smorgan1227’s BodyBlog

I have been eating clean for almost two years now.  I don’t even remember what mayonnaise and ranch dressing taste like.   I am excited that the holidays are coming again.  I really am not that worried about all the treats. This is my second year of extreme will power.  I will most certainly cheat on Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve, Christmas day, a little.  It is all the parties and treats that surround the holidays that take the will power.  Last year I hardly even baked.  I know that my kids weren’t so happy about it.  There was so much junk all around that they didn’t suffer too much.

What are some of the ways others cope with the holidays?  I personally have a few recipes that help. The gym is always a great place to be when the weather is gloomy.

I have not blogged for a while.  I have so much to say, where to start.

First of all, I just have to say that I had a blast competing in my first two ever bodybuilding competitions.  Kudos to all those who compete all the time.  What an amazing amount of hard work and discipline that took.  So many details go into preparing.  I learned a lot and took away from my competitions many areas that need work if I am to compete again.  Although it was a lot of fun and the since of accomplishment was great, it was very expensive and would take even more money to do correctly.

My husband, who has been working full time and going to school full time, graduated in June.  I am so proud of him.  The first thing he did as soon as he was done, was to announce that he was going to train to run a Marathon in December.  I absolutely love hanging out with my husband.  So.. even though I have never been a runner, and long distance running is a very bad thing for bodybuilders, I decided I wanted to strike out on this new adventure with him.

Sooo…. The day after my bodybuilding competition I started to carb load and run.  My body has been in upheaval since that day.  I am bloated, fat, and constantly sore.  This week I will log 29 miles.  I can’t even believe I can run that far.  However, my knees are swollen because they are weak.  I am trying to do too much too fast.  I miss lifting weights like it is nobody’s business.  I just don’t have enough time in the day, or energy to run and lift.  Soon I will strike a balance.  I guess the bottom line is that I am torturing myself just so I can hang out and talk with my husband.  I must really love him. …

Today I decided to go back on my bodybuilding diet.  The 60% carbs a day are chubbing me up.  I can’t handle it mentally.  While i know I will not be a lean as I was a month and a half ago, I also can’t handle being skinny fat.

I am living proof that long distance running makes you fat, and bodybuilding makes you lean.  I am working twice as hard for minimal results.  However, I am in amazing cardio shape.  I never would have thought that i could run for two hours straight.  There is an amazing since of accomplishment in that.  The endorphine high is an amazing rush.  We will see if I can get through a 10 mile run without carb loading.  If so, I may just survivie.

I am packing my final show items.  I have cooked food for two days.  I am praying I don’t forget anything important.

I must be doing something right this week.  i started the week completely not ready for comp.  My waist was just over 27 inches.  That is a lot for me, so it shows how out of shape I was getting.  This morning it was 25 inches.  I am not sure how much actual weight I have lost, but I know it is significant.  Today is the day I water deplete.  I will be curious to see how much more weight I lose.  I am shocked and amazed that just a few little changes can make such a difference.

Thank you everyone who has supported me and given kind words of encouragement and advice.  I can’t wait to post some pictures.

Where did I go, what has happened to me?  These are easy questions to answer.  At the end of February I was fortunate enough in this economy to land a new job that I totally love.  Of course I am in sales so we have what you would call a "ramping up period".  Basically that means you work your tail to land needed accounts to keep your job.  I have been working crazy hard.  My entire schedule had to be recreated.  This meant that I was not going to be able to spend as much time in the gym.  After a while I got a grip on time and made it to the gym at least 3 days a week.  My eating stayed clean.  Not competition clean, but clean.  However, in the middle of it all, we decided to move, so the second half of April was spent packing and moving.  I was lucky to make it to the gym 2 days a week.  As my competition date grew nearer I started to throw in the towel.  Last friday night I even had full blown sushi rolls for the first time in a year.  I told everyone I am not going to compete, maybe later in the year.

Then it happened.  Sunday I went to help my brother at a photo shoot with Obi Obadike.  My wonderful friend, makeup artist, fellow competitor, personal trainer, Nikki was there and talked me into competing "just for fun".  Well it has been a crazy week.  Carb depleting/loading/tanning/hair dressing, yada yada.  However, I have to admit.  I am completely stoked and super excited.  I am going to smile my arse off and learn everything I can.  I can’t wait to post pictures.

I want to give a special thanks for all the bb.com friends who have supported me over this past year.  Especially Controlled Labs. My everyday routine and workout would have been thwarted if it were not for my Orange Triad and Purple Wrath.  Also, I would like to thank San for sending me Blaze Extreme.  I have used it this past week and it has helped me accomplish a modicome of leaness.  And last but not least I would like to thank Gaspari for sending me Mitotropin to log.  I only made it 10 days.  I believe it is a bit strong for my constitution.  However, the competition advice, diet, workout plan, book, in the box has become a bible.  I have had to tape the pages together.  I am excited.  I am nerveous.  And I am thankful.

Lot’s of love to all my peeps at bodybuilding.com!!!

I have an interview for Personal trainer today, how the heck do I dress?  I am used to corporate.  I am sure a suit isn’t appropriate.

Does anyone need someone to share a room cost with for Arnold?  I have a last minute opportunity to go, but I need to find lodging.

Did I get your attention.  Well, it isn’t that great, but when you have been eating clean for 9 months everything starts to taste really good.

I am soooo excited.  I got my competition suit today.  Actually a friend gave me three to try.  Two were black and pretty plain. One was pink with a few jewels.  i really didn’t think I was going to like the pink one, but I love it.  I am going to put some more jewels on it.  Soon my posing practice will be in my new suit. new to me,  yippeee…

Today I decided to go for a run before I ate.  I have read many articles in regards to the fat burning aspects of running on an early morning empty stomach!

So this morning I rose early and put on SEVERAL layers.  Dawned my Controlled Labs Beanie, and my gloves, hooked up my doggy and headed out the door.  Holy Cow!!!! That was hard to stay motivated through.

I was so thankful to have my dog, because she had something to eat and couldn’t understand my sluggishness. I ran for about 20 minutes, and walked an additional ten minutes.  The whole time I just kept telling myself, you better get used to this girly, because this is what it takes to be a winner.  It won’t be my last early morning run.  I pray they are not always so hard.  Maybe next time I will at least have a cup of coffee first.

While doing my long hours of cardio (walking the dog with my daugher)  We passed a restaurant.  My daughter read the sign on the side that said "Happy Hour 3-8"  Her question was, "what is happy hour and why is it five hours long?"  I laughed and explained to her that when people get off work, often times they will stop on their way home to have a drink and relax before they go home.  That is referred to as happy hour.

My daughter laughed adn said "wow, I think dad needs to do that".  I laughed and told her there were many days in my past that I often participated in happy hour.  Unfortunately it usually turned into happy night.

These days my happy hour is the hour I spend at the gym.  There is no better way to de-stress than to pump some iron.  Besides, there is also no worries about not going home for 5 hours, lol…