After all these trips this past month, I can't help but tell you how happy I am to be able to sleep in my own bed and get back to a normal schedule! I miss all the excitement and activities going on.. getting ready for a show..photo shoots.. hair and make-up done to a T, but my body needs some time for rest and relaxation. Hopefully move forward in my fitness career a little more as well. It IS always kind of a let-down though to come home and go back to the normal things of life... laundry, cleaning house, grocery shopping.. and not having a show coming up soon. A lot of competitors have a tough time with this. The binge and rebounding weight, taking time away from the gym, allowing bad habits and decision making to ruin, so quickly, that amazing physique we worked so hard to attain! And I am no where near perfect.. and don't claim to be- but this time is going to be different. To me, I've come to learn there is NO off season! Everything we do plays a part in our next show. Even if it's 9 months or a year away! What we're doing today, will show the next time we're on stage. My goal is to keep that mindset and do each day what I need to do. Because to me... this isn't a hobby or something to do because I'm bored! It's a way of life! And I LOVE this life! So for now, I'm enjoying the end of one season and doing everything I can to move forward and carry it over to an amazing 2010 season!
God Bless,
Stacy
After coming home Sunday from NY, I had to hurry and unpack all my things so I could repack and head to Las Vegas for the 2009 Olympia! Lori & I had a great time! We were there for 6 days and didn't stop the entire time! We were up at 6am in the morning working out... and when the gym at the hotel was full and running over.. we turned the parking lot into our track! We got up and did our track workouts every single morning we were there! We spent the 1st day relaxing - working out, laying out by the pool, getting massages, and then to the Meet The Olympians event. We spent the next couple of days mostly at the expo and competitions where we had 2nd row seats!! It was amazing! We ended up with so much stuff from the expo we both had to buy new gym bags to get it all home! HaHa! We were so excited to be there to witness history when THE MAN, Jay Cutler, won his Mr O. title back!! We thought it couldn't get any better than that. We were wrong! On Sunday, we were able to fit in 3 photo shoots throughout the day! We had a blast!! I can't wait to share the pictures with you! We got to work with some great photographers! The trip was amazing!!! We are already making plans for next year!
God Bless,
Stacy
Wow!! What a weekend in NY! My biggest show to date! It started out with a photoshoot on Friday morning! I can't wait to show you pictures! I had a blast and know we got a lot of great shots! There were 11 girls in the tall fitness class! My routine went over VERY well on Friday night! I was VERY excited to get to debut the new routine! Saturday morning came and... well, we overshot the physique. We tried a new prep and I peaked too soon. By Saturday morning my muscles had smoothed over. I got 2nd callout in the physique round and had convinced myself I did not make top 5. When we got back for the finals and I walked off stage to learn the outcome, I was congratulated and told to get ready. I had MADE THE TOP 5 and was going to perform my routine again for the night show!! YEAHH!!! I did it!!!! I rocked my routine and pulled off a 4th place finish!!! I was VERY pleased!!! What an honor! Although I KNOW I could've done better, and my physique HAS looked better... we know exactly what happened and exactly how to fix it! I'll definitely come back 200 times better next year and continue to knock your socks off!! Until then, I'm unpacking from NY and repacking to head to Las Vegas to see the Olympia this weekend with my girl, Lori! I'm going to be taking a million pictures, so be watching for them! God Bless, Stacy
This time next week I will be getting ready to hit the stage at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in NY! Fitness routines friday night, 2 piece physique round Saturday morning, then finals Saturday night. It's going to be a very exciting weekend!!It's even more exciting to think that this will be my TENTH show!!! That's right, the big 1-0! I started competing back in 2005 and have done 2 shows a year each year. I can't even begin to describe how much I've grown over the years.. physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! This has been an amazing ride and to me, it's still only just beginning! My goal each show is just to improve from the last, and that is what I've done! Constantly learning and growing and trying to be the best ME I can be! Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on how it all goes!! Thank you all for the ongoing support and emails! Your words of encouragement are priceless! God Bless,Stacy
One thing I've heard a lot of people talking about lately is improvement. No matter what our goals are, whether it be stepping on stage or just working toward becoming healther version of 'you', we need to focus on improving ourselves on a daily basis. Set short term goals and work toward achieving those on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. As you reach those goals, think of yourself as the winner you are! You've taken a step in the right direction and are making progress! We will never be 'perfect' so it's the steps along the way you need to appreciate and enjoy! Don't overlook all of the small accomplishments you are making on a daily basis! Set realistic goals and give yourself a pat on the back when you achieve them!! One thing I've seen get people discouraged in their journey is the comparison factor. We cannot go around comparing ourselves to others. This will lead to a constant feeling of failure because we'll never be 'that' person. We have NO control over other people's lifestyle, diet, training, stress level, and even genetics. Instead, we need to focus on the things we DO have control over. We CAN control what and when we eat. We CAN control how much water we're drinking throughout the day to stay hydrated. We CAN control how many times a week we do cardio and how intensely we lift weights. These are things we CAN control! So my challenge for you today, is take control of YOU! Don't allow the negatives to impact all the positives you've achieved! If you fall, get right back up again! Again... YOU are in control of YOU... when you get kicked, are you going to stay down or stand back up?!? I know for me.. at the end of the day... you'll see me STANDING!!!"NEVER bend your head! ALWAYS hold it high! Look the world straight in the face!"God Bless,Stacy
It's almost showtime! I can't believe it's almost here! Time DOES fly by! I'm very excited and honored to step on another National level NPC stage! It'll be my first time competing at New York's Team Universe and I am very excited about the whole experience! I know, just like all of my other shows, it'll be one to go down in the books! This prep has been great.. filled with ups and downs.. but this sport is what I LOVE!!! Everything about it! I am sooo thankful to be given the gift to be able to go for it and to achieve my dreams! I hope that whoever reading this also has the ability to go for your dreams as well... whatever they may be!! God Bless & Happy Training!!!! Stacy
This summer has been an interesting one to say the least. Many ups and downs. I am blessed with a WONDERFUL family and wonderful friends that surround me! I thank the Lord daily for his many blessings He's given me that I do not deserve! I do want to share with you about a friend of mine and fellow 'bodybuilder', Lori.Lori and her husband, Adam, are like two peas in a pod.. just like myself and my husband, Andrew! They share the same life and love for bodybuilding as well as for each other! Andrew & I are thankful we got the opportunity to meet this couple! The week before Christmas, Adam was diagnosed with cancer. It was a tough fight and Adam did NOT ever give up... but did pass away on July 2, 2009. Lori, being the beautiful woman she is, stood by his side every step of the way! Giving up was never an option for either one of them!I don't know how she does it! I can't imagine being in her shoes. Sure, she's surrounded by friends and family and church family who love her and comfort her.. but how does she do it!? I'm sure she has her moments, and it has to be hard.. but she's a VERY strong woman and I admire her greatly! I've had the honor to spend some more time with her lately and she's taught me so much! She gave me a card after we worked out together the other day and in it was a little card that said "Friends who Pray together... Stay together"!! How true it is! Lori & I have a bond that goes beyond bodybuilding and competing and basic friendship.. we are sisters in Christ! And that gives us a peace beyond all understanding! Please continue to keep Lori and her family in your thoughts and prayers... You can also check out her website at LoriStaats.com. Click on the link on the bottom left corner for her tribute to her husband.As for Adam, I am SO thankful I got a chance to meet him and get to know him! I only wish we all could've spent more time together!! I know we'll see him again in Heaven one day! "What a Day That Will Be.."
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