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Life Happens to the Best of Us . . .
By Donna Jones, IFBB Pro Competitor & Elite Sponsored athlete
Well it’s that time again- diet time. The one thing that I have learned over the years that I have competed is that it doesn’t get any easier to get into the competitive frame of mind.
If you are planning to compete, whether it be figure, fitness or bodybuilding, the preparation and diet takes a great deal of time and effort , and if the rest of your life is not in a routine and your mind is not 100% focused, then the whole process can quickly fall apart.
On Monday morning I woke eager and ready to down the tuna, chicken and egg whites all in the name of a having a butt that would make most 18 year olds green with envy in about 10 weeks time. However by Friday afternoon my enthusiasm and resolve had dissolved and I found my self in the cookie jar which of course led to the toaster and after that it just isn’t worth repeating.
So, what happened? Life is what happens and it happens to the best of us. After just finishing a week of night work and then with next to no sleep began the house moving process into our brand new house. So with boxes up to my ears and tradesman everywhere , suddenly my energy and resolve disappeared.
I am not ashamed to say but even after so many years competing, sometimes our lives take different turns and it is difficult to be 100% focused. Competition is one of the hardest things I have ever done and remains so even now, So how do I get beyond these moments? I never try and beat myself up about it. I always remind myself that I am only human and that I too make mistakes.
Too often I speak to competitors especially novices who lose faith in their ability to make it through the diet when things haven’t gone quite right. My advice is this-forgive yourself and move on. If you are for the most part doing the work, then the odd failing will not bring you totally undone. Enlist support from those around you and remember the whole process is really a very short period of your life.
So on the days you find yourself saying, “I can’t do this.” Remind your self that in 12 short weeks the cookie jar will no longer be off limits and life will be relatively normal once again. But when you are standing on that stage in the best condition of your life- you’ll look back and be thankful that you gave it everything you had.
Train hard and stay motivated.
Donna
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