(#89) Passion & Power with Bodybuilder & Nutritionist Anna Jarvie

This is the third interview in a series where I share the stories of incredible women following their dreams and ambitions, making big things happen.

In case you missed them:

Ep 87: Brooke McIntosh, running around Australia to raise awareness for mental health.

Ep 88: Tara Rawson, a professional freediver who followed her heart through trust, surrender, and flow.

Now, in Ep 89, I’m excited to introduce you to bodybuilder and nutritionist Anna Jarvie.

Originally from Slovakia, Anna now calls the Pilbara region of Western Australia home, where she lives with her husband. She is the proud owner of Aligned Health and Lifestyle, offering educational workshops, nutrition coaching, and meal plans, both in person and online.

Anna is a competitive bodybuilder and incredibly passionate about the power of a positive mindset and the role nutrition plays in helping you operate at your best. I met Anna way back when she lived in Broome, long before her bodybuilding career took off. Watching her journey on social media has been nothing short of inspiring!

In this interview, you’ll hear how Anna has pushed herself to her third year of competing as a bodybuilder. At the time of recording, she had just finished the first of three competitions, doing exceptionally well.

Be sure to check out her socials to see how she did in the following two comps and her ultimate win at Nationals!

I’m so proud of Anna—her passion, power, and dedication make her a true inspiration, showing how mindset and inner work can deeply impact your results.

Anna Jarvie Aligned Health & Lifestyle
Nutrition and wellbeing coach and educator 
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Transcript

0:01

Hello, hello, and welcome to Alchemy Mindset. I'm your host, Anna Hasty, business mindset coach for women and a sound healer. If you are ready to become the most aligned, magnetic, and confident business woman you are worthy and deserving of being, visit Then this show is for you. This is where I share everything from mindset, energy and spirituality and how to embody your future self in business and life. Sprinkle that with deeply relaxing sound healings and meditations and you have the Alchemy Mindset Podcast. Hit subscribe so you always get the latest episode. Now let's begin. Hello, hello and welcome to episode 89 This is the third interview in a series where I share the stories of incredible women following their dreams and ambitions making big things happen. So in case you miss them, the previous two, episode 87, was with Brooke McIntosh, who is a Originally last year ran from Karratha all the way down to Perth to raise money for mental health and now is setting her sights on running around Australia in the shortest time possible, again raising money for mental health. So that's episode 87. That's an awesome episode. Awesome episode. I'd love you to go back and listen to that if you haven't already heard it. Episode 88 with Tara Rawson, a professional freediver who followed her heart through trust, surrender, and flow, and is now living her life teaching yoga, nutrition, and freediving. That's again, an incredible story. Episode 88. But here we are. Episode 89 and I'm excited to introduce to you bodybuilder and nutritionist Anna Jarvi. She's originally from Slovakia but now calls the Pilbara region of Western Australia home where she lives with her husband. She is the proud owner of Aligned Health and Lifestyle offering educational workshops, nutrition, coaching and meal plans both in person and online. Anna is a competitive bodybuilder. And an incredibly passionate about the power of a positive mindset and the role nutrition plays in helping you operate at your best. Now I met Anna way back when she lived in Broome, and this was long before her bodybuilding career took off. I have to say, watching her journey on social media has been nothing short of inspiring, like, I'm actually fascinated. When I watched Anna and the training she does the meal plans She commits to and how she is so driven Passionate and dedicated to the end goal and results of walking out on stage as a bodybuilder. Like I'm just fascinated I'm just honestly fascinated which is why I was like Anna you have to come on the podcast to talk all about this because I'm sure it's It will be not only inspiring for those who might not necessarily want to be a bodybuilder, but want to feel inspired to go out there and achieve their goals and dreams as with Brooke and Tara, but also to have that insight of like what the world of bodybuilding is like. I mean, that's an industry I have no information or knowledge or expertise on. So Anna had to come onto the show. In this interview, you'll hear how Anna has pushed herself to her third year of competing as a bodybuilder. And at the time of recording, she had just finished the first of three competitions doing exceptionally well. And be sure to check out her socials to see how she did in the following two comps. and her ultimate win at nationals. I'm honestly so proud of Anna. And even though, you know, I follow her from afar, I just love seeing her commitment and her energy around all that she does. She truly is very inspiring. Her passion, power, and dedication make her a true inspiration showing how mindset and inner work can deeply impact your results. So, Stay tuned to this episode. Listen with all your ears open because Anna actually reveals something really key that she realized during her time training leading up, I think, into these competitions that literally was the key to her coming into this success. And I really, she felt was a bit of a game changer as to how she approached her competition and the way she was going to see herself on that stage. Okay. Enjoy this episode and let's begin. Hello, hello, welcome Anna, welcome to Alchemy Mindset. It's Such a pleasure to have you on the show today to talk all about nutrition, about you, about bodybuilding. Oh my goodness. I cannot wait to start this episode. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to share my story with your listeners, my listeners, and whoever's going to be listening and tuning in. Yeah. Where should we start? I know. Where do we start? Cause we've already started having this amazing conversation, like off the mic. And I'm like, gosh, it's always the way I'm always like, we should just be pressing record, just dining at the flow of the conversation. I know you should just press record and let's go. And I can tell this is going to be such a fun episode. Like, honestly, I'm so excited. So. So just for the listeners as a quick recap, this is the third episode that I'm recording with another exceptional, amazing, talented woman who is really pushing herself beyond the means and extremes. I would say basically challenge yourself to go beyond the normal and Also running an exceptional business all at the same time. So, and I'd love you to just start with introducing who you are, what you do, and yeah, let's start with the story as to how you kind of got up to this current moment in time as we're recording this podcast. Let's go. Thank you, Anna. Thank you. Sorry. My name is Ana Javi and I am a proud owner of Align Health and Lifestyle, which we just entered the third year in the business, which is super exciting. I mean, the time goes so fast and I'm also an athlete. I'm a professional bodybuilder and this season is my third year bodybuilding and technically four years prepping. So as you can hear, I'm not Australian. I am originally from Slovakia. So moved to Australia six, seven years ago. And my background is hospitality. So I was in hospitality for over 12 years. Loved it. I had a best time of my life working so many amazing restaurants and amazing people, you know, in London and all over the world. And then that's what I was also doing in Australia on a beginning when I moved to Europe, but my health. Suffer quite a lot. Obviously I didn't know as much about nutrition and training back then than I know now. And yeah, gut issues, skin issues, you name it, there was a whole lot. And if I went to the doctor and ask, you know, like, what can I do? You know, like it was. Generally always suggested pills and I was like, oh, there's probably going to be a better way. So slowly looking into a little bit, eating better, not living on the comforts as you do if you work in hospitality. I was going to say like hospitality all in itself has a whole like nutrition program in itself, isn't it? Because you're working late nights, you're, you know, generally you're working long days or late nights. So, you know, health and wellbeing sometimes might not feel paramount when you're in that kind of industry. Is that right? Yes, that's correct. Look, you are always surrounded with food and beautiful food. And you know, it's great. So that knowledge, again, I can implement now into what I do, but the timing, you know, in working long hours, you know, you don't really have a choice of changing, you know, your shifts, like you're working Sunday, Monday, Christmas, New Year's, whatever it is. And yeah, you know, long hours. So sometimes. Yeah, there is no time for lunch, there is no time for dinners, and if it is, you're just coughing something on the go, which, again, it's not the healthiest things, and not something you would do for a long time. But when you're young, it's like, oh yeah, you know, you can push through, like, I can do it. And yeah, it wasn't really like that when I came to Australia. I love the lifestyle here, you know, like very chilled and yeah, always nice sunny weather, which we didn't have when I was living in England and I was introduced to network marketing. I think that was my first year when I came to Australia. I didn't think much of it, but then, you know, I happen to call with this lady from England and she was telling me all about the health and wellness and well being and, you know, mindset back then I was like, I said, what are we talking about, you know, personal development and all of that, you know, and I really felt introduced to the field. That's the word correctly said, and I was like, Oh, you know, I would like to look more into it. However, I had to still continue doing hospitality because I wanted to stay in the country. So, you know, doing my regional work where I moved to Broome, where I met you. Yes, yes. So I meant to go to Broome for three months. Extend my visa and move back to Perth. Well, I never left Perth for three years. Met my now husband and, you know, kind of going off track at the moment. But back to that, I looked into the network marketing. I was like, oh, this is something, you know, I can, you know, learn a little bit. And I started it to just purely do it for me. You know, like, Start looking into supplements and looking into gut health. You know, back then I was like, what it is, gut health, looking a little bit more into, you know, like my skin health and all of that and then COVID hit. So that was a huge, huge, huge eye opening. And obviously I was stood down from my job and I couldn't really do anything. So I was like, okay. I kind of looked into that as well. I was like, okay. Look, I love the products, you know, I might as well start telling about this product to other people, you know, on the beginning, it didn't have the most positive outcome because as we all know, marketing's got a very bad rep, you know, it's a pyramid scheme, it's this, it's that. Yeah. But I kept going because I had, This belief that there is something else, there is something more. I didn't know what it was, what's going to come out of this, you know, is it something like I really want to do, you know, but there was nothing else to do and with COVID everything, the whole world shut down. And then, I think it was, yeah, it was one of my friends that's like, Oh, don't you want to start studying nutrition and things? I was like, Oh yeah, I can, you know, have a look into that. But again, it was meant to be purely for me. If you asked me back then, do you want to have your own business? I would say, yeah. Are you on something? No, definitely not. So the idea of working for yourself was like, no, never considered it. Never came into my mind. Never thought I could do something like that. No, no, never. You know, like I was, you know, like, ah, you know, network marketing, little bit of, you know, money on the side, things like that, like a bit of side hustle, but never really looking into having my own business, building something on my own. But as the time went, you know, I started to like it even more and, you know, talking to friends and it's like, Oh, Hey, I have this, I have that. And just giving them advice as I was studying, as I was learning, you know, and also learning from other professionals, because once you are in a well being sort of community, There are other people from other backgrounds and like, you kind of soaking all of this knowledge. And he just was like, Ooh, I actually want to know more, like you're hungry for more. And then, you know, like I met you, you know, like little, doing a little bit of sound healing and, you know, meditation and all of those things, you know, I was like, Ooh, maybe this is something I need to consider maybe changing. And I didn't see myself going back to hospitality. And I was like, I don't think. It's a right move after that. Once everything goes back, I don't think I want to go to hospitality. However, I did go back, but only part time and I was studying on the side, still was having, you know, still was doing a little bit of net for marketing, you know? And then my friend also, you know, from Broome, she was. I think she was competing the year before when I moved there, or I can't remember which year it was exactly. She was also from Slovakia. She's from Slovakia as well. And then, you know, like, we kind of get together and we were training every now and then, and she said, Oh, would you ever consider it? And I was like, well, funny that because when I was in my 20s, I always admired bodybuilders. I always, I really loved it. You know, when you are 20, it's not something that at least. I couldn't commit when I was in my 20s. It's a huge commitment. It's not like, Oh yeah, I'm doing it now, tomorrow, maybe not, no. It's a huge commitment and you have to be willing to do a lot of sacrifices as well. And I was not in 20, I wanted to travel. Yeah, I know. Like when you're in your 20s, you just want to have the freedom to go and do what you want to party, to have fun, to experience the world. As much as you admire bodybuilders and the art form that it is, you're kind of like, Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. That's a lot of dedication. I didn't have that in my twenties. No way. Like I just want freedom. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. You know, like, look, I was surrounded because I was training when I was in London, when I was in my twenties, sort of on and off, like nothing really serious, like obviously now, but always surrounded, you know, like PPS and, you know, Pilates instructors and whatever it was, you know, like any class, which was out there, you know, to try it, I would go, cause you know, like I was fascinated, but. You know, it was more like a hobby. It was nothing really, really serious. And I never knew, I was like, Oh, I don't think, you know, I would be ever able to do that because I didn't believe I have capacity, the dedication and discipline to do it, you know, and then obviously now in my thirties here, when she said, well, would you, would you consider, and I was like, I would, I should give it a go, you know, and he meant to be just one. And I said, you know, like, let's, let's challenge myself. Let's see if I can really do it. If I can really commit. So we started and I think I was in my prep maybe three, four months, can't remember. And I had to drop it because there were a few external things and I mentally I couldn't, couldn't commit, you know, and I said, okay, maybe, maybe not now. It's still current training, but we're going to try another season. So then we went back once I was all settled with, with all of the stuff behind the scenes. I was like, okay, let's try again. Let's be serious about it. Let's go. My preps were long. I do very long preps. My first one was nearly a year, second one, I think nine months, and this year it was eight months. Right. Which again, a lot of people do short ones. I don't personally wouldn't do it. I don't personally wouldn't recommend it because you can really trash your body. Um, yeah, it was. So when people say, you know, like, Oh, bodybuilding is hard, you know, it really is. And a lot of people don't understand how much work and dedication goes into that. And also it's not just. Training and nutrition, you know, you can train, you know, you have the diet, but also you have to be really mentally ready for that. You know, like you need to be really on it and disciplined, like not relying on motivation. I was like, Oh, today I'm here, motivated tomorrow, maybe not. So I'll skip it. I mean, I mean, you can, but you know, if you have that end goal in mind, which is to win, right, is to get a place in the competition, right? And to do the best that you can. Yeah, I mean, ideally, yeah, I've seen you like I've watched you in your stories and on Instagram at how much you're like, I'm feeling really crap today, really low. But I'm still going to do my leg workout or going to get to the gym and do whatever I have to do. And I'm still going to maintain and stay on my eating schedule because this is what I want to achieve. Like I've seen the dedication that has gone through, like that you have moved through over the last three years. So it's really interesting to hear that you've always had this sort of interest in bodybuilding, but it wasn't until later on in your life that you've gone right now. Maybe I've got the space and time to sort of really get in there. Give this a shot. Give this a go. How did it feel within that first year? How did it feel like when you were really seriously committing, like after you'd shuffled light and gone through, I know, I know what was going on behind the scenes back there when you couldn't first commit, but when you finally were like landed and you're like, right, I've got the space and time to do it. Like what kept you going to get to the end? Because like, as you're saying, the dedication and the mindset and everything else that goes in it. It's all on you really, like, look, if I'm that kind of person, if I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do something, I'm not a person who's like, Oh yeah, I'm going to do it. And then quit in a few months or things like that. If I sign up for something, I'm going to finish it. And not only that, but you have a coach, you know, like you have someone who gives that time and energy into you and you know, you're just going to quit because it's hard. You know, you choose your heart, you choose to do this, you know, it was your choice. Nobody pushed you into that, you know, nobody forced you, you know, nobody had the gun next to your head. I was like, you have to do this, you know, not only that, I wanted to learn a little bit more how it is actually with. all of the training, but also do nutrition because, you know, I think I started to study and like, I wanted to really see the changes, you know, the swabs when you're doing the diet, you know, like the measurements, you have to measure everything. You know, you literally, your scale is your best friend. And a lot of people will say, this is disorder eating, or is it, this is obsessive. This is a sport. This is a very different sport to any other sports. And this is how it is. 90 percent of everything is your diet and it has to be on point, you know, second one is training and, you know, like very specific training and also to your body, how your body reacts to certain things. So there is a lot of science into it, there is a lot of things which goes into that. It wasn't even then, it was not easy because we were going to move to Kerala, which was not planned, but yeah. We had four, four or five weeks, six, I think, okay. We're selling our house. We're moving to Prata. I was, you know, still prepping then, you know, studying at the same time, you know, sort of, I was like, Okay, we have to make it work somehow. I said to my husband, look, you know, if you're moving there, we're doing all of the things, you know, I'm not going back to hospitality. We're making this big move. I'm not going to work anywhere else. I want to finish this course. I want to, you know, finish my prep and let's see what's going to happen. And then I was like, maybe, you know, I'm going to start looking into doing my own business, you know, because I love helping people when it comes to nutrition and, you know, and food and all, all of that. So I said, yep, no, I support you a hundred percent. It's a huge move. And obviously you're moving for me because he got a job offer. And yeah, that's how it was. So. Karata. I was like, okay, the first thing, where is the gym? Where do I sign up? Where do I get my membership? You know, when I was in Burma, I was working out at the live and soul. So I was there for like three years or something like that. Then they have live and soul in Karata as well. But I was like, Hey, Let's maybe change it up a little bit. So I went to this huge gym, you know, called leisure bike. So there's like, they have pool, they have everything else. Not that I use it, but it's like, I want to just try something else. So yeah, that part was hard. It was very hard. I can't really. say, you know, that was easy. Plus building a business at the same time. I was trying to build, build something at the same time. But a lot of people go for bodybuilding for different reasons. I don't believe you should do bodybuilding if you're just doing it for the stage time. You're going to be on that stage for two minutes and then you're off it. You're putting all of this hard work and dedication for just for five minutes. I think you should sort of look into your why a little bit better. I went there for the journey, for a very long journey. I signed up for a very long journey, but also you need to be billing weight for the results. You know, uh, there's no, you know, instant gratification, you know, like he is going to be very delayed, very delayed gratification. And if you're not into that, don't do it. When people ask me, it's like, Oh, would you recommend it? And things like that. I don't coach people to bodybuilding. It is something I am very passionate about. And if. Anyone wants to try, I would highly recommend it for one season because it does give you a lot, as long as you have a good coach who's going to coach you and you're going for it for the right reasons and right attitudes, then yes. But it teach you a lot of things about you, you know, why are you doing things in a certain way? Why you think in a certain way and how you actually going to be thinking when you are tired, when you cannot eat much, you have another set of training going, then, you know, everything else, the whole life, because the life doesn't stop just because you training for bodybuilding, you know, life goes on. Yeah, everything still continues, right? You've still got friends who want to hang out and do things, you're still running your business, as you said, you're your husband, and the relationship that you have with him, like, you're right, life continues, you still have to pay your bills, and you still have to, like, do all the daily things. Yeah, yeah, all of those things that people don't take into consideration. You can't just drop everything because, oh, I'm typing. Your environment. It's everything. It can make you or break you and you will start seeing also people who might not support it or will be very supportive or might have, you know, different comments because they don't understand, you know, a lot of people have, you know, funny comments to bodybuilding, but they don't actually understand what is it and what it is. involved in that, or they heard someone's bad story and they are like, Oh my God, why are you doing this? You're damaging your body and, and whatnot. So it's very important you tidy up your environment when it comes to people. I lost a lot of people along the way because not everyone was sort of aligning with what I do. And it's okay. You know, people come through your life for a reason and or for a season. So the, People who understand what I do and this is the way how I want to live, they accept it, you know, they don't make stupid comments or, you know, like they are very supportive. But then you have also people who are like, Oh, you know, you're coming to Barbeque with your container. You might as well stay at home. Yeah. Yeah. So it is very hard mentally because obviously You want to be sort of social but also don't and as closer you get to the show You just don't really want to be around people even your loved ones. You just want to have your own peace You know and quiet and just sort of rest at least I find it that way in Perhaps also the temptation is not there Because every single season, every single pride was very different. The very first one, when I was seeing chocolate, I was going mental. We could not have anything in the house. I said to my husband, Kenwin, if you want to have, you know, chips, chocolate, whatever it is, have it. But just somewhere I don't see it. Yeah, wow, wow. And, oh bless him, like, he's so light, but goes like, Yep, don't worry, you know, it's fine, if I want something, you know, I like someone else. He's not the huge snacker or anything, so he really didn't bother him, as long as he had dinner and there was meat involved, so he wasn't really bothered. Just to clarify, he was not eating the same what I was. I mean, sometimes he is, but bigger portions. I was going to say, was he joining you on the journey in terms of like diet wise, in terms of like what you were permitted or allowed to eat, or was he able to eat more liberally around you in that respect, apart from snacking and chocolates and things like that? Look, I am the one who cooks. and whatever I cook he would eat. So he's not, he's not fussy. He's not like, Oh, I don't want this. I don't want that. As long as there is meat, he doesn't care how I cook it, what I cook. You know, as long as he gets fed, you know, he was pretty much happy on the very beginning. Like he, because we just moved to Kerala and he had quite a lot to sink in with his work and he worked quite a lot. So he was not very paying attention to what I do, like what I eat and why I eat it, all of those things, you know, So technically he was kind of eating what I was eating, but like bigger portions, you know, so I was always, you know, there was me sort of plainish. He always had sauces and whatever he wanted. So that's how it was the first season. Second season, it didn't bother me. Even I was like, Oh, do you want something sweet? I'm happy to go to, you know, to the corner shop and buy you It did not bother me at all. Like he could have burgers things next to me. Okay, fine. Have it, you know, we had chocolates and things every time I went, you know, shopping, always bought him some snacks and things for the weekend, because it's usually like for the weekend he would have it, didn't bother me. What do you think shifted within that? Like, how do you think that sort of became like, you know, water off the duck's back? Sort of like, yeah, whatever, doesn't bother me anymore. Do you know what, like, kind of shifted in there? Like, how did you get to that point? I don't even know. You know, like, I think maybe, you know, change of the, like, because, like, The second prep I was doing, I was, I've changed the coach. I had a different coach, you know, so obviously my structure was different. My food was different as well. So on the beginning of a prep, I was allowed to have certain things or it was sort of incorporate certain things. So I think that was that. And because I already knew what I'm sort of going for or going through, because it was going to be my second, you know, not planned because I was like, Oh yeah, just one and done. But then I was like, no, I want to try again because I think I can do much better than this. Yeah, there's still something I need to do, not to prove to anyone, to prove myself, you know, like I can do a little bit better. I have so much potential. You know, a lot of people say, I was like, well, I'm going to do another one. You know, like you have potential. Don't tell me twice. Um, so I was like, no, I think I need to do it. But also I felt like there is still something about me. I need to learn. I need to figure out, I need to sort of dig a little bit deeper, a lot of. So yeah, so I said, now we're going for the journey again, I need to dig more, I need to know more and again, learn a little bit more also from my coach when it comes to the structure of the nutrition and things like that, because this is another level of nutrition when it was coming from her and this is also good for me to know and understand even more to help my clients as well, you know, like tweaking certain things when it comes to nutrition because every single person is different. So it's like, let's see how it works, how we can incorporate and things like that. Literally, like nutrition, it's a science, it's like a science project, you know, not everything was for everyone, even, you know, certain things will work on the first prep didn't work on the second one, or first half did, and then the second we had to change it. So really, there is a lot of things you have to look into and pay attention to. And there is just, you know, a lot of time as well. And you need to make the time around everything else. Yeah. So yeah, so that was the second one, which I was already, you know, like first year and a half into business. And the first year, you know, like when you're starting business, it's not like, overnight success, you know, you have a lot of work to do. I was doing a lot and I had a few points, but not a lot, you know, you're still working on your backend things and all of the systems, you know, I was never really tech savvy. And so it took me a long time to, you know, do things, changing systems, you know, something that was just, Oh, it's working. No, it was not. I know the whole first year was like, Oh, you know, like, is this actually going? It is like your first year in business is a massive learning curve, isn't it? Like, cause you really, you're relying on yourself. In so many aspects and you're having to learn so many new things that you probably would never have had to learn or come across had you stayed in hospitality or you've got a job working for someone else. So yeah, when you go into business for yourself, you are like, Learning a lot as you go and it does take a while to get all those foundational aspects of your business up and running and started as you're trying to generate business and make money at the same time. Yeah, that's exactly right. And especially when you're in prep, you know, like you, obviously you are depleted, you know, you have, brain fog and you have to still going and still pushing closer you get, you know, your sleep gets interrupted, your hormones get interrupted, your energy gets interrupted. I've lost period like very close to my second comp. First one was fine. So again, it's a lot of stressors on your body. But again, I want to make that clear. This is just a temporary thing. because probably a lot of people are gonna hear it, it's like, Oh my God, why would you put yourself through those things? This is a temporary thing and you're doing for competition. After that, you're going back to normal and start healing your body. So I just wanted to make sure that, you know, people would not think like, Oh my God, this is, It's going to be like that forever. But it's, you're an athlete and it's not uncommon for people who do push themselves beyond the extreme. Like I've heard that marathon runners, like professional ones, ones that you might even Olympians, they often lose their period because they are under that, you know, extreme physical stress in a way to get their body at a peak performance, to be able to perform. And in that time, yeah, they may lose their period and may stop, but it doesn't mean it's gone forever. Yeah. It doesn't mean that they've, you know, lost the ability to reproduce either, but it is the truth. Like when we do put ourselves under that physical duress, but like you said, and you've highlighted here that this isn't ongoing. It's just temporary while I get to myself, to my competition level. And then after that, I somewhat resume, life and I do the repair and my body goes back to normal. So, yeah. Yeah. So that was basically at the first year of business, you know, my second year of competing, learning all of those things. And I'm actually really, really grateful that we moved to Kerala because it just feels right. Not that, It didn't feel right when we were in Broome. I just didn't feel for what I want to do. It's the place to be or to stay or to build as well. When Carratha, everything kind of shifted and changed. And I felt like I'm at home. I'm in the right place. And even with the business, even with the business, everything was, yes, you know, Who are you? What do you do? How you can contribute to the community? I introduce you to this person, that person. Then I go to sign up for the KDCCI membership, which has been recommended to me from my business coach back then. And that was probably the best thing because I met so many people, but business people, working people, you know, obviously Caratha is, you know, mining people, people work there. Whereas Broome is more holidays and, you know, let's, you know, You know, let's chill by the campfire. Yeah, it's got that tourism backbone behind it. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. And you know, like when people hear your accent, it's like, Oh, you're not from here. You're probably a backpacker. You're probably going to leave, you know, in three months. I was like, no, I live here. But it's here. Nobody ever asked me, you know, Oh, where are you from? Or when you're leaving? Or are you local? Or no. What do you do? And how can you contribute? So you felt very much welcomed into the Kerala community and particularly starting your business there. Wow, that's so good. My very good friend, Antonia, I met her in Broome and she moved to Krata before me. So it was really good because she was like, Oh, you should, you know, I speak with this person and that person was like, where do I want to start? You know, and that slowly build this network, you know, behind it. So I got also nominated for best startup in Krata. For from KDCCI, which was huge, huge things like, Oh my God, one year in business. I was like, look, just, you know, like just to be nominated, you know, like it was a huge thing. Even just doing the application itself. It was huge. Yeah. It's like, I don't, Oh my God, you know, like all of those questions, I don't even know what to write. Like it took me weeks, weeks, weeks, weeks. My husband was helping me do all this little to write it to make sure it sounds English as well. And I was like, Oh my God, you know, like we got it there. So it was like, just, Something I never thought it can actually happen, especially when you're in the beginning, you know? So I was like, Oh my God, you know, amazing thing. And then third year into competition. So I was going to ask like, what made you go? All right. I've done two years. I can see the difference between my first and my second year, like the improvements I've made. Because I watched you on your second year and I was like, whoa, like you really stepped up within your second year. You could see how much you had improved within your body. I think I was watching you in your stories, like you were learning how to do all the posing and like the presentation that you have on stage. And you were like, This is really not natural for me. This feels weird, but I'm going to learn this. And just seeing that improvement from your first year to the second year was incredible when I'm just, you know, following you living vicariously through Instagram. But yeah, so what made you go, all right, at the end of the second year go, all right, I think I've got another year in me. I think I can do this again. What happened there that pushed you into the third year? I think variety of things. The fact that I placed on my second, first one I didn't place, second I placed. What did you get on the second one? I was fourth in sports, 30 plus. So I signed up for four categories, placed in one, so I was like, Ooh, you know, like Another year. You know, like we've gone a little bit closer, you know, like, ah, we can, you know, we can do it again. I loved working with my coach. Mm. And I wanted to see what else we can bring, if that's where it comes to. Anyone asking me about the package, ? Yes, I was gonna say, I need you to explain to everybody what the package is.'cause I asked about the package, you know, so that's basically for improvement, you know, from year on year. So when also we got the results. from the judges, each part to improve and all of that. And I was like, okay, let's work on it. We, you know, you're already that far. Like we might as well do one more. And I said, this is probably going to be my last one. You know, if you want to, you know. start a family next year and things like that. So we might as well just push it as much as we can. But also talking about the posing, I didn't pay much attention to it on my very first one. And I was looking very oddly on the stage. Everyone is in a one line and me the odd one. I started to pose like a couple of months out, which is already way too late, way too late. And I didn't think that, you know, it's that important. And, you know, my coach back then, she wasn't like, Oh, you know, like you need to practice more and things like that. And it was not natural. It was not natural, you know, and it also, you know, it's very hard to hold the position for that long. You have back pain, you know, like you need to do a lot of physio. You need to do a lot of stretching, lots of massages. And it's. Actually, the posing sometimes can be harder than the whole training. Wow. Wow. You really did. Because you just think you're just standing there holding your hand or your leg out and then that's it. But there's a lot more that goes into it. Yeah. But yeah, because you have to, you know, you have to hold it, you have to, you know, suck it, suck it in, like tense everything, you know, it has to be in a certain way. And I hated it. I hated it with passion. It was not natural. I just couldn't get it right. Obviously, the first year I didn't really practice and I didn't want to pay extra for a posing coach. So, again, I hate it. You know, it's my fault. And then for the second one, when my coach was like, no, no, no, no, hello, we need to improve this posing and we need to start way longer. I was like, really? And she said, yeah, absolutely. Like you need to, you know, like really need to have that stage presence because that's also something you are judged on as well. And I was like, oh, okay. And we practiced, we practiced, she drilled me so much, like, I had back pain all the time, you know, I was going for a massage and things like that, and I was like, no, we need to keep going, but still, I improved, I look so much better, I could pose, you know, with my eyes closed, it just did not feel good, I look good, everyone's like, oh my god, Anna, you look good, yes, I look good, but it just doesn't feel good, What is the issue? What is the problem? What is my problem? You know, and that's something I found in my third prep. You know, we were practicing and things like that. And I was like, Oh, you know, especially when you do wellness category, when you have the bikini, you know, like it needs to be, you need to look, you know, graceful. You need to look elegant and things like that, you know, be really feminine. And I just could not. And I was like, why? This year I was doing a lot of meditation and a lot of journaling and a lot of really digging deep. What is it that it doesn't really. feel good about it. So after months and months and months of working internally on myself, in one of my meditations, what came out was my feminine energy. I was so much in my masculine energy. And that the feminine was just non existent, you know, people who know me, they know, like, yes, I'm very masculine. Yes, I am the one who has the pants, but it has to be balanced. And here is why it started to affect a little bit the relationship with me and Matt, because, you know, like, especially this year with business been booming since beginning, I don't even know how that just boomed, you know, and I was So busy and I was so into the prep and you know, I was always like working in my office and I'd always came and I was like, Oh, I just came to give you a hug and kiss, you know, every woman would die for that. And I was like, what did I do? I just brushed him off. No, I'm busy. What I told you, you know, like, don't bother me, you know, when I'm busy, you know, like you're distracting me. I'm in my zone, you know what I'm doing. Yeah. Terrible. You know, and it didn't, I didn't notice that it's actually a problem after that meditation. So it's called activation meditation or something like that. It's in one of the yoga studios up in Krata and I cried. Throughout that meditation. And I was angry because what was coming when she was, you know, talking about the lights and things, you know, Matt was coming there and I was like, just get out of my head. This is my time, you know, to rest, you know, like to bring good energy, good intentions for the month. You know, I was going to like every single month. And I was like, why is he there? You know, and I made me angry, you know, that this is not how you should be feeling when you're On meditation, you know, like you do meditation and you know, this is not right. That's right. You're just like, no, this is not right because this is my time. Why are you appearing? He's appearing for a reason. Am I correct? Exactly. And then, you know, after everything the facilitator ask, you know, like ask everyone, like you sit around then, you know, like how it was for you and what you want to share, please share. If you don't want to share, don't, you don't share. And then my turn came and First I didn't want to share, I was like, maybe I'll share, you know, and I started to cry and I told her what I saw and why I see it. I don't want to hear it. This is not good. And she said, I could feel that you were angry. I could feel resistant. I could feel sadness. I'm sad, you know, like, Oh my God, so much, so dramatic, you know, but that's another thing, you know, like when you are solo in prep, you know, your hormones go up and down, up and down. So yeah, you cry even if you don't have to cry. And she said, You're starting to find your feminine energy. You are so much in your masculine and, you know, like you don't know how to receive love. Let love come in. Be more feminine, you know, like you need to find that feminine because, you know, like, you're gonna start having issues, like, with your husband because obviously he, you know, like, there needs to be a balance. Mm mm mm You know, like, you let him be the masculine one, you know, take your, you know, feminine energy and use it as you should, you know? And, and I was said, oh, okay. You know, like, I think something shifted back then and I got home. I told him, you know, what happened and why I'm not like that. It's like, oh, you know, I'm glad you told me because I thought, you know, you don't love me or you have you issues. No, of course I love you, but it's just me working on myself. It's, you know, me trying to figure out what's going on underneath and why I'm like this. And again, this goes back to my childhood, you know, like, yes, I had to grow up very quick. And, you know, look after also my younger brother and, you know, like if you had to work, you know, I started to work when I was 15, 16 and just had to push all of that back and just be the provider, be the one who's doing things all the time. Yeah. It's okay to let it go. It's okay to, you know, not be always the one in charge. Yeah. And that's also. What changed when it came to my posing because next day I got up and I was doing when I was practicing, you know, put my heels on, put my bikini on and everything like that. And, you know, like I look at myself, yes, I look good. But I also starting to feel good. Yes, I should feel good. You know, I should feel, you know, this is slowly coming natural and that's how it all sort of shifted for me when it was coming to the closing and the whole journey behind it, what actually came out throughout the year. And yeah, I'm there for the journey. Yes, it's great to place. Yes. It's, you know, it's, Great to get all of those medals and things like that, but that will never outweigh the journey and the learnings from it. That's incredible. What an incredible story and what an incredible realization to have going into your third year that There was this missing element of you, not within your training, not within your diet and not within like the coach that you have, but just knowing that this work has helped shift and create more in a development within you. And that's a realization of coming into your feminine energy and your feminine power and knowing that that is a key aspect of the bodybuilding process and work that you're doing. And I think also like for you being a business owner. As business women, we often forget to sit within our feminine energy and to receive and to take time to take care of ourselves in loving, nurturing ways, because we have been conditioned and we have been told that the only way to build a successful business is to hustle, to work hard, to be driven, to be motivated, never give up, you know, set the goals, achieve them. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, without allowing some sort of softness and flow and love and care for ourselves and the work that we're doing and adding in those beautiful elements that we are naturally gifted with into our business. So I feel like you having that realization within yourself, have you seen that flow out into your work as well, into the business and the coaching? Yes. Yeah, absolutely. And especially this year, cause again, this bribe was. Very hard. Last year I breezed through, this year was, at some point it was help. Yeah, right. I was like, far out. Why am I actually doing this? You know, and there was so many times I was like, I just want to quit. Like this is just too hard because there was so many things I learned about myself. All of those little things, they're popping out. Business was very busy and you know, I had so many clients and I was doing a lot of workshops and. It was just a lot and also, you know, now it was at the state, I think it was like July and I, I think that was probably the biggest, you know, cash month I had. She's second one. And I felt, I felt terrible. I remember it was like 6 PM, you know, and I got literally two or three new clients, all paid in full, like locked in for three months. And I had another three emails with people who wanted me to present the workshops. And it was just, So much abundance and so much things coming in, which is a good thing, but I feel like I'm not worthy of it. I could not, you know, I didn't make space. for that sort of money income. And then, you know, like the bed money mindset also came in, you know, like, you're not worthy of it and all of that, you know, and it was 6pm Matt came home and I was, you know, literally crying and he says, what happened? And I was like, I have three new clients. I have all of these inquiries and things. He's like, Oh my God, babe, that's amazing. Well done. And I was like, I don't know if I can handle it. I was like, what do you mean? And I was like, so much fun. I was like, you work so much, so hard, all of these, you know, like, we literally like another second. Yeah. And I said, yes, you know, like the fruitation finally coming. And I said, but I don't know if I can handle it. And I was like, no, I think you're just tired. And you know, obviously the prep and everything is just kind of coming in as well. So again, another thing I had to sort of learn, you know, how to receive and be happy for it. You know, like a lot of people would like to receive cash and they would be like, yes. And you are unhappy. It's not like I'm happy, but I just didn't create a space. It was just too much too soon. Yeah. And at the same time, you know, like my VA left me, so that was another hurdle on the top of that. So, you know, like you're very low, you know, like with your food, you just, all you want is food. This year, it was like on the roller coaster. There were times when I was okay with, you know, people eating around me. There was a time and I was like, no, you're not going to eat nothing around me or I'm not going to go anywhere because it's just really distracting me. And I know I would buy something somewhere, you know, and I was again, okay. I agree. Then again, it was not okay. It was like really up and down, up and down. I've lost my period earlier than last, my brain fog was crazy at some points, you know, and What do you do? You just have to keep pushing. You just have to keep going. I have to admit, I've been heavily caffeinated pretty much every single day, even though I'm not a person who drinks that much caffeine, but desperate times, desperate measures. So yeah, so it was just a rollercoaster. And then there was one day when I had, you know, this brain fog and I was tired and you know, my sleep was interrupted. I woke up five, six times a night and all of that. And I just sat there and I was thinking, I'm like, okay, this is just a temporary thing, you know, I'm doing this for competition, which I love, you know, I love bodybuilding, you know, how can people live like this for years and years without even an end goal? So you're not like, you're putting your body through stressors like this for a reason, but there are so many people out there Putting themselves through this for no reason. Yeah. Yep. They just think they exist in that realm without like going into a competition. Like they're not training. They're just living life in this way. That's not living, you know, like, you know, you do, this is a temporary thing, you know, but some people have. Constantly brain fog, sleeping, you know, sleeping badly, you know, constantly tired, losing period, they don't even know and they think it's okay, you know, not doing anything about it and they classified us as, you know, as, as it is. Yeah, like as normal. That's just normal for them. But it's not normal, is it? It's abnormal. It's not healthy. It's common. Yes, it's common, but that doesn't mean it's normal. It's healthy. And then you have, you know, me doing it for a temporary thing. And then people are like, isn't it too hard only for your body? And I said, it is, but you have to look after your body and you have to have healthy body to get you through it. Your body will get you through it if you look after it well. Hmm. So you have to give it some love because it's not just, you know, oh, I'm just trashing my body with whatever it is. And you also need to consider. the reverse diet and everything after it, you know, and that's also another huge part to do and to do it correctly as well. So you go and shift back, not that, you know, first couple of times, you know, I did what I could, but I said this year, I really want to pay more attention to the recovery and all to the reverse thing as well, as much as I can. And really also try to document it and see the changes and things like that, uh, when we go back, especially now, because, you know, if you want to start and planning family next year, you know, you need to have strong, healthy body, period. You know, I say to people, I was, Oh, show me your abs, show me your abs. And I said, I would gladly. You know, give you the ups and downs, but I want, you know, I want my boobs back because that's obviously the first thing which goes. So it's not just about look, you need to feel good. You know, when I say to people, you know, like, oh, I want to put back on weight and you know, where I feel more comfortable, it's like, put on weight? Why? You worked, you know, nearly a whole year and you want to put on weight? And I was like, yes, I want to, because this is not good. You can't sustain that. You know, like, yeah, you've shown like the amount of work that you have had to go into get to that result. You can't sustain that because it's an exceptional elite level that isn't normal in a normal living situation or environment to maintain. Yes, and if anyone thinks that you can sustain the stage look like you are very mistaken. Yeah, it's not sustainable, it's not healthy and it's not, it's not happy life. Yeah, yeah. Um, yeah, it's just, it's just a temporary thing. And then, and then you just go wherever you feel comfortable. That's what you're going to be maintaining. So I think when I was most comfortable, I think it was like when I was 12, 11 weeks out. I think that's where. I would like to reverse back to that's where I felt comfortable, sustainable, it's maintainable, you know, it's healthy. So that's sort of it, I probably would try to go and reverse back. Again, you know, it has to be properly monitored with your coach, do some blood works and stuff, which I did prior. Obviously the tests were not great because you're doing what you're doing, so they had to be all back to normal. My hormones needs to get back to normal and everything like that. And when you come to that end point, so when you're finishing, because you're doing this year three competitions, whereas last year you've just done One. Is that correct? Yes. So this year you're doing three. Congratulations for going next level. Thank you. That's amazing. Three in your third year. How amazing. When you finish all of these competitions, what do you do to ease yourself back? Because I can only imagine that you don't want to just completely binge, completely just, uh, Let everything go. Like, is there stages to revert yourself back to where you want to be healthily? Or like, do you just sort of go with the wind and just eat what you want? This is very difficult. It has been quite difficult because my very first straight next day, we jumped on the plane and we flew to London and we were in Europe for seven weeks. So yes, I was trying to do. My reverse diet as, as much as I could, you know, like what I, what I could maintain ish, you know, obviously eating out and traveling because we were every three days we were in different country. So yeah, look, not ideal, but I did what I could. We got back to Karratha and I was shattered. I was confused. I was just lost. I could not find balance. I could not find anything. It got to the point it was very close to Christmas. And I said, no, I'm not going to be taking any clients. I'm shutting the business for the rest of the year. I need to rest. I need to figure out in my head what I'm going to be doing now. Like change my routine and everything completely restructuring because nothing was working. And that was my first one last year. So we did have, I had three weeks after my pump and that was my bedding. Yes. So again, you know, like I tried. As much as I could to sort of reverse it slowly back training, you know, I kept my routine very similar, but not as aggressive, not as always stimulated as much, you know, like do your steps, do your training, you know, keep your diet, keep your timings as well as much as I could, but then again, My family was coming, Matt's family coming. Everyone was sort of here. You're going to eat here and there. So again, you know, sort of navigating, trying not to give in to all of the indulgements as much as a little bit, you know, but not crazy, especially. I was like, I had to fit in the dress and I tried the dress. before my comp. So I was like, no pressure. Yeah, exactly. I just make sure I look like I was at week, whatever. So again, another challenge to sort of see, you know, like how it goes, you know, like I could have done better, but you know, I did what I did. But this year again, it's going to be different because I'll have one week. I got back after my last comp. I have one week, which I have Fairly busy week with work. I had three very big workshops and then we have the excellence award night on Saturday and then we flying to Japan on Sunday. Right. Wow. So again, you're cramming in a lot after your competitions, right? Not much of a grace period. Let's not be boring, right? Yeah, I know. You keep, keep it consistent, right? Keep it consistent with all the other years. Yes, but I've been thinking about it quite a lot. What can we do better? How can we do it better? Okay. So that I'm not gonna be, oh my god, overeating or overindulging or things like that. I don't want to be food focused. You know, yes, we're going to Japan. Japanese cuisine is my absolute favorite. And yes, we're going to be eating, but I don't want to be food focused and just eat everything now because I can. The first week, I'm just going to keep everything as it is, just with a little bit more food and start introducing more food into my diet because obviously my digestion is off. My gut is a little bit off at the moment. So I just sort of work on that, keep my supplements what I'm taking. Once we get back, I'm going to do new blood tests, you know, I'm going to see what else I need to introduce back to my diet, what supplements I need to take off, I need to just carry on what I have. Or I need to sort of restructure. So I'm going to be also working alongside with obviously my coach and the clinical nurse, which I work with as well. So she's looking after all my bloods and everything. So she's making sure that you're going to be all well and good. So yes, that's all what I'm going to be trying to do because it is hard, especially when you know, Oh. You know, now I can. Yes, you can. But again, you want to healthily go back and find where you're sitting the best. Last year, when I got back to Kerala, and I had like, that was money because I was here for a couple of weeks, and then I was on such a high and then I got back and I had Monday by myself. My husband was at work and I was literally Not depressed, what would be the word, correct word to use. I was just, you know, like happy but sad and crying and I had, you know, like I had a call with my coach and then with my business coach, you know, I was like, what's happening? It's like, it's fine. You just, you know, you kind of have to come down from the cloud nine and, you know, do some reflection and realization and kind of slowly get to back to normal things so that, that day, yes. I ate everything and anything. It was just like never ending. I ate, I ate, I ate. It was like, it's just, I don't know where it is going. But that was only one day. One day, next day, like nothing happened. Everything back to normal. Yeah. It's just weird. Every year is just weird. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I guess like you never, as much as you can set yourself up for each year, you never know what the result is going to be or the outcome is going to be, or how that season is going to have affected you until you get past that moment of the competition, right? Because it looks like at the end of each year, you had a different, like had different obligations. Like things in place that you were going to go do and experience. So having to navigate all that, as well as like coming off that high, cause that's what you were riding when you're in a competition. Like I know from performing on stage, like it's a high and the excitement really is sometimes not performing on those stage. Like you said, for two minutes, you're on stage, right? It's everything leading up to that moment. Even the moment when you're getting your spray tan, you're putting your outfit on, like, it's everything up until that moment, which is the culmination of standing on that stage for two minutes. Like, that is so exciting within all itself. And then you get off the stage and you're like, It's done. Now what happens? And it is, it's like post holiday blues. You come back from the most amazing holiday, and then you're sort of facing back with reality and life, and you're like, oh, now what happens? Like, it's different. So yeah, I can imagine that this year again, you'll probably be navigating something new, even though you, it sounds like you're setting yourself up for a lot more of a a shock or a crash in a way to ease your way back into what you feel will be normalcy within your life, your lifestyle, and what will fit in best with what you want and things like that. Yeah. Yeah. It's just interesting, you know, to see like, oh, it's in our three competitions back to back, you know, like how I am mentally as well. I don't know, on Sunday, last Sunday, after last comp, you know, Oh girl, you know, you're not, you know, like the work is not done. What are you doing? You know, like you really need to be mindful and keep your discipline because it's very easy to make the decision not to, you know? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I can imagine like this year going, Oh, I've got two more comps to go. What do I still have to do? Like, I still have to work. I still have to maintain myself. I still have to improve on something. Like, are you serious? It's not over yet. Yeah, no, definitely. And then I was like, then we have one more, but. It's getting like, it's easier throughout the week. It has been super, super easy. I was like, Oh, I can, I can do that. You know, I was like, Oh, no, no, no, no issues whatsoever. You know? So no, definitely something that I did not expect is going to happen. And yeah, it's, you know, look, people say bodybuilding is hard. Building a business is hard. Put them all together. Yeah, exactly. Choose your heart, you know, but also when people says like, Oh, I really admire you, you know, because it's very difficult, you know, to build a business and also to do what you do, like, you know, it's hard and it's like, yes, I am. And it's like, how do you finding it? And I said, I actually, I am so much better in discipline. Also, when it comes to my business, when I'm on prep, then I'm off prep, everything is like really super dedicated. You know, not that I'm not slacking off when I'm off season, but you know, like everything is just switched on and you just, just, just on the go. It helped me, you know, like it did really help me to build what I build because I'm not just building, building the business at the same time. So laser focused on what you're doing to reach this bodybuilding competition that you're creating this laser focused energy within your business as well. Yeah. Yeah. So you kind of have to. Split that focus in sort of two. So there you have two goals where last year there was a time when I actually started to put more effort and energy into my prep rather than business. And then I had to kind of course correct. I was like, hold on, hold on, hold on. Like they're both important. They're both going line in line. And you need to, you know, like you need to make that clear because yeah, there were, you know, I think it was like one month when I was like, Oh, you know, it was all about the prep and things like that. And I was like, hold on a second. This is not what you're doing for a living. It's like, hold on. Yeah, like I said, this year is, yeah, my last one. That's why I also decided it's gonna be gonna go all out, do three comms back to back, because, yeah, gonna be my last one for a while. It is Something I would like to go back to once, obviously after kids and things like that. It's something I would like to do it again, but at this stage, you know, I feel like this, yeah, I need, I need a break. I need to sort of reshuffle a few things in our life and start a different chapter next year, you know, as parents and things like that. But in saying that, I would like to keep the lifestyle I have at the moment. Obviously, not the extreme, but I don't think, you know, I'm gonna stop. Stop meal prepping, stop waiting, you know, like not crazy amount like now, but I'm going to keep going when I'm doing, I'm never going to stop training. I said, until I die, I'm never going to stop training. You know, and it's going to be there. Even if I'm pregnant, I think if I'm allowed, if my body allows me, the training's going to be always there because it makes me happy. It makes me life, you know, it gives me something, you know, so all of those things stay, stays just not in that. That's extreme. Yeah, I love it. I think that's so exciting. I think it's so exciting for you that you're doing this a culmination third year in doing three competitions. Let's see how this all rolls. But knowing that yes, this is part of the season of what your life has been in. And I love the reflection that you've had there with your business of. Working alongside your business and working on the bodybuilding, how they have energetically kind of gone hand in hand and that the realization of like, well, I can't divert my attention all to one or not to the other. Like they have to be equally taken care of. And then also having that reflection of like, well, what else do I want beyond this and for you and your husband, it's to build a family, to make a family, to have a family, And then, but you also see it like maybe in the future because there is no real age limit on this. Like you have like categories that are of women or men who compete much later in life as well. So I bump into a guy in the gym and he is 58 and still competing. But look, you're, if you look after your body, you can do it. Yeah, absolutely. And there's no limitation. Like, I mean, even if it wasn't for bodybuilding, maybe you think there's something else that you'd like to do. You know, you've got the discipline and the dedication and you know, you've got the mindset to get you through it, to be able to achieve those things. And that goes for anybody, you know, you don't have to do all these things in your twenties or your thirties, like ages. Yeah. It's limitless in a way when you, like you said, you take care of your body and you do everything in the right way. You can get and meet and succeed in those levels and goals that you want to do within your life, like that athletic performance. And I think also if, when you get older, I think your mindset is better and I think would be more suitable for you because, you know, I wanted to do it when I was 20. My mindset was weak as shit, like it's nothing compared to what, you know, what I'm now. And I always tell people, if this is something you would like to do, work on yourself at least minimum one or two years on your mindset first, you know, take all of the pros and cons of it and train and start learning about nutrition, start learning, you know, like how to actually weight and things, you know, your food correctly, then. you know, sign up for the competition, not just do it because you want to do it. And you have no idea what's going in there because that's where people suffer mentally. And I know a lot of people who went through the whole prep and they were literally two weeks out and they had to quit because mentally they could not cope. The pressure you have, you know, like, and keep going and, you know, obviously being very low body fat percentage in brain fog or very little food, more workout to do if you have. you know, not supporting the environment, you crack. So that's why work on your mindset first, training, nutrition, and then sign up for something like that. If this is something you have in the back of your head. As what you want to do for yourself. Yeah, it's something that you want to achieve for yourself. And learn, go there for the journey, learn about yourself, learn, you know, about your body. You need to be connected, mind muscle connection, it has to be there. It's not just a go to the gym and, you know, lift some weights, you know, like it has to have really. Meaning. Yeah, absolutely. I love that. I think that's such a great place to end this podcast, Anna. I think you've shared so much about your journey into bodybuilding and what it has taken you to get to this end result. I just want to say congratulations for the listener. Anna competed in her first competition last weekend prior to this recording. And what categories did you enter and what places did you make it? So, I've entered Sports Model 30 Sports Model Novice, Sports Model Open, and Wellness. And placed fourth in Sports, Open, Sports 30 and fourth, Wellness. Well done, congratulations. That's an incredible achievement. Well done. That's amazing. I just love seeing your photos and how, like, you were just so lit up. Like, standing there with the medals with, you know, Doing your posing. I just loved it. I loved like seeing you on your socials, just celebrating the hell out of your achievement and what you've got to, and just seeing you stand there on stage. I'm like, this girl's nailing it. Like she has improved so much. It's incredible to see that. So congratulations. Thank you. I really do hope that, and I send you so much love and fun and enjoyment for the next two competitions as well, because Hey, if you're not having fun, What are you doing up there? Right. So yeah, I know. Right. Yeah. So I really do send you so much love and so much fun and enjoyment in the next two comps. And yet I can't wait to see what your end results are for those as well. What an amazing experience. Oh, thank you. Thank you. And I thank you for having me and yeah, sharing my journey. Yeah, it's been so much fun. And I'm so, so happy to share this episode with the listeners, because I think you've really sort of, Open up that world of bodybuilding, which like you said, does come with labels, does come with stigma and opinions. And I think what the message I've seen in behind this whole entire conversation and story and journey is that the inner development that's gone on to have helped you reach to this moment in time and how much reflection and dedication it does take to get there in this kind of. athletic environment. So thank you so much for sharing that today. You're welcome. Thank you so much for tuning in and listening to today's episode. Please rate and review this podcast so that it can continue to thrive and reach more listeners. I love to know who my listeners are. So please screenshot this episode and tag me on Instagram at Anna F. Hastie. And I look forward to connecting with you in the next episode.