This week has granted me time to be able to really dive into meditation, ask for divine guidance and listen that inner voice, that intuition, my ‘gut’ (that ‘thing’ we all have a different name for). For about a week now I have been feeling some sort of shift about to happen but I was not really sure why or what that was going to consist of. I just ‘felt’ it. Many of my clients knew I had been in deep contemplation about career/business goals as well as personal growth goals. This may be a long post so hang in there… 
All things happen for a reason. All things. It is no accident that after my first competition in Oct 2008 that I was guided to read Dr Wayne Dyers book, ‘Change your thoughts, Change your life’ and it is no accident that after my first national competition that I was guided to read Dr Wayne Dyer’s Book. ‘Excuses begone’ amongst other reads. It is no accident that at this point in my contemplation that I read Erik Ledin’s post from Lean Bodies Consulting and that I was having some of the deepest emotional conversations with clients of mine. I read Erik’s post and I said to myself, he just took everything out of my mouth that I was saying to so many of my clients this week when their bodies are unresponsive.
I stand up here with Erik (although e may not know me, nor do I have the outreach that he may) and my mentor Emma-LeighI am fed up with the gimmicky, cookie-cutter, assembly line of diet-givers, including the ones of the names of people we all now. Slap ‘em together, take their money and send them on-stage. What makes a trainer a coach? I say its keeping the clients best interest at heart, being able to educate them about their unique individual bodies, putting their clients long term as well as short term health and wellness in mind, inspiring them to be who it is that they want to be, to be of better service to them and REALLY caring about the person whom which stands before you! What happened to quality over quantity?
As Erik said in his blog, the so called coaches regret to talk to those about the psychological trauma that can occur from the rebound affect that can and DOES happen to often after competitions. I have been there and done that. I got sick of having that bondage to food so last year I got fed up and worked on myself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually to release that dependency and forever change the relationship I had with food. I am happy to say that I DID NOT rebound after my last show in June 2010.
For so many, competing in bodybuilding, figure, fitness, etc can be a very dangerous mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It can do so many great thing for others and so many detrimental things to others. I hope if Erik and Emma ever reads this that they stand up and say “finally another person to be a voice of reason and reality for so many people mislead and misinformed about diet and exercise’. Albeit I do not have all the abbreviations after my name like Erik or Emma has, but its the oath that I stand here and say today that I am dedicated to all my clients. That I will do everything that I can within my intuition and boundaries to be the best for you. This all comes full circle to that fact for me to be the Coach that Emma is to me and Erik is to so many -I have suspended my plans to compete indefinitely. Especially now that I am beginning to work with competitors that are just now getting into this whole industry, my voice needs to be that more clear and real. Its a large responsibility to be ones coach, and I will be damned if I am not going to fill those shoes. And Emma and Erik if you read this, know that I keep my integrity close to my soul and I truly believe there is more than enough people out there that need our help. I never want to compete against you.. rather I want us to be a team and on a mutual mission to be a voice of reason.
I have found where my niche is. I know where I belong and my intuition for the last year and a half has been yanking on my arm saying, “Honey, This stage stuff aint for you!’ but my ego was saying, “yes it is… everyone says you have the genetics for it and how well you’d do’. Competing allowed me to meet some pretty amazing people and have great networks. Competing also distracted me from doing somethings with personal, professional and doing the things I really needed to focus on. My education. My financial future. My relationships with others, myself and my Source. Although I have read more personal growth books the last 2 years than I ever had, I thought that was ‘good enough’. By really, its been doin’ that arm pullin’ thing for 2 years to get my attention (said in my best country western accent).
What you can expect from me- you’ll still see me rippin’ up the weight floor, throwin’ weights around, correcting people’s form, harassing the 40-something men that have been doing the same routine for 3 years and holding people accountable. I wont be any less ripped, you’re not going to see this chick rebound! I’ll till be sweating, pushing and screaming and I wouldn’t expect anything less than that from you! Although I can never say never, but at least for awhile, I have some other arenas and stages that need this Iron Amazon! And you can guarantee that my Iron Amazon Athletes will be amongst the best coached, whatever stage or arena of life they stand on…
I’ve only started with this new chapter in life, so you best stay tuned and hold on to your butts…. because what you will see come out of this will be grand.
Keep Pushin’ On….
