2008 Transformation Contest

Week 2 was another successful week.  My chart looks wonderful on my bodyspace.  I love seeing the line move in a downward slope.  So much motivation is taken from that. In my pictures I am seeing a little progress.  I bet by week four we will see quite a bit.  The biggest change I feel right now is how my muscles feel.   They are firming and getting harder.  

I know I wont have small arms.  Once I shred some of the bodyfat, they will be ripped.  Although I would like for them to be small and feminine, I know they wont be and I would rather have muscle showing than the jiggling of flab and the pelican beak (official body part if you ask my kids) hanging down from my tricep.  I will also know that I will have the strength to do anything I want.  That will be a fabulous feeling and will definitely override an issues I may have with sporting a pair of lady guns.

I can not tell you how much hope and anticipation that feel.  I think when you are so overweight and just starting to figure out this lifestyle, its overwhelming and can give you a fear of failure.  I can honestly say I feel good about everything so far.  I am making it happen.  

So let me tell you about my success this far.  
Starting weight: 227.4
2nd week weight: 220.2
Lost 7.2 lbs total

Starting Body fat: 51.5%
2nd  week body fat: 46.3%
Lost 5.2% total

Pictures:
Front Before:

2nd week:Front

Starting sideview:

2nd week sideview:

Starting hinny:

2nd week hinny

Ok I have bared it all.  See what you think.

My kids got Target gift cards for Christmas from a relative.  Well we all know kids cant save money and have to spend it almost as soon as it hits their little hands.  I keep putting off the trip until I could no longer.  You know I hate shopping and I really hate shopping with kids.  You cant just run in grab whats on your list and run out.  There is no making it painless.  You have to look at every aisle even though you know that there is nothing they are going to want in it.  

Anyway, we can usually get past the clothing section with no problem.  What kid wants to by clothes? I understand teenagers but I dont have those yet.  Anyway, in the sports wear section they have swimming suits out all ready.  Its cold as hell and they think people want to go swimming.  I walk on by.  Then as my kids are going through the toy section my mind keeps thinking about swimming suits and this summer.  I know I am going to need one.  The ones I wore last year were already falling off of me.  So I went back.

There wasnt a selection of one peices.  I think there was maybe five unless you hit the maternity section.  Now bakinis were plentiful.  Mix and match.  Bright colors, classics, and the slightly sexy accent ones.  I am thinking to myself. No way.  I am not even going there.  

Then I got to thinking.  I know I am in trouble when I get to thinking. I kept drifting back to the bikinis. How many times has BryanGee told me I would be wearing a bikini this summer?  Five? ten?  Shoot I have no idea.  

Maybe he is on to something.  I am making great progress.  The tummy is definitely shrinking.  The saddle bags on my hips are all most gone.  My breast are shaping up too.  Am I coward?  Am I going to get this body in shape just to hide it behind a moo moo?  Do I want to be one of those people that go to the pool and cover up with t-shirts?  I have at least six months to get it together.  Can I do it?  

So I talked myself into climbing out on the limb.  The limb with the black bikini hanging from it.  Classic.  Good cut.  No strings.  Bet my butt would look pretty good in it once it gets tighter and firmer.  I bought it.    I couldnt believe I bought it.  I remember telling myself to save the receipt in case I came to my senses.

I put it on when I got home.  I even took a few pictures. I thought what better way to see improvements than in something that covers the bare minimum.  Yes, I was still fat but I had a lot of hope wearing it for those few minutes.  I cant remember the last time I wore a bikini…if ever.  I made a promise to myself. I am going to wear the bikini this summer and I will look hot it.  
Stepping out of the comfort zone is what it takes to make changes.  This was a big step. I hope in the right direction.

One way I get enough protein in my diet is through protein shakes. I drink several a day.  I have decided that my favorite protein is Intrapro by Gaspari.  I dont care what flavor. They are all fantastic and mix easily.  

Now having a chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry shake is fine.  After a while it gets a little boring.  Whats a girl to do but make them a little more exciting.  There is no reason to not enjoy the food and drink you put in you body.  I thought I would share a couple of recipes with you.

Apple Pie Protein Shake
6oz unsweetened apple juice
6oz water
1/2 tsp butter buds
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 - 2 scoops Intrapro Vanilla Protein
6 ice cube

Put all in blender. Mix and enjoy.  I have a personal size Hamilton Beach blender that I keep in my office at work.  You mix and drink from the same container.  Makes things nice and easy.

Reese Peanut Butter Shake
1 - 2 scoops of IntraPro Chocolate Protein
12 oz water
1 TBSP peanut butter

Mix it up and enjoy.  Not quite a peanut butter cup but pretty close.  

Now I know what your thinking…apple pie and reese… nope I am not failing off the wagon.  There is no reason I cant enjoy these great tastes in a healthy manner.  Diet is about making healthy choice.  Success is keeping it flavorful and satisfying.  I dont feel guilty.

Thats right 2008 is here and it my year.  Got up bright and early and did a fabulous workout in the gym.   Its great to be the only person there with all that iron to play with.  Not having to share.  Oh I was in heaven. Made a little workout video while I was there.  

dropset bentover laterals

Well, today is the end of the first week.  I am so proud of my accomplishments this week. My diet has been going well.  Although I did cheat one day and had a cup of spaghetti with 5 whole meatballs.  Not to bad I guess.  Workouts have been going very well.  Lots of heat.  Lots of iron. Lots of sweat.  Cardio has me logging the miles.  I will be posting weight, progress pictures, and measurements tomorrow.  I know I am down at least 4 pounds already.  Everybody do the happy dance for me.  woo hoo!!

My support group is fabulous.  I am so glad I have them.  They keep me going online and off.  Oh and the supplements,  wow is all I can say.  I am so freakin pumped.  My competition is doing fabulous as well.  I am so happy for each of them.  We will all accomplish fabulous things on the road trip of ours.  2008 is going to rock.  Glad your going to be here to share it with me.  

Who inspires and motivates you?  When I joined bb.com, I had never done an internet blog or chat room before.  I really didnt know what to expect.  I had just seen an ad in a magazine and something called out to me.  I knew it would be one of the best choices that I could make.

As I wondered around the site, I came across a post titled, "Dont let your string dangle!!".  As I read this post, I could visualize this muscle bound guy laying on the bench, press a huge amount of weight with his short strings dangling between his legs.  Then in  comes this cute fuzzy little kitten.  The string catches its eye and he pounces.  I could just see the shock in this mans eye as he realizes where the claws were,  racks the weight, and chases this little poor kitty down the hall.  I couldnt help but laugh.  As a matter of fact, I laugh about it everytime I see a cat playing with a string.  That is how I met and became friends with my "mickey"-Ninjabill.

Ninjabill’s sense of humor is extrodinary.  When he was discribing a recent event about being "discussed" by the old women during lunch, I about died with laughter.  He admitted that he proudly sucked up the whole c.w. moment.   And the time he confessed to his doctor about the reason he lifted was because he was a compliment whore had me rolling out of my seat.  I could just imagine the look on the doctor’s face.  Ninja share part of himself that most people are not willing to do.  His fear of traveling or things from his childhood that most would keep in the closet are all things that he faces and knows help make him Ninjabill.  He accepts them and uses them to make him stronger. He takes all these things in life and puts a spin on them that makes you appreciate the little things in life.

Ninja works a lot and alot of strange hours.  Yet he still manages to balance life.  He balances his family life (proud husband and father), working out, the jobs, and just plain everyday living.  He is proof that if you want this lifestyle you can have it no matter what your situation is.

His goal is to be a "freak".  He has shared with us his obsticle of being short and his desire to be big and muscular.  Now to me he is big and muscular.  Just check out his pics.  Muscles are everywhere.  But to Ninja there are still improvements to be made.  He will continue to strive to better himself.  He will make no excuse and accept responsibility for what he achieves.

His willingness to share his knowledge and encourage others to reach their potential is amazing.  He regularly comments to others here.  He doesnt sugar coat anything.  Gives them the straight honest truth with perhaps a little humor thrown in.  Its this input and honesty that gives me great inspritation.  It is so nice to have someone that believes and supports you.

We may have different goals when it comes to bodybuilding but his input and support is something I value.  I am so thankful to be his friend.  He inspires me daily.  He is proof that with hardwork, dedication, consistancy, and the right attitude we can achieve anything.  Thanks Ninja.  You are my "mickey".

PS:  BB.com could not have picked a better person to represent them in the upcoming magazines.  This is a truely deserving c.w. moment.  Suck it up my friend and enjoy.  I would celebrate with pizza and beer but my "mickey" would not be happy.  So you get a proud woohoo and a cheer. (Go Ninja! Go Ninja!)

I feel great.  Extremely sore but great.  The new routine has the DOMS kicking my hinny.  I need a body message.  Despite being sore as hell, I wouldnt change a thing.  I know I am making progress and doing my body good.  I am transforming it one day at a time.  I will keep pushing.  Progress is happening and I am loving it.  Bring on the burn baby!!!

Todays plan:
6:00am  Yep slept in! LOL  cytolean

6:30 Meal1:  4 strips of turkey bacon, 1 slice cheddar cheese, and 2 slices of whole grain bread with animal pak and flex.

8:00 Meal 2: 1 scoop instapro, 10 oz milk, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup raisen, 12 almonds, 1 tbsp peanut butter.  Mix together and enjoy the protein pudding.

By the way did I tell you gaspari’s protein is absolute fabulous.  I open the chocolate and want to dive right in.  Strawberry made my mouth water and the vanilla–all I can say is real french vanilla ice cream.  Dreamy.

11:00 Cardio  multimachines 45 minutes
0-5   EFX level 2 rpe 3
5-15 EFX level 6 RPE 5
15-30 bike RPM 80  RPE 5
30-40 treadmill 3% incline RPE 5
40-45 treadmill flat RPE 3

12:00 cytolean

12:30  meal 3: 4oz grilled salmon, 1 cup each squash and zucchini

3:00 meal 4: 1 scoop instapro with 1 cup yogart

5:30 Meal 5:  1 cup cottage cheese and 1/2 cup pineapple.

Thats right burn baby burn!  I previously posted my experience with a man in uniform, now I want to tell you about my experience with one of the gifts he brought me-Cytolean.  Now you may not know this but I dont use a lot of sups because quite frankly, most fat burners dont seem to do squat for me.  I think growing up with asthma and lots of albuterol has my system jacked.  To get back to the story.  I took my first two cytoleans this morning at 4am and wow.  By the time I started my cardio, I could feel that my body was all revved up.  That right the heat was on.  Cardio was fabulous.  

Before cardio, I usually stop by and check out some posts here at bb.com.  This morning I received a wake up call from my "Mickey".  That’s right Ninjabill sent me the Eye of the Tiger Rocky video.  Got me all pumped up and ready to rumble.  That treadmill had it coming.  We were going to play rough now.  GRRR.  Thanks Mickey.  I know you got my back.

Here is todays plan.

4:00  2 cytoleans with 12 oz water

5:00 Cardio 52 minutes of cruising treadmill fun.  Oh let me get all hot and sweaty.  Went 2.83 miles and burned 366 calories

6:15  Meal 1: 1 cup Kashi cereal with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup strawberries.  Animal pak and flex

9:00  Meal 2  Intrapro protein with a small banana.  Cant wait to taste the Intrapro.  I got in three fabulous flavors.  MMMM…. Gaspari is so good to us.

11:20  Cytolean - 2 capsules

12:00  Meal 3: 4 turkey meatballs with 1/2 cup marinara sauce and 2 TBSP Parmesan, 2 cups steamed vegs, and 1 scoop shredded mass creatine

2:30  Meal 4  Instapro protein and superpump 250 (1 scoop each)

3:30  Weight Training - Legs, Calves, and abs
squats  15,12,10, 8
lunges 12,10,10
leg extensions 15, 12. 10  Last two sets are drop sets
deadlifts 12,10,10
Leg curls 12,10  partial reps
calf raises 15,15,15
Decline weighted crunch 10,10
Straight leg crunch 15,15
Hanging oblique knee raises 12,12

5:30  Meal 5: 3oz sirloin, 2 cups grilled bell pepper and zucchini

Gonna be a great day.  Started off good.  
Oh and heres to Day 3 of no diet mt dew.  Woohoo. I so got this.  Team c.w. all the way.  Catch us if you can.

Especially when he is bringing me a large box full of goodies.  Who dont love presents?  Thats right I almost pounced on the UPS driver.  GRRRR… The animal was coming out.  I told him I was waiting for him all day and he had something that I wanted and was looking forward too.  He gave it to me with a smile and said enjoy.  Boy, I hope my normal UPS driver dosent get jealous.   LOL   I couldnt wait to open my box.  Gaspari products.  Oh, I was in heaven.   There was so much hope and excitement in that brown corregated box address to me.  Yes, I made sure all in the house realized that these were my goodies and I wasnt sharing.   Then I flaunted my new dragon slayer t-shirt and my autographed photo of Rich.  Yes, he even wrote a little message of encouragement to me.  I brought it to work today so I could post it in my office.  Motivation Baby.  Its almost time for cardio.  Enjoy the day and stay motivated.  I will post more on my return from the gym.  Thanks Gaspari! You made my night and now your going to make my day.

Here they are.  There is a lot of work to be done.  Lets get ready to sculpt this body.

This is the verification of the date picture.

Front View.

Lots of work to do especially in the core area.  That is where I am hoping to see the greatest improvement. I would also like the thighs to firm up and shrink as well.

Side view

Rear view

Yep! Got my work cut out for me.  I know with hard work and determination I can whip this body back into shape and be proud of my accomplishments. A friend of mine said he can see the body starting to take shape. Getting curvy again.  Yes the c.w. in me was soaking it up. Another part of me seen the light of hope.

Thats right. Today is the big day.  Day 1 of the transformation contest.  I am so ready.  Yesterday I felt like a caged animal ready to be released.  Over the long weekend, I wrapped up the final phase of my stategy for the competition.  It just built up the excitement for me.  I would have been in the gym yesterday if it wasnt for other things going on and if my gym was opened.  Ninjabills home gym was a little far to travel for an hours workout. I did donate my fee to the little red kettle though.  LOL

Todays plan of action:

4:30  12 ozs of water with D4 (my cytolean has not arrived yet)  Really missing that morning Mt Dew also

5:00  Cardio hills on the treadmill (More information on next post)

6:15  meal 1: 1 cup oatmeal, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/4 cup dried fruit, 1 tbsp walnuts mixed with water.  

9:00 meal 2: protein shake with 1 small banana and 12 oz water

11:30  12oz water with D4:  Take before pictures

12:00 Meal 3: 4oz grilled chicken, 1 small sweet potato, 1 cup broccoli.  1 scoop shredded mass creatine and 12 oz of water

2:30  Meal 4:  Protein shake and water

3:30 Weight training (Chest, back, Abs) and Garbage
Bench press                15,12,8,8 (last two sets are forced reps)
Incline DB press           12,8,8
Pec Dec Fly                12,12
bent over rows            12,10,8,8
Seated Cable Row        8,8  (dropsets)
Back Extensions           20,20
Pullups                       3 sets to failure (wont take much LOL)
Hanging Leg raises        15,15
crunches                    20,20
Decline Russian twists   15,15
Note: I will fill

5:30 Meal 5:  Baked salmon with large spinach salad (spinach, tomato, mushrooms, and cucumbers spritzed with vigarette)

My official weigh in video.  Weight is up slightly because of the holidays but that just made me more determined to kick butt in this contest. 

I will be posting pics later today. Until then have a great day. TEAM C.W. RULES!!!!

Well, its not going to work.  I am not certain which one of my competitors bribed the gym owner to not open until mid-afternoon on Day 1 of the contest but it wont throw me off course.  What? You want me to believe that the owner is just going to be partying to much on Christmas Day that he cant get the gym open at 5am the next.  Likely story!  *wink*

Seriously. I wont let it be an excuse for me not to get all hot and sweaty in the am.  I have to get that metabolism burning at 5 am so I can keep that fat melting all day.  If there is one thing I have learned over time is that cardio can be done anywhere.  Besides that I made a call and pulled a couple of strings and I am back on track.  Different gym.  Same cardio plan.

Supplements can be a wonderful thing.  Because of the intensity of my training efforts and my desire to burn some major fat during this contest, I will be adding the following supplements to my diet.  I want to thank Gaspari Nutrition and bodybuilding.com for giving me the hook up on the majority of them.  I would also like to thank Daniel and Fern for helping me make the decision on which to use.

1. Gaspari Superpump 250
2. Gaspari IntraPro Protein
3. Gaspari Cytolean
4. Gaspari Plasmajet
5. Universal Animal Pak
6. Universal Flex
7. Now Acetyl-L-Carnitine
8. Higher Power Beta Alanine Plus
9. Shredded Mass Creatine
10.  Water! Water! Water!

Ok! Here it is.

My video introduction:

Daretosoar here! I am so excited to make 2008 Bodyspace Transformation Challenge part of my journey to a healthy lifestyle.  Before this journey begins I want you to know where I have been and where I am going.

CHAPTER 1:  The past

Let me give you a little daretosoar history.  Growing up I might as well have been an only child.  Single mother who worked long hours to pay for the bills racked up by an alcoholic father and to live from day to day.  Same story as a lot of folks. Because mom was out of the house most of the time, you know that there are a lot of things left untaught and major opportunities for mischief.  Now I was the shy child.  I still am until you reach that inner circle of friends.  I am the one that sits back and observes the room at parties.  Ok back to the point, despite my poor eating habits as a child, I grew up in pretty good shape.  I was athletic and on the go a lot.  I may not have eaten healthy but I ran enough and eat so little that the weight never had the opportunity to settle on the butt. Then a major event happened when I was in high school.  I am not going to be specific. I will tell you that it is something that no child should have to endure.  I blamed myself for a while.  All activity stopped.  I started eating more and putting on the weight.  It was about this time that I began being ashamed of my body.  Most people were not aware of this fact.  They seen what you guys are permitted to see. The positive side of me.  Anyway back to the story.   I graduate and went to college.    What little activity I was doing by this time, completely stopped.  Now I was sitting in class, sitting and studying, and I had a job that I sat at.  You know what happened.  The weight kept increasing.  The body image was declining rapidly.  I hated to see my self naked and I really hated to shop for clothes.  Maybe this is where my hatred for shopping comes from.

Now I had several boyfriends throughout this time.  The man I married was with me through most of this.  By the time I got married I weighed 225 pounds. The weight I am now.  Full clothed, I could conquer the world.  Skimpily clothes and I wouldnt leave the room.  No sleeveless shirts. No regular shorts.  Baggy oversized clothes were my norm.  If you thought I was going swimming you were nuts.

Within a year I was pregnant.   Well we all know what happens when your pregnant.  You gain weight.  I was so freakin big that the last month of my pregnancy, I could fit behind the wheel of our 1969 Chevy truck.  Talk about a major hit to the mental body image.  The good news is that I lost almost all the pregnancy weight before I left the hospital.  The bad news is a came home with lots of stretch marks.  Another strike for body image. Three months later I was pregnant again.   By this time the stress of having a little one, holding a full time job, and the thought of not fitting behind the wheel of the truck really took a toll on my self esteem.  I put on a lot of weight. I was freaking huge and miserable.  I felt awful in everything that I put on. I breast fed and my boobs were so freaking big, it was uncomfortable.  I was a major milk cow.  I probably produced enough milk to nurse several babies.  I constantly had to change clothes because of leakage.  

Self esteem was declining rapidly. After the baby was born, not a lot changed.  I was big and had plenty of pregnancy scars to reinforce my low body self esteem.  My eating habits were horrible.  I never really learned anything about nutrition growing up.  I cant say I really tried to watch my eating.  I thought as long as I was active that the weight would fall off just like it stay off  in high school.  I joined a gym but never went enough to really do me any good.  I felt so self conscience and didn’t really know what to do.  I was the very fat lady among the cardio bunnies.

Several years ago my husband thought he would offer me encouragement to lose weight by saying he wanted a divorce if I didn’t shrink.  Guess what.  That just pissed me off.  If you cant love me when I am fat, especially since I was fat when we got married, then you sure as hell wont love me when I thin. Now he says that he just thought saying that would give me a boost to get the gym and clean up my diet but all it really did was hurt and make me feel like no one would want me.  I know I don’t need to point this out but the thought of not having sex was very unappealing to me but I was not going to give in to an ultimatum.  I was stubborn so I didn’t exercise.  My thoughts were screw him.  He either loves me or he doesn’t.  That little statement still causes a lot of hurt and resentment even though he swears he never meant it.

Don’t get me wrong.  He tried to be encouraging but it came across more hurtful and I resented it.  He had cleaned up his diet and dropped some weight.  He was working out regularly.  He just wanted the same for me.  Eventually, we joined the Y.  I began going and not really seeing results.  I think the reason for that is that I never made the personal commitment to me. I never found that passion with in myself to be able to stick to the program.  I excelled in other areas of my life but when it came to my health and wellness, I did nothing.  Everything else was more important.  

I realized that I had to start taking time for me.  I had to decide what I wanted out of life.  I began making a list of things that I wanted to do.  Not what others wanted for me to do but what I truly wanted to do in all areas of my life.  I wrote down anything and everything that came to mind.  After review this list, I realized that there were a lot of things that I couldn’t do in the shape I was in.  I had to reclaim my body.  I had to take control of myself and my habits.  I had to have success in this area of my life too.  I had to be more selfish.

I began developing my own workouts.  I read everything that I could get my hands on.  I hit the free weights hard.  I was only seeing little results.  As soon as I would lose a couple of pounds, they came back again.  I need to work on improving my eating habits.  I began making small changes.  I started seeing a little results.  Nothing major.  I yo yo a lot.   I was having trouble putting it all together and staying on the fitness wagon.  

I made myself read my goals daily to keep me motivated.  I was motivated but my intensity in the gym lacked.  I went through the motions.  My husband tried to praise my efforts and offer encouragement but they were still met with resentment from his previous statement.

Eventually I switched gyms. I got away for the social environment.  I told myself that my time in the gym was my time and I am not going to waste it.  The intensity level increased.  I added in cardio in the am.  I was seeing consistent and constant results.

It was around this time that I found bodybuilding.com. I had never blogged before.   The day I started my profile was a major one.  I avoided pictures to this point.  I was so ashamed of myself the day I posted my first pics.  I told myself I was going to journal everyday.  I never thought I would receive comments or make the circle of friends that I have.  

Over time watching the charts make that down hill trend, receiving the encouragement, and stepping way out of my comfort zone has really paid off.  The day I posted the little racier than normal pics was very hard.  But the encouragement I got from them was beyond belief.  I think I became a c.w. that day.  LOL  

Chapter 2: The Challenge and closing the book on the past.

I signed up with hopes of being chosen as one of the participants in the challenge as soon as I seen it posted.  I knew it would be what I needed to keep me going on the right path.  This place has helped me maintain my drive.  It keeps me accountable and hardcore.  I need the support and the friends that I found here.   I knew being in this contest would keep those things constant.  It provides me with hope and motivation.

With the help of Team C.W and the team captain Ninjabill, I will lose a minimum of 24 pounds and ten inches overall.  Ninjabill has volunteered to take one for the team by eating all the goodies and thing thrown in my path along the way.  My competitors will do anything to change the view in front of them.  But Ninja and the other c.w. of bodybuilding.com have my back.  LOL

Seriously, the competitors here are fabulous and the transformations that you will see during this contest should provide hope and motivation for all that follow along.  My competition will be tough but with the help of my team, I got game baby.   I would like to thanks the sponsors of this contest and the folks at bb.com also.  Thanks for providing this site and the hope that we can overcome any challenges we come to with information, great tools, wonderful supplements, and fabulous friends.

Team CW is so ready for the games to begin!