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.

________________________

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

________________________

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

________________________

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

~Wordy Wednesday~

Gah, so much to say today!!

I think I need another me to blog for me when I'm too busy to post about all the fun times, training progress, random cool stuff and upcoming events while I'm out living it all. I hate how time flies when you're having fun! Any takers for the job :p ?

What I am really loving lately is all the girl time I've had this week! Even though my biking plans with Danielle fell through (poor thing was sooo overbooked on her b-day, I completely understand!) I still had a ton of good girl-time. First there was a movie with Kinjal, then hiking with Leana, and church with Kim, Alyssa and Natasha, plus more girl time at the gym. Yeya :)

The last day of my internship at PSNS is TODAY(!) but hanging out with my friends really took the loneliness and anxiety out of my last few days in Washington. It also helped me conquer the stress I was feeling about future competition and modeling.

Why was I stressed? Well, several Facebook "friends" decided to share their opinions on my lifestyle... in a very aggresive way. This is old news now; since then I have saught counsel from my Christian friends, my mom, my fellow competitiors, and the Man Upstairs Himself... But still, I was really shook up about this topic. Here goes: One of my Facebook "friends" gave me advice on 'following Godly principles' of modesty and women's roles in the world, and on not 'pursuing joy of the world' by chasing my dreams of going Pro and of being a fitness model someday; citing some good points on how women do have a responsibility to not purposefully (key word) induce lustful thoughts from men, and how we should strive to not fulfill wordly desires of our own (he was of the opinion that I cannot compete and model while still pleasing God. But I beg to differ! Watch me honor God in this pursuit; you don't have to believe in me, JESUS already does and that's enough for me.) I guess he is entitled to his opinion and he says he is trying to look out for me, so I appreciate the thought, but not the methods (come-on, don't tell me I don't have spiritual/scriptural back-up for my views. I DO.)

I'm a crier, so this took a lot outa me at first, but then I ATTACKED that negativity with positivity! I was blindsided by his harsh assumptions/ judgements and overbearing opinions, but after the storm always comes a rainbow and that's where I am now. Never to look back! I am soooo amped up about training, keeping 100% on my diet plan, chasing my dreams, giving every day my best effort towards the end goal, working extra hard to keep God at the center, reading my Bible more, rooting out the un-Godly 'food worship' I had goin' on, and really doing an all around RESET and REFRESH. Praising Jesus all the way!

Thanks hater ;)

My girls (gotta give it to the girls on this one) also help me blast past my issues with disordered eating and make it through the last 3 days without giving into night eating even once!! Thank you Jesus for using your daughters as conduits of your power to help their sista out :) I felt so powerless to end the cycle of eating in the middle of the night and wrestling with guilt the next day, plus I was really starting to develop very unhealthy issues with eating anything at all. So much garbage was piling up in my mind (and in my stomach too unfortunately, due to those middle of the night binges) but since coming out in the open about my struggles and bringing in the backup - accountability partner, Leana, the Holy Spirit, and "Go To Scripts" from the "Made To Crave Book" (thank you Kim!)- I feel like I hit the emotional "refresh" button!! Now instead of obsessioning over a losing battle of will and cravings, I am winning the day, day by day, to stay on track.

So with today being my last day at PSNS, I am ready to tackle some new frontiers, whatever they might be. It's goodbye to Washington, and hello to Florida! I am flying out to Bombshell Academy Team Camp tomorrow night, where I'll meet my coach and my fellow Bombshells and spend the weekend bonding, planning my competition future, and learning more tricks of the trade ;)

 Oh how far I've come since joining Team Bombshell 3 months ago!! 

Then it's home Montana for my birthday, a short weekend with family and then school starts on August 22nd. Whew! As one chapter ends, another begins!

This is the guiding verse for my life:

"Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for men." Colossians 3:23

 

Until next time,

~Ruthie

 

 

 

PS - Feeling a little defeated too lately? Kinjal shared with me this video.

Keep your head up! Things will turn out in the end :)

 

 

 

IT. IS. ON.

I have kinda left you guys hanging about where I'm going with this whole NPC Bikini Competitor thing, but tonight I'm about to lay down the game plan on ya... so keep me accountable mk!? If you see my hand diving for the brownie plate feel free to lay on the smack down! Jk, but really, do it.

After doing just one show this season, unlike some girls -my fellow Bikini competitor Abby did 4! Go cheer her on at the Empire Classic tomorrow if you're in the Spokane area :)

She beat me at the 2011 NPC All American EFX Big Sky Championships and got 2nd, but she totally deserved to do well. You go girl! Next time though, betta watch out ;)

So here's the dealio, I got sick immediately after the competition (ugh) and actually still have the cough and runny nose, so that put a damper on my momentum, but given how busy school is this semester, and how expensive $$ competing is, I am fine with only doing one show this spring. My plans for future shows are already set though!!

I'm going to take the summer to work on my physique and build muscle - specifically in my glutes, arms, and quads...but pretty much everywhere. I noticed in my pictures that I ams pretty angular when I'm dieted down to competition weight, and I would really benefit from additional muscle on my shoulders, butt and quads to have a s moother curvier look when I'm at low bodyfat.

It's curve buildin' time!

Two Pro Bikini girls who have amazing physiques are Amanda Latona and Nathalia Melo.

Amanda Latona

Nathalia Melo.. My butt is gonna
look like hers after I'm done training!

Yes, I have alot of progress to make before I'm at the level of IFBB Bikini Pros, but I accept the challenge! It's necessary for competition to be really lean to get good muscle definition in my abs, and to get smooth curves through my legs, but I need to go through a phase of BUILD BUILD BUILD before I start a 12 week diet plan for another show.

My Current stats:

I am not really concerned with numbers, but
I do want to increase the size of my arms, glutes,
calves, and quads... and increase weight on my lifts.

I have about 21 weeks until I plan to compete again. Or 5 months. That's plenty of time to make a ton of progress, and I plan to! I'll put up my starting stats I know I can do it if I picture how incredible and accomplished I felt after my 1st show. Here's the shows I plan on doing in the Fall:

21 weeks away… NPC National Qualifier!

9/24/11

★Washington Ironman Bikini

Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom, Snoqualmie, WA
WEB: www.craigproductions.com

22 weeks away…NPC National Qualifier!

10/1/11

★ Night of Champions Bikini

Northern Quest Resort, Airway Heights, WA

WEB: www.spokanebodybuilding.com

26 weeks away…

Date still TBA but based on last year...10/29/11

★ Max Muscle NPC Yellowstone Classic Bikini

Bozeman, MT (TBA)

WEB: www.npcmontana.com/registration.php 

Training -
I was back in the gym a week after competition and have been consistent with my training ever since. I tried to start training again last Thursday but I hit legs waaayyy too hard to be coming off a cold and I made it worse. I can't believe it's only been 2 weeks! I have been following this workout since getting healthy again, and I have aready gone up on Shoulder Press 5lbs! Reppin' the 30lbs now :)

- 5 Day Muscle Building Split-
Volume: Medium-high
Sets: 3 per exercise
Reps: 7-11
Rest: 1 minute between each set


Monday: Chest/Calves:   

• Flat dumbbell press
• Dips
• Hammer strength incline press
• Dumbbell pullovers
• Decline Barbell press
• Cable flyes
• Machine flyes
• Machine calf raises
• Seated Calf raises
• Dumbbell calf raises

Tuesday: Back:  

• Deadlifts
• Cable pulldowns
• T-bar rows
• EZ bar pullovers
• Machine Rows
• Close grip pulldowns
• One arm dumbbell rows
• Hypextensions
• Seated cable row

Wednesday: Quads/Hams:    

• Front Squats
• Leg Press
• Leg Extensions
• Dumbbell step ups
• Lunges
• Aductions
• Abductions
• Standing leg curls
• Barbell stiff-legged deadlifts
• Lying leg curls

Thursday: Delts/Traps:    

• Seated overhead dumbbell press
• Machine press
• Dumbbell side-laterals
• Cable bent-over laterals
• Barbell upright rows
• Cable row to the neck
• Dumbbell shrugs
• Behind the back barbell shrugs

Friday: Off (or BodyRock)

Saturday: Biceps/Triceps/Forearms:    

• Dumbbell curls
• Lying tricep extensions
• Dumbbell preacher curl
• V bar tricep pressdowns
• Incline curls
• Overhead dumbbell extensions
• Dumbbell wrist curl
• Dumbbell wrist extensions

Sunday: Abs + Cardio 30 min

Diet -
After a couple days of stuffing my face with anything and everything I thought I was craving, I am back on track and have been eating clean for the last week. There's a weird thing about being conscious that you're on a competiton diet, suddenly you crave all sorts of crap (for me it was bbq chicken, pizza, ice-cream, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, Reeses, chips and pop) that you never wanted before. I never get food cravings, and I always have eaten pretty clean... but something about knowing you defintely can't have it makes your brain go nuts.

So I got that outa my system by eating my fill of ice-cream pie, bbq chicken strips and cookies... and now I am sooo back to oatmeal, chicken and spinach salad, protein shakes, and my beloved sweet potato and pumpkin with greek yogurt. Life is so much better with a plan, and with a solid nutritional plan.
With my new goal of building muscle, versus my pre-competition goal of staying lean and losing any last little bit of fat I had, I am increasing my calorie intake from aroung 1700cal/day to 2,200-1,800cal/day depending on my activity level that day. For example, on legs day I will be at the high end, but on abs/cardio day or rest days I'll be on the low end. Optimally, I will make mostly lean muscle gains with the least fat gains possible. I am kinda going against my grain by trying to gain weight so this is hard to wrap my head around!

So that's the plan... Thanks for taking interest in my goals :)
I leave you with my new favorite workout song: <