The View from the Classroom

So…I’m 14 weeks away from my first contest.  The past week went extremely well workout wise.  I was able to get in two cardio sessions, albeit one was only 18 minutes long as I was running a little late due to going out to dinner for my daughter’s birthday and I didn’t want to miss ab class.  I worked legs twice, Sunday and Wednesday, and everything else once as planned.  I think that was a smart decision.  I felt stronger and more rested than I’ve felt in a while.

My weight is hovering around 133 to 135 and my body fat seems to be going down steadily.  Since I don’t really know what to expect, I worry that I will look "skinny" (especially upper body) come contest time so I’m not really "dieting" yet, just eating clean.

I told my husband last night over a basket of chips and salsa (one of my weaknesses) that come Sunday, all cheats are out, so don’t bother trying to tempt me.  He just rolled his eyes at me…

I figure I better start boning up on posing.  I saw that bodybuilding.com has some DVD’s on posing and competing in figure.  Also thinking I might go ahead and shoot for three 20 minute cardio sessions this week.  

Any input or recommendations on either?

Excuse my french, but that’s how I feel right now.  Here’s why… 

Went to the gym about 10:00 this morning.  Had a GREAT workout (back & bi’s).  Go to leave when I notice my car window was busted out.  Immediately, I know why.  My purse was in the floorboard and it was stolen.  Not the first time it has happened so you would think that I would know better.  No.  And now I’ve spent the last hour on the phone reporting stolen cards.  Got my cell phone too.  My LIFE was in that purse.  I feel lost.

I wasn’t the only one though.  Three other cars were hit at the same time.  One guy had his wallet, cell phone and camera stolen.  And…the officer said they hit 3 clubs in the area all around the same time.  So…at least I wasn’t the only one.  Is that SUPPOSED to make me feel better?  Cause honestly, it does, at least a little.  I feel bad for even admitting that.

The good news…looks like I got things cancelled before they tried to use the cards.

Look for my blog on contest countdown later…right now I have to go take care of a broken car window!!!!

No, I didn’t reach perfection, but I did bench 100 pounds tonight.  I did it on flat bench and decline, both personal bests thus far in my bodybuilding journey.

As a matter of fact, I felt really strong tonight.  Went heavier on almost everything.  I think it was the change to working everything (except legs) once per week. 

Just had to share my little triumph…

I’ve read it over and over and over, on this site and elsewhere.  "I’m trying to workout, eat clean, etc., but my wife, husband, family, girlfriend, friends (list goes on), doesn’t support me."  Until today, I didn’t think I had much to say on the subject, but after responding to a "friend’s" message, I realized I did, hence, the subject of today’s blog….

It was December, 2005 - winter break - when I decided to "get serious" about my weight.  I didn’t tell anyone of my decision, just made it and got busy.  I probably weighed around 180, give or take a few pounds.  I had to force myself to go the gym consistently and I really didn’t know what "clean" eating was. 

For the next few months (until the end of school, I guess) I made some progress, lost about 25 to 30 pounds and was feeling pretty good about myself, but knew I could do better. 

Then, starting in June, I made more drastic changes…read up on clean eating and changed my diet…started seriously lifting weights.  I made REAL progress over the summer.  I was really transforming not only my body, but my mind.

So you’re thinking…what does this have to do with lack of support?  I’m getting to that…

My family has always "supported" me.  I mean, my husband never complained about my time at the gym or what I ate.  I didn’t force it on anyone else.  I did my thing and the rest of the family did theirs.  BUT, I don’t think they truly grasped why I was doing what I did.  My husband thought I must be trying to impress someone else.  I started hearing comments from friends and family like "one meal isn’t gonna make a difference" or "you eat the same thing everyday" or "we had chicken last night" or "it’s all about you" or, you get the picture…

But, I stuck to it regardless.

Today, I don’t hear those comments so much and (hopefully) my husband knows that it’s not about someone else.  My husband and I go to the gym together when we can.  He has changed his diet.  My daughter has started going to the gym.  My son doesn’t complain about what we eat, he just fixes himself something different or eats elsewhere (16 year old).

What brought them around?  My perserverance, my determination that, no matter what, I was doing this, my consistency, MY RESULTS.

So…my advice is this…continue working hard and eating clean and know that with a healthier body comes a healthier, happier life.  Don’t worry so much what others think because life is too short for that.  Be consistent and persevere.  Let the results speak.  Others will take notice and start to understand.  And with understanding often comes support.

I’m now 15 weeks out from my first contest date and have decided to tweak things just a little. 

I’ve been on a 3-day split using day 4 for cardio or as an off day, but think that I’ve been overtraining just a little.  So…going back to working each body part once per week except for legs/glutes.  For the next 3-4 weeks, I will work legs twice per week, one light weight/high reps and one heavy weight/lower reps.

I’m going to be more consistent with the cardio.  Will hit it once or twice per week for 20-25 minutes.

Lastly, will continue with maintaining an ultra clean diet.  I’ve lost a little body fat even with higher calories & carbs (& less cardio), so don’t feel I need to touch the diet at this point.

I got my fabric swatches for my suit and will make a decision on that this week.

I can do this…

I’m 16 weeks out from my first competition and thinking about everything I need to do. 

Since I’m really fair, I started tanning already.  I’ve started looking at suits, but would really like to find someone in my area that I could talk to in person.  I’m so concerned about proper fit.  Any Dallasites out there with recommendations, let me know!

For the next 4 weeks my focus will be on a clean diet - not reducing calories, just eating clean - in hopes of maintaining and possibly even building a little bit of muscle. 

I’m not changing my workouts at all at this point.  Cardio will be limited to warm-ups and maybe one 20-25 minute session per week.

After reading an article on Glutamine, I’ve decided to add that to my supplements starting today.

Would love to hear any comments or input from those more experienced competitors!

I won’t bore you with my workout details, but tonight I felt a little stronger.  I worked back and bi’s and for the first time, was able to do 3 sets of EZ bar curls with 10 pounds on it.  I know…pretty weak for most of you guys, but stuff like that keeps me motivated.

As a matter of fact, I tell my 13 (soon to be 14) year old daughter when she’s running in her track meets not to worry about the other runners.  I tell her to compete to beat her last time and as long as she does that, she’s progressing.   In every meet this year, she has beat her previous meet’s time. 

I tell my 16 year old who thinks he should be on varsity, but instead is on the JV baseball team, to use it as pitching/hitting/fielding practice to get better.  Whether the team wins or loses, he can always better his game.

I guess what I’m saying is that in a world where everyone tries to keep up with or beat everyone else, I think more of us need to just focus on ourselves.  Work within ourselves and strive to do better than last time.  In order to really better yourself, motivation has to come from within and how better to motivate yourself than to compete with yourself? 

Heck, I never lose when I do that!

Recently, I was asked by one of my teacher friends what I did to lose weight.  I told her that I decided to get serious.  I started weight training and I changed the way I eat.  We discussed things in a little bit of detail and when we were done her response was "but you make it sound so simple."

That response stuck with me and I’ve thought about it many times since that conversation.  It really is simple. 

Make up your mind that you want to do "it" ("it" is whatever you decide your goal is), make a plan, take steps everyday to reach "it" and constantly evaluate your progress.  Don’t let other people’s negativity or lack of understanding stop you.  People WILL think you’re obsessed.  I don’t think that’s a bad thing.  If you have a bad day, don’t beat yourself up, just do better tomorrow. 

The hardest thing about it for me was the deciding to do it.  I had to mentally make my mind up that it was time to get serious.  No more excuses.  No more denial.  After that, it really was "simple."

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying that I necessarily want to drag myself to the gym every single day (even though I do) or that I want to eat the same old boring food every single day (that’s hard some days) or that it doesn’t take hard work every single day (it does).  But, it’s simply what I must do to reach my goal.  I committed to it in my mind and that was the hardest part about it.

So, it is simple.  Set your goal and put the wheels in motion.

My long-term goal (Compete?) has been changed and moved.  The question mark is no more and the goal is now short-term.  I have convinced myself that I can do this.  I can compete. 

I  am going to get up on a stage and prance around with about 1/2 a yard of fabric covering me, wearing high heels, on display in front of real people.  Me.  The one who just last year (and every year prior) wore shorts over her swimsuit so no one would be subjected to the sight that I will leave to your imagination.  Me.  The 40 year old who has two kids teenagers and has the stretch marks as permanent evidence of that.  Me.

Thanks, BahamaMan.  You don’t know it, but you’re the one who made me think I can do this.  How?  I read your blog.  The one that says "compete someday" as a goal is too vague.  The one that says your wife says she will compete someday, but you’re not holding your breath.  That entry has been on my mind since I first read it.  I don’t want to be one of those people always saying "someday".  I want to be one who says "I did it." 

The thought of competing terrifies me yet excites me at the same time.  My mind keeps going over the endless list of things I must do - tan, get a suit, diet, learn to pose, etc, etc, etc…and I realize how little I know about competing.  But hey, we gotta start somewhere, right?  Might as well jump in with both feet. 

It’s in writing now, so I can’t back out.  Wish me luck!