A Fifteen Year Goal In The Making

My daughter and I walked over the cobblestone bridge on a beautiful July day in 2006 in the quaint town of Amboise France. Heading to the shopping district, we passed many locals and tourists enjoying the sun-filled day at the outdoor markets and cute boutiques. Looking through one of the shop windows, I spotted a stylish coat in a pretty shade of spring green. I walked into the boutique to search for the coat in my size. As I glanced at the coats on their hangers, a beautiful woman in her late fifties/early sixties walked into the boutique. One couldn’t help but notice her, she was well dressed in a floral skirt, which hugged her body tastefully. The white sleeveless blouse was well suited for the skirt and her sandals with a kitten heel are a golden yellow, which looked perfect against her deeply tanned skin. I can tell she is a weight lifter by the tone and sculpture of her body. I was impressed with how well she cared for her body, healthy and attractive, but I was envious as well.

I have so longed to be as fit and elegant as the woman I saw in Amboise many years earlier. I started my journey to reach my goal of becoming as fit and healthy as I could be in 2018. I hired a trainer and a dietician to give me the tools and guidance needed to succeed. I had decided I would challenge myself by entering one of those physique shows. My trainer gave me a great routine filled with tons of cardio and weight lifting. The dietician gave me a one-month meal plan for the time I hired her services. Everything was lining up as I had planned and I felt well prepared. As I worked out, I started to lose weight rapidly but wasn’t gaining muscle. I was concerned I wouldn’t be ready for the November show. My trainer added more cardio to my routine, but I wasn’t going in the right direction needed for the competition. I looked too skinny and unhealthy.

I went for a hike with a friend on a rainy September day at Mt. Watatic. After summiting the mountain, I felt I needed more, so we ran up the mountain again on another trail. The trail was uneven and covered in unsteady rocks and mud. As I took a step, I slipped on a loose rock and felt a deep pain in my left knee. I ignored the pain and continued my running, hiking, and weight lifting to be ready for the November show. By October, I realized I wasn’t anywhere close to being ready for the show. I realized I hadn’t hired the right trainer with enough knowledge for this type of competition and my dietician wasn’t the right match for what I wanted to accomplish. I was discouraged and a bit heartbroken.

After suffering for four months with excruciating knee pain, I finally went to see a sports specialist, who gave me the bad news of a torn meniscus. I had surgery in March of 2019 and was out of commission for six months. During that time, I had a pity party and ate everything and anything, and did little exercise.

In May of 2020, I was in the cafe at work talking with a co-worker. Mark asked if I ever achieved my goal of being in a show. He told me about his girlfriend, who is a trainer and made Internationals at a WBFF show (World Beauty and Fitness Fashion show). My heart skipped a beat, I asked Mark if I could reach out to Maureen for information. He gave me her number and I spoke with Maureen that same day and we started to work together within a couple of weeks. Maureen sent me monthly workouts along with just the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat needed to accomplish my goal of becoming physically fit. I didn’t have the mindset then to do a show, but I was ready to get in the best shape of my life. My plan was just to work hard and stay focused. One year later, in March 2021, I started asking Maureen questions about being in a show. Would I be able to do a show, am I too old, would my body be ready, I needed an honest answer? Maureen said I would be ready for a show and there was one in June here in New England with WBFF, I was so excited, I was finally going to reach my goal!

I bought a Jay Godfrey one-sleeve dress in a deep magenta for registration night. I finally met Maureen in person two weeks ago to choose which bikini I would rent for the show. The bikini, beautiful and tastefully decorated with rhinestones in a gorgeous blue color. I could picture myself in the bikini already, especially with the required spray tan. I found seven evening gowns at a store in Andover. My daughter and I were going to have a girl’s day, while she helped me decide which gown to purchase. My flashy, silver-studded, five-inch heels arrive yesterday, April 24th. I took the heels out of the hot pink box and slid them carefully onto my feet. As I stood up, I thought, this isn’t too bad. I started to walk into my living room and as I reached down to itch my left shin, I almost took a tumble onto my hardwood floors. I realized I was going to need a LOT of practice walking in the sexy shoes in order to not wobble off the stage.

I received a text from Mauren later that day telling me she didn’t notice the June show posting with WBFF. I emailed the company and received a rapid reply, stating that the show would not take place in June due to Covid-19. The next show would be in November 2021, seven months away. My heart sank, all of the energy/motivation needed and what it took to have the right mindset was being washed away. As the rain washes away the shining sun, so was my goal. My fifteen-year goal in the making was going to have to be put on the shelf in the cabinet for a few more months. I will still be able to envision my goal every time I open the cabinet door, but I will have to wait a bit longer.

No matter the number of speed bumps encountered along the way, keep striving to reach your goal!