2010 IFBB Nationals.

So the countdown is on and to say that I am extremely excited would be an understatement! For anyone who is unaware I made a decision earlier this year to move across to IFBB and began with Australasia's. I placed second in the Open Figure Division against the very seasoned figure athlete Sara Picken Brown , and will be competing in the same division in just a few more weeks and I will be shooting for the National Title. There is also something else very prestigous and exciting on offer to the stand out competitors of this show , which is an opportunity to secure an invite to one of the International Shows next year. The first one is the 2011 Arnold Classic , and the second is the 2011 World Championships.
My goal all of this year has been to secure and invite to one of these shows , so I have my work cut out for me , and there has been no time to get complacent. The Nationals Figure Line up is going to be a tough one to win. So , the bar is high and the challenge has been set and with just three short weeks to go , I must say I am feeling good!
So , for anyone who wants to come and watch the show , it will be held at South Sydney Juniors Kingsford and tickets can be bought at www.musclefitness.com.au It's going to be an Awesome day and an opportunity to see the best bodybuilders and figure athletes in the country on Stage.

Hope to see you all there!!

Katie x

Tuna and Sweet Potato Patties

Ingredients
2 x 425g csn tuna in Springwater , drained
1 x Onion diced
1 tbspn curry powder
1/2 tspn tumeric
1 tbspn fresh parsley
4 egg whites

Method
Steam and Boil potato then mash ( use a big pot so everything can be mixed in together)
Add drained tuna , eggs , onion , spices an herbs , mix.
Shape into 8 large patties
Cook in a fry pan with a light spray of oil for 7-8 minutes each side ( on medium). They are quite hard to flip so leave them for long enough so they firm up a bit.
Let them cool , wrap in baking paper and glad wrap or in small zip lock bags and freeze.

Serve with a garden salad with balsamic and some Avocado or Nut spread. YUM!!!!

Tuna Patties

Ingredients

400 gm tin of tuna , drain and flake
1/2 cup of buckwheat , fine
1/2 cup celery
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup onions , finely chopped
2 tbsp chilli
1 egg , beaten slightly
1 tbsp olive oil
sea salt to taste

Method

In a bowl , mix all ingredients except olive oi , and form into patties. Place the frying pan over medium heat , add in 1 tbsp olive oil and brown the patties , about 5 mins each side. Serve with a salad.

N.B Really yummy served with some Tzatziki or Hommus. ENJOY:-):-)

Chicken and Sweet Potato Patties

Makes 4 Patties

Ingredients

640gms Boiled Sweet Potato
500gms Chicken Breast Mince
2 Egg Whites
Half a Diced Onion
1/2 Tbspn Curry Powder
1/2 tspn Chilli Flakes
Small Handful of Chopped Coriander
S & P to taste

1. Boil Sweet Potato then mash in a Large Pot , then mash.
2. Add chicken breast mince , egg whites , onion , herbs and spices and mix.
3. Shape into 4 large patties
4. Oven bake at 180 degrees celcius on a lightly sprayed baking tray , for 20 minutes each side or until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Let them cool , wrap individually in alfoil or glad wrap zip lock bags and freeze.

Pose like a Pro Workshop - Sat 21st August

On Saturday 21st August a posing workshop was run by the beautiful Rosa Marie Romero at City Gym , which proved to be such an inspirational day for all the figure competitors who attended!
As most budding competitors are aware , Rosa is just abut to fly out to compete at the very prestigious Figure Olympia , and so we were all so honoured and excited to have some time with her in her last 4 weeks of prep.
In the workshop we had an awesome opportunity to meet first time figure competitors as well as those from other federations and girls who were experienced in both Australian and International shows sharing their inspiration to become Pro just like Rose!
We covered diet , off season and in season , all different types of trainng methods specific to our sport , the things you need to be getting organised in each week of your preparation phase and of course lots and lots of Quarter Turns , and compulsory poses!!! (I am pretty sure I do these in my sleep now...lol)
We were also fortunate enough to have GMV PRODUCTIONS filming the entire thing and were able to also do interviews talking about our competition history , and a little bit about what we were getting from our time with Rose , and the workshop. That was lots of fun!
On Saturday night we all went to dinner at the very famous Ribs and Rump Restaurant in Bondi , and ordered all our nice healthy steak meals with lots of salad and veges!! It was really lovely t have an opportunity to hang out with such like minded people , and share our experiences and journeys to the stage for our upcoming shows. There were a number of reslly seasoned competitors who will be getting on stage to compete for National Titles so to chaty with them about their training , diet and everything inbetween was so Awesome:-)
A huge Thankyou to Rose for organising the day and also the dinner. It was such an absoulte pleasure being with such an inspirational group of girls who are truly working their asses off to make their dreams become a reality x

Australasia's 2010

On Sunday 18th April , I took to the stage for my IFBB Debut to compete in the Open Figure Division. The journey to the stage was nothing less than an absolutely amazing experience , and being on the stage was the absolute highlight of that journey. The two things I had set my sights on in the lead up to the show were to get in to the best physical condition that I had ever been in and to be invited to represent Australia at the 2011 Arnold Classic in the Amatuer Figure Division.
I most defnitely achieved my first goal and am yet to find out if I will recieve an invite to the Arnold , but know that I have been nominated by a couple of the judges , so at this stage..I am just keeping my fingers crossed!!
Pre Judging was the first part of our day , and went well. I was feeling good and knew that I had done the work , so was happy to finally be on stage presenting the finished product to the judges.
In the afternoon , we came back on for the Finals and I felt even better. I was super relaxed and feeling focussed and ready to go and give my best! There was a lot of competition in this line up for me in the current Australasia's Figure Champion , Sara Picken Brown. Sara is a conditioned competitor who not only is the leading short class figure competitor , she had just placed 6th at the very prestigious Arnold Classic in the Amateur Figure Division in a line up of 35 girls.
After we came off stage , the judges had Sara and I back for a third callout to try and make their final decisions on First and Second place. Then , 5 long minutes later we were called back for presentation , and Sara ended up taking 1st place by one point , and I took second.
I have to say , it was such an adrenalin fuelled experience having a final callout with Sara , as we are both very competitive and she is at the top of her game so she had me really working. It was real competing , what we train for and turn up in our best condition to do!! I loved it!
All in all , I was absolutely ecstatic with my result , and how I did on the day. I wanted to be my best and I was , and it felt great!
On the Monday , I spent the day doing photo shoots with three photographers that I had not worked with before , which was so much fun. I am really looking forward to seeing all these pics , and will be posting a new blog with pics from these shoots over the next fortnight , so stay tuned!