Less than 5 weeks out....getting close, & carbs are getting low! The new 'do. And exciting things to come!!!

Registration for show... done.
NPC Card sent for.
Tanning appointment booked.
Hair and makeup person booked.
Hotel booked.
Suit ... still deciding, but having measurements done Tuesday and I think I found the one I want!
Routine learned (now practice practice practice!!!!)
Carbs... lowered!

Things are looking pretty good.  I FINALLY dropped into the 130's after stalling at 140-141 for a solid week!   Bodyfat 12.9% (goal between 8-9%).  At least I'm still making progress.

Here are some 5-6 week progress pics:

  Quadzilla

I feel like I'm getting more comfortable with my poses too...

Carbs will drop even more, to 50g per day (both training and non-training days) starting today, so now let the real test begin!  I've done well so far, but my training days have been higher carbs (80g) than non-training days (60g).  But a lot of my days now are both lifting and teaching class, so I have to be very careful about when I eat my carbs.  I still feel really good though!  I have a lot of energy, even with lack of sleep (which that's all about to change!!).  

Thank goodness for my MNS Max (vitamins) and my pre-workout supps tho!  Steve and I discovered the new magic combo - Mucle Fuel + Mass Impact + Arginine Extreme + O2Gold. The Fearsome Foursome!  I think I could have done BodyAttack twice in a row on this stuff.  (We'll see how I feel this week on lowered carbs and a triple workout day!)  You can check it out, and other bundles as well, at the bottom or our website.

So yeah, I did end up chopping my hair, and I love it!  I will go shorter in the back though when I have it trimmed right before show.  I was almost convinced to cut it anyways, and then someone told me that my legs reminded them of Dana Linn Bailey, and I'm like "It's a sign!!"  I made the appointment that day and chopped it on Monday! Haha  

Before I tell you the good news...you may be wondering about the part-time job I applied for at the hospital.  Yeah, that's not the new job I referred to!  Actually, they ended up canceling my interview because one of the other secretaries ended up moving from supplemental up to part time, so the position was no longer needing to be filled for now... but that was fine. I said all things happen for a reason..  Well.........

So yeah...best part of my week?!  (well, besides Steve and I looking at engagement rings!!!!! I know, right?!) I was offered (and accepted!) a job at an amazing facility called Athletic Revolution at 65th & Binford, teaching boot-camp classes to start! And will have the opportunity to do personal training as well, and eventually learning the sports/athletic training aspect also! :)  The people there are awesome...so nice, and very welcoming!  I'm super excited!   Since it's very part-time to start (teaching 8 boot camps a week),  I have to figure out my options for transitioning from full time at the hospital to being able to go to a part-time job with no benefits.  I actually have some time off work coming up after Thursday (extended vacation...yay!), so I'll have some time to figure it out, get some rest, take/shadow a bunch of classes at AR, figure out the insurance situation, and I may also talk to my supervisor too about the possibility of even maybe staying on at the hospital as prn status, if possible.  We'll see.  I'm just excited to get to be home with Kaleb & Steve, and get to sleep at night!  Although 3 days a week I'll be up super early to teach at 6am!  

And of course, then I'll be in Chicago on the 21st & 22nd for the Les Mills Quarterly, and BodyCombat Advanced Instructor Module with DAN COHEN!!!!!  (For those who don't know who that is...he's the guy from New Zealand who, with Rach, choreographs BodyCombat!!) It'll be fun... we are ALL going to this one, so it's gonna be an awesome Q regardless!

I also have my (tasteful) Boudoir photo shoot coming up Saturday!

I am really not sure which of all the above I'm most nervous (AND excited!) about ... the new job, performing BC in front of Dan Cohen, being photographed almost-naked, or just physically making it thru two days of non-stop workouts on low carbs!!  

(I should probably tell my coach about this Q ... I'm gonna need refeed days for those two days!)

Ummm... ok, that is all for now.  Wish me luck...with everything!  Gotta go practice my routine!  (Yes it's 3:38am).  

Out.

Geez.. it's been two weeks..where do I start?! My modeling gig, new coach/diet/training plan, lack of sleep....

Hi all! Sorry it's been so long!  It has been a reDONKulously busy last two weeks, last week especially.  But it was awesomely busy...

Let's start with my video shoot in Chicago!!   I was asked to be a model in a video shoot in Chicago!  It was for a company called Lifeline USA, which make  fitness equipment.  The other model was figure Pro Chaya Boone! So I got to pick her brain a little about competing, etc.  It was a very neat experience, and I'm so glad I was able to make it work to be able to go.  

First of all, I HATE interstates, and I have never really driven anywhere far away on my own (other than Kentucky to see family, and even still I've only made that trip totally alone maybe once or twice).  And I lucked out that weather was good, and we worked it out with Kaleb, etc...because Steve is awesome like that.  He just told me to go for it, and not pass it up, and we'd make it work!  (Or maybe he wanted to be able to say he's dating a model HAHA!) Here's some pics from that...

I hated my hair slicked down, but other than that, it was awesome! 

So yes, I'm very glad I did it, BUT it did make for a huge loss of sleep, that I'm just really finally caught up on (and now back to work tonight!).  So I took off work Wed night, and drove up to Steve's parents in Renssalaer that night, since it's halfway ...this is after my car broke down, had to stay in the shop for days, couldn't get a rental car, found this out at 6pm and was planning to leave @ 7-8pm, and the friend that has a loaner vehicle we hoped to borrow was unavailable because she was in Vermont with both sets of keys! :) (Love you Jen!) Luckily another good friend was able to come over and sit with the kiddos so Steve and I could drive up and get his sister's extra car, and I took the Blazer to Chicago.  (Love you Amanda, and Julie & Steph...thank you again!!)  Anyways, got to sleep @ Midnight, up at 4am, drove to Chicago to be there by 7am (left super early to make sure I had time, not knowing where I'm going or what to expect w/morning Chicago traffic!), shoot was til 4pm, drove home, got home at 9pm our time, changed clothes, spent a few minutes with Kaleb before putting him to bed, and then straight into work until 7am. :/  

Friday is my morning to take Kaleb to school too, so I ended up being awake for @ 29 hours, slept for 5 hours, up to get Kaleb from school, teach BodyCombat, and back to work til 1am, hit the grocery store, bed at 2am, up at 7am to meet with my new coach (tell ya about that in a minute!), and then up to Renssalaer to visit with family all day. I did take a nap for about an hour when we got up there. I was exhausted.  Thank God I had a Spark with me...that help tremendously!  I felt ok after that.  Kids stayed the night up there, since Steve and I both had to teach the next morning.  Steve taught my triple (Pump/Combat/CX) for me so I could launch the new BodyAttack at JCC. I did get about 6 hours sleep that night I think... 

Launch was fun, as always!  Luckily Brandy brought me a Muscle Fuel though because I was totally out!!   Here I am w/Dori & Stef...always gotta get a bicep pic!

I loved how on FB someone commented something about the "guy" in the middle kicking his ass... wasn't sure whether or not to be offended!  (Not offended btw, but thanks Kevin!)


It was back to work Monday night, and got my usual 4-5 hours sleep... I just feel like these last couple weeks, it's just been 3-4 hours, maybe 4-5 if I'm lucky. And I know I need more sleep, especially right now!   So I'm working ont that....  FINALLY got a chance to sleep in this morning tho...til 9AM!!!!  I got like 9 hours sleep, AND took a 2 hour nap today!  Woo hoo!!

Ok, so I did find a coach, and have started my new diet/training program on Monday.  Her name is Laura Marenco, and she is actually competing in Figure at the Arnold this weekend!  She's been very successful in the field, and I'm very glad to have my ass in her hands.  And I mean that for real...my ass is in her hands, and my ass is what she is most worried about!  So Saturday when I met with her, she had me strip down to a bikini and she's standing there looking me up and down, front and back, pinching my thigh...looking. And then says "I'm worried about your ass".  (She might have said "butt" but still, I couldn't help but laugh) I just replied "I'm always worried about my ass!). 

She was concerned w/8 weeks not being enough for me, for as lean as I need to be for Physique, and even suggested I do a later show, or switch to figure instead.  But I am committed and determined, and if I can make as much progress as I have on my own, in 6 weeks, I'm confident that with her help, I can get where I need to be. Ideally, if we had more time, she would want to reverse-diet me, and get my calories up, so that I wouldn't have to go into such a big diet deficit than what I am now, but it is what it is, and she agreed to help me. She wants to get me to maintain at @ 2500 calories in the off-season, and not have to lower to less than 1800 calories week of show ... this is assuming I do more shows! ;)  

But for now, I'm at @ 1340 cals a day on non-training days (that means non-lifting so, so a "non-training" day is a day that I teach classes!), and 1460 on lifting days (sometimes teaching class as well as lifting), and 1650 refeed days (@ every 6-7 days, on leg day+teaching class usually).  I have very specific macros set for all five meals that I have spent hours creating my meal plans to fit those macros as closely as I can!  It's a lot of work, but I know it will pay off!  And the workouts this week kicked my ass too... I'm sore all over.  I love it!

Had my 2nd posing practice too. Abby is very excited for me, and even let me borrow a suit to practice in, and can wear for show if I want!  I really had my heart set on red, but to save $200-300, it may just have to work! What do you think? (ignore my face...i'm not practicing smiling yet!)

And I look much more tan in person than in these pics!  Yikes... 

So, I'm down to 142.0!!! Finally broke thru my 145 plateau after getting a full nights sleep and a refeed day!  That's down 20.2 lbs since Jan 1!  Bodyfat is somewhere between 13-14%.  I am now aiming for closer to 8-9% instead of the 10% I was going for.  It's not about the numbers, though, I know...it's how I look. But I still have quite a ways to go to lean my legs out.

Here are some progress pics from this past week...thought it'd be interesting to compare abs progress from a month ago to now... I def see a difference...now if I could just get it to come off of the lower half of my body like that!!!

More progress...

I've been getting a LOT of awesome compliments from people, which definitely helps keep me motivated!!!  Even strangers!  Especially when I get asked if I'm a bodybuilder!  I'm like, "kinda!"  Haha   

I'm doing ok on the lower calories so far.  I do get hungry at times, but that's to be expected, and just part of it at this point.  I'm eating ever 2-3 hours though, so I do enjoy that!  And if I need something in between, I just munch on bell peppers.  I have to plan each day's food the night before and make sure I hit my macros, and time everything to my workouts for that day.  Luckily I have the knowledge already to do this... I don't have to have someone tell me exactly what to eat and when, I can still eat what I've been eating, just changing the quantities and timing, and being more structured with my plan.  

There is a such a science to this, and it all makes sense now. After all the research I have done, the books I've read, and then having the personal experience of having done it myself (I mean, I lost 80lbs after having my son, yes, but I didn't understand the science of it then, and WHY what i was doing was working... I just did what the book told me to do). Now, I actually GET IT!  It's working because I know what I'm doing (well, a lot more than I did back then...there is always more to learn!).  Yes, I need a coach now for my show to help me go from lean to SUPER lean for show, and I'm excited to gain that much more knowledge as well. 

But I know enough now that I'm ready to help OTHERS achieve their goals too!  So I've felt this ... pull for quite some time now, something that is urging me to pursue my passion for health and fitness, more than just teaching Les Mills.  It hit me like a ton of bricks one day in the shower...I just broke down crying because it was so abundantly clear to me. Not just to pursue my dream and to help people, but also to be home more with Kaleb. To be home with my family and not working/sleeping ALL the time. I don't get this time back with Kaleb, and I just can't keep going at this pace anymore.  

Steve is working full time now, and this is my chance. I've always worked a steady full time job (customer service...from Wal-Mart for five years, to Sirva (trucking co. call center) for six years, to medical office for 5 years now), and I think the thought of not having that full-time stable income scares me to death, financially.  But I also am working several part-time jobs, doing things I love to do and want to be doing.  My "real" job is solely for money and benefits, and I've been thinking for some time now, that if I can make more money teaching/training, etc. and be able to at least drop to part-time at the hospital, I would do it.  

Plus, I know I have the opportunity to make a LOT more money with Advocare if I had the time to put more effort into it.  I mean, I made $750 my first month, and am averaging @ $300 every two weeks, plus earned the $500 rookie bonus!  And that is with me not having any extra time!  So thankful to have Advocare enter my life ... and with perfect timing too!  That $500 bought groceries today, and will pay for my unexpected car repairs!  Not to mention the products, that are helping me keep my sanity during my training, and I feel great, even tho sleep-deprived! And I also have been getting to help others get healthy. :)  But...

I just feel like I'm half-assing everything right now.  And I'm not a half-asser!! 

So a part-time unit secretary position, WITH benefits, came open in the ED department, and third shift still (which I need for our schedule with the kiddos) ....and so I decided to just do it! I applied, and am waiting now to see if I get it. It will definitely be more up my alley as far as the type of work... being busier, multi-tasking, more challenging... more of what I have done for the last 10+ years. As much as having the down-time now to study choreography, working on my meal plan, paying my bills, surfing the internet, etc... it's nice sometimes, but this position is far from challenging for me. 

If I'm going to stay here at the hospital (for now), I might as well be doing something that challenges me a little more, and plus this sitting for 12-hours and sleeping all day... I just can't keep doing it.  This new position is still in at 7pm, but is 8-hour shifts, 3 days a week, so I'd get off at 3:30am, could get a few hours sleep before getting kiddos off to school, go back to sleep if I need, or meet/train clients or teach if I have something scheduled... and not have to sleep til 2pm, rush to get kids, get ready, go teach, go straight to work, and do it all over again, without seeing Kaleb for more than a few minutes at a time.  That's most days right now it seems like. 

Ok, I'm rambling now..  anywho, if you are looking for help getting healthy, weight-loss, energy, personal training, nutrition guidance (I'm not a nutritionist and don't claim to be, btw, but I can guide based on personal knowledge and experience... I will not provide a "meal plan" per se, however) ... or if you know someone looking, send them my way! My FB page is here! 

Ok, last request... I keep having thoughts of cutting my hair short again!  So for my show, long or short??  I kinda wanna cut it shorter as to not cover up my traps and shoulders, cuz I don't wanna wear it up and it's not really gonna be long enough to bring it off to the side... suggestions?

For those of you who only see me at the gym, here's my hair down...

I'm thinking just below chin since my bangs are long now, tapered in back, like before.  Yes, I know it'll be Dana Linn-ish, but hey, she looks amazing, so why not... See?

Whatta ya think...cut? Grow??

Ok, I'm outta here for now.  I'll try not to wait two weeks to post again.  

Wish me luck!!!! 

Beating myself up over Super Bowl Sunday, but still made progress! + Show info...mark your calendars!

So, yeah I splurged on Super Bowl Sunday.  I used it as an excuse and told myself "You have 10 weeks left, last chance ...enjoy...you have time!"  Well, I did enjoy that jar (and part of a 2nd) of Apple Pie Moonshine!  But with alcohol comes bad decisions... luckily there wasn't a whole kitchen full of bad foods, but I did manage to eat a little bag of M&M's and a little bag of cookies that Kaleb had in his room from Christmas, some Ritz crackers with PB, and graham crackers w/Nutella. Yeah, I've done a lot worse, but still, I am committed and just the fact that I allowed myself to give in to temptation, and then go overboard.  Just was (am still) disappointed ... and then getting back on the scale the next day and seeing that 150 again, after finally hitting 145, which was a milestone.  Yes, most of it was water (I didn't "gain" 5 lbs in one evening, I know this). Yes, I'll work it off... but I just felt like I undid a whole week's worth of progress.  And I've been working so hard.... Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe I was craving carbs (or calories in general). More than likely it was my addictive, compulsive over-eating brain just being stupid.  BUT... it's over.And I did learn from it too... NO MORE CHEATING!  I learned my lesson.

New day. New week.  Consider it a refeed. Moving on.

I AM glad to be able to say, however, that I still managed to drop a percentage of body fat (0.99% actually)! I'll take it.  I had my goal for this week set for 14.5%, and I am at 14.68, so with the Sunday Setback, I'm happy with that.  And I lost another inch from my waist, so total of 3 inches off my waist since Jan 1, and down 5.31% body fat!  It still seems crazy to me that I can say that I lost 16 pounds last month!
 
As my (possibly soon-to-be) new online coach will remind me, it's not all about the numbers.  Body fat, no matter how it's measured, is never exact (even the Bod Pod), and it's more important how I look, feel, etc ... I know that no one is going to come out on stage and measure my body fat. And that it's not necessarily the person with the lowest body fat that wins.  And on that note, I don't even need to win... I just want to do it, look good doing it, and be proud of my accomplishment, and not have people think "why is she up there?"  So yeah, my weekly body fat and measurements are more of an accountability tool and just help me gauge things so I know how to adjust.  But still, it's definitely more about the accountability.

Between the refeeds I've had (@ 2100-2300 calories, except Sunday was more than that!) I did actually manage to gain some lean body mass and still decrease fat!  (Who says recomposition is difficult/impossible? Maybe moonshine is the trick!)  I'm making my decision about who to use as my nutrition/training coach by this Friday... the one guy is in NC, but I really like his philosophies and that he wants to design a program that is suited to work for me and my lifestyle, and the amount of time he invests in each client and high level of availability/communication ... and he seems very knowledgeable, and has already given me some advice, although he didn't have to.  He told me that he thought 1500-1600 seemed low for me, to still be 10 weeks out, and apparently he was right, seeing as how I raided my son's room for M&M's & cookies!  

My other options are either 1) a local trainer that I know is a successful trainer and bodybuilder himself, I know some people that have used him/are using him, but I have mixed feelings about some of the advice he's given them...  or 2) Point Blank Nutrition has coaching available as well, but I don't know much about them yet until I have my free consultation this week.  I know NC guy is most expensive, but if Point Blank is going to put my numbers, etc into a computer program and have it spit out a diet and training program, and check in weekly or biweekly ... I'm looking for a little more personalization than that. 

The reason I'm turning to a coach now is because I'm coming up on my 8-week mark...CRUNCH TIME!  Even though I'm still making progress, I am a newbie and I don't know exactly where I should be each week, what my calories/macros should be, I don't know all the "tricks" to do towards the end, etc.  Not to mention my weird third shift job and crazy schedule with the kids, 4 jobs, and teaching classes, and really only having 3 days a week to devote to my lifting.  I'm going to have to get creative, and honestly I would rather pay someone that knows what they're doing to figure it out for me and tell me exactly what to do.  My brain hurts, and I don't have the time to do it anymore.  Unless Point Blank has some seriously educated/experienced trainers that can take my schedule, etc and personalize a program that fits me and only me, than NC guy it is.  Oh wait...I do have an option 3) too... girl that used to do shows and now is a trainer and I just remembered that I have her number.... ok I have some homework to do this week...... I'll decide by Friday! 

Until Coach sets my new calories/macros for me, I'm going to be between 1500-1700 cals/day, with one refeed this week.  Each day is different for me depending on work/lifting/classes/kids/sleep, so that's why there's a range there. Some days might even hit 1800.  I eat every 2-3 hours when I am hungry. I'm only eating lean protein (chicken/egg whites/lean steak/powder), fibrous veggies (spinach/asparagus/broccoli/carrots/bell peppers), occasional starchy carbs (oatmeal/sweet potatoes) around training, and healthy fats (avocados/almonds) and I do still have a Quest bar as pre-workout if needed.  The only fruits or dairy I have is my cottage cheese and pineapple, and very occasionally a banana @ a workout if I need the carbs.  My macros have consistently been in range (40-50% protein/25-30% carbs / 25-30% fat). But I listen to my body... Yesterday I did cardio, lifted heavy, and taught Combat & CX.  I needed more carbs...I could just tell. My calories were actually under goal, but carbs were higher. Because that's what I needed.  And I need a coach that understands that, so we'll see what happens!


Not a huge drop from last week to this week, but progress nonetheless.  Here are 9-week out progress pics.  I threw in a pic from May (my birthday party on Cinco de Mayo) and I guess since I have been taking so many recent pics so often, I didn't realize the dramatic difference from then until now until I look at some older pics!

 

I can't seem to get a good shoulder pic... oh well.  Next week I will have pics of me actually doing my poses (and hopefully a lot better than the first ones!)  Starting to get my routine put together too!  Woo hoo!

Alright folks...wish me luck this week and Monday especially.  I work 7p-7a Sunday-Monday, take kids to school at 8, teach BodyPump at 9:30a, lunch with girls at 11, posing practice at 12:30 ... I'll be awake for roughly 24-hours, but I've done it before I suppose.  

Also, I want to thank all the people that have complimented/commented/thanked me for this blog, and just voiced their appreciation for what I'm doing.  I feel stupid every time I click the "Publish" button thinking all kinds of things that people may be thinking about why I'm doing what I'm doing... but then I get  very welcoming feedback and appreciation from y'all that makes me so glad that I'm sharing this experience with you, and that you are inspired and motivated from my willingness to put myself out there.  So thank you!


Last thing....anyone interested in attending the show, here's the info!  

Saturday April 12th
Beech Grove High School ~ 5330 Hornet Ave ~ Beech Grove, IN 46107
Finals will take place at 5pm (doors open 30 minutes prior)
Tickets $20 each, cash-only at the door (advance tickets call 317-538-9662)
(Pre-judging is at 10am for $10 also)

We WILL be partying afterwards!

10 weeks out! Refeeds (yay!), 1st posing session! And new short-term goal!

Almost down to single-digits!!  10 weeks from this Saturday!  That's still plenty of time, I know ... but I still feel like I have such a loooong way to go!  Maybe because this winter SUCKS and April seems so far away temperature-wise!  Anywho....

Getting excited now that I'm learning all the mandatory poses. First session with miss Abby Fox was Tuesday.  I knew most of the poses, now it's just a matter or perfecting them and practice, practice, practice!  I'm super excited to have Laura Wilson helping me create my routine also!  Yeah, I have to do a 60-second routine set to music, that contains the five mandatory poses.  It'll be fun! nerve-wracking, but fun!  So the song that I have selected is Fall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark."  What do you think? Hopefully everyone doesn't have the same idea...like about eight different people using the song "Sail" at the Louisville show!  Now Steve and I text Emily every single time we hear that song on the radio.  And every time she calls me Bitch!  Haha

Here are a couple poses from my session...I'm not showing the others because they are not very...flattering. Still practicing! 

As I already posted, my results from the 24-day challenge were very pleasing!  Down a total of 16 lbs from Jan 1 (@ 12 on the challenge). 

BF% GOAL	Weeks Til Show	Date	Weight	BodyFat%	% Change from last	Lbs Fat	LBM	Chest	Arms	Hips	Waist	Thigh	Calves
-	13.5	1/2/14	158.0	19.99		31.59	126.41	38.25	12	39.5	31.5	23.75	15.75
18.0	12	1/11/14	151.0	17.8	-2.19	26.88	124.12	37.5	11.75	39.5	30.5	22.75	15.5
17.0		1/17/14	149.0	16.77	-1.03	24.98	124.02	37.25	11.75	38	30.5	22.5	15.25
	11.5	1/21/14	148.8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	11	1/25/14	146.6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
15.0	10.5	1/28/14	146.2	15.67	-4.32	22.91	123.29	37.25	11.5	36.75	29.5	22.5	15

I have hovered between 146 & 148 for the last few days, so I've decided to switch things up to try and speed up my progress.  I've been eating in a pretty severe deficit (in relation to my maintenance level, which is around 2300 calories), so I need to rev up my metabolism a bit. So, I am starting to incorporate "refeeds" in every 3-4 days, aka "carb-cycling". 

When you eat too little for too long, your metabolism will start to decrease (hear that, women?!) which makes it even harder to lose fat...your body thinks it is starving and will cling to any little fat it can.  So by increasing the calories to maintenance level (to figure yours, google "tdee calculator" ... that's Total Daily Energy Expediture, which is how many calories you burn daily, including activity/exercise...not to be confused with BMR (basic metabolic rate), which is how much your body burns just to keep you alive...if you laid on the couch all day and didn't move. 

Anyways... Yesterday (well, from 7am yesterday morning until my last meal which was at 3:30am this morning...I'll start "today"'s eating this afternoon at 1pm) was my first refeed day.  I had been at 1600-1700 calories, some days lower, some higher.  Today, though, I consumed over 2100 calories, and yes I did enjoy it!  Definitely not used to eating that much anymore tho.

Now I'll continue at a 1500 daily caloric goal, and in 3-4 days, I'll have another higher calorie/carb day.  I'm considering not even getting on the scale for a week, as to not get discouraged if I see an initial gain.  I can usually tell by how my body looks and feels if I'm up or down though.  I also revamped my eating plan and am eliminating some of the meals I've been eating consistently. I will miss my Chicken Broccoli Slaw, my feta cheese, and oh, my cottage cheese and pineapple... well I will definitely add that in on refeed day tho!  And thank goodness for my cookie dough Quest bars!  Probably going to have to steer clear of the steak (pun intended) and stick mostly with chicken breast, turna and egg whites for my protein. 

I've run out of Catalyst, and hoping my order arrives on Saturday. I can definitely tell a difference without it!  And out of Spark too...geez!

I'll update in a few days once I know if the refeeds are doing the trick! 

Here are a few more 11-week progress pics.  Pretty happy with my ab definition coming thru.  I've seen a lot of assymetrical abs out there!

Oh!  Almost forgot...  I get to be a model! Kinda.  A guy I work with (and his fiancee ... no worries) is creating an advertising campain for a new side to their photography business, "Tasteful Boudoir"!  And asked me to do a photo shoot!  Set for Feb 15th.  I've never done anything like this before, but I'm sure it'll be neat.  But I need help with ideas ... locations and what to wear!  No clue... I may need help with hair and makeup too! 

But if nothing else... I have a new short-term goal to work towards!!  Wish me luck!!!

Stay warm out there!!

24-Day Challenge final results!

One drunken New Years, I set a goal to drop to 15% bodyfat by the end of the 24-Day Challenge.  The next day I found out that I had crept up to 19.99%!  Oops.  I went a little crazy during the holidays, knowing I was giving it all up until after April 12th.   "I might not make 15%, but I'll do the best I can..." I told myself.  

Starting measurements: Jan 2 (challenge started on Jan 4)

Chest 38.25
Arms 12.0
Hips 39.5
Waist 31.5
Thigh 23.75
Calves 15.75

Weight 158.8 (Was 162.2 on 1/1)
BodyFat: 19.99%


Final measurements: Jan 28

Chest 37.25
Arms 11.5
Hips 36.75
Waist29.5
Thigh 22.5
Calves 15.0

Weight 146.2
BodyFat: 15.67%  (So close!!)

Down 16.0lbs since 1/1, 12.6 during challenge
Down 4.32% bodyfat
Dow 8.25 total inches!

My mind is right, and I'm committed to my own personal challenge. But I'm glad to have AdvoCare have entered my life when it did.  For my cravings and hunger to be gone, and the help with preserving all my lean muscle mass as I drop fat, not to mention having MORE energy as I go...is tremendously helpful in helping me achieve my goal!  A little over 10 weeks to go!!

Geez, it's been two weeks! Progress Time!!

Ok, I'm over the snow. And the cold. It's rediculous and I'm ready to move. I just want warmth. And kids in school without two-hour delays. Two hour delays mean I come home and sleep from 7:30am to 9:30am. Wake up, take the kids to school, then come back home (10:30 by this time) and try and fall straight back to sleep (actually I can) until 1:30 or 2. Before I have to leave again to pick the kiddos up from school.  Then teach BodyPump, shower at the gym and go straight back to work from 7p-7a. 

That was my day.  Thank God for BodyPump!

So, without sacrificing sleep, it is impossible for me to lift on certain days.  And I'm sad to say that on most days it's hard for me to spend much time with Kaleb. :(  One of these days... I will quit this time-sucking, only-here-for-a-paycheck job and pursue health and fitness as my full time job, work less hours, make more money, and design my own life.  One of these days...I'll be able to spend time with my kid every day, put him to bed more than 3 days a week, and maybe even get to go on a date with my hubby (or will-be hubby...one of these days...still need money and time to make that happen too!).  *Sigh*

Anywho!  It's been a while!

I feel as tho it's pointless to spend the time typing up my full workouts to post.  But I have been trying to stick to the 4-day split as written, but for reasons listed above, my schedule just isn't feasible to stick to anything exact.  My program continues to be a work in progress.  However, I am sticking to the split-style workout. Focusing on 2-3 muscle groups at a time, and doing 2-3 exercises per muscle group, and 3-4 sets or 8-12 reps (progressive-overload-style...which is continuing to increase reps, and when reaching 12 reps, increase weight and start back at 8 reps).  Number of muscle groups and exercises just depends on how much time I have.  I've been doing a lot of lifting at home, and going to the Monon center when it makes sense time-wise.  I'd love to be more consistent with my lifting, but until I am able to leave this job, it just ain't happening!

I'm also back to teaching classes regularly. I mean just with the holidays, etc. there were gaps where, like I didn't teach my Tuesday BodyPump or my Wednesday BodyAttack for 3+ weeks becuase of holidays!  Let me say, teaching Attack once a week is hard enough...teaching after 3 weeks off is NUTSO!

But altogether I've been killing it with my diet and training.  Looking back thru my log, I've only taken 3 rest days this year, New Years Day (we've talked about that), Jan 3rd, and this past Saturday because we went to Columbus (gone 4:30am to 11pm).  I've been trying to add in incline treadmill (10 to 12 level incline at 3.0 to 3.5 mph). And with Les Mills launch coming up, I've spent a lot of time learing chorey and at time, physically practicing. Although not working at 100% intensity, I do break a good sweat when I practice.

My sleep has been an area that I've had to sacrifice as well, unfortunately.  Sometimes by my choice (when I woke up early to go to fasted cardio when I could have slept in until BodyPump) and sometimes not (stupid two-hour delay).

That said, I still feel amazing!!  I have plenty of energy, and even still doing 2-3 separate workouts a day sometimes.   4 on Sunday actually... Pump, Combat, CXWorx in the morning, and still lifted at home.  Did 6am fasted cardio the next morning, taught Pump at 9:30am, and lifted again that afternoon.  With the post workout recovery drink I have and the nighttime recovery when I feel like I needed, I haven't had much muscle soreness at all considering the amounts I'm lifting.  I'm up to 195lb 4x10 squats, did 100lb bench press 4x8 ... up to 370lb 4x10 leg press... not too shabby I don't think. And I'm seeing definition too... in my arms, legs, abs ... I know I'm working hard. I'm just not sore! 

And progress-wise... where did I leave off last? 

Well, Jan 2nd numbers:

Chest: 38.25
Arms: 12.0
Hips: 39.5
Waist: 31.5
Thigh: 23.75
Calf: 15.75

Bodyfat: 19.99%

And Jan 17 (day 14 of challenge):

Chest: 37.25 ... (down 1.0)
Arms: 11.75 ... (down 0.25)
Hips: 38 ... (down 1.5!)
Waist: 30.5 ... (down 1.0)
Thigh: 22.5 ... (down 1.0)
Calf: 15.25 ... (down 0.5)

Bodyfat: 16.77%  (down 3.22%!!!)
Weight: 149.0 (down 13.2 lbs from 162.2 on 1/1)

(Progress pics at the end)

Not too shabby!!  I started the 24-day challenge on 1/4, so I was already losing weight before that, but had been taking the MNS (Metabolic Nutrition System) Max vitamins for the two weeks prior. Once I quit my junk food habits and cut out the crap, it started falling off.  The cleanse phase (first 10 days) really cut all the excess water, toxins and crap and was a big part of my initial loss.  My cravings have been non-existent anymore. I've caught myself saying to people that I was a junk-food addict (past-tense) instead of "I am". :) And my energy is thru-the-roof because of the products I'm taking, especially the sports performance ones.  And like today, I had Mass Impact for the first time, with Arginine Extreme, O2 Gold, and Catalyst as my pre-workout before BodyPump.  Felt amazing, and there isn't even caffeine in them!  I didn't have caffeine today until 1am at work!

I'm currently on day 17, and down to 148.8.  Never to see 150 again!
So even though my loss has slowed, that is to be expected since I should really only be losing about 1 to 1.5 lbs a week, now that I'm losing fat.  All fat, in fact! The amazing thing about those numbers, though, is the fact that I'm maintaining my lean muscle mass, even in a calorie deficit.  There are days when I'm only taking in 1300 calories or so.  Typically though, it's closer to 1600-1800.  I'm not losing my muscle because I'm taking in quite a bit of protein, usually 180-200 g per day.  And because the Catalyst and other supps that I take that all contain lots of BCAA's.  The MNS in itself is like a big bucket of nutrition filling in the gaps of anything I may be missing from food.  Especially since I'm eating pretty much the same things daily. 

My diet consists of:

Breakfast:
1 cup (or 1/2 cup) egg whites (usually with 2 tbsp salsa)
+ 1 packet plain oatmeal with Stevia and cinnamon (sometimes w/walnuts)

or Meal Replacement Shake* (replaces one meal or snack per day...not always breakfast)

Lunch/Dinners:
Chicken Broccoli Slaw (I am not eating this as often though because of the carbs in the dressing, but if it fits my macros that day, I'll still eat it occasionally)

5-7 oz Chicken Breast + veggies (broccoli/carrots/cauliflower - steamed)

5-7 oz Steak/Chicken + sauted bell pepper and onion (maybe 1/2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce)  *This is becoming a new favorite!

7oz Salmon w/garlic + 12 asparagus spears (may or may not have sweet potato w/stevia, cinnamon, 3 pecans... depending on if meal close to workout time or not)

2 cups spinach + bell pepper + 1/4 cup feta cheese + 2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette + 3-4 oz chicken breast

Snacks:
Half cup Cottage cheese + 50-75 g pineapple (I could eat this every day for the rest of my life)

Quest bar

1 oz cinnamon almonds (soak in egg whites, cover in Stevia and cinnamon, baked at 325-degrees for about 25 min)



Calorie / Macro goals:

1600-1800 calories
Protein: 40-45%
Carbs: 30%
Fat: 25-30%

My calorie goal varies because depending on my work/sleep schedule, my eating window is longer/shorter.  Sometimes I'm up for 24-hours (minus possibly a 2-3 hour nap) and some days I'm only awake for 12-13 hours.  But looking at my average intake for, say the last week, it comes to average 1645 calories. Average protein for the last week comes to 170g, which is 41%...and so on. So I'm on target!!  

You can view my food log at myfitnesspal.com , user name lesliehylton81. 

I've leveled out now so I'm not dropping huge numbers, because I don't have huge numbers to drop.  I am steadily dropping average of about 0.2 lbs per day, which equates to about 1.4 lbs per week. I'll adjust as I need if I stall, and at some point might need to consult a nutrition coach, but I don't feel the need as long as I'm reaching my goals! 

Speaking of coaches ... my first appointment with my posing coach is Friday!!

I've been looking at posing suits too, and I'm pretty dead-set on RED!

Ok, I better get to studying.  Still lots of choreography to learn before launch!! 

Oops, Almost forgot the pics!  (if you're on my FB, you've probably seen them anyways)

Challenge Day 1 (top) - 158.0 lbs

Challenge Day 7 (bottom) - 151.0 lbs

Day 10 (I think)

Some yumminess! 

BodyFat and new progress pics coming in the next couple days!