4 weeks out!

So, I'm 4 weeks out as of this past Friday and I'm getting really excited! And nervous, and anxious lol. I always start to second guess things the closer I get to a show. I guess because the closer you get, the less time there is to make any changes if needed.
This prep had been, by far, the hardest one I've ever done. I've had other seasons where things were busy, but this one has been a huge mental game. But I haven't let anything stop me yet....I'm not about to start😉
The weather has finally been getting warmer (and actually staying warm). Which I love because I can start sweating out all the water I hold, lol. I think people think I joke when I tell them I hold water like a camel. I drink a ton, but I end up holding a ton too. Boo!😢 But when the weather heats up, that all changes. It's kinda gross but I feel good knowing I'm not holding it!

So other than contest prep and trying to be wonder woman😉 nothing too exciting is going on with me at the moment.
I'm actually at the gym now, but then I have to go to the fruit market, home to clean, cook, prep meals, and pot my tomatoes🍅 Then back to the gym later for cardio.
Hope everybody had a great weekend!
xoxo~

Happy Monday!

Well, I figure it's time for another check-in. So, I did my requalifier the other weekend...and, I WON!  It was very exciting and fun! I was just going for a top 5 placing, so to win my second overall was unexpected and a great feeling! I had my Godiva cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (as per my usual post show meal😉), then we headed out with friends to celebrate. I took the next day off, now back on track until June for Jr's!

My girlfriend decided to try her hand at figure this year and took 1st place in the tall class at the same show! I'm trying to convince her to go to Chicago too, but she's still undecided. 

The weather is finally getting warmer here.  Most of my wardrobe is geared towards warmer weather so I'm happy I can start wearing some different stuff! Plus I love wearing my summer outfits when I'm leaner😉 Although, I like compliments like the next person, it makes me a bit uncomfortable when people keep going on with it and/or start asking me a bunch of questions like what do you eat, what exercises should I do....
So, there's pro's and con's to everything I guess😊 (I'll still choose leaner, lol)

Well its gym time and I have lots to catch up on, things that were neglected getting ready for the show.
Happy Monday!
xoxo me~

Guess what day it is!?

So, it's Wednesday, I'm in the 4th week of my prep and things are busy as usual😊 I passed my boards (like I doubted I would😉), and I'm working in a salon in Royal Oak. I really like it there and everyone is super nice! So between the new job, contest prep, and everything else life is super busy right now!

I went to see American Sniper last weekend. There were some pretty tough scenes to watch, but I highly recommend it. It'll still be good on dvd, but you should really see this one in a theatre! I was so excited to see a grown up movie for once, lol. The one before this was SpongeBob out of water😂

Well, this one's not gonna be very long. About to head to the gym, then work.
I was going to post progress pics here, but between all the other social media outlets I'll just keep'em on my IG or FB.

Happy hump day!
xoxo

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everybody had a great weekend! Mine wasn't too exciting but always busy. Friday didn't do a whole lot because I had to take my dude to get basketball pics taken, then to practice on sat morning. But that night we went out to dinner with some friends at PF Changs. I LOVE their GF Changs spicy chicken! Besides my Thai food, I think I could eat that as my only dish for the rest of my life!

After dinner we went out for some drinks and hanging out. Then Sunday we had a family get together in Holly at a pub that's owned by cousins. It was nice but by time Sunday rolls around I'm always tired out and am not as good of company as I'd like to be. The rest of the evening we were slugs and went to bed early. And now here we are starting another week! Sometimes it feels like a bit of a hamster wheel😕  But if things were slow I'd probably be complaining that I'm bored, lol.

This week is gonna be like every other, running around football meeting, catechism, basketball, cooking, cleaning, shopping....and this week I go to take my boards for manicuring this week! Finally! It's been a bit of a headache getting to this point but it's finally here! Yay! So hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be able to get my little booty a job in a salon! I wish I would have done this year's ago! I love the salon environment, it makes money, and it's super flexible! So I can still make field trips, classroom parties or whatever!

Been in the gym, but I've got to change up my workouts a bit so I can run through my boards a couple times before Thurs. But as long as it gets done, right?

And because I like to torture myself, I decided to take a cake decorating class! Me and a girlfriend decided to do it. It's 4 weeks so it's not a huge commitment. During a lot of my previous contest preps I like to start to bake for people as I start getting depleted (if I can't enjoy it I at least like to see other people enjoy😉). But I stopped because I was being called a food pusher, lol. Maybe if I can make my goodies extra inviting they won't be able to resist them!

Well, I got lots of food to still cook, and get things ready for the next day. I'm hoping to be able to post up some pre prep pics next post!

Later!

Okay, so let's try this again...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I tried posting on new years day, but it's still sitting in queue 'publishing'? Anyway, I hope you all had a good holiday season and a great new year! I stayed home this NYE. We either hosted or attend a Xmas party every weekend during Dec and hosted Christmas to about 36 people, then my b-day (the day after Xmas!)! So by NYE, we were beat. But it was a lot of fun! I may start alternating going out and staying home.

So is anyone making resolutions? I didn't last year, I don't really like the thought of a resolution and I don't think you should wait until the first of the year to make a change. That being said, there are some things I'd like to do this year....but I'm not calling them resolutions. Some of them are things I've already done but maybe left alone for a bit. Like reading. I really enjoy reading but the last book I finished was in Feb or Mar last year. So, I've already started a new one! If you have any suggestions on good reads send'em my way!
There's other things on my little list but not worth getting into right now. Some are big and some are boring things that need to be done.

I definitely plan on stepping on stage again this year! I'm planning on Jr's again (can ya tell I like that show, lol), but I have to requalify locally this year before I go. The full local schedule isn't out yet, but I'm looking to requal in may. I just need a top 5 placing but I don't go into shows looking half assed.
And it's back to figure, but that's okay with me. As long as I'm stepping on stage in the arena I'll be competitive in.....I'm all good:)

I start dieting right after valentine's day. It's a little longer but I feel better knowing I have more than enough time to be ready. And if I come in early there's always cheats I can throw in;)

I hope everyone's recovered from the holiday season and is starting off the new year great!
Bye! ~

Grrrr.....

I typed out a long post catching things up and it won't publish😠 I'll be back later to give it another shot.
TGIF!

Well at least I keep coming back right? Lol

Okay, so I think last time I checked in I was 9 weeks out?  So, I went to Chicago looking exactly the way I wanted to come in! I was a few pounds heavier, a bit fuller, and the right degree of leaness. Unfortunately for me, the look of WPD was more like 15 pounds heavier this year. I'm still on the route of keeping it as natural as possible, so 15 pounds will take me a bit longer than 1 season to put on. So, it's back to figure for me for now! I like figure, but I really am gonna miss the posing routine part off WPD. C'est la vie I guess, right?

In other bummering (it's a word, right?) news, my gym is closing. So it's off to a fitness center for me. I'm more of a small gym, chalk on the floor, people grunting kind of a girl. Change is always inevitable right? So, maybe I'll really love the new place.....do I sound like I'm convincing myself, lol. I have a couple more weeks with my gym until the breakup:)

So last time I checked in it was prolly spring time, now it's fall time so the weather is about the same. But I've been enjoying my fall flavors like pumpkin and apple spice. And occasionally a woodchuck or 2;) Actually I live not too far from an apple orchard that has their own brewery......and omg is it delicious! They have so many different flavors and I like that they don't add extra sugar to their cider to sweeten it. So yummy!

Well, I'm off to get back to my day! Just lots of cleaning around the house....and lots of cooking to do! It's been a little hectic around here with school (for my little guy, and for me! But that'll be another post😉), Halloween, get togethers, and football! So there's some much needed catch up in order!

I promise to not keep you waiting too long until next time! 
Bye!~

9 weeks out!

Soooo, I'm 9 weeks out as of this past Saturday and I feel so on track!!! I have my last cheat coming up this Friday and (depending on what I measure at) I'm thinking about making it more of a cheat day than just a meal. Still undecided.  As of mid last week I was sitting at 9.7% bf. Which is leaner than I was at this point last year.....and 2lbs heavier!  So excited about that!  I'm posting from my phone,  but rather than posting pics up everywhere,  check me out on Instagram @amandazawojsky to see any progress pics I take.  Gonna go finish my set, hope you're all having a great start to the week!
XOXO

Well hello there stranger.....

Well, it's been another minute since I've been here to check in. Totally my style.....

So, quick catch up. I'm just about 13 weeks out from Jr. Nats right now. I took 3rd place last year, so of course I have to do it again! 2 spots away from my pro card......um yes sir, doing it again;)  My feedback (which I think I posted a while back) was really great! I know I've made improvements since then. We'll see if it was enough improvements to jump those 2 placings. I gave myself 16 weeks of prep to allow for a few cheats scheduled along the way (and to ensure the cheats won't set me back). But honestly, I started this prep the leanest I've probably started any of my others. Not that I'm crazy lean or anything, but I have 8lbs....tops.....to get down. My best starting point ever! I haven't started practicing a posing routine yet. Not sure what song to pick. Last year I used a song called Runway. I thought the lyrics were kinda fitting, but I don't know if anybody really pays attention to that stuff other than me;) This season I think I'm just gonna pick something that has a moderate tempo so I can move more fluidly, but I'm not gonna put too much brain power into it this time around. 

Things have been going pretty well for me this season. I've got my sponsor Athletic Xtreme, and I'm now a rep for Elite Performance personal training studio (they do on site and online training programs). And I've been getting a lot more exposure through different social media outlets. So, hopefully this streak continues all the way to Chicago! If you're on any of the different sites (i.e. Twitter, FB, IG, etc.) search me and gimme a like, follow, or share;) 

I haven't taken any progress pics yet (although I've been a busy poster lately), but I really should get some taken before too many changes start happening. 

Well, this quickie is coming to an end. Back to the grind. Gotta cook, clean some more, cook again, and eat, eat, eat! 
I'd say I'll be back soon, but we know me all too well...
Bye! xoxo

Well, hello there...

So it's Thursday and a few months later but that's always been my style;) A few things have been going on with me. First, the biggest thing...I got a sponsor!! That's right, you're looking an official Athletic Xtreme Team member (I'll link later)! I'm so happy! They have some great supplements! Check'em out! I should be getting my shipment from them today, so I will hopefully be posting a product review soon!

Second, idk if I mentioned before that over the summer my Dr put me on a gluten free diet? Well, it's been a few months and I feel great! My weight is finally....did ya hear me say that, FINALLY at my happy place!! Yay! And I don't 'diet' to do it. I just eat whenever I'm hungry, and of course I make good choices (most of the time), and have treats whenever I feel like'em! Uhhhh buh bye gluten forever!! ;)

So I guess only 2 things really going on with me. I did get to go to the P!nk concert the other week! How fun! We watched from a first level suite (fancy, fancy, I know right?). Friends of ours took us:) Then, not so fun, I got hit in the parking lot of my gym:( boo! They were 2 nice older ladies, and thankfully it wasn't a bad accident and nobody was hurt...besides my poor car:/ Maybe it's time to get a new one? I think this one may be bad luck for me? 

And before I get outta here, a little side note observation. I wonder some times if I've been naive, blind, or ignorant to deceptive people. I like to think I'm a pretty insightful person when it comes to that stuff, but I find myself being surprised by people a lot:/ I think I like to believe the best in people. As soon as you realize that their intentions aren't good, or they just aren't decent people (sadly, they're out there), cut them outta your life! That's what I do! :) I see people I know getting hurt and upset because they keep those people around hoping they'll change or whatever. Guess what...a leopard doesn't change it's spots;) You can always smile and say hi when you see them, but just keep them at an arms length:) 

Just been seeing a bit of that going on lately. Maybe it's the season change, full moon, who knows:/

I had 1 question in my formspring or springme or whatever it is now. But I deleted on accident:( I forgot what it was...I'm sorry! Please resubmit it and I promise I'll answer it! :)

Well, off to the mall! Momma needs some new stuff! Lol! 

Have a great one!

xoxo

TGIMonday!

I can actually say I'm glad it's Monday! What a busy week/weekend! Thursday we went to see Bruno Mars at the Palace (in a suite, which was way cool!)! We had a couple drinks at the bar beforehand, at the concert, another bar AFTER the concert, then to our friends house! We didn't get home until around 3:00am! I had so many drinks I actually sang (pathetically) karaoke (for the first time!)! Not my proudest night, but hey we've all been there before....right?? 

Friday was uneventful, just hung around the house and rehydrated:)

Saturday we had a surprise birthday party to go to. Also, the NPC Natural Michigan was going on, so I went to prejudging to cheer on my friend who was competing for the very first time! She was in figure. She didn't place, but she had a great time and already wants to do another show! The birthday party was fun, but I look like I have the chicken pox now from all the mosquito bites I have! :/

Sunday was my nieces/goddaughters birthday party:) It was close to home and inside (thank goodness!). When I got home I wanted to get things ready for the week, but was just too darn tired:(

So here I am today, starting late, but still getting it done! It's another busy week! That's okay though. Things get slow in the winter; I'll rest then;)

I've been trying to be more active on my YouTube acct. (I'll link it later) I need some help with video ideas? Any suggestions??? 

Well, off to finish my workout (I'm at the gym right now)! Hope everybody's week is off to a great start!

xoxo me

Fourth of July and catching up

Well hello my friends! I am back once again;) let me do a quick catch up: I competed in 2013 NPC Jr Nationals, in WPD, annnndd took 3rd place!!!! I was so flipping excited! My feedback was also great! Sandy told me everything looked great, but to come in a little fuller and a bit bigger next time. For the first time, I think ever, I wasn't told that my glutes and hams needed to be tighter! She actually said I didn't even need to come in as lean as I did! Woo hoo!!! So I'm over the moon excited and already in the gym working in that size! I got to meet up with Genie again! And I finally got to meet Tenecia IRL(I'll link them later, posting from my phone)!

I have to admit, I have been endulging way too much! I'll be good for most of the day, then eat crap:( I'm not really having too much alcohol so at least I'm doing good with that! I just don't like how  I drag the next morning, not to mention it screws up my workouts:/

So that's it for now! 

Hope you all enjoyed the Fourth! Have a great holiday weekend!!

xoxo

So I've been doing decently with my eating thru the holidays, and my workouts were on hold for a while. I'm back in the gym and I've lost a lot of strength:( getting it back slowly. It stinks lifting lighter than you'd like to, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I have roughly 6 weeks to get back to where I was, and hopefully a little now improved by then. Because that's when i start dieting! I'm doing a local MI show to get requalified, then onto Jr. Nats in Chicago! I took top 5 in figure last time I was there, this time I'm throwing my hat in the WPD ring! (I can't remember if I mentioned that before, I'm bloggin from my phone right now). I was told at Nationals that I was a little big for figure. I didn't think I was, but maybe just looked bigger because I tend to get pretty lean. Well, I'm gonna try to add a little bit of size and this time around really get lean. Last time I dieted I had a few cheats along the way, like McDonalds and pizza. I also kept quite a few carbs in my diet coz I was afraid of looking to lean (my shoulders striate crazy early). We'll see how it works out:) I have to get my posing routine down. I have no idea where to start! I have a friend who has a long history and taught dance, so I think I'm gonna enlist her help. I know the music I want mixed together, but I'm keeping it a secret for now:) only a couple of my besties know. I think I picked some good songs and I get weird about people knowing ahead of time:) call me quirky:)
Well, I guess that's enough of an update for now. I'll be checking in again soon!
Bye!

Set back

Haven't been able to train for the last month:( That's okay though! Eating had been decent, so at least my weight didn't get out of control. Busy weekend ahead, but Monday it's on!
Have a great weekend!

Well look what the cat dragged in!

Hello!!! So, let's skip the awkwardness of where I've been for so long and get right into things, huh? Last time I was here I posted 5 week out pics before Nationals. Well, I didn't do as well as I had hoped. I actually don't know how I placed. They only place 1-15, the rest get a placing of 16 no matter how many competitors there are. There were 6 rounds of call outs, and I was in the 3rd round. So I'm guessing somewhere in the middle. My feedback was that I should consider doing women's physique (a newer division in the NPC/IFBB). I tend to get pretty lean and I was a little on the bigger side compared to the other competitors (could be just the illusion of bigger because of leanness? idk?). So, I've decided to make the switch! I took this year off from competing to focus on areas I felt I needed to bring up more. This way when I diet down to contest shape I should be pretty balanced. I'm really hoping to do Jr. Nats in 2013. It's such a great show! It's well run and close to home! Well, 4 hours close buts that a whole lot closer than Miami! So that's all of that in a nutshell. I had 1 Formsping question, but think I answered it with my condensed recap of Nationals:) 

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall season (fall flavors of food and drink!). I feel like I just got all my fall/Halloween/Harvest decorations out and it's just about time to put'em away and bring out the Xmas stuff! Maybe that means Spring will get here just as fast! :)  

My eating has actually been going great! I eat clean for the most part, and the stuff that's not 100% clean, I'm just eating a small or regular portion. Not binging on it! 

Have a great rest of the week! Let's see how long I can hold on this time! :D

xoxo me

Last set of pics

Just popping in real quick to give you all a look at my last set of progress pics. I don't like to put up anything closer than 3 weeks out. Too many people out there to mess with your head (not any of you, of course:) ). I'm feeling pretty good, just getting tired. I think most people get the run down feeling as the show date gets closer.

I will say this has, by far, been the busiest prep I have ever done. I usually start dieting in the colder months and end as it's getting warmer. This time has been the opposite, and I realized how busy my summer/fall time is! I apparently don't do much in the spring because I don't ever remember having so many different things to go to. I have made it known that I am not doing anything else but focusing on prep for the next 2 weeks though:)

Well, here they are....

They're not my best, but a class was getting ready to start, so I had to hurry. Plus, I realized afterwards that my suit was not positioned right and it looks like the font of the bottoms almost disappears. At least these are progress pics, not the real thing:)

I'm feeling good about my conditioning...not so much about that weird camera face I got going on! Like I said...I was in a hurry. The next set you all will see will hopefully be me holding a trophy!

I'll be posting still, just no pics of me. Next time, competing on a budget.....hair extensions!

Bye!~

Wed, Thurs...what's the diff?

Well, it's Thursday so I'm a day late on those progress pics (more like a couple months, but we'll ignore that). I can tell that I've been holding some water the past day or two, but I'm pretty sure it's hormonal:) Weight has still been going down. A little slower than I'd like, but still moving. And measurements are going down too. So, without further delay.......

I went back and looked at some pics I took last year for a photo shoot, and it made me feel a little better seeing how not far off I am from here. Here's to 4 more weeks!

Competing on a Budget

Okay, so I'm not going to even get into the what's and why's on my absence from blogging. I'm pre-contest.....that's my excuse:)

I just wanted to pop in and give another tip on how to save a bit of cash when prepping for a show.

Get sponsors! It doesn't have to be a full sponsorship, even partial is okay! And it doesn't have to be in dollars and cents either. Ask your gym to sponsor your membership for the weeks/months that you are prepping. Ask your tanning salon (if you tan) to sponsor you a month's unlimited, or half off 2 months unlimited. In return, offer to sport their swag when you're out and about. Mention them on your Facebook, Twitter, or blog. I'll bet you get a least something. And every little bit counts, right?

Comment back if you decide to give it a shot and get a sponsor! Or, if you have any extra tips to add on getting sponsors.

*I know last time I posted I was only 1 week in and now I'm less than 5 weeks out. Sorry! I promise to post some pics by Wed. I'm having a fat day today, so it's not happening yet:)

I'll post more about my prep then.

Happy Monday!

XOXO

Monday check in

Happy Monday! I'm 1 week down and now in my 2nd week of dieting! I know it's early, but I'm still so pumped about dieting:) I've been getting quite a bit of food, so that's always good! I'm down about 3lb's, but I know it's going to start slowing down. And that's ok:) I'm going to try and get some progress pics up tonight or tomorrow and I'll have some measurements to share! I think my bf% went up a bit from my last chance syndrome the 2 weeks prior to starting prep, but I think it's at least back down to where I was before. I guess we'll see. Ok, this is a quicky, just wanted to check in and give ya'll a quick breakdown.

Time to go to work!

Competing on a budget

A friend of mine was telling me that I should really write about how thrifty I am with my contest prep. So I figured I sprinkle some budget friendly tips in here and there. I look at it like this, if I can do something myself or find a way to save a bit, then I have more to put towards the things that I can't save on or maybe upgrade on something.

-Get a credit card with Rewards Points.

Just use it for things you would already be buying or paying for (like groceries, supplements, bills, etc.). As your points add up you could use them for hotel, car, or flight to your contest venue.

Every little bit counts!