Its a girl thing

So lets just say there are times when training can be challenging. Ladies you know what I'm saying.. BUT I am am not using any excuses to avoid my scheduled workout, although something salty followed by something sweet and my DVR'd housewives of NYC sounds good right now.. But instead I am heading to the gym for Chest/Shoulders/Tri's (circuit style with burpies, supersets and tri-sets) and 30 min on the Stepmill...

I just want to thank everyone for all their support, I have received a ton of positive feedback and inquiries of what I'm eating etc... I have said it before, this is not a diet for me but a lifestyle, my goal is to follow this plan throughout the year, especially since I have decided I want to train for another show. I am so focused and driven by the results and more importantly the idea of parading around on stage in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny sea green bikini:) I know it will be more challenging to stay the course during the times when I am not counting down the weeks to a figure show, but don't want to see all my hard work go to waste.. 58 days till the show!

I started this because I was tired of feeling fluffy, I wanted to look "good" but I just never imagined how great I would feel..

Week 7 so far

So still down 12 pounds with no rebounding. Monday started off with a total body kick in the ass workout with Joe.. He was all business and as promised I did not bitch or complain at least not out loud.

• burpies (12 reps) (Holding 15 pd DB's jump out to plank-pushup-jump in-squat jump-DB shoulder press)
• wall squat for 30 seconds
• squat press with 40 pound barbell 15 reps
• walk up 5 sets of stairs holding 40 pound barbell over head the whole time
• back down the stairs, sprint back up the 5 sets of stairs
• squat press 15 reps
• wall squat 30 seconds
• med ball walking lunge with twist across the whole gym
• TRX lat pulls
• bench dips
• smith machine lat pulls..
• leg press 10 reps, 20, reps, 30 reps, 40 reps (upping weight each time)
• RINSE-REPEAT
  

needless to say it kicked my butt, but it was great.. Tues was cardio/core, and today was my love/hate favorite:LEG DAY!! I entered the gym feeling less than energetic but was wide awake after that workout. Joe always manages to come up with stuff that kicks the snot out of my lower half, which if you've seen the tiny bikini is necessary!
So mid week and feeling great... Tomorrow is back/core and some boxing. LOVE boxing, burns a ton of calories and shreds the core.. Friday will be chest/shoulders/tris and I will follow the workout to a T on my own, last week I omitted the burpies and did ball pushup/DB over press supersets instead. I got dirty looks from my trainer the whole time. Saturday I will be doing double cardio sessions, one in the morning and one later in the afternoon/early evening. I will update my blog over the weekend with my weight... 2 pounds away from being in the 130's again!!! I am officially addicted to this!

8 weeks out Pic

Top :Before 153 pounds
Below: after 6 weeks, 141 pounds



So as promised I am posting a pic.. this is after 6 weeks of training, 8 weeks until the show. I have a ways to go to get the abs popping but they are getting there!!

When I got the suit less then 2 weeks ago I had mini love handles hanging over the side, now, no more...... Hard work does pay off!
Can't wait to see what happens in the next 60 days!!

(and my goodness does a spray tan do a body good!)

Week 7

Tomorrow starts week 7, I am training with Joe in the morning which he promised would be brutal... Yikes, after a day of rest I feel ready, and I promised to not bitch or moan once, we'll see how that goes.. I am down another pound, so 12 pounds so far, more importantly I am much leaner than I've been in a very long time! For all that I am doing I should be, but still have a ways to go.

I got my posing suit this week, its sea green, cute, but very simple.. I didn't want anything too flashy, I may add something to it still not sure... Its TINY, very TINY and adding some much needed motivation to stay the course.

I have to say I am enjoying this so much, I'm even considering doing another show in Oct, I think I will do ok for my first show, but I started in not so great shape and am busting my ass to get to where I need to be, I would like to train for a show when I am in great shape and push myself to achieve a better level of fitness.. Sounds crazy, but I like having a goal... We'll see!!!! Pics coming soon.........

Week 6

This week I started off really tired, even after my rest day on Sunday. I'm assuming its due to the lowering of carbs.. Mondays workout with Joe was crazy! total body/functional/core day.. He told me I should be proud, I was just happy I didn't puke or crap my pants. Tues was a solid 50 minutes of cardio, and Wed was LEGS or as Joe called it "LUNGE DAY" 2 sets of every different type of lunge, my legs are FRIED this morning! So far this week I lost one pound, total of 11 pounds since I began. I still need to get my body fat done, I am going to make an appt to get that done this week.
Although I'm a little more tired than normal, overall I feel great. In the beginning I kept dwelling on things "I can't have", but now I am seeing all the benefits to all the hard work I am putting in. This process is really making me re-evaluate my whole approach to diet and exercise. For me this is not a diet, but definitely a lifestyle that I will stick too even when this competition is over. Will I have wine again? Most likely, but it will not be a normal part of my day like it was... I actually went out last night with some girlfriends and had green tea, water and my last protein shake of the day (normally it was chardonnay and nachos), I had just as much fun and didn't feel left out or deprived. WHO KNEW???
I know exactly how over the last few years I have packed on 15 pounds, so now I know exactly what to do and NOT to do to keep it off. I don't have a goal weight or size, I just want to be whatever I am supposed to be with training hard and eating right.
With the show being a little over 8 weeks away I am starting to get a little anxious, I have moments of feeling scared sh*tless at the thought of walking on stage in my posing suit and clear heels.. Normally avoiding criticism is my main objective when in a bathing suit of any kind. If anything the 8 week countdown is much needed incentive to keep me focused and training hard:)
workouts this week:
Monday-total body functional/core
Tues- Cardio 50 minutes
Wed-LEGS (LUNGE DAY)
Thursday-Back/core/cardio
Friday-Chest/SHoulders/Tris Cardio
Sat-double cardio day (stepmill/bike 50 minutes, 28 minutes hiit later in the day)
Sunday=REST

its working...

its the end of week 5 and I lost 3.5 pounds this week.. My total weight loss to date is 10 pounds.. I know that 80% of my goal comes from what I eat, and its paying off sticking to the plan. I'm excited and highly motivated to start week 6 of training, but looking forward to resting my sore body tomorrow...

Week 5 so far

This week was very high on the intensity scale thanks to 3 workouts with Joe.. He kicked my ass and I am feeling every muscle in my body right down to my hands thanks to today's boxing/functional training core day! Being a whole new split I just wanted to work with him a little bit extra to get used to it, and it helps to have someone pushing me and wont allow me to quit. Its slightly addicting to work out with a kick ass trainer who knows his sh*t, I just have to now be able to push myself as hard when I working out alone. Fortunately I love to kick my own ass, but regardless I am human and will sometimes crap out a rep or two early, or slack on my last few minutes of cardio. My goal for this week was to lose 1 pound, I am trying hard not to obsess about the number on a scale, but working this hard I just want to see that number go down! I am much leaner, and put on a pair of jeans yesterday that I literally couldn't get my leg into a month ago, I almost returned them and got the next size up but the next morning joined the gym instead! I will weigh in on Saturday or Sunday morning..

Diet update.. I was chatting with a friend and was telling her how the diet just seems easier. I have zero cravings for crappy food or alcohol. Maybe the fact that I ordered my posing suit and have 9 weeks to go are great motivating factors. In the beginning I fought through all week to have my "cheat" meal... The last one i had made me feel sick all day, SOOO not worth it. I feel so much better eating clean.

Week 5 begins!!

Today I started a completely new split routine for the upcoming weeks, I decided to workout with my trainer today to get a handle on the new routine.. Today was chest/shoulders/tris and core. All I can say is at one point I literally screamed, it was all out craziness. I am not going to lie and I say I killed it the whole time, because at some points I said "I can't do it" but I made it through drenched as if I had just ran a 10k.

Working with a trainer is teaching me some much needed essentials, such as where my weaknesses are, how far I can really push myself and most importantly that I am not "all that" in regards to fitness. He tells me what I need to hear not what I want.. Like "oh my GOD you ROCK, your so awesome, you go girl!" instead its hearing the things I need like: my form is off, pushing me through 3-4 more reps when I feel like I'm going to drop the weight on my head, making me choose a more challenging cardio rather than just some half ass elliptical for 30 minutes, and overall just making every minute of every workout matter. (He's a huge fan of the row machine and stepmill, he would rather see 20 minutes of high intensity on those machines than the alternative)

This week I will really tighten up the diet too, having only low glycemic fruits/complex carbs with my protein pre-workout, and only fibrous carbs(veggies)/protein meals post workout. I cut out coffee and just having green tea in the morning too.. Fortunately the pre-workout drink I have gives me a much needed boost!! Not really a fan of fat burners or energy drinks but I need a little energy to help me perform:)

Fried!

this week kicked the crap out of me. I dragged myself to the gym this morning with help from a pre-workout drink (Jack3D) I cannot believe I was just saying how "easy" week 3 felt, what a difference a week makes. I know it will continue to get harder, but ironically as tired as I am, I have never felt so good! I stepped it up this week in intensity all around. As Joe says, "I need to make every meal, shake, rep, set, workout count" Now on to week 5, (10 weeks to go!)

kick it up/10 week countdown

So its time to kick it up. I have consistently lost 1-2 pounds per week. This was the first week I haven't lost. So time to add some double sessions in a couple days per week. Sat will be the 10 week countdown and I have no idea if I am where I should be as I have never done this before. My diet couldn't be any cleaner, so I don't think that is the issue. Joe thinks its time to not only kick up the intensity, but also switch up my split routine. That was something I was planning on doing after week 4 anyways.. I am trying not to focus too much on the scale, as I feel leaner every day (but I am a woman, I love when the scale shows a smaller number!!)

In addition to tweaking my workout my diet will have some significant changes as well. I will be cutting out fruit, and lowering my carbs (no carbs with my evening meal, aside from veggies) and NO MORE CHEAT MEALS. Ugh that just sounds so awful, most weeks my saving grace is that one indulgence!! ( I will have my last cheat meal this Sunday.. it will be a good one!) I have been booze free or 25 days, I feel I should win some prize for that accomplishment alone:)

I am at the ten week countdown as of tomorrow, this is where it will get pretty tough, but I know it will be worth it in the end..

(Week 5)Next week will be:
(6 am cardio 2-3 times per week now)
Mon-Chest/Shoulders/Tri's Cardio
Tue-Cardio/core
Wed-Legs
Thurs-total body functional training workout
Fri-back/cardio
Sat-track cardio day
SUNDAY OFF

Wish me luck people!

intensity meter

I met with my trainer Joe for leg day this morning. The first thing he commented on was the previous days "intensity" and how it was not so great.. Actually he said "Your intensity for yesterdays workout was sh*t" Although he wasn't actually training me, he happened to be in the gym the same time I was there.... I got a much needed pep talk, making me realize I need to "bring it" to each and every workout.

To my defense it was a decent workout followed by 50 minutes of high intensity cardio, but I do know there are some days my energy isn't so great, and I just try to push through. I am a no excuse type of person when it comes to fitness, and I will not complain that I am a little wiped from working out 2 hours a day, 6 days a week, eating extremely clean blah blah blah... No one is forcing me to do this, its a choice, so if I'm going to do it, I need to do it 100% or not at all.
I left the gym after getting my ass whooped and was happy he made that comment.. It will only push me to work even harder.

He is meeting me to "Box" for 30 minutes before my cardio/core day in the morning..... FUN FUN!

Start of week 4

I was really exhausted today and my legs are still sore from Fridays workout. I still managed a solid chest/bi's/core workout and did my cardio at home today (Cathe's Hiit 40/20 workout) But seriously today was one of those days I would have loved to chillax with some wine, snacks and reruns of 90210. (Actually got a text from my sister-in-law to see if I had "Fallen off the wagon", we have a bet going about me being wine free till June) Well Ms Lisa I am staying strong, so have a glass for me;)
Good to know even on a less motivated day I can still stick with it..

Note to self, fried foods are banned!

So I don't normally eat fried foods, even when I am not dieting.. being a cheat meal at brunch I had a few fried things and it killed me.. I won't go into details but lets just say I paid for it all after noon.... I will stick with my loaded nachos for cheat meals from now on.. I am exhausted from a long week and hoping I will make it up to see the Sox kick some Yankee ASS! A nice cup of ginger tea is calling my name.

End of week 3 (11 weeks and counting)

Today I am really really really sore.. But I still managed to get a solid 50+ minutes of cardio today..

This week was the easiest of the 3, I think I am just getting used to the plan and starting to see and feel results which is extremely motivating (I swore if this plan didn't get me into insane shape by the end I would eat, drink and be very MERRY) I am not saying this is easy by any stretch, but easier than I expected. I have moments where I would love to cheat, but I get over it, move on and wake up happy that I didn't.
Tomorrow is Easter and I will be happily indulging in a nice brunch with family:) I worked my ass off for this cheat meal and will enjoy every last bite!
Monday starts week four of training..... Wish me luck!

I want to thank everyone for all the encouraging words and overall support. Part of my plan of action was to tell everyone who would listen to help keep me accountable!

Killer Legs

So today was the first day I met with Joe, a trainer I am working with for Leg day. I cannot afford to hire a "figure" coach, this is already an incredibly expensive sport, but needed a little guidance when it came to training my lower half. This guys is no JOKE. He not only pushed me through an amazing workout but also went over my total workout plan and showed me where to make adjustments, what to exclude and also add to my regimen. He lives this and 100% knows his stuff.

my workout today:
warmup Arc trainer 15 minutes
1.) step up to high knee to reverse lunge to 2 plyo jumps each leg repeated 15 times each side (bucket please!)
2.)3 sets of plie leg press with a drop set at the end
3 &4.)3 supersets of Forward facing on hack squat & stiff leg dead lift
5.)smith machine high knee to reverse lunge
6.) walking lunge with twist and backwards walking lunges....
(OUCH)
stretch

Overall he thought my plan was decent but gave great suggestions to make it better including adding some "Functional" training days....

Highlight of the day:
We were chatting about push ups and I said I could do 20 in a row now, he asked if I was doing them the right way meaning getting completely down to the ground (he actually said getting your "junk" completely down and I said "Well fortunately some of my "junk" is closer to the ground in a push up position) So I showed him and he was impressed (my push ups not my junk).. I haven't been able to do more than 10 push ups on my toes in a long time so this is a huge personal accomplishment for me! I tried a Pull up... Not there yet!! That is my next goal:)

Tomorrow was supposed to be my crazy track, sprint bleacher workout but I may have to resort to a less intense 45-60 min of cardio as my legs are already sore as Sh*t!!
At 34 I have realized I have to work twice as hard to get the same results I did 10 years ago....

Weekly weigh in

(Todays workout: Back- bent over reverse grip barbell rows, Seated cable rows (wider grip), lat pull downs, and back extension. Core- Pike sit ups with med ball, decline sit ups with med ball, bicycle and oblique crunches on ball) 25 minutes of HiiT cardio,
step mill 110 steps per min (45 seconds),
50 steps per min (45 seconds) repeated 10X's,
finished with sprints on treadmill 8 MPH 45 seconds,
5.5MPH 45 seconds (repeated 5X's).
walked for 5 minute cool down then stretch)

Today is a good day:) I woke up and decided to weigh myself. I normally wait till the end of the week, regardless I am down 2 more pounds. I have lost a total of 6 pds and went down a size in my jeans. This plan is so much different that most diet plans where the goal is to just drop weight. This is a science, a carefully balanced plan with the goal being to reduce body fat and preserve lean muscle mass. It can be tricky and to be honest there are some days I don't know what the hell I am doing. I look at all the fitness magazines read the articles, research online and try to take all that info and apply what will work best for me.

So after my 2 pd loss I was so excited for my workout today! I got to the gym and saw a women practicing her "fitness" routine in the group exercise room. I have seen her a bunch of times and can tell she is training for something she is in AMAZING shape. I watched this lady who is in her mid to late 40's bounce around the room do one handed push-ups, toe touch jumps and rolls.. I was so impressed A) because I seriously doubt I could do that and B) she was at least 10 years older than me!! It also got me to wondering if I could ever do a "Fitness" Competition one day.. Who knows, at this point I just want to get through this.