Dallas, Here I Come!

Whoo hoo!  I’m off to Dallas today for the Southwest Aerial Art Championships!

For those of you new to my blog, who are scratching your head now, saying, “A bodybuilding-mother-of-two-who-pole-dances?  Whaaa?” let me explain a little.

Having fun at Bon Bon Barre
Practicing posing at Bon Bon Barre

You know how some people got game?  Yeah, I’m not one of them.  Posing on stage in a bikini in the bodybuilding competitions was very difficult for me because I wasn’t comfortable in my own post-motherhood body.

To get over it, I signed up for some pole dancing classes, where I found out there were actual pole fitness competitions.  (You knew I had to enter one, right?)

So for my 40th birthday challenge last year I entered my first pole dance competition and got 2nd place in novice division.  (Also fyi, pole really helped me with my bodybuilding competitions.  When I go on stage now I have a bazillion times more confidence.)

After the pole competition last May, ask me how many pole dance classes I took between then and now?  Zero.  Zero pole dance classes.  Because my mom got cancer and I was caring for her until she passed away.

So why am I doing another pole competition without learning any new tricks?  Mostly for distraction, and to do something fun that is challenging for me.

Before my mom died I showed her a video clip of my routine and she laughed, “I’m not sure I should be watching this; I’m your mother!”

“Mom, it isn’t stripper pole dancing, it’s pole fitness.”

“Yeah, tell that to men,” she laughed.  But she thought it was pretty cool.

Practicing my boxing moves
Practicing my boxing moves

My dance is about a boxer who starts off losing the fight, trains her way back and eventually wins.  I came up with the concept last year, after I blanked out on stage, forgot the choreography, and had to freestyle half the dance.  I came off stage and started bawling because I messed up so bad.  But the second dance I did was much better.

So, even when I’m down I’m not out.

I’m not expecting to bring home any trophies this year; I’ve seen the other women from ATX Pole Fitness and they are fantastic!  But my dance is clean and I’m excited to perform.

I’d like to thank Stacy Bishop for choreographing the dance (by the way she’s in her third trimester!)

Stacy Bishop, 32 weeks pregnant
Stacy Bishop, 32 weeks pregnant

Thank you Dez Raven with ATX and Brenna Wilder with Inner Diva Studios for helping me fine tune it.  (And reminding me to stop making a ‘constipation’ face when I dance, lol!)

Brenna Wilder
Brenna Wilder

Also a shout out to Serena Hicks for moral support, Robin Johnson Jr. for being a hardass trainer to help me look like a boxer, and, of course, my family Henri, Rylee and little Henry for watching my rehearsals and cheering me on.

Little Henry climbing pole with Dez Raven spotting
Little Henry climbing pole with Dez Raven spotting

Good luck to all the competitors – I can’t wait to see your dances!

How about you?  Are you doing something fun and challenging to push yourself out of your comfort zone?

Lisa 😉

Lisa Traugott is a Mom’s Choice Award winning writer, fitness blogger, wife and mom of two.  Her book, “She’s Losing It!”  is available at Amazon.com.High Resolution Front Cover.4837209

ShesLosingIt.com (c) 2015 Lisa Traugott. All rights reserved. No portion of this blog, including any text, photographs, video, and artwork, may be reproduced or copied without written permission.

 

6 thoughts on “Dallas, Here I Come!

    1. Unicycles are so hard! I took a circus skills class as part of a theatre summer camp and I had bruises all over. Good luck and wear knee pads!

  1. I loved pole dancing for fitness too and until one year ago, i was climbing my way up to intermediate one level (slow going for me) anyway due to events that are challenging me ATM, i have gone off the ball fitness wise put on weight and feel like a frumpy middle aged woman oh wait I am!!! I am sad that I have managed to get to this stage. BUT am determined to get back on the pole and do weights too. My situation has not changed yet and could change anytime (I am caring for someone special who is very old and will leave me sooner rather than later) But I am finding your posts on FB very inspiring and can’t wait to get back to being more myself…….PS how about a video of your pole performance!! Best wishes Christine

    1. Hi Christine,
      I understand what you are going through in many ways (middle aged weight gain, caring for an older loved one…pole dancing, lol!) All I can say is hang in there! You will get through this stage of your life and be stronger from it. This week I’m doing a whole series called 7 Secrets I Learned from Bodybuilding. Each day I’ll reveal a new topic, and they touch on all the things you mentioned. Stay tuned and take a deep breath.
      Lisa
      Lisa

      1. Thank you Lisa, well you certainly are looking amazing now, surely i can still! I will look forward to reading and actioning! some of those secrets. Best wishes Christine

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