2013 NPC Maryland State/East Coast Classic

Funny, you'd think after I actually won my show and the overall I'd actually update this journal since that was a huge part of my journey! So I guess better late than ever. The ironic thing, I hated, HATED my pictures from my first show. Then this show I wanted pictures and the photographer was awful! I was smiling on stage but he took no pictures like that, none of me with my class win and only one with the overall. crazy! See below:

dawnn cannata

Here are a few pictures friends and family and afew photographers from the audience took from that day.

Trophies!

Waiting backstage for the night show

Right before second coat of tan

Post Cheesecake...

I'd also like to say I am thrilled that my coach Colette Nelson

added me to her client page. There should be an updated testimonial and pictures within the next week or so too. She currently just has my before and after. 

Offseason Begins

Now where am I today?Well I am up more than I want to be, to put it in perspective I am still a size 6 but I was a 2 on stage and 6 is my max pants size. So I am going to lose about 10 that will keep me closer to stage weight then work on building and have an even better package for next year. And I'll start to keep this updated again!

No turning back

I'm in, I've committed and there is no turning back. I did my best, is there room to improve? Yes, do I know my trouble areas? Yes, but that being said, I am excited to do it. I'll annonce the what, when, where after it's done... Still keeping a low profile. But here is a good side by side of my past and current!

Picture on the left was in 2000...

Life's Simple Measures: Recipes

Life's Simple Measures: Recipes: Bars 7-Layer Magic Bars Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting Big Fat 'n' Fudgy Shoebox Brownies Blueberry Cheesecake Ba...

this is an awesome site!

changes will happen

I'm impatient, I want 10 lbs gone the first week, I know that is not how things happen but it would be nice. I have to remember the picture above because that is very true.

xxx weeks out

I am xxx weeks out now and feeling good so far. Before I know it I'll be enjoying doubles. I am currently loving the Striiv app and pedometer. It counts your steps and estimates calories etc but it's really fun to use and challenge myself daily.

It has challenges throughout the day and since I am competitive I pretty much always say yes. You can compete just against yourself or add friends. I am quite interested to see how many steps I take when I am doing the doubles. Since they say 10,000 is optimal. Yesterday I actually hit 15446 and that was with a little over an hour of cardio and just cleaning and prepping food for the week.

Ready Set Go...

Monday I am starting to get much more regimented with my diet, and training. I'll be checking in with her on a regular basis and I can say I am very very excited. I am ready to accomplish the best me possible this year. Shows not my focus now, just the body I want is. The shows will come just not publicly declaring  which ones anymore. 

Below is me at my heaviest, then me at my best last year... 2013 is the best to come. 

I see the error in my ways...

Reposting these pics again because this is about the time I looked in the mirror and said I won't make it. I can't allow doubt and negativity in my head anymore, from myself or anyone else. I see so clearly now, I could have made it easily but let stress get to me. 

Also I believe with social media such a big part of everyones lives, I need to add a little more privacy back into my life, whether it be goals or whatever. Just hold some close to me and my inner circle that shall remain small. 

130.6

130.6

Did some food prep today, I am very fond of kalyns kitchen she proivdes months of south beach recipes that are fantastic.

Cardio O'clock

It's amazing what a few days of dieting can do for you mentally. I swear sometimes I really believe I am only happy when I am dieting.I hate my pants being tight and uncomfortable. 

Well well... I certainly shouldn't call this blog my journey to the stage if I never get back on stage should I? Or it  should have ended in 2009....

I've learned a lesson this year (2012), I could have made it last year, I look at my most recently posted pics on here and see so clearly that I was 100% on track. SO changes are in order for me, I must take fear, doubt and self sabotage out of the equation. I need to make this fun again, choose a goal show shut up, keep it private and just do it. I can't let last year happen again ever. I will do the diet and the cardio and not make it complicated because you know what, when you diet and do what you are suppose to do you lose weight and will make it.

My weight is up around 10-12 from those pictures. I feel it and see it and I'm ready to get going again. I never want to be my current weight again and I mean it. No more lying to myself, because in the end the only competition I have is me, I want to do this for me and make myself proud this year.

I am now working with Colette Nelson and I feel a good fit. No more trainer hopping or doubting anything she says, just do what she says and see results.

I expect great things this year!

Photo below is around the time I decided not to compete in 2012...

Regular updates to follow...

end of season

Well I panicked and didn't compete this year, I let stress and fear get to me. These pics are around 10 lbs from stage. I have a supportive boyfriend who told me the whole time I could make it but I just didn't have it in me this year. So this is where I ended my season... I will be back bigger and stronger next season!

gonna post all my food today... everything!

8 weeks out

First this is how I looked last weekend, I'm under 8 weeks to my show so I really need to tighten it up! I have to make it this year so I'll fight till the end...Now on to the food

Blueberry Green Tea

Egg whites with Spinach and hot sauce. 

water

Pro-Tech Protein Pudding with cinnamon and a pack of Stevia

   

really cuts my appetite

with stevia

cucumbers and vinegar

Miracle Noodles/4 oz chicken and vegetables ( hot sauce/soy sauce)

   

Tilapia with vegetables and hot sauce

I was NOT in the mood to eat this 

egg whites/spinach sprinkle of turkey bacon bits and cucumbers with vinegar

Here are the miracle noodles, they are shockingly pretty good!

Miracle Noodles

my story

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.helene/posts/133678376777492?notif_t=share_comment

progress pics!

9 weeks or 10 weeks or BUST

The whole process of competing is pretty stressful, will I make it, can I make it, will I ever be happy?

I am full force now, doing everything I can to make it and if my trainer says no that's ok too, I want to bring my BEST package and nothing less so waiting is still an option.

I joined a 3rd gym last night specifically for cardio only, TONS of cardio equipment too, certainly not a gym where people lift but that's not what I'm there for.

Here is a new favorite of mine, Ground chicken, hot sauce and cabbage, easy and good! My friend suggested it and she was right!

first pic in suit...

Okay while I am not naming shows I will say I am 13/14 weeks out from the ones I am working towards. I am thinking I am about 15 lbs away from stage weight now. Here are a few good progress shots to see me right now. Not horrible but no where near lean enough.

Putting in the work

No more public posting of shows until pretty much show day! I see how bad that looks and I want to just keep it private. Took me a while to learn that lesson but I finally got it straight now. I do have intentions to compete this year though, and putting in the work, but I will not do it unless I look 100% ready no question about it. I do realize that you never think you're ready but I will rely on people I trust to tell me and give me the thumbs up.

Holding a lot of weight from the hips down at the moment but I am hear that is the last to go... Here are a few pics of me currently... I think I am about 20 lbs away from stage weight.

Xenedrine

I am officially in prep now, Had my body-fat tested at 20% with a 9 point caliper reading. I'm ok with that since I have 14 week, or 101 days to move it down to 12% or lower...
I've lost strength for sure which sucks but that goes with the strict dieting and prep, I'll regain once I am off-season again!

My trainer is also a distributor for Parrillo products and I am excited to say I tried the brownies. Delicious!

Been a WHILE. Tomorrow I start with a new trainer and will be 15 weeks out plus peak week. Time to tighten everything up and get the body fat down. Last reading my lean mass was 114 and body fat 21.6% I hope around the same tomorrow. Progress pic timeline starts too and will be more active here.