jewelofnile’s BodyBlog

Hi everyone! Well, spin class last night was UNBEARABLE! It was so bad that even though I wasn’t going to be teaching the 2nd class ON the bike, I cancelled class because I thought I was going to pass out. Here’s the deal: it was pouring buckets last night and the gym owners decided to shampoo the carpets yesterday morning (Seriously?!?!). Why they didn’t wait till Friday when there are no classes in the exercise room is beyond me. Anyway, the exercise room is already crazy hot and humid normally. There are 3 fans and vents in the ceiling but it’s still normally unbearable. To top it off, it was already humid yesterday because of the buckets ‘o rain (obviously). Then, add in damp carpets and a completely filled spin class and it was insane in there. I had two gals have to leave class early because it was crazy and even with going through 2 bottles of my own water I was still feeling light-headed and my quads and calves (lifted those yesterday AM) were starting to cramp. By the time I got off the bike I thought I was going to fall over. There was no way I was going to stand in that hot, humid exercise room another hour longer (even without exercising) so I just cancelled the 6:30 class. When I got home I laid down on the couch after taking a 5-minute cool shower and passed out. Jon woke me up at about 10:30 (I fell asleep at 6pm or so) and led me to bed. I did feel revived when I woke up this morning, but I have a very long day here at work ahead of me and an hour posing session after work…so I think I’m cancelling class tonight. I’m too close to my show to overdo it now…I’m worried I’ll get myself sick. Augh. Anyway, I actually had a pretty good workout this AM. I did bis and tris and 10 minutes on the treadclimber to finish up (plus I tanned for 7 minutes). I never tan more than 10. I have naturally olive skin and only need about 7-9 minutes to get color. I already look like I’ve been on vacation. I only tan during the last 4 weeks leading up to a contest. Plus, I’m always worried about skin cancer. So, below is what I did this AM: Superset 1: DB Hammer Curls - 5×6 DB Triceps Kickback - 5×15 (5 hitting all 3 heads) Jumping Jacks Superset 2: DB Incline Curls - 5×6 Cable Rope Extension - 5×6 1-legged jumps Superset 3: EZ Bar Spider Curls - 2×10, 3×15 Bench Dips - 5×6 Jumping Jacks OK, I’ve gotten away from this post like 3 times so I should just get to work. Have a fantastic day everyone!

Important: 11 days out from my first contest. I’m soooooo close. I can’t wait to get on stage. Are we there yet?

I’m doing great both physically and mentally. Yesterday I was hungry all day so I just had some extra nuts. I had to get past that mental part. Today I’m doing really well and I can’t believe how fast the day has gone. I guess we’ll see if that keeps up as it’s 12:46pm right now.

I had a great leg workout this AM. I have to teach 2 spin classes tonight…but I’m only going to ride one. For 3 reasons, 1) My body wouldn’t be able to take it and I’d be beat down, 2) It would be detrimental to this Ms. Fit Body training and 3) my coach would KILL me!

Here’s what I did today:
10 minute warm-up on the recumbent bike and I pushed it pretty hard with no music OR tv. Tough…even with only 10 minutes.

Superset 1:
Single Leg Extensions 4×30 (ouch!)…10 w/toes each way
Seated Calf Raise 4×15 (5 toes in, out, and forward)
Superset 2:
Leg Press (legs close, toes forward) 4×15
Calf Press (5 toes in, out, and forward) 4×15
Superset 3:
Deadlift 3×15 (I was SMOKED by the 3rd set)
Smith Machine Calf Raise 3×15 (5 toes in, out and forward)

Tomorrow I think I have bis and tris.

OK, time to go…back to work.

Had a kick-butt workout this morning. I feel great, energized, etc. I was worried when I went to sleep last night that I would have a hard time getting up at 4am and getting through my workout but I did not. Well, I had a hard time getting through it because it was a killer workout, but not because of tiredness or lack of energy.

I’m 3 weeks and a wake-up away from my first contest and I cannot wait to get on stage. I just hope my training and dieting keeps going well as it’s so close. I’m not sure how big of a show this one is going to be because it’s the first one that Brenda Rahe is putting on. She seems to have done a great job organizing it so far and that’s a great sign. I have a lot of fitness friends attending but I don’t know anyone else competing.

We finished up the first coat of paint on the kitchen last night. Our countertops came in. Jon has to loosen the sink tonight and hopefully our friend can come install the sink and new countertops tomorrow. We’ll finish up the other coat of paint tonight and hopefully get the new hardware on the cabinets. Once the countertops are in and the paint is finished we’ll be comparing tile colors for behind the stove area. We may not do that this weekend though. Hopefully I can post pictures on Sunday of a mostly finished kitchen…as well as pictures from the Shamrock Shuffle run I’m doing!

Anyway, on to this AM’s workout:

A1) Single-leg Parallel Squat 2×20 superset with
A2) Bodyweight Incline Pull-ups 2×20

B1) Push-Ups 2×20 superset with
B2) Single-leg Hip Pops 2×20

C1) Leg Extension 2×20 superset with
C2) DB Front Lateral Raise

D1) Stability Ball Crunch 2×20 superset with
D2) Stability Ball V-up 2×20

I finished my workout with 10 minutes on the treadclimber that fried my legs out. Great workout and it only took me an hour! Sweet!

Where does the time go? I’m now only 30 days out from my first contest of the season. I feel like I keep hitting plateaus but am really not. I know that I keep retaining water so as of today I’m cutting out all diet soda so hopefully that will help. I’m still going to need my AM coffee for at least another few weeks though…can’t give that up yet…but, no other coffee any other time of the day!

I was supposed to teach spin last night but I had a temp of 102 by the time I got home from work. So I took a nap and then when I got up even though my fever was down I was still groggy and had a headache. So I called and cancelled class and felt bad about it…especially since at about 7:30 (spin would have been at 7) we decided to finish pulling up the rest of our flooring in the kitchen. We found mold under where the dishwasher had been. They had 3 layers of flooring down. Luckily the mold was between the top two layers and now we can just clean the bottom layer to ensure there isn’t any mold left. We need one nice, flat, clean layer down to lay the wood floor this weekend…don’t want to have to pull up one more layer and then level the entire floor!

Today I have 15 minutes of anaerobic plyos and 20 minutes of HIIT, that’s it.

Tomorrow I have a great workout in the AM (fat loss and endurance) and then my mom and I are going to look at wedding dresses and spend the day together. Should be fun.

Oh, and it’s 40 degrees here today and supposed to get to 50 degrees tomorrow. Heat wave!

I just haven’t got on BB.com much to post as I’ve been pretty wrapped up with siouxcountry and figureathlete as well as the Team Tight Curves site that I’m just not on here much anymore.  So here’s what I posted in my other journals for today (but I’m dead tired now!):

 Taught a kick-your-butt spin class last night (kicked my own butt) and then kicked my own butt again in the gym this AM. Spin class tonight will be more of a ‘recovery’ ride because I need the recovery… the gals that take class might not need it

My workout this AM consisted of the following:

Superset each group and then do a plyometric in between each set (ouchie)
A1) Low-Incline DB Bench - 3×9
A2) Sumo Deadlift - 3×9
Plyo - jumping jacks - 3×20
B1) 1-arm DB Row - 3×9
B2) Bulgarian Split Squat - 3×9
Plyo - Ski jumps - 3×20
C1) Crocs - 3×9 (18)
C2) Box Jumps - 3×10
Plyo - None
D1) Ab Crunch Machine - 3×10
D2) Leg Extension - 3×15
Plyo - None

I finished it off with 10 minutes of HIIT on the stepmill and that put me over the top. Especially since I have yoga today (and I cannot miss it since I missed next week) and have to teach spin tonight. I guess on the plus side is we had to adjust my caloric intake for Wednesdays to account for everything I do on Wednesdays. Though, I think I may try to catch a quick cat-nap right after work since I don’t teach spin till 7pm.

Anyway training and diet are going really well this week…just need to keep on it and have NO moments of weakness. Will take more progress pictures on Sunday as my sister is coming over to help critique my posing and take lots of pictures for me.

Hopefully we’ll finish up the floor in our kitchen and the painting this weekend. Then the only things left are putting the new lighting in, putting the new countertop on when it comes in and then tiling behind the stove once the countertop is in. Can’t wait to be done and have my kitchen completely back!

I think I ate enough food to feed 7 large adults over the week after I finished my contest on Saturday, the 22nd.  Augh!  Now I’m back on my 4-week out diet to try and rebound from all the damage.  Hopefully I didn’t create any stretch marks.  But boy, I feel like I ate like a king.

As for the contest, I’m very pleased with the results.  It was a National Qualifier NPC event and I placed 3rd in Figure-Tall.  So I’ve qualified for Jr. Nats and Nats.  Yippee!  I’m definitely going to do Jr. Nats as it’s in Chicago.  Money and time will determine whether I do Nationals this year.

Now it’s on to building my outer quad sweep, calves, and leaning out the lower body for the next round of competitions.  The off-season (although kind of short since I’m doing an INBF in mid-April) will be one of progress.  Guess we’ll see how it goes.  I’ve registered from some sponsorships so I’m crossing my fingers that I get one.  That would help immensely!

Well, back to work since I feel like I’ve been gone for a week….

Well, just 3 days out now from my last contest of the season…3rd day of no carbs…augh!  But I’m actually feeling pretty good.  I’m loving the First Order for my pre-workout drink as I really feel it’s helping me get that extra edge to get through them.  I was SUPER thankful for it before having to teach an hour of Spin last night.  Wow!!  I was dying after the class.  But as it’s Wednesday I have nothing to do today/tonight except practice posing so I got to sleep in and feel revived.  Yippee!

I already have 2 gals signed up for the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge.  That should be something fun for me once I’m done competing.  I usually have a hard first month of the off-season and this will give me some direction to put into clients…and a bit into myself.  I wish I had a challenge to get my boyfriend on!    If I could just get him back into the gym.

Well, I have a lot to do at work today so I should go.  Thanks for reading!

Well, just under 1-week out from my last contest of the season.  I’m really looking forward to it.  It will be my first NPC contest as I’ve only ever competed INBF before.  So this will definitely be a learning experience for me as I know the posing is a bit different for the sides.  I’ve been practicing hoping to ensure I accentuate my positives.

I had a good weekend…even with an extremely low calorie day yesterday.  I made sure I kept myself very busy so I didn’t think about food every second of the day.  These next 3 1/2 days with no carbs is always tough by that last day.  So I also need to keep myself extremely busy at work.  Luckily my days are filled here and my evenings as well.  Tonight I work at the gym for 2 1/2 hours and then play ball for an hour.  No time there.  Tomorrow I teach Spin after work so there’s another hour or so where I can’t think much about food.  The hardest times are usually those at work when there is a lull in my day.  So I need to make sure I keep myself engaged thoroughly!

I’m really looking forward to the off-season for once.  I need to work on my outer leg sweep, my glutes and my calves.  So I have lots of goals I can’t wait to get started on.  I’m also looking forward to attending a few seminars here and there and hopefully getting more involved in representing the TightCurves line!

Well, since I’m at work I should probably get to work, right?  Have a great day, ya’ll!

Hi Everyone!
Another day…another dollar, well, 36 cents after taxes that is.  I just got back from the hair salon…got it cut yet again. So I have a new style.  I should have my 2 piece tomorrow so I’ll post some pictures since I’m a week out and you’ll be able to see the new hair cut.  I think I’m finally satisfied.  I’ve been switching sytlist for awhile now.  The gal I’m with now did the color (which I love).  She also cut it for the first time today and did a fantastic job…well, at least I think she did.

I got up at 4:45 today (that’s almost a full extra hour of sleep for me).  Had my morning snack and headed to the gym for shoulders/bis/tris and then to teach spin.  No one showed up for spin (which I was actually glad for) so I just got to do my cardio and read on the elliptical and then did the treadmill (20 min each).  When I got home I made Kristal’s famous protein pancakes (less oatmeal as I’m on no carbs for another day).  Fantastic!  I just love ‘em.  I have to get off the internet though because I have some cleaning to do around the house, need to finish my nails (yes, I AM a girl), and then head out to go shopping with Jon’s mom.  May need some luck with that one!    She’s great but is overwhelming.  But he’s worth it!

OK, I’m kind of just rambling, aren’t I?  Just wanted to get a post in.  I’ve already got 2 clients on board for the transformation challenge so we’re all looking for that.  One gal ordered the starter kit this morning as well.  They are on their way!  Now if I could just get ALL of my friends and colleagues to join in the healthy lifestyle, how great it would be!!

OK, have a FANTASTIC Friday everyone!

So yesterday I was supposed to meet a cousin and my bro for lunch and then a girlfriend for dinner.  With work, being run down, being stressed, and just wanting rest, I had to cancel both.  I cancelled my lunch for legitimate reasons (working lunch meeting) and I’ll be seeing both my bro and cousin the day after my contest for a Turkey dinner.  But I kind of fibbed about cancelling my dinner plans.  Plus, I really didn’t have the money to eat out anyway.  I spend so much on healthy food for my diet that I don’t need to be eating out…and with eating out comes temptations I don’t need right now anyway.  I’m too close.

The abs are popping again.  The six-pack is back.  The problem I have isn’t getting the six-pack.  It’s getting it to show on stage.  I have a problem when I’m concentrating so hard on flexing my quads and lats that I strain in the abs and they seem to disappear on stage…at least they do in pictures.  So, if anyone has advice on that (tricks of the trade) let me know.  I’ve been practicing like crazy in the mirror but it’s just a different world on stage.

I’m getting a little stressed about my suit.  It was recommended to me by an NPC National judge to get a different cut bottom for my 2-piece suit.  So because the advice came like 2 weeks ago, I called a girlfriend to borrow one of hers.  She’s lent so many out that she has to track 2 down (2 others are being used that same weekend).  So hopefully I’ll get it this weekend so I can make sure it looks right.  My 1-piece is finished…she’s also going to lend me a 2nd 1-piece for emergencies.  We’re about the same height and body stats.  So just need to get my hands on them and I’ll feel a lot better about it all.

So we actually got to bed at 9pm last night.  It was wonderful since that alarm rings at 3:58am every morning for me.  Augh!  I had a leg workout this morning and it was a good one.  I’m really trying to concentrate on my outer leg sweep and making sure my butt looks lean…which partially has to do with how I stand and flex.

Well, that’s about it.  Time to get to work!