You learn something new everyday.
Some days you learn lots of “somethings.”
#1 When it comes to hotels, trust but verify. Â Especially when I comes to hotels. Â Next time I choose. Â And it will NOT be La Quinta. Â That place is filthy.
#2 If someone wants to keep your bikini bottoms in place by sticking them to you skin with craft glue, say no. Â I lost at least 2 layers of skin peeling my bottoms off.
At least I had my post-competition Nuttzo treat to make me feel better.
#3 Cupcakes and greasy cheese after following a very strict diet will give you a rumbly in your tumbly. #sorryimnotsorry Â
Thank you to Jenn Hendershott for having these backstage!
There are no pics of the nachos… but I ate 2 plates.  The first plate had tofu on it.  I also drank a beer.  Or two.  Thanks to my cousin for coming out to cheer me on a for sponsoring my post-competition treat-fest.
#4 Fake eyelashes feel like little aliens on your eyelids.
#5 Never say never.  Just 5 years ago if you had told me I’d be walking across a stage in stripper heels and a bikini doing a fitness competition… I would have laughed in your face.  This former beer-guzzling girl refused to wear a bikini for years (it took me until grad school to do so willingly).  Anything is possible.Â
#6 Keep it simple. Â Sometimes there’s nothing better than toast with peanut butter and sliced banana for breakfast. Â Don’t fight it.
#7Â When the heavyweight winner stops to get 3 BBQ sandwiches and a milkshake on the way home, do not be surprised if he doesn’t offer you a bite.
I was perfectly happy with my Subway egg and cheese sandwich. Â Mmmm… eggs…. add avocado, jalapenos, and tomato.
#8 There are no excuses.  The man in the picture below is in a wheelchair.  This is his second competition.  Any time I think about slacking or making an excuse, I’m going to remember him and the “sticktuitiveness” he displayed.
***
The professional pics aren’t up yet, but I’ll post them when I get them. Â You guys are going to be SO sick of me…
Can you tolerate a sub-par hotel? Â I’m a hotel snob… my idea of camping is the Holiday Inn. #sorryimnotsorry
What have you learned lately?
Congrats on the competition!! Note to self: never use craft glue on your butt. Ouch. Glad you had the cupcake to make the pain go away 😀 And that guy in the wheelchair is very inspirational!
Haha – they are supposed to have Bikini Bite, which is gentler. Not sure what happened there. Oy.
Awesome recap-ish…Hope you are still making the most of your 4 days off competition dieting! I bet that along with never thinking you’d strut around in a bikini and stripper heels, you also never expected to feel like your eating heaven when biting into a piece of toast with pb & banana ;)!
This week I’ve learned that if you want to see the change, you have to make the change…easy as that!
That is true! If they’d had honey I would have drizzled that on there too.
I’m a hotel snob, too! I gotta have at least three stars…below that has been terrible experiences!
Congrats on the competition! Hairspray works for those bikini bottoms!
DAYYYYUM GIRL GET IT GET IT!!!!
So proud. Eat clean. Look like a boss.
MWAH
“Eat clean. Look like a boss.” LOVE it..
Omg, I am such a snob when it comes to hotels…and MO-tels I just can’t handle! I refuse to stay anywhere that has an exterior entrance! Lol Dude, the heavyweight champ totally looks like Michael Duncan Clark from the side like that!
I wore fake eyelashes for Halloween last year…they are a little weird, but I love how they made me feel like a supermodel! 😉
Over the weekend, I learned that squid sashimi is possibly the worst thing you can EVER put into your mouth! ICK!
Haha – I’m going to tell him you said that. Actually, he might be at the gym this weekend… you can tell him yourself! 😉
I draw the line a squid.
Again, congratulations girl! I cannot get over the fact that the man is doing a fitness competition. What an inspiring individual he is. Gosh, I’m going to be reminded of him every time I think ” i can’t do this”.
I’m a complete snob. Growing up I only ever stayed in nice hotels, so thinking of anything else kinda scares me. :-X
Congratulations on the competition. You look great!
yikes! your a brave girl for allowing that glue 🙂
That is so motivational – and a reminder if how good I have it! I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and just DO! No excuses!
So proud of you, lady! I would ave worn a bikini five years ago too, but that’s because I was way too big to wear one! Either way, you rocked it!
That’s exactly how I felt! Time to get back to the gym .:)
Definitely things to keep in mind!! A hotel can totally make or break one’s trip. Sleeping in the most important to me but now it is increasingly important to have a mini-fridge too!
Trust me, I can’t wait to see your photos!! 🙂
They didn’t even have a fridge! I called down to ask. Boo.
So PROUD OF YOU!!!
Get IT STAYS for biting your bikini. It works wonders!
I have the same MAC lashes…which I wore on Sat 🙂
Surprisingly enough, I didn’t have a cupcake!
Can’t wait to see the pics!
You looked beautiful and rock solid!
They are supposed to have Bikini Bite, which I’m guessing is the same thing. Don’t know what happened there… but we all got glued.
Thank you. 🙂
Haha, you crack me up. I can only imagine how much fun you must be to hang out with in real life. 🙂 I can’t wait to see the pro pics. The pics you have showed us so far have been great!
THAT is a big compliment. I try to laugh a lot. 🙂 Thank you!
You look gorgeous!!! congratulations on your win!!! so excited for you and I hope you had a blast. I bet that nutbutter tasted amazing afterwards. And your hair looked beautiful. Don’t knock the stripper heels – this tomboy has three pairs and while I’m perfectly happy in my trackies, the heels come in handy at pole practice and they turn me into a different person 🙂 I hate wearing fake lashes but love how I look in them, sigh….
3 pairs?! My ankles just can’t take it. I threatened to train for Physique because those ladies don’t have to wear heels. 😉
Great post,Laura! I’m not TOO much of a hotel snob. For Ralph and Me on our cross country travels we’re usually only in a hotel one night. I get disappointed when we find a really nice one and are only staying one night! I try to remember them for the next trip. I never thought of the egg sandwich at Subway. I usually go with the straight veggie with cheese. What a great idea. I guess you can get them anytime of day. Can’t wait to see the Professional photos! Yay!!
They only serve them until 11a. We walked in and he said it was too late but I looked at the clock on the wall and said: “I have 15 seconds!” and he let me have one. 🙂
Oh man, that cupcake looks delicious! You looked great girl, congratulations 🙂
Thanks! They all looked delish. Hard to choose a flavor!
Love this post! That guy in the wheelchair is seriously awesome, what in inspiration! 🙂
Oh and the learning experience for faky eyelashes made me die laughing!! I’ve never worn them before, but I can only imagine how creepy they feel haha!
the guy is the wheelchair is so inspiring! (and as are you, of course)
I would absolutely be all over a cupcake after the competition, hope all of your post-competition eats have been fabulous!
i’ll never get tired of the recaps! keep ’em coming!
I love that even though you had such a strict diet you still wanted eggs, cheese, avocado and tomato after all that time. The pic of the big guy eating is hilarious! 🙂
Congrats again!
I wasn’t even allowed eggs the last 3 weeks! I would have eaten ANYTHING That wasn’t chicken, tuna, or asparagus. 🙂
Way to go on the competition!! You look awesome!! My hubby keeps trying to convince me to do a show…I just love to run too much!!
It’s SO much fun! I wasn’t allowed cardio, so my mile time suffered a lot… but many run and train at the same time!
Nachos and cupcakes sound just about right. But fake eyelashes do not. Is it weird if wearing fake eyelashes around scares me more than stripper heels and a bikini? Can’t wait to see the official pictures! (And I’m so not a hotel snob. I’d say I’ve stayed in a “nice” hotel maybe three times in my life. Otherwise? Motel 8 is my friend.)
You and Steve will get along well hotel-wise. I’ll be down the street next time. LOL!
LOL I love #7. xD And to #8, wow… that’s just incredible. Good for him, and good for YOU for rocking your first competition! 🙂
Oh wow… that’s so inspirational about the man in the wheelchair. Talk about drive and determination… and speaking of which, congrats again on how well you did in the show, Laura 😀 Hope you’re enjoying being able to eat asparagus-free food again 😉
oh my dear lady. i’m in a rush so I skimmed today — but ouch, glue??? I would have gone double stick tape (they make it in ultra — which would hurt less).
also — I’m out of town today, but send me an e-mail with your competition pix and I’ll throw together a banner for you. You’re missing out on marketing your blog without a title.
Bikini Bite is what they are supposed to use. Not sure what happened…
Really?!?! I don’t have any other than what’s on the blog and FB. Do you need to high-res stuff? I’ll send you some as soon as we get the pro shots! THANK YOU!!!! xoxox
You did it & should be so proud – know you are BUT sometimes we don’t see that…. Amazing feat & I get it!
I am not a fan of camping or bad hotels like you. Can’t afford anything lately but with a Timeshare we bought back in the dark ages, it allows us to pick better places when we can travel.
Learning something new every day! 🙂
Time shares rock – I need to get in one one.
So awesome and so proud of you!!! I feel like I am learning something new daily! Always something to be learned and I love it!
I’ve stayed in La Quinta a few times and had good experiences. I guess it all depends on the franchise owner. I am picky about hotels but mostly in terms of making sure they have a gym and a fridge in the room. And I am totally with you on the PB/Banana on toast. That’s what I typically have on weekend mornings before a long run. It settles on your tummy very nicely.
You rock, Laura! I’m so proud of you 🙂
And I am a hotel snob and I’m not afraid to admit it. Nothing grosses me out more than a dirty hotel room. I ALWAYS check the bed for creepy crawly things and the bathroom for mold. Ewww!
Glue?! That sounds awful and painful! But a couple beers after competition were WELL deserved! I hope you get to enjoy some pumpkin beer too while it’s still fall. 🙂
I had some in my fridge to enjoy post-competition! 🙂
I can’t believe you do all this, you are amazing! I need to get out of the kitchen more!
LOL! It actually requires MORE time in the kitchen. 🙂
that glue reminds me of the time they used me as a demo for bikini waxing in skincare school…OUCH! congrats on your big accomplishment. its been fun living vicariously thru you lol!
The thought of a bikini wax makes me shudder… but I guess I did get a butt wax! 🙂
I love just how much you pushed yourself doing this, doing things that were not easy and firsts for many of them. ouch with the paint, poor skin! Fake eyelashes are like the devil, it is like constantly being attacked by butterflies. WTF!
That is the PERFECT description!
I didn’t just compete, BUT now I want a cupcake and nachos. THANKS. haha you looked great!
The better questions is when do we NOT want nachos and cupcakes? 🙂
Awesome post – yet again. I love the recaps 🙂 Haha I’m SO happy for you and totally loving that you finally get to indulge post-competition! You deserve all the cupcakes and nachos you can get 🙂 Woot!
Thank you! I’m always worried I’m boring everyone. 🙂
Haha, you manage to eat that Nutzo so daintily – I’d be faceplanting into it after so long on the asparagus diet.
Congrats on placing in your compeition! How many other girls were there in your category? I always wonder if figure is the most hotly contested because it seems to be the most popular goal for bloggers entering fitness comps.
LOL! It wasn’t so pretty after that pic. 😉
I can’t remember… more than 5! Haha. Maybe 15? Bikini is by far the most popular from what I see.
Hotel snob? Not sure… I want a clean room in a quiet part of the hotel and I want to feel safe and it has to be in a nice neighborhood.
I have good luck most of the time.
Hope you are having fun riding your post competition high. You look wonderful and other than the glue, it sounds like you had a blast.
I’m the same… but cleanliness is the biggest issue for me.
Thank you! 🙂
Ha, Congrats on completing the competition! Those tips made me laugh ;).
Congrats honey! So very proud of you!
Thank you!! 🙂
first congrats, second crazy glue ouch, third yes la quinta ick!
Nuttzo fixes all. Sorry about the hotel trouble, that is SO frustrating! You are seriously amazing, all the hard work you put in is so inspiring to others! And the man in the wheelchair…just amazing. Enjoy the eats!:)
Ouch glueing your bottoms on? Sheesh that would be so painful for me…soooo painful!
Oh yes. It was an experience getting it off…
This was the best post ever. It had everything.
Congratulations on your competition and subsequent food celebration.
Also toast, banana, speculoos spread. WAY better than peanut butter any day. I’m totally addicted.
LOL! Thanks Holly!
I’m going to get kicked out of the blog world… but I actually like PB better than cookie spread. I know, I know…
congrats on your competition!! you look amazing and all the hard work + dedication that goes into preparing for a show paid off. now its time to enjoy 🙂
Thank you! I’m relishing my last couple of training-free eating. I get the new plan tomorrow!
You look amazing, congratulations, so glad your efforts paid off and if it’s any consolation, I would have eaten wayyyyy worse than that afterwards!
Oh, it was bad. I didn’t picture everything, but I think I may have eaten half a (large) batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. 🙂
A wheelchair participant? Rock on!! I love seeing people who take their disability and turn it completely around and show us what tough is. Incredible.
And I am so glad you got to eat two plates of nachos AND drink beer! =)
I know! It’s so inspiring. There are no limits to what we can accomplish.
Oh my goodness, I have to say [without sounding like stuck-up priss], I don’t think I’d stay in a La Quinta either- I’ve only passed by them and they look… Like ahhh, not a place I’d prefer to stay BUT heck, that’s not what’s important… YOU FINISHED AND PLACED, now that’s the real big winner ;D
I don’t think that sounds stuck up at all! You should have seen my face when we walked in the room. 😉
Thank you!!
2 layers of skin or 2 layers of SPRAY TAN? teehee
HA! Maybe one of each…
I can’t stand dirty hotels. It totally grosses me out! I completely agree on the never say never when it comes to accomplishing goals. I never thought I would actually get my personal training certification and I am so happy now that I have it. I’m having the time of my life doing something I truly love!
I’m so happy for you… what a great feeling!
love these lessons:)
I loved this post! I’ve learned lately that prayer is powerful. If I’m ever really anxious, I pray and it makes me feel 10x better.
Oh craft glue just doesn’t seem to be the right answer at all. Hopefully everything will heal up and there will be a different solution for you next go round 🙂
You are right about that!! They are supposed to use bikini Bite, but I guess there wasn’t any to be found.
I remember the rumbly tummy thing and I was so frustrated because I had so much I wanted to eat. Haha! And the aliens on the eyelashes – YES! That is the perfect description.
Congrats on your event! I will definitely remember your tip about the craft glue, though I don’t see a need for it in the near future. I will also remember your tip about La Quinta. I will remember it too, for obvious reasons.
I actually thought of you when we checked in. LOL!
Oops, I missed giving you congratulations on your recap post… so CONGRATS! 😀
I can’t believe you had to glue on your bikini bottoms! Haven’t they ever heard of double sided tape? 😛 Haha.
There is a special spray to use, but guess no one had any…. ugh. Thank you!!
I’m so proud of you girl!! From my pageant days… you use spray glue for like posters for your bottoms. MUCH easier to get off… but your bum will stick to your pants for a day or two!
There is Bikini Bite that specifically for this… I guess they ran out?! Or maybe they didn’t think it would stick with all the canola oil we were getting sprayed with.
No I can’t handle a bad hotel either.
I’m so glad you got to indulge in something other than asparagus. You deserve a cupcake and some cheese.
Back in my gymnast days, we used to use a glue stick to get our leotards to stay in place. Less mess and no skin loss.
I’m learning that I don’t have all the answers…but I’ll never stop searching for them.
Wow. That was deep.
I also learned that my stomach no longer likes lentils.
🙂
That WAS deep! I think you have all the answers to making fabulous #nuttybutter. xoxo
Ummm. You have me flabbergasted, in a good way! 😉 Very impressive, not many people can do this. Oh and I’m all for peanut butter and banana on toast! They actually had mini bite peanut butter and banana sandwiches at a job I worked recently I was stoked! Your body tells me you deserve that beer 😉
Noelle, thank you so much! It was hard, but worth it!
Mini PB + banana sandwiches at work?! I want your job!
It’s your attitude which makes you so inspiring my friend, all these tips rock 🙂
Especially the last few!
And anything is possible – I would have laughed too before 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I have yet to purchase a bikini and I’m 34 years old. Now it may have something to do with the fact that I burn very easily in the sun and I can’t swim. Two very good reasons not to even own a bathing suit. So..yeah…I’m a late bloomer when it comes to stepping out of my comfort zone.
I LOVE #4 and #7! I’m kind of excited to try fake eyelashes..Always wondered how I would look with those things on. And I think it’s hilarious big man ate all the food himself. Ha!
Welcome back to the REAL food world.
But the burning question is: When’s your next competition??! 🙂 Or was this a 1 and done?
I never liked to swim either… maybe things would have been different. But to this day I dislike wearing a bathing suit.
There will be more! I’m aiming for a show in March.
Wow, #8 is really awesome and inspiring. I kind of had to learn to deal with crappy hotels when I lived and traveled around Europe during college. Little money=gross hostels (one even had a shower that you had to continuously pump the water in the shower for it to come out) but I can completely understand not wanting to stay in La Quinta, I’ve heard that place is no fun. Its always the simplest meals that are truly the best!
Sick of you? NEVER.