple of months.
With a body that has been overworked, over dieted, over trained and has displayed much resistance to this contest preparation plan, I have managed to mentally overcome so many obstacles that might otherwise render me hopeless. Preparing for this contest has taught me so much about myself and has helped me to grow as a person, a competitor, and as a friend to those around me.
The power of positive thinking…those words get tossed around a lot, but when faced with adversity, an optimistic, ever-positive attitude really makes a difference. Sure, I had my bad days, I struggled with self-doubt, and at times lacked confidence, but at the end of the day, I knew I could do this. No one could stop me, but ME and once I realized that I also realized that no one could make me do this, but ME. So assuming the responsibility and desire to make it happen, I began to drive myself full-steam ahead.
That’s not to say I did it all on my own. I truly consider myself one of the luckiest people I know. Okay, so maybe it’s not ALL luck, but seriously, I have the most loving and supportive family imaginable, two parents who love me more than life itself and the best friends anyone could ask for. I am not talking about a few acquaintances that offer a bit of encouragement from time to time. I mean multiple, amazing people in my life who I truly feel would go out of their way to help me get through anything. Most women I know can count their true friends on one hand, but I am exceedingly blessed with people I call FRIENDS from multiple aspects of my life.
Aside from the awesome support system that helps me succeed, I feel God has truly blessed me with an abundance of gifts that make it possible for me to do well in so many different facets of life. With these gifts I have been able to advance in my chosen career path, have become a professional athlete and have experienced an interpersonal growth and development over the years that helps me be a better friend to those around me.
Every milestone reached, every goal obtained, and every feat accomplished in my life teaches me a valuable lesson. I am satisfied with the progress I have made in life, and happy with what I have accomplished so far, but never will I become complacent. Life is about constantly setting new goals, aspiring to do amazing things and for me, doing what anyone else would think impossible. I know I don’t have to prove anything to anyone else, but I thrive on proving things to myself. As I result I hope that by doing so I serve as an inspiration to those around me. I hope that others can set aside their own self-doubt and set out to do the seemingly impossible.
I don’t know what’s next on my “to do” list, but I look forward to my next endeavor and welcome the challenge…In the meantime, I am setting out to do my absolute best this weekend. With my head held high, I will get out there and showcase the hard work that has gone into my physique and nail my fitness routine! I can’t wait to step on stage. :o)
I just booked my flight to Florida and am dropping my contract off in the mail right now. Look out Fort Lauderdale, here I come. I am so excited to compete in Fitness. :o)
I am preparing for my very first FITNESS competition! Here is a photo of me with the awesome Jen Hendershott at her studio in North Carolina. She has choreographed an amazing routine for me and I am excited to pull it off!
It’s that time of year again! I have had a very productive off-season and am ready to get back in competition gear. I plan to compete in the Jacksonville Pro and the Europa Supershow in August. Look for updates and posts as I embark on the 2010 journey!
I am really looking forward to a week of vacation in December. YAY! It will be a multi-stop trip to California, Denver and Chicago. I can’t wait to see my friends and enjoy a week off from my everyday routine.
Now that the Olympia is done, the 2009 competition season is officially over. What an incredible year it has been for me. I am happy with what I was able to accomplish with my physique and feel good about placing in the top ten in both competitions. I have a lot of work to do in the off season, but am excited about all that is to come next year! I have a lot of great photos from this year so look for updates on my website.
Once again, thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support throughout my contest preparation and at the competitions. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Michelle :o)
Tenth place at the Houston Pro Figure Competition 2009
