The I Love Carbs Blog

This week my carbs where increased to keep my metabilism going strong. We had to do this since I decided not to do next weeks show. My calories/carbs where at a level I could not maintain for another 4 weeks and still hold muscle so we upped the calories and carbs. I am now focusing 100% on the next show in three weeks. Here are some recent progress shots.

MAY 31, 2008 - 130lbs

For reference - APRIL 26, 2008 - 134lbs

Well…I’ve been a bit disappointed this past holiday weekend.  I was set to peek for a June 7th BB show, my first one.  I would have been two weeks out this past Saturday.  My carbs were cut down drastically, energy levels real low, and crankiness was super high.  But, after much thought and discussion with the fam, it just wasn’t going to work out.  My daughter leaves that same day for her cycling camp out of state.  (this is her first time going away without her parents)  It’s a big deal for her.  We planned on booking a hotel near the show the night before to be well rested and be there for weigh-ins.  Obviously, we can’t leave her at home alone to take care of all the gear she needs to pack.  The sucky part is, no show date for me on June 7th.  The June 21st show will have to be my first.  On the positive side, I’ll save money not having to travel and get a hotel.  I have more time to prepare, and my daughter will be able to see my first show.  Also, as an extra bonus!….my coach tweaked my diet today.  Since I’m doing the later show, my carbs are higher this week to boast my metabolism, AND…I got a cheat meal tonight!  Let me just say, as I sit here typing this out, I feel SO STUFFED!  I had a couple of pot stickers, and a potato skin, and 2 wings for my appetizer.  For my meal I ate a burger with fries.  Although I’m quite disappointed with switching the show date, I’m moving past it and now it’s time to focus.  This will be a bigger NPC show open to all of Florida.  I’ve gotta come in  lean and mean!

I’m just having trouble finding time to do everything I need to do.  I wanted to go to the tanning salon today, but, as with homeschooling, my 8 year old had a ton of questions for me.  Good thing summer break is around the corner!   I got into the gym and did legs.  With all this cardio I’ve been doing, I’m finding it difficult for my legs to recover from the previous workout.  Not that they’re still sore.  They’re just not refreshed and ready for a hurtin’.   I did however push it as much as I could with it being a low carb day.  Tomorrow will be torture!  25 grams of carbs.  I’ve better cherish every bite of my morning oats!  I finished my 2+ hours of cardio and am very much releaved to be sitting here enjoying my cuppa green tea.  But that won’t be for long.  I still have to go practice my posing routine.  But that’s fun stuff.

I spoke with that photographer I mentioned in my recent blog.  He’s photographed my trainer, Jamie Ibone.  He looks awesome.  Check him out:  (Jamie’s the one in the purple posing trunks)

 http://www.arnophotography.com/Events/NPC%20Florida%20State%20Championship-Aug%2025-07/album/index.html

I’m still indecisive about having him be my photographer.  I would like to have some photos of me in contest form. 

My low carbs are starting to drain me.  I did my cardio this morning on an empty stomach.  Later in the afternoon, I went and did my weight training…Traps and Rear Delts.  I finished my training with my second cardio session.  I had 10 minutes left and it seemed like the LONGEST freaking 10 minutes ever!  My blood sugar was low, and my energy levels were zapped.  I had to keep myself focused on other things beside cardio to keep me from calling it quits.  Directly after finishing, I went and bought a protein shake from the fridge.  Let me tell you how much that sticks!  The juice bar owner used to "support" my training and make me a whey smoothie every time I finished a workout.  Even if he wasn’t there behind the bar, (off training in the gym) he would make one for me and leave it on the bar.  I came into the gym and the whole juice bar was taken apart, and they’ve closed it down.  Now, being spoiled from those delish, icy whey shakes, I have to buy shakes from the fridge.  Oh well, so much for the sponsorship.  It was nice while it lasted.

I had some really nice ego boasting comments at the gym today.  My trainer was training this girl, and I guess she made a comment to him about my arms being big.  He called me over and introduced us and told her a bit about my training history.  That made me feel pretty darn good that someone would admire my physique, and my trainer giving me props about how hard I work to achieve it. 

Secondly, a guy came over; knowing I was preparing for a show, said his photographer friend would go to the show and take photos of me.  (he happens to be the same photographer my trainer used) I told him I’d like to check out his portfolio and prices before making a decision. 

Then, this other person that I haven’t seen workout in the gym in about 6-7 months came up to me and said, "Wow, you’re looking all diesel!" 

I meet with my trainer tomorrow and practice posing and he’ll tweak my diet.  I’m getting antsy and want to see this body fat being shredded off!  Progress pics will be taken this week…I promise

I wasn’t able to meet with my trainer this week.  This kind of stressed me out since I’m 3 weeks out now.  But, my youngest daughter caught a cold, and my hubby and teenager were out of town.  I would have brought her along to my posing practice, but she looked miserable.  Posing practice will be on Tuesday.  I’ve got to figure out a song to use for my routine. 

I’m doing more cardio and still lifting strong, and FINALLY I’m seeing my lower abs coming through.  I’ve been tanning and got some color on me…not looking like a ghost anymore  

Lately, I’ve been dreaming of food.  I love cooking.  I cook dinner for my fam and I eat my protein and veggies while they’re eating a yummy spaghetti dinner, or home made pizza…yeah, I make an awesome pizza…lived in Italy for a few years.  I’ve always had a passion for cooking.  And I’m going to start in a couple weeks to volunteer at my church in their kitchen.  Every Wednesday, the church cooks a home cooked meal to give the busy families a chance to sit as a family and have a good meal before class.  It’s going to be torture for me being around all that food, but I love being in the kitchen.  Especially a commercial kitchen!  Since I have a terrible sweet tooth, I’ve been trying to find ways to make desserts that I can eat.  Something that has no carbs, no sugar, and I can’t make it with dairy products.  Hmmm….that is very difficult to do.  I have made a flan using eggs (protein, which I can eat), vanilla, (the one without syrup, extract only), spenda, and soymilk.  It wasn’t bad.  The texture was a bit off, not as creamy.  I think if I bake it slowly at a very low temperature, the texture would be better.  I also tried making meringue cookies.  I used egg whites, spenda, and cream of tartar (which have less than 1% of carbs).  Again, the texture was off, but it actually tasted like a crisp marshmallow.  I’m wondering if it’s the splenda that give these desserts the wrong texture? Hmmm. Back to the drawing board  

This was taken May 10, 2007.  I actually tried to lean out from weighing 134-ish.  I didn’t have a lot of muscle or definition.  In this photo, I dropped my weight down to 123lbs.  My BF% was 19.7%.  This of course is before I thought anything about bodybuilding!

 Here I am at the peak of my bulk.  It all started with a passion passed on from my hubby.  We went to our first bodybuilding show and my “future” trainer was competing in it.  I was hooked.  I saw him later on the week at the gym and hired him as my coach.   I told him I wanted to compete in bodybuilding.  He said, ” Are you sure you don’t want to do a figure show?”  He was looking at a skinny, no muscle, 122lb twig.  He put me on a diet, and I bulked for 5 months.  I started my bulk at 124lbs and ended it at 147lbs.  BF% was 24.4%.  I worked my butt off in the gym 6 days a week.  Kept my diet pretty clean, and lifted as heavy as I could to build some muscle.  After having to buy tons of new clothes because of my growing body, it was finally time to lean out. 

I’m now 4 weeks out from my first show!  6 weeks out from my second show.  My weight is 130lbs, BF% at 16.7%.  I’m starting to see some more definition.  Still training 6 days a week, lifting heavy, plus the hated cardio sessions twice a day now.  My carbs are cycled, but low.  You bet I’m enjoying every bite of my morning oatmeal! I’m enjoying the leaner look I’m sporting these days   There’s so much to do for the contest prep.  I started tanning today.  Luckily, I tan easy.  I’m practicing my posing, have to find a song for my routine, check out make up stuff, and most importantly…NOT TO BE TEMPTED BY TREATS! 

I started my morning bright and early for my daughter’s cycling race.  I packed all my food the night before.  The heat was blazing today, and standing in the sun watching the race tired me out.  I went home, ate some more, and took a 2 hour nap!  I still couldn’t shake that tired feeling, but my hubby came home and encouraged me to go train.  Training is always great with him.  He pushes me to lift heavier.  In my mind, I feel like I am at my limit.  Today I trained bi’s, tri’s and cardio.  After my warm up for tri’s, I started with Over Head DB Extensions.  Usually I stop at 40lb DB.  Today for my forth set I pushed 45lbs for 6 reps, easy!  So, I went for my fifth set, 50lbs DB, 5 reps!  That felt great!  After my tri’s I hit another new gain for my bi’s.  (Now these new gains are for my leaning out phase.  I hit these numbers during the peek of my bulking, so this is exciting for me to use these numbers again.) My third and forth set of EZ Bar curls, I curled 55lbs. 

I finished my training with cardio.  I took my BF% and I’m down to 17.4%  Finally, I’m seeing the numbers lowering.  I’m so glad I got my boot-ay into the gym!

I went in to meet with my coach for my weekly diet tweaking, and posing practice.  We squared away my diet and onto the aerobics room for some posing.  Now to give you a visual, the aerobics room is somewhat in the center of the gym, the entire room has glass window panels that run the entire length, and with the lights on its bright, mirrors on every wall.  It’s great for looking at yourself and the coach to hit those poses just right.  It’s also great for the gym members and staff to watch as well.  We get in there and the staff is already using the area and rearranging equipment.  I surprised myself by not feeling embarrassed.  Not one bit.  That gave me some confidence knowing I had eyes on me other than my coach.  Afterwards, I went and trained my back.  Some of the members came and complimented me on my changing physique and asked when my show was.  I’ve really gotten some great support from the members and staff. 

My back workout was awesome.  I’m feeling strong.  I haven’t done DB Rows in awhile (was doing BB Rows because I strained my back), so I decided to give a go.  I got up to 55lbs for 6 reps on my last set.  My cardio has picked up.  haha.  Since I upped my cardio without coach telling me to, he went ahead and stuck it to me.  Now I’m doing cardio 7 days a week, for 45 minutes, plus an extra 30 minutes 4 days out of the week.  Oh well…I was just one step ahead of him  

I’m still sore from my leg work out last week.  I took out the walking weighted lunges, and focused on my squats and going heavy.  All the way to the floor.  Went heavy on the leg press, and Stiff Legged Dead Lifts.  But I added in the abductor/adductor machine and the glute machine.  Oh mama! 

Today I’m just doing cardio since my daughter had a cycling race during the day.  Plus, my body needs it.  Tomorrow I’ll hit cardio double time, and bi’s, tri’s and abs. 

Here are my progress pics.  I’m now 5 weeks out.