Week of Pro Debut

It is finally here...my pro debut! To answer any and all questions that people may have...yes, I received my IFBB pro card in bikini however I will be crossing over and making my pro debut at the IFBB Pro Fitness show this weekend - Saturday 4/3/10 in NYC. I'm really happy to be competing at the Tribecca Center of Performing Arts again as this is where I received my pro card last year, so it has significant meaning to me.

It's been a long journey to get here - many weeks were spent training hard yet questioning myself at the same time...wondering "what on earth am I doing?". I was stressing myself out to no end thinking of who I would be up on that stage with and who I would be competing against. These women are all super talented, I mean that's why they're pros right?! They've been doing it for years - they have the muscle maturity that little 'ol me just doesn't have. I was constantly analyzing the show and these women and comparing myself - I was driving myself nuts! But just a couple weeks ago, I stopped. I realized that I'm training hard, dieting hard, and simply bringing the best package to the IFBB NY Pro for ME, no one else. I have a great routine that I LOVE and is just so "me".

Needless to say....I'm over stressing myself out and simply just excited and ready for my pro debut. I'm excited to showcase what I've worked so hard for and to simply rock it out with the best of them on stage. I've certainly had obstacles in my way this time...a lot of injuries! The latest being a pulled left hamstring but I'm trying to rest up in order to give my routine my absolute all on Saturday. I simply can't wait! What an experience this is going to be!!!!!!!!!!!

To The Limit

Have you ever pushed yourself further and further towards a particular goal? Have you gone that extra mile in order to do so? With today being the official 2 week mark to my first IFBB Pro Fitness show (NY Pro 4/3/10), I am feeling an overwhelming bucket of emotions. I feel like I've worked hard, I've dieted hard, I've pushed myself and tested myself. I have done so because I feel that I have to prove myself - prove myself to everyone that I deserve this and I can rock it out with the best of them. I clearly have many obstacles in my way, such as my physique not being up to parr with most of the IFBB Pro fitness girls but I'm bringing the best package for me and I feel confident in that...it's about the best that I can be, not what someone else brings to the stage. Every day I do question what the heck I'm doing and therefore this whole journey is really proving it to myself that I can do this and that I WILL belong up on that stage. I am constantly critical of myself and hard on myself and get frustrated, upset and aggravated with myself but yet I keep on pushing. I get emotional because I feel the pressure...the pressure to do the best that I can. I know that certain people are particularly hard on me because they see potential in me and know I can succeed. I want to make people proud but most of all, I want to make myself proud and that's what I intend to do. 2 weeks! I'm on it, I'm going to be organized and structured and kill it. I'm going to bring the best that I can to that NY stage and rock it out. Because at the end of the day, doing the best that I can is all that really matters.

"All you need is love"

Honey Soy Broiled Salmon

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:
1 scallion, minced
2 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tsp fresh minced ginger
1 lb center cut salmon fillet, skinned (cut into 4 portions)
1 Tsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions:
Whisk scallion, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and ginger in a medium bowl until the honey is dissolved. Place salmon in a sealable plastic bag, add 3 tablespoons of the sauce and refrigerate; let marinate for 15 minutes. Reserve the remaining sauce.

Preheat broiler. Line a small baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.

Transfer the salmon to the pan, skinned-side down. (Discard the marinade.) Broil the salmon 4 to 6 inches from the heat source until cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved sauce and garnish with sesame seeds.


Tips:
How to skin a salmon fillet: Place skin-side down. Starting at the tail end, slip a long knife between the fish flesh and the skin, holding down firmly with your other hand. Gently push the blade along at a 30° angle, separating the fillet from the skin without cutting through either.
To toast sesame seeds, heat a small dry skillet over low heat. Add seeds and stir constantly, until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.

Arnold Weekend Recap

I'm back home from an amazing weekend in Columbus, OH for the 2010 Arnold Classic Sports Festival Weekend. It was great to spend the weekend with my coaches at Cathy Savage Fitness as well as teammates. I was also able to reconnect with friends in the industry who I sadly only get to see at events such as these so that was a treat.

The weekend started on Thursday evening where some of my teammates competed in the 2010 Arnold Amateur Bikini & Fitness divisions. The show was an overall success and greatly organized. My teammates rocked the stage as usual while all of us in the audience went crazy supporting them and cheering at the top of our lungs! Big shout outs to my close friends Jess Kenney who placed 5th in the bikini short class, Annette Perry who placed 1st in the bikini short class and Nicole Moneer who placed 2nd in the bikini medium class. They truly shined on stage!

Friday we all headed to the famous Arnold Expo where every supplement company had booths. We walked around, got to visit friends working booths and overall just had a good time with each other. Later that night we watched the IFBB Women's Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure finals. As a new IFBB pro who will be crossing over into fitness, it was amazing watching these talented women get on that Arnold stage and perform. It definitely got me amped up for my pro debut!

Saturday we made our 2nd trek to the Arnold Expo, although this time it was a lot busier and we could hardly walk around! We stayed for a good amount of time and then wrapped it up quick lol. I was fortunate to shoot with the talented Lianna Saadi later that afternoon then instead of going to the after party, a bunch of us went out for a late dinner filled with good food, good drinks (none for me though lol) and some good laughs - a great way to end the trip.

Weekends like these put a lot in perspective for me. I have great friends, great coaches and great teammates. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such positive and inspirational women!

2010 Arnold Sports Festival Weekend

The 2010 Arnold Sports Festival weekend is finally here and I am so excited! The sports festival weekend kicks off on Thursday 3/4/10 and runs through Sunday 3/7/10. The weekend is filled with sports events from table tennis to power lifting, an expo comprised of fabulous sports supplement and training companies and the much anticipated Arnold Classic Bodybuilding, Ms International Female Bodybuilding, Figure International and Fitness International championships. It's a great weekend for me to meet up with old friends and to meet new ones.

Events such as these get me very excited as I can't wait to reunite with old friends, watch friends compete and to network and meet new people. It's also going to get me even more motivated for my upcoming spring shows. I love being a part of this industry and always learning more and meeting more people. It's so great to have so many similar people with similar interests in 1 city - it's all happening in Columbus, Ohio!

For many of you going - I'll see you there!