annemarie_DJ’s BodyBlog

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.

I’m heading down to New Orleans tomorrow. The timing is not ideal considering I want to compete on May 23!  Hmmm Let’s talk about dedication and willpower.  Let’s not think of all the delish food, crawfish, oysters, Po’boys, muffeletas and beignets, etc etc…  I’m going for the music and the soda water! Yummmm  Will be doing lots and lots of walking. 

I really worked hard on my legs this morning. Squatting more than my own weight. I’m proud of that.  But I would need to keep that up all next week.  After NOLA, I’m going to Houston.  I know there’ll be a good gym in Houston.  But for sure the routine will be all out of whack.  I fear that I may get off track for the competition.  It’s a figure competition and I’m trying to hold on to my mass. 

I will decide upon my return whether I am truly ready to compete or whether I should delay. But this comp is in my home town and a few friends and family have expressed an interest in checking it out.  Pressure’s on ! 

But I LOVE pressure!!  Let’s rock. Ima gonna be ok !!

I figured I was on a roll so I should just keep going. After placing first in my category in April, I’m working on another competition at the end of May.  There’s also a purely selfish reason for this timing. As if the Easter competition timing wasn’t perfect enough - I ate chocolate bunnies guilt free on Easter sunday, the day after competition!   Another springtime competition means that I’ve got my beach body all dialed in for the summer.  It means that after a few sacrifices, I’ll be able to chillax during the summer months.  Uhmm, I’ll be chillaxing "responsibly", of course! 

However, that being said… I’m already looking at competition dates in July! Funny how this sport is addictive.  Anyhow, let’s just take it one step and one competition at a time.  I had some serious doubts last week and got pretty discouraged.  That lasted about 48 hours and then I was ok again. More or less. It’s not easy staying on track. But the rewards are great.  Just gotta focus.

Speaking of focus, I’ll be on travel status all next week. I’m hoping the hotel gyms will be adequate. As for food, well, I’m getting good at knowing what to order in restaurants.  The only trouble area is the drinks. I’ve recently decided that I can replace my 2 daily servings of blueberries with red wine. Hahaha - that certainly has not been proven scientifically. But I’m French, so I’m pretty sure this is a fully plausible theory! heehee  However, with only 4 weeks to go, this is no time to stray too far from diet.  

I’ll work it out.  Just trying to stay on course…. one day at a time! 

Hey, what the heck, I’ve got this far, I might as well keep going.  I’ve had a whole week’s rest and not watching my diet (which is normally not so bad anyway - except for the wine..!). Now it’s time to get back on track and try another competition this season.  This one is 5 weeks away and in my home town.  That’s why I’m doing it because a few friends and family have expressed interest in coming to a show.  This one will be challenging as it is a Figure competition.  I am not a big girl, but I do feel that I have alot more mass and definition than last November at my first figure competition.  I placed 10th out 15 that time.  My goal is to place higher. 

I was in the gym this morning and I found it difficult.  Oooh my legs were burning after the walking lunges (2×40 with 20 lbs dumbbells in each hand).  I realized after that I haven’t worked the legs in 10 days.  Ouch! 

I’m glad to be back on track again.  I must admit, my tummy has been upset with me all week.  It really likes the idea of 5 small meals, no sugars and low carbs.  In fact, that’s why I got into this in the first place. 

I’ll be keeping a detailed work-out blog on the Forum here: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=114460101

I hope you’ll check in to see how things are progressing.

Taking home the hardware… well, the certificate anyway!  Very pleased that I managed to place first in my category on the weekend. I worked hard and I felt good. I was pretty calm going into the competition, which made me abit nervous, but it turned out good. 

I’m happy with the good results considering I dragged hubby and teenager out there to cheer me on (for a long day).  Mind you, they spent the whole day watching beautiful bodies on stage. How bad can that be!   I want to thank Hubby for giving me an awesome tan and helping with the fingernail glue when I was all thumbs!  The timing for this competition was perfect because I managed to enjoy Easter chocolate and turkey feast immediately afterwards!  We’ve decided Easter weekend competitions would become a new annual tradition! Thank you to Mon & Mike for being such amazing and generous hosts!! 

But really, I have to say that at my age (45), I feel quite proud of what I’ve accomplished with just a little self control and A LOT of time management!!  I hope that I can keep it up and continue to live healthy, be happy and enjoy all the good things life has to offer.  i shall never take my good health for granted.  I realize that I’m a very lucky individual. 

Next competition? Yes!  Uhmm yes.  May?  June? October… we’ll see !

That’s if I manage to sleep tomorrow. With all the excitement and nerves, it might be difficult to get a good night’s sleep the night before the competition.  All my work is done now. I’m as ready as I’m gonna be.  I just need to get my stuff packed and ready to travel to Toronto tomorrow.  The Fitness Star competition takes place on Saturday and it will be second competition ever and my first competition of 2009.  Oooohh that sounds like I might want to do more this year!  But, for now let’s just focus on Saturday.

Today I did not do any cardio and no weights. I practiced my routine and primped a little bit.  I am trying to take some time to relax.  It’s not easy!  I really just want to have fun this weekend and I can’t imagine better timing.  After Saturday’s competition, I’ll be clear to have a great Sunday meal without guilt !  As luck would have it mustangmik and his wonderful wife have invited us on our way back from T.O. for some turkey! Well, I admit, I may have invited myself! haha

I want to say that I feel that I have accomplished so much in the past months and in the past year.  Whatever happens on Saturday is secondary. I feel very fortunate to have my good health and a loving family and friends. 

What a difference a year makes!

Last week, I was cleaning out the files and photos from my laptop and came across a photo I had taken last April.  It was right after I attended the Serious About Fitness workshop. 

I had no plans or illusions/delusions to ever compete until after that workshop.  But then I started working out more seriously and researching nutrition and weight training. One thing led to another..and I competed in November at the OPA Figure Eastern Championship. 

Check the photo for yourself - what a difference a year makes!  I’m stunned.  I kept thinking that my back would never grow!  But apparently, it did !  I got lots of information from everyone here on this website. 

So, like I said, I feel I’ve accomplished alot already.  I know my family and friends are proud and I’m grateful for their support.

Fingers are crossed for the weekend.

This is it. 6 days to go. All the hard work, the sacrifices, the chicken and broccoli will be put to the final test next Saturday in Toronto at my first competition of the season: Fitness STAR.  You can detect a note of optimism in that sentence: "first comp of the season"… meaning I expect to do more than just one!   

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Right now, I just want to focus on Saturday. The final week before the show is always abit complex. You really need to watch your food and work-outs.  For instance, Wednesday will be my last chance to work on the legs. After that, leave the legs alone cause you don’t want them overworked or swollen too veiny… or something…(not exactly sure but most sources agree). 

I ate no carbs all last week (except spinach, asparagus, broccoli and grapefruit).  Yesterday, I had oatmeal for breakfast. It was like heaven, I tell ya!  So I will be cycling carb meals this week as well and watching water and salt intake.  Of course, Saturday is not a bodybuilding competition - it’s athletic model. So I don’t want to be too shredded or lean or dry.  There’s a fine balance to keep.  And then you never really know what exactly will appeal to the judges.

So, again, I’m focusing on enjoying myself.  Enjoying the workouts, always!  And then enjoying the excitement of the competition and meeting lots of great people.  Ultimately, that’s what it’s all about.  In fact, there’s only one thing I don’t like about all of this - the fake tanning process. It’s messy and tedious!  But it is a necessary evil.  I can live with it.

Looking forward to a challenging week!

I’m gonna say it again… I’m doing this one for the big chocolate bunny! 

Lots going on this week. Gotta be ready in 13 days. This is pretty much it.  No more kidding around! This is really going to happen!  I am noticing how different my body is this year from last November. I have quite a bit more mass on me.  Well, ok, maybe just abit.  But I seem to have more shape. My shoulders are bigger and stronger and my hips and glutes are slightly larger. Hopefully, this is a good thing. (yikes!) Last November, I was uber lean - too lean really. 

My seamstress certainly noticed the shape change. We had a bikini picked out last November that fit me perfectly.  I went for a fitting this week, and, uhm, she’s busy making me a bigger bottom part!  I have been working the glutes and legs alot over the past couple of months. So I guess it’s paying off.  Always difficult to be objective about one’s body. The new suits are very cute. It’s really making the whole competition "real" and making me nervous for sure.

I also have got my routine down and have been practicing. I look forward to hitting the stage.  I’m determined to have fun and give it my best shot. Whatever the results, I just want to be proud that I did it.  I look forward to the celebration after it’s all over! 

Master Fitness DJ

This week was interesting. My boys (hubby and teenager) went on a southern vacation for March break for a little "male bonding" !  So I was left to my own devices here at home.  Day job was more hectic than usual.  I also had the dog to worry about. He’s really good. But I had to make sure I ran with him every morning, so he’d be ok alone all day. Then I had to come home and walk him before heading to the gym. yadda yadda.. Then I had to cook my own meals! Gasp!  But, that’s ok. The menu is pretty simple these days: chicken chicken chicken, fish, asparagus… !!

So apparently all the cardio and extra work on the legs has paid off. I am pleased with progress this week and feel like the legs are starting to get some shape. This week, I will focus more on hams and continue with glutes.  The biggest thing now is make sure I have time to practice presentation.  All this work in the gym will be worth nothing if I don’t have proper, compelling, smooth, graceful presentation.  Ughhh that’s the tough part.  I will work with my amazing choreography/presentation coach, Ms Fitness Canada, Vanda Hadarean. She worked with me last time and it made all the difference. I hope to do her proud!

Pressure pressure… ahhh  This is FUN.  Yes, I must remember that. Fun fun fun!   

Wishing y’all a happy week!

We are getting closer and closer!  I spent the weekend in Toronto to attend 2 fitness workshops (and Canadian Music Week events… sleep? nah!)  Anyway, Saturday was the UFE workshop and Sunday was the FitnessSTAR workshop.  For some reason, I left Saturday’s workshop feeling like I wasn’t ready to compete and that maybe I was making a mistake getting involved in this sport. I was discouraged and lost my motivation. I can’t really say why. Just one of those days maybe.

Sunday morning, after a couple of hours sleep, I went to the FitnessSTAR workshop. I had alot of fun at this one. We had a great group, the venue was gorgeous, the sun was shining through. This is a new organization and they really impressed me. I got my mojo back and was feeling ready to compete again. And actually, this one will be a challenge. It’s more of a "fitness model" competition as opposed to the more rigorous "figure" comp. I will really have to practice the runway walk and the poses. I always feel silly posing. It’s not really in my nature. But I’ll manage. So I registered yesterday. I am committed !  Woo hoo.  And it’s on Easter Saturday. I can’t wait to get my chocolate bunny on Sunday!! 

worried but hopeful … nervous but excited …