Do you know what a Texas Shredder is?

The Texas Shredder will crush your car in about 15 seconds and spit it out into fist size pieces.

The Texas Shredder is also the second largest 7-year DRUG-FREE show in the country.

This is a "challenge essay" of sorts since this is a way-point in my life. So I will also post my progress pics here since my own personal blog has been obsconded.

I committed to enter this show back in December. I set my goals. Posted my pics and got to work. I committed to not letting anything get in my way, including myself and my old ways of thinking and treating myself. I'd say "Mission: ACCOMPLISHED"





I came into the Shredder at 126# and 10% bodyfat. I had studied and practiced my 1/4 turns, my walk, and my presentation. I was ready.


At the competition, the figure competitors were first up. There were eight in each hight class, and that's a good size group. In the line-up, I was 2nd from the end. We each walked out after our name and number was called. After one set of 1/4 turns, the chairman of INBF, Steve Downs, started to move us around. He had me move to the middle, a good sign. 1/4 turns again. And I could hear my number being called by spectators in different parts of the auditorium. Wow, I'm standing out. And upon facing front again, I noticed that the judges didn't look much at me anymore....another good sign, they've made their decision at the top, they are working on the last scoring and placements.

After walking off I was flooded with congratulatory remarks. I was the new person. No one knew me. The most remarkable of the comments came from the professional figure competitors Lisa Brewer (2003 INBF WORLD FIGURE CHAMP), Sherry Beaudreu (Former INBF Ms. Exercise), and Alicia Denson (Fitness America and INBF Figure Champ). They really made me feel welcome.


Relieved it was finally over, I went back to the hotel to rest and eat a little. Being convinced, by others moreso than myself, that I was going to get "called out" for the overall later, I kept to my diet and ate just a little chicken, some romaine lettuce, some peanut butter, and I think 1/2 a bananna. I was exhausted.





When it was my time to go out for the evening show, we got to do a stage walk, which I enjoyed doing since I'd studied and practiced my stage presentation so much. We did one set of 1/4 turns for the audience, and filed off stage to await the announcement of the winners.

5th place, clap-clap-clap......4th place, clap-clap-clap.....3rd place, clap-clap-clap (wow, I made it this far!).....2nd place and they call my name....I walk out....silence....a few boos....it was very uncomfortable for me. I graciously accepted my award, and clap-clap-clap. I watched a couple judges having words down in front. At first I think I'm just making up that they are arguing about me, but the eye contact and finger pointing at me validated my suspicion that the judges were split on my placement. It was the most uneasy experience I'd ever experienced in such a public arena, that silence....*crickets chirping*.... And after walking offstage I was greeted with "Congratulations, ...oh, you got robbed!" from many people. Again, I thought they were just being nice, but after enough comments you start to get a sense of what the audience and other competitors saw up on stage that the judges missed. I was told to go to the judges to get my feedback.

Their only advice? Wear your hair down next time. "That's it? But that's just one thing? What about from the neck down?" You pose well. You have great stage presence. But the hair makes the total package. I finally pulled some more recommendations out of them, and they were very nice, very encouraging judges. One of the judges was incredibly supportive and talked to me at length after a LONG day of judging. The WNBF president, Charlie Carollo, thought I had incredible quads and was disappointed to see me in figure. Said that if I would have competed in bodybuilding against the girl who beat me in figure (and further placed 2nd in her class in bodybuilding) I would have beat her. The pro figure girls recommended I compete in the very next show, because you usually see the same judges. And also that I wear my hair down, "make it poofy" as Lisa Brewer said, and let my legs tone down. Don't train them as hard.

I wasn't upset by any means. But I was disappointed and withdrew inside my head. However, after talking to the judges and letting it sink in I am actually very happy about this. I like that I have something to strive for instead of just coming through like a tornado and all of a sudden I'm a pro. This has created positive politics and people know my name and who I am now. The judges are expecting me to come back, and that I will make the recommended adjustments.

So with that over, it was time to eat. And I ate until I was crying for my chicken and spinach back. I want to go to the gym tomorrow. But no, need to take 5 days off. But I am so proud of myself that I don't feel a need to keep binging and celebrating. I'm done. I found myself immediately starting to set new goals to hold onto my long term goal of consistency for a whole year. And my body is actually craving spinach and asparagus!

So I'm seven weeks out from competing in High Point, NC on June 26. I haven't fully evaluated it all yet. But that's the initial plan. And you are all welcome to come out and watch or compete. I welcome the support and the challenge.Found out there is also a FITNESS category there. So I can go for both the figure and fitness pro-card (if there's more than 5 competitors). At eight weeks out, at probably topping out at 11% bodyfat on the rebound, I'm set physically and working on my routine will be enough cardio to continue slimming down my legs and take off the pressure of developing muscle and losing a lot of fat all at once. Also gives my skin a chance to tighten up after the fat loss I have had.

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I've changed a lot in the past year. Most of you have read my musings on spirituality, self discovery, and developing myself into a better citizen of this country, a better example to others since I do inspire people through my transformation, and that comes with responsibility. The reason I know this is because my relationships with others here have grown closer and your support of me speaks for the value that you believe I bring to the internet community.

Always keeping it real.
Integrity. Honesty. Courage.

Nicole Weeks
INBF Fitness/Figure Competitor
All-Natural, Drug and Pro-hormone Free