Cassie's Figure Competition Journal

[Boss Man]

I'm glad you decided to realise this, even if it was as a result of unusual circumstances.

I hope you do well as well. I still have belief that one day you can be a pro and do it, the way you want to, without assists.

However what I wish more for you is ultimate happiness in life. So I hope competing does go on to make you happy in the long-term. You've been through a lot in life, and now is when you deserve to have good things happening, in lieu of the sort of person you are .

GOOD LUCK.

[cassiegose]

Thought I'd go ahead and post an update...

Today I'm 10 days out from the next show. Nothing new or exciting to report. The diet sucks. I'm trying to stay positive but no matter how i look at it, it still sucks. The good thing is that i'm only 10 days away from being off this diet... and 10 days away from a much needed break. I'm dreading next week... peak week... hell week... Hoping it goes by fast.

Training is going surprisingly well... nothing new or exciting to report there. Still doing morning workouts of weights and cardio and afternoon workouts of just cardio. I'll continue this until Thursday then take Friday off.

I'm still practicing posing every day. I feel like i'm definitely making progress there. Hope it makes a difference at the next show! This weekend i'm planning on spending alot of time in front of the mirror perfecting poses and making sure i'm 100% ready. Although practicing alone is SO different then getting up on stage and trying to hit the poses. Nerves can really mess with ones ability to pose on stage. Hopefully they aren't as bad at the next show as they were for the first show! We'll see!

For those needing motivation (I could sure use some! LOL!) here are a few quotes that I read on a regular basis to inspire me:

They can, because they think they can.
~Virgil~

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
~Robert Collier~

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
~Aristotle~

Our greatest glory is not in never falling; but in rising every time we fall.
~Confucius~

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe~

If you can imagine it you can achieve it. If you can dream it you can become it.
~William Arthur Ward~

Change your thoughts and you can change your world.
~Norman Vincent Peale~

You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
~Winston Churchill~

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
~Mahatma Ghandi~

That which does not kill you makes you stronger.
~Neitzche~

When one door closes another opens but often we look so long upon the closed door that we fail to see that one that has opened for us.
~Helen Keller~

Believe deep down in your heart that you are destined to do great things!
~Joe Paterno~

Treat people as if they are what they ought to be… And you help them become what they are capable of being!

And one of favorite quotes ever...........
“There is no such thing as a small miracle. A gym is a place of miracles where people do things they once thought impossible- lifting heavier, squeezing out one more rep, finding discipline and willpower they didn’t know they had. They’re amazed at how good they feel and look and carry their new power into the world. This is the miracle I wanted to give to the world.”
~Joe Wieder~

I hope all is well with EVERYBODY! As always, if I can help anybody... in any way... always feel free to shoot me a message.

Cassie

[Boss Man]

And one of favorite quotes ever...........
“There is no such thing as a small miracle. A gym is a place of miracles where people do things they once thought impossible- lifting heavier, squeezing out one more rep, finding discipline and willpower they didn’t know they had. They’re amazed at how good they feel and look and carry their new power into the world. This is the miracle I wanted to give to the world.”
~Joe Wieder~.

Except in the case of Bev Francis, who carried her power into the world, only to have Weiders brother tell judges to score her low, and then personally tampered with her scorecard himself.

To view the ugly truth about Weiders spineless brother, rent or buy second hand, Pumping Iron II the Women.

Not to sound negative here, just saying .

As always, keep up the hard work misses, I can appreciate it is really hard to do this, but you can be so proud of yourself, as people like me are of you .

[fitoverforty]

I've gone through life believing in the strength and competence of others; never in own. Now, dazzled, I discovered that capacities were real. It was like finding a fortune in the lining of an old coat. -John Mills
You continue to dazzle us Cassie!

When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly. -Edward Teller
You've taught yourself to fly girl, so don't be afraid to step out there!

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. -Gail Devers - (she's right up there with Steve Prefontain on list of heroes)

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850-1919

Keep your chin up, and your resolve strong, you're in the home stretch - you've got everything it takes already to complete this competition. Keep your positive outlook, you have done the work, you have earned your right to be on that stage and you WILL be beautiful, strong, confident and poised.

YOU ROCK!

[lareinamae]

Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.

[cassiegose]

Bossman: Its the quote that I love. Frankly I don't know much about Joe Weider so don't have an opinion on him either way. I do love that quote though. I feel like that represents why I work so hard in the gym, and why I spend so much time helping others with their health and fitness goals. Thank you for your encouragement!

Les: Thanks for those quotes. Those are all GREAT!

Lynne: I LOVE Gail Devers. Huge fan of hers! Thanks for your kind words and inspiration!

LaReina: Girl youre the BEST and I'm so glad youre going to be there with me at show. I can't even begin to tell you what a stress reliever it is to know that you're going to be there with me. I don't know if I'm looking forward more to the show or to getting to hang out with you and the fam.

Thank you everybody for your continued support, inspiration, encouragement, and friendship. You guys rock and you have no idea how much you've helped me get through these two competition preps!

Cassie

[lareinamae]

Um...just for all the Cassie Gose fans out there...in case you didn't know: today is the day, 26 years ago, that our Miss Cassie Anna Gose made her way into this world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSIE! I love ya, sis!

[ironwill]

Happy Happy Birthday.......to fellow M&M lover..... . Hope you have a truly wonderful day.

[Boss Man]

Totally agree with your interpretation of the quote. Certainly not trying to diss your reasons for it .

I might be speaking for some or all of the people here, but I will wish Cassie a fantastic day.

You know to be who you are today, a strong, healthy, well educated, engaged young Lady, knowing you've had emotional and physical issues, a long time ago in your past, truly is an amazing thing.

Whatever you have experienced, it has never stolen anything of the person you are today. People like you are a real blessing and a gift to this world, and a real impact on a lot of peoples lives. We see so much negativity in life and in the media today, we sometimes need to remind ourselves, that it isn't all bad, and that there are other people like us out there, and they don't come any better than you Cassie.

This young Lady, over the best part of 18 months, has given so many people, so much care, attention and a bit of her own Heart. She's been like a sister, Mother, confidente and a wonderful friend to so many people on here, and just been an absolute joy to have around.

I almost feel like in some ways, it's everyones birthday today, because we all have the gift of someone truly unique, special and amazing. Your courage is amazing, your athletic potential undeniable and your ability to be "human", is virtually second to none.

The coming 12 months, is something you deserve to experience, with the very best of times and with a lot of love, happiness, success and plenty of positive emotions.

This site would never be the same again with you misses, and I dont think any of us would be the same again, without you, you've just been such a fabulous ray of sunshine, and an inspiration to every single person you touch.

There has never been a single bad thing, I have ever been able to see with you, you are basically someone with such a pure, untainted inner self, and in this world, that's something that putting any value on, would be virtually impossible to do.

So maybe I speak for so many people here, but as a co-moderator, and someone who counts you as a dear friend, THANK YOU for every smile, kind word and moment of your valuable time you've given to others, to make a difference to so many people, probably 95%+ of whom you will never ever meet, but to me you always feel like you're yards down the road, or in the next room and everything you have done and continue to do, has always been appreciated greatly and with massive respect.

So I'll finish by wishing you a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I hope you continue to stick around here for a long time to come, because I'm sure we all want you, to continue be a part of something great and although I can't offer much, of course I offer you continued friendship, understanding and support .

Have a great day, big smiles and all the very best for the coming future. You will be brilliant at your show, because last time you looked fantastic and I was as I always am, very, very proud of you and one day you WILL be a pro .

[Nokie173]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSIE!!!!

Just for you......

[cassiegose]

Thanks for the happy birthday wishes everybody! And Nokie, thank you for the birthday cake. I had to force myself not to lick computer screen when i saw that cake. That looks absolutely delicious!!! I wonder what flavor it is? I'm going to assume its chocolate peanut butter flavored just for fun!

[cassiegose]

Good luck this weekend. You are almost through with hell week!!!

Its next weekend darling. I'm almost ready to start hell week. 3 days til the torture begins, then 6 days of torture... I feel sorry for myself already.

Thanks for the good luck wish!

[cassiegose]

Oh goodness. I'm sorry I'm exhausted today! I was at the gym this afternoon and I thought about that "Cassies comp is in 2 days! OMG!" yeah whoops. Okay. Please reread that post next thursday. Thanks, babe.

Will do! I actually wish it was only 2 days! I would give right pinky finger to be that close to being done.

[cassiegose]

I got into a conversation with trainer yesterday...went from me saying I couldn't eat our one-year anniversary cake because it was too much sugar and made me sick to him talking about what he ate after his competition, and I told him about you stashing the mini-candies in your bag. I asked if he got irritable, and he said it was horrible, that he wouldn't wish that on anyone, but once you're there at the competition, you feel like you could do it forever. I don't think it's for me, but I'm definitely enjoying living vicariously through you! Best of luck on the next show!!!

Your trainer is soooo right! I am SO irritable right now it is crazy! This morning i was working out next to a friend and she kept talking (and kind of making me lose concentration) and she was talking quietly so I couldn't here her above music so i kept having to take off headphones to hear what she had to say. I was getting SO grumpy I was tempted to move to a different machine! Thennnn about 20 minutes later I'm on the stairstepper minding own business and a guy comes up and asks how much longer i have because he wants machine. I tell him 15 minutes. This guy annoys the SNOT out of me when he gets on the stair stepper because he leans on the machine so much that he is actually in a bent over position the WHOLE time hes on it. So he cranks it up to a super high level, then leans on with with everything hes got for like 30 minutes. DRIVES ME INSANE! What the hell is the purpose? Honestly! This guy also has the audacity to regularly interrupt weight routine to tell me that i'm doing exercises wrong, when he truly doesn't have a clue what hes talking about. So anyways, he asks if he can have machine and i tell him 15 minutes, then decide to just quit early and give him the machine because i was exhuasted and ready to be done anyways. So I tell him he can have the machine as long as he promises to use proper form and quit hanging on the damn thing the whole time hes working out. friend (the one that wouldn't stop talking previously) was totally cracking up that i was so blunt. Usually I can tolerate this kind of stuff but right now I'm beyond hostile. fiance baked some brownies last night and I seriously wanted to punch him for it. Luckily, i practiced self control and went to bed instead.

I feel bad for those around me right now. I'm really trying to be nice and cheery.. but it really is a struggle.

With that said, so you're not having any anniversary cake this year? What if you made a healthier cake that you could eat? Mmmm... i could go for some cake right now...

[lareinamae]

Your right pinky finger? Isn't that the one that got half bitten off by the piranha!!?

It'll be here before you know it!