jcorbett’s BodyBlog

Thank goodness for photos and old blogs. They serve as a reference point and a source to keep me going. I have lost about a 1/2" thighs, 1/2 hips, and 1/4" in the waist, but the scales are not showing much difference. It’s time to give up dairy–I don’t do much anyway so it’s not a big sacrifice. I’ll have to drop the unsalted mixed nuts sooner than later–I didn’t give them (salted) up last time until 2 weeks out. I’m going to Nashville, then Ohio so my daily food intake will suffer some, but not a great deal, b/c I will have a car and be able to buy most of my food from the grocery store–I hope.

Training is going well since I dumped the split schedule. I was able to get in a split on Thurs., but for the most part I am trying to get a sufficient amount of sleep (6.5 to 7 hrs). I’ll be able to train at the hotel in Nashville and will buy a week long pass in Ohio. Someone stopped me at the gym last week. She said she saw me compete last year and was inspired to lose weight. She was 200 lbs and lost a great deal of weight since Nov. It was quite a heartwarming experience. Now that I am aware folks are watching me I can’t give up and must accomplish my next goal.

My rhythm was thrown off today from the time I stepped into the gym. I didn’t warm up with leg extensions b/c someone was nursing the machine so I stretched a little. Then I forgot that I was supposed to be super setting. When I finally moved to the second exercise someone started talking to me in the middle of a set. About mid-way during leg lunges I began looking at the clock as if it could expedite my work out. I needed the training fairy today. I was tired from the weekend, disappointed that my weight loss is not going according to plan, and annoyed by the fact that I am carrying a little water weight.

Thank goodness the bodybuilding angel showed up and gave me a pep talk. After torturing my quads and shoulders, I did cardio and was on the machine next to Will. When he asked how I was doing, I told him so he shared a few words of encouragement. It was just what I needed to get thru cardio and also what I needed to shift my attitude for the week.

I am still fumbling with my training schedule. Decided that I’d rather not do split training on Mon. & Tues. b/c of alternative parking. It’s frustrating to go to the gym @ 6, rush home, and can’t find parking. I’ll have to train and do cardio in the afternoons on M & T. By doing this I will be able to resume my walk to work routine (1.5 miles each way).

Carb loaded unintentionally this past weekend and must compensate nutritionally for this action. I’ll have to decrease starchy carbs & overall cal intake by 100.  

The Bad: I paid to use the gym at work before examining the "training room"–what a big mistake. It has nautilus  equipment from what looks like the 70’s–stuff that Arnold used back in the day. There aren’t any free weights and the cable station is lacking a seated row section and a seat to do lat pull downs (I can do them on my knees). I need to train two days in the afternoon at work b/c of my children’s school schedule. Now I am stuck with the task of modifying my training program and need to figure out viable alternatives for back, chest, bicep and triceps. Well, the best plans are made to be changed.

The good part of last week was the fact that I was able to do three 6 a.m. cardio sessions and one afternoon cardio session along with four days of weight training  I had to train three days back to back because my son was sick one day. I was sore from my traps to ankles, but got done;)

Here are my pre comp stats from the fall:

Bust: 34.5, Waist: 27, Hips: 36, Thighs: 21 and weight 148 lbs.

My current measurements are the same, but my weight Is 153 lbs.

My competion prep goals are:

Bust: 34.5, Waist: 25.5, Hips: 34.5, Thighs: 20.5 and weight 139 or less

I need to make a few modifications to my daily food intake–cut mixed nut serving in half and cut out the evening Myoplex. I hope to drop 2 lbs this week, but will be looking at measurements more than weight these next couple of weeks.

I must order my suit within the next two weeks. I am going to order another plain two piece from Lidia Conti Bodywear again and decorate myself.

Hopefully, I will get the swing of using the old equipment at work so that I can continue to make progress. Some of the male students are more than happy to interpret the machine use.

A colleague suggested to me that bodybuilders and those who have adopted the bodybuilder fitness lifestyle should be given the same respect that professors or so called intellectuals of our society receive. Clearly if bodyguilding was easy a majority of the people in the world would have muscular physiques. Dennis B. Weis writes about the myth of "bodybuilders being all brawn and no brains". He suggests that folks who make this claim feel intimidated and somewhat insecure. Achieving a chiseled physique requires a gread deal of dedication, discipline and aptitude. High achieving figure, fitness, and bodybuilidng athletes use a scientific approach to training, nutrition, and supplementation that should not be labeled as narcissistic. You have to have some level of intelligence in order to achieve the desired physique.

Recently a couple of friends ask me to show my arms, which made me feel self-conscious and I began to wonder, do these people respect me or think that I am some kind of frieak. Bodybuilding and contest preparation is a complex phenomenon that requires skill and intelligence. It is my opion that the field and bodybuilders should be given much respect.

As I hit the snooze button @ 4:55 a.m. and thought, "ah just sleep in", I awaken shortly after thinking of Kai Greene’s success story–congrats. His words to me, "be encouraged" and "you can do it" flowed through my mind and provided the much needed inspiration to get up for a 6 a.m. cardio session. I decided a.m. cardio is the best for fat burning and suits my schedule (even though it’s a great sacrafice to get up, like many of you).  This afternoon I did shoulders and quads. I have changed to a 4 day workout routine that hits legs  and shoulders twice weekly. I will do arms with chest and back.

My diet hasn’t changed drastically, but I have to stop the extra after dinner carbs (i.e. cereal or peanut butter).

It’s hard to believe that I am dieting once again, but I am feigning for a leaner body–my pants are starting to get tight around the thighs (LOL). Looking forward to seeing a "better me".

I am pleased with my overall progress, but most of us who are not Greek gods or goddess have areas that just won’t budge. For me it’s the delts. I want rounded shoulders, and have achieved a bit of progress in the deltoid region, but they just don’t seem to want to raise up. These next few months as I prepare for the next figure competition, I am going to have to hammer the front and rear delts until I achieve the desired results. Genetically, I may be at a disadvantage, but let’s just call it another of one of the transformation challenges. 

It’s funny that I finally understand why those who seem to have "perfect bodies", critique themselves; it’s because you can always build a better you. I am looking forward to the up and coming months as I diet. I can’t wait to see the changes,,,,

Send me your delt tips…you know I train hard:)