Ava Cowan’s BodyBlog

I am back at home in Florida and had an amazing time last weekend in New York.  I am happy to report that I won the “B” class as well as the Overall.  So I am so thrilled!  The show was jam packed to a sold out crowd, and there had to be over 200 competitors there.  I thought the show was run beautifully by Bev Francis and Steve Weinberger.  They really know how to put on a BodyBuilding show!  The stage was a perfect size, well lit and the expeditors were extremely helpful.  To be honest, I have never been to a show that was sold out before!  I also really like that both prejudging and the finals were all in the same day.  This made life a lot easier, especially when traveling, prepping meals and getting the tan and make up just right. (Though I had MAJOR Make up issues!!!!)

While I was in town I met up with Daniel Pierce and Joe Volgey from Gaspari Nutrition as well as Paul Glinski for some cool video for Bodybuilding.com as well as Gaspari TV.  They each added a special element to the production and creation of some upcoming videos.  I am beyond excited to see just what the final vision will be.  So stay tuned for that.

I was also joined by the beautiful Isabel Norton.  She was so unbelievably helpful, and the sweetest woman ever! I am so glad that I was able to spend some time with her, even under stressful conditions and am proud to have her as a friend. She definitely spoiled me and I sure wish she was here with me in Florida for the Nationals this weekend.  This is a picture of us at the athlete’s meeting around 8:00 AM.

I have been going non stop for a while now and didn’t even fully unpack my suitcases. My next stop is the 2009 NPC Nationals this weekend in Hollywood, FL.  I have been hitting cardio very hard with hopes of bringing my best, fullest most feminine package I can.  I have done the work, so now I am just going to make sure all is ready to go and maintain a stress free atmosphere as I venture over about 30 minutes away to the Westin Diplomat tomorrow afternoon. 

Here are a few pictures taken from the show.

There is also a cool video right after the event.

As well as a write up on HardBody.com today.

I am a week away from my competition and I am ready.  Flat, watery but that is normal and I am definitely lean.  Not crazy stringy lean, but I can tell when I carb up things will be poppin!  And poppin is always good lol.  I wanted to come in fuller than I did this summer and as of now my weight is up a few pounds from then, so right now I am right on track.  I have a feeling that super lean isn’t being rewarded anymore, and so I am making sure my shape is nice, full, round, and fat free. 

I am still taking the Mitotropin 2 times a day, and will continue to do so until I am finished.  No changes in anything I am doing right now.  I have come to believe that taking the Mito has definitely helped me through some rough spots.  This year I was diagoned with hypothyrodism and my metabolism is shot from dieting for the past 10 months.  So I didn’t come into this contest prep with things in my favor.  I have been plagued with fatique both mentally and physically compounded by a lagging metabolism.  I had to decrease calories, up my cardio and I started the Mitotropin 30 days out hoping for some help getting all the fat off. 

I believe it was the combination of it all that helped get me where I am right now.  To be honest, I really needed the extra help and I have faith in the efficacy of Gaspari Nutrition’s products.  I wouldn’t promote, discuss or use them precontest if I wasn’t completely convinced that the products could help me acheive my goals.  It is sort of like hiring a trainer, you have to let go and have faith.  Once I have done my research and am satisfied with what I find, I don’t second guess, I just go. 

You are either in or you are out. 

My training, nutrition and supplementation protocols are no different. 

I will post pics of my show and you can see for yourself.

One week left!