as25’s BodyBlog

SOOOO, I have been thinking about doing figure instead of bodybuilding, because I seem to have more of the genetics for that.  But I have been getting really conflicting advice about the subject.  The plan was to put on another good 6 lbs of muscle to fill out my shoulders and lats, and then cut for a March contest.  But now a couple people have said that I would be too heavy for figure if I did this.  I am really conflicted.  I was really looking forward to putting on some mass and seeing some great gains, and I do NOT like the idea of just kind of hovering where I am until it is time to diet down in January.  But I also don’t want to be too big for figure when the competition DOES come.  Another thing is, it seems like the figure pro competitors come in a little more muscular than the amateur.  So if I came in around their size in an amateur contest, would that be a bad thing?  I just don’t know what to do!!! 

Anyways, the diet is going great, I have been going strong on my diet, and I got a new job (still training) that allows me to eat more often, so I am replacing my protein bar with tuna and brown rice, so we’ll see what that does.  Hope everyone is doing great!

Today was a great leg workout- it didn’t start out so good because I just wasn’t pushing myself the way that I wanted to be.  I did leg press, deadlifts, sumo squats, and smith machine lunges, which were all okay, but then I went back to the leg press and decided to see if I could do a little more weight.  I had already done three sets with 320 for about 12 reps, so then I decided to do 410.  So I did 2 sets of 6 reps.  Well, I work out in a college gym where NO girls lift weights seriously, so by then a couple guys were standing there, kind of "egging me on", haha.  They decided to see if I could do 500 lbs, so on went another 2 plates.  I was a little scared, but I did it for four reps just fine!  I know it doesn’t seem like a lot to most people here, but it was big progress for me. The best part was that the guys I hang out with at the gym actually seemed impressed rather than telling me I need to lift "like a girl" like they usually do.  (If anybody knows how the hell to "lift like a girl," let me know.)  Anyways, I feel like i’m on my way to my bodybuilding comp!   

I have managed to stick pretty well with my diet, with the exception of one meal yesterday.  I ate meal 1 at 5 AM, went to work, and got back to my apartment at 9 AM, only to find I was locked out.  Well, I waited until 11 for my fiance to get out of work and let me in, and by that time I was HUNGRY!  So while I was waiting, instead of having my planned grilled chicken and brown rice and broccoli, I had a coffee smoothie from smoothie king- whoops!  It could’ve been worse, I guess.  It is low fat and low cal, but not a lot of protein- like 12 grams.  I ate extra protein in the rest of my meals to make up for it.  Today I have been exactly back on, though.- ate all my planned meals, and done cardio- I KILLED my chest yesterday with  a couple burnout sets. 

I have a story that happened at the gym the other day.  I was in the corner, doing bicep curls with my 25 lb dumbbells, and I glanced to my left and saw a pretty muscular guy doing curls with 12.5 lbs.  I don’t THINK I gave him a funny look but maybe I did, I was just surprised that such a big guy lifted such a light weight.  Anyways, he saw me glance at him and he said, "I’m just trying to tone, that’s why I’m lifting these."  I just shrugged and said, "that’s cool.  You’re toning, so you lift one weight, I’m trying to put on mass, so I’m lifting these."  I thought it was done, but NO!  He looked me up and down and said, "You’re trying to put on MOOOORE mass? "(emphasis on the more)  "Why would you want to put on even MORE mass?"  I didn’t really know what to say, but I wanted to say, so i can kick your butt when you say rude things to girls in the gym!  haha.  Anyways, it kind of made me upset a little bc I am really trying to realize that being strong and muscular is better thatn being skinny and weak, even if I am a girl.  He sure didn’t make me feel too great about it though!  Oh, well, I like the way I look with a little muscle on me.  (  :

Well, my first post!  I need to start writing down everything to keep myself accountable.  I recently changed my diet from high carb (supporting a LOT of cardio) to higher protein and a FEW less carbs.  I love love love carbs, but if I am going to gain 10 lbs. of muscle and not 10 lbs. of fat, gotta get the protein!

Meals for today:

5 AM 1 cup oats with a little cinnamon, 6 egg whites

6-8 AM teach pilates, 30 minutes cardio

8-8:45 lift bis and tris, post wo protein shake (23 g pro, 3 g c)

9:15 post wo meal- 6 oz chicken breast, 2/3 c cooked rice, broccoli

12:30 8 oz 96/4 beef (280 cal), 1 apple

3:30 clif protein builder bar (20 g pro) (At work, on the run)

7:00 1/2 c cooked rice, 6 oz chicken, broccoli

10:00 1/2 c oats, 1/2 c cottage cheese

This comes out to about 2200-2300 cals.  I’m pretty sure I’m getting enough protein, but it could be better.

 Today’s workout: 1/2 hr cardio, 1 hour pilates, bis and tris- did incline curls at the end supersetted with cable curls- killed!