The RESULTS are in...

Thanks so much to everyone who was rooting for me this past Saturday as I competed at the NPC Muscle Contest in Los Angeles!! I placed Top 5 in a class of 22 beautiful competitors and came home with my third trophy!!! #5 out of 22 ain't bad :) Next time, I'll be back for the #1 spot...

If you are interested in looking at some pictures from the show, please check www.musclecontest.com OR follow the link below for my gallery (cut and paste into your browser)...

http://gallery.musclecontest.com/index.php?page=competitor&entry_id=3703

The day was amazing and I am so proud of my accomplishments! Thank God for His blessings and favor on Saturday!!!


Jada

Show day!!!!!!!!

I started this morning with a smile :) 10 weeks of preparation, all for today. The next few hours were wonderful as I took my time reading my Bible, eating breakfast with my make-up artist, Jamie, laughing with her as she made me gorgeous and then ratting my hair a little to give it the extra volume!! Everything has to be bigger than life for the stage :)

After my stage briefing at the venue, the next hours seemed to fly by as I waited for my class of competitors to go on stage. Then, it was my turn...

I glided onto the stage, feeling more confident than ever before! I loved my hair, make-up, bikini, and most of all, LOVED that my biggest fans were thee cheering me on!! My mom, dad, husband, sister and best friend were there SCREAMing for my success!!

I literally felt like I owned the place as I went through my poses smoothly and confidently! I was in the first five call outs (a good thing) and I walked off the stage, smile beaming and knowing that I gave my best....

Finals start in about an hour and I'll find out where I placed!

Loving this day...so thankful...

In Health,

Jada

2 days out...

Yesterday was non-stop. 4:45am...wake up. 5:00am...I walked into the gym for my last Leg day before my show. Every lunge burned. My excitement helped me to focus on getting the workout DONE, not on the burning in my muscles and the fatigue in my body. 6:00am...back home to get ready for work and eat breakfast (thank God for Quinoa!!!! LOVE that stuff). By 7:00am, I was off to work and the day NEVER stopped running! It was field trip day for my 8th graders and we ran around from the House of Blues to the Griffith Observatory. My lunch bag was by my side at all times. I never missed a snack or a meal and made sure to get my water in!

I got home by 5:15pm and quickly prepped my food for the next day then changed into my "cute clothes" to accompany my husband to his JV basketball team's end of the season dinner. I was running again (with my lunch bag in hand). I ate MY food, tilapia, salad and asparagus, while the people around me splurged on pasta salad, fried chicken, mini turkey sandwiches, chips and guac and (GASP) cookies from Diddy Reese! The time with the team was wonderful, but at 8:00pm, it was time for me to turn from supportive coaches wife into gym rat :) I ran (again) out, boots clacking on the ground beneath me, rushed to my car and was on my way to the gym to get my cardio session in. 8:30pm...I started my cardio on the stationery bike. I think these moments were the most peaceful I had all day. Well, the first 5 minutes of cardio, my mind was filled with rushing thoughts...will I be ready??...what if I fall on stage??...is this worth it???...what next?? Then, I locked into a steady pace on the bike with moderate resistance, I locked into a steady climb. I began to sweat and my thoughts slowed down. At this moment, I had some peace, clarity and an increased sense of anticipation mixed with a heightened sense of contentment.

I reflected on my journey. 10 weeks ago, I started on this road to being show ready. Day after day, I worked hard in order to bring my body to a new level, better than ever before. Now, with only 2 days away, I realized that if my only goal is winning, then all my hard work, consistency, sweat, prepped meals, money spent, will be lost in a moment whether I win or lose. If I win, I hold the trophy for a moment, but then the moment passes when the next winner comes along. If I lose, and my only goal was to win, I have lost everything. That wasn't enough for me. 10 weeks, all this work to be lost in a moment?

The reality hit deep that in order to make each day worth it, I must have a much bigger goal than just winning. This has to be about more than just ME. This has to be about being an example of health to women who think they could NEVER achieve their health goals. This has to be about knowing I gave my best and being able to be proud of myself! This has to be about sharing the belief that "I can, I have and I will continue to be in the best shape of my life!"

I couldn't stop smiling as my 30 minute cardio split came to an end. Now, I was truly inspired. I felt unstoppable. I feel unstoppable!

I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to encourage and inspire as I prepare for this show and when I get out there on stage and SHINE!

Let's do this...

Jada

Seriously SO good!

I have talked about these Pumpkin Protein Pancakes before, but I just had to post the recipe again because it is just so delicious!!! I found this recipe on the Muscle and Fitness Hers website, but it's written by Emily Zaler, author of The EZ Whey Cookbook! Emily has a recipe for EVERYTHING that is clean, protein packed and delicious!! You can check out her website, http://emilyzaler.webs.com, for more info :) Here is the recipe! OH I've added the topping that I normally use when I make the pancakes also...

INGREDIENTS (for one serving)

1/2 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
½ Cup Oats (I like to pulse in blender or food processor to make oat flour, then use)
3 Egg Whites
1/3 Cup Pumpkin (Try to get an organic, no salt or sugar added variety)
2 tablespoons Ground Flaxseed
Stevia to taste
Pumpkin Pie spice to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend all together. Cook in a pan, like you would cook a pancake :) with non-stick cooking spray

JADA'S TOPPING
1/4 cup Orange juice
1/2 tsp honey
1 packet stevia
1/2 small banana (sliced thin)

Put all ingredients in a pot. Bring to boil. Turn heat LOW and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve HOT over pancakes.

ENJOY this one :)

In Health,

Jada

1 week out...

Actually, I am 5 DAYS out from my 4th NPC Bikini Division competition!!!! AAAAAAHHHH!!! I am beyond excited and I'm so glad because this is the time that I start to feel all the hard work :) It really helps as the adrenaline kicks in during these last cardio sessions and lifts leading up to the show.

I am practicing my poses and stage presence everyday so that it becomes almost automatic. I love it when I get to the place when my body memorizes where to go! This takes my focus off of specific poses and allows me to let my personality shine :) It's that little extra that will set me apart from other competitors on show day.

I am still enjoying each moment...loving my contest prep meals, loving the burn I feel in my muscles during each lift, loving the fact that every minute of cardio is executed to the best of my ability!

Although winning overall is my goal, I know that no matter what happens, I have trained like a WINNER. I have no regrets, no shoula-woulda-coulda's, and no days that I wish I could have taken back to do over. I have truly given my all and my BEST. I am proud of myself and that feels great.

Now, the challenge is to keep this calm and focus over the next few days LOL Distractions always seem to creep up close to the main event! Last minute things always pop up in life, but the ability to deal with the surprises without losing stride is an acquired skill. My plan for maintaining balance, calmness and focus is continuing to have my time with God in prayer and reading His Word! It's amazing how that sets my day up for success and changes my outlook!

So, the countdown is officially on...5 days to go!

In Health,

Jada

Me...the Face of Fitness?? Let's DO IT! VOTE NOW :)

Hey everyone! This will be short and sweet! My photo was selected for Fitness Magazine's Face of Fitness conntest!! I need your votes to win :) Click the link below and VOTE FOR ME! It's really easy, no email or personal info needed.

http://photos.fitnessmagazine.com/category/vote/photo/743594
**if you can't click for some reason, just copy and paste into browser...

THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

In Health,

Jada

I'm featured in World Physique Magazine!!!!!!

I am so honored to be featured in World Physique Magazine!!! This was an amazing opportunity and a really fun interview :) Check out the article for my story, workouts and eating tips!

http://www.worldphysique.com/msworldphysiquedec10.html?reloaded=true

**if you can't click on the link for some reason, copy and paste into your browser

BE INSPIRED!!!!

In Health,

Jada

3 weeks out...

Well, I guess yesterday was actually 3 weeks out :) But who's counting? LOL totally kidding...I am counting EACH DAY and getting more and more excited by the moment!

My attitude is better than ever and I am focusing on enjoying every MOMENT. This means LOVING the intensity of my workouts, appreciating the work and time I am putting into this process, embracing the critiques I receive from my coach and using them to make myself better. I'm finding that as my pride decreases, my confidence increases and each moment is more meaningful. When I say my pride is decreasing, I am specifically talking about the way I handle correction and critique. The sensitivity that I used to have to critique is decreasing because I know that I have surrounded myself with people who understand my goals, support my goals and want the best for me. Because of that, I understand that they will be honest with me, no matter what, in order to make me better and push me toward my goals. Knowing that my coach, my husband, my close friends and family truly have my best in mind, causes my confidence to sky-rocket!

I watched a training video today by Muscular Development and IFBB Bikini Pro Nathalia Melo. It was about a 6 minute clip showing one of her leg workouts. She narrated the clip and was telling her story of achieveing her Pro Status and her early competition experiences. After winning her first few Pro shows, she said that her attitude changed and she stopped enjoying the process. Food prep, workouts and all the pre-competition details seemed more of a burden or a job to her at one point. She competed in that show, and for the first time, she didn't place first. She attributes her 3rd place finish to losing her focus and forgetting why she started this in the first place. She wanted a challenge, and wanted to have a great time! Once she refocused, she was back on top! Here's the clip if you want to check it out http://mdtv.musculardevelopment.com/contests/11-arnold-classic/3723-nathalia-melo-brazilian-bikini-butt-workout.html

Nathalia's story shows the power of enjoying the process and loving every moment. It was a HUGE reminder to me today to remember why I started competiting and make sure I am LOVING IT...

With that said, I am going to to finish prepping my food with a fantastic attitude :)

In Health,

Jada