Proud parent of 9 competitors.

The Kentucky Muscle Strength and Fitness Extravaganza is only 3 weeks away. My group of competitors is called Team Metamorphosis, and they are all coming in nicely. We will be getting together on Sunday to practice posing. Everyone has progressed in posing thus far, and at this point I just need to make sure everyone feels confident on stage.

Team Metamorphosis will have 3 figure competitors, 2 female bodybuilders, and 4 male bodybuilders. It has been quite a challenge to keep all 9 of these guys on track. They each have different body types, and are competing in different divisions and height/weight classes. Every time I prep competitors, I feel like a mom. I feel such responsibility to them and their success. I sympathize with them when they struggle to stay in the game, when they're worn out, when they lose motivation, and when they just get forgetful. I try to help them to stay positive, see the progress they've made, and show them what else their body may be capable of if they keep pushing. I have to counter all the mental stress they're under by assuring them that it will all be worth it in the end. I have to teach them how to put emotional stresses to the side, by prioritizing, and picking their battles. I teach them how to balance the rest of their life with the consuming nature of contest prep.

Even though I'm not competing in this show, it is emotionally draining for me, but I love the reward in the end. I'm so excited to see what people are capable of, happy to have shown them what they are capable of, and proud when they follow through and succeed.

I will have so many roles the weekend of the Kentucky Muscle show. On Thursday, I will be painting Protan on several competitors, deciding what and how much they should eat that night, delivering equipment for the pump up room, and helping a pro competitor who is a friend of mine with her posing. On Friday, I'll be painting more people, putting make-up on competitors, making decisions about who needs to fill out still, watching the show, working at the booth, and taking some friends from out of town to dinner. Saturday will be the biggest day, but probably the least stressful. I'll be putting makeup on competitors again and working the booth, but at that point, I'll be able to just sit back and see how everybody does.

In the meantime, I'm still reeling everybody in the rest of the way. I have to get their sweat suits pimped out, plan for the booth, and the biggest challenge will be ironing out my schedule to include the entire list above. Oh, and I'll have to schedule in some sleep too.