An Ontario Girl's Journey From Bikini to Figure

[fitLauraC]

NOTE: The following was logged on June 29/13 (16 weeks out from show date October 12/13-- KW Octoberfest Natural Classic in KW, Ontario, Canada)

16 weeks Out

Diet?
Br: 200mL egg whites, 1/4 cup rolled oatmeal, 1 Tablespoon pb (on non-workout days, nix the oats and pb, sub in 4oz ground beef)
Sn: 4oz ground turkey, 1 cup broccoli
Lu: 3oz chicken, 2 cups spinach, 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Sn: 4oz tilapia, 12 asparagus, 1oz almonds
Di: 4oz ground beef, 1 cup broccoli slaw
post-workout: 1 scoop protein in water and ice
Sn: 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 scoop protein, 1 Tablespoon pb

Supplements:
Keeping it minimal with 3 prenatal vitamins a day (following the label's instructions). I heard prenatal vitamins give you the most beautiful nails and hair and I'm trying to grow out my heat-damaged, over-coloured, over-treated frizzy hair mess!!! Other than a multi, I do 2 evening primrose oil capsules in the AM and PM (to try to keep my cycles on track as I have PCOS) and B6 in the AM and PM as well. That's it for now! I've parred down my supplement arsenal as per my naturopath. I was taking upwards of 30 pills a day!!! So trying to 'detox' a bit and see how my energy levels go. I'll consult with her if my energy starts to really drop.
I do 1-2 cups of coffee per day, depending on the day. Usually one between meal 1 and 2, and another between meal 3 and 4 if I'm craving it. At this point, I take about 1 Tablespoon light (5%) cream in it which has about 10-15cals and 1g carb. I also do 2 scoops pre-workout of a caffeinated pre-workout drink. I'm loving Dymatize XPAND 2 in red raspberry right now

Weights?
Monday- delts/abs
Tuesday- hot yoga
Wednesday- back/bis
Thursday- legs
Friday- delts/abs
Saturday- back/bis
Sunday- rest

Cardio?
3x 30min biking (steady state on Level 2)
3x 40min walk (steady state, outside)
- all 6 sessions FASTED before breakfast

Physical Well-Being
Still battling a glute-ham injury that's been nagging me for about 6months now. It's on the left side now, but last year, I suffered from tightness on the right side for the better part of a year. I was seeing chiro for the right side. Now seeing massage every 6 weeks and try to stretch lots, foam roll and tennis ball roll. Sprinting is not an option at all right now. PITA- Pain In The Ass is it's official 'diagnosis' and I don't wish it on anyone! It's an overuse injury and doesn't get better with rest OR with activity, so I just choose to not aggravate it too much by doing low-intensity cardio.

Emotions/Mental Well-Being aka Happy or Moody?
The first 2 days were UNREALLLLLL. Not sure if this was due to hormones/PMS or starting my diet. I think I was also pissed we decided to start the prep on a random Thursday.... I usually start on Monday ('cause who DOESN'T!!??) after a loaded cheat meal. Yeah- not this time. I was fed up with not seeing results so the bf got to work on my NEW AND IMPROVED nutrition plan and started me up on Thursday. BLECH. NEVER. AGAIN.

Craving?
A cheat meal of ANY KIND!!! But going for 2.5 weeks without one.
Side note: I have NO idea how some people (myself in the past included) can prep without a SINGLE cheat meal. I would go mentally nutty. It's only day 5 and I already am.... sad truth. This is why I have BLOWN UP in the past after previous shows.... because I feel SO DEPRIVED so I binge hardcore and that's never good so cheat meals will always be a part of my prep. Keeping a healthy relationship with food is always my number one priority.

Weight lost?
Starting weight= 154.4lbs. I am 5ft 6inches. [Will include measurements next week!]

Sleep
Sleeping well, but not for long enough. Getting 5-6hours right now. The bf and I just need to stop talking (we just moved in together, so it's still exciting and new!) I tend not to drop fat unless I get a minimum of 7hours, so my goal this week, beyond nail my meal plan, is to get 7+ hours of sleep.

Veins
I'm still WAY to soft for veinage!

Fun and Interesting Things From the Week
Marc and I travelled on down to London on Saturday night for our cheat meal 'cause we had $75 at our disposal for Milestone's/Kelsey's/Harvey's/Swiss Chalet/Montana's. We opted for Montana's for some home-cooked food and a walk at Springbank Park afterwards. I was pretty bitter that I couldn't try their homemade cornbread or the mac n' cheese, but the rotisserie chicken was sweet and delicious (I took the skin off and had a side of double veggies to keep it 'on plan'. The veggies ended up being broccoli and carrots, no butter or oil). We had a nice relaxing meal, then a beautiful walk in the park post-thunderstorm, and then finished the night off with a BIIIIG Starbucks coffee with a drop of cream and a drive around the city. We LOVE to just drive around and gawk LOL. See!? Competitors can have fun date nights AND stay on plan. No prob!!!


Looking Forward To…
My first ever family BBQ and Canada Day Buttertart Bakeoff!

[The Prodigy]

Welcome to RX Girl!!!!!!! Can't wait to follow your journey!

When I dieted for shows I got to a point where I was SO focused on getting lean and losing weight that I didn't want a cheat meal. I felt like it set me back..sorta speak...

Then again..it was HELL for me to lose weight! So that was always my focus!

[fitLauraC]

Welcome to RX Girl!!!!!!! Can't wait to follow your journey!

When I dieted for shows I got to a point where I was SO focused on getting lean and losing weight that I didn't want a cheat meal. I felt like it set me back..sorta speak...

Then again..it was HELL for me to lose weight! So that was always my focus!

I'm having a really hard time losing the weight for this show too. It's SOOO up and down! KUDOS to you for being able to prep without a cheat meal!!!! That takes some SERIOUS willpower!

[fitLauraC]

I logged this on June 30/13...15weeks out

15 weeks out

Diet?
I was getting UBER sick of asparagus and spinach (these have been staples for about 4months now, NOT 1 week. I'm not THAT picky!), to the point that I could probably vomit on command just thinking about it, so I switched it out in favor of brussels sprouts and shredded cabbage (aka dry coleslaw). Broccoli is still going strong.

Other than that, all food is the same this week.

A cheat meal happened on Saturday night (a reward for some solid loses in 10days!). A within-reason cheat (I'm notorious for going overboard on cheats....). This past Saturday I had a footlong sub from Subway on honey oat bread, Steak and Cheese (shredded cheese) with all the veggies they could pile on and Southwest sauce.


Weights?
Same as last week.

Cardio?
Same.

Physical Well-Being
I've gotten in to my groove! Other than some crashes in energy around 430pm which I've been fixing with a nap, I'm feeling pretty good! Hammies is still tender. Need to stretchhhhh more! (Why do we all neglect stretching all the time?!?! BAD HABIT.)

Emotions/Mental Well-Being aka Happy or Moody?
A few moody moments, but not nearly as bad as week one.

Craving?

Mac n' cheese. and ice cream....weird, right? It's like winter comfort + summer comfort. :P

Weight lost?
151.0 on Friday morning so down 3.4 lbs.

Sleep
Did a MUCH better job on the sleep from this week. I won't lose weight unless I get 7+ hours of sleep so I made sure to get some solid 7hour sleeps in the work week and about 9 on the wknds.

Veins
A few popping through on my wrists and my hands and feet look freaky (as per usual). Wrist veins only come out with a good pump.

Fun and Interesting Things From the Week
This is my last week on the Child Health Team at work...last week working with the newborn babies I'm definitely going to miss my role on this team but I'm also REALLY looking forward to a whole new population (ages 4-18) and a new approach to nursing and public health

Looking Forward To…
Spending time with my mom this coming weekend. We are heading to the Arts and Crafts Show in my home town, then to a play on Sunday afternoon Also heading in to the city to see an old friend and meet her new puppy, Eli! Keeping busy keeps me sane... and fights boredom hunger!

LATA!

[fitLauraC]

image-1.jpgimage-2.jpgimage-3.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

Here are my pics and measurements for 15weeks out. YES TONS of work to be done!!!

Sorry they are sideways!?

I was told in the gym tonight that my 'legs overpower my body'....

What are your thoughts?? Do you think I'll get nailed on my legs overpowering my upper body? And if so, what do you suggest? No more leg training?? Only plyos?? HELP!?

["Rodz"]

Coming along awesome!!!!

Where can you get tickets to the show?

I didn't even know there was any shows in that area.

[tekcrna]

Your show must be right before mine. I'm training for my first figure competition on October 26. I will be wishing you luck and following your progress.

[fitLauraC]

Your show must be right before mine. I'm training for my first figure competition on October 26. I will be wishing you luck and following your progress.

Awesome! So glad to hear!!

[fitLauraC]

Coming along awesome!!!!

Where can you get tickets to the show?

I didn't even know there was any shows in that area.

Thanks!
Are you in Ontario? I'm not entirely sure how to purchase tickets... maybe just at the door??

[fitLauraC]

Well I'm feeling very..... defeated.

3 weeks in to prep and I'm only down 1lb SO something's gotta change.

Cals are pretty consistent between 1600 and 1700, so that's going to be coming down by subbing out 1Tablespoon pb in the AM for 1teaspoon flax oil and I've reduced the cottage cheese to 1/2 a cup.

Now at 45min of cardio for 6days per week. Just picking a machine and giving it 100% with 1min - 1min 30sec intervals ON and about 2 - 2.5min OFF.

Really need to start seeing that scale go DOWN!

I've tried to diet 2 previous times for a show with extreme difficulty getting even just 0.5lb off. I don't remember it being so hard the first 6 shows, so I'm really getting discouraged.

Planning to simply attack the week, nail my eats, go hard on weights and cardio and see what Saturday AM brings.

I will also be taking out my cheat meal in favour of just a bigger regular meal ie. instead of 1/4 cup oats, I'll do 1/2 cup. See if that brings some better results.

Here we go!!! ..............

[nic902]

UGH! I feel ya on the frustration with the scale, it can be such a kill joy :/ I may have missed it, but do you have a coach or are you doing your own diet/training?

[The Prodigy]

Well I'm feeling very..... defeated.

3 weeks in to prep and I'm only down 1lb SO something's gotta change.

Cals are pretty consistent between 1600 and 1700, so that's going to be coming down by subbing out 1Tablespoon pb in the AM for 1teaspoon flax oil and I've reduced the cottage cheese to 1/2 a cup.

Now at 45min of cardio for 6days per week. Just picking a machine and giving it 100% with 1min - 1min 30sec intervals ON and about 2 - 2.5min OFF.

Really need to start seeing that scale go DOWN!

I've tried to diet 2 previous times for a show with extreme difficulty getting even just 0.5lb off. I don't remember it being so hard the first 6 shows, so I'm really getting discouraged.

Planning to simply attack the week, nail my eats, go hard on weights and cardio and see what Saturday AM brings.

I will also be taking out my cheat meal in favour of just a bigger regular meal ie. instead of 1/4 cup oats, I'll do 1/2 cup. See if that brings some better results.

Here we go!!! ..............

Remember the scale isn't everything! Is your body changing? After competing a bit your metabolism changes....it was always harder for me to lose weight each show...

Have you changed up your cardio?

["Rodz"]

Thanks!
Are you in Ontario? I'm not entirely sure how to purchase tickets... maybe just at the door??

yup in the KW area

[Andrealyn75]

Hi ya! I can understand your frustration. What's the intensity like during your weight training workouts? I'd try some HIIT, Tabata cardio as well. Hang in there, I'll be following you along.

[fitLauraC]

UGH! I feel ya on the frustration with the scale, it can be such a kill joy :/ I may have missed it, but do you have a coach or are you doing your own diet/training?

Doing my own diet and training right now!