As I get ready to leave for my two week adventure to Cuba and El Salvador, I thought why not sit down and make a fun post about what a judoka, GIRL, decides to pack for competition and training.

I leave for Cuba this Tuesday, for the first Grand Prix of the Olympic Qualification period, I compete on Saturday and then I will return to Miami for a few days of training and then fly to San Salvador, El Salvador for the continental open/ World Cup.  This will be my 5th consecutive year competing at this tournament. Out of the 4 times I have competed here, I have come home with three medals, 2010, silver, 2012, gold, and I got a bronze last year in 2013!

The most important thing I am bringing on this trip besides my bikini, is my Kusakura competition gi's, belt, and knee braces. I usually pack these items in my carry- on just in case my baggage gets lost on the journey down there- it has happened to me a few times and as long as I have my gi, then that is really all I need. The main thing for me when I am at a competition, is comfort. If I am wearing a gi that I am not used to, then I won't feel right when I am fighting.

 

 

Usually in South America they carry coconut water, but I always pack a few bottles of coconut water to rehydrate with after I weigh-in. I love zico coconut water!  I usually bring about 3 or 4- depending on how many competitions I am going to.

 

Then I got to figure that I am going to be working out a lot, so I need to make sure I pack enough work -out attire! For a two week long tour I usually try and bring 6 tops and 6 bottoms, I figure I will be working out before the competition and then I have a few days in between competitions where I will probably be working out twice a day. It sucks that I am going to have to re-wear some of the sweaty clothing items, but its all part of the sport. If you can't deal with sweat, than take up Ping-Pong or something like that.

( even though I am pretty sure I can get a sweat on playing Ping-Pong)

Throw my sneakers in there because I am sure I am going to do a little running for weight management/ weight cutting for my competitions. The best part is when you pack all your work-out clothes and gi's into your suitcase and have security look through your clothes on the way home! EWW Gross! Right?!

I also have to make sure I bring all my TEAM USA/USA Judo attire. Hate to say this but not a fan of the team outfits. They aren't exactly the most fashionable but I am on this trip to represent the USA, so I am always proud to wear the red white and blue!  Also got to make sure I bring a couple cute outfits, you never know what, where or who you are going to see, and I feel like you always should be prepared in any given situation.

 

 And the most important part- Snacks!! At a lot of these competitions we have room and board, and our fed three meals a day, which means I am often super hungry in between those three meals a day! My essential and numero uno snack is Peanut Butter! It's my obsession! I love it! and it's a good energy source and it's perfect to take a spoonful of it and then go! I also can't forget to bring my assortment of protein bars, or what my coach likes to call "dirt bars". I like to buy an assortment of flavors because you can get pretty sick of the "Chocolate Protein Bar" very fast. I prefer to by the cliff protein bars, and the mint chocolate chip flavor isn't too bad.  Sometimes I bring packets of the organic flax seed oatmeal, in case the hotel doesn't offer a quality breakfast

 

I also can't forget to bring my beauty supplies, you know shampoo and conditioner, mascara, lotion, A RAZOR, etc... even though I am on MISSION KICK ASS and spending most of my time competing and working out- I still like to sometimes feel and look like a girl!

I usually also bring a book-bag/ or what I like to call my "entertainment bag"! Usually throw in the book the book that I am currently reading, the new issue of Cosmopolitan because instead of 100 new sex tips this issue will have 101!!!!! Throw in a couple People magazines, my iPhone, some jolly ranchers and my laptop and then I guess you can say we are good to go!!

 

and of course my bags are pink :)