sarah_bright’s BodyBlog

I loved training for my last show.  I even loved dieting.  I loved having a specific goal to work for and I loved knowing that if I missed a workout or a meal it was REALLY going to matter.

But I really did not love the day of the competition.  It wasn’t that fun for me and I didn’t get that "rush" other competitors talk about getting.  I’ve done quite a bit of stagework (dancing, singing, whatever), and I’ve had that rush, I just didn’t get it that day.

 So now, I’m trying to decide if I want to do another one.  It doesn’t work to just pretend that I’m training for a show.  So…that is the question…

But it does work!  Quick rant here - consider yourself warned.  I get so tired of people attributing my slim figure to good genes and good genes only.  Sure that helps, but I’ll have you know I work pretty frickin hard and eat clean 90% of the time.  In fact, I have trouble keeping weight on when I eat really clean!

So, to all the people out there who assume I must know some secret (and of course, they aren’t reading this because they don’t visit bodybuilding.com), just commit.  Commit to the diet, commit to the workouts, and stop making excuses. 

 Rant compete.  Thank you for your time!

I have trouble getting in all my food every day and most days I miss my caloric goal.  Yeah, I know, this problem doesn’t get me much sympathy, but there have GOT to be other people out there like me.  My coworkers, training partner, family, and friends don’t seem to think I’m trying very hard.  I think they don’t know how hard it is to eat that many clean calories!  Sure it would be easier if I’d just eat fast food and doughnuts like everyone else, but that doesn’t work for me. 

Guess I better go have (another) protein shake!

Man I hate leg training.  Its so heavy!  And that wouldn’t be so bad, but I am so sore today.  Okay, I won’t lie.  I love to be sore, but when I can barely stand up, thats not so fun.  But I do love the progress, so no more complaining.  And hey, I get two days rest before I need to train legs again!

Yesterday was the first day of my new "gain muscle with as little fat gain as possible" program.  It pretty much sucked.  I couldn’t eat all the food.  I didn’t feel hungry at all for the whole day.  No problem, right?  Just eat anyway.  I did.  I ate until I felt sick.  Then I gave up.  I only got the first four meals (of six) in before I really thought I might be ill. 

But today is another day.  I’m going to try again.  2400 calories, here I come.   

Well, as I enter my last few days before my first show, I’m getting to experience some new things.  First, I don’t think I have a muscle that isn’t sore right now and I’m pretty tired.  But that is okay - I don’t mind being tired and I LOVE sore muscles.  What is killing me today is drinking so much water!!  I’m supposed to drink 2.5 gallons of water, which equals almost 10 liters.  I’m a little more than halfway there, but I feel like all I’m doing is filling water bottles.  And it isn’t making me feel very good.  Or maybe that’s just the tiredness.  In any case, this is something I hadn’t thought about! 

I’ll be drinking this much for a few days, and as soon as I get used to it, I’ll start drinking less.  The goal, of course, is to drop some water weight, so we’ll see how it goes!

Okay, so I’m freaking out just a little.  My comp is two weeks from tomorrow and although I feel like I’ve made enormous progress, there are so many details to take care of.  Suits, shoes, music, costumes, walking, posing…  Sometimes I feel like I’ve got it under control, but other times I feel completely lost.  Like now. 

And I’ve been wanting to cheat on my diet.  How stupid is that two weeks out?  I haven’t and I won’t.  I just wish I wasn’t so tempted.  This is new, too, I haven’t wanted to cheat at all for the past 14 weeks.  Weird.  Comp stress, I suppose!

Well, I don’t know that the changes were quite as dramatic in the past two weeks as they were the previous two weeks, but I am still making progress.  I’ve stopped losing weight so quickly, and even managed to put on .2 lbs.  Okay, I know, .2.  Nothing.  But at least it isn’t lower!  I’m going to believe that .2 lbs is solid muscle!

So I am 8 weeks out now and I’m really pleased with the latest changes.  My trainer has increased my calorie intake to help me put on a little more mass - turns out I’m pretty good at losing weight!

I also got my high heels, which I think are so fun.  I wear sneakers every day so anytime I get to put on fancy shoes I love it.

Training is going well, although it is tough.  I like it, though.  The dieting is not so bad, and I bet it’ll be even easier with the new food!

Okay maybe only I can see it, but my legs are starting to have a little more definition.  And my back is coming along.  I really should know better than to expect too much all at once but dammit I want it all!!  And I want it now!!  Okay, enough of that:)