The Prep - 4 Weeks Down

Hello, Blog Fans! Did you miss me? I am sorry it has been so long, but life inevitably got in the way of my weekly updates and product recommendations! Managing a full time career, multiple side businesses, mommin’ two kids for my life, maintaining a marriage (and a household), while preparing for a bodybuilding competition have left little time for blog writing…

YES! I said prep for a bodybuilding competition! I made a decision at the end of 2022 that I wanted to finally get on stage after two preps previously interrupted by pregnancy (what can I say, prep does things to you! 🤣) I decided to train for my first show, a natural ANBF show in May in Asbury Park, NJ. Asbury Park, known for The Stone Pony and Bruce Springsteen. Asbury is a place of significance to my husband and I, so it seems like the right place to do the deed.

I am on week 5 of my 16 week training program and I am delighted by the results so far. I am working with a great coach, Joe LaCerra, who has already transformed my physique in amazing ways over the last few weeks. I managed to snag a clutch sponsorship from Kitty’s Bikinis (use code Nugget10 for a special discount!) who have already gifted me a stunning posing suit and tank, and will be providing my suits for every competition this year. The timing is finally right and I no longer had any reasons to keep pushing off my stage debut.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES SO FAR:

1. Alcohol
This one wasn’t so much of a challenge, but a very welcome change. After feeling like the world’s obsession with alcohol went into overdrive since the pandemic, I had been planning to majorly cut back on my drinking anyway and started “damp” January. Damp because I did celebrate New Year’s Day and I did have some champagne on my birthday on the ninth. Since then, I can count the number of drinks I’ve had with alcohol in them on one hand and now that number is a solid zero. I feel so much better and don’t even miss it. 10/10 recommend!

2. So Much Protein
I am not someone who has ever been a fan of tracking meals. I tried to do this ten years ago and I was so obsessed with what I was logging, I wasn’t enjoying myself. And if you can’t enjoy yourself in your every day life, what is the point? So rather than do that, I spent the better part of the last decade eating with an 80/20 mindset. You guessed it, though, I am back in MyFitnessPal holding myself accountable for the fuel I put in my body. As far as food goes, the biggest struggle for me in the first week or so was hitting my protein goals. I am eating A LOT of protein. I have improved in this area, though, and am actually feeling pretty good about my meal prepping skills.

3. More Rest Days
it seems counterintuitive, but yes! Part of my new training split has me taking on an additional and very welcome rest day, where I am only doing cardio. This was tricky for me because I am someone who is always trying to do more and less felt a little like failure in the beginning, but muscles are torn in the gym and built during rest. Dare I say, I actually look forward to those two off days a week?

I am currently considering doing a subscription based service on Instagram with exclusive behind-the-scenes content of what prep really looks like, from gym to the show. Raw and real - if you’ve been wondering what it looks like, this may be something you are interested. I’ll be posting more details soon!

Until next time,
​XoXo Nugget