A Challenge, guest post by Sara Lassig

As a fitness/figure competitor, I’m inherently a part of a community – a community of dedicated, hard working, passionate, and inspiring individuals. I admire the work ethic, drive, motivation, and perseverance of so many in this community of competitors. However, one thing that makes me uncomfortable about the sport is the inbuilt focus on self.  Of course, this is needed to train, prepare, to step on stage.  BUT, some of the comments I have heard over the last two years of training, specifically stand out.

• Competitors referring to themselves as “warriors” or “in battle” in discussions of hard workouts, competing, training, ect.  I know the feeling of getting through a major physical accomplishment, of competing an amazing workout, hitting a new PR, and even finishing 12 or 16 weeks of training for a show. Yet — in the big picture of life, where members of the Armed Services are deployed in battle torn countries, where soldiers, policemen, and others in position of service are truly in battle/war/dangerous situations and risking their lives, and losing their lives, I find it interesting to use this same  terminology and thought process to difficult workout/cardio session/show training.  We are CHOOSING to partake in such activity and push our body to new limits – indeed admirable and incredibly challenging – but not a situation of life or death. Let’s not take away from the men and women who are truly in these positions.
• Sometimes, when I’m driving in my car, eating cold chicken and asparagus out of a Tupperware container, and feeling bad for myself, I see individuals who are homeless. In the work setting, I am reminded daily that a huge percentage of our nationals elderly and those with significant health issues (of all ages) struggle to have food on a daily basis.  For those of us who are LUCKY enough to be ABLE  to count carb, protein, and fat grams — we are blessed.  Granted, many of us may be working two or three jobs to be able to pay bills in life and compete and buy all that protein!!! BUT  — that also means we have the incredible gift of being healthy enough to work – a gift that so many people do not have.   I’m fully guilty of complaining of feeling tired and crappy on those no carb days… but I am working hard to remind myself that this is a choice I am making.  No one around me deserves to be treated with less respect or care because I didn’t eat carbs today.
• Certainly, as competitors training for a show, and now, during three a day workout/cardio sessions, things have to be given up. Social functions, gatherings with food, time with family and friends. But, to see and hear comments all over the place of “I’m only focused on my show” or “I’m only worried about me,” is hard for me. Many of us are lucky enough to have family, friends, and colleagues that support us and I think it’s important to remember this.  Wouldn’t it be even more admirable if we could do this training, diet, and competition journey AND still do our best to smile, be respectful and caring to those around us, reach out to others in need, and set an example of GRACE UNDER FIRE!   Because at the end of the day, or at the end of the competition – these people who stuck by our side are still going to be there and deserve the best we can give them, just as they provide to us.   **It also gets really annoying to those around us if all we do is talk about what we are eating and cannot eat.  Just quieting going about our “diet” or eating plan, without recognition for the work and will power it might take is another option. (Or rather, and much more feasilble, finding those in the same situation with whom to comiserate and talk with when that time is needed…. my guess is that most of our co workers and friends really don’t give a damn nor need to know whether we are on our 5th or 6th protein only meal of the day. )

I’ve been incredibly blessed to have two women I train with that are such role models to me and inspire me daily. While we are all three in professional positions that require far beyond a “40 hour work week,” and given countless hours in “service” related positions – they continue to work and serve with a smile on their face, with a dedication to their clientele/patients/organization.  They may not get to the gym, from work, until 8:00 or later at night, but they still put in the time.  They do all it takes to train, diet, and compete, and they do it with such little attention drawn to themselves – they demand none. They do what is required quietly . They are amazing examples to other women of what it can look like to be successful in multiple areas of life – but more importantly – of what it looks like to truly be an athlete in a self-focused sport, and yet give so much of themselves to others – because they know how much we really do have — even on low carb daysJ  I’m so grateful for these role models.

At the end – is there a chance I might not be “#1,” or “the leanest,” or “know I never skipped a workout to attend an event of a family or friend,” – but I won’t be sorry.  I will be proud that I did the best I could with my journey, knowing that it is more important to me to walk this path with integrity, grace, and a care and appreciation for what and who I have in my life – and to not disregard or forgot those around me who have so little.

And of course, today is day 1 of a 3 day no carb cycle. That means today is a perfect day  for me to do a better job of walking the walk and not just talking the talk. And to remind myself that I am CHOOSING to continue on in this journey of competing, that I am LUCKY and BLESSED enough to have food enough to count proteins, money enough for a gym membership, and am healthy enough to work many hours a week.

I’m very proud of my friends and acquaintances in this community, watching them train and compete and step on the stage. Yet – I believe many of us have the ability to make this journey – this challenge we chose to partake in – an even better one for not only ourselves, but those around us and those in the communities we live in.

- Sara Lassig 

~ I can’t say enough good things about Sara. She works upwards to 55-60 hour weeks at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital, trains people, continues her education, owns a MN state record in Powerlifting, and competes in figure and fitness competition. Thanks for the post!