A Message From My Heart

Some times God changes out plans. My plans have changed. I did well at the Fitness Atlantic this past April and had every intention to compete at the Figure America Show this coming November but as of now, will not be. In June I injured my right leg. I strained my "Sartorius" muscle by "going too heavy too fast" with a few new exercises. Lesson learned. It is now August 11th and I am finally able to do light cardio and leg workouts with only minor pain. It is improving, and for this I am VERY grateful!!! The break, all in all, has been good to me.

I trust in the Lord and how he has used this adversity to clean out some "selfish junk" in my heart. He has reminded me that my job in the sport of Figure is to do my best to be the "salt and the light," and serve him in the midst of a flesh focused atmosphere. After the success in April my competitive side kicked in and the pursuit became more about winning.

So, here I am. I have made some changes and am now starting my day with HIM first! Quiet time with the Lord BEFORE am cardio, workouts, nutrition planning or anything else. I must wear the armor of God and allow him to guide my heart FIRST thing before taking actions in outside of my spirit each morning if I expect to keep a clear perspective and make a difference for his kingdom. I am grateful for this lesson.

Change always happens one day at a time.

God Bless You.
Angela

" So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26: 4

Won 2nd Place at Fitness Atlantic in April 2010!

Now, I'm prepping for Ms. Figure America 2010 in Vegas this coming November!

Figure America Pageant Details

Whew! What a season it has been already. I have learned SO much! Last year was all about the experience and now, I have found my NICHE! I love the Figure division! To do well I'm required to have a slightly muscular, balanced and symmetrical physique and precise conditioning...not too lean and vascular, still feminine and healthy looking. I am really enjoying this!

The Fitness Atlantic was a blast! I had so much energy! Lori traveled with me to Connecticut and our God-centered friendship really kept me grounded, focused and in the word the whole trip. I am forever grateful. It can be easy to get caught up...but God was right there with us through the entire experience and we both grew from it! Myself and several of the other competitors were backstage sharing our faith and testimonies...it was awesome. We all prayed together before going under the bright lights on stage...so much peace! Here are some pics from the show.

My training cycle for Figure America has already begun!
Officially 23 Weeks Out tomorrow! November will come up fast.

I am blessed and thankful to have had the wonderful opportunity to vacation for 20 days three weeks after the show. I needed it very badly. I was burned out. We traveled to Costa Rica for a week and then to Myrtle with family. It was amazing and refreshing...exactly what I needed! Shawn and I had several "heart to heart" conversations that lead to some serious schedule changes for this next year that are designed to protect and preserve the quality of our family life as he continues to build and manage his business and I complete the competition season.
So far these changes have allowed us to really connect with the kids each morning over breakfast and the bible...it has made such a huge difference for ALL of us! These ideals seemed so far off until we slowed down and realized that we had the power to change things and create the family life we both really longed for.

Change IS possible. I am reminded, yet again.

God Bless You today!

Angela Sweet

Feeling GREAT and realizing that I CAN eat out with my family and stick to my plan at the same time. It's wonderful. My Daily Plate helps so much! Everything is in there! I love it! I am having fun with this process. 8 weeks out! Getting leaner. One week at a time! I feel very vaunerable posting this photo, but this is where I am at. Naturally my physique symmetry is going to be much different than in previous contests since the augmentation and changes in training/ dieting style. I always shed in my legs/ arms first...but my waist is coming along. 50 days to go!

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art."
- Anonymous

Tip of the week: TRACK your food and see what you're putting in your body...it's fascinating to see how it adds up and traditional journaling is nothing compared to my new favorite- mydailyplate.com

God bless you!

Angela Sweet

www.angelaksweet.com

Making Steady Progress

I am thrilled right now. I have learned to be patient with my body. I used to expect to see immediate results when I threw myself into a difficult workout or even a week of difficult workouts. What I have found is that success catches up to me NOT when I am intensely physical, but after I rest. All of the caloric "deficits" and muscular tears...the sweat, the hard work and the precise nutrition...it doesn't add up and create change until I rest and my growth hormones go to work. Realizing this is encouraging...

Why? Because when I hit the weights hard I am bloated the next day from the strain on my body...in the past this would discourage me and I would start to feel like it wasn't making a difference. So, when faced with temptation to steer off of my nutrition plan I would succumb because I was so frustrated and felt that I wasn't getting anywhere anyway. I was wrong and have replaced that pattern of sabotage with patience. I now cling to my plan with excitement knowing that the nutrition component is 80% responsible for my results. I've "killed it" during my workouts and now all I have to do is follow it up with the right nutrients and wait. I have a sincere appreciation for delayed gratification since I have seen this happen and watched my composition and shape change this go around.

I am following in the footsteps of Ava Cowan (see picture- won 2009 Universe, also NPC Champion). I am determined to place top 5 at The Fitness Atlantic in the short figure division. I am 55 days away. I dropped two pounds this past week of fat and am starting to see muscle definition. I am not worried. I love my plan. Tracking everything on "My Daily Plate" has been such a great experience and taken a lot of stress out of the process. I am able to go very heavy during the workouts, adhere to my nutrition plan and then just sit back and let it all go while I enjoy my true loves...my Lord, my husband and my family.

Successes this week:
Morning Devotions 3x/ week (improving)
360# Leg Presses
210# Leg Extensions
270# Machine Squats
-Adhered strictly to strategic nutrition plan all week!
-Shifted focus to hitting rear delts consistently (overcoming weaknesses and symmetry issues)
-Read "Suck it Up and Step Out" to develop athlete mindset.

Now, on to the gym and to take my little sweetheart to a birthday party.

God Bless You!

-Anything worth doing is worth doing terrible until you learn to do it TERRIFIC!

2009 Update & New Goal For 2010

Hey there! So, I didn't follow up from my last competition and photo shoot very well, I apologive. I was exhausted. I have included a few photos. It was a great year and I accomplished a lot considering I was so new to the sport.
-7th place in the Washington DC Bikini America Tournament of Champions
-20th in the Universe Weekend Bikini Competition held in Miami
(learned that I shoul never do two competitions within a 6 week period- was too much!)
-Transoformation story published in Oxygen Fitness Magazine Feb 2010 issue
-My Transformation Story listed on Cathy Savage Fitness website
-Modeling/Fitness website started, will be complete very soon
www.angelaksweet.com


Now, it's 2010 now and I am back to blogging for my new goal! I have a HUGE opportunity coming up!


I am going to be doing a photo shoot for Topher DePres of Wilhelmina Modeling in April of this year...only 11 1/2 weeks away! And, I will be competing in the figure division of The Fitness Atlantic show that same weekend in Connecticut.

Wilhelmina Fitness

Fitness Atlantic

Both goals require me to be very lean. So, after a wonderfully indulgent off-season we are back to the drawing board. I am sending check-in photos to Cathy Savage Fitness and Andi Martin at PBO each week. I'm eliminating all processed food and refined sugars from my diet again and hitting the weights very hard. Figure is based on muscle symmetry and leanness...and less like a beauty pageant. I will not be bulky, just symmetrical and very lean.

My transformation story on Cathy Savage Fitness Website (diff. before photo!)

The hardest part so far has been not diving into the pantry as soon as I get home at night...that is usually the hardest time for me. I've just worked out and had my post-workout meal so my metabolism is sky-rocketing, the kids are coming at me 90 miles an hour, I'm realizing that I have 100 tasks to do at home and I am running on "E." So, my new strategy is to get dinner started, get out of my gym clothes, take a shower and re-group by making a list of what really needs to be done. That way I am clearly switching roles and implementing a relaxing activity. We will see if it works!

Shawn is on board with this goal and very supportive, so that helps...and I've cut my training hours back a little so I will be able to get 7-8 hours of rest each night. Hey, all the little things add up!

Major accomplishment this week:
Leg Pressed 370lbs for 10 reps and did cardio at home when we were snow/iced in...almost used it as an excuse! LOL

Tip: The song "Crash" from Decyfer Down is an AMAZING leg day song!

Quote: "The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it."

Thank you for listening! This blog is such a supportive outlet for me!

Angela

DC Completed...now on to Universe!

Whew! It's been a busy couple of weeks! The Washington DC Bikini Universe Capitol show went very well. I didn't get last place and I didn't fall down on stage...actually, I placed 7th/12 in my height division. For being my very first competition I am very pleased.

The show was actually fun after I had a bit of an emotional melt-down right after my first walk on stage. It was as though all of what I had practiced was there but the overwhelm of the lights, audience, action and chaos made me a bit shaky. Then, I listened to some worship music and my second walk was a lot better! In the end it was a great release and a very fun experience...the Savage team is amazing and so REAL!

LOVED going to the Cheesecake Factory that night! Nachos, chips, chips, more chips, crispy crab wontons and some outrageous dessert. Thought I would be sick but I wasn't. I felt fabulous and my abs actually "popped" while we were standing outside the restaurant afterward waiting for the valet parking guy...go figure!

Next, we (myself, Shawn, Aiden and Alynn) took an awesome mini-vacation to the beach to catch up on some much needed focused family bonding time...it was amazing. Turned the cell phone off and put the fun hat on! I walked on the beach alone right after the sun came up each day and had long talks with God. I've been walking through a lot of temptation...experiencing some tests that determine which roads I am going to take with my fitness modeling career. Undeniably, his voice is heard and I know that I am meant to stay all natural and use my testimony to help other women...especially young women. It was so nice to take a break and I would really be suffering right now if we had not.

It's a push right now as Universe is 24 days away and I have a photo shoot with Lisa Brewer next Monday. But... my priorities are in a great place. I feel very grounded as a few of the other competitors and I have been doing a weekly bible study to keep our hearts and minds focused on God through this process. Because, in the end...

1 Peter 1:24-25
"All flesh is like grass, And all of man's glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; But the Lord's word endures forever." This is the word of good news which was preached to you.

God Bless you and have a fabulous day!
Angela Sweet

Salad and a Straw- Hell Week Day #1

I am not calling it Hell week anymore because I am convinced that it will produce HEAVENLY results...so let's call it..."THE TEST." And, I am passing. I'm hungry. Down to the wire...

I am sodium loading, water loading and carb depleting this week...which means that for three days I do two/day workouts on only vegetables and heavily salted proteins. They taste great- with salty rubs/ marinades and I top it all of by drinking at least 1.5 gallons of water each day. Today it was over two!

I am incredibly blessed because I am being assisted in my workouts every day this week by different friends. This is a great time to call for help because I feel like I am running on fumes during my workouts and it's a mental battle. The social pressure and support is priceless.

A great friend of mine also had a terrible thing happen to her little girl this past week...the kind of health crisis that opens your eyes and helps to put things in perspective. My heart has gone out to her this week and it's been a constant reminder to stay grounded, and appreciative of every single moment I am given.

So, I may be drinking the left over balsamic vinegar at the bottom of my salad bowl trying to satisfy my appetite, but inside my heart is content with all that God has given me.

Angela Sweet