Back To The Drawing Board…How I Plan To Sculpt Myself For the Next Contest

glass-female-body-sculptureEvery time I step onstage I am acutely aware of what I bring, and my research on what needs improvement begins the day after the event, during which time I scrutinize my images to determine where to focus. I am CONSTANTLY punishing my gluteal region in an effort to make it as round, high, and tight as I can possibly manage despite my ever advancing age and the ravages of gravity. Unfortunately, my glutes began to deflate a few weeks ago, just in time for me to compete in two back to back events! It was frustrating to say the least.

I have already implemented a new regimen which should serve to plump up my rear view and lift everything up in time for my next competition. Another issue which I now struggle with is increasing deposition of fat in my inner thighs which makes my thighs look thick. This will be addressed with adjustments to my routine so that I can “run down” my legs a bit. Because I have been competing for a while, and because of my background as a trainer and coach, I know what I need to do to get myself dialed in. You had better believe the race is on to see how much I can accomplish and how quickly I can do it! Though I make my own adjustments, I do not recommend this to the average competitor. Invest in the advice and guidance of an experienced, practiced eye that can direct you to specifically correct or improve on weaker areas.

I honestly think it is important to always make a post-contest assessment, even if you get an overall win. You never know who will be at your next contest, so if you have an area which could use even the slightest bit of improvement, or if you need to make an adjustment on posing, suit color, or some other detail, make sure to address those issues in advance.

How I Select Pro Contests To Compete In

DJ ClassicYou might be wondering what process I go through to determine which IFBB Pro Bikini events I will prep for, especially since there are a whopping THIRTY-SIX Pro Bikini events slated for 2014. Eight of these contests are outside of the United States (Australia, New Zealand, Toronto, Finland, Slovakia, Korea, Mexico, Russia), and I would very much like to do two of them, provided that sponsors would be willing to send me to the locations I have chosen.

Aside from the international events, I have zero desire to travel via plane to get to the U.S. based contests. That is partially due to the fact that air travel is less enjoyable than ever before due to all the TSA regulations. I would much rather throw my stuff into my car and take a road trip to get to a destination that is a reasonable distance away. I did this two weeks in a row recently, driving to Phoenix, AZ the week before last (400 miles each way), and then to Sacramento, CA last week (also around 400 miles). Through this process of elimination I have omitted the majority of events on the list, including all East Coast events. This means that several contests on my to-do list will either be in California or Arizona.

No matter where you are on your competition journey, it is important to map out a schedule so that you can establish clear goal markers. You may consider criteria such as geographic distance, getting in front of certain judges, hitting masters’ divisions, or pursuing that Pro Card. In all but the rarest of cases, try to avoid jumping into an event at the last minute, because chances are, you won’t come in at your best. Sometimes you’ll hear about a particular contest being so well-run or so much fun that you want to do it almost solely for that reason. This is what happened for me in 2010 as an amateur at the NPC Emerald Cup in Washington. I ended up having a fantastic time and won a tiara along with my second place finish and trophy. You can do this, but make sure that it somehow keeps you moving forward towards your competitive goals.

Incrediwear Is Incredible!

downloadI have spent the last few days experiencing Incrediwear products, and I am blown away by them! The quality is exceptional and the technology is phenomenal. I give this company and its products my complete and enthusiastic endorsement, both as an athlete and as a physician.

Here is a great description of the technology, taken from the Incrediwear website:

Incrediwear Technology

What are anions?
Anions are negatively charged atoms that, when absorbed by the body, stimulates molecular vibration and circulation.

How does our product work?
When the body warms our unique carbonized charcoal and our carbonized charcoal/germanium products, they release anions.

What does this do for me?
Incredibraces and Incredisocks, due to the release of anions, are constantly therapeutic. Infrared anion technology has been used for years at medical clinics to address vascular and circulatory health, and professional athletes have slept in ionized environments since the 70s. The technology has been used by chiropractors and physical therapists to accelerate recovery—and it’s all thanks to anions.

How fast does it work?
Results have shown that most people who experience muscle or joint discomfort and try an Incredibrace feel a difference in 20 minutes, and sometimes sooner! Incredibraces have helped those with discomfort from sprains, arthritis, inflammation, cramps, and fatigue. Incredibrace wearers have reported a reduction in discomfort and an enhanced range of motion while walking, working, running, biking, dancing, competing in martial arts, lifting weights and even sleeping.

Do the socks work the same way?
Yes. The socks are also made from carbonized charcoal, and some have a mix of germanium in them. As your body heats the sock, it releases the therapeutic anions, resulting in increased circulation. Each garment is laser Doppler studied showing up to 17% increase in blood flow and blood speed. Increase blood flow can result in accelerated performance and recovery!

Is there anything else I should know?
The enhanced circulation results in more oxygen being supplied to local tissues. This, combined with the increase in blood flow, allows your body to regulate your temperature much easier, keeping you cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather, and even warm when the socks get wet! The natural fibers are antimicrobial and odor absorbing.

What does Germanium do?
Organic germanium is the subject of Dr. Asai’s book ‘Miracle Cure – Organic Germanium’—and for good reason. Germanium helps supply oxygen. Dr. Asai mentions that cells which are deficient in oxygen, in order to survive, begin glycolysis and turn anaerobic, meaning they no longer efficiently use oxygen. There are many factors which can lead to a reduced amount of oxygen in the blood including air pollution, food pollution, and the effects of stress. Dr. Asai states that germanium fuels a mechanism called the dehydrogenating reaction, which combines oxygen with hydrogen and supports cellular defenses

Benefits:
Increased blood flow and oxygen
Wick away moisture
Regulate temperature
Reduce swelling
Anti-microbial
Reduce pain
Supports improved range of motion
Accelerate muscle recovery with increase blood flow

Physical Properties:
High comfort 200 thread count (socks) 360 thread count (braces)
One-of-a-kind medical design
Patented technology
Quality 3D weave design
Anion emitting thread (braces)
Carbonized charcoal germanium thread (braces)

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE INCREDIWEAR WEBSITE:
http://www.buyincrediwear.com/

One Of My Client Transformations…Vegetarian Plan

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This is what happens when you take someone who had great genetics but hasn’t pushed it to the next level, and kick it up many notches to get her stage ready! The pic on the left was from August of last year…my client prepped for a contest in early December, ut circumstances beyond her control prevented her from competing at that time. She regrouped, picked a contest in late May, and I designed a new 12 week prep program, this time incorporating a vegetarian plan.

If you have dietary restrictions, such as certain food allergies or a preference for vegetarian, vegan, pescetarian, no fish, etc., I can accommodate you. My plans are always customized to fit your needs. Please go to http://www.cutcurves.com to view packages and pricing.

Daily Maintenance…On Your Body?

SN 2014-0303LH1762-XLpostI bet most of you keep up to date with scheduled maintenance on your vehicles in order to keep them running as smoothly as possible. I also know that many of you insist on using a certain brand or grade of gasoline to optimize your car’s performance. Do you take care of your body in the same way, putting healthy, nutritious food into your gullet every day? Do you exercise regularly? If the answer to either or both of those questions is no, then you are neglecting your body’s needs for optimal function, fitness and health. Over time, such bad habits have a cumulative effect and can manifest in countless diseases and dysfunctions, including potential killers like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Just as additives in gasoline can hinder the performance of a car, processed foods will interfere with optimal body functions, and your body must deal with breaking down, eliminating, or storing the chemicals found in packaged meats and other junk foods. The preservatives and artificial colors and flavors which are added to packaged foods trigger production of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules which damage the cells of the body and contribute to the development of cancer, atherosclerosis, and aging in general. In contrast, foods which are rich in antioxidants offset this harmful cascade. If your meals regularly consist of fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts, beans and lean meats, you will be filling your body with clean fuel, providing nutrients which will optimize your health.

Another important component of optimal daily body maintenance is regular exercise. If you can commit to a consistent exercise schedule (and you CAN), you will reap a myriad of benefits, including improved circulation, better cardiac output, improved muscle tone, better concentration, and more energy. Regular exercise can be compared to running the engine in your car regularly to keep the pistons and gears running smoothly. Your body is an amazing machine, and just like any machine, will begin to malfunction if it is mishandled or neglected.

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