Becky's Figure Competition Journal

Interest in fitness began early in my life. I'll blame my sister for my neurotic attraction in exercise and being healthy as she commonly uttered the phrase,"Becky, come watch me workout." Which involved sitting on the sofa while I watched her replicate the actions of fitness gurus on the latest Jane Fonda (ironic isn't it) workout video. Soon I found myself joining in on this activity and then eventually performing these exercise rituals alone, usually
at some ridiculous early morning hour before beginning school. I found this exercise time invigorated my mind and I made it a regular habit which enabled
me to finish high school 4 dress sizes smaller than when I began. This infatuation with physical fitness caused me to pick "The Benefits of Aerobic Exercise" as my senior research paper. This fueled my interest in studying to become a nutritionist /dietitian for a profession as understanding how the body’s processes and intake of nutrients for weight loss was interesting to me. However, after failing a high school chemistry course, the school counselor persuaded me to look to a different interest.
Throughout the last 25 years, I still remained faithful to staying fit and trying to eat healthy as regular habits in my daily routine. I enjoyed increasing my knowledge with fitness articles from magazines and anything I could glean from people that I considered "experts" in the fitness world. I participated in aerobic exercise, running and lifting weights during this time and all throughout my four pregnancies. I counted calories, watched fat intake and tried to prepare healthy meals and snacks. After my last pregnancy, I decided to do the 12 week Body-for-Life program to improve my overall fitness and hoped to completely return to my former high school size. One thing I learned from this experience is that I had created some bad habits
in my younger days as the controlled portions were a difficult part of the program for me. When I began aerobic exercise in my teen years, if I remained consistent with the exercising, I could basically eat anything I wanted and still remain fit or even lose weight. I also treated myself to dessert way too many times. However, after 4 children and a little age, my metabolism was
slower and weight loss or managing good muscle tone was difficult. This program was partially successful but within a matter of months the little progress I had made was lost, which was frustrating.
A few years later, Marc had started to workout with his friend, who owned the local Ammon AnyTime Fitness, and with their trainer. He became excited about the progress he was making as in a matter of months he had accomplished more working with his friend and trainer than he had seen in years working out alone. He began trying to persuade me to begin working with their
trainer, Kendall Cameron because Marc knew how frustrated I was with my current progress. Honestly, it took many months of convincing because I really never thought that it would make a real difference as I was somewhat arrogant. I thought I understood proper exercise, nutrition and overall fitness well and was set with my excuses, which were many. However, Marc finally wore me down and I began working with him at the end of December in 2010. I realized quickly
that I had been kind of wimpy during my lifting and was working with no direction, vision or goals for my fitness training. Within a few weeks, he had changed my diet and persuaded me to change my cardio workout from a 5K run every day, which frankly was hurting my knees, to a high incline slow walk. This part was the most difficult part as a slow, incline walk felt like I wasn't working my body hard enough and I was afraid that changing this aspect of my workout would only continue to decrease the progress with my physique. However, I decided that if I was going to pay him, I was going to listen and follow him as my way wasn't producing the results that I wanted. When I started to see progress, I really started to feel more passion rekindling as to why I was so interested in health and fitness. I had always enjoyed seeing the change in peoples’ physique and self-confidence. Honestly, I have been kind of embarrassed to be attached to pursuits that seemed to me somewhat vain and was trying to escape my childhood place as the dumb "Gumby" fitness character of my siblings. I also started to learn more about and gain
some interest in the competitive fitness / figure competitions. In June of 2011, I decided that I would train for the upcoming NPC competition but wouldn’t tell anyone outside of my small
little group of fitness friends, for as I previously stated I was embarrassed. I think at the time, I saw figure competing as most people do as some vain ambition versus an actual sport. To a person like me, who LOVES anything to do with fitness, nutrition and exercise;competitive bodybuilding / fitness is a perfect sport. However, I was looking at the finish vanity of the "show" and not the long difficult process of proper nutrition and exercise to achieve those "show" results.
However the desire was growing inside me to see if I could also achieve similar results and it became the much needed goal that I needed to stay consistent and motivated.
I began my competition meal plan on July 18th, which was approximately 12 weeks from the competition time. I remember the date because that is when Marc and Nick went to scout camp and dieting without Marc around is difficult for me because, after dealing exclusively with all the household responsibilities, indulgent food is my only outlet. :) I was successful that week and I continued on this meal plan with my aim at a once a week "free meal" as my immediate goal. Of course, I continued my physical training as well which is the easiest part for me as I've spent the last several decades thriving on a good healthy dose of exercise endorphins as my personal drug. :) With the exercise and a good meal plan I saw results quickly. When I began working with Kendall, I weighed approximately 146Lbs, then began the competition diet at about 136Lbs
and in the first two weeks I lost approximately 8 Lbs. The following weeks’ weight loss wasn’t as
dramatic or at all, but two weeks out from the competition I was down to 113lbs and I’m sure I dropped another 5-8 lbs before the end with the final weight probably at about 108 lbs. The reason for dramatic weight loss in bodybuilding is to better view the muscle that is built and I lost so much, due to the small amount of muscle that I had built. In proceeding competitions, I hope to have more muscle so the weight loss is minimal and my competition weight is more around 120 lbs. Preparations for the competition also improved my long life struggle with poor posture. Between practicing in 5 inch heels (which makes dusting easier, BTW J) and posing positions, it helped force me to focus and improve my posture, which hopefully continues.
The physical results weren’t the best part of preparing for the competition. When I decided to prepare for this competition, I never expected the changes I would also see in my relationships with my children and husband, spiritual enlightenment and emotionally. Bodybuilding is a very personal internal struggle! It challenges every aspect of your being and pushes you physically, mentally, emotionally and especially spiritually, much like any sport. It improved my family relations as my children help to motivate me through struggles with diet or physical pain. I saw them take so much pride in me to complete such a difficult goal. They also witnessed my love for them as I was determined to keep their diets as “normal” as possible, even going out of my way to do extra baking and cooking of foods that I could not eat. I personally believe it is good for children to witness their parents accomplish difficult goals as it increases their own ability to follow that example. I can’t even say enough about the ways it improved my love and respect for Marc! We had an amazing relationship before but to see him support me in so many countless ways as well as how proudly he told or showed WAY TOO many people (his phone is stocked full of photos) about my competition commitments and changes was, almost emotionally overwhelming at times. He is my greatest friend and supporter!!
The competition improved my spiritual knowledge and provided greater sensitivity to the spirit and personal revelation as well as increasing my gratitude, perspective and enlightenment in secular knowledge. I think the diet and maybe the long term fasting :), can seriously improve any persons’ long-term vision and love for God. I will include some additional thoughts to people of my faith or anyone interested in my personal inspirations / feelings about God at the end
of this journal. **
In all reality, the competition was not my favorite part of the process. However, it was nice to have a break from the rigor of diets / workouts and to spend time with Marc. He was an amazing help with all my meals, even a 4:30 AM pancake run :), and awesome backstage support. I had never worn a bikini in my life so I was somewhat uncomfortable with that part of competing.
A competition is the bodybuilders’ equivalent of a runner’s marathon or a swimmer’s meet, etc. so to get to that level was exciting! My competition goals were to enjoy the experience and meet new people so to also place in one of my divisions was an added surprise. The trophy became so much more special to me when Heather Dees, IFBB Pro and 1st time participate in the recent Olympian competition; Phil Heath, the current Mr. Olympian; and Jay Cutler, 4X Mr. Olympian signed it! Also, networking with others that understand the sport and the process was fun! I was overcome with all of the support and encouragement that people showed to me with emails, calls and cards in the mail. I literally heard from a hundred different people! I never thought that an ordinary, homeschooling mom could be such an inspiration for others; it was encouraging to me!!
I plan to continue competing in figure contests in the future because it helps to focus my direction and it is also a huge opportunity to gain more personal experience in fitness and nutrition. I admire many professional bodybuilder and figure athletes but my exemplars are first, my 50-something trainer and the 80 year-old couple who I share the gym with every morning at 5 AM. Both continue to lift weights as well as complete active cardio workouts despite physically ailments. They also have a high quality of life when most are complaining of aches, pains and age. I think they prove what I always knew about bodybuilding and fitness, that it is truly the “fountain of youth”. Bodybuilding gives people a good understand of what is possible with some disciple and is a motivating factor for many people. When I spoke with Heather Dees at the competition, she encouraged me to keep going at which I protested that I was too old. She told me that during a previous competitive year, a 50+ year-old woman beat her out of a national title. Also on the Olympian stage she was competing with an athlete in her 50’s and inspires people to remain active. I’m not saying that is a possibility for me but if I can also help to encourage others and possibly help them better enjoy their lives through healthy diets and exercise then it is worth continuing to strive forward.
Thanks so much for reading and especially THANKS for your support and DON’T QUIT!!


http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/blogs/felicia-romero/dont-quit

Competition Photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150505768997818.460238.711052817&type=3#!/media/set/?set=a.10150505768997818.460238.711052817&type=3

**Spiritual things figure competing taught me: If anyone knows anything about me they know that I first seek personal revelation before I do anything. My life is about following God’s will for me and I credit Him for all that I am or hope to become. So when I began this process, I sought His guidance and counsel. Never in my life, (well maybe about our family’s educational issues :)) have I felt His inspiration or love for me so strongly. His counsel to me was that every individual person is given desires based on talents they’ve been given. A desire to gain knowledge and understanding of fitness is a talent just like playing the piano, painting a picture or singing a song. As I stated above, many people were supportive but I had a couple detractors about my participation in a figure competition, namely with issues of modesty, properly following my religion’s health code; "The Word of Wisdom", and setting a poor example for young people, especially my own.

1) Modesty – Maybe one reason that someone might have problems with this issue is I’m an active, temple worthy or garment wearing member of my church that encourages modesty. However, if you've ever received counseling from religion leaders on the proper wearing of the garment, the requirement doesn't discourage NOT participating in sports that won't allow you to wear the garment, it discourages you from wearing the garment when participating in
activities where the garment is not fully covered and a thirty minute total time in a bikini does not violate that instruction. As far as the modesty issue goes, I believe a person should dress appropiately for the situation acting and behaving in a modest way. When you bodybuild you have to dress to fit the sport. People have not witnessed me dressed in my competition suit outside of that venue. Many people need to view the entire picture before judging someone on how they regard or respect their body or their spiritual connection to covenants, religious obligations or relationship with God.

2) Word of Wisdom - I believe that the guideline to healthy eating is the essence of this code which bodybuilding wholly embodies. It is also a code as well as temple participation, that works to teach self-mastery and moderation which is something that is required to be successful at the sport, you need healthy appropiate nutrition, proper exercise and plenty of rest time. There are greater health concerns for persons that are more than 20 LBS overweight than a person who might occasionally be slightly underweight.
http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1978.htm/ensign%20november%201978%20.htm/good%20healtha%20key%20to%20joyous%20living.htm?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0

3) Poor Example – If having your children witnessing an adult who foregoes something that they may want now for something they want more in the future (self-control) or watching a person dedicated to goals are bad examples I am guilty as charged. My children and other youth in my community don’t see me prancing around in clothing that shows off a muscular physique. In fact, most people were surprised because as I heard countless times, I am so “conservative”. I’ve spent some time explaining all aspects of figure competition, even watching professional competitions with my children so that they understand the sport aspects. They see it as a sport and were proud that I had the fortitude to accomplish the needed requirements and participate. I remain committed to my family, religion and community as competing doesn’t define who I am as a person. I don’t expect people to always agree with me in this area just like they may not about my parenting techniques or schooling issues.