Hi, gang! Thank you so much for joining my new members' site and for visiting the "members only" personal journal. I have so many things on my plate right now with the new additions and of course with preparing for Figure Nationals, which are this weekend in New York. After placing sixth at the Junior Nationals just seven weeks ago, I am ready to step on stage and give it a go again.

The training has been a bit rigorous. For almost two months, I have had a total of two days off from working out and doing cardio/sprint training. I'm exhausted! But it is well worth it, for my goal was to come into this show in better shape than I did for Chicago, and I'm hoping this will be seen on Saturday. Either way, I'm pleased with my efforts. I haven't skipped workouts, haven't cheated on my diet, and haven't veered off from the course I've set.

And I've gotten stronger. Last week, I did dumbbell chest press with 45 pound dumbbells for sets of 10, and the hardest part of it was the falling back onto the bench and getting the weights up without straining my left shoulder (I had been in a car accident my last year in college and had injured that shoulder, so it still gives me problems periodically). It was awesome! Of course, leg training is light and with multiple reps and lots of plyometrics and sprinting since I gain muscle in my quads so quickly. In fact, my legs have been my nemesis on the stagefront for quite some time. So, the goal has been to increase size in my shoulders and back and make my waist look smaller and get my legs trimmed down. It's working!!

Speaking of which, I have to go off to the gym to train back for the last time before the show. I end all weight training on Wednesday and travel to New York on Thursday. Woohoo!!! I can't wait.

Stay tuned for more info!

Jodi :)