Surviving a Competition Prep as a Spouse with Crystal Sikes

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Well, hello ladies and gents,
Robert Sykes, Keto, savage.com.
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In today's episode, I've
actually got my lovely wife
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Crystal here in the room and
we're going to record a little
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podcast, kind of recapping the
competition season from her
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perspective.
What the highs were, what the
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lows were, the wins, the losses,
the pros, the cons as my wife,
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as the person that has been with
me through it all, who's meal
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prepped every single one of my
meals, what it was like having
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our year and a half year old
with us throughout the entirety
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of it.
So yeah, this was just a really
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cool podcast record.
Rigel was asleeping when we when
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we started and then he woke up
towards the end.
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So we had to kind of call it a
little short.
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But we got a lot of really good
info out there and it was just
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awesome to have her sit down and
talk about it from her
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perspective.
Because when you're doing a
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competition prep, you have your
inner circle and you are
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impacting them in multiple
different ways and just to bring
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them to the center stage because
so much of what you're able to
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do is accomplished through their
sacrifices.
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So I wanted to really highlight
that and I wanted to just give
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her the mic and give her
opportunity to share her
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thoughts towards the entire
endeavor.
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So that is what this episode is
all about.
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We've got her on the podcast
here talking about it, what it
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was like from Crystal's
standpoint.
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So I've got no doubt that you
will take something from this
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and enjoy it.
So that further delay, sit back,
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relax, enjoy the conversation
with my lovely wife Crystal.
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And we are live.
We get Crystal Sykes, my lovely
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bride in the building.
How you doing, baby?
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I'm doing wonderful.
You're doing wonderful.
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This is actually a monumentous
moment.
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We are sitting at the kitchen
table.
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We are not inside the podcast
studio, but we are recording
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from our kitchen table.
Not an Airbnb's kitchen table,
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not a hotel, not a not Akoa.
We are at our kitchen table.
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We've got Rigel taking a nap.
We've got the monitor in front
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of us here.
He may wake up while we're
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recording.
I just got done with the
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workouts and I'm feeling really
good.
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And Crystal and I are sitting
here recording this podcast.
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Are you feeling pretty good,
babe?
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I'm feeling really good feeling.
Feeling very excited to be home,
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very excited to be home.
So I was going to record a wins
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and losses episode kind of
similar to how it recorded the
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wins and losses for the amateur
shows.
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I was going to record a wins and
losses for the pro shows as
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we've been kind of behind on
podcast recordings.
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But I figured what would be an
even more interesting episode is
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to have Crystal jump on here and
just kind of talk about the
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entire prep in its totality from
her perspective.
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And then it's just kind of go
back and forth with a few things
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that stood out.
So here we are and I'm excited
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to peel the curtain back and
dive in.
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Today is actually what is today,
Saturday.
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So it is almost a week post
world show.
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Tomorrow will be a week post
world Show.
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We have Thanksgiving, so we just
got back from the farm.
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We go to the family farm every
year for Thanksgiving.
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We literally just got back from
that yesterday.
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We haven't even unloaded yet.
I got my workout in this
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morning.
We're trying to jam out a
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podcast recording because this
is going to go live on Monday
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and I'm way behind on episodes.
But I'm excited by this because
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all of this experience is fresh
on our minds.
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We just got done doing something
that was relaxing and then we
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went to the farm for
Thanksgiving and the reverse
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diet has officially started as
of this week.
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We have a lot of exciting things
in the pipeline and I'm just
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excited to to share that with
you all.
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So crystal, where would you like
to start?
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You want to just start from the
top.
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We have just concluded 33 weeks
of competition prep and you are
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the unsung hero in this for sure
because you have sacrificed a
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ton.
Anybody that's done a prep knows
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that they put the people that
are closest to them through a
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lot, and the same is true with
you for sure.
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So I kind of like to just get
your perspective on what the
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last 33 weeks have been like,
what the pros have been, the
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cons, the wins, the losses, the
highs, the lows, and just kind
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of get your insight.
So start from the top, babe.
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OK.
So I guess to start, I'll start
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like at the beginning of the 33
weeks.
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It was really easy.
I feel like it was our typical
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life.
I mean, I always make our food
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anyways, so there's that.
It was probably different just
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because I wasn't prepping your
food for the entire week.
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In Tupperware.
I would make like dinner when
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you came home.
I don't even know what that
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feels like anymore.
I'm making you dinner when you
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come home.
Do you like meal?
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Meal.
Prepping for me Because you
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were.
I mean you, you've literally
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meal prepped every single one of
my meals to prep.
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I would figure out my macro
intake.
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I would figure out what every
manipulation I need to make as
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far as nutrition was concerned.
I would figure out what foods to
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hit those macros and then I
would share my meals with you
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and then you would prepare them
for the week.
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Did that that weigh on you or
was it pretty?
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There was a couple annoying
aspects of it, like you would
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prep your food.
Like, no, you were prepping on
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macros and whatever based off of
the food that you wanted to eat
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that week.
And if I went to the grocery
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store and they did not have
exactly what you needed, I we
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don't have a lot of grocery
store options here, especially
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for like anything organic or
pasture raised or grass fed or
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anything like that.
So it's like there's two stores
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to check.
And that's pretty much it.
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So if we didn't have it, then
I'd have to call you and you'd
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be like in the middle of a
podcast.
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You'd have to read your, read
your macros.
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And then I could like, and I was
like stuck at the store.
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Because we live so far away from
the store, I can't just like
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make a quick trip trip back.
So, like, there was like
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annoying aspects of things like
that.
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But as far as, like, actually
making the meals, no, I actually
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like.
I enjoy cooking and.
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A lot of times it felt like a
little break for me because you
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would often times take Rigel.
So it was like, I get to just be
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in the kitchen when usually I'm
cooking and rigel's at my feet
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and like pulling on my shirt and
all that kind of stuff.
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So it almost felt like a little
break.
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I don't know.
That sounds weird.
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And honestly, all my meals were
pretty consistent.
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It was ground beef and eggs or
ground venison and eggs or
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ground elk and eggs and egg
whites pretty much throughout
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the entire day of the prep.
Yeah, so like, it was nothing
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extravagant, like you weren't
having to make some five course
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meal or anything.
Yeah, Yep.
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And yeah, it was it was all
really simple.
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I think this was probably the
easiest prep as far as food goes
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too, because.
Before you would have me like
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cook the eggs in the pan and
sometimes like depending on like
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what your fat ratio is and
stuff, I'd have to literally
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scrape the pan so that like all
the eggs came off and
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everything.
And this time it was like all I
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had to do is cook the meat, put
it in the raw egg and the stick
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in the oven.
So it was just, it was the meals
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were super efficient for me.
So I think it was, I mean I I
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enjoy making your meals.
I I know I like to be accurate.
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I am more of a Baker than a
cooker because I like to have a
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recipe to follow.
I like to know exactly what I'm
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doing, so I enjoyed it.
I had no problems, you know,
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prepping your food and stuff And
honestly, little silent tangent
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here.
Anybody that's doing a prep or a
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weight loss phase or a fat loss
phase.
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Having your meals prepped,
whether you prep them or you're
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lucky enough to have a wife like
me that preps them for me,
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having your meals prepped and
ready to go, so it just takes
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the guesswork out, takes that
decision fatigue out is so
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incredibly important.
Like for me, being able to wake
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up, pull that that day's meal
out of the fridge, stick it in
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my to go bang, and then put it
in my warming tray.
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Things that it was hot when I
wanted to eat it.
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I mean, there was no, there was
no guesswork.
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There was no, there was no What
do I eat today?
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Where do I go to hit the macros?
There's no recalculation of the
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macros, like it's just
consistently perfectly dialed
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in.
And I think that's one of the
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main reasons I was able to get
as lean as I did this year,
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because there was no guesswork.
And honestly I think that helped
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from a psychological standpoint
because a lot of people that
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leave more variability on the
table just expend all this
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mental math and and macro
manipulation to try and make the
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numbers work on a day-to-day
revolving basis.
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And that often times leads to
more variables that distract
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from their focus of getting as
lean as possible.
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Yeah, I agree.
So I owe you big time for them.
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How how many preps have you been
with me through?
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I have been through 2015.
Three, so four all together.
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The first one, we had just
started dating and so I wasn't
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like fully with you a lot.
And I went on.
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We were kind of hit and miss on
that too, like our dating was on
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and off.
And I was like, on a trip the
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entire last month before you
actually competed and I met you
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at your competition.
Yeah.
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So it was kind of like I was
definitely there and I saw you
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at your competition all that.
But like, I wasn't as involved.
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As I was like, I started getting
really involved in 2017, that's
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when I started prepping your
food.
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So, and that is when I unveiled
you on my YouTube channel,
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because I started daily.
I started vlogging that prep in
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2017 because that was when I was
doing ketogenic prep.
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That's when the keto brick was
formed.
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That's when all this stuff
happened initially, and on the
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way to the show, you were with
me, and that's when I started
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actually putting you in front of
the camera and making it known
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that I had a significant other
in my life.
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That was in 2017, which is kind
of crazy.
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What was the next 1/20/20, which
would have been the pandemic
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prep.
And you were right there with me
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throughout that whole thing.
You prepped on my meals there.
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We just didn't get to compete
because it got cancelled due to
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the pandemic and then this one.
So four prep seasons and you
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would say this one's the
smoothest of all of them?
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By far, this one's the
smoothest. 2 1015 was probably
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rough for you because we were
kind of like on and off dating.
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I didn't understand like I
didn't.
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I didn't get it And in like we
didn't really like stay together
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and.
So it was just kind of like you
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were kind of more of like, hey,
I'm going to come and support
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you on the show kind of thing,
not like part of the life.
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Crap.
Yeah, it was just like we would
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hang out or we would like, go
grab a coffee or whatever, But
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what you drink didn't affect me,
you know?
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So it was like, I didn't even
think about that.
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And I was totally not into
fitness, nutrition, anything
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like that.
So it was like, totally, I
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totally didn't get it.
And I really didn't get it.
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Until you stepped on stage and I
was actually there at your
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competition and I was like whoa,
this is kind of crazy.
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Like I always just thought.
I thought what the typical
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person thought.
Like I just thought
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bodybuilders, Oh my gosh, all
they care about is themselves
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And and like it's such a thought
process as someone who doesn't
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work out like that is exactly
the process or the thought
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process as someone who doesn't
work out is just not interested
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in in.
Nutrition or fitness or whatever
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at all.
Because as soon as you start to
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get into that world, you get it
like you usually get it.
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And I'd say usually some people
still don't get it, but some
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people won't get it unless they
themselves step on stage or they
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are closely related or tied to
someone that is on stage because
226
00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,640
they just haven't taken it to
that level.
227
00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,880
Yeah, Yeah.
But in 2017?
228
00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:05,800
That's when I was fully
involved.
229
00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,840
We lived together.
I prepped all your meals.
230
00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,000
We worked out together, but that
was a hard prep, I'm sure,
231
00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,280
because we were often times
rocky in our relationship.
232
00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,200
We were saying we were Rocky, we
were planning to move to
233
00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:21,960
Arkansas.
So I feel like we were pretty
234
00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,160
solid by that point.
But like obviously we were still
235
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:25,480
dating.
We were still young.
236
00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:26,840
We were broke.
We were.
237
00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,440
So broke.
Yeah.
238
00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,040
We like, like budgeting for the
food was much more of a an
239
00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,480
issue.
Yeah, that was that was tough.
240
00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,880
And like we were, we were dating
officially.
241
00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,240
But you know, like I would often
times have to distract from our
242
00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,920
relationship to focus on
building the business or going
243
00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:50,960
to the gym.
And it was everything was just
244
00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,800
super, super sporadic because I
was working.
245
00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,720
I was working like 4 jobs.
Yeah, And then I was trying to
246
00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,000
work a lot.
I just got my personal training
247
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,520
certification.
So I was like trying to get a
248
00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,560
job doing that.
And I was working in the coffee
249
00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:04,920
stand and I was trying to fill
in hours.
250
00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,880
So that I could save up money so
that we can move.
251
00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:14,320
Yeah, in 2020 was probably hard
because we had moved to Arkansas
252
00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:15,120
at that point.
We.
253
00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,360
Had just gotten married.
We had just gotten married.
254
00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,760
There was all the emotions that
come with them, and we were
255
00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,120
building the business in
Arkansas.
256
00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,800
We had like a ton of issues with
employees.
257
00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,600
We lived in a warehouse.
We lived in a warehouse that we.
258
00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:34,040
Had was not a kitchen.
Like there was no sink even.
259
00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:38,960
Yeah, so that was an issue that
just didn't go smooth.
260
00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:40,720
We did it, but it didn't go
smooth.
261
00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:46,880
And then this year we are
established in our relationship.
262
00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,200
We have a son, which I would
have thought would have been a
263
00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,280
lot more of a distraction with
the crib, but that wasn't really
264
00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:53,680
a hiccup at all.
We can talk about that in
265
00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:58,120
detail, but like we have our own
kitchen, we have our own home
266
00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:03,320
and we traveled a ton this
season way more than ever in the
267
00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,440
past.
But I feel like it went super
268
00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,880
smooth and there was never
really a point where I got
269
00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,680
bitter or you know, just
negative.
270
00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,600
And I feel like a lot of times
and in prior perhaps I've done
271
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:21,280
that and it like you you are
like that more with the people
272
00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,560
you are closest to.
And I remember, you know, being
273
00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:29,040
super irritable and just not a
nice person in prayer preps.
274
00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,080
And I don't feel like there was
literally one instance where I
275
00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:33,960
blew up or lost my cool in this
prep.
276
00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,720
Yeah, I mean, years prior you
had definitely lost your cool or
277
00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,800
like, just not been super nice
to me.
278
00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,920
And I like we would even go to
the gym.
279
00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,200
You'd be like, so laser focused
that like, you would almost be
280
00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,720
rude to people because you just
like weren't even.
281
00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,320
There.
And so I would be like, I'm so
282
00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,040
sorry he's in his prep.
Don't worry.
283
00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,280
Like, we're almost through it,
you know, like just trying to be
284
00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:02,080
apologizing for you.
And then, yeah, like, same thing
285
00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,640
with our crew.
Like I would always have to
286
00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,760
like, try and soften a blow, you
know?
287
00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:07,680
But I don't feel like I was like
that at all this.
288
00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:12,600
Not at all this year, you know,
there was literally one time I
289
00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,920
got frustrated with myself
posing, so I tried kicking the
290
00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,120
punching bag and I fell.
And then I get mad and I just
291
00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,400
laughed it off.
But I wasn't, you know, directed
292
00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,760
towards anybody, obviously.
And then I think that that may
293
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,520
have been there's one at a time
where like raise my voice, but
294
00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,840
literally I could probably count
it on two fingers.
295
00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:37,200
Yeah, I think.
I think, like there was times I
296
00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,600
think I explained it to like
Chip or something the other day
297
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,200
I was like, there's times like
you got frustrated.
298
00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,520
Like we got frustrated with each
other, but like that's.
299
00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,800
Also, just being a human.
Yeah, like you get annoyed or
300
00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,520
you get frustrated or you get
stressed out or whatever.
301
00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:58,680
But it was like, like, I think
we got along better this prep
302
00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,760
than we ever have before.
I would even venture as far as
303
00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,640
to say that our relationship
improved as a result of this
304
00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,040
prep.
Like, I feel closer to you now
305
00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,360
having gone through this prep
with you.
306
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:15,240
Like like normally the couple
will finish their prep together
307
00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,440
and like, oh man, I'm glad
that's done with.
308
00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,640
Now we can get back to being in
a relationship and I feel like
309
00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,480
our relationship only got better
because of the prep.
310
00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,920
Yeah, I agree.
I don't know why necessarily,
311
00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,440
except for the fact that I was
much more reflective and just
312
00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,880
tried to focus on being present
and really double down on
313
00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:39,000
gratitude throughout this prep,
in which case I was, you know,
314
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,400
very grateful for you.
But that was an interesting
315
00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:43,800
thing.
I didn't expect that, but I'm
316
00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,520
certainly glad it happened.
Yeah, even more different.
317
00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,360
Like when I would come to you
with different things like that
318
00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,520
would normally be an issue, like
or like.
319
00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,120
Like, I don't know, maybe,
'cause some friction or some
320
00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,440
stress or something like that.
I would come to you and you
321
00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,680
would be like, so chill about it
and I'm like what the heck, like
322
00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,240
what's an example?
I don't know, but it did it
323
00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,280
happen like several times where
I'm just like.
324
00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,280
I kind of expected that to go
differently and not like I
325
00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:17,160
expected it to go terribly or
anything, but I just I think you
326
00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:24,000
just became so OK or like so
like reflective and just you.
327
00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:24,640
Took.
Yeah.
328
00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,440
So like you took in like every
moment and you're like, OK,
329
00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,840
that's all right, we're we'll
work through it or it's OK.
330
00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:32,680
I just said this or you know,
whatever it was.
331
00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,120
So it's just funny.
So it's just, I don't know.
332
00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:41,160
But then also like, I do think
like, you know, Robert always
333
00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,320
talks about like the libido on
his like posts and stuff when
334
00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,920
people are like, I can't believe
you put that on your newsletter.
335
00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,600
I can't believe you put that on
social media posts and all that.
336
00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,240
And it's like this is truly part
of the sport.
337
00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,880
Like everyone who has done their
prep pretty much knows like by
338
00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:57,240
the end of it you have no
libido.
339
00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,960
Like it's just this usually the
way that it goes and and it's
340
00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,040
also not a priority in your mind
like.
341
00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,000
That is not where your brain is
at.
342
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,320
You have very low energy because
you are in taking so little that
343
00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,040
that is going to be like the
first thing that your body shuts
344
00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,560
off.
It's like when you're pregnant
345
00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,680
and your body's trying to keep
this baby alive, your hair stops
346
00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,080
growing on your legs and things
like that, Like it just happens
347
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:21,640
naturally.
Your body just naturally shuts
348
00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,560
down what it doesn't absolutely
need.
349
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,760
So there's that aspect of things
where people are like, oh, you
350
00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,240
know, Roberts libido sucks.
They probably aren't like
351
00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,840
intimate but.
We started sleeping in separate
352
00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:35,400
beds.
So I can improve my sleep
353
00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,560
quality so like all the signs of
a relationship are.
354
00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:42,920
Rocks but I think it it allowed
us to kind of like take a step
355
00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,840
back and get closer in different
ways and be intimate in
356
00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:50,640
different ways and just connect
differently and I think that
357
00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:55,360
that is that can be I think so
healing for a lot of people like
358
00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:59,280
they don't they don't get that
they don't like they just you
359
00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,520
get so stuck living in your
day-to-day and you're.
360
00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,720
Normal stuff.
But when something throws you
361
00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,520
through for a little loop, like
you just find different ways to
362
00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,320
connect and different ways to be
there for each other.
363
00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:15,560
So yeah, I mean it's just, I
feel like, I feel like we have
364
00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:19,840
grown together, but like and in
different ways.
365
00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:22,480
And I just think it's cool.
I don't know, but we are excited
366
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:23,960
to have sex again.
We are, yeah.
367
00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,800
Yeah, that'll be good.
So as I put on more body fan,
368
00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:33,680
get back to healthy body fan and
my hormones stabilize a little
369
00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,240
bit, that will be in the
pipeline, but we won't dive too
370
00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,280
deep into those details.
Yeah, we're going to not.
371
00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:40,960
What about traveling?
How?
372
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:45,120
How'd that go for you?
Like we in the past, we lived in
373
00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:47,440
the areas that we competed in,
like when we were living in
374
00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,560
Washington, we were competing in
Washington in 2020.
375
00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:53,680
We had planned on moving or not
moving, but traveling, but that
376
00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,760
show got cancelled.
So here we are living in
377
00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:01,040
Arkansas this this prep season
and we literally travel to the
378
00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,960
first show which was in Utah,
the second show which was in New
379
00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,240
York, the third show which was
in Washington.
380
00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:10,880
Those three we all drove to the
4th show, which was in Boston,
381
00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,880
MA which we flew to, and the 5th
and final show Worlds, which was
382
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:20,720
in Seattle, WA which we flew to.
All traveling with a year and a
383
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,080
half year.
And a half year old.
384
00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,600
And.
Managing multiple businesses and
385
00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,600
just total chaos from a travel
standpoint.
386
00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:34,720
What was that like for you?
I want to say it was enjoyable
387
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,320
for the most part.
I think you and I really tried
388
00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:42,400
to make it enjoyable like we
were like, we like, we knew
389
00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,600
going into this year that we
were going to do an entire prep.
390
00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,000
We were going to travel a lot at
the end of it, like we knew it
391
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,080
was going to be chaos.
So I think we had like a year to
392
00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:55,600
really think about it before it
actually happened and I think.
393
00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:59,760
And before it actually happened
and we were thinking about it,
394
00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,560
we were, like, overwhelmed by
it.
395
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,480
Oh yeah, It was like, because.
We had all the conferences too,
396
00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:06,760
yeah.
So we were traveling for the
397
00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,880
conferences and then as soon as
the conferences stopped, even
398
00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,080
while the conferences were going
to some extent because I was
399
00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,400
four weeks into prep at Keto Con
and there was some more
400
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,440
conferences after that, like the
cruise I was in prep during the
401
00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,720
cruise, low carb cruise.
So all of my meals were
402
00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,760
accounted for there.
Like, there was just overlap,
403
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,280
but total chaos.
From a travel standpoint, Yeah,
404
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:31,360
I feel like, I don't know, there
was a lot that fell on me
405
00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:36,000
because because you were in a
prep and we do have our child
406
00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,480
and I don't know all that comes
with that.
407
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:46,280
But I think you and I just, we
put our mindset in a place that
408
00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,560
it was like let's enjoy this.
Like this is going to be a
409
00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:51,960
process.
We are going to travel a ton,
410
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,880
but let's try to enjoy each,
each trip.
411
00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,920
Like let's think like each trip
is a brand new thing, like let's
412
00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,160
just redo.
And I think that that really
413
00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:05,280
helped us or me at least keep my
mindset, right.
414
00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,560
Because I I would like we would
be driving.
415
00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:09,160
And it's like day three of
driving.
416
00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,240
And I'm like, oh, my gosh, I'm
so tired.
417
00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,520
But I'm like, I'm in South
Dakota right now.
418
00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,720
Like, it's so beautiful.
Look how beautiful South Dakota
419
00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,800
is.
And, you know, like you would.
420
00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:21,560
I.
You just have to soak in those
421
00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:27,000
moments and realize like where
you're at, what you're doing.
422
00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,480
There was a lot of times where
Robert and I were like both.
423
00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,480
Like this is what we're like.
This is what we do for a living.
424
00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,280
Like like we get to do this.
Like we get to go on a two week
425
00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,040
trip.
To go to a competition like that
426
00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,000
is so cool.
We get to bring our son with us.
427
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,680
You know, like you just have to
change your mindset around like
428
00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:51,440
Oh my gosh, this is miserable.
This is so hard to we get to do
429
00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,880
these things.
And there was definitely hard
430
00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:55,360
times.
And I think my friends that are
431
00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:58,840
like, closest to me, they
definitely were.
432
00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:02,920
They're supporting me.
But it was, I was never like, Oh
433
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,440
my gosh, I'm so annoyed.
This is the worst.
434
00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,520
I hate traveling.
Robert's so selfish.
435
00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:11,560
So like, it was never like that.
It was like, man, this is a long
436
00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,760
day or, you know, we're almost
there.
437
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,400
We've almost made it or whatever
like it was.
438
00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:21,080
It felt all felt good, even
though it at times was
439
00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,400
exhausting.
Because there were times where
440
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,400
like, you know, I would go, we
would be driving and we'd be
441
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,600
staying in the KOA.
And then the KOA, like they kick
442
00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,240
out at 11 typically in the
morning.
443
00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:36,880
And then we would start driving
and you know, we'd stop at a gym
444
00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,520
somewhere so I can get my
workout or cardio in.
445
00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,040
And then I would work out for
two hours and then I would pose
446
00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:48,000
for half an hour, 45 minutes.
I'd go do cardio and meditate
447
00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:52,120
for, you know, 30 minutes or so.
So you and Ryan's are just stuck
448
00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:53,880
in the vehicle.
Why?
449
00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,880
And then I'd eat and then the
whole time you are just.
450
00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,440
Trying to make yourself busy and
not miserable.
451
00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,640
But I mean, we'd we'd be, we'd
be stopped somewhere on the side
452
00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,640
of the road for four hours and
you're having to entertain Ryan,
453
00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,320
Jill and keep him occupied.
Sometimes he would nap,
454
00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:10,840
sometimes he wouldn't.
Yeah, it was like it was
455
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,240
literally every time we pulled
over to go to the gym, it was a
456
00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,240
four hour thing.
So it was like I would try to
457
00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,680
find anything in the area to do
so.
458
00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,640
If there was a store and I I
didn't want to take, we had that
459
00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:28,720
big rig and we took the rig for
two of the trips and I did not
460
00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,680
want to have to drive that
around town and then have to
461
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,240
drive it back to Robert.
So I'm like I'll just walk
462
00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,520
wherever.
So like there was a mall that
463
00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,200
was like a mile away.
And so I just took Rigel.
464
00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,880
We walked to the mall and then
went to a couple stores and then
465
00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,640
walked back.
And so there was definitely,
466
00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,840
definitely some interesting
times there.
467
00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:52,960
And see moments like that.
I would recognize that you were
468
00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,240
being put out like that.
Like, I couldn't not be grateful
469
00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:01,760
because, I mean here I am asking
you to take our son, who is a
470
00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:06,080
handful of times and just be
content for four hours while I
471
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,280
go do my thing.
You know, like that's a lot to
472
00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,560
ask of anybody.
And we did it every day for
473
00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,760
multiple days on end while we're
in an unknown territory.
474
00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,720
So yeah, like, I had no right to
not be grateful.
475
00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,640
Yeah, I felt, but it was nice
because you were grateful like,
476
00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,640
and I would say, hey, this is
like a really long day.
477
00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,880
Like, this is a really long
break.
478
00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,600
I really need you to just like
take him for a second.
479
00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,920
And then usually, usually we'd
get in the car and he would
480
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,520
crash.
Like, it was perfect because
481
00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,120
like, during that period of
time, it was like right before
482
00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:42,160
his nap time and then we'd get
in the car and he would just
483
00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:43,600
crash.
So I was able to just kind of
484
00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,280
like sit and unwind.
And it's just so funny.
485
00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,680
It's like, so funny to look back
at all that.
486
00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,640
I'm like, Oh my gosh, I cannot
believe we did that because
487
00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:56,200
there were some times where I
was like, holy mackerel, like
488
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,440
this is this who I'm doing this
right now.
489
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:04,560
But like, I was just tired
because he, he was between,
490
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:10,240
what, 15 months and 18 months
this whole time, 14 months and
491
00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:14,480
18 months.
And so it was like he could walk
492
00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:19,760
and he could stick things in his
mouth and he could like he like
493
00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:21,720
any little mischief he can get
into.
494
00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,840
He was like getting into all the
drawers, getting into anything
495
00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,760
that he possibly could.
And like, you take him into the
496
00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,560
grocery store or any store and
he's like pulling things off of
497
00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:33,840
the shelf.
So it's like you have to watch
498
00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,600
him on everything.
Like, he's just like in that
499
00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,920
little getting into mischief
age, you know, And it's so much
500
00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,680
fun, but it's also a lot when
you're not home.
501
00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,240
Like, I remember just like
coming home and being like,
502
00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:52,680
whoa, like he can actually be
free to do what he wants while
503
00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,840
we're home.
Because I have already made sure
504
00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:56,560
that, like, he can't break
anything.
505
00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:00,160
And if he does, it's our own.
It's not like a lamp at an
506
00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,480
Airbnb that I don't want him to
break, you know, it's like a
507
00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,640
it's our own thing if it breaks
a well, you know.
508
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:10,720
So it's just so different
watching your child in the world
509
00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,040
rather than at home with, you
know, acres and stuff that he
510
00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,320
can run around on and stuff.
And so many of these trips, like
511
00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:21,960
the ones where we took the big
rig on, were so atypical
512
00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,680
anyways, like, we stay at Akoa,
yeah.
513
00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,600
So, like, we're having to walk
to go use the shower.
514
00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:32,440
We're all sleeping in this
little bitty rig, which means a
515
00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:33,960
big rig.
But like, when you're sleeping
516
00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,880
in and it's not that much space
or I'm like pulling a cot out to
517
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,440
sleep outside the rig in a cot
while I'm in a prep on peak
518
00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,280
week.
You know, like all these strange
519
00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,160
things that most people be like,
we did what?
520
00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,600
But we just made it work.
And it was like, you can't do
521
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,400
this and not just smile at the
fact that you're doing it.
522
00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:56,200
You know, this is freaking cool.
How would you compare
523
00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,400
travelling?
Because you're pretty
524
00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,600
apprehensive to flying, or at
least you were prior to this.
525
00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:02,640
You get really bad anxiety
flying.
526
00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:07,440
But we did two trips with the
big rig, one trip with my truck,
527
00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,240
and then two flights.
Which would you say is the
528
00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:12,720
smoothest?
What did you like?
529
00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,800
What did you not like?
Rachel's stirring, so we'll have
530
00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,600
to see what he does.
He's waking up.
531
00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,720
He's fully awake.
He might be able to come out
532
00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:23,480
here and play.
Yeah.
533
00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:25,680
You need to go grab.
Him.
534
00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,160
No, I'll give him.
You just kind of talk about
535
00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:31,520
those trips comparing the, yeah,
the different modalities, all
536
00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:36,000
right.
So I would say I'm going to just
537
00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:37,520
turn off the monitor because
he's going to be loud.
538
00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:45,280
So I would say, gosh, the the
trips with the rig was a lot
539
00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:51,400
because the rig is big and it's
not the most convenient.
540
00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:55,680
Especially we drove to New York
and that was the hardest trip
541
00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,360
with that vehicle because the
roads are super small.
542
00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,400
There's a lot of people.
There's a lot of, I mean, I was
543
00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:09,160
just kind of crazy, but the rig
is an awesome vehicle, but it's
544
00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:14,720
it is definitely a lot.
It is definitely big and does
545
00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:19,360
take a little bit more energy
and efforts when you're driving
546
00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,400
it.
But it is also convenient
547
00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,680
because there is cabinets and
drawers and things like that,
548
00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:28,280
that you can put away all of
your stuff.
549
00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:32,600
So we had a little bit more
space and then we went to, we
550
00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:38,840
went to Washington in the truck,
the pickup and I really liked
551
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,160
that trip.
I think the truck was way more
552
00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:46,080
comfortable to ride in, but we
were a little bit more crammed
553
00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:52,200
for space for all of our stuff.
And then we stayed at the Koas
554
00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,200
at when we were staying in truck
and that was kind of nice
555
00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,800
because we actually got the
cabins and we stayed in the
556
00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,840
cabins at the KOA.
So it was a little bit more
557
00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,960
comfortable and stuff inside and
then the flights were just so
558
00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:10,120
easy.
I got anxious about I get
559
00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,280
anxious of flying.
Anyways I don't love flying but
560
00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,560
I think it was definitely was
not as bad as I would had
561
00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:20,160
anticipated this go around like
I I don't know why my brain was
562
00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:24,640
just like so much more OK with
the flying, but I was more
563
00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,240
anxious about how Rigel would do
on the plane than anything.
564
00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:33,440
I think just like as a mom you
think, Oh my gosh my if my kid
565
00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:34,840
screams the whole time or
whatever.
566
00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:40,680
And Rigel's not a screamer, so
it's really not like not that he
567
00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:44,000
would lose.
It's not like he would go crazy
568
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,320
or anything.
But you know he does get fussy
569
00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:52,840
and whiny and things like that.
And so I was just afraid that he
570
00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,960
would, you know fuss and whine
and Dr. everyone around us
571
00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:57,960
crazy.
But he actually did so well and
572
00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:01,400
he slept on every single one of
the flights we It timed really
573
00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:06,200
well.
Hi, buddy timed really well with
574
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:10,120
his naps as well and he would
just pretty much snooze for two
575
00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:11,680
of the four hours on each
flight.
576
00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,600
We ended up getting direct
flights, which I'm so grateful
577
00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:19,760
for because I think if we would
have gotten, what are those
578
00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:22,320
called?
Connections, connecting flights.
579
00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,400
Yeah, if we would have gotten
connecting flights, I think our
580
00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:25,960
day would have been a lot more
miserable.
581
00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:29,880
But we got direct flights, so we
would go straight from our
582
00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,160
location to that location.
So it was like once we got
583
00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:37,000
there, it was no big deal.
It was a little chaotic because
584
00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:41,680
we had so much stuff to bring.
Yeah, that was a pain in the
585
00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,080
butt.
We had 11 bags total.
586
00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:47,200
Yeah, most of which.
It was camera gear.
587
00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,240
We had the gym.
Rigel and I had two bags.
588
00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,960
I had one rolling bag and one
backpack.
589
00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,800
Yeah, we had our we had all of
our clothes, our luggage, our
590
00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:01,720
supplements, our food, our
camera gear, baby gear.
591
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:06,400
Like we had 11 bags, six of
which were being checked at each
592
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:10,800
flight, and we have. 6 bags.
I mean, you like you have to get
593
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:14,040
those little trolley things and
then you have to load them up.
594
00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:16,840
And like you've got, you're
pushing this, I've got Rigel on
595
00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,280
my shoulders.
Half the time you're carrying
596
00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,280
them.
Half the time it's like I'm
597
00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,320
carrying because we decided to
take his car seat, which I
598
00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:28,960
highly recommend taking a car
seat, But we took his car seat,
599
00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,360
so I'm like lugging his car seat
through the airport, have him.
600
00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:35,640
The other arm has a backpack on
my back and it was just like, Oh
601
00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:40,040
my gosh, it just felt like a
lot.
602
00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,560
And then once we would get
there, we would have to get a
603
00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,360
rental car.
And neither one of us have.
604
00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,600
I don't think I've ever gotten a
rental car at a airport, but the
605
00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:54,080
these specific airports suck.
And the rental car thing, you
606
00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:56,920
have to get on a shuttle to go
to the rental car.
607
00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:59,640
So all of it was in my name, so
I had to leave.
608
00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,600
Poor Robert it.
Wouldn't have been mad if we
609
00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:05,720
could just walked to the place,
but I had to like leave Robert
610
00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:10,120
with these 11 bags and Rigel
who's like already over it
611
00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:13,800
because he's been in a plane for
four hours and he just wants to
612
00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:15,840
run around.
Oh my gosh.
613
00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:19,080
So then it would end up taking
like 1/2 hour to get back to get
614
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:23,600
him.
So anyways, I enjoyed the flying
615
00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:28,560
because it was quick and I'm
grateful that we saved those
616
00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:34,680
trips for the end of the prep.
But I enjoyed the driving for
617
00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,640
the amount of time that we were
all able to spend together and
618
00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,800
the different, like we were able
to drive different directions
619
00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,720
and see different things that
we've never seen before.
620
00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:46,480
So I don't think that there was
a winner.
621
00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:49,040
I'm glad that we had the
experiences that we did of
622
00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:52,800
driving and like we I just like
Rd. trips.
623
00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,840
So like that's a fun thing to
me.
624
00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,760
And then the flying was just
probably easier.
625
00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:03,600
There was higher stress moments
of the flying because of trying
626
00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:07,440
to get in like on our Oh my
gosh, on our last trip, we
627
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,880
almost missed our flight.
Yeah, to come home for
628
00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,840
Thanksgiving.
We literally just made it so we.
629
00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,719
Had to get like on the train, we
had to get the rental car like.
630
00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:18,679
It was just total chaos, yeah.
And it was like, I was like, did
631
00:34:18,679 --> 00:34:20,120
you guys ever checking every
everyone in?
632
00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:22,639
They said, yeah, are you Sykes
party of three?
633
00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:26,159
And I was like, Oh my gosh, yes,
like they probably been saying
634
00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:28,760
our name on the loudspeaker and
oh gosh.
635
00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:30,360
So anyways, we just had made our
flight.
636
00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:33,239
So there was definitely higher
stress moments with the flying,
637
00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:36,320
but it was quicker.
So it's, I don't know, it's just
638
00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:39,080
they're just a different
experience and I I think either
639
00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:41,560
is fine.
So Rigel is awake now.
640
00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:44,320
He's rummaging through the
house, so he may have to make
641
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:47,040
this a little bit shorter, but I
kind of want to finish out if he
642
00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:53,199
cooperates with us, just what
your take is on the outcome of
643
00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:59,040
the shows of me competing.
Just like seeing me on stage as
644
00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,840
you being my significant other
and being such a part of this
645
00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,760
journey through and through from
the very beginning and you
646
00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:08,680
seeing all the stuff that nobody
else is seeing like you seeing.
647
00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:13,160
My highs, you seeing my lows,
you seeing me at home in my
648
00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:19,920
comfort spot, like just you
seeing me in my natural habitat.
649
00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:24,600
What has that been like for you?
It's been pretty cool.
650
00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:30,440
It is really cool to be the only
person that sees this side of
651
00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,720
you.
Like that's always in life.
652
00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:34,800
Like I'm your wife.
I get to see the every single
653
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,960
day insurance and outs.
Like I'm the only one that knows
654
00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:38,760
you this well.
Like that's a really cool
655
00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:41,840
feeling.
But especially when you're doing
656
00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:47,680
something hard, it is even
cooler because you get to watch
657
00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:52,760
the mental and like the your
your mental strength strengthen
658
00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:55,120
like like and I get to watch it
real time.
659
00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:59,320
I get to watch you make it
through hard moments or
660
00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:02,680
stressful moments with the
business and like how you're
661
00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,960
going to handle that on top of
everything else that's going on.
662
00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:11,360
And I think you honestly handle
everything with such grace.
663
00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:18,320
And I don't know, it was just,
it was it was really cool to
664
00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:20,360
watch you.
This is the lamest I've ever
665
00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:23,960
seen you, the lamest you've ever
been by far.
666
00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,240
I mean, there was points where
you're like, am I the latest
667
00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:28,600
I've ever been before?
And I'm like, I don't know.
668
00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,680
But then I think it was like
after your first show and I was
669
00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,600
like, Yep, you're by far the
leanest you've ever been.
670
00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:38,040
And that was kind of cool too.
Like it's cool that I've been
671
00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:43,960
there for four shows like or
Four Seasons and you've only had
672
00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:46,640
five.
You know, Like I've only not
673
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:52,440
seen one.
And I know it's just I I really
674
00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:55,520
think that you knocked it out of
the park this time.
675
00:36:55,520 --> 00:37:00,160
And I you guys should have seen
me like I the show that Robert
676
00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:05,200
went pro at, I literally Rachel
was sleeping and I was just like
677
00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,440
jumping up and down screaming.
That was a pretty cool show.
678
00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:12,280
I mean, that was the main one on
my sites.
679
00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:16,200
That Washington show, like the
the two pro shows after that
680
00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,360
were awesome.
I was super proud to be on that
681
00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,520
stage as a pro.
But that Washington show that I
682
00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:25,800
went pro at is definitely like
the highlight of this prep.
683
00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,840
Like my parents were there
supporting me.
684
00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,560
We got some great footage at
that prep.
685
00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,920
You know, I I won my class, I
won the overall.
686
00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:37,080
That was the show that I've been
trying to to win multiple Times
687
00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:40,920
Now and I finally did.
So that was like the two pro
688
00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:42,600
shows were just bonuses on top
of that?
689
00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:50,800
Yeah, I think it was interesting
this go around because we did go
690
00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:54,360
to so many different shows.
I was able to decide like what
691
00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:58,920
shows I liked, what shows I
didn't like, like different
692
00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:04,680
promoters that I had preferences
for, you know, organization, all
693
00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:06,520
of that kind of stuff.
Like it really mattered.
694
00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,480
Like there was some of the shows
where I was just like, I know
695
00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:12,440
nothing.
Like I have no information and
696
00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,080
you know some people wanted to
go to the shows and I'm like, I
697
00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:19,160
can't actually give you
information because they haven't
698
00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,200
put anything out for this and
we're a week out.
699
00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:27,640
So it was just it's cool to also
be able to know now like OK,
700
00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:30,320
what what, what one would I go
back to what one.
701
00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:32,760
You know, the things like that.
It's just it's kind of cool to
702
00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:40,680
figure those things out as well.
But I think you brought the best
703
00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:44,160
package you could have with each
and every, each and everyone.
704
00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:51,000
Like I don't know, you did keep
getting better and better with
705
00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:53,800
with every single one.
And I think that is appropriate
706
00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:58,720
too because then you were
competing as a pro and really
707
00:38:58,720 --> 00:39:02,600
bringing in the the your A game
then.
708
00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:09,200
And I don't, I don't think like
with all of the feedback that
709
00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:13,880
you got, there was nothing that
you could have done to change it
710
00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:16,080
in that moment.
Like you couldn't change who
711
00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:19,480
showed up.
You couldn't change how much
712
00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:22,320
lean mass you had in those
moments.
713
00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:25,520
Like it's like, OK now I'm going
to take this and go and work and
714
00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:28,600
do what, you know, all the
things that I need to be
715
00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:32,880
competitive next go around.
But in those moments, you
716
00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:36,040
brought your best package.
You became the leanest you
717
00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,400
could.
You were hard.
718
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,880
You were like all of the things.
Posing got better.
719
00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:44,200
The yeah, the posing.
I mean, you guys should have
720
00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:47,240
seen the audience every time
Robert did his routine, like
721
00:39:47,240 --> 00:39:52,680
they were just blown out of the
water and it was so cool to be
722
00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:55,000
his wife.
Like, you know, in those moments
723
00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:59,600
you're like, that is my husband.
And people are just like ooing
724
00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:02,560
and awing over him.
And to be able to, it was almost
725
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:05,800
as just as cool to watch the
judges or watch the audience or
726
00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:11,280
hear them behind you like, oh,
look at #111 or look at, you
727
00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:13,360
know, and they were like talking
about you.
728
00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:15,240
And it's like, yeah, that's my
husband.
729
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:17,280
You know, like, it's pretty
cool.
730
00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:18,760
You proud of me, babe?
I'm.
731
00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:20,960
Very proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
732
00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:22,680
I could not have done this
without you.
733
00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:27,400
I would not have wanted to do
this without you and these these
734
00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:29,920
preps.
Like, they really make me focus
735
00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:32,920
on what I'm grateful for and
what I appreciate.
736
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:36,800
And I appreciate you and all
that you sacrifice to make this
737
00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,160
happen more than I could ever
begin to put into words.
738
00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:45,080
And I honored that I honored our
dedicated that show in
739
00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:48,120
Washington.
The first one that I went pro at
740
00:40:48,120 --> 00:40:51,760
to Rigel, and to have him there
as part of it was awesome that
741
00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,720
my parents there.
See, it was awesome to have you
742
00:40:54,720 --> 00:40:58,000
there, Having been with me
through all the trials and
743
00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:02,360
tribulations and see the fruits
of that labor unfold real time
744
00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:07,480
on stage was awesome.
And nobody can take that from
745
00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:09,280
me.
No judging feedback can take
746
00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:11,520
that from me, No placing can
take that from me.
747
00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:15,240
Like, these are all things that
will continue to resonate with
748
00:41:15,240 --> 00:41:21,120
me now and into the future and
and and transcend just the the
749
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,080
prep and the art of bodybuilding
itself.
750
00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:28,320
But they will go into every
aspect of my life and I'm just
751
00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:31,280
incredibly grateful for that.
I'm incredibly grateful for you
752
00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:33,320
and I love you with all my
heart, babe, I.
753
00:41:33,720 --> 00:41:35,840
Love you too.
There's a lot more that I want
754
00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,760
to talk about, but Rigel is
banging things together right
755
00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:42,760
now and he's hungry.
So we're going to call that a
756
00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:44,920
wrap on this one.
But we are going to do another
757
00:41:44,920 --> 00:41:48,160
podcast talking about all the
exciting things that we have
758
00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:52,800
coming post show.
Can you give it up for just a
759
00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:56,240
second?
We've got a lot of exciting
760
00:41:56,240 --> 00:42:00,320
things coming now that the shows
are done, like the homesteading
761
00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,680
aspect of things, like our
reverse diets.
762
00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:06,520
Like Crystal's got a lot of
building stuff that she's going
763
00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:08,040
to do.
She's going to work on her
764
00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:11,040
building phase, put on more lean
mass.
765
00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:13,280
I'm going to be doing that as
well after this reverse diet.
766
00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:16,240
So we're going to do a whole
Part 2 on all the things that
767
00:42:16,240 --> 00:42:20,160
we're excited about as a family,
as athletes, as a couple, as a
768
00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:23,280
relationship post show.
So we will certainly do that.
769
00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:26,480
But I thought this is a pretty
good little recap with rides are
770
00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:30,360
getting a little ballistic over
here on the shows themselves.
771
00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:33,520
So thanks for tuning in.
Appreciate the conversation
772
00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:35,240
babe.
As always, where do people go to
773
00:42:35,240 --> 00:42:40,120
find out more about you?
They can go to the dot lady dot
774
00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:43,680
savage on Instagram and pretty
much anywhere you can find a
775
00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:45,040
Robert, you can pretty much find
me.
776
00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:47,240
We have our YouTube channel.
We have.
777
00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:50,200
Yeah, you know, all the things.
All the things.
778
00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:52,920
All right, let's get this
munchkin butt some food.
779
00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:55,840
And we'll call that a wrap on
today's podcast.
780
00:42:55,840 --> 00:42:57,160
Love you, babe.
Love you too.
781
00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:59,120
Love you, Rigel.
Love you, Rigel.
782
00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:01,480
All right, Y'all appreciate
y'all tuning in.
783
00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:03,720
Thanks for listening and we'll
talk to you next time.