It appears that this blog which is supposed to be about naturopathic medicine is turning into a powerlifting blog, haha. Today, however, I promise to include some naturopathic tidbits in this post.
Lets start at the beginning. Shortly after my regional competition in August I began a new training program in preparation for provincials (brilliantly put together by my partner in crime). I was training 3 times per week while attending my first term of second year at CCNM full-time. Looking back, I still don’t know how I managed. Now, as mentioned in my previous post I was unhappy with my performance at regionals, so this time around I really wanted to address several things that I felt held me back. First off was dieting. I was so overly anxious about making weight that I dieted (poorly) and actually caused myself to lose some strength. Secondly, sleep patterns. Lightweight women are usually the first to compete and thus have to weigh in and lift quite early in the morning. As a night owl, and late-night trainer I really struggled with getting enough sleep the night before and thus being extremely tired on competition day. And, lastly NERVES. I was a nervous wreck last competition to say the least. 
So with those changes in mind I started seeing an intern during the Sports Medicine shift at the naturopathic clinic in my school. It was great to have an appointment every week in which we mainly did body work, such as massage and electro-stimulated acupuncture, to aid recovery and for injury prevention. However what helped most were the additional acupuncture visits I had with her for anxiety and insomnia in addition to using melatonin. I definitely find that I am responsive to acupuncture treatments and really noticed a decrease in my overall anxiety levels. This allowed me to eat better, sleep better, and be completely calm in the face of what would have normally given me an enormous amount of anxiety. Case and point, whatever possible could have gone wrong on the drive to Ottawa did. My partner forgot his registration card delaying our trip right into rush hour, we sat through endless traffic and a huge fire on the side of the road, I missed my initial weigh-in time and had to wait 1 hour to get weighed, giving me less time to warm up, AND I didn’t even make the original weight class I wanted. Normally I know I would have completely freaked out, but I let everything just roll off my back and made the best of every situation. Even my partner couldn’t believe how calm I was.
Well now the exciting part…the RESULTS!! Everything paid off!! I went 9 for 9, hit personal bests and placed first in my junior category but also scored the highest in my overall weight category!! My score was the 6th highest female score in the competition!! Also, I happened to pop on the Canadian powerlifting union website and noticed that out of the top 100 female lifters in 2013…I was #10 (and #23 of all time 100 strongest women)!!! I then realized it wasn’t completely updated, however even if it is just for a few more days it makes me feel absolutely amazing.
I know I trained hard for this competition, but I also know I can accredit a lot of my success to the naturopathic treatments I was receiving. Personally seeing and experiencing the benefits associated with naturopathic medicine makes me excited and hopeful to practice one day and have others see improvement in their conditions and make strides in their health goals!
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