Chicana_Peach’s Transformation Blog

So i have really been thinking about it MORE lately and i really want to get a tummy tuck done. I have lost a good bit of weight and got down to really low body fats and STILL have the nasty loose skin and the horrible stretch marks. SO NOT FAIR! I feel like its going to be a roadblock in my journey into figure competitions and bodybuilding (hoping to do crossovers soon, yes lots of work to do). I have already had one consultation and the surgeon said i was a good candidate. I still haven’t made the decision as i wanted to hold out and see if my skin would go back, but i seriously doubt it. I have done my research on how long it takes and on tummy tucks and i’m one of those rare cases where the skin doesn’t go back. I think this also impedes my abs from coming out too. I want to feel comfortable in my skin and the tummy is NOT HELPING. Having 4 kids and yo yo dieting most of my life has completely destroyed my midsection. So you may think that its not that bad as per my pictures, but you see i’m flexing and not moving around much. My sister even noticed it. It really puts a downer on me even when i try not to focus on it. I also feel a bit of discrimination towards it when doing my competitions. The tanner doesn’t really help neither nor the Dermablend (actually makes them appear worse). I have tried a few things to soften and fade my stretch marks, but nothing. I have tried the Jean Wu method, Vitamin K, Trilastin (went through 2 tubes of this stuff), aloe vera, and cocoa butter. No luck, these battle scars are really engraved. I have brought it up to my husband of how i really want the tummy tuck, not only will it rid me of most of the stretch marks, but it will rid me of the nasty loose skin. He even mentioned how i am almost perfect EXCEPT for the tummy I almost cried on that and just want to cry thinking about this. I have gotten some mean comments about them before too Not cool, i say if you don’t like what you see, you can kiss my a$$! Now the only way i would get the funds to cover this operation would be out of my 401k, i would really hate to do this, but i’m getting really desperate! Not only because of competing, but when i go to the beach, i don’t want to be thinking about who is looking at my stretch marks/loose skin crap and how i have to bend over to pick up stuff. It just SUCKS!! I deserve to be happier with myself. I have yet to bring up my plan to my husband. I have a feeling he will not be 100% up for it. He is not the one that is dealing with the issue. Its been 2 years now that i have gotten my body to a stable weight and bodyfat and i know the skin and stretch marks are not going anywhere. Does anyone know if this will cause issues with me competing in judging? I mean will it count against me? I have a very valid reason. What are your thoughts on this? Sorry to ramble on, but this has really been on my mind. I want to continue competing, but would like to take care of this issue first as i think my chances of building a better physique will be higher. Yes, i know about the scar from hip to hip, but i would rather have that then all the stretch marks that plague my stomach

I haven’t blogged in awhile and have just been relaxing. Well, not really just taking a break from the internet and training hard at the gym. I’m so determined to build more muscles. I just started a new shoulder routine and going to start working them 2xs a week (posted starting point, will post again after done with 8 weeks of training, already 1 week in). I’m going to have to rearrange my lifting plan a bit to give the shoulder workout some days in between to let them recover properly. I’m thinking 2-3 days in between. I took some starter pics of the shoulders (8 week program) and can’t wait to see what happens!! My sister is doing the same program too. I am getting my strength back in the gym and i LOVE it!

On another note, i was cleaning out my closets this weekend and found that i STILL had some size 14 and size large work outfits that i was still holding on for some reason? What the hell, i’m DONE being the fat girl! I’m going to list some stuff on Ebay, i got a good bit of stuff that i could get some cash back on. I have my old size large X-Men Storm costume that i just posted and got a few more of the girls that are in great condition. Its just money laying around, you wouldn ‘t believe it would sell, but it does. My closet is kind of empty now…lol. I have more workout clothes than anything, speaking of which i need to get some workout pants since the seasons are about to change. Heck, i still had some bigger workout clothes that were stashed away, time to get them out of my house!

The other day while at the gym, I was showing my picture in the 2 piece that was taken by a photographer to a few people at the gym including one of the owners. Well, when i was about to leave, he asks me if i could bring in a picture of me like the one i had so he could display it with some other competitors on his display table. I was flattered! I got one and going to take it to him when i drop off my daughter. Maybe they will be nice and give me a free t shirt or something Funny, now my oldest daughter Karina is interested in doing bodybuilding after watching my show. There was a young bodybuilder there that inspired her. She asked me if i could find a beginner program for her so she can start working out. She has already started doing a little bit on her own and people at school are starting to notice. She has big legs too and already starting to build as well as her triceps I TOTALLY support it if she wants to get into it as long as it doesn’t affect her school work. I would be so proud of her! I told her to find out about it first really good before she commits to it and take her time. There is a lot more she could research. Oh i had one of my daughters turn 12 this past Friday. My girls are growing up so fast! Yes, i had a small slice of that delicious Publix cake! Hmmmm, buttercream frosting chocolate cake, who could resist!

The bulking. Well, last week as pretty much semi clean and now i’m trying to get a little better with the eating cause i hate the way my midsection is and the weight gain. I know the scale sucks right about now and most of it could be water retention and what not, but it sucks. The midsection is so weird after doing a show. Mine is really flat on the bottom and in the middle, it looks like i have a tire or something…lol. Not so bad in the mornings, just during the day. I have been drinking lots of water, at least a gallon to help with it, but Amy/my trainer said it will take about 1 month for my body to go back to *normal*. I would like to stay within 125-130 range with around 15% BF off season so i don’t have to bust my butt when i do a few shows early next year. That sounds about right? I still want to be able to build, a trainer at my gym tells his girlfriend (figure competitor) that she has to eat big if she wants to continue gaining muscle. I think he believes in dirty bulking which does work for some i guess. I don’t think that would work for me though, i would just get fat. I either lose weight fast or gain weight fast…NOT FAIR! I do like the fact that i have a little bit of freedom now though and don’t have to think about food constantly. If i want to go out, i don’t have to freak out if i forgot a meal and all that. I missed outside food! I’m so bad, i haven’t went to Pizza Hut yet and that was something i was really craving towards the end of my comp prep. Just afraid of what it will do to my body, i think i will have to make a stop there this week though to get it out of my system. I’m so crazy, i have started to track my calories again already cause if i don’t get an idea of where i’m at, the pounds are going to start creeping up on me. I need some structure and don’t want to be guessing. Well, thats about all i got right now. Just enjoying life a little more since i don’t have to be so strict witht the diet and all. I’m still a total gym rat though No over training for me though. Train smarter, not harder as my friends tell me.

Hi everyone. I just got back in today from TN and really tired! I have been enjoying some good food and drinking plenty of water to flush all the junk out. I already feel kind of sick

Well, i didn’t place in my class yesterday unfortunately, but i feel great though. I know i did better this time around and brought a better package. The judges were looking for a more muscular look it seemed at this show. The overall winner used to be a bodybuilder not too long ago and now doing figure competitions. She had huge shoulders too which i lack. Anyways, the experience was great. This was the first time this show was done and it was well organized to be a first show. All the staff was pretty friendly and i got a lot of free goodies at during the Expo. There were 9 competitors in my class, i was placed in the short class which was kind of weird. Pretty much anyone 5′4" and below were in this class. They were awarding trophies to the top 5 in each class. The other classes were much smaller so everyone in those pretty much went home with a trophy. I felt very confident in my posing especially at the night show. I pretty much followed everything my trainer told me to do until after the night show. I was a little surprised that i wasn’t called in the top 5, but then again i was glad it was over with and ready to eat and drink. SO THIRSTY! I was also surprised that they didn’t really judge or count off for bad posing and smiling cause i saw that happening a good bit in my class. Some of these girls have competed before in other TN shows and i believe there were like 1 or 2 new competitors in this class. They all looked pretty good though, but i have to tell you that some really needed to work on that backside…lol. Lots of jiggle backstage. Yikes! Anyways, i will continue training and focusing on building mass during the fall and winter seasons. I want to do another show sometime early next year if and when i feel that my upper body and backside have improved some. Those are going to be my focus areas. I went to the judges for feedback after the show and spoke to 2 of the judges. They said that the only thing is that i needed to lose more water next time. Basically they were saying i was holding water in my hams and all and should start cutting the water out starting Wednesday or something like that. They said i should have experimented with this as different bodies respond differently. I told my trainer about this and she totallly disagrees. She stated that figure girls cut water out by Friday and not sooner since figure is FIGURE and not bodybuilding (more dry look). They also said that my tan needs to be DARKER. Ay ya ya, i thought it was pretty dark as i got spraytanned at the show and had a good dark base tan to start with. UGH! We got further into detail with the judges and asked what exactly are they looking for and if they are still going for a softer figure look. He said that is what they are being told to look for and that the shoulders should not look like cannon balls and the seperation should not be there. They want a feminine look with softer lines and the judge was even drawing what they are looking for which was TOTALLY contradicting what they chose in this show. I even spoke up and said, "But the girl that placed high in my class and overall had exactly what you say that you are not looking for…". He states that he can not comment or dispute with me on that and had a funny look on his face. Hmmmmm. Whatever! I know i did good and worked very hard to where i’m at now. I already talked to my trainer about my future plans and plan on getting back in the gym this week for some light cardio & lifting. Next week i will take off from the gym as she recommended. I will still be focusing on building my shoulders a bit and working on my hamstrings and glutes. Watch out cause i’m NOT done! Oh, i got a picture with Guntar Schlierkamp that my sister took. I will have to get it from her and post it. What a hunk!

Hi everyone!    Sorry, i have been busy doing the last minute packing thing and trying to get in all my water before noon and all. Haven’t been blogging much. Staying off my feet is HARD! My trainer chewed me out yesterday about this and not being ready with the carb load stuff and packing. Opps! Busy mother here, hehe. I really hope the carbing up works this time, i feel it was my fault last time that it didn’t really work as i didn’t take any sweet potatoes with me and i didn’t eat enough on M5 like she told me. I’m such a goober. She told me to eat 2-3 rolls of sushi and a few pieces of sashami and last time i only ate 4 pieces of sushi, NOT rolls. What a freaking goober! LOL. I couldn’t believe i could eat all that last night I was really enjoying myself and today i get to have my PB balls for some of my meals!! Dang, those things are GOOD! I should have bought more granola to put into them. I got all my meals ready to go for the day of and the rest of today so i’m SO READY! Got 2 containers of PB balls and ready to eat those bad boys. I’m going to be greedy with them more this time cause last time the other ladies were drooling over them. Better get away hags! LMAO! I like how my physique came in this time and really look forward to having a good time. I don’t know what to expect at this show since its the first Sports Expo show that TN is holding so we will see. I only know of one chick that is competing there and i think she is in my class. Her arms are way better than mine, but thats ok. You never know I know i did better on the body this time so thats what counts. Not some political judging. I will be thinking about all of you while i’m there! ALL of you inspire me and give me the push i need to keep it up I love this and will continue to do it as my nerves permit..lol. Next time none of this summer dieting though, too rough! Also the way the shows were spaced out, didn’t like the way i did that. I am so ready to go back to some mass building and some freedom.

Alright, i really need to get going and get this packing done! Later peeps!   

Sandra