Its been a week and a half of dieting – not just watch what you eat dieting so its okay if I have a chocolate today or maybe some pasta because I went to the gym – I’m talking HARDCORE dieting. Like carbohydrates and I are those friendly neighbors that you see once or twice a day. However, I honestly don’t really mind. Just like not seeing those neighbors so often, you get used to it and when the rest of your meals are right – I honestly don’t miss them.

What I have learned though – planning is ESSENTIAL. I mean I know I need to plan my meals, but I’m talking – REAL important. Example – I didn’t have enough meat cooked the other day – I came home from the gym and wanted to make my own pasta sauce. It took took long, I got hungrier, more frustrated and broke down into tears due to the lack of food and nutrients in my body. After some oatmeal and a protein shake I was absolutely fine. But I’ve kept in mind that I need to make sure in ADVANCE of being hungry – on the verge of starving – it is imperative to have food ready – in order to avoid a breakdown.

It is also at those moments of hunger that the potato chips or chocolates or the dip seem to talk to me. They really do. They seem to stare at me as I walk around the kitchen getting the vegetables from the refrigerator or as I cook my chicken on the stove top. Its like they are testing me – they want to see just how serious I am about this whole dieting thing. I’m serious – they know it now – lol – I haven’t taken the bait! WOOHOO!!

Honestly, the most exhilarating moment was when I was at a friends house last week. I sat a foot away from a fresh plate of funfetti cupcakes (my absolute favorite).  I was there for at least an hour and was offered the cupcakes more than once – however, I refused. I honestly had no desire for them. I had just eaten and was full – plus peanut butter is my dessert now – haha – its such a sweet tasty treat. I have a feeling that after this me and peanut butter might not get along so well – haha.

I guess I have been blabbing for a while now and really have led to no explanation as to what is going on. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook – you may know already – but to my awesome readers – here is the news – I have decided to take my commitment to fitness and my body one level further – I have decided to compete – for the first time – in a Bikini Competition (like figure competitions of the wonderful Monica Brant – but on a different scale). The look for a bikini competition is softer when compared to a figure competition – which is the appeal to me.

The first question that I’m sure pops into your mind is – WHY? Well – the physiques of women like Monica Brant, Jamie Eason, Stacey Oster-Thompson and Ava Cowan have ALWAYS been something I LOVE and have aspired to be. (Well – back in the day I wanted to look like Britney Spears, but we all grow up a bit – hehe).  I’ve worked out thinking that I would be able to get there, but honestly, never fully committing. Since I never fully committed I never REALLY got the body I wanted.

So, I decided its time. No more dilly-dallying – its time to make it happen. What’s the point in waiting. I may love the experience, I may hate the experience, but at the end of this journey I look forward to the memories I have of the whole experience.

It is on here that you can follow my journey to my FIRST bikini competition. Watch as I figure out what I’m doing – how to eat, what to WEAR (oh goodness no clue!), how to walk in those clear high heels (this could be hysterical), and the emotional rollercoaster that preparing for anything you want in life brings. I look forward to sharing this adventure with you – as maybe I can inspire you to go after your goals.

This is it for today – I’m typing this as I lie in bed…it was a tough day of training….I’m pooped…
Goodnight

Melissa )