cstpierre’s BodyBlog

I haven’t written in a while, but that doesn’t mean I’m dead or have given up LOL, I’m still having at it!!  I made great progress since March with dropping BF and gaining muscle.  I saw my upper abbs come in for the very first time, which was a huge milestone …I jumped for joy.

It doesnt go without saying I have had my good days and bad days along the way.  Life sometimes throws us curve balls, and I had my share…from stressful work situations and working long hours, family issues and the almighty mega flu LOL.  So, I had fallen off track a few times ~ there were days I missed meals, missed workouts, and then beat myself up over it…then I realized I’d be better off just dusting myself off and getting back on track then stressing over it

These days I’m shifting gears and working on gaining some size and strength and this will be my focus over the next few months.  I have a small frame and I don’t want to be skinny and toned, I want to be have a strong athletic physique so I’ve got some work to do.

The diet has been tweaked and I’m taking in some additional carbs these days to help with my goals. I’m focusing on lifting heavier - keeping reps around 6.  I should probably post some pics soon…not that there is any big and noticeable changes these days, if anything My BF% has gone up a little since increasing the calories with carbs, but it will be good to track the growth during this phase.

I hope all my BB.com pals are doing well- keep up the good work my friends =)

C 

That last 6 weeks I’ve been on a new diet (THANK YOU!!  Derek "The BEAST!!!" )  and I’ve seen wonderful progress.  So have my co-workers and family - when people notice , its such a great feeling.

Its confirmation that all you hard work is paying off. And it is hard, ass busting work!  I work out 6 days a week.  Lifting and cardio. There are days when I am so damn exhausted i just want to plop my butt on the couch and relax after work, but that lazy attitude is what got me out of shape in the first place.  So I keep pushing forward, its a battle of the will. I just keep focusing on " THE WHOLE 6 PACK"   I gotta have it. 

I’ve pepped talk myself through 30 minute cardio sessions…just 15 more minutes,  …. just 8 more minutes,  5 more you can do it.   Its amazing what the subconscious mind will do to persuade you into taking the day off.  Sometimes I feel like I’m arguing with myself.

~  1 day off wont hurt you     Oh YES it will.       its just one day, not a big deal      If I allow an excuse now, I’ll allow another later, then another and another. ~

 Its a good thing this doesn’t happen aloud LOL

 I’m gonna keep on keeping on!!!

Wrapped of my 3rd week yesterday.  This past week was hard!  I’m lifting very heavy and this past week I did 4 sets per BP. Then, as usual topping the session off with 30 min of LI cardio - unbelievably exhausting!  But it seems to be paying off since my weight has gone up and my waist is shrinking. I do feel stronger as well.

I’m finally use to eating the 5 meals a day. 2 weeks ago I was feeling so stuffed after the first two meals..now I’m at a point when that 2.5-3 hrs mark comes around I’m ready to break out a bow & hunt down my own food  I’m stahvin!!!

One thing I want to say about this meal plan I’m on (Lean Mass Diet) is that I noticed I no longer have the bloated look I would always get after a meal. I would bloat so bad before - you’d think I was expecting.  My tummy is much happier since I changed to this plan. 

In 3 weeks I’ve gained 2.5lbs and my waist has gone down and inch.  My arms and back have "noticeably" leaned out - just waiting for the love handles to follow in suit.

Wrapping up week two of my new plan (Scivation)  I’m loving the antagonistic approach to lifting as i can get so much more done in less time.

The diet has been clean as a whistle and I’m noticing some results. I’m getting stronger that is for certain!  And AMEN to Scivations Extend! This stuff is golden…and no I’m not being paid to say that. Seriously - recovery time is amazing and I’m lifting HEAVEY  (6-10 reps). 

I’ll have progress pics posted here soon. I posted them on Scivations forum for now

Best to you all!

Day 6 of my new Program with SciVation and I have to say - I feel pretty darn good!!  My workouts are going great!  I’m blasting through cardio. And doing so without all the extra carbs I was eating before and after my workouts…surprise surprise!

When I got my plan - I thought…how am I going to make it through a work out + cardio?  But I am!  I’m also sleeping better, not experiencing that afternoon slump, and never once feeling hungry!

I am just so flipping excited to get to my 30 day mark on this plan, to peel off the layers of gym clothes and see what progress I’ve made. 

I feel like a kid at Christmas time - I’m waiting to open that giant present under the tree at with my name on it!   

I’m on day 4 of my new program and the eating is getting easier.  But holy moly - what happen this morning after breakfast threw me for a loop! 

I am typically one who is always cold. I keep a space heater by my desk at work because the AC sends shivers down my spine, but today I had to shut it off thanks to the crazy Hot Flashes I’ve been having! 

No sooner did I finish my breakfast and WAM!  I was hit with a wave of heat. I  wondered; what the hell is happening here?    I don’t take any fatburners/thermogenics - I cant because they wig me out.   The only supplements I’ve added this week, as recommended,  are Fish Oils, CLA and Sesamin.

So I went and did some very deep research a.k.a. googling =)   and I found that many believe these ‘hot flashes’ to be the result of the diet change/thermogenic reaction to foods.  It’s changes in your hormone levels brought on by an increased intake of fat in your diet.

That must be it I’m thinking?? …. I’ve more than doubled my daily fat intake. (Essential Fats of course)   

Anyone else experience this?  Is it the diet change/increased fats?

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…..watch out people hot stuff coming through =D   tee hee
 

Last night I spent 2 hours cooking up a storm and packing all my meals for the next 5 days. Its a lot of work!  Weighing food, splitting up meals into Proteins and Fats and Carbs, packing it all up.   I know once I get use to this it won’t seem like so much - after a couple weeks I should have this down.

I had a tough time with breakfast this morning. I’m not use to eating so much.  3 whole eggs + egg whites + some fruit …. I was doing all I could to muscle it down.  3 hrs later time for meal number 2 –what?  I’m still stuffed from breakfast?  Going to muscle that down too.

2 meals into this and I’m feeling like a cow - that goes to show you how little I was eating.  Before,  my breakfast consisted of  4-5 egg whites, my mid morning meal - and handful of nuts or granola…  What I’m eating now is twice as much.   

But - if I want to grow up big and strong I’ll have to get use to it. 

In the last four months  I’ve seen some decent changes, but feel things could certainly be better.  I started off back in March at roughly 26% bf, today I’m at 19%.   I’m certainly a lot stronger, I have built some muscles - but would have liked to see a bit more accomplished in this time.   

I’ve found a lot of helpful information on BB.com and it has brought me this far, but sometimes information alone isn’t enough - you have to understand how to apply it to your condition, you need a helping hand. Another thing is there is sometimes too much information. What to do with it all?  

I read a lot of blogs on here. Particularly those of the individuals that I admire and inspire me. And that is where I found out about Team SciVation (Thanks AnneMarie_DJ) and their offer to provide nutrition and training plans - FOR FREE!  Not just that - they monitor your progress  each week and make changes where necessary.  They are there to guide you through and answer your questions.

Heck, this has more meaning and value then the training packages they offer at my gym and they want to charge $60 a session!  Sorry, but I cant pay a trainer, that looks like they had McDonalds for lunch all week $60 a session.  I digress.

So I went to the Team SciVation site, gave them all my info, I got an email back shortly after that they were reviewing my info and a couple weeks later, today, I got my plan from Derek.

In review of this plan Team SciVation sent me - it appears I could be eating a bit more than I have.  Also, I’m not consuming enough healthy fats and my pre-workout and post work out meals are lacking. But - that’s all going to change!  They provided me with an easy to follow nutrition plan. I’ll be hitting the grocery store this weekend and cooking up meals for the week!

I’m pretty excited about the Training plan as well. It’s different, something I hadn’t tried before so I’m looking forward to the change!

Day one of training starts Monday.  Till next time! 

C=)

So I have an odd sense of humor  …don’t flog me.

1 -   Men wearing Tube Socks with their shorts. Sorry it  just cracks me up.   If they are black tube socks, I might just fall off the bench in tears.

2 -  Women who don’t prepare adequate coverage for their headlights.  Really now. The A/C is cranking! And no, the guys are not checking out your muscles hun.

3- People who wear jeans or khaki’s.  OUCH - I’m thinking some major chafing is going to happen.

4 - Guys who wear Loafers ..or worse yet, Crocks?    How about Loafers or Crocks with tube socks? Yep, and it seriously hinders my ability to complete a set when I’m laughing so hard  —so stop it people!!

5- Men who wear Wife-beaters or those 1980’s Muscle shirts…you know the kind with no real arm holes and the slit down the side?  (No, No,  you are not bringing sexy back!)

6 - People who sit on machines backwards. While it might be somewhat funny, I am concern they might hurt themselves being that they don’t know what they are doing

7 - Disproportionate lifters.  Shoulders of a line backer, legs of a chicken hawk. WTH? 

8-  People who grunt REALLY loud while lifting heavy weights. Get a couple of them going at once and it  sounds like a clan of bears

9 - People who fart when doing yoga or sit ups… you know who you are (Ok this happen to me before -I admit it)

10- Old ladies in the locker room with more confidence then me. Yep, they let it all hang out! LOL …dear lord the images that have been burned into my retina, help me!!!  God bless them and please God, don’t let me go blind.

All kidding aside - I must give these people big props for at least going to the gym …and for giving me a reason to laugh while I inflict pain upon myself

So I have an odd sense of humor  …don’t flog me.

1 -   Men wearing Tube Socks with their shorts. Sorry it  just cracks me up.   If they are black tube socks, I might just fall off the bench in tears.

2 -  Women who don’t prepare adequate coverage for their headlights.  Really now. The A/C is cranking! And no, the guys are not checking out your muscles hun.

3- People who wear jeans or khaki’s.  OUCH - I’m thinking some major chafing is going to happen.

4 - Guys who wear Loafers ..or worse yet, Crocks?    How about Loafers or Crocks with tube socks?

Yep, and it seriously hinders my ability to complete a set when I’m laughing so hard  —so stop it people!!

5- Men who wear Wife-beaters or those 1980’s Muscle shirts…you know the kind with no real arm holes and the slit down the side?  (No, No,  you are not bringing sexy back!)

6 - People who sit on machines backwards. While it might be somewhat funny, I am concern they might hurt themselves being that they don’t know what they are doing

7 - Disproportionate lifters.  Shoulders of a line backer, legs of a chicken hawk. WTH? 

8-  People who grunt REALLY loud while lifting heavy weights. Get a couple of them going at once and it  sounds like a clan of bears

9 - People who fart when doing yoga or sit ups… you know who you are (Ok this happen to me before -I admit it)

10- Old ladies in the locker room with more confidence then me. Yep, they let it all hang out! LOL
…dear lord the images that have been burned into my retina, help me!!!  God bless them and please God, don’t let me go blind.
All kidding aside - I must give these people big props for at least going to the gym

…and for giving me a reason to laugh while I inflict pain upon myself