Week 8....

Ok, so as amped up as I was last week after learning that the camps I had put together didn't work out, I had so many mixed emotions...feelings of defeat, doubtfulness, and then feelings of YES! I CAN DO THIS...I wrote about all these things and even promising to figure out a plan on how to keep going and to stand on my own two feet again.
You see it can and does happen sometimes even to the best of us. One minute, we feel like we can conquer any challenges that come our way and the very next day things can come to a crashing hault!
Well, for starters, this was one of those weeks for me anyway... I felt like I had entered a marathon and it was the day of the race and I hadn't eaten for a week. It was my "what the hell" moment! So many things and emotions spiraling out of control. Things I can't even begin to get into...I truly felt defeated! These obstacles had proved to be to gut wrenching and I truly felt unprepared. How do I even begin to finish this race? I found myself at the lowest of lows... Maybe, I just needed a break?Just maybe all the things that had troubled me, happened for a reason? So, I had no choice but to listen to my body. At this point I was too emotional to continue eating clean and training hard. So with a few tears shed, some late afternoon naps, and some comfort food, I was on my way to feeling better. With  just shy of a week off, I woke up this morning with a new attitude and realized that, That voice in my head that was telling me" I couldn't do this was lying!" "I CAN DO THIS,& I WILL DO THIS!" There's something inside of me that won't let it die...
It's important for everyone to understand that sometimes we are faced with uncertainty and extreme hardships  that can knock us to the ground, while leaving us wondering if we will ever be able to get up again????  It is equally important to realize that- hey, you may need to take a break and find comfort or even support from a friend or spouse. Once you've recovered ,you will find that same determination and hard work that made you fall in love with living a healthy lifestyle! Today felt like I was starting all over again, but so what, at least I feel better after a good sweat session. So "Rock On"! Spring is around the corner which means Bikini Season is not too far behind.....
Keep reminding yourself that persistence is far more important than perfection. You will get there when you get there.

Which suit would you like to see me in....

Not sure what my plan is yet, the thought of a new suit is exciting...

I'm trying to decide on a suit and I need your help....

Which color or style would look good on me???

Let me know what your vote is.....

Week 7....

Well for starters this is my topic for this week! Many of you who've been reading my weekly blogs at some point may have noticed my flier for a one day Glam Camp, that may I, dare say... I've worked so hard on trying to make this event happen and for future camps as well. I had a vision on how to help other women looking to compete, as I know first hand what it feels like to be a new competitor. There are so many questions, & concerns and it seems not all coaches or people that have been in the world of competing have that patience to deal with all those questions and concerns a newbie may have. That is where I would have come in and still may in the future. For now, I have my blog.  Ultimately, things didn't work out for this particular event and for the  future camps with this person.  I was crushed with disappointment and hurt that all my hard work and dedication wasn't seen or valued in a way that I thought it would be. I should have known better than to put all my eggs in one basket! This is just another lesson in life and I wouldn't change all the hard work I put into it, I would have, however, made sure that we were 100% in agreement before ultimately wasting so much time and effort only to not be compensated! Nonetheless, I've got to hold my head high, stay strong, stay focused and intern revamp a few things. Besides, just by writing this blog, hopefully I'm able to help others in some way. That to me, is the most gratifying! Being able to help other women who want to live a healthy and fit lifestyle.  I'm also in the process of getting myself competition ready and so this brings justification to my topic "Good Things Come To Those Who Work Their Asses Off and Never, Ever Give Up!!!!!"

I can promise, that I will continue to figure out a plan on how to help not only, other future competitors, but all women who ultimately want to get in fabulous bikini shape!  Anything is possible when you fully believe in yourself and if your not afraid to work hard! Sure, there will always be ups & downs, as their are for many other things in life but I really think when you feel good about yourself, you are more capable in dealing with these obstacles. Stay tuned for a new and improved flier! I'm working on another plan as we speak...

There are 8 weeks left until my show. I'm as focused as ever and my eye is on the prize! I close my eyes and I can envision the final product! All my hard work will pay off! I will have improved my stage presence and the areas on my body that I thought needed improvements, will have vastly improved. Today, after my work out, I busted out my clear 6 inch heels and practiced posing. I plan on practicing every day for at least 15 minutes. The workouts I've put together for myself, I'm still feeling are right on track! I'm looking forward to spring as I can return to my early morning outdoor runs. I've also made a few little tweaks to my diet posted. In support of my best friend,( who's also competing with me) I've eliminated all fruit from my diet as she has had to do the same, and so we are going through it together. It's amazing what happens when you have someone that can relate to you and be supportive with. I've also started to carb cycle. By carb cycling, I mean one day I may have 3 servings of carbs & the next day I may have one. This will keep my body guessing and in turn make my body work harder. My plan is to try this for the next 2 weeks and monitor how my body responds. I will also add more recipes for all of you to try. Chicken, Turkey & Egg Whites can get boring for some and also can become so monotonous that you find yourself cheating on your diet. I'm always trying out new recipes and recommend you check out www.oxygenmagazine.com as they have great resources for recipes and training.

Make sure to wake up everyday with "determination" and go to bed everyday with "satisfaction" Take it one day at a time... but most of all Always stay POSITIVE!

Week 6....

It's time to hit cruise control...by that I mean it is time to stop worrying about any "traffic" that may occur. You'll get there when you get there! It's time to get going, work hard, get focused and keep your eye on that goal. Take each day as it is. Give every day 100% and you will begin to see results. Like many of you, the winter time blues as gotten the best of me and I'm done with it, in more ways than one. From here on out I'm going to put a little extra "spring" in my steps and think of the warm sunny days ahead. I'm all about turning the negative into positive. So this week at my most negative point I decided with the help of my kids to put together my little motivational countdown poster to hang by my bed as a reminder to push forward. No more days of feeling blah!  I've got just about 9 1/2 weeks to get on that stage. Sure they're will be lots of obstacles ahead but this is where my mind needs to get in the game. Just get through those obstacles carefully all while staying true to the plan I've carved out for myself.

Speaking of my plan, I'm very pleased with what I've put together so far. I may make minor tweaks to my diet but the workouts have been great. I certainly feel my body responding to the changes. It is so important to change up your routine at least every 4 weeks to keep your body guessing. If you continually do the same routine over and over again, your body will never respond. Even with my current plan on some days I'll add a random exercise that's not even on the page like box jumps at the end of my set or sprints in between sets. These get my heart racing and in turn burning more fat. Burn Baby Burn that fat away! Lol...

This is also the time where I need to start practicing my stage presence and practice those T-walks. Its just as important as all the hard work you put into getting your body into amazing shape. You need to exude confidence, smile and own that stage! This for me, is especially something I need to work on and I intend on vastly improving! There are lots of little tricks out there, like putting Vaseline on your teeth, as it helps with smiling and if you don't wear heels on a regular basis, try to wear them around the house while your doing chores like vacuuming or doing laundry. The more you do this, the more comfortable you will feel, and before you know it, you will look very natural walking in them. I happen to love wearing heels and wear them all the time so I'm completely comfortable walking on stage with them. My area of weakness is the posing. Sometimes I tend to look down and I need to smile more. I need to find my inner Diva and let her shine! And so, I will add this to my obstacle course.

Now lets get thru this obstacle course called" life" with these words PATIENCE, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SELF RESPECT, HARD WORK & DEDICATION! All while bringing out our inner "Diva"...

Week 5...

Well this week I hit bouts of what I like to refer as "traffic" meaning my little road blocks that seem to stall me in my drive to get focused and stay on track. It was a busy week as, they all are, with Valentine's Day and those winter illnesses that we just can't seem to escape. I found myself trying to push through a long week, all while trying to take my training and eating to the next level. My traffic jam consisted of my oldest son coming home with a fever and one day of school missed, and so my workout had to be at home, along with another day missed at the gym because of a snow delay. Ugh!!!! Another workout at home... I so desperately want to just get myself in that groove,where I feel unstoppable and feel like I'm making progress. So now, I really have to dig deep, get focused and put my plan into action.

While my training and eating clean fell a little short this week, I decided that while I was in "traffic" I would make the most of it and make my new improved plan for the next four weeks. It's time to dig deep all right, get focused and follow my plan to get those results I desire. It was time to make my new diet plan and a new training plan as it is time to switch it up. Time to dial in and work on improving from my last show. I'm still learning and trying to figure out how to improve my body. I know the areas that I want to improve on and as far as eating clean, that's a science all on it's own. Every person responds differently to certain foods. As what may work for one person, may not work for another. I've done countless research on eating clean for figure and bikini competitors and it seems there are basic guidelines and it's just about figuring what works.

This is my plan I've come up with for the next month. My competition is 10 weeks away and I will make any tweaks or changes as necessary as I follow this plan just to see how it works for me. I will also be posting my workout plan for the next month. Be sure to check it out by clicking on "my workout plan" on the right of my post. Let me know what you think and if you have any questions.

Meal 1
3oz protein                                     
1/3c carb                                       
1/2c fruit                                                           

Meal 2
3oz protein                                    
1/3c carb                               
1/2c fruit                                     
                                                                          
Meal 3
3oz protein                                    
1/3c carb                                      
1-2c veggies                                   
Meal 4
3oz protein
1-2c veggies
1 Tbsp or 1oz fats

Meal 5
3oz protein
1-2c veggies
1 Tbsp Fats

Meal 6
3oz protein
1 Tbsp or 1oz fats

Protein Choices: egg whites, whey protein, chicken,turkey, & fish
Carb Choices: oatmeal, ezekiel bread, brown rice, sweet potato, rice cake (no salt) &quinoa
Fruit Choices: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, & grapefruit
Veggie Choices: red pepper, cucumbers, spinach, celery, & broccoli
Healthy Fats: olive oil, coconut oil, natural almond butter, almonds, & chia seeds

Protein=30%
Carbs=30%
Fats=40%

Keep in mind this may not work for you and you may have to make adjustments. This is my trial as well and I will let you know if and when I make adjustments. On one last note, I also plan on adding 2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar to and 8oz glass of water before my 1st, 3rd & 6th meal as I've read it helps burn fat. I'm willing to give it a shot.

Stay focused and calm if you come across any "traffic" jams. It's time to kick butt!!

Week 4...

Before we get into this week, I'll have you know that the cake made the four hour trip but sunk as the heat in the truck was too much on the cake and the smell of chocolate didn't seem to bother me as I thought it would. So that was good and bad. My very first camp went really well. I was successful  in getting the girls to sweat and we all worked on our posing afterwards. I'm finally understanding the feeling of holding my lats out in my front and back poses as I'm looking to improve greatly in the coming weeks. In a few weeks I will post videos on figure posing as well as bikini.

Now, onto my very hectic week...this just may have been the busiest yet!!!My husband was out of town for most of the week. I did manage to get my workouts in and eating clean was ok until late night I found myself having a bowl of cereal. I think I did this every night he was gone. Why is it, I lose my self control when he's away? Is it because somehow, I feel like he holds me accountable or keeps me in check? Maybe its because I ultimately want to make him proud and somehow I'm stronger when he is around? Anyhow, my point is... I'm normal and most competitors and non competitors have weak moments like this. It's completely normal and common. It's better to not beat yourself with guilt or get mad because you somehow let yourself down. Remain positive and just get yourself back on track. Sweat a little harder and focus on eating squeaky clean for the next week. With my next competition coming up in 11 weeks, I need to start tighten things up a bit. It's time to focus on reaching that goal. I try to set little goals in between my ultimate goal of getting on that stage. So my little goal is to lose 3lbs by March 1st. I can do this...I will do this!

For first time competitors or seasoned competitors this is the time you should look into finding your suit. Get a few color ideas in your mind first, as this can be nerve racking and overwhelming at the same time. Pick a few colors that you love or you know that look good on you.  These suits can get crazy expensive but they don't have to be. You can spend anywhere from $90-$1000 of dollars. I chose to stay in the lower price bracket and even add my own crystals. Some good websites to check out are www.saleya.com , www.suitsyouswimwear.com, and www.passionfruitdesigns.com . If you are planning on doing your own crystals I would strongly suggest doing your research and start out basic. You can check out www.mjtrim.com as they have all different size and color crystals along with the right glue. You need to get gem tac. If you're brave enough to take on that task you need to start at least 2 months before your competition. If that's not for you and you want that extra shine on stage, layer up with costume jewelry. Big earrings and lots of bracelets. You can even find shoes with crystals on them. I got my shoes at www.snaz75.com as I found they were the cheapest and they had my shoe size. I'm a 5 and its not always easy to find shoes in my size.

The above picture was taken at my last show-October 2012...Yep, I'm blond there. I wanted to see if it made a difference with the judges. It was a ballsy move on my part and even though I placed 5th, ultimately I didn't feel like I stood out. Don't be afraid to take chances... I also had my sister add some crystals on that suit and plan to add more crystals for each show that I do.

So my conclusion for this week is to continue to work hard, eat clean, stay focused and set goals... 

Week 3...

Well this week started out fine, as my diet was on point and so were my workouts. This is where- mentally my head is beginning to get in the game. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm heading in the right direction. I would'nt be able to do this without being organized. Which brings me to that exact topic, Organization.
 Just about everyday I manage to get at least three loads of laundry done and my afternoons are pretty much spent in the car, as all of my four kids are in four different schools. So from from 2:40 till 3:20, I'm doing my rounds with pick ups, then onto homework, dinner, baths/showers, & bedtime. Along with many things I've left out. Yet every morning, I get myself up at 6am and get my cardio in, this really gives me more energy to take on the day, weird but true! I really do have a different outlook on my day if I make this happen, rather than sleeping in. Oh and there are days where sleeping in is necessary...this does happen on occasion & the results are one crabby Mommy! At least until I get my sweat on. Then my mood immediately shifts.

On Sunday's I cut up my veggies, cook my chicken & pot of brown rice as this helps me tremdously. Its just one last thing for me to worry about. Especially, since eating every 2-3 hours is already somewhat time consuming, but having a plan & being organized really takes that stress away. After 2 weeks of doing things this way, you'll get the hang of it and before you know it, it just becomes routine. The same goes for working out. At least that's what I've come to realize anyhow.

Now onto my next topic- Making Time for yourself! It is very important as a woman to make time for themselves. Sure, I've certainly had my doubts,(especially in the very beginning)with my struggles in feeling guilty for making time for myself. Heck I've even had people think I'm selfish or self absorbed. Which I think is crazy as I would never, ever want people to think that of me!!!! I have always and continue to put others first. So I've come to the conclusion that I'm just really lucky to discover the benefits of  making time for me. I fully believe that it gives me patience (& boy, do I need a lot of it...) it makes me happier and more positive. I feel like I can handle most of what life throws at me when I have that positive mind set.

This weekend and on Super Bowl Sunday my oldest son will be turning 12 and so I made him a chocolate cake, then I have to drive 4 hours with it on my lap, as we are going skiing for his birthday. I just hope it stays in tact and that the smell of chocolate does not cause me to cave.YIKES!!! If I wasn't in competiton mode, sure I would have a piece.

I'm also teaching my very first plyometric workout for a few competitors that are competing in the next four to five weeks. Yipee, Wish me luck! I will let you know how it went next week.

So this week- Get Organized and Make Time for Yourself.