UPDATE & Progress Pics

September 10, 2009

May 7, 2009 * June 3, 2009 * September 10, 2009

May 7, 2009 * June 3, 2009 * September 10, 2009

I spaced this morning and turned the wrong way....oops!

I'm seeing some GREAT changes lately...the last few weeks. I don't think I'm quite ready to post my back shots yet. It's looking much better (my ass that is) but not quite there yet.

I thought it'd be fun to show how far I've come since May b/c there are some SERIOUS changes since then. I'm loving taking these 2 week pics b/c it's easy to be in denial but when looking back I can't help but think NEVER again!!!

I'm hoping to be ready by April! We'll see...I'm taking it one week at a time. I really thought this process would be quicker but I'm learning how it works and I'm learning about myself and I wouldn't change this experience for anything ! It's been great! No more time to bulk before the show, but I'm adding muscle and strength while cutting so I think I'll be ok! I'm stoked about my shoulders so I'm thinking by April, I won't be disappointed in my size, but we'll see!!

I had my first refeed this week. I was terrrified!!! I was freaked out to eat carbs at each of my six meals yesterday! I even emailed Erik after Meal 2 and asked him if I really had to finish out the day! Really??? I didn't notice a fatty staring back at me in the mirror this morn! I am so amazed that I didn't look bloated all day or today after that! Again, I'm learning SO much about this whole process!

Off to do my cardio....yuck!!! Good news is that I'm wearing shorts to the gym. Crazy for ME to wear SHORTS! I'm feeling really good and can't wait to see even more changes!! I'm so excited!! Can you tell?

Inspiration.....Me???

June 18, 2009 ~ in a hotel for work....excuse the background!
Please also forgive the morning hair and no makeup ~ it was 6 am and this is right after getting out of bed at my hotel (I was traveling for work)!

I was at the gym the other day and a man asked me a question about working out....this happens now and then. I usually refer people to the BFL book or answer their questions about what I do, if it relates or if I can give a short answer. This time, though, he said to me that he works out harder when I am in the gym because he always sees me busting my a$$!!!

Me??? Inspiring others to work harder in the gym??!!! That is the coolest thing!!!! So, think of that while you're in the gym ladies, even if others don't say it....they may be thinking it! It's nice to know that not only am I doing a great thing for myself by being at the gym, but to know that I may be motivating others while there is just icing on the cake...no, no icing at the gym :(.

I'm pretty happy with my results so far with Lean Bodies Consulting. I wish they had come faster, of course. And, I feel like had I worked harder or been stricter with my diet or cheats that it would have come faster. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of continued results during this cut. Thanks so much for all of your support! I truly appreciate it.

And, the BFL Challenge that I organized for the wives is starting on Monday!!!! If anyone wants to join with us for the fun of doing a challenge, it starts Monday, June 22, 2009!!!

Priorities

I have been thinking a while about priorities. I feel like some days there isn't any time to relax, unwind and recover so that I can start all over the next day and do it again. I was trying to decide what to give up! I had a few choices:

• Work - NO!
• Masters - Maybe, but I really don't want to be a quitter
  
• Workouts - Maybe, but I feel horrible when I put that off b/c I'm too busy
  
• Diet - Same as workouts
  
• Housework -Maybe, but I can't live and work in a home that is filthy!
  

I don't want to be a quitter. I want to finish what I started w/ my fitness goals of competing next year as well as my masters. They are both goals that I have started and want to finish...and not too late either because I want to finish my masters and complete my first competition before we have children. The masters is what I was thinking of giving up to pursue my fitness goals, but I just can't stand the thought of starting something and not finishing it. So, then I realized....it's not all black and white!

• I don't have to work 60 hours a week. In fact, they'd probably rather I not!!! It's hard though b/c I really love what I do and want to keep it up and get ahead of my work rather than be behind
  
• I don't have to get a 4.0 GPA on my Masters Program (though I have that now and that's a hard one to let go)
  

I can find a balance with it all I think if I give up my perfectionism to do everything perfectly! I want a Masters and I'd love to put a 4.0 GPA on there also, but realistically, does that matter? Does it matter if I'm fat and unhappy in the process?

I'm learning to let some things go and try to find more of a balance so that I can "have it all" without having to give anything up at this point in my life. Any advice would be great!!!

Also, I have to say that working w/ Erik (Lean Bodies Consulting) really has freed up my time. My workouts are 30-45 minutes each, some days 2 a day, but not bad! And, my meals are so planned that it's easy. I'm sure it'll only get easier to plan my meals the more I get used to these measurements and how much to cook on the weekends to be prepared. Sticking to the plan is the hard part, but being on a plan does allow some brain power to go to other things. There's nothing to think about except what time the next meal is and whether it's already cooked!

Lean Bodies Consulting

Well, I said " stay tuned" to my blog for an update on whether or not I chose to hire a trainer, but then I got injured. Actually, just after I signed up with him, I got my diagnosis and we decided it was best to wait until I was healed. Now, I am not 100% better, but almost there and READY READY READY to get back into "training." Since my own "bulking" attempts caused me to gain more fat than muscle, I believe, we are cutting now until I am at a better place and then will start to bulk again. I still plan to compete next year in 2010....so hope that no injuries occur between now and then!! I plan to work with Erik, though life evolves and you never know what will happen in the future. At this point, I trust his plan, knowledge and philosophies more than other trainers I have spoken with thus far (and I've listed those below)....no offense to anyone!

Check out Erik and Noel here:
Lean Bodies Consulting

There are some fantastic blogs on his site. Erik and Noel both have great blogs! I am extremely impressed so far with Erik and his plan! His workouts are kicking my ass!!! I made a bit of an ass out of myself at first telling him I didn't think I needed any training assistance because "there's only so much you can do with training"....turns out I was wrong! I'm learning every day from his plan! Also, his diet is great! It's so simple and makes so much sense AND is really easy to follow.....willpower, as always, is the hardest part!

Things I like most about Erik's plan and "philosophy" and trust him over other trainers because:

• His plans do not include 2 hours of cardio a day to cut. His training is concise and compact and works. Look at Allison Ethier who uses his training.
  
• He doesn't think that a client has to gain a ton of fat in order to bulk and in fact sets a "high" end and once that is reached, cutting begins because, after all, we all have a life to live even if we want to bulk at the same time.
  
• He doesn't plan on a "show" date until he's worked with you enough to see how your body will respond. Makes sense, right? I love the idea of cutting, until you reach see your body responding and THEN setting a date. I think it's the fear of every new competitor to not be ready to get on stage and face the dilema of 1. quitting 2. getting on stage and not being ready.
• Also, check out his CLIENT PICTURES (Before & After) which sold me on him totally!!!

Long story long....I am very excited about this new "chapter" of my life and am really excited about cutting back to my normal size and eventually into better "shape" than I've been in a while or ever. I can already see during week one that I am a bit out of shape and looking forward to seeing progress!!!

Also, I'll start posting progress pics in a couple of weeks. I'll be sending him biweekly progress pics (I think) and I'll start posting them. You've already seen my "before" as the last pic I took after bulking.