amysuds’s BodyBlog

Just an update on what I have been experiencing the last few weeks with training. Overall…my strength and energy are holding up pretty well. I have had a few ups and downs. The good news is that I stopped weighing myself all the time. I am happy to report that my fat is going away little by little and the scale does not go down. So anyone frustrated with lack of actual pounds lost …shown by the scale can have a little reassurance that it is not the most important factor. It is most important to keep going! Keep trying everyday and give 110% effort.

My diet has been great. I have had a few minor adjustments to my macros, but I am still eating carbs at night   Getting the work done and challenging myself seems to be helping fight the fat war more than anything. As long as my food is clean, I seem to be headed in the right direction. My goal is to not rebound because of playing with diet too much…we shall see how that goes, I still have over a week left. I also know from reading Layne’s precontest prep thread in the forum that water depletion is not something to count on either. The bottom line is…to come in ready..look lean but healthy. I won’t use diuretics at all.

I have been using my life experiences to help me get through this a little easier. It has taken me alot of thinking and note keeping. For example…I know my weak points, but I will focus on what I do have. Many years ago in dance competiton, the judges would give verbal recorded feedback tapes on performance. Granted it is comparing apples to oranges…I was not that successful with many of those comps. I was a nervous wreck most times, but I for whatever reason would get feedback like.."superior leg development" ..or "nice flow from one move to another." So I am utilizing this info and putting it towards this comp for confidence. Also, I have boxes of trophies from beauty pageants…don’t do me much good now. But I learned how to walk on stage and I was good at capturing the judges attention back then. I also remember how I did it. Other things would be trying to remember what I have done in the past to maintain weight or drop fat. When I worked retail restocking shelves..I would race up and down a 16ft ladder carrying heavy boxes and would change my shape quickly. So I have been incorporating sprints up and down my stairs here at home carrying a weight plate. For nutrition…I thought about the one pregnancy that I gained minimal weight compared to the rest. Guess what my snack of choice was (for craving’s sake)…it was Cheerios. Guess what I am using as a carb staple right now?

It’s just little things I am doing to help myself be the best I can be. I am not the best out there, not even close….but I do have a secret weapon that you cannot buy or work on in the gym. My smile 

I just wanted to thank everyone for the Happy Easter wishes, I truly appreciate them all. My children are sick and I have not much time to write back. I will be back soon…please check my workout journal for my daily training information

So today I had to go for my second trip for food for the week. The store was just packed, families gearing up for the holiday weekend. I made my way through the store…grabbing all the usuals…eggs, tunafish, spring mix salad, oatmeal, etc… blah blah. For what ever reason, every cart I saw was just loaded with crap! I mean boxes of donuts, chips, soda, etc…EVERYWHERE! Well I am thinking…ok, whatever. I choose to eat like this. I am sure I am not the only one in this store buying healthy food. Then I get to the checkout line and wait. Ladies next to me were discussing all the cakes and breads they were making for Sunday dinner. The pies for dessert. On the other side of me, a family was unloading their cart talking about how the Aunts and Uncles would be arriving in the morning…did they have enough cheese danish. The whole trip was like a bad joke. Not only was I ready to ditch my cart and reload with a ton of crap…I realized how much I miss my family. It’s hard living in IL and my 5 sisters live in MA..along with my 3 older children, parents, aunts and uncles etc. It was the food connection that sparked these feelings. There’s nothing like going home to the HUGE dinner my mom makes. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband and family here. Today just made me miss being "food carefree" like everyone around me. I plan on going to visit MA in the summer, but I have a tough time with the holidays. Well, as I paid for my groceries, I was already feeling better. My daughter couldn’t wait to get home and eat the strawberries and yogurt she just picked out. I was suddenly PROUD of what I had in my cart. I just wanted to share this…don’t really know why!

This past week my pm box is just flooded with questions asking how to get lean. I can honestly say, that I don’t think I have ever been this successful with my attempts. There are a few important factors to mention. First and foremost…..I have an elite trainer. Layne Norton’s training plan has made a huge difference. There is nothing "cookie cutter" about any of it. No one’s body responds the same to various training methods, my workout/nutrition plan is meant for me. It is based on hard work and giving 110% everyday. After reading many of the questions, it seems alot of people don’t know that I even have a trainer. Layne’s website is www.biolayne.com for more information.

Secondly, since I started using Scivation Dialene-4 and Sesamin fat burners…I have lost more fat so far than with other ones I have used. Check out the store on the site to read all the info on these products under the Scivation brand.

The most often asked question is…what do I eat? Well, my macro breakdown is listed in my workout journal. The foods I choose are pretty basic. I eat eggs, chicken, tuna, turkey, London broil, tilapia, flounder, fat free milk and whey proteins. Carbs are oatmeal, fruit, cereal, rice, veggies…etc. I rotate the type of carb depending on how I feel. I have a tough time recovering energy after a hard workout…so I am always testing different things. For fats…I eat almonds and nat peanut butter. This is the one area where I can overeat easily. I have a tough time only eating a tablespoon of pb..it is one of my favorite foods.

So my advice is something my husband told me a long time ago. This pertains not only to working out, but life in general. He said, "Amy…to be successful, you have to surround yourself with the most talented people." Pretty simple, but it has been accurate with most everything.

 I just think this pic is the bomb!!

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=4011173

Please check out my workout journal if you want to know where I am at with training. I update it daily. Feel free to comment also! Thanks!http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=113548611