"TOP 10 FINALIST" at my very first "Fitness America Competition" // LAS VEGAS - Nov 2011

"THAT WAS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE!!!" I get choked up just thinking about the final rounds of Fitness Division at Fitness America in Vegas. I came out from backstage to greet my friends and said those very words with tears in my eyes. The love and support that I had from my friends who were there and watching me back home made it all the more AMAZING!

{TOP 10 FITNESS FINALISTS}

Myself and 9 others had just been called out for TOP 10! 



The whole "Vegas Experience"... ...started a couple of days before the competition. I flew out with my coach Tara and some of the other Perfectly Prepared competitors. We all got settled in at the Golden Nugget in Downtown "Old" Vegas (I highly recommend this hotel if you don't plan on staying on the Strip). The next morning we had an early wake-up call of 5:00 am for tanning, hair and makeup to get ready for our photo shoot with Eva Simon. Before heading out to our shoot location we made it through the line of over 300 competitors to register for the Fitness America Competition.



(click on any photo to view larger)

getting settled in at the Golden Nugget hotel

beauty PREP and van TRAVELING for our EVA shoot

The photo shoot...

..was held at a fun, old-fashioned styled tourist location in Nelson, NV about 40 minutes from Vegas. We were styled in a sexy western look to collaborate with the breathtaking backdrop of the dessert and sandy surroundings. We were even warned about the rattle snakes and dangerous cacti!!! Eva and her assistant got to work right away and began short 15 minute shoot segments with each girl. The weather was perfect at a warm 70 degrees and it felt even warmer in the sun!

All of us felt very comfortable with the photographer Eva and had the support of our coach Tara as well. The shoot was so much fun and all of us ladies were taking each moment in. We were so thankful for the opportunity and knew how big of a deal this shoot could be for each of us!

 {SHOOT EXPERIENCE}

with the amazing Eva Simon!

on the road in VEGAS!

feelin' FRISKY!

gorgeous day for a photoSHOOT!

the one and only Miss TARA ANDREWS

We wrapped things up at the location to continue shooting back at the Golden Nugget in Eva's hotel room. We had one more look to create with a white-screen backdrop! You could do either "swimwear" or a "fitness" look. As I got started, Eva adjusted the fan so it could blow in my hair and I was immediately hit with chills. Not literal chills, but emotional chills. The moment was something I will never forget. I thought to myself, "how did I get here?" My girlfriends were standing in the background, all cheering me on and saying wonderful things.



But the best moment... of all was seeing my proud Coach T's Tara Annemarie Haertzen (Tara Annemarie Thatcher) face with tears in her eyes as she watched me pose away! As she peaked at Eva's camera and then looked up at me, I could just see her excitement which gave me the perfect amount of confidence and ease as I hit each pose. I give all of the credit to Tara for pushing me to get where I am today and for always seeking great new opportunities for me. I would not have gone to Vegas, had a life-changing photo shoot and competed in Fitness America if it were not for her. I am proud to call Tara my Coach and Fitness Manager. She is one of the best in the business and always has MY best interest at heart. She's honest, trustworthy, dedicated, giving and has become one of my closest friends. I believe that Tara has been put in my life for such a specific reason and I couldn't be more grateful.

Now onto the competition! Being in Vegas for such a big show was exciting and overwhelming. Keep in mind that this was only my SECOND time competing in both Figure and Fitness. On Friday I felt lean and mean with butterflies in my stomach.Walking and Posing for the Open Figure Short prelims got my nerves out of the way and I felt more comfortable with the larger scaled stage. Now onto FITNESS! Friday evening we started in our performance costumes and the Open Fitness class had 35 women. After the Men's class and Classic Women's class finished, we got ready to hit the stage one-by-one. As I hit my beginning pose and danced through the first 2 eight counts of my routine I felt the crowd's energy and knew the GAME WAS ON!

First time on a Fitness America stage!!!

Perfectly Prepared crew having a nice meal!

Performing my own choreography and feeling stronger than ever on the stage for Fitness America was THE COOLEST thing I have ever done and fulfilled a dream that I never even knew that I had! Before I knew it, I was up on stage with all of the Open Fitness Competitors after dancing the opening number (see YouTube video below this post). We all lined up in anticipation as the announce the TOP 10 ladies who were able to move on to the FINALS round. I'll admit that I had this sudden "good luck" feeling before they called my name since I somehow ended up smack in the middle of the line. I tried to keep myself composed after hearing my number and name called out. That was it, the dream had just happened. I made TOP 10!

{OPEN FITNESS DIVISION - 35 competitors}

(click on photo to view larger)

{Beyonce Girls Run The World" FA Routine}

To view a better taping of my Fitness Performance check out this
VIDEO CLIP recorded from the Fitness America live webcast.


Finals Comparison Round

The next couple of hours was a BLUR! The Top 10 girls had to perform their routine again in front of a whole new batch of judges. After our routines were finished we had a quick wardrobe change in to our swimwear. Each competitor had a highlight walk and posing to impress the judges with their physique and personality.We were also split into two groups of 5 for comparison rounds in our costumes and swimwear.



Finals Swimwear Round

Check out the YouTube video below this post to see my Finals Question Round. After it was all said and done, we were brought out one last time to have the winners announced. Seeing the TOP 5 winners step forward and the Fitness America champion be awarded right in front of me with the best seat in the house was a wonderful experience. To be that close to a goal of mine that I'm working towards was the best teaser a competitor could get. That moment only made me more excited to keep working harder and perfect my skills. Someday I would like to see myself standing there with the TOP 5 and then mastering the fitness scene with an overall 1st place title. My destiny is only what I make of it!



{ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS}

Dear Tara (my Coach T), Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to travel with your team of women to have one of the best experiences of my life! The trip would not have been the same if I would not have had your knowledge to rely on. I would not have gone to Fitness America without having met you. Your coaching, prep advice, and resources are absolutely PRICELESS! I love recommending your services to female competitors or women thinking of getting into the fitness scene. I am proud to be Perfectly Prepared!

Dear Al (my Trainer) and Tracy Norby, Thank you for your never-ending support and guidance. Whether it was personal training sessions, life coaching, gluten-free meals, or just fun nights out, you both were great friends to have around. Even with the weeks of encouragement leading up to my show, you gave me the best gift ever by traveling all of the way out to Vegas to see me compete and cheer me on. "You were meant to be on the stage!" - Al Norby   

Dear Tarah (my "competitor-in-crime"), Thank you for always loving me for who I am and where I'm at in my life. You've been incredibly giving to me from the beginning of our friendship with advice, resources and opportunities. You and I want very similar things for ourselves and I had no idea that I would become so close with another model/competitor with no desire to be jealousor spiteful. I am glad that my muscles and moves won you over from the moment we met. Love you, wifey

{World Physique's} 

Female Modeling Contest @ worldphysique.com

You might be wondering what I would gain for winning a contest like this. I would get the chance to work with a well-known Chicago photographer, a free-subscription to World Physique's Magazine, and the title "Ms. World Physique" for the month of January. It would also help me gain some great exposure, networking and credibility in the fitness industry.

"My goal is too bring a sense of charm, character and class to any opportunity that I might have in the Fitness industry!" - Bethany JN

The voting starts JANUARY 3RD 
and closes at the end of the month.

Please show your love and support for a

fun Fitness Personality like me!!!

Click here to VOTE!

THANK YOU
BethanyJN (Peanut)

From "Love-HANDLES" to "Love-MUSCLES" // Photos of my Changes over the last Decade!

A picture can SAY IT ALL sometimes. What stage you were in life, were you happy then, were you stressed then, experiencing new things, meeting a lot of new people, developing meaningful relationships. We love taking pictures because we want something to help us remember that exact moment. What we're doing, eating, seeing, you name it! People document events for a reason. Why do you think Facebook has become so popluar over the last 3 years? When you actually take the time to sit and revisit these photos and memories, you can assess quite a bit of your life's journey. Check out this BEFORE and AFTER comparison! There is only a year and 1/2 time-frame between the 2 snapshots.

For me, I have been in a constant transformation mode, both internally and externally, since I hit my early 20's. That's what growing up is all about, right? Over the 10 years from graduating high school to approaching my 30th birthday I can say that I have experienced plenty of "adult-life-changing-moments". There have been challenges, opportunities and blessings. I have had different jobs, living situations, health struggles, seasons with depression and counseling, changing relationships, and more.

The most noticeable change that has been easiest to keep track of has been my "outward appearance". I started to grow out my "pixie haircut", stop wearing my glasses, and searched for a new life of eating healthier and being active in the gym. My weight has always been up and down especially when my body was overcome with chronic pain. But after realizing that I had a severe GLUTEN/WHEAT allergy my appearance has taken a major overhaul. Not only did my chronic pain go away, I felt better, had more energy and felt like I could conquer anything! That's how I got into fitness competitions this year. Now here's a look at my photos over the last 10 years.

 10 YEARS of PHOTOS (2000 - 2011)

Senior Prom  - High School (May 2000)

That's me on the left in the red dress and short hair!

I was never considered the skinny or athletic girl growing up or even in

high school. I was thought as the "cute-curvy" girl who knew how

 to "bust a move" on the dance floor with the dance team.

Moved to MN - Age 22 (Summer 2002)

I struggled with gaining weight during the 2 years I attended college,
but it became even more difficult when I moved to MN in 2002. I was starting
fresh in a new city all over again which was a lot to deal with.
I hit my heaviest weight at about 145 lbs at the age of 22.

Sister's NYC Wedding - Age 24 (Summer 05)

By 23, I decided to make some changes with my diet and joined a local gym.
I started lifting for the 1st time and enjoyed feeling strong and seeing changes.
Within a years time I lost about 25 lbs and felt great!

25th Birthday (May 2006)

26th Birthday (May 2007)



Colorado Girls Road Trip (Summer 08)



27th Birthday (May 2009)



(Summer 09)



New Years Eve (December 2010)

 Here I was probably at one of my heaviest points and the scale
didn't really show it, so I had no idea! My body fat had just increased
from the lack of working out without adding any more pounds. Crazy huh!

28th Birthday (May 2010)

These photos from my birthday were a real shocker to me and I knew

something had to change. I signed up with my trainer Al Norby for strength training

sessions and changed my diet. My body fat was at 24% the summer of 2010.



(Summer 2010)



Halloween - Katy Perry (Fall 2010)

 This was right around the time that I discovered my gluten allergy so I had

completed the Master Cleanse (10 days of liquids) and I dropped at least 5 lbs and

felt amazing! This was a kick-start to my "eating clean" lifestyle.

Pin Up Photo Shoot for Business  (Feb 2011)

I really felt great at the beginning of this year and decided to start training

for my 1st competition. I was at 15% body fat at this time.

Beginner Figure Overall Winner (May 2011)

By May, I won two 1st place titles in Figure and 2nd place in Fitness at the

Mr. and Mrs. Natural MN competition. I had the time of my life

and was a little under 9% body fat.

Modeling Shoot the week before Fitness America (Nov 2011)

I started training again in late July to compete with Tara Thatcher's Perfectly Prepared

team at the Fitness America Competition in Las Vegas. I gained more muscle

and leaned out even more! The transformation has been the most amazing journey!

Thank you for taking a look and hopefully

you were motivated and inspired!

Click here to read my recent post

about how I did at Fitness America!

Love Your Figure/Fitness girl,

BethanyJN (Peanut)

(please leave me a comment/message below!)

Wanna be a {WARRIOR}? Try "Warrior Sculpt"!! // MY WORKOUTS (Vol. 1)

What is Warrior Sculpt?

Vinyasa Yoga + Weight Training = One Hard-Core, Sweaty Boot-Camp

I've been taking Warrior Sculpt Classes since February when I joined the LifeTime Fitness in Eden Prairie. I stumbled upon the class right about the same time that I decided to start training for my first competition. Let's just say it was a perfect fit for me. I began taking Nick Bez class on Thursday nights and each week it was challenging and rewarding. Nick has a great way of making you feel welcome by calling you "Buddy" and also giving people shout-outs throughout the class. He also likes to make things light and fun with giving the hardest moves creative nicknames like "The Beyonce" or "The New Yorker".

"So proud of you - it's refreshingly inspiring to see

someone set a goal & then completely crush it, you rock!

I'm honored I was able to assist! :)" 

 - Nick Bez

{WARRIOR SCULPT with Katie and Nick}

@ Eden Prairie Lifetime Fitness

I had become a yogi a couple years back because of my chronic pain issues, but this was yoga on a whole other level. The yoga room is hot, the music is mostly hip-hop and pumping loudly. You do a great vinyasa flow and then add in some weights for cardio circuits and low-resistance lifting. My good friend, Katie Haggerty leads an AMAZING class on Tuesday nights. It is just one hour of sweaty goodness! Katie pushes you to a place you never knew you had and makes you laugh while you are doing it. I used these classes as my "cardio sessions" believe it or not! I bet I burn at least 500 calories and sweat out any water weight I might have that day.

The yoga practice, sweat, stretching and meditation also brings such a great focus to my life. Without it, I wouldn't feel as grounded as I do. Even if you don't enjoy or are intimidated by the specific moves of YOGA...this class is worth taking a chance on!

You will be pumped-up, challenged,

sweaty AND refreshed by the time you leave!

Without Nick and Katie's WARRIOR SCULPT classes, I wouldn't feel the way I do today! If Warrior Sculpt isn't a class that interests you, find one that does with an AMAZING instructor, coach or trainer that pushes you to the edge. Having a "coach" that you can consider a friend and look forward to seeing each week is sometimes all you need to get yourself to class!

 -------------------------  {MODELING CONTEST}  -------------------------

Since I competed in my first Figure/Fitness Competition this May, one of my new goals is to be a Fitness Model. I'm taking things one step at a time and learning about the industry as I go. In the next few weeks, I will have a photo-shoot with Proex Portrait for some fun "head-shots" to start building a portfolio. To get my feet a little wet, I decided to enter World Physique's Female Modeling Contest @ worldphysique.com.

You might be wondering what I would gain for winning a contest like this. I would get the chance to work with a well-known Chicago photographer, a free-subscription to World Physique's Magazine, and the title "Ms. World Physique" for the month of August. It would also help me gain some great exposure, networking and credibility in the fitness industry.

"My goal is too bring a sense of charm, character and class to any opportunity that I might have in Fitness Modeling!"

- Bethany

The voting closes at the END OF THE MONTH.
If you already voted, please VOTE AGAIN!

Show your love and support for a

Fun FITNESS Personality like me!!!

Click here to VOTE!
THANK YOU :)

 

Vote For Me! - World Physique Modeling Contest

Since I competed in my first Figure/Fitness Competition this May, one of my new goals is to be a Fitness Model. I'm taking things one step at a time and learning about the industry as I go. In the next few weeks, I will have a photo-shoot with Proex Portrait for some fun "head-shots" to start building a portfolio. To get my feet a little wet, I decided to enter World Physique's Female Modeling Contest @ worldphysique.com.

You might be wondering what I would gain for winning a contest like this. I would get the chance to work with a well-known Chicago photographer, a free-subscription to World Physique's Magazine, and the title "Ms. World Physique" for the month of August. It would also help me gain some great exposure, networking and credibility in the fitness industry.

"My goal is too bring a sense of charm, character and class to any opportunity that I might have in Fitness Modeling!" - Bethany

The voting starts AUGUST 2ND 
and closes at the end of the month.

Please show your love and support for a

fun Fitness Personality like me!!!

Click here to VOTE!
THANK YOU :)

-------------------------- { SUMMER LOVIN' } --------------------------

Since the end of May, I have been in my first "Off-Season" from dieting and training. At first, I felt very lost and confused because I had become so use to my routine. Part of me was worried that with all of the "fun foods" and a bit of partying would set me right back to the weight I was last summer (20 lbs more). For a while I would weigh in every morning to see where things were at and freak out when things seemed so up and down.

 But after about 2 weeks, my body and mind adjusted to the whole thing. I kept active with my favorite workouts and also maintained a normal healthy diet. I still eat about 5 small meals a day, partly because my body is use to it and is hungry all of the time. I still focus on watching my carb in-take and make sure I'm getting a fair amount of protein. I admit I have enjoyed the cocktails, GF cookies with peanut butter when I feel like it and my favorite summer treat has been a Wendy's chocolate frosty!

MY SISTER, ERIN AND I ENJOYING A SUSHI DINNER

ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER NIGHT @ CRAVE'S PATIO

I have been pleasantly surprised that with the treats here and there I have been able to maintain a realistic weight for myself. My goal has been to try and stay within 5-7 lbs of my competition weight. Starting this week I will begin my "Training Diet" for my next competition in the fall. Going into my second training season is a little different than the first time because now I know what to expect AND dread!

Wish me luck while I start my 2nd Training Season! Here are some fun things I've done this summer and also ones that I still have to look forward to...

Day at a Waterpark

Bike Rides

Chelsea Handler Comedy Show

Jetskiing on Lake Minnetonka

Outdoor Cardio Boxing and Zumba

Campfires

Sleepovers with my younger sister

Laying out by the Pool

Cocktails

Katy Perry Concert

Sushi on the Crave Patio

Britt and Adam's Wedding

Having fun in the pool with friends!

Oh, why does it have to end!!
Hope you have a great rest of the summer

and don't forget to VOTE!

-Bethany