Hunger Games

Finally, after 5 weeks of cutting back down to stage readiness, peak week is almost here! That is, peak week #1 of course as I am now 1 week out from the Maine Event and 2 weeks out from the Cape Cod Classic. To be honest, I'm feeling great right now. Over the past few week's I've gotten a little worried as the # on the scale hasn't budged at all and my progress pics haven't looked that drastically different week-to-week. However, I think the scale issue isn't really an issue at all. In fact, I think I've truly improved (i.e. added muscle) to my booty while cutting and therefore it makes total sense that the scale wouldn't budge! This morning's weekly progress pic definitely shows an improvement in my opinion (despite the always weak lighting) so I'm going into Peak Week feeling more stage-ready than ever. Cannot wait to strut my stuff with many of the same girls I competed against last Spring!

This morning was my last back and chest workout pre-show and began with some great early morning posing practice as well! I got in a fantastic workout complete with the following exercises:

-Cable straight-bar pulldowns

-SB DB Chest Press

-Lat pulldowns

-Incline DB chest press

-Standing rows (this was a new machine I've never used before where you pull a long weighted bar up from the ground. It was really hard so I'll definitely be adding it into future workouts!)

-Incline DB flies

-Straight leg deadlifts (I struggled with these today; I think the diet is starting to decrease my strength already)

I was more tired when I was done than usual so I decided to move today's scheduled cardio to tomorrow instead. It's supposed to be my StairMaster day but we'll see how the shins are feeling. Yesterday I went to the doctor's office and got x-rays on both of my shins. I just have an awful feeling that the pain is more than just shin splints and would like to know for sure before I go injuring myself any further. I told the doc I was going to push through the pain for the next 3 weeks, because nothing is going to stop me from bringing my best to both stages, but that if it's more serious than splints then I will be taking a rest for a while come mid-October in order to heal properly and come back stronger than ever next season. I should hopefully hear my results on Monday. For now though; no pain, no gain right?!

After my workout I went for a tan as I am still trying to get rid of my pesky summertime booty tan lines and then filled-up my shaker with my favorite mint cookie whey. It's my last whey shake for the next week and I'm actually happy about that. I think I've finally reached whey consumption overload LOL! Today began peak week meal prep with chicken and turkey burger cooking. This is what too lazy to go outside and grill looks like:

Makeshift grill hahaha! I'm thinking the rest of the day will just be a veg-out day as I know pushing myself at this point is not a good idea and yesterday I felt like a mild head cold was coming on. Time to load-up on emergen-C and Airborne! Nothing like feeling under the weather and not being able to eat any of your favorite comfort foods. Anyway, you probably won't hear from me again until after the Maine Event. Crossing my fingers that it goes well as I know I'll really need the confidence to push myself even further the following two weeks for the CCC. I know I already look better than I have all year so all I can say is bring it on ladies! In the words of Suzanne Collins; "May the odds be ever in MY favor!"