Coach: Tammy Stromes
First, great news! This past week was much better for E. She dropped another pound and the visual changes are there. Each time I see her there’s continued improvement throughout her whole body, so she’s on track.
I have introduced circuits into her training, which will give her body a needed jolt. Also, now that she has her head in a better place she is bound to see improvements. Stress really messes with fat loss. I was proud to see E adopting a take-charge attitude this week. She followed all of my suggestions from last week and is feeling much better for it. Now we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of preparing for the show.
What’s Done?
E’s suit swatches are picked and sent off to Celeste.
What’s Next?
E needs to book her hair, makeup and tan. That will be done closer to 4 weeks out from the show. She’ll need a makeup artist to help her select a stage look that compliments her features and her suit. We still need to discuss hair color and style. I’d love to see E try a bolder version of her natural hair tone. It would show nicely on stage with the makeup, tan and suit. We’ll discuss that in more detail when we meet this week.
Embracing Your Inner Diva
If you’re going to compete on the stage, you’re going to have to embrace your inner diva. Hair, makeup, beautiful finger and toe nails, nice skin tone and a great tan are all important parts of the package. Every detail will be noticed by the judges. E is a low-maintenance kind of gal in that respect, but she’s beginning to allow herself to enjoy bringing that inner diva to life through this stage character.
Overall, I’m excited to say that E is now making use of all the tools she needs to be mentally and physically ready for this show. It’s inspiring for me to see her so committed to her fat-loss goals. She really has embraced the identity of a hard-training athlete, and that’s the attitude she needs to do well on that stage!
Stay tuned for Thursday’s post “Could you be overdoing it in your training and eating?”
Yours in health,
Tammy
Client: Eftihia
Okay, so things are much better this week.
*Phew!*
Part of this is because I made the decision to not shut myself out from the world and to make sure I seek help when I feel I might need it. Because we all need help sometimes, don’t we?
Tammy has modified my training so it’s more circuit based, plus she added a huge increase in cardio. Circuits are more fun, but they are also quite HARD when I’m trying to spare every ounce of energy. That said, I know I need to stay focused and bring my “A-Game” to the gym every day.
Lately I’ve been thinking “thank goodness I have a coach like Tammy.” She writes everything down and outlines it, which makes it much easier for me to focus and give 100%…or what feels like 110% some days!
This week’s challenge? I’m finding it hard to concentrate.
Tammy explained that it’s likely due to the low-carb diet I’m on right now. It takes time for the body to adapt. As long as I stay focused and push through, she says, I’ll begin feeling better soon. Yay! Contest prep can really mess with your head sometimes. All I can do is take it one day at a time and keep my eye on the prize.
What Helps?
1. Meditative Tools. I’ve been using some meditative tools that Tammy suggested, repeating positive thoughts over and over. It’s really working!
2. Showing Kindness Toward Myself. I am realizing that I have to learn to respect my body and my efforts. During this contest prep I feel like my body isn’t cooperating, but the important thing is that, when I walk out on that stage, I know I did my best—what more can a person do? I’m learning to be a little kinder toward myself while still remaining focused and committed. Tammy has been a huge help to me in that respect.
With only 9 weeks left I am panicking a little, because I’m nowhere close to my goal weight. Then again, I also know that the goal weight is subject to change as built up some muscle this year. Still, I feel anxious. Those darn negative-thought gremlins again! When they show up, I just close my eyes and take deep breaths and let myself know that it will be all right. I can only follow Tammy’s lead and do my best and nothing more.
3. The Little Things. What’s exciting for me right now are the fun little things that go with competing on the stage. I’ve finally sent back my suit swatches to Celeste and she has told me that she’s going to start making my suit. I’m excited to see what she comes up with. The red suit I wore for my first two shows was so beautiful that I can only imagine how this one might look!
I’ve also taken the initiative to have a photo shoot booked. It’s always a good thing to have photos taken of yourself when you are super lean! It’s fun to see how well a photographer can capture all the hard work you’ve put in. For me, especially, it allows me to express my inner diva! I tend to not fuss over my appearance too much but competitions like this one give me the opportunity to play with the little girl inside.
Throughout this entire journey Tammy has helped to me discover that beautiful girl, and I am enjoying letting her come out of her shell. (Shhh. Don’t tell anyone!)
Yep, it turns out that I like the perfect nails, the pretty eyelashes, the make-up, the body suit and the fun jewelry. Who knew? But I especially love the idea of sparkling on that stage with a big smile on my face.
