All through high school and college I was a competitive cheerleader and it was basically my life. Looking back from where I am now, I definitely wasn’t all that fit, but I was a flyer and tumbler and had amazing jumps. I competed at NCAA college nationals in 2010, my freshman year of college. The following fall I had back surgery to correct scoliosis and kyphosis. It was about an 8 hour procedure and I was in the hospital for a week. They straightened my back all out with 24 screws and 2 titanium rods that run from T2-L3. I didn’t walk, except from the couch to the bathroom or small laps in the house, for two months. I lost all my muscle basically, I lost 10-15lbs, and lost all flexibility. I can’t bend my back at all, only at the hips and I’m still really inflexible.
So fast forward two years I got married, moved from Oklahoma to Kansas for the military (my husband is an officer in the army) and I was still in school. I just started to get that has-been competitors depression. There is nothing like being in college for five years, still not making money, or doing what you love, to make you feel sort of useless. I just kept telling my husband, Caleb, that I wanted to get into some type of active hobby.
It wasn’t until I met another army wife my age that I decided to set a real goal. We both were mildly active at the gym or running, but not serious. I HATE running, so half marathons were out of the question. We both followed a lot of competitors on Instagram and decided a small bodybuilding show in bikini might be possible. The funny thing is, I don’t think either of us expected to each other or ourselves to really do it. But my friend Ashley and I trained seriously and changed our diet plans for it from day 1 when we decided to try it. Then it really paid off, she placed second and I placed third.
I didn’t use a trainer or coach to train, so I used Google a ton! I found the Bikini Guidebook online through other bloggers’ references and bikini searches. Like I said, I had spent some time in the gym prior to training for the show, but not consistently, so when I looked at The Bikini Guide I knew the workouts were going to be good!! The cardio killed me, but I’m still just so proud of my self for pushing through that. We upped weights in the workout plans and added a few things as the show got closer because, of course, there were things that we didn’t have 100% ready.
The worst part for me – cardio cardio cardio! I think this partly stems from my surgery, I lost all functional, cardiovascular endurance since my diaphragm or several other bits of my body were moved around. I used this as a crutch for a long time, but having a schedule for my workout plans and end goal helped me push through. Also, rap and hip hop! Everyone needs a boost through 5am fasted cardio and for me it was Drake, NWA, Wu Tang Clan, some Britney and Rhianna. Of course a husband and gym partner were helpful too!
The second hardest thing was probably not getting discouraged. Once you start to see gains it is so addicting. I think I started cutting for the contest too soon, as an ectomorph I probably should have been more focused on bulking. So as the show got closer, some of my mass dropped and I just felt like I sucked for a while, but now I know it is just a learning and train and error process. Each person has to find what works best for them.
The ab workouts from the Bikini Guidebook were probably my favorite! I can out side plank dip anyone! (Maybe!) I have a love/hate with the Bulgarian split squats, they never get easier. And I truly hated the broad jump back peddling. Ugh!
As I mentioned, my initial goal was a bikini competition, but really it was to get healthy and in serious shape and if I thought I could compete I would. Well I did! And more rewarding than the end result was the process. I really got stronger, my butt is getting bigger (YES!!), I’m finally developing some shoulders, and most of all the muscles in my back are showing up! A lot of them just don’t move ever, but the ones that do are on fire and growing. It’s so exciting and unbelievable.
My plans now are to bulk up. I want those boulder shoulder and some quad sweeps! I think I will absolutely compete again, but for now I am not setting a show date, I am just training and focusing on heavy lifting for muscle gain, and when I am ready then I’ll look into shows. My goals are now day to day. If I lift heavier each day, eat better, and push harder then I will be succeeding.
Are you prepping for a bikini competition and need workout routines?
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Your Coach,
Kyra