Good Morning Gym Rats & Happy Monday! I'm feeling super motivated today and ready to take on a productive week. That probably means it can only go downhill from here and I have a bitch of a 5-day stretch ahead of me, right? Let's hope not. For some reason I awoke an hour earlier than usual today and am fully awake and refreshed so I thought I'd crank out a blog entry before work. Yesterday began week #3 of my 2014 Springtime shred and I am making a couple of tweaks to my plan already. Firstly, my weekly weigh-in showed me up 1/2 pound from the previous week (I had dropped a pound in my first week). While I can try and convince myself that this is some heaven-sent added muscle mass, I'm guessing its more likely due to the fact that I had two high-carb days in a row this past week rather than my scheduled one. It could also be due to the fact that my cheat meal this week was 2 slices of orgasmic Portland Pie pizza during a work lunch on Wednesday. Totally worth it but its also the last pizza I will be having until my bulk starts again this Summer! Alas, rather than eliminating my cheat meals starting February 15th, I am eliminating them now as well as all alcohol (although I haven't had a drink in at least a couple of weeks; that's much less of a temptation for me). Unless of course I go on an awkward first date that requires a "break-the-silence" drink. That I'll allow if absolutely necessary LOL! I've also gone cold turkey on my afternoon coffee. My tummy has not been happy with me lately so I decided last week to replace it with green tea instead which I've had no trouble sticking to so far. Lastly, I have been bringing my 32-oz Nalgene to work with me and forcing myself to drink a full bottle pre-lunch and a full bottle post-lunch. In addition to the hot bevs and water consumed at the gym each day this is easily upward of the suggested gallon per day. Usually I don't track water until closer to a show but I'm thinking I'll make a better effort this season. If nothing else, staying properly hydrated during the winter months should help with my frizzled-out hair and skin! Otherwise, my nutrition plan is staying constant until my 1-month cut on February 15h. Two weeks to go.
My workouts lately have been great. Not that they weren't before but having a show in mind (no, I haven't chosen a specific one yet) definitley changes my mindset and I end up going much harder in the gym. I've been able to increase my weight on many exercises and am just feeling all-around hulk-like LOL :D On several days I've even added several additional exercises to my routine after finishing my scheduled plan. Really making sure to hit all muscles from every possible angle! Next Sunday I'll start my February lifting plan which I created last week. Cannot wait for the change-up! I also signed-up for a posing class to be held next Sunday in Newburyport, MA (where I competed in the Yankee Classic last July). It's a little early to be posing but a note came out saying that the bikini T-walk rules have changed for 2014 and we now are required to do a side pose during our turns. I find this move rather slutty to be honest but I'll obviously do what I gotta do...and I plan to nail it ;) I'm excited to go spend the day with other competitors. Being around others who "speak the same language" always amps up my motivation level!
Tonight is probably going to be 15 mins on the StairMaster (my shins already hurt just thinking about it) and then a bi's & tri's sesh. Normally it would be shoulders & core but I swapped out my yoga yesterday morning for today's lift instead. I just wasn't feeling the yoga and ended my workout with my own stretching anyway. I don't particularly want to get in the habit of taking pre-workout so early on in my prep but something I've been doing lately on days when I need a really good burn is adding a 1/2 scoop to my BCAAs. I did this yesterday and on leg day last week. It's enough to push me to the next level without keeping me up all night. Give it a shot if you need an extra boost one of these days. I currently use Scivation Psycho Apple Asylum because it gives you added energy without any shakes and zero crash afterward. Although I suppose if you add a few too many scoops this too would create some issues for you :P
Anyway, off to work I go here. I hope you all have a motivated, stress-free Monday and kick ass in your workout...whatever that may be! xo
My workouts lately have been great. Not that they weren't before but having a show in mind (no, I haven't chosen a specific one yet) definitley changes my mindset and I end up going much harder in the gym. I've been able to increase my weight on many exercises and am just feeling all-around hulk-like LOL :D On several days I've even added several additional exercises to my routine after finishing my scheduled plan. Really making sure to hit all muscles from every possible angle! Next Sunday I'll start my February lifting plan which I created last week. Cannot wait for the change-up! I also signed-up for a posing class to be held next Sunday in Newburyport, MA (where I competed in the Yankee Classic last July). It's a little early to be posing but a note came out saying that the bikini T-walk rules have changed for 2014 and we now are required to do a side pose during our turns. I find this move rather slutty to be honest but I'll obviously do what I gotta do...and I plan to nail it ;) I'm excited to go spend the day with other competitors. Being around others who "speak the same language" always amps up my motivation level!
Tonight is probably going to be 15 mins on the StairMaster (my shins already hurt just thinking about it) and then a bi's & tri's sesh. Normally it would be shoulders & core but I swapped out my yoga yesterday morning for today's lift instead. I just wasn't feeling the yoga and ended my workout with my own stretching anyway. I don't particularly want to get in the habit of taking pre-workout so early on in my prep but something I've been doing lately on days when I need a really good burn is adding a 1/2 scoop to my BCAAs. I did this yesterday and on leg day last week. It's enough to push me to the next level without keeping me up all night. Give it a shot if you need an extra boost one of these days. I currently use Scivation Psycho Apple Asylum because it gives you added energy without any shakes and zero crash afterward. Although I suppose if you add a few too many scoops this too would create some issues for you :P
Anyway, off to work I go here. I hope you all have a motivated, stress-free Monday and kick ass in your workout...whatever that may be! xo
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