THE CONFIDENCE CURVE
Welcome to The Confidence Curve: Where Strength Meets Sisterhood 💪🏽
Hosted by two female bodybuilders, this podcast is all about breaking barriers, building muscle, and empowering women to embrace their strongest selves — inside and out.
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THE CONFIDENCE CURVE
LIFE UPDATES, LIFE BEYOND THE STAGE, AND MORE!
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In this episode, we dive into our life updates and our current plans.
Hey guys, long time no talk. Welcome back to another episode. We are changing the podcast name drum roll. So we are gonna change the name to the confidence curve. We feel like this fits our vibe, our style best, and the stuff we create for you guys. So that's the new name, the confidence curve. Um, so yeah, today we're just gonna be talking about life updates, what we're up to now, our plans are, I guess, like summer goals, fitness goals, and that kind of thing. Candace, do you want to start off?
SPEAKER_02I feel like you've been like Yeah, it's it's been like a while since we've recorded. Like, sorry guys, but you know what? It is what it is. So we've both been super busy and it's just been hard to coordinate. Like, I'm staying crazy busy with the kids this summer. You know, I have three kids, so uh we're doing swim team and travel softball. Well, it's like it's all star softball, but they basically trip play like a mini travel ball season through the summer. Um, and then you know, we've got cheer and football starting up this week. So like we're just we're busy. Plus, I like to take my kids, like we try to go do fun stuff every day. Like if we'll go to swim practice, then we'll a lot of times we just stay at the pool for a couple hours. Or like today we went to go see the new Toy Story. Like, I like to take them places that's fun. So, like, that's my priority during the summer is just like having fun with them, you know? And I and we've also been traveling a lot these last couple of weeks. So like that's taken up a lot of time to. But um, as far as like our fitness goals and everything like that goes during the summertime, like I'm a busy mom. I kind of just like see it as like, okay, I'm gonna, my main priority is my kids and my family, and making sure like I'm not taking too much away from that. But uh I'm looking at it more as like, let's just get through this and like maintenance type phase. And and then when we get out of it and they go back to school, like maybe I'll start pushing, you know, which when I'm in the gym, I'm pushing hard. But like I'm not worried about if I miss a day or like if we're if we're traveling and I can only go to the gym, you know, four days or whatever. I just try to do the best I can while I'm traveling and um it's gonna be fine, you know, like and I'm gonna enjoy the foods. I'm gonna like, you know, have a couple drinks on the beach or or whatever, um, when we're going places and just kind of get through it, like I said. So that's where I'm at. Um, but hey, I had a great lug day today. I'm back home, back at my home gym, and I killed it, not gonna lie. So where are you at, Raven?
SPEAKER_00Okay, so if you guys follow me on Instagram, you know that I am taking a small step back from competitive bodybuilding. So it's not to say that I'm never gonna compete again, but I won't be debuting next year. Um, I'm getting married this fall. There's just some other priorities that I want to, you know, do first. And like bodybuilding, I always talk about it's something that we do, not who we are. It's a hobby. And so for right now, it goes on the back burner. However, I'm still lifting, but my training style is so different. Like I'm still in the gym five days a week. I'm still hitting three leg days, but I'm only hitting one upper, and then I have a fifth day where I'm either doing like high rock style training, I'm just doing core, or I'm just doing something else athletic and fun. It's been a lot. Um, it's been exhausting though, like, because I mean, all types of training are hard, but when you it's crazy because I was only doing you know, strength training, and I guess I didn't realize how much muscle I put on. So when I start running and when I start athletic style training, I'm like, yo, I have a lot of muscle. Like it running is so easy for me, and now with all this muscle, it takes a lot out of me. Like it's awesome, and I love it. I'm getting in shape again, but it takes a lot running with like 30 more pounds of muscle mass than I did when I was in college. Um, I'm also doing Pilates.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you're like a sprinter, right? So like I can imagine having that added weight on you, like it's a lot, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's like I can still like you know do the sprints, but after I do it, it's like my one rep, my entire core feels like on fire, legs are on fire, but it just feels really good. Um, like I just feel great. And then I've been doing Pilates just to like challenge myself, and I'm gonna be the first person to say that I didn't think it was hard at first. I'm like, oh that's fine, like I lift weights. I went to hot Pilates, bro. It's like I was really surprised because it's just moving your muscles in a different way. It's a lot of flexibility and a lot of core strength that I was lacking, but it's helping a lot. It's helping my core strength in my lifts, it's also helping me not be tight in some places, and it's just a challenge. And I mean, it's a hundred degrees in that room, which I didn't know was that hot. Like you sweat in there, like it's it's good, it's a good challenge. Wait, uh Candice, when we uh have my bachelorette, we're going to a hot Pilates class, it'll be so fun.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, it'll be fun. I gotta admit, I am not a Pilates girl, like I am more of like a yoga, like yoga's like like Pilates, what? Like cardio and yoga combined. Like it's too hard. I want to do yoga where it's like relaxing and stuff, and like not so it's still challenging, but it's not like so fast paced. But I'm excited to to try out the class and your on your bachelor's.
SPEAKER_00Dude, yoga and yoga, okay. Yeah, I think like the relaxing yoga is good, but power yoga. I've just been trying a bunch of different classes just to see hot power yoga, bro. They're like doing handstands and this crazy stuff. Like, I like the relaxing yoga, and there's like two types of Pilates. Um, there's like the crazy hot matte Pilates, where but really though, you could do it, it's not so bad, but it's it's really just you're in a plank, and then you go from a plank and they want you to add a booty band and do this, so it's like a burn, but it's not relaxing. It's just the heat is what makes it not relaxing. If there was no heat, I don't think it would be bad, actually. But yeah, it's a good challenge, and so I'm just moving my body in different ways and then not tracking my food, which is crazy, but it's like it's hard because what I'm I'm still not just like uh pouring whatever. It's like my body, it's so weird when you're when you do that for so long. My body automatically like checks me with portion sizes. So, like, I'll be pouring something, and I'm like, oh, it's like enough chicken, no more than that, or that's enough rice, and that's enough potato, like that's enough. I don't need more than that, and especially with things that I'm adding in, which I haven't really eaten, like cheese and butter and oil. First, I was really nervous, but I just eat until I'm full, and then if I'm still hungry, I eat more, but I'm really mindful with it. Um and for the most part, it's like been really it's the same foods, but except for I'm just adding in a lot of cheese. I really do like cheese. Um it's it's it's different though, because I'm like, is this enough? Is this too much? But two days ago though, I did just for fun, I said, let me just track and see how much I'm eating because I'm concerned that it's not enough because you think it's not enough. And so the other day I ate a lot, it was like 2800 calories. Um, but I made like a sourdough burger, like a bunch of stuff. But it's crazy like the lifelong habits you get from it. Like I can make a balanced plate and it's okay. And like I just um, I don't know, bodybuilding set me up really well for it. And there's certain things that I won't put in my foods or certain things that I will. Like, I still don't cook with butter and oil. If I use butter, I put it on toast because it's good. Um I still like spray my pan. I'm still eating like beef and like chicken because I'm just so used to it and like shrimp. Um I'm just trying to have more variety, and it it it was really scary at first, but my body is doing okay. Feeling good. Um just finished the summer semester. It it feels weird though. Um because I I of course, bodybuilding is like your whole like personality in life. But the what I'm learning outside of it is like I'm you know, go I went to happy hour with my mom the other day. I have not done that in so long, and you know, I probably could have a little bit, but it's it was so nice to just go to happy hour with my mom and to get like appetizers and not be like, I'm not eating that, and just have a couple of things. It felt so good for me. I hadn't done that in a while, and then I went to Pilates with this uh girl that I met, and we went to lunch at this like farm and they had these sandwiches, they were like McMuffins, but it was like bacon jam, over easy egg, hot honey, and something else. It was delicious. That sounds so good.
SPEAKER_02It's yeah, just kind of go. Oh, go ahead, go ahead.
SPEAKER_00It's okay. I was just reading about the McMuffin.
SPEAKER_02It doesn't Oh, I was just gonna kind of go off of that, like whole like kind of living more normal type, you know, not tracking. Like when I I went to the beach for like uh two weeks ago, or like not this past week, but the week before. And um, and I didn't track at all when I was there. Um and like kind of the way that I go about it, um, which this is, you know, a little bit different than your situation because you're trying to like create this new lifestyle for yourself. But like I think about it like, okay, I eat a lot of food every day as a bodybuilder. So like if I want to just be a normal person, like I gotta like, I can eat normally like a normal person, but I can't eat all the extra bodybuilding food too. So, like, because then it's too much to eat it all, right? Like normal people don't eat much food. So the way I go about it when I was like on vacation, I'm like, I'm just gonna eat like like if I'm training, like I'm gonna eat my breakfast like normal because that's like my favorite meal of the day. And then I'm just gonna like eat lunch when everyone eats lunch, and then just eat dinner when everyone eats dinner or whenever I feel hungry, you know? And I'm not gonna track anything and it's gonna be okay because I'm not eating like all that extra like rice and whatever and and the other two meals, even if I eat like a meal, like a couple meals off plan or whatever from a restaurant, it's gonna be okay because I'm not, you know, eating all those extra meals too, because I'm not on my meal plan right now. So, like I had like one day where, you know, we did like family pictures on Sunday morning, and those are always very stressful having like little kids and stuff, and so and getting everyone's outfit, getting ready and all that. So after the picture day, I was like, you know what? I feel like drinking today. Like, so I just like I had some like nice like frozen drinks from pineapple willies, and then like I got just like a I got like a mahi mahi BLT sandwich for lunch, and then we went out for dinner and like it was just so normal, you know? And guess what? When I got back from my trip, I hadn't weighed myself the same the whole time. I weighed the same when I got back. Like it's okay to just kind of let yourself be normal a little bit. Um, so yeah, I kind of feel where you're at. Like you just kind of go off how you're feeling. Yeah, and it's gonna be fun.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and like your body, when you're always when you're in something like bodybuilding, it's like muscle memory with everything. You're it's like your body knows when it's hungry, it knows when it's full, and like food will always be there. Even now, just because I can kind of do what I want doesn't mean I'm just like it's a free-for-all. Like, I don't eat five meals a day, but I it I eat three to four. Usually I eat four. Three is a little bit hard for me because I'm so active. Like every day I do two types of activity it's either running in the gym or Pilates and running or vice versa. So it's a lot of activity. So I do have to still eat a good bit, not as near as much, but it's you just I just listen to my body, and if I'm still very hungry, like on the days that I run, I'm like starving. I eat more. Um but yeah, it's it's fine. Like, I have not, I didn't weigh myself for the first few days because I was like, I'm just like not gonna do that, and like what's the point of that? Um, and then like I got my period, and then I was like, I'm really not gonna weigh myself because I'm gonna be bad. Um, but then I got on the scale, and I have, I mean, my body is just, I guess it loves it right now. For me, I have lost five pounds. Like, it's weird. Like, my mom saw me the other day and she's like, Are you eating enough? I said, I'm eating more than enough. I was like, my little container of hot honey is almost gone. And so my body's interesting right now. I think it's a good reset, and I'm still moving my body, like, and I think just with the running, that's a big part of it. But I'm I'm getting in shape and I don't know. I said I was gonna run a half marathon. I don't know if I'll make it. It's like having this much muscle, I can really only go so far, so fast at a pace that I want without my body truly feeling like it's in shambles. Like anyone who is like super jacked, and I mean with like big legs and big muscles that can run for a long time, I look up to them because I'm just like heavy, like I have to, I'm like, whoa, like the last time I ran like for day on a daily basis, I was 112 pounds, and so it's just such a big difference, and I'm I'm getting there. I'm not doing too much because like I tried to, like, I had I made like a running plan the first week. No, I was so tired because you would have thought that I like hiked across America. I was so tired, but my body's adjusting well, and sometimes like you just need a break, and um, but you know, the stage will always be there. So, like, if I'm like, oh god, I change my mind, uh, okay, I can do it and compete and stuff like that. Um, and I think it's and it doesn't come from a place where it's like I had anything was wrong with my coach. Like, Alex was the best coach I had ever bodybuilding. It's just I'm getting married, want to focus on life, want to get myself in a healthy spot and just focus on something else. I feel like bodybuilding, I've been very selfish about it, which I know you almost have to, but not I'm not in a point now where I need to be doing that, I need to focus on like getting married and all that, and that's a lot in itself. And like we're doing premarital counseling, and there's all these things that I'm trying to do and trying to work on, and it's just good for right now. It was hard, it was a hard decision to come to, but I I've been thinking about it for a while. Um, but everyone's been really accepting about it, except for some randoms on Instagram who said that I'm gonna lose all of my muscle. And then some bought, some like fake account, it's like user 118, something, whatever. They were like, what a waste of a pro card. Give it to someone else who's gonna use it. And I was like, that is so silly.
SPEAKER_02Um, that's crazy. Yeah, it's awesome. Uh yeah, that's wild. No, I one thing I've done this summer too is I changed, like you said, you're eating like three to four meals a day is earlier in the summer. I changed my meal plan to four meals a day too, because I was eating five and I was like, Alex, like I'm like I I've been gone since 8 a.m. this morning and we got home at like three. Like I'm gone all day with my kids, and I'm like, I don't want to prep all these meals, like, you know, so I just changed it to four and it's like so much easier to manage around my life. Like it's like four bigger meals, you know? But like I only, if I go somewhere, I usually only have to like I can leave for the whole day and just bring one meal almost, you know? And um, like that's what I did today. I was gone all day and just brought one meal. And when I got back home, I ate my third meal. So um that's been helping a lot and it feels good too, uh, because I just was like tired of so many different ingredients and like making so many meals to leave, you know? So like there are ways to work it around your lifestyle, and maybe you just haven't thought of them, you know. Um that's what I'm trying to do, also is like I don't want to be the priority. I want my family and my kids to be the priority, and then I'm gonna get my stuff done around that and like hopefully nobody even like notices, or I'm not taking up I'm not taking away anything from them. So I like when I was at the beach, I did train, but like I usually just wake up before everyone else and go train, you know? And then I'm back before when they're waking up.
SPEAKER_00And if people notice, it's not gonna be a bad notice, it's gonna be like, hey, like my mom is awesome, like every summer, like we do all these things and we do this, versus my mom does not need anything and she can't have this and she can't do that, and we can't do that. Think about it, like it's great that you're doing that. Kids they'll have these memories forever. Um, yeah, I just it's good that you're doing that too, because your family and just life, and like they say, like it doesn't you have to like make it fit around your lifestyle. And if that's eating less meals or changing around your training, it's gonna be okay. Like, you don't I think people there's this misconception that people think they're gonna lose all their progress and lose all their muscle, but literally, no. If you're as long as you're like 90 some percent of the time you're training and eating your meals and eating the right things and getting your steps, you'll be fine. It takes a lot to like lose muscle. I don't think people realize it takes a lot. Like, I mean, I'm eating a lot less protein, a lot, and I thought that oh, I was like, my muscle might drop like a taught. No, in fact, my legs are still here, and like the the muscle is still here, and so it makes me like really think about how much it takes to atrophy muscle because I I don't know, like you have to like physically like try to do that once you yeah, it's hard.
SPEAKER_02If you're still training, it's if you're still training like heavy, like you're gonna keep your muscle, like you'll like the only time when I know like I've lost muscle. Well, I had one bad prep where I definitely lost muscle because we died for too long. But apart from that, like definitely like pregnancy, like I train through all my pregnancies, but when you come out of it, like you gotta build yourself back up, you know. But it comes back, even when you do lose it, like it comes back so much faster. Um when you're you know, start training heavy again and stuff.
SPEAKER_00So I see women who are working out during pregnancy, and then they it's like a couple months later, they're like bounced back. I was like, bro, like there's a lady at my church, she like it she runs a lot. Like this lady, she was running like super pregnant. She was running, she did not not fast and didn't put herself too much, and then she's like two and a half months postpartum, and she doesn't even look like she had a baby. I'm like, girl, what? Like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that wasn't me. It always took me uh it took me a while to get back in shape, but you know, I mean, like the longest it took me was like I don't know, nine months to a year, but like I think that's fine. Like a year is good. Like it took me like a year to lose like 35 pounds, but yeah, that's good. Guess what? I wasn't tracking my food, I was still eating out, I was, you know, taking care of babies. So, like, yeah, a year is a good timeline. You shouldn't be trying, like, you do see some girls who will like prep with a newborn baby and like well, I mean, great, but like oh also that's crazy. Like it's a I don't know, you gotta take care of yourself because it is hard work taking care of babies.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, I had a oh go ahead. No, go ahead.
SPEAKER_02Sorry, no, I was gonna say that I No, I had a I had a little mom win this past weekend. I don't really like talk about like competing and stuff around like when we're like with kids, sports and other parents and stuff like that. Like some people like the parents who go to my gym, like they know, you know, or they might follow me, but most of them don't know that I compete or anything. And I don't really like to, I just don't like to talk about it because like I don't want to get a bunch of questions and you know, don't ask me about my stuff, I won't ask you about your stuff, kind of deal, you know? And uh, but I it came up this past weekend at the softball tournament because I was like eating a meal and then one of the girls was like one of Briar's friends like asked her, like, does your mom eat really healthy or something like that? And and then I heard Briar go, she eats the same thing every day. And I was like, Are y'all talking about me? And um I was like, I do kind of eat the same thing all every day, but not always. I was like, you know, I ate pancake. Like we went to Cracker Barrel yesterday and I ate pancakes and everything. And um, and I was like, I eat the same things a lot of times because then I know like, you know, I'm eating enough food and it makes me feel good and it and it tastes good to me. I like it, you know. And um, but anyways, then it started then people started like talking more about it. And one of the other moms was like, which I still didn't, none of them know that I've competed or anything. And one of the other moms was like, yeah, when we were at the pool, because we went all went to the hotel pool. And she was like, the grandma was like, whoever that really muscular mom was. And I was like, yes. I was like, yeah, so you think I'm muscular? All right. And she was like, yeah, you're like jacked. We always say you're like the mom who looks like you can beat everyone up, but then you're super nice. And I'm like, oh, okay, you guys think I look jacked? Cool. Yeah, see? I was like, so that's a win. I was like, yeah, you know, I like to work out. It's kind of my thing. That's hilarious.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I like to work out. I actually am a competitive bodybuilder. That's funny though. I like that because it's like, um, you know, and you know, kids see that and they think, that's so funny. Your daughter's like, she eats the same thing every day.
SPEAKER_02That's that's I was like, I just eat the same thing because honestly, when you're busy as a mom, it is so easy just to eat the same thing every day. Like, then you got all these meals, you like them, you get to eat them, and you're eating enough food. Like, it's hard to get those carbs in sometimes if you're not like tracking, you know. So I'm like, yeah, that's another thing.
SPEAKER_00I remember I remember like a few days ago, I told you, I was like, I'm eating so much bread, and you're like, Yeah, bread doesn't have that many carbs. It really doesn't because like it doesn't at all. Like the other day when I was tracking, I'm like, dude, you telling me six pieces of this sourdough is barely like 80 carb. I just ate six pieces of bread. Like, that's it's crazy. Um, but no, that's awesome. See, yeah, that's like goals right there.
SPEAKER_02Like, you want to be like the jacked mom that people I know it feels good when people who have no idea that I compete think I look jacked because I'm like, oh yeah, maybe I actually am jacked. Even though I'm probably not, but whatever.
SPEAKER_00Oh, you are. It's awesome. I mean, you look great, like you like you still look like you could like be in prep or something, like you look really good.
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah, I like I like this um where I'm at right now. I'm I'm very happy with like I decided not, you know, the fact I decided not to do like a big like bulk surplus and this year, and I kind of just um have been like sort of maintaining. Um, but you know what, I'm happy with it, and like I like it on a day-to-day, and I'm more concerned with how I feel and my happiness and stuff like that than I am about like the stage and the judges and and all and the criteria and all that. Like whatever happens, happens, you know. But at least I'm happy in my body, and there we go. It's cool.
SPEAKER_00And that's that's the thing. Like, I like right now with my physique, I feel good, like losing a little bit of weight for the wedding, but not like too much, so my dress like fits and we don't have to deal with that. But just trying to find where my body is gonna feel comfortable at and like kind of staying there. Um, I don't foresee myself doing, of course, any type of growth, like big bulk anytime soon for a while. I'm still trying to find out where like uh maintenance is because like it's crazy. Like I think when I was, of course, you know, doing specifically just bodybuilding, my maintenance calories. I don't know like how my body is changing now too, and it just gave me so many things. Like, I'm I don't know, I'm getting older, um, and I'm moving more, and so I'm having to refine. I I don't even know what maintenance is because my like every day is so different, and but it's I still do the same things. Like, I still bring meals and like lunch with me, like at work sometimes. Now I'm in a different position, so they'll want to order food, which and sometimes I'm like, you know what? And I haven't brought a meal to any work function, and this is the I've never done this. Like every time like we're getting food today, I'm like, okay, me too. Like, yeah, y'all so let's get the menu. But it's usually the same like places and they have like sandwiches and stuff, but it just feels so weird. Like the one day I didn't bring my lunch, I was like, I don't know how people do this every day. Um I just like trying new things and and being different and not like worrying about it, like when I got coffee with my friend Natalie the other day, I was like, Oh well, I can get a maple honey latte because I can. And even though I was like, bro, do you know how many carbs are gonna be in that? Whatever, had it, it was fine, my body was fine. It's like I'm just like proud of myself for not like spiling or freaking out or like worrying about the calories. I'm just like, whatever. If it sounds good, I'm gonna eat it. Um, if I'm still hungry, you're just gonna eat more. And like I have been snacking though, because I just I haven't really ever been a snacker, and it just I feel so um, what's the word? Even though I'm not like on a plan or anything, I feel so like disobedient when I have a snack. I like I when I was little, I was obsessed with teddy grams and goldfish. Like I freaking can kill some goldfish. Got some the other day, I forgot how good they were.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, they're good. Don't worry, I get um all my kids' snacks, you know. Sometimes you gotta take a little bite off of the mom's.
SPEAKER_00I don't know about dude. I remember that one day you sent me your snack cabinet. You said this is discipline. I said, Yeah, I would eat ever I like showed it to Chris, and we like, bro, we would eat everything in there.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it depends on like the phase I'm in, but I definitely take some sneaky some sneaky bites sometimes. Like, like we went to the movies today, and I was like, all right, give me one of your MMs, you know. Sometimes you just need one. Like, I'm like, yeah, I just need one.
SPEAKER_00And it's it's fine to like do that. So do you think like your goals for the rest of the year, you just kind of want to maintain the physique you're at, or do you want to make any adjustments, or are you gonna cut, or like what do you think?
SPEAKER_02I don't know. These are great questions. Um, I know for sure I want to cut a little bit before your bachelorette trip, um, just because I know we're gonna be taking a lot of pictures, and I'm like, why not? It's like a good excuse to do a little, like, I'm talking like three weeks, you know, of a little cut, like just to tighten up a little bit and clean things up. And and when I did that last time, I did it, I did like a little three-week mini cut. And I didn't really like it, wasn't drastic or anything, but it what it did help me with was like cleaning up some habits, like those little sneaky bites and stuff. When I'm like dieting, I don't do any of that. So like I coming out of that little mini cut, I had lost all my cravings. I didn't have cravings, I wasn't taking little bites. So it kind of doing that every so often definitely kind of helps you like reset and like, okay, we're back on, you know, back on track with everything. So I know I want to do it for your bachelor med, just kind of tighten up a little bit because it'll be fun. Um, and then for the rest of the year, I really don't know, to be honest. Um I might try to once the kids go back, like fall time, I might try to like kind of start pushing a little more in the gym and like growing, like trying to grow more. Like, because I mean I'm trying to grow right now, but like I know I'm not eating, like I'm eating more at a maintenance level. So maybe perhaps like try to grow a little bit more, but I don't know. I'm happy with where I'm at also. So we'll see. I'm just going with how I feel.
SPEAKER_00So yay, that's exciting. I yeah, the bat so we have like a little trip um for Chris's birthday to I'm so excited to New York City the 10th to the 13th. So I'm not gonna be cutting for that. I'm gonna be eating like that. Literally, okay, that's gonna be my first foodie trip. I am so excited. Um, and then Alex is giving Chris off because it's birthday, and we're gonna and he's a guy. It makes me so mad. He will go on a trip like that and just eat and come back shredded, like I lost five pounds. Like, I have my weights full set, my abs are back. It's crazy. After that, I'm gonna cut for the batch just so I can have some abs showing because we're gonna be at the pool. Like, I I wanna it look good for that. Like, that's like I'm gonna be I'm I'm not gonna I'm doing like a mini prep for it. Like, I'm going to be doing fastet cardio every day. I'm gonna have my steps, I'm gonna track food just so I have I know where I'm at, um, and just do that just for the I think that'll be like that's right out of month, so I'm gonna do that the entire month before just so I feel good. I have to be careful though, because if I if I lose a little bit too much weight, my dress won't fit. I'm not getting altered. Um and so just to do that, and then our hunt see, it's weird because I don't they say in for our honeymoon, um, we're we're going to Italy. The weather's gonna be like in the 60s, but they said it might get hot too. But like if the weather's nice, I'm jumping in that in the in the water, 100%. So we'll just see, but I want to be like really in shape for that too. So I might just try to kind of maintain that leanness until after the honeymoon and then kind of just see. It's it's weird to think about what I would really do, you know what I mean? And after the honeymoon, Chris is starting prep, um, which is crazy. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um so when is he planning to compete? Like in 2027, like springtime or before.
SPEAKER_00I think uh I think he I don't know if he's doing like the earlier shows or like a North Americans. I think I I think their plan is for him to do like um a show in May and then a qualifier in June, something like that. Um he doesn't I think too, he it's like it's so crazy for men because I he think they think he could probably do both. Like if he can make the weight cap, he's gonna cross over in classic and do open and finally convince him to freaking do masters too. So he's gonna be all over the place. But I was like, why not? You need to, yeah, yeah. He needs to just get him to see if he'll just go to Masters Nationals too at North Americans, like, why not? And so I'm and I'm happy that I'll be able to support him through it, like and this little break has helped me. Like, I make I I mean I did it before, still made all his meals, but now I can make sure everything for him is like perfect and I can support him more, and it just it helps a lot too because we were gonna be prepping at the same time. If I would have debuted, because we were both targeted to start prep, like right when we got back from the honeymoon. But this will be good because last time we were in prep together, and we haven't even really been together that long, and so it's I'll be able to like fully support him, and I'll just be like wife in the stands, like support. Like, I love it, and so I'm excited um just to see what happens. It it feels it still feels really weird though. Like, I don't know, some days I just I don't know, it's hard. It was a hard decision, but I feel good about it, and it's crazy. A lot of people had messaged me and were saying, like, yeah, I might take a step back too. And some girls, like, yeah, this helps me realize that like you can be like normal and like it's okay. I'm like, Yeah, like it's cool. Like, I think when I posted my McMuffin on Sunday, people thought I was eating a McMuffin from McDonald's. It's almost like fry McDonald's. But yeah, that's hilarious.
SPEAKER_02No, oh, I forgot about your wedding, so no, I'm not like bulking at this fall. I'm gonna stay in shape. Oh, yeah, not yeah, I'm gonna be jacked for your wedding. Like, you know, I'm gonna be looking lean for your wedding for sure. So that's in November. So yeah, I'll probably just kind of keep up with what I'm doing then for the for the year.
SPEAKER_00Yay! No, it's gonna be so fun. And the dresses like are so good and flattering. Mike, it's funny because everyone in the wedding either was a bodybuilder, is a bodybuilder, besides my cousin Maya and my friend who's a resident. And it's so funny because both of them are like, Raven, I need a cutting protocol ASAP. And it's so they are doing really well. Like, they're like doing their cardio, they're like training on a diet. They're like, I'm gonna be up there with all these bodybuilders, I gotta get in shape. So it's really funny. Even my mom, she has been like like going to the gym and like she's not playing about her mother or the bride dress and all of that. And I think Chris is gonna clean it up after the trip, even though like it's so crazy with me. He does not need to clean it up. He's got abs. Like, you can literally see all the lines in his legs and stuff like that. Yeah, I'm excited for both of our new seasons of life and just see like what happens. Um it's it's it feels good though. It's kind of like I hate I don't want to say the word like relieved, but I know I like and we all put pressure on ourselves, you know. And I was putting a lot of pressure on myself for numerous reasons. I don't want to let my I didn't want to let my coaches down. I didn't want to let anyone down, and I was like oh very anxious about uh my pro debut. I mean, who wouldn't be, but it was like to the point where it was like excessive amount of stress. It's like, you know, you put you put your all into this and you don't want to not be big enough, and it's like it's a lot, and so shifting my focus to just feeling like my happiest best self instead of being the biggest like motherfucker in the gym is crazy, but it's like I'm I'm still doing that like when I lift, like so I just I add in different movements that I didn't really do before, like hack squat and pendulum, and I did a barbell squat the other day, and I was like, whoa, I haven't done that in a while. My mobility is not what it used to be, but wow, those are hard.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, those are hard, especially once you've been on the Smith machine for a long time. Uh yeah, I think a big part of it is just the pressure because that's what that's what I've done this off off season for me is the main thing that changed. Like, I'm still eating my food, I'm still training hard, I'm still doing my steps, my cardio, all that, but I took all the pressure off myself. And I was like, you know what? Like I tell myself, I'm like, none of this even matters. Like it, you know, I'm gonna get my stuff done because I like this lifestyle. It makes me feel good and I'm sure I'm gonna make making progress along the way. But like, I it's okay if I miss a day in the gym for, you know, a kids' event, or if I can't do cardio one day, or if I miss a thousand steps, it's okay. Like it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. And I started looking at it from like the perspective of like, you know, I'm in bikini and like there are literally bikini girls out there who don't train their whole off season. Like they don't train, they don't follow intuitive eating track, and you know what? And then they get in prep and they still might beat me. So I'm like, it doesn't matter what I do because there's so many variables on stage today. It's like I don't need to put all this pressure on myself because whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen on that day. So, and I'm you know, if I was actively prepping, like it would be different. Like, yeah, you want some pressure when you're prepping, but like I I took a lot of that pressure off myself this off season and like it just feels good, you know? And I think that's kind of maybe what you're experiencing too, and why your body's like happy right now, because you're just not stressed about every meticulous detail.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I it's crazy. It's like I definitely was putting stress on myself because as soon as like like as soon as I just took a breather, like all this water came off, my period came back, like just feeling so good. And like, I don't know, the other day, and I just it's not that I I love bodybuilding, so I think I was just making it like um I don't I don't know how I can put I was just putting just too much pressure on myself and taking the fun out of it, like it just because it's things were getting real. I was getting closer and closer to the prep starting point, and then I was like, man, I don't know. And you know, they they change up the criteria of what they reward at these shows, so I'd be like, Oh, I'm big enough, like I'm fine like this girl. Then I see these people and I'm like, I don't know. And I would tell Chris every day, I'm like, I don't think I'm big enough, I don't think I'm big enough. And then he was like, Will you stop saying that? And I'm like, no, because I don't think I'm big enough. And the other day I just I had was in such a good mood. I went for a run. I was literally like smiling the whole time I was running, even though I was dead, like just feeling like so good. I'm supposed to run tonight because I have to wait till it cools down. Like, I tried to go in the morning because like it's supposed to be cooler, but it wasn't. And like I like got out of bed and I was like, no, and so I need to run now. I don't know. Maybe this will be able to do that. I don't know.
SPEAKER_02Okay, this is so unlike me. Um, but in the last two weeks, so the last two weeks for me, I've basically been gone like from my house. Like I've been on like four different trips in the last two weeks, and it's a lot of, you know, it's a lot with all the kids and everything. And I think I've probably done cardio. I'm supposed to do cardio four times a week for like 25 minutes, is what I usually do. And I think I've done it three times in the last two weeks. So that I'm like, but you know what? I don't feel bad about it. Like, cause I do, I do, I did get like I I need to train for like not just for my body, but for like my mental and stuff, you know, like training is what I love so much. And so, like that, like I make that a priority. Like, I'm gonna figure out my way to get my training in, but I don't want to take that extra time away from my family trying to get my cardio into cardio into so whatever it can hit the backside, you know? And I'm like, I can't believe like last week I did cardio one time, and I'm like, oh my god, I've never done that, just like skipped my cardio, but I did it, so oops.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, and you're like you're enjoying life with your family, and you dude, okay. First of all, also you're like out here coaching and all over the place, like you're busy, like the activity level, and you're probably still stepping. So it's not like effing off, and like you know, it's you're yeah, it it's hard. I remember um I don't I don't just I just don't do any schedule cardio right now because I feel like if I'm if I'm running, it's just like I don't want to also do too much and then put my body in shells. So I was like, I don't know if I should do schedule cardio, but I run four times a week.
SPEAKER_02And yeah, that is your cardio.
SPEAKER_00Printing, long run, sometimes it's a whatever, but it takes I it takes I really I just like look back to my college self and Candace, I don't know how I was running and lifting every day like that. Like we were running crazy stuff like in the Texas heat. We had this thing where practice was at three o'clock every day in the heat because it builds character. Don't know how I was doing that, and like doing the intervals that we did. I I the other day I was like, let me just see like what I can do. So we used to do like 200 repeats, which is like half the track, then you walk back and you go again. I did two sets. I said, Whoa, like okay, and the time wasn't that bad. I said, I still got it. So I did the last set, and then the rest of the day, I was so tired. I slept from like 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. That's how tired of it.
SPEAKER_02Wow, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was taken out of you for sure. No, I'm just yeah, and I'm just kind of proud of myself for not like stressing out that I've missed this cardio. Like, I mean, and I know I'm gonna get back on track this week with it, but like I'm like, hey, I didn't even feel bad about it. And like you said, like I'm super active. Like, I and I actually got in the pool with Easton and like swam laps and was working on his strokes and stuff like that. So, like, you know, it's fine.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and you're so active, like coaching with your kids and stuff like that. I think it's so cool. They do swimming. That was that's a really hard, like that's one sport that I slept on. Um, uh, my little niece swims, and bro, it's crazy. She but she does. I don't know the she's like a sprinter. Do you know what I mean? Like, you know how there's like longer, shorter, whatever. She's fast, but look, yo, there's these little girls that swim with her, they are so fast. Like, I it's crazy. Like, swimming is a is a really cool sport, and that you are in shape if you can do that. Like, your kids are probably in great shape because swimming is like the aerobic capacity is harder than running. That's such that's so good for them and their bodies.
SPEAKER_02It really like builds your endurance too. Like, swimming's so good. And hey, they asked me today to I get a swim to like our big like city meet is coming up next weekend, and it's where all the pools in the city, you know, compete and I get a swim in the parents' relay. I was like, Yeah. They were like asking me, Do you swim? Like, because I don't get in it like you know that often because I don't like to get my hair wet. But they're like, uh, do you swim? And I was like, Yeah. They're like, You want to swim in the parents' relay? I was like, Yeah, wait, can you please have not record this?
SPEAKER_00Because I want to see this. This is awesome.
SPEAKER_02I'm sure there will be a video.
SPEAKER_00When when is it? Next weekend. That is freaking awesome. I love that, dude. Yes, that's gonna be great. Those are fun, like. Um, when I used to play softball, there was like a parents uh game at the end, and my parents would always play. I love when they do things like that. Like, that's awesome. I think that's so fun.
SPEAKER_02Um, yeah, I gotta get a bathing suit though, because I was like, uh, I don't have like a one piece. I need to get like a suit to swim in.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that that'll be so cute. That'll be awesome. That'll be and your kids will love it. I bet you'll be pretty good at it too, because like you're in shape.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm sure like out of the parents, like literally, you know. You're gonna like they see me, they're like, hey, we want you to swim, you know, like super fit over here.
SPEAKER_00So that is so awesome.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It's fun. That's awesome. Well, I guess another thing we could talk on is um, okay, you know, I didn't I like I guess this topic, like talking about when it's time and I don't want to say hang it up, but when it's time to take a break from bodybuilding. Because a lot of people have asked me, like, when do I think like what made me realize I wanted I needed to just like take a break? Because I I just I don't want to use the word retired. First of all, it just makes me seem really old. And two, it I just I don't know if I'm retired yet. Like, I really don't know. And so for me, I like um I'm just it's hard because it's like I there's so many things I want to do, right? Like, I I do want to compete on the pro stage, but I also want to be a mom and get myself in a healthy spot and like have a baby. And like the the lifestyle that I would need to take as a pro is not um what's the word? It's like counterintuitive to being able to get my body ready for pregnancy. And so I can't simultaneously do that, but what I can do is still live a healthy lifestyle, train, eat the food, and then get my body ready for pregnancy. But I couldn't, it's hard because I also and I'm not saying there's certain times where you have to have a baby, but okay, first of all, I'm 28 and I really don't want to wait much longer. Um, just the the nurse in me gets paranoid about because they just change the age that 34 is a gestational or is a geriatric pregnancy. So that's insane. It used to be 35, I think. So they lowered it. 34. And so I was like, yeah, I need to, you know, and there sometimes like with bodybuilding, there are risks, and I think a lot of people forget that and assume that they're not, and like, you know, MPC level, pro level, it's all the same, but the pro level, it's amplified. And I just want to, I'd rather, you know, have my kids, and then I can always come back. That's why I freaking love bodybuilding. You can do it when you're 80 years old, and so I can always come back. And so for right now, it's like what makes sense is getting my body healthy, and I'm gonna address the rumors, you guys. I'm not pregnant. I got so many messages of people like, are you pregnant? You're doing this because you're pregnant. No, I'm not pregnant. I would like to be pregnant at some point, but not now. And so I'm just focused on getting my body healthy and feeling good and um learning how to like you know, have a family. Like getting married is a big thing and a big step, and I don't want to like be too overwhelmed with that. Because even like going from dating to marriage is so it's so it's it's really different. And I there's so many things that fall in that, and I don't want to be like, you know, selfish. And for me, bodybuilding just makes me really freaking selfish when I'm in prep, all I care about is myself and checking my boxes and do what I need to do, and I need to learn how to like be a wife and like be a mom and make sure I can be a good mom, and then come back to bodybuilding if I can like you know fit it in and if it's okay and if it's what I want to do. Um yeah, that's kind of what I think. It's different for everybody, but if you're also I think if you're having health issues, that's another when it's time to like and not hang it up, just take a break, and your body can have a break. And that might not be intuitive eating for you, it might be just something else, but it's okay to give your body a break. What do you think?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, for sure, for sure. I think like the thing you told me when you were like trying to decide, you were like, I'm trying, like, I want to have a family, I want to, you know, get pregnant eventually. And the things I'm doing just it just doesn't make sense, you know? And like you were thinking about it so logically. Like, why am I actively choosing to do things that would possibly potentially jeopardize what I truly want in the future? And that's like a family and to be a mom. So, like, you know, that's very logical. And like, I think you made the right choice for you for sure. Uh, it can be really hard for people to let go of something that is like has become such a big part of them. But you don't, I think a misconception is that you don't really have to let it go. Like, yeah, you might have to not compete on stage, but you can still train, you can still eat. Like those are healthy things to do, you know? Um, so you don't have to let it all go. It's not like all or nothing, you know? And and and like you said, I don't really like the retire word either. Um, now if you're a pro and you want to retire, like yes, I think that that is justified and fair to say than that. But like I'm I'm sorry, it's very cringy when like NPC competitors like say, oh, I'm I'm retiring. It's like, dude, nobody, nobody cares. Okay. Like half the people didn't even know you competed. Okay. So um uh you don't have to announce it, you don't have to like make it a big deal, you can just keep living the lifestyle and take a step back from the stage. And like you said, it's always gonna be there. So, and like if even if you do like lose a little bit of muscle, it's gonna come back quick. If you decide to like get back full in it and you want to compete again, like that muscle memory is there and it will come back. So it's okay if you if you need a break. Like you see, all these bodybuilder couples like get divorced and have all these problems. And you know, the stem of it a lot of times has to do with the sport. And that is just so sad to see. Like, don't let this sport take stuff from you. It should like add to your life, not take away. So, like, that's like for me, if it ever was like getting in the way of my family or my uh relationship, like I would quit in an instant. Like, there's no question. You know, like my family is everything. So the sport is just like something for fun. Like I can still train, I can still eat, I can still post my lifts and my selfies online and not be a quote unquote competitor, you know.
SPEAKER_00And you look good doing it, and that's and that's the thing. It's like I like it, it was hard, but I just I really had to do what's best, you know, for my marriage and for um, and it's also like it's it's it's hard because I'm also realistic, right? And um, there's things that there's things that it requires that I'm not willing to do that you have that in wellness in any division, not even I'm not even gonna say just wellness, in any division, pro division out, in order to get to a certain level, there are risks that you have to be willing to take. It's about how much you know you want to risk it to get there. And that is very true, and I'll die on that hill. And you know, I got my pro card, and I'm I'm happy with my bodybuilding career. Like, I won two overalls. Um, first call out my first year at Nationals, then I got my pro card by seconds. I'm very happy with that. And you know, but my my fiance, he's still trying to get his pro card, and so I want to support him and like let the spotlight be on him, focus on him. Like last year, he completely like focused on like me and like everything about me was the priority, and I need to do the same thing for him, and I need to like, you know, we want to have a family, so I need to get my body in out of like a constant stress bulk cut, bulk cut, bulk cut state, and just chill out and be at homeostasis. Like my doctor was telling me, I just and he was like, it's not even just bodybuilding, like uh you've been an athlete your entire life, you've never not done like that's true. Like growing up, I was always in track in our gymnastics, and then I went to college, and after college, I found bodybuilding. I have never just sat down and not done something, so it's good for me because my body just needs to sit down and relax and be a person. I don't always need to do a sport. Like, I was telling my mom that I was gonna start running again. So here she's like, oh my god, not this again. She's like, you need to go like a little bit without a sport. I'm like, just for fun, mom, not like competitively, because there's something called the enhanced games that people keep asking me to do, like my old college coach. It's like running. Um, but I'm like, dude, I cannot do that, first of all, because I would need to like lose 20 pounds of muscle to be because these people are mass. So like it's gonna take time. Um, so I was like, maybe in the future, but for right now it makes sense and it it makes me happy. And like I want to be a mom more right now than I want to be like um a competitive professional bodybuilder. While some people may think that's stupid, I don't. And I was nervous to post about it online because like people are gonna be like, oh my, she's not hardcore enough. And it's like, you know what? If people don't think I'm hardcore enough, oh well, I am hardcore because I did have success in bodybuilding, and I it's okay. Like I finally have let go of whatever people think. It's hard, it's hard to also to post my food, but I'm doing it, and I know it's helping some people, and it's helping myself, and like even if my food has cheese, I don't care. I post it, I don't care if cheese has a lot of fat, or if I'm eating like full-fat foods and just branching out, like, bro, I've been drinking like regular milk, and that's such a win. Like, I had a uh before I went to the gym the other day, I had like um some protein powder and yogurt, but I had a bowl of honey nut Cheerios with some two percent milk, and I was like, wow, that's a win because I would never do that or I'd be freaking out about it all day. Um, and so trying to just being a person and letting my body just rest, and it likes it so far. I didn't realize how stressed my body was just always doing something.
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah, for sure. Like it's just like a constant and like that pressure like we were talking about, it's like a constant, like you're chasing something, you know? And that's for me too. Like, I like I know I'm gonna compete again someday. I don't have a timeline on it or anything, but like I don't feel like I'm chasing anything, like so um just taking that off yourself is huge.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, because it's always like you're chasing the next thing, and it's like just be content where you are. Like, there was a beginning for Tyana who posted about how she's not competing for the next couple years, and she's just gonna take like sit where she is and like just grow and chill out and enjoy life, and she's just gonna and she's really young. And I thought that was awesome because she's like 21 years old and she's like, you know what? I've been doing this for a while. It's time for me to just sit and be. Um, and there's a and it's crazy. There's a lot of people like like retiring. I think Jordan Brandon is she retiring or just her last season or something. I don't know.
SPEAKER_02I think so, maybe. Yeah, maybe so. It's you know, the sport has changed so much, like the well, bikini, especially. Like when I got in it, my first season was 2023. It's 2026 now. That's three years, that's not that long, but it has changed drastically. Like, you didn't have to do a lot of the stuff that you have to do nowadays. And you know, like for me personally, like I'm not interested in a lot of that stuff. So I know that I know I have limits set on myself, and whatever I'm able to achieve within my limits is whatever I'll do. Lucky for me, like I know people who have a pro card and like they can't really compete as a pro because they um aren't willing to do a lot of the things that you have you have to do to compete on the pro stage. A lot of people and posts. Yeah. But like lucky for me, hey, like I like silver lining, I am still in the NPC. So there's still options out there, like where I can still get up on a stage and and get away with, you know, doing less of of the PEDs and all of that. But yeah, you know, everybody just has to like think about their own life. And like I said, just don't let this take things away from your life because at the end of the day, it does last forever. And when you're old, you know, like you're gonna be looking back on like the times with your kids and your family, and like, you know, those are the really important things, so very short-lived.
SPEAKER_00And I have so much love and respect for Alex because the first thing he said to me was never pushing me to do it or saying, Oh, really? It was literally like, I completely agree with you. It this is a very short-lived sport, and if that's something that, you know, if you want to have a family sooner than later, and if that's something that's important to you, this is the right choice, this is very smart, and so that helped me so much having just like that support. Um, because like, you know, it it there's a lot, and I think people don't talk about it, and it's you just you know, you have to think about what's best for you, and it is short-lived, it only lasts for so long, and you need to make sure that your life outside of bodybuilding, you're happy with that too, because it will end at the end of the day. And I hate to say this, but not everyone is going to make it to the Olympia, make it to the pro stage, make it to a national stage in a first call. Everyone will not do that, so don't bank on it like so hard that you're just like numbing out life and your friends and your boyfriends, husbands, your children. Don't do that because all that comes first. And I think for a second I was just trying to chase like pro wellness and being like the biggest wellness girl and all this that I like lost sight of that, and then one day I just like I don't know, and I haven't talked to you about it a lot since like the new year. I just like honestly, since I got engaged, I was like, I just don't know. Like, I think that stuff got really real when I got engaged, and I'm like, whoa, a family, you know what I mean? And so have like changed a lot. And I have a few friends I competed with last year, and they after North Americans, they just stopped. They they said they want to have a family more, and they said I my heart is still like on fire for the sport, but like right now I have to focus on family too. There's a lot of people in this same kind of thing as me, and it makes me feel better and not alone. Um but yeah, like I said, you guys just you know, life and family and stuff comes first, bodybuilding comes second, and you're not a bad person for choosing life and choosing family because bodybuilding is like not like it's also it's also not like your full-time job. I mean, if it is kudos to you, like I but like you know, it's it's a hobby, and you you can't let the hobby consume you to where you're making decisions that you regret later and think about when you're very young. Um, just for all the young girls out here that listen to this, think and I know it's hard, you don't know what you want when you're 20, 19, 21, 25. Shoot, I didn't just think about everything logically and realistically. It's like, hey, if I do this competitively and push myself and push supplementation for the next several years, am I gonna be okay with this in my 30s? Am I gonna be okay with things, consequences of things that can happen? And I'm not saying that, you know, everyone's just out here risking. No, not at all. But there's certain there everyone takes different routes and different avenues. And some routes and some avenues do have consequences that will affect things in your life. So just think about everything logically. Don't let anyone pressure you and think about what's gonna be best for you and your life and make that decision. Just try to think about it when you're older, because dude, when I like six years ago, I didn't even I was I thought I was gonna be single forever, whatever. Never thought I was gonna get married. That's like low-key why I got into bodybuilding. That like this is so funny because I got into bodybuilding, like, I'm not gonna meet anyone and have kids. I want kids, but like, probably not gonna happen. So whatever, right? And then now look at me. And so I'm just so glad that I didn't make any like big decisions or mess with um supplementation to the point where I affected that. Because look now, I'm getting married and I do want to have kids, you know. Things change and life changing what you want when you're 21 is not what you're gonna want when you're like 30 or even like 25, 26.
SPEAKER_02Right, for sure. All right, this was a good one. I gotta get off because I gotta get my kids to tumbling.
SPEAKER_00So you're good. Uh but yeah, good talk. Okay, good talk, guys. We'll see you guys on the next episode of the confidence curve, new name. Yay.