The Cinderella Project

So what happens when you do something you've never done before...something that scares you so much you want to vomit.

Yes, vomit.

Here are the thoughts and ramblings compiled of my adventure into the world of figure competing.

Cinderella Project 1.0
Feb 19, 2014 

It is now OFFICIAL!  
Even though I haven't told anyone, lol! 
Less than 16 weeks ago I changed my training and we are now at six weeks and counting...

Stepping out of the box, with fear and excitement!  
Feeling a little like Cinderella! The shoes, the primping and training details to make this happen. I think I know what I will call this adventure...
Only Cinders didn't have to wear something that fit into an envelope... 

Cinderella Project 3.0  
January 4, 2015  
 
This seems like the best time of year to make the next project official. But this essay should be titled..."Why I Do What I Do" ... I've become the exact person I used to criticize. Some fluffy 'Barbie' so wrapped up with how she looked that she probably didn't know how to throw a ball.... 
Well...that's why this should be called "Why I Do What I Do" 
Yesterday I posted a picture that represented just a moment in time, forever captured. The picture is just one part of me. It is the culmination of hard work and discipline and mindset and positive relationships and so many other pieces..it's just the celebration of completing the goal. It's the party to end the work. We get all dressed up ( not really) we put our best face and hair forward...to be proud of the journey. 

But Let's rewind... 
I've been an athlete all my life. Took small breaks off during pregnancy and wee ones ...but for the most part, I've always had something going...I wear every "activity" badge with honour. From Rugby to Team Handball, from spin instructor to long distance cyclist, from jogger to half marathoner, from touch football player to now a ringetteplayer ... something to keep me active. 
BUT ... I always put fitness ahead of health. You heard it here. I ate for enjoyment not to fuel my body. I trained for half marathons and wondered why I was always exhausted... Played a contact sport and recovery from the aches and pains took forever....eatingcrap, drinking crap, living on processed whatever...guess what? It eventually caught up. Health deteriorated, mood in the toilet, angry, exhausted and cranky. But I kept on running and kept on training.... 
I slowly made changes to my diet. Concentrated on whole foods, bought organic fruits and veggies, prided myself on the fact we ate dinner together as a family...Changed up my routines and feel in love with my bike, and cycling became my passion. 
But the way I felt, the way I looked never changed. Four years ago that all changed. I put my health first. Fitness second. I began to fuel my body differently. I took a chance on cutting edge science to assist my metabolic deficiencies when others laughed at me for doing some FAD diet.  I started to feel great, dropped weight, my energy changed, my mood changed. 
From an athletic stand point, the changes came first on the bike. In one year,  my ability to go harder faster, longer  were very noticeable! My ability to recover was profound! What used to take days was now reduced dramatically. Training harder and feeling better...Seemed like an oxymoron. I started training in a gym with a trainer so I would have someone to coach me and push me harder. 
January of 2014, at the gentle push of my trainer, I made a commitment to change my training and go from endurance to body building. The intention was to push to a new level ... IT WAS NEVER TO GET ON STAGE.  I turned the TV off, tuned into my family and children. I worked on sleep. I worked on a different 'me". I began to train like a bodybuilder rather than an endurance athlete.

Sixteen weeks of training and I hit the stage. Not once but twice...what was I thinking? What have I got myself into? Well, here goes...I have never felt better physically or mentally. I train for the journey. I train for the person I am yet to become. I train because I like to. I train for another day in my life. If you have read this far, thank you. If I piss you off, oh well. If I make you angry, look inside yourself. If I inspire you to become who you want to be, then right on! I dedicate this never ending monologue to all my peeps who have said yes! I dedicate this to those peeps who will join me on stage. You know who you are:) 
There is no ending, just a new adventure.  
Just Do...Until 


Stay tuned to find out what happened with the Cinderella Project 4.0