StephWicked's 2011 training/contest journal

**BEAST MODE** · 02-16-2011, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Sunnyday

Hey Steph! Looks like things are moving along nicely in here. Catching up...

1. Gotta get me some of the mint choc chip gum, sounds awesome! I may have to buy it by the case, LOL.
2. That is one seriously busy contest season you got lined up there, Steph. Good thing you are experienced, I'd be like this

if I did just half of those shows...OK, truth be told I'd be shot after just one.
3. Rich, the donut avi is killing me!

4. Great progress over the last 6 weeks!

Then I would advise you to steer clear of my journal!!! Everyone is getting fed up w/ all my food porn posts.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-16-2011, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by tammyp

i may do hartford....if i do you should do it and be my roomie!

HMM... that's driving distance for me, so that could DEFINITELY be a possibility. Looks like I'll have to do some research now. That would be badass!

Originally Posted by BEAST MODE

For no specific reason whatsoever, other than you've become such an awesome DNGDG dudesis over the past few months...

Yayyyy... my favorite Rx bro! Are you a saint? Because you've been putting up with alot of my crap the last few days. I owe you more than just a pizza. Free hugs... take them while I'm giving them away!! LOL

**BEAST MODE** · 02-16-2011, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by stephaniewicked

Yayyyy... my favorite Rx bro! Are you a saint? Because you've been putting up with alot of my crap the last few days. I owe you more than just a pizza. Free hugs... take them while I'm giving them away!! LOL

Come on now, Roni...I think you know I don't view it as "putting up w/ a lot of crap." Trust me, if that's how I felt, first of all I wouldn't even offer to listen, and second...I'd have cut you off already! All I ask is that you don't take it for granted and use me as an ear and nothing else. I've had that happen w/ several friends, and they are no longer friends.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-17-2011, 08:07 PM

Sunny - You've GOTTA try that mint chocolate chip gum. Sooooo yummy! I think I'm addicted!! And yeah, I'm definitely a bit over ambitious this year. I hope I don't burn out... Tammy's got my back though, and the fact that I started dieting so early gives me a chance to make it more manageable so I'm not ready to kill myself by July!

Roo - I would never do that to ya, bud! You got my back; I got yours! That's how my friendships roll! Not to mention... DNGDG & BM4L! Holla!!

**BEAST MODE** · 02-17-2011, 08:08 PM

BM4L is right! And dudebros, and DNGDG...we have lots of little clubs, don't we?

**stephaniewicked** · 02-17-2011, 08:17 PM

Word... we're mad cool that way.

**BEAST MODE** · 02-17-2011, 08:21 PM

So unbelievably cool! I don't know how the state of NJ is going to contain all of the coolness in July.

**Gerb** · 02-17-2011, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by BEAST MODE

BM4L is right! And dudebros, and DNGDG...we have lots of little clubs, don't we?

I am clearly not up to speed on the crazy lingo you crazy kids are using these days

**BEAST MODE** · 02-18-2011, 05:12 AM

BM4L=Beast Mode for Life

DNGDG is for me and Steph, although at times I think you're a good candidate too! Lately, you just haven't made many of those comments...I think it's because you aren't drinking as much and/or you aren't depleted. Confused?

**stephaniewicked** · 02-18-2011, 09:33 AM

Now I forgot what it stands for...

DorkNerdGeekDweebGoober... I think?

**BEAST MODE** · 02-18-2011, 09:35 AM

Yep! That's it! lol...silly Roni!

**stephaniewicked** · 02-19-2011, 02:51 PM

What a crazy Friday I had... I got a call in the afternoon that my bro was rushing my dad to the hospital so I left work and sped over to Staten Island to meet up with them. My dad was experiencing severe dizziness, nausea, abdominal pains, fatigue, etc. When I got to the hospital, he was already hooked up to an IV and was half out of it... he was also super pale, which freaked me out.

A few hours later after some blood work, EKG, etc... the hospital released him and gave him anti-vertigo meds. He was up since 5:30am and all he had in his stomach was coffee and some candy he nibbled on (I know, I know... I try to get him to eat better, I really do!!!) Since his glucose levels were elevated (which is probably as a result of the candy), he went to his primary doctor last night just to get a second check up. Turns out... he has a freakin' EAR INFECTION! The fluid in his ears was so bad that it totally knocked him off his feet. In addition to not eating, his body must have gone into panic mode... he was also severely dehydrated because he went through 2 IV bags. I was so happy that it wasn't anything serious (heart rate, blood pressure, etc were all good and by the time he was released from the ER, he had color back in his cheeks and was awake, less dizzy and holding full conversations).

Whew! I'm so glad it turned out not to be anything serious. My dad's dad died of a heart attack when he was younger than my dad is now (he's 55) so my brother and I are always fearing the worst. I love my daddy, so it was a happy ending to a crazy afternoon...

Anyway, just sent Tammy this week's progress. Weight is up since last week and I don't know why. Been having some tummy issues and I'm also overdue for my lady friend sooooo hopefully it comes soon and everything balances out and things kick back into motion for next week!

**Sandpig** · 02-19-2011, 03:07 PM

Too much cardio for me.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-19-2011, 03:15 PM

LOL, yeah it's not my favorite thing to do but gotta get it done if I want a chance to stay on top with all the fresh competition I'll be facing again this year!

It actually hasn't been so bad. I only really hate cardio later in prep when my energy is on the floor and I have to push through every second to get it done.

**Gerb** · 02-19-2011, 03:59 PM

Sometimes our body keeps changing but the weight stalls out for whateer reason, it catches backup. I got no doubt at all if you are following Tammy's program to the T(which we all know you are) then you are right on schedule! Keep killing it Stephanie, Hard work always pays off!

**stephaniewicked** · 02-20-2011, 12:53 PM

Hey Steve - you're totally right and I learned that last year, so I'm not even sweating the scale right now. I still have sooooo much time to go, so I'm confident that everything will fall into place.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-20-2011, 12:54 PM

I sent Tam pix last night and she responded with some really positive feedback. We can already see changes alot faster this prep in some of my problem areas, so I'm really excited to see even more progress over the next few months.

Weight finally broke today and went back down to 115.0. Got one more meal at 2, and then I'll be off to hit arms and cardio.

I've been in a little energy slump lately. Not throughout the course of the day, just pre-workout. Yesterday I took 2 scoops of SuperPump Max, 4 cups of coffee and 1 Viper (Dymatize) before the gym... and had JUST enough energy to keep me going til the end. You would think that I would have been running around like a nut with all those stims, but I wasn't. After talking to Rich, I finally decided to buy some ALR Primed Ultra and found a badass deal this morning on allstarhealth.com - $22.29/bottle! So if you use it - run, go place an order now!!

Can't wait to get mine this week..

**Melissa** · 02-20-2011, 01:49 PM

Hey girl! Glad to hear things are still coming along so well with your prep. I can't wait to see how you look at the Arnold...you little hot mama with your furry boots!! lol

Toward the end of my prep last year when my energy was dragging, I started using BPI's RX6 to help me get through the day or my workouts. That shit is no joke. I'm a total stimulant junkie, and this stuff does the trick for sure. I won't even touch it offseason because it's way too strong for me. Now that I think about it, I might want to have some with me at the AC...

**BEAST MODE** · 02-20-2011, 02:03 PM

Glad you decided on the PU, Roni! Can't wait to see how it works for you! I like it better than WTF. I've always been a pwo drink person, but after going to PU, I won't go back to the drinks.

**Gerb** · 02-20-2011, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by stephaniewicked

I've been in a little energy slump lately. Not throughout the course of the day, just pre-workout. Yesterday I took 2 scoops of SuperPump Max, 4 cups of coffee and 1 Viper (Dymatize) before the gym... and had JUST enough energy to keep me going til the end. You would think that I would have been running around like a nut with all those stims, but I wasn't. After talking to Rich, I finally decided to buy some ALR Primed Ultra and found a badass deal this morning on allstarhealth.com - $22.29/bottle! So if you use it - run, go place an order now!!

Can't wait to get mine this week..

You will love it. Best pre-workout product I have ever taken. Not a stim product at all, but you can lift and cardio for hours, Rich is right on there.

Originally Posted by Melissa

Hey girl! Glad to hear things are still coming along so well with your prep. I can't wait to see how you look at the Arnold...you little hot mama with your furry boots!! lol

Toward the end of my prep last year when my energy was dragging, I started using BPI's RX6 to help me get through the day or my workouts. That shit is no joke. I'm a total stimulant junkie, and this stuff does the trick for sure. I won't even touch it offseason because it's way too strong for me. Now that I think about it, I might want to have some with me at the AC...

Yep, that stuff IMO is the strongest OTC stim product out there. I am a stim junkie too or can be at times. just one of those pills lights me up.

**tammyp** · 02-20-2011, 05:37 PM

glad your daddys ok..im a daddy girl too so i totally get how you feel.

glad your weight is back down...i know you relax some then

for the record: steph is looking amazing already...so when show time comes..shes gonna be hard to beat.

**Texasgirl74** · 02-20-2011, 06:37 PM

Do you watch tv when you're on the stepmill? I can only last about 30 minutes and I am bored.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-21-2011, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Melissa

Hey girl! Glad to hear things are still coming along so well with your prep. I can't wait to see how you look at the Arnold...you little hot mama with your furry boots!! lol

Toward the end of my prep last year when my energy was dragging, I started using BPI's RX6 to help me get through the day or my workouts. That shit is no joke. I'm a total stimulant junkie, and this stuff does the trick for sure. I won't even touch it offseason because it's way too strong for me. Now that I think about it, I might want to have some with me at the AC...

Hey girl - thank you! Can't wait to see you either!!! And thanks for letting me know about RX6. I just found out that PU is discontinued, so I probably won't be able to get anymore after this... glad I ordered it when I did. I'll be checking this out next for sure! I'm a stim whore too, so I'm always looking for something new to get me going.

Originally Posted by BEAST MODE

Glad you decided on the PU, Roni! Can't wait to see how it works for you! I like it better than WTF. I've always been a pwo drink person, but after going to PU, I won't go back to the drinks.

Yeah I like having my drinks, but I've got an open mind and I love ALRI so I'm sure I'm gonna love it.

Originally Posted by Steve G

You will love it. Best pre-workout product I have ever taken. Not a stim product at all, but you can lift and cardio for hours, Rich is right on there.

Yep, that stuff IMO is the strongest OTC stim product out there. I am a stim junkie too or can be at times. just one of those pills lights me up.

Badass! Appreciate the testimonial, Steve... should be here in a few days - can't wait!

Originally Posted by tammyp

glad your daddys ok..im a daddy girl too so i totally get how you feel.

glad your weight is back down...i know you relax some then

for the record: steph is looking amazing already...so when show time comes..shes gonna be hard to beat.

Thank you... I'm glad too. That was so scary to see him laying in the hospital all weak and stuff.

Hehehe, thanks... I don't know about that, but I'm trying to remain positive. Rich has me in BEAST MODE mentality, so the power of positive thinking is upon me! Hopefully my body comes in in a way that makes us happy and with any luck, the judges will think so too!

Originally Posted by Texasgirl74

Do you watch tv when you're on the stepmill? I can only last about 30 minutes and I am bored.

YES, absolutely. We have 4 stepmills and 3 of them have TVs. If those 3 are ever taken, I suck it up and get on the elliptical (but not without a lil bitching and whining!) I watch TV usually, but if there's nothing good on, then I flip through the music video stations and will play little games with myself... for music that gets me amped, I'll throw the speed up to 15 and walk up backwards for 30-60 seconds, then forwards for the same amount, then drop it back down to 5-7 so I can catch my breath, then repeat.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-21-2011, 02:04 PM

Ugh, everything from the waist up hurts today!

I've had painful, stabbing-like cramps since Saturday... This never happens, so I don't know why my body is deciding to punish me now, but it is. It's already been two days, so I don't think it can last too much longer. I trained chest, delts and arms this weekend so using my arms for anything just plain sucks right now. I haven't been this sore from a series of upper body workouts in a while. Then I woke up with a headache... I took 3 excedrin this morning, which seems to have worked on my head, at least... so 1 out of 3 ain't bad, I guess.

As a result of all my ailing pains, I slept pretty crappy last night so I'm feeling really blah and sluggish today. Work isn't too insane though, so I'm trying to appreciate it for what it is and just get by... 3 hours to go!

Other than that, everything's still moving along well. Tra la la... gonna do legs tonight. I was gonna do them yesterday, but decided to hold off since I felt so crappy. Not feeling much better today, but I haven't done them since Thursday, so it's happening whether my body agrees or not. It will probably be more of a light weight/high volume kinda night since I don't have the energy for 'balls to the wall' mode today.

**Texasgirl74** · 02-21-2011, 07:38 PM

I am a stepmill girl too. I don't know what it is about the elliptical but I can't stand it either.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-22-2011, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Texasgirl74

I am a stepmill girl too. I don't know what it is about the elliptical but I can't stand it either.

I like the elliptical better than the treadmill, so as a second resort, I'll use it... I just prefer not to.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-22-2011, 10:22 AM

By the time I made it to the gym last night, I was feeling considerably better... so what did I do? Not quite the light, high rep workout I had intended. It was more of a hybrid... I went super light on squats (20-30 rep sets with a 45 plate on each side of the bar) and then heavier on other stuff (like a few sets of 315 on the leg press - which I surprised myself with, since I haven't been using that machine that much in the last several months).

After legs, I hit the stepmill for 30 minutes and halfway through cardio, decided to try something new. I haven't seen it anywhere before and when I got home and googled and youtubed it, I was surprised that I couldn't find anything about it. I call them step squats. With each step forward, I would lower myself down to parallel in a squat position so that one foot would be on one step and my other foot would be on the step below it. I got into squat position, then stood tall again and squeezed my glutes with each return to the standing position. I had to lower the speed to 3-5 in order to perform them without the machine moving too quickly, but it definitely got my quads burning and my heart rate up! I'll see if my girl Jean could record me doing them this weekend so I can throw a video up... It was fun and also helped pass the time, which is always a cardio plus!

I'm not sore yet, but I did finish my workout less than 12 hours ago, so there's still time. I frequently don't feel it until 24-36 hours later - is that normal?

**BEAST MODE** · 02-22-2011, 10:31 AM

Wait til tonight bud...you'll start getting sore! I wasn't too sore on Monday morning, and I didn't even sit down all day until I got on the road back to STL around 12. So I drove for about an hour then stopped at a rest area, and the legs had tightened up so much I almost fell when I got out of my car. This morning I almost fell walking downstairs and again after meal 1.

**robert da strongman** · 02-22-2011, 10:45 AM

hey..thanks for the request!

**LisaRD23** · 02-22-2011, 11:07 AM

I've seen people kind do a lunge movement on the stepmill. I wonder if you would consider that, and what you did, more of a training move or cardio? I guess it's a bit of both worlds?

**minibabe** · 02-23-2011, 09:26 AM

Wow! I dont visit for a while and look at all that has happened!

Congrats on the engaument that is really amazing

Your schedule sounds really busy!

As for the gum, I got my new diet plan this past saturday and it says "NO GUM", this being my first time doing this, I kind of just brushed it off because I dont chew gum. Does it help you with hunger? Cravings?

Well its really awesome about your results I'm really happy for you that you seem to be on track with everything!

**M.E. Anders** · 02-23-2011, 07:48 PM

Also new to this thread - got lots to catch up on reading...you go, girl!

**"Mike"** · 02-26-2011, 07:50 PM

I was wondering if you had a journal, aaaaah the women's section, i'm so smrt

**stephaniewicked** · 02-27-2011, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by BEAST MODE

Wait til tonight bud...you'll start getting sore! I wasn't too sore on Monday morning, and I didn't even sit down all day until I got on the road back to STL around 12. So I drove for about an hour then stopped at a rest area, and the legs had tightened up so much I almost fell when I got out of my car. This morning I almost fell walking downstairs and again after meal 1.

I was sore 2 days later, but it wasn't quite as much as I had hoped for. Whatever though. Progress is being made either way!

Originally Posted by robert da strongman

hey..thanks for the request!

Hey Rob!! No prob, dude.

Originally Posted by LisaRD23

I've seen people kind do a lunge movement on the stepmill. I wonder if you would consider that, and what you did, more of a training move or cardio? I guess it's a bit of both worlds?

Well this was down to parallel, so it was more of a squat than a lunge... but I was already doing cardio for 15 min before I started doing those. I was doing them in intervals too. One minute of stepping, followed by a minute of step-squatting, then a minute of stepping, etc... if nothing else, it helps the time go by faster. I also like to do glute kickbacks with each step. Anything I can do to help squeeze the muscles while keeping the heart rate up!

Originally Posted by minibabe

Wow! I dont visit for a while and look at all that has happened!

Congrats on the engaument that is really amazing

Your schedule sounds really busy!

As for the gum, I got my new diet plan this past saturday and it says "NO GUM", this being my first time doing this, I kind of just brushed it off because I dont chew gum. Does it help you with hunger? Cravings?

Well its really awesome about your results I'm really happy for you that you seem to be on track with everything!

Thanks so much girl! We are both very excited!!

And yes, the gum helps with cravings so much. At least, for me it does... but not every coach allows their clients to have it. I should probably cut back anyway. I chew a little too much on some days.

Originally Posted by M.E. Anders

Also new to this thread - got lots to catch up on reading...you go, girl!

Hey there... thanks so much for stopping by and following along!

Originally Posted by Mike Rodrigues

I was wondering if you had a journal, aaaaah the women's section, i'm so smrt

Soooooo smart!

What's up Mike!

**stephaniewicked** · 02-27-2011, 01:21 PM

Not much to report this week. Weight isn't budging, but I'm still very happy with how things are looking. Tammy is too though, so no stress... still have so much time to go, so I know that everything will continue to fall into place.

Yesterday was leg day and I hit a squat PR! I know... PR + dieting? Doesn't make sense, right?! But my strength is still high so hey - I'm loving the hell out of this! One thing that frustrates me during prep is when I start to feel like I'm moving pxssy weights... fxcks with my head!! I may be a bikini girl on the outside, but I'm a hardcore lil meathead on the inside!

Anyway, I got about 90% parallel for 3 sets of 7 with 90lbs per side on the smith. This was after...

1x23 - 45lbs/side (warm-up)
1x17 - 55lbs/side
1x13 - 70lbs/side
1x9 - 80lbs/side

Needless to say, I was freakin' ecstatic and the rest of my workout was fierce! I was in awesome spirits... maybe it's that Primed Ultra I just started taking that was helping me feel so good too!?

By the way, I should mention that I have a weird thing for odd numbers (especially prime numbers) so I hate to do even numbers of reps or reps that end on a number that can be divided by 5. Yes, weirdo - I know!

Hence... all the strange numbers!

**stephaniewicked** · 02-27-2011, 01:27 PM

In other news, my little sister spent the night on Friday. She lives in the Poconos, so I don't see her too often. We have so much fun together, so it was awesome to hang out with my little baby chic.

Today is Jon's birthday, so Felicia (my sister) helped me bake him a cake. He loves red velvet and cream cheese, so I found a recipe on foodnetwork.com and decided I was baking it from scratch. It required a bit of creativity because I wanted to make it a bodybuilding cake. I couldn't find a cake mold so I made a barbell decoration to put on top. It's not edible, but it worked and he was so surprised... it makes me happy to make the people I love happy!

**chris250** · 02-27-2011, 01:50 PM

I bet Jon ate that whole cake...lol

looks damn good to me....

**stephaniewicked** · 02-27-2011, 02:10 PM

LOL, he wanted to... I had to bring it to his house this morning so his family could help him eat it. I couldn't stand looking at/smelling it anymore. The creamcheese frosting is what made me weak... that stuff required like 3 cups of confectioners sugar. I wanted some soooooo bad!

**robert da strongman** · 02-27-2011, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by stephaniewicked

Not much to report this week. Weight isn't budging, but I'm still very happy with how things are looking. Tammy is too though, so no stress... still have so much time to go, so I know that everything will continue to fall into place.

Yesterday was leg day and I hit a squat PR! I know... PR + dieting? Doesn't make sense, right?! But my strength is still high so hey - I'm loving the hell out of this! One thing that frustrates me during prep is when I start to feel like I'm moving pxssy weights... fxcks with my head!! I may be a bikini girl on the outside, but I'm a hardcore lil meathead on the inside!

Anyway, I got about 90% parallel for 3 sets of 7 with 90lbs per side on the smith. This was after...

1x23 - 45lbs/side (warm-up)
1x17 - 55lbs/side
1x13 - 70lbs/side
1x9 - 80lbs/side

Needless to say, I was freakin' ecstatic and the rest of my workout was fierce! I was in awesome spirits... maybe it's that Primed Ultra I just started taking that was helping me feel so good too!?

By the way, I should mention that I have a weird thing for odd numbers (especially prime numbers) so I hate to do even numbers of reps or reps that end on a number that can be divided by 5. Yes, weirdo - I know!

Hence... all the strange numbers!

sweet PR! official dudette status!

**stephaniewicked** · 02-27-2011, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by robert da strongman

sweet PR! official dudette status!

Yay, thanks!!

**tammyp** · 02-27-2011, 05:37 PM

thats a badass cake! i thought the bb was choc donuts...

i love I may be a bikini girl on the outside, but I'm a hardcore lil meathead on the inside!

**BEAST MODE** · 02-27-2011, 07:44 PM

She is a lil meathead! She was texting me all excited about squatting that much. I told her to get her ass back to work...no texting in the gym.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-27-2011, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by tammyp

thats a badass cake! i thought the bb was choc donuts...

i love I may be a bikini girl on the outside, but I'm a hardcore lil meathead on the inside!

Chocolate donuts would have been a great idea!! I should have consulted you before I baked!

Originally Posted by BEAST MODE

She is a lil meathead! She was texting me all excited about squatting that much. I told her to get her ass back to work...no texting in the gym.

Yup, true story!

**Sunnyday** · 02-27-2011, 10:21 PM

Steph, I'd rep you for the PRs AND the cake AND having the willpower to not dive into the cake AND the bikini girl-meathead quote, but the powers that be tell me I need to spread some around. Thought was there.

**stephaniewicked** · 02-28-2011, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by Sunnyday

Steph, I'd rep you for the PRs AND the cake AND having the willpower to not dive into the cake AND the bikini girl-meathead quote, but the powers that be tell me I need to spread some around. Thought was there.

Thanks, Sunny!! Just for all that nice stuff, I hit you up with some reps instead!