MET-Rx Summer 2001 Magazine

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JILL PAPAPANU

The Panel...What are they looking for?

I have to ask...what is the NPC looking for in their competitors? Subjective this sport is but it is so hard sometimes to get on stage knowing that you have trained as hard and maybe harder than others but top five or top three does not happen for you. My thoughts are, that you just keep going and competing until your name is a household name in the world of NPC.
I myself with a career and being in grad school could not just keep going, but do want to continue in the near future. Time off your career to pursue something that you love as much as your job, may separate you from your family and friends for a bit, and has a ton of extra expenses if you do not have sponsors, this sport has so many rewards but also makes you realize that a balance of so many things in your life needs to happen. You give up so much but are at the mercy of a panel of opinions. How do we as competitors know what the judges want? I for one look at the pros and strive to look like them. I will be honest that I have thought of becoming a tri-athlete because winning and losing is black and white....and I most likely do not have to worry about my salt intake ;)! I then think back to some of the best times I have ever had and they go back to times when I am competing within the NPC and Muscle Mania, the people I have met and the effect they have had on my life is one that is not replaceable. Being a Competitor in the NPC is something that is with you for life but it is so frustrating to never know what "the panel" is looking for. We are all athletes up there and yes, sometimes I think, girl you beat me, but I know I think I look better than you....and then I think well I know that we have all trained hard and once we are on stage, it is out of our control and we need to put our sportsmanship cap on and keep smiling! So, I guess I am saying to those who do not place where they would like to keep striving to get to the top. Also, to those that are at the top do not forget those who strive to be like you, continue to inspire and pave that path for those of us up and coming. <3 Jilly aka J-Pappy

Motivation and Dedication = Success

Weider Audition Video!!!

Stage Time!

A Shout Out

Practicing that SWAGGER

GOALS!!!



JR. USA's May 16, 2011
Result of setting a goal and having balance!



Back in November I was pretty distraught.  I had come off of the 2010 show season unhappy and had let myself go back into the office lunch outings and the on and off gym schedule.  These habits although were okay at first, eventually led me to feeling lethargic and unhappy.  For me, when I am not healthy and fit I am not happy.  It is almost as if my body is punishing me for not taking care of it.  My actions not only affected my year long relationship with a great guy but also my dream of competing and inspiring others to be healthy and fit. 

I still had people telling me that I had a ton of potential, but I did not believe it myself.  It was about a month later that I went to see Tim Gardner and Team Body*Tech.  I was immediatly inspired and wanted to get started training.  I wanted to train but I still needed to find a balance in my life.  Tim opened my eyes to that, he told me there will be people who do not understand and who want you to go out and drink and not follow the plan, but if you follow the plan MAGIC will happen! It took me a few months to get going but I almost immediatly started to see changes and am now hooked on "The Plan".  I set a goal to obtain my PRO CARD this year.  I am three shows in and have met some of the greatest people and am actually having fun on stage.  Something I did not think was possible after the previous show season. 

Where am I going with this right?  I challenge you to set a goal or goals. Whether your goal it is to gain a certain amount of muscle or lose weight, finish a race in certain time, or even graduate college all of this can be done if you set your mind to it.  Yes, I am sure you have heard this time and time again!  This time when you set that goal make sure you have that balance in life. Do surround yourself with positive like minded people that even if they do not understand why you do what you do, they will still support you.  Visualize the goal or goals that you have set as well as write them down and this will help keep you on a path moving forward.  Join me in my goal to not only compete for my PRO CARD in the NPC but also to inspire others to lead a happy, healthy, fit, and balanced life!

Thank you to my team, coach, family, friends, and my beefcake for making this journey so great!

Are You Tracking?

Monday thru Friday and sometimes on weekends you are in the gym, lifting, running, stretching, and checking your gains or losses out in the mirror.  You want to take yourself to that next level but seem to have hit a plateau or maybe not, maybe you are just tired of the same old routine. 
What are you to do right?

Get your water and your ipod and hit the track!  Start incorporating sprints and agility training into your weekly/weekend routine.  I have to say starting my Saturday or Sunday out with an agility and sprint workout not only makes me feel great for the rest of the day but it is different from my normal routine.  You do different, and you will see changes start to come. Different is good! 

I say this, but keep in mind you cannot go eat an egg mcmuffin or drink 8 beers at the beach just because you had a great workout.  That will take you ten steps backwards. If you seem to have a hard time getting up in the am, or a hard time pushing yourself when you are out there find a buddy and go for your fitness goals together.  I have found that surrounding myself with people who have the same sort of goals in life and in fitness helps me get to where I want to be.  So, take that extra step outside the box and change your training up...you will see results!

GLAD to be Organized

How many times have you wanted to eat something but did not feel like taking the time to make whatever gourmet meal you are craving?  What about when you are at work and there is a huge plate of donuts or a snack closet that is calling you?  (this happens to me about once a week..ugh) 

What to do right?  Well, as you can see to the right, my refrigerator is a little excessive but that is okay because I am trying to reach big fitness goals this year.  As for the rest of the world who just want to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle pre-making your meals for the week is an easy way to save time. It can also ensure that you eat the greens instead of entering into the carb/sugary world of donuts or get locked in that snack closet at work!  After my am cardio I make my first meal at the house, make some green tea to go, and grab my GLAD containers out of the fridge and I am off! 

The gym may be your second home but if you are not thinking about what you are putting into your body as well as the amount then your fitness goals may take longer to reach.  So get GLAD and get organized!

Oxygen Magazine January 2011

Oxygen Magazine January 2011

Don't forget to get your copy!! I as well as a few other motivated and beautiful women were recently in the Future of Fitness section of January 2011 Oxygen Magazine!! Get yours today!!

JUMP START 2011 with A WRITE UP!

When you have tasks that you need to get done and do not want to forget about them what do you do?  I know some of you may say, "Oh I just remember what I need to do."  Well, for myself I choose to make lists.  Now whether these are on my DROID, on stick-it notes (pink of course), on your Outlook/Google calendar, or inside a notebook I have found that in business and in maintaining the house a "to do" list promotes productivity.  So, if you are the list type and even if you are not, why not try it out? 

Scott Kelby shoot Tampa, Fl

Ok, let's take this topic to the gym floor! It being the New Year of 2011, everyone in their brother seems to want to start with a clean slate, a new diet, and of course a great workout plan. There seems to be a trend in the gym around the new year, it is crowded for the first month of the year and then the gym population starts to dwindle. Good for me because my favorite treadmill will most likely be open!  But what about good for you, that person who was so gung-ho on January 3rd to develop fitness goals, eat clean, and just over all become more healthy and active?  If you visualize and write down what your fitness goals are ( imagine yourself in that bikini or pair of board shorts) you have a better chance of making those goals happen. Yes, life can get in the way.  I am a believer that if a list of your goals (both fitness and non), is visible daily it will remind you of what it is you really want out of this year.  If it helps, take it week by week or day by day, and the workload may not seem as large. 

Mark and Crissy's Calendar

I have to give a shout out to my boy Dukas (first name Mark) and his beautiful and motivated girlfriend Cristina for their dedication this New Year.  Tonight as I was doing my Body Tech*Babe designed workout of quads and calves I had to give a high five to Dukas because as we were talking about indulging during the holidays I brought up that I was writing this post.  Dukas then proceeded to tell me that Cristina and him have made a calender for the fridge.  This "to do" calendar is color coded Pink for the GYM , Green for 100 % CLEAN EATING, and Yellow for CARDIO.  Dukas and Cristina each have their own calendar and keep each other accountable!  They both highlight the calendar depending on what they do that day. What to do when the month is over?  Save the calendar in your fitness file so that you can track your progress throughout the year!

Scott Kelby shoot Tampa, FL

There are many ways to jump start your New Year in fitness and in other areas of your life.  Visualize and write down your goals, track your progress, remain positive, and although you have goals for the year, take one day at a time and live it the best way possible!