Six weeks out

I am about six weeks from Team Universe, my first national, pro-qualifier this season. I have to admit, last week, I just about crashed after having done 4 shows already this year. I didn't do my best on my diet and cardio for a few days last week. But, again, time with my teammates gets me excited and back on track again! I cannot say enough about making sure you have that support and those in your life who share your passion. I am holding so much water this week it is ridiculous and not feeling too well....hoping six weeks will be enough to get me where I need to be! I am ready though. I have the summer off and will be working with my student athletes so I will be monitoring myself very carefully...I am very glad to have the time to be able to focus on that and get it done. be on the lookout for weekly progress!

Refocus

With just a few days over seven weeks to my first National competition of 2012, I am finding myself very ready to refocus my energy to coming in my best yet. I am competing again in Pittsburgh on Sunday, (May 20) and have contemplated a decision to not compete in NYC on June 2nd, as I want to give my body and mind time to recover, refocus, and improve. This week, I came down with a stomach virus (as a teacher I'm exposed to all sorts of germs!) and was a little out of it for a few days, which most definitely caused me to begin stressing about how I'd come in this weekend. In fact, I may have lost a little muscle. I am feeling much better today and hope I feel great tomorrow as I prep for Sunday. Then, it's all Team Universe on my mind! School is winding down for me, and I am very lucky that I have the summer off...the summer is going to bring lots of great national shows, so remaining rested and stress-free is my goal!

Five days later...

For those of you who have been following my prep into the NPC Pitt, I thank you! I had worked very hard, but did not come into the placing I had hoped I would. The show itself was much bigger than last year, and the competition was very tough, almost at national level competition. I ended up coming in 7th out of 18 in my class. I am good with that number since this is a sport of progression, and this show was particularly large. I do have some leaning out to do, which I am working on! I am competing in Pittsburgh again on May 20th, and then again at another big show in NYC on June 2nd; Bev Francis Atlantic States. Each show I plan to bring a better package, and I feel I have done that at each show to this point….all a progression to nationals! My first national show this year will be Team Universe in Teaneck NJ on July 7th. I have eight good weeks to lean out, which I know I can do…I shall not give up! I am almost there! Please continue to follow my preps into my next three competitions. I hope I can be a source of inspiration whether or not you are competing!

May 3rd, 2012....Two Days Out...

Well, here I am two days out from my biggest show of 2012.  There are more big ones to come, but this show is so much fun, there are tons of vendors, and it is located smack in the middle of my alma mater.  As I had mentioned in my first post, I placed fourth in my class last year at Pitt.  I hope to come in better this year, but I have a feeling that this year, this show is simply going to be huge.  Therefore, I am completely unsure about how things will turn out for me.  I have been putting exhausting hours into the gym, eating less and less trying to lose those last few pounds.  This week has been all about getting enough rest, buring fat, and getting things together to make sure I am on schedule and that I have everything I need so I am stress free.  Last week, my progress slowed and I had to take a couple of days off.  I slept and rested the entire weekend, which enabled me to push hard this week.  Good planning and plenty of sleep have been the stress busters that worked for me on this prep.  I am planning to finish super strong in my final cardio of the week tomorrow morning, and although I did rest last weekend, I caught a cold yesterday that hindered my intensity.  The nerves set in on Monday, as I set into a panic about how I would look on Saturday.  To cope with those nerves, I spent the week by focusing on my teaching, and put the nerves out of my mind.  I ate, trained and slept all day, every day, outside of work.  It hasn't hit me yet that I will be traveling to Pittsburgh tomorrow afternoon, checking in, tanning, dehydrating, and then waking up Saturday hoping to come in good.  I am excited to see my friends and to mingle with all those involved with the show....I hope you will be watching and waiting on Saturday, for I am very nervous.  I will be posting constant updates on my athlete page, NPC Figure Competitor Erica Vogt....so follow me all the way in!  HERE...WE....GO!!!