fitness competition – average2athlete

I can’t believe we are only days away from New Years Eve and the start of a brand new year! It’s been way too long since my last post, so I thought that I’d share a brief recap of what I’ve been up to this past year! A new year filled with infinite possibilities always gets me thinking about what I hope to accomplish in the future, so I’ve also decided to share my goals for 2014!

My 2013 Year in Review

I started the year off with a bang and had 2 amazing trips with the NBA just before we started this blog. I was lucky enough to travel to London in January to cheer for the Knicks vs. Pistons Game during the London Live series. Then in February, I traveled to Julia’s hood, Houston, Texas for the NBA All Star Games!

In March, Julia and I decided to partner on a Health & Fitness venture to inspire & motivate and help people find their inner athlete…thus, average2athlete was born! We’ve had such an amazing time making videos & posts, trying & sharing new recipes, developing our page & our voice and mostly interacting with so many awesome people via instagram, facebook & the blog! If you are reading this now, Thanks for following!! Our first event after a2a was born was the CMC Intrepid event in April. If you haven’t done so yet, check out our recap!

In May, we started our first a2aChallenge….a modified 25 day Whole30 Challenge. (Side note: We are starting another Paleo Challenge January 2^nd if you’d like to join!) At the time, I had no idea that this challenge would double as the start of my competition diet! In June, after about 4 weeks of prep, I competed in the Fitness America New Mexico pageant, where I ended up winning the Fitness division and earning my Pro Card!

The month of June ended up even better than it started! Not only did I run my first ever 5k race with the Clean Water for Haiti Organization, but my sister was married June 22, and I celebrated my one year wedding anniversary all in the same week!

Moving onto July, every year my family friends and neighbors volunteer for an adaptive water ski clinic with Three Rivers Adaptive Sports. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. There are so many incredible athletes that come out to ski….it’s so inspiring and a good reminder of the important things in life!

“If I can do this, I can do anything.”

The remainder of the summer held a Wedding in Vegas, being crowned the 2013 Equinox Burpee Champion, a Tough Mudder, an abbreviated neighborhood triathlon – named “Mini-Thon” and another CMC event with some of my favorite fitness friends!!

The Fall was almost as jam packed as the Summer! It started it off with a Bachelorette Party in Nashville, complete with a Bull Ride and Line Dancing! I also went hiking for the first time in upstate New York at Mohonk and I can’t wait to go again!

In October, I was given the opportunity to go on another amazing trip around the World with the NBA for the Global Games Pre-season circuit. We got to travel and perform with the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers & Philadelphia 76ers in Spain, Philippines & Taiwan!

As the fall wrapped up and winter officially started, I had one more Wedding, a great Thanksgiving with my family, the most unbelievable surprise 30^th Birthday Party EVER and an amazing Christmas week!

That’s a tough year to beat, but I’ve been taking some time to think about how I can grow in the new year. While I don’t love the idea of a “News Years resolution” that can quickly be abandoned, I do like the idea of a fresh start…a time to set some new goals. I wanted to share my goals for the year so you can help keep me accountable!

2014 Goals

Fitness

1.) Be more active on the blog & write more frequently! Stay tuned for more frequent posts in 2014! And let us know what you want to hear about by sending us an email average2athlete@gmail.com

2.) Be more consistent with my nutrition. I do so well when I have a short term goal ahead of me, but its not always easy in between to stay away from the sweets! I am hoping that the Paleo challenge that I mentioned above will help start the year off right!

3.) Try new things! Specifically, in the next 12 months, I want to do Crossfit, Soul Cycle, Yoga, Olympic lifting & go Rock climbing.

4.) Program for myself and stick to it.

5.) Improve skills – Pull-ups, Pistols, HSPU, Muscle ups & Double-unders.

Career

1.) Group Fitness – Get certified & start teaching classes.

2.) Further my education with additional workshops & certifications – Crossfit, KB, Animal Flow, TRX, FMS.

3.) Build Private Training Business – Expand private client base in NYC as well as virtually. (Send us an email for more info!)

Financial – SAVE MORE…..Duh! 🙂

Spiritual/Social – So these are a little more “Big Picture” & more of a guideline or a vision than actual goals, but I think they are a good reminder of how I want to live my life. So I am going to print these out along with my goals to hang on my wall so I am reminded everyday! (P.S. I’m a sucker for quotes, and a lot of these go along with my favorites!)

1.) Be present, Live in the moment. Don’t stress about the future and forget about the past.

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.”

2.) Don’t set limits.

“The only limitations we have are the one’s we set for ourselves.”

3.) Remember what’s important. Find the good in people and take each relationship for what it is.

“Be Kind; Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

4.) Don’t speak poorly of other people and don’t judge them.

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.”

5.) Enjoy a little downtime & appreciate each days accomplishments.

“Let go of the need to do more and be more; for today, you’ve done the best you can, and that’s enough.”

6.) Stay positive. Volunteer. Make a difference.

That about wraps it up! If you made it this far, thanks for reading!! We would LOVE to hear about you goals, so send them our way!

Happy & Healthy New Years to you & yours!

Best,

Kayte

If you follow us on Instagram, then you may already know that I decided last Monday to compete in a Fitness show on June 1st in New Mexico! I wasn’t planning to do any shows in the near future, but the opportunity came up and I couldn’t turn it down! If you know anything about competing in the fitness world, then you know that 4 weeks is definitely a VERY short prep! However, if you aren’t too familiar with this industry, you are in good company! I get a lot of questions from people about what a Fitness competition really is:

Is it body building? What do you have to do? What are the divisions? What do you get if you win? How do I get involved?

So, I thought I would give a little run down to help clear some things up! If you are thinking about making the decision to compete, there are a lot of different factors to consider to help you decide what’s right for you. I am not too familiar with the male divisions, so I apologize in advance if this is a little girly!

Female Divisions – Obviously not everyone has the same build or fitness goals, so they have created divisions for every one! If you are considering entering a show, take a look at some of the body types that are in each division and decide what suits you and your physique goals in order to help decide the best fit. Each division is judged using different criteria….and yes, this does involve walking and/or posing in a bikini in front of a lot of people! Here is an overview of the breakdown:

1.) Fitness – This is the division that I compete in. While there is a swimsuit round in all the divisions, this one is unique in that it also involves a routine round. The routine can involve anything, but should highlight your particular skills like dance, gymnastics, cheer and strength! The fitness look generally is athletic, fit & toned.

2.) Bikini – The appearance for this division should be fit, toned and feminine with the proper conditioning. These ladies can strut and pose in a way that best highlights their strengths.

3.) Figure – These competitors generally carry more muscle than fitness or bikini competitors. Often, unlike the bikini and fitness divisions, these competitors may have mandatory poses, whereas bikini & fitness choose their own.

4.) Body Building – This is just what it sounds like…ladies are judged on the mass, symmetry & leanness of their body. This division, like figure, generally has set poses.

Competitive Organizations – There are many different organizations that host shows….and they all have slightly different rules, division requirements, pro status’ and prizes (if any.) Some of the most well known are below:

So, if you’ve decided to compete and already picked a division and organization, what’s next? Here are some tips on getting started:

Pick a show – Choose a local/smaller show for your first one. It’s nice to work the kinks out in a small arena so you are comfortable when you hit the big stage!

Get a coach or mentor – Thank fully, I had some friends that had competed in the past. They gave me some great advice and connected me with my fitness mentor Sheri McCall Vucick. Sheri gave me the rundown with tanner, let me borrow her suit, gave me a meal plan, workout plan, music and helped with my routine! She is kind of a rock star!

Get a Meal Plan & Diet – Depending on the coach or program you choose, they may or may not provide this, but it is soooo important! You need to have a specific nutrition and training program that will be designed to make sure you peak on your competition day! This will also include drinking a TON of water!!

Practice your walk, posing and routine (if applicable) – Those girls who step on stage may look like it comes to them naturally, but you better believe that they have walked miles in their heels to make sure it looks perfect! It is so important to practice walking and posing!

If you have ever read Oxygen magazine, then you know Lindsay Messina. She has put together a great group of women who work together to prep for competitions. If you are in the New York area, check out the New York Divas. They meet most Saturday mornings for a workout and then practice posing and stage walk. Check out one of Lindsay’s videos on the stage walk here.

Get your gear – Here is a short list of what you will need once you make the decision to compete

Swimsuit/Bikini – Styles may change based on the division you select
Competition heels – Generally clear and not too high that you can’t walk in them!
Tanner – Practice this before stage day! I love Jantana & Dream Tan, but you have to find what works for you!
Glitzy jewelry – The more bling the better!
Costumes/Gown –Depending on the division/organization, you may need themeware or a gown.
Music/Theme/Costume – If you decide to do fitness, you’ll need these for the routine.

Have Support – Last but certainly not least, you have to have support from your friends and family! Competing can be like a roller-coaster, especially towards the end and after a competition. It’s so important to surround yourself with positive people who will help move you towards your goal!

Girls of Steel

If you are in the New York City area and would like some additional information or help with competition prep, I also offer privates for posing and routine choreography. Message me for more info: average2athlete@gmail.com.

average2athlete

EAT like an Athlete, TRAIN like an Athlete, THINK like an Athlete…BE an Athlete.

Tag Archives: fitness competition

On To The Next One! Looking forward to a great New Year after an incredible 2013

The World of Fitness Competitions