To My Muscle Babes For New Years! Please Read If You Have A Chance!

To all my muscle babes out there, all of you, from NPC, IFBB, WBFF, UFE, APF, IPF, NAPF  and all the other organizations out there. To all my bodybuilders, crossfitters, strong women, powerlifters, powerbuilders, atheletes, gymrats, fitness models and fitness gurus... This post is for you. From all you natural and unnatural athletes, to the vegans and vegetarians,  keep doing what you are doing , what you are doing for your body takes discipline, it takes commitment and it takes a serious life choice.

This year I wish you the best success in all of your fitness goals.

Beyond that though I wish you this:

1: I wish you the ability to love your body in every form, from off-season and on season and accept the amazing things a female body can do

2: I wish you the utmost health, as some of the training is intense and excruciating

3: I wish social media is kind to you and accepts the muscles on a female is beautiful and takes commitment and regiment to get the strong bodies we work hard for.

4: I wish balance. I wish you all to be able too maintain the balance of life, work, relationships, and training into a better balance so you enjoy life just a little bit more so

5: I wish you compared yourself a little bit less to every other Instagram chick out there  (yes we all do and I know you have) and accept yourself and all that you have accomplished. Also remember as much as you wish to be someone else. Someone is staring at your page wishing to be you. Love who you are,  it's who you were meant to be.

6: I wish you talked a little bit less about the other people around you and focused a little bit more on your goals (we are all guilty of this).

7: I wish you focus on the ones around you and learn to get gratification from real-life people instead of living off followers and likes from strangers you have never met.

8: I wish that you stop letting social platforms determine and dictate your moods based on comments and instead embrace your accomplishments

9: I wish that you find an honest relationship with a significant other who values you more than the filtered Instagram models that you continuously compare yourself too

10: I wish you to be the same person you are in person, online and in different environments . Don't be afraid.

11:  I wish you The ability to hold and maintain motivation and the mental strength and power to endure the training.

12: I wish you positivity and a strong mindset to stop doubting yourself, your ability or your direction in life. You are doing just fine.

13: I wish you keep doing what you love and let no person, no financial situation and no obstacle stop you from success.

14: I wish you all the best.

Happy New Year. 2018 will be one for the books!! Xo

Bodybuilder's Really Aren't Assholes- New Years Tips for Newcomers and Seasoned Bodybuilders

For many of my fit and competitive friends and followers, we all dread the gym rush and population explosion within the gym for the next few months as New Years resolutions are made and newcomers of every shape and size join the gym environment to jumpstart on their new fitness journeys.  As much as many of us may dread the overcrowded gyms for the time being, I am asking everyone to remember your first time in the gym. The  intimidation factor, the lost look you had when exploring how to do each exercise without looking like an idiot, the hopelessness as you compared yourself to the surrounding athletes who have been seasoned in the gym for some time.

Do me a favor, do yourself a favor and welcome the newcomers in with open arms. The thing I hate hearing most as a personal trainer from my clients, is the fact that the gym Intimidated them because of the types of people working out and making comments to the newcomers at the gym.  I spend more time as a trainer helping people get into their comfort zone in the gym, than actually lifting due to the fact that they are terrified of being judged by others.

If someone asks how to use a machine,  take a minute and show them how to use it properly. The overweight person on the cardio equipment? Strike up a quick conversation and offer some inghtful advice to help them stay motivated throughout the year.  The bodybuilding community has a very gray reputation, as some of us are known as motivators and inspirational drivers, others are known as douchbags and ego lifters. Let's keep the positive vibes within the community and show the gyms and people within the community that bodybuilders and fitness gurus are loving, caring and helpful people.

To the current gym athletes - Don't be a stuck up asshole. Don't ego lift or mean mug just to intimidate new members, who knows one day you could be on stage next to them.

For those of you starting your new years with a lack of direction,  here are a few simple tools to get you started:

- Create a goal each week and stick to it. So if your goal is to lift 3 days and do 2 rounds of cardio, keep yourself accountable.  The first few weeks are the most challenging, but if you stay consistent and on a routine your body will adapt and changes will begin to happen

- Find accountability.  If you have some additional money, invest in a personal trainer. They will help you reach your goals faster, help you stay accountable and give you workouts to follow on your own. A nutrition coach also is a wise investment if you have the money, shoot me a message if you need a referral for some great coaches to work with.

- Clean out temptation.  Rid your home of anything that will tempt you from diet destruction. Any foods that can trigger a binge or ruin your diet throw them away.

- Invest in quality supplements and vitamins.  Protein, preworkout, creatine,  Bcaa's and vitamins are essential to helping your body reach the goals (see my blog post on Titan Nutrition) for a detailed description of what each supplement does. Click here to explore, order and sample Titan Nutrion Supplements. They are the only company I use and trust to reach my goals. Use discount code SHANNON for 20% off your entire order.

- Don't give up. Change takes time, consistency and patience.

You Asked, I Answered...

I have had  an outpour of responses from both Instagram and Facebook with certain curiosities about my training.  Here are

some of the most common questions I was asked.

What Carb Ratio Balance do you balance with in your off-season? - A.W.

I don't follow a particular carb ratio balance. Each season fluctuates my carb intake. Currently I am at 70g of carbohydrates a day. 30g with meal 1 and 20g pre workout followed by 20g post workout. My  coach typically plays around  with my carbs throughout the season. I have a very sensitive reaction to carbs so minimal carbs work best for me in order for me to grow each season.

How Old Are You? What's Your Diet? - R.M

Currently,  I am 25 years old, my diet consists of lean proteins like chicken and Turkey. Lots of green vegetable, rice and oats, eggs both whole eggs and egg whites. Whey isolate protein and natural peanut butter. I eat the same types of food year round, however my portions, the number of meals and how I eat them changes.

How Do You Train to get big round shoulders like yours? -P.L

Train with Intensity and Cut off all distractions.

This is my current shoulder workout:
-Seated DB Shoulder Press: 25lb-2x12, 35-1x8, 45lb-1x8, 55lb- 1x8, 65lb-1x8, 75lb- 1x8
- Seated Front Raises: 25lb- 5x10
-Seated Lateral Raises: 25lb- 5x10
- Kettlebell Swings: 25lb- 3x15
- Single Arm Shoulder Press: 35lb-5x8 (each side)
- Row Grip Pull-Ups: 3x10
- Shoulder Press Machine: Dropset- 120lb x8, 100lb x10, 80lb x12, 60lb x15, 40x until failure
- Single Arm Cable Front Raises: 1 set-Burnouts Each Arm 25lb
- Single Arm Cable Lateral Raises: 1 set-Burnouts Each Arm 25lb
- Cable Crossovers: 45lb- 5x25


Is it Tough Dealing with the Stereotypes (Feminine and Pretty)? Do You Even Acknowledge Stereotypes?  - A.M.

After having a larger amount of muscle mass for sometime I am much more comfortable with accepting that I am different than the typical stereotype female. I still maintain a feminine look (although some might disagree) and have already accepted that I will never look like the standard stereotypical female and I am okay with that. I am happy with what I have achieved. My fiance loves me and supports me, I have an amazing team at War Room Nutrition that help push me to my limits and my amazing sister, brother-in-law, and friends who stand by my side and that's all that I care about in regards to opinions.

High Volume Training Vs. Low Volume High Intensity?  When to Switch? - G.W.

During my off-season my current training involves all high volume training 6 days a week. I train each muscle isolated, so I have a solid recovery time between each muscle group before I train again.  This helps me build strength and grow my muscles . During my prep season I always train with low volume and high intensity, I am not looking to increase my strength during my prep season so maintaining my muscles shape and fullness is ideal. Low Volume with high intensity for me carves out detail, prevents injuries and ensures the best development of muacle shape

 Can the same Nutrition plan be implemented for various types of people? - V.B

I am not an expert by any means when it comes to diet and nutrition. Yes, I am educated in nutrition and do online coaching.  However each individual is different and different bodies with different goals require different types of nutritional guidance. So the answer is No, each individual will require a nutritional plan catered to their needs, it could mean the difference of 10g of carbs, etc.  each individual responds uniquely to different types of programs.  That is why it is crucial for competitors to stick with the same coach throughout each season, as your body adapts and changes with your program plan, your coach is able to analyze how your body has responded through the changes and can create beneficial changes as time goes on.

What are your weak points of your Physique? - J.Q

Competitors are always trying to progress but never perfect. My weak areas are my hamstrings and glutes so I train legs twice a week in order to maximize my progress during off-season.


Do You ever eat unhealthy? 

Bodybuilders are regular people too. We have food cravings, cheat meals, and even full-on guilty binges. It's part of life, part of being human. We eat like shit on occassion We crave sweets and carb-laden foods. The difference though between a bodybuilder and a normal person is that we have a limit. We know when its time to diet and restrict are caloric intake and we can do it with a flick of a switch.

My cravings typically involve gummy candy. Let me tell you something, I can eat the shit out of candy. Like $30 worth of gummy worms in under ten mins.

Curious about your workout schedule in all aspects, and kind of related, can anyone get your physique if they put in the work, or is it genetics that make a bodybuilders physique? - M.M.

There is a misconception about training as a bodybuilder that many people have a hard time believing. I'm going to say this as easily as possible.

My workouts are very simple and boring. I do not do crazy workouts or intrinsic type movements. I train hard  and as long as my body can handle. I eat to perform and refeed when I am told to.

My life is very routine and regimented and I live off schedules and routine.  I will say this. My training style involves isolating single muscle groups each workout. It seems to work best for my body and I have had the best success  for overall growth and strength with isolated training.  This may be not  work  best for your body...remember everyone is different.

My current training looks a lot like this:

Sunday: Cardio and Leg Day with Coach Bill Tocco
Monday:  Cardio and Rest Day
Tuesday: Cardio and Back
Wednesday: HIIT and Legs - Hamstring Dominant
Thursday: Cardio and Arms (Both Biceps and Triceps)
Friday: Cardio and Shoulders and Abs
Saturday: Cardio and  Chest with Coach Bill Tocco

My training during off-season involves a ton of supersets with heavy weights.

For example for legs I'll squat 315 for 6-8 reps then superset with weighted walking lunges or Bulgarians. I'll take a nice 2 min break in between and repeat 3 times and then increase weight and continue with working sets until my form gets sloppy.

I 100% believe that anybody can get to the level of a competitors physique as long as they have the time commitment, financial stability and overall goal to step into that lifestyle.  Routine is very crucial to develop a substantial physique so as long as the key elements of training, diet, and rest all line up and are consistent daily along with proper guidance, anybody can get to the physique level that they wish to obtain.  

You Wouldn't Look So Bad If You Cut Off Your Arms

So I'm  sitting here on Sunday night with my family feeling blessed to have so many amazing opportunities up and coming in my life and I happen to see a fresh comment on a social media platform bashing me, my physique and telling me that I look like a man. They also went on to state that I wouldn't look so bad if my arms were cut off but my face still looked like a chipmunk.

Now imagine for a moment that you are in my situation. Imagine all your insecurities are surfaced fro m one social comment and from that one comment every good mood and mindset has just been ruined. That is what happened to me. My mindset and mentality just got crushed.

I think I mentioned before how as a female who packs on a large amount of muscle, I already am self conscious at times about my size and manliness qualities. However as it takes me months to learn to love and accept myself. One moment ruins all the progress. I'm not writing this as a pity party and to shower me with compliments.

I'm writing to make myself accountable. Yes I publicly post photos of myself on social media and yes it does allow anyone on the internet to comment their opinion. It's a comment, as much as it pains me to read from a stranger who knows nothing of my struggles they are entitled to their own words and opinions.

This sport as I have said before and I will say it again has allowed me to recognize how social media and society determines beauty standard and it's absolute bullshit.
I love being different. We each are and as much as one person can bring me down, I'll get back up- Keeping kicking ass and doing my shit.

Thanks for reading my venting blog xo

Shannon

Post Show Truths for a Bulimic and Alleviating the Self Hate

WARNING: This blog post contains triggering words and predicaments that may create triggers for those struggling with eating disorders, please be advised when reading.

"You Are Not Fat.  You Have Fat.  Also, You Have Fingernails, But You Are Not Fingernails".

Post Show has definitely set in for myself and I am feeling the pressure of remaining lean and at a maintainable weight as well as fighting constantly with my bulimic behaviors.  Some days I think to myself "Screw it I will just get fat and Kyle will still love me,"  I know its pathetic but I also want to enlighten you for a moment as those who have never competed or struggled with an eating disorder understand how the mindset of someone like us works.

Having an eating disorder at such a young age and finding bodybuilding to help alleviate and save me from the destructive behavior has been a blessing and also a mentally draining mind fxck as well. Basically because the eating disorder behaviors never go away they just are reconfigured into whatever hobby is taking more control over your life.  Having an eating disorder is a job, you struggle day in and day out with self hate and letting food and numbers determine your self worth and happiness.  The relationship is a challenging yet comforting one for those of us who deal with eating disorders.  Food is continually separated into categories of "good foods/ safe foods" and "bad foods/fat foods"  Basically the deeper you get into the eating disorder the safe food list grows smaller and more restrictive and the bad foods list grows longer and longer.  The calorie counting, weight on the scale, sizes of clothing are all seen as numbers and basically determine your worth when struggling with an eating disorder.  The smaller the number the better you are; remember this is the inside thoughts of myself and those struggling with eating disorders, not thoughts within normal society.  As I moved my eating disorder tendencies into the sport of bodybuilding I realized that although the sport is consumed by food and exercise it is a way that is more routine and regimented.  Weight still plays a large part in the sport and so does calorie and dietary restrictions, however for me it was a much safer way to enjoy my life and be able to develop a better body confidence.


Many of you read my blog post about struggling with my bulimia nervosa, but now that I am post show and going through the holiday season it gets rough.  I apologize now to any of you who get triggered by anything I am about to describe.  Post show for me is the worst, the mirror becomes my sanctuary and biggest truth for me.  4X daily (at least) I am checking to see if my abdominal muscles are still visible, I stress over my weight and make sure I am still maintaining a reasonable off season number and I also try as hard as possible to stay within the reverse diet that my coach gives to me.  It is a tedious and mentally draining process.  As the numbers on the scale fill up, I feel like a complete failure as an athlete, person and competitor.  I pinch and prod my skin and it begins to fill back out with water and fat.  I do a lot more crying then I need to and I begin to feel ashamed of myself.  Again, this is all part of my eating disorder and my post show mental state.  I also hate myself for craving food that I so desperately want to eat but know that I shouldn't because it is not on my off season reverse diet.

Another problem that I want to bring up for me personally is that typically I begin my preps much sooner and they are much longer then a standard competitor.  As many competitors diet anywhere between 12-18 weeks, my preps typically are 25+ weeks.   This is both because (1) I tend to hold more fat in my off season and (2) I am genetically blessed to have a very good amount of natural muscle that we attempt to hang onto, so doing a much longer prep allows me to conserve much more muscle . I am allowed refeed meals, however they are very controlled during prep season as my coach and I always plan out what I will be eating for each meal. As for post show I try and find balance, and I am going to be honest with you, dieting and restricting for that long, for basically anyone, but especially someone like myself struggling with bulimia, a binge and purge episode is fairly common for myself post show.  Basically without getting to graphic, anything that I am craving throughout that day I consume massive amounts of it to the point where I am uncomfortable and then forcibly allow myself to purge (vomit) the excessive amount of food out and aid the rest using laxatives.  Typically after about two binge and purge episodes my body feels like shit, I am mentally and physically drained and I am emotionally tapped out.  I understand 100% this is not normal, I also have seen multiple therapists as well as rehabilitation services however, eating disorders are a challenging addiction to overcome.  Unlike a person addicted to drugs, a person with an eating disorder has to eat to live.  When you are addicted to drugs you can put the drugs in a box and hide them away (metaphorically), when you are addicted to food, you cannot avoid food, you have to eat to live.

This Photo was 2 weeks post show 3 days after a binge.
I thought this photo showed my fat rolls, my leg fat, my sloppy extension
placement and all around I hated this photo.  However, I wanted to post
this to show you the distorted way that my mental state can get as I come off of a show.
Sitting here two weeks later, I am not completely disappointed in this photo but still trying to
accept it. 

I have accepted that I had a relapse in my recovery this past month and I have made it a very hard attempt to try harder as I recover and accept that everyone has their struggles.  Life is full of struggles and temptations, up and downs. How we as humans utilize those experiences and overcome from our struggles to create triumphs is what make us grow as individuals.

Kyle, thank you so much for remaining supportive through my self hate moments and helping me get my mindset back into a more focused and controlled state.  Thank you for loving me in every state my body is in and reminding me that in order to be a champion I must embrace every process of my body and just ooze the confidence that you know I have.

To everyone who took the time to read another personal excerpt
from my life.  Thank you for listening.  I hope this opens you up to the realization that we all struggle and we all make mistakes and have to try harder with each attempt in order to grow. Please reach out if have any questions I will attempt to respond to each of you.

Tips for Surviving the Holidays...

As the holidays are here and for many of us competitors and athletes it's a time to relax and begin an off-season of growth and development to begin conditioning for the next season. I know for some of us it also can be terrifyingly overwhelming to have the freedom to choose what to eat.

I have heard time and time again about the fear of freedom and I am definitely one that also deals with that fear. I have to say though, this is the first year I have come to terms with the holiday festivities and learning what the true meaning of balance and living is all about.

As many of us dedicated athletes and competitors we sacrifice a ton to progress in our passions. We give up holidays, family gatherings, delicious food and other activities in order to be successful in our goals. This is the time to enjoy. I have said it time and time again but we have one life, we all deserve to have a passion and dream but we also cannot forget the people in our lives who have helped make it all possible. Today and for the next month (at least) should be a time to find balance and accommodation to be able to spend the moments with family and enjoying the balance of food and festivities. It is possible to go through the holidays without gaining weight, it is possible to enjoy yourself without full out bingeing.

Make it a point this Holiday season to give back the time you sacrificed with your family. A few tips that I try to keep in mind:

- Keep your diet and food talk to a minimum, unless someone asks , keep to yourself about it.

- Have a normal breakfast and try to eat as normally as possible, utilize the main holiday meal as you would for a refeed day, personally I typically add in an additional 30g protein shake during the day and one pre refeed meal as well to ensure I am getting my protein in for the day.

- Remember one day of eating of your diet won't harm your body in the slightest, you may have a bit of weight gain the next day but it will normalize again within a few days.

- Stay hydrated. Keep your water intake the same or even higher throughout the day.

- If you can get a quick lift in or a half hour of cardio in that day, take advantage of it.

- Enjoy yourself and do not have the slightest bit of guilt enjoying your day. You deserve this.

- Remember the Stage will always be there, your family will not. Remain Greatful and Blessed.

- Remain Thankful and Blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

What Do I Eat? Why Titan Nutrition...

A bodybuilders diet is pretty routine and regimented.  As I mentioned in a previous blog post, each competitor has different seasons, their off season and on season.  For myself and many others, we don't necessarily stop dieting when our season is over, we start by reverse dieting, to integrate our water and carbohydrate levels back to normal and from there we typically will follow a pretty routine diet through off season with weekly cheat meals to allow for a bit of balance.  I also am very regimented with my supplemental intake as well.   I am very adamant  about Titan Nutrition products after being introduced to them while living in Manhattan, KS. I loved the moral and ethical standards of the company, the clean ingredients, the company who cares about the consumers and overall ingredients that they put into the product.  I have noticed significant improvements in my physique since switching over to them and I highly recommend them to anyone who is willing to make a switch.  I promise once you go to Titan you wont want any other brand.


Throughout the day on my off season here are some of the essentials I take.

- Titan Nutrition Multi-Vitamin : Contains horomone support for females and prostate support for males, includes 2000 IU of Vitamin D for calcium absorption, zinc, magnesium, antioxidant blends, digestive enzymes.  This is essential in helping peak performance and ensure your body is getting adequate vitamins and minerals that your body may not be getting enough of.  I take 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules at night.

-Titan Nutrition Micronized Creatine 5g: If you are competing then you know how essential creatine is, I prefer Titan because its Pharm grade and one of the cleanest qualities that you can get. Creatine reduces the amount of protein breakdown and increases the size of muscles by pulling water in with along with nutrients for improved function and recovery.  5 g once a day, I like to mix mine with my morning shake, since I have a tendency to forget to take it.

-1tbsp of Sugarfree Metamucil - This helps keep my digestion regulated through every stage of prep, adding in essential fiber, it helps lower blood pressure, and regulates glycemic control.

-1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar - Click here to read, ACV has an endless list of benefits to the body both internally and externally.  Offseason I have ACV 2 a day, once in the morning and once at night.

- Titan Nutrition Whey Isolate Protein - Isolate contains minimal carbs and fats and this particular brand contains a protease enzyme which is added for absorption and anabolic activity.  This is also the fastest absorbing protein which allows large amounts of aminos to be shuttled directly into the muscle tissue and stimulates longer states of protein synthesis.  Isolate also increase nitrogen retention, greater cell volume and better muscle recovery.  I typically have 3-4 shakes throughout the day.

-Titan Nutrition BCAA's - Freeform BCAA's that get directly into the bloodstream.  It has a ratio of 2:1:1 of leucine, isoleucine and valine.  These aminos are shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and prevent muscle breakdown during training. I typically try and drink these throughout the day.   

- Titan Nutrition Kre-Ex Pre-Workout - Everyone has their own brand of preworkout they prefer, if you are looking to try something new, give this one a try. Branched chain amino acids, creatine, Amazing energy and kept me clear and focused for my entire workout.  Contains every enzyme, amino and energy that you need to have a full blown pump workout.  Click on the link for full composition of product.  I take this 30 mins before my lifting workout for the day.

-Titan Nutrition Activ8:  I take this in replace of coffee in the morning sometimes in order to start my day.  Gives me energy that is able to be maintained throughout the day without the crash, very mild and not overwhelming, also can be used as a preworkout for those who have a lower tolerance to preworkouts. Anytime I need an energy boost throughout the day, I just give a quick chug of this.


-Titan Nutrition Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin : This is essential during my offseason.  It helps replenish my glycogen levels after my workout and provided my muscles with sustained energy and fat burning energy throughout the rest of my day.  I take this as an intra-workout with water.

Food Intake:

I work directly with my Bill Tocco, of War Room Nutrition for both my on season and off season diet.  Although I can say that most of us have a staple of eggs, chicken, rice, oats and some other essential vegetables and foods, each individual is different.  Some individuals require many more carbs and protein on their off-seasons while others require less.


If you are waiting to for a sign to get your ass into shape for the new years, or have a goal for the 2018 bikini season, now is your sign.  Shoot me a message and I will make sure you get the best deals in order to reach your goals. 

For all of my blog readers for a limited time: Try any of the Titan Nutrition Products now for 20% off with my discount code SHANNON.

What You See Is Not What It Is All Cracked Up To Be...

Envious, comparisons and competition are all intertwined among the sport of bodybuilding.  I think that a lot of individuals do not realize is that what is seen among social media are illusions (as I like to call them) everything is masked and filtered to some extent.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, we are all vulnerable when posting publicly to a social media platform.  

The sport of bodybuilding is a process.  You have to embrace every stage of the process, that is how it is possible to develop in a well seasoned athlete. This means you have to gain weight and body fat, a body type in which is commonly referred to as "fluffy" in the bodybuilding world.  Then we have our dieting phase as we begin to lean out and cut the additional body weight and fluff off, and finally we have our stage ready and stage lean body.  The process of the sport is a cycle and each phase needs to be hit in order to improve each season.  Many competitors and individuals on social media fail to show each area of prep and creates an illusion for others that it is possible to have a stage lean body all year. For some, yes, I have seen it possible, but for the majority of us competitors we get heavier, stronger and our body composition changes for each stage of prep.  

This weekend I had two photo shoots (I will post photos later).   When you flip open a page and see a model; the media needs to realize that these individuals do not look like this year round.  Dieting, water depletion, exercise and a whole lot of filtering and photo editing went in to make the photo flawless.  I am not by any means against posting photos of yourself in the best light, I am only writing this to make others aware that models, competitors and myself do not look shredded and flawless all year round. Everyone is human, we all enjoy our lives once in awhile. 

When people tell me that they - "Want my body" or " I want your muscles" I always reply the same way, "WANTING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE, IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF THE PERSON YOU WERE MEANT TO BE."  You are just as important niche in society as I am, we are all equal and make up the constant ebb and flow of how society functions, we need each other regardless if you believe that or not.  

In my bodybuilding journey I try to post as much as I can throughout my progress and transitions through each stage of my prep.  I write this now as I preparing myself to transition into my off season bulking stage. Being accepting and learning that your clothes are going to be a bit more snug, your ass a bit bigger, and your strength a hell of a lot stronger is the off-season acceptance that I enjoy.  Kyle [Fiance] actually enjoys my off season more, he tells me he is able to actually lift heavy with me and not have to coddle me through workouts with baby weight.  My off season allows me to utilize my strengths, hit PR's (personal records) and keep building up my muscles to ensure I stay symmetrical for next prep season.  Each stage of prep is essential, off season is just as important as on season, off season is the only time you are able to really push and build your strength and muscles.

Thinking About Competing? What You Need To Know...

For those of you unfamiliar with competing or are contemplating doing a show I want to let you know a few insights about the costs and preparations that go into a show. The decision to compete is a large step for anyone.  To make that decision, firstly you have to understand that competing is a very individual and costly sport.  You must do most of the prep alone, and sacrifice most of your free time.  In order to be successful I have a few tips of my own that I would suggest, especially for the novice competitors for NPC (National Physique Committee) Organization, other organizations may vary: 

- Research and Interview your prep coach before you hire them: prepping is an expensive sport to begin with, you want to make sure that your coach is someone who will give you their time and are experienced in the industry. You also want to make sure you mesh well, if you don't feel comfortable with them, then do not waste your time.  You will be in constant contact with your coach for the next few months so it is crucial to feel 100% comfortable with your coach.  DO NOT HIRE the cheapest coach possible to save money- with the time and money you put into the sport you want to make sure that you get results from your coach. Prep coaches for a 12-16 week prep typically range from $800-$1500 but you can expect to pay more for longer preps, workouts, etc. 

- Show Registration and Organization Memberships:  Once you have chosen a show you need to purchase an NPC card.  These are a yearly membership card to be able to compete in NPC shows for the current year. The membership fee per year is currently $125.00.  Then once you get your card you can register for the show of your choice, show registrations range anywhere from $125-$400 depending on the type of shows that you do.  National shows are more.  NPC is a ladder that you basically work your way up.  Each competitor starts in the same place at a local National Qualifier show.  Once you place Top 2 in a National Qualifier show, you are then able to move onto national level shows.  There are Jr. Level National Shows and National Shows.  Jr Level National Shows allows the 1st place winner in every category to get their IFBB pro Card, a title that many NPC competitors aspire to be.  In National level shows, top 2 in every category get their IFBB pro cards. 

-Travel Arrangements: Most NPC shows require a mandatory check in and weigh in the night before the show and then the following day the actual show happens.  For national shows, the structure is a bit different.  However in any case, travel costs also need to be accounted for when competing.  Hotel accommodations, flights, car rental etc all need to be taken into consideration when looking into a show.   Those costs quickly add up as well so make sure you budget accordingly for travel.  For national shows expect to spend between $1000-$1500 on travel alone, unless you are lucky enough to live near the show.  

-Budget for food and supplements: Food and supplement costs can add up quickly.  As the staple ingredients for any prep diet is protein.  Expect to pay $80-$100 a week on fresh meat in order to obtain results that you need.  (This budget is estimated on a female competitor- male competitors can be more). Protein powder, vitamins, thermogenics, etc are all additional costs and I make a monthly budget for about $300 for my supplement costs during prep. 

-Food Prep: Food prep will become a ritualistic part of your week.  You will live out of Tupperware containers and I recommend investing in a portable cooler, sixpack bag, fitmark bag, etc.  Any sort of portable cooler to carry your meals around with you. I personally prep my food 3 times a week.  You will also need to invest in a good quality food scale to measure your food accurately.  It will become a norm to bring your food with you and it makes your prep much easier always having your food within reach so you can eat your meals consistently.  

-Time Management: Most competitors do fasted cardio daily during prep.  Expect to get up an hour or more earlier to get your fasted cardio in before you start your day.  Also expect to spend 1-2 hours at the gym to get your workouts in for the day and some athletes have additional PM cardio that they are required to do as well.  So daily on top of everything else you have going on, I would set aside at least 4 hours to spend on cardio and working out, also additional time to practice posing. You will have to give up family and friend outings, late nights and really structure out your day in order to be successful.  It is 100% possible to do a prep while working full time, etc.  I use to go to school full time, work full time and prepped and was able to successfully prep for each of my shows.  

-Gym Membership: If you don't have one, are you sure your ready to prep?   You need to have access to a gym and cardio equipment daily for the next 3-4 months.  Memberships range from $15-$50 monthly on average. (Standard gym estimates, not additional higher end gyms)

-Stage Clothing: Male competitors have a bit of a break on this one as their suits typically cost about $50.  Female suits are much more expensive.  Once you determine your category your going to compete in you need to order a suit.  Suits are typically ordered 8-10 weeks out depending on who you go through.  The suits are made to fit your body.  Suits are a touchy subject with some, suits needs to be appealing to the eye, match your complexion and also not be overly flashy that they take away from your physique.  I have seen suits from $80 all they up to $5000+ , on average for newer competitors I would expect to pay $400-$500 on a suit.  Many suits can be used again and again and altered, bedazzled, etc. Just make sure that the suit is good quality, the last thing that you want is to get a suit that breaks right before you go on stage (and yes I have seen that happen).  If you are unsure about how to go about this contact the company you are thinking about going through and they will walk you through the steps to send in your measurements, etc.  

-Tanning:  Every competitor male and female is required to get tanned before going on stage.  Tanning is typically done the night before the show as a base coat and the final coat is put on a few hours before show time.  You are also glossed up minutes before going on stage to accentuate your physique in the stage lighting.   I would highly recommend going with the tanning company that is sponsoring the show.  It not only is convenient, the company will offer touch-ups and help make sure your tan holds and looks its best the entire show day.  At least a week before show the skin needs to be prepped in a ph balancing soap to ensure your skin will hold the tan and it also avoids turning your skin green after tanning is applied.  Also it is recommended that you shave your entire body before you receive your base coat (yes I said entire body) this means back, ass, hands, arms, legs, stomach, anything that has hair, SHAVE IT.  I promise you it makes a hell of a difference when your tan sets.  The tanning company will also send you directions on how to prep your skin.  They also tell you not to use any skin products a day before your tan (i.e. lotion, deodorant, make-up) as this can mess with the ph of your skin.  Another crucial note.  Tanner stains clothing and sheets so you also need to make sure that you have shitty clothes that you don't mind getting ruined to where over your tans.  The clothing also should be light to prevent any sweating.  A sheet needs to purchased as well (especially if you are staying in a hotel) if you get tanner on the hotel sheets you will get charged a hotel cleaning fee.  So save yourself the struggle and get a sheet to avoid damage. A VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Once your tanner is on, hover above all and any toiler seats when you are going to the bathroom, you do not want a toilet ring around your ass when you are on stage, it is very hard to cover up.  Tanning for local shows typically run $130-$150 (which includes a base tan and final coat).

-Make Up and Hair: This is for the female competitors.  Your body is going to look its best so your face and hair need to as well.  If you have the confidence to do stage hair and make-up well, then by all means save yourself some money and do it.  If you are like me, who have no ability to do hair and make-up you need to hire a make-up artist or get a friend who has experience to do it for you.  Get your nails done or at least throw on some polish as well.  Nude nails with tanning stains on stage DO NOT look appealing.  Hair and make-up typically run about $130-$160 for a show additional $25-$35 for nails.  Another crucial tip when you choose a hairstyle, many females who where their hair down for stage forget to move their hair when they are posing for their back mandatory poses.  Make sure you move your hair, you are hiding your muscles behind your hair.  If the judges cant see your muscles then they cant judge you on them.  If you are someone like me who doesn't want to worry about covering my muscles up, get it done in an updo. 

-Posing: The most important part of any show.  You have worked so hard to get an amazing physique but now you have to make sure you present it well.  Many competitors make the mistake of not getting the proper practice with posing.  You only have about 45 secs on stage to amaze the judges.  If you do not have your posing nailed on stage it can potentially ruin your chances of placing.  Posing can make or break you, you need to make sure you are presenting your best package.  A posing coach will ensure that your muscles are shown in the right light.  Posing practice is a workout in itself and needs to be done regularly from the beginning of prep to the end of prep.  A decent posing costs anywhere from $30-$50 a session, most will do packages.  Some coaches are qualified to practice posing with their athletes so if your coach does, that is a great way to save you money.  For bodybuilders, physique competitors, and fitness competitors, you have a mandatory routine that has to be presented during finals along with your mandatory poses.  So that is also an additional practice that has to be done to a set of music.  So all I can remind you to do is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!! 

-Stage Presence: Along with posing, when you are onstage your stage presence and mannerism also gets noticed.  Make sure you smile and wave at the audience, smile at the judges and smile the entire time you are onstage.  Hold confidence and breathe.  Typically the stage lights are so bright it is very hard to see the audience so your nerves typically will calm down when you realize you cant see anyone besides the judges when you are on stage. 

-Post Show and Reverse Dieting: Typically post show people eat whatever they have been craving.  It is an exciting time for pretty much all competitors.  The problem is, if you are not working with a coach post show and do not reverse diet you will definitely experience the rebound quite quickly .  Your body has been deprived for so long of certain foods and loading them up day after day without slowly incorporating them back in can be detrimental to your health and mentality.  Many competitors coming off their first show can put upward of 30+ pounds in a few days.  Please make sure you work with someone to reverse diet, you will feel so much better and your body will be so much healthier reverse dieting the proper way.  Click here to read more about post show binging and the detrimental affects it has on the body. 


So as you can see competing is costly and there is a lot of additional things that go into prep.  Once you make the decision make sure you stick with it, budget yourself and enjoy the process.  The above is just my personal input on the sport, other individuals preps may vary.  Good luck in your fitness journey!

Your Muscles are Gross.

Social media is a vulnerable space for individuals posting to it...Think about it, we post moments in our life that may or may not be appealing to others in order to show others a little glimpse into our daily lives. As a person who enjoys motivating and inspiring others, I pride myself in being able to share my bodybuilding journey with my followers. It helps connect myself with the audience and also allows the audience to realize that I'm just a normal, struggling human being trying to find my place in this world.

Being an extremely muscular female makes me stand out a bit in public and on social media. It also unfortunately makes me a much larger target for social media trolls. Since I stepped into the competition circuit I have received emails, messages and comments weekly telling me how disgusting I look, how I'll never have a man to love me , how I destroyed my femininity, etc.  As much as I say it doesn't bother me. It does. Everytime it hurts. It makes me look at myself differently and I begin to doubt my successes and focus on my faults and flaws.  After getting so many, I decided to screenshot some of them so people who unaware of what us females go through, understand it is common for many of us. 

How do I get through it? Kyle [fiance] plays a large part in keeping me successful and motivated. He constantly reminds me of how far I have come and how far I still have to go. Sometimes he has to force me to take a step back to look at where I started from and I am so very blessed to have someone who is so supportive of me.  I think the hardest part for him, being my significant other, is to not say anything to ignite the trollers and agitate them more.  I do not give in or comment back to people who make negative comments, mostly I leave them up and just let others read what people have written.  I dont want to hide different aspects of my life to glamorize it, I keep everything open and public because I believe that you all deserve to know what I deal with.

What I have found it as I deal with social media more and more is to become neutral to everything that is said to me and about me.  Everything that is said should be taken as a plain set of words, take it in as a neutral comment.  Not taken as a negative or a positive.  From there, I am able to determine if I will let the words/comments affect me.  I have a choice a to let it negatively or positively affect me.  Letting people have power over my thoughts and actions will not allow me to move ahead and be successful in my life.  In order to move ahead I need to directionalize everything said to me or about me in a way that will allow me to only move forward and grow as a person.

I know damn well that I am not the only female who deals with this.  All I can tell you is DO NOT LET IT BRING YOU DOWN.  Don't let it ruin you or destroy your passion because as much as their are useless turds around making people feel like shit about themselves.  There are ten times more people cheering you on.

Good Vibes and Love.

Shan

I have Bulimia Nervosa and Yes, I am a Bodybuilder.

I am very open to all of my followers, clients and friends about my eating disorder.  I have struggled since the age of 9 with bulimia nervosa.  After endless amounts of therapy, hospitalization and doctors appointments that did not help me overcome my eating disorder, I reverted to my own personal mental strength to suppress and find another outlet in hopes to help reduce my illness.

From a young age I always had self-esteem and body issues.  From the age of 6 on I was dieting and exercising in attempts to alter my body into a way that would would make me happy.  I can tell you that losing weight does not make you more happy when you have an eating disorder, it only reverts your behaviors even worse.  By the age of 13, I was bingeing and purging 16-18 times a day, and as a result of that I now have 8 ulcers in my esophagus (that eventually will require surgery).  When I started high school, I reverted into even worse behaviors I joined the high school cross country team and right away my cross country coach told me in order to be faster I needed to be thinner and again I dieted even harder, I over trained my body to an extreme, logging 15+ miles a day in order to compensate for the constant bingeing. After 4 long continuous years of fighting with my eating disorder it finally took a toll on my body.  My senior year of high school I broke my leg, immediately ending my running career.  I broke my leg in gym class, my bones were so weak and lacked the essential nutrients that I wasn't letting my body absorb, after that I fell into clinical depression. 

For months I crutched around in a cast thinking of ways that I could start running again.  My parents had a pool and occasionally I would slip the cast off and get some mobility into my leg but it wasn't the same. I was barely eating because I feared getting fat because I wasn't exercising.  By the time the cast came off 8 weeks later my muscle had atrophied tremendously.  Visualize a toothpick and a tree trunk, that's how my legs looked.  Immediately, I joined a local Snap Fitness down the road from my parents and began regularly lifting weights to try and put the muscle back onto my toothpick leg.   My body image now was extremely low, I thought I looked like a freak.  I covered my entire body in layers and layers of clothes to compensate my symmetry.  I feared being judged and criticized and more than anything I wanted my legs back to normal.

The longer I lifted at the gym though, the more I became aware of just how much my body was capable of.  I quickly put my muscle back on but even more so I began to enjoy lifting and seeing how heavy I was able to lift.  Soon I began looking into bodybuilding and about 1 year after my injury I decided I wanted to do a bodybuilding show.  There was only one problem, I was going to have an issue following a diet and keeping food down.

The trainer I worked with started me out with a very simple IIFYM diet.  The first three weeks were hell.  I struggled to keep food down, I cried and prodded my body daily.  There were nights I would sit in front of the mirror with scissors in my hands contemplating whether to just cut all the fat off my body.  Then something amazing happened, my body started reacting to the diet and reshaping my body.  I was losing weight while eating and I was eating a good amount of food.  3 weeks into my diet I stopped vomiting.  I did a 12 week prep for my first show and through the first prep I had 3 episodes with my bulimia.  3! Compared to 16-18 daily, that was a hell of an improvement for me.

However, my trainer at the time, was not knowledgeable about reverse dieting so after my show I ate everything in sight.  I gained I believe 20lbs in a 36 hour span.  Now I do think that every bodybuilder goes through the initial post show binge after their first show, then slowly they begin to learn how to integrate reverse dieting back into their regimen in order to stay healthy.   It was at that moment, stepping on the scale post show binge that I realized that in order to keep my bulimia repressed I needed a goal and I needed a solid diet with direction.

My Current and Permanent Coach, Bill Tocco of War Room Nutrition, has done a hell of a job with me to say the least.  Bill works with me both on season and off season and gives me particular meal plans that I need to follow.  My refeed meals are planned and executed to prevent binges and overeating and has helped me mentality as I continue to grow as a person.  Now having the bodybuilder mentality and having far and less frequent bulimic episodes, in order for me to be successful in this sport the food has to stay in and I have to eat the exact amounts given.  The regimen and routine has made me successful in both my recovery for my eating disorder as well as in the bodybuilding world as a Women's Physique competitor. 

I have also learned successful tools to help me during my preps in order to not sabotage the work I have put in.  During prep season, anytime I am triggered and have an urge to binge I drink a ton of water.  I just start chugging water until my stomach is so full I cant physically put anything else into my mouth.  If I am able to have vegetables I eat those.  I chew gum.  I avoid any foods that are triggering and keep only prep safe foods in my house and fridge at all times.  If Kyle {fiance} wants something to eat thats not on my diet he hides it in the house or makes sure that he eats it away from me.  For off-season prep I am able to be a little bit more relaxed and I make a ton of sugar free jello and keep that on hand.  I make a super thick protein shake, something dessert flavored like Titan Nutrition's Chocolate Crave (Use Discount Code SHANNON for 20% off to give it a try).  I also freeze my protein and mix it with natural peanut butter to give it an ice cream consistency.  Those are my few simple tricks that will work for not only people struggling with eating disorders but also for you who struggle with food cravings during your seasons.

I will say that the longer I compete in this sport, the more comfortable I become with my own body.  The more proud I am to see how far I have come and how much further I can go.   One day I will be an IFBB Pro.  I want to be able to look back at where I came from and where I am at that time and be proud that I made it.

Now I am not going to lie to you and say that everyday is awesome.  Everyday my eating disorder is in my head and everyday I have negative thoughts.  However, visualizing my goal and where I want to be helps me keep my head on right.  I can't say that I will never have another bulimic episode, but the further and fewer times that they occur, the better that it will be for me.

Thanks for reading my very personal blog tonight.  xo

If you need help or know someone who is struggling visit NEDA. They are a excellent organization to help you help yourself or someone you know struggling to get the help that they need.

Countdown to Western's and Q's & A's Curiosity...

Counting Down the Days...

Hello Again!

So counting down again the days until I step onstage, currently sitting at 12 days out. My teammate, Tommy Stiles (far right) and I, both part of War Room Nutrition, are competing in the NPC Western Michigan's in Grand Rapids, MI on November 4th.  I can't say enough things about my team, for those of you who do compete and have a team, you understand how crucial it is to have those teammates to relate to as you push through your prep. I can honestly say that my team is my second family, filled with IFBB pros, UFE World Champs, Nationally Qualified NPC Amateurs, and amateur competitors who are determined as f**k.  We all feed off each other and build up our strengths and help each other improve our weaknesses.  Bill Tocco (middle) our amazing coach has such a passion for the sport and his athletes and ensures that with each prep we complete are conditioning has improved even more than our previous season.

As I came out from my last prep, I will tell you this- Bodybuilding is a sport that you continually grow with.  There is never a final product.  Each season you work harder to be better conditioned than the last. That is how you excel at the sport, it's never about your competition, it;s only about your personal growth within the sport - This is my mentality 100% for the sport of bodybuilding.  The minute I get my stage pictures I begin picking apart what I need to work on and improve for the next round.  Do not be misguided, I am very pleased with the package I brought to the stage, but there will always be room for improvements.  The body is a piece of art that is constantly changing, the iron and diet are the tools that us bodybuilders use to carve our sculpture [body] to the best conditioning that it can be for that particular moment in time.  Then as time passes, we carve it again and the sculpture changes and yet again we look for room to improve.  Its a cycle , its part of the sport and part of the process. Its tedious, repetitive and an absolute blessing for me to have discovered this passion.

 Questions, Answers and Curiosity? 

So I have been blogging on and off now for a few months and I want to be able to cater to my audience a bit more in order to reach out and give some knowledgeable insight to my readers.

So my question to you is What Do You Want to Know About Me?  Do you want to know more about my personal life?  My diet?  My mental strengths and weaknesses?  My relationship with friends and family? My training mentality? My teammates and I's relationship? My sponsorship's? What I do when I am not training? I want to extend to you an insightful read about my life with questions that you may have regarding training, diet, struggles, etc.

Also, as my prep season has a few more weeks left in it and then I will be switching gears over to my off season program I will be posting some macro friendly recipes (Most are very protein dense FYI) that I enjoy while outside of prep along with some of my workout routines and regimens.  So again, if there is any curiosity about my workout exercises, etc?  Now is the time to ask and I will share with you my personal training workouts and regimens with you.

Comment below on this blog and I will compile the questions into a new blog post later on in the week for your reading pleasure! I look forward to seeing what everyone is curious about!

Post Show and Getting the Mindset ready for Next Show

Post Show day for me! For those of you who have not been following me I won the NPC Central States Women's Physique Open last night in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  I have another show in two weeks, however after dieting for so long my coach was nice enough to give me a day off from dieting and allow me to splurge on what I want.  A lot of people ask, how can I control my cravings and how I don't overeat and start dieting again so quickly??

For me, post show day I honestly have a zillion cravings, but the truth is, the freedom is also terrifying.  You have so many choices and options to choose from but also knowing that another show is less than two weeks out keeps your mind in check. Typically what I do post show is hone on in a few things that I absolutely craving that I have not been able to enjoy the past 25 weeks.  Gummy candy and cereal is my go to! I also make sure to also to add lots of protein into my meals throughout the day.  Since I am always burnt out on energy post show I utilize Titan Nutrition's Whey Isolate Protein to get me the adequate amounts of protein I need without the hassle of cooking.  Energy Wise- Because I am so depleted and dehydrated from the show prep I also drink tons of water and use Titan Nutrition's Activ8 Metal Focus and Energy.  This stuff is great it can be used both as a preworkout or a caffeine boost throughout the day with 120 mg per serving. 

I also make sure to enjoy myself and relax.  Prep takes a beating to your body and mind.  I describe post show day as feeling basically hungover.  I am tired, have a massive headache, dehydrated and cramping like crazy- as I stated in all my previous posts.  I take everything day by day, its all part of the process and I absolutely would not change a thing about my lifestyle.   I typically do try and get out and move around a bit the day after my show, after getting some carbs in this morning, my fiance and I did hit the gym and do a light back workout and I did some light cardio - It is more mental than anything to keep my sane and focused to stay on track - however a warning to new competitors and even seasoned, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.  If you are not feeling it, do not push it, you have just pushed your body through death and it will take some time to recover. 

This week I will continue my focus, start up my diet again tomorrow and ready to bring in an even better conditioned package in two weeks ( a lot can change in two weeks with the body)!! Have a great week- I'll do a few more updates this week to keep you in the loop.

Products Mentioned in this blog can be found here.
To try out any products at a discount use coupon code : SHANNON for 20% off your order (a personal thank you gift to my readers)

Routine and Regimen, How To Get Started?

To achieve results for anything focus and consistency is key.  I tell my clients all the time that results don't happen overnight.  It takes weeks to notice and change and months for others to notice a change, however that is no reason to get discouraged or quit.  Each day that we put in effort we are one step closer to our goal.

4.5 Year Difference 

For competitors, like myself, it took me 4.5 years to begin to see a solid development in my physique.  Yes, you read that right, 4.5 years! I will say that everyday is definitely not easy but each day, knowing it pushed me closer to that IFBB stage it is totally worth it.  The body reacts best through consistency and routine, keeping things simple and regimented allows the body to adapt much more quickly to the nutrition and exercises that you are putting it through.

For individuals just starting out I always suggest start by tracking your food intake, download a calorie and macro tracking app such as My Fitness Pal.  This helps you become more aware of what you are eating throughout the day compared to your exercise output.  Another thing I always suggest is if you haven't already, get up and get moving.  For those who haven't engage in a type of cardiovascular activity yet, Challenge yourself to move 10 minutes a day, 3-4 times a week.  As you begin to progress increase your cardio time.  The excuse, "I do not have time" is not valid.  Like every other human on earth we all have obligations and commitments, in order to want to change you have to make yourself change, you have to find the time and make yourself commit.  As I stated previously, it will not be easy by any means, but it will be worth it.

I also tell people who are contemplating the idea of change is to first commit to a gym and a nutrition coach.  Utilizing both of these resources, not only will help you create change but you are paying for your progress, this means that in order to get results you have to follow directions by a professional individual who will ensure you get to the goal you want to be at.  This is definitely a gray area for some, as coaches and gyms can get expensive however, I can promise you this.  If you are unhappy with your body and results and you still need direction it is time to seriously start thinking about stepping up your commitment level and hire a professional, most also offer payment plans which helps out tremendously. 

Many of my female clients struggle  with their protein intake.  To fill in protein gaps and get the adequate amounts I always suggest to my clients to try a powder protein, I recommend Whey Isolate, as it is typically lower in carbohydrates and fats.  I recommend Titan Nutrition Whey Isolate, they have a variety of flavors at affordable prices.  If you are looking for additional supplement suggestions, feel free to browse the Titan Nutrition website, as they offer a variety of supplements for all your fitness goals.  Reach out to me with any questions you have, I would be happy to point you out some suggestions. 

http://www.titannutrition.net/ref/158

Starting any new fitness program or lifestyle change can be scary and exciting.  Before any program is initiated I strongly suggest that a full physical and check-up is done with your medical doctor.  Get blood work done as well, this will show you any nutritional gaps, medical issues/concerns, as well as your BMI, current weight, etc that is crucial to know before starting any program. 

Good Luck!!

Challenges

Peak Week - Ahh one week and one day away from my first show of the season.  Mixed emotions definitely as I try to hone in all my energy and focus to my final week and repress my current life stressors that are affecting my mental health. Besides the focus on diet and exercise, it is also crucial for non-competitors to understand that although us bodybuilders and athletes are committed to our sports and passions, we also have to make a living.  We all have jobs, deal with life stressors as well as have obstacles and life challenges that throw off focus as well.

Earlier this year some of my followers know that I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.  I was diagnosed with this about 11 weeks into my prep for the 2017 Jr. Nationals Show.  Right after I got diagnosed all the symptoms became very heightened and I dropped about 40 pounds in two weeks, with this happening I unfortunately had to pull from my show and focus on getting my health resituated before I could step on stage again.  This upcoming show next week is super important to me.  It allows me to prove to myself, that although challenges always have a way of greeting us through life, battling through them is what makes an individual stronger.

Some of you also know that originally I am from Michigan but moved down to Kansas to live with my fiancé for almost a year to help him through the Med-Board process from the US Army.  When I moved down to Kansas I left my job, my family and my home.  Although we are now back in Michigan, getting situated again is also deeming  a challenge.  Finding a personal training job has been tough, finding a home has been even tougher and through it all I still continue to prep for both of my upcoming shows.  I am not writing this for anyone to have sympathy, I am simply writing this to let everyone know that all of us, every human, has stressors and struggles.  Through life, through prep, etc.  It happens, part of being an athlete is how we are able to utilize that stress into a more counterproductive asset.

Although each of us may live different lives and lifestyles, we all have one thing in common, we are all just trying to get by and live our short lives in the vast universe.