Is This a Dagger Before Me?

It’s taken me longer than I hoped to get focused on my new goal, the Texas Shredder competition, because I was coming off such a high from the Arnold Amateur, followed by my kids being home for 10 days for Spring Break, which was fun but threw off everyone’s routine.

But now I’m locked in on my goal: A samurai sword

Most bodybuilding competitions will give a trophy (which is pretty cool) or a medal (eh…) but the Shredder gives a samurai sword to the top 5 winners in each class. I want a sword. Or as my trainer, Robin, says:  #GoHomeWithHardware

I asked the promoter, Dave Goodin, a few years ago if the swords were symbolic. You hear things like “he looks cut” so I thought maybe the sword was in reference to that. Or perhaps the Sherrilyn Kenyon quote from Devil May Cry, “Strength through adversity.  The strongest steel is forged by the fires of hell.  The fire gives it power and flexibility, and the blows give it strength.”  And isn’t training for a competition hell sometimes, but gives you more mental and physical strength than you ever knew you possessed?

But no, turns out I was just being a writer and overthinking it. Dave said, “I thought it would be a badass prize.” #IWantABadassPrize

Anyway, in previous years Texas Shredder was part of the NPC federation, the same federation that covers the Arnold Amateur. This year it is under a new federation, NFF, which stands for Naturally Fit Federation.   The main difference is that the NFF drug tests all athletes for steroids, prescription diuretics and even performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) that can be found in regular over-the-counter supplements sold at vitamin stores; the NPC doesn’t necessarily do this.

It’s encouraging that there are now opportunities for athletes who are drug-free, like me.  To each her own, but at some of the NPC shows I’ve done in the past the women were so juiced up on steroids they looked like they were dudes and had voices to match.  Also, people will sometimes work the system to get prescription diuretics, which is like asking for a heart attack.  I’ve written about this before:  Diuretics and Bodybuilding – Don’t Do This.

Yesterday I met with Dave Goodin for a posing lesson.  (He helped me with the Arnold Amateur too.)  It was good that I went because there are different bikini poses with the NFF.

One of the biggest complaints about NPC bikini poses is that they are overly sexualized.  This new federation is aiming to be family-friendly, so the wide leg back pose (where you’re pretty much bent over showing off your booty) is not allowed, and points will be deducted if you look back at the judges in a flirty manner. There’s also a T-walk to allow more stage time for the athletes, which is great because other shows have so many contestants you are brought out in groups at the same time, so you have to hope that you’re not standing next to a super model.

So, to summarize:

1. I Want A Samurai Sword
2. Steroids and diuretics are bad
3. Don’t bend over with wide legs in a NFF show

Have a great weekend!

Lisa 😉

Lisa Traugott is a Mom’s Choice Award winning writer, fitness blogger, wife and mom of two.

Are you curious about entering a bodybuilding competition?  Check out what the Statesman Social calls “The Best New Year/New You Motivational Book!”  “She’s Losing It!” which is available at Amazon.com.

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