The Off-Season

New Approach to Training:
​New Approach to Self

With coach, Ana Tigre, at her training facility in Las Vegas, NV.

Recently, a loyal follower of my blog, requested that I share what's new with my training approach since I am officially in the off-season. Actually, I'm just getting back to living the fit-life without the pressure of a show. After hearing the request, I decided that was a great idea because not only can I share what I am doing, but I can share WHY I've chosen my new approach to training, nutrition and living. 

At the beginning of November, I treated myself by taking a flight out to Las Vegas, Nevada to train with my new coach, Ana Tigre. Ana Tigre is an amazing lifestyle and fitness coach for women, specifically women rebounding from the competition lifestyle and mind-set. I decided to work with Ana prior to my show ending back in October because I knew that I did not want to experience the adverse affects of post-competition weight gain or post-competition depression. Many competitors can easily balloon up 30, 40, 50 pounds after a show because they don't know how to gradually go back to eating a balanced meal plan after months of zero to little carbohydrates or healthy fats. Competitors generally don't know what to do with themselves after months of structured eating, and I knew that I was going to be one of them. Also in October, I was experiencing many health issues toward the end of my show, like adrenal fatigue and heart palpitations, and I knew I needed help. I also knew that I didn't want to experience post-show blues, which is also very common with competitors.

In October, I choose to work with Ana because of her history as a competitor, and for the energy I got through her writings and social media posts. Ana is incredibly heartfelt, sincere, authentic, positive and caring. Ana had a long career as a Nationals level competitor, both at the figure and bikini classes. She experienced the ups-and-downs that competitors goes through, so I knew she would understand me both emotionally and physically. I also knew that I wanted to work with someone who would offer me a great amount of attention. After my first conversation with Ana, I knew that I had found my perfect coach for the next phases of my life. 

Ana, has not only gifted me with tremendous attention, but she has also been helping me to use food as medicine. As you know, I believe in the healing properties of food, and Ana is making me believe that even more. She has introduced to me the importance of bringing diverse nutrients into my body that help with inflammation and digestion. After my show, I was afraid to eat because I was afraid of ballooning up to an excessive weight. I had become hyper focused and critical of myself, and I really needed help with all my food issues. I also didn't want to let go of what I had spent so long crafting. Ana has been helping me to realize that my body will mold back to how it was genetically meant to be: fuller and curvier, but still very strong. I have welcomed Ana's help and it has been transformative. I am accepting my womanly, strong shape. It's a day by day process, but it's a process that my mind and body are enjoying.

Part of my healing path is consuming lots of fruits and juices. This is huge because I was terrified of fruit for a long time because of the sugar fear.  For many competitors fruit seen as an evil temptress because of the high carb-sugar count, which stunts fat-burning. I've learned that was a mental trap. Now I make cold-pressed juices twice a day that aid with inflammation and digestion thanks to the abundant amount of ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and parsley. I eat lots of fruit and I'm still staying fairly lean. I'm eating like an athlete again and it feels refreshing. I am also eating ghee, which is an amazing healing food.

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From the research I have done on ghee, I have discovered that ghee comes from the Aruvedya tradition in India to help with increasing vitality and longevity. Ghee is a derivative of butter. In fact, ghee is butter but without all the troublesome proteins. Ghee lacks the harsh, milk sugar lactose that so many people are sensitive to eating. In addition, ghee is rich in a particular acid that aids digestion and gut health called buytric. This wonderful fat also helps people, who have intense food allergies, to better absorb nutrients, like fiber. Ghee helps with your skin, immune system, memory and so much more. What I like about it the most, is its savory flavor and texture. It makes eating so enjoyable and a little goes a long way. I recommend trying it in your diet, too.  I love the healing properties of ghee and all the foods I'm eating right now. I have realized that healing is absolutely what I am in need of, more than anything. 

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Training glutes and hamstrings. No weight on the bar. Currently, I'm focused on form to support my posture and the hamstring-tie-in muscle, so I can lift and shape my glutes to be more round. Gold's Gym, Campbell, CA

The food I am eating right now is incredibly healing. I have gained weight, and my pants are a bit tighter right now, but I'm accepting of it, too. I've chosen to love my new shape and curves. I'm loving the fullness of my rump as well. Ana has me eating for health, and to support me getting to know myself again. I'm relearning how to have time back. All of my training sessions are short. Nothing takes more than forty minutes. I'm using all my extra time to read more, socialize more, be a better educator, and support wellness around the Bay Area for teens and adults.

Currently, I do fasted, sprint intervals on the treadmill twice a week. These are a fantastic way to wake up because it only takes me 15 minutes and then my mood is incredible for the rest of the day. 

Then, I do various metabolic workouts twice a week with weights. These routines are intense and leave me breathless each time. I leave the gym feeling euphoric and happy. My metabolic routines help me to mentally love training again and to feel like an athlete. Ana has recognized that I'm an athlete. She has commented and noticed how I train like one because I push to my limits each time. The athletic spirit has been so inspired within me that I joined a soccer team, and have added that to my weekly activity once a week.

Yet, let me not forget LEGS. Twice a week I train my legs, specifically targeting my glutes and hamstrings. We are trying to build my hamstring-tie-in muscle since that is my week area. We are also trying to get more lift and roundness in my glutes. The new approach to leg training is to support backing off my quads, since I'm quadricep dominate. We are trying to create a smoother, flowing look and I'm excited to see how my body will respond over the months. My posture in daily life, and while lifting, is also a big part of my transformation goals. By focusing on my posture for squats and deadlifts, we can also take out the blockiness of my waist by reducing the overuse of my obliques and lats. The training of my legs will help my posture, make my waist smaller, and lift my booty. All good things if you ask me. 

At Red Rock National Park, in Calico Canyon, November 2015

I really do have so many positive things to share about my training. The most important is the time I've gained back into my personal life. Since my show, I've had way more time to be with friends. I've been able to enjoy treat meals once a week, too, without freaking out. I've also been able to explore my journey as a figure athlete more in depth.

​I've discovered that it was so easy for me to loose myself in the gym all those years because it was the area of my life that I could control. Training as a competitor made sense to me. It gave me purpose and it gave me power. In the last three years, I had lost a marriage, a house, financial stability, a job and more. The pain I endured as an athlete was not even comparable to the pain I was enduring emotionally, so to compete was a release. I knew how to sacrifice myself and I knew how to work through pain. That's why I naturally fell into competing. Ana helped me to realize that, and she has been helping me to process all my pain through eating better, training less and finding joy in other things. Ana is a light for me and she is helping me to reclaim myself. She is giving me the tools to make more empowering decisions. Together, we are redrafting my body, mind, and spirit to see if I want to do my first natural show next year, or just aim for a photo shoot and traveling. Either way, I'm enjoying my new sense of purpose, which is to explore my own personal development and spirituality. So far the awareness I'm cultivating is providing more joy in my life. And myself, like all people, is just trying to live in greater happiness.

If you are curious about my training routines in specific please email me. If you are a post-competition competitor and need help with metabolic burnout or adrenal fatigue, contact Ana Tigre. 

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