The road to Nationals is more than just getting in the gym and working hard.  It takes preparation in all facets of your life… physical, mental, emotional, and financial.  During the 16 week training for Nationals I have really focused on three things:

 

1)      My physique which includes coming in hard and tight as well as focusing on the areas which the judges noted I needed to work on. 

2)      My diet, ensuring I have the correct balance between proteins, carbohydrates, supplements, vitamins, and hydration.

3)      My mindset.  Mental preparation is the most important part of getting ready for any competition, if you are not mentally ready your will not be able to physically prepare for anything, not just a competition. 

 

As I focus on the various body parts throughout the week I am not focusing on building size, I am focusing on getting tighter and harder.  I do not focus on what the scale says, but what the mirror is telling me.  Through posing and feedback from various coaches, I am able to identify which areas I need to work, which areas need to come out more, and/or which areas I need to maintain to continue the level of definition I currently have.  These techniques coupled with my diet are moving me closer and closer to my goals going into Nationals. 

 

Though various competitions and working with different individuals I have learned that diet is the most important part of the training process.  Each day I measure out of each of my meals to the ounce.  It is necessary to ensure that I stick to my routine and allocated meals to make certain I am burning and storing what I need to fuel my body.  My diet is not exciting, the same thing day in and day out, but I think of it as a means to an end, not to satisfy me as most think food should do. 

 

With regards to my mindset this is what will make me better or keep me where I am at. Mindset is your ability to mentally prepare and sustain including the capacity to personally motivate, achieve and succeed.  I have to keep focused on my goals, even on the hardest of days.  Having what Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset”  means I continue to monitor internally where you I am at, how I can get better, and how to ensure I exceed my personal expectations. 

 

Preparation for any competition is never easy.  Preparing for one of the biggest amateur competitions makes it even harder, but the hardest thing is exceeding the personal goals we each set for ourselves.  I look forward to ensuring that my work today greatly impacts my results tomorrow through physical, mental and emotional preparation.  I believe that with this focus the only person I have to fear is myself.

 

 

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