Day 4 and Day 11 of Nutritional Hijack

Posted: 30th August 2010 by T in On the Nutritional Side
Comments Off

8/23/10
Day 4 of Diet Hijack!

Starting Weight 155

Today’s going on the 4th day since I hijacked my diet.  I woke up starving after an intense day of HIIT sessions and higher calories.  I spent most of yesterday second guessing myself.  Pleading in my head for this to work – I need this to work.

I stopped to think about what was so important about this working for me.  The reasons are interesting to me.  I found that by stepping out on a ledge (that’s how it feels to me) and having this work would be a great boost to my confidence in my own judgments.  I would have a leg to stand on when it came down to officially letting my previous nutrition coach go.  But what if it doesn’t?  *enter panic!*

To take charge of my own diet at 3 weeks out has been so hard for me to do.  I keep thinking, maybe he’s right and THIS would have been the week he pulled out the magic numbers.  Common sense takes a minute to kick in, “10 months later, and suddenly the magic plan is going to be revealed?”  I’ve maintained at 154 for over 8 weeks!  Yet I want to run back to the safety of someone else; someone other than myself.  What am I so afraid of?  Even if I fail, I have to walk away with something, right?  I have to.  That’s just the name of the game.  It may not be weight loss, but maybe it comes in the form of self-respect.  That would be worth it.

Current Weight 154.2 (dropping by about 0.2 lbs daily)

_____________________________________________________

8/30/10
Day 11 of Diet Hijack!

Today I’m definitely feeling like I made the right move in upping my calories.  Although yesterday and today I feel underfed.  I had felt over trained by Thursday of last week.  I backed off the HIIT sessions because my legs were about to fall off.  Instead I did a steady state elliptical session last night.  After a day of steady clean carbs I feel a little more energized, still hungry, but more alert.  That’s pretty significant considering today was a killer leg day.  Tonight I think I’ll give the intervals another go, but not in way of sprints.

A few of the girls on the board have read or are in the process of reading Geneen’s latest creation, Women, Food and God.  There has been a thread started and some things have come to light for me in the weight loss dept. concerning listening more to my instincts rather than following a plan 100%.  The overall plan is still to lose fat for my competition.  But, maybe my stalls have been caused by an inability to have some room to adjust in these plans I create or follow – rigidly.  Where the majority of the time I could be under eating, on other days I might also be overeating.  The body’s plans aren’t linear to my own plans.  I’ve got to listen up.

Day 11, also 12 days out from competition, has me sitting at 150.6 (low of 150.2 yesterday).  I’m so close to that 100lb mark and close to breaking yet another decade!  Right on into the 140s!  Here’s to maximizing my progress by checking in with what my body is telling me.

Training In My FiveFingers Vibrams

Posted: 30th August 2010 by T in Along the Way..., Getting Physical
Comments Off

I finally jumped on the FiveFingers Vibram band wagon.  I love them so far!  I have such a large foot I was happy to get the “girly” versions.

I used them to run intervals in and I felt much faster.  I was surprised by how running on and over hot asphalt and rocks didn’t affect me at all.  The rocks were almost less noticeable than my tennis shoes.

But the reason I actually bought these was to try them out in the gym.  A man at our gym swears by them.  He’s an ex-power lifter.  He retired because of bad knees.  He claims he’s been able to start squatting again AND add weight – so he’s progressing.  He said his knees haven’t bothered him once.  His wife also swears by them.  She has damaged knees from running many marathons and clocking lots of training miles.  She said her knees don’t hurt nearly as bad when she wears her Vibrams.  She also says she wears them everywhere; they help her that much.  I’ve noticed this in public more and more.  I’ve also seen them showing up in the gym more often.  I thought I might see what I’m missing out on.

Today was the first day I wore them to the gym.  I had a great leg day planned with plenty of squats to test them out.  Very interesting.  Time will tell how much my mind was interfering with this experiment.  But overall, I had stronger heavier squats.

10 sets of the following reps and sets:

Set 1 – 20 reps @ 65lbs (feet wobbled and calves adjusted accordingly)
Set 2 – 20 reps @ 65lbs (feet were working, mind muscle connection had been made)
Set 3 – 15 reps @ 95lbs (noticed calves working more)
Set 4 – 10 reps @ 115lb (felt nice and strong)
Set 5 – 10 reps @ 125lb (felt solid… strong)
Set 6 – 10 reps @ 135lb (again, solid and strong.  I also noticed right adductor working more to stabilize; my weaker side)
Set 7 – 5 reps @ 155lb (again with the adductor)
Set 8 – 2 reps @ 175lb (and again, also felt glutes really activated)
Set 9 – 2 reps @ 185lb (same as above)
Set 10 – 1 reps @ 205lb (total failure but it felt pretty solid.  The adductor on the right was working hard.)

Then off to lunges.  Only 2 sets of 12 reps each leg with increasing weight.  I did this same workout 2 weeks ago and used the same weight and I felt stronger today than then… AFTER the squats.  The thing to note here, is the overall load on the squats.  This was the most I’ve done in quite some time.  I did notice my stabilizers working twice as hard – starting at my feet and working all the way into my abs.  My feet began cramping up on me a bit – mainly the left foot (my stronger leg).  Hmmmm….

We’ll see what the next workout holds for me.  But this one was definitely stronger and utilizing different muscles in a way I’m not used to.  It has my interest and curiosity peaked.

2 Weeks Out! Moving Quickly Now!

Posted: 28th August 2010 by T in Along the Way...
Comments Off

I can’t believe I’m already to this point!  To make things even better, I’ve hit an all new low on exactly 2 weeks out!  I’m weighing in at an all new low of 151 lbs (96lbs lost) a week after taking charge of my diet and cardio.  I’m also incorporating a little more instinctual listening – checking in with what my body is telling me.

It occurred to me yesterday I had been ignoring my body’s cues for needing rest, or needing some adjustments, regardless of what the plan says (within reason of course).  After a discussion on our fitness board about listening to our body’s cues to real hunger vs emotional hunger it really had me seeing things more clearly – not over thinking, just more aware.

I know training for this event will leave me tired, sore and hungry.  But I think even if I were to listen to my body I would know what should be pushed through and what should be acted on.  I’ve just been pushing through this week regardless.  I’m listening to my body right now and it says 2-a-day HIIT sessions are way too much.  Some adjustments may be needed from time to time.  I mean, I hit a new low listening.

On the confidence front.  I must possess this!  I have to take it for myself.  I confided in my husband that it’s hard for me to just feel beautiful and walk with that confidence of what I’ve accomplished, looking the judges in the eyes and smiling with the radiance that I feel inside.  If I walk and pose in front of my bathroom mirror, I shine.  I need to be the girl in the mirror.  I deserve that girl in the mirror.  What am I afraid of?

I know the comparing myself to the other competitors does me no good, RC has warned me against it time after time, but this week has been hard to stop.  Every time I stop I veer off in that direction again.  I’m constantly pulling myself back to front and center.  “You are an amazing and strong competitor, probably none of those girls have half the strength and grace you have for all you’ve done and as far as you’ve grown.  Time for you to believe hard, there’s no room or time left for doubt.”  Hanging on to this very closely.  Thanks to my bestie, Cathy.

I have posing practice this afternoon.  I’m excited to practice owning how beautiful I feel and proud of myself I am – while I’m looking my judges in the eye.

As the final weeks approach, and fly by, I’ve got even more on my mind.  My suit has been finished and mailed.  It’s SO beautiful.  I’m a little worried about the fit, although I know she can fix this if need be.  I see it on the manikin and notice it fits the manikin more than my suit from last year.  Is this possible?  Is it possible that I’ve changed enough to notice this, or is it measured wrong?  We’ll soon find out.  I should have this beauty the beginning of this coming week.

I’ve been working on my color and planning out how I’ll go about my spray tan schedule.  This year I’m going to play with washing it off before the show.  It streaked on me when my oil was applied and I’ve thought I’ll play with some make-up to cover the stretch marks.  I feel like having fun and experimenting with this.

Peaking begins Wednesday, 10 days out.  I’ll get my training schedule from Sean, and Joe will send me the peaking nutritional formula.  I will assess it when I get it.  I’m confused on what to do for peaking considering I still have a lot of body fat to lose.  He says we will have to be conservative with the filling of the muscles because of the higher body fat %.  I’m curious to take a look at the plan.  In my mind, I’ve switched over to working with Joe more than a “do as your told” approach.  I feel much better about this.

Wednesday I also have my hair appt.  I still have to get my nails done and figure out my make-up.  What else?  Hmmm…. Think that’s it!

Bye, Kori! Hi, More Practice!

Posted: 26th August 2010 by T in Posing
Comments Off

I had my last session with Kori this afternoon.  She’s happy with my progress.  She says I improve every time she sees me and I feel the same.  I’m much more confident today than I was 3 weeks ago.  I’ve got my notes and pictures to view and Mark and Dale will be helping.  I think I’ll be fine.

Today we worked on walking, my stage entrance with poses, flipping of the hair and my curtsey!  We had a good laugh because she confirmed what I had felt; my previous curtsey looked awkward and manish.  Pretty funny when I told her that a male bodybuilder taught me how to curtsey.

Given the circumstances and time limits, posing is going very well.  Of course I still have a few things to work on.  I’m leaning back when I walk, so I have to remember to stand tall, but not back.  I’ve got to perfect my turns and getting my back big.  I did a lot better with keeping my arms at the right distance from my body.  I also got a thumbs up on my side pose!  YAY!  I felt good about it as well.  I’m feeling pretty good, especially considering I’ve only just started real practice only 3 weeks ago.   Not to mention, all my old habits and bad lessons had to be undone.  That’s been the biggest challenge.

She suggested I video tape posing practice next time.  That should help me more.  If I feel like I need to work on something with her I’m going to get back with her. I think I’ll be good.  I feel we’ve covered everything, now it’s just a matter of practice makes perfect.  Wow, I just noticed leaving these people I rely on is getting easier and easier. *wink*

More posing Saturday.  Hopefully I’ll get video.

*sigh of relief*

Posted: 25th August 2010 by T in On the Nutritional Side, Posing
Comments Off

It’s taken me a few days to mentally adjust to taking charge of my own diet.  It’s scary, but I feel freed.  It feels GREAT!  The fact the scale has gone from 154.8 to 153 in 4 days is very comforting.  But I really would like to know that even if the scale didn’t budge I would be proud of my gutsy move.  On top of the scale movement to confirm I’m on the right track, I have the GI track functioning normally again. *smile*  Water retention is subsiding as well.  I’m feeling pretty level headed just knowing I made the right decision.

I also decided to take more pics today.  Mostly so I’d have a beginning testimonial picture for myself and my own coaching.  The posing changes have me feeling very positive about the progress I’ve made – from 2 weeks ago all the way up to last year.

8/12/10 vs 8/25/10 Side Pose

I’m really liking the changes here.  Small changes can make HUGE differences.

And the model pose from last year to this year, I’m super excited about.

Model Pose 2009 vs 2010

I am super excited!  2.5 weeks out!!

1st HIIT Session Under New Coaching

Posted: 22nd August 2010 by T in Getting Physical
Comments Off

I sure haven’t forgot how hard high intensity intervals are.  But if I had, this workout would have had me reminded quickly.

Here’s my first session (one more tonight) of HIIT on the new plan (my plan):

Treadmill HIIT 8/22/10

5 min. warm up (light jog)
1 min. 6 mph
1 min. 3.5 mph (to 125 bpm)
1 min. 7 mph
1 min. 20 sec. 3.5 mph (to 125 bpm)
1 min. 8 mph
1 min. 40 sec. 3.5 mph (to 125 bpm)
1 min. 9 mph
2 min 3.5 mph (to 125 bpm)
1 min. 10 mph
2 min 3 mph (to 125 bpm)
1 min. 10 mph
1 min. 3 mph (to 135 bpm)
5 min cool down at 125 bpm

Tonight I plan on using the elliptical for a 30/120 session

Hired New Nutritional Coach

Posted: 21st August 2010 by T in Along the Way..., On the Nutritional Side
Comments Off

I’ve hired a new nutritional coach for my last 3 weeks.  This time it’s a female.  And although I’m having a hard time putting trust in her, I’ve compared the choices.  1.)  Stick with what I’ve been doing  (I can hear Einstein already).  2.) Take a risk with a new plan.  Either way I see both are a risk.  1.)  I’ll just stay pretty much where I am.  I might lose a little more, but nothing significant.  2.)  I’ll pretty much stay where I am, OR I’ll get this show on the road!  It’s time to slow and quiet, to only listen to the voice that is true to myself.  It says, “option 2 sounds more appealing and promising.”

I’ve had a retired natural bodybuilder that has offered some input concerning the diet and why he would have me at hire cals, macros, etc.  He makes tons of sense, especially when I compare his notes with my own personal notes and what’s worked for me in the past.  He is super expensive though.  I told my husband maybe I can use my testimonial to help convince him to lower his pricing.  He’s getting ready to launch his online business and I could be a real asset to him. ;)   Then my husband says, “How about you use your own pictures as testimonial for YOU?”

So I did it.  I’ve hired myself!

As I move forward I feel more like I’m jumping off a cliff.  I told my husband at 3 weeks out, this is scary.  He says, “Just like all change, it’s scary.  You just have to do it.”  He’s so right.  I need to not be afraid of making a mistake.  That’s what a lot of my journey has been about, crushing that fear of being less than perfect.  And only then have I realized I grow.  Regardless of how this turns out, I’ll learn hugely, in more ways than one, by doing this for and by myself.

Research has commenced and is already over!  *pushes the easy button*  Analyzing (running a generated report) was very to the point, quick, and I feel confident with it – not a ton of thinking.  I know a lot of the variables that helped in my fat loss success in the past came from things I remember remembering to remember, “These things really work for me.” J  Yet somehow I forgot?  Nah, just didn’t trust.

Here it goes:

I went back in my Fitday logs looking for a stretch of time I was losing.  I found a time frame that had consistent losses, about 2lbs a week.  Unlike anything I’ve experienced before.  There’s a nifty report option in my program that helped me finally see this in black and white, left no room for my own assumptions or my crazy brain to start interfering.

The time period was from May 11th to July 9th.  In that time period I was able to lose 13lbs.  There were 2 weeks in the middle of this time (5/29 – 6/13) that I gained 4 lbs but my diary shows I was sick during this time and hormones were on the loose.  I was still having a cheat meal once a week, but all my carbs came from clean sources other meals.  My daily calorie burn was just above 2500 calories.  My calories averaged 1450-1500 – protein 155g (620), carbs 100g (400cal), fat 55g (495cal).   These numbers exclude cheat meal days and days with missing entries.

The plan is to mirror this time period (minus being sick!).  I’ve looked at the foods, the time eaten, etc.  Nothing too drastic or that much different than what I eat now – just MORE food and different cardio.  The only thing I’m going to change is the cheat meal.  No cheat meal.  I might add a higher carb day, but for now, no higher day, no cheat meal – just consistency.

I start the diet today and cardio plan tomorrow.  (pleeeeease let this work!)

Starting weight 154.8

Chill, Nervous, Tired, Excited!

Posted: 19th August 2010 by T in Along the Way...
Comments Off

I feel like I’m running out of energy.  Exactly 24 days to show day.  Eeeeeek!  Carbs have been at 50grams for 5 days now (I get 100 carbs today! PARTY!).  2-a-days started this week also.  But what’s killing me more than any of that is my husband isn’t sleeping!  He tosses, snores, smacks his lips, etc. every (no joke) 30 seconds to 1 minute until 2 am!  Then my alarm goes off at 5:45am.  Not freakin’ cool!  And it’s REALLY starting to wear on me.  I wake up exhausted and pissed off!  I know I can’t be mad at him, it’s not intentional.  He’s pretty stressed out and I’m sure that’s part of what’s going on.  But I have to find a remedy so I can rest… or surely I’ll crash and burn.

I’m also having really consistent cramps in my calves and feet since the 5k.  I assume I lost too much water, which is why I hit the 151 and soon after my weight climbed back up to 153.  I’m going to email Joe about that.  I’ve been taking all my minerals and vitamins.

My status today on FB was “I feel chill and nervous all at the same time”.  I feel chilll because I can’t do anything, other than what I’m doing.  I’m in acceptance mode.  I’m not happy with my progress in the time that I was allowed to come in for this show, but I can’t change the past now.  I have 3 weeks to come in for this show and I’m doing everything I can at the moment – it is what it is…. and that’s that.  I feel nervous because time is moving so quickly.  Posing has me feeling less than confident this year, because once again, I’m starting out too late.  Even though my intentions were set at 10 weeks out, real posing has only just begun.  We’re working on walking today – LORD help me!

So back to the weight… 153 this morning.  But I swear I see changes in my abdomen.  Just for the record… the scale sucks!  But what’s messed up is my measurements aren’t showing it either.  I’m going to take pics this weekend and send them off to Joe again.  Will update with what he sees.

And my best news so far is… we’ve made enough money this summer to take a vacation!  I booked our flight, our car, and our hotel!  The only thing I didn’t take into cosideration was I’ll look like a lepar (tan will be wearing off) and really… I don’t even care!  NICE!  I haven’t had a real vacation in FOREVER!!!!!  This is my treat for all my hard work, my husbands hard work and support, and my kids who have supported me through all this as well.  Not to mention my 12yr old has been my photo journalist.  We’re gettin’ the heck out of Dodge!  WOOHOOOO!

Okay… back to competition prep brain.  FOCUSED… Ohhhhmmmmm…. :)

Living in the Now… 4 weeks from Now

Posted: 18th August 2010 by T in Along the Way..., Sifting Through the Fat
Comments Off

“Successful people form the habit of doing what failures don’t like to do. They like the results they get by doing what they don’t necessarily enjoy.” ~Earl Nightingale

Funny this is the daily motivator today.  Earlier this morning, and for the last few days, I’ve been doing some on and off thinking about after the show and my ability to keep this weight off, and possibly even train for another show.  What I need to do that I don’t want to do is what I know I just have to do.

I’m at a war with needing some down time and pushing forward.  I’m afraid that down time will actually mean party time and that of course will ultimately lead to sliding backwards – or jumping off a cliff.  The fact I really don’t want this to happen isn’t enough to ease my mind and trust myself and decisions.  I suppose I’m fighting with finding the balance.

I’ve always had accountability or goals to keep me on the straight and narrow.  If I take “off” what’s to keep me focused?  I think it will be time to really practice this inability to trust my own self and what I’m truly feeling, wanting or needing.  I think it will be a time to focus on what Geneen Roth teaches in her book Women Food and God and also the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, and I’m sure countless others, including God!  I think a new chapter in my journey will be opened for exploration.

In the now is a very popular topic that keeps getting pushed back into focus for me.  In the now, I’m not done training for this show.  Therefore how can I spend any time worrying about what 3 or 4 weeks from now I’ll be doing, feeling, thinking, acting on, etc.?

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” ~Corrie Ten Boom

Again, living in the now erases worry of tomorrow.  And this… is all I can keep coming back to.

An even better posing experience!

Posted: 17th August 2010 by T in Along the Way..., Getting Physical, Posing
Comments Off

Thanks to finally tuning into my instincts I swapped posing coaches – Darrell for Kori.  Kori rocks!  I know I said that about Darrell, but I have a lot to learn in way of competing and posing, and also in listening to my inner voice, or my gut.  Whatever you want to call it, I spend way too much time silencing that feeling something might not be right.  In this case I needed a hammer to the head.

I continued posing with Darrell for 3 more sessions, a total of 4 weeks.  I missed one session due to traveling for the eDiet’s commercial.  (More about this coming soon.)  The first session I felt he worked more with me, and I really thought more would come of it.  I was very disappointed to find that the attention I was receiving got progressively worse instead of better.  It’s bad when your 12 year old says, “Mom, he wasn’t even watching you!”   And I knew he wasn’t.  Some part of me, I suppose the part of me that likes to avoid confrontation at ALL cost, made excuses for him.  “Nah, he must be videoing my posing on his phone.  He surely isn’t texting.”  “Nah, he must be looking away every time I glance at him.”  “Nah, he didn’t really just say ‘Let’s get this over with’.  I must have heard him wrong.”  Yeah, time to face the obvious.  Way to in my face to make excuses for anymore.  And let’s face it… I’m the one that will suffer on stage because of it.  Not him.

I did some skeptical research on Kori Propst, a WNBF Figure Pro!  That should really speak for it’s self.  Kori Propst trains via internet.  I had no idea that online posing could be as effective as one-on-one.  Although she was able to give me 10x the attention Darrell was giving me, which already makes the webcam program effective.  Here are some of the poses I’m to practice… alone.  That’s the hard part!

Mark and Dale are going to help me in between sessions with her.  But all the help will come from Kori’s notes.  I’m very nervous, because I’m way behind on my posing conditioning.  Not cool.  And… it turns out I have some bad habits to correct.  GO figure!  (I think I need a category – “go figure”)

Less than 4 weeks remain!

Older Entries