Looking Back

Well it's been about 3 weeks since my last post, apologies. The weeks up to the competition were crazy for me. I wasn't nervous - I had put in the work and just had to continue what I had been doing the last 20+ weeks - but I was overwhelmed with everything I had to get done.

Mary came to paint me. What an experience. Plenty of inappropriate comments while I stood in my birthday suit with my leg propped on the arm of a chair so she could get the right lighting on me. And I was freezing. It was below 60* in my apartment. Yes, I could've turned on the heat, but I only have so much money to spend, gotta be wise with your finances folks! We also realized how AWFUL my apartment lighting is.. in every room. We had to reposition lamps and I was continuously moving to make sure there weren't streaks and the color was even. It was a process. But thanks Mary. I don't know what I would have done if she weren't there!

The competition itself was such an incredible thing. I loved every minute of it. Seriously. In the morning it was just men's open body building before me - so we figured I'd have at least an hour and a half before getting on stage. Ummm.. no. Probably 25 minutes after starting they were making last call for all open figure competitors. Were my shoes on? Toes taped? Lipstick on, earrings in, suit glued down? No. And I still had to pump up and get oiled down. I started freaking out. I was so flustered I couldn't tear off a piece of tape for my toes, it took like 5 minutes just to get my heels on. I was shaking. There were no available weights so I just started doing pushups and dips in my heels and in a suit that was riding up my ass. Nothing out of the ordinary back stage. Then I went to get oiled up and was still so flustered that I couldn't even think how awkward it was that a line of guys were sitting there staring at all of us and 2 other guys with rubber gloves were criscoing up my chest and thighs. Whatever, they probably hate their jobs by the end of the day. I walked out on stage and hit my poses perfectly (well I'm sure they weren't perfect but.. pretty solid) and just felt like I was radiating. I couldn't stop smiling. I love it. And I didn't fall.. Always a plus!

Meredith and Mary were there for me in the morning and it was so wonderful hearing them on stage and having support to talk to after getting off stage. Seriously made my day that they were both there to share this moment since they had both but so supportive throughout the entire process.

Mary and I then went to my Kansas-neighbor-turned-NC-friend Jack's place and watched football and relaxed with him, Katie, and Bliz (who they were watching.. so nice of them!). We had to be back at the theater at 4:45 so the rest of the night was pretty long. Watched the first half of the show to support a friend I made (yes, I still remember her name :) ), and then hung out back stage watching other people finish up, stuff their faces, and clear out. I had plenty of time to get ready and get nervous for the night show. Also didn't help that so many of my wonderful PT friends came out to support me! And apparently a guy had done a little break dancing on stage before we went out. So hitting my poses at night was not as great, but honestly it didn't matter.

This week since has been interesting. It's so nice to have a social life again and let loose a bit. But at the same time, my nutrition is off. I feel like I should be indulging - even though I don't particularly want to - so then I do and my stomach has hurt all week basically. I also only took Sunday off from the gym, but I go there and have no plan and no idea what to work and I hate it. It's nice to have freedom but I need more structure. So that's what I'm working on this weekend - meal plans and workout plans for the next few weeks.

I have yet to decide if I'll compete again. I love the idea of having a goal, of being dedicated to something and living this healthy and strong lifestyle. But my goal all along was just to dedicate myself to the training, work hard, stick with it, and compete - and I did that. So maybe it's time to explore something else.. but maybe I'd like to do it at least 1 more time. Who knows!

Double Digits and Bad Meat

I am down to the double digits, people!! 99 Days until the competition! How exciting, this will fly by! Today has been such a wonderful day. I got to go into work late, and was off by 12:30, made it back to Chapel Hill in no time--well it seemed since I got to catch up with my Ma--and got paid! Whoo! That doesn't really mean I have money.. it just means Dad and Mere can get paid. I also came home to a clean house, which might just be my favorite feeling in the world, so I feel like nothing can go wrong this weekend!

I had a great workout today at the good 'ol SRC. Back and Delts again, and I PR'd in everything except seated cable rows, which I have been consistently increasing, so I'm cool with that. I felt great. Then I got my 40 minutes of cardio in. A good friend was on a treadmill when I was about to start so I did the elliptical (my only choice.. which should be clear since there is nothing I hate more about working out then ellipticals and guys with sorry form) for 13 minutes which was about all I could stand, then took over his treadmill for the last 27 minutes. So it actually flew by, even though I had no TV to watch. Just got to people watch all the college boys trying to get cut. There was one impressive dude in there doing box jumps - which is my favorite part of the gym probs - so that was cool.. otherwise nothing exciting to report.

Nutrition was a little off today (or will be). I'm trying to hit 100g carbs, 200g protein, and 60g fat, and after my dinner I'll be at 106g carbs, 203g protein, and 55g fat.. but not too bad. I also weighed myself today for the first day in 3 weeks.. and it's up, which I'm not stoked about. I try not even to weight myself, but I'll have to start doing so weekly for Meredith to update my nutrition stuff.

I know you midwesterners and the rest of America, really, is going through a drought, but here in NC it seems like it never stops raining. Last week sometime there was a bad storm and the power went out for a good couple of hours at my Chapel Hill apartment (and basically the rest of the town) and then today as I was walking out of Trader Joe's it started pouring! But my main concern is.. how do I know if the meat in my freezer - unopened - went bad? No one was here to open the freezer door.. but I don't know how long it was out, and I don't know how to tell if I can eat it still or not. Advice, adults/grown up/mature people my age? I don't really want to throw out 10# of meat if I don't have to, but I also don't want to get sick!

Well, I'm off to eat some almonds, watch a movie and just chill out for the night, since my sister, Mary, thinks its more important to get ready to go out with friends I don't even know, then vid. chat me. Sheesh, what is this world coming to? Anyway, I should be doing my inservice.. but there's always tomorrow right? I don't procrastinate with my health so I have to do it somewhere else.. it's only fair :)

Over and Out.

4 Checks

Monday.. Check
Tuesday.. Check
Wednesday.. Check
Thursday.. Check

So far, perfect week of my leaning-out nutrition! Love it. I'm not hungry, energy has been great, and I've just been in a great mood (well minus Tuesday.. but whatever) However today is the first day of the week I've done my 40 minutes of cardio (I did it Sunday, too, but my workout weeks start Tuesday so that was just me being awesome).. seriously, Mere? 40 minutes?! You are killing me! ha. It's not AWFUL.. I'm just bored. Except I did watch a bunch of sports bloopers on Sports Network today during the first half which really made the time fly.. so as long as I can plan that accordingly I should be good! haha.

Today's workout was legs.. and it was great. I went up in weight on every set for every exercise EXCEPT 1.. which was squat jumps holding a medicine ball.. and I'm already holding the heaviest ball so boo-yah. I'm a bad ass :) It never hurts to toot your own horn, people, just do it in moderation.

Well the week is almost over, and I'm completely cool with that. Tomorrow I'm just chilling out in Greensboro for once, and then Saturday it's off to Asheville with my best Kansas neighbor-friend Jack and his gf Katie. I'm stoked. A day of exploring, hiking, white watering and lots of nature. I couldn't be more excited to get out and have fun and just have a summer! Diet will be difficult, but I'm planning on bringing what I can and then just really thinking protein only at meals. I'll be able to get half of my meals at home Saturday, and half Sunday, so it shouldn't throw me off too bad. Yes, I'm motivated and dedicated and want to do great at this competition, but I also know that I need balance and I need to get out and have fun more then anything right now. So, I'm doing this for me. And I'm happy. And that's what matters to me in the long run.

Well I gotta shower (eh.. let's be honest, I'll save it for the am) and get to bed. Oh ps.. Tuesday night.. I went to bed at 5:40pm.. I woke up to my alarm at 5:36am (yes thats what time it's set for) It was great. I'm definitely hitting my 7 hour mark this week.. probably why life has been so great lately :) I have also already planned my August resolution.. but I'm going to leave y'all in anticipation! Good night.. stay motivated.. stay focused on your goals.. stay dedicated.. and most importantly enjoy life!

Half and Whole.. It's Birthday Week People!

This is going to be a great week, I can just feel it! Yesterday, there was no workout and I got an early day off work! It was such a great day, until 8:30 rolled around and I found out I was having a Bachelorette watching party (thanks Jess and CJ). That show might be the most pathetic and ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

This is also the week of birthdays. Sunday was my home girl Melissa's half birthday, and one of my very sweet and favorite "sister's" birthday, Janell. Those two are two of my very closest and favorite people I met in Kansas. Yesterday was Jesus's half birthday, and to finish of the halves, today is Nutmeg's 1/2 birthday! That's my sister's dog. Isn't he adorable?

 

He did that himself.. Talented snuggler

Wednesday is Jack's birthday (my Kansas neighbor friend who moved to Greensboro), Thursday is CJ's birthday, and Friday is Meredith's birthday. Holy crap people. That's a lot of births. However, this week conveniently falls on my last week of bulking! Which also means I get another cheat meal! I think I'm going to actually have a cheat meal and not just a grilled chicken sandwich WITH the bun. Rebel, I know. But this busy week also means hello 5am gym crowd! Yay. I'm okay with this actually, I love working out in the am, I just don't like having to work after it. But whatever, I need to get back to my bed by 8:30 up by 4:30 routine. There have been too many 5am nights in my last three weeks, and it is seriously screwing me up. I was up until 11:15 last night playing Minesweeper. Really, Susie?

Workout today was great. Mere dropped my reps to 4-6 for some exercises so I can really lift as much as possible. It felt awesome, but I was a little disappointed that it fell on a week where my shoulder is aching me. The pullups I really wanted to get unassisted this week, but I had to do them with 2 plates off (less than 8# which is still awesome) because the pulling up irritated my shoulder. If I could take a week off I think it would be good, I really think it's just a little anterior impingement because the rotator cuff tendons are inflammed. It feels better each day, and now it's really just bringing it down from forward flexion or abduction that bothers me. I also have some crepitus on both shoulders (abrasive test for you PTs) which indicates an abrasion of the torn tendon margins against the coracoacromial arch. But since I have it in both shoulders, and my left isn't painful at all anymore, I'm not as concerned with that. 30 year old Susie is going to hate 24 year old me. I promise to take time off and get healed come November. Anyway:

Back and Core:
Pullups
Bentover BB Rows on the smith machine
Lat Pull downs - narrow grip
Single Arm DB Rows
V Sits
Stability Ball Crunchs + Med Ball OH

Great workout, but glad to be done. 30 days into Meredith's program and I'm feeling great. I think I have picked a competition, with her help of course, and it's in Greensboro November 3. 18 weeks from this Saturday. Wow. There is also a competition Aug 25th by the same guy in Greensboro that I'll be going to just to check it out, if anyone wants to come.

Nutrition today was also spot on. I planned out every meal this AM before eating my second meal of the day and that works so much better for me. I don't cheat, I don't consider subbing things, and I get everything in that I need. If I take it meal by meal, I tend to want to splurge on some extra fat or proteins here and there and then at the end of the day I need like 50g carbs, 0.2g fat, and a random amount of proteins that makes it so difficult to meet. This is much better for me. Organization and planning pays off people!

Well, gym time tomorrow is 5:30 am so that I can hang out with Jack for his birthday tomorrow. Can't wait but it'll be a busy day for me! Hope you all are having a great week, we're almost half way through, keep plowin through!

Oh and I wanted to give a S/O to my sister Anne for kicking ass at her leg workout yesterday! She worked them harder then anyone I know and now can't sit on the toilet or walk down stairs. Couldn't be more proud :)

Get Out of the Way, Old Man

It's 7:30. I just finished eating dinner and cooking 5 pounds of chicken for the next.. eh, hopefully more than 5 days. And I could go to sleep. Yes, 7:30 on a Saturday night and the only thing I'm craving is my bed. And a shower. Today's workout was great, but my gosh does my bod hurt in every way possible. Luckily, it was shoulders and bis today and they weren't too bad, well they weren't at 10 am.

Shoulder Press
Upright Row ss Rear Flyes
Lateral Cable Raises
Bicep Pulldowns
Barbell Curls
Alternating Incline Curls

Pretty great workout. Except for the damn cables. The SRC is closed on the weekend, why? I have no idea. But it is, so I workout at Rams, and I don't know who weighed the weights on the cable machines, but they were on crack. Every machine with cables is off. WAY off. How is it that I can do 10 reps of biceps pulldowns at 85-90# at the SRC and barely get 45# at Rams? And I can curl a 60# Barbell, but I can't curl 25# with an EZ bar attached to their cable machine? Get real. It doesn't even add up if they were in kgs. It's just stupid, which is another reason I hate Rams. Even if Ram's was right, and everything else in the world was wrong, well Ram's makes me feel weak, and that's one thing I will not accept. So I complain about it. Every week. Whatever.

I tried to massage my quads today. It resulted in my crying for my mom (literally.. I said I want my mom!) at every knot and tight spot I came across. I don't know why whenever something is wrong I cry for my mom. Don't get me wrong, she's great. But she's not the most sympathetic. If somethings wrong she'll be all My poor baby! for about 5 minutes, and then is like Okay, Susie, get over it. It's really not that big of a deal. Thank you, mother. Must be where I get my sympathy. Hah.

I did play my last game tonight though. It was great, despite the loss. My ankle felt like a million bucks, my legs got loosened up, and I knocked a few old guys to the ground. Chased a guy about 80 yards, and plowed him over. He congratulated me for it. My kinda man. I don't care how many years these guys have on me (some I'm guessing about 35-40) they. can. RUN. You would think a 24 year old would have no problem beating them to every ball. Think again. After chasing that guy down, I kind of just stood there and was like, Well I'm done. It's fun though. AND! I successfully turned down pizza and beer afterwards. Not just any pizza and beer. FREE PIZZA AND BEER And if you know ANYTHING about me, you'll know I am a whore for free anything. I am frugal as can be, and expect you to pay me that quarter back you borrowed. I never forgot. But anyway, the point was that I turned it down. I walked away. I was tempted, oh you better believe I wanted that, but I am SO PROUD of myself for saying NO. It's not worth it, and my stomach would probably hate me for it all night. So yes, I'm 24, push down old men for fun, turn down free food and booze, and want to go to bed at 7:30. Who's surprised I'm single?

So, I have successfully completed my first week of training for this competition. Before starting, I saw the workouts and thought Only 5 days a week? Seriously? I don't know the last time I worked out only 5 days a week! I even tried to ask Mere if I could make it a 6 day split, taking only 1 day rest. But now that day 5 is over, I'm happy she said no. I am so excited for my rest days. Maybe I'll go walk on an incline tomorrow, but maybe I'll just lay in bed and color in a coloring book. Who knows. For once, I'm going to let myself relax. And do the homework I didn't do today. Shocker. Well friends, it's about that time. DSB. Dishes. Shower. Bed. Take that Pauly D.

Wedding Bells Are Broken

What a day.

So last night I saw a few of my girlfriends, and they are great, I love them. But it's also weird. Of my grade school circle of girlfriends (5 of us) 1 is married, 2 are engaged and getting married before the end of the year, and 1 just went to look at rings with her boyfriend and they are moving to Omaha this summer. And then there is me. You know you're the odd man out when you come home and my DAD (if you knew my dad.. you would know how little he knows/recognizes/remembers about my friends .. he has 5 daughters .. I get it) says Man all of your original friends are getting married.. and you don't even have a boyfriend! Yes, thanks for the reminder, dad.

But tonight was great. I got to see 3 of my really great guy friends from high school for a bit. They are awesome and doing so well, which makes me incredibly happy, especially if you knew the kids I hung out with in high school. Great people... not exactly the best decision makers. Anyway, no wives, no babies, no girl friends. Make me feel right at home. We might be the only 4 left, but whatever, I'm cool with it.

My day was great though, lunch with my dad, dinner at an Irish pub with my parents, and froyo. I love my parents. My mom is pushing for me to get an xray tomorrow morning before I leave.. I missed the doctor's call though, so, who knows. 

Exciting news!! I got an email back last night from a trainer in the Durham area who has competed, herself, in figure competitions over the last 9 years. And she is willing to coach/help me out with this whole adventure! I'm so thankful, she's awesome. See for yourself (http://meredithfalcon.blogspot.com/) I'm obsessed with her blog.. read it everyday. Anyway, I'm really stoked about this and just have to take some bikini pictures for her and then we can get the ball rolling. Now, I have to find my photographer (Ceej, ya down?) 

Alright, people. Tomorrow's a travel day--back to Kansas--so who knows if I'll have time to blog but be awesome and do something with your lives. Take steps to making yourself better, healthier, fitter, smarter, more talented, whatever.. just do it (thank you Nike). Ciao