11 weeks out and looking for the sun.

The sun motivates me because it means shorts and tank tops with flip flops. That is why I want to live on the beach, so I can wear that all the time. I have no use for heels or coats or anything else although I do have to say I love boots.

11 weeks out today and I am draggin ass! I have been given lots of cardio to do by my trainer. I have a lot of work to do but I am confident I can do it but I truly feel like I am 3 weeks out right now energy wise. I need to get more rest plus I have had sinus crap so that has drained me.

I was checking out my 3 week pics from before and I was very happy with them so I know there is hope. I only started using Mike the last 5 weeks of my comp prep so I am sure in the next month I will feel better about where I am at.

Spring Break is in 1 week and I need it. I plan on cleaning my house top to bottom and getting myself organized so I can really focus for the next 11 weeks.

12 WEEKS ! and ready.

I was 12 weeks out yesterday and I am ready to rock this thing all the way to Colorado. I am finishing up my last week of a meal plan and workouts. I just renewed with Mike for the next 12 weeks so I should be getting new meal plan and workouts sometime this week. I like to have a little time to got to the store instead of freaking out at the last minute.
I have been really struggling with sleep lately but I am going to work on that because that is what keeps me going and keeps the cravings at bay.
Thanks Matt for suggesting the Bromelain, I just purchased some and am anxious to try it for my back. I refuse to take the crap the doctor wants to give me.

Workouts are great, I am really pushing in the gym. I am already sick of cardio since I am having to do it 2 x a day. I am not sure why he started me out with that much but I am hoping it tapers off towards the end when I am really tired. It is a good thing I am only about 6 lbs from comp weight or I would be in for probably a lot more cardio.

I am sick to death of winter and cold weather. I want some sun! I need bright colors and longer days. I am just happier that way. That is why my happy little butt will be living way South someday!

Well I really just wanted to put something on my blog and hopefully can keep you update on my progress weekly.

13 weeks out, OH MY!

I cannot believe I am already 13 weeks out. I am super pumped to do this show with all my Diva friends. It is going to be tricky because of work but I am doing it because it is a once in a lifetime chance. I am thinking after this show I will do the Tulsa show 2 weeks after that and then I am probably going to call it quits with competing at this point. I am really wanting to start learning Yoga and maybe get certified as an instructor. My back is really bothering me these days and I think the yoga would really help a ton. With all the workouts and my busy schedule there is no time left in the day to include some yoga. After the gallbladder surgery my back has just killed me. I think they dropped me or something because it did not hurt like this before I went in. It is all lower back and around my pelvic area. I mean it aches like no other but I push through it and just deal with it. I do use a foam roller and that has helped. My doc gave me pills but I flushed them. They made my heart race and I hate taking prescription crap.

Eating is great this go around even though I have really enjoyed being relaxed and not having to stress about having my food with me 100% of the time up until the last few weeks. I know once I hit that 12 week mark it has to be 100% and nothing better but don't think for a second I will be giving in to any food that is not on plan this week because I won't. I want this to be my best show yet!

Oh and if you are wondering about the Stove to Go! It rocks!It is lighter than my lunch backpack. I plug it in on my way to work with meal #2 and I can eat when I get to work and then put in meal #3 and it is ready by lunch. I highly recommend this especially if you are in your car a lot like me.

Week 5 over!

It has been 5 weeks already since starting back up with Mike. I am so loving this meal plan right now and wish I could have it the entire comp prep. I am never hungry and I am getting all kinds of yummy food like butter nut squash and Ezekiel bread with spray butter. I am consistently losing a pound a week even with one cheat a week. I must mention that I am already doing 2 cardios a day and 1 of those is hard core. Everything I do revolves around my hips and butt since that is where most of my problem is. The cheats are gone so boo but I like how fast I am leaning out. I can already see my abs and my hips are getting slimmer. The legs are another story but I will get there.

I ordered this because my principle took away my microwave. Why? Because she can and I guess she wants to make this as hard on me as she can but you know what? I am a fighter and I will eat my fish cold and I don't care but wait! I don't have to because I just ordered this! You will find me in my car at lunchtime now while I do some fine dining so BITE me mean people I got me a Stove to Go and it will cook up to 300 degrees in my car:)

Week 4 in the bag!

I ended week for with being at 100%! No deviations from my eating plan and I hit it super hard in the gym this week. The scale cooperated and I lost 2 lbs this week. That never happens to me, it is always 1 slow pound after another. I have about 7 more to go and I am 15 weeks out so I am in a good place.

My shoulders and triceps decided to come out and say hello this week. I am loving the way they are leaning out so quickly and I am wishing it was not so cold and I could wear short sleeves to show them off. There is nothing sexier than muscular shoulders and arms, I think anyway.

I truly feel like this is going to be my best show ever. Not only are a lot of my Diva team members going to be there but I can just feel it. I feel like my head is in a good place right now. I have changed my mindset to be constantly thinking like a competitor. If I don't feel like getting a workout in, I change my mindset and say to myself, "I am a competitor and a competitor does not miss workouts or eat crap so get to it sister" and it really works. May sound crazy but just try it and see. Even if you have never competed you can still get your mind to think this way. It is all so mental! So you can control your brain and it is free, what are you waiting for?

Week 3 down but.......

It so could have been better! I struggled this week with being stuck in the house for days. There was no school on Thurs, Fri or today. It makes me crazy! Dave has been home with me and I swear all he wanted to do was cook. We cooked healthy stuff but it was not stuff on my plan. I hope Mike does not ask for pics because I don't think I made much progress this week. This is a new week and the beginning of a new month. I love February. It is a short month and then March is Spring Break month. I love Spring Break, that is when I take all the boring stuff from my house and bring out all the bright and cheering colors and it just cheers me up!

I am like 15 wks out and have 9 lbs to lose so I am not too worried. I am sitting at a really healthy weight right now and I am not looking forward to my face looking super old again. That is what happens when I drop 10 lbs. It is terrible and my face takes a beating with all the up and down.

The snow has been terrible this year. The Colorado show I am doing is May 22 and I was scheduled to leave on the 21st. Now that we have make up days at school I am not sure how I am going to pull this off. I will figure it out but I am a little worried. We have had some terrible weather this year. I leave you with some snow pics.

Week 2 down

Well, since having surgery and taking a month of from the gym, I now have 2 solid weeks under my belt. I am back into my small jeans already so apparently there was a lot of bloat going on there plus the scale dropped about 7 pounds fast so definitely bloat! I am going to try to blog at least once a week so I can look back on this experience. I have had to ditch the idea of competing in the Liberty show but I will be ready to compete in Colorado by May, no problem. There was just no way I could be ready for the Liberty show in time.

When you take time off for whatever reason I think it is harder mentally to get back at it. I have struggled mentally with cravings and just wanting to be "normal". I know me though and I am not "normal". I like to be different so, I am back at it and got my new meal plan and workouts. I stuck to my plan for 2 weeks and I can tell slowly but surely it is all coming back. I will be glad to have 2 more under my belt. I am like 16 or 17 weeks out right now. I think it is good I am starting early though, I have some ground to make up plus it will not put me at my last few weeks and having to do brutal cardio.

I have always tried to plan my comps around holidays, birthdays and vacations just to make it easier on myself. I become anti-social for 3 months barely even seeing my family. I know Valentine's Day is not really a problem for me and we have decided on a June vacation right after the Tulsa show. I know the Super Bowl is coming up but I am aloud a cheat so I am going to be making some healthy snacks. I will leave you with one of the recipes. Enjoy!


Spinach-Walnut Dip

* 2 cups spinach
* 1/8 teaspoon Swanson Organic Garlic Powder
* 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
* 1/4 cup Swanson Organic Walnuts, chopped
* 1 teaspoon tarragon, chopped
* 1 teaspoon Swanson Organic Dill Weed
* 1 teaspoon cilantro, chopped
* 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
* Swanson Himalayan Crystal Salt, to taste



Puree spinach and garlic clove. Mix with Greek yogurt, finely chopped walnuts, chopped tarragon, dill and cilantro, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt.

Makes 48 servings. Serving size 1 tablespoon.
Nutritional Breakdown (per serving):

Calories 7, Fat 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, Sodium 15 mg, Carbohydrates 0 grams, Fiber 0 grams