COMPETE 2 WIN!!!!

In 5 weeks I’ll be on stage listening to a judge say,  "quarter turn to the right, quarter turn to the right".  This morning I weighed in at 133 1/2 pounds, which is a 4 1/2 pound weight loss since last Saturday.   I’m really happy about that!!!

This week has been the hardest week thus.   My body is really feeling the pain and just doesn’t know what to do.  Three nights this week I woke up in the middle of the night with unbearable pain in my stomach.  A very hot sensation, like heart burn, but in my stomach.  My conclusion is that the digestive juices have absolutely nothing to digest so it’s digesting the linning of my stomach.  Being that I’m not a doctor, I have no ideal if that’s correct or not, but that to me is just basic common sense.  On two nights I was able to calm my stomach down by drinking water.  Last night I gave in and had a protein shake.  The sensation subsided some and I was able to fall back to sleep, but as soon as I woke I experienced the same sensation.  I’ll continue to monitor this situation very closely because I do not need an ulcer.

On a more positive note, although my body is feeling the pain, it is working like a well oiled  tuned machine.  It’s done everything I’ve asked it to do.  I’ve been able to get my 2 sessions of cardio the last 11 days straight as well my weight training.  This past Thursday, I woke up with a headache.  I still did my AM cardio session.  But I noticed that if I was not lying down I had a headache.  I walked around with a headache all day Thursday.  I’m very in tune to my body and I feel this was a wake up call and my body was saying, "I’ve pushed, and pushed, and pushed, but I need a rest."  I made the decision to rest Thursday evening.  It was a hard decision to make b/c I’m always thinking there is another competitor who trained through all the pain, but to me one day of rest isn’t going to break me, and if it is, I didn’t need to be on stage anyway!!!! I woke up Friday morning feeling much better and I haven’t had anymore headaches so I’m assuming that I was exhausted.  I have no regrets about the decision I made.

I went to see my trainer on yesterday.  He’s pleased with my progress and feels that I’ll come in right on point in 5 weeks.  He’s added another session of cardio.  So now I will be doing a 5:30AM Cardio session ( 1hr, on an empty stomach).  I’ll return to the gym between 1-2pm for weights and another cardio session (this session will be 30-45 minutes, THANK U JESUS!!!), Then I’ll return that evening around 9PM to complete my final cardio session for the day which will be 1 hr. 

This week I start my posing lessons with the GURU Poser for this area.  I worked with him 8 years ago when I was preparing for this show.  So I’ll see him on Tuesday and Thursday for 30 minutes.  And probably for the next 3 weeks, 2x a week. 

I’ve made the final decision on suit design, color, and stone work for my 1-piece suit.  I’m really excited about that.  So, that should be completed within the  next 3 weeks or so.

Below are my measurements.  I was really surprised to see how many inches I’ve lost since my last measurement on August 22.   This was further confirmation that I’m dropping the body fat. 

8/22/07                     
              Today, 9/29/07

Breast 36 1/2                     Â
 Â Â Â Â  34

Waist 29 3/4                     Â
 Â Â Â Â Â  27 1/2

Low Ab 32 1/4                     Â
 Â Â 29 3/4  (I call that my kangaroo pouch!!!)

Hips 36 1/2                     Â
 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 35

Bicep 12 1/2                     Â
 Â Â Â Â Â Â  12

Quad 21 1/4                     Â
 Â Â Â Â Â Â  20 1/2  

Calf 13 3/4                     Â
 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  13 1/2

My goal for week 5 is to stay focused.  Continue to do the diet, cardio, weights, and 800-1k crunches. Amazingly, I’ve developed a liking towards ab work that I have never had before…I just pray I come in tight, tight, tight, b/c my abdominal area is where I tend to hold all of my water!! I’m also praying more than ever.  I’m soooo irritable and I hate that b/c that’s not my typical personality.  I’ve isolated myself more to prevent from being rude to people.  At work I pray really hard, b/c no matter what I have to be professional!!

Anywho, that was week 6 in a nutshell!!! WEEK 5 HERE I COME!!!!!!!

This past Friday made it a week on the new diet.  I have lost 5 pounds in the last 7 days.  This morning I weighed 138 pounds. 

The diet is a killer.  I’m definitely feeling the pain now.  I find myself sleeping more b/c I just feel drained, plus I don’t have to endure the hunger pains when I’m sleep.  I try not to sleep more than 2hrs. during the day. 

My routine is pretty simple.  Cardio, home/sleep, weights/cardio, home/sleep.  Fortunately my job isn’t that demanding, so on a bad day I may have to dedicate 4-5 hours working.   Other than that, my life is pretty much pre-occupied with the diet and training.  And I swear I’ve looked at 1000’s of figure pics.  Anywho, 6 weeks left!!!

What comes to your mind when you see the word discipline?  I swear the discipline it takes to prepare for a show is so intense it’s crazy.  This time around what I’ve learned is that if I took this type of discipline and applied it to all aspects of my life I would be unstoppable!!!

The last 5 weeks have been an experience.  And I’ve noticed that each day that passes I’ve become more focused and I’ve actually surprised myself at just how disciplined I’ve become.  I did this before 8 years ago but I don’t remember being any where near as focused as I am today.  I’ve matured greatly since then and this experience has really made re-evaluate other aspects of my life…which I’ve been doing anyway since the beginning of this year. 

Anywho, I’m just rambling now.  I’m off today so I’ve  been home all day just thinking, resting, and preparing myself for my 2nd work out for the day.       

Well, here it is 7 weeks out.  Mentally, I’m feeling pretty good.  Didn’t have too much self doubt this week.  I’ve lost 4.5 pounds in 7 days which is the most I’ve lost in a week since I started the contest diet 6 weeks ago.  When my trainer changed my diet my body really responded…I was loosing inches, but not any substantial weight on the scale..so it was nice to see the scale move.  This morning the scale was going back and forth between 141.5-142.   Today a friend told me I looked like a crack head..lol..I told if she thought I was skinny now, I hate for her to see me in 7 weeks!!

Not much to say about the diet.  I’m just following it.  I know it in my sleep.  At any given point of the day I know what I have left to eat and I don’t even have to look at the clock anymore.  The cravings are crazy.  I’m craving food I haven’t ate since under-grad and living on campus.  For the last two days I’ve been craving a balogne and cheese sandwich with doritos.  I swear I haven’t had that since 1994-95..now that’s just crazy!! Before that I was craving quesadillas and a margarita…another meal I don’t eat too often. 

7 weeks out.. The goal is to maintain what I’ve been doing.  Training daily, cardio 2x a day, 800-1k crunches per week (I say crunches…but I’m actually doing a variety of ab moves), and getting plenty of rest. 

My friend is coming over tomorrow morning to take some progress pics. If the weather is still nice, I plan to take a ride on my 2s out of town, so I’ll post them when I get back Sunday evening.

Take care!! Week 7, here we go!!!

Now I’m ready for posing practice!!

Eight weeks from today I’ll be doing last minute touch ups to hair, make-up, and more than likely applying bikini grip to make sure my suit doesn’t move!!  I swear it doesn’t seem like 5 weeks of dieting and training have already gone by.

Yesterday I went to see my trainer.  Although he could tell I’ve leaned out some, my BF is not coming down fast enough.  So, he made some serious changes to my diet.  I had only had my 1st meal and he told me to start the new diet immediately.  Needless to say, I lost 1 1/2 pounds in 24 hours.  So, I’m thinking with this new diet, cardio 2x a day, and my weight training I should have no problem dropping this weight.  I was a little discouraged two weeks ago b/c I felt the weight wasn’t coming off fast enough.  To see my body respond so fast gives me some hope.  All of the monounsaturated fats I was getting has now been deleted.

Everyone is asking me when I’m going to upload new progress pics.  Well, there are two reasons why I haven’t posted any…1, I’d like to actually have some progress..what’s the use of adding a new pic if I look the same?  2, I have to get someone over here to take my pics!!! If I was thinking (which has become harder to do with the diet) I would have had my trainer take a few pics on yesterday. 

GOALS FOR WEEK 8!!

CARDIO 2x a day, every day (even on weekends) for 1 hr. , 1 hr. has to be on the Stairmill, which is the most painful piece of cardio equipment I have ever been on in my life.  The 2nd session either on the treadmill set on an incline or stationary bike.  Last week I did 11 cardio sessions.  5 days I did cardio 2x a day, 1 day 1 cardio session, and the other day I was exhausted and didn’t do anything.  Trainer says, “nooooooo days off, you only have 8 weeks!!!”   Isn’t he hillarious? 

WEIGHT TRAINING Train all body parts atleast 1x per week.  That’s realtively easy, never had a problem with the weights.   I’ve started to add a few shoulder & back movements in  on leg days.  Long story, I’ll have to tell you why I’m doing that in another blog.

DIET  Stay on the diet.  This is easy.  I live alone so nobody bringing contraband food to the house!!! All of those close to me know what I’m doing.  No one is asking me to go out to dinner, etc.  One friend even said I could bring my diet food with me to the movies, LOL! I’d hate to open up a ziploc bag full of egg whites….I’d run errrrybody up outta there!!  I went to a bowling party last weekend and everyone had something to say, but they were supportive.  Funny thing is I can’t smell them.  Cut out all artificial sweetners.  I’ve heard that splenda and equal can cause bloating.  I’m going to see how my body responds w/o it. 

MENTAL Stay focused.  When I am physically exhausted sometimes self doubt and anxiety can easily creep in.  I’ve found what works best for me is studying pictures from previous shows, talking to other ppl who are also preparing for a show, and when I don’t feel like do something I tell myself that another person got up and trained even though they didn’t feel like it.  That one always works. 

Week 8, here I come!!!

 

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today at 11:00. I hope he’s happy with my progress. If he is, he probably won’t tell my anyway! Overall, I’m happy with my results. I’ve leaned out a great deal in my arms and back. The abs are fighting for dear life. Seems like my body enjoys having adipose cells live there!!! I can’t really see much improvement at all….problem area is an under statement for my abdominal area! I pray as my BF continues to go down my abs will begin to show. Anywho, I’ll let ya know how it goes!!

PROCRASTINATE- my earliest memory of this word was in the 5th grade. It was a new vocabulary word that stayed on the Bulletin board outside the cafeteria door for a week.  For several reasons over the years this one word has stuck with me more so than any other word.  Why, because I tend to wait to the last minute to do things on a regular basis.   Why, because I’ve always wrote the best papers/projects at the last minute, otherwise I’d have writers block and become frustrated and stop anyway.  I would have all the research done, but to complete the actual paper, was always done the night before.  Over the years I’ve procrastinated on other things in life….seems like the stress of having to get it done now works better for me. 

With that being said, I’m pretty upset with myself right now.  Here it is 3:15AM Thursday morning and I did not work out at all on Wednesday.  The last few days have been hard for me physically and mentally.  Although I’ve been exhausted and experienced plenty  self doubt I’ve been able to push through.  I’ve stayed on my diet and I continued to hit the gym like I was suppose to.  This breakdown started to hit me last Saturday.

On Wednesday I procrastinated all day.  I did not get up for my 5:00AM cardio session b/c I still had the company car from the night before and sh*t, I just felt like sh*t.  My hamstrings and back are tight and I’m just tired!! Well, when I got up to return the car at 7:00AM I decided to return home and get some more rest.  All day Wednesday I stayed on the computer going back and forth between Myspace, Bodyspace, as well as chat’n on IM with friends on Yahoo.  By Wednesday afternoon I had become tired and took a nap in preparation for work that evening.  I usually have a few home visits and by 8PM I’m done for the night. 

Long story short, I completed my home visits at 7:00PM.  I had it all planned out to go to the gym after the Venus Williams’ tennis match.  Well, an emergency came up at work and guess what? I’ve been at work since 9:00PM, didn’t even get to finish watching the tennis match.  I’m still here amd don’t expect to leave until about 5:30AM.

Today I learned a very valuable lesson.  I CAN NOT PROCRASTINATE WHEN IT COMES TO MY TRAINING.  I can’t procrastinate just b/c I THINK I have  time do it later.  I had from 8AM-5PM to hit the gym today.  Although my job is relatively quiet in the evenings (I work by pager from 5PM-8AM, and tonight I was on backup) I should never depend on that time as gym time. It should only be a bonus if I can go back in the evenings to do a touch up workout. All last week I did my 5:30AM cardio session and was back at the gym around 2:00PM to do my weights and another cardio session.  Because I procrastinated all day today I missed a valuable day in the gym.  There’s another competitor out there that got their weight training and 2 cardio sessions in today.

Very valuable lesson learned!!!!  Today I’m going to be very exhausted.  Too exhausted to leave here and go straight to the gym.  The plan is to sleep for 3-4 hours and get up around 10AM and hit the gym.  Although my intentions were not to miss a day of training I’m praying that my body was able to recover significantly and I’m feeling back to my old self later today when I hit the gym. 

Today is a new day.  I’ve vented and now it’s time to move on…..

Today I’m exactly 9 weeks out from my first competition in 8 years!  Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety!!! From past experiences in my life, I am well aware that if anxiety levels are not kept in check they can cause havoc in anything you are trying to do.

What I’m most anxious about thus far is being pre-occupied with the fear that I may not drop this weight fast enough, or that I will drop it, but look more flat than toned and athletic.  I recognize that this issue is completely out of my control because all I can do is follow my diet, train hard, and do the cardio!  

Along with the fear of not knowing how much body fat I’ll loose I have been very anxious about my suits.  Last week I contacted a custom designer and provided her my present measurements as well as my projected weight on competition day.  To my surprise she was calm as a cucumber and wasn’t the least bit concerned that I didn’t know my competition measurements.  I guess it comes with the territory and she hears it all day long.

She already had  several 2 piece pre-made suits made and ready to be shipped.  I was so happy to find a suit that I liked!! So that’s one less thing to be anxious about.  I should receive it within the next few days!!

Due to the 1 piece having more material, and you want it to enhance your best features/hide flaws I’ve decided to have it custom made.  I didn’t want to take any chances with it not fitting right, or pinching some skin which would make me  look bigger, etc. I’ve already selected my color (same as my 2 piece - and I’m not telling u the color, just come to the show  on Nov. 3!!! )  and I’m just looking at the different styles/cut of the suit as well as what type of stone work I want.  She’s currently completing September orders, so she probably won’t get started on it until late September.  Thank God I didn’t procrastinate on this issue.  I had no ideal they would be that busy!

Anywho, I just ordered my 2-piece about 30 minutes ago, so I thought I’d blog about it. Now I’m off to the gym…wasn’t feeling well this morning, so I’m getting a late start today.