I asked Melissa Mitchell to share her story.

In my experience, when a first time competitor begins her training for a Physique Sport, all sorts of personality "ticks" come screaming to the surface, which can make your personal contest preparation pretty rocky.

By identifying WHAT & WHY things are happening to you, sometimes a hard look INSIDE yourself can answer your biggest dieting and training dilemas.

Melissa was kind enough to write this incredibly honest article, in hopes that YOU won't fall victim to YOUR own insecurities, wether you think you have them or not...


Debbie Downer

I was once that girl. The shy one in the corner wishing she could do something, anything well. I was always average.  My height was average, average weight, average grades in school, average at sports, always second to my sister (who seemed to be perfect at everything!). Just once, I wanted to succeed at something, to win. My jealousy for others success made me into “Debbie Downer”. Nothing was ever good enough. I could find something wrong in everything and everyone, my demeanor was rubbing off on everyone that came into contact with me. Needless to say, I wanted to change.

After graduating college, hating my new career (which I thought would make me happy), hating my life and hating myself I was looking for the next new thing to make me happy. I thought it was fitness. I thought that if I could do well at that, then my life would mean something. I could be good at something, not to mention look great. I met a friend from work and she introduced me to my now trainer, Shannon Gill. We hit it off from the first day we met. This blond bombshell who was always smiling really knew the sport. I thought that with her help I would finally make it.

That’s when the training began. The workouts were fun. I’ve always pushed myself to succeed no matter what so the intense training wasn’t new to me. The road block was the diet. It was the food, the meal plan. For some reason I found myself emotionally addicted to food. I would work out, staying to the plan, eat to the plan for about a week or two then crash. I would eat a cookie, or a piece of pizza, then wake up the next day and feel guilty. I was bloated from the “cheat meal”, so I would do double the cardio thinking that this would make up for my weakness. NOPE. This just made it worse. Now, I’m bloated and tired because I over used my muscles (which are fatigued to begin with).  So here I am, back in the world of Debbie Downer. I feel as if I let myself down… again. I made it to a few shows placing average to below average thinking that this was just the way my life is going to play out. Average!

One day, I don’t even know why or when, but I had enough. I’m done with excuses. I’m done blaming my mom for my food addiction, I done blaming my sister for always having to “one-up” me, I’m done blaming myself for being average. I’m through with it. I can’t take it anymore. I declare “do- over’s”!

No one says you can’t start over. Turn over a new leaf, if you will. I’m not dead, nor dying, nor sick nor dumb. I’m just a girl feeling sorry for herself because I ate one f'ing piece of pizza. Who really cares? This is week six for me on a new workout plan with a new diet and I must say all is good so far. It’s been spot on and it really is starting to show. The more I stick to the plan, the more results I get and the better I feel about myself. I feel like I’ve gained the power to overcome this averageness I’ve been stuck behind my whole life. I must add too, that it was my birthday recently and instead of getting a cake (and having the whole thing in the house) my husband and I went out for ice cream. I had real ice cream, not low-fat frozen yogurt, and it was good. I didn’t feel guilty; I didn’t do double cardio the next day. That was it. I’m back on the diet, nothing lost.

I guess I’m writing this to let others know that the only one who is going to make it in this business is you. You can hire the best trainers, nutritionists and buy the most expensive supplements, however if you don’t do the work and you sabotage yourself, you’re going to lose not only the show but yourself as well. Don’t let guilt or blame, or jealousy or anything else make you into a Debbie Downer. It’s a free country and everyone’s entitled to “do-overs”! ~Melissa Mitchell 6.8.09

~Trainer Shannon