Sunday, April 26, 2009

Update

Although Lauren has been dealing with bitter defeat, as well as post-competition depression. She doesn't know what to do with herself. She is considering competition again. Her family is not incredibly enthusiastic about it.

Lauren has been enjoying normal food for a week now. She said she was unable to keep down a chocolate and caramel Dairy Queen Blizzard when combined with a veggie and seafood stir fry but her body is readjusting to normal every day solid food.

She looks forward to a vacation in Florida with girlfriends and a few upcoming road races to stay in shape.

She heard through the grape vine that she didn't do well in the competition because she was, quite simply, in the wrong category. Her body was much bigger than the other competitors in the figure division. She might be better suited for bodybuilding in the future.

All she can say right now is, "We'll see!"

Pizza... Finally!

Lauren finally gets a taste of what she has been missing for months, her favorite food: Pizza.

Dealing With Disappointment

Lauren deals with the disappointment of coming in last. Her friends, family and fellow competitors comfort her backstage.

The Results

Unfortunately for Lauren, she did not place in any of the three categories in which she competed. Her results are below:

Figure Debut: 6/6
Figure Novice Short: 6/6
Figure Open Short: 8/8

Lauren said she has learned a lot and might compete again as soon as October, which means she will have to start training in July.

According to the judges, she was too muscular for the figure division. It is also possible that not putting her heels together during the Figure Open Short category could have cost her. She will also be careful not to nervously toss her hair or extend her arm out too far, which was a repeat problem for her as she fought through the nerves.

Next time she competes, she will have to choose between figure and bodybuilding. If she chooses figure, she will have to lean up drastically. If she chooses bodybuilding, she will have to bulk up and build more muscle.

Lauren said she chose to compete in the figure division because you only have to learn four mandatory poses. In bodybuilding, there a tons of different poses you have to learn. If she decides to bodybuild, mastering the poses will be a new challenge for her.

Awards Ceremony! Did Lauren Place?

Lauren talks backstage after her final walk, followed by the awards ceremony for her first category "Figure Debut." Did Lauren place? You'll have to watch to find out.

Lauren Does Her Final Walk

Lauren does her final walk in front of the judges. The final walk is usually done to music. Lauren walked to the song "My Humps" by The Black Eyed Peas.

Lauren's Boyfriend and Dad Weigh In

Lauren Backstage After Competing

Lauren reflects on her mistakes and what she plans to improve next time she competes (if there is a next time). She also chats with her sister, Kristin, her father, Carl, and friends. Lauren had a lot of free time to relax and watch the show before going out for her final walk at 5:00 p.m.

Lauren's Final Evaluation - Open "Short"

Lauren competed in her final category "Open 'Short'" at around noon. She had an issue with not closing her legs and touching her heels together like the judges requested. She said later she didn't think it would count against her and that she really could not put her heels together without messing up her pose. She had to account for the size of her thighs in making this decision.

Her boyfriend, Chris, her father, Carl, her younger sister, Kristin and quite a few other friends came out to watch her compete. They sat tensely in the audience while she was up on stage.

Lauren's Second Category - Figure Novice "Short"

This is the video footage from Lauren's Figure Novice "Short" category evaluation in its entirety. Because she is only 5'3'' (5'8'' in the heels) she could compete in this category as well.

Lauren's Figure Novice Debut

This the entire footage from Lauren's first time out on stage at the competition in the Figure Novice Debut category.

Lauren Gets Pumped Up for Competition

It's important to pump muscles up right before competition so they are more prominent. Blood fills the muscles causing them to swell. Jereff Clady, who currently holds the bodybuilding title "Mr. Cape Cod," helped Lauren get pumped up with a rubber cable. She also ate a small amount of a rice cake. The carbs help to expand muscle as well.

Figure Judging Criteria

This is what the judges are looking for in the figure division of bodybuilding. To see a more detailed description of judging criteria or to learn more about the figure competition click here.

Figure Judging Criteria
Good Leanness
Good conditioning
Full and Healthy-Looking Muscularity
Balance
Proportion
Symmetry

Lauren's Workouts

Here are the various ways Lauren trained for the big day. She alternated weight training on all muscle groups throughout each week. She did 2-3 hours of cardio a day. "I've literally used every inch of this equipment," she said during her last workout. Lauren likes to run but wasn't able to do so after the early stage of her training because she didn't have enough caloric energy. She was only consuming 1,000 to 1300 calories toward the end.

Lauren's Workouts
Target Weight Training
Elliptical Machine
Stair Master
Pilates
Running (only in early stage)

Lauren Takes Niacin

Lauren took some niacin before heading out on stage. Niacin increases vasodilation, causing veins to pop up all over her muscular areas. Judges look for this "veiny" appearance. It can earn extra points at the judge's table. It can also cause you to feel very flushed and will send chills up and down your spine, symptoms Lauren said she experienced.

Lauren Gets Her Suit Glued On

Yes, there is no way Lauren will risk possible clothing malfunctions while out on stage in front of 300 people, so this is where body glue comes in. Jessa is the lucky girl who gets to help Lauren out with this process.

Lauren Gets Her Dream Tan

On the day of the competition, Lauren was found getting the final touches of her "Dream Tan" applied by former competitor Jessa English. As you can see, it's a messy and rather invasive ordeal.

Things Lauren Can't Live Without

Throughout Lauren's preparation, there are many things she depends on:

Things Lauren Can't Live Without
Magic Bullet Blender
Dream Tan
Absolution
Decaf Flavored Coffee
Pilates
Diamonds

How to Make Nutritious Shakes

Lauren's sister, Kristin, had gum graft surgery the day before this was filmed. As a result of the surgery, she was told she could not eat solid foods for three weeks. Instead of resigning herself to an unhealthy 7-11 Slurpee diet, she decided to get advice from her older sister on how to make a variety of nutritious shakes.

Lauren's Favorite Workout Gear

Lauren has a very sporty look since she is a personal trainer and has a serious physical regimen herself. Here are some of the things she wears frequently:

Lauren's Favorite Workout Clothes
Saucony Running Shoes
Nike Shocks for in the Gym
Nike Attire
New Balance Attire
Under Armor - Helps her sweat a lot

Lauren Gets A Spray Tan

It's important to be very tan on the day of the competition because tanned skin allows muscle definition to show more prominently in the stage lights. The spray tan Lauren got two nights before the big day is only about half as dark as she ended up on the day of the event after caking on powdered "Dream Tan".

Saturday, April 25, 2009

What's In Lauren's Stinky Cooler?

Lauren has been carrying around a cooler for the duration of her training filled with food and supplements she is allowed to eat. Her boyfriend, Chris, has complained on numerous occasions, that it needs to be tossed.

When peeking inside the portable silver cooler, which Lauren agrees should be thrown out after the competition, this is what we found:

Inside Lauren's Stinky Cooler
A container filled with hardboiled egg yolks
A plastic baggy containing various supplements
A very interesting smell
Mystery stuff at the bottom

We can only guess that the cooler met the bottom of a dumpster the day after the competition.

Lauren Talks About Her Work Schedule and Her Past

Over a manicure and pedicure, that Lauren was required to get prior to the competition, she discussed her crazy work schedule and how she fits everything in. Lauren has four jobs varying from personal trainer to waitress. Lauren also reveals that she was a serious student and athlete in high school and college.

Lauren Gets A Massage

Lauren gets a well-deserved massage as a gift from Heather, the massage therapist. Lauren said she was very stiff and had difficulty assuming certain Pilates positions that the elderly could do easily. She also said that she suffered quite a few injuries in a car accident a year ago. She still feels plenty of pain from the accident and it has been hard for her to train with all of the damage it did to her body.


Lauren Starts...and Completes... Her Last Workout.

Lauren's last work out prior to competition was on April 16 at the RMA Fitness Center in Bourne, Mass. She did 30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical machine and 30 minutes on the Stairmaster. She said she wanted to workout more but didn't want to over do it, which can be just as bad as not doing enough.

Lauren's List of Supplements

Lauren has taken well over a thousand tablets in supplements throughout her training. She needed to maintain a strict regimen of pill popping throughout the day to stay regulated. She carried around what she called her, "old lady pill case," throughout the entirety of each day. Her pills were organized in little compartments for time and day of the week.

Lauren's List of Supplements
Lean Extreme - Controls cortisol, helps keep muscle gain and fat loss
Meltdown -Fat Burner
Omega 369 Blend - A balanced source of essential fatty acids
Amino Acids - The building blocks of protein
Green Tea Supplement - Antioxidants promote health cell growth
Conjugated Linoleic Acid - Reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue
Sesamin - Fat Reduction
Women's Multivitamin
Bromodrol - Estrogen blocker
Liver Tablets - High in protein, B vitamins and iron and a wealth of other stuff

Lauren Discusses Her Inspiration and Her Preparations

Lauren discusses who in the bodybuilding world inspires her most. She also walks us through the tanning process that all competitors undergo. In addition, she reveals her custom made competition suit from SuitsYouSwimWear.com.

Lauren's Workout Play List

"I love anything about the booty," Lauren said. Her biggest challenge was getting her rear end competition ready, so she listened to a lot of songs that embrace the behind. She also liked to listen to anything upbeat to keep the pace of the eliptical machine or stairmaster.

Lauren's Workout Playlist

"Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk"

Trace Adkins

"Baby Got Back"

Sir Mix A Lot

"Back It Up"

Beenie Man

"Bootylicious"

Destiny's Child

"Circus" AND "Womanizer"

Britney Spears

Just Dance

Lady Gaga