juliet_virgo’s BodyBlog

I hit 43 today and I am proud of it!!  Just finished cardio, in 8 weeks I will hit my second competition.  So excited to be there with my 2 friends, princess123 and Princesspower14!!!  Time to kick butt girls and step it up a notch!!! Peace. J~

So I still feel like I am in my 20’s until this week, I actually feel 42!  I have been water skiing since I was a young pup, then the last 3 years I haven’t had a chance to get out to the lake until now.  I have taken pride in having younger "mom’s" tell me that they are amazed with my spunk and how I play with my daughter (tobagganing, swimming, kneely boarding etc) even at my "age."  I don’t believe 42 is old, in fact I think I look better now then when I played university basketball!  Well, that took a turn this week.  I am fighting a pulled glute from my waterskiing adventure.  I attempted to slalom ski on Monday and felt a HUGE pull (actually a snap) in my mid butt, gluteus medius, and instantly had to let go.  Being stubborn, I tried again and on the 3rd go was up.  But, much to my dismay, I am suffering the stubborness, even while doing my cardio on the treadmill, I am feeling the pulled muscle.  I am ticked with myself as I plan to compete again in October and this is causing a bit of a problem with my training, especially legs; squats, lunges, deadlifts and even walking the treadmill on an incline is causing pain.  As my partner said to me later, "If you are serious about competing, you need to watch what other activities you plan on doing, you can’t hamper your progress."  I agree, it reminds me of when I played ball in University.  I was unable to do extracurricular activities which could have possibly hampered my game, now again, I feel as though I am "stuck" not doing other activities other than training.   I love my summer sports, I am torn between sticking to seriously training or doing other things; I am looking at this point in purchasing a watercraft and it would kill me not to use it for what it is intended.  Maybe this will be my last competition?  No need to worry right now, just need to heal and prepare for October. Anyone for a massage?!? LOL! Peace. J~

I didn’t get a chance to blog yesterday, but I wanted to write about this one because it impressed me so much.  One of the town locals took my family out for an "epic" hike to the bugaboo mountains where we were to hike to the falls. (They were impressive to say the least)  Anyways, my daughter is 7 years old and the gal who took us was 30, just to keep things in perspective.  The trail was pretty hilly, some great climbs, rooty and rocky; we could go to the base of the falls and then head up another trail to hit the peak of the falls.  We decided to do both and it ended up being a 4 km hike.  We don’t do any hiking as a family, but we used to walk our dogs for at least an hour a day and Danielle always walks with us, so she is very comfortable excercising.  What amazed me is this young girl who took us was breathless on the trail.  On the other hand, my daughter was running, talking (ok chatting ALOT!) singing and keeping pace with the adults, both ways!  It just goes to prove, fitness is a lifestyle.  She was to say the least, impressed and I believe a little embarrased of the fitness level of Dani.  Basically, it was a walk in the park for my girl.  I truly believe that if people just got off thier butts and walked their dogs, played with their kids outdoors, and of course I am an advocate of eating healthy, our society would be in much better shape.  Can you imagine being outdone by a 7 year old?  When it comes to my daughter I can! By the way, the trail was fun, I wasn’t breathless, and it was a fabulous morning spending it together exploring.  Pictures are coming! Peace. J~

I had a great cardio session this morning and then did a ton of plymetric excercises for my legs and butt!  Nothing like being able to bounce a quarter off a hard butt and that is my goal.  I am training my legs twice a week, once with weights and the other with just body weight.  Today was just body weight, 21 sets of 20 reps.  Lunges, squats, sprinting runs - leaping, legs up high, feet kicking butt, backwards lunges, side lunges….my legs were exhausted when I finished.  Today is a day off of weights, but if my aim is to get a good quad sweep, I am going to have to double up on my leg days.  Wednesdays are going to be my leg day with weights, so I will have a few days to rest them before I hit them hard again.  Dieting is going well, last night was a cheat night and I got rid of all the carb cravings.  Today I am a bit bloated, but overall feeling good about how I look. I posted some progress pics from yesterday and comparing to the last 16 week competition diet, I think I am looking a bit better this go around.  Peace. J~

I had a fantastic arm workout today!  I am so excited!  I seem to be getting stronger consistently in all areas of my body!  I actually am seeing rather shapely arms and when I flex my chest muscles they are coming in quite nicely!  So cool.   I am dieting down, but this doesn’t seem to be affecting my strength gain and muscle size.  Tomorrow before I take off on holidays (yup camping again for 2 weeks) I will weigh in.  I haven’t taken my scale out with me to the 5th wheel and I don’t plan on it.  I am staying pretty clean while out there and my training is very consistent.  My biggest obstacle in the next 2 weeks is a 4 day trip to my sisters cabin at the lake.  Water skiing yes, dieting yes, cardio yes, weights I am thinking NOT!  If I get legs and chest in on the tuesday, I can do the other 3 body parts wed-friday.  I just don’t want to miss a session.  No stress now, figure that out when the time comes, just be prepared! Peace. J~

Had a great cardio session this am followed later in the morning by a good weight training session.  I feel really strong today.  I am hoping to see a change this friday on my weigh in. Hopefully a water drop!  I am off again for another 2 weeks of camping.  It is definately getting tough, watching everyone else have yummy snacks while I eat my carrots and chicken!!!!!  Thank goodness the last 2 weekends I had Princesspower14 and Princess 123 (Yup thats right, 2 princesses!!) camping with me for the weekends.  We are all dieting down so that made it so easy.  We had a fabulous weekend this past one, the weather was awesome and had some great workouts with the second princess.  We also went horseback riding and hung out at the pool.  Fantastic weather!!!!  Not bad in bikinis either! LOL! Anyways it is always so much easier training and eating with someone who is doing the same thing.  My biggest test will be heading out to Mara lake with my family for the weekend, boating, skiing etc.  My sis loves the red wine and I usually with her.  This will be a true test of determination!!!  Looking forward to a great week of eating clean and training this week. Hopefully work won’t get in the way!   Peace. J~

I don’t get it.  I weighed in for the day, and although my body looks leaner, I am still sitting at the same weight?  I was pretty clean this week, actually very clean.  I just don’t seem to budge though.  I am comparing to my weigh ins from the last competition, I am 5 weeks into it and I should be below the 160 mark right now.  I am not doing bodyfat testing this go around so I don’t have that to compare it to.I know I was trying to gain some size the few months prior and I am not sure if that is making the difference.  Could I have actually gained 2 lbs of muscle in the last 3 months?  I know my clothes are fitting different then they did 5 weeks ago, so I will go by that.  Cardio will crank up next week another 5 minutes but my meal plan will stay the same.  I know that weighing in is just a number, but for me that is kind of what I go by just to see if I drop in the lbs.  I seem to be holding a bit more in the belly and not in my arms or back this go around. I think I am going to have to shoot some progress pics each week to look for changes.  Tomorrow will be the first one! Peace. J~