New BLOG!!!

FIToriBLOG.com

Come check out my new site!!!!

There are many new features and hopefully it's a bit easier to use. I love that it has an email subscription by feedburner so sign up for emails when I post new blog entries.

I think it looks better and I still have a lot of work to do....BUT I think you'll like the layout better...I know I do! Thanks prophotoblog.com!

My blog roll is at the footer as well as my archives and a search function.

I will be soon adding all of my progress pics as a link at the top and will go all the way up to competition....so they'll be easier to locate! Someday, I plan to add update pics of prego and afterward also...thanks Anne for the idea!

As always, let me know if you have any suggestions or anything you don't like! I hope to post more now that I'm on my new site. I've spent weeks getting it all set up....this is a whole new world for me!

Progress Pics

November 13, 2009

This is my first butt pic so please be nice :) I plan to show my befores (which are GREAT befores..if you know what I mean) when I have a great after...this will be the in between. It's funny that you can see my left arm in the middle picture has a "farmer's tan" or "driving arm" from driving so much lately - including the 5 hour drive to get there on my business trip....all the way in the sun. Oops!

I feel as though I've maintained the last few weeks which I know is a great thing...it's hard to maintain, but as hard as I've worked I hope to see more results. I have done it to myself though...last week was so rough at work and with my final masters paper due and being called out of town last minute on a business trip, it was all I could do to stick to my diet and get some sleep. I will do a better job next week as my masters paper was turned in and I can spend those extra hours in the gym!

Check back with me in a few weeks.

Progress and Update

October 26, 2009

Yes, that's an ugly bruise from lifting....I banged a weight into myself....and that's what happens!
I must say that I'm not proud of my results this last month...I've maintained! I did really well the week of my brother's wedding, but the 2nd week of my husband's homecoming....I cheated...a LOT. Once I started, I didn't stop. I tried all the good food in Chicago and was a really, really bad student at that point. My trainer would be and probably is disappointed. As soon as I got home, I got back on track from day 1 and I have maintained my weight loss, but obviously the progress I could have made....I didn't. It was a waste of a month because I'm still maintaining. You can see if you compare my progress pic with the last few that it's pretty similar.

I'm also struggling with my back still. It got worse than it's ever been last week, but then it got better. I think being in the car on my business trip all week did the most harm, so I think that's why I'm feeling better now that I'm home. I'm not sure. I did well last week on my business trip and stuck to my diet but missed 2 cardio workouts due to the amount of hours I was working. So, again, back on track this week. I'm not being too hard on myself for the past, but am using it as a reason NOT to cheat at all and NOT to make any excuses TODAY....or TOMORROW. I can excuse last week, but I can't excuse today.

I have an MRI scheduled today. Hopefully I'll get some answers, but the best thing is that I'm starting to feel better, finally...so let's hope that progress in the right direction (healing) continues!

A peak at our Chicago trips...



A peak at my brother's wedding.....

Progress

* Thursday, September 24, 2009 *
Yes, my hair is straight-ish! Thought I'd change it up a bit w/ the Chi ceramic flat iron!

Progress is going to my brother's wedding, with all of my family there, eating out every meal and sticking to my pre-cooked meals and workouts!!!! I am really proud of myself for sticking to it and doing so well! Everytime throughout this process that I have done something I never thought I could do, it has been great! I'm learning so much about what I'm capable of and it's awesome!

I also felt awesome at the wedding. I didn't feel bloated or controlled by food. I didn't feel pissed that my clothes wouldn't fit. I didn't have to dress around the possibility that I might eat carbs and get so bloated that I'd have to cover up. I felt great. I didn't have to wear Spanx to the wedding and I felt comfortable in my own skin at the alter and in all of the pictures. It was a great experience AND I know that I only have further to go in my leaning out and will only feel BETTER in the coming months. What a cool place to be??!!!

I did discover that when I'm tired, it's like being drunk and I lose my ability or ease to control what I eat! I was drunk dialing Domino's when I got home! I'm trying not to beat myself up but good grief it was like an out of body experience and when I woke up the next day I couldn't believe what I'd done. Moving on.....

The only pic I have so far of the wedding week - at the rehearsal dinner with my brother!

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?

Progress Update

7/11/09 * 8/27/09

7/11/09 * 8/27/09

I haven't done a before and after in a while. I don't see that many changes, but a few...it's happening. I am a little pink from the tanning bed...trying to get tan for my big brother's wedding in a few weeks. We'll see if I can get tan enough by then! I am seeing a difference in my quad sweep/size on the side shots and I'm seeing my shoulders pop more and my waist a bit trimmer in the front shots. I feel like I just can't get the fat off my middle and lower half!!! I can't wait to see the finished product months down the road. I will be amazed I'm sure and feel like I'm in someone else's body - or maybe I feel like, finally, this is the body I always thought I had! I wonder when the cellulite will disappear! Ugh...I have a ways to go!!! I'll just keep trucking along!

I'm finally down to 151....After bulking I got up as high as 167, so I'm down to 151. Haven't moved the scale too quickly but I have seen changes in the way my clothes fit and inches. The last month or so I've lost 2 inches on my butt and an inch on my waist....not too much but noticeable. I still feel really strong in the gym and feel like I'm gaining strength/mass, definitely maintaining my hard-earned muscle and I'm still losing fat on top of that! So, I'm getting the best of both worlds...and I'm rarely hungry.

My back is getting a little better. I'm feeling much better than I was a month ago so it's healing...takes time!!!! Let's hope that's it for sports injuries for a while!

Thanks so much for all of your support!! I'm really excited about getting even leaner and I can't wait to see a 6 pack!

Habits and Update

Today, August 23, 2009 about 8 p.m.

I have been lazy lately with blogging....I'm sorry!!! I took this photo an hour or so ago and thought I'd at least give you a bit of an update. I have been wondering lately if what I'm doing now is becoming a habit or if I'll be so sick of it next year after my comp that I'll rebel and go back to my old ways...say it ain't so! I really hope this is becoming a habit for me.

I can see me later in life with kids, packing up my lunch and snacks and packing up lunches and snacks for my toddler(s) to go out on the town for the day. We'll see. I hope that I don't make my kids crazy with all of my obsessions and preoccupations about weight. That's a topic for another day...moms who have any advice about this....please share!!!

Still truckin' along on my plan with cutting. I'm seeing changes, slowly but surely. Erik has me with no cheat meals for 2 weeks to try to see more results. I really think my cheats were affecting my results. I decided to change my mental theory on them. Rather than planning for them all week and really feeling like I deserved everything I'd craved ALL week in one sitting, I'm not planning a cheat at all, but rather waiting until I truly crave something and if on a training day (a day I can have carbs) and it's been at least a week....if I truly cannot live w/o it...I'll have a CONTROLLED cheat....really truly controlled!!! This is a work in progress for me! But, I'm doing better and as I always say...life is a journey!

Those of us who do this are crazy, yes, but motivated and we keep our routine day in day out, week in week out, month after month, some year after year. I think that exercise is a part of my life now that I could not live without...well, I should say lifting....I can probably live without cardio. Though I think I will get a bike during or after this comp and may enjoy road biking...we'll see. I hope that this diet will also be part of my life after this comp. It is quite easy to keep it up...maybe with a little bit more relaxation and some family dinners that aren't on my "plan."

MY BACK - It's getting better though it's not totally better yet. I had an xray and found out it's musculature, so glad to know there's nothing wrong with my spine or discs!!! But, as you all know, sports injuries take time to heal and I'm working on healing right now. It just takes time and Erik has been great about adjusting my workouts to do what doesn't hurt for the time being....don't get me wrong....my new workouts are kicking my BUTT!!! WOOHOO!!! LOVE IT!!!

Keep up your routines and make them habit!!!

Update Pic

I'm sick!!! This is the first time in 11 months that I have been sick with a cold or sinus infection and I didn't miss it when the last 11 months!! I feel awful and hope it gets better soon. This is miserable and I have too much to do to be feeling crappy! I'm hoping that I don't lose any ground by being sick for a few days.

I asked Shawna of styleberryPHOTO to take my photo after the gym the day before I got sick. I never flex my left shoulder enough when I'm not in front of a mirror....I'll have to work on that!

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!!!

Progress Update - 4 Weeks with LBC

Far Left is Just before my injury (I gained a bit more weight...5 lbs probably after that before starting with Erik 4 weeks ago)
Middle picture is 2 weeks ago and FAR RIGHT is today (after 4 weeks with LBC) 5/21/09

Call me crazy, but I see the transformation after in the last 2 weeks above.
The pic on the left is from less than 2 weeks ago and the one on the right is from today 5/21/09.

I promised progress pics a month ago!!! So, here are some of them. It's been four weeks with LBC and I've lost about 10 pounds since my highest weight this year in 2009. I just updating my second bi-weekly and sent it to my coach, Erik.

If you don't remember, I started bulking mid-January and I tried it on my own, gaining too much fat for the amount of muscle I put on. I then, decided to work with LBC and I got injured. I took almost 2 months to get my writes to where I could get back in the gym and now I'm still almost healed again. I still have limited strength in my right wrist which limits me in the gym but I'm doing the best I can!

I am losing at a pretty slow rate of about a pound a week with LBC but I am also gaining strength while cutting!! It's amazing! I'm increasing my weights on a lot of exercises while I'm cutting. I'm not ridiculously exhausted...in fact a feel pretty good most days, even though I'm "dieting" or "cutting." I'm trying to remind myself that the slower the better to maintain my muscle mass that I've worked SO hard to gain!

Stay tuned for more great cutting!!! (Then back to bulking!)

Plans are still to compete in 2010. And, my plan to get my priorities in order have worked well!!! I think I'm getting a B in this current masters class...no more 4.0 GPA which was part of my plan for backing off that and realizing that I don't have to have a 4.0 in order to get my masters. I want to get my masters while having a life and still giving to my husband, my job, my fitness and myself and rathan fully cutting one out...I realized that there was another way to balance. I don't have to be perfect at everything!!! So, I spent a bit less time, energy and stress on my masters and it was much more manageable!! Can you believe it? I can let go and not worry about being perfect!!! I'm working on adding that into all aspects of my life! It's coming along! Thanks al for your support!