05.15.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:57 am by Ali
I suppose I should write about my experience at the show, huh? lol Everything went pretty perfectly. We only had one little mishap with the tan, but it was easily corrected. I really recommend using the Jan Tana in a pump for tan. That stuff seems pretty much fool proof. We sprayed it first, and then touched it up while we were there.
I was there with my friend Ana and her husband, George. What a complete JOY it was to have them there!! I had a blast chatting and eating with them. My friend Jody was also competing and also did very well!! She placed 3rd and 4th in her classes. This was a good size show with lots of competition, so I’m really proud of both of us! It was also great fun mulling over the show with her husband, Tim. What great guys our husbands both are!!! My sister and brother-in-law also came, and I was so happy about that! Some other friends were there as well (Kelley, Terri). It was so great to see everyone! Always fun to catch up with friends in person. 
Let me tell you, my attitude was ON the entire day. I KNEW i had to go in there like I had already won the show and really ENJOY it. this is the first time that I have really enjoyed being on stage. I wanted more of it! At night we only came out and did one pose for the individuals, and I was actually disappointed that we didn’t get to do more! HA!!! I performed the entire time. Always smiling, and doing little things to catch their attention. By god, it worked!! Anyone that tells you that a figure competition is all physique is out of their mind. You definitely have to have the body, but you also have to put on a show. It’s not something I can easily describe, but if you’ve watched a figure competition, you know that some of them have a certain something.
Post-show we went out for pizza. I had my typical one beer. I had a TON of candy! Ha! The next day we went out for Mexican, but other than that it’s been diet on. I will try to raise my calories without gaining too much weight. So far, so good. 107. :-) My goal is not to go over 110 for the summer. Should be doable. I really just LOVE being this size.
Today I am running a 5k race with my daughter!! I am so flippin’ excited! She is a great runner, and we’ve had so much fun with GOTR. It’s really bonded us in a new way. There will be 800+ girls there! LOL My sis is coming up to run it with us, so that should be great fun!!
Life is good!
XO
Ali
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05.12.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:59 pm by Ali
You can see lots of pictures in my gallery. http://www.aliswanson.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1373
Here are a few:
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05.11.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:22 pm by Ali
The overall:
From the Michigan NPC website:
The 2008 NPC Michigan was held at Detroit ’s long time home of Bodybuilding the historic Redford Theater on May 10th. This event is the highlight of the summer bodybuilding season, with many of the competitors returning year after year in search of that coveted state championship. The NPC Michigan has a long history of champions moving on to bigger titles. The likes of which are Melissa Frabbiele, Ron Love, Tom Platz, Linda Murray and Samir Bannout.
The Figure and fitness show was head judged by IFBB Pro Melissa Frabbiele. Melissa did double duty as the show’s mistress of ceremonies. The bodybuilding contest was head judged by IFBB Pro John Simmons.
The promoter of the show is NPC Michigan District Chairman and Powerhouse Gym owner Will Dabish.
The Fitness Class featured three competitors and was won by Stephanie Yu
In the open figure class with had three outstanding class winners with Ali Swanson winning the short, April Harrison winning the medium, and Jennifer Gulosha winning the tall. Ali Swanson captured the Master’s as well as the open title.
The women’s bodybuilding division was won by LaDawn McDay.
The highlight of the men’s event was the nine competitors in the heavyweight class, where Jemichael Pratt won a split decision over Justin Fargo. The overall pose down of class winners was won by middleweight Earskin Presley, (third from the right in the picture below) who will now become part of Michigan Bodybuilding History.
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05.07.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:37 pm by Ali
I found candy corn.
I know everyone was concerned. 
I got half way through coaching soccer and had to go to the bathroom!! Ugh! So painful! There’s nothing like running into the nearest grocery store (yes, I waited until practice was over) doubled over in pain. 
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Posted in Uncategorized at 7:01 am by Ali
Just a quick note from me this morning. I am drinking all my water, now. I felt like DEATH yesterday. That does something to me that makes me feel really bad. I took a nap yesterday, though, so that helped. I am spacing it out more today. I may experiment with this a bit. 
I am feeling GREAT about this prep. I’m so excited about the potential to look REALLY good up there!! I say potential b/c everything has to come together in these last couple days. Water/nutrient manipulation, tanning, presentation, etc. But everything is on track so far!! Wee-ha!
I am DONE working out now. Only posing practice from here on out. I still have a TON to do with practices, packing, getting ready to go, getting the kids all set for the weekend, but it’s coming together. I’m off to get my hair done!
See-ya!!
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05.06.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:07 am by Ali
I want to go into a candy store and pick out a little bit of each of my favorite candies…Hot Tamales, Good N Plenties, Twizzlers, then eat it with a huge cup of coffee with CREAM!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh! Yes, this is my fantasy, and it sounds better than sex right now!! Maybe it will come true in a few days. I did stock up on that candy. I said I wasn’t going to do it, but I did, anyway. Not a ton, but enough!!! And guess what? They didn’t have candy corn!!! 
I also couldn’t find those Starburst Gummies. I’m not done searching, though. I can and I will!! Ha!
(Yes, this is what calorie/food restriction does to you…BEWARE!)
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05.05.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:44 pm by Ali
Just some ab shots from today. 
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05.02.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:05 am by Ali
I have heard a lot of people talk about this lately, and it’s been on my mind as well since I am getting very lean. I think for a lot of us muscle-lovers it can almost be a hindrance in thinking. OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I’m going to lose all my hard earned muscle! Well, ya, you are going to get smaller. You are also going to look more defined, which will make you look bigger on stage. You can’t be so protective of your metabolism and your muscle that you don’t lose fat!!!
And face it, if you have a well designed program, keep your strength, and don’t go bonkers dieting or doing cardio…you are going to keep it for the most part.
******
On another diet note…a friend made me tilapia the other day…and I LOVE it!!! I even made it at home. I was in the ‘hate fish’ camp. No more!!
I have also dropped Splenda completely for Stevia…and I don’t use very much of that. I just use it in my oats and a tiny bit in my protein ‘cake’.
I also found some coconut extract to put in my coffee. Soooooooooo good!!!
I am starting to up my water, now…slowly so I don’t die. 
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05.01.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:12 pm by Ali
So, just b/c we were talking about it (on my forum…come visit! www.aliswanson.com/forum ), here are my macros for today: 1186 calories (that’s 11x BW)
Fat 28.5 grams
Carbs 110 grams
Protein 118 grams
And, yes, I am very hungry on this. Normally, I would do a refeed tomorrow, but since I will do a carb-up starting next Wednesday, I’m just going to go steady. Plus, I haven’t lost anything this week scalewise (yet). Today was a training day, so I had oats and raisins pre workout, and 2 Quaker granola bars post workout. I think that is what makes me so darn hungry. No cardio today. My legs are spent. I can’t wait to give them a rest, b/c they are getting OT…they always feel like I just trained them the day before. Just in time. My legs will start to look better when I quit running and training them. They always hold lots of water when I’m doing lots of leg work.
Bringin’ it on home!
Overall, I’m feeling really good about this prep. Of course, I am nervous. I will never stop worrying about my butt until I see the stage pictures. I have done this completely on my own (with support of many dear and patient friends, of course! 
), and I am extremely proud of that. 
My last hurdle is girly problems. It will be RIGHT before, and we are talking the day of or the day after the show, my period is due. Could it GET any worse for timing? 
Oh well! I knew it was going to happen, and that’s the way it goes. Maybe I will have the rockin’ body the week afterwards. Haha! No, seriously, it has happened to me before, and no MAJOR problems, but I won’t say it doesn’t make a little bit of difference. I think the leaner you are, the less difference it makes.
It has been absolutely crazy at home. I am extremely busy this spring. I am running from one thing to the next. I can’t wait until this is over, and then SUMMER! 
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