Peace, Love, & Sweat Melanie Gough Fitness & Nutrition

This is 50! 🤯💯😜

Being on this earth for a 1/2 century calls for a bit of reflection…..

I have always been a goal driven person. New Year’s Day is my favorite holiday, because I get to open up a fresh new planner and figure out what I would like to accomplish for the year! 😜

Veterinarian: I wanted this since I was three years old and could pronounce the word. I have absolutely loved the unconditional love pets provide us and would choose no other career! 👩‍⚕️ 🐶 🩺

Wife/Mom: I wouldn’t even date…well, I would date but never commit to being in a long term relationship with anyone until the Veterinarian goal was accomplished! 😜. Your girl knows herself, and balancing a relationship with trying to become a doctor was never going to be in the cards for me! So, once DVM was behind my name, I found an amazing guy through trial and error of course, Chris Gough has been a solid rock in my life since the day we met! 💍

I have two amazing kids….Ruby who is almost 16 and Nolan who is 12. 3 miscarriages one an ectopic pregnancy during this phase….I feel blessed and grateful for them each and every day! 🫶🏽

Fitness/Bodybuilding: let’s face reality…I have a bit of ADD, I love to MOVE. I get anxious sitting still….😜. Fitness has always been a part of my life….from playing sports growing up, becoming a fitness instructor in college, running in vet school, then just plain being a class ju**ie …kick boxing, dancing, spin class thereafter. Now, I am hooked on lifting weights and becoming the strongest version of myself 💪. The aesthetics just happen naturally to get me on stage.

So….looking back, I am proud of myself, I love my life, and I wouldn’t change anything these past 50 years!!!! I have learned and grown so much. Life is GOOD! I am grateful to be alive and healthy every day! Let’s crush another 50 years, shall we?!? 👵 💯😜

Embracing fit model…..

It took me a little of trial and error at the beginning figuring out my division, heck I’m sorry to say I even “poo pooed” the division initially trying it out for the first time to start my season and thinking I had surpassed it!

But……the physiques in fit model are beautiful AND have muscle! 🫶🏽💯💪 The division has already evolved so much from the beginning of the year to now with what the judges are rewarding. It is a new division, so of course it is going to take a bit of time to figure things out!

So…..welcome to my fit model journey…..I still get to train hard, I still get to stay natural, and I don’t have to get as conditioned! My husband and mom both like this! 😂💯😜. Plus, my muscle retention is much better when I’m not pushing the conditioning so hard! Win, win!!!!

Don’t get me wrong it is not EASY-just more obtainable and sustainable!

I also love all of my fit model homies I’ve met along the way showing up in this division! You all inspire me!!!! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

The joy is in the journey! AND the journey can take as long as it freaking wants! I am enjoying it every step of the way…..💯😍✌️

Show: Masters USA
Suit: (the prettiest red out there!)
Heels:
Coach:
Team:
Trainer:
Posing:
Bestie: 💗💗💗

Hair/make up: me!!!!

It takes a village! 😉🫶🏽😍💯

Ending a long season on a high note!

I honestly had a moment during this season where I felt completely lost not knowing where I fit into as a 49 year old, natural, taller athlete…..

I would fair well at local shows, but get to the untested National bikini stage, and get CREAMED!
Do I quit? Join a natural federation?

Then…..it hit me. What are these fit model athletes looking like on the National Stage? When I checked, I liked the physiques! They were rewarding muscle! Yay!!!!

I thought I was one and done with fit model. I tried it to kick off my season, and thought it wasn’t my jam. Why would I want to train less to fit into a division? I’d been working on becoming a bikini athlete for the last 5 years!

Soooo…..first fit model national show (North Americans). I came in much too lean! My feedback was you are a fit model competitor, BUT you came in too conditioned for this show.
Too conditioned? I had never heard that in my life! 😜. I was 💯 okay and accepting of this feedback.

2.5 months later, I had put on about 6 lbs snd it went on my frame pretty evenly! I credit really being adherent to my reverse diet!

This show , I moved up from 5th to 2nd! Placings ARE not everything to me on show day….there are so many other goals and wins to achieve each and every time I step on stage. My goal this show was to really focus on posing! Which helped SO much with my stage confidence and presenting my own PERSONAL best physique!

Sandy’s (head judges) feedback was:
You are a fit model competitor OR a natural bikini competitor! WIN WIN, because I honestly love both divisions! Also, overall filling out my frame with more muscle everywhere. Another win, because I will still get to train hard in the gym! 🫶🏽💯💪

Thank you all for following and supporting my fitness journey! I never thought this bucket list of stepping on stage would turn into such a passionate hobby of mine! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽. Lets GROW!!!! 🪴💪🏋️‍♀️

The joy is in the journey……and I love the journey!!!
I thought I was done this season/year. TWICE 😜
So…this is a testament to reverse dieting WELL ✌️!

The stars aligned (coach saying yes, husband eventually saying yes 😜, and getting work off to do this final show! It’s my very first show, and I feel nothing but 💯 grateful having the opportunity to step on stage one final time this year!

I just love working towards a challenging goal. Even though I’m not genetically blessed for this sport being tall, almost 50 years young, and natural, I am very resilient! It makes the journey that much longer for me! 😂✌️

So…..this one’s to inspire all of my almost 50 years young olds, the tall girls, the moms, the working professionals….you can still achieve the goals you set out for yourself! Just never quit! 🫶🏽💯💗

Let’s gooooooo!!!!!!
Show: Masters USAs
Coach:
Trainer:
Posing: and

About to compete vibes and reflection….

I realized I was getting caught up in placing and competitiveness.
I started to lose the fun if I didn’t place how I wanted to.

I went back to my WHY. The times I stepped on stage for the very first time and had SO much joy not placing at all and the next time getting 5th place! I was SO happy!!!! Forget the placings…. Enjoy the DAMN journey!!!! Have FUN!!!!

Find wins that aren’t a medal around your neck or a piece of cardboard in your hand 😉.

For me…..
I know which day and time to fly to Pittsburgh 🤪. Going there 3 times in one year gives you this experience!

My digestion, my tan, my suit, my division, my posing, my look, my stage jitters…..all IMPROVED!

My physique….maybe I’m not the most genetically blessed individual competing in this sport, BUT I brought my personal best each and every time I stepped on stage this season, had fun along the way, and met some AMAZING new competitor friends!!!!! You vs you!!!!!

With focusing on these wins, I have been able to have longevity in the sport…..don’t forget to smell the roses along the way. ENJOY the JOURNEY!!!!! Have some fun with the process and find the small wins along the way! 🥰🥰🥰

What are your plans post show?
Me……😻😻😻. Lots of kitten cuddles!!! 🥰

In all honesty my home life is a bit of a circus 🤡! With 3 cats, a dog, a husband, and 2 kids who just went back to school and both playing sports ⚽️ ⚾️.

I’m excited to get back to work 👩‍⚕️, get some continuing education under my belt, clean/declutter my house…🤪🏠, and get some overdue date nights in with Chris! We spent our 16th Anniversary at Busch Gardens so we’ve got some making up to do!

AND…..of course I’m excited to start lifting heavy again and put some muscle back in this frame! 💪🏋️‍♀️. It’s a lifestyle at this point and I’m pretty much hooked!

Happy Wednesday all!! Let’s do this living life thang! 😍

Full circle moment….
Back to Pittsburg
Back to Fit Model
Back to wearing a red suit (my favorite! ❤️)
Back to having FUN!!!!!
# 664 tomorrow North Americans!
Lessssss goooooo!!!!!

New addition!

Meet Crumpet! 😻. She is the perfect combination of sweet, playful, and of course beautiful!!!!

The kids have really been enjoying her before they gear up to start school tomorrow.
Life is always a bit chaotic and busy, but having pets always brings the joy and calmness to our lives.

We are now a 3 cat household! 🤪🤪🤪. I guess when you are a veterinarian this is acceptable 🥰🐈👩‍⚕️🐶

Sorry Arrow!!!!
My husband is also a saint for allowing this! ✌️

So dang full of GRATITUDE 🙏!!!!!!

Do you know how AMAZING it is to have this button in my hands right now?!?

It represents so much, and everything it took to get to this EXACT moment.

Not only having my flight cancelled last minute, and being the last competitor to check in with 10 minutes to go, but…..
All of the training, cardio, Tupperware meals….weighing every gram of food for the last 7 months…..

My heart is FULL…..💗

Tomorrow is my final exam, and I already feel like I have won. I have a calmness in my heart knowing I am bringing my own personal best, and as soon as my heel hits that National stage tomorrow will be another win!

I LOVE the circle of support I’ve had from my family, coach, trainer, posing coaches, my bestie 🫶🏽…..if it takes a village to build a physique and perfect stage presence, I can most definitely say I’ve had the most amazing crew! 🩷🩷🩷

So…..last dance of the season is tomorrow and I cannot wait!!!! Let’s goooooooo!!!!!!

# 673, operation Masters Nationals, representing Bikini, 45+ F!!!!!!

Do I really get to snuggle kittens for a living?!?

I freaking love my job all!

Sure, there are hard moments…..stubborn pneumonias, infected toes, and assisting a family and their beloved pet over the rainbow bridge, but all in all, I wouldn’t trade it for the world! 👩‍⚕️

I’m proud of the 3 year old version of me, that got the goal of becoming a veterinarian in her mind! 👧 Once I planted that seed, I persisted until the goal was achieved. 46 years later I wouldn’t do things any different! 🥰

Enjoy your fur babies all!!!! They bring so much joy and happiness into our lives! I am feeling grateful and blessed I get to help so many pets and meet so many dedicated owners on a regular basis! 🥰

12 day out vibes……

It’s my last show for the season y’all!!!

This has probably been the best prep I have ever had. Losing body fat takes time, patience, and some grinding at times to get to the final result. Sure, I have cried a few times and struggled mentally, but have pushed through barriers and stayed persistent. It’s amazing what our bodies are truly capable of!

So…..with that it’s all about time management right now! Working, kids, pets, soccer tournaments, Birthday parties, nails, lashes, hair, packing up and measuring every gram of food I’ll be eating for the next 3 days…….🤪🤪🤪

I am remembering my motto right now that “prep is fun”!!!!! 🤩 I chose this sport and lifestyle and embrace every bit of it!!! 💗💗💗. So……..lessssss go!!!!!!! Back to Pittsburgh for my final exam! No expectations except to bring my own personal best, and apply everything I’ve learned from all of my shows this season! Finding my division…..(bikini vs fit model) 👙, digestion during travel ✈️ , posing 👠, walking to the back 😜, and now to fill out these long, tall girl muscles a bit more for stage!

No matter what happens, I am just plane proud of me!!!! 🩷🙌🏻💯🥰

Stage shots are in from NorCal Championships!

I’m always too chicken to look at my stage shots, so this is the first contest of the year I’ve been brave enough to do so! 😜✌️

I feel like my competition season is just getting started! First shows were figuring out which division I should do: Fit model vs Bikini….we decided on bikini!

Second show my digestion was a mess with flying to Pittsburgh and being a bloated mess….

This show I wanted to fly again to work on my digestion, and all was good! I can’t tell you how much it affects your confidence knowing you have 72 hours of food inside you, and then having to put on a bikini ….😩

Anyways, every show is literally about learning and improving something! So…..4 down and 2 to go! Let’s see what we can work on next!

Results:
2nd 🥈 Masters 45 +
4th Masters 40+ B

Coach :
Team:
Trainer:
Posing coach : with
Suit:
Heels:
Photography:

Make up and hair my me! 😍