IT'S TIME! Fitness America 2012 Fitness Competition

It’s almost here.

I have spent the last 5 months working toward the goal I’m about to embark on this weekend.

It’s not a typical goal for me.  In fact, last year, I didn’t even know people competed in fitness competitions.  This week, I’ll present the culmination of my efforts which included no less than 116 weight-training sessions, 128 cardio sessions, 20 weeks of diet journaling and 120 hours of meal preparation.

This doesn’t include the countless hours spent researching designers for my suits, carefully considering my outfits for the stage and photo shoots, hours of posing practice and relearning the baton, and no less than 16 reports into a coach who assessed by body and diet on a week to week basis.

This weekend, it all comes to a head and then it’s over.

I’m not sure what to expect from this experience.  I’m not a huge fan of crowds. I prefer to keep to myself and the idea of being on display for the sheer sake of physical judgment is strange to me.  I’m told I’ll love it, and although I'm more than a little nervous, I’m keeping an open mind.

I am not doing this for a trophy.  Without sounding too self-defeating, I’m pretty confident I’m not going to walk away with first prize, but that’s never been my motivation to commit to a physical goal.  I’ve never won a half marathon either, but it never took away from how much I enjoyed doing them.

I’m doing this more because I don’t think I would have gotten into this great of shape unless I scared the pants off myself by committing to being practically naked in public.  If I didn’t consciously know that I had to step on a stage in a bikini, I might have had that extra glass of wine or piece of chocolate or missed at least a few of my workouts.

I know I needed this goal to get what I wanted.  A body I was honored to present.
So, maybe I already have won the prize…

There ya have it folks! Now I’ll see you on the other side!!

Note from the other side: I DID IT!!  And it was AWESOME!