10 Days Out

The day of the show is slowly creeping up on me. I can't believe I'm only 10 days out. It sure doesn't feel like it. In a way, I'm mentally ready to be on stage and some may even say that I'm physically ready as well and for the most part, I feel that I am. My body is continually changing day by day and it just amazes me. I'm still working hard at the gym, lifting heavy, getting my cardio in but not too much (we don't want me to be so skinny) and were consistently changing my diet to see what works and what doesn't and most importantly getting my reps in as far as posing goes.

Posing is such an important and vital part of this sport. We've heard that this might be the biggest Northern ever. So getting conditioned to hold a pose for a long time and not lose form is critical. 

We've been doing one on one posing sessions twice a week and I join the group session on Saturdays at the Gym after strength and conditioning class. A couple of the girls and I have met a couple of times to practice on our own as well. We're not coaching or teaching each other per se but really just encouraging each other and giving each other boost of confidence and pointers to be able to hit those poses like we've been doing them all our lives. It's a great way for us to get to know each other and share experiences that we thought we were the only one experiencing. I've definitely made a couple of great friends along the way. 

Vince have been videoing some of my posing classes so I can watch them and see myself and all the things I'm doing right and most importantly the little mannerisms that I'm doing without noticing but could be very obvious to the judges. I was watching them last night and I'm happy with the progress that I've made and you can tell that each class I'm gaining confidence and hitting and owning my poses. I'm now working on adding the "Ronnie sass/flair" in there. I have a week and a half to perfect those! 

Here's my front pose taken from yesterday's posing class and start of a new nutrition plan for the week. I'm definitely leaning out. Also it seems like I have ginormous head compare to the rest of my body! Haha. I'll be taking more of progress pictures later on today and put them side by side with the rest of progress pictures. I can't wait to see the transformation! 

Okay off to the gym! 

The Ugly Side of Bikini Training

Well I'm two weeks out and I'm experiencing well rather unpleasant subject matter but I learned that it's definitely not just me and it's a part of training, came to find out.

I remember Yoko mentioning something about digestion system slowing down but that was around when I was about 16 weeks out so I really didn't pay too much attention to it. And right around three weeks out I hit a wall. You know you see memes about body building and "protein farts" - that's definitely true, haha. I joked that Vince and I are not fart buddies. I know, I'm a girl and girls aren't supposed to fart or burp or anything like that but we're humans!

Just because it's clean when you eat it, it doesn't mean it's clean coming out the other end (gross I know, but I said that I would document every bit of this journey). On top of the things we have to do and think about, we also have to deal with the "aroma" that comes with training. Let's see, I now have to eat my cold fish (tilapia or cod) on the fire stair escape along with my asparagus or brocoli because my pod mates at work no longer appreciate it. "What's that smell? It must be Ronnie's food". I seriously don't know how I hold my gas at work in but when I'm home, it's game on, haha! And with all the too closely monitored gallon and a half of water a day in combination with yummy asparagus and multivitamins, you have a neon colored not so pleasant smelling pee, (what feels like) every 5 minutes.

Then the extra sweating during morning cardio, posing class (yes posing) and then night workouts. My hair and skin is taking a toll having to shower twice a day. I've been lathering myself with coconut oil to help moisturize my skin along the way.

This week, I've been dealing with bloating and not being able "go" regularly. I felt so miserable. I didn't expect it at all because my diet hasn't really changed. I mean, I haven't introduced anything new. I've been eating pretty much the same thing for the past 16 weeks and I've been fine then all of the sudden my digestive system decided that it's tired of being regular? And it's so frustrating because you've been busting your butt with cardio to burn off fat and endless ab exercises just to look 6 months pregnant with all the bloating (and water retention). So last week we tried a couple of things to help with that. Thank God!

After talking to a few girls at the gym and Yoko, apparently this unpleasantness isn't all that uncommon. Almost everyone goes through it. It's nice to know that my body is not the only one deciding to go through this funkiness!

18 Days Out!

I can't believe I'm only 18 days out from my very first NPC (a national qualifier at that! Go big or go home right?) show. It seems like it was just yesterday when I said 18 weeks out would be good time for me to start training. Time flew by. It definitely didn't hurt that I was so busy at work but time flew by because I really enjoyed (okay, maybe I had a couple of not so pretty moments) but overall, the journey has been great and that's what Yoko and I wanted to make sure from the very beginning.

During the past 16 weeks, I learned that I can push myself way outside of my comfort zone. Training forced me to reprioritize and really focus on me. It taught me that it's okay to be this kind of selfish. That anything can be accomplished with dedication, determination and will. It taught me that no matter what kind of craziness is happening with other aspects of my life, I can control my mind and body. I also realized that with working out, pushing myself to exhaustion is actually the most relaxing part of my day. I get to the gym and zone out and not think about anything else but myself and focusing on improving my health.

I've become much stronger and capable of things I didn't think would be possible. I'm happier and healthier than ever before and quite frankly it doesn't hurt that I'm starting to look pretty darn good! :)

Well here's to the next 18 days and beyond!

Don't Let Life Get in the Way of Training and Training in the Way of Life

A couple of weeks ago, we went up to the mountains for our annual snowboarding trip. We had a large cabin and about 10 of us. I knew that this trip was happening and it was going to be during a time when I'm about a month out and no cheat meals. I also knew that it was at a point in my training where I couldn't let up on my workouts.

I made sure that I was more than prepared for it. I did my researched and found a gym nearby that I could go to and get my workouts in. I also made sure that people in the cabin knew that I was training and they were all very supportive and even recruited Vince, my brother in law and his room mate to workout with me!

On our first day there, I was in the kitchen prepping my food for the next few days. I made sure that I brought my necessities from home (scale, rice cooker, fresh produce/protein, supplements and tupperware, etc).

I got up early to go to the gym and get my morning workout in before we head out to the slopes. I also did not stay for night boarding so I can go to the gym and get my night workout in after boarding. Working legs twice a week and boarding all day is no joke! There were times when my legs just gave out on me while boarding down the mountain but it was all worth it! I saw boarding as extra cardio sessions especially in that powder!

I also made sure that I had alarms set on my phone so I knew exactly when it was time to eat. Vince of course the supporting husband that he is, wore a back pack which had all the meals, water and supplements I needed during the time we are on the slopes. We stopped in the middle of the runs and sat down and ate. My food was cold but the view was definitely unbeatable! 

I knew one thing that would be hard would be the part when all of us would be going out to eat. We hit certain specialty food places during these trips and I knew that I wouldn't be able to enjoy all that deliciousness but I did not let this get in the way of hanging out with friends and family. I either ate my food before we went out or brought it with me to the restaurant (depending on what time it was). One day, I got to eat at the restaurant. It fell on a day where I could have lean steak for dinner.

 I know they felt bad for me that I didn't get to eat what they were eating but I told them not to. It was a choice that I'm doing it and it really wasn't bad that I wasn't able to eat with them. It would be worse if I had stayed at home and didn't go out with them at all. I just couldn't do that. I couldn't alienate myself because of my training. That's ridiculous. If that's how it is during training, how could anyone keep it up during "off season"? 

Besides, me not eating means more table space for their food, in front of me... Just like this...while I enjoy my green tea..

Vince and I went over at friend's house for dinner. She was asking if she needed to prepare anything special for me. I said no. We had to bring food anyway, so we brought kale salad and lean steak with great marinade. I fixed my plate of salad before adding the extra stuff like nuts, cranberries and dressing for everyone else. We enjoyed the same delicious and healthy food but mine was just slightly modified. Being on a "special diet" shouldn't be a big deal, especially when it comes to hanging out with friends and family around food. I eat what I'm supposed to and not bring any attention to it. As a matter of fact, I've changed so many minds about how healthy and clean food can be delicious as well! 

I'm a big believer of with a little extra effort, training should not get in the way of life. Preparing and planning is the key to success! 

First Suit Fitting

Got to try on my competition suit for the first time today! Love the color! Right amount of bling! I think it'll look really great once I get a bit darker with my tan. 

We have to make some minor adjustments with the bottom, make it smaller, if that's even possible. I felt like I was walking around with my butt hanging out (technically it is). I also love the jellies that makes me look like I actually have boobs since my very small boobs are now pecs. 

We get to have second fitting next week and she will have the rhinestones added on the suit! I'm getting excited. Exactly 4 weeks from today! 

Sorry, the lighting in the locker room wasn't ideal and excuse the post workout, early Saturday morning face.

Posing #3 - Four Weeks Out

I started a post regarding my first posing class but somehow the draft magically disappeared. Anyhow, I had my third posing class with Yoko this morning and I'll have my second one with the group tomorrow! Tomorrow also marks 4 weeks until the show. Yikes!!

Well, let me tell you a little something about posing: that shit is HARD! OMG. I was so sore from this morning. Chest up as if someone is pulling a string from your heart, tilt your hip down like you're pouring water out of it, tilt your booty as if you had a tail or an analogy that was use today, a flashlight out of your booty and you're trying to shine that light on the back wall, all without bending over, stretch your abs, show off your obliques, legs straight and don't forget to be a little flirty and a big ol smile on your face and make it all seem natural!

Definitely not easy and at times frustrating but practice makes perfect! I have 4 weeks to perfect these moves/poses.

I'm leaning out nicely but still have some body fat to lose so we're increasing my cardio a bit and changing my diet just a little bit as well. It's home stretch!

Progress Photos - 6 Weeks Out

So I'm a little over six weeks out and I'm really seeing some progress. My legs and arms are really toning up. My waist shrinking but I'm still carrying fat on my lower abs. I'm probably not going to see much progress in that area until I'm a couple of weeks out, unfortunately but overall, I'm happy with my progress.

The diet and workout change has definitely worked in getting results. I've been on this routine for a week now and definitely seeing/feeling the changes. We're cutting my carbs back and I'm eating more. We're trying to build more muscles, especially my glutes and delts. Anyhow, here are some progress photos. Last one is my attempt at posing (I'm pretty sure I'm not doing it right since I haven't had posing classes yet but I will post photos from posing class soon).

Since I see myself every day and very critical of every little thing, I don't see the drastic change that happened to my body since I started. When put together side by side, I can't help but be more excited about the results thus far and looking forward to the progress over the next 6 weeks.