IFBB Bikini Pro Ali Rosen has been a woman on a mission. She’s currently preparing for the inaugural Bikini International and shares how she plans out her days. She has some great tips on planning and avoiding excuses.
If You FAIL to PLAN, You PLAN to FAIL
The past 3 weeks have brought upon a lot of change in my life. I recently moved from Orlando to Miami, entered my first semester of Graduate School, and started my Bikini International competition prep! At first, just the thought of all this change seemed overwhelming and stressful. The only way I could survive all these changes and enjoy them is with TIME and STRESS management.
I had to plan out my new daily routine and learn how to manage my stress when unexpected events arise. To prepare myself for the move, I started my new daily schedule weeks before I even got to Miami. Since I already registered for my classes I was well aware of when I had to be at class. I also carefully allotted time for traffic and any other inconveniences that might arise. The first step I took was to wake up at the same time each morning so I could get my early morning cardio in. With this important step I was able to time out my meals and my energy level for training. Another roadblock I faced was that three out of my four classes were at 5 pm and my fourth was at 8 am Friday. I had to arrange to get my training and cardio in all before class because after 3 hours of lecture I was unlikely to have a productive workout. I used the time before moving to experiment and learn how my body reacted to the new schedule. I quickly discovered that after having 2 meals consumed, my energy and motivation levels were primed to hit the gym. This worked out perfectly and I am able to finish my workout without rushing and get to class on time. As for my Friday morning class, I just have to suck it up and get up at 4 am in order to knock out one of my cardio sessions before lecture.
Between the end of my morning cardio and the time I had to start my lift, I had about 4 hours to get studying, errands and ME time in. This usually works well, but sometimes I have errands that take me to another part of town. To be ready for that situation, I sought out other LA Fitness locations that could be near a group of errands I had to do. This was a great way to switch up my gym scene (for motivation) and still manage to get my training in before class. As for the weekend, I get up at the same time Saturday morning, so that I won’t get thrown off course.
Another benefit to waking up early on Saturday is that I have time to spend with friends and family. Since we, as competitors, sacrifice multiple social events and time to spend with the ones we love, I designated Saturdays and Sundays as my ‘social’ days. Although there is not much I can partake in, I managed to make my weekly grilling a family affair and also plan my cheat meals out so that I get to spend some quality time with friends.
Train Hard & Stay Positive
Ali
Learn more about Ali on her Facebook Fan page and follow her on Twitter @ALISONPROSEN.
