Rachel Elizabeth’s BodyBlog

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls….

Tomorrow, Saturday the 11th day of July, 2009, I will be embarking on a new quest. This quest started with a slow, steady focused approach to lifting more, resting more, and eating more. Tomorrow I will continue, but with new assignment: add cardio back in (3xweek for 40 min, first thing in the AM on an empty stomach), don’t eat less but don’t eat more (maintain calories with a ratio of 30/40/30), and still heavy but supersets and less rest between weight sets.

12 weeks out…I’m everything that defines ‘pumped’ right now! Let’s shake things up! BRING ON THE PAIN!!!

So my last post, I was ‘healthy and motivated’ but I think I was a little too gung-ho because it lead to overtraining…which lead to pnemonia…but a ‘Z-pac’ of antibiotics and a week of active rest in Maui and I’m back in the saddle again. Started lifting again yesterday and I’m back on my 5 day split (HS/Should/Calves, Back, Chest, Glutes/Quads, Arms) and eating CLEAN! Trying desperately to gain without gaining, ya know what I mean? Tough. Yay chicken and more chicken….and more….chicken!!!!

Taking a step back to rest and recover, I feel a little like I’m losing progress but also like it’s given me a fresh look on prepping for this contest. I’m honestly a little, ok, a lot, overwhelmed (p.s. can you be underwhelmed? or just whelmed?? lol) about all that I need to do and buy for the show. I’m on a very tight budget (well, i shouldn’t be spending at all besides necessities, but how else could i compete?) so I need to find out how to prepare to WIN without selling my first born child and my right kidney….

::sigh::

Let me know if you have any advice or ideas! I don’t have a coach, trainer, suit, shoes, nutritionist or anything yet and I"m 14 wks out! Can I still do this??

So I’ve been sick and last time I entered stats I had gotten weaker, but I’ve changed a few things…

I’m healthy again. Energy 100% and motivation :10! I’ve cut out weighted oblique exercizes and I’m adding back weighted ab exercises. I’m eating a lot more and staying moderatly clean with more cheats than I’ll be able to afford later. I’m enjoying it now but the idea of eating to gain is scary for a girl who’s always trying to get and stay lean. I’m lifting 5 days a week heavy, but higher reps for legs and lower for upper body. Also, at least a minute rest between sets…usually more like 1:30-2:00… single sets, still simple and steady. Trying to add to my delts and traps…they’re always the leanest and hardest to put size on.

Guess that’s all for now. Headed out for arm day and uphill walking Any advice for this newbie competitor would be MUCH APPRECIATED!!!  God bless.

Just updated a couple ‘ORM’ stats only to find out that my excitement was short lived. I’ve actually gotten weaker! I need to update more often because I know for a fact that I’m stronger now than a was a few weeks ago. However, looking back, my last ORM updates were in March when I was an animal with my weight lifting…somehow I’ve lost the gusto. I wanna compete but I need little goals…I can’t get myself excited about any little goals. Also, just found out I have to rest my knees. Terrible cartilidge irritation from overworking/heavy lifting. Guess the glucosamine/chondroitin supps don’t fix problems completely. Frustrated!!!!

So this is me….starting a bodyspace.com blog. I don’t usually blog but recently, I decided I need some motivation and extra help to get to where I want to be. I guess it’s a pride thing, but being a personal trainer, I had it in my head that I didn’t need help. However, I know better. When I first started, other’s experience, and watching veteran trainers was how I learned everything that I didn’t read in my text book. So now, in humility and reality, I’m blogging in hopes that you will all share your experiences and comment with your knowledge and credible advice so that I can be a better person, a better trainer, and a proud competition winner in the future.

My first question….I want to compete in figure. Where do I start?

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