Wendy’s BodyBlog

I will be competing in the In & Out Challenge (see julofthenile’s blog for more information). My goal isn’t really to have the most number of points, even though that is the whole point of the challenge. I just want to see how many points I can get. What would be interesting is to do the challenge again another month to see how much I can improve.

In addition to this, because of my photo shoot on November 8, I am not going to have ANY CHEATS from today till after the photo shoot! No alcohol, no ice cream, no chocolate (unless it is a TINY piece made from 75%+ cocoa) no pizza, NO CHEESE! Generally just eating as close to the natural form of food as I can, so limited bread, pasta, etc.  We shall see how this goes.

I will also aim for 6 cardio sessions per week. I have four cardio sessions down already, split up between two Spin classes, one plyometrics class, and one "boot camp" class. In addition, I will do ALL of my weights workouts EVERY week (this is four times per week). I am usually pretty good about the weights, but on average, I tend to miss one or two weights workouts per month.
We will see how this goes for me and what sort of condition it gets me into.

I am waiting at the airport for my flight to take off. And it doesn’t help that I arrived about two hours early, LOL! I am on my way to Vegas to see John and I can’t WAIT to see him. I SHOULD be working on my homework but am WAY too giddy to do that! It has only been two weeks, too, since we last saw each other, but it feels longer than that. What can I say, I am a woman in love!

Workouts have been going alright. I have not really been in the mood to lift much lately. I get a new schedule every month. It is the same exercises but different set/rep schemes, so by the end of the month, I am pretty bored of doing the exercises. I also wanted to do cardio EVERYDAY this week, but it looks as though it will be only five. I was just too dang tired and busy to make it two days. I will be squeezing in some cardio classes while I am in Vegas.. Every bit of my spare time has gone to reading journal articles, researching journal articles, or writing a paper based on those articles! I am actually loving it, but it is very time consuming.

Today I got on the StairMaster (which I actually hate) and did that for about 50 minutes while reading a novel. Yes, a novel–NOT ARTICLES, lol!  I hate the stairmaster because it is HARD work, and that is also the reason I do it… I read somewhere that you should choose the cardio machine that makes you sweat the most, because that means you are getting the most bang for your buck. For me, that is definitely the stairmaster and the arc trainer. They do also work the glutes and hams A LOT, so that is good for me!

This weekend I will be relaxing my diet some. Not too much. Today at the gym, I gave myself the critical eye in the mirror. There was no one else in the locker room, and I really assessed my body and where I want it to go. We don’t have a full length mirror at home, so I like to take full advantage when I do come across one. I do think I have come a long ways–I am so much more muscular than I have ever been, but at this point, I want to lean out even more–especially for that dang photo shoot!

Anyway, better try to get cracking on that paper, get at least some of it done so I am not doing homework all weekend while I am in Vegas!

After I decided not to do the competition, I thought I would also cancel the photo shoot. Obviously I would not be in the kind of shape I would like to be if I am no longer doing contest prep. BUT today the photographer gave me such a great deal that I couldn’t turn it down. I wonder if her rates are really that low or if it has something to do with the fact that we went to high school together. But then again, I do not know much about how much photo shoots cost, so I could be way off. So now I am about 6 weeks out from the shoot, which means that I will have to follow a stricter diet. I wonder if I should do some carb cycling thing to help with the weight loss? I don’t know much about that.

Anyway. I have to share how much I LOVE Trader Joe’s. I stopped going there for a while because there is only one where I live and it was across town from where I used to live. But NOW I live much closer to it, and started frequenting it again. There are bags of individually packaged servings of nuts, so you know EXACTLY how many nuts you should be eating; there are bags of individual servings of carrots; there are some super yummy frozen turkey burgers that are low in fat and no preservatives (Worchestire sauce is added to the burgers); there are beef patties made with 96/4 beef. And TODAY I found chicken breast tenders marinated in curry. Only 6 grams of carbs per 4 oz serving. YUM! And have I mentioned how cheap the frozen fish is there? This makes preparing my meals so much easier, especially because time is very limited now. And now my food actually has FLAVOR from the seasonings they use–and no preservatives or crap (I do check the labels)! YAY! Definitely makes eating clean better if the food is yummy!

I am feeling so good about my decision not to compete! It is amazing how much lighter and balanced I feel I am now that I have that weight off my shoulders! Balanced because I am not obsessed about how much weight I have lost/whether I am eating too much or too little/wondering how I will fit everything into my life! Ironically, I am actually feeling more motivated now to keep up my workouts and to eat clean.

So, yes I am thoroughly enjoying my workouts now that there is that little thing called "pressure" gone. I ate like crap for several days after I decided not to do the show, but then I got tired of it and decided that I didn’t want to gain weight, so I stopped and am back to eating the good stuff. I have also been experimenting with cardio classes. I don’t usually like them because it is hard for me to find a class that I find challenging enough–oh, and one where coordination doesn’t matter TOO much, because I don’t have much of that, haha! Of course I love Spin class. I also like Boot Camp, which is purely functional, and there is a new cardio class at 24-Hour Fitness called Everlast Shadow Box. I LOVE that class! All sorts of plyometrics and pushups and jumprope with "recovery" of air boxing!  It is intense and exactly the kind of workout that I love! I will start going to that class as much as I can.

I am not sure that I should be doing all this high intensity cardio with the program I am on, but I don’t really care anymore. I have been thinking about switching my "look"/training from an NPC/IFBB girl to more of a Model America/Fitness America/Figure America type, a little softer but still muscular. With the Fitness America look, I would be doing less weights and more sprints and plyos. With the look I am currently on, I will continue lifting hard and heavy and there is little emphasis on functional workouts (but I would still do them anyway). I am tempted to lift hard and heavy but do the plyos and cardio as I want to and see where I end up (catabolic, anyone?)
I am not sure what "look" Julie Marsland would fall under, but I definitely want her body, so if anyone has any suggestions, I would be happy to take them! Of course, she is TALL and me not so much (5′5"), but I could do without that.

Anywho, am visiting John this upcoming weekend, so I am REALLY excited about that! Hopefully we will be able to get out and check out the city together this time (last time we just moved him and his kitties in). And John being away is really helping with my school work! In that way, his absence is wonderful. I spent about 5-6 hours at the library tonight and got so much work done! Oh, and I lost my wallet somewhere in those 5-6 hours, too, oops! Hopefully someone will have turned it in.

I am out of the figure competition in November. It is just too much right now between school, work and my internship. I am already working/at school for 10-12 hours per  day, and throwing in contest prep that takes about 2-3 hours per day is just too much. When the show I had originally planned to do was canceled then moved to a later date, I wondered how it would work in with my school schedule. Well, now I know.
Last night I examined what my priorities are, and my top priority now is school, which includes not only classes but also my internship and thesis. I realized over the last week that something has to give, whether it my grades or relationships or the comp. And, to be honest, I don’t know I would be ready for the comp anyway. I am about 9.5 weeks out, haven’t made a lot of my cardio sessions because of the lack of time and the sheer exhaustion that comes from working long hours. And even if somehow I did make time for the cardio, I would still have to worry about stage presentation, which counts for quite a lot in Figure America.

While I am disappointed that it has come to this, I mostly feel relieved that I have one less thing on my plate. I wish I were Wonder Woman and could achieve all of this, but I am not and I can’t–not with my sanity and health intact.

I definitely feel like a mess today. Now that I am done with my crazy schedule for the weekend, I have time to think about John leaving and the fact that I am driving down with him to Vegas tomorrow! And I did not get to the gym today either. Tomorrow for sure! Might make me feel better. Not to mention that I feel like eating emotionally–especially ice cream, chocolate, cheese, anything crunchy. In fact, I caught myself doing just that. Found a box of crackers, started munching, then thought, what the HELL am I doing?! So I put them away… YAY for me! This will get better, as all things do.

Day 4-ish because I did not go the gym or do cardio AT ALL today! It turned out to be one of those days. I woke up at 5 AM to meet with a client at 6:30, before she goes to school. What do you know–she was sick, so instead of going to the gym, I decided to drive home and go back to bed. It was wonderful. Then, I thought I would maybe get dose 1 of cardio in in the afternoon then go to the gym in the evening for weights and dose two of cardio. Neither of those happened either. Instead, I took another nap this afternoon (which was also wonderful!), and this evening, I went shopping for luggage and a bag for Vegas. With airlines charging for just one checked bag, I decided to get one that I could carry on. And I got a proper computer bag for my laptop, since I will be traveling back and forth to Vegas quite a lot.

I also just made today my cheat day. I had tortilla chips, a homemade deli turkey sandwich with cheese, and a small Coffee Lovers Only ice cream from Cold Stone. I am not sure that it was the food I enjoyed so much as the feeling of being full. I can also proudly say that I did NOT BINGE, which does happen from time to time.

This, of course, means that on Saturday I will have to get in cardio twice, once in Reno before we leave and once in Vegas, where it will be 100! BLECH!!! Vegas isn’t really my scene, but I hear that it is actually a hot spot for outdoor stuff (who would’ve thunk, eh?).  Speaking of Vegas, I am REALLY hoping that my swimsuit comes in by tomorrow, but I doubt it! Would be SO FUN to sport that around, if it’s going to be scorching hot, anyway! Off to clean the bathroom, my room, and to pack…

Day 3 of twice daily cardio done! I was super hungry when I woke up this morning, so I ate before I did cardio. In fact, I was so hungry that I woke up in the middle of the night. But, I felt alright once I ate and then after AM cardio, I made myself oatmeal and ate that with some cottage cheese, and I felt very satisfied. Full, but not stuffed. Now that I am in full prep mode, I am really hoping that I place! I want a medal–it doesn’t matter if it is from the judges or my boyfriend or a stranger on the street, ANYONE who goes through this deserves a damn medal! Maybe two.

Looking at pics of the girls who did the Figure Universe show has really motivated me. I looked at their pics, then my latest progress pic,s then back at theirs. I definitely have my work cut out for me. I want to look like a genuine contender. I have a photo shoot scheduled for Saturday, November 8, and I am very excited about it! I haven’t had pictures done since high school. And even then, I did not get the traditional senior pics… My friend and I are going shopping next weekend for outfits. She will push me toward things that maybe I wouldn’t normally buy–meaning, sexier, LOL! That’s just not me, really. I’ve already bought a swimsuit from Victoria’s Secret (the link goes to a pic of the suit).  I figure I should also get workout clothes (booty shorts and a sports bra) and a dress, and I’ll be set.

John is leaving this weekend for Vegas. I will be driving down with him and flying back on Sunday. I am sad that he is leaving, of course, but ready at the same time. It has been a long time coming. Plus, I have thought of two good things about his being gone. The first is that because I will be so busy this school year, I can really focus on my work and research. The second is that I won’t be tempted by the yummy foods he keeps around his place–chips, pudding, soda, pizza. He is very evil that way. Now, those two don’t really account for how big the hole in my life will be from his absence, but I have to look at the positives to get through it. And if I stay really focused on school, then maybe the time will go by faster before it is May and I can move down there, too…

Anyway, have to get ready for tomorrow. Two more days of twice daily cardio, and then I get a BREAK on Saturday! And trust me, I will be sitting on my bum in the car, enjoying every minute because I will probably sleep the entire way, and maybe eating pizza, too (not in the car, in Vegas!).

I survived another day of twice daily cardio. This morning I went on a 35 minute easy run (yes, I know that running is not recommended but I NEED to run occasionally to maintain my sanity). Tonight was weights and walking on the treadmill at 10-13% incline at 3.5 MPH. Speaking of weights, today my schedule called for 2×25 of all sets. Sounds easy, right? NOPE! So not only did I think that I looked "wimpy" doing an overhead press with a 20 pound barbell, but it was also very hard after about 15 reps or so. Have to get over that self conscious bit. My diet over the last two days has been spot on, but I am VERY hungry today and just want carbs and lots of them! (Sigh)

I am not sure if I am doing too much too soon or what, as I don’t know how my body will respond. That is part of this process, too, figuring out how my body will respond.  Still unsure about this prep mode madness. Food restriction, cardio, weights, and more cardio–seems like a formula for disaster! But I will follow the program and make switches as needed…

Later– I just looked at pics from this year’s Figure Universe. Ohhh, boy… lots of competition. Maybe the twice daily cardio isn’t so bad after all, LOL! If nothing else, it WILL get me lean enough to get on stage!

Today was my first day of twice daily cardio. It wasn’t too bad since I had plenty of reading to do for school. I think that is just how I am going to use my time doing cardio–reading for school–that is, unless of course I am doing HIIT at which point reading is impossible. Now I know what GJ meant about not wanting to prep for a show while in school–it is HARD to fit everything in with work and school and internship and cardio and preparing meals. Only about 10.5 more weeks of this. I can do it, right? Right!
Oh, and good news about my supposed weight gain. I weighed myself again this AM, and it was right around where I thought it should be! YAY! I realized that I am getting close to that TOM, lucky me!