My name is Mindy Irish, creator and operator of the Fit Gal Club, and I’m a gal on a mission. I started competing in the Figure division of Bodybuilding with the NPC in 2013. I blogged my 19 weeks to the stage in that season and then trained with my then Coach Shala Singer all winter for my second competing season in 2014. I competed in June 2014 at the NPC Indianapolis Classic (as pictured left) and placed really well at that show. I was shopping for one more show for the 2014 season and a friend and fellow competitor encouraged me to try Nationals.
Going to compete at the National level has always been my goal, but I was not sure when to jump in. Well, here it is, my journey to my first National-level show, the NPC North Americans in Pittsburgh, PA, August 30, 2014!
Prior to this, I had switched Coaches and had been with Brooke Erickson to this competition (and still currently!) since mid June. We actually reverse dieted into this show and my carbs climbed from around 100 at the end of May to 180 by this point in late August. I track macros following an IIFYM method of eating, meaning for me, I eat whole foods 90% of the time and put “fun foods” (pizza, ice cream, sweets) in the other 10%. As of this show date, prior to peak week, at a weight of 128 pounds and 5’6.5″ tall, I was following macros of 180 grams of carbohydrates, 42 grams of fat, and 135 grams of protein on a daily basis, roughly 1600 calories. I was apprehensive at first when Coach proposed reverse dieting into this show to me, but I gave it a whirl and watched my waist get smaller and my weight stay the same. Nice!
I will say that reverse dieting (or rev dieting as we in the industry call it) is really TOUGH! In contest prep I can hang because I know the show is
coming and all my work will reveal on stage, so I stay the course. But as I write this 10 days after my show, I will admit, I struggle. I have been in a caloric deficit for this competition season since March 2014, so over six months. To maintain my weight I need about 2100 calories daily, so after that much time on a “diet”, this gal’s hungry. And when a show is roughly one year away, there are days I do go OVER my macros. But in all reality, I step back and evaluate why. It’s usually because I’ve had too tight of a reign on my food choices and I need to put more fun foods in. Additionally, I have to really spread my calories out in a day so I don’t eat them all before the evening and then want to go over my macros due to hunger. The bottom line is that I signed up to do this and we are striving for progress not perfection. Every day is a choice and if I mess up on one day (and I do!), I can start fresh the next day and ultimately work to keep it all in balance, variety is key! To that I say, bring on the chocolate ice cream {in moderation!}
Here is my journal of my road to the North American Nationals. Always enjoy the journey!
Early in Peak Week I stay true to my cardio. My plan changes a bit from my normal routine and we ramped cardio down as the week progressed on.
I had to deplete the legs early in the week and on Sunday AM, I was doing this at home. I actually don’t have any equipment at home, so my resistance bands came in handy. Otherwise, I don’t train on Sundays.
I eat a TON of veggies. I made this amount and spread it over three days. I will say, now as I write this after my show, I need to add more grains back into my diet to fill me out. Veggies and meat were my main staples, but they made a gal skinny, and a Figure gal needs her curves to do well on stage. Note to self!
The fun of doing shows is the girl time. It was a mani/pedi date!
and nail art always comes along for my shows!
This week started my studies for my NAFC Nutritional Coach Foundations certificate and my NSCA Personal Training certificate, which are additions to my Physical Education degree from Indiana University. All four kiddos are in school and I use the days when my youngest is in preschool to study for these certs. It’s slow going, and I’m finding that a 40-year-old learns a bit slower than when I was 18, but I’m learning tons to partner with my fitness passion and be able to eventually come alongside others on their journeys as well! I plan to launch my online Coaching business in late fall 2014 for nutrition and will study over the 2015 winter for my personal training. I will then be shopping in the Indy area for a place to use the personal training.
My oldest kiddo turned 11 recently and with that he gets to use the machines in the workout center at our Fishers YMCA. This picture was taken during my Peek Week and after he completed his official “Teen Training” and he was excited to be out of childwatch and in workin’ on his Fitness! My husband and I can’t wait to workout with him!
A few days before leaving for Pittsburgh, I was to get some light cardio in. So Little Man and I walked to a nearby coffee shop for lunch. I will ONLY do this bodybuilding journey as long as I can do it alongside of my kids and involve them as much as possible in the process. I can find unique ways to wear my Mom hat all while wearing my Figure hat as well. I have always said that competing is NOT my life, but simply a part of my life. This is what makes it FUN!
…….and food prep begins! I had gotten my Peak Week line-up from Coach on Saturday and I grocery shopped on Monday. So by Wednesday, I was able to pack three days’ worth of food. This took me about two hours, but it was nice when we arrived and all my meals were packed, tracked and ready to be eaten!
This journey is also fun because my Husband Dan is on board and supports my every step. He is the cook of our family and helps me prep much of my meals. I also joke and say that he is my sponsor, seeing as how we live off of his Real Estate income and he funds my fitness fix. So, meet my sponsor, Realtor Dan Irish {and if you’re in the Indy area, please feel free to use his housing services!} We actually do this housing gig together and I created and run a community website called Indy Family Resource as part of his business. I pitch in and really do earn my keep!
This was my last at-home progress shot before I left town. I captured my alarm note on my phone as well. I love that you can customize your alarms to say anything and I put notes of my goals on there to talk to myself in the wee waking hours of the AM. I love the 1980s Dunkin Donuts Commercial that has the employee poppping out of bed in the early AM and shuffling his feet to the bathroom saying, “Time to make the donuts!” It gets me up and going. Find what makes YOU move!
We are off! Karina is a long-time competitor in the sport and she is a true gem. She has so much knowledge and talent for this sport and also sits in the judges’ seat in the Indianapolis circuit. She and I tripped out to ‘Burgh together and were roomies for our time there. I can’t thank her enough for taking me under her wing and pushing me to get out of my comfort zone!
After leaving at 7:30AM and road tripping over, we arrived at 2PM at the Sheraton Hotel at Station Square and had a spectacular view of the river from the 12th floor!
Check-in complete and I got #460! Is that lucky? Nah…no one needs luck. Hard work and consistency gets you anywhere you’re trying to go!
We got a workout in and met an awesome gal in the weight room. She is an IFBB Physique Pro and blew us away when she told us she is 52! She reports starting this sport when she was 42 and got her Pro Card in Figure in her mid 40s. This was great motivation to press on. Age is just a number!
We also got to pop into the Pro Show on Thursday night. I saw all of the Figure classes and then this class came out on stage, ages 55+. 55! I was shocked! I’m almost 40 and the thought of gals doing this some 15+ years ahead of me was just beautiful to me. I’m so inspired!
This trip was super fun, but not without a Facetime call from my little ones to wish me a good night’s sleep!
My husband texted me to ask, “Are you ready?” And then I replied. Remember, embrace the journey and learn every step of the way.
After a lot of AM prep, I got spray tanned by Liquid Sun Rayz around 1:45PM and then sat out in the lobby for the late afternoon. I have been sprayed by them for five shows and I am always impressed by their product and by the passion the people have for their craft. Additionally, I sat out in the lobby in the “raw”, no make-up, no hair extensions, just me and my tan! I also wear the Halo Hair Extensions when I compete and off the stage, too. I LOVE long hair, but my hair really won’t grow much past my shoulders and when it does, it is just too thin and wirey. So for now, I “enhance” my locks and love the new do!
Saturday AM before the show and I’m suited up and sending pics off to my Coach. At this point, it is what it is. All the work has been done from way back in September, cold Decembers, and the long days of March. When you get to this point, you’re just fine tuning with diet, water, and salt to tighten up your look. I will say that I knew going in that I was on the smaller side for this show, but relative to where I was last year and five years ago, I can’t complain. It’s a slow process and I would not trade my results today for anything!
I brought my pull-behind cooler and packed it with all my food, resistance bands, an extra suit, my heels, extra clothes and my phone and mulah. I got this one at Walmart in Indy and it is a must-have in this event. It has pockets everywhere and is lined to hold and keep items cold on the inside. You don’t want anything you have to carry because you have a spray tan to protect!
My people arrived mid morning to cheer me on! I cried as they ran down the halls of the hotel to greet me and THIS was my favorite moment of the entire trip. They drove through the night to their hotel, got a few hours of sleep and then came over to the show. Meet my why x 5!
Hair and make-up time!
The finished product: My hair and make-up were done by a gal I connected with online named Catherine Ann and my suit was custom made by Suits by Amy!
I went out to the audience to check on the crew. I had to laugh because they had set up camp all over the floor and chairs with iPads and electronics. They were troopers. All that driving and waiting just to see me for a few minutes on stage!
Prejudging started for the women at 8AM. I had estimated that we were to go on stage around 11:30 to Noon and planned all my nutrient timing around that. I was waaaay off. Big time! I did not end up going on until about 4:30 and by that time, my system was dehydrated and flat. Live and learn and bring more food just in case for next time! But while backstage, I was amazed at the collection of all these amazing gals. The venue was so big I really had no idea who and how many were in my class until I got back stage. What a talented bunch!
Karina and I ready to hit the stage. She was class D and I was class E, all based on height. I competed in only one class this season just for cost reasons. It was $200 per entry and I entered the 35+ division. Next time I plan to enter that class and the open category and my goal is to get Top 10 in each. There were roughly 17 gals in my class this year.
Here are stage shots taken by my son. My husband caught a lot of it on video, so he put the kiddo as photographer! The line-up was stacked. Again, I was so in AWE of the depth of talent, but hey, this IS Nationals! Although I did not place well, 14th of 17, I was just honored to go, learn, meet new people and plan BIG for 2015! You need size and excellent conditioning to place, as the gals I’m standing next to ended up in the Top 5 in my class.
So here are the professional shots compliments of Jeff Binns, NPC News Online. The bottom left picture was me on my 35th birthday in 2009 bringing baby #4 home from the hospital. It was my Day One and pictured in my red suit I calculated that I am on Day 1,720, some 59 months later! As the words say, dream, think, plan and most importantly, DO!
I’m analytical. After getting the judges’ feedback via email to: drop my arms on my front and back pose, stand up straighter, add more to my medial delt, widen my back, which will enhance my v taper, and improve my conditioning on my glute-ham tie-in, I am devising a plan with my Coach. The gal pictured above me in the blue suit got first place in my class and you can see she carries a lot more size than I do. It’s me vs. me in this journey, but it helps to see where others fall and compare as well, as far as placings go. Plan in action, carrying on!
So in between prejudging and finals, I put this down. I needed something and beef is my fave. Salty fries fill me out as well!
This is a visual of where I’m headed, at least in my mind. This is IFBB Figure Pro Camala Rodriquez and she is heading to the Olympia soon. Her physique is ideal to me and I’d love to add some size overall to goal towards her build. I actually love my current build and am super content, but I also see the need to add size to the places the judges mentioned. Bigger shoulders and booty here I come!
Meet Felicia and Tasha! Felicia on the left is a gal I connected with online a few years back and one I had the pleasure to mentor along the way. You can read Felicia’s story where she tells all about her decision to change. She drove 4 hours to meet me in person and support me in my show. I am so honored to know her and be a part of her journey! Tasha is a “teammate” of mine and is also coached by Brooke. She competed at this show in the Physique division and we had met online in a Facebook competitors group. It was a joy to catch up with her in person and spend some time with her back stage. There are a LOT of amazing people in this world!
And after the show we HAVE to hit IHOP late night! The first time we did this it was at midnight and our kids gave us the “Coolest Parents Award” for allowing them to be up so late, out at night eating pancakes. It’s become our new post-show tradition for my son and I to dive into those pancake stacks! Thankfully IHOP is nationwide, so we can carry that tradition on wherever a Figure show may be!
We enjoyed the city the next day and took a Just Ducky land and water tour in the river. The kids LOVED it!
SO, what’s next?! This is me over a week after the show on my venture for the 2014/15 improvement season. I’m working closely with my Coach and also a local competitor in town to help me with form checks in my training. I need to put on size and fullness and get to know what really works to keep my body full, yet tight for the stage. I had taken dairy and wheat out up until day of show, but I see how that made me really small and stringy. I’m experimenting on how I can leave those items in to my benefit for future contest seasons.
Some ask, “So how do you do this all? Kids, business, fitness?” Here’s how. I have learned to let some things go. I keep the house picked up and stay up with the chores, but there are some days when I have to learn to just let the little things go and only focus on what really matters. Sorry dishes, sorry laundry, you get to wait!
Here’s what’s up for next year as well! My husband decided HE wants to compete in the NPC Men’s Physique division. He has been listening to IFBB Men’s Physique Pro Ian Lauer on his online Physique Star Radio show. When we were in Pittsburgh, Dan got to talk with Ian in person and asked him about online Coaching. He signed up and is working with him to prep for a building and contest season for Men’s Physique. We plan to do a show together next Fall and make our “couples’ debut” on stage! Accountability and living a fitness life with someone who is like-minded is a true blessing!
I write an online column entitled “Fill Your Bucket” for Hamilton County Family Magazine. I wrote a post recently called “Sail Your Ship” and it’s all about stepping outside your comfort zone, going where you may not even think you belong {quite yet} and learning from it all. I learned a ton from my first National-level Figure venture and I’m honored to have this experience in my line-up.
My ship’s sailing forward, is yours?!
Write me at [email protected] if you have any questions or want more info on Coaching or learning how to step into competing in the NPC!
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