Hi everyone!!!! I survived Thanksgiving.....barely. I have not eaten that much food in ages. It is really hard on my body...mentally and physically. I always get post contest depression which is always a joy.......Your body wants real food so badly, but you have programmed your brain for months that you must lose fat and get smaller. So it is really difficult to change gears, so to speak. I am trying very hard to eat clean and keep my "splurges" in check. It just seems like one family event after the other keeps coming up. I find myself not wanting to look at my body in the mirror each day. You get an image of yourself ingrained in your mind, and that image is usually how you look on contest day. That is not healthy or maintainable......so now is the time where I have to reprogram my brain and what it feels is a "healthy" maintainable weight for me. Working out everyday helps ease the transition into "normal" life again.

Unfortunately, my workouts have suffered because I am now on day 3 of my Neupogen injections for the bone marrow harvest. I hurt everywhere.......my back, my ribs, and my head especially. It zaps me of my energy....I am totally crabby. (my poor husband and children can attest to that) The injections hurt like hell to get- liquid fire going into my arms. I have two more days of injections to go....the collection process starts on Tuesday in Portland (about 3 hours away from my home) I have to be away from my kids for another 2 days....more motherly guilt! Hopefully, they will appreciate why mom is doing this.....someday. I am hoping to feel well enough to do some Christmas shopping for them while in Portland, a couple of Vicodin and I will be good to go!

I ate 2 pieces of pecan pie on Thanksgiving.....oh my God it was good! I never allow myself things like that, so it tasted so yummy. I have decided that my goals for the next year are to put on 5 to 6# of muscle on my upper body, tighten the hell out of my glutes and hams, and to stay at about 10% or less body fat. I would like to compete in the Sacramento Pro in October of next year as my first Pro contest. We'll see how it goes. I would like to make appearances at the Emerald Cup and the Or Ironman also. Having to go to those shows will keep me in good shape and give me lots of motivation. I also plan to start work on my new routine soon. I need to strike while the iron is hot, I have so many ideas.

I am going to go take a nap now- my back is aching terribly with sitting up for so long. Take care everyone, keep training hard! I'll be right there with you before too long!

Tami

I WON MY HEIGHT CLASS AT NATIONALS!!!!!! Oh my God, can you believe it? I placed 4th in the one piece round on Friday night, 1st in the routine round Saturday morning, and 3rd in the 2 piece round on Saturday night! I won the contest by a 40 point margin.....I was shocked to say the least. I had no idea where I had placed until we were told who was in the top 5 at Saturday's night show. I was relieved to have made the top 5, but I had no idea where the judges had scored my routine. (I knew approximately where I had ended up in the physique rounds due to call outs, but the routine was a total guess). Everyone in the audience told me my face was priceless as they announced that I had won, (I am sure I looked like a total idiot). As I look back at the pictures, I had the dumbest cheshire cat grin from ear to ear.....When I came off stage, I couldn't stop giggling and smiling. I really never expected to win (I knew I had it in me to do it, I just never thought the judges would agree:)

After the contest, I met with head judge Sandy Ranalli. She gave me an honest critique, which I so appreciated. She said I need more muscle (which I totally agree with), and I need a few more strength moves in my routine (which I also totally agree with). I had a great talk with Tanji Johnson, and we both agreed that I need to take the next 6 months to a year to put on more muscle in my upper body, and definitely tighten up my hams and glutes. I looked at some of the pics of my ass on Flexonline, oh my God! I had no idea my butt was that round! That is my first order of business- I am going to do light weighted squats till I can't walk! That thing has got to change.....

I would just like to say congrats to the other girls who got their pro cards. I have competed with most of them before, and they are all incredible women.....I have to say that I just love Lisa McCormick! She is one hot mommy, and so much fun to hang out with back stage! Corry Matthews is truly a wonderful person, and I have so much respect for her. I am humbled to win a class that she competes in......it won't be long, that girl will have her procard next year- just mark my words.

And last, but certainly not least, my best friend Karen Patten placed fourth in the medium class! She is one of the most incredible women I have ever had the priviledge of competing against. She is an inspiration to me, I could not have done these nationals without her! We giggled like little girls all 3 days we stayed together.....I love her like a sister. You can bet that I will be right by her side when she competes for her pro card next year at nationals. Someday we will perform our "Seinfeld" routine right Karen?

I was interviewed by the TV show "Road to the Pros" after the show....it will air in early spring next year. That was beyond surreal. Never in a million years did I think I would be interviewed for a TV show. Well, I need to get to bed, I must get my rest.....I start the injections on Friday for the bone marrow harvest on Tuesday of next week- I have to be in the best of health you know! I will write soon and tell you all where to go to see pics of nationals. Train hard and God bless!

Tami

I am getting SO excited for nationals!!!!! I start carb depletion tomorrow.....get ready for a cranky girl....hee hee hee. I feel like I am on the home stretch, so it is getting easier and easier everyday. I am sad to leave my family behind this time, but I will feel better once I am on the plane..... I am rooming with my best buddy Karen Patten, so we will probably get NO sleep because we'll be up giggling and talking all night. We only get to see each other at contests, so we have a lot of catching up to do! She is one of those friends that you can go months and months without seeing, and then right when you see each other- it's like no time has passed. I recently found out that a couple of past competitors of mine are coming to nationals also- excited to see them and have familiar faces back stage:)

Routine practice tonight was rock solid! I am really "feeling" it now. I am carrying about 3 more pounds of muscle into contest this time, which I can really see and feel. My cuts in my quads are starting to show, so a little carb depletion will pull those out nicely. Hopefully, the little bit of surface water in my butt will go away with carb depletion. Tomorrow is my "pretty" day. I have hair, nail, and wax appointments.....I love these pre contest days. It's fun to go all girlie! Well, I must go spend time with my little ones, I will write soon. Keep me in your prayers everyone. Love ya,

Tami

One week till nationals!!!! I did a run through of my routine tonight, it was awesome! Lots of energy, and it was a clean run. Posing practice is killing me, I am so sore just from quarter turning!!!! It's good for me though.....I have been packing my suitcases for backstage, and just for traveling. There are so many little things to organize. You may take a million things and never use any of them, but there will be that one time you need something.....and that makes it worth taking. I have my backstage cheat goodies all ready and packed! I betcha want to know what they are huh? I always take tropical flavor starburst (they are sodium free and a quick energy source backstage), dried mangos (which I always regret eating the next day- major gut ache), and tootsie rolls:) PURE SUGAR!!!!! I can't eat much goodies because of the upcoming bone marrow harvest, so I just took small baggies of each thing.....I have to show some restraint! It won't be good for me to have 15 lbs of extra water on my body the week of the bone marrow harvest:) I am so excited for nationals, but I am so ready to be "normal" again. I have so many plans for my 6months off from competing!!! I am going to put on at least 5 lbs of muscle on my upper body.....It will be so fun to really lift heavy again. Well, I must go spend time with my kids, they are not getting enough of me as it is lately. They are watching the Wizard of Oz- I think I love watching it more than they do:) I will write soon. I will leave you with a saying I was given a few days ago, it has become my mantra:

If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.

Tami

2 weeks till nationals!!!!! I did a mock run through of week-of-contest diet this week. It was going great until I had to go to Portland for the day Thursday. (I went for all my physicals for the bone marrow donation) On the way back home, we had to detour due to a fatal car accident ahead of us......to make a long story short, our trip home was 4 hours longer than expected, and I didn't take enough food to last me that long. I was in the carb reload phase (where I deplete sodium), so the only thing I could find at a convenience store was starburst (they have no sodium).......So I ate starburst the whole way home, they were heavenly, but totally screwed up my contest prep. Oh well......

At my (numerous) Dr appts thursday, they took 12 vials of blood from me. Needless to say, I was totally sucking wind when I did my routine today.......my quads felt like jello! I did it all the way through and didn't miss any tricks though! I am looking really cut now, my only goal is to keep as much muscle as I can in this last 2 weeks. This is where the timing of my meals becomes crucial. I set my watch to go off every hour. This reminds me to either eat, guzzle water, or take supplements. This method has really worked for me this time around. I am so excited to eat Thanksgiving dinner! I can tell I have been dieting for way too long! I just miss feeling "normal". The next 6 months off are going to be great. I am so excited to put on some major muscle!

Well, my bone marrow donation will be on the 29th of November! The recipient was going to be told yesterday for the first time that they found me......It gives me chills to think about that. I feel so priveledged that I get to do this. They tell me that I matched her protein markers 100%. All they needed was a 75% match, and I was 100%. The people at the red cross told me I should go buy a lottery ticket today! The sad news is that I can't contact her (or her me) for one year after the transplant.....they are very strict about that. I will get updates periodically about her condition though.....and they will tell me if she doesn't make it.....but I have a feeling my "super bone marrow" will do the trick!!!! ha ha ha Well, I have to train a client early tomorrow morning, so I must go to bed. Train hard, and say your prayers for me....and my bone marrow recipient. I'll write soon.

Tami

Hi guys!! Just a quick note to update you on my dieting progress. Body comp today says: 5.4% body fat in the underwater tank!!! I weighed in at 123.5#. So that breaks down to 116lbs of lean, and 7.5lbs of fat. I am weighing in 3.5 lbs heavier than I did at Team Universe Nationals, and with a lower body fat percentage.......yeah!!!! I am on day 1 of carb load after 2 days of carb deplete. All I can say is this: I love yams!!!! I hate carb depletion, it totally sucks! But it works so well, it is a must. I have dropped so much surface water already. I go tomorrow to the transplant Dr for all of my physicals and pre op teaching......keep me in your thoughts. Till next time my friends, train hard!

Tami