Well it is a little ironic that contest day is the only day I have had time to update my site.  I can honestly say that leading into this contest this week has been one of the easiest ever.  The first few days of the week were bad,  well worse than bad as you all know when decarbing.  We did five full days of decarb so for the first 2 I was abit of a write off, then day 3 I came right and had energy from where I dont know but it was there in full swing. I think it had alot to do with brining back my flax seed oil and cashew nuts with 3 of my 6 or 7 meals of chicken breast, but it definately made a hell of a difference.

Oh I weighed in last night at 63.6 ripped so was very happy with that. That is substantially heavier than my last arnold competition so I am very happy with the size I have gained over the 2.5 years. 

On Tuesday I was low.  I was looking very forward to my run, planning to do my 50 min one but my legs felt really heavy and buggared when I got out of bed early to go to work so I should of seen that as a bad sign.  However I finally did my run around 10am, it was so warm and sunny and it should of been gorgeous, however my legs just wouldnt carry me.  I felt like I was holding litres of water,  cos I was water loading too,  and the whole attempt to run was depressing and horrible.  I found myself stopping about 6 times during the 30-40 mins that I jog/walked, and would just hang over a bridge almost in tears thinking over and over "what the hell am I doing".  I remember when I went and won the worlds the same thing  happened.  I actually sat out on the deck alone and cried, just out of the sheer frustration of being tired and hungry and thinking it was all just a waste of time,  but I won that competition so that is what keeps me going every day - we never know what is around the corner.  So I walked/ran that cardio session and although it was hideous I just kept thinking that I need to do the best I can give on any and every given day.  I think I achieved that during that session.

So here I am contest morning,  feeling absolutely brilliant. I have had 4 very high energy days where my body just seems to keep getting better with condition every hour.  Bee and I have worked 100% for this one.  We have dieted together for  16 weeks with our only cheats being sushi on the the odd occasion, but in huge quanaties.   Tell you more about that another time.

Anyway some  acknowledgements are in order here today.   Bee my boyfriend, training partner and mentor has been incredible.  His patience and genuine concern for me has been amazing.....  He would give his last bite of food if it were to help me achieve my best.  Im totally in awe of his genuine good character, patience and amazing personalitly....   Bodyscience who provide me with my amazing supplements.  I honestly couldnt not get to this level of competition without there help.  The supplements are the highest quality and I am so thankful to have them backing me. I hope to make them proud of their sponsored athlete today.

To my dear friends Glenda and Tracy from www.Bodybuildingbikinis.com for continuing to provide me with my gorgeous bikinis..  They do the most fabulous cuts and I know that their bikinis are always going to bring out the best of my physique. I wouldnt go with anything else!!  Please help support Glenda and Tracy by continueing to order through them for your comp bikinis, trunks or summer swimwear..  They have made it through the CHCH earthquake after losing their swimwear shop and sewing rooms and are now getting ready to move into another store. They need our support..  

Id like to thank my gorgeous kids (Jaimee, Brad and Jordie)  and my sisters (Susie and Tess) who have supported me for so so many competitions now.  I know they get tired of it but this is what I do, and they have continued to wish me all the best and understand my need to do this.  Love you all.  To my girlfriends who I have neglected over the last few months, sorry but love you all too.....

And to my gorgeous clients who have all understood that I needed abit of time out to get this event done and dusted. It has been important for me to stand on stage in my 50th year.  Partly for selfish reasons I know, but today I am representing woman in their 50's. I want woman to know that training with weights doesnt have to turn you into a muscle woman like myself, but it can turn you into a toned, self assured, confident feminine woman and I do believe it does have anti aging abilities - I feel amazing at 50  - almost to be 51 years old  and I have been doing weights for 20 years now. It is never too late to begin..

I have to go. I shall write a long in depth one over the week.   I have documented all my food from over the decarb and carb up process. You will find it an interesting read.. Have my hairdresser, Olivia and my make up star artist Teresa coming soon to finish me off.

Once again, thank you all. I will love being on stage again today,  and I look very forward to standing beside my good friend Kaye O'Neill today.  We have been friends for aroudn 15 years and this is the first time we will stand together on stage...  How proud are we both Kaye?  We represent busy working career woman/mums today - we will have a blast.

I must go. Bee is still snuggled up in bed. He looks sharp today.. Dialling in two bodies in one household has been a challenge but we have both done and we feel incredible.  Luf and muscles, Jo. xxxx