Monday, October 20, 2008

The Next Chapter: Visionquester in Training




All right my friends and fellow bloggers....this is a BIG post for me (although I have to tell you it may not be for you :)). I have some news and outside of the hubby and some close friends, I want you guys to be the first to know (and it really isn't THAT big of a deal).


For those of you who have followed my blog from the beginning, some of this story will be boring and old news, but for those of you who are new or just tuning in, perhaps it will be entertaining or at least insightful. And I am a Visionquester in Training...which will make more sense later when I get to the end of my story. :)

In 2007 I did two figure shows - the first being my first ever and the second just 6 weeks later! What happened after the shows was a very difficult experience for me....post competition blues, full rebound, weight gain, depression, loss of interest in everything....really. It is hard to explain but this was my schedule/life last time I competed:
  • 5am: 45-60 minutes cardio
  • Lunch: Lift for an hour
  • 8pm: 1 hour food prep
  • 9pm: 45-60 minutes cardio
So pretty much NO LIFE. A couple things happen when you have that kind of schedule - you kind of become addicted to the goal and then you get really burnt out at the same time. Then when the show is over and you don't have that goal, it is like losing a close friend - you gain weight, lose your tan and your energy and motivation. Now, those are all CHOICES you make....because how you handle the end of the contest and how you deal with after the show is what matters.

And I am CONVINCED it isn't going to take the same energy and effort I put in before to get the results I need. I am 100% convinced I don't have to do 2 hours or cardio a day. Convinced and I will have you guys along for the ride to show you that! :)

Things changed for me: I realized I don't have to kill myself with cardio and miss time with my family and friends. I realized I choose how I react after the show. I realized I don't have to sacrifice sanity to reach my goals.

Now to my goals and strategy:

I am competing again in 2009!


March 14: Compete in the Northern Kentucky Natural Show
National show: TBD (schedule hasn't come out yet)

I have 21 weeks to the 14th show which means 9 weeks building and 12 weeks of conditioning. Get my shoulders, back and biceps big - traps. Condition the legs.

My overall goal is to get my Pro Card in 2009. I will have it. It will happen. This is why I am a Visionquester in Training. Because I see my vision and I will have it.

Thanks to all of you who support me and give me the strength to get there! Love you guys.
Jess


P.S. I only have ONE blog follower at the moment - ONE and I know there are more of you out there - at least one more. ;) Click on the link on the right to add me to your blog list! Wont you?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jess!

First comment, congrats on deciding to compete again! I'm sure you will do a wonderful job and won't need 2 hours of cardio a day.

So glad you had a wonderful vacation with your Hubby and congrats on the race too!

I'll be following your progress and cheering you on!

Kelly Olexa said...

YYYYYYYAAAAAAYYYYY!!

A Prelude To... said...

Hi Jessica.
I can't remember how I came across your blog, but I've been following it for a time and I'm definitely going to be following your journey.

I have been plagued with dreams of competing for several years now but have yet to figure out a way to NOT get obsessive yet still get stage ready, and to not have rebound effects afterwards. I wish you luck and look forward to following your journey! Maybe I will learn that it is possible for me to do this as well!

Stef said...

WOW!!! That is AWESOME! And to top it off, I can go to that show because it is close to me....less than 2 hours.

Where do you live? Near Cincy?

I am going to a show in Cincy this weekend.

And no you don't need 2 hours of cardio to get to the stage. And people that do it are burning off their muscle (my totally 100% UNPROFESSIONAL opinion...LOL!)

=)

Visionquester said...

Jessica...

You can do it..God willing of course.

No traps though... please don't build your traps..

Lats yes... build lats but please no traps.

~C.

Jessica said...

My ladies,

Thank you SOOOOO much for all your kind words and Evelyn and Julie - I am so glad you came out of the woodwork! Yeah!

My plan is to keep much more detailed logs and share more daily information so you can truly follow me on this journey.

I am not planning on doing 2 hours a day nor do I plan on eating fish and asparagus every day so we will see how prep treats me but I know it will happen! Know it b/c I want it!

Cynthia - what is up with adversity to traps? Talk to me!

EM :) said...

OH YES, JESS, THIS IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO GUESS WHEN YOU SAID YOU HAD NEWS!!!!!!!!
I'm SOOOO THRILLED TO FOLLOW THIS JOURNEY. YOU CAN DO IT, GIRL. YOU WILL DO IT! You have a huge support system here, lean on us if you ever need to!!!!
YA YA YA!!!
ROCK IT~
EM

Krissa said...

I am very glad you made this decision...especially since I live in Kentucky and have been to the show for the last 3 years! I cannot wait to see you there!!! I will be cheering for you :)

Visionquester said...

Show me a top figure competitor with traps... If you do I will gladly stand corrected and get working on them myself.

Yes.. I am with all of your groupies on this one... you will do it Jess with stubborn determination.

~C.
(P.S. what's up with steeling my name?)

Visionquester said...

Oops... I meant stealing...

~C.

April said...

Good Luck Jessica! It CAN be done! I'm thinking of doing the Northern KY too :) WOO!

Unknown said...

My little cherub..... HOLY CRAP! You are going to compete???? When were you going to tell me??? I'm proud of you and I'm pumped!! What the heck- I may jump out there too!!!

Jessica said...

My cherub - YOU KNOW I told you first. In the car on Friday night - duh. :) Thank you baby and are you going to do it too?!! ;)

Em and Krissa - THANK YOU GUYS! You have been with me every step of the way! Thank you so much! I love you guys! And Krissa, you better be there sister! :)

Jess

Anonymous said...

just wanted to pop in and say you CAN do it and you certainly can without all that cardio and no life. It is possible. Good Luck

B said...

great post! alot of what you said is what my RD and trainer are trying to convince me about fitness- that I don't need 2 hrs a day of cardio and I can have a healthy diet that doesn't drive me crazy - so far so good and I am hoping to do something 2009!

Anonymous said...

Nice goals chica! So happy for you. We are all going to have fun competing in 2009. Anf you are right, you don't need 2 hrs of cardio. I am smoking lean and doing hardly any at this point.....and I am gaining muscle!

xoxo

cathy