juliet_virgo’s BodyBlog

I met with my nutritionist/trainer today and although I was a little worried after being on holidays the last 10 days I am right on track for my competition.  I can’t believe it is less then 4 weeks away!  I can’t believe I have another trip booked and leave tomorrow for Mexico!   Scottsdale was awesome but trying for me.  Having my mom on holidays with me was a blessing and curse.  Every morning she got up with me at 6am and we spent an hour together doing cardio.  It was awesome.  I just talked to her last night and she is still continuing with the cardio!   The curse is she is an amazing cook and believes in desert after every dinner.  I had to do my second cardio session anyways so just did it during family dinner time.  Hated that because it is important to me to eat with the family, but it was better to be away from the temptation.  Through all the struggles of the 10 days I gained 0.2 lbs and lost 0.5% body fat!!!  I have to admit, I did crumble a couple of times and snuck a handful of pretzels or some chocolate easter eggs!   It was a challenge to say the least.  Next week I am looking forward to Mexico!  I will be in my own house so eating will not be an issue….plus I can tan topless to get rid of the tan lines! LOL!  I already packed up some emergency shakes and bars as well as tuna packs.  I have access to a gym which is fantastic!  And no access to a computer which is even better.  A total break from society!  My daughter is so excited to go snorkling and see the fish.  Can’t wait, the flight leaves at 8am tomorrow!  Ciao for now! Peace. J~

This morning I felt the crunch time and got my workout done, down and dirty!  Cardio done before I ran out the door to work!  Ran into work and to the gym to do arms and my mandatory posing in between sets.  Totally could feel it in my abs from yesterday.  I am absolutely loving training like that!  No need to do any abs!   Trust me, they are baked from the isometric squeeze.  Showered, changed and ready to face the day.  I feel a little stressed as I still have to pack both my daughters and my bags, grab her from school and jet to the airport!  I definately don’t feel like being at work.  Not that I am getting much accomplished anyways.  I cannot wait for this much needed holiday!! I am totally psyched.  Tomorrow will be my day off so I can get settled at my bros house.  I need to get some groceries to survive my diet plan.  Packed some tuna, oatmeal pancakes (just for the one morning) and some rice cakes just to get me through to lunch.  We land at 11:30pm so I won’t have time tonight.    My brother isn’t exactly the epitamy of health either.  Last time I was there he had all this fast food crap taking up the room in the fridge.  Thank goodness he has another one in the garage!  Mind you I will have to empty out his 12 different kinds of pop! Anyways, I am totally looking forward to the rest and of course Sunshine!!   Peace. J~

Right now I feel as though I am running on all cylinders!  I am pretty exhausted in the morning when the alarm goes off at 4:45 and it’s time to ride.  I am actually getting amazing sleep time.  Bed time is 10pm with a few minutes of meditation beforehand.  I really feel this is helping my mind and body relax as I slip into a deep sleep pretty quick.  I’m not even taking the ZMA anymore!  (Mainly because I haven’t bought any, but now thinking I am not in need of it either)  I am sleeping solid right till alarm time.  I have struggled the last few mornings though, dreading the cardio.  I think it’s because I still want to sleep, but I need to get it done in order to squeeze the 70 minutes in during the day.  Once I get going I actually do pretty well.  It’s just a mind game more than anything. 

Once at work I have the opportunity to hit the weights and do my second session of cardio to finish off the 70 minutes.  I am not even worrying about the increase in cardio in the future.  Why bother.  My lifting session today was fantastic.  I began incorporating my madatory posses between each set.  Front pose, Lat pulldowns side pose (hold 30 sec) Lat pull down, back pose (hold it!)  you get the picture.  After I finished my 4 sets of 4 excercises, my body is exhausted.  I just had a giggle with my partner and my abs hurt! LOL!  Great ab workout!  I believe this will really help me out when I am on stage.  I am also tightening my abs while I am doing cardio.  I try to hold them tight for 10 minutes.  It’s hard.  Perhaps that is why I am feeling so tired, plus lack of carbs.

My stresses of work, school and home life are over for now.  I leave for Scottsdale on Wednesday for 10 days!!  Then Mexico for a week!  I can’t wait!  Training, sunning and playing for 3 straight weeks.  Living in a house in both places so I am not stressed about dieting.  I need the break…and the sun.  Life is great. Peace. J~

One of my friends questioned me as far as what I would have in common with a woman who is 20 years younger than me.  Funny, I never look at the age difference, it has never really entered my mind.  In fact, I have learned more about myself and gained more self-awareness in my conversations with her than the freind I was talking to!  Throughout the last 10 weeks of preparing for this competition, I have gone through some ups and downs, and through it all my good friend/co-competitor/ training/posing partner has been right by my side, cheering me on.  We have shared many conversations about cheat meals, co-workers support or lack thereof, aches and pains.  Each of us taking advantage of the other persons trials and tribulations.  Has age even entered the equation?  Are we at different stages of our lives?  Does it even matter?  People who think that you cannot learn anything from someone younger than oneself is totally missing out.  My girlfriend is so in tune with her self-awareness (emotional intelligence) and is grounded, she is an amazing support for me.  This weekend before weigh-in and BF testing, I stopped for a tea by my trainers house.  Who just happened to be in line..my friend!  Awesome, a chance to actually visit!  Just what I needed.  The best part, both of us have hit our epiphanies at the same time.  "It is what it is and no more."  This week was awesome, no more mood swings and self-absorption.  I am not flipping out when my daughter has a tone of knots in her hair and I am trying to brush through.  No more wondering what I can pig out on at cheat meal time, counting the hours before I can gorge on sweets.  I have a calmness about me that is awesome.  The greatest thing, she hit it this week too.  We talked about self-awareness, budhism, yoga……lots in common and she doesn’t even have a child. 

A piece of advice for those of you who don’t allow yourself to learn anyting from someone much younger than you…..you can teach an old dog a new trick or 2.   Thanks Vis viva!  

Peace. J~

Wow, it has been a bit since I have blogged!  Today is the first day I can actually sit at my computer and type without my elbow shooting pain down to my hand!  I still have some numbness in my one finger, but it is way better than what it was.  I have so much work to catch up on now that I can do some computer work.  Yikes.

So I am 6 weeks tomorrow from getting on stage.  I have been practicing my posing almost daily just to get myself tight through the abs.  Everything just takes so much time, plus work, going to school and having a family!  My cardio is up to 70 minutes and this weekend should be jumping to 80!  This morning I was in the gym at 5:30am and didn’t finish until 7:30!  I did shoulders and my whole cardio session, 40 minutes before weights and then 30 after.  Plus I was practicing posing between each set, great ab work!  I am baked!  I need to work on my course and then get some work done.  I am so thankful I have a massage this afternoon after work!  (the reason to get cardio done and out of the way, so I can reap the benefits of the massage)  I am so glad to be so close.  I have weigh in and BF tomorrow and looking forward to see if there are some changes in the past 2 weeks.  Looking forward to my day off of training too! Peace, J~

Would the real March 6th please show up!  Obviously I wanted yesterday to just disappear and when I wrote my blog yesterday, put in today’s date!  I am having a pretty decent day.  The massage last night almost killed me.  But by the evening I was feeling pretty good.  Lots of ice!  My lifts aren’t heavy but I am getting it in and concentrating on squeezing the muscle.  I’ve got some stretches to do and another appointment friday!  My diet is going well.  I am staying on the course, my downfall is night time where I am hungry.  Only 2 meals with carbs and the rest with veggies!  At least I am not tired of chicken and tuna steaks!   My tummy is growly though so I suppress the urge to cheat with something yummy and I have a coke zero! Yup, aspertame, not good for me but it is a small can and it’s once or twice a week.  So get that monkey off my back.  My body is a temple right now, I eat so clean, no bars or shakes, just whole real food.  I am dieting down right.  Even my supplements are all natural, Maca, holy basil, cod liver oil and a natural multi vitamin.  What more could I do…oh yeah, kick the aspertame habbit! Peace. J~

Ok, I shouldn’t even be on the computer, in fact I am typing with one hand.  My left elbow is still screwed up from the stress.  Numb fingers and sharp pain in the joint. I am in massage and accupuncture for it.  Nice thing is that it is covered by workers comp.  Bad thing, it sucks to be injured right now.  I have 7 1/2 weeks left to competition. I am working out through the pain, actually it only really hurts after I lift.  I am disappointed though.  I have incredible support from my family and friends as well as work.  That is what is holding me together right now.  I just lost another carb meal so I am really hungry and a bit irritable.  My nutritionist put me onto holy basil which is definately helping me deal with anxiety, what a miracle herb.  My cardio is going well.  My course is going well.  My family is awesome.  I do have lots to be thankful for.  It is amazing the moodiness while dieting, thankful for self-awareness.  I am sure if I hadn’t dieted down last year and gone through the ups and downs of the diet I would be walking right now.  I am putting a huge effort into not focusing on "me" at home and work because that can be a drag for those around me.  This blog is good to use to vent and whine.  I am thankful for my friends Vis Viva, Wish2BFit and Miss Brigitte who have been a support, sounding board and to get all giddy about through this whole process.  Here’s to healing! Peace. J~