So here I am, topping off my second gallon of water for the day and looking at pictures of food on pintrest, which is the world's greatest hobby, and I stumble across a blog for another bikini competitor. I love reading this stuff, and so I start to wonder, why the hell haven't I started a blog? I'm doing the same thing, aren't I? (Ahem, yes, I am) And so that leads to this post. And this blog. Is anyone going to see this? So first and foremost, an introduction.

My name is Emma Taylor. I'm a NPC Bikini Competitor on team Five Starr Fit. (My coach's last name is Starr, and he's extra clever.) I began prepping for my first competition on September 18, 2013. So that leaves me around five and a half months as I type this. Sixteen days out from show time. 

I started off pretty overweight and ashamed of my body, and although I worked out regularly and was already a certified personal trainer, I had no idea what I needed to be doing with my nutrition. 

(I now know that dunkin' donuts sandwiches is probably not my best choice.)

While I was studying for my certification, I followed several other competitors on instagram: mshelllll, terica04, body_by_heidi, and I was in awe of how they had built their bodies into beautiful, strong, machines. And I wanted in on it. So without much thought, I jumped onto a team after finding a coach that was right for me. 

So I started out this journey around a hefty 170 lbs. Yikes. I know. Now I fall around 150 lbs, and I'm pretty sure it's safe to say most of that weight is solid muscle. (Welcome to the gun show, ladies and gentlemen)

I have been in the gym religiously, picking up heavy things and putting them back down, and I have eaten out of nothing but tupperware for almost six months. I have never skipped a workout, even if it meant crawling to and from the gym at the crack of dawn before going to class. There have been blood, sweat, and tears involved in this journey, and LOTS and LOTS of coffee.

So this journey has been interesting. Rocky, a bit, but I have done my absolute best to transform my body into something healthy, happy, and beautiful. So why not write about it? The one thing I have realized that I am meant to do with my life is to spread my passion for being healthy. I came from a background where ice cream was an everyday thing (Man, I miss those days) pop tarts were the best breakfast, and where yoga pants were never used for yoga. I've been to hell and back in regards to my self esteem, and I have built myself from the ground up. 

But I wouldn't change one single thing about my journey.