annemarie_DJ’s BodyBlog

Woot! Very excited to report that I brought home some hardware from yesterday’s competition.  I received First Place in the OPA Level 1 Figure competition, Tall division.  Then I also got 3rd place for the ever popular Figure Masters division.  They sure made us work hard for it.  We were up on the podium posing for what seemed like an eternity. But it was well worth it.  I knew this would be a tough competition.  I’m so glad I participated.

The two ladies I met at the posing clinic last weekend, who I thought were ripped and awesome took first and second place in Masters and I got third! Woot We rocked! One of them (Melissa) took the "best overall" and totally deserved it. She was great. I’m very pleased to have come away with some prizes. My strategy worked - I focused on presentation. And it paid off.

NEXT time, I’m gonna work twice as hard to get the legs dialed in properly. I think I’m aiming for November OPA Eastern Championship. That gives me plenty of time.

But for now, I’m gonna chillax for the summer months… Life is good !

I’m standing writing this as I dry off my last coat of tan. We did 3 coats over the course of the day. It looks great. Looks like hubby will be holding on to his title of #1 tanner ! Actually the tanning is pain in the butt. But it must be done. I went out this afternoon and everyone thought I had a great tan. This made me laugh ’cause I’m pretty sure it must look fake (Not to mention that my face doesn’t match - it will tomorrow).

This morning, although I was advised not to do any lifting and, yes I know better, I chose to do some more glute bridges. Bad idea as I have really killed my lower back. Don’t know what I did but I’ve been in PAIN all day! It better be gone by tomorrow because I’ll be standing around all day and posing! OUCH! Imma gonna suffer. This is why you must ALWAYS listen to your trainer! Did I really think a few more bridges were going to make a diff? Apparently, yes.

On the positive side, I got to eat some carbs today. Delish. I drank plenty of water up until 4:30 pm. Only sips from now on. I went grocery shopping before supper and picked up pecan pie and chips for tomorrow post-comp! I won’t be home until midnight so wanted to be sure I had treats around.

My lunch box tomorrow will consist of my signature oatmeal/vanilla casein/chopped almonds blend and a few peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I also have 2 Snickers bars. I have to be careful with chocolate and sugar as it usually gives me stomach cramps.

Woo hoo.. That’s it! I’ll get up extra early, have some brekkie and coffee and do my makeup and hair. I am packed and have my checklist of items to not forget. Registration is at 9 a.m. It’s about 30 mins drive from my house. I’m feeling pretty relaxed and tired enough to sleep well.

Time to bring it on …

Enjoying a holiday today! Best way to begin is with a nice long workout. I did an hour of cardio (35 mins on stairmill then 25 mins on treadmill).  I was listening to Podrunner (which you can download for free on internet) and it really keeps me going. I could have run another hour.  Well… maybe not.  I followed that up with a bunch of lunges, leg extensions and ham curls.  Hopefully, I will not need to use my legs for anything else today!  ouch! 

Yesterday, I attended a posing clinic today in prep for Saturday’s competition. This will be my 3rd competition and my 3rd posing clinic/workshop. I think one can never be over-prepared! Every time I go to the clinic I learn something new. It was led by pro-figure competitor Natalie Waples and also competitor and dietician, Michelle Matthews. These two ladies are awesome and genuinely want us to do well. The side poses for this competition will probably be different: US style. This style seems to be increasing at the Canadian competitions. So I wanted help in getting it right. It also gave me a chance to get into comp mode mentally. Now I know what I need to practice all week.

I met 2 competitors who will be with me in Masters category. Let me tell you, these women look hawt - they are totally ripped! So that was a good reality check for me! It’s gonna be a tough competition!! So I really need to get the presentation right! 

Wish me luck… the countdown begins.  Peak week is always the toughest. 

..as ready as I can be at this point. The great thing about body building or figure sculpting is that it is a work in progress.  I sure look different today than I looked last November.  I think I’m bigger and stronger.  I was worried about competing next weekend - not feeling ready after set back due to travel and late nights at the New Orleans jazz festival!     But after about 9 days of strict diet and tons of gym time, I think I’ve made up for it. 

This morning I went for a fitting of the "revised" posing suits.  Joan (www.sewingdaydreams.com) re-cut my one piece so that it fits much better and blinged it up for me.  She also perfected the fit of the pink 2-piece and blinged it up just a little more.  The fitting helped my confidence.  I think I’m ready!

I did 55 minutes of cardio this morning. 35 on the stairmill. Ughhh!  Then I worked on the shoulders.  Still trying to figure out how to get those massive shoulder caps that all the pro figure ladies seem to have.  I worked the sides, the front, the rear delts.  My traps are growing too - but I don’t really want them to grow too much.  Need to be strategic deciding which areas to enhance and which to slim down.  Fun stuff ! 

And now, it’s time eat !  Way to build up an appetite!  I may need a nap too! 

Any ideas for shoulder caps are welcome.  Thanks!

You know what I’m talking about. You’ve done it before. Or at least, you’ve thought about it. Taking the body to new limits.  Twice in one day: a morning session and an afternoon session.  Ooh baby - we’re working the shape, leaning it out and pushing it hard.  Are you giggling yet? 

This morning I was up early and worked the legs beginning with 120 walking lunges with a 22.5 lbs dumbbell in each hand. Burn baby burn. I hate lunges but they work. Then I managed a few PRs (personal record) with the lunges, squats and front squats.  After work, I returned to the gym to do some cardio.  50 minutes (with 20 mins high intensity intervals).  Since I was there, I figured, I might as well incorporate bicep/tricep workout and abs. 

Krazy girl.  I must be feeling the pressure as next Saturday’s competition approaches.  Desperate times call for desperate measures! haha  Tomorrow will be impossible for me to go to the gym hence the extra workout today. There is a method to this madness!

So after a week of downtime, I am back in the gym in full force.  Unfortunately, my knee has decided to snap out of place. This occurs occasionally but hasn’t happened in a while.  I believe it might be an IT band problem.  I had to crawl home yesterday 20 minutes into a run.  That sucked.  I managed to get a good workout on the Arc Trainer later in the day.  The pain or angle of the knee is abit more manageable on the machine.  This morning I couldn’t stay on elliptical more than 2 minutes.  So I had to switch to bicycle.  Hopefully, it’ll just get back into position very soon.

Glad to be back on low-carb diet and into the swing of things.  My energy levels are rising and I’m feeling good. Had a great back/chest workout early this morning. It’s all good. In fact, I noticed the sun is rising earlier too.  I thought I was running late at 5 a.m. … but no, the days are just getting longer.  You gotta love springtime in Canada!

Ok so I haven’t been in a gym since last week. Time for damage control.  I had a ton of fun at the Jazz Fest and then went to Houston for work.  It was non-stop work work. There really was no time for gym.  The diet was not too bad.  Uhm except maybe the beignets at Cafe du Monde. I had one. I tasted a few dishes like pheasant and quail andouille and sliced yam but covered in powdered sugar! Crazy but delish.  I stayed away from gumbos and cornucopia of traditional starch-based foods. I just don’t do rice. Other than that, it was grilled fish and veggies on most nights. Eggs and peanut butter on most mornings. But not being in the gym, I now feel all soft all around, which is probably not such a bad thing. (unless I’m competing!!) 

Tomorrow I’m going to work the legs extra hard and we’ll see whether I feel ready to compete May 23 or not.  Right now, I can tell you than I am exhausted and haven’t slept more than maybe 20 hours since my last blog entry a week ago. So, before I make any further decisions, I need to rest up.