STEPPING ON STAGE

1st Complete BFL Challenge to Start

2008-12-24T05:48:00.002-05:00

So, I am completely thinking about this whole competition bug and I am loving it still. But I am still back and forth with which workouts to start and what competitions to try and enter and so forth. So my thoughts right now. Actually go through and complete my first BFL challenge and then go through there. I like before when I was thinking about competing, have quite a bit of bodyfat to lose and muscle to try and gain. The dates I am looking at would be hard for me to achieve what I want to achieve. So my goal dates are going to be in October at this point and I will plan for an earlier date depending on how my body listens to me and whether or not I can be stage ready prior to that. Money issues are also playing a major part, so right now a trainer is not an option and there are some money things that I didn't not take into account prior. So right now, my goal is to get money situations into order, try and start saving for my vaca to Okinawa to see my the first nephew ever :) and plus I have not been to see my family in forever (this time frame that I need to have my hours and work is right around the first couple of competitions), and work on my diet and my training. I figure if I can't even complete a full BFL for 14 wks, how can I expect to step on stage. I need consistency and a goal plan in mind :) ... I picked 14 instead of 12 wks, because well 14 wks falls onto my birthday...and I am going out and having something exciting to eat ;).... So time to take some initial photos, lol and see where it brings me.

DIET, DIET, AND MORE DIET

2008-12-17T14:13:00.002-05:00

So I have been feeling pretty miserable over the last couple of weeks. My motivation has been down and I am desperately trying to build it back up. I really want to be able to compete in June without going completely crazy and am 25+wks out now. We all know that will go by quickly and have about 6 months time to get it together. The workouts have been going okay but I really need to increase intensity and really start adding some more cardio in there. I don't want to overdo it initially so am okay with adding little by little. My diet has been completely horrible though. I have gained instead of lost and am feeling like horrible crap. When I start to go on diet, I get crazy hunger pangs, and also feel like vomiting at the same time. I don't remember feeling this bad before when I was doing well. I look back at what I ate when I was losing and it was basically the same. So not sure what's going wrong. I am trying to tweak a few things today though, adding some ground turkey with seasoning in there to make some taco salads which I absolutely love. Will also be adding some of my thicker protein powders to make me feel fuller, maybe adding some oatmeal vs fruit in some instances to help with the fullness too. I really need to get this diet on track or I am going to go absolutely no where and never reach my goal. Excited though, because really good sale on chicken tomorrow and also on my steamed veggies. Ten bags for ten dollars, whoot whoot. Will be stocking up on those bad boys :) ... Gotta see how much room I have in my freezer now, lol. So starting today, I am totally trying to kill the diet. Have my ground turkey cooking and will be stopping in the a.m. at the grocery store when I get out of work :) ....

I have nixed going with a trainer and at this point will be doing my own workouts that I have gathered from various places. I tried contacting the person again, she wrote me back and said she would send registration instructions the next week and nothing. I don't like to wait forever for meal plans & training routines. I will figure this initial thing out on my own and when I get more dedicated and completely on board, I will find a trainer that works for me and go from there.

Trainer, yes thinking Trainer

2008-12-05T14:37:00.002-05:00

So, this week has been a good week so far. Diet has been so so, which I really need to step up on, but the training itself with workouts & cardio have been great. One more day to go and I will have had everything in that needs to be in. I can't stop going to eventually needing a trainer though and looking at the prices of everyone, EXPENSIVE. I know I initially did not want to get one do to prices & not completing goals but I don't want to give myself the easy way out either. So I continue to go back to Cathy Savage Fitness. I liked the goals and plan that she had for summer camp, even though it was another goal I did not complete, the training plan was right in my alley. It's only $45 dollars a month with a membership fee but with my gym prices going down next month, it's what I need to do at this point. So my thoughts are going ahead with the plan to get them as my training support system. No more worries about what my plan is going to be and so forth. My competition dates I am looking at are still the end of June, beginning of July. I will look at comps before then depending on how my body behaves with me, lol. But I am definitely leaning towards those dates, gives me the time I need to get my body where it needs to be. I will officially be 28wks out as of this coming up Sunday, eek. I was looking at going to Okinawa in May but am thinking of August instead. Gives me time to save money and so forth. Lots to do this year and I am going to make the best of it :) ... The girl did finally e-mail me back from Cathysavagefitness. I did have to e-mail her again, but she didn't get my second e-mail, so that's cool. Feeling better about that. Not looking forward to money coming out the bank, but at least it will keep my sanity about making my own diet, training plan, etc. I will add in what needs to be added in, but I don't forsee many problems with that. So next week that will all be taken care of and the next goal and step will come into place :).

April??? Can I do April

2008-11-30T13:45:00.002-05:00

So I keep going all over the place with when to do my first competition and needing to do so much. I still keep going back to April though. There is an OCB competition called Spirit of America that I really want to compete in to give me my first step. I no longer care about placings (I lie, I want to place well, but want to be prepared and look well more than anything and just get this competition thing started already) so I just want to go for it and if I am not even close to ready then I will just hold off until the June/July timeframe which is already what I am looking at. That gives me exactly 20wks to put something into works. I have decided to continue to look for my own info and plan my own training & diet. I hate waiting for things and am just going to continuously figure out what works for me. So that may bat against me with getting things done by April, but that's what is going to work for me.

Things, I have to lose about 2lbs per week to be contest ready by my goal time. I am no longer going to stress over this. I did last year and it did nothing but make things worse...At least this will be the beginning of the season and NOT the end, lol. So if I don't step on that stage, I will continue preparing until I hit it. I will hit that stage this year :) ...

So I have 20wks to get this started, need to figure out my first game plan...NOW ALREADY, LOL.

Thoughts, I was initially thinking of doing first cardio in am when I get out of work when I need to do double cardio...Thinking of switching to nighttime instead before I go to work. Boyfriend will wake my butt up for sure. Thank goodness for treadmill at home :) ...

Boyfriend needs to get me going already. He's a chef and gets laid off during the downseason because his restaurant closes, so HE HAS NO EXCUSES to be on my tail making sure I behave myself :) ...

Okay feeling much better and liking the idea of this goal :) ... Time to pull out my competition suit and smile again >.... Now to get the body moving and the diet going good and strong. Thanksgiving totally scrued me up. Here I go again. EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES. need to have strong will :) ...

TRAINER IT IS

2008-11-28T07:04:00.002-05:00

So after looking online for several hours as well as glancing through some magazines, I am leaning towards getting a trainer through Cathy Savage fitness. It will take the stress load off me considerably and well they are geared to get you to where you need to be. I am hoping that this will make a difference in where I need to be. Her summer program had killer workouts that looked awesome, so I am hoping that the same will come into play if I do end up joining. I just sent in my info & pics, so we will see what happens after that. I have a long way to go and it's been and up and down hill battle. The important thing is that I am still traveling and the car has not broke down, lol. Going to be interesting what the next year brings. I have changed my initial goal from June/July to October dates. I feel as though it will give me more time to get to where I need to be and less stress to get there. If I am ready timewise before then...I will look at prepping for a show. I want to look the best I can for a show though and have tons of stuff that I need to take care of first this year. There is an OCB comp in October that I can do as well as several NPC shows & so forth. Will be a very interesting year prep wise and I WILL BE where I need to be in that time frame.

Trainer or No Trainer

2008-11-27T13:43:00.002-05:00

So my motivation to look at competing again has me questioning about whether I should get an online trainer again and what a good goal time wise would be for looking at a competition. I was thinking about going to try Cathy Savage fitness but not a 100% sure about it. It is only 45 a month with a $99 dollar sign on fee but my last two times I hired a trainer have been no good for me. Not on their part but mine instead. I started looking through a 100 articles online for different things and am starting to wonder if I should go that route to save on money costs. Btwn the gym membership and hiring an online trainer, that's money in the bank that could be going towards other things that I really need to put into perspective. My track record with completing things also has not been good and maybe I should look at hiring the online trainer thing as more of a reward in the end...Once I have met my goal and look at working towards another competition. So maybe I will hold off on NPC competitions until May but enter the OCB near my home since I have been able to see one of their shows & have an idea of what to expect. A lot to think about. In the meantime, it's time to continue looking at training plans to set up for myself during the next 7 months & GO EAT SOME TURKEY & STUFFING. IT IS THANKSGIVING AFTERALL :)....

Sore Bum Bum

2008-11-25T18:30:00.002-05:00

So yesterday was Full Body Workout...Were doing Power 90 and we decided to go straight through to the second Cd after one wk, lol. Yeah it worked us. We did our run/walk afterwards or more like walk/run, lol. Today we did Tae-bo, start it up and let me just say my glutes & legs are killing me...It's been kind of interesting for me because my workout partner is truly a beginner & has helped me stay more motivated but helping to teach her things especially with form & so forth. Pushing her helps me to push myself, which is exactly where I need to be right now. I have been doing well with diet and today hit 163.0. I initally started this week at 165.2, last week at 165.8, but eventually ended up cheating at work, bad girl. So far, so good though and it will continue on to be a good week. I can feel that motivation factor kicking in and slowly developing a routine that is working for me. Having a workout partner is helping a 110%, keeping strict with my workouts and diet. And well the boyfriend factor, he will allow no slacking at any point, lol. If I do, I'll be more then a 100 bucks in the hole. But man, he went on a rant last week when I cheated, he's all the personal trainer I need, lol. So this second week is looking good so far, more to come :) ...

How Long Has It Been

2008-11-25T18:06:00.002-05:00

Wow....How Long Has It Been. Seems like forever. I totally let myself get offtrack and slip away from my dream goal. So here I am trying to restart my dream goal again and undo the damage that I have done with weight gain over the last couple of months or more. A lot has happened including many excuses. A relationship has bloomed, a new position as a nurse...that has brought me back to my routine on nights (who knew I would miss my nightshift, lol), and the weight gain has started again. With dreadful routines of eating crap, being lazy, and drinking comes the dreadful weight gain...especially in that midsection. An opportunity at work blossomed for me though and has put my vision and goal back into play. A co-worker whom I worked with and used to work with at a previous place of employment came up to me and was mentioning a previous co-worker and said...I heard you were getting into wrestling or boxing or something of the sorts. I looked at her completely puzzled. What in the world, she was talking about...I had no idea. I started to think she was joking at some point. I hadn't had any patients that had been combative with me, which was my initial thought...maybe she was joking around. Finally it dawned on me, she was talking about figure competitions. How she went from that to wrestling & kickboxing, I don't have the slightest idea. A sense of embarressment swept over me though. I had gone completely offtrack with everything. Some conversation about how I so needed to start dieting & working out came into play. She mentioned the same and we were both completely honest & really wanting to start something together. Another co-worker mentioned some interest and it kind of went into play from there. A week went by and we had not worked together but I knew I would be on her tail when I saw her next (what happens when you lose people's phone #'s, lol). Anyhoo, we are working on our second week of working out and has been completely successfull. I have revamped my desire to compete and have a date set in mind looking at June/July timeframe. There are two competitions that I have in mind, but the exact date has not been posted yet. That gives me 7 months to get my tail into the groove. Money restrictions are going to be forcing me to do this on my own, but well my boyfriend makes me want to knock him out sometimes because he gets on my case...and it's not even close to competition time yet, lol. So I know he will be 100% supportive. He gets on me because that is what I have asked of him to do. At this point, we have a weekly bet that I am to stay on track. I can have my cheat day weekly, everything else must stay on point. Workouts, diet, etc. Eventually it will creep down to cheat meals and adjust from that point. So lots of looking up info will be coming into play now. Hopefully my Diva's will accept me back at some point, I'm afraid to even mention anything, and well I just kind of didn't say anything at all because of guilt & embarressment. I will have to get over it though. So I am now on my second week & trying to figure out my game plan for the next 7 months. I will be rotating my workout routines around. Starting at the end of February, I will be heading to the gym more, but concentrating on working out at my friends until then to develop a routine. The gym is literally less then 5 min away from her, so I can head there afterwards if need be. I already have my 8wk routine which I will repeat x2 prior to comp, so that is planned. Just figuring out my next 12wk plan to try and build some muscle at this point. Time to go through my mags & bb.com. Can't wait to see the changes that come...:)

Yup, still here :)

2008-07-17T17:32:00.001-04:00

Well, yes I am still here and ticking away. Maybe not as well as I should be but I’m ticking. I’ve continued to go through ups and downs but that’s what’s up with me anyhoo. Went through a phase about questioning whether I should compete this year and looking at waiting until next year and then having the fire burn again because I don’t want to wait that long to step on stage. I have been eyeing several programs through Cathy Savage Fitness and decided to enter her summer challenge which has some crazy workouts on it which I think are going to work wonders for me . The meal plan brought me back to my basics which has helped a lot because I think I tried to go gung ho to quick and was not ready for it quite yet. I will talk over a comp later this year with her and see what she says. If I decide to still do the comp I was looking at, I will be 12wks out, but I am also eyeing a comp on Nov 1, Monster Mash, which just added a bikini category also. I decided that I am looking for a figure between bikini and figure at this point and I guess even later down the road. I love muscle on other women (figure wise) but I don’t necessarily want it for myself and love the look of bikini competitors who have a little more muscle and definitiion to them. So yeah, I want to try and cross btwn the two. So that is the one I really want to hit and to cross btwn bikini and figure. I will be 15wks out as of this coming wknd, so hopefully she okays everything. I have been having a really hard time with nights, sleep, and putting everything together lately. I thought once I was done with school everything would be much better but it hasn’t. I just went into the pay bills mode and added more hours into my work schedule. Sucks when your doing nightshift. I take my boards next wk (please lord let me pass )).. and then start my new grad program on the 28th of July. I will be on days for about a couple of months which will help tremendously with my meal planning and getting my workouts in right after work. No stopping just heading straight to the gym … So that is when I am going to make the biggest changes, when I hit days. When I was in the military that’s how I did my gym time and I had no issues. I will be a few wks out by the time I switch back to nights, so I just need to stay dedicated at that point. Well just catching up on here … Will post again soon, especially after I finish taking my boards …

My Weaklings, called Legs

2008-06-10T15:21:00.002-04:00

So today was Legs, I swear I feel like a little weakling when I do them, especailly my quads. Really need to push farther past that burn and get them reps in. Hammies are okay when I do them, but the lower weight quck reps he has me on totally kill my quads, which is good but I’m not getting all my reps in…so need to push it farther. Today overall was a really good workout. Did my 20 minutes on the Precor afterwards and managed to make it up the stairs to my car (gym is downstairs), lol. So all is well. I know I am definitely going to feel the soreness tomorrow …
So am definitely beginning to feel leaner, don’t always see it in the mirror or pics…but I am feeling it. I am hoping to take my next pics at 16wks out and am thinking I am going to see some positive changes there. Will probably do pics every week thereafter to stay on point with changes and also practicing my posing. Just got my back up suit in today, so will try that on..May use it for posing also in pics, but we’ll see how it fits first. Still have lots to lose so may not use it until the last 4 wks before comp. My 1pc is also on the way this week and I love it. Not anything majorly fancy, but the price was right and I think with a tan, the color is going to look really good on me. So suits are complete now…Hopefully everything fits right by comp time. May also look at getting a back-up 1pc, but that depends on money situations though. May just stick with what I have. Don’t comp for 4 months, so if I see a really good deal, I will snatch it up …

Sweat and Chest, Shoulders, and Tri's

2008-06-09T15:14:00.002-04:00

Okay today was Chest, Shoulders, and Tri's. Was supposed to do it as soon as I got home, but I was so exhausted...my bum went to sleep. One of the first things I did once I got up though, which is a good thing. I am known to put things off and then not end up doing it. It was an AWESOME WORKOUT. I had a feeling I would like it. It still had the heavier weights, but had the lighter weight quick reps that give me the burn I was looking for. I am really thinking I am going to see some good results at the end of these four weeks :) . My shoulders and tris especially were feeling it :) Eek. I also did abs this am. Gonna see about doing abs daily x5, we'll see. Don't want to overtrain them either, but there are quite a few people who do abs daily. Think I mentioned it before but I bought a abs video and absolutely love it. It has 8 different videos so well switch the exercises out. First three are beginners, next three are advanced, and then ball exercises (my ball deflated, not sure if it's broke) and then pilate like moves. They all look great. I did the kickboxing abs today and it rocked. Last time I did the abs vids, I was still feeling it three days later. Hehehe. Also did cardio today (20min). I am doing my run/walk program since he did not give me a certain cardio program except for the HIIT. Was going to try and do the Falmouth road race in August and opted out of it because I will never be ready. Just got the letter this morning that I did not get in the lottery so it did not matter anyways (goes by lottery for those who do not live in Falmouth). I still want to gradually increase with my running though till I get to a easy 3 or 4 miles for me then increase with speed. So off to a good start with my new 4 wk training & diet :) . Legs tomorrow :) .

Oh, posted a pic of whose body I would love to maintain offseason. She's actually a girl from bodybuilding.com. In this pic, she actually looks like she has more muscle then the rest of her pics. I might end up being a little thicker then her but in general where I would like to be. She still has a decent amount of bodyfat, still has her curves, and has some good looking muscles. Has good quad size for and so forth. She would also not have a hard time getting ready contest prep, because her bodyfat is not too high. Not only that but she has the type of body that could cross between bikini and figure competitions which is what I am looking for. There is a competition called Fitness Atlantic that I want to do next year and would like to do the figure and either bikini or fitness model portion. We'll see :).

New 4 wk diet & training

2008-06-08T16:56:00.001-04:00

So I officially start my new 4 wk diet & training sched tomorrow and I am really excited. I finally have split bodyparts and he has me on heavier weights but with decreased weight and high reps right afterwards. I wasn't feeling the burn as much before, I think it's REALLY GOING TO BURN NOW :) ... I am still not on double cardios yet but may add a few here and there. I am on 20 minute cardios (increases with each week) after my wo's right now for four days and then 1 day of HIIT. I get some oatmeal back as well as a meal with brown rice, yum yum. The rest, the regular protein sources & veggies :) . I am really excited for these next four weeks and am thinking I am going to see some BIG CHANGES at the end of them....and you know what I AM. I BELIEVE IT AND IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, NOW TO DO THE WORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. :)

What Will the Future Bring

2008-06-04T16:29:00.003-04:00

Day after day I wonder where this whole figure and fitness thing will take me. Sometimes I get a little down and think I will stick with some general figure competitions and try and continue working out. Other days I remember my passion for dancing and joy and excitement every time I watch it (not a trained dancer by any means but I love to dance in general). I used to cheer in highschool and I was decent but as the years went by I realized how much I miss doing routines and so forth. My passion was initially for fitness competitions and would record them on a regular basis when I was in the military and just sit there mesmerized. I've always had a vision of me doing that. I decided once I had gained a ton of weight and started to lose how much I really enjoyed the figure portion of competitions. Looking at the symmetry and tone of these beautiful women. I don't necessarily want to be as defined as some women but look at them with amazement and envy just the same. I have an idea of what I want my body to be and as much as I want the body of others I see, I will eventually realize what I want for myself and continue on from there. The other day I was looking at the Cathy Savage Fitness website and basically found exactly what I was looking for. For me, my look almost seems to be between a figure competitor and a bikini competitor. I do want the nice muscle definition with the nice quads and round glutes but have found that as you begin to look at the pro and some national level girls, they are a little bit too muscular for me. They look amazing just the same though but it is just not what I am trying to achieve. The women in some of the pictures though were exactly what I aspired to eventually gain as a body and it totally had me excited. I looked through many of the pics and realized how much I really would like to do fitness in the future and how much I want to make this figure and fitness world a mainstay in my life. No to do the things that go with it. In order to live out your dream, you must conquer the path that leads to it. My path has already started and my first competition date is still tentatively set for October 18, at the OCB Cape Cod Naturals as long as I get the time off from work and my body cooperates with me, lol.

So yes I eventually see fitness competitions in my life but for the next year I will be focusing on figure competitions and gaining the body that I need for that. As I increase in strength, strength moves, stamina, endurance, and flexibility, as well as work on stage presence and dancing ability/technique I will look at a date for a fitness competition. I am leaning towards the fall of 2009 though. That will give me a year of figure competitions under my belt and help me to feel more comfortable onstage as well as get the input of other fitness competitors. That date may totally change but is just what I am looking at right now.

Death Circuits

2008-06-03T09:00:00.003-04:00

Okay, today was death circuits # 1. Oh my, my body hurts soooo right now. It's funny though, my abs hurt the most and have been for the last couple of days. I did abs on Sunday morning with this new DVD that I got (Perfect Abs). I really like it and think that with the DVD, my Turbo Jam & other vids, as well as workouts. My abs will be competition ready by the time it rolls around. Granted thats with getting this darn fat off and allowing whatever I have to show, lol. I wonder if I do have anything right now under there. My abs, hams, and glutes are the biggest areas that I'm concerned with right now as far as being ready for comp time. I think the others will progress nicely with the workouts my trainer gives me. Well my tri's I'm a little conerned with too. It's hard to see if there's much muscle there because I still have the chicken wing swing action going on there, lol. I can definitely see the definition in the gym in my bi's and shoulders though. I just have to give it time to develop more and come out. Okay this was supposed to be about my death circuits today and now I'm all over the place, lol. The death circuit that Sully has for me is basically intense ten minute cardio followed by circuits and then more cardio. I love them. I am not much of a person that likes to work heavy weights but I know that it is needed to hit certain muscle fibers though. I feel like I am killing it when I do the death circuits. I felt a little queezy at one point though and thought I was going to hurl right before doing my squats, that would be totally embarressing. I made it through though. Still feeling very promising about the whole thing and hoping to see some needed changes develop over the next 18+ weeks. One thing that keeps me positive week to week is also going out on my weekend off, hoping to be able to fit into more clothes and so forth. Plus my friends notice when I lose weight, hehehe. The other night we went out and they were like damn your starting to look slim. Mind you this was after my graduation and eating fried Tofu, shrimp stir-fry, and ice cream, lol. I was so far from feeling slim, it wasn't even funny. Still trying to recoup from that night and feel less heavy, lol. So hoping to see some big changes for next time I go out, so I can wear a cute outfit. Gotta make nights out good because soon I will have to be the DD, but I'm okay with that. All part of the game. As long as I get to get my dance on, I'm a happy girl.

Feeling Good :)

2008-06-02T18:07:00.002-04:00

So had my upper body (heavy) workout today. Everything is feeling good. I also did some sprints and glute work this am after getting out of work. I feel really pumped up at this point and feeling very positive. Now if the bodyfat will work with me and take a hike, hehehe. Got my groceries for the week, this is my last week on this diet and then start a new diet and training next week. I don't see too many changes happening with the diet though. Starting to find better options with my chicken and seasoning and so forth which is helping considerably. Also found a seasoning for my veggies that I really like too and helps get rid of that blandness that comes along with eating brocolli after brocolli and grean beans after green beans. I do miss the cheese on my broccolli, (sigh), but it comes with the territory. As long as I'm learning new things to add and flavor that I can work with is, I'm a happy girl. Weight is still feeling up, but after the goodies and meals I had after graduation, I am not surprised. I am hoping that by the end of this week, I won't feel so heavy anymore. Other than that, still having that positive feeling that I haven't had in a while and really feeling like I can bring some incredible changes over the next 18-19wks as long as I stay dedicated to my diet and workouts. We'll see what my body transformation has in store for me. I posted the pic of my dream body right now, that may change but it is the one of Alicia Marie on the bike. Sometimes she looks a little too skinny to me but in this pic I think she looks incredible. Especially for offseason I would love to stay looking like that with maybe a little weight added. She still looks tone but no big definition going on. Exactly where I would like to be offseason and then some added definition onstage :). Body transformation, here I come :).

NO MORE EXCUSES!!!

2008-05-31T13:12:00.003-04:00

My goodness, I don't know how many times I have said it. But I truly mean it this time, no more excuses. I am 19wks out and am freaking out. The time is now and I need to stop putting things off. School is officially done with, graduation was yesterday and I have no more doubles at work planned. I am finally feeling at ease in that department and so I need to get my act together. Tomorrow I will be on full force in the diet and the workout department. I got a my DVD's in that I ordered so I am pretty much all set. I am thinking about ordering a couple of posing DVD's once I go through some of them to get some ideas, but we'll see. May also look into getting another suit if I find a good deal. I still have time because the comp isn't until October, but someone mentioned having a back up suit and heels. The heels I will order closer to comp to make sure of sizing and already have a pair which will be my back-up.

At one point was starting to think that I would change my comp date and just waiting until next spring and was very unsure of myself. How was I ever going to gain enough muscle and definition as well as lose all that bodyfat. Other girls are usually have been working out over a year out and planning for comp this far out. I am literally trying to lose all this fat I gained as well as train for a competition. It is a little bit overwhelming. Refocus is what I have to do. I may not have that dream body that I want, but if I get get my bodyfat down where I need to be and still focus on adding muscle, I will be okay. I may not have that defintion that I am looking for but I will be okay stepping on that stage as long as I am lean enough. So I need to stay focused and watch for those changes week to week which I KNOW I will be seeing. I looked at some of the pics from the Comp I will be competing in this year from the year before and a lot of them do not have a ton of definition and that helped also to put me at ease. I definitely will be working on my hams and glutes as well as a lot of posing so that I feel more at ease on stage. Those were the biggest areas that I saw issues with from the pics. The posing was a complete mess. My goodness, I could not believe it. A lot of the girls looked extremely unformtable and still. Need to really practice the posing and holding it for a period of time, that's probably a big part of it. And the backsides on some of the competitors, man do I need to work on them donkey kicks and so forth. That's really going to help me if I can come in with a good looking booty and hams. Donkey kicks here we come. So come on Melinda. NO MORE EXCUSES......

Thoughts

2008-05-25T10:29:00.002-04:00

My goodness, I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged. Well I have officially, lol, again changed my date of my first competition. It will go back to my original date of October 11, OCB Cape Cod Natural. I am still undecided about the NPC Massachusetts State show because it is only 1 wk later and I am not sure how it is going to be trying to request time off from work. I will be starting as a new grad and don't start until July 28, that means that by the time I'm working full-time on the floor, it will be close to that timeframe. I can probably try and get people to work for me, but I'll play out all the possibilities as I come closer to comp time. I decided on the OCB Maine event because of the above work reasons and also because of the travel situation. It's not really far, but I would definitely have to stay overnight at a hotel and getting people to go would be difficult. I want my friends and family to be able to see me at my first competition and the Cape Cod Natural is only 1/2 an hour away from where I live. The NPC show is a National Qualifier so I am looking at really wanting to do it, but don't know how it is going to work doing competitions back to back (two wknds in a row).

So up to this point been awful with dieting and training. I'll do really well one wk, then all over the place the next. I officially have no excuses :). School is finished, finals are out of the way (still waiting on grades :(...), and graduation is on Friday. So I need to get my a** in gear. I literally have 20wks to get this going and am a little worried about getting where I need to be. I know I can do a later comp if need be, but I really want to do the one I am scheduled for. So I need to make sure to have my act together from now on. I am working a couple of double shifts this week but have decided not to do that anymore. I think I will be okay until I start the new grad program with just picking up time (probably 11-7s or 3-11s). The double's get me a little stressed out because I'm not used to doing them anymore (used to do double's all the time) and start to worry about sleep, getting workouts in, etc. Plus I want to try and start fitting in some double workouts. I had my best losses the week I was able to do the double cardios and look forward to losing some of this fat, bikini season is just around the corner, literally and I am far from ready.

Speaking of beach, one girl mentioned for her NCLEX, she literally sat at the beach and studied. That is so going to be me, lol. I live right down the street from one (not the best one by far, but hey it's got sand and water, lol) and am taking advantage of it. Little one is officially (after weeks of procrastination) coming home when my father comes for graduation, so many dog walks will be in effect, lol. Hope the kitties are ready because they have been loving their relaxed, not being chased time, lol.

So here I go. Cardio done for today. Today is actually supposed to be my off day but wanted to start my twenty weeks out good and will probably do my long run (working up to that, lol) on Sundays (11 wks till falmouth road race, so gotta get running into gear). Also did my Turbo Jam, which I absolutely love. I love my cardio vids and will probably add those in because I love to dance and all that good stuff and some of them work my abs like nothing else. Food is set for the day and ready to go, all packed up, now to remember to bring it and not forget it at home, lol. Time for a nap and off for my double. A quote I got off from someone from bb.com

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is"

Day to Day

2008-05-14T14:26:00.002-04:00

So I'm doing things day to day right now. I guess we always are. Work is getting me exhausted but keep picking up time because well I need the money :( . Today would be night 6 of 7, but possibly picked up an extra day and will make it 6 of 8 intsead. If they didn't sign me off already, may decide not to do it. Gotta study for finals and still get my workouts in. Apartment is a mess right now and have crazy laundry to do. I don't understand it because I'm single with no kids, lol. How the hell do mommies do it. So new workouts are going well. Started me week really early because I knew with my last week of class schedule and my crazy amount of nights there would be a couple of off days. So start back tomorrow with the rest of the week. Sunday I did my first Death circuit, and will continue with Legs, Heavy tomorrow. Possibly add some cardio in there because I am so hoping to get this blub off my tummy. It is my most aggravating area because it makes me feel uncomfortable with everything I do, because I can feel it...ugh. Especially with workouts like squats, lol. Feels like it just gets in the way. Damn fat, gotta go, gotta go.

Working the Upper Body...Heavy

2008-05-10T09:54:00.002-04:00

So today was Heavy weights, Upper Body. I am not the biggest fan of lifting heavy but I know that you have to hit the different muscle fibers, so it must be done. I don't usually feel like I have done as much when I'm leaving the gym when I go heavy with less reps. That was not the case this morning. I didn't realize it until I was stepping out the doors. I'm not sure if it was the workout or the fact that I worked nights (11pm-7a) and then went to the gym to workout afterwards. I have to get over that though because that is how my schedule is going to be for awhile. Will probably add a little cardio in later although it is not on the plan. Am looking at pics of figure girls and realizing how much fat I need to lose and how much muscle I need to gain. Ay yay yi, I have my work cut out for me. Clean dieting is definitely gonna have to be stepped up because I am not going to be going on stage looking like an azz. All the beautiful defined arms, v-tapered backs, poppin bums, killer quads is making me totally envious. I know I can make a dent into where I want to be in the fall, but the real muscle building is going to have to take place starting from November on and then leaning down from there. No getting down on myself now though, there is lots of work to be done. Time to build the muscle and blast the fat.

New Competition Date

2008-05-09T08:10:00.000-04:00

Well talked with my trainer/coach and I will be starting with a new competition date. I will be doing the OCB Maine event on September 27, 2008. It's not a very big event but will give me some good "prep" for the OCB Cape Cod Natural on October 11, 2008. Will help me critique posing and get used to doing my walk on stage, etc. This puts me at 20+wks out. Ooooooh, I am so excited, but also very nervous. A lot of work to be done to this body. Other things in my life are somewhat astray. But this I can definitely work with and am really, really, looking forward to it. More so everyday. Especially when I see others compete.

So right now my plan is to gain as much muscle and lose as much fat as possible within those 20+wks when I compete. Afterwards I will go through my bulking and adding muscle. Depending on finanaces I may use my P90x to add my muscle and add other workouts, we'll see. I plan on competing early next year starting probably with the OCB Spirit of America which takes place sometime in April, but we'll see. That's my tentative plan from now until the next season for competing for me :)

So here are my pics as of right now. Been really off the last couple of weeks and gained some lbs back, but I am totally gonna kill it the next 20wks to get to where I need to be. Looking good on stage. Pics taken 5/9/08. Also pic of my 2pc suit that I will be wearing for my upcoming competitions.

Starting my first blog :)

2008-05-08T18:57:00.000-04:00

Well, here we go. Starting my first blog for my very first figure competition to come. A lot of people are getting ready to compete over this coming weekend and it is getting me ever so excited and pumped out. I am still 22 + wks out, but I definitely need them at this point. A lot of muscle to gain and a lot of bodyfat to lose. Thankfully, my general shape and foundation is good, so just need to get it crackin. I purchased my 2pc suite a couple of wks ago. Probably should have waited untill later but loved the suite and it gets me that much more motivated, that much closer, and well that much broker, lol. Training has been on/off so far but am 100% ready to bring it where it should be. My trainer/coach will be starting my second phase of my workout/nutrition plan coming up this weekend so I am getting really pumped and hyped up for the changes that are getting ready to come and to making sure that I stay focused and disciplined with what he gives me. One more day of class lectures, one more weekend of getting things done for school, two more finals, and graduation to come. Ready to start my focus on getting ready to pass the NCLEX, getting a new grad nursing position (please God give me something good :) ) and focusing on training, good dieting, and staying disciplined so I can look my best when I step up on that stage on October 11, 2008.