9 Weeks...

After my splurge with the rolo's last weekend I made a promise to myself that I would keep my "relaxed meal" under control!  I had back to back parties this weekend so I stocked my cooler for the day.  The first week of preparing my meals felt so daunting but I have grown so accustomed to packing my meals that I can have my cooler ready to go in no time.  I indulged in some potato & pasta salad for dinner and had a slice of cake but didn't go overboard.  I avoided all chips and dips and stuck to the veggie platter.  I did realize one thing after eating my slice of cake and that is the power of sugar.  Since I do not have a TON of sugar, besides my fruits, in my day to day eating the moment I taste sugar it's all I want.  I literally could have killed the entire cake if someone gave me permission.  Sugar has this power over me and I have a hard time limiting myself once I give in.  I really want to focus on this so it's doesn't play mind games with me over the next few months.  My best bet is to not even taste it and then I won't know what I am missing!

In show news:

My theme wear finally came in!!!! I almost fainted when I saw the size of bottoms and I think my dad had to sit down.  I'll put it this way, they make Victoria Secret look like a granny panties.  After the sheer terror moment was over I am pleased with how it turned out and glad that it fits.  I think once my hair and makeup is done and I have a tan it will look a lot better.  Seeing the backside photo was an indication that I need to roll over on the beach a little more! My prop is a toy gun which also came in and I am pretty sure it looked like a drug deal in the Caraba's parking lot as they handed me over the gun. Once I spray paint it gold it will look a little less crips and bloods.  

I am attending my second Sunday Session this weekend so I hope it's a little less painful as the first and I am also meeting up with some savage girls to work on posing Saturday as well so the next blog should be a little more exciting!

Stats: 6/30/12

Weight: 132.4
BF %:  18.5 !! I asked my old trainer if I could use the handheld machine to see what I have lost in a month and I was pleased. 2.4% since the beginning of June :)

Rolo with the punches....10 weeks out

This weekend marked 10 weeks out until the show!  Things are slowly but surely coming together and all these packages coming in the mail are making it seem more and more real.  I should be getting my theme wear this week and it looks pretty bad ass! I am dying to try it on seeing as it will be my first piece of official competition attire. 

Things ordered:

Theme wear

gloves for theme wear

gun for theme wear

bikini

club wear

heels

tanner

Things that still need to be ordered:

bikini for model round

sportswear for model round

extensions

bling jewelry

registration

I am about half way there but as we can this was not the cheapest hobby to get into and I am probably forgetting things!

This weekend was great since I went into Boston to visit my best friends!  It is awesome being able to spend time with your girlfriends and hit the town but on the other hand it brings a lot of temptation.  I had 2 drinks and a salad for dinner but the real trouble started around 2:00 am when I decided to test my willpower trying a pretzel rolo sandwich. UM ..if these were not mouth watering on their own...add a peanut butter M&M and see what happens...fireworks in my mouth.  One after the other other they kept disappearing into my mouth and I couldn't stop. It was like it was a drug...a caramely, salty, peanut butter oasis.  SUCKS! The rolo's plus the fact that I couldn't work out Friday really screwed with my mental toughness.  I felt off track and exhausted.  I woke up Sunday and had a great workout in hopes it would rid my body of the rolo situation but when I stepped on the scale this morning ...no such luck!

The scale doesn't lie..maybe it was water weight...I'll tell myself that but I know it's not.  133.8 ....Son of a....I was at my lowest last week and now I am back up! I am learning not to dwell and just move on.  It's over..i over-splurged and all you can do is get back on track.  Made some hard boiled eggs, meatloaf, turkey burgers, chopped veggies, portioned my fruit and kissing last week good-bye!

10 weeks out stats:

weight: 133.8 (ERRRRR)

11 weeks & a Vacation

Vacation.  Vacation to many is a time to relax, eat, drink, stay up late, sleep in and just let loose.  This used to be my idea of vacation but nowadays i can omit about 4 out of 6 of those activities from my list.  What I can tell you is that even without those beloved activities I had an amazing vacation.

  As you know I am about 11 weeks from my first bikini competition so the thought of letting loose for 3 days is a scary thought!  This may seem extreme and it's only three days...what's the worst that can happen? I was determined to enjoy my vacation but keep the competition at the forefront of most of my decisions.  Was I perfect for the three days? No, but was I aware of what I was eating and did I prepare most of my meals? Yes.


If you are going away on vacation and have the option to bring your own food, DO IT!  We had a small kitchenette which was a real life saver.  I went grocery shopping the night before we left and stocked up on some different protein options, starch options, veggies and fruit.  We looked like we were moving in for 2 weeks and had to take a few trips but I didn't care.  This was the key to keeping myself on track during vacation and I didn't care how annoying, inconvenient or strange I looked. My hotel did offer a continental breakfast which to my surprise had hard boiled eggs...Son of a B...i made a dozen to bring with me.  You better believe I took 8 and looked like a crazy egg lady!  My poor boyfriend looked mortified as I headed  toward the egg bowl like it was Christmas morning.

Average vacation diet:


6:45am: Woke up (OMG! on vacation?..don't roll your eyes...yes, this is the time I woke up) Workout sesh


8:30am:  4 hard boiled egg whites, 1/4 cup oats. flax oil, 1/4 cup blueberries


11:00am: 4 hard boiled egg whites, 1 brown rice cake, 1/4 cup strawberry, 1 cup veg (this meal was mildly awkward in the Kittery outlet parking lot eating cold green beans and egg whites ..do what ya gotta do!


As we are sitting in the car and I am wolfing down the cold green beans my boyfriend said he was proud of me.  I know he is proud of me but this was the first time he verbalized it since I started this process and it really felt awesome to hear him say it.  He's my support system and having some reinforcement really makes a girl's day!


1:30 pm: 4 oz low sodium turkey, Joseph's flax wrap, spinach, mustard and 1/4 cup strawberries


4:30pm: chicken burger, 1 brown rice cake and 1/4 cup blueberries


7:00pm.  So this is when the big decisions came into play.  One night which I considered my cheat dinner was spinach salad w evoo, broccoli, feta, pine nuts and then scallops and kale salad for dinner.

DREADED DESERT!! okay this was my far my hardest part of vacation.. First night I had a kiddie cone @ ben and jerry's, 2nd night I had some candy and last night I had a few bites of my bf's ice cream but didn't get my own.


Overall, I splurged at points but was really proud of myself for preparing all my food and getting up every morning and doing my workouts and adding in some extra cardio!  It's all about finding a balance and whether I have it down yet who knows but it worked for me. 


Progress Pics: 11 weeks 7/16/12


I took my weight on Thursday 7/12 before I left for vacation so I could accurately assess the damage once I got home and it was 131.8!! Say Whhaa....131's ....okay we are talking middle school since I hit that weight.  I figured I would farewell to that number.  Weighed myself yesterday Sun 7/15 when I got home and it was 132.8....not freaking out about it.  It's 1lb and it could be water weight. I waited to take my progress pics this morning Mon 7/16 since I typically take them when I wake up.  So I jumped on the scale to see if a day of chugging water and clean eating would shed the lb and and guess what the scale read......131.8 babyyy!!  I am ecstatic that I did not gain a single lb on vacation!

Makin that bbq my B*iatch

Unfortunately, due to being a wee bit over anxious I made my 12 week post a week too early!  This Saturday marked the true 12 weeks until my show! 

As we all know the wonderful and festive holiday known as 4th of July happened to fall on HUMP DAY!  Seriously?!  During the work week my diet is on drill Sargent status and I never have a slip.  Having this holiday on a Wednesday and having to go to work the next day was not ideal!  I felt like I was in a country western movie, drawing out my gun, and looking 4th of July straight in the eye....the dreaded bbq...so we meet again!

I was NOT going to let this day ruin my leg workout I had done in the morning or the progress I had made half way through the week.  This story has a happy ending because I made that day my bitch, kicked butt and took names.  Now, will this ever happen again..I can't say..but I my willpower was on point!

Supplies for kicking ass and taking names at your next cook out:

 - Cooler
 - WATER, WATER and more water....preferably some Crystal light
 - Turkey or chicken burgers to grill
 - I packed a salad and some EVOO dressing
 - Veggie platter with dip

I made it through the day with out taking a sip of alcohol, indulging in what looked to be the best brownie I have ever seen or eating chips (my biggest weakness).  I did however have ONE delectable patriotic chocolate covered strawberry that I convinced myself was my 1/4 cup serving of fruit.  This may be a little strict but it's a WEDNESDAY!  What happens when Saturday rolls around and I am looking for a cheat?!  Then what?! I double cheat?! NO, I saved my cheat meal for Saturday and enjoyed a Delicious dinner :)

In show news, my theme wear is done and I am DYING to see pics!  I will post some pics once she sends me them!! 

Progress Pics:

Weight: 132.2

                                     

12 Weeks

It's offishhh people, the count down is on and it's 12 weeks til I step on stage at Boston. Not a ton has  changed since my last post since I am still eating the same diet and workouts but since it's July 1st my workouts have changed for the month.  I am seeing more definition which I am excited about!  It's not leaps and bounds but I can tell a difference.  

I went to my first Sunday Session today which if you are not familiar with Cathy Savage Fitness they hold Sunday 2 hours sessions of 1 hour workout and 1 hour posing and walking.  Let me just tell you, this workout is NO joke. I for the most part think of myself as being in relatively good shape but this workout left me gasping for air!  It ended with a plank but I was literally so sweaty that i couldn't keep myself up.  With that said....i loved it! Going to workouts like this make me realize I am capable of pushing myself harder in the gym and in my HIIT.  After squats, burpees, bear crawls, alligators and whatever other wild life creature movement you can think of were over we then put on our massive heels to walk and pose for an hour.  This is by far my favorite part!  I have been practicing a few times a week in my living room so I was excited to get back in the studio!

In other show news, I ordered my bikini and theme wear...oh yaaaa.  My wallet is screaming ohh nooo but I have to get this stuff out of the way espcially since they have to be professionally made.  My bikini will be a cracked ice looking pink and for theme wear just call me Bond, Jane Bond.  I am having a gold and black tuxedo bikini made and will use a gold gun as my prop.  I have NOO idea what I will do with the prop yet or how I will choreograph my walk but I did have Jonathan put on the James Bond theme music and pretend to be a secret agent around my apartment for a hot second.  I don't think he was convinced or impressed whatsoever.  one step at a time.

Progress Pic:

another beautiful hair do i know......gosh i really should take these when I have been up for more than an hour and look like a normal human being.  

6/30/12

133.6

16 Weeks Out

My first week on the CSF bikini plan went well.  I will say that this eating 6 times a day business is quite the undertaking.  I feel like my lunch box is 200lbs and the amount of plastic bags and Tupperware I use on a daily basis is crazy.   I am also eating a meal at 10:00pm which has been by far the hardest meal to eat.    Last night I had a turkey burger and avocado and raw veggies LOL...not exactly the chocolate bar I was trying to envision but sometimes we have to do things for the bigger picture. 

This plan currently has me eating more carbs than I typically eat and I was nervous to see how weigh-in would go this past Friday. I was actually down to 133.2 which for me, is the lowest I have been since like ....freshman year of high school.  I am really liking the workout plan thus far because each day has a purpose whether it's chest and back on Monday and glutes and legs on Tuesday, I know I am working a different muscle group.  In other news, FINALLY found a pair of shoes for the show.  Literally, 4 pairs later and one fit.  They are pretty uncomfortable but I am hoping that is normal!

I ordered fabric for my bikini this week and am sending it to a designer to make my suit!  I am hoping that I love the fabric in person as much as I did online.  I picked a Fuscia sparkly hologram fabric that will hopefully shine on stage.   I love the shape and tops of her bikinis so I cannot wait to see how mine comes out!  http://www.lidiaconti.com/.  It won't be blingtastic as much as I would like because lets face it, I refuse to pay a butt load of money for my first ever suit.  If for some reason I hate it what am I going to do with an $800 bikini? Still trying to come up with a concrete idea for my theme wear.  Things are coming along and I am excited to see how my body changes!!



Progress Pics - 6/16/12 - lets also keep in mind that these pictures were taken about two mins after I woke up so things are a lil roughhhh.  I don't really see a change but it's only been a week so I will post pictures again in two weeks and see how the guns are lookin!

Weight: 133.2

Walk That Walk

I want to start off by saying I had an amazing weekend.  I didn't even do anything major but it was filled with my favorites things: friends, exercise, food (some clean some not so clean) and family.

Via my last post, I jumped the gun earlier than planned to enroll in Cathy Savage Fitness mainly to sign up for the Sass and Class posing workout shop that was held this Saturday.  I wasn't sure how often they have these seminars so I wanted to get one in early that way I can walk around my house in stripper shoes all day everyday and perfect the walk/posing.  Pretttty sure my boyfriend is already over me showing him my walk since as soon as I got home I pranced around the house with excitement and made him watch me 5 times and again at my parents house. I was assigned my coach and nutrition/fitness plan which both at the moment seem totally doable and not much different than my current routine!

Let me rewind for a second pre-workshop and say how freakkingg nervous I was for this thing!! I felt like it was my first day at school and was terrified no one would sit next to me at lunch.  Would all the girls be veterans and I would look like a goon?  Would I be the chunky one? These types of scenarios playing over and over in my head. 

Within the first 5 minutes of signing in and meeting Cathy I had already met 5 girls who were basically brand new and who were competing in the September show!!! Meeting other newbies really set my nerves at ease and it helped that they were all super friendly.  There were a few other girls that had competed before and looked AHH-mazing. They were competing in the Miami show this upcoming weekend so their bods were rockin!  We learned the proper walk and posing for the bikini show and after a few shaky runs I felt more comfortable and confident.  Overall I left with such an exhilarating feeling and felt proud of myself for taking this whole bikini competition notion and turning it into a reality!

I will start my official check-ins with my coach next Monday since it's every two weeks until the 12 week mark.  Below is my food for day one of bikini prep.  They give you more of a guideline of proteins, carbs, fats ect and you do what you want with it! 

Meal 1: (not shown) 1/2 cup oats, 1 T almond butter, 1/2 cup strawberries, 3/4 cup egg whites with spinach and mushroom
Meal 2: 4 egg whites, 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 cup yellow pepper
Meal 3: about 3.5 oz turkey breast, 1/4 cup brown rice quinoa mix, 1 cup green beans side of 1 oz almonds
Meal 4: 3.5 oz turkey breast 1/4 cup sweet potato chips
Meal 5: extra lean turkey meatballs with eggplant
Meal 6: casein shake or egg whites with side of green beans

A lot of preparation for this thing.  Should get interesting with no dishwasher or AC in the summer!