One Month After Miami Pro

It has been exactly one month since I walked off the stage at the Miami Pro European Championships until today. I am so pleased that I have maintained my competition weight and have been enjoying the simple pleasures I had to neglect during my training period. It feels good not to have to train at 7 am and to be able to dine out whenever I want. I’m enjoying (healthy) lunches, dinners and nights out on a daily basis!

One major concern many competitors face is relapsing after a competition and regaining all the weight they worked so hard to lose. Some competitors crash diet, damage their metabolism and regain everything they’ve lost, plus more.

I’ve compiled a list of highlights as to what got me through my grueling training period and how I am maintaining my weight. This might be useful for anyone who is getting started or needs encouragement!

I’ll try VS. I will

My attitude every single day was that I WILL get into the best shape of my life and compete. What got me up every morning when my (dreaded) alarm clock rang was that I WILL do it, no matter what. I turned a blind eye to people eating bad food or missing out on social outings, because I was adamant that I WILL get there, regardless of how hard I have to work.

Many people who want to start a fitness program say, “I’ll try” instead of “I will”. The reality is you either do something or you don’t. Allowing yourself to TRY will only give you
room to quit if it becomes difficult or if you feel like can’t do it. Saying that you WILL means you will get there and won’t ever give up, even if it gets hard, or if you face obstacles along the way.

President Obama didn’t become the first African American president because he said “I will try.” Martin Luther King didn’t become one of the greatest motivational speakers of all time because he “tried” to fight for the rights of others. They committed wholeheartedly and didn’t give up, even when things were super challenging.

I would have never walked on stage if my attitude was that I’m going to try and do it. It was so challenging that by “trying” to do it, I would have given up a long time ago.

The achievement was worth every second of pain

Three months of sacrifice and discipline were equivalent to a lifetime of achievement and maintaining my new body. I believed each rep in the gym, every early night and every step of my journey would be worth it all. When you see light at the end of the tunnel, you keep moving forward. I could sit around and let the time pass anyway, or I could get up, do something great and fulfill my long-term goal of competing.

Maintaining my new weight

I didn’t relapse because I trained for my competition the right way. I didn’t crash diet or cut carbs out. I ate (a lot!) of healthy food and created a negative energy balance through exercise and weight training. I can now eat up to 2500 cals a day just to maintain!

My habits are also a lifestyle. When you are in a negative energy balance, you simply eat less of the same food you should already be eating on a daily basis. I still train, I still lift weights and more importantly, I enjoy cheat meals and alcohol in moderation.

If you want to get started on a program, start saying you WILL and make a change. Never say “I will try” or “I would like to”. That won’t get you anywhere. Commit once and for all and don’t give up. There is no such thing as failure, only hard work and effort. Realize that there is light at the end of the tunnel and keep moving forward. Do things the right way, don’t crash diet, hit the gym and you’ll realize that these tiny little habits can change your life.

New updates for this week:

How to build a six pack:

http://www.startlivingright.net/articleDetails/87

Common sports injuries and treatment:

http://www.startlivingright.net/articleDetails/88

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to get you closer to your goal:

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