Risat’s BodyBlog

It started yesterday with an incredible downpour, started on my way to work, then the fog came in later that morning and I could’nt even see the Atlanta skyline (I have a great view from my boss’ window). We were all hoping to leave early, but of course things don’t happen that way and I finally left mid afternoon. I went into the city first because I had a couple of gift cards to spend at a local running store (sidenote: I feel so inbetween worlds right now, my runner’s soul is still thinking ultra-distance, but try to talk weight training to runner’s and for the most part they stare blankly at you). I don’t really need any more running shoes (I have three new pairs - another sidenote, if you are an Asics fan like I am, the new models for women are definitley shorter than last years, you may need to go up another half size) so I picked out a new shirt that has Pheidippides spelled out in greek on it and a winter top by mizuno (went for maroon, getting daring with color now). By the time I was finished the fog had cleared and the temp was up to the upper 60’s, seriously considered putting the top down in the car, but the forecast was for more rain and I knew I’d hit traffic on the way home so I did not tempt fate.

Sure enough traffic was bad, 75 south, what is everyone going to Florida for New Years? After an hour, I detoured, taking back roads and finally made it in the door at 5pm….Fridays are my days off from workouts, but after that drive I really should have stopped at the gym (yes I keep a gym bag packed in my car, you never know when the opportunity is going to strike, better be prepared, right?) Instead I sat down and watched "the blue planet" with the family. Good show if you haven’t seen it (and yes we are total geeks in this house).

Ok so where does that bring me? It’s Saturday morning, I slept in a bit, time to get my butt out the door and to the gym (Trainer says work shoulders, back and legs, those are the million dollar parts). I ‘ll do back/bi’s/tri’s today and since I’m upping my mileage (and it’s still raining - YEA - I’ll hit the treadmill for LSD - uhh thats long slow distance or steady state cardio), following that its time to clean the house, decorations are staying up since we’ll have christmas part two on 1 Jan (my oldest daughter couldn’t make it in til then so we are having a do-over) then when she leaves we’ll take the decorations down. No big plans for New Years, the city is too crowded and we’ve done the big city New Years events in the past (Seoul and San Fransicso were great; after that, Atlanta and the big peach drop, well I’ll watch it on tv).

And finally, it’s 62 days until the Arnold…..need I say more?

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance." Bruce Barton

We are not talking about good carbs, but I’ve been eating those too, we are talking about the bad carbs. Like white squishy bread (like Wonder bread) that has no redeeming qualities to it whatsoever.  It all started when I was sick a few weeks ago, all I could eat that day was two pieces of dry toast, I was able to leave it alone for a while, but lately that’s all I want, well, that and the bread I ate at lunch yesterday, the bread and the olive oil dipping sauce. This is the abreviated version of how much I’ve eaten in carbs, even I’m too embarrased to write how much, but I need to break their hold, lol.

Training for fitness events keeps you on a high protein/low carb diet. I had been eating a ratio of 50/30/20 (protein/carb/fat) while preparing for some of the contests I had participated in, energy was always a struggle because the body wants carbs to fuel up.  Runners eat a higher carb ratio, more like 30/60/20.  Pasta, bread, banana’s, all of those yummy foods to fuel the race.   I had some of my best times eating like that.  It’s been a struggle to find a good balance.   Adding carbs should also help me to put a little weight on (always a struggle for me),  now if I could only stay away from bread and just make it good carbs…..

My daughter (#2) has been accepted into college! Her first acceptance came in today.  She has others out there, but this is her first choice.  And of all things, a gentleman came to the door, it had been mistakenly delivered about a half mile away and he was nice enough to bring it over, rather than put it back into the mail!!!! So after a week of things that I promised myself I wasn’t going to dwell on we have this wonderful news! An early christmas present for our family. (Yes, I’m a little goofy like this, I’ve had two kids already get accepted into college, but each time the first one comes in its reconfirming what I already know about my wonderfulyl smart and talented children, hehe).

I though I was pretty exhausted, but its funny how something can energize me like this has. I’d go workout, but I’m gonna run a little 5K in the AM and want to do well on that, so maybe I’ll just have a cheat snack instead

It’s funny how I can let a lot of little frustrations add up and try to derail me from my goals. So today I was determined to not let things get out of hand. So after the technician left, I put my trainers on and hit the gym. Two hours of selfish personal time. I met up with a friend at the gym, she and I talked a bit, she told me all of her worries and I found myself reassuring her that the things she was worried about (for her its the balance of putting on muscle weight and still looking like a competitor), this is the way of our conversations together for the most part, her complaining and me listening and offering her advice.  I thought that it’s also what I have been doing lately on my blogs, there are times when that is necessary, but I have too much going on to let it happen too often.

So with todays workout and some good cardio.  I posted my workout in the tracker, I think I hit everything just right, a good workout always makes me feel refreshed, not to mention some good cardio.  Have I missed something or why doesn’t the workout tracker let me  add cardio, but today it was an easy treadmill run of 20 minutes at 6.5 and then 20 minutes of stairs (level 13). I’m tired, but right kind of tired. Now, it’s time to get ready for the upcoming week…

I’m sitting here, had been up early with the pets, could’nt really do anything early, didn’t want to wake anyone up. Can’t get til the gym until later because I am once again waiting on the direct TV guy to show up. We had an electrical storm a few months ago, blew one of our laptops, the telephone line, two of the tvs, the alarm system, the microwave, the refirgerator…..(you caught the two tvs, huh, well, I did say I have kids, right?, we are over run by electrical stuff, I’d prefer to minimize, but it’s not my call) needless to say, everything else is up and running, but we still can’t get some of the HD channels, ok, you can stop crying for us…all of this is important for one reason - Football and NFL ticket, so here I wait, no long run, no gym time, the husband is out on a gig and yea! the direct tv guy has arrived! Maybe it won’t be a wasted AM at all? OK back to training….

Yesterday I had a decent leg workout, posted it in the workout tracker.  Todays goal is shoulders/back and a medium long run (4-5 miles). Will have to hit the treadmill, we are getting the wind and some rain from the storms in the north, too windy to run, the rain would not have been a problem.  I’ll post that workout too when complete.

No races this weekend, it felt strange not getting up for one, but I need the rest. It’s 75 days til the Arnold, going for a PR on that!

It’s Saturday, the work week is over (make that two horrible work weeks). Its time to get back in the gym and train…..Enough said.

Whew, made it through day one of the chocolate fountain, I’ll have to admit I called just about everyone in my building to stop by and have some (the sooner its gone the better, the smell of the chocolate is overpowering), but alas, it will be turned on tomorrow and I will have to endure it all over again, but I am strong and will not let it get to me…..rotflmao…..I brought my grilled chicken out, of course everyone commented on my choice, but I stayed strong, didn’t let their comments get to me, and feel really good about that. I know what my goals are and I will stick with it. All in all I did better today (closer to my calorie goal) and will work to achieve the same (or better) tomorrow.

Its the dreaded holiday party and the chocolate fountain is flowing, maybe I can just grab a pieceof fruit….I brought my lunch so I should be safe…..it dangerous over here, lol…

Its Tuesday, I was able to get to the gym, I put my workout in the tracker, handy took that is.  Feels like a good start to the week, I can probably get there Thursday too (if I’m lucky). My office is having our holiday party tomorrow or today actually since its that late. I had to bake pies, my contribution, a pumpkin and a cherry. I’m also bringing a salad, I know I’ll at least have something I can eat.  Speaking of eating, I ate a lot of food today, almost met my mark for the day. Hoping for the same tomorrow. I eat clean so its just more of a challenge taking in all the calories to meet my goal (2000-2500/day to start with).  I feel like I accomplished something today. Its been a good one

the wives/girlfriends/significant others are bodybuilders?   I like to compete in action sports. I swam and dove in high school (oh and played badmitton too, yes it’s a sport and very competitive), kinda gave everything up as life took over (work, marriage, kids, you get the picture), but in the last two years I’ve re-energized my competitive streak, first with racing (5K, 10K, half and full marathon, adventure runs and even an aquathon), then with WTF (trifitness) and now with bodybuilding. What I’ve come to learn is that even though I’ve improved all around, I just can’t seem to get the husband to understand that I am me…. only better.  He understands the running, he understands the WTF, he even understood when I tried a figure competition (which was a mental disaster for me, I was not last, but just didn’t like being on stage without anything "really" to do). So I tried a bodybuilding competition, I enjoyed the training more and being on stage posing and doing a routine was much more enjoyable for the athlete in me.  Problem is, I think it embarrasses him.  How do you tell your co-workers - "my wife just won the 2007 Ms Atlanta bodybuilding competition?" Its much easier to explain that I just won (fill in the race here). 

I admire any woman that sets her mind to accomplish a goal, the ladies that compete at the pro level are phenominal and deserve the attention they receive for the hard work they put into their sport, but no matter how much I lift, how much I eat, I am not genetically disposed to be like them (I am 100% natural) and happy to be that way (you’ve seen my pictures on my bodyspace, thats me and no enhancements).

This conversation recently came to be because I was talking about the coming year and setting up my competition schedule, when I mentioned fitness (which is figure plus a routine), the husband started talking it up. To which I replied, I’d have to take dance again (its been years) and then privates for gymnastics, not to mention the cost for a routine, music, costume…..he said he’d be 100% supportive as always, but seemed to really get into it, talking it up as a choice for the new year.  Something to think about I said, but in the back of my mind I’m wondering again, is he OK with my choice of competition? (and yes I’ve come out and asked only to get the - "I’ll support you in whatever you choose to do" answer).

Would you be embarrassed?