Spaceship Belinda

OK, I have been doing my 200 crunches morning and 200 mid afternoon, with a variety of exercises for upper, lower and obliques.  The abs are there but I am having trouble working out how to flex them properly so they show on call.  I feel like it works best when I push my stomach out and flex the abs….but you know, if anyone here can give me some advice it would be appreciated.  I am dropping the last bit of bodyfat and liquid so that will take care of itself….I hope…….the adventure continues….

A month ago I did all the lifting exercises on the profile page and yesterday I did them all again to measure my progress.  I was happy to see an increase in everything by about 10lbs.  I didn’t push myself to maximum, one because I don’t have the technique and second, I don’t want no injuries at this point in the game. I definitely have more capacity and strength in my upper body, the feeling of having that kind of strength was fantastic.  I need to do a lot more work on my lower body strength…that will be part of my next training phase and goals……..

I am on the last stretch before my first photo shoot.  The hardest thing is maintaining a consistent, focused effort, day after day.  I have incredible admiration for those of you that prepared for months in advance of your comps.  It takes a lot of discipline and you need a lot of inner fuel for the dream.  This experience has reminded me of when I was a professional muscian.  When preparing for a performance, you practiced and rehearsed over and over, day after day, so that on stage, you could relax and give your best, knowing you where fully prepared.  The day prior to performance is not the time to be working on last minute problems!  So I feel like that now, prepared, ready, in a good frame of mind.   After all the preparation is done, I keep telling myself, now relax, go and create some magic.  If you think this is a little perfectionistic you should have seen me when I had a real career!!!  Thankfully this is all about having fun……and I am!!!  Legs today, lots crunching to do and some glut work. 

I have never trained this hard physically in my life and followed such a prescriptive diet.  I have so much respect for bodybuilders and those who compete in the figure and fitness categories. It’s been 7 weeks now…but it hardly seems like a drop in the ocean compared to so many on this website.  I have spent a lot of time looking at training programs, photos, reading articles but in the end I realise, I have to follow my own path.  I guess this means, not trying to be someone else, copy another physique, but just explore my own and be the best I can be.  Also, I discovered I need to reduce get going with my reps to get that final definition.  I am worried about looking to muscley or skinny.  But in front of the camera I know that all changes.  Who knows what the end result will be, but I have learnt some really valuable lessons about myself already.  Off to train legs today…..oh yeah, I have kept up my 400 crunches 6 days a week…and I have some abs!  Belinda

Is pain necessary to grow muscle?  During my workouts I feel a lot of burn. Often I push myself to failure. But the next day I bounce out of bed just fine.  No stiffness or pain.  Sometimes when I begin training I can feel that my muscles sore and not in optimum form, but in general I can train some muscles everyday and never feel the effects.  That is why it is hard to rest.  I am doing everything my trainer says.  My calves and arms have gotten bigger. My legs are more defined but the same size.  I have some little abs.  Do I need to feel more pain????????? I am thinking I might need to do more reps for squats and lunges.  People tell me pain is necessary.  But for me it’s more of an endurance thing, to maintain the level of performace for the entire session.  Oh well, swim and legs today.  Now swimming, that’s another kettle of fish…

Interesting how nothing ever stays the same.  Right now I am working hard through a trough.  We all face them.  Lower energy, distractions, interferences - physical and mental.  I keep telling myself to stay focused, keep following my plan and working hard.  In time I will feel up on top of the curve again.  That is the benefit of life experience, we know the down days will pass.  I can see the light at the end of my little tunnel.  Just a few weeks to go.  I can tell you I have a huge admiration for all you people that train hard with a disciplined lifestyle and diet month after month all year around.  Truely inspirational!!!!!!!  Upper body today…..time to push on up that hill towards high achievements….

Suddenly my weight has dropped from 122 to 118.5 - just days after increasing the cardio and making a few small changes to the diet.  I didn’t plan on the weight dropping so quickly but wanted to see what would happen so I can plan ahead for my first photoshoot.  I don’t want to exagerate but I cant believe how my muscles and striations (had to look that one up in wikipedia) are so defined, mostly in my arms and some in my back….well my back scares me.  It feels strange to see myself, I almost don’t believe it is me.  Also, well I have this strange thing, maybe some people here can relate to this.  I inherited my father’s arms, slender but defined shape and muscle.  When I see my arms in the mirror I think of him.  He passed away about 10 years ago.  It is a kind of nice feeling to see my arms, just remembering years ago how at the kitchen table when we were kids he would bend his arm at the elbow and put his thumb in his mouth and pretend to blow the muscle up, suddenly the bicep would appear incredibly formed and viened even though he never did a thing to work them out!!! We loved it.  Feeling wistful right now………and thankful. 

OK, it is a strange phenonmena which I guess all of us here have experienced.  As we improve, even if in small increments, we become more critical.  Instead of being happy I suddenly see all the imperfections.  The brain is a strange thing.  I guess this phenonmena serves as a constant source of motivation but I am believer in living each moment to optimise happiness - so today I am making myself look at all the good things and ignor the rest! I have my little rose coloured glasses on and I am off to the gym to work on lower body - and the sun is out so hopefully a swim too!  Yipeeeeeeee!

They have arrived!!! I have a couple of little callouses! I am quite proud of them and feel kind of initiated.  Years ago I used to play the classical double bass.  I eventually got callouses on my finger tips, I was quite proud of those too.  Hmmm, I am tempted to take a progress pic of my callouses.  I will sleep on it……….

ps. what is it with this glove thing?

Yesterday my trainer told me that some of the people around the gym are saying I am using steroids.  How rediculous!  Anyone who knows anything could tell from my physique and face that isn’t the case.  I guess you have to put this in the context that here girls are not so much into sport let alone working out with weights. And I think I am lucky that for some reason (which I don’t understand) I can get good muscle definition without having to have really low body fat.  Anyway, off for a morning swim and work out.  The sun is shining and I am feeling great!  Everyday I am thankful for all the good things and all the good people in my life…….