I am so excited to be a weekly contributer to Rx Girl. The women in our sport work so very hard and it is just awesome that all that hard work is recognized and made news in a leading sport website.
So we have 12 weeks until the Super Bowl of the physique world, the Olympia. Just saying that word makes my heart start racing, knowing that I will be a part of the "big dance" this year. I still feel like I must be day-dreaming, fantasizing about having qualified to be a part of a show that features the top girls in the industry. But then, I snap out of it and realize I’m not in lala land, this is real and I better be ready to present my best package yet.
Before I get in to how I plan to do this I should probably tell you a little bit about how I’ve gotten to this point in my competitive journey. I began competing almost 3 years ago. I saw my first bodybuilding show in April, 2007 and thought after seeing the figure girls compete that I could do that. Ha, yeah right. I was 115lbs, 5’8" and without a bit of muscle on my skinny, mushy frame. I had always been active as a kid. I was even a nationally ranked fencer for many years, but fencing required skill and muscle shape and size was not an issue. It was at that time that I turned my focus to Figure, found out what I could about competing and what I needed to do to take my first steps on stage. Thirteen weeks later I competed in my first show. I was a stringy, water depleted mess with abs. However, I did win my class (it was a class of 2) lol!
After that show, I was hooked and set my sights on the next year’s local show The NPC Panhandle Showdown. Ironically it was the same show that initially gotten me interested in competing. After joining Team Bombshell in January, 2008 I returned to compete at the show and not only won Ms. Pensacola, I won the Open Overall. In that same year I won 2 more overalls and competed in my first National competition. I placed third in my class at NPC Nationals, It was the same show that Erin Stern took first.
Prior to competing at Nationals I had always said, "I just want to compete in a national level show and feel that I belong there". Well, I felt that I’d accomplished that and still wanted more. I set my sights on getting my Pro Card. I started 2009 off with the Jr. USA’s taking first in my class and winning one of the 2 available pro cards. I couldn’t believe it! I had made it farther than I’d ever imagined.
After earning my Pro Card, my goals turned to competing in a pro show. I wanted to stand on stage with the beautiful Pro Girls and feel I belong THERE". In my pro debut at the October Ft. Lauderdale Cup I placed third. The miracles just kept on coming. I was now qualified for the 2010 Olympia. Did I hear them correctly? I get to stand on that stage? I get to be compared to the top girls in the world? This couldn’t really be happening.
So here I am. I help my husband run 4 businesses and I am a mother of 2 teenage daughters and a teenage stepson. I am so tired everyday that I ask myself how much more I’d like to put on my plate. Most days you will find me in my kitchen with my laptop and my accounting, preparing my meals, my family’s dinner, grading one kid’s homework while studying with the other for a test. All the while, playing over in my head my next competition and running through what I’ll need to do to make my body better than the last time.
I have been working each competition to bring a fuller, rounder physique to the stage. So far so good. I continue to push my body in the gym. The only problem I have is that this body of mine just wants to be lean and ripped. Some say I’m blessed, but some days I feel cursed. Since lean and ripped doesn’t lend a favorable environment to muscle growth.
Before the Olympia I will be competing in the New York Pro Figure. I am excited for this show and can't wait to get back on the stage. My Bombshell Coaches are tweaking my diet and workouts each day to help me maintain my gains and not take any steps backwards. Next week you will find me a little stressed, and super excited. My confidence goes through its ups and downs every hour of every day the two weeks leading up to a show. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love every minute of this stressful but fun journey.
‘Til next week, keep striving toward your goals; and remember it’s not all about the destination, it’s journey to get there that makes it all worth while.
To contact Gen, you can email her at
gennid76@hotmail.com
For appearances, sponsorship, etc. please contact Fitness Management Group at
fitnessdivasproductions@verizon.net
|
