The I Love Carbs Blog

I have to admit, I’m not so much into the cardio thing.  I LOVE me some weights!  But, since my mission is to get rid of body fat, my coach has me increasing my cardio.  Today I took my rest day from weight training.  I woke up and did 50 minutes of cardio on an empty stomach.  Yikes…low blood sugar, but I stuck to it and finished.  I went to the gym with my hubby later on and did my second session of cardio while he trained his legs.  *I was wishing to kill my legs as well* Legs will be blasted tomorrow.  I got in one hour of cardio.  Okay, I admit, I’m not exactly keeping to my trainer’s plan.  I’m doing more cardio than told to.  The last time I did that and fessed up to it, I was smacked in the head by him and was told to "do as I tell you to!"  But as a result, that week my bf% was lower.  So, really…does it hurt to do more cardio than planned?  even if I keep it at a low intesity, and my heart rate zone is where it should be?  most likely I’ll fess up again, and more than likely I’ll be smacked again.  But I can’t wait to see the results   Diet is okay.  I am really having salty, crunchy cravings.  Having my almonds to incorporate some good fats in my diet helps a bit.  

Tonight, my hubby Tivo’ed the show, "Secret Lives of Women".  It was about four female body builders and their lives.  It was very interesting to see their daily lives and their passion for the sport.   Two of the ladies were married and live pretty normal lives, while the other two have turned Pro and have marketed their musclularity.  But in all four cases, I saw a pattern.  They were all at some point asked why they were doing this to their bodies?  if they wanted to look like men?  Muscles are a beautiful thing.  You have the abilities to use them and how ever you train them, they will take on that look.  For example, and cyclist (or sprinter) will have bigger legs than their upper body because they are using primarily their legs for that sport.  That’s natural due to the way they’re training.  Female (and male) bodybuilders are training every part of their body to achieve that symmetry.  It’s natural for their bodies to take on that look due to their training.  I see some mixed feelings already about my training.  Not that I’m a big time female bodybuilder, (some day I will be  When the topic of conversation comes up about bodybuilding, the question most asked is if I want to become HUGE.  Of course!  I don’t lift big weights for nothing! lol. Anyhoo, I admire these ladies on the show for their hard work in the training and dedication they put forth everyday.  They are mothers, wives, career women, juggling life and their passion for bodybuilding.

I had my posing practice with my coach today.  Even after practicing a bit at home, it has come to my realization that I have SO much more to practice.  I need to be able to flow right into the poses and hit them just right without fidgeting, or looking down to place my feet, etc.  Along with my training, and cardio, I’ll be incorporating some time for posing. 

I have had some great training lately.  I’m going heavy and have gone back to keeping a 6-8 rep range to keep that muscle on.  I get my heart rate up by keeping the rest time short, and then hitting the cardio after the weights has helped shed so BF.  I’m officially putting in 2 cardio sessions (twice a week), and my carbs have been lowered once again.  I do cardio 7 days a week, and I choose any two days for the extra sessions. 

I did chest yesterday, and super setted Incline DB Presses with Incline DB Flies.  O-baby those felt great.  I’m feeling it today, and it was tough to hit that relaxed position when I posed.  I got up to 35lb DB on the presses, could have gone to 40’s with a lift.  And 20lb DB on the Flies.  Usually I would use 25’s, but not while super setting.  Today was back day.  I haven’t done DB Rows in awhile, and 45lbs for 8 reps felt good.  I also did Assisted Pull Ups, and can do 10 reps at (-)20lbs.  I think I’ll soon be able to do my body weight!  When I started training for the show, which was about 7 months ago, I was really worried about being symmetrical, and bringing out my shoulders, and developing my legs.  I’m pretty happy with the results in this amount of time.  I realize that this sport is a long term focus.  My muscles need to mature, and it may take years for me to gain the goals I have in mind.  In the mean time, as I sometimes go crazy on the fam, get emotional about the tiniest things, and grumpy at the sight of pizza, I love every bit of this journey. 

On a really fun note…I took my girls shopping at the mall tonight.  I haven’t been in the shopping mood since my bulking.  It just got depressing seeing the sizes creeping up and up.  Now that I’ve leaned out some, I’m fitting into my jeans again, (filling them out better now actually, in the quads and glutes area), and cute summery tops are looking good on me again.  I have 3 parts to my wardrobe.  My bulking clothes, my in-between clothes, and my leaning out clothes.  I need a bigger closet!

I have had a couple people I know (aquaintances) come up to me and try to sell me supplements.  I’m not one to turn away supps.  Heck, my kitchen and laundry room looks like a GNC shop.  But there’s something that’s a turn off for me to have someone ask to buy their product.  Maybe it’s the whole soliciting thing, and it so direct, in your face.  I like researching the supps on-line.  Now, if you’d like to sponsor me, and let me try the supps and see results to tell others…well…of course I’ll give it a go!   I guess I should feel pretty good to have people ask me to use their product.  But, man, do I ever dislike having to listen to a sales pitch.

  Front Double Bi.    Front Relaxed              
                                                                                                                                                                                    

My order came in yesterday, and I took progress shots with them on.  Wow…I was so excited.  Although I feel like I’m spilling out all over the place, it really helps me invision what I NEED to look like.  This Friday I start my posing training with my coach.  I’ve dropped a pound this week and I almost hit 132 this a.m.  I’m going to use a ton of bikini bite to keep the suit in place :p This blue beauty is my night suit.  My pre-judging suit is a black “wet-look”.  I opted to not go with velvet because I think velvet looks flat against an oiled bod. 

I’m getting loads of support from my gym.  Some of the members that I’ve gotten to know said they’d like to go cheer me on at the show…”holding signs and doing the wave”…er, cheer me on, yes, signs and the wave? NO!

After my shows, I have a beach weekend getaway planned with my girlfriends.  I figured my family will need the break from me and my insanity   My hubby is so great.  I know I’m driving him up the wall, but he still shows that he likes me.  I know he always loves me, no matter what.  But liking a person is a whole different matter. Love you honey!!!

I’ve been frustrated and a bit of a psychopath with my dieting.  I know my BF% has gone down some, and I can plainly see I am leaning out.  But stepping on that scale and not seeing the weight move is really playing with my head.  I met with my trainer every Friday, and I do some poses and he checks my BF% and we discuss my plans.  I tell him I’m worried about my weight, and I even said for him to drop my carbs and give me MORE cardio!  His answer is always the same…”stop worrying!  You’re fine!  All you have to do is listen to me and do what I tell you to do!”  Okay, okay.  I know I need to do what he says and stop worrying so much.  The good news is, this morning I got onto the scale, and my weight dropped.  I know my trainer knows what he’s talking about.  He won the USA’s and when he’s in a show, he looks jacked.  (He’s getting ready to do the Master’s Nationals) Anyhoo, this is all new stuff for me and I get impatient and want to see immediate changes.  My weight is good, I’m keeping the muscle on, and even gaining some while leaning out, and although I get hungry, I’m not crazy hungry.  It’s really craving munchies when I’m bored.  So, I’ve been drinking lots of coffee and tea to keep my belly satisfied.  My poor family…I go through moments of craziness with them.  They put up with my eating, my training, and my complaining.  And I’m trying hard to stay focused and making sure I’m not too short with the girls, and show more love to them because they are SO patient with me.  I love their support for me, and I couldn’t do this without them.

My hubby told me a fantastic idea the other day.  He said I should look at competition photos and pick body parts I would want to strive for.  I looked and Nichole Ball is a light weight just turned IFBB Pro.  She looks amazing!  Everything I envisioned myself wanting to look like.  She brings great symmetry, she has a feminine look, and even through she’s a light weight, she gives the bigger girls a run for the money.  With a goal in mind and a vision, I’m ready for this!

My posing suits are shipped out today.  I can’t wait to get them in!  This Saturday I will be 6 weeks out.  I start posing with my trainer and start figuring out a routine. Whoo-hoo!

The training partner thing worked out okay this morning.  Since I already trained tri’s a couple days ago, I kept that a bit easier.  (I’m getting myself onto a new training schedule to mix it up.  That’s why I trained them twice.  By the end of this week, I will be on the new program) I kept at my weights, and she did hers.  It was hard for me to tell if she was pushing heavier weight for herself.  My intent was to be supportive with her new found love, well…interest for training, and not totally kill her in the gym.  I want her to see that weight training is beneficial, and venturing over to the free weight section isn’t scary at all.  Her form was very good with all the exercises we did. 

DB Overhead Tri Ext:

Warm-up: 2 sets, 15lbs x 15

1- 25lbs x 8

2- 30lbs x 8

3- 35lbs x 8

4- 35lbs x 8

V-Bar PushDowns:

1- 70lbs x 12

2- 80lbs x 10

3- 90lbs x 10

4- 100lbs x 10

Assisted Dips:  These felt great, I’ll try my body weight next time for these felt easy.

1- (-)40lb x 12

2- (-)30lb x 12

3- (-)20lb x 10

4- (-)20lb x 10

BB/EZ Bar Curls:

1- 30lbs x 10

2- 35lbs x 10

3- 40lbs x 8

4- 45lbs x 8

Concentration Curls:

1- 15lbs x 10

2- 15lbs x 10

3- 20lbs x 8

4- 20lbs x 6

DB Hammer Curls:

1- 15lbs x 15

sets 2 & 3: 20 lbs x 12

4- 25lbs x 8

BB Wrist Curls:

sets 1-4: 40lbs x 15

Finished off with low impact cardio on the treadmill at 2.8mph, 10% incline, HR at 130-140.  I did a second "secret" cardio at the house.  (Nope, it’s not what you’re thinking) It’s "secret" training because it was not on my training plan.  I just felt that having to wait for my friend to finish her sets; I didn’t get the intensity I usually get training alone.  My rest time was too long in-between sets, it was about 1 minute.  So I made up for it with extra cardio  

My friend wants to go with me again this Thursday, but I’m honestly not sure if it will happen. It’ll be the final day for exams for our kids, so the dismissal time is up in the air.  I had a lot of fun having her there, so I hope it works out.  

Tomorrow I’m heading into the gym early.  My girls are going to take their evaluation testing (they’re home schooled), and since it’s near the gym, what better way to spend my morning.  My good friend also has to drop off her son, and she just started to really get into working out again.  I love it for her.  So, when she found out that I’m headed off for my workout, she asked if I could get her a visitor’s pass and join me.  Now, usually, I’m pretty intense when I train.  I turn up my ipod so I’m not distracted by the noise around me.  I zone out like I own the gym and the weights are all mine.  So, this is going to be new for me.  The last time I took someone to the gym to train with me, I took it extremely easy on her.  I didn’t want to kill the girl since she was a newbie. She was out of shape, and was new to weight training. Afterwards, I overheard her talking to her husband about how wimpy my workout routine was, and she wanted to pick up the pace.  That was five years ago, and I haven’t invited anyone to train with me since.   (Except my hubby.)  My friend that’s joining me tomorrow is more advanced, thank goodness!  I thought we would work our arms.  Bi’s, tri’s, forearms, and then hit the treadmill for 45 minutes of low impact cardio.  See has been really starting to train hard, and seeing results.  Now she’s working on keeping her diet clean.  I am so proud of her! 

Today I did shoulders, and 45 minutes of cardio on the treadmill.  Diet was good.  Although, it seemed like today I was tempted to cheat!  When I take my youngest daughter to gymnastics practice, they have a snack bar there.  You would think a place trying to breed little Olympians would have healthy snacks.  Nope.  They have pretty much the same stuff a ball park would sell.  I tell you, those darn oversized baked pretzels were just calling my name.  It was my low carb day, which made the temptation worse.  I keep telling myself, "FOCUS!!! In less than 9 weeks, I’ll be up on stage.  One moment of weakness, just for a few bites of junk to satisfy a craving? I AM BETTER THAN THAT!"

I’m now 9 weeks out from my show.  My bodyfat is going down, but my weight isn’t changing much, as you can see on my profile.  That’s good, that means I’m still gaining muscle.  My trainer has steadily cut my cals down.  I lost the most weight at the beginning of my cut.  10 lbs in the first month.  The plan is to really change things up at 6 weeks and that’s when it’ll get hardcore.  My cardio is now 7 days a week, and I’m allowing myself and extra day of recovery.  I’ve been hitting the training pretty hard, and although I don’t feel drained and depleated, I still think it’s a good idea for the extra day of recovery for those muscles to grow. 

I also included a picture of a new family member.  We rescued him from the Humane Society.  His name is Lucky.

  The first photo was taken a month ago, March 13th.  The second photo is today’s progress shot, April 13th.

 This is Lucky. He’s named after Lucky Day (played by Steve Martin) in the movie, The 3 Amigos.

So, there’s this guy at my gym that’s there everyday.  He’s in pretty great shape for his age.  I’m thinking maybe 50-ish?  I think he used to compete, and he keeps himself lean.  Anyhoo, he’s one of those people in the gym that knows everyone there.  That’s cool, nothing wrong with socializing.  The funny thing about this guy is that he fancies himself a ladies man.  Now, just imagine a really buff Richard Simons, with the energetic personality, and that glorious hair.  For some reason, this guy always has different ladies working out with him.  He’s a nice guy, friendly, always giving training tips, yadda, yadda.  So, today he’s training with two ladies, the three of them doing incline bench DB presses, he’s sandwiched between the girls.  In the middle of his set, he totally let one rip.  It’s so freakin’ loud, I could hear it even with my ipod playing.  Now guys…if you’re reading this, take note…IF you’re taking your special lady (or ladies) to the gym, yes, show off for them, BUT, keep yourself under control with the body noises.  That is not a turn on.

Even with all that going on around me, trying not to laugh aloud, I had a great workout.  I trained shoulders and traps.  I decided to super set my DB Side Laterals with my Front DB Raises.  Whoo-hoo, loved it.  My shoulders were on fire.  I then moved over to do DB Shoulder Presses, got my way back up to those 30lb DB.  I finished the shoulders and transitioned into traps by doing BB Upright Rows. My final set ending with the 70lbs BB. I’m trying to bring my traps up, so I went heavy.  Started with DB Shrugs, 5 sets, 10 reps- Started with 30lb DB, and ending with 55lbs.  Finished with BB Shrugs.  5 sets, 10 reps.  Starting at 95lbs, ending at 135lbs.  I did my cardio and abs first thing in the morning on and empty stomach.  

When I started my cut for the upcoming show in June, I quickly saw my strength drop.  I went from strength training to put on muscle, sticking with 6-8 heavy reps.  Now, I’m keeping to higher reps, 12-15, to keep the intensity high to burn more calories.  My body went into some kind of shock once my carb intake was lowered, and I dropped 10lbs in the first month.  I hit a plateau, and my trainer dropped the carbs again.  I cycle my carbs with two low days, three moderate days, and two high carbs days.  I have to admit, I enjoy the lower carbs days.  It’s simple, and all I have to focus on is protein and veggies.  I love my veggies!  But I really miss the fruits. 

I got my elliptical set up in my garage for the morning cardio sessions, soon to be morning and evening cardio sessions.  My sweet hubby brought home a multi-gym just in case I can’t make my way to the gym.  It’s for those times he travels, and I have the little one at home with me.  Very convenient. Something that TOTALLY motivates me during cardio is that movie 300.  I watch that dvd, and after the cardio is finished, I’m excited to work on my abs.  Who wouldn’t be motivated after watching that movie, everyone is sporting a sixpack!

So today was back, bi’s, forearms, and always cardio.  I had a great workout.  Bi’s are feeling strong.  I’m back at curling the 45lb EZ bar.  I now have these veins on both bi’s that pop when I work arms.  Love it! I feel like my back and arms are probably my stronger body parts.  I’m working on the legs, and I think they’re coming around, slowly but surely.  It’s all so exciting to me to be able to sculpt your body.  It’s not all about pushing that weight.  You need to keep the symmetry right, and if that means to slow down a body part to let the others catch up so you look proportionate, then, that’s when your patience needs to kick in. 

I worked on posing for an hour last night.  I’ve concluded that I need a full length mirror.  I can’t wait for my suits to come in so I can start posing with them on.