#40 - Team Sculpt
Hey, hey ladies. This is episode number 40. I have a special episode for you guys today. This episode, I'm going to share with you some of the stories from the athletes that I've worked with over the last few years. These are stories that they brought to competition prep clinics of their experience getting on stage for the first time, going through comp prep for the first time. And I'm excited for you guys to hear about their process, about their experiences. I want you to know that comp prep, it's hard. There's some sacrifice. But it doesn't have to be a horrible experience. It's not about you dragging yourself through prep. It can change your life in a positive way, can create more organization, more discipline, more focus in every area of your life. All right, ladies, enjoy this episode.
Okay. Let's bring on our 2021 athletes and we're gonna open up Q and A. I'm gonna have them talk a little bit about their experience. So I'm gonna bring on, we're gonna promote the panelists, uh, Dallas. We're gonna promote the panelist, Kerri. Sent these girls messages earlier today and asked if they were okay with this. And I don't think I heard back from either of them, but they're getting promoted.
Lylas: Hello? You're muted. Let's unmute you. There we go. All right. Hi Dallas. All right. And we're missing Michelle Elliots flying back from Scotland right now. And I'm not sure where Ainsley is tonight. That's okay. All right. Hi ladies. It's good to see you. Thank you for joining this call tonight. I really appreciate you being here. Um, I wanted to talk to you guys a little bit about your experience, uh, with the 2021 comp season and being part of a team. Let's just talk and Dallas, I would love to hear more about your experience working, doing your entire prep online.
Dallas: Oh, it is awesome. .
Lylas: How did you feel being part of a team, even though you were like removed and kind of didn't join us as a team until Calgary? Um, what would you say it was like being part of Team Sculpt beta task?
Dallas: It was exciting. It was kind of like the fitness fields again where we would like to get together and do our routines all the time. We don't have routines, but like having that group with like, it just got me in the fields again. It was, uh, felt really good to be part of the team.
Lylas: Awesome.
Dallas: I missed that. Doing it by myself wasn't as fun.
Lylas: Yeah, anything you wanna say about your comp prep? Um,
Dallas: Doing it the way that I am saying like, with your calories up and your body fat being down, it is gonna make your prep a lot easier. I've done the grinding preps before. This one felt like I was coasting and I always felt ready. I always felt like it made a big difference.
Lylas: So mentally, hey.
Dallas: Yeah, like just you were joking, you're like, This is gonna be your easiest prep ever and it really was. So, um, I don't wanna do it the grinding way again.I think like, let's be smart about it, let's keep it high. And it was, yeah, it's the way I wanna go.
Lylas: I don't wanna coach grinding. Like if as a coach, it's so stressful when an athlete doesn't feel ready and they're stressed and anxious and not feeling ready and insecure. It's much more difficult to coach an athlete who’s grinding than an athlete that's coasting in for sure. Cool, all right. Let's thank Dallas. Um, anyone who's here, if you guys have questions for Dallas or Kerri. So, Dallas competed in her twenties and came back after two kids in 10 years to compete again, um, from fitness into Bikini. If you guys have questions for Dallas or Kerri, feel free to put them up in chat. Um, we'd love to hear them. You can see Dallas's total transformation on my Instagram. I should have put the pictures. I should have pulled them up. You two had like the most ridiculous transformations this year ever. Um, and I've had so many people come in and comment on the transformations and like, I wanna do a Kerri dinner, I wanna do a Dallas did. And it's been super fun watching that as a coach. All right, Kerri, first time and second time.
Kerri: Um, first thing I was gonna say, address Melissa's concerns of not wanting to tell anyone.I didn't wanna tell anyone myself. And I think that was because of the way I looked at the time even though it was February at 14. Now, I work in kilos. Sorry, at like, actually 15 kilos heavier than my stage weight and the way I looked, I didn't wanna tell anyone because I didn't want, I don't know, it was just something that I didn't want people to look at me like and think what, like, what's she doing? But every now and then, like I would tell one more person and one more person and the support that was given and people were curious and you know, the only thing was it felt silly saying bikini, Oh, I'm competing in a bikini competition. That felt, it still feels ridiculous. Let's be honest. I'm 41 and it sounds ridiculous to me. I think beach party bikini, I still say body building competition or a fitness competition. Um, it'd be nice if they changed the name of it, but whatever. Um, Alex, mind you said, Oh, Kerri in a bikini competition. He loves that. Um, so, you know, I think as, as you feel better in yourself and you feel more committed, you will want to start telling people. Um, and the only other thing that I still hesitate telling, saying it is for people to think of me as being vain or it's a vanity thing, if they've got absolutely no clue about what it is. But once I start telling people about how it helped me focus on something other than my business going. In circles with COVID and all of that. Um, there's so many more people who are intrigued and are just like, wow, that's amazing. And you know, in the depth of COVID, I heard business owners saying, I have had suicidal thoughts. And I was at that moment like, Oh my God, I'm so glad I found you Lila before COVID hit to make those brain, you know, my brain not go down that hole. So, you know, it is definitely a mental thing at our age and the way we look going into it. Um, so yeah, eventually you will wanna tell people and yeah, it'll be fine. Um, as for then, the leading into competition and especially people like us who all run super busy lives, is don't, don't wait to start building muscle, like we got back from Calgary and I was in the gym straight away and I spoke to Ainsley and she said, Oh my God, I can't believe you're in the gym straight. And I said, yeah, but that's because know like Christmas is coming and life's about to get hectic. And I had times when everything was going a hundred percent. And then there was a month or two where I wouldn't say I fell off the bandwagon, but it just, I had no time. But knowing that I didn't waste the months beforehand, um, made it a bit easier for me to be like, Okay, I can only get to the gym once this week, but hey, two weeks ago when things were a bit cruisy, I was hitting it every time. So when you can do it, do it because there's gonna be times that you can't and then you won't feel guilty about.
Lylas: So 100%. That's how I lived my life too, Kerri. Like last week with the Renos, I only hit the gym twice, but the weeks that I can, I go five or six. And that's where you see growth. Like you go when you can go and it's part of, you know, us having lives too and doing this on top of lives. Kerri, tell us a little bit about, um, your experience going into show one and then turning around and doing show two a week later. What was your, like, your learning curve going into that first show, comparative to the second show?
Kerri: Oh, I was like night and day. I'm so glad. There were two shows to do, um, that were so close together. Um, because just even sitting around the hotel room on the day, like not sort of out of your mind of what you're supposed to be doing, even though you are there to sort of tell you, it's like, well, what's the next step? What's the next step to then going into and, and walking on stage. Um, I was shaking like a leaf and when I said it, I didn't, I heard Michelle say this before as well, and until it actually happens to you don't realize what people are talking about. It's, I think it's the adrenaline just actually, you, your body just shakes. And there was another girl in our, um, competition in Cologna who looked like she was twerking in her back pose. And she made a joke about it. She was really, we were all laughing because all of us were just like, had the shakes. Um, but going into the second show, your body, the adrenaline's not as much there. It's still there for sure, but you know, you're a bit more calm. Um, Knowing what to expect was so insanely, um, different and so much better that if, yeah, if there's a way to do two shows for your first and your second, because I would've, I don't know, going through all that work and then doing that first show and being like, Oh, okay, I get it now, to then have that second one to back, to go straight into, um, was amazing.
Lylas: Absolutely.
Kerri: And I have said, if anyone like I, my plan is I wanna come down to Vancouver in May with the team to just be there and like I said, help or encourage or just any questions assistant. And it's also the, the, the energy is, it's so fun. Um, like I won't be competing in May, but I'll be, Yeah. It's gonna take a lot to keep me away.
Lylas: Excellent. Awesome. Love it. Um, any questions for Dallas or Kerri. Belinda says, I, I'd love to know things that helped you the most in terms of mental preparation for your comp. If you could have done it all again, what advice would you give yourself? Okay, So going back, let's start with Kerri. Going back, is there anything you wish you had done differently or would you, anything you would've changed?
Kerri: I think I would've, I definitely would've maybe, I'm trying to like, make sure I'm staying in this mindset that time, like goes so quick. So my next competition, um, like, as Lylas said, like, um, to keep compete Bikini masters is in September. There's nothing before that. And I've gotta keep in the mindset that that's gonna come so quick. So that little bit of chocolate cake and all of that. Um, It's just something to keep in mind, um, that the time goes so quickly. My 18 months seemed a long time, but it also seemed still very, very quick. So don't, don't look at time like, ah, I've got another week.
Lylas: Right. Because especially for the muscle building part.
Kerri: Yes. Yeah.
Lylas: It takes a long time to build muscles. You guys, you can't do that in the 16 dial in. You need muscle building time ahead of the 16 week dial in because when you're dial in, you're in a deficit, which isn't ideal for muscle building. So a hundred percent, I love that you are staying in that focus care because like for your show starting in May, we're dialing in so you only have until May to build the muscle that you want, which is only like six months.
Kerri: Mm-hmm. , right? Yeah.
Lylas: It feels so short already. All right. Dallas, for you, is there anything that you look back and wish you had done differently or any?
Dallas: Um, there's a couple things that like I got hung up with mentally that I was really thankful that you were there to kind of talk me through and put a different, uh, perspective on things. And I think doing it again, I'll just be, I'm more aware of those triggers and when I get those thoughts to sit back and do the steps that you taught us how to do it, and I'll be a little bit more prepared that it won't consume me those couple days that I probably like it in the long term. It didn't really, but, Hm. Like there's a few days where I was like obsessed about like stupid things. I was like huge if by mind, but in reality it was very small or not a big deal. So, um, yeah, having you as the coach for those mind things was really good.
Lylas: Do you wanna share, do you feel comfortable sharing any of those situations with us? Like what are some of the things that maybe an athlete can expect to have happen or, or not expect, but might happen? ,
Dallas: Well, one of them was my suit. I had issues with my suit, but I was thinking of that before it all turned out good. And I was like, super stressed about that, but it all turned out fine. It all worked out.
Lylas: That was a stressful moment though. I was really thankful that, that actually happened to Dallas and not to one of the first time athletes, because I feel like it would've been much harder on a first time athlete. But Dallas handled it beautifully, um, and we had backup suits, we had backups about being Tori who is here today. Um, so generously let me take her suit with me to Calgary just in case Dallas's suit wasn't ready in time. But a hundred percent, having a coach and a team to support you through those kinds of stressful situations, is hard. And it's easy to look back and be like, Oh, I shouldn't have stressed about that.
Dallas: Yeah.
Lylas: When you're in it, it's hard.
Dallas: When you're in it, it feels all consuming. And to sometimes just take a step back and when you feel like you're in something that's all consuming, uh, message Lylas and she'll talk you down.
Lylas: Absolutely that goes for a competition or Lady Sculpt. For those of you who are here, who are in LSL, if you ever are in a spin message, your coach, I message my coach when I'm in a spin. Okay, Awesome. Um, just kind of quickly here too, we're gonna go over time a little bit. In terms of mental prep, so, like you guys both gave really good mental prep examples. Okay. Let's move on from Belinda's question. That's good. Okay. Jen.
Dallas: I'll give you one on the mental mental prep as well. Is it something that, um, I've, I think it's probably my own words, but I know Lylas was definitely trained me on this, is that you are doing this for you and there's days when someone you work with someone you encounter in the street, just shit doesn't go your way and you're like, I just wanna go home and have a glass of wine, or this has made me not wanna go to the gym today. And I had a really bad experience at work one day and I was meant to be going to the gym on the way home. And normally I'd just be like, I just wanna go home and sit on the couch after that confrontation I had and I was like, No, that person does not deserve to derail my goal, my big goal that I have. I'm just gonna put that aside. And none of these people or none of these things that have happened, mostly people, let's just put it bluntly, um, are not big enough to get me off my goal for doing something for me, not my husband, not my child, not my staff. This is for me. And anytime I had to come to terms with, like, I just wanna have a glass of wine or I just wanna go and have a cry or I just wanna go and not go to the gym, was, know I'm doing this for me and they're not gonna stop me from doing that. That was the biggest thing.
Lylas: Yeah. Remember. And that, that's why I say this sport can get a little selfish too, is because you're doing it for you and the reminder that you're doing it for you and that you know other people's opinions don't matter that much and other people's issues and, and what other people's needs all kind of get put second fiddle to this focus that you have on yourself. And that can be difficult for people in your life that are used to not playing second fiddle. Right. But at the same time, it's a beautiful experience for you to put yourself first in that way. But it can also, like, you also need to remind yourself sometimes because working out doesn't always feel like you're doing it for you, or like not having the donut or not having the wine or you know, sometimes it feels like if I was doing this for me, I'd be allowed to have the wine. So absolutely keeping with that mindset. That's awesome. And such a brilliant reminder. Okay, Jen says, thanks Kerri. I feel like we lead similar lives in terms of extreme business and your authenticity is so appreciated. Really looking forward to possibly hitting up the Washington show with you. Okay, awesome, not a question. Awesome. Ains is here, welcome! Let's pull you up. Hold on, let's promote Ainsley panelists. Oh, Ains is putting all of her notes up here. Let's get her on to talk live about it. Hey, I love, I wish I'd listened to Kerri and started walking in heels more often. I wish I had given myself space to do nothing the days leading into the comp in between the two shows. Okay, tell us more about that. Tell us all, all the things Ains.
Ains: Okay. Um, I am currently studying to be an RMT and I do my course in Calgary. So I had the joy of studying, um, full time and working and juggling kids. And I go to Calgary six days a month. Um, and the time that I was supposed to be in Calgary was also when the competition was on, and I thought it'd be great to do a competition while I was at school. Um, I thought I could handle it. And now in reflection, Lylas, you'll laugh at me. I'm trying to study and I don't remember anything from October . Um, and there was one moment that, um, really resonates in terms of, I don't know, it's just like the signature thing that happened. We went to the gym, uh, went to King's Gym as a team, and we did posing and everyone was nailing their posing. And the week before I'd been in Cologna and we'd been given feedback that And I was really struggling to imprint it in my mind, and I just laid on the ground and wanted to cry. And, um, another reason, it was awesome having a coach and a team around you to support you because I was feeling super overwhelmed. I, um, was going between the house with the team and going to school and juggling all the food and all the changes. And Um, I just had to change my routine and I'm like, think of a food walking away from their mum the first time. That is me walking in heels. Is that a good description? Yes. Um, yeah, so I had a lot of work to do when it came to, um, to posing and, um, I just, there was just a point where I just was like, I tap out. Like I, I don't, I, I didn't wanna do anymore and I had the support around me and if I could go back in time, I would, um, give myself the time and space and yeah. That's, I wouldn't do it during a busy time, right.
Lylas: Yeah. Like putting in too much. That's something I learned this year kind of solidified for me too, even as a coach, this is the second or third time in a row that I've had something planned. I was doing a post comp clinic on Sunday post show and I was getting serious fomo because all of the athletes went out after the show and, and, and went and partied and rode around on scooters in downtown Calgary. And I had to go home to sleep because I had a clinic the next day that I had to prep for. And so like I learned that, like even for me as a coach, having like, making sure that I take time off around the show so that I can enjoy the pre comp and post comp festivities with you guys, um, is huge. And same thing, Vegas, right? Making sure that there was time to do the pre comp and post comp festivities. I had a great time doing that in Vegas. So, um, that's great advice for people like making sure that you do have some time beforehand. Not too much time, there's some people that have taken like weeks before the show off. You don't need weeks with nothing to do. I wouldn't want that. No, you'll be bored and thinking about food the whole time. I shopped online and I spent money. All right, so Belinda just asked one more question. Let's put this out there, because this is a great question, tips for posing. Let's get one tip from each of you. What's the best tip that you can give Belinda for posing?
Ains: Um, I'll go first. Buy a heel that has a one inch platform or a two inch platform. 1:1 inch has to be one inch, can't be two. Oh yeah, yeah, sorry, sorry. Two inches aren't allowed.
Lylas: One inch platform that will bring the stiletto down to four, like the actual height down to four inches. Which makes you feel less. Barbie doll. Like put, like that's, Yeah, I prefer no platform. I actually feel more wobbly on a platform. So what I, how I back that up to Ains is, Belinda, test out some shoes before you buy. Try all your friends' shoes on before you buy yours. Awesome. Okay, Kerri?
Kerri: Um, I was gonna be under the shoes as well. I think buying the shoes, I bought the shoes I think a few, a couple of months after signing up for this. Um, and it kind of just solidified again, you know, without telling people. But I had them in my cupboard. It was like, Cam, I'm doing this. They're not that expensive. Like can get a secondhand one for 50 bucks at the most a hundred. Um, you buy 'em online, but, you know, I'm happy if anyone wants to try mine, if I'm around, totally fine. But that's a fair pair, like buying the shoes and starting posing there. I mean, there are YouTube videos, but I think I, while I was trying to do that, the best thing is um, is having someone there to kind of look at you and help you. Um, which I'm more than happy for anyone in Whistle. I'm down in Vancouver or whatever, Squamish to, you know, just someone else to stand there and look over what you're doing and doing with you makes it more fun. And not taking photos, but actually videoing, video, video, video, video. And then if you need to take photos, all my photos that I've, I've sent Lyls are screenshots of my video. You can actually get better ones too cuz you can hit pause and you can kind of slide the bar along.
Lylas: So important to video yourself, you guys are doing massive, huge advice and don't do it all in front of the mirror because you don't have a mirror on stage.
Dallas: I just get it into your body. So like you're gonna be drinking a ton of water, you're gonna be going to the bathroom a lot. You're gonna be in front of a mirror a lot. So every time you go to the bathroom, just go through a round of those quarter turns. Like you might not be in your heels, but just hit it. Like hit it fast. Like you might as well. Like every little bit helps, and then that way you're not thinking about it so much. So that's when I would kind of get it in throughout the day and just if there was some time to drink by the time of like, do my routine. And even the kids are like, I like your dance. I was like, Oh, thank you .
Ains: I, I should share a fun game. I played Bell. I played a game where anytime I spoke to the kids, I had to strike a pose. I wasn't allowed to talk. I wasn't allowed to tell 'em do anything they had. And they were like, You're not posing. Stop talking to me.That was pretty fun.
Lylas: I love it. So what I would say about posing is, practice, practice, practice. I used to start posing at eight weeks out, which is ahead of most coaches. This season I'm planning to start at 16 weeks In January we will have our first posing group posing seminar, um, for the May team and we'll get you guys started right off the hop. Okay, I need to wrap this up because I told my husband I'd be ready for dinner at seven , whenever. Thank you guys so much for coming on live. I super appreciate you, 2021 was my favorite year yet. Love you guys. Um, and I'm super stoked for 2022. Thank you all for joining us. I'm just gonna un-panel you guys and then thanks again ladies.
