Top 10 in the Finals in Bikini Division at WBFF Worlds Championships

I am  finished with the show!!!  I want to take a minute and write about my experience upon arriving backstage, ready to take the stage.  Once again, this is my own personal experience and I in no means mean to take away from the other athletes, their dedication, their passions, or their goals.  They all deserve so much credit for their hardwork and drive!

As I entered backstage area, you see 100's of girls swarming with sparkly, tight fitting suits, and beautiful eye popping make-up that makes you jump out of your skin.  Girls I had met the previous night, instantly looked different, almost unrecognizable.  I am ready for the fun party that I kept hearing about during my prep.  Eveyone stated how fun this was and all the wonderful fun friends you meet back stage.  There is surely a party?  Why else would they do this over and over?  Well to my surprise, no Party...Everyone was pretty much practicing their walks, touching up their layers and layers of make up.  Actually I am so surprised at everyone's sense of control.  Most of us are depleted nutritionally and dehydrated, not to mention super tired and we will be backstage for a good 10-12 hours, but everyone talks really sweet to one another and seems to hold it all together, when about 6 hours into it, I was ready to bolt out the door to some fresh air and a long run!  So I joined the ranks, put on my suit, my uncomfortable heels and paraded around.  I actually needed practice in my heels...my feet are way to accustomed to flip flops.  So the waiting and strolling around began...
I really wanted to embrace this experience, so I mingled.  Some girls were really nice.  You could feel of their inner light.  They were willing to help tie your suit, wipe your spray tan, and look you in the eye and talk.  Meeting a best friend and having a laughing, knee slapping party...not my experience.  But hey to be fair, we were at a competition and to be honest they needed to be somewhat self absorbed to focus on walks and to get grips of all the nerves.

The time finally came to walk on stage!  It didn't matter if it was your first time like me or your 50th, the nerves and excitement, could be felt from each girl.  My adrenaline started pumping and I wondered if this was the part that brought people back again.  Adrenaline can be very addicting and thrilling.

As I walked out, I went on autopilot.  For someone who speaks on live television and to large audiences, I found it odd that my lip started quivering as I smiled on stage and I could feel my legs and glutes shaking. I tried everything to control it in my mind but my body would have nothing to do w/ listening to my mind.  I guess I was really, really nervous even though my mind felt confident and relaxed.  I tried to smile, put out love and good energy...that was my gig.

After all the girls walked out, I got called out which I heard from the others was a "good" thing and most likely ment you made it to the finals.  That part felt good.  I must admit.  I am competitive, so I wondered if that was the thrill?  Judges analyzing your body.  Does it look as good on the front as the back?  Did she eat the right portions of carbs, proteins and fats for her body type?  Is she sexy?

As we let stage, literally 20 minutes of it, I was still trying to figure out the JOY of the sport?  I don't want to discredit it, but I was truely baffled.  No one was backstage  laughing, telling jokes and being on stage was so short for all the time spent back stage.  Let me back up a bit.  To fully understand what goes into this show you must get the right picture of what goes into it.  Countless hours are spent on this one night from the athletes.  Just like any sport, approximately 2-3 hours is spent/day for approx. 6 months getting prepared physically.  Time is spent each day preparing clean, healthy meals, shopping for fresh foods and making time to eat 6x/day.  For me, I didn't know anything about this, that I spent at least 15 min.-30min/ day walking in my heels and another 2 hours/day researching, youtubing, and seeing how this show runs, how people walk and pose.  I studied and researched every inch of this federation and what was expected.  Not to mention the time to find a suit and evening gown.  It added up to a full time job for at least 6 months or more for most athletes.

For me, I have always felt that you should love what you do or do something else.  I enjoyed the journey but was waiting for the climax at the event.  All our work turning into a party!  I guess it was a lot like how I feel about night clubs.  I understand why people go, but to me it really isn't a fun party.  Getting all dolled up to talk to superficial men, drink and drown your emotion or heighten them, to go home exhausted and totally empty inside.  While you are at clubs you get hit on from males, saying all sorts of nice things about you and your appearance, which to me is annoying because they don't know the first thing about me and my soul...Kind of like being on stage.  No one really knows all that your soul is.  They don't understand the flowers or garbage that may be growing inside.  In my mind  you can't judge someone fully on beauty without knowing their soul and mind.

By 5:30, I walked out for the final round.  The finals was the climax for sure!  We had Nick Carter singing.  It was a real entertainment show!  I was more relaxed the second time I walked out.  My legs didn't shake and I could smile without a quiver on my upper lip.  The large audience definitly brought an energy that was fun.  Finally after hours of waiting, they called out the Final 10 in Bikini...I am not going to lie, hearing my name felt so good.  It was all ego, but it was exciting!    As I stood there as the final 10, I gave out my love to all the athletes, to the cathy savage girls in the crowd who cheered me on...bless their hearts, to Jules my cathy savage coach.  To Stephanie Jacobs who was so kind and helped me along the journey (who may be the person I was ment to meet through this process). For my family who love me unconditionally.  I thank God that there is something for everyone!

When I went back to the hotel at 12:30 a.m, I stepped into the bathroom.  For a moment, I didn't recognize the face starring back at me.  I had to stare for awhile.  Wow, I had transformed!  My hair, face, and body!  I stepped into the shower and watched as black streamed down the drain.  It felt so good to wash the black off me.  I scrubbed and washed.  as I emerged, I saw "me" in the mirror.  The face I know.  How I love that face.  Clean, Pure and bright w/ blue eyes.



Danette Allen Fitness www.danetteallenfitness.com Body Heart Mind Soul Health & Fitness Retreats, Exercise Workouts, Nutrition, Visualization & More

A personal insight on my experience competing at WBFF Worlds Fitness Championships

This message below is something that I wrote right before I went back stage to compete.  This is obviously a personal insight and before I say more, I would like to say that there is definitly something for everyone.  I admire the athletes that compete over and over.  It takes tremendous dedication and drive to continue competing.  This is just my insights and the way I felt in my personal journey.

"I am here waiting for the show to begin...wow, this is kind of a crazy journey and I am not really sure why I felt I should take this journey!  A little bit about my perceptions last night.  I arrived, girls seem nice, guys and girls walking around w/ make up and really dark skin!  I go in to get my spray tan...naked bodies everywhere, standing talking as fumes are flying everywhere.  I get soo sooo dark, I wonder how they really judge skin appearance after all this spray tan?  It covers every flaw you may have had.  Then I head up to the athletes meeting..over 600 athletes competeing from all over the world.  The crazy thing is, we spend lots of money on spray tans, make up, uniforms, etc, entrance fee, flights, etc to spend approx. 5 min. on stage!!!!

 

 

 We wait in line, no joke, for 2 1/2 hours to get registered.  Luckily since I hadn't prepayed, I ended up getting moved to the front of the line...wowee, lucky because people were standing there until midnight.  I crawled into bed at 11, to get up at 6 a.m for more spray tan..(really I have to get even darker...I didn't think it was possible)...the sheets are all stained.  As I lay in bed, I miss my loved ones.  I think about those who don't get enough credit from me.  Who bear with my craziness, as I hear the news playing on tv about Hurricane IRene.  My mind drifts to what really matters...there is a possible major desastor hitting on the east coast right when I am supposed to get on stage!  I am thankful my family is ok, but what about all those that are not?  Why am I spending all this superficial time getting all done up for 5 min. walking on stage to those who probably don't even really care about you.  As I fall asleep, I am still not sure why I felt such a pull to go to this show.  I am still baffled at all the athletes who come time and time again to do this...I guess it confuses me as much as the man who spends countless hours and money working on sports cars or fixing up old cars.  Deep down it is as if we are searching for somehting missing from our past...did we always want to be the pageant girl?  Did we not get that cool sports car as a teenager that we always dreamed of?  Chasing the past...not sure if that is productive or not.  I will tell you what I believe is productive...supporting those who are being hit w/ desaster.  Trying to wipe the tears of the scared, cuddling my children and making sure they know how much I love them.  Taking time to enjoy this beautiful earth and all that God has given us. 

 

Luckily I have some time before I step on stage to write my thoughts.  It feels good to clear out the confusing clutter and get very real w/ my emotions.  What am I searching for ?  I know what it is, but not sure why the pull to be here in this persuit. 

Let me tell you again what I am searching for...more for me, than you, I am sure as I make sense over and over in my mind.  I want to inspire hundreds of thousands of the truth I know..and that is, "that movement combined w/ opening up your soul is one of the most powerful things we have.  That each person in life is a child of God and that he has a divine purpose.  That purpose varies from one person to the next, but without your health and adequate movement and energy, you will not fulfill that purpose to the fullest.  I want to help each person have the energy and health that I feel so prevelant in my life.  I know what foods give energy without taking tons of time or money.  I know how to work your body to give you energy and help you look and feel your best.  When you feel good about yourself, you can't help but let your light shine.  Others will feel your incredible energy!  I don't care about spray tans, loads of make up and spending thousands on a swimsuit and evening gown.  I care about the process.  The eating clean daily and feeling my body be more energetic, recovering faster after marathons, the tightness and the way my body looks as I slip off my clothes.  I love how my children watch me struggle walking in high heels and then seeing as it becomes easier and easier with practice.  ONce again, it is not about the high heels, it is about being consistant at something and showing them that I will not give up!  I am hoping to meet w/ key influencers who will have the right connections to get my message out.  Who see a deeper side to all of this and who will help me inspire thousands to mindful results!" 

 

As I get ready to put on make up and then head over the show, I will make sure I walk out w/ pride.  I will think of my goals and who I am deep inside.  I will be that light that attracts the bugs, but also attracts lost souls searching in the night.  I will be more of the light that calls out to those who need help, hope, and inspiration.  I will be confident!   When all is said and done, I hope that I will get on the plane home and understand what really drew me hear.  Perhaps I won't know for a while, but I will be patient and continue to follow my own inspiration even if I don't understand it in the moment. "

 

 

 

Danette Allen Fitness www.danetteallenfitness.com Body Heart Mind Soul Health & Fitness Retreats, Exercise Workouts, Nutrition, Visualization & More

seeking out challenges

On Saturday I ran in the Wasatch back Marathon.   A relay marathon that runs along the ridge line of the wasatch mountains.  Of course the leg I ran was 11 miles climbing to the top.  "Why would you want to do that?", chids my mother.  "You are not as young as you used to be."  "what if you get hurt?"

What if I do?  Why would I want to put my body through agony for 11 miles?  It is an adequate question, but of course my answer is so much deeper than, "I just thought it would be a good idea."

I am not an advocate for marathons.  I am advocate for picking something challenging and doing it, even if others around you think you are crazy.  Pick something that is fun for you, pick something that you wouldn't normally do.

My experience running this race was something that hopefully stays in my heart forever!  I gained so much insight while pounding away on the dirt trails climbing the ridge line.  Each mile, or should I say stride, I would have to tell myself, "get to that next tree and then reevaluate how you feel."  Each time, I would feel like I wasn't just climbing, I was tackling everything in my life that is hard.  I was tackling all my goals that I have.  I was tackling the fears that lume in my mind.  Each stride was an affirmation that I can do hard things and keep on going.  On my journey to the top, at mile 13...there was my precious girls, cheering other runners on and giving out water.  As I climbed the hill to reach them, I was reminded again, that this isn't all about me.  It is about them.  What a great opportunity for them to encourage others in their goals, to give aid, and encouragement.  It was a chance for them to see their mom do hard things and to buoy me up.  They grabbed my hands and started to run beside me, eyes beaming and chanting, "you can do it mom!"

Once I reached the top, the views where so beautiful!! You could see the valleys below and the Timponoga peak ahead.  In that moment, I felt more close to intention than I had in a long time.  I was in a place of complete surrender.  My body was numb and my soul was humble.  I was able to feel that I have a plan here on earth, that we all do.  That we have been given such a great gift...the gift of life.

During hard times, challenges, or experiences, it is a chance for us to look at the tree ahead and say, "I will get to that tree."  and once you are there...build confidence and do it again.  Pick the next tree and the next until you have reached the top.  Challenges can humble the spirit and make us teachable.  If we are willing we can learn our most valuable lessons during that moment.  Remember along our journeys, we are never alone.  We may feel alone as we run along the dirty, rocky path, but a few miles ahead there is a water station and someone willing to give you aid.  These individuals are everywhere, ready to buoy us up and cheer us on.  If your head is down and your eyes are shut, you will miss them and the relief that they bring.

When I got home from the run.  This wonderful running mediation and teaching moment, I received a phone call from someone that I was waiting to hear from about a business partnership.  Mind you, this is a Saturday afternoon when I got this call.  Coincedence?  I don't think so.  I had put myself in nature, humbled my spirit and let my soul and mind meditate for hours.  I was so close to intention and right when I needed it, the helping hand to further my purpose in life had called and we worked out a business deal over the phone.  He even said, he had never done that before without meeting the person, but felt so differently about me and was willing to wrap up the deal!!!  Amazing and truely a gift.  A gift of knowledge that intention works and that seeking out challenges is one of the greatest ways we can feel zestful and more closer to our purpose!













Danette Allen Fitness www.danetteallenfitness.com Body Heart Mind Soul Health & Fitness Retreats, Exercise Workouts, Nutrition, Visualization & More