Looking for your votes!

As you know, I started my journey in figure competition this year and I am currently training hard to be competitive next year as a pro. I am always on the lookout for opportunities to share my story and inspire others to embrace their goals. In that effort I have entered an online contest with Bodybuilding.com to be voted Spokesmodel of the year for 2012 with an opportunity to be featured on the cover of IronMan Magazine.

Voting is now open and you can vote one time per day and I would love for you to vote daily for the entire month of November.  My bodyspace username is orchidalive that will be the way to find me..please let me know if I can count on your vote!

Go to www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2012-bodyspace-spokesmodel-search.html
Click on View Women
Scroll down to & click on orchidalive

Click Vote Now!

What an amazing first year in Figure!

It is hard to believe that my first year as a figure competitor is already complete.  I am proud to have achieved my goal of pro qualification.  On July 23rd 2011 I took the overall win and earned my pro card with IFPA.  I competed as a pro twice and placed in both shows.  It has been a year filled with lessons beyond my wildest dreams and a transformation of my body and mind to match.

May 2010

August  2011

The next step in my journey is to add more muscle to my body so that I will be more competitive in the pro divisions I will compete in next year.  Starting 2 weeks ago I began new training, 4 days a week of heavy lifting.  These training sessions are intense and I can already see some muscle growth!  My diet includes slightly more variety but is still extremely clean and I am cycling between low and high calorie days.  This is considered the off-season but thus far, I am not seeing the "off" part! My workouts are even longer and more intense but I enjoy my time in the gym and look forward to the continued growth in the coming months.  It is difficult to see my lean figure begin to fade and I really do miss the stage but I know that in order to continue to compete I must step off the stage and grow to be ready for next year.

10 Days Out!

It is hard to believe my next shows are right around the corner!  It has been an exciting 1st season of figure competition for me and I look forward to the experiences waiting for me at my upcoming shows.

First up, Saturday September 24th at Gwinnett Center, the following link has all the details http://wbfcatl.com/2/
I will be competing in the Pro Figure Class, hoping to take home a beautiful 1st Place trophy and other great prizes!

and the week following Muslemania Sunday October 2nd in Marietta - Southern Polytechnic University, the following link provides all the details
http://musclemania.com/events/ads/11/11-DIXIE.jpg
This show will feature a live webcast so that even if you aren't local you will be able to watch me in action, see this website to sign up http://musclemania.com/publicity/webcasts.html

My preparation for these shows has been a little different from previous shows.  Since my prior show was only a little less than two months ago the diet has not had to be quite as restrictive.  The exercises I have been doing for the last two weeks and will continue until showtime consist of work to target my back and shoulders as well as maintain my legs.  I have been doing 6 days of training with some high intensity cardio following each day.  In addition I practice my posing at least once a week.

Here are a few photos from my last show,  SNBF Gulf Coast Pro show - August 6, 2011, which was my first pro show!

Catching Up

I certainly had a busy run of competition and excitement. For the past three weeks I have been allowing my body to heal and to spend some quality time with my husband. I have been working out and teaching classes getting back to the usual routine.

I have 3 shows planned for the remainder of the year, first up September 24th - NGA 14th Annual World Cup at Gwinnett Center, and the week after October 3rd - Musclmania Dixie at Southern Polytechnic Univeristy in Marietta, and to finish of the year November 5th - SNBF Pro at Berkmar HS in Gwinnett.

I will be gearing up for the first of these three remaining shows with a new plan starting this week.

Going Pro!

When I decided to compete in the NANBF Peachtree Natural Classic this past weekend I was excited to try out a different federation I did not consider the fact that I had was walking into my next chance to go pro...

I competed in the open class, took first place and then went head to head with the open tall winner in a Posedown for Overall winner and Pro Status, and I did it, I won!

Next up...my first Pro Show - SNBF in Fort Walton Beach, FL next Saturday August 6th, after that I will be making my way to Kansas City September 16th for the IFPA Natural KC Classic Figure Championship!

Here it is, the video of the posedown for Overall Winner and Pro Qualification..

Show Results!

I had a blast entertaining the crowd at the SNBF show, I was awarded most creative theme and took home a beautiful 2nd place Open Figure Award.

I am thankful for the feedback I got from the judges. They told me they loved my stage presence and enjoyed watching my enthusiasm, though one said I might have been a little over the top, I will be working to tone that for the next time. With regard to my development I was praised for my leg development but will need to be working to develop my shoulders and back more in the coming months to better match my legs.

Next up, this Saturday July 23rd, I will be doing my first NANBF show, the Peachtree Natural Classic! There will be another opportunity for me to go pro in the IFPA if I qualify on Saturday!

The night before the show!!

Now only a few hours separate me from the stage and I feel at a loss for words. All I know is that I feel so thankful for the opportunity to change my body and my mind to truly transform myself into a confident and proud individual who loves her life!!

I have practice, trained, prepared my body inside and out and tomorrow as I walk across the stage I will be able to show all who are there what and who I have become and most importantly I have shown myself that anything is possible with dedication, purpose and planning.

I feel great and can't wait to let everyone know how I did in the eyes of the judges. It is my hope that they will see the professional I have become and award my pro status!!

Final Preparations

Just 9 days now remain before I take to the stage to earn my SNBF Pro Card!!

Started cardio this weekend and will have more each day until just before the show. Love my cardio because it is interesting stuff, like sprints, bear crawls, mountain jumpers, rope and more. I do both HIIT cardio and steady state and even the steady state is interesting stuff! I have of course been practicing my posing every chance I get and seeing more and more improvements every time.


I will still be teaching some classes this week but none next week so that I can devote my time and energy to contest prep.


Also, a surprise addition...I will be doing a second show one week after SNBF! It will be another natural organization offering a show in the area for the first time. This group is call NANBF and I am looking forward to the opportunities that doing a new organization will bring.

Working hard to be the best I can be :)

Competition Prep has Begun

This week was my first week of contest prep for my next show July 16th, Southern Open SNBF Championships. I am working out 2 days on and 1 day off and will be adding cardio after another 2 weeks. I am lifting heavy and working in timed sets of 2 exercises each. Of course I am also practicing my posing regularly, recording my practice once a week and sharing those sessions on my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/orchidalive and while you are there, please subscribe!

I am making great progress, feeling really strong and so excited about how I will be looking by showtime. Here's how I looked today...even had a little help from my friends Kelly and Big Mike and of course my number one supporter, my husband Casey :)

What an Amazing Day!

Big opportunities to share fitness don't come along everyday, but today was a special day! Along with my new position as a fitness instructor at Lake Lanier Islands - Legacy Wellness I get to participate in a variety of unique teaching opportunities. Today the local morning show Good Day Atlanta did a feature on Lake Lanier and the programs offered there. I was featured as the teacher of Yoga by the Lake! Check it out right here...

Road Warrior: Lake Lanier: MyFoxATLANTA.com

What Keeps me Motivated?

That is a question I have been asked a lot lately...the answer I give is simple. I have figured out what it takes for me to look the way I want and now that I know what it takes I can't help but stick with it. That is half of it, the other part is that I have a big goal as well as smaller sub goals to get me to the big goal. I know that in order to make it to that goal I need to stay on track with each goal. Also, I really do love what I am doing, the diet, the exercises, the feelings I get when I invest in myself and see positive changes, the way my husband looks at me and how it makes him happy....I love it all!

The next step toward the big goal of making fitness my life's work is earning my Pro Card at my next competition July 16, 2011.

8 weeks to go and as far as I can tell, I am right on track! I am about half way through my new workouts targeting my glutes & abs and staying lean with a super clean diet. Here are a some pictures taken today while I was practicing my posing.

Lean Legs, Strong Glutes & Tight Abs!

That is the theme of my new workouts. Week one and I really felt it! This is the second week and I feel much stronger and not nearly as sore. Next week reps increase and rest decreases so that will be a fun challenge.

I love my workouts, not only because they are help me achieve the body I feel so great in but also because they give me time to focus and not stress about the world around me which can be frustrating sometimes.

I have also begun my "in season" diet program for this year, changing things only right before my contests or hopefully photo shoots!

I am going to make today a great day and I hope you will too!

Presenting - My First Interview as a Figure Competitor

It is with great pride and overwhelming joy that I share my first interview as a Figure Competitor! Hello world, here I come!

http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/04/leah-graham-interview.html

Busy Week!

Lots to do this week including (of course training), 3 new classes to start teaching, a trip to the chiropractor and a facial too! Taking care of my body is a full time job but the way I see it, my body is the only thing in life I know will be with me forever!

In my own training I am working with weights 6 days a week, getting in cardio while teaching classes and in the sauna :)

Since the show I have secured 2 new teaching jobs that I am excited about. Tonight I started teaching a new aqua class and have 2 more later in the week. I teach from the pool deck, leading and motivating participants through warm up, cardio and strength. It really is a lot of fun and I am working hard to show that aqua is not just for grannies, at least not in my class :)

I am feeling on fire with a passion for my purpose in life, to compete, to teach and to motivate!

Getting Back to Blogging with some Big News!

I can't believe it was at 7 weeks out that I made my last post! It is actually now almost 2 weeks after my show and I am just now getting an update going! So time to catch up!

My contest prep went very well and kept me very busy, at the gym, in the kitchen and practicing my posing! As the weeks went by I saw my body getting leaner and taking on the shape I was hoping for. My suit had to be made a little smaller and once the stones were put on it looked absolutely beautiful. The result, which I know you have been waiting for....I won!!

Yes, I took first place in Novice Figure Short at my very first figure competition on April 9th 2011 at the SNBF Georgia Championships. For complete video of my performances both at pre-judging and the finals I have put together a playlist on my youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8DB759CF41464026

Since the contest I was able to have some cheat meals but have been mostly sticking to a very basic clean eating regimen prescribed to me by my coach. As far as workouts, the first week I took it easy, doing some fun cardio classes and enjoying the sauna. This week I got back to the weights which I am enjoying, not going all out heavy yet but still seeing my body improve.

The next show I do will be on July 16th. I will compete in the open class and will be training hard to prepare myself for another win and an SNBF pro card!

7 Weeks to Go!

My first week of pre-contest prep is now complete and I am feeling a bit sore but right on target. The food tastes good and there is plenty to eat each meal, as long as I don't wait too long between meals I feel just fine. Lots of protein and green veggies, lots to prep ahead of time so it is ready. My husband calls it the great chicken bake, today we baked three rounds of chicken and a big pot of sweet potatoes to be ready for the next few days.

For the last 2 Saturdays I have been attending posing workshops and feel I finally understand the lat spread and can actually do it! I also met some folks who do myfascial release therapy which can help my development, going to check into that.

I have 4 days of strength and 3 days of cardio workouts and of course the 5 classes I teach on a regular basis. I did sprints on Wednesday in Vibram 5 fingers and found that my calves were sore the rest of the week :)

Tried on my suit Friday and will be finalizing the design this Friday!

So much to do, so much to be excited about!!!

Next Phase - Pre-Contest Prep!!

The time is coming very close now....next week marks 8 weeks until my show and I will begin the pre-contest diet and workout!! I am excited!

I received my plan from my coach today and am working on understanding it and making the schedule work around life. Diet will be very simple, that is the easy part...to prepare anyway! The workouts are fast paced which I like, as long as I can get to what I need in the gym quickly. I will likely meet with my coach to go over the finer points and I will be off and running or sprinting as the case will be :)

Friday I will have a final cheat meal and Valentines dinner with my husband and then it will be all business after that.

Rest Day

Time to rest, time to reflect on the week, where I have been and where I am heading.

Ordered my suit last night, I am having it custom made, from sizing to the fabric and the stones...it is going to be so pretty....to the right is a swatch of the fabric it will be made of sitting on my arm :)

On my rest days I like to study up on federations and make connections with other competitors on bodybuilding.com, or other blogs. Many people choose to compete for so many reasons, it makes me reflect on my own reasons and my abilities to reach my goals. I know that success is up to me and I am doing everything I can to get there.

Sprinting in the fog

Today was my sprint day. After teaching Pilates I completed 20 - 50yard laps at the track....it was 33 degrees with the wind chill! I felt good about them while I was sprinting but now, my legs are tight! I put some extra glutamine in my shake to help combat the soreness.

Back to the gym tomorrow for another full body workout and to teach Pilates in the evening.

Long day of learning and a great workout too

Today I attended an SNBF Workshop to help me with my Figure preparation. It was informative, I learned more about tanning prep, posing, and posing suits. I met some nice people and got to learn about their experiences too. I also picked up some great ideas for sponsorship to help finance my journey and to help others at the same time!

This week I will be choosing and ordering my posing suit which I will wear on stage for the shows I am going to do this year.

I finished off the day with the first workout of my 3rd week of my current exercises. I am not used to working out at night, I think the excitement of the day got me through it with ease. I look forward to practicing some of the tips I got for posing during my gym time tomorrow.

On my mind today

I didn't sleep very well last night. I did dream a little though, about boxing actually! I am attending a workshop for Figure prep this weekend and will need to bring my theme wear costume along for evaluation? I am now thinking a boxing theme will work great, I have the gloves, wraps and some shorts that look the part.

As far as training goes I taught an aqua class and did a quick body weight circuit today and tomorrow is my rest day!

That's all for now, hoping to get some good rest tonight :)

Diet - What I am putting in my body

My current diet involves cycling between low and high calorie days with differing macronutrient requirements depending on the day. On low calorie days I stick to protein and good fats, and carbs from vegetables only. On high calorie days I include good carbs, oatmeal, brown rice, etc.

Training - What am I doing in the Gym

In my current phase of training I am doing exercise that will help me get more lean. I am training 6 days a week, each day's workouts include work for the total body. I am also doing sprints and plate pushes. I really enjoy these types of workouts, I work quickly and they are never boring. The most challenging part is making my way to the equipment I need when I need it.

In my prior phase of training I was doing more traditional weightlifting exercises, chest press, squats etc. I change my exercises every 4-6 weeks based on the workouts my coach prescribes for me.

Introduction

In August 2010 I decided to begin training for figure competition. I selected a coach and made a plan to compete in my first Figure show with SNBF in April 2011. Since then I have been training, eating clean, and practicing my posing. Throughout this blog I plan to share more about my training and the thoughts in my head as time goes by.