Atia’s Blog

What IS it with everyone?  I get very frustrated with people.  I can’t help it.  Shortcoming i know.  But why does everyone try to sabotage?  For the third time today, someone i know nixed an appointment at the gym to get started.  OK, the weather DOES suck today here.  I get that.  But they have also already said that they might just "go month to month" if they join cause when the weather gets nice they want to "get back out on the trail and walk".  hmmppphhhh… 

OK, first, I’m not trying to sell gym memberships!  I would be happy to be the only one there!  But, this person asked so i took her.  Second, i have a saying:  If you are walkin’ you AIN’T workin!  I’m sorry but people that say they are going to "walk" for exercise, if they are not severely overweight and that’s all they can do to get started - GREAT!  But, mostly, if that isn’t where someone is, they aren’t WALKING FOR EXERCISE.  They are walking cause they really don’t want to exercise but they want to SAY they exercise.  The real truth is that some other coworker has been touting the "women shouldn’t lift weights to lose weight" and "you’ll get big" in first person’s ear.  So, said first person will continue to eat ww frozen lunches and "walk". 

Oh whatever.  So what. 

I did legs this morning.  I’ve been doing 2 to sometimes 3 full body WODs per week now for the last 5 weeks or so.  Two additional leg days and three EST days, usually one longer medium intense session and two HIITs.  Last couple weeks i took it up to 4 ESTs but that’s just too much for my lazy a$$ to do.  ha ha ha!!

I was asking my gym manager how many people that make resolutions he sees tend to stay and he said maybe 5%.  Just because i noticed that even my small gym is busier right now.  it surprised me it was so low but then again i guess it shouldn’t.  Managing a healthy, or more difficult, a bodybuilding based lifestyle is a difficult thing.  I say bodybuilding BASED because, well, frankly, my lifestyle isn’t even as stringent as the awesome competitors that get up there on stage and just do it!  I can afford more margin for "error" because i’m not gonna be standing in front of hundreds of people in heels and a string bikini on a regular basis, just like someone that just wants to be "healthy" can afford more margin than me because her goal may not be based on getting her BF as low and keeping it there, etc.  You know, for instance, my BF this week was around 15%, considered lean by any regular standard.  However, for me, it isn’t what i’m looking for.  For me, it is just a marginal difference between where i am right now and being too heavy for my comfort level.  It is SO individualized what we need and want.

Ooops i have to finish thoughts later cause gotta go to food store… 

That’s how i’m defining it.  I have been looking for a word that fits for me as to how to eat.  You know, everyone says "clean".  Does that mean you wash your food or what?  ha.  It works for many and they know what "clean" means to them but it has never worked in my head for me.  Other folks say "plain" or "whole".  Both rock but again, i just have different definations.  You know, "whole" to me says that you are eating a food that is within itself complete - ie - a piece of chicken or an orange.  It is not "manipulated" in anyway to make it "whole".  Then there are other foods, that while manipulated in some way, are still considered acceptable in this thing we all do called clean eating by some.  For instance, EZ bread, oats, well, he** even our protein powders.  So, although not "whole" as defined above they are still acceptable.  I could say "natural" but what the eff does that mean?  Everything is "all-natural" now.  So, i started thinking about the fact that the stuff i have  been trying really hard to concentrate on, especially in the last couple weeks is stuff that could have been made at any given time by various cultures and has.  Old cultures "made" bread (not processed white bread mind you but things similar to EZ bread).  They "harvested" oats.  Heck they even made cheese, although cheese (except for some cottage) isn’t something i consider acceptable on a daily basis.  These people lived a base existence off of the basic food sources available to them.  So, i call it "BASE EATING", or BASE FOODS.  That’s just me.  It works in my crazy head.

I picked this up on another blog and it is worth a reminder to self - these gals are talking about the latest issue of "muscle and fiction" (LOVE that - heard someone call it that recently) Hers and the cover model being obviously airbrushed: 

I saw her in an interview talking about that shoot…while she is naturally lean and svelte, (in other words, she doesn’t have to work super hard to get that way) she did also just have a baby and being pregnant "separates" that line down the center …and, while you can still have a 6-pack post-baby, getting that ripped line down the center is impossible. She admitted in the interview that they "touched it up a little" which I thought was noble of her to admit, but soooo hypocritical of a fitness magazine especially!!

That’s right people!  Hypocritical!  Trust NO ONE Fox Mulder cause they are there to sell magazines, NOT tell the truth!  If one "fitness" magazine EVER came out and was actually honest about how much work it takes and more importantly, how much PLAIN EATING it takes to look like most of the gals here are working hard to look, NO ONE would train. 

The majority of people are lazy.  Period.  They want something for nothing (or as little as possible) and they truly want to believe that three times a week for an hour will do it.  And these freakin’ magazines and "experts" just feed right in to that. 

I quit reading them a looonnngggg time ago. Oh, i too used to wait breathlessly every month for mine to arrive because surely THIS  month there would be something that made THE difference.  Bullshite.  It is the same old crap in a different outfit every month and then they airbrush it to he** and back anyway. 

I recently watch a video on-line about airbrushing and photoshop.  It was a true freakin’ eye opener. 

People need to spend time looking at REAL women like some of the gals here that take their OWN pictures and are honest about what it takes. 

The unfortunate (and it is unfortunate because well, bad food tastes GOOD) truth of it all is that the food is what matters.  Now, this is assuming that a gal is busting her a$$ in the gym.  You know, NOT lifting 10 pound pink dumbbells and all.  But assuming she IS busting her A$$ then the food is the key.  I have proved this over and over again to myself in the past year and the honest to god truth is that if you aren’t reaching your goals and your are dam* sure you are working hard, you better look at what you are chewing cause i bet your answer is right there. 

Speaking of which, i have not been 90% here lately.  A good 75 to 80 probably but nowhere near 90.  So, althought i HATE new year’s resolutions i’m making what is as close as i will get.  Today i’m back to plain eating and the 90% rule.  The "holidays" are over.  There is one, count it, one piece of fudge left in the kitchen.  I’ll offer it to one of the kids later - HA!  So, the time is now. 

In keeping with the 90% rule, my goal is to lose 5 to 10 pounds of bodyfat while sacrificing as much muscle as possible.  The reason for the range is that i’m not sure what the magic number will be, since i have earned a little muscle in the last few months.  To be as lean as i was scale-wise, which is the LEAST important part of the equation i know, last year, may be too much.  So, as i said, i’ll know it when i "see" it and i can note it at that time. 

I’m also two weeks in to a full body rotation combined with HIIT and a new leg routine on leg days i will start today.  I’m doing additional legs despite doing full body rotations.  I am a chick and a chick’s legs and A$$ need more work.  Period.  I’ve been at this long enough to know what works for me.  Anyway, this rotation will take me another 14 weeks so that is a good goal time frame.  

GREAT holiday!  I mean from Solstice on just a really nice time with family and friends.  I’m working (hardly) today.  Absolutely NO ONE here…  WODs have been consistent.  Enjoying the full body stuff.  Did some plain old cardio this morning with my weighted vest a got for xmas.  I just needed something mindless and to sweat.  Yesterday i ate freely and enjoyed every minute of it.  Feel good today.  No returns to make and a bunch of $$ in itune gift cards!  Bring on the playlists!!! HA HA HA…    

Over and over and over again.  Last year at this time, people were telling me how "skinny" i had gotten.  At the time it really pi$$ed me off.  I wanted some muscle!  Now i’m stuck with some of the muscle i "wanted’ but not the cut i desire.  I’m all about experimenting.  I’ll give anything (within health and reason) a try.  but, i am at the end of my patience with this particular issue.  I need to be lean! 

It perplexes me because when people were calling me "skinny" i wasn’t even doing some of the things i am now.  IE - having a complete understanding of carbs, watching the starchies, i was eating bars EVERYDAY for snacks, etc, yet i was leaner then than i am now.  I also am working harder now.  Lifting more, switching stuff up all the time, etc.  Trying to keep my body confused - cycling carbs, doing high days and half fasts, lots of stuff that SHOULD be working and isn’t. 

I also get tired of people telling me that gals aren’t "that lean" all the time.  I know gals from here that ARE indeed that lean all the time.  So, how does that fit into the "you can’t look like that regularly" equation? 

Anyway, i’m cranky today dear diary… 

"Lunch" so i thought i would take a few minutes and jot down some stuff.

Did my second full body session today consisting of single arm at a time bent over rows, single arm shoulder presses, single leg deads and then some weighted core work.  Warm up was 10 minutes of jacks and sqat thrusters and followed the training with 15/45 intervial HIIT again.  Then did some glute iso work. 

My shoulders are already getting stiff.  Yeeeehhhhaaaaa!!!  I’m in the middle of another shake "fast" and struggling today.  The day is long, the tummy is lonely. 

Wrapping stuff up for the holidays too.  Just about done with the minor, leftover stuff you always "forget" when you start early.    Happens every year.  My other problem is that i just CAN’T STOP BUYING STUFF FOR MY MAN!  HA!  I just enjoy it and well, i guess he does too - LOL.  

We are having a holiday lunch at work on Friday.  Ugggghhhhh….  I hate these things.  Bunch of people that really don’t even like each other  making holiday cheer.  Plllleeeeaaasssseeeeee….  So, this "lunch" is consisting of pizza, lasagna, cookies (these are the things i’ve heard so far).  I’m bringing…..FRUIT!  HA!  Yup, fruit.  Jeezus i gotta bring SOMETHING and it seems to me that there will be plenty of junk so WTF!  Plus i gotta bring myself something to eat. 

I’m following a new program, as i journaled last week.  This morning i did a full body routine w/ push, pull, overhead squats and core stuff.  Then 15 second interval high intensity cardio followed by 45 second lower for 10 minutes to end.  yesterday i did a shake fast.  i hadn’t planned to, it just turned out to be a good day to do it.  This morning i feel much leaner through the torso and stomach.  It has become apparent to me that like alot of chicks, my hips and glute/ham tie-in area is just my hard part.  Even my gut leans out before that area.  Oh, to be a toothpick with no titties and no body fat!  At least whatever muscle you build would SHOW UP NICELY!  i’d rather deal with the whole "too lean" thing any friggin day than the whole "oh but you look so healthy and feminine…."  Healthy and feminine?  Pllleeeeaaaaseeeee.  Just SHUT UP!  That is Just one step away from "voluptuous".  which is just one step away from frump a$$ dough ball to me! 

Arrrrggghgghghghhg!!!!  I’m just having a bad time right now i guess.  My husband says it is because it is winter.  he says i get like this every winter - dissatisfied with life in general.  Maybe some truth to it.  However, if i was a lean and oiled machine able to wear pasties i bet i wouldn’t be in such a bad mood!    

I am giving full body routines a try.  I keep hearing about how they are the best way to build muscle and therefore burn fat and that they tax the WHOLE body, etc.  I have never done this sort of thing.  Always split body part routines.  SO much to learn and experiment with.  it is fun.  I did my first one yesterday.  I am still doing two big leg days a week.  I KNOW from experience that my arse will not accept any less. 

I had alot of carbs yesterday.  At first i thought i was just being sharky but maybe not cause after i had them i felt better and feel better today too with no bloat, etc.  I dunno, i’m still getting used to listening to what the body needs…  and filtering that from what the brain WANTS, etc…

I look around and the thing that i am continually amazed at is that the gals that have mastered this, whether for comp or just life, all have differences in their approach.  It is a very individual thing, held together by overall "given" concepts that each person must tweak for herself and make it work.  it is a long process and it never really ends…

Went to gym at lunch having no idea what i was going to do.  Ended up doing an upper split sorta.  Mostly concentrating on back, bis and tris though.  I managed 4 true reverse grip chin ups.  I’m saying "true" now because the gym has a REAL pullup bar - one that you have to jump to reach.  I can do the reverse grips but all others i have to jump up and then do unassisted downs.  someday i’m gonna be able to just crank those **&^^&^% things out like a guy though.  I did some lawnmowers, machine pulldowns, and some cable work for back too.  I did skullcrushers and dips and some overhead extensions.  I did EZ bar curls, cable curls with the rope, single iso curls and then we got some new bands so i tried out three different sizes of those.