It has been a personal goal of mine for over a year to do a bikini fitness competition. Seth and I started lifting in June of 2011 and I found that I really love it. I lifted and never saw any progress. In fact, I got a bit bigger. I started eating clean in the summer of 2012. These before pictures are from then.
I ate clean and would follow meal plans for about a year. I would be really strict some weeks and other weeks have a few cheat meals or even days. I had progress, but nothing significant. I really wanted to be able to feel comfortable in a swimsuit and I really wanted to be able to wear booty shorts to the gym. I really wanted to do a competition and challenge myself. I had a lot of goals and I didn't have the knowledge of how to reach them myself. I did a lot of research and found a coach. From everything I could see he is the best there is. I am a little biased perhaps, but his clients pictures speak for themselves. I started with him July 1st of last year. He helped me with a training plan and meal plan. I would send him weekly pictures which I love because it holds me accountable to more than myself.
After 8 and 1/2 months I was finally ready to do my first show! I got really lean and looked even better than I ever thought I could! More importantly to me though is that I feel better than I ever thought I could! A month before the show I started wearing shorts to the gym! That was so huge for me!
I was so excited when I got my official team jacket! Sometimes little things just are tokens of how hard we have worked.
The week leading up to the show was stressful and full of little things I needed to do to be ready. The day before was full of layers of spray tan and competitors meetings.
I seriously looked like a different person when I was done because it was so dark!
The morning of I was confident and excited to make my goals come to pass!
I got my makeup professionally done by an amazing artist in Salt Lake! She did better than I would have ever dreamed of!
I made so many friends during this journey as well. I never knew how nice and friendly this type of thing would be. There was comraderie between all of us and we all genuinely cared for each other and wanted each other to do well!
These are all the bikini competitors that competed in this show that were trained by my coach! We really were a big team!
I don't have many stage shots yet, but I am really happy with what I brought. I worked so hard and know that I did everything it took. I never skimped on my workouts or cardio. I never cheated on my meal plan. I was 100% in it and I think it really showed.
My coach took great shots and made side by sides! Crazy to put it in perspective like this. The befores were the weekend of the Spartan Race and I really thought that I was so fit then and looked great. It is all about knowing what you are doing!
We met a lot of people at the show! Russ Allen is someone Seth and I both like to follow on instagram because he is a big, cool, nice dude!
After the show we went to the Cheesecake Factory for my cheat meal. I really wanted carrot cake for some reason. It was yummy!
I had to take a few flexing shots while I still had the tan. People don't realize a girl can still be feminine and have muscles. My muscles don't show if I am not flexing!
The week leading up to the show I wasn't able to wear deodorant. It makes your skin green anywhere it touches once the tan is applied. I had to hide it in my workout pants drawer to keep me from subconsciously applying it! I was very happy on Sunday when I got to put it on!
I wanted to make sure i didn't put any weight back on after the show so I took ab progress pictures to track myself. I did good. I followed what my coach said to a T!
I love all my new Team Heugly gear! I am so glad I pushed myself physically and mentally and did this competition! I never would have thought I could overcome my embarrassment of my scars and stretch marks, but I did! I know there is more to come! I have finally found my groove! Seth and I love this sport!
