I Didn't Fall Off The Wagon... I Dove.

Any blog you read, any story you hear, and any coaches wisdom will warn you... You just have to stay with it. We’ve all heard the stories and the warnings a millions times, yet we seem to forget in the midst of all the daily chaos. If you never have, good for you… But I didn’t fall off the wagon, I took a running dive.

            In the weeks leading up to my show both my nutrition coach and my trainer told me that the hardest part of competing was staying in shape after. My thoughts – “I worked this hard, no way am I going to throw it away right in time for bikini season.” The day of my show, my nutrition coach kindly reminded me to not go crazy that night… Enjoy myself, but my body was so used to my eating habits that if I went and drank and ate myself to oblivion it wasn’t going to be good. So, I obviously went and ate and drank myself into oblivion which resulted with my being in a curled up ball of pain on the floor.

            In the weeks to come I fell somewhere in between having one foot in and one foot out of the fitness world before I took a swan dive in to the Dorito bag and rumpleminz frenzy.

Top left: Middle of training. Top right: one week out. Bottom left: day of show. Bottom right: today.

            I tell you this long story for one reason: to admit to myself that I’m human. We all like to go out and eat and have a drink and relax. That is okay.. In moderation. I let my habits slide, didn’t track my macros for weeks which resulted in lack of energy because I either wasn’t eating enough or I wasn’t eating food as fuel and nutrients and enjoyment. I was eating it for pure enjoyment and anything that looks good needs to be in my belly. All of this made for crappy workouts – if there was a workout at all. The MOST frustrating part is that all of that work – has backslid. My one goal after my show was to get strong… Kind of hard to get strong when you are eating pizza and laying on the couch. Since that has happened, my brand new bathing suit fits a little more snug and I pretty much break a sweat warming up in the gym – but that’s okay. It’s time to get to work.

            Starting over isn’t always a bad thing. You’ve been through the experience before and you know what works and you have an opportunity to try some new things so that the end result turns out even better than before!

Step 1:

Get eating back on track. For me, meal prep is essential. I run a busy life most of the time (I’ve had a solid easy schedule lately so there is literally no excuse) so meal prep takes away the excuses and is always fun to try out new recipes. If you suck at cooking – start with the basics. Meal prep with a friend, buy a better crocker book – Anything. Just DO IT.

Step 2:

Let people know what you are doing. You don’t have to necessarily explain it to them, but when people know what you are doing, it saves you from having to make excuses – they understand you have goals.

Step 3:

Talk to and hang out with like minded people. If you  are around a bunch of lushes 5 nights a week who like to throw back cocktails and make midnight taco runs… Chances are you are going to give in. Make friends at the gym, convert a pizza enthusiast, workout with your boyfriend/girlfriend/sister/cousin.. Whatever you have to do.  Working in pairs makes it less easy to give up.

Step 4:

Remember your why. From my first blog and forward, this will always be a common factor. Remembering your why when you lose enthusiasm will remotivate you.

Step 5:

Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither was your six pack. It took you a while to earn it, it’s going to take you a while to get it back. Don’t get discouraged. Take progress pictures from RESTART day 1 – stop referencing what happened before you covered your face in peanut butter.

Step 6:

HAVE FUN! If you dread working out and eating the right things for your body – you’re doing it wrong.