As you all may know... I am an Ifbb Figure Pro.
I am also an Elite Powerlifter.
How do I do them both?
Is there one that I like more?
As the US Open creeps closer and closer... Tony and I have been talking more about how I am a bodybuilder first. He has been helping me change my perspective and mindset on my progression as a powerlifter.
Most powerlifters, especially at the elite level... Spend week after week, month after month, year after year... POWERLIFTING! Their only focus is to get stronger (and stay healthy/injury free). But for me... I spend almost half of the year dieting for bodybuilding shows. (Plus I follow pretty strict macros in my off-season)
This years US OPEN is the first meet I've done after prepping for shows. And I am feeling bittersweet about competing...
1. I am excited to be on the platform again.
2. I am very nervous and a little upset because I am weaker than I was last year.
I need to not get into my head. I need to be proud of where I am at. & use it as motivation to keep working hard and getting better! I also need to know that I am not going to progress in powerlifting like the other girls. And I need to be okay with that.
Tony told me that I need to treat each meet that I do as a brand new meet. With my bodybuilding... It's hard to know where my strength is going to be at.
The cool thing about all this is, I am elite in BOTH SPORTS! There aren't very many people who are able to say that. And that alone is something to be proud of!!!! :)
Okay... Enough pep talk...
HOW DO I DO BOTH?
Well... I train like a "powerlifter." Kind of, anyways... I train the three main lifts, but I still do a ton of accessory and isolation work. I also have specific seasons on which one I focus on. When I have a show coming up... I do not have a meet. Mainly because when I am prepping for a show I am in such a low calorie deficit and I am doing so much cardio... My body just couldn't grow or get stronger.
WHICH ONE DO I LIKE BETTER?
I love to train... So I've always thought that I liked both sports equally. But the more thinking I do... I definitely like bodybuilding more. I love posing! I love watching my body transform! I love being on stage! And I'm good a dieting.
Just because I like bodybuilding more doesn't mean I don't love powerlifting... I totally do love it. I just get very stressed out and nervous. I think even more than I do for bodybuilding.
Either way... I will be competing in both sports for a long time! And I will continue to try to be the best!!!
I have HUGE GOALS FOR BOTH! I want to be top 5 in both sports! I have A TON of work ahead of me! But it is going to be a blast! I am only 26 years old! I am still pretty new to both sports. So I have so much room to grow and improve! WOO! Talking about all this gets me super pumped up!