My bikini body contest was originally scheduled for September 3rd - but the Culver City show that I was planning on entering - got cancelled! I found this out the same week that my gym closed! Talk about a double-whammy... I have to be honest - all of this really took the wind out of my sails for a bit. I had the option of competing in San Diego on the 3rd - but as you all know this is Labor Day Weekend we're talking about... and for those of you that don't live in Los Angeles, TRAFFIC RULES OUR WORLD here. The thought of driving to San Diego on a huge holiday weekend just did not sound appealing. Not to mention, all my friends and family that want to come out to support me would also have to drive the 3 hours to get there! Add in the cost of the hotel and I just couldn't do it. But - I've been working my ass off for 3 months now and have gotten as fit as I've been in my LIFE so I couldn't give up!
With a little research I found the next show was October 15th in Culver City - so this is my NEW goal. However, this means signing up for an additional 6 weeks of training 2X per day and eating super clean. I do feel I've given up my summer fun for this challenge but I'm using this as a mirror for how I handle other things in my life. Things may not always work out the way I imagined them, and things can be tougher than I thought - but where there is a will there is a way. So, I've found a new gym and I'm continuing my workouts and the extra time I've been "given" is getting me in even better shape - with more confidence and more resolve! I CAN DO THIS! The sacrifices I'm making in my social life, personal life and work life will pay off in the end... After all - if it were EASY everyone would do it.
I'm also taking this additional "me time" to further grow myself in other ways. The time I spend driving to and from the gym / work / home and while I'm doing cardio workouts - I listen to inspiring Podcasts that help me to figure out ways to grow my coaching business, manage my business and myself, as well as listening to self-help books that provide me with tools to be the very best version of me. Here are a few podcast recommendations: EOFire - Entrepreneur on Fire! by John Lee Dumas; Investing in Real Estate by Clayton Morris; The Art of Authenticity by Laura Coe; and Creative Giants by Charlie Gilkey. Books (on Audible - highly recommend - who doesn't want someone to read them a book?!?!): Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill; Good to Great by Jim Collins; The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris; Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki; Awaken the Giant by Tony Robbins; The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (awesome!); The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod; The Dip by Seth Godin; The Purple Cow by Seth Godin.
I just love getting lost in my podcasts / books - and I TRULY believe that it is SO important to continually feed yourself with the positive, uplifting, inspiring and challenging words DAILY. There can be so much negative noise in the world - feed yourself the good stuff and GREAT stuff will happen in your life!