Char’s Journey

After the NPC I took 2½ weeks of my diet. I didn’t go crazy, but I still managed to gain 25lbs in 10 days. I know it’s only waterweight, but still 2 days after I returned home, I started my diet again for the Danish Nationals on sep 21st. The goal is to get an even harder look than at the NPC. I also decided have changed my workout routine. I have reached a decent size on my upper body, and as a figure competitor, I have to be carefull not to get to big. So I do a curcuit on my upperbody every tuesday and thursday doing 10-12 reps, 2 exercises per musclegroup. On mondays, wednesdays and fridays, I do legs. I go light, heavy, light, heavy.. etc. doing 10-12 reps or 20-30 reps. I feel that I get a better workout this way, and it was time for change. However, next year will be a little different. I have applied to "The Art & Culinary Institute of Ft. Lauderdale", so from july 14th of next year, I’ll be a student in Florida. I’m getting a associate in "Baking & Pastry", so I wonder how it’s gonna be, doing that and diet for a show at the same time.. well, I guess I’ll take the first test on the 30th of this month when I have to make a cake for 40 people at a christening, and I can’t even taste any of it. Well, I’ll post a pic of the cake when the time comes..   

So I did the NPC. I weight in at 133,4lbs and in my best shape ever. But unfortunately I didn’t even make into the top 5. Apparently I am to muscular, which makes no sense. They picked the girls with "thick" legs and skinny upper bodies. Looking at the pics from the show, my arms are twice the size of the rest of them. Well, we where all talking about it backstage, and none of us could figure out what the judges where looking for. And asking them didn’t solve the mystery. I asked 3 different judges and got 3 different aswers. When I look at the girls doing national level in figure, they are way more muscular than the girls than won the show. A lot of the girls including myself, and also some of the BB’s on saturday, felt that we got screwed big time. But I guess that I just have accept what happend and prepare for the next show in 9 weeks. But I had a great time at the show, I met some really nice girls and had a lot of fun. Thats important too!!

Only 6 more days before showtime.. Omg I’m excited. My weight this morning was 139.9lbs.. All I need now is to drop the water and carb those muscles up, and I’m ready to go. I am getting ready to go to Florida tomorrow, packing my bags and trying to remember everything. My flight is at 7.30pm, and its going to be a long day. I fly Copenhagen-London-Chicago-Miami. Because of the 6 hours time difference, I have 5 hours between meals. I cut out all carbs from tonight so I’ll probably be so tired tomorrow that I’ll sleep most of time I’m meeting with my trainer first thing monday morning so we can schedule the final 5 days. It’s getting so close and I I am sooooo ready

I’m getting closer and closer and more and more excited. I dialed in this morning at 144,7lbs. I have been aiming for 140lbs stage weight. I know that during the final week I’ll lose around 4-6lbs of waterweight. I can now tell that I have done my homework this off-season. I basically took all the frustration and sadness regarding my dads death, and put it into my workouts. I have had some amazing kick a** workouts, so my dad is partly to blame for my progress this year.. Thanks dad… I love you… I look bigger and leaner this year. So last year I was 140lbs and 5.5%bf on stage, compared to this year where it looks like I’ll be around 138lbs and 5%bf. I might not sound like a lot, but in the mirror there’s a big differents. And also I have never recieved so many nice comments on my physique as I do now. My body has matured a lot over the years due to training and dieting, and it adapts so easy when I start dieting for a show. And also I haven’t had extreme food cravings like I have had the last couple of times. Don’t get me wrong, I do miss my oatmeal, Oreo’s, Reeses, my home made cakes, chocolate, B&J, a big juicy steak and SUSHI…. But there will be a time …LOL.. But right know I’m just counting the days

It just seems like I cant get below 148lbs, and that is so darn frustrating. Its probably due to the change of diet and some water retention from my daily creatine intake, but still However its not the first time I get stuck at that weight. It happens every time I diet, the weightloss magicaly stops at 148lbs for a week or 2, and then it starts to drop again. The mirror tells me that I’m right on track and I’m making progress, so I shouldn’t worry. But I guess its only natural with a little pre-contest panic even though I’ve done it before :)

I just had the most amazing weekend. On friday I left work early, went to the gym, then home, packed my meals and my bird, and drove to my vacationhouse on the island. Saturday morning I went for my PW, and its just so awesome to walk outside sourrounded by green acres, horses, cows and sheep, and just breath in the fresh air. I do it early, so the smell of cow-pooh hasn´t kicked in yet  Also summer has finally arrived, so its nice and warm. Then back to the house to do..well…abosolutely nothing My mom came to the house around 6pm, and we just spent some quality time together. All day saturday and most of sunday, I just spent doing nothing. Just reloading and recovering from another great week of awesome workouts. So when I woke up this morning, ready to do my morning cardio, I felt refreshed and ready to kick butt at the gym. I changed my diet on saturday, and have now entered the 3rd and final fase. I have replaced one of my meals with fish, so now I have Tilapia, 3 meals out of 5. The funny thing is though, no matter how much I eat of that fish, I never get tired of it. I have reduced my carbs and increased my protein, so lets see what happens this week. The only thing I actually crave while dieting, is my offseason morning portion of oatmeal with apple, raisins and cinnamon That I miss…

Only 44 days left, and I’ll be back on stage. Omg, I can’t wait. I only have 8 more lbs to lose , and I’m in my best shape ever. I recieve compliments on my physique every day, and that sure helps me stay motivated, energized and ready to go on stage, kick some serious butt and take that gold medal On friday this week, I enter the 3rd and final stage on my diet. I’ll be decreasing carbs and increasing my protein. That is when I enter my "blond fase" Well, if it was that easy, more people would be competing, right!! That last fase is a killer and a def. challenge, but that is what separates winners from loosers. I just love to see the changes in my body, and I’m still amazed on how you can manipulate and shape your body with the right diet and exercise. Also I can’t wait to go back to Florida. It’s like my second home, and I miss my friends so much. My mom will join me in Florida for about 1 week, so she can see me compete. She is just so sweet Well, I better get back to work, so I can finish up and hit the gym. It’s delts and abs today (and of course cardio).

This have been a very emotionel week for me. My dad past away in august last year, and we just sold his house. I have 3 sisters, and I couldn’t have asked for better siblings. The past weekend, we started to empty the house, and that was just so hard on all of us. I know that my dad is gone, but I haven’t realized it yet. However, I think that when we close the door to his house for last time, knowing it doesn’t belong to our family anymore, reality is going to hit hard. I did meet the couple that have bought the house, and they are just so nice, so that helps alot. Since my dad got sick in february last year, I have used all my sadness and frustration at the gym. I have had some kick-a** workouts, and the hunger for getting on stage and kick butt, have never been been bigger. My dad never saw me compete, so I want him to be proud of me when I walk up on stage in july. And I know he will

Diet is going well. It is just so weird how my body respond to my diet. My body will resist losing anything for 5-6 days, and I’ll even gain a little weight. But after 5-6 days, my body finally realize that I mean buisness, and drop 1-2 lbs. And the circle goes on and on My weight this morning was 150.5 lbs, so the next couple of days I’ll probably gain 0.5-1 lb. And then by monday or tuesday it will drop. I still have all my strenght and energy at the gym, and I get all the support I need from the people around me. So basically I can’t complain

Ok, so now that I have activated my blog, I probably should write something too

I am currently getting ready for the "NPC southernstates figure championship" on july 11th. I entered last year for the first time and placed 5th., which was much better than I expected. So this year I feel that I am in much better shape, and I can see a big improvement compared to last year. Need to say that I am aiming for 1st. this year I’m 8 weeks out, 152,7 lbs and 11% bf. I plan on losing another 12-14 lbs, and I am right where I want to be, and I feel more than ready. I just cant wait to get back on stage and kick some butt My diet is high protein, low carb and low fat. I have tried different diets, all kind of variations, but this is what works for me. My trainingschedule look like this:

Mornings, mon-sat: 60min cardio on empty stomach.

mon: Chest & abs + ½ hour low intensity cardio

tues: Back + ½ hour low intensity cardio

wed: delts + ½ hour low intensity cardio

thur: bi’s & tri’s & abs + ½ hour low intensity cardio

Fri: legs + ½ hour low intensity cardio

Sunday: OFF

Its funny how my energy level changes from day to day. One day I’m excausted, and the next I am bouncin´ around. I just think it’s so freakin’ awesome how I can fell my body respond to the diet, and see the changes from day to day.

I’ll keep you all posted as I get closer to my show.