ACutAbove06’s BodyBlog

Did a whole hell of a lot of leg exercises.  I got to the gym and didn’t feel like even being there.  Once I got into it and started pushing around big weights I felt a lot better.  My stamina still isn’t 100%, but my strength is there.  I can’t believe how strong I am after 15 weeks of dieting.  
I’ve been receiving a lot of positive comments regarding my recent pics that have been posted.  That’s so motivational to me.  It’s things like that, that keep me going.  
So thank all of you for everything that’s said.  I really do appreciate it.  Being this far into contest dieting you need every little thing you can get to motivate you.  Positive comments really help a lot!

Yesterday was my first "normal" day of training since the beginning of December.  I did DC training for 90 days and it went well.  The only problem I ran into yesterday is my stamina isn’t what it once was.  There’s that and the fact that I’m extrememly sore today.  I had an amazing workout, but it really kicked my butt.  
After my "test" week it feels really good to get back on my diet.  I never realized the things I took for granted until I did that.  I really missed gum, crystal light and some other additives that I couldn’t have last week.  It really put things into perspective for me.  Now I know what to expect.  Any and all nervousness I had before is gone now.  I’m ready to do this.  My next few weeks of workouts are going to fly by and it’ll be March 24th before I know it.

Ok, the week of hell is over.  The depletion went well.  The posing went well Saturday morning.  My trainer and I got together and made plans on how I could be more dialed in for my show.  Over the next 3+ weeks my training will be changing.  I’ve been using the DC method for training since early December and it’s produced amazing results.  Now I will go back to a more traditional style of training for my final weeks leading up to show time.  
I’m very happy that we did a test run on my "1 week out".  That really gave me an idea of what to look for and what to expect.  Now that I’ve done that all of this seems real.  I’m looking very forward to what is yet to come.  I would have to say that since this week I’ve been more excited about doing this contest than nervous.  Here we are in the home stretch…..

Day one of carb loading is over.  Eating that many carbs in one day was insane.  During my last meal I was wondering how I would ever be able to eat another sweet potato again.  LOL.  The beauty of carb loading is that you are never hungry.  During this test week I need to do everything I can to stay exactly on point and follow my diet to a T.  I drank 2.5 gallons of water yesterday.  Today I will be drinking a gallon and that it.  Since I normally drink so much water I will have to ration out this gallon to last me all day.  Then at 12pm tomorrow I begin my water depletion.  I think for me that’s going to be the hardest.  More to follow….

After being carb depleted for 3 days I finally get some carbs!  I’ve been really down the past few days.  When you are carb depleted if found out you go through a lot of emotional ups and downs.  I wouldn’t say the last 3 days carb depleting have been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it wasn’t the easiest either. 

For the next 3 days I will be carb loading.  I have a feeling this will be the better part of this week.  Or at least I hope so.  Friday at 12pm I begin water depleting.  Not really sure how that’s going to go since normally I drink 2-3 gallons of water a day.  All of this is a  challenge with an end result.  In the end I want to know that I gave it 110% and get the best end result that I can get.  More to follow….

Here we are….day 3 of 27 grams of carbs per day.  The first day went well.  The 2nd day even went ok.  I did go to the gym and did an all body workout excluding legs and abs, trying to remove all the glycogen out of my muscles.  I did light weight, 1 set and 40 reps.  I felt run down yesterday.  I wasn’t hungry at all until about 10pm.  I don’t think that was real hunger as much as it was boredom. 

Looking in the mirror this morning I’m looking very flat.  However, my mid section to include abs and obliques looks great.  Having no carbs and drinking 2.5 gallons of water a day really ends up drying you out.  I really like that!  I would like to be fuller and dry but I will have to wait until Saturday for that.  Stay tuned….

Here we are nearing the home stretch.  This week is being used for me test carb deplete/ carb load.  I started on Sunday and only had 1/2 c. oats for my carbs.  The rest of my day consisted of protein and veggies and a lot of water.  We are into day 2 and I feel pretty good so far.  It’s only 8:50am though.  I still have a long day ahead of me.  
Today I’m going to the gym and I’m going to knock out a few exercises of light weights and about 40 reps.  I’m not going to be hitting legs or abs this week.  I’m still going to be posing, but not holding poses real tight.  Wednesday I begin my carb up, Friday I begin my water deplete.  This is going to be a very long week….

I know I haven’t posted in a while.  This is mostly due to me being lazy about doing it.  I’m getting ready for a test carb deplete/ carb load next week.  On Saturday February 24th I will post pictures.  I don’t see much of a need to do it now as I will be looking shredded and contest ready next week.  I want to give a preview of what is to come on March 24th.  Stay tuned….