Contest prep starting this Sunday 6/9 is going to have to be strict. In numbers and in intensity. For fat loss to happen, I need to do things right - which means lots of planning.
I'm glad to say that at this point in my fitness journey, I'm not completely clueless about what to do with my contest prep - I can only hope that what I plan is actually going to work.
Like I always say, "Be patient. Be Consistent. Just Relax." Always needing to remind myself.
This week (at 13 weeks out from the INBA) is my transition week. I've reduced calories (gradually) and I'm trying to get used to monitoring my caloric intake daily on MyFitnessPal.
I've taken my life and the hectic nature of it, and its inhabitants, into careful consideration: While everything on the list must be checked off, and every number met and not exceeded, I have created a plan that allows for every week's goals to be completed with flexibility.
How am I doing this?
Setting A Weekly Calorie Goal
I am monitoring my caloric intake for each week - which means I allot myself a number I must meet by the end of each week (my example: Saturday nights).
Setting a weekly calorie goal - as opposed to a strict daily goal - allows me to eat according to training intensity as well as rest/light days. It also prevents me from getting stressed if I go over my calories, let's say, post-resistance training. I am satisfied whether it is a rest/cardio day or a training day.
My personal daily caloric intake, for example, must approximately be 1550/day for fat loss to occur. That makes a total of 10,850 for the whole week. As long as I meet 10,850 by Saturday, I'm good.
Carb Back-Loading
I'm still carb-back loading, just on a smaller scale - seeing as I am afraid to stall on progress by switching to Carb Nite and cutting carbs out 6x/week. Disclaimer: This is my personal experience, Carb Nite works wonders for a lot of people, especially those with higher body fat percentages. Maybe someday down the line I'll try it, but I've learned time and time again that my body likes to cycle carbs. I did Carb Nite for 3 weeks, but I've been carb back-loading since February, and it's now June and my results have been stellar.
I will be staggering ULC & back-load days so it's on/off/on/off from carbs. My carb back-loads will just fit my macros so I'm still within the fat loss guidelines I've set for myself, and will be taking place only on post-training days. Which means...
Training & Cardio
I also will be alternating my days between training and cardio - for now. Weight day, cardio, repeat. I do not like doing this for some strange psychological reason, but I need to give my body proper rest because I will be increasing the frequency of training for each body part.
The glutes and legs part is already covered - I already train them multiple times a week. I will be training my arms, shoulders, and back twice each per week at varying intensities. So a lot of my training days are going to consist of as many compound moves as possible so I am hitting multiple muscles simultaneously, and not spending hours and hours in the gym.
The reason for the increase in frequency is because frequency is a key component for muscle growth, not just volume alone. The more it's used, the more the muscle will grow. With adequate rest periods in between sessions, of course.
Work hard, but more importantly, work smart.
I will be re-adding HIIT into my routine as well. I cycled off it for two weeks now, to give my body some rest from the high-intensity workouts. It will either be in the form of sprints, Tabata, plyo, or other made-up circuits I wish to do.
Flexibility
The most important component to my success (besides commitment & consistency) with this 12-week prep is this very concept.
Everything needs to be done, but when it gets done is something I've let be the variable. Life throws so much at us that it's rare to set a solid, unyielding plan for a week and not have something try to get in the way of its completion.
Scenarios? If friends want me to come over and have a fiesta one day, I will plan a heavy training session before I go to the party so I can eat carbs. If, for some reason, I can't make it to the gym that day, or I absolutely cannot work out that day, then I will consider it a rest day and adjust my intake for that day. If for some reason I cannot go to the gym for a couple days in a row (as was the case this week) I will plan a lot of compound moves and high-volume exercises on fewer days to make sure I train every part of my body adequately, and meet the intensity I need. If I eat too much one day, I can scale it back the next day and it will even out. If I eat too much for the week, I can add an extra session of cardio or do more sets/reps in my next training day.
The goals are pretty much set on a weekly basis, and must be met by the end of each week.
I have prepared for life to throw my plans for prep out of balance. This adaptable plan will hopefully get my to my contest goals. I gotta peace out though, but this is pretty much what the next 12 weeks are gonna look like.
My ultimate goal is to minimize the risk of insanity and burn-out as much as possible, all while promoting a healthier life and a better, stronger, sexier body and outlook on life!
Remember people, there is only one you, take care of it!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
13 Weeks Out | Commencement
It is here. It is getting really close to the dieting portion of contest prep - or as I'd prefer to call it, fat loss.
I think I've established that I hate the word diet just as much as I hate the word tone. For example, this has to be the most ear-scratching sentence in my book:
"I really like, need to go on a 1000-calorie diet because I'm like, soooo out of shape, but I only wanna do cardio and NOT lift weights cause I'm not trying to get bulky, I just wanna get toned."
...Need a tissue cause my ears just bled.
I digress. On to the important stuff.
Prepping For Real Prep
I need 12 weeks of fat-loss prep so my leaning down is gradual, and not a complete shock to the system. I am trying to avoid metabolic damage at all costs. I want to be healthy and lean, and look nice and full on the stage, not stringy and burned out and desperate for a cupcake.
I'm prepping for this 12 weeks of possible mental/emotional hell by eating ultra-low carb on days I do not work out. I am staggering my carb back-load nights and eating in congruence with my training intensity for that day (example: Leg day gets much more carbs post-workout).
I have also determined my correct macronutrient needs for my personal needs via If It Fits Your Macros, which pretty much promotes "Flexible Dieting." Go to the site for a detailed explanation of the approach. For example, you figure out your numbers via: your height, weight, age, activity/body fat level, and ultimate goals. Eat to make sure you are hitting those numbers daily (protein/fat/carbs), and the food choices are really up to you. Obviously, you'd eat mostly nutritionally dense and healthy food, and a few snacks here and there will not only not kill you, but will help you meet your macro needs for the day.
I'm telling you, IIFYM practitioners.. no matter what eating style they pick (Paleo, Low Carb, Keto, Clean) they get ripped. Your macros are specific to you and your goals. It just works. And the best thing about it is, it works for contest prep. I can do CBL or CN protocols within my own specific macronutrient guideline, to get the best results for me.
I also learned that my body loves cycling carbs on and off by the days. It may be because my body fat is now at around 18-19% (considered fit) instead of the old 30%, or January's 24%, but going ultra-low carb for a week straight just didn't work as well for me. It worked, it was just exponentially slower.
I will still have to do ultra-low carb on more days than back-load days closer to prep for quicker fat shedding. To get contest ready, I'd like to be at around 12-15% (stage-ready lean). I don't really care about the weight as long as I look really good, curvy, lean and tight.
90dayPUSH | My Results
Since carb back-loading and starting the 90dayPUSH (3 back-to-back 30dayPUSHes), I have managed to make a rather good dent in my formerly stubborn apple-shape stature. Now my waist comes in more, my legs sweep out and in more with strength and femininity, my back is no longer plagued with rolls (the remaining fat is a significant improvement and will be taken care of in the next 12 weeks). I am also just a much happier camper, in my opinion.. and whether I look good or not, I'm really liking just existing right now.
I went from 123.8 lbs to 118 lbs - but the body fat percentage went from 23.8% to 18-19% (it may even be less now). While I weigh only 5.8 lbs less. that's approximately a 7.0444-lb decrease of fat and a 1.424-lb increase in lean body mass.
And the best part is, my stomach no longer looks flabby like it once [always] did. Now, while there remains a lot of work to be done to that area, I can see obliques, and I can definitely feel the muscle rippling beneath. In natural sunlight, one can see the work trying to shine through, beneath my last few remaining layers.
Success? I think so!
Everyone's Graduating (Even My Body!)
It's 13 weeks out and everyone decided to graduate some kind of school, this week. Nevermind that it's the beginning of June.
Sunday, I cleaned.. all. day. And did laundry. And cleaned some more. Did I mention the dishes? They must have respawned in the sink about 3 times. I didn't get to go to bed until past 11.
Yesterday I had to wake up at 5:30 AM for work. One of my most loathed things is having to get up that early. I was not happy about it. Plus, my mother decided not to tell me about my brother's high school graduation ceremony (which was for last night) until yesterday morning! It was an all-day endeavor pretty much, so I ran straight there after work. Cortisol levels were definitely elevated for me, lemme tell you that. There was also no room for a workout. I didn't get to bed until past 11, again.
Today, my little guy graduates preschool! We both had to get up at 5:30 AM again, each day never becomes easier than the last. They will have a little ceremony at his daycare. I am less stressed about this one. Also, highly doubting I'll be able to fit a workout in today. I cannot keep going to sleep at past 11pm. Less than 7 hours of sleep is not good for someone undergoing contest prep.
Thursday a friend of mine is throwing a graduation party since she just graduated from university. My oh my it doesn't end!!!
This week, I am trying to stay on top of my water intake. It is horribly inconvenient, but necessary. I have to pee every 10 minutes, it seems.
I am also monitoring my caloric intake purely for the sake of fat loss. I am still eating enough protein and fat to fuel my muscles and workouts, but I am eating at a 20% caloric deficit - a gradual, not sudden or damaging, deficit, for an average of 0.8-1 lb fat loss per week. Healthy, and definitely within the accepted 1-2 lb/week rule. The only macro that truly changes is the carbohydrate. My rule of thumb is, if I'm not inducing hypertrophy, I don't need carbs that day. Ultra-low carb. IIFYM & CBL guidelines. I've found combining these really gets me the results I want, while not having to burn myself out.
I plan my workouts every week, but this week I had to write in 3 rest days (due to the fact that I take one every Sunday, but all these graduations leave me no time in the day to sneak a workout in without having to sacrifice sleep). It may become 4 rest days, depending on how Thursday plays out, but that just means I'm going to have to go HARD on every day that I DO hit the weights. So lots of compound moves - squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, upper body work, plyometrics, bench press. Every day I do end up going will just have to be double duty and efficient. I will carb-load on those nights as well. I won't eat as many carbs as I did last few weeks ago, since I'm easing into a caloric deficit that I will be on for the next 12 weeks.
Doing it all this way, believe it or not, is keeping me sane. It's keeping everything in order, statistical, and is preventing me from hurting myself or stressing myself to the point where my efforts are sabotaged. Even though I've never done any of this before, I'd like to do it the smart way, not the hard way.
So far so good. Whatever my actual body composition is, I've never been this happy about my body. Ever. 90 days of PUSH have changed my body's shape, now let's see where another 90 (give or take) days of contest prep will take my physique.
I will make a weekly update based on the weeks out leading to the competition. So stay tuned for Week 12 and other posts I may sprinkle every now and again!
I think I've established that I hate the word diet just as much as I hate the word tone. For example, this has to be the most ear-scratching sentence in my book:
"I really like, need to go on a 1000-calorie diet because I'm like, soooo out of shape, but I only wanna do cardio and NOT lift weights cause I'm not trying to get bulky, I just wanna get toned."
...Need a tissue cause my ears just bled.
I digress. On to the important stuff.
Prepping For Real Prep
I need 12 weeks of fat-loss prep so my leaning down is gradual, and not a complete shock to the system. I am trying to avoid metabolic damage at all costs. I want to be healthy and lean, and look nice and full on the stage, not stringy and burned out and desperate for a cupcake.
I'm prepping for this 12 weeks of possible mental/emotional hell by eating ultra-low carb on days I do not work out. I am staggering my carb back-load nights and eating in congruence with my training intensity for that day (example: Leg day gets much more carbs post-workout).
 |
| Ultra-low carb? No problem! Eggs and chorizo it is! |
I'm telling you, IIFYM practitioners.. no matter what eating style they pick (Paleo, Low Carb, Keto, Clean) they get ripped. Your macros are specific to you and your goals. It just works. And the best thing about it is, it works for contest prep. I can do CBL or CN protocols within my own specific macronutrient guideline, to get the best results for me.
I also learned that my body loves cycling carbs on and off by the days. It may be because my body fat is now at around 18-19% (considered fit) instead of the old 30%, or January's 24%, but going ultra-low carb for a week straight just didn't work as well for me. It worked, it was just exponentially slower.
I will still have to do ultra-low carb on more days than back-load days closer to prep for quicker fat shedding. To get contest ready, I'd like to be at around 12-15% (stage-ready lean). I don't really care about the weight as long as I look really good, curvy, lean and tight.
90dayPUSH | My Results
 |
| Me beaming with happiness in a dress. Fitness definitely builds confidence! |
I went from 123.8 lbs to 118 lbs - but the body fat percentage went from 23.8% to 18-19% (it may even be less now). While I weigh only 5.8 lbs less. that's approximately a 7.0444-lb decrease of fat and a 1.424-lb increase in lean body mass.
And the best part is, my stomach no longer looks flabby like it once [always] did. Now, while there remains a lot of work to be done to that area, I can see obliques, and I can definitely feel the muscle rippling beneath. In natural sunlight, one can see the work trying to shine through, beneath my last few remaining layers.
Success? I think so!
Everyone's Graduating (Even My Body!)
It's 13 weeks out and everyone decided to graduate some kind of school, this week. Nevermind that it's the beginning of June.
Sunday, I cleaned.. all. day. And did laundry. And cleaned some more. Did I mention the dishes? They must have respawned in the sink about 3 times. I didn't get to go to bed until past 11.
Yesterday I had to wake up at 5:30 AM for work. One of my most loathed things is having to get up that early. I was not happy about it. Plus, my mother decided not to tell me about my brother's high school graduation ceremony (which was for last night) until yesterday morning! It was an all-day endeavor pretty much, so I ran straight there after work. Cortisol levels were definitely elevated for me, lemme tell you that. There was also no room for a workout. I didn't get to bed until past 11, again.
Today, my little guy graduates preschool! We both had to get up at 5:30 AM again, each day never becomes easier than the last. They will have a little ceremony at his daycare. I am less stressed about this one. Also, highly doubting I'll be able to fit a workout in today. I cannot keep going to sleep at past 11pm. Less than 7 hours of sleep is not good for someone undergoing contest prep.
Thursday a friend of mine is throwing a graduation party since she just graduated from university. My oh my it doesn't end!!!
This week, I am trying to stay on top of my water intake. It is horribly inconvenient, but necessary. I have to pee every 10 minutes, it seems.
I am also monitoring my caloric intake purely for the sake of fat loss. I am still eating enough protein and fat to fuel my muscles and workouts, but I am eating at a 20% caloric deficit - a gradual, not sudden or damaging, deficit, for an average of 0.8-1 lb fat loss per week. Healthy, and definitely within the accepted 1-2 lb/week rule. The only macro that truly changes is the carbohydrate. My rule of thumb is, if I'm not inducing hypertrophy, I don't need carbs that day. Ultra-low carb. IIFYM & CBL guidelines. I've found combining these really gets me the results I want, while not having to burn myself out.
I plan my workouts every week, but this week I had to write in 3 rest days (due to the fact that I take one every Sunday, but all these graduations leave me no time in the day to sneak a workout in without having to sacrifice sleep). It may become 4 rest days, depending on how Thursday plays out, but that just means I'm going to have to go HARD on every day that I DO hit the weights. So lots of compound moves - squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, upper body work, plyometrics, bench press. Every day I do end up going will just have to be double duty and efficient. I will carb-load on those nights as well. I won't eat as many carbs as I did last few weeks ago, since I'm easing into a caloric deficit that I will be on for the next 12 weeks.
Doing it all this way, believe it or not, is keeping me sane. It's keeping everything in order, statistical, and is preventing me from hurting myself or stressing myself to the point where my efforts are sabotaged. Even though I've never done any of this before, I'd like to do it the smart way, not the hard way.
So far so good. Whatever my actual body composition is, I've never been this happy about my body. Ever. 90 days of PUSH have changed my body's shape, now let's see where another 90 (give or take) days of contest prep will take my physique.
I will make a weekly update based on the weeks out leading to the competition. So stay tuned for Week 12 and other posts I may sprinkle every now and again!
Monday, May 20, 2013
15 Weeks Out | Anime Central 2013
My cutie (as Fix-It Felix of Wreck-It Ralph) got to meet Super Mario Brothers' Bowser!
I have a confession to make: I miss Anime Central!
Real Life: A break from Con?!
A fellow con-goer said it best. He pretty much insinuated that real life is just one long boring break in between conventions. Hahaha. It's too drab - compared to the weekend of fun, friends, and cosplay!
For those not in the know, Anime Central is a HUGE annual Midwest Anime/Japanese Culture convention hosted in Rosemont, IL. Think - anime films, TV series like Pokemon, Naruto, Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist (I'm just naming the popular ones) as well as video games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and other popular video games. Lots of artists gather at the Lobby and have their own stands to sell unique creations such as art, prints, handmade goods, bags, trinkets, etc. Think schoolgirls, cutesy cartoons, Domo, you name it! Steampunk, World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, etc. I could go on. Us comic book lovers went as well and made our appearances.
One of many impromptu Marvel photoshoots. Who knew posing would be so tiring?
It's not just Chicago people that go - hell, I've met people from New York who've come just to be at the con! It's the entire Midwest.
People are almost always very friendly! There is a kind of unity & comaraderie among the sea of nerds & enthusiasts that jam-packs the streets and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and all adjacent hotels.
The best thing (in my opinion) about ACen? You can be a little kid, and it's okay! Everyone else is on the same boat as you!
EXAMPLE: You could have a lifelong dream of wanting to meet Superman [just an example] and YOU WILL MEET SUPERMAN! And even better? If you have a lifelong dream of BECOMING Superman, you can BECOME Superman! AND OTHER PEOPLE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS SUPERMAN!
I know I've probably said it before, but my best friend and I have made it a sort of annual tradition to go. We book a hotel room for the whole weekend, gather roomies, and treat it like one big mini-vacation.
And to think that I'm more comic book/games/fantasy-focused, as opposed to anime-focused.. this makes me a MILLION times more excited for Wizard World (Chicago Comic-Con, which I've never been to yet) this August! AIEEE!!!
Feels Good To Be "The Bad Guy"-?!
I went as a female version of Loki (see Marvel's Thor & The Avengers, both comic book series and films). Now I've cosplayed before in the past, but never as involved as I was this weekend.
In the past, I've cosplayed but never really BUILT or MADE any part of it until this year. This was my first year really feeling the excitement of a home-made cosplay. My sister made the corset, while I made the helm, and my boyfriend & I collaborated on the scepter: he constructed, I designed and detailed.
I have to really say, I REALLY owned being Loki. Not only did I feel super proud of how the cosplay came out, but I felt AMAZING. I was so relieved and thankful - to myself - that I decided to start getting serious about working out & really honing down my personal nutrition. I started really dealing with weights last year, but wasn't really serious about anything else, and my diet was horrendous. I didn't feel too confident back then either.
Left: Blondie cosplay (Sucker Punch), 2012. Right: Loki cosplay (Marvel), 2013.
It may or may not be apparent in the comparison photos, but last year I was definitely 8-10 pounds heavier and not as healthy or strong. I liked my cosplay, however I didn't own it like I owned the Loki this year.
This year, this time around, a lot of people wanted pictures: and I mean, A LOT. While there was no official Marvel photoshoot, where ever I gathered with fellow Marvel/Avengers cosplayers, a group would gather for pictures, then it would grow like bacteria dividing. Everyone was super nice and excited to take pictures, and to be honest I felt pretty special!
I should have practiced posing though because I was NOT prepared, and I most likely looked very awkward for half of my shoots.
But here are some good ones that other people took that actually turned out amazing (in my opinion):
With my FFFL (Friend For F**king Life) as The Warden from Superjail
This Thor told me "I need a picture with my sister!"
Stuttgart Loki and Lady Loki meet!
If you guys want to see the rest of the ACen pictures my friends and I took, head on over to my Facebook - I made the album public for viewing and tagging. :-)
No Excuses Though
Amidst the cosplay, fun, friends, and lots of alcohol and bad food (ie. half of a Baker's Square banana cream pie right before bed at 2 AM) on the premises, I made it a priority to get my exercise in during the weekend. While I prepared for the whole week to be able to do this, I still made sure that I was keeping my priorities and goals for contest preparation in mind.
Friday morning? I did back and shoulders/arms:
The nerd girl in her natural (other) habitat
And Saturday morning? A fasted session of HIIT on the cross-trainer, with a 20-minute break in the upper-level pool of the Hilton, followed by a leg/glute session in the weight area!
First bathing suit picture I don't cringe over! That's gotta say something right?!
I gotta say this though - that pool, that morning spending 20-30 minutes allowing the sunlight to filter through that 10th floor skylight and onto me as I float mindlessly around - that was probably the highlight of my entire weekend. Peace, serenity, just... enjoying life. And not worrying about how ugly I must have looked. Not a bother was given.
Progress Is Progress
Even though there are plenty of days I don't feel like I'm making progress, and there are still moments where I doubt the significance of what I'm doing.. the fact that I have more bounce in my step, the fact that I'm even taking a picture of me in my new bathing suit and posting it on my very public blog, the fact that I walked all weekend with my head high and a gleaming smile on my face (except when in character, of course).. really speaks for itself.
I always used to feel down about myself. Always putting myself down because others did, and believing the negative things that were said about me. But this fitness journey isn't just about aesthetics or fitting into the prettiest things.
I'm not even at that competition body yet. I don't know how well I'll do, or how difficult it's going to be. I still don't have anywhere near the perfect proportions of a woman, nor do I think I ever will.
For me, just getting to enjoy life is what makes it all worth it. The true me can be liberated, and unhindered by bad self-esteem. Those worrisome things - while still lurking around - are no longer the forefront of my thoughts. They no longer take the wheel and dictate my emotions. I can laugh louder now. I can smile more. I can enjoy every day and look forward to new beginnings, and never have to look to others for validation or self-worth ever again.
All because I'm pushing myself everyday, meeting small goals day by day, working hard not really for an end but for the sake of working hard itself.
To be honest, while this is all new to me, I'm loving it, and that's why I'm going to keep going.
Sorry for the late post!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
16 Weeks Out | ACen Weekend
Sorry I've been MIA. Again.
Since 5/12 I've been 16 weeks out from the 2013 INBA. That's 4 months tops to get in tip-top stage competition amazing diva shape. No pressure at all, right?
This week is also Anime Central 2013 Week. Yes, it is finally upon us this year. What debauchery I'm to witness this time around is beyond me. I personally just like to enjoy myself, not do dumb shit. Last year, I unfortunately got food poisoning from some bad bar food so I was sick for the entire weekend.
Now, I'm gonna be prepared... so f**k getting sick, screw having a nasty stomach flu & pains. I'm WAY PREPPED.
I'm more prepped for prep than I am for the actual convention. That's how much fitness has taken over my life. I'm still not done with my cosplay - I need to think about whether a cape is a good idea for my costume or not. I have to add finishing touches to my horns, and I have to find a way to make a Glowstick of Destiny in less than 2 days. Again, no pressure at all. #nerdyproblems
But, in preparation for a weekend of food, drink, and merry, I've come up with a great plan that not only prevents sabotage of my fitness goals and contest prep goals, but also allows me to enjoy this weekend freely.
The Plan
The plan is quite simple, actually. The precise details of it are adaptable to prevent further stress, but some things are definitely concrete:
-Carb back-loading will definitely and unquestionably be taking place, for the 3 days in a row I'm going to be spending parading around as a bad guy with horns.
-I'm moving the majority of my exercises during this convention/mini-vacay so that carb back-loading indeed works out just as I intend it to. I can work out first thing in the morning, or in the afternoon. Thank goodness the hotel we're staying at has a fully-equipped gym. Do HIIT, get some hypertrophy in, lift heavy, and I'll be good.
-I will not count calories, and I will continue not to eat breakfast, but I will take care to consume enough protein for each day. Definitely coffee to fuel me throughout the day (although the excitement alone is enough).
-I will enjoy a few drinks each night and not worry about drinking too much. I don't like getting sick, anyway, but I won't worry about this in regards to my contest prep. (Per Kiefer, consuming alcohol at night for women, post-backload, actually helps them with fat loss, for some crazy, awesome reason.. so go me).
-I'm taking the majority of my ULC days during the week to deplete my glycogen reserves appropriately for the weekend. My lighter exercise days & cardio workouts, I'm going to complete during the week as well.
-Most importantly, I will have a good time and be stress-free. This unfortunately is a bulletpoint, because I am that one idiot that will try to overcomplicate a good time because, for some retarded reason, I subconsciously feel I'm not worthy of fun time.
NO. I NEED this weekend. Especially with the clusterf*ck that was last weekend... I need this.
There's Still Room For Life
And this is how I will attempt to prevent fat gain and muscle catabolism during contest prep, and ACen weekend, and just have this all work in my favor.
I seriously need the fun. Don't listen to me when I say I don't, I desperately need it. My head has been through all kinds of dryer and blender settings these past few weeks. If that didn't make sense, I'm sorry.
My best friend is taking me to see In Flames in concert this Thursday, as a pre-celebration. And we are going to be hosting a barbecue for post-convention weekend.. mostly because post-con weekend is so depressing and sad, since everybody realizes they have to return to the drudgery of real life. Instead, we're going to have a good time.
As always I will keep all of you updated along the way. I may not post during the weekend, but I will definitely take lots of pictures. :-)
Since 5/12 I've been 16 weeks out from the 2013 INBA. That's 4 months tops to get in tip-top stage competition amazing diva shape. No pressure at all, right?
This week is also Anime Central 2013 Week. Yes, it is finally upon us this year. What debauchery I'm to witness this time around is beyond me. I personally just like to enjoy myself, not do dumb shit. Last year, I unfortunately got food poisoning from some bad bar food so I was sick for the entire weekend.
Now, I'm gonna be prepared... so f**k getting sick, screw having a nasty stomach flu & pains. I'm WAY PREPPED.
I wrote up my prep this Sunday in my physical fitness journal.
I'm more prepped for prep than I am for the actual convention. That's how much fitness has taken over my life. I'm still not done with my cosplay - I need to think about whether a cape is a good idea for my costume or not. I have to add finishing touches to my horns, and I have to find a way to make a Glowstick of Destiny in less than 2 days. Again, no pressure at all. #nerdyproblems
But, in preparation for a weekend of food, drink, and merry, I've come up with a great plan that not only prevents sabotage of my fitness goals and contest prep goals, but also allows me to enjoy this weekend freely.
The Plan
The plan is quite simple, actually. The precise details of it are adaptable to prevent further stress, but some things are definitely concrete:
-Carb back-loading will definitely and unquestionably be taking place, for the 3 days in a row I'm going to be spending parading around as a bad guy with horns.
-I'm moving the majority of my exercises during this convention/mini-vacay so that carb back-loading indeed works out just as I intend it to. I can work out first thing in the morning, or in the afternoon. Thank goodness the hotel we're staying at has a fully-equipped gym. Do HIIT, get some hypertrophy in, lift heavy, and I'll be good.
-I will not count calories, and I will continue not to eat breakfast, but I will take care to consume enough protein for each day. Definitely coffee to fuel me throughout the day (although the excitement alone is enough).
-I will enjoy a few drinks each night and not worry about drinking too much. I don't like getting sick, anyway, but I won't worry about this in regards to my contest prep. (Per Kiefer, consuming alcohol at night for women, post-backload, actually helps them with fat loss, for some crazy, awesome reason.. so go me).
-I'm taking the majority of my ULC days during the week to deplete my glycogen reserves appropriately for the weekend. My lighter exercise days & cardio workouts, I'm going to complete during the week as well.
-Most importantly, I will have a good time and be stress-free. This unfortunately is a bulletpoint, because I am that one idiot that will try to overcomplicate a good time because, for some retarded reason, I subconsciously feel I'm not worthy of fun time.
NO. I NEED this weekend. Especially with the clusterf*ck that was last weekend... I need this.
There's Still Room For Life
And this is how I will attempt to prevent fat gain and muscle catabolism during contest prep, and ACen weekend, and just have this all work in my favor.
I seriously need the fun. Don't listen to me when I say I don't, I desperately need it. My head has been through all kinds of dryer and blender settings these past few weeks. If that didn't make sense, I'm sorry.
 |
| So freaking out of it, and desperately need to unwind finally. |
My best friend is taking me to see In Flames in concert this Thursday, as a pre-celebration. And we are going to be hosting a barbecue for post-convention weekend.. mostly because post-con weekend is so depressing and sad, since everybody realizes they have to return to the drudgery of real life. Instead, we're going to have a good time.
As always I will keep all of you updated along the way. I may not post during the weekend, but I will definitely take lots of pictures. :-)
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Just A Silly Rant
Bret Contreras, whom you all know by now is one of my favorite fitness people in the industry, highly recommends strength training of the lower body region for women for strength, aesthetics, weight loss, and overall well-being. Just Google him, and you'll see that a lot of the women he trains not only are in fantastic shape, but they're strong and confident because of that fact. Hell, look up Jim Laird too.. he makes a living getting women in the best shape of their lives, too.
We're women. Most of us females want to look good. Big, small, tall, short, black, white - whatever. I do not believe there is one universal criteria for beauty, for beauty literally comes in many forms.
And one of the most important contributors to everyone's individual beauty is not a pretty face or a perfect body - but a strong sense of self, and love.
Stop Being Afraid.. Just Do Something
This is why I strongly believe in strength training. But women are so misinformed about weights, and the effect lifting them can have on their bodies. You can either go one of - well, many ways - but I will use 2 extreme opposites as an example of how weight training can change a woman's body:
But, as per my goals, I am training my lower body for maximum growth, improved shape, and definition. I'm going for more of the latter-group photo physique. To each their own, right? This, though, by no means "easier".. or even "easy" - since my body, as well as many other women's bodies, was not genetically pre-packaged this way. Like I've mentioned before, most of my body accumulates fat in the upper body (except the frontal region...) and my hips aren't typically female-wide. If I let go - and I have, in the past - I REALLY look like I let go.
Neither one of these figures can be obtained by running hours and hours a day, eating only yogurt and crackers and low-fat foods, and complaining. That is a nutrition plan for surefire fat gain and metabolic disaster. They were acquired by eating lots of protein and good fats to help the body run efficiently. I don't know about the Reef girls, but I would be willing to bet that carb manipulation throughout the weeks mostly had a part in shaping these bodies.
YOU Are In Charge
One point I've been wanting to get across is that strength training will get you the results you're after, and that it takes serious hard work and patience (lots of it) to get to those results.
It will NOT immediately give you a bodybuilding woman's physique - because if it was that easy, do you really think people would be competing for all the NOT-hard-work that they did to get on the stage?
Inversely, getting a shapely bikini body that screams strength (see Reef Girls above) doesn't mean that those particular women didn't need to work just as hard as the bodybuilding lady to get that way.. if they didn't, I think a LOT more of us would have bikini bodies (and that statement speaks for itself, just look around). You can take a supermodel or "sexy person" that society would unanimously agree is sexy - but make her compete in a bikini fit/figure competition, and watch the judges not place her at all if she didn't do a single ounce of work.
Hard work is a reward in and of itself. You work hard to get what you really want, and in turn the practice of hard work gives you more than the thing you wanted - and that is the satisfaction of being a hard worker and being a strong, capable human being.
YOU are in charge of YOU - not your genes, not your appetite. I had to learn this the hard, hard way. Sure, we can blame genetics for so-and-so, but we can do something about it. You can blame this guy and that person and your mom/dad/roommate/whatever for giving you bad self esteem - but try doing something you're good at, and watch the validity of their opinions suddenly dissipate into obscurity. You can replace that 3-hour daily TV session with a walk in the park, or some yoga, or even the gym. You can stop eating and relying on processed garbage or low-fat garbage for food. Or, just eat cleaner, made-from-scratch garbage like I do, and hell - WORK OUT, so that "garbage" actually warrants a beneficial purpose in your body - giving you muscle - instead of giving you another reason (ie. 5 extra pounds of fat) to complain about your body.
If you didn't have confidence to begin with, you can be sure that doing these things, and doing them consistently, will give you something to be confident about. And a reason to keep going and not give up.
Trust Me, I Sucked Once
These very words are being spouted by someone who comes from a deep, dark place of absolutely no self-confidence. I hated myself, absolutely loathed my own skin, so I am speaking from a very personal place.. and now, I really don't want to be anybody BUT myself.
I think this whole post is just me ranting, and for that I apologize.
I'm nowhere near perfect, and I never will be. I still have to remind myself these things. I still have to give myself pep talks - and at times, talk myself out of saying or doing stupid things that will erode at my personal & emotional progress. But I'm trying and that's more valuable than just complaining.
Pick Up That Barbell & Lift It
But, in all honesty, I really wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't decide to get strong and kill it in the gym everyday in that weight room. Not only do I not feel like a disgusting blob anymore, but I feel more empowered than I ever have in my entire life.
For one, I no longer rely on clothing to create more eye-pleasing illusions on my body (ie. tucking that gut, or shrinking a certain area) - and at the same time, it has liberated me from making bad clothing choices based on HIDING my frame. I'm no longer as afraid of shopping as I once was. And even though it was nerve-wracking as hell, I went bikini shopping for the first time two days ago - and now I'm excited for the summer, instead of dreading that other people will be looking good in their bikinis, and I'll be sitting in the shade in my XXXL t-shirt, wallowing in self-pity.
I also no longer feed into people's silly garbage when it comes to their opinions of me. Just last week, someone (whom I shall not name here) told me that I looked really bad and too skinny from "dieting too much" and that I give people the impression that I'm sick and unhealthy. Um, what? Not only was that an ignorant comment, but, since it came from that certain person - the same person who always used to tell me how fat and/or ugly I was - and the fact that the person NOTICED that my body was changing - I just took it as, I'm doing something right. I'm changing. What I've been doing is actually effective. And if I really did look sickly and anorexic, like this person insinuated, I think my friends would have intervened by now - and come over to my house with a "recovery" support group, and lots of freaking cake and chocolate and chicken wings just to feed me. If they did, I'd be eating until I passed out.
I feel more confident as a mother too. I am making such healthy and good choices in life that I am proud of embodying for my son to see. I love the fact that I am raising him in such an environment, and I believe mothers really need to take care of themselves more. I don't think kids like it when they see their moms burned out, or depressed, or even hating themselves. Families are much happier with happy, healthy parents. This is something my ex doesn't understand to this day.
I'm still a bit jealous of other girls - and I think that will always be ingrained in me, no thanks to the aformentioned person who said I looked sicky - but I now, I feel as if I at least have some ammo of my own. If the other girls are fully-loaded guns with all the gadgets and accessories, then in comparison, I no longer feel like an empty, useless chamber. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's the best way I can describe it without saying that I can hold my own now. I'm no longer just on the bench, wishing I was confident like them. In a non-cocky manner, I believe in myself and that I have worth - even though there are days I don't believe this.
My journey is still early, and at its baby stages - but I am getting there. I am slowly climbing my way up.
And you can too.
We're women. Most of us females want to look good. Big, small, tall, short, black, white - whatever. I do not believe there is one universal criteria for beauty, for beauty literally comes in many forms.
And one of the most important contributors to everyone's individual beauty is not a pretty face or a perfect body - but a strong sense of self, and love.
Stop Being Afraid.. Just Do Something
This is why I strongly believe in strength training. But women are so misinformed about weights, and the effect lifting them can have on their bodies. You can either go one of - well, many ways - but I will use 2 extreme opposites as an example of how weight training can change a woman's body:
I highly respect all figure & bodybuilding athletes, as should you. Both types of physiques take a great amount of dedication and discipline to achieve.
But, as per my goals, I am training my lower body for maximum growth, improved shape, and definition. I'm going for more of the latter-group photo physique. To each their own, right? This, though, by no means "easier".. or even "easy" - since my body, as well as many other women's bodies, was not genetically pre-packaged this way. Like I've mentioned before, most of my body accumulates fat in the upper body (except the frontal region...) and my hips aren't typically female-wide. If I let go - and I have, in the past - I REALLY look like I let go.
Neither one of these figures can be obtained by running hours and hours a day, eating only yogurt and crackers and low-fat foods, and complaining. That is a nutrition plan for surefire fat gain and metabolic disaster. They were acquired by eating lots of protein and good fats to help the body run efficiently. I don't know about the Reef girls, but I would be willing to bet that carb manipulation throughout the weeks mostly had a part in shaping these bodies.
YOU Are In Charge
One point I've been wanting to get across is that strength training will get you the results you're after, and that it takes serious hard work and patience (lots of it) to get to those results.
It will NOT immediately give you a bodybuilding woman's physique - because if it was that easy, do you really think people would be competing for all the NOT-hard-work that they did to get on the stage?
Inversely, getting a shapely bikini body that screams strength (see Reef Girls above) doesn't mean that those particular women didn't need to work just as hard as the bodybuilding lady to get that way.. if they didn't, I think a LOT more of us would have bikini bodies (and that statement speaks for itself, just look around). You can take a supermodel or "sexy person" that society would unanimously agree is sexy - but make her compete in a bikini fit/figure competition, and watch the judges not place her at all if she didn't do a single ounce of work.
Hard work is a reward in and of itself. You work hard to get what you really want, and in turn the practice of hard work gives you more than the thing you wanted - and that is the satisfaction of being a hard worker and being a strong, capable human being.
YOU are in charge of YOU - not your genes, not your appetite. I had to learn this the hard, hard way. Sure, we can blame genetics for so-and-so, but we can do something about it. You can blame this guy and that person and your mom/dad/roommate/whatever for giving you bad self esteem - but try doing something you're good at, and watch the validity of their opinions suddenly dissipate into obscurity. You can replace that 3-hour daily TV session with a walk in the park, or some yoga, or even the gym. You can stop eating and relying on processed garbage or low-fat garbage for food. Or, just eat cleaner, made-from-scratch garbage like I do, and hell - WORK OUT, so that "garbage" actually warrants a beneficial purpose in your body - giving you muscle - instead of giving you another reason (ie. 5 extra pounds of fat) to complain about your body.
If you didn't have confidence to begin with, you can be sure that doing these things, and doing them consistently, will give you something to be confident about. And a reason to keep going and not give up.
Trust Me, I Sucked Once
These very words are being spouted by someone who comes from a deep, dark place of absolutely no self-confidence. I hated myself, absolutely loathed my own skin, so I am speaking from a very personal place.. and now, I really don't want to be anybody BUT myself.
I think this whole post is just me ranting, and for that I apologize.
I'm nowhere near perfect, and I never will be. I still have to remind myself these things. I still have to give myself pep talks - and at times, talk myself out of saying or doing stupid things that will erode at my personal & emotional progress. But I'm trying and that's more valuable than just complaining.
Pick Up That Barbell & Lift It
But, in all honesty, I really wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't decide to get strong and kill it in the gym everyday in that weight room. Not only do I not feel like a disgusting blob anymore, but I feel more empowered than I ever have in my entire life.
For one, I no longer rely on clothing to create more eye-pleasing illusions on my body (ie. tucking that gut, or shrinking a certain area) - and at the same time, it has liberated me from making bad clothing choices based on HIDING my frame. I'm no longer as afraid of shopping as I once was. And even though it was nerve-wracking as hell, I went bikini shopping for the first time two days ago - and now I'm excited for the summer, instead of dreading that other people will be looking good in their bikinis, and I'll be sitting in the shade in my XXXL t-shirt, wallowing in self-pity.
I also no longer feed into people's silly garbage when it comes to their opinions of me. Just last week, someone (whom I shall not name here) told me that I looked really bad and too skinny from "dieting too much" and that I give people the impression that I'm sick and unhealthy. Um, what? Not only was that an ignorant comment, but, since it came from that certain person - the same person who always used to tell me how fat and/or ugly I was - and the fact that the person NOTICED that my body was changing - I just took it as, I'm doing something right. I'm changing. What I've been doing is actually effective. And if I really did look sickly and anorexic, like this person insinuated, I think my friends would have intervened by now - and come over to my house with a "recovery" support group, and lots of freaking cake and chocolate and chicken wings just to feed me. If they did, I'd be eating until I passed out.
I feel more confident as a mother too. I am making such healthy and good choices in life that I am proud of embodying for my son to see. I love the fact that I am raising him in such an environment, and I believe mothers really need to take care of themselves more. I don't think kids like it when they see their moms burned out, or depressed, or even hating themselves. Families are much happier with happy, healthy parents. This is something my ex doesn't understand to this day.
I'm still a bit jealous of other girls - and I think that will always be ingrained in me, no thanks to the aformentioned person who said I looked sicky - but I now, I feel as if I at least have some ammo of my own. If the other girls are fully-loaded guns with all the gadgets and accessories, then in comparison, I no longer feel like an empty, useless chamber. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's the best way I can describe it without saying that I can hold my own now. I'm no longer just on the bench, wishing I was confident like them. In a non-cocky manner, I believe in myself and that I have worth - even though there are days I don't believe this.
My journey is still early, and at its baby stages - but I am getting there. I am slowly climbing my way up.
And you can too.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
daySEVEN | May 3dP
Day seven. Lucky number seven. It was quite a dream day! Such that it deserves a post. Where do I start?
CBL Status Update
I weighed myself after training to see where I was at. I know that I'm not relying on solely the scale to monitor progress, but I cringed, knowing that the night before, my boyfriend and I came home from the local Mexican restaurant carrying food
babies, and passing out shortly after. I also drank about a gallon of water during the first half of the day.
Stepped on the scale and.... 118.2? YES!!
That's AFTER back-loading mucho the night before and drinking lots of water.. AND I'm at that time of the month where women's weight is usually at their all-time high from bloat!
I've also been eating much more with my back-loads. Delicious, dirty carbs.. and some clean, nutritious carbs too!
I've been slowly - but surely- fine-tuning my daily intake so I find things that fit exactly my macros, to have the whole diet work in my favor. It's making me quite happy how everything just.. fits. More of my actual food to be detailed in a post dedicated solely to contest prep.
Training
It was leg day #1. I usually do 2 every week, but #1 is heavy duty - which means all out - heavy load, explosive lifts. No HIIT, pure hypertrophy, all strength. If I'm not still sore in a few days, I will have leg day #2. But I'm not sure that this week will have a #2..
Due to the little mishap I experienced on Thursday, I decided to be much more cautious of my every move. The following were my exercises for daySEVEN, all preceded by warmup sets (with the exception of hip thrusts):
Barbell squat - 45-2x10 (warmup); 65x10, 55x10*
Lying leg press - 2x10 warmup close & wide stances; 2-50x12 wide, 2-50x12 close
Smith machine lunges - 45x10 (warmup); 65x10, 75x10, 75x12
Barbell hip thrusts - 3-50x12 with 5-second isometric holds per last rep
Seated hip abduction - 50x10, 40x12
10-minute incline walk @ 6.0%, 2.8mph
*Notes: I can still feel my right glute muscle being pulled - but only when I do squats. This means I will only be squatting once a week, at half my max, until that sensation completely goes away.
Notice that my weights were reduced by about 20-30%, for all sets. This is due to the right glute problem. Fortunately, that problem did not occur for the other workouts.
I also began doing lunges again - and I haven't mentioned it before, but boy do I hate lunges. Walking, static, reverse.. I hate them all. I always feel out of balance. Which is exactly why I did them. The final set, I was only going to do 10 reps, but mentally I pushed myself to do 2 extra reps. "Jen, you need that growth," I told myself. Not sure if it was in my head, or if I really did say it - since the guy next to me was giving me a strange look. He needed to work anyway, he was just sitting there like a douche hogging a station - because that's exactly what he was doing.
Glutes get worked on both days as well, and glutes also get worked on deadlift days, for a total of 3 glute resistance days - in addition to the lower body plyo/Tabata circuits I sprinkle on non-lower-body-resistance days of the week. Hence the hip thrusts and abductions. It's the biggest muscle in the body, and when it gets work, calories are definitely burned.
Amazing Day!
It was overall a great day. I had a wonderful evening with my precious son. He got to play with his friends, and he even brought some over to play. He picked up all of the toys they used afterward, AND ate all of his dinner with me - including his green beans. He got an eclair and a story as a reward! It was a really good Mom and Kaeden day :)
As for post-workout, I've discovered the best way to have my post-workout protein is in fluff form. See proteinpow.com for a plethora of delicious protein powder recipes! My post-workout CBL shake is 24grams of vanilla whey, 1 frozen sliced banana, and 1/4 cup of milk of my choosing, 5g creatine powder - and that's it. Blend it, whisk it up until it becomes fluffy - and it's super, duper tasty. I'm not even kidding. I get really sad when I finish it all. Great for protein content, and that insulin spike much needed for CBL to work. It also fits my macros perfectly.
I had medium grain calrose white rice, and tilapia & green beans sauteed in coconut oil, for dinner. It was a pretty clean back-load, which made me happy. Not to mention coconut oil makes everything taste ten times more delicious. Good thing for my clean dinner, because I had room to stuff 5 apricot kolacky's, 3, some Cadbury chocolate caramel squares, and my half-cup of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream pre-bed. My body temperature was up the roof by the end of the night - and I gloriously went into a carb-induced coma shortly after.
All In All..
Is it really a coincidence that carb back-loading is making me lose weight, feel happy about my food choices (and life in general), and have me improve my physique all at the same time?
The inner skeptic in me keeps trying to say so, but I gotta say, I really love carb back-loading. And I love working out regularly. I love making healthier and wiser choices in general. I'm enjoying life and I really don't need a weekend party or a night of clubbing to do that for me.
I feel so perky lately, and greet each day with enthusiasm. Maybe I could do this for the rest of my life. Have my Ben & Jerry's and pastrys, and bacon, and still get lean & strong and be able to prep for competition? I think I just will.
All in all, daySEVEN was a success.
CBL Status Update
I weighed myself after training to see where I was at. I know that I'm not relying on solely the scale to monitor progress, but I cringed, knowing that the night before, my boyfriend and I came home from the local Mexican restaurant carrying food
babies, and passing out shortly after. I also drank about a gallon of water during the first half of the day.
Stepped on the scale and.... 118.2? YES!!
That's AFTER back-loading mucho the night before and drinking lots of water.. AND I'm at that time of the month where women's weight is usually at their all-time high from bloat!
I've also been eating much more with my back-loads. Delicious, dirty carbs.. and some clean, nutritious carbs too!
I've been slowly - but surely- fine-tuning my daily intake so I find things that fit exactly my macros, to have the whole diet work in my favor. It's making me quite happy how everything just.. fits. More of my actual food to be detailed in a post dedicated solely to contest prep.
Training
It was leg day #1. I usually do 2 every week, but #1 is heavy duty - which means all out - heavy load, explosive lifts. No HIIT, pure hypertrophy, all strength. If I'm not still sore in a few days, I will have leg day #2. But I'm not sure that this week will have a #2..
Due to the little mishap I experienced on Thursday, I decided to be much more cautious of my every move. The following were my exercises for daySEVEN, all preceded by warmup sets (with the exception of hip thrusts):
Barbell squat - 45-2x10 (warmup); 65x10, 55x10*
Lying leg press - 2x10 warmup close & wide stances; 2-50x12 wide, 2-50x12 close
Smith machine lunges - 45x10 (warmup); 65x10, 75x10, 75x12
Barbell hip thrusts - 3-50x12 with 5-second isometric holds per last rep
Seated hip abduction - 50x10, 40x12
10-minute incline walk @ 6.0%, 2.8mph
*Notes: I can still feel my right glute muscle being pulled - but only when I do squats. This means I will only be squatting once a week, at half my max, until that sensation completely goes away.
Notice that my weights were reduced by about 20-30%, for all sets. This is due to the right glute problem. Fortunately, that problem did not occur for the other workouts.
I also began doing lunges again - and I haven't mentioned it before, but boy do I hate lunges. Walking, static, reverse.. I hate them all. I always feel out of balance. Which is exactly why I did them. The final set, I was only going to do 10 reps, but mentally I pushed myself to do 2 extra reps. "Jen, you need that growth," I told myself. Not sure if it was in my head, or if I really did say it - since the guy next to me was giving me a strange look. He needed to work anyway, he was just sitting there like a douche hogging a station - because that's exactly what he was doing.
Glutes get worked on both days as well, and glutes also get worked on deadlift days, for a total of 3 glute resistance days - in addition to the lower body plyo/Tabata circuits I sprinkle on non-lower-body-resistance days of the week. Hence the hip thrusts and abductions. It's the biggest muscle in the body, and when it gets work, calories are definitely burned.
Amazing Day!
It was overall a great day. I had a wonderful evening with my precious son. He got to play with his friends, and he even brought some over to play. He picked up all of the toys they used afterward, AND ate all of his dinner with me - including his green beans. He got an eclair and a story as a reward! It was a really good Mom and Kaeden day :)
As for post-workout, I've discovered the best way to have my post-workout protein is in fluff form. See proteinpow.com for a plethora of delicious protein powder recipes! My post-workout CBL shake is 24grams of vanilla whey, 1 frozen sliced banana, and 1/4 cup of milk of my choosing, 5g creatine powder - and that's it. Blend it, whisk it up until it becomes fluffy - and it's super, duper tasty. I'm not even kidding. I get really sad when I finish it all. Great for protein content, and that insulin spike much needed for CBL to work. It also fits my macros perfectly.
I had medium grain calrose white rice, and tilapia & green beans sauteed in coconut oil, for dinner. It was a pretty clean back-load, which made me happy. Not to mention coconut oil makes everything taste ten times more delicious. Good thing for my clean dinner, because I had room to stuff 5 apricot kolacky's, 3, some Cadbury chocolate caramel squares, and my half-cup of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream pre-bed. My body temperature was up the roof by the end of the night - and I gloriously went into a carb-induced coma shortly after.
All In All..
Is it really a coincidence that carb back-loading is making me lose weight, feel happy about my food choices (and life in general), and have me improve my physique all at the same time?
The inner skeptic in me keeps trying to say so, but I gotta say, I really love carb back-loading. And I love working out regularly. I love making healthier and wiser choices in general. I'm enjoying life and I really don't need a weekend party or a night of clubbing to do that for me.
I feel so perky lately, and greet each day with enthusiasm. Maybe I could do this for the rest of my life. Have my Ben & Jerry's and pastrys, and bacon, and still get lean & strong and be able to prep for competition? I think I just will.
All in all, daySEVEN was a success.
Monday, May 6, 2013
daySIX | May 3dp - Progress Pictures
**Warning Ahead: Progress pictures. May not be SFW.**
I haven't had carbs in about 3 days and I gotta say, I'm feeling really loopy. I wonder, for those who are doing similar things as I am, if they get carb-depletion-induced dreams/nightmares? Because my dream last night was super messed-up. Zombie apocalypses and exes and seedy teachers and so much debauchery on top of the flesh consumption.. Eek!
For this post, I will be presenting some photographic evidence to document my fitness journey. Be warned.
This blog wouldn't really be as informative as it could be, without progress pictures to back up every statement I make on this blog. However, I am also worried about posting them, lest I offend someone. I'm still going to post some anyway. I need to document these changes as they take place. They are the best way, so far, to document progress - otherwise, I would have still believed my body hasn't changed a bit from last year. That's how crazy I am.
The following set of photographs is to show progress from the front view, 4 months apart:
This first set is from January - when I began heavy lifting again, and used clean eating as my nutritional protocol:
I haven't had carbs in about 3 days and I gotta say, I'm feeling really loopy. I wonder, for those who are doing similar things as I am, if they get carb-depletion-induced dreams/nightmares? Because my dream last night was super messed-up. Zombie apocalypses and exes and seedy teachers and so much debauchery on top of the flesh consumption.. Eek!
For this post, I will be presenting some photographic evidence to document my fitness journey. Be warned.
This blog wouldn't really be as informative as it could be, without progress pictures to back up every statement I make on this blog. However, I am also worried about posting them, lest I offend someone. I'm still going to post some anyway. I need to document these changes as they take place. They are the best way, so far, to document progress - otherwise, I would have still believed my body hasn't changed a bit from last year. That's how crazy I am.
The following set of photographs is to show progress from the front view, 4 months apart:
This first set is from January - when I began heavy lifting again, and used clean eating as my nutritional protocol:
This second set (below) is what my physique looked like on dayFOUR of the May 30dayPUSH - so this past Saturday:
I am biased and am pretty sure I don't see my body very objectively - but the changes fluctuate the most on my midsection. The reason you can see obliques in the picture from Saturday is because Saturdays are when I seem to look the leanest and the best (I blame it on being able to sleep in Friday night). Thank God the competition is on a Saturday. But the rest of the week, I could easily look like the January picture. I still have a lot of lower abdominal skin and fat flab from the C-section performed almost 5 years ago.
As for everywhere else, my back has shown significant improvement since I started becoming dedicated to fitness and nutrition. It carried many, many rolls - I'm not even sure myself how I hid them under clothes, but I did. I had no real "shape" - and now I definitely have a waist:
<I will insert the image once I log in to my account from home>
The changes may be slow, and I may get frustrated often that fat loss for me is next-to-impossible, but these pictures are screaming otherwise. At least, I'm supposed to say they are. Everyone is telling me I'm progressing. The numbers, the scale, the measurements, my moods - there is progress. I'm just not content, just yet.
Here's a final comparison, with the most convenient pictures I can find as of now. I shall post some better ones as I find them.
January-February progress, lateral views.
123.8 lbs, 23.7% Body Fat.
Four months later, these are my current results.
~119-121 lb, 19% Body Fat.
(Numbers were as of March, will have to get re-measured again).
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