Well, It’s been a minute…… To be honest this post show recovery phase has taken a lot longer than I anticipated! Only way to describe it is I have been Utterly Ball Bagged…..
Fatigue has taken a long time to wash off. I am getting there but still find anything too physically or mentally taxing puts me in a hole for a few days.
So, since the show we have pushed food up, dropped off cardio, reduced and then built back of training volume. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster, physically. Lots of aches and pains, a knee niggle and carpel tunnel that has been fucking up my sleep even more than normal.
The knee issue ahs created the most issues…… currently in a situation where I have to grin and bare it during session, deal with it being pretty angry after training legs and also limiting the movements I can perform. This is not new to me but the pressure of needing to bring more quad development to my quads for the next time I choose to step on stage is playing a few mind games.
We reached a point this week where appetite has well and truly gone…… Time for a short and sharp diet phase. What I am pleased with is hitting the 80kg mark and still having some faint glute lines. Hoping this diet reset will put me in the position to push further with food in a few weeks and still hold a decent body comp while doing so.
For now, it’s just a case of seeing how the next few weeks unfold.
So. Where to begin….. THE OLYMPIA.
I started writing this on the Saturday after the show but midway through it wax clear, my brain still wasn’t on this planet hahaha. I will try and break it down as there is so much to say.
This post is mainly about talking through the event. I will share thoughts and feelings in a few days.
The Olympia was A LOT….. but amazing at the same time.
First was checking into the hotel Wednesday night. Casually wondering round this really nice hotel thinking “they’ve let us Muppet’s in” was very strange but exciting. Think it was at this point that Shaun Ray mistook Dan for one of his mates…… So many names just milling about.
On to Thursday….. The level of commitment required of the athletes for various obligations is high. The top placing competitors from the previous years have to attend a press conference at 12 pm. We went to watch for a while, Again so so odd to see all these big names in bodybuilding in 3D rather than Instagram. I mean, we were sat 4 seats down from Chris Asteo, who, casually yelled across us to get the attention of Dave Pulumbo – he then made his way down the row of seats, trod on my foot hahahaha, apologised profusely and continued on to sit with Chris. I know they are all just normal people but it’s still a lot to process. Dan stay to watch but I bowed out early to go back to our room and nap – #allofthefucked.
It was then on to athlete registrations in the afternoon at 4 pm, which included getting instructions for the next day, poster signing, photos for social media and sorting routine music. All while feeling ball bagged and water loading hahaha.
Thursday night before the show I was obligated, with all the other athletes to attend the “Meet the Olympians” event. Its started at 7 pm, first layer of tan was applied at 6 pm (are you beginning to see how hectic this all is one day out from a show) and the event was held in front of the main stage, it was very bright, loud and hot. Slight sensory overload here. Don’t get me wrong, it was awesome to sit there and meet/ chat to people but a certain amount of importer syndrome set in there as well as just trying to muster the energy to talk. I mean, imagine if you can, doing all that 1 day out from such a big show.
Last base coat of tan was 9 pm (I’m very pasty so always book an extra coat). Then back to the room to wait for Dan who had to make a last minute dash to Walmart…. THAT is an experience in it’s self – more on that in my next post.
Finally asleep about 11pm. Up at 5am as had make up and hair between 5.30 and 6.30, then top coat of tan at 6.45. The strange thing about the Olympia for me as a competitor is that the hotel room was so close, we were told exactly when to get back stage so no waiting around, crammed in with other competitors like at other shows.
When the time came to get back stage, that again was different. Only competitors allowed. Dan had no 4G, wifi was so slammed due to the volume of people that he couldn’t get on that either so relaying instructions was tricky but we got there. Lots of good information passed from the back stage staff and eventually it was time to line up.
The first time the Judges saw me….. I was in a line up with the current WPD Ms Olympia (Natalia Coelho), Top 5 Olympian (Brook Walker) and in between a top 10 Olympian (Emily Schubert) and 2 time (now 3 time – she won the show) Ms WPD Olympia – Sarah Villegas! To stand shoulder to shoulder with this level of competitor was daunting but exciting at the same time.
It was then on to individual presentations, as usual, I LOVED this. Posing and being on stage. the feeling it gives me is my ultimate goal behind bodybuilding. Placing is a bonus but being up there, doing my thing, that’s my happy place.
Comparison rounds were next and my energy was fading fast. The months pf prep and fatigue from sleep deprivation the last 6 weeks or so was hitting me. 3rd call out and moved straight to next to center. I am happy with that for my Olympia Debut.
It was room to wait for the results of pre judging. Only top 10 went on to finals and the wait was killing me. I knew deep down it wasn’t to be but also had to considered it could be a close one so the plan had to stay in place regarding food and hydration until we knew for sure. Finals started at 6 pm and come 4 pm I was getting very restless as still no word on placings. We decided to go for a little walk for distraction and that’s when the news came…. no top 10 for me. First thing I did was to crack open a bag of dried figs I had brought over from the UK (I know, I’m weird but anyone who followed my off season would have seen how much I love an anabolic fig hahaha).
Once we had the news, we decided to go get a few last photos in my stage bikini, then showered and headed for dinner, Turkish…… our favorite. A little wonder around Orlando’s Icon park with a stop off for desert. Then we crashed! Sleep was very much needed.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, donated to the Go Fund me and generally showed an interest in my story.
Off season plans are being hatched!
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Well, It’s been a minute…… To be honest this post show recovery phase has taken a lot longer than I anticipated! Only way to describe it is I have been Utterly Ball Bagged…..
Fatigue has taken a long time to wash off. I am getting there but still find anything too physically or mentally taxing puts me in a hole for a few days.
So, since the show we have pushed food up, dropped off cardio, reduced and then built back of training volume. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster, physically. Lots of aches and pains, a knee niggle and carpel tunnel that has been fucking up my sleep even more than normal.
The knee issue ahs created the most issues…… currently in a situation where I have to grin and bare it during session, deal with it being pretty angry after training legs and also limiting the movements I can perform. This is not new to me but the pressure of needing to bring more quad development to my quads for the next time I choose to step on stage is playing a few mind games.
We reached a point this week where appetite has well and truly gone…… Time for a short and sharp diet phase. What I am pleased with is hitting the 80kg mark and still having some faint glute lines. Hoping this diet reset will put me in the position to push further with food in a few weeks and still hold a decent body comp while doing so.
For now, it’s just a case of seeing how the next few weeks unfold.
So. Where to begin….. THE OLYMPIA.
I started writing this on the Saturday after the show but midway through it wax clear, my brain still wasn’t on this planet hahaha. I will try and break it down as there is so much to say.
This post is mainly about talking through the event. I will share thoughts and feelings in a few days.
The Olympia was A LOT….. but amazing at the same time.
First was checking into the hotel Wednesday night. Casually wondering round this really nice hotel thinking “they’ve let us Muppet’s in” was very strange but exciting. Think it was at this point that Shaun Ray mistook Dan for one of his mates…… So many names just milling about.
On to Thursday….. The level of commitment required of the athletes for various obligations is high. The top placing competitors from the previous years have to attend a press conference at 12 pm. We went to watch for a while, Again so so odd to see all these big names in bodybuilding in 3D rather than Instagram. I mean, we were sat 4 seats down from Chris Asteo, who, casually yelled across us to get the attention of Dave Pulumbo – he then made his way down the row of seats, trod on my foot hahahaha, apologised profusely and continued on to sit with Chris. I know they are all just normal people but it’s still a lot to process. Dan stay to watch but I bowed out early to go back to our room and nap – #allofthefucked.
It was then on to athlete registrations in the afternoon at 4 pm, which included getting instructions for the next day, poster signing, photos for social media and sorting routine music. All while feeling ball bagged and water loading hahaha.
Thursday night before the show I was obligated, with all the other athletes to attend the “Meet the Olympians” event. Its started at 7 pm, first layer of tan was applied at 6 pm (are you beginning to see how hectic this all is one day out from a show) and the event was held in front of the main stage, it was very bright, loud and hot. Slight sensory overload here. Don’t get me wrong, it was awesome to sit there and meet/ chat to people but a certain amount of importer syndrome set in there as well as just trying to muster the energy to talk. I mean, imagine if you can, doing all that 1 day out from such a big show.
Last base coat of tan was 9 pm (I’m very pasty so always book an extra coat). Then back to the room to wait for Dan who had to make a last minute dash to Walmart…. THAT is an experience in it’s self – more on that in my next post.
Finally asleep about 11pm. Up at 5am as had make up and hair between 5.30 and 6.30, then top coat of tan at 6.45. The strange thing about the Olympia for me as a competitor is that the hotel room was so close, we were told exactly when to get back stage so no waiting around, crammed in with other competitors like at other shows.
When the time came to get back stage, that again was different. Only competitors allowed. Dan had no 4G, wifi was so slammed due to the volume of people that he couldn’t get on that either so relaying instructions was tricky but we got there. Lots of good information passed from the back stage staff and eventually it was time to line up.
The first time the Judges saw me….. I was in a line up with the current WPD Ms Olympia (Natalia Coelho), Top 5 Olympian (Brook Walker) and in between a top 10 Olympian (Emily Schubert) and 2 time (now 3 time – she won the show) Ms WPD Olympia – Sarah Villegas! To stand shoulder to shoulder with this level of competitor was daunting but exciting at the same time.
It was then on to individual presentations, as usual, I LOVED this. Posing and being on stage. the feeling it gives me is my ultimate goal behind bodybuilding. Placing is a bonus but being up there, doing my thing, that’s my happy place.
Comparison rounds were next and my energy was fading fast. The months pf prep and fatigue from sleep deprivation the last 6 weeks or so was hitting me. 3rd call out and moved straight to next to center. I am happy with that for my Olympia Debut.
It was room to wait for the results of pre judging. Only top 10 went on to finals and the wait was killing me. I knew deep down it wasn’t to be but also had to considered it could be a close one so the plan had to stay in place regarding food and hydration until we knew for sure. Finals started at 6 pm and come 4 pm I was getting very restless as still no word on placings. We decided to go for a little walk for distraction and that’s when the news came…. no top 10 for me. First thing I did was to crack open a bag of dried figs I had brought over from the UK (I know, I’m weird but anyone who followed my off season would have seen how much I love an anabolic fig hahaha).
Once we had the news, we decided to go get a few last photos in my stage bikini, then showered and headed for dinner, Turkish…… our favorite. A little wonder around Orlando’s Icon park with a stop off for desert. Then we crashed! Sleep was very much needed.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, donated to the Go Fund me and generally showed an interest in my story.
Off season plans are being hatched!