Cnstnce’s BodyBlog

Have you ever felt half-way through your contest prep like just giving up.  I called Rich to try to get some perspective, but he’s my trainer, not a psychiatrist, who am I kidding?  I just feel drained in so many ways.  I am trying to get settled on a job, that hasn’t been the easiest of battles.  I really want to be involved with someone and that isn’t working out either.  So between un-employment and being single, it is safe to say that I have been really, really bored.  Add in some contest prep to anhiliate my social life, and well….I feel like giving up.  Anyone got anything uplifiting for me?

So for those of you who already know me and have seen my old progress pics, you may be a bit surprised to see that they are all gone.  Instead I have put up pre-contest prep pics taken by my trainer.  I have decided that since I am getting more and more serious about this sport that it is time to put away the ab pics in my panties and get serious about the whole physique.  I hope that you can see the work that I have put into the last 12 weeks, I know I am really happy about it.  I look forward to posting the continuance of my pre-contest prep and getting feedback from all of you.  I have also started a journal that you can access through my mainpage to track my workouts.  I hope everyone is achieving all the goals they have set out for themselves, I know these results make me feel really good.  Good Lifting All! 

Ok so I am going to post some before and afters here too.  I want people to see my 12 weeks of building progress side by side and I am so hungry for feedback.  Good or bad.  I just want to win in 15 weeks and need to tweak whatever needs tweaking.  Leaning out is a given, so you don’t have to tell me that, but what parts of my physique need the most work in your opinion.

Can anyone out there see the changes that I have made in 14 months?  I’m just curious.

Ok so the date is set, I have been evaluated, photographed, and adjustments have been made.  I would love to post the pics on here as progress pics, but I am not proud of them at all and this really annoying girl has been sending trash comments on my page.  They have been erased and I have decided to not waste my time on such an ignorant person, I don’t need the cortisol.   So when I have progress I will post my pics as before and afters, but until then I won’t.  See the camera doesn’t lie in front of a white wall like that, and they are not something I am extremely proud of.  Great jump off point for me though.  I learned yesterday that posing is a lot harder than I gave it credit for.  I have a great deal of work to do. 

Tomorrow I am supposed to go to the gym in shorts and a sports bra to be evaluated by my trainer.  I’m a little nervous to have all my flaws and weaknesses pointed out to me, but excited that I am officially entering a pre-contest prep.  One step closer to putting myself on stage…wish me luck.  I’ll take pictures and post them tomorrow.

So this post is really a question.  I guess I could take this to the forum, but I’ll try this medium first.  I am in a gaining program intended to help me gain strength and size, and I am having an inner struggle.  This being my first time at attempting this feat, I just wonder how much cardio do I really need to do.  When a person goes into a cutting phase its easy to say, "fasted cardio" or advise them to do cardio after they lift to maximize the amount of fat burned, but for a gainer?  I wake up thinking I should go do cardio before work and put myself back to sleep thinking, "gains, gains, gains."  Doesn’t feel right.  I try to get some done before or after my workout, but again, I don’t want to over or underdo it and end up slowing down progress.  I know we all hate cardio, but let’s be honest, we gotta do it.  So any advice would be fantastic.

 On that note, what’s up with MF Hers?  Why do you show women on the cover that have all the right muscles and look amazing, but your covers are strictly on fat loss?  Meanwhile the men’s MF is all about gains.  I would love to see a gains program intended for females, because the idea of eating 4000 calories doesn’t sit pretty.

Ok I have finally decided that I will be competing in the INBF Cardinal Classic October 18, 2008 here in Ohio.  Now that I have a date I can begin with a realistic timeline.  Stressful, but really excited.  I really want to take my first show by storm, I hope I have all the amo!

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone that has been sending me love lately.  I have been feeling insane amounts of support from the BB community and it has reminded me of why it is that I do this in the first place.  It’s the feeling.  The knowing that you are doing something positive for yourself, and that no one can take that away from you.  The days go by and I know that I am getting stronger, healthier, leaner, and more whole.  I am really looking forward to the Arnold where I will be meeting a great deal of BB.comers and cannot wait.

 In the meantime, I am still working on increasing the size of my back.  It turns out that my chest is lacking too, so I will do my best to work on that as well.  My diet just went up 300 calories (woo-hoo!) so I hope to start seeing more significant gains as the next 4 weeks go by.  Thanks for checking in.

I had my first workout with Rich Lauro today, and I am here to sing his praises.  No really, Rich is confident, knowledgeable, patient, friendly, and very professional.  If anyone in the Columbus area is looking for a trainer I encourage you to meet him.  WWW.Richbodyfit.com  My partner and I went in for a back workout with him today and later on she and I had trouble sitting through a movie because our backs were so sore.  A+ Rich, I didn’t have to throw up and I got the soreness that tells me I am growing.  Couldn’t be happier.