Apprime Fit by Michelle Blank - Blog #9
“Enjoying success req.JPG)
uires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.” ~ Nolan Ryan
I’m sorry it has been so long since I’ve posted. Life has been extremely busy and I don’t seem as motivated to write when I’m in my off-season. I am currently prepping for my first competition of the season, just seven weeks until the Toronto Pro Supershow. This will be my third appearance at this great show. I can’t believe it will mark a year since I have competed. Sometimes your timeframe extends a little longer than you plan.
It was a different off season for me as in the past I did not need to focus on bulking. However, with the injuries last year, I had to regain some of the size in my legs that I had lost while dealing with the injuries. My physique has made great progress and more importantly my injuries have improved.
I am always talking about finding the balance in life between mind, body, and spirit. It is easy when preparing for a competition to hide within your prep and shut off the outside world. However, you could be missing out on a number of things, including additional support and motivation you need to get you through those days things just don’t seem to be going in the right direction.
I recently completed a trip overseas for work. It was a great opportunity in which I could have chose to decline the opportunity to focus on my competition preparation, but career wise as well as for personal growth would not have been a wise decision. Prior to the trip I was concerned about maintaining my diet and training while gone. I researched the hotel and saw they had a useable gym. It’s was only going to be ten days, I could make do with what they had. I was more concerned with the diet. I could not take my food with me other than tuna cans and protein powder. Though I was certain I could get chicken and fish without a problem, I would have to rely on others to prepare the food. I was also concerned with being able to get the right amount of food. When we arrived, I was relieved to find out that the hotel chef would be the same chef providing the food at the training center. Through my co-worker who could speak Spanish, we were able to communicate the need for my food to be prepared as clean as possible (no salt, no oils or butters etc). Our lunch that day came out cooked properly but the size was not right. I learned that 4oz to them was only 2 oz.; I had my scale with me. I realized when I put my order in for the following day I would need to double my request to get the proper amounts I needed. Well, that still didn’t seem to work. When I received my order the next day, the meal was cooked properly, but they only had given me enough for one meal and I had provided the amounts for two. Good thing I had a tuna can with me. From that day forward, I quadrupled my order and for the most part I was receiving the amounts I needed.
Considering this was a business trip, there were dinners I needed to attend and it was important for my colleagues and I to spend time together prepping and decompressing f.JPG)
rom the training days. This required altering my training times and being flexible with my meal plan. I was able to get all my training sessions in in which some occurred at 10 PM, but I got them done. After the first day, I realized I needed to dump the food scale. I would have driven myself crazy as well as my colleagues if I continued on that path. I knew what my body needed and hoped that once I got home I would still be on track. It was more important to enjoy the opportunities I had to network with individuals from around the world and gain more experience in teaching Internationally then to fret constantly over my competition preparation.
My ability to adapt and be flexible in my training and meal planning carried over into our instructing. Continuously throughout the week, we had to adjust our schedules as well as the approach for instructing various topics. My colleagues and I worked well together to accomplish the goals of the training. The trip was successful both professionally and personally. I was able to stay on track with my competition preparation as well as enjoy the experience. Additionally, I was able to show my colleagues that with dedication and focus it is possible to find a balance between work, play and fitness. I want to thank them for being so supportive of my training and diet.
Nothing in life is a certainty. Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves for not completing a task in the timeframe we initially planned which may derail us from reaching our goals at all. Goals, timeframes, and conditions change. The ability to adapt, be flexible and being prepared helps in reaching your goals and may also lead to even better opportunities for you future goals. My goals and timeframes have just changed and I’m excited for the new path my journey is taking me on (or should I say back to where my heart has been all along).
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