Good weight loss GM
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Good weight loss GM
You're not supposed to be doing cheat meals when you first start the diet! But good start anyway! I agree, no need to put on extra weight. A little, sure, can't be helped.
I'm not dieting like it's contest prep. After all, I AM in Australia on a long vacation.
Doing some soul searching. I wrote this in my blog today.
My Fitness
I really don't know how to put this into words so I'm just going to type as I think. It may end up random and rambling but it is what it is.
I used to be the fat girl. And then I lost weight. I fell in love with bodybuilding in the process and I strove to look like the competitors I admired. I even got there for a couple of weeks. Maybe not as good as them but I got there.
And then I rebounded. I swore it wouldn't happen to me. I swore that since I was aware of what could happen I wouldn't rebound like so many of my friends have. Yet I did. Of course, some of mine was on purpose. I started a bulk cycle and I gained. It's what we expected I'm told and that's true but I don't like it. I've showed those pics...my bulk pics...to a few people and they've said I just look like an off season bodybuilder and if I look at them objectively, it's true. I do look like an off season bodybuilder.
But here's the problem. Off season bodybuilders look fat to me. All this time I've been wanting to look like a bodybuilder I've had the in season look in mind. No one ever posts their off season look. It's very rare to see a woman in off season condition in pics. And that's the look they all walk around with for 80% of the time! How do they do that? That's not what I want. I didn't realize that being a bodybuilder meant looking like a lard ass most of the time. I want to look good all the time! I didn't start working out and changing my eating habits 10 years ago for any other reason than I want to look good.
So I have to decide where I go from here. When I think about when was I the happiest with my body it was when I first lost the fat and got my weight down to a no-muscle 130 pounds. I did maintain that for two years. Don't get me wrong...I love the muscle I built since then but what good is it if it's hidden under fat? What good is all this working out and dieting if I'm still overweight and miserable about how I look? I'm not looking for perfection. I am looking to be happy with what I am....who I am.
Bodybuilding is nothing more than yo-yo dieting. I don't want to spend half the time fat and half the time lean. George (mman47)and I have an analogy about the bodybuilding lifestyle. It's a pendulum swinging...from one side to the other. As far as it swings to one side is as far as it has to swing to the other side. I need to stop the pendulum. Or at least slow it down. I am tired of dieting. I'm tired of the deprivation. I'm tired of the extremes. I just want to be happy and healthy. And not fat.
Erin, I feel the same way sometimes. I am either pigging out or strict dieting. This is not a healthy way to live. I am vowing to never go above 190 ever again. I like how I look right now and would love it to be my off season weight.
I hope you can find a solution that works for you.
Very good Erin. I liked that. I agree with the off season "shape" but to put it kindly.....I guess round is a shape though.
I guess I should state that I haven't stopped training. Sledge and I still hit it hard all last week. Granted, I wasn't my usual cheery self but I was there and I lifted as heavy as I could. I'm still following the nutrition plan.
I've had some good conversations with a couple of people about this over the last week. (thanks SteveG, Ninja Loco and mman47) I think in my quest for balance I will try to gradually take off some of the fat I've put on since my comp but not in any drastic sort of way. I think my days of purposely bulking are over. I mentally can't take it. I may compete again in the future but I can't make it a goal right now. I need a break from the extremes.
Sounds like someone is reaching a comfortable place in life. Glad to hear it Erin.
[quote=GirlyMuscle;849205]I guess I should state that I haven't stopped training. Sledge and I still hit it hard all last week. Granted, I wasn't my usual cheery self but I was there and I lifted as heavy as I could. I'm still following the nutrition plan.
I've had some good conversations with a couple of people about this over the last week. (thanks SteveG, Ninja Loco and mman47) I think in my quest for balance I will try to gradually take off some of the fat I've put on since my comp but not in any drastic sort of way. I think my days of purposely bulking are over. I mentally can't take it. I may compete again in the future but I can't make it a goal right now. I need a break from the extremes.[/quote]
Finding the right balance is a good plan Erin, I'm sure you'll be happy. :)
Erin, you don't NEED to bukk up in the off season and get more fat than you want. Arnold never looked fat, nor Zane, Robby, etc. Just aint necessary. You're on a better road :).
[quote=GirlyMuscle;849205]I guess I should state that I haven't stopped training. Sledge and I still hit it hard all last week. Granted, I wasn't my usual cheery self but I was there and I lifted as heavy as I could. I'm still following the nutrition plan.
I've had some good conversations with a couple of people about this over the last week. (thanks SteveG, Ninja Loco and mman47) I think in my quest for balance I will try to gradually take off some of the fat I've put on since my comp but not in any drastic sort of way. I think my days of purposely bulking are over. I mentally can't take it. I may compete again in the future but I can't make it a goal right now. I need a break from the extremes.[/quote]
Amen to that and the replies. That is a young man's game and, ultimately, a trap with dire consequences. I am doing the Masters the old school, Arnold way. People think I am training for a triathlon right now, getting lean and near fighting weight. Great! I will grow even as I walk on stage, nervous as hell, yes, but rested and healthy and ATHLETIC! You have been at this a long time, you are just arriving at the truth you always knew to be true!
I can understand your feelings well Erin. Ive never been able to reach the stage condition to even compete. I tried really hard but not hard enough. I wasnt willing to give 110% to get there. I was miserable . Im now just living life the way I want to and I am very happy with myself as MYSELF. I was never meant to be a competitor I just wanted to be healthy and I am.
Erin, thanks for the props, hun. I like what Kathy said (or it could be just that I want to see her boobs)..... and I know it all applies to you. What I think you need to do is a mix of both hers and ours advice: just do it for yourself...and then if the bug hits again, compete. Its doing you no good to try and do it all over again when you have so many other things to worry about like what we discussed last time. And you've known me, what? 3-4 years now? Im the exact same way as you when I cut. Remember? I went from cutting to "not cutting", then to recomps.... you like my abs but Im about to come unglued cause I done lost another 2 pounds again EVEN THOUGH Ive lost no size. Im freaking. I dont like doing this. Same as you...... so remember what i said about when I just stopped thinking about it.
BUT... I know Erin. She will compete again. She couldnt stand not to......
You may like to read this : [url]http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/post_competition_blues.htm[/url]
Thanks, hun.
[quote=GirlyMuscle;857167]Thanks, hun.[/quote]
I know you are talking to me ........ not that boobie hunter right ? :hugme:
Yep, you. Actually, that's me...the article. Nice to know I'm not losing my mind. Now if I could just lose 20 pounds....;)
[quote=GirlyMuscle;857187]Yep, you. Actually, that's me...the article. Nice to know I'm not losing my mind. [B]Now if I could just lose 20 pounds[/B]....;)[/quote]
Stick with it GM. Your doing a great job here!
[YOUTUBE]HVNp2WXSFgw[/YOUTUBE]
Off season back...what do ya think?
You're a beast!
Stopping by to say hi ...hope your having fun and enjoying life:)
Your back is crazy ...hows training and the new goals
Training is really good. I can't believe some of the weights I'm pushing. For instance, I did wide grip lat pulldowns the other day with 170 lbs. Sledge had to pull the weight down so I could sit. It weighed more than I did and I couldn't get it down by myself. LOL I just dangled from the bar. (I'm short so I stand on the seat to wrap my straps and then I couldn't touch the floor without his help) I'm going to get video of that the next time Sledge and I train back. We laughed our arses off!
I also did incline presses with 35kg dumbbells...that's 77 lbs...EACH! 6 solid reps. Squats are 220...nice and deep, too. Yep, I love/hate max-ot. LOL
On the not so good side, every joint hurts. Elbows, wrists, knees...even forearms are painful in a not good way.
I decided to take a different approach to food and dieting. I just can't do keto all the time. I know it works but I'm so fried on it mentally. I decided to go back on carbs and count calories. That way I can get back to a more balanced place mentally. I hate all the restriction all the time. I'm going to save the keto thing for contest prep. And at this point I haven't even gotten close to picking a show yet.
Australia is cool. I may stay a month longer than we'd originally planned. I'd like to wait out the snow in PA. My hometown got 36 inches in the last 2 weeks and I think another storm was rolling in two days ago. I'm thinking April might be safe. LOL
Would love to see a video of that:p
being short is rough sometimes but I work around it too
training sounds great would love a spotter to help
Hell I would stay longer too... Not looking forward to the Columbus weather
after our 70's here ... The things I do for a little entertainment is crazy:hypno:
Sounds like you are doing well. Keep up the good work!
[YOUTUBE]U6pgqKK_F90[/YOUTUBE]
holy cow! lol, 500grams carbs per potato
OMG,...at least!
I boiled and mashed them, then I preportioned and froze it all.
holy radioactive soil, batman! 4 potatoes in one.
Read how strong you are gettting...that's incredible. I wish I could incline press 77lbs in each hand. Seriously.
Those are my kind of sweet potatoes!! I always dig for the extra large ones at my store. They're just a tad smaller than the smallest one you held up. When I can find the jumbo ones. Maybe in the states they're just harvested sooner. Most people try to pick out the tiny ones.
Have you made sweet potato fries? They are killer! Even my picky daughter loves them.
[quote=SallyAnne;859498]You're a beast![/quote]
No kidding!! :)
[quote=freebirdmac;871835]Those are my kind of sweet potatoes!! I always dig for the extra large ones at my store. They're just a tad smaller than the smallest one you held up. When I can find the jumbo ones. Maybe in the states they're just harvested sooner. Most people try to pick out the tiny ones.
Have you made sweet potato fries? They are killer! Even my picky daughter loves them.[/quote]
I have but they were a flop. How do you make yours?
[quote=GirlyMuscle;859427][youtube]HVNp2WXSFgw[/youtube]
Off season back...what do ya think?[/quote]
I'd do ya
[quote=Sledge;871846]I do ya[/quote]
Fixed for accuracy.
In for the gangbang.
And the sweet potatoes.
[quote=GirlyMuscle;871841]I have but they were a flop. How do you make yours?[/quote]
I just poured some olive oil in a bowl, added sea salt, then dipped the cut potatoes. Baked at 400 for 15 minutes, flipped them, then baked for another 15 minutes. My daughter and I like them crispy so next time I'm going to make them thinner, kind of like McDonald's fry size and maybe cooking a bit longer. I put the leftovers from a few days ago back in the over for another 15 plus 10 minutes. Some got pretty darn dark. Black even. And they still tasted good!
I need more practice too. But if I get my picky, picky kid eating them I've accomplished something :)
I had sweet potato fries at a Jimmy Buffet's Cheese Burger in Paradise and they were thin and crispy. I want those.
[quote=freebirdmac;871835]Those are my kind of sweet potatoes!! I always dig for the extra large ones at my store. They're just a tad smaller than the smallest one you held up. When I can find the jumbo ones. Maybe in the states they're just harvested sooner. Most people try to pick out the tiny ones.
Have you made sweet potato fries? They are killer! Even my picky daughter loves them.[/quote]
I pick the smaller ones ...if they are bigger I eat half ...I am moving out of that mindset
My daughter loves the sweet potato fries too ...took her a little while before she realized I was not going to make the other kind ever again so she gave up and tried them.
In the USA I buy sweet potatoes that are single serving size. They don't have sweet potatoes like that here. NONE of them are small.
NOW I WANT SWEET POTATO FRIES TOO.
And I'm stuck at work eating out of ziploc bags for another three nights.
The great thing about the big sweet potatoes is you can cook one and have it for several meals. They reheat great in the microwave. But initial cooking must be done in the oven. Microwaved sweet potatoes from raw just aren't the same. I eat a large one every day. I have slightly orange palms to prove it :)