annemarie_DJ’s BodyBlog

Just a quck update about the knee injury.  No surgery required.  Yay! It is feeling great today.  I managed to go down the stairs!  Slowly and hanging on to the banister, but it’s a great improvement.  Walking without assistance and barely hobbling anymore.  I’m ready to work the leg gently and get strong again.  I should be back to normal in another week. 

The doctor is crediting my quick recuperation to the fact that I was in good shape when the fall happened.  So there you go.  Always an advantage to be taking care of your health and staying fit and strong! 

Woo hoo..back to the gym soon. 

How disappointing! I was so excited about the November 1st competition and thought I should stay on a roll. So I was getting primed to try out the UFE competition in Hamilton next weekend. It would have been a tough competition, but a great experience. My fab seamstress (Sewing Daydreams dot com) had dreamed up a new outfit for me for the fitness model category.  But then I had the silly idea of going out for an early morning jog with my faithful dog, Nanook.  It was a beautiful morning with a pink sunrise in the distance and white frost shimmering on neighborhood lawns.

And then, out of nowhere, I tripped and went flying in the air… it was all slow motion… I broke my fall on the ashphalt with my left knee.  The knee has swollen to twice its normal size and I have limited movement in the joint. My hands, knees and elbows are all scraped up.  It looks like I may have torn my meniscus (tendon in the knee) and have been told it may require surgery.  I’m so annoyed!  And of course, in pain.  I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon in the morning and we’ll see what he has to say about it.

Dang! Never take your health for granted!!  On the bright side (cause there always has to be a bright side), I am very thankful that this happened after my goal competition of November 1st and many months before the start of the new Spring season.  Hopefully I’ll be good as new by then. 

How much fun was that??  Woo hoo!  I had a ton of fun at yesterday’s OPA Eastern Ontario Championship competition in Ottawa.  It was my first ever competition, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I had worked hard, sacrificed lots of goodies and time, and diligently practiced routines and poses. I feel very pleased at how things turned out.  My category: Level 1 Figure, medium was huge! In fact, the turn out for the show was extremely high.  The highest ever, I believe - with over 100 athletes competing in body building, fitness and figure.  While the other Figure categories had 6 or 8 contestants, my category had 15 amanzingly fit women.  So… I competition was stiff. 

I placed 10th out of 15.  I am quite pleased with this result considering my slim physique.  I spoke to some judges at the end of the show to get some feedback and they basically told me what I already knew.  I need to build the shoulders and the quads.  However, I was amply complimented on my leanness and my abs! 

Since I’m kinda thin, I was encouraged to enter the Serious About Fitness model search competition taking place in the middle of the day.  I realize I’m abit old to be entering a "model" competition, but figured what-the-heck!  I’m glad I did. It was a great experience walking out on stage and doing a model routine.  I was really stepping out of my comfort zone and I truly enjoyed the challenge.  While I don’t mind being on stage, I’ve never done the "model" thing… so it was interesting.  (I usually do radio… u can hear me, but u can’t see me!) 

I came in top 10!!  It was so cool to be called back up for top 10 among women of various ages, most under 30.  YES!  I also got back up there for the Over 35 category.  I think the most satisfying moment of the entire day was when I told everyone that I was forty-five years old.  I heard a collective "woah".  Apparently, people were stunned that I was that old.  Hey baby, I’m a hot little old lady! haha

Now if only the age minimum for the Figure championship Masters category was a little higher I would have entered.  But with the bar set at over 35, it’s kinda pointless.  Most athletes are over 35 ! 

Anyway… all that to say that I am extatic, proud, and amazed at my guts to step on a stage in a bikini in front of strangers to be judged on my appearance.  

Now I’m more determined than ever… Gotta grow them shoulders and quads for the spring competition! 

Signed, Number 25