Leg Intervals

Leg Intervals Db squats 3 x 15 Db deadlifts 3 x 15 Jump rope 3 x 1 min Incline Leg press, plie' 3 x 15 Ball crunches 3 x 25 Leg ext 3 x 15 Leg curl 3 x 15 Jump rope 3 x 1 min

NPC Emerald Cup 2012 - Competition Day

Its here! The day I have trained and dieted for for months. All those lines I saw DAILY and posted in my selfies. ..but will they show TODAY?? Did I eat enough carbs? Did I drop enough water?  Will I hit my poses on point?  Will I pull out my lats just right? Will my muscles cramp up? And...will I do well? In a few short hours, I will know.

Now as we drive there for my 2nd coat of color, get my hair and makeup done (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), change into my competition suit and run through my poses...I hope it shows. I've brought my best, and no mattet what I know where I'm going.  8 weeks to San Jose. And I will get to Nationals this year.

NPC Emerald Cup - 5 days out

So I'm 5 days out. Today I did legs. Just a few supersets, 3 x 20 major exercises to burn out the glycogen. No carbs in my diet now aside from what's in all the asparagus I'm eating to drop water. I've made some HUGE changes and progress and I'm super excited about that. It's funny people's interpretations or views on that. Some people think that people who make changes like that are on steroids or other things. Ignorance. Jealousy because they are not making their own progress. Probly eating way too many carbs and/or drinking. But also everyone has their own opinions. Yesterday a friend told me that the big buff tatted dude at the booth next to us said I was 'jacked'. haha SuhWEET! I don't always see it. I mean I do in the selfies when I'm posing but never sure how I look to others. Today I saw a colleague who hadn't seen me in months, since like 20lbs ago, and she was like 'you got skinny! what' going on?" And I told her I had a show on Friday lol. So as if you're not already going back and forth in your own head, you have all these different opinions being thrown at you.

I'm also chugging a TON of water! 1-2 gallons a day. And I'm still THIRSTY!!! This is the effect different foods and ratios have on the body. I wouldn't recommend trying it, just take my word for it ;) 

This is me a few days ago. Lots of progress. My back is my best feature and its starting to show. The lighting in this locker room is horrible and has not reflecting what I and others have actually seen in my progress but it is what it is. Quad separation is good, shoulders are more capped then before. I'm still crooked, yes I AM, not the suit or how I'm standing. Chest has more definition,...I've really been working on that and finally have a pec separation. Also a lot less boobs, HAHHA! They are 'manageable' now.  

So everyone thinks I look Awesome and I'm 'gonna win'. It's really hard to be nice and take a compliment when you know it's not true. THIS is my weak spot. And despite all my progress, and how lean everything else is getting, THIS CRAP is still there. I am embarrassed by these photos. 'Normal people' don't know how ROUGH the competition is, and yes, every little line needs to be where it should. So do I feel confident? lol nope.  

 

This is not the bootie of a Figure Competitor. Again, the lighting is awful and I'm not tanned, but still. Yes, there will be improvement as I drop my water and dry out. I will tighten up, but not to the extent I need to. But I have to remember my approach this time. Although I REALLY wanted this show, I also wanted BALANCE. I allowed cheat meals. I had a little flexibility. Because I KNOW I can diet like crazy. But I also know I can balloon back up quickly. And I do not want that. I don't want the mental struggle and rebound I usually have. So the loss of over 20lbs was almost painless to me. I dieted, yes. But I feel like when I made changes the weight came off. And I enjoyed my food. I'd rather be a lower trophy and be able to maintain it all year round than to win one show and gain 30lbs back after that.

It's ok. The work is done, the final stages are in place. I'm getting caught up on rest these next few days and prepping and packing. Sara and I will enjoy this adventure to WA together and then hang out in Seattle and enjoy food like normal people lol. I'm already thinking to my diet and training for the next two months as NPC San Jose is on June 29th. All I really need to do is tighten up and drop a few more lbs or gain a lil muscle. I can come in very lean. And I have  few special events planned already for my cheat meals. If I keep it tight I should be able to allow them and then I will have something that I can start to live with as a normal life.

Emerald Cup: < 2 Weeks Out

Ok, it's CRAZY TIME!! Everyone else thinks I look "Amazing!". Great. They are NORMAL. Meanwhile I am pinching the fat on my ass every hour waiting for it to get smaller. I am wondering whether I should even be on that stage AT ALL! Oh, damn.....what's that in the mirror? Whoa....my shoulders look great! Awesome improvement!! A chest line finally!!!! LOTS of HARD work! I turn around..nope...no glute/hamstring line. Nothing there. :( ugh. It's an emotional roller-coaster that I just can't explain. The level of leanness and definition I need to achieve is something most people just can't relate to. And if I complain to people, they just look at me like I'm crazy.

 

I go to the store which seems pointless with aisles of food I can't have, people eating all these things, munching away 'whenever they feel like it'. How unstructured!! (I realize I am the outlier, they are 'normal'). I wonder if I can ever eat normal again. BALANCED I mean. Last time I went nuts and had to lose this 30lbs! I'd rather not even let myself do it. I do like my food, I mean I've really learned how to cook! :)
 
SO, what to do? Well I started carb cycling last week. That means I have different servings of carbs depending on my day. More for the day I teach 3 classes and lift, medium for the other days, and low for the days I am not teaching or am resting. Big changes, but I need more and don't want to risk it. So I will do my high day tomorrow(Monday when I teach all those) but then I will do a full carb depletion cycle. With no carbs my body will be forced to burn fat (although slower, and less efficiently) and I will also drop water. REMINDER: What I am doing is NOT for most people! There is a whole series of things I have done up until this point for this to happen, it's not just something you do, it doesn't work for everyone it's NOT a 'healthy option' and I don't recommend it. I am doing it to look SCARY LEAN ON STAGE. They I will have a carb-up day and see where I'm at. I am thrown off a little having a Competition on Friday where it's normally on Saturday. So I will have to start my Peak Week a day earlier, on Saturday. So I can only do one cycle before I do my Peak Week Depletion Cycle.

 
What would a cheat do??
- I get asked this a LOT. "How big a deal is it, really??" A HUGE DEAL right now! I have been training and dieting for MONTHS. I am dropping every ounce of fat I can while preserving each tiny bit of muscle I have worked SO HARD to gain. I am playing with my carbs to trick my body into losing more fat and water retention. If I were to splurge right now, with sugar or carbs...it would all go back into my muscles and do so carrying 3x its weight in water. I'd be back at square one almost. I'd fill up, I'd puff up. My definition would be gone, and I'd look 'soft'. So NOTHING is worth that right now. Not when I am THISCLOSE! ;)

 

 

When it's close . . .

Many will start the journey with you, but few will finish it. Ones that start as your biggest supporters, sometimes turn against you. The words of encouragement turn to words of dismay, disgust - just to name a few. I know when I am close to my competition (ie: 4 weeks out or less) because of the remarks I get. At your weakest time, people abandon you. Sometimes because they can't stand that you've made such drastic changes while they've made none. Or because they can only be around people who drink or eat junk. While that's fun, you would really think a true friendship should have nothing to do with those things. People think you are 'too skinny', 'too muscle-y', unfeminine, just to name a few. You can feel so AWESOME about your body, your improvements, how far you've come, just for some selfish ignorant person to tear you down in a few seconds. At the time when you are most in your own head, full of nervousness and doubt. In our society people think this is ok, but you don't see us going around saying how 'fat you are, I don't think it's pretty, you look unhealthy, you should eat better..". I would never do such a thing, and I love helping people, but it's so amazing how the opposite seems to be acceptable, maybe because they think we can handle it. So the last few weeks, you pull back, concentrate on you, keeping yourself together and mentally focused and cling to the few around you who just GET IT. Who understand, and don't judge and help you keep your sanity.

 

  

Discover the missing link to amazing health!

Its all mental

So im 8 weeks out with no hope for a cheat meal except my birthday,  thank god for that at least. If you think dieting is hard...you aint seen nothing. There are NO EXCUSES.  your mind will play tricks on you. One minute you'll think you look great... the next you'll feel fat or flat and feel like giving up. Others don't notice the day to day fluctuations and changes...but you do. Your friends will tell you that you look great or that you're getting too skinny or muscular.  Strangers will come up and tell you that you look unhealthy (as their fat ass is shoveling junk food.. .lets be real!) They may decide to vent to you about how bodybuilders are "out of control" and say stupid things like "men don't like that"  Haha! Real men do. at least in our world!  ;) You will hear them, doubt them and beleive them. You will pose in front of the mirror with pride. .and then you will refuse to look in it. You will try not to self-sabatage by being to easy or too hard on yourself. You will sit there and watch your friends drink while you have water. You will watch them eat. You will see them dance the night away as you yawn and think about how hungry and tired you are and how you can make your exit...if you are still trying to be social.

This is not normal. This is for an extreme look which requires extreme measures.  Your friends will go from admiring you and following you to thinking you are too much. They won't understand and thats ok. People will ask how you do it, or want to do it with you but most will stop within the first week.

You will have cravings for things that are otherwise healthy but still not allowed for you. You will chew gum like Its a food group. You will get tired and moody. You will get mad at yourself for being tired and moody. you will start glaring at other peoples food, partly cuz your jealous and partly cuz you can't believe they eat that way on a daily basis.

You will do this because you are an Athlete. because nonone else will. Because you want more. Because doing it only half-ass does not get you that trophy.

12 Weeks out - Emerald Cup, May 3rd

Ok, So I am starting out at approximately 133lbs, and 19% Body Fat. I am adding my cardio back in(I had given up my bike in Cycle class so that more members could take my class) and cutting my cheats down. I have gotten tired of chicken so I am switching those 2 meals to 1) Salmon and 1) Tilapia. Because the Salmon also has fat, I will be cutting the fat serving(either almonds or avocado) out of that meal.

I just peeked at my new workout plan! I am now starting Month 5 of the Advanced Muscle Tone & Firm on the Workout Trainer by Muscle & Fitness. It is a LOT of stuff I do NOT do, which is also why I like it. It challenges me, teaches me and pushes me. This month there are Plyo's and Olympic Lifts. It looks like HEAVY on the legs(and other areas) because there are some SHORT sets of SHORT reps! My legs need it! My arms are pretty 'big' now, I'm happy with my shoulders...abs need to lose the fat a bit more over them...the legs are getting lines just want them to be a little fuller. I don't want to lean out and just look 'stringy' if that makes sense?

NPC Emerald Cup - 8 weeks out

Well, we're at 8 weeks out! This week I took some progress pics finally and also sent them to Sara. She asked if I was still having fruit which I am. 1/2 banana on my hard days and 6 or so strawberries on my lighter days. She told me no more cheat days except for my Birthday. Which I needed her to tell me. This is going to be a BIG show and I want to present at my best EVER. So as of today, I am down to 131lbs, approximately 17.7% BF so down about 1%. My goal is approximately 12% at 125lbs. (Lower % if possible, my first year I was 9% so I'd like to see what I look like there.)

 
March 5th 2013                                                                   March 8th 2013

So I need to KILL myself the next few weeks because I have a fitness conference Thursday - Sunday. So instead of my normal 2 days rest, I need to start RIGHT OVER tomorrow to get all 5 lifts in before the 4 day conference(which is all workouts) and then RIGHT back into Day 1 lift on Monday. So about 19 days straight. Right now my back is locking up and I should be going to the chiropractor. When it locks up I can feel my spine, it cracks a lot, and my low back is tight. I can't move my neck/head that much. I am in pain around T4(thoracic) and my neck. I don't like to take meds, but I'm taking some now. I try to stretch a lot, hang to decompress my spine and roll on my foam roller.

 
Our Mantra                                                                             This week's food

So I did my lift...it was short, and hey, I'm not stupid so I didn't do my Cleans or Jump Rope. My back was trying to give out on the BB Front Squats and I tried one clean and I could hear my back crunching. I did a nice 30mins on the stairs instead of the treadmill.


Makin' it happen

< 9 Weeks out - NPC Emerald Cup

So the last time I checked, I was 132lbs and about 18% BF. STILL. Ok, I did drop a bit last week finally after cutting the carbs our of meal 5. But it was a ROUGH week, and I got fed up. So, I kinda acted like a "normal" person this weekend. :O Like my bad day is probly someone else's good day but in the Bodybuilding World, and in prep mode, it was HORRIBLE. Of course, I actually filled out and felt like I looked better. LOL. So I am all back on track and KILLING it this week! Today I taught my 2 Aqua classes, then subbed PowerFlex, then did my own lift. (Cycle I taught off bike as the class is just so packed I give up mine).

So, now I am feeling my back. Today, lying on the bench teaching class I could FEEL my right shoulder blade was farther back as it was pushing into the bench. Every movement was finding knots and my shoulders kept wanting to slip out. (They sublux/partially dislocate). My low spine is acting funny...even doing a plank, I can feel my vertebrae clicking as I breathe. My low back, everything is TIGHT and off. Basically, I'm totally twisted. Time for an adjustment but I'm worried how/if this will continue and if it will affect/impede my workouts.

  

Meal 5: Changing the veggies, stir fry mix from #safeway with chicken.
Meal 3: trying to like turkey again using the 15% for my fatty protein. With brown rice. Used minced garlic and onions with garlic salt.
The rest pretty much the same. Pre-workout #bodyfortress NOS blast or #bsn no-xplode, post-workout #isagenix Isalean Pro and #vitargo

So, I'm not perfect. I've done this for 10 years on and off. I've dieted myself like crazy, I've been super strict, and I've had to lose the same 20lbs (25 this time) over and over again. I know my body. I know it stopped responding last year. This is MY journey and I can choose my own goals and approach. I'm already way ahead of where I was last year. I let myself cheat and now I'm happy to be back on track. I have 7 more pounds to drop in the next 9 weeks. Not counting what I drop the last week with water. I wish the numbers would go down more, but I can see the difference. And so can everyone else.

12 Weeks Out Emerald Cup - Diet

Ok, so here's my new diet. Mostly similar, just a few slight changes.

Meal #1 is the same: 1/2c Lana's Egg Whites, 1 whole egg, 1/2c Oatmeal, (I changed the fruit) 1/2 banana 4 frozen strawberries. I made a double-batch so I can use the whole banana, it has good consistency for the pancakes but wanted the strawberry flavor. It's actually a LITTLE more fruit but that's ok to me because I am working out a TON and I can burn that off in my AM workouts.

Meal #2 is my Post-workout shake. Still using my IsaLean Pro but now added in the 1 scoop(that's a half serving) of the Vitargo so that I can have a better carb:protein ration. (2:1).

Meal #3 is 4oz Salmon and 6oz Butternut Squash. I took out my fat serving(almonds/avocado) in lieu of having a fatty protein source. So I still have my carbs with the squash, and the fat and protein are in the salmon. I may change this with meal #5 depending on how my day is going.

 

Meal #4 I just swapped the chicken for Tilapia. 4oz Tilapia, 1/2c brown rice, 4 asparagus(they are fat), 10 almonds. (a lil les fat as the salmon had a bit more)

Meal #5 Is my IsaLean Shake with Ionix (for combatting the effects of stress). I like this meal here as I can down it in-between clients/class at night.

Meal #6 is the same. My omelet: 1c egg whites, spinach(2c or handfuls), 1/2 avocado.
  
If I feel like it either I need it mentally or I had a heavy workout day I will have my IsaDelight as a treat. It's a little chocolate square infused with green tea. That's not a daily thing though.

This is for my training days which are Mon - Fri. I lift 5 days a week and teach 8 classes, but don't do all the classes depending on their capacity. My plan is about 1933 calories: 51g fat, 177g protein, 187g carbs, 29g fiber. I aim to drink 1 gallon of water a day. I also added CLA with some of my meals each day.
 

Training Weeks 3 - 5

Sooooo,.....I got a little behind! I've been eating pretty much the same thing/meals as I showed you previously. I dropped to approximately 133lbs and 19% Body Fat. I let myself have a few cheats on the weekends...gave up my bike a few times in my Cycle class so participates could join. Now....I'm at 12 weeks out! (More on that in the next blog!) Here's a summary of my progress: