FigureH1’s BodyBlog

My show is in 5 days and I’ve started implementing some nice, clean, complex carbs back into my diet consistantly since yesterday and I LOVE IT!  I do not do a super compensation when I start carb loading, my body doesn’t respond.  I take a good 6-7 days and start to slowly bring carbs back in and start healing.  I was so used to that flat, depleted look…it’s nice to see a little fullness coming back!  Yee haw!!  It’s amazing what a little carbs can do for your mental outlook!  I feel good for this show.  I’m about 2-3lbs. leaner than I was at Nationals and that was my goal, so we’ll see how it fairs out.  I’ve done the best I can do, so now I will sit back and enjoy the ride. 

I am typically always happy and upbeat but I sure feel like I’ve been run over by a truck this morning.  I’m 9 days out from my show and after doing a triple yesterday I can’t get rid of my headache, my back is so sore from all the cardio and I feel….well…numb.  I hate this part.  I feel detached from everything.  I will start implementing carbs and taking my workouts down a notch this weekend, so that in itself is encouraging.  I just gotta get through today.  How depressing is this blog????  Nothin’ to it but to do it-I gotta keep perspective.

Ok.  I’m two weeks out and this is my last week to kick it and then it’s all about eating and healing.  I feel this last phase of dieting coming to a close and I have so many mixed feelings.  Am I starting to look to "stringy"?  My physique (meso/ecto) can go that way  easily, as it did at the Arnold this year, and I wasn’t happy with that look.  I’m sure it’s because I’m so depleted and run down, but that doesn’t stop my brain from constantly thinking "is this what the judges are looking for?"  Training and cardio both hurt at this point.  My muscles are so sore and just can’t seem to heal, it’s like a constant feeling of "lactic acid" when I lift.  But, I know it’s coming to an end and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  So now I’m off for another session of cardio.  Happy Sunday.

;)
H

Today was a low carb triple cardio session.  45 min. at 5:30am, 30 min. at noon and I just did my last 45 min. session.  Good lord…my legs are numb.  I cycle carbs, so tomorrow I get some sweet potatoes and brown rice…I can’t wait!!! Bring it!

Well I’m about 2 1/2 weeks out from my show and I’m craving some chocolate chip cookie dough icecream in the worst way!  I could also go for a big ol’ margarita with lots of salt and maybe a stogie to go with it.    Hopefully I’ll have some serious celebrating to do….soon!!!

I had another posing session in Pittsburgh yesterday with Gary Udit and it was GREAT. We fine tuned my stances and I must say, my new posing looks AWESOME!  He was very happy with my level of conditioning I brought yesterday, which is good news considering I’m 3 weeks out.  At this point I just have to make sure I don’t get too "stringy".  And after reading some posts on the forums and speaking with Gary I’ve decided to keep water in me body through prejudging and finals.  I’m not going to dehydrate to the point of drinking zero water like I have in the past for my shows.  I’m sick of looking flat and feeling like crap at a show, so this time, I’m drinking throughout!!!  I’m getting soooo excited!!!  Only 3 weeks to go!!!

The North American Show is over two days (Friday night and Saturday morning).  Any suggestions on how I carry my dehydration over two days?  I typically cut water by 6-8pm the night before for a Saturday morning show and I only sip a little throughout the day into the finals.  I cut all sodium a week out and take dandeloin root.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

H

Well I’m officially 4 weeks out from the North Americans and had a minor set back 3 days ago.  I have a disk that is degenerative in my L5/S1 and gets herniated easliy if I’m not careful.  Well, I wasn’t careful on Thursday and it popped right out.  I cried for two hours.  I think it was the pain coupled with the emotions of being 4 weeks out from a show and not knowing what the next few days/weeks would be like for me.  I’ve been to physical therapy so I have a really good exercise which helps "push" the herniation back into place.  My dr. called me in some painkillers which allowed me to sleep, but I sure hate that feeling of "grogginess" the next morning.  It’s hard enough feeling low from dieting and working out and then you throw a vicoden on top of that and I felt like a zombie!  I was depressed for about a day and knew I needed to deal with it mentally and physically.  I’ve learned through the years to position my body in ways that leave my lower lumbar region out of the "mix" so it doesn’t take the workload of the exercise I’m doing.  Of course, this isn’t easy, the low back is the main stabalizer muscle for just about everything, but I’ve managed to concentrate on my upper traps, rhomboids and abs to take control.  Two days after my injury I took a muscle relaxer and naproxen and was able to get through 45 minutes of cardio and a shoulder workout.  I sat down on a bench for my entire shoulder routine for extra support.  I got through it.  Day by day at this point.  I can’t dwell on what I can not change, I can only push myself through the pain which will subside with each passing day.  The good news is the numbness shooting down my legs from a nerve being pinched from the herniation is gone!  Today is a new day and I’m ready for more.

:)
H

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