2012 NPC Pittsburgh Recap

~ Ello loves :)

2012 NPC Pittsburgh was last weekend on May 5th. And whelp...
I went, I saw, I got 5th.

Hyyuuuggge trophy!

Bombshells in my class with our trophies :)

I am so blessed to be able to do what I love and go to amazing places, hang out with my incredible teammates, and show off my hard work among my peers. Yup, all top 5 of them gorgeous gals are BOMBSHELLS. It isn't too shabby to lose to the best there is :)

The top 5 in my height class

I am definitely excited to have made the podium at such a large and prestigious show, and I was SUPER excited about my progress since my last show. This is definitely the best package: hair, makeup, suit, body, posing, I have brought to the Bikini stage to date.

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Of course, I wanted to WIN. I could almost taste it. I wanted it bad. I worked harder than ever. I practiced, practiced, practiced. I did plyometrics till I cried. I fought cravings and waged war on fat cells... I was ready!! So why only 5th? I was disappointed at first, not gonna lie. 5th? Don't you mean 1st? Nope. Not this time, it wasn't my show. It wasn't my time.

Chalk this one up to Rule #3

I called my mom first thing after getting off the stage and broke the good/bad news of my 5th place trophy. She was supportive but understanding, considering she knows very well how much I had put into earning a 1st place bid. Then, I sucked it up and put a smile on, and decided that hey, this IS a victory and this IS success for me so there is NO reason I should fret about not being the perfect image of what the judges wanted to see that night, because I know deep down that I had made such huge improvements - both mentally and physically -throughout the preparation for this show that no one and nothing could ever steal that joy from me!

I can't believe it's been a year already! I don't feel like the same person at
all. I feel so much BETTER :D

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Winning is an attitude, a state of mind, a mentality. It says, "I was my best and I am proud of that." It says, "I overcame what held me back last time, and I am stronger now." It says, "I won already when I got to motivate and inspire my friends, family, and people that I don't even know by committing to a fit lifestyle." And to the girl who took home the big #1 trophy you so intensely desired, it says, "Congratulations, you earned it and you deserve it. I'm happy for you!!" THAT's winning, and that's what I will always strive to do :)

My friend, teammate and all-time biggest inspiration Jaime Baird said it best in her latest blog on FitnessRx: Winning Lessons

The time will come. I'll earn the top spot soon, but until then
I will work my butt off, enjoy the journey, and keep improving!

As always... blessings,
~ Ruthie

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PS -  Gotta leave you with my favorite shot: the Bombshell booty! Lunge, squat, run, jump, repeat :)

"Taxing" Times

I'm sure if you hear me say "I'm busy" one more time you'll smack me right in the face so I will refrain from stating the obvious... Everything is getting done all at once as I get ready to GRADUATE with a Mechanical Engineering degree in only 4 weeks, and before that I:


1) Take the Fundamentals of Engineeing Exam (or "FE," like the Bar exam for law) ... tomorrow!! 
2) Test drive, make presentation, and present at Symposium our dune buggy Senior Design Project... testing this afternoon, presentation next Friday! 
3) Compete in Pittsburgh at the 2012 NPC Pittsburgh Championships national bikini show.... 3 weeks from today!!
4) Graduate :) 


I love being productive, and good thing!! Because boy, do I have to be lately. 

This weekend is full of activities; first up the dune buggy testing, which I am SOOOO excited for :) Finally it's done and we can drive it! Then a booty workout, grocery shopping, and a little final review for the FE. Then tomorrow it's the FE test from 7am - 6pm (ooophta) and food prep. Sunday is early mornin' posing practice with my girls and tanning, then church and home to Whitehall for my friend Leeza's bridal shower! I am so happy for Leeza and I know we will have a blast at her party. She got me the cutest shirt yesterday for my Maid of Honor duties: 

Adore! 

I may be juggling a lot of things, but I constantly remind myself and am fully aware of how truly BLESSED I am and how so so so many things are working in my favor and I have only the Lord to thank for it. FOr example, yesterday I got my taxes done (after hours of searching for those darn W-2s!!) on TurboTax.com and found out I will get a Federal refund of over $1,000!! Blessing #1!! Also, about a week ago the State of MT sent me $100 for some past thing I overpaid for, blessing #2!! I got 100% on my Biology test last week, got a 95% on my big Energy Issues paper, and passed the FE practice test with a 73.4% (it's a standardized test that all you need to pass is a 60% because it's so hard). Blessings #3, #4, and #5!! The biggest relief and blessing though is our dune buggy being DONE and running as of today, whew... blessing #6. We've been working on it every weekend for the last 2 semesters and I am very happy to see it done. 


I am sharing my blessings with you because, although I stress about being "busy" and having lots of homework, projects, contest prep stuff, bills, tax duties and beyond.... In the words of an old Christian psalm: 

"Count your blessings, name them one by one, 

Count your many blessings, see what God has done..."

I should never, never feel that I am not incredible blessed. So many are horribly less fortunate, and I have more than anyone could ask for. Case and point- a terrible tragedy has befallen the Kennedy family at Oxygen Magazine, a large well-known women's fitness publication, as it's founder and publisher, Robert Kennedy passed away this morning. "Tough Love" Bob lost his long battle with lung cancer and died this morning. That hit me like a brick wall as I thought of his wife, Tosca Reno, author of the incredible "Eat Clean Diet" book series, and his daughters, whom all will miss him dearly and must be heart-broken in pain right now. I think of how my own father is older than Bob was, and I almost tear up thinking that some day he too will have to leave me here; although I sincerely hope that is no time soon. 

My heart goes out to Bob's friends and family,
I send you all my prayers. 

To read the heart-breaking news first hand, and to leave a comment for his family go to this link: http://www.rkpubs.com/bob/

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:2-5 NLT) 

~ I pray Tosca and her daughters be filled with peace, knowing their husband and father is in heaven, and that they are touched my God's undying love for them as they endure the trial and pain of losing a loved one so close to their heart. We will all miss Bob, and his great influence on the world of fitness.

As always.... Blessings, 

~Ruthie