With another year, comes another season of fitness competitions. 2003 for me was a great year and I am hoping for the same successes in 2004. Congradulations to Valerie Brown and Nathalie Hunt for both becoming the 2003 Fitness America Pageant Champions. You both have set a precidence in this sport and the show will be remembered not only for a very close competition, but the show that changed the tabulation of scores at Fitness America.

In 2004, I am sure many of you have made new year's resolutions. The one that seems to be the most popular is to loose weight and get into better shape. This is consistent among many of my friends and collegues. They ask me for advice and hints on how I stay in such good shape.

With that being said, they seem to compare my 5 years of being in fitness to their 2 weeks back at the gym. Some even have said, "I could never be as fit as you".

Yes, it is true that we fitness competitors, at times, could be seen as 'crazy' or 'insane', with respect to our level of training and observations of our diet. But it is not unlike any other athlete who trains almost to the point of obsession for an event they would like to succeed at. The question that seems to repeat over in my mind is "why can't you be at my fitness level?" I feel that if a person wants it bad enough the sacrifices you make do not seem strange, but just apart of the training. Fitness is different from other sports in which you are not cut off at a certain age, and can no longer compete. Compeitition is geared towards many age groups, from teens to masters divisions.

Some people may not want to compete, but just 'get into shape'. We fitness competitors do not stay in contest shape all year, as the diet we follow is not sustainable over the long term. But I would say that we are 'in shape' as compared to the general population all year round. Our backgrounds to get into fitness range but being overweight, to women who have a background in sport (dance, gymnastics, softball) and still had the drive to stay competitive and athletic in their lives. These changes in our bodies did not happen overnight. It took many baby steps, slowly, modifications in diet and modifications in training. Consistency and dedication in going to the gym or finding some activity that would allow us to be physical for the long term. And an acceptance to the fact that our old way of being was not working, and now developing a new habit of physical activity being apart of our lives, forever, and not just a quick fix.

If you are deciding to compete of just want to get back into shape make sure it is a priority and is time that is non-negotiable. It is not usually the thought of the workout, or even the workout that keeps me coming back to the gym, but mostly how my body and mind feel after I am done.

In other news...I set a goal to get myself to the Arnold this year and luckily I managed a spot with Musclemag and Oxygen with their clothing line FAREMON. Also I can be seen in the Oxygen Glutes special edition issue has a layout for glutes. I have updated a few things on my website www.allisonethier.com and am planning to attend the Fitness Canada and Fitness Universe Pageants.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me. I do read them all. Until next month...

Stay healthy,

Ally

Questions? You can contact me here.