Round 2 as a Bodybuilder...My Roller Coaster Ride to Eastern USA's and Nationals

**The Prodigy** · 08-20-2010, 10:47 PM

Hang in there girl! Almost there!

**Melissa** · 08-21-2010, 01:30 PM

Thanks, Gail! Did I read in someone else's thread that you might be coming to ATL to watch Nationals? I would love to be able to meet you in person

**stephaniewicked** · 08-21-2010, 01:47 PM

Haha... I like the idea of naming prep meltdowns like hurricanes. You might have just started a new trend there!!

I hope things get better as the next 8 weeks move along... You've got lots of love and support in here, girl!

**Melissa** · 08-21-2010, 09:10 PM

Awww, thanks Steph, that's so sweet!!!

**Melissa** · 08-22-2010, 11:41 AM

Good progress again this week. Lost two pounds, and I'm down to 131.2, which was a huge relief after I went a little overboard on my cheat meal last week (which largely contributed to my mid-week meltdown). Plus, I'd say I'm still a little ahead of schedule, but not much. It's time to pull the reins in on the cheat meal and start cleaning it up a bit. Again, I know I'm still going to be pretty small up there next to the other middleweights, but I sure as HELL will in shape.

**stephaniewicked** · 08-22-2010, 01:34 PM

Considering your conditioning in your bb debut, I have no doubt that you're gonna show up and be "in shape" and MORE! So excited for you, girl!! Glad you're feeling better after Akon!

**The Prodigy** · 08-22-2010, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Melissa

Thanks, Gail! Did I read in someone else's thread that you might be coming to ATL to watch Nationals? I would love to be able to meet you in person

I am going to do my best to be there! Hopefully working the Species booth! Are you doing Nats too?

**Melissa** · 08-23-2010, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by The Prodigy

I am going to do my best to be there! Hopefully working the Species booth! Are you doing Nats too?

Yup!

**Melissa** · 08-24-2010, 08:11 PM

Dear Tuesday,
You win. I give up. You officially kicked my ass.

Fuck you very much,
Melissa xoxo

P.S. Watch out Wednesday because I'm coming out swinging

Aaaahhh, just using those rediculous smiley faces makes me feel better....I have officially lost my mind lol.

**fitmomma3** · 08-24-2010, 09:56 PM

^^^ Fuck you very MUCH XOXO hahahaha LOVE THAT SORRY BUT I DID!!! Hope wednesday is BETTER though!!

**Melissa** · 08-25-2010, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by fitmomma3

^^^ Fuck you very MUCH XOXO hahahaha LOVE THAT SORRY BUT I DID!!! Hope wednesday is BETTER though!!

LOL, it's totally ok. I figure, I gotta make a joke out of it because it's pretty funny how such small, stupid stuff can really just grate at you when you're dieting. I know that if I wasn't so tired and run down that I would have done a much better job at letting yesterday's crap roll off my back. Oh well, such is prep.

Anyway, I'm feeling much better today, so I'm sure it will be a better day

**shankuan** · 08-25-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Melissa

Dear Tuesday,
P.S. Watch out Wednesday because I'm coming out swinging

Aaaahhh, just using those rediculous smiley faces makes me feel better....I have officially lost my mind lol.

You know i thought i was weird and getting off my rockers for feeling this way...but im happy i now have company

. And hon, i always say you can't lose what wasn't already there because one has to ALREADY BE kinda wacko to do what we do every year (sometimes more than once per year) knowing the unstable emotions and issues that come with it. I believe i'm certifiable so you are NOT alone

Originally Posted by Melissa

LOL, it's totally ok. I figure, I gotta make a joke out of it because it's pretty funny how such small, stupid stuff can really just grate at you when you're dieting. I know that if I wasn't so tired and run down that I would have done a much better job at letting yesterday's crap roll off my back. Oh well, such is prep.

Anyway, I'm feeling much better today, so I'm sure it will be a better day

Very glad today's a better day. I think some of us once way into prep get to this point. It happens, and we either deal or let it hang us. Had one of those days yesterday and knew it was going to hang me (i was throoughly exhausted) so i took a vacation day today just to get some sleep. We all have our breaking points and as you've said 'such is prep'. I hope you have an even BETTER rest of week (already halfway there)

**Melissa** · 08-25-2010, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by shankuan

Very glad today's a better day. I think some of us once way into prep get to this point. It happens, and we either deal or let it hang us. Had one of those days yesterday and knew it was going to hang me (i was throoughly exhausted) so i took a vacation day today just to get some sleep. We all have our breaking points and as you've said 'such is prep'. I hope you have an even BETTER rest of week (already halfway there)

It's really funny you say that because I'm well aware that I can come across as Captain Negative, especially when I get to a certain point during my contest prep. Yet, I do love all aspects of this sport. In fact, most of my stress really comes from my job, and the lack of energy from dieting makes it much more difficult to deal with all the fun stuff that comes along with the job. I feel like when I read some of the other girls' journals or talk to other friends who compete, everyone always says how great they are/feel and how great everything is going, and it makes me wonder if there's something they know that I don't as far as having that "great" feeling during prep. I guess it's all in how you perceive things.

**fitmomma3** · 08-25-2010, 09:53 PM

Melissa I think the "great feeling" during prep may have a lot to do with our life structure's when not prepping. You seemed to have pretty structured pretty focused off seasons, you have a set schedule with work, so prep for you may mean just cramming more in and stressing.

When I use to compete I was a stay home mom so prep for me meant a little extra focus and structure that I FED OFF of!! It gave me such a high. 1. It allowed me to have an excuse to focus on me (which I didn't necessarily do often) 2. It gave me an excuse to NEVER miss my me time at the gym under any circumstances (which again as a mom in the off season sometimes I had to just make due and sacrifice) and it gave me such a sense of accomplishment, because it was self rewarding.

Now that I'm back at work even though its only part time cooking my food constantly and extra cardio seems like nothing more than extra chores added onto my already long day. So this is where I can see your prep being less than joyful LOL you work long hard days and add on long hard work around that with prep it takes a toll!! I am very inspired by you negative attitude or not lol you are doing it and thats really all that matters in this sport. No one cares if you were happy or not while doing it lol and at least if you gonna be grumpy you can make us laugh

**Melissa** · 08-27-2010, 08:42 AM

Alright, I officially "feel" the diet this week. My energy levels have started to really tank, and I feel like I'm moving through molasses during my workouts (mmmm, molasses....but I digress). The strength in my lower body seems to be holding on with a vengence. I had a great quad workout this past Sunday, and my ham workout last night was also really good. But my back workout on Monday and delts/chest on Wednesday left a bit to be desired. It felt like I had to really kill myself to match my weights from the previous workouts, which worries me. To be honest, my upper body is pretty much ready, and the next 6 weeks are going to be all about suffering to get my quads, hams, and glutes to come in. My fear, at this point, is that I'm going to lose some muscle up top. With every contest prep, my upper and lower body seem to balance out a bit more with how it gets rid of fat, but hey, I'm a chick with a fat ass, what can I say? As long as it's not fat on October 9th or October 16th, then I'll be happy.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. It should be very quiet and relaxing. Tomorrow, I'm going with my friend, who's wedding is the day after Easterns, for her final dress fitting, and then the plan is for some good ol' girl time afterwards over coffee or lunch. I get the feeling that her Maid of Honor is stressing her out a bit (hell, she's stressing ME out, and it's not even my wedding), and she needs to vent. And I intend on making every effort on Sunday to do nothing other than train, do my cardio, eat, and sleep.