2011 Arnold Classic Blog - Update 2

Hi Everyone-

 

I am amazed at how time flies. It feels just like yesterday I was updating this blog, and posting about my progress.  It is exactly 37 days until I leave.  5 weeks!  Yikes. This is when you really know the pressure is on, and your diet and training need to be exact.  I did not start my diet until 14 days ago (maybe less), and with every show I always think that I am not going to make it.

 

I can say that right now I am in full diet mode.  What that means to me, is that I eat my food, and really don't think to much about swaying from the diet plan. 

 

This week:

• 4 days of weights
• 2 routine days (one day was good, one day was a waste of time)
• 20-25 mins cardio per session twice this week.

I cannot say that I do all the cardio as I just don't have time.  I had to cancelled two of my own cardio sessions as I am very busy.  It is January, I am personal trainer, demand is high right now.
My personal training business has taken off, and I am quite busy.  Compared to last year at this time (See blog postings of January 2010), I have to say that I love coming to work everyday.

 

When preparing for a show being busy is key to staying on track.  Not only does it contribute to your caloric expendure (even slightly), but your mind is always focussed on the take at hand, and if you experience hunger you don't notice as much.  I find that summertime is extremely hard for me to diet (and I have mentioned this before in previous posts), but in the 'winter weight' does come off a bit easier when it is cold outside.

Perhaps it because I am cold most of the time (due to the cold weather - don't read into this too much), and even if I burn an extra 100 calories over the period of my competition prep - that could add up to 1-2 lbs of fat loss that I did not have to consciously work for.  Plus working all day, and the coming home to my second job - being a mom & taking care of the house - my daily activity expendure is quite high.

 

I do have to say that when I am dieting - I don't watch a lot of TV.  I think TV (much like the Internet) can be a huge waste of time.  Sure I do watch certain TV shows, but sitting still in front of the TV has always been paired with eating.   But with the Internet - typing and eating does not happen as much.  I cannot enjoy cheat foods while sitting at the computer, but sitting in front of the TV and eating - that could be really easy, and fun - since I don't partake in that activity frequently.

 

So the point being - when dieting --->

• keeping busy is extremely helpful to staying on track and with that minimize TV watching. 
• Internet usage for me does go up slightly for the reasons mentioned above (cannot eat and type), but lately I am just too busy to 'browse'.  But the Internet can prove to be useful to keep the hands busy when dieting.

Here are this weeks pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I had started my diet on January 10th and now it is the Saturday the 23rd of January.  Good things have happened in two weeks.  I took the last set of pictures on the Monday, so only 6 days between this set of photos and last set -->  Arnold Classic Blog Update 1.

 

I have to admit that for the first time ever in a prep - I am missing meals.  I work, then I keep working and don't eat.  This is not a good strategy.  I am a smaller frame by nature, and need the food to keep my muscle.  Otherwise I just end of looking really lean, but small.

 

Goals for next week - eat my meals, especially between clients.  Routine practice full out at least 2x this week.  Change up my training plan.  Hold the line with the rest.

 

Until next week - Happy training,

 

A.

This weekend - Coupe Pro Gym - Nov 14, 2010

Spray Tanning at the Coupe Pro Gym - November 13th and 14th.

I will be at the Hotel Gouveneur in Saint Jean sur Richelieu for the Coupe Pro Gym.  I will be on site to present myself at the athlete meeting as well as backstage.

We will have JanTana products for sale this weekend - 10minute tan - Ultra One, Pre-Scrub skin prep, Glaze mist, Glaze for Bodybuilders, sponges, and moisturizing lotion. 

You let me know what you need, and we can take care of you.

contactallison@yahoo.ca

See you all soon,

A.

I will update my blog this weekend.  I cannot believe my show is next weekend. Where has the time gone?

50 days to the Fort Lauderdale Pro

Hi Everyone-

Time is just flying. I have meaning to update my blog all month, and then when I sit down to do it, other thing pop up to draw me in a different direction.

Last month, I was at the CBBF Fitness, Figure and Bikini Nationals 2010 - it was a well organized event and I have posted many photos with friends on my facebook page. 

The event was held the last weekend in August in Toronto Ontario Canada.  I was there shooting with fabulous photographer Liana Saadi - now Liana Louzon,  and doing some spray tanning for a few girls - they all looked stunning and I welcome you to contact them to have feedback on my services. 

You can see pictures of the tanning as well on my facebook fan page, and my personal page.

Liana and I created some fabulous images that you all are just going to have to wait for.  She is undeniably the most fearless person I have ever met.


"Doing something scary every one and a while makes me realize I am alive"

Personal Training
Speaking of scary; my personal training is going great.  Still slow but getting there. I am making new contacts everyday, and with each client am learning more and more.  It has been almost 4 month since starting my new position.  Although I still have much to learn, I am excited to get up everyday - including those days at 4:30am to get to work.  When I was teaching I would have many days, especially this time of year at the end of September when the days just felt so long, and the amount of work was just so great getting to the end of each day was an accomplishment.


I am extremely happy for the change.  It is so easy to just be 'me'.  My decision to leave teaching for a year is one of the best decision I have ever made.


It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  ~e.e. cummings


Upnext
The Fort Lauderdale pro is the next show on my schedule this year.  November 20, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale.  My goal - top 3.  


I want to make the Olympia qualification for next years event.  I just finished watching all the girls compete from the Bodybuilding.com webcast, and always get inspired when I see fellow competitors and their talents. In fact just seeing bodies in shape keep the inspirational juices primed. 


I have about 54 days to get ready for this show.  I love dieting in the fall much more than in the summer. Not sure why, and I never figured it out.  Being cold can lend itself to extra calorie burn I am sure.


Week 1: Photos (13 September 2010)
Here is what I look like last week.

 

This is this week.

20 September 2010

Some improvements.

The suit I am wearing is for sale.  I have a bunch that I am willing to sell. Not sure why I hold on to everything but I will be liquidating.


Photos and price to come soon.  I do have some routine outfits that I will be selling as well.


Placings Perspectives
Competing is a journey with the focus being on where you have come from to where you end up on the day of the show.  Holding the outcome to be the 'be all end all' of your journey is a very dangerous barometer to measure your competition experience.  You just NEVER know where you will end up and certain placings are more frustrating than others.  Such placings as 2nd, 4th, 7th, 11th, and well last.  Last can be frustrating but not the most frustrating.  Actually if you are last there is no where to go but up the next time you compete.  I have been last before, and in the other placings listed.   

In relation to the IFBB, making 4th is crummy (unless the other 3 are already qualified) as then you are not in the Olympia qualification position, and well 7th as some shows the top 6 qualify for the Olympia which makes being 7th all that more hard to accept. 
Unless you have been last and then moved to 7th. That would be a huge improvement. 
11th is bad as you are out of the perennial top 10. 
And well last depends on how you define yourself, and compare yourself to the others in the group. 

You never know how things are going to go on the day of the show - really anything can happen.  Those who are seen as contender end up a few placings lower than what the buzz was about.  It is a disappointing moment?  It could be. However in this sport, and the industry having things be inconsistent should be seen as the most consistent thing.   You just never know.  No matter how hard you have prepared, there are always others who are doing the same thing.  When you put yourself out there like that - competing - lined up ready to be judged by others, and the public, it takes an immense amount of courage. Then when the awards are announced, you either get to bask in the spotlight with a placing that satisfies you, or have an extreme amount of a resilience to be able to get back up if the results knock you down.  

It is just one moment and there are always more shows around the corner. 


Of course, there are worse things that can happen in life than losing a game, but we all know the pain we can feel after a difficult loss, or even the joy we feel after a great win. This game is one of joy and pain. If you want to feel the joy, you must be willing to suffer; like taking the final shot, planning a different strategy, etc... This game is not a matter of life and death -- it only feels that way sometimes!

Until next time,

A.