The View from the Classroom

I was toying with the idea of doing two contests, back-to-back weeks, but now I have changed my thinking.  I decided that I will only be doing the NGA Novice Classic in Galveston on July 13.  I was kind of stressing about doing two so making this decision will take some stress off me and allow me to focus on one date only.  So…I am now officially 13 weeks (or 12 weeks and 5 days) away from contest. 

My goal this week is to get my suit and my shoes ordered.  Training will be basically the same except that cardio (with the awesome input of Dawn Melanie) will consist of three thirty minute sessions on the stair machine…I’ll be cursing her the whole time I’m sure…I’m gonna increase the calories just a tad as I think I’m leaning out a little too quickly and we’ll go from there…

Thanks, everyone for the great input!  I sooooo appreciate it!!!!   

Okay….the first pic below was on 3/19 and second one last night.  I’ve been working hard on the lats…well, really on the whole upper body.

  Would be interested in hearing some feedback…what’s good?  What needs work?…that kind of thing.       

I am now 13 weeks away from my first contest.  Last week was a GREAT week…3 cardio sessions, 2 leg days and 2 upper body days worked in around 1 soccer game, 2 track events, 3 baseball games and work.  And, btw, NONE of this took place on the weekend…that would be too easy!!!  (So, anyone out there complaining of not enough time - quit whining, get busy and make it work!!!)

As posted in my earlier blog, I’m a little miffed by my weight/body fat numbers and that worries me a little.  BUT, looking in the mirror on bicep day I thought my bi’s looked a little bigger.  Before I even said anything to my hubby, he commented on them looking more defined, so I’m not gonna let the numbers get to me too much.

The plan for this week…pretty much same as last week…3 cardio sessions plus 4 weight training sessions and same diet.  BOOOORRRRRING!!!!

Okay, so I’m taking my stats every week and I’m seeing some pretty consistent, steady decreases in weight and body fat.  I’m not "trying" to lose weight, but body fat, yes.  So this morning I weigh in at 131 (no surprise cause I actually weigh myself everyday), down 4 pounds from last Saturday  and my body fat says 11.6% which is up just a tad.  Which means, I’m losing muscle!!!????  How could that be??????  I’m lifting heavy.  Diet is ULTRA clean, no cheats.  Calories are around 1800 to 2000.  Only 3 days of low intensity cardio for 20-25 minutes (actually, only 2 days so far this week, cause day 3 is today).  In my mind, it doesn’t compute…no way should I be losing muscle.  And…last night when working out, I thought my biceps looked bigger.  Could it be hormonal?  Input?  Please??????

The hardest thing about trying to eat clean while being a teacher is that there is ALWAYS junk food in the lounge or being handed out as "thank you’s" by parents or student groups or someone. 

Today was a perfect example.  Last day of school before Easter break (yeah, I’m off for the next 4 days…woohoo!!!!) and what do you know?  Easter candy in my box and a huge yummy looking coconut (one of my faves) cake in the lounge.

So what did I do?  Stayed out of the lounge for one cause I’m in "NO cheat" mode AND gave the Easter candy to hubby when I got home.

I appreciate that people are trying to show appreciation, but a nice note of thanks would work just as well and be MUCH healthier.  Especially given that teachers are daily role models for impressionable kids and so many of our teachers today are overweight and out of shape.  Just take a look next time you’re in a school if you don’t believe me. 

What message are we sending to our kids?

"You’re extreme."  says my husband to me the other night.  Not quite getting what he’s saying, I ask "What do you mean?"  He responds, "It’s either all or nothing with you.  There’s no in between.  Nothing in the middle.  You’re extreme."  I had no response.  So I’ve spent a few days mulling this over in my mind.  Me?  Extreme?  Is he right?  Is that a BAD thing?
 
I came to this conclusion.  Maybe my husband is right.  I mean, I make my mind up and I do it.  All or nothing.  I pay attention.  I take notes.  I do my homework so that I do it well or I don’t do it at all.  If that’s what he means by "extreme" then, okay, he’s right.
 
But, it’s not a bad thing, is it?  I mean, more often than not, I think this "extremeness" has been a good thing.  A thing that has pushed me to succeed in pretty much anything I’ve tackled.  That doesn’t mean I haven’t had bumps along the way or that I’ve not made my share of mistakes.  It just means that in the end, I come out on top because once I’ve made up my mind, I’m doing it.  Period.  The end.  Okay, so I’m extreme.  What now?

Tried something new today…a giant set.  Went like this…squats 50lbs, leg press 90lbs, extensions 75lbs, seated ham curls 75lbs, hip adductor 70lbs, walking lunges w/10lb weights…20 reps on all except extensions.  Could only do 10-12 on that.  And 40 steps on the lunges.  No rest between exercises.  Rested 2-3 minutes and repeated for a total of 3 sets.  Then, did 3 sets of calf raises.

I didn’t think I would make it to the car.  My legs were on fire.  I should probably give myself credit for cardio too cause my heart was pumping.

It was GREAT!!!!!!