Thanks for all the great suggestions! My boyfriend supports my interest in competing, but he doesn't like the whole process to get there. He's been very patient and understanding; however, I still feel guilty that we don't get to spend much time together during the week because of my schedule: gym, work, gym, work, gym, home, meal prep/clothes packing, bed. There's no room for anyone or anything else in my life right now, and I wonder how women who have families and kids do this.
I still try to hang out with my friends, just not eat or drink with them, but most of the time I'm too tired at the end of the day to do anything but stumble into bed (early, by most people's standards too!).
Competing and modeling are long-term goals of mine, and I want to see where I can go with it. However, when I look at how everything else in my life suffers when I give everything I've got to a show, I wonder if my priorities are straight. And I wonder how I'll be able to manage this lifestyle when I've got additional demands on my time (kids). It scares my boyfriend too, because he's got a little girl, and he doesn't think I could manage to be a good mommy while I'm preparing for a show. Thoughts on that??
Our schedules definitely sound a lot alike! I certainly go to bed early! most often it's at 10 but sometimes as early as 9, right after I eat my last meal! I do know some people (my wonderful trainer for example!) that only sleep 3 hours a night because of all of his time spent training others and making time for himself and his wife (also a figure competitor). Considering I don't have any yearnings or future plans to have children, I'm not much help here, but I do see that my dog gets neglected so I kind of understand. Galloping Gazelle, on the Fit By Design blog has a child and super busy life so she may be of more help when it comes to that aspect. She's a great inspiration to me and her encouraging words have helped me a lot. I'm sure she'd be open to offering some advice!
The time, effort and money constraints with this sport are difficult to swallow, so the only thing I do is plan and then plan some more. Schedule time, have lunch with friends or boyfriend at a restaurant you know will accommodate your meal while still having a wide selection available to whomever you are with. I've found that most seafood restaurants are quite accommodating (McCormick & Schmick, Kona Grill, Steamers).
Also, you have to remember, not all competitors have dayjobs. Sometimes training/being sponsored, etc is their job.
You mentioned feeling guilty...I felt way more guilty at the start of this process but have come to terms with it for the most part. I do apologize to my boyfriend and my friends from time to time but they say not even to do that because they understand. My boyfriend, friends and I are all in our late 20's early 30's and are busy trying to find the same life balances while moving forward in careers, goals, relationships etc. So we all understand each other.
Is life easier when you come home from work at 530 & have no plans, eat whatever is in the fridge or order a pizza then sit on your butt watching television? Sure. But are you accomplishing what you truly desire by doing this? Nope.
To be honest, I actually have to schedule time to "relax" - as if that isn't an oxymoron! Weekdays are crammed with work, train, eat, sleep that the weekends end up really busy with all the other life stuff that needs to be done (planned around meals of course, unless I take my cooler with).
It definitely isn't easy; that's why not everyone does this! Stay strong, stay focused, plan as much as you can. Take Buffabeca's advice on the cooking. That's usually what I do as well...cook on Sundays and Wednesdays if I need it.
I'm tired of hardboiled eggs so I just cook em in the pan in the AM"s and eat cold eggs at 9 AM - not the best, but easy to choke down. A lifesaver for chicken is the fully cooked bags of chicken. pilgrim's pride makes good ones in a light blue bag. Pop em in microwave for 2-3 minutes and voila! beats having to cook so many then eating "leftover" chicken (which to me isn't very appetizing).
Salmon I cook on sunday evenings... i use splenda and cinnamon, then eat it cold over spinach during the week. I find the sweeter taste is better cold.
That's all I have for now!
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