I did it!

My big bikini competition was this past weekend... it was a great experience trying out bikini division and ontario physique association for the first time!  Here's a little re-cap of my experience... Friday night I went for my tan with Absolute Touch at HUF Boxing Gym.  They had set up in the basement of the gym with a waiting area, multi-stations for spraying, and an area for drying infront of fans.  After getting sprayed, I joined all the other naked ladies drying off and made some new friends as we stood infront of fans until Pam told us we were dry enough to get dressed! A lot of people assumed I was doing Figure (not bikini) which made me a little nervous as I am a bit muscular for bikini, but maybe not enough for figure... tough call...  I almost registered for both categories just to see what would be best for me.  Next I jetted over to registration at Port Credit Secondary School (in the cafeteria).  I arrived to a huge snaking line and a very full room!  Got in line, registered, ordered photos, bought tickets, etc.  And then it was time for the athlete's meeting which went over everything we needed to know including who the judges were, posing guidelines, timelines, etc.  Went home, tried to get some sleep, but had a millions things to do like sew my hair extensions and put the final details on my bikini!  The next morning I got up bright and early to get ready, pack all my food for the day, and be ready for my hair stylist who was coming at 6:30 to do my hair! Once hair was done, and my mom had arrived, we said goodbye to my husband and son (who had his very first Tae Kwon Do tournament this same day!) and took the bus to the venue.  Hung around a while, got into my bikini, and then got a second spray tan and my make-up done.  Lots more waiting around as my division was last in the pre-judging show... sooooooo thankful my mom was with me the whole time backstage - we had fun talking, taking silly pics, and people-watching.  Finally it was my time to take the stage... I was in Bikini Tall division and I was one of the shortest :O Our category was the biggest I think with about 20 competitors - we could literally barely all fit on the stage at the same time!  We did our posing and walking, then got split into smaller groups for comparisons.  I wasn't sure how I had done with my posing as bikini posing (as opposed to figure or fitness) is so new to me, but after seeing a video my mom got from it, I felt a lot better - I didn't look like a total spazz - phew!  Since my house was so close to the venue, me and my mom took the bus home and hung out there for about an hour before heading back for the finals.  Backstage atmosphere is always so much more chilled-out in the evening portion of the competition. Bikini was in the middle of the night show so we didn't have as much time to wait, but still enough time for me to get very hungry, thirsty, and worry about my bikini bite stoppping holding my tiny bikini bum down on my cheeks (LOL).  My husband and a few friends were in the audience for the night show so it was a little more scary!  We also got to do our single walks and poses here which I was a little stressed about.  That went fine, but then they did our front and back poses and walks all together as one big group that totally didn't fit on the stage and two of us were basically off stage/behind a podium/then behind a curtain so that was a littly sucky for my friends who had come to see me!  I didn't make top five this time, but it was a very big tough group!  I will know my actual placing once OPA posts the full results on their site sometime soon!  Once I got outta there, I was totally ready to eat some pizza, shower my tan off, and go out to party with my friends at my very favourite salsa club, El Rancho!  Everyone thought I would be too tired to go out after this big day, but I was READY!!!!  It was a fun night out! 

All in all, a great experience... I feel I brought my very best package and was more prepared than ever, which has a lot to do with my totally awesome coach PJ Braun who designed my meal plans, workouts, and held me accountable by looking at my progress pics every week and giving me feedback and motivation!  I also want to thank my incredible mom who encouraged and supported me so much through this whole process eventhough she thinks these competitions are a little crazy (lol!) and spent the whole day and night backstage putting up with me and my zany ways!  Also my husband and son for being there for me day in and day out through this whole process.  And of course my amazing hair stylist, Thomas Kaub and Absolute Touch for the incredible tanning and makeup services!

What's next? After my weekend of sinful eating, I am back onto clean eats and will be back at my beloved gym tomorrow (I've missed it!) as I have a photo shoot with Paul Buceta (a dream come true) for the Miss CHIN Bikini Competition that I am very excited to have gotten into after interviewing for it last week!  Then I will be competing in the Oxygen Model Search at the Toronto Pro Super Show and then the actual Miss CHIN Bikini Competition will be at the end of June!  Very excited about my spring and summer!!!

One Week Out!!!

I'm officially one week out from my first Bikini competition with the Ontario Physique Association!!!  Feeling great and getting totally excited to try out this association and category!  Just working on all the last week beauty details and stuff now, and of course, planning the after-party!!! Check out my vlog to see what I've been up to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY687I3vF8o

Competition Details:

OPA's O'BRIEN LUCHKA MISSISSAUGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sat. May 11, 2013
Port Credit Secondary School
Mississauga, ON

www.luchkaobrienclassic.net

Do You Poo-Poo New Year's Resolutions?!?!

I've noticed a big trend lately that makes me a little sad... I've had conversations about it (mainly with my fitness buddies), it's all over Facebook, Twitter, and other people's blogs... and that is how dumb new year's resolutions are!  Most people generally make them and have high hopes for the year and all their dreams and goals, whether it's to stick with an exercise regimen, get that promotion at work, or be more organized around the house, people often feel the new year is a great time to take stock and envision where they want to go next.  What the heck is the matter with this?  Shouldn't we be encouraging people to join gyms, work harder, strive for the life they dream of instead of poo-pooing it and saying things like "I don't believe in new year's resolutions - goals need to be made year round"?  But, this is just what I'm hearing - many highly goal-oriented people turning up their noses to making 'new year's resolutions' and saying people should be making goals throughout the year and that people's new year's resolutions tend to be forgotten by February.  OK, give people a break... instead of crushing people's good intentions, why not encourage goal setting (any time of year, even at the start of the year!) and help people who may need help follow through on those goals they set Jan. 1!  I set all sorts of goals in all areas of my life throughout the year, but I love the freshness of a new year to really get me going on big planning for the upcoming year.  I love to look back at goals I set for the previous year, congratulate myself on what I made happen, think about why some goals may not have been achieved yet, and start a whole new list (which I usually make public here on my blog to hold me extra accountable).  I am in the midst of working on mine right now and totally excited for everyone else who is ready to make 2012 their best year yet!!!  Get excited people - if you decide it's gonna be great, it will!!!

Here are some tips on making new year's resolutions and following through:

Set your goals

- Write them down!  There's so much more power in having all your goals written down officially, rather than just half-baked thoughts in your head!

- I like to make various sections/pages/whatever works for you of goals for different parts of my life (work, family, home, fitness, money, self, etc.)

- On each of these I make a few big goals (for example, on my 'fitness' page, I might put "I will lose 20 pounds by April 1." 

- Then an important step a lot people don't do after making a goal is breaking the big goal down into little steps or goals so it's do-able. For this one, I would put under it, - 30 minutes cardio in the morning 5 days/week, - weight train 4 times/week - stick to my healthy meal plan, - lose 2 pounds/week and keep track of progress on a calendar, etc. 

Make your Goals SMART!

- Specific

- Measureable

- Attainable

- Realistic (this is debatable - ha ha - I like to be a little unrealistic!)

- Timely

- Make sure to write your goals in an affirmative way (for example, I WILL... or I AM..., not  I will try to... or I want to...) Make them powerful!

- Write your goals in a positive way, use 'I will eat healthy meals', not 'I will not eat any junk food'. Avoid negatives like won't, not, no, bad, etc.

Don't forget your goals! 

- Make cards with your goals written in a strong affirmative manner (I WILL... or I AM...) and put them anywhere you look a lot (bathroom mirror, car, wallet, fridge, front door, etc.)  When you see them really let them resonate with you and say them aloud a few times.

- Make a vision board of all your goalsand  dreams for the new year!  Cut out images, phrases, etc. from magazines, newspapers, or off the computer that show your goals/dreams, make a collage out of them on a big board, then display it in a prominent place that will make you remember what you are working towards this year!  I have often had vision board-making get-togethers with friends and students which are fun!

- Tell everyone you can about your goals! I like to shout mine from the rooftops, but if you're a more private person, you could just tell a select few encouraging close friends or family members your goals and make sure they know to check back in with you on how you are doing periodically!

Reward yourself for large and small goals met!

- set up an official reward scheme, for example if you manage to eat clean for a full week, treat yourself to a pedicure.  Make sure to write down what you get and when so you have that to look forward to and get that positive reinforcement to a new way of living!  I will write a whole blog post soon on reward ideas and how to reward yourself for goals met!

Most of all GET EXCITED about the prospect of a new year and new goals that you WILL make happen!  No matter what happened in the past, or how many times you've tried for a goal, do not have any doubt in your mind that you WILL achieve your greatest dreams now! Throw yourself wholeheartedly into your new life and enjoy!!!