wallstcutie’s BodyBlog

Oh, man!  So, the next time I made it to the gym after Sunday was Wednesday.  I did another total body workout, but just did different exercises to make sure I wasn’t overlapping too much, and I am SSSSOOOOO sore! 

I have noticed major progress in my hamstrings, pecs, intercostals, and legs/glutes in general.  My hamstrings have major muscular density and definition.  I discovered musclulature on my upper ribs under my armpit that I never had before.  What muscle is that?  Part of the back muscle I think?

Slowing things down for a bit was the best thing I could have done for myself.  The time off really gave my body time to repair and rebuild. 

Did cardio yesterday (Thurs) and wil make it to the gym 2 more times this week to bring the total to 4.  Kindof have to map out the rest of the week to see what I want to work on, since I am so sore… 

I could definitely use more cardio!   

Boy do I ever have DOMS from Sunday!!!!  I can’t believe that was my last time in the gym (not counting a very light cardio consisting of a 2 mile pre-Christmas dinner walk yesterday).  I am definitely going after work today.  I crave working out sooo much!

OK, this post is going to be TMI, so TURN BACK NOW if you are squeamish about reading about womenly things! 

If you’ve read my previous blogs, then you know I’ve been amennohreic (sp?) for about 3 months now.  BF% too low, too vigorous of exercise, etc. etc.  I’ve been bloated and frustrated with other health problems to boot…. 

So, upon Dr.’s recommendation to lay off the "vigorous exercise," I only went to the gym 3x last week:

Monday night: 50 min. cardio + abs

Friday morning: 45 min. cardio + abs 

Sunday morning:  1 hr. yoga and 45 min. total body workout:

20 lb db (=40 lb total) chest press 15×3

70 lb bb deadlifts  12×3

15 lb db (=30 lb total) shoulder press 15×3

150 lb seated leg press 15×3

3 unassisted wide pull ups, 5×2 lightly assisted

3 unassisted narrow pull ups, 5×2 lightly assisted

15×3 squeezy swiss ball abdominal crunches

So, I tried to do more broad, compound movements where I could hit ancillary muscles like biceps and triceps as well.  I could have done bicep curl lunges, but didn’t think of it until after.  Oh well.

Anyway, back to my Christmas Gift!  As you can see, last week was VERY light on workouts.  And….guess who came to visit this morning!  What most women curse and is a bane and nuisance to our general existence, I welcomed with open arms!!!  I did a little "Happy Menses Dance" as I got ready for work. 

Yes, I have to work on Christmas Eve….  The market closes at 1 p.m. though, so it isn’t too bad. 

Thanks everyone for your prayers.  They did not fall on deaf ears!  And, what a more appropriate time to celebrate fertility than on the eve of Christ’s birth.  Kindof heartwarming in a way…  Or that could be the estrogen speaking… 

On another note the audition on Friday went very well!  The ironic thing is that if I get the gig, the commercial won’t even be broadcast in NYC, since the company doesn’t even have service in Manhattan!  It is a national company, but most of the coverage area is the west coast, and the commercial will be shot in L.A.  Well, callbacks are Jan 3rd, so I’ll keep you posted. 

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Lots of Love,

Rachael 

I read bb.com CEO Ryan DeLuca’s blog about a book called "the Dip."  It is a book that has great applications to bodybuilding and living a fitness-oriented lifestyle (and of course applications in the business world as well, since it is technically a business book). 

Well, it is a quick read (I downloaded it to my iPod and listened to it on my morning cardio a few weeks back), but very worthwhile.  I told my husband (who also enjoyed it) that it is the kind of book that every person should listen to about once per quarter.  Just for a little motivational kick in the pants. 

Anyway, the basis of the book is that everyone goes through a lull, a valley, a "doldrums" if you wish, where the wind just leaves your sails and you just don’t know whether to go on…  However, if you can make it through that valley — that DIP, then you are one of the SMALL percentages of people who will achieve greatness.  The best example the author uses is in weight lifting - where the reps that REALLY count toward muscle growth are the FINAL, HARDEST, MOST DIFFICULT couple of reps that you BARELY squeeze out at the end.  If you quit right when it starts to get hard, you haven’t made it through the DIP, and you won’t progress.  At least you won’t progress to greatness.

Anyway, with my recent health problems, coupled with the slight depression that I think every competitor must feel when they begin to put some water and flesh back on after competition, I was definitely in the DIP. 

But guess what?  My network of support on bodyspace is helping me PUSH through this dip!!  Whereas a week ago, I was in the doldrums (hehe You wouldn’t have known it with my silly Christmas song!), now I am energized and feel really great (internal pain aside). 

And, I am also happy, as I was just called for another audition…so that is always exciting and nerve-wracking.  They are looking for a clean-cut, fit, muscular-ish woman in her 30s for a commercial.  So, we will see if I fit the bill!  I hope I am not TOO BLOATED - lol!!!!!!!!! 

My agent says not to worry, that the "competition stage ready" look is too lean for these auditions anyway, and even though I feel "bloated" etc etc I probably look great to the general population anyway.  Sigh.  Everything is relative, I guess!  LOL!!!!!!!!!  Wish me luck, folks. 

Well, I have experimented with everything at this point - eliminating supplements, trying to see which foods create the pain, etc…  Now, in addition to the liver pain, I am getting bloating.  Pretty intense bloating.  I am talking about 10 pounds in a week bloating. 

I know this is probably TMI, but I haven’t had a period since I got my BF% down for competition 3 months ago…  This could probably account for the bloating.  My husband is happy - my boobs are exploding and my skin is HARD to the touch.  P.S. I am not pregnant.  The doctors tested me over and over for that.   

The only thing I haven’t tried is to lay off exercising.  The pain did not interfere with my workouts, so of course I have maintained these…  but if I ever want to have my period again, the Dr. says to stop exercising so "vigorously."  How does he know if my workouts are vigorous or not?  Compared to pre-competition when I was in the gym 2x per day, 6 days a week, what I am doing now is definitely NOT vigorous!!

You may not know this, but one of the reasons I wanted to get fit last year was because Ken (my hubby) and I wanted to start to try to have kids next year.  They say that if you are already in an exercise program, then you can continue that into the pregnancy.  However, if you are sedentary, you shouldn’t try to take it up after pregnancy.  Also, it can complicate things if you are overweight in pregnancy.  So, all of those things were impetus to get into shape and into a good workout program.  That is when I hired a trainer.  Then, I got inspired by Jamie Eason and thought a great way to get in shape is to compete.  A deadline…  A goal. 

Now, after all of that, now that Ken and I are getting ready to get back into the swing of things, my body is so messed up that we couldn’t conceive if we tried (believe me, we’re trying!)

OK, this is too much information, I know.  But I just needed to get it off my chest.  (My swollen, water-retaining chest!  lol!)

So, when I say, "Here goes nothing…" this means I am going to take a week OFF working out.  Get a massage.  Try to get the lympatic system going - maybe eliminate some of this fluid!!! 

We’ll see how it goes!!!! 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my bodyspace friend gave to me…

TWELVE SUPERFIT HOTTIES!!!!  Since finding bodyspace, I have met so many wonderful fitness-minded women!  It was not a surprise at all to find women on bb.com that I competed with on stage this year!  Great, fit minds think alike!  So, kudos to these twelve fit women for the great interactions we’ve shared online (and in person)!  It is truly wonderful to find gals with whom I share so much in common.  These women are inspiring, driven, intelligent, and dedicated to fitness!  I know there are a lot more than twelve of you and I apologize I can’t pay homage to you all, but hey, it is the "Twelve Days of Christmas!" lol.  

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Yaz121
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Alight3
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/sweetfitchic
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/TeamGOFitness
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/DawnMelanie
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/DianaChaloux
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/tlblais
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Jogging Jen
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Kerdave
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/LaceyDF
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Pitbullcavegirl
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/PinkSky

ELEVEN AWESOME LAT SPREADS…

TEN ENCOURAGING WORDS…

NINE NINJA BILLS…

EIGHT FLIGHTS OF STAIRS…

SEVEN PREACHER CURLS…

SIX HARDCORE MUTHAS…

FIIIIVE - SQUEEZES - IN - THE - PAIN - HOLE!!  

FOUR HYENA SUCKERPUNCHES…

THREE CHICKENTUNA RANTS…

AND ONE "GOOD MORNING" FROM NIC!!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my bodyspace friend gave to me…

ELEVEN RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME LAT SPREADS!!! (They are so awesome, I can only fit two on my blog!  lool!!  So here are some impressive ones from my friends list…)

houseshaka 

bigsean300

TEN ENCOURAGING WORDS (from daretosoar!)…

NINE NINJABILLS… (good thing there’s only ONE!)

EIGHT FLIGHTS OF STAIRS… (BLSmith walks them every day!)

SEVEN PREACHER CURLS… (one arm on the incline bench, that is!)

SIX HARDCORE MUTHAS… (like BryanGee!)

FIVE - SQUEEZES - IN - THE - PAIN - HOOOOOOOLE !!!!!!!!!! (for intercostals like AlMovement)

FOUR HYENA SUCKERPUNCHES… (from King Marmoset!)

THREE CHICKENTUNA RANTS…

TWO BODY AUDITS… (a-la the bodyauditor!)

AND ONE GOOD MORNING FROM NIC!! (Nic Brunicardi, that is!)

I have edited my goals, because a pro card just doesn’t seem important if it is at the cost of my health. 

On the tenth day of Christmas, my bodyspace friend gave to me…

TEN ENCOURAGING WORDS (FROM DARETOSOAR!  She is like the bodyspace head cheerleader!)

NINE NINJABILLS…

EIGHT FLIGHTS OF STAIRS…

SEVEN PREACHER CURLS…

SIX HARDCORE MUTHAS…

FIVE - SQUEEZES - IN - THE - PAIN - HOOOOOOOLE !!!!!!!!!!

FOUR HYENA SUCKERPUNCHES…

THREE CHICKENTUNA RANTS…

TWO BODY AUDITS…

AND ONE GOOD MORNING FROM NIC!!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my bodyspace friend gave to me…

NINE NINJABILLS!  (OK, there is only ONE ninjabill, but can you imagine how much trouble we’d be in if there were 9 of them?  lol *grin*)

EIGHT FLIGHTS OF STAIRS…

SEVEN PREACHER CURLS…

SIX HARDCORE MUTHAS…

FIVE SQUEEZES IN THE PAIN HOLE…

FOUR HYENA SUCKERPUNCHES…

THREE CHICKENTUNA RANTS…

TWO BODY AUDITS…

AND ONE "GOOD MORNING" FROM NIC!!!