Page 18 - NGA NATURALmag 2019 SPRING-SUMMER Issue

Spring-Summer 2019
18
NGA NATURALmag
Bodybuilding It’s a Lifestyle Ihave been competing as an an NGA Pro Figure competi- tor for 6 years and I’m still learning something new every year In the winter of 2017 I I I made poor decisions that drastically affected my physique It wasn’t until after I competed in in the the Spring of 2018 at the the NGA Kentucky Natural Classic that I became aware of this A judge that I highly respect and admire approached me with constructive criticism Needless-to-say I was completely crushed by what I I was was told It was was an eye- opening experience that changed the the rest of the the year On average I I compete in 4 shows a a a a a a season I’m on on on a a a a a a a a a a a restricted diet for about 10 months out out of of the year Because of of of this I tend to to rebound drastically after my last show of of the the season and continue to to overindulge through the the the the holidays Well I I really over over did it that win- ter! I I ate everything under the the the sun and then some My off season weight weight increased to a a a a a a a a a a whopping 45 pounds above my my stage weight! I I crashed my my metabolism and had to to to figure out what I I needed to to to do to to to get it back In January I I I I started my my prep as as usual and did what I I I I I normally do I I I I I decreased my my caloric intake and and increased cardio This time I I I I didn’t drop any weight after several weeks of dieting which was was scary! I I started looking online for anything that that was was natural that that could help me me decrease my my appetite and and increase my my metabolism I I did them all! I I drank coffee and and green tea ate almonds avocados eggs salmon apples (in small amounts) added ginger cinnamon flaxseed and MCT Oil to to to food to to to curb my my appetite To increase my my metabolism I I I took B vitamins and and magnesium Eventu- ally most of o the weight came off and and I I I thought I I I was ready to compete I I I never really know what what I I I look like on stage That’s why no no matter what what I I I always purchase the photo- graphs that are taken at at at at at at each show They’re great to to reflect on later in life but more importantly for for me me I like to to use them to to critique myself for for improvement From what I I I saw the the judge was was was right on on on target My conditioning was was was was bad! I I I I looked soft I I I I was was was was even more troubled by the the fact that I I I I was was was competing in in in in my second show the the following week! I I I felt depressed and didn’t want to to to compete I I I was ready to to to hang up my 5” clear stiletto heels for good However I I am blessed