Been
exceedingly busy the last few weeks but at last I'm settling down to
write again! So for the second time, hello
Bikini Brawn readers!!
The last
2months has been an absolutely blur! A cycle of training, eating,
laughing, crying, good days, bad days, doing my college work (and
then other days hiding from it!), late nights, early morning, bad
moods, snappy comments, hysterical giggling, vibrating with
excitement, crippling fear and at long last relief!
I walked
in the valley of broccoli and turkey and came out on the other side!
I have to say that was one of the hardest things I have ever done to
see that prep through; but it was immensely rewarding! I competed in
my first competition on Saturday the 26th of April in the 2014 RIBBF
Spring Classic, Waterford. The standard was the highest it’s ever
been! Such incredible women, was so happy to meet them and make some
new friends. Somehow I managed to place in the top 10, placing 9th
out of 20 girls in my height class!
The week
leading up to comp was really exciting, just couldn't wait to get to
the day and just do it! But when the big day arrived I was suddenly
hit in the face with a truck-load of nerves. Waiting
just off stage my heart was in my throat, palms were clammy, couldn't
hear over the blood pounding in my ears, thought I was going to be
sick!
But there was no going back then. 1, 2, 3 girls went out, suddenly
there was only one person in front of me. I started shaking head to
toe, wasn't sure I could move! "Number 73, Gillian Burke",
and I was up. I didn't feeling my feet go forward up the steps,
didn't hear the friends and family cheering my name, I
was deaf and blind moving forward!
"Smile, just smile! Look at the judges and no one else, that's
if you don't want to trip..." inner monologue the entire way.
Hit the first pose, foot caught and stumbled a little, "SHIT!
Keep smiling". The stage was carpeted and the soles of my shoe
rubber, "doesn't matter, keep walking". Tan was smudged and
I felt self-conscious, "fake it 'til you make it, act like you
don't care!”. Panicking a little I raced through my T-walk and
settled back into line. I was 5th out of the 20 to go out, so by the
time all the girls had come out, performed their T-walk and then
comparisons (6 girls called out at a time to do mandatory poses), I
had been on stage over an hour, constantly smiling and posing; you
are under constant scrutiny so can't relax for a second. I was
exhausted, smile was borderline a grimace, must have looked demented
by the end! Wide eyed baring my teeth ha ha ha.
Coming off
stage I was still shaking, adrenaline pumping and kicking myself for
all the stumbles and slips ups. I
felt a little defeated if I'm honest.
"You can do better than that," was all I could think. Let
the nerves get the better of me! But a proud coach came to meet and
he couldn't understand my mood. I was disappointed in myself because
I had set personal standards quite high and hadn't given the
performance I felt I was capable of. It took about an hour for the
mood to leave me, and for the reality of what I had done to take
over. I had done it, start to finish, prep to stage, cellulite
to striations,
I had done my first comp! 
Suddenly
I was hungry (and
not just for pizza);
hungry for stage I wanted to do it again,
and again, to prove myself. The rush and reality that I was hooked on
competition was an incredible feeling. You run the risk of going
through all the crushing pressure and strict preparation and finding
that being on stage isn't for you; the physical act of competing
isn't suited to you. I've learned three
elements make up a competitor:
a
love of weight training,
to
be highly competitive
(everything is a race in your head, even if the other person isn't
aware of it! “Dear stranger on the treadmill beside me, yes we are
racing, and yes, you are losing”), and a
natural born show off (Mom
claims I was one from a very young age ha ha!).
Within
a week I went from Fitness Newbie to having two competitions
completed:
now what? It’s off-season
baby!!
Also known as “improvement
season”;
general feedback form judges was that I need to put on a bit of size,
general symmetry was good it’s just a case of maturing my physique,
which I knew going into the competition; that’s something that only
comes with time (which only being 22 I have a lot of!). I was nearly
immediately back in the gym doing heavier sessions with lower reps
trying to grow, grow, grow, but stay within the criteria of Bikini.
My calories and carb intake have gone up (which I am enjoying
immensely!!). I’ve also just finished up a rest week, just to
regroup (essential, you can’t go ALL the time), and now the
countdown starts and prep begins! I made good use of the “rebound”
period post-comp,
which is when you can make your most gains and improvements
(according to more experienced bodybuilders I talked to that is: it
does makes sense though, after being depleted for so long to increase
your carbs and calories and switch training styles it should shock
the muscle into growing). I also had bloods run to check my liver and
kidney functions, along with a few other things, and I am delighted
to have confirmed that everything is in perfect working order!
Pristine is what the doctor said!So with a rested body and mind, a clean bill of health, I begin again feeling happy, healthy and strong! Nationals I’m coming for you!!
Thanks for
reading!
Gill :D
#gillyburbur
Follow out booty-ful contributor Gilly on Facebook,twitter and Instagram
Gill :D
#gillyburbur
Follow out booty-ful contributor Gilly on Facebook,twitter and Instagram
Twitter : https://twitter.com/gillyburbur
Instagram : http://instagram.com/gillyburbur
