11 Weeks & Counting..

Hello friends!!

I’m playing catch up today (yet again), I really need to stop taking weekends off from blogging.. This Monday morning game of catch up gets old, fast!

From what I’ve been reading on all of your blogs – everyone seems to have enjoyed their weekend and I’m happy to say that I did too!  As expected, there was plenty of cleaning/grocery shopping, boat day, gym time, Father’s Day festivities, and even a movie night! With all of the running around, I didn’t spend much time in the kitchen, so I apologize for the lack of recipes.  I do however have my workouts from Friday-Sunday which included a Back/Chest Day Friday, an attempted Leg day that turned into Arm day, and Cardio/Abs/Misc. Day (these are VERY rare, but it was fun!)  These will come in a later post; I have to find the paper I scribbled them on…

And of course, Saturday was measurement day (11 weeks out, eeek!)… Stats are as follows:

Weight: 115
Body Fat: 12.7%
Waist: 26in
Thigh: 20.25in
Hips: 34in
Calf: 13.5in
Chest: 32in
Shoulders: 37in
Neck: 11in
Bicep: 11.5in
Forearm: 9.5in

Not thrilled with the numbers, honestly… I snapped some progress pictures in the locker room – my abs are finally starting to come back (they’ve been hiding under a layer of fat/water since my off season started, but they’ve assured me they didn’t go far).

These are my LEAST favorite lifting shorts, for the record.

I decided to take some after I was all done up too, I think its a vast improvement.

And that’s where I’m at today..
Sorry this is so brief, I’m fighting off a sinus infection with massive quantities of allergy pills and am in some sort of drug-induced stupor.  Fun, fun.  So much for never getting sick!!

P.S. Yesterday was my weekly cheat day, and I stuffed myself full of peanut butter & chocolate.  YUM!!
Do you have scheduled ‘cheat meals’ or do you just eat as you please all the time?

And what is your FAVORITE indulgence?
 Mine is peanut butter, hands down.

My Identity Crisis

Ughhh...

First and formeost, I am apologizing in advance. Today is one of those OMG someone feel bad for me days, ya know?

So, I'm attempting to gain weight. Keyword being attempting. This has been the goal since I walked off stage at my last show, being told yet again that I am too lean & too muscular for Figure. The NPC (as you may or may not know) had been discussing the new Women's Physique Division; this division is made for girls like me who are too muscular for Figure, but are not quite big enough for Women's Bodybuilding. That was my goal - to build myself up enough to do my first WPD show this fall.  And here I am...

This weekend will mark 11 weeks to the show I have chosen, and I'm stuck. I've gained weight, and am at my heaviest ever (114 compared to 110), but I am discouraged and very highly unmotivated.

Gaining weight may be the most difficult thing I've ever done - it may be harder than the cutting phase 2-3 weeks out from a show.

No, its not hard to gain weight.

Its hard to be happy while gaining weight.

In order to put on muscle, it is inevitable that you put on fat as well.  When the diet phase starts, and the fat is shedded, the newer (bigger) muscles are revealed. But in the meantime, this SUCKS.

I mean really, you saw my progress pictures from Saturday. Thats what I'm stuck with right now.

This is what I looked like 4 weeks out from my last show (late February of this year):

And this is what I looked like 2 weeks out (mid-March):

And this is what I need to look like in September:
Or at least be able to compete with..

Dana Linn Bailey - FIRST Women's Physique IFBB Pro.
http://www.danalinn.com
LOVE her.

FML.

Ok, I think that's it for the venting for today..
Again, my apologies. I hate that whole "pity me, please" nonsense, but what can I say - I'm human, and female. It happens.

I promise a better post today, full of motivation and recipes, and workouts and other fun stuff.  Take this as my permission to skip this post completely.

12 Week Update

Happy Monday Morning!

Miss me?!

This weekend was good.  I got my new baby on Friday!

Isn't she beautiful?!  I need to name her - but so far I am drawing a blank..

Also on Friday? Chest & Back day!  Officially the latest I've ever been at the gym (we didn't get there until almost 8pm!).
Superset: Dumbbell Flat Bench Press & T-Bar Rows (5 sets each).
DB: 25's for 15 reps, 25's for 12, 35's for 5, 30's for 8, 25's for 12.
T-Bar: 45lb for 15 reps, 70lb for 8, 60lb for 10, 50lb for 12, 50lb for 12.
Cable Pull-Downs; 4 sets. (Disclaimer: I have NO IDEA what the numbers on this particular cable machine stand for, never have..) 4 for 20, 6 for 6, 5 for 12, 4 for 15.
Cable Fly; 2 sets (and then some dude stole them, boo.). 2 for 15, 2 for 15.
Superset: Incline DB Press & One-Arm Rows (4 sets each).
Incline: 30's for 8, 25's for 12, 25's for 12, 20's for 15.
One-Arm: 25lb for 15, 30lb for 12, 30lb for 12, 25lb for 15.

Saturday was measurement day! And progress pictures (which I will apologize for now, as the didn't turn out well).

Measurements were the same as Wednesday, with 2 exceptions:
Weight: 114lb (boo). Goal is still 120 by 6/30.
Body Fat: 12.8% Goal is still 11%.
Shoulders: 35.5. Goal is 37.
Neck: 11. Goal is 11.
Thigh: 19.5 Goal is 21.

I lifted legs again, and it was another death day.  Rob made me drop the stops on the squat rack 2 inches, which means I dropped my squats 2 inches.  Which means I tortured myself..
Leg Press to warm up: 200lbs for 3 sets of 12 reps.
Calves Raises: 150lb for 15
Bench Step-Ups: 20lbs for 20 steps (10 each leg).
Squats: 5 sets. 115 for 12, 135 for 6, 95 for 6, 95 for 6, 115 for 8. (Needless to say, that extra 2 inches very seriously dropped my weights).

Calves Raises: 150lb for 15

Bench Step-Ups: 20lbs for 20 steps (10 each leg).

Lunges: 4 sets Forward & Backward (I do 4 forward, then 2 backward - hurts like hell).
65lb for 30 (15 each leg - 24 forward, 6 backward), 65 for 30, 65 for 24, 55 for 30.
Superset: Low Back Extensions & Calve Raises. 3 sets each.
Back: 90lb for 15 (all 3 sets)
Calves: 150 for 15, 170 for 12, 150 for 12.
Superset: Hip Adductor & Abductor. 3 sets each.
Adductor: 90lb for 10, 70 for 15, 90 for 10
Abductor: 70lb for 15, 70 for 12, 50 for 15.
Deadlifts (note - I should've done these first). 3 sets.
115lb for 5 reps, 105 for 8, 95 for 8.

Sunday was yet another rest day - I felt like hell, and it was my dad's birthday, so no gym for me.  Just food and rest.

These next 12 weeks should be interesting.. I am so relieved to be working towards another show, it makes me feel more productive.  And I think I need to stop taking weekends off from blogging - it leaves way too much catching up to do!  I haven't even gotten to any recipes yet..

But, that will be for later, or tomorrow - stay tuned!

=)

TGIF

Happy Friday!
..And happy Memorial Day Weekend (in case I don't make it online in the meantime)!

Want a killer brownie recipe to take to all of the wonderful Memorial day cookouts?
Shhhh.. Make sure you don't "spill the beans" on the ingredients until AFTER everyone has tasted (and fallen in love) with these little darlings!

Super Low-Fat Protein Brownies

1 Package Lite Silken Tofu

4 T Chocolate Powder

1 Cup Black Beans (I use dry, not canned, but canned can be used instead if necessary).

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

5 Scoops Protein Powder (I use 3 different kinds to get the right Macros, you can use as many as you please)

1/2 Cup Egg Whites

1/2 Cup Pumpkin Puree

Sweetener if desired (I use Stevia)

Prepare black beans as directed on package.

Soak overnight, drain, rinse, simmer on low heat uncovered for 2 hours. Drain, rinse, let cool.

Preheat oven to 350.

Line 9X13 cake pan with parchment paper (or Pam); you can also use muffin liners for little brownie cookie creations.

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.  I use the Ninja, hands down most wonderful creation ever.

Bake 20-30 minutes, checking fairly often.  They are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Variations?

Chop up some Bakers Chocolate (I swear by unsweetened, just because I am a dark chocolate fanatic), Add a few tablespoons of PB2 (if you haven't ordered some yet, do it!), or a few drops (by a few I mean 1/2 teaspoon at MOST) of mint extract. Or any combination (Dark chocolate & PB2 is always a hit). Play with the flavors of protein too! Add some nuts if you like, go wild!

I'll put up pictures when I get a chance!!

And in the world of weights..

Today is Chest Day! Ok, so I'm not THAT excited.. Chest is my weakest (and therefore least favorite) body part..

But nonetheless, the show goes on. I am officially at 114 lb! And right around 12% bodyfat! Not bad for the offseason..

Enjoy the holiday!

I'm hoping to take progress pictures this weekend, so check back!!