New Year! 2010 is here!

Arnold Classic 2010

It is with great pride that I announce that I have been selected to compete at the 2010 Arnold Fitness International as a IFBB Pro competitor.

Here is the full list of the Fitness International competitors:

Myriam Capes
Regiane Da Silva
Nicole Duncan
Tina Durkin
Allison Ethier
Adela Garcia
Tracey Greenwood - Withdrew
Oksana Grishina
Jennifer Hendershott - Withdrew
Tanji Johnson
Julie Palmer
Kayde Puckett
Camala Rodriguez
Sylvia Tremblay
Kizzy Vaines
Trish Warren

I put in an application in mid November, and basically crossed my fingers. I heard this news just before I left for Qatar and Sri Lanka for 2 weeks for Christmas. It was a welcomed Christmas gift. I am so proud to be among these talented competitors. They are all so accomplished, and I am excited to learn from them.

What did this mean for training/diet over the Christmas holidays? No dieting. No training.
I was traveling, and well, it is not fun to be doing the 'diet' thing while you are on vacation. Possible, but definitely not fun. So I decided not to sweat about it and when I returned home I would have around 60 days to get my act together. I did not and do not have that much weight to lose - around 10 lbs, so in that time frame I should be ok. My issue has never been getting lean, but rather maintaining or gaining muscle. I am small frame, and like my body, and well, am not sure if I want to gain too much muscle. I know it is just temporary (in terms of my life span) but I also really enjoy modeling so I am hoping I can find a balance between the two. Being able to do well on stage as a fitness competitor, and model from time to time.

Here are some progress pics as of my return from Sri Lanka
(taken Jan 10th)
























































So this year I have been toying with the idea of going back to a few routines that I have done in the past. I try to always move forward in my routines, and learn a few new skills over the years. This year, I have so many ideas, that I had a hard time choosing a theme. I tend to do themes, as the costume is always easier to design and make. So, this year I will not return to an old theme but come up with a new one. I have decided on trying one song instead of a mix. I have never done that before. The song has good levels, and a great theme, that I could not let it go and had to use it.

So I have been dieting for about a week now and already see changes. I think it was good to give my body a rest. I have never taken 2 weeks off of the gym. I mean never. Ok, when I was pregnant but that is about it. Even after a show I might take one day off, but 2 weeks? Usually after 3 days I am going crazy and need to do something.

Perhaps I did not miss it as much as it was so hot in Sri Lanka and I was sweating all the time, that I did not have the need to workout. Sri Lanka was amazingly friendly (much like Thailand), and Qatar was interesting as well. Qatar reminded me of Las Vegas but without the lights. There was a lot of construction, and basically just desert. I enjoyed my time away, but am back to school, and training, and really looking forward to everything. Especially the training. I really missed my gym.

Teaching

Teaching...hmmmm....how do I discuss teaching.

Maybe I should leave that for another post.

I do have to say that I really love my students this year. They are awesome. They all work, all are on task, and generally love school. How could I get an luckier? They must have awesome parents. Actually I met most of them at the last parent teacher night - and well, they are awesome too.

“Man can only endure a certain degree of unhappiness; what is beyond that either annihilates him or passes by him and leaves him apathetic”

Los Angeles Fit Expo 2010
I will be at the LA Fit Expo next weekend - January 22-24th, at the Los Angeles convention center. You can find more information here - Bodybuilding.com
I will be at the Bodybuilding.com booth on Saturday and Sunday.
I will be crowning the next 2010 Bodyspace Spokesmodel on Saturday. You can see all the contestants here. Spokes model contestants.

There is 47 days until I leave for the Arnold. I have quite a bit of work to do until then.

A.