Total Balance & Harmony!!!

Ok, so I know that I have not posted anything in my blog for about 7 months, and if you read the subject line and thought.......this is going to be a little hokie.....you were wrong!

The definition of ~bal·ance:

Noun: An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady!

Balance is something we must possess to stay upright! I love it. In my life it is COMPLETELY necessary. When my life is out of balance everything that I do seems to be chaotic and hectic and without a clear plan or vision. My feet can easily be swept out from under me and I will fall flat on my face. So, now that you know the definition, let me just say that I had loss my "Balance" in life from October 2010 to March 2011.

I was floundering with my personal goals, my career path, and my relationships with my family, friends and FOOD! With my lack of balance I had created the perfect storm for muscle loss and weight gain! I over indulged in everything sweet and crunchy and gained back the 35 lbs. that I had lost during the previous 8 months while I was working on becoming an IFBB Bikini Pro.

What was I thinking? I wasn't. I was tired of keeping up with all of the prep, and energy that it took to keep all aspects of my life in harmony, so I settled into living off-balance, but after 5 months of over indulging and feeling sorry for myself, I was again brought to my feet by my role-model, Nicole Wilkins ~ 2 X Figure International, and Ms. Olympia 2009.

Nicole, has always been a "Fitness Role Model" for me, but this year she became much more. Last year I watched her compete in the 2010 Figure Olympia competition to defend her title and she lost to Erin Stern by the narrowest of margins. She held her head up high and turned her title over gracefully. In the next 6 months that followed, she trained harder and with more determination, so that when she stepped on stage at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH, there would be NO DOUBT that she was the best. AND SHE WAS!!!! She defended her Figure International title and no one came close to her physique and presentation.

After watching her at the Arnold Classic in March, I took a hard look in the mirror and said, "What are you doing?" "Why are you self-destructing?"

So, I decided to STAND UP for myself, and create some HARMONY in my life. First and foremost, I started with a new goal......eat better, train harder, and feel better. I began a new training program and diet regime and revisited by old goal......BECOME AN IFBB BIKINI PRO BY BUILDING THE BEST BIKINI BODY!

I then rounded out my balance & harmony circle with a new job. I am a Personal Trainer at Fitness Together in Fairfax, VA!!!! I love it. I love my clients and my co-workers. I haven't felt this fulfilled in my job in a very LONG time. I look forward to going to work, I love my job, and then when I leave I have the rest of my day to train and prep for the next day!!!!

So, the moral of my new story.......I AM LOVING LIFE!!!!! I AM IN TOTAL BALANCE!!!!

I competed 2 weeks ago in my first National Competition this year - Jr. Nationals in Chicago, IL and placed 3rd in my height class. I leave in 3 days for my second National Competition ~ Team Universe in Teaneck, NJ. My goal is to build the best bikini body this year that I can and continue to make improvements on my physique and stage presentation. After I accomplish that, the Bikini Pro Card will come!

Wish me luck!