Thursday, July 10, 2008 - The Reality of Dieting :

Often I blog about all the fun things I am doing and how great my training regimen is going. Tonight I feel the need to write a little more so all my friends and fans can have a better understanding of what it's like to be a competitor.

The first time I decided I wanted to compete in a figure show was December of 2006. I had gained a little weight over the holidays and my body image was not too great. Even though I still worked out on a consistent basis, I wanted to have a real challenge... a reason to get in the best shape I have ever been in my life. So that was when I decided my first show would be in March 2007 in San Diego.

I went into my regimen feeling pretty confident that it was something I could achieve. Obtaining the look of a figure girl isn't as simple as just changing your diet and doing a whole bunch of cardio. There are so many things that go into fine tuning a physique and then presenting it correctly on stage.

Due to my competitive nature, not only did I want to do a show, but I wanted to do well. I honestly had no idea of what I was getting myself into and what a challenge it would be. After a while your body begins to kick into gear and its almost like you function as if you were a machine - Eat, Sleep, Eat, Train, Eat, Cardio, Eat. I believe consistency and discipline are the two key ingredients to success. You just do what has to be done and cheating is not a option...there is no excuse if you want to come out on top.

I was happy to take 2nd place at my first show, but to me 2nd was not good enough. Many girls would have been happy to come in second and it wasn't that I knew I could do better. So I kept going, and 4 months later I competed in the LA Championships, taking the overall win!



Now it was July and the following weekend was "The USA's" I had been competing for only 5 months and I was going to Nationals. I felt a variety of different emotions - anywhere from nervousness to excitement. The USA's were a very different experience than my first two shows. I went in with a positive attitude thinking that I would at least do well, considering I had just competed the week prior and won the overall at a pretty competitive show.

Being backstage with so many girls can be overwhelming, but I had made some friends along the way and we always try to enjoy ourselves as much as possible while we wait. I will just say it wasn't my overall favorite experience. Going from the top to the bottom in a matter of a week was tough. I stood in a line up next to girls I had beat the week prior, and their names were getting called out before me. Really there is nothing you can do but just stand there and smile and take it with a grain of salt. I knew that I may not have looked my best, but I was sure that I didn't deserve the placing I was given.

For me it wasn't over. I could not end a season of hard work and competing like this. Knowing there was one more national show to go and I had 5 weeks to improve anything I could, it was not an option for me to stop. I do not regret the decision I made because The North Americans ended up being my biggest achievement thus far. Placing in the Top 5 at Nationals my first year was worth the challenge. I can't wait to go back again in only 7 more weeks!!!

I want to thank all the fans for their continuous support and words of encouragement. I want to thank all of my good friends for putting up with moodiness and my temporary lack of existence because I am living in the gym. I am tired and sometimes I get annoyed at small things. Today the man in the grocery store asked me, "are you on a high protein diet?". I wonder if it was because I look in shape, or if it was because I purchased 64 eggs, 5lbs of chicken, and 3lbs of fish. He proceeds to tell me he eats the same way too. I just smile and think to myself he has no idea what it's like to be a competitor. I don't expect people to understand how mentally and physically challenging it can be. If it was easy it wouldn't be a competition, but I am not complaining because it's a choice. I love the struggle and the challenge all the way to the end and I won't stop until I achieve my goals.

melissa deal blogged at 9:43 PM