jessica_rabbit’s BodyBlog

Europe has changed me in so many ways.  I went with my mom, dad, and brother for two weeks in the beginning of April.  I was really nervous because the trip was two weeks long and I have a show on the 26th of April.  I packed several cans of tuna and a tub of protein and hoped for the best.

Once I arrived in Europe we stayed with some family in Heidelberg, Germany.  My second cousin is in the military so we were able to secure some "American comfort" by eating food off of the post.  My thinking is more along the lines of "why eat what we do all the time when we can experience the culture?" Not so much for my parents, who LOVE Popeye’s Chicken!  Needless to say I ate tuna that night and washed it down with a warm whey protein shake.

Two days later we hop on a tour bus to travel all over Italy for seven days.  We went to Venice, Pompeii, Rome, Vatican City, Tuscany, Naples, the island of Capri, Pisa, and Florence.  People walk and ride their bikes everywhere, so it wasn’t a huge shock that there weren’t any gyms I could sneak into.  Not even in the hotels! Pastries for every morning’s breakfast, and pizza and ice cream for lunch.  I beat myself up for it at first, but then towards the end of the trip I broke down.  I had three gelatto (italian ice cream) cones in a row.  I had a ginormous slice of pizza with olive oil, portabella mushrooms, and pepppers.

I didn’t even want to step on the scale when I arrived back in the states.  I lifted my shirt to discover I no longer had abs, just a protruding food baby.  my body had been puffy and dehydrated from the thirteen hour flight.  As soon as my flight touched down, I thought, "It’s go time!" My contest is two weeks away.

When I came back from Europe, my weight rocketed to 124.4. This morning I am 115.6.  For the past two  weeks I have had just two pieces of Ezekial toast for my carbs.  I ran an average of 4.5 miles daily, sometimes gettiing in two cardio sessions.  I still lifted heavy.

I am the leanest I have EVER been.  I didn’t weigh 115 in middle school.  the cuisine of Europe is almost entirely pure.  They make their foods in house fresh with fresh ingredients.  There isn’t anything artificial, no preservatives. They use natural fats.  I am convinced that this was one of the main factors as to why I was able to rebound so quickly.  Even if you purchase something prepackaged, you won’t find the nutritional breakdown on the back, just the ingredients, calories, and fat.  The ingredients are minimal too.

Coming back from Europe I have had this re evaluation of what’s important to me.  I haven’t had one cheat meal.  If I could, it would be sent in from Italy.  Our American food is TRASH and it shouldn’t be in our mouths.  You buy egg patties at the store from Walmart in the frozen food section.  Do you know what is listed in the ingredients?  Artificial egg flavor.   I work in a coffee shop that sells ice cream and sweet treats.  I have no desire for them.  They are laced with harmful chemicals and toxins.  eating a pastry here is like  allowing a mad scientist to conduct a nuclear experiment inside your mouth.  The saddest part of it all; we allow are children to eat this junk.  "oh, they are kids.  it’s fun.  They can handle it."  NO they can’t.  their poor bodies are in stages of development where they need all the nutrition they can get.

If you want a cheat meal, or a dessert, look for independent shops or cafe’s that make their own product.  Ask them what ingredients they use.  It’s your right as a consumer, and it’s your money.  You are  the customer and you have the choice.

I encourage everyone to try an authentic exotic restaurant that specializes in foreign cuisine.  My taste buds have been changed forever!

Yesterday I went to the grand opening of Platinum Nutrition, a supplement store in town.  Dexter Jackson was there signing autographs and taking photos.  He will be guest posing at the Gateway Classic the end of April.  It was such an honor to meet him, as he is considered one of the best bodybuilders in the world.

He will hold the second annual Dexter Classic this year on August 2nd, which happens to my birthday as well as his daughter’s.  (I thought that was cool, we have a connection of sorts even though it is small) I hope he remembers my face at the shows and will say "hi."  He’s big in person, but he seems to be a gentle soul, really laid back. 

I walked away with several photos and a couple signed pics for the gym we will be opening in September in Coral Springs.  You can bet we’ll have that framed and hanging on the wall behind the desk! (Along with mine when I turn pro )

Do not, for any reason buy Easter candy early. 

I did this a week ago, excited to make baskets with pastel crinkle paper and plastic eggs.  “I better get a jump start on this basket making,” I thought to myself.  Bought the cadburry creme eggs, the Ferrier Rocher coconut almond balls, kitkats, Reaster Eggs, jelly bellys, white chocolate, oh…the list goes on. 

I opened the candy bags and made the baskets and stuck them on my closet shelf.  Then, in the middle of the night, I heard a soft voice come from my closet. It said it was lonely, and needed to go to the party.  I asked it, “what party?” It replied…

“THE PARTY IN YOUR TUMMY!”

I didn’t know what to do. I had to obey.  It was like I was sleep walking, operating within a whole new realm of consciousness. 

I didn’t shock me one bit to find the metallic wrappers of my midnight feast on the closet floor the next morning.  Lesson learned.

so, I logged into my account today and received a message from a moderator. And I paraphrase -

 I pulled two photos from your profile today because you were pulling on your panties, and it’s against the rules. TOO STRIPPERISH.

needless to say, not only was a little humiliated, ( I take pride in my work and would never want to portray that stereotype) but I was also a little peeved.  For the record, I didn’t wear "panties" in any of my photos.  My photos were also professional quality images, which was featured in Southern Muscle Plus. These photos weren’t suggestive in any way  and the only thing they showed off were my hipbones!

What baffles me beyond belief is the fact that my photos were pulled when there are half a dozen girls with photos on here (that I know of and have seen myself) where they are wearing thongs, look naked, only wearing HALF their underwear, bent over, laying on a bed wearing lingerie holding champagne, and having the bottoms so low that their pubic area is actually showing but you can’t tell cause they shave.  And to top ALL THAT OFF, the images aren’t even professional.  There are girls on here who actually wear stripper outfits in their photos…so how is that OK but my playful fun photo isn’t?

The icing on the cake is that I have received several private messgaes from people who have actually thanked me for such classy photos.  One even said he felt guilty for looking at some of the other women’s profiles because they came close to soft porn and he was a married man!

Trust me, I’m not here to seduce anybody!  I’m here to do the best I can  at tracking my own personal fitness while helping other people acheive their dreams by supporting them and offering advice!  I consider myself a professional, as I hold several certificates, an Associate’s Degree, and soon a B.S. in food science/dietics.  I am also a proud competitor in the NPC, an association I would not risk losing my affiliation with. 

Well, I feel a little better now. 

Today was a tough one for me… well, everyday is tough, everyday I work, that is.

You see, I work at a coffee shop in a mall. A coffee shop that sells ice cream, milkshakes, cookies, bagels, pastries, bagel sandwiches with yup, you guessed it; yummy sausage, egg, cheese…CREAM CHEESE.

Here is the cherry on top of the sundae…I work for my in laws and right along side my fiance.  Quitting is NOT an option, as we run a tight ship with everyone assigned to a specific shift, day in and day out.

Now, mind you I have my fair share of plain old joe with a splash of milk.  Not a fan of all of the sugary lattes or frozed coffee drinks.  IT’S THE DAMN MILKSHAKES!  there’s always just a few ounces left in the blender…they need a happy home in my tummy.  and the ice cream. do you know how hard it is to see people nearly every day indulging?  These people are laughing, smiling, sharing a moment with family or whoever…these are NORMAL people.  I sit on the sidelines thinking…"can’t have this…I have a show."  Not to mention a gym fanatic boyfriend who monitors everything in the kiosk.  He has to bury the apple fritters because he thinks I’ll eat them all.  Which I might….but being told ‘NO’ makes me want it more!

Then it happens.  I have a spoon of ice cream.  then it’s all over!  Next thing I know I’ve eaten three scoops and the moodswings begin.  Fifteen minutes after consumption I become this raging lunatic sensitive to everyone and everything.  I get ornary, or tired, or lazy. sometimes even depressed!  almost always get a headache.  i don’t understand myself.  i know what it does to me, so why do I keep doing it? 

  between the caffeine and all the sugar I can’t keep my head on straight. i wonder if anyone else is confronted with a situation like this.  I’m starting my second season of competitive figure and I have the white devil on my tail tempting me at any second!