monkeymo33’s BodyBlog

Wow,what a FUN race this was!!! yeah i know,im the sick individula who actually enjoys the brutal distance…LOL!!! but this was a really good race,and i did so much better than i expected,and in all honesty,i could have dropped my time by a few minutes if i wasnt so concerned about pacing myself-i was so afraid i would start out WAY too fast and have nothing left at the end…well turns out i had plenty left over at the end,andhad a great run on a perfect beautiful day….in the upper 40’s on race morning and was up to upper 50’s by race end-sunny and a little breezy but PERFECT,brought back some college crosscountry memories…

anyways,check out the full recap at www.melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com

if that link doesnt take you there,go to www.melissacunningham.com and click on "links" then go to my blog….

happy training!

MC

recap can be found at www.melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com

i am mostly over there now,so feel free to follow along!!

wow,where has the time gone??? i am 9 days out from a 1/2 marathon and 16 days out from my first triathlon…….and im feeling the heat now! ive had to miss the weightroom and long runs/bike rides this week due to my daughter being sick,and i hope it hasnt set me back much! i have a 5k this weekend as a training day,and then plan on 2 more long runs before the 1/2 and at least 3 more BRICK sessions, 4 long bike rides and at least 4 more pool and land HIITs before the tri….wow, so much to do,so little time!!!

BUT i am enjoying the change of training pace though.my body is starting to feel better,i dont hurt as much anymore…..my only problem is feeling like i wont be able to reach my goal times and performance for these upcoming events. i have no doubt i can FINISH the 1/2 and tri…its just that i dont know how FAST or  how WELL i will execute them…guess ill find out soon enough! in the meantime,i have some serious catching up to do in the weight room!

16 days and counting!

So after finally earning 2 pro cards and finally compeating at the pro-level and taking 3rd and 4th placings in the pro circuit as a rookie,i am feeling pretty dern good that i was able to hold my own on the pro stage……so now that the dream tan has faded,what now? what next? more pro shows this year? a marathon,a triathlon? do i take a break from compeating this year (thanks to being way overtrained and coming in flat and smooth last show?)

hmmmmmmm-as of now,i have 2 big goals set-the first one is to gear up for training for my first triathlon!! august 22nd will be the big day and my second goal is a half marathon on september 12th…… i may do a show in september for a warm up and then maybe one in october for fun and if i do any more it will be novemeber…i would really like to compete at the Yorton cup,but am still undecided-i think if i choose to do that one,i need to focus on that one show and not do any shows prior…..i do NOT want to come in looking how i did last show at only the biggest NATURAL pro show!! some firece gals will be there and that would really be my chance to see if i have what it takes to really truely hold my own…

BUT i will think about it…….in the mean time i have some triathlon training to do! and of course the half marathon! this will keep me lean and fit and trim the rest of the year-as long as i can rest a bit to heal up some injuries and then stay injury-free from here on out,things will be good-i am getting sooo excited about changing up my workout regime! the pool will be a welcomed relief to my ankle and shins!!!!

Recap of the pro show i competed in over the weekend (and others) can be found on my blogspot at www.melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com

or just go to my website and click on links and go to my blog spot……

:)

wow,the time is really flying by now!!!!-right now i am just trusting that my body will remeber how to act and snap into it soon-mother nature is up to her cruel tricks again and NOT being very nice..again, relying on good nutrition,good genetics and some good luck to carry me through these next 18 days………then its time for the "off season" if that even ever really exixst-my "off season" will be consisting of marathon training and hopefully a tri-athalon!! whoo-hoo!

in the meantime i will be giving it heck with all ive got in the weight room and continue being on point with nutrition-i may have to bring out all my little tricks from the hat for this show,but dernit,i am determined to bring my best ever to this pro stage!no room for failure here……..

geez i think i will be crawling to get to this next show-my body is physically exhausted,and mentally i am trying to hang in there for the ride!…the days cant come fast enough!!!LOL!!!i am doing me best to break through any platues and i am actaully enjoying the soreness that has overcome my body due to changing things up-i may be tired,i may be ready to eat some "real food",i may be pushing myself to its limit,but i am enjoying this in some weird sick and twisted way…. i hope i can bring the best ever come show day,and be able to kick things up a notch..BAM!!! (can ya tell ive been watching emril on foodnetwork?lol!)

That’s what i was screaming at my body today in order to make it through my plyometric routine!!!my mind was so focused on the workout at hand but my body had other plans…or thought it did until i forced it into box jumps,lateral jump overs,shuttle runs,high knees…and the list goes on…….
my body is tired and aching and just hurts.plain and simple. the rainy weather does not help out my arthritic hips,and my knee was really tight after the workout,so i hit the elliptical instead of TM after the brutal plyos! my shoulders are still tight and aching but not to the point of extreme pain-i just think i am getting over trained at this point,BUT i only have 28 more days to go as hard as i can until this final show of the year(maybe)-THEN i will TRY to take a full week off from the gym!!! i just gotta keep telling myself to step up or shut up….LOL!!!
anyways,-despite my achiness,i did have a great workout and was proud of myself for pushing past that “I’m tired” phase-
the workout so far:
30 min AM running
plyos:
box jumps-high to low
blurpies
ski lunge
shuttle run
REST 1 minute
jump lunge
lateral jump overs
mountain climbers
high knees
REST 1 minute
sumo squat with jump
lateral lunges
jump tucks
jump rope
REST 1 minute
repeat cycle 3x…
ended with
good mornings 4×15
walking lunges 4×30
hip abd 3×10
hip add3×10
30 min elliptical

plan on more cardio tonight,may just do incline power walk for an hour or so instead of running,depending on knee-but would rather get in a longer run (60 min+)
high rep abs……
30 days left until the last show of the year,although i am really excited and motivated to compete again on the pro stage,my body isn’t really wanting to follow along with the same enthusiasm!! all i can do is keep on keeping on and train as hard as my falling apart body will allow!

Ok,so after taking a week off from nutrition and a few days away from the gym,i am ready to try 2 more shows this year. My first NGA pro show will be June 27th in TN and my 2nd IFPA Pro show will be 2 weeks later,a little closer in St.Loius……so that gives me only 6 wks and 5 days of contest prep left until “off season” if there ever is such a thing!LOL! So everything has started back up again,my gym is closed today but i did get in AM cardio and nutrition is cleaned up—-it felt so weird to feel so FULL last week-i really didn’t like it that much,and overindulging wasn’t as fun as i thought it would be-even though i did enjoy having cereal with my kids again,and not worrying about having the crust off the kids sandwiches! now its back to the daily grind-plyos tomorrow-whoo-hoo!!! i am getting excited about contest prep again,the July IFPA show will be a little nerve wracking since it will quite a large show and my sponsor will have his booth there,no pressure there to represent-LOL!!! ahh well hopefully i will come in looking better than ever then-i have def learned from my last show what NOT to do as far as posing and presentation goes-i think my physique was on point so i am not worried about figuring out how my body will respond-UNLESS mother nature throws me for a loop again-hopefully not but i foresee some out of whack stuff approaching! OH WELL-looking forward to getting back in the swing of swing of things and hopefully some more top 3 placings or better!!!!

So i dug up the macros for this recipe-a healthier alternative to the chocolate chip cookie,and one kids will LOVE (and wont know they are healthy!) there are 2 versions,the "healthy"(better for you than the real thing) and the "healthier"…the healthier version is a little dry and if your not used to baking with sugar alternatives,then its noticeable that they are the health-nut kind…lol!
so here it is,my favorite little treat i make with my kids:
(**= health nut version)
pre-heat oven to 375
1/3c light margarine (***can substitute 6oz plain fat free yogurt)
2/3c brown sugar (** splenda brown sugar)
1/2c applesauce
1 egg (**2 egg whites)
1 and 1/2 c flour (**wheat flour,but can go half white and half wheat)
1 and 1/2c quick oats
1tsp baking soda
1tsp cinnamon
1 package chocolate chips (**can use carob chips or sugar free chocolate chips or raisins or any other fruit of choice)

mix butter and brown sugar until blended,add applesauce,egg,baking powder and Cinnamon,add dry ingredients and mix well,stir in chocolate chips,if batter seems too dry,add in 1tbs water ,if too wet,add more oats…
drop by level tbsp on lightly sprayed cookie sheet-bake 8-11min or until golden brown on edges,remove from pan and let cool. yields around 30 cookies

MACROS
Calories 117
Carbs 18g
Protien 2.5
Fat 3.5g

**Health nut version**
Calories 97
Carbs 15g
Protien 4g
Fat 2.5g

if you make more than 30,the calorie/macro content goes down of course!!
i typically follow the health-nut version but use half white and half whole wheat flour,use fat free butter spray,and i do use real chocolate chips or raisins…..i have already been making these since the last show and i guess bc i knowthey are a little better than the real thing i think i can get away with eating MORE–augh,call me carb face and roll me down a hill!!!
ahh well-hard core starts Monday-2 more shows to go!!! getting excited to get back in the swing of things!!