I know, I know…I’ve been MIA for a WHILE now…well, don’t worry…I’M BACK! Lol
A whole lot of stuff has gone on since my last post on here, and I have been more busy than ever. Since the last post, I have been blessed with a new job and am now part of an awesome company. I got engaged (you already know this), and I began the preparations for planning our wedding (STRESS CENTRAL). Lastly, I began my off season. A new job brings a lot of stress. There are new people to meet, new and more responsibilities dealt my way, and new challenges that I am faced with each and every day. I was extremely scared and nervous about taking a new step, and making a huge career change…especially all while trying to successfully go through my first off-season from competing. In my interview, I asked the recruiter if I got the job, if it would be a problem that I eat so many meals during the day, because I had to eat them no matter what. Lol Luckily, everyone I work with is really cool, and I’m able to eat my meals whenever I need to. On my first day on the job, I dreaded when it would become 12pm…lunch time for everyone, but me. I remember feeling totally secluded and alone that day, because everyone left the office and went out to eat. I texted my fiancé, Sulli and told him what was going on. He drove to Monster Gym parking lot and met me, since it was only like 2 minutes away from my job. Sulli climbed up in my Jeep and looked at me and asked me what was wrong, I explained to him everything that had happened and that sometimes I just “hate having to be on a meal plan all the time, because I miss out on so much and I feel all alone.”He talked with me for a long time, told me not to worry, told me I didn’t “have” to be on a meal plan-but that I had goals and in order to achieve them I needed to eat right. He knew all of the exact things to say to me to relax me, calm me down, and let me know that no, I wasn’t alone….why? Because I have him. Sulli said something to me that day that I’ll never forget though; he told me to just wait and watch what happens. He told me that before long, I would end up inspiring people that I work with, and they would start becoming interested in what I do. I think it’s safe to say that Sulli was right…shhh, don’t tell him lol Everyone I work around has asked me about competing, about how hard I workout, and have even started making changes of their own. I have coworkers who have started working out again, some who have begun drinking a gallon of water per day, and even one who began a meal plan. WOW. Every single one of these people have said to me “you inspire me.” “You inspire me.” I will never get used to hearing that. In the past 2 months, I’ve gotten random texts and messages from people who I have never or hardly ever speak to, telling me that I inspire THEM. WHAT?! I had someone tell me, “Mandie, you really don’t realize this, but God really blessed you with the ability to inspire people.” I don’t get it. I don’t get why I of all people could inspire anyone, honestly, but I’ve also come to the conclusion, that if that is the case, then I have to continue…I can’t give up. Diet: Since the last post, I had a major diet change; I switched to a higher calorie/carb meal plan to begin the off-season process. This increase in calories and carbs is designed to help a competitor build muscle in the off-season, that way, when it’s IN-SEASON and time to shred, the competitor will have bigger muscles that the last show that he/she competed in. It’s an ever going cycle. To me, I was extremely scared about the off season. Don’t get me wrong, off-season meal plans are awesome with all of the carbs – I felt stronger than ever in the gym – and I was never really hungry – also still got 1 cheat meal per weekend. HOWEVER, it can really take a toll on you. This was my first off season, and it was mentally a little tough for me to handle. I’ve always had a complex about my appearance and weight, and after having such a huge weight drop last year, the last thing I wanted to do after stepping on stage was to gain weight, but that’s what happens. That’s what every single competitor does, although we would all love to look stage-ready and have that super low body fat percentage ALL of the time – it’s just not healthy. So, this off season, I struggled with my weight big time, mentally. I stepped on stage at 106lbs. My trainer and nutritionist told me that for my height and body structure, that my off-season/normal weight would range from 115-120lbs and they were absolutely right. My weight stayed right In that range the entire off-season. I didn’t like being that weight, because I though that was a step backwards from where I had come from, but I was wrong. Even in high school, weighing 120lbs, I was confident and knew my body looked good – HOWEVER, in high school, I was “skinny fat.” I was 120lbs of just skinny, no muscle definition really at all. That’s not the case now though, my body has so so so much muscle now, that being 120lbs WITH muscle is a HUGE accomplishment! The Scale: Girls always get so freaking hung up with the scale and wanting to weigh a certain amount…STOP! The scale doesn’t define you! Besides, wouldn’t you want to weigh more and be toned and fit, with some muscle verses being a stick figure and weight a super low amount?! I don’t know about you, but I would choose the 1st scenario ANY DAY! What’s to come: So, because I have SO much going on lately, I will be getting on here to blog when I can –it may be once a week, maybe a little more, or a little less. I’ve been posting more on my facebook page (www.facebook.com/makingchangeswithmandie) so if you want to follow me more, definitely go that route. EXCITING NEWS: I have again teamed up with Probody4her at Monster Gym for competiion training! My next show will be May3rd,2014 – The Ronnie Coleman Classic. I am currently 68 days out from that show as of today!! As of today, I have begun the lean down/shedding process (MY FAVORITE!!) and I can’t wait to start seeing the weekly changes that are about to occur…BRING IT ON!! I have a brand new outlook and mindset for this show, and I’m going ALL THE WAY. I feel that I am stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically going into this show prep than I was with the last one. I am also starting way more ahead muscle-wise this time around as well –which is AWESOME! That means that for the Ronnie Coleman Classic, I should be bringing an even BETTER stage body than before! OH YA! After the Ronnie Coleman Classic, I will have a few weeks until the BIG SHOW…TEAM UNIVERSE, NPC NATIONALS!! This is the ULTIMATE show for me right now and the BIG winners will be announced there. Basically, I will be leaning down over the next few weeks for Ronnie Coleman Classic, then stay down for a while until Team Universe. What does this mean? It means that crap just got serious…REAL SERIOUS. It means that I’m going for blood this year…I’ve got new goals, bigger dreams, and in a nut shell, I’m READY to make these dreams my REALITY! Workouts will be harder, meal plans will be more strict, and goals will be bigger…that’s ok…I’VE GOT THIS! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
0 Comments
|
|