Making_A_Change’s BodyBlog

This morning I worked back and biceps. I tried to keep reps at around 8-10 with drop sets for my last two sets. I decided to shake things up a bit and not start with lat pull downs. It is my favorite way to begin, but without change and variety there can be no growth. I began with assisted pull-ups and supersetted that with that standing lat-pull apparatus. I also did db rows with 45’s, couldn’t quite do the 50’s, today. I started putting in the bicep curls and some shoulder moves. I made sure to integrate the hammer curl+squat. I really like that move. I feel it in my hip flexors and quads.Eventually, I made my way back to the lat pull down area. I wasn’t feeling particularly strong, but stuck with it. I ended everything with 35 minutes on the stairmill.

Another great full-body circuit. This time, we incorporated more weights and cable work. The jump squats with 5-10 pound dbs was tough! That just means that I need to do them more. My glutes and quads were on fire and my heartrate was way up. Billy wants me to try a session of fasted cardio–well, as fasted as I can do. We are going to start with a 1/2 serving of protein shake and see what it feels like. I remember when I first started getting serious about leading a healthier lifestyle, I did fasted cardio regularly. I didn’t know that that is what is was called, though. I did it it because I didn’t like to eat before I worked out. I felt heavy. Now, I can’t imagine doing it. I’ll give it a try and see what happens.

What a beautiful day! I am off and loving it! My carbs were low and I added a few nuts, which helped with the ‘fuzziness’. Tomorrow, is my Billy day-I’m ready. I am thinking about taking a few progress photos before my carb up day, so that I can do some comparisons. I am getting the ‘you are getting skinny comments’, again. I must be getting lean, again. I try not to let it get to me, but it  does. ‘Skinny’ seems to negate all of your work–it’s so ’simple’. It doesn’t take into account the planning, calculating, experimenting, posing, lifting, sweating, eating, drinking, peeing, logging, training, critiquing, purchasing, etc. It just implies that you ’somehow’ are ‘just losing weight’. But, what I am doing must be working, so I’ll take it.

Tuesday AM: Off; PM: Recumbant bike 35 minutes @ Level 6

This morning I worked chest and triceps. I used the incline bench instead of the flat bench, this time. I did: db presses, flyes, tricep kickbacks (25#,15#,10#), push-ups on dbs (wide-grip). Then, I went to the cables for overhead tricep extensions and regular tricep extensions. I never have a problem getting my chest sore. It doesn’t take much. I take my rest day on Thursdays to rest and recover for Friday’s training sessions. It seems like these Thursdays are coming around alot quicker, lately. Since tomorrow is a day of rest, I am going to try to keep my carbs at around 45 grams. That means just one bowl of oats–boo! I love my oats. I anticipate being pretty flat. But, come Thursday, high carbs–at least 200 grams. I get to start the morning with 1/2 cup of delicious oats and lots of banana! It’s such a treat. And then I get pureed yams with cinnamon. Ah, the things you begin to look forward to.

So far, prep is going well. I feel relaxed, so far. I am hungry only if I do not time my meals right. I have become good at timing my 8 meals so that my last one is at around 9. Then I try to get to bed before I get hungry. My period is on it’s way out and my ‘weight’ is inching back down. I have one more payment on my suit. I’ll be paying that next week. And that will be one less thing to think about. I think the next thing I will do is to get my NPC Card–$85. I feel like I am making alot of progress. I am back on NO+creatine. I am trying liquid creatine instead of the powder. I have been spending alot of time on on siouxcountry.com and had been reading about creatine. The one that I am using has no loading time and claims that there is no bloating. I have only been using in for a few days and could better assess it in a few weeks. Overall, I do feel like my legs are stronger. I am able to do alot more squats, lunges, and press a bit more. It tooks like my quads and hamstrings are becoming more defined and  a bit ‘harder’. Also, it looks like my abs are trying to peek through. I am working them a little more often, as well.

The evening cardio burns. I don’t know if it is the combination of not having pre- and post workout oats or it because it’s the evening. Tonight, I struggled with the last 10 minutes. I got sticky saliva and wanted to quit–I actually got off with 2 minutes to go because I felt nauseous. I got myself together, reduced the speed and finished. That was close. My off day couldn’t have dome soon enough. I am going to have a teaspoon of peanutbutter and go to sleep.

I decided to sleep in this morning and hit shoulders hard this evening. Evening is perfect for cardio. I just grab a machine and that’s it. This evening I had to fight for my space and believe me–I claimed it. I still can’t understand why someone would ‘work in’. I felt a twinge of guilt because these two ladies were waiting for the cable. But I got it, needed it, and claimed that space. I had to look right through them and get the job done. I did lat raises, front raises, and shoulder presses. I super setted with push-ups+shoulder press and regular push-ups.

My back is fine, so that is a relief. Tomorrow morning will be back, biceps, and calves. The evening will be cardio and abs\ I ordered some pull-up bands. I can’t wait to get them and see how they work! I feel ready to meet tomorrow’s workout head on!

Today, was a great leg workout, probably because of the 300 grams of carbs, yesterday. But what really has me motivated is that I met my competition. There is another woman at the gym that I see occasionally, we have a similar build and she’s tall. I decided to talk her, today and see ‘what her sport was’. It’s figure and she’s doing The Contras, too. That’s cool because now I’ll know another person back stage and it gives me an additional kick in the butt. I’ve got to be on my A- game, now. Not only are my bikini bottoms smaller but there is a real person to compete against. I want to win. I want to be get first place in my height class. I have to name it and claim it.

As for the workout:

I got  PB on the leg press: 410#/calf presses; db deadlifts with 40# db (tweaked someting in my lower back; hope it’s temporary); I worked my way up from warm-up sets of 90#. I really need a spotter. I did about 8 sets all together.

Leg extensions (drop sets from 160#; had to use the back rest, today); squats+db wood choppers

split squats (20# db)

hamstring curls (drop sets from 50#)

30 minutes on the stairmill

Tonight, I go back for 40 minutes on the stairmill. I am ready to go!

This morning I focused on my back. I am going back for shoulders and biceps tonight. I should be in and out in about an hour and fifteen minutes. I did:

reverse pull dows/lat pull downs/bent over rows

one-armed seated rows/bb push-ups/deadlifts

one-armed db rows (PB @ 50#); db lat pull over (PB @ 45#)

pull ups (not alot, but working towards  decent set of unassisted pull-ups); leg lifts (3×20) really felt these in the low abs.

30 minutes of posing practice

I posted my 14 week out photos and there is some progress. I can see improvements in my obliques, hamstrings/glutes, and calves (not pictured). Today, I am carbing up on yams and oats! I am about to inhale some chicken, zuchinni, and yams in about 10 minutes. After eating my morning oats, my body literally felt like it was revving. There was a burst of sustained energy. My form was good and I feel like my lifts were good, as well. I am thinking tomorrow will be a leg day.

This morning’s session was no joke. It was shorter, more intense–more leg oriented. There was alot of lunging here and there. And once I got there there was squatting to me done. When it comes to prepping I guess I am a glutton for punishment. My heart rate was up and there were few short breaks. I really enjoy the full body workouts. It’s not what I would have done before, because I didn’t like the idea of being sore all over, but it is great for jump starting the weekend and I just feel like my body is responding to it. More importantly, it’s FUN! It’s challenging! And it’s working!

I ran into a few old co-workers yesterday and they asked how everything was going. I told them about the upcoming shows and their response was–you really love it! I guess it showed. I do love it. I love training with a purpose and a goal in mind. Just when it was getting somewhat stale I decided to compete. And it is like the clouds parted and angels sang. Okay, maybe not that dramatic. But it was certainly an awakening. I enjoyed working out for the health benefits but there is something about competiting that really woke me up. I like that there is no end–you just improve and keep competing. You get better with time and age. You constantly evolve. You can visualize your physical goals and make it a reality. And it transfers into so many areas of your life. I love being able to pick up my 56 pound 5 year with little problem–except on back day. Then it’s a little more difficult. But the point is I’m don’t have to say–you’re a big girl I can’t carry you anymore. I can. And I do.

I my Personal Trainers certification materials arrived yesterday. I am no where near trying to become one. I am hungry for more knowlege, at this point. I want to know why the body responds as it does to training and nutrition, or at least have a general understanding. I bought the ACE course and I am thinking–is this medical school? There is alot to learn. My firm goal is to be certified by the end of the summer. That is about how long it will take me to get through the manual! And July is perfect because I won’t be working and will be preparing for one competition that month.

_______________

Tonight, I complete my 35 minutes of stairmill cardio. I focused intently on my glutes. My legs were incredibly tired and I wanted to quit after around 15 minutes. I talked myself into doing 20, then 25, then 30 and finally got to my goal–35 minutes. I kept telling myself that this is what mattered. I was tired, my legs were fatigued but I kept going. I was pleased with myself. One of the gym regulars came up to me. He usually says something if we are there at the same time–small talk. I was on my last five minutes and he comes up to the stairmill to say hello. He talks a little about his night job and I talk, sweat dripping from every orifice of my face, about the two-a-days that I’m doing. I am doing the kind of sweating that leaves you blind and drips from your lips and elbows. Then he says, "You look so good when you get all sweaty like that". If he weren’t Black he looked like he would have blushed. Then, he tells me to have a good evening, we exchange good-byes and he leaves. That was something.

I woke up bright and early to workout and realized it was Thursday–my off day! I tried to get back to sleep, it was difficult because I felt so rested and so good. It was probably because of the trailmix and [whisper] Ritz crackers. Today, my carbs are low and because there is no workout I can ‘hold onto’ my calories today. My period must be coming–136 pound morning weigh-in. But there is no bloating. I am going to do an additional low day.

I felt really strong this morning. I paired legs with shoulders. And in my supersets, I would do endurance and strength sets. I even managed to fit in 20 minutes of cardio in the form of lunges, squats, and ‘crawling lat raises’. I don’t know what else to call them.

I have decided not to do the May 2nd show. I am really unsure of how to do peak twice. And I don’t want to compromise the second show. That May 9th one is the one that I really want to do well in. There is a bit of relief.

Also…I am hungry. Famished. I cut to around 1650 calories. I was maintaining at 1800 and did a slow cut. I have been doing my post-workout and second cardio sessions regularly now. The previous evenings were’nt so bad. But tonight has been horrendous. We had to go to the grocery store–big mistake. I bought trailmix and had 2 servings–not horrible. But not on the menu and altered my low carb day by 20 grams. I had an ‘emergency turkey patty’ in my purse, so it wasn’t like I wasn’t prepared. The trailmix just looked better and tasted like a dream. I am on my third carb cycle. I was going to type how it was getting easier–but then this ravenous hunger appeared. I am going to see that this through at 1600 and re-evaluate then.

I am going to drink the rest of my water, take my glutamine and take my butt to bed. Tomorrow’s another day to do better. I am going to take this hunger as a sign that my metabolism is burning and I am doing what I need to do. I am definitely going to be leaner. My daughter, who will be 5 tomorrow, said–hey,your booty looks gooo-oood in those pants! I will take that as a sign.