Tonight.....A New List....

It is amazing to think that almost 10 years ago I wrote a list of goals on a small piece of paper and carried them in my wallet, I would look at them periodically to remind myself of what I wanted to work towards and achieve. Well, today I will be crossing off the last goal on this list and that is the "Arnold's".  

At the time I wrote these goals I did not know how I would get here or when but I knew this was a dream I had, and today this dream is coming true.  I have always written down my goals, monthly, yearly ect, but today as I get ready to get on stage it is amazing to think about the power of goal setting. That being said one can't just write a list and wait, you must work towards achieving your goals each day, doing your best at each moment and never giving up. 

I wrote this on the back side of my list as a little pep talk to myself

" I believe in You and your goals, Nothing will stand in your way of reaching them.  I believe in You! Reach for the Stars! You will have all you ever dreamed of and much more. I love you Aeryon"

1 Week!!!

Can't believe in 1 week I will be on a plane Columbus bound!!! Heading to the Arnold Classic to compete in the Amateur Bikini division. This is a dream come true, to be on that stage, with all those athletes, I grew up with a father who loved bodybuilding and I am thankful his passion was passed down to me. The past 16 weeks have been dedicated to this goal and it is almost here, I have given 110% to this. I know that I have done everything I can to bring my best package, there are no "would have's....should have's or could have's"  that is how I try to operate in all aspects of my life. Give 110% and you cannot judge yourself as you did the best you could in that moment.
So this week I want to really absorb everything that is going on, to enjoy every second. Try my best to be present and aware, as before I know it I will be home and it will be over........but there is always another goal around the corner...

Dendrobium.....Focus....Clarity

I am not a person who likes Fat Burners or Stimulants, I do not like the buzzed out feeling or feeling out of sorts. However, now being so close to the Arnold's I feel tired, at times unfocused and irritable.  So that even makes it more exciting the Sd Pharmaceuticals has Dendrobium, this product is derived from an Orchid and is all natural. Helps with focus, clarity, gives me energy, with no jitters, or crashing...and the effect is fast. I love this product. It has gotten me through many a workouts and days latley! So if you are a student, a shift worker, need focus and energy (which I believe is all of us at times), without the side effects of staying up all night...This is the product for you!!!!

For more information please check out:

Www.sdpharmaceuticals.com

3 Weeks Out

   I am 3 weeks away from my biggest show to date, the Arnold Amateur, I am so excited to be part of this competition.

  I have decided on my suit colour, it is a beautiful......(not telling yet...lol),  I have always changed my suit with each show,  I like having different suit pics and watching my bodies progression. My diet is really strict now, no cheat days at all,  we started carb cycling, so 2 days at a higher carb count then dropping low for one day, protein/fiber stays the same, fats are dropped by half on the lower days. We are hoping to pull me in even tighter and leaner than past shows, so far it seems to be working. Cardio is up to two 50 min sessions each day with weight training 2 days on and 1 day off. This sometimes is a challenge being a full time working mom, so I have moved my treadmill into the living room so in the mornings I can talk with my daughter as I run. Must say does not really go with the decor but gives my daughter more balance.

 I think it is amazing if you have those around you who support and encourage you, I am lucky enough to have a wonderful boyfriend who has been so great through all of this. It is not easy to be with a competitor, the countless gym hours, prepping food (the constant smell of fish wafting through the house), I am tired, grouchy, and at times....emotional. He is a constant encouragement and support to me everyday.  For that I am so thankful....

  Energy wise I do feel good,  the low carb days tend to be a little rough as I am tired but I know this is my choice and I have to put in the work to get the results.  I watch alot of the competition videos to help to motivate and inspire me. I started posing every Sunday with my coaches and their team so being with a group of competitors helps push me along. I know before I know it the show will be over....so I am trying to enjoy each step of this journey....

Finding Inner Peace

Many people do not know this about me but I have battled an eating disorder most of my life. When I was growing up I was considered a chunkier/thicker child.  In grade 7 my parents put me into Weight Watchers which started my weight loss journey.  In looking back at pictures I don't see an obese child, what I see now is a little girl who was trying to get attention by filling herself with food.
When I was 14 I thought I had discovered what I thought was the best "weight loss" solution, I had a friend who's sister had been battling bulimia and to me it seemed like the perfect method. Not only did I get to eat whatever I wanted BUT.....I could get rid of it at no caloric consequence. I felt as though I finally had won!!
 As the years progressed my binging and purging worsened and it became a daily battle to not "loose it".  Some days I would think I had it beat then I would take 1tablespoon to much and I was sent into a tailspin searching for anything to fill my void. As my disease worsened so did my teeth and my eyes, to this day I am still paying costly dental bills due to the damage I have done.
So this original idea of having "Control" over my weight now had complete 100% control over every part of my life. I couldn't go out to eat in fear that if I needed to "loose it" I would not be able too.  I did not want my friends or family knowing about what I was doing and I became completely controlled by this disease. For over 10 years of my life any family holiday I had to plan ahead which bathroom I would use and how I would get away when needed. I remember waking up from nightmares where I had binged in my dream and could not find somewhere to "loose it".
When I started competing 10 years ago I thought I had beat it, as I had to follow such a strict diet plan I could not deviate and the binging subsided.  However, once the show was over I would fall back into my old routine, and at this point my body was so deprived it held on to any calories I took in so matters became even worse.
Four years ago I had my daughter Mekaella, I knew that I did not want her to follow in my footsteps.  I made the conscious effort to change the voice in my head, from "You'll get fat if you don't get rid of it" to "You will never have the life you want to have if you continue doing this of it".
I had to really fight against this inner voice that controlled me for so long. However, over time the voice became quieter,  and I became more relaxed with food.
I then began to look at my trigger foods and started eliminating them from my diet processed foods, wheat, grains ect. I started eating whole foods, fruits, meats and nuts, I am not going to binge on a bag of apples or a steak.  Changing my food choices also has greatly helped with the urge to binge.
Last year when I started competing again that was a real concern of mine that I would fall back into the trap of years past . I am happy to report that I have not, and it is not that I don't hear that old voice, but now I have learned to not give that voice the control it once had. I am in control of this journey and I will "Live my Best Life" and everyday I am working towards that....

Cracked Rib

Well this Christmas some people got presents, and I received a cracked rib. Now how I received this cracked/broken rib (can't tell from Xrays) is another story. For the past couple weeks my side has been sore, I even went to my Dr to see if he could tell me what was the problem was, he informed me that it might be a pulled ligament and there is nothing that can be done.
However, last week I was wrestling with my boyfriend and heard a large alarming "POP" come from my back. That entailed the next 5 hrs in emergency at the hospital, which in case you are wondering cracked Ribs are on the bottom of the waiting room list. When I was finally seen I was notified that there was nothing that could be done and that I was not to train for the next 4-6 weeks....ummm well that is not happening.
So now I will have to resort to less strenuous cardio, go slow with the weights and pay strict attention to my diet.....but on another note to self.....don't wrestle with a 280lb man....

SD Green Tea

Been awhile since I have written, just added a new product to my current supplement stack, Green Tea by SD Pharmaceuticals.  Green Tea is not only an excellent Antioxidant but also increases fat burning without any stimulants, and the best part is it gives me energy.  I find that as I get closer to show time my energy level lowers, I don't drink coffee and can't use stimulants so I found that Green Tea works really well for me. I am currently stacking this with my SD L-Carnitine and will add in the Green Coffee Bean in the next several weeks. The best part is being able to control each individual product that I use and the dosage.

For more information please check out:

Www.sdpharmaceuticals.com