Coach: Tammy Strome

Finally, it’s here; the official week of the show!

E is ready to go through the “dial-in” process, which will bring her body to stage-ready condition.

When I saw E last week she hit 126 lbs and looked physically balanced. She was flat and somewhat watery but that’s something we can resolve this week. I expect her to compete at around 123 lbs…maybe even 122 lbs. But these are just our numbers. Weight doesn’t matter on stage. All that matters is how she looks. E has lost a full 16 lbs since the start of her contest prep this year!

Here are her updated measurements:

Weight: 126 lbs: 16 lbs less than start

Body Fat: 10%: 12.8% down from start (confirmed via Lange Skin Caliper)

Circumferences:

Waist: 26.5: 4.5 inches down from start

Hips: 34.5: 3.7 inches down from start

Thigh: 20: 2 inches down from start

Lat/chest: 36.5: ½ inch down from start

Biceps: 11.5 inches: 1.5 inches down from start

Calves: 14 inches: 1 inch down from the start

Total: down 13.2 inches from start

This contest prep has been a challenging one for E. She had many personal obstacles that could have derailed her at any time. But courage can only exist in the face of fear, so she is a full-on champion for persevering and seeing it through to the end.

This week E’s main job is to maintain a positive attitude and use visualization to keep her jitters at bay!

Next Tuesday we’ll post photos from E’s contest day (this Saturday), so you can see how she looked all dressed up to rock the stage.

On Thursday drop by to read my article on The Path to Pro Bodybuilding and the benefits!

Yours in health,

Tammy

Client: Eftihia

This week I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on the 13 long weeks prior to this one, the entire journey and the end of the road. Right now I feel a little sad, overwhelmed and nervous at the prospect of it being over soon.

I feel this way because, as much as I wish for it to be over, contest prep is exciting and fills my life with purpose. There’s something amazing about the process of working hard to achieve what seems to be an unattainable thing. I’m worried that, once it’s over, I’ll feel lost.

Knowing this, I’m planning lots of activities for after the show to keep me busy and help me shift gears to create new exciting aspects to my life. That said, I WILL COMPETE AGAIN!

When I saw Tammy this week, I told her and will tell you now that my success at the show isn’t the end result for me on Saturday. Of course I’m going to give my all up there on that stage, but I’ve already achieved success during this contest prep.

Success lies in working hard and never giving up, not in winning (though that would be nice).

No matter HOW MUCH I WANTED TO GIVE UP during this contest prep, I pushed forward. Every week, as I was faced with new and uncertain realities about my life, my family and the show, I wanted to throw in the towel. Every time I stuck it out…and here I am. I completed the journey! That is success.

I want to thank a few choice people who have meant a great deal and played a huge role in this contest prep. Your names are going on my Wall of Stars…

Eftihia’s Wall of Stars

Tammy, if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be where I am now and I would never have discovered the beautiful woman underneath all my layers.

Julia, thank you for waking up early to do cardio with me for 13 weeks and keeping me positive and upbeat when all I wanted to do was cry.

Pamela, thanks for your infectious “kick-butt” attitude—you pushed me harder to reach my goal and get my butt in gear at the gym.

Dennis, thanks for your everlasting and unwavering support. Your passion for ME has helped keep me in the race.

Finally, to my parents, I have always looked up to you and spent years wanting to make you proud. It’s so nice to have you tell me you are amazed by me and my journey. Your enthusiasm has made life bearable. I can’t wait for you both to see me up there on show day!

YOU—my readers and new friends—thank you for following along with my struggles. Your uplifting comments on the blog gave me the encouragement to follow through until the end.

Okay, so here we go! June 18—show day—I choose to face you head on and say: “BRING IT!”