Pro/Am Contests Blog

Well, after my 2nd place finish at the CBBF Canadian Nationals, I took a big chance and went back to Provincials to get that Overall Title, so that I can qualify for life to Nationals. I know it was taking a big chance, but I took it. I just finished up the BC Provincials and I placed 1st in my class, Short Fitness, and then I won the Overall. This qualifies me for life at the CBBF/IFBB Canadian Nationals. Yay, what believing in yourself can do when you focus on a goal and go after it!!!

Thank you to my biggest inspiration Monica Brant for teaching me to walk and pose this year, my mentor Dave Goodin, my trainer Mike Davies, sponsors Fitness World/Pacific Racing School, choreographer Tammy Rosiek of “Fit Stars on Stage,” Tanji Johnson, my seamstress Colleen Campbell, my best friend Christian Jensen, my kids Blair, Brooke and Brianne, my friends, my clients and family for all being so patient with me as well as all the encouragement and beliefs in me. I truly could not have made it without you. Thank you Infinite!

“You can’t capture your dreams just thinking about them, you have to go after them! Besides who said Moms should just stay at home… they should be teaching and showing their kids to dream big and never stop believing.”

“I might be 39 years old, but I sure feel 20 today.”

Recap:

CBBF/IFBB Canadian Nationals - 2nd fitness short/5th overall
BC Provincials - 1st fitness short/Won Overall *Qualified to Nationals for life

Next up is Ms Fitness Canada in Ottawa on August 25th to try and qualify for Ms Fitness World in Las Vegas!

I am blessed to have you all in my life!

Sherry Ann Boudreau

Well, I’m back from Edmonton and as much as it kills me to report this to you… I was completely and totally annhilated at Nationals.  I’m not kidding!  It was awful!

I didn’t make it past the elimination round.  An elimination round is the cut if there are over 15 competitors.  Why the cap, I’m not sure, though I hope to find out this week when I send an e-mail to the Chief Judge and the president of the CBBF.  I’m not bitter about not placing, but I think the elimination round is completely unfair to all of the athletes who work so hard.  We don’t even get a chance to wear our one and two-piece suits!  Unbelievable!

Anyway, up until I was eliminated, everything was wonderful!  I flew up with another competitor and we ended up having a great time together as we were both on our own until late Friday night.  We walked around downtown, helped each other with our tanning products and had a lot of fun!  I was totally confident with my "look" and couldn’t wait to get on stage!

I don’t know what to tell you… I was on stage for maybe 5 minutes and I really don’t know why I was eliminated.  I know there will always be things to work on, but I was sure I was on the way to improving my placings this year–and I actually ended up doing worse!  The judges kept to their word, though, and went with a little softer and a lot smaller physiques this year.  Most of the BIG girls were knocked out of the Top 10.  So, kudos to the CBBF for having the balls to make changes that will improve the placings of our Canadian pros and also present a much more appealing and attainable look to the general public.

I could go on and on, but I’m not going to waste your time complaining.  Am I done competing?  No way!  If anything, it’s lit a fire under my butt to show the judges what a mistake they’re making by even having an elimination round.  I will have to re-qualify for Nationals next year at our Provincial event, so placing Top 3 will be my goal for next year.  If I win the overall title, I will be eligible for National-level competition forever.  That would be a great accomplishment!

So, I guess my "road to Nationals" blog is done.  Thank you so much for reading and thanks to the wonderful folks at bodybuilding.com for taking an interest in my endeavors.  I wish I could have had better news to report–kinda feel like I let a lot of people down.  Oh well, I’ll be back!

I love competing too much to let a bunch of judges convince me I’m not good enough to compete!  It’s not about the placings, it’s about the experience.  From training and dieting to Pro-Tan and tears, the entire journey is worth it!  Don’t take my word for it… if you’ve ever considered competing, you HAVE to try it just once!  Give yourself the chance to shine on stage and you won’t regret it!  It may be the proudest moment of your life!

Your friend in fitness and health,

Corinne

My experience at the 2007 CBBF Canadian Nationals was amazing! The promoters and the judges were all very kind and made it quite comfortable for my first year. The show went fast, no waiting around. I had expected it to be somewhat intimidating, but when I arrived all the competitors were very friendly.

There were some there who were very focused which most would take as being somewhat snobby, but if you have the experience in big shows you can understand the distance and the seriousness between competitors with a focus to win. All in all I had a great time.

There were 19 fitness girls with energetic and explosive routines with very conditioned bodies to go with it. I think it must have been tough for the judges. I am very happy with my placement, however it is still sinking in. A big ‘Thank You!’ to my trainer Mike Davies for getting me there so fast. He is amazing!

Congratulations to Team BC who took home a lot of first places. A big congratulations to Jeni Brisco from BC who left with her IFBB Figure Pro Card. It was a tough call between her and Macey Boudreau! I am very much looking forward to going back next year.

__________________
Keep Smiling
Sherry Ann Boudreau
www.sherryannboudreau.com
Sponsored by Fitness World
Trained by Mike Davies

Sorry I haven’t been writing everyday… things around here have been a bit chaotic.  We lost our 11 year old cat very suddenly yesterday.  Not sure how he died… he was fine in the morning and gone in the evening.  I can only hope it was quick and painless and that he is chasing yarn balls up in pet heaven.  My eldest son (11 years) is devastated as am I.  We will miss him so much.

However, the show must go on, as they say.  My reverse carb-load has been working very well!  My muscles are soaking up the carbs and water like sponges and I’m looking fuller and more pumped every day.  Yesterday’s stress caused me to harden up a bit, so we’re going to keep everything at the same levels rather than drop anything today.  If I start to soften up, we know that adding some fat in Friday will harden me up big time.

I’ve received a lot of e-mails from girls competing on the weekend and I can’t believe the amount of support and goodwill coming my way.  Women have a reputation for being catty, but I have to say that I have met a LOT of competitors who shatter that stereotype!  I am looking forward to meeting many of them for the first time and seeing old friends from last year’s comps.  This year should be a BLAST!  I’m flying out with a team mate tomorrow morning and should arrive at the hotel around 2:00pm.  Registration is at 5:00pm.

I started my Pro-Tan application this morning.  Messy stuff, but it sure makes a difference!  Even with one coat, my definition is much more evident.  I’ll likely paint 2 more times today, then one more tomorrow morning.  I’ll see how dark the other girls are and determine whether I need to paint again.

I may not get a chance to write again for a bit…vacation after the show!  I will update you on EVERYTHING as soon as we’re back which should be next Thursday.

Thanks so much for reading and for sending your supportive messages and e-mails!  I can’t tell you how much it means to know that I have people from all over the world wishing me well!

Later!

Corinne 

Okay, so after looking at the pics last night, my trainer is upping my carbs to the highest they’ve ever been, lowering my protein a bit and upping the H₂O.  He will monitor my "look" daily and make adjustments accordingly, likely dropping the carbs and water a bit each day.

He doesn’t believe in complete dehydration for figure athletes (thank God) so I’ll probably be on 1-2 litres of water on Friday until early evening, then I’ll likely have a couple of litres on show day.  His theory is (and I totally agree!) with the natural bodybuilder, the muscles look full due to water.  If you take out too much water, you become flat and stringy–especially in my case!

I am SOOOO excited to see many of the competitors I met last year and/or have been chatting with over the Internet.  So many of the girls are just as excited as I am and agree that it will be great just to be on stage again, regardless of the outcome!

We may take more pics today after my huge carb intake–I actually feel pretty good and am looking a lot fuller than yesterday which is exactly how I’m supposed to look–go figure! (no pun intended!)

Thanks for reading!

Corinne 

Yesterday was our provincial competition and after the World Qualifier results and yesterdays overall winner, I am once again more confused about this crazy sport of Figure and what EXACTLY it is that the judges are looking for!     From what I understand, the overall winner at WQ is very slender and gorgeous, but more "bikini-model" than muscle.  At our Provincial show yesterday, the overall winner beat the WQ medium-class winner and is VERY muscular and full.  The Head Judge was the same at both events, so you tell me…soft or hard?  Big and full or softer and smoother?  SHEESH!  This is so confusing!

Oh well, I’m tryin’ really hard not to be discouraged and frustrated.  I think I’m okay with going to Nationals with what looks best on ME and not worrying one bit about trying to please the judges.  Yes, I want their feedback and yes, I took their advice last year and made some changes to my physique, but I’m just not comfortable changing my overall look too drastically just to try to win the approval of 7 people who don’t know me from a hole-in-the-ground.  As I said in a previous post, I am all about the experience this year and enjoying every minute I have backstage, on stage and the rest of our vacation after the show!

So, the plan for the week is to reverse-carb load (my trainer’s special technique!)  until Thursday and see how I look and fill out.  Again, nothing crazy and no major loads or depletes.  If I look stage-ready on Thursday, we won’t change a thing.  Too soft or too hard, and we’ll tweak my fat or carbs to achieve the look we’re going for.  And what exactly is "the ook" I’m going for?  Well, on my frame, full and fairly hard look best with great conditioning.  So, we’re going to take some pics. tonight and see exactly how close we are.  I had a lot of fat in my diet the last day and a half to see how I reacted.  I am hard and very vascular–maybe TOO much?!  We’ll see how the pictures turn out.

I am starting to get a little nervous, but my excitement is outweighing my nerves!  I hope it stays that way!  Watching last night’s show, the smell of Pro Tan and Dream Tan, seeing the disappointment and elation, the smiles and the tears, I realized I couldn’t wait to get on stage again!  As frustrating as it may be. there is still something phenomenally rewarding about standing on stage knowing you look the best you ever have IN YOUR LIFE and to have friends, family and complete strangers cheering you on!…  OK, now I am TOTALLY pumped!

Thanks for reading!

Corinne