Enjoying the Journey: Bodybuilding Update (First 6 Months)

Hi hello there! 👋

Note that this is a PERSONAL update on my bodybuilding journey and includes physique photos. If that’s not your thing, no worries at all; skip this one and I’ll see you for the next post!

Also: this update was supposed to happen 3 months ago in December 😅 but…better late than never.

Since my first bodybuilding update back in November 2025, a lot has happened!

• ✅ I finished reverse dieting, reached maintenance, and moved into a slight surplus to start a growing season 💪
• ✅ I joined a new gym—which, if you know me, is kind of a big deal!
• ✅ I wrapped my first bodybuilding-style training block and started my second in January, with even more focus on posterior chain development, especially glutes and hamstrings
• ✅ I had some very fun chances to learn more about bodybuilding in person: first at a national NPC women’s workshop here in Orlando, where I got to meet 8x Ms. Olympia Figure Pro, Cydney Gillon, and later at The Arnold Classic in Columbus
• ✅ I’ve also been practicing finding balance between bodybuilding-style training and travel, from NYC, to Cancun to Ohio for The Arnold…plus an unexpected side quest to South Florida thanks to flight chaos 🫠

Needless to say, between training, eating 600+ more calories per day than when I started 🤯, recovering well, prepping a national conference talk for NSCA, and getting ready to spend several months in Japan…life is FULL.

It’s not perfect, and there have absolutely been ups and downs. But I’m doing this fun, challenging thing in a perfectly imperfect way that feels really good right now!

If bodybuilding is something you ever want to explore, I can’t recommend my coach, @alexarukstela , and her holistic, supportive approach for mind & body, enough.

Hope you enjoy the update. If you want more details, read the text on the slides for the deeper dive! 👀