8 Weeks... Broke but FABULOUS

I think I am behind the 8ball on my countdown since this Saturday will mark the 8 week countdown until Fitness New England. 
 
I am feeling pretty good with my checklist since I managed to get registration taken care of...YIKES...$350 smackeroonies.  All to strut my stuff on stage for a matter of minutes.  Seems a little crazy when you break it down but I'm young and don't have a ton of financial responsibilities on my plate so ...swipe goes the debit card. 
 
I also purchased my suit for our team photo shoot that will also be held that same day.  Upside of purchasing a VS suit is that I can sport it on my vacation 2 weeks prior to the show and all through summer!

I also received my theme wear bikini in the mail this week!!! I am bringing it to suit designer, Christine Summers, to add finishing touches so it will be stage ready.  I found the suit on Esty (omg love this site) and contacted the designer to see if she could make it for me in a special fabric.  It was probably the easiest transaction I have made to date!  I sent the paypal payment once she received the fabric and literally within days she shipped the suit! 
 
Check her out....not so much fitness comp suits but for a rocking swimsuit she makes some killer stuff!
 
http://www.natalyatoporova.com/ 
 
and if you are wondering....my theme wear suit is featured on the page :))))   She had mentioned the fabric I sent probably wouldn't be suited for the beach and I had to laugh because....OMG...this is not a bathing suit I would rock at Hampton Beach!
 
Still wondering what my theme is ehh?  I will  have to keep you waiting to reveal the theme!

Progress Pics 2 26 13..totally made the saturation on these darker LOL...i am so pale I can't even stand it!!!!

A New Body...10 weeks

After really stepping up this past week on my diet and making sure I had a wide variety of protein, starches, veggies and fats, I am feeling great!  Just within the past 2 weeks of monitoring my diet a little extra I have noticed results.  It can be difficult to compete because your body goes through fluctuations in weight and it's hard to find the balance of your normal body in everyday life and the one that steps on stage.  I am still a little ways out from my show and my diet has barely changed from how I eat on a regular basis but with monitoring my lax meal and keeping it about 85% clean I am finally seeing this hard earned muscle I have been dreaming about. I have a ways to go from what I ultimately want in terms of muscle but I am liking what I am seeing!  

Monday food prep for meals 2 and 4
for the rest of the week

As I had stated in a previous post I have ditched the scale mentality.  This has really helped my mindset and I am really loving what I see in the mirror regardless of what the scale says.  Since I was having a SUPAA FLY moment this weekend I decided...what the heck...why not just jump on for kicks and see what I weigh.  It has been at least a month or more since I have stepped on the scale and I had mixed feelings.  I got on and ....137.8.  I had a few different reactions to this number.

1.  Not the number I have been used to seeing for the past 6 to 10 months
2.  Around the 10 weeks mark prepping for my first show my weight was around 132
3.  Is this muscle, fat, both?

After taking in the number and digesting it...I have to say I was indifferent.  I am in a totally different body than I was back in July 2012 and I can't expect to build muscle weighing and looking the same as I did then.  I have really increased my lifting..lessened my cardio...and dang it...I think it's muscle.  Before I had stepped on the scale I was admiring my arms and the definition I was seeing and I was starting to see some abs again....seeing that number did not defeat me...it let me know that the hard work I was putting in was paying off.  Who cares if the scale is higher/lower ect..whatever..if you are happy with what's staring back at you in the mirror then that's all that matters. 

Show News:

• Foxwoods rooms are booked for Friday and Saturday night YIPEE!
• Theme wear is coming along...getting my suit made from a designer in Miami and then snazzed up by Christine Summers.
• Ordered another bikini...I swear...I have a problem...I don't need a new bikini...I just want one
• Working on my registration for the show...if I wasn't broke now..I sure will be after I register
• Sportswear for model shorts came in...holy beyonce, jlo, karsashian.....there is a lot of tush going and I don't even have a tush ...YIKES...I suppose when you order shorts off of discount stripper...what do you expect eh?

This second time around competing I am feeling amazing.  I am not as stressed since I know what to expect ..for the most part.  I absolutely love my coach and BA Team and our Slaughterday's.  I will have a few obstacles coming my way in the next few months but I am determined to get on stage looking and feeling my best!

BA girls and I getting our practice on!

Progress Pics:

12 Weeks.. The Body Ambition Foodie

This Saturday marked the official 12 weeks until Fitness New England. 

Now, this doesn't mean I need to give up everything at this very moment but I do need keep a watchful eye on my portions/water/workouts ect.  This was the first weekend in awhile where I felt I was able to really stay on track.  I had my lax meal on Saturday night but other than that I was able to stick to my meals. My self control went on a bit of a hiatus after the show and I think it's finally starting to come back..and just in time!



GISG coconut walnut chicken

I have been trying a lot of new recipes lately which has been a great way to switch things up! So much so that I was formally given the title, The Body Ambition Foodie :)  I just refuse to eat chicken and veggies all day.  Since i have made this into my lifestyle versus just competition prep its a must that I find things that still taste delicious, not too time consuming as well as clean. 
Some of my favorites sites I have been using for inspiration lately are:

www.eatcleandiet.com/
www.littlebshealthyhabits.com/
www.powecakes.net
www.1fitfoodie.com/
www.busygirlhealthylife.com
www.thegetinshapegirl.com/
www.thegraciouspantry.com/
 

Eat Clean Diet - Protein PB Cup

Whenever I am craving something I pretty much just google....Clean "  " and then browse the recipes until I find one that best suits my ingredients on hand. 
 
If you are looking to make the switch to cooking/baking "clean", some of the key ingredients to have in your kitchen are:
 


Lori Harder's broccoli/cheese
stuffed chicken

Healthy Fats
coconut oil
extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Almond butter or nut butter of choice
Ground flax seed
Chai seeds
 
Dairy
unsweetened almond milk
coconut milk
non-fat Greek yogurt...I like Fage
egg whites
protein powder ( i am currently using Optimum Nutrition Natural Whey (vanilla) - no artificial sweeteners ect...so far I really like it! I order from www.netrition.com
 
Starches
Rolled oats/oat flour/ whole wheat flour/coconut flour ..as long as you have one of the following you can make it work
 

1Fitfoodie's maple PB muffins

Sweeteners
unsweetened applesauce
baking stevia/ agave nectar/ honey/pure maple syrup
cinnamon
unsweetened coconut - fun addition of baking
 
There are a ton of ingredients you can have at home but I find when I have the items above on hand...I can really whip up a ton of different/healthy/clean recipes.  I find all my ingredients at Market Basket so don't think you need to go to some fancy grocery store and spend a boat load. 
 
 
Progress Pics: taken 1/4/13