64 days to go

This week has been particularly difficult for me. My hubby is away, and it is the official last week of teaching at my school. So that means I am uber stressed for my students and how they will do on their exams. In my high school they write exams for 2 weeks. So after Friday I am not teaching anymore, but have plenty of work to do for the next year.

My diet right now is about 80% clean. I cannot go from eating regular food, to eating diet food in one day. Others might be able to but I prefer to gradually get into my diet. That way I do not suffer from mood swings or feelings of being 'deprived' of those things I used to have in my diet.
My diet off season, vs on season is not that different. I just take out the 'extras' that I like. Or the extra special meals that I have at friend's houses, or eating at a restaurant. If I skip meals off season that is ok, however, in season this is not ok.

Workouts this week are not consistent as I had to take Tues, and Wed off due to my hubby being away. Thurs am I will be back in the gym, Friday and Sat. I will try to find time to work on modifying my music so that I can being to get my gymnastics, and flexibility skills back on track.

For my students, on the last day of school I always do a back flip. So that is 4 back flips on Friday as I have 4 classes. I am very excited to see the end of this year.

Not sure why but this year at school has been particularly stressful for me. Even recently the stress came out in my skin. I look like a teenager again. I am over 30 and still get major breakouts. I notice this happens when I change my diet to on season, and then usually I am ok for the rest of the prep. Anyone else experience this?
(side note...just found out what my breakouts are....cold sores...I am really stressed about my students and their math exams...wonder how they feel?)

I will post some updated photos this weekend.

9 weeks and 5 days to go....

Currently I am on a strength/mass building program. Upper body and Lower body workouts, 4 day split.

I am working with Erik Ledin of Leanbodiesconsulting.com. I have always done all my own workouts on my own for the last 10 years. But since having my son, I have found I have less time to sit down and develop my own programs in order to see some results. It is great to have Erik on board to get a second pair of eyes, and keep my workouts interesting and motivating.
I was starting to feel a bit stale in the gym.

Soon, we will change up my program again so that when I start practicing my routine it will not be too much for me to handle. My routine is quite athletic, and I need to reserve some strength and power for that.

My diet right now is about 90% clean. This weekend I had a few treats - a muffin, egg salad sandwich, granola bar. Will I beat myself up about it - no! I know that during the weekdays I am very clean with my diet - perfect - like 100%. And if I am having an off day I will have a mini-cheat - a granola bar - or nuts, or yogurt - something that will satisfy me, but not set my diet back 3-4days. I try to be very clean about my diet during the year, and do have treats one to two times per week. If I am feeling like I need to cheat. If I do not feel the urge - I just don't cheat. If I am balanced emotionally, feel strong at the gym, am sleeping well - no need to change things.

Weekly I will weight myself just to see, but ultimately I do let the mirror and how my clothes fit be my guide.

Since the Arnold I have been trying to put on size as that is what they like in Canada. I know that I have, but a bit more and I think I will be more symmetrical. Changing federations is tough as you never know what the CBBF is looking for. The look changes from year to year. It can be very frustrating, but you either have to accept this or not compete. You cannot let the possible outcome affect your performance.

Do I try to give the judges what they want? Yes, and no. When it comes to the routine, I always try to present the best package that I would be happy with. I do take a similar attitude to my physique as well. I like to come in as lean as I can get as that is what I am happy with. I just always hope this is something the judges will reward. Sure I do want my pro card, but if you constantly listen to what others have to say, you will be always second guessing yourself. Sometimes having too much information or getting too many opinions will mess with your head in a negative way.

Pro Card here I come - 10 weeks out.

(Yes, I cut my head off on purpose) - and this is considered 'off season' for me.

This week marks the 10 week point from the CBBF Fitness & Figure Nationals to be held in Vancouver BC, on August 9th 2008. Over this period of time I will be sharing various thoughts, photos, and some training and diet info leading up to the show.

Bottom line - I am competing for the CBBF now, and want to be an IFBB Fitness professional this year, so that I hit the Arnold stage as a pro in 2009. I am not getting any younger.

Some might be thinking wow - 10 weeks out - that is so late. I usually only diet for 6-8 weeks before a show. Fitness is just my hobby and I work full time as a math teacher at the local English high school. I am also a mom of a 2 year old, and do have to spend time with my husband now and again.....so I am pretty busy. Or a better translation of that word 'busy' is that I am on my feet all the time, and moving around my classroom a lot. Expending calories is my job, and having my food ready to go is essential as the day is so compact. Once I arrive at work, it is go-go-go from 7:30 am to 4pm.

I am choosing to start a bit earlier as I am not sure how busy I will be in the summer leading up to the show. I would rather be ready a bit early for the show, and just coast into the show, than to have to make up the lack of weight loss with more cardio near the end.

My day starts at 4:20am, and I am at the gym by around 4:45am - 5am. I do my workout for one hour and then I am back home to shower, eat, and get ready for the day and be at work by 7:45am.

Luckily, I competed in March so my routine is finished, and needs to be practiced. However, it is 2 mins long and in the CBBF - the routines are 1 min, 30 seconds long - so I have to shorten the music and the choreography before I can start practicing it full out. I am expecting to have the music to be done by the end of June. Whenever I have time to sit down and re-edit my music is when it is going to get done.

Next week is the last week of classes for my students and then they are in exams. So I am not officially finished, but I am officially finished teaching. Just some marking of tests, end of year meetings, and wrap up before the end of the school year. I am very glad to see this year coming to a close. But I will get into that later in the summer.

I would like to be posting at least once a week, but we will see. My main goal for doing this is to show you can prepare for a show, and have a good diet that does not drive you or those around you crazy. Also I want my pro card, and if things do not happen to work out in my favor at least I have something to look back and, re-evaluate and see where I could improve and make changes.

Till next time,
A.