July Resolution

It's July first and my half birthday! Yahoo! Today also is the day to make a new resolution.

It's 6 months past new years.. how many of you still are going strong on your new year's resolutions? None? How many of you still even consciously think about what you wanted to do/change? Maybe 1 or 2 of you is my guess. I think new year's resolutions are stupid for this reason. People make huge resolutions that they simply can't keep because it's too drastic of a change all at once. So this year I decided I would make monthly resolutions on the first of every month. This way, I only have to really focus on 1 SMALL change at a time, and by the time the month is up, hopefully its a habit, or near-habit, and I will be able to focus on something else. January was as easy as writing down what I ate.. not counting calories, measuring anything even, just writing it down to become more conscious of it. And guess what, I still write everything down, and I now eat healthy. So far my resolutions have had to do with my health, Bliz, or school, because those are the main focuses of my life right now. But school is out until the end of August, I won't have Bliz for 6 more weeks, so that leaves me with my health for my resolution.  I'm going to make two resolutions for July, because I feel like there are a few things I can still work on. First, I want to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. You all may think this is a cop out for me, but lately I've been staying up until nearly 12 and waking up between 430 and 530 during the week and have been so exhausted. I'm not going to say go to bed by 10, because I want to be able to go hang out on the weekends, and if I work I know I'll stay up way past then, so I'm leaving it unrestricted except that I want 7 consecutive quality hours of sleep. Second, I want to refocus on my nutrition, especially because I'm assuming it is going to get more challenging for me these next few months and so I want to really have control before that sets in. So my plan is to plan the day out the night before or the morning of, during breakfast. That way I will already know what I am allowed to eat that day and am less likely to waiver. And I want to STICK with what I write - no add ins. If on Thursday, I am really craving peanut butter, I'm not going to have it, but I'll plan it in to my meals for Friday. This way I'm not depriving myself, but I'm also not going to mess up my day and go over on any of my macros. I also want to focus on being within 5g of everything and to keep it more consistent. Easy enough. What do you want to change? Take it 1 month at a time, or just 1 week at a time, and really dedicate yourself to that goal for that short period, and you'll be surprised at how easily you can accomplish anything you want.


I took my progress pictures, and although I didn't notice much of a difference, Meredith did, which is good. A lot of it is just because I have no idea what I'm doing now when I'm posing hah! That'll come later. Nutrition isn't changing for 2 more weeks--I even get another cheat meal this week--but workout splits changed. I have Back/Delts, Bis/Tris/Core, Legs, Back/Delts, and Chest/Core. Sounds good to me. I also am adding in some light cardio. HR below 150.. so nothing too crazy, don't worry. 


Make some goals, stick with them, and make the most of your week!

Glittery Floors = Sparkly Feet

It's hot as balls in this state. And I say that not knowing how hot, exactly, that balls tend to get. Logically, it's probably hotter than balls because if anyone's balls were over 100 they probably would choose to cut them off. Or never take them off ice. Either way.. lose-lose.. Sucks to be a guy.

I came back to CH this weekend to a new roommate and dog! A girl in my program the year ahead of me is staying at my apartment for the month while she's in between leases, and my apartment is full of stuff! But it's been fun, nice to have someone to come home to and hang with.

Today, I had my final heavy lifting workout with Shoulders and Biceps. It was great! My shoulder is hurting a little still, feels kind of like a pinched nerve near my shoulder blade every time I bring my arm down, really my elbow below my shoulder, but I had some girl working lift the weight up for me --which was a sight in itself -- and I increased weight on shoulder press from 40 to 55! Pretty stoked about that.

So my workout was:
Seated DB Shoulder Press
SS Upright Rows and Reverse Flyes
Lateral Cable Raises
Bicep Pulldowns
Barbell Curls
Alternating DB Curls

I also want to mention that at Ram's on the lateral raises I'm lifting 7.5# and at SRC I'm lifting 22.5#.. and for the Bicep Pulldowns I go from 62.5# (which is so hard) at Rams to 130# at SRC... something's not right. Oh well, though, heavy lifting is heavy lifting despite what the plate says!

So, my suit is in! I tried it on and it fits perfectly! I love it.. except for all of the glitter that spills onto my floor and gets all over everything.

So tomorrow I will take my progress pictures and start the cutting/leaning phase of my competition prep. I wish I took the pictures before my cheat meal, but regardless I have the same amount to lose, and I will get there. I have no idea what July has in store for me, but luckily it's a fresh month - fresh resolution (I'll explain tomorrow) - and I'm ready to tackle it head on!

Oh.. and it's also my half birthday :) Fam, did you each send me a cake?

Estoy de vuelta en Chapel Hill!

I'm an idiot. Today, I got to go back to the SRC and OH MY GOD I don't think I could've been happier to be back. BUT I lifted the same amount as last week (well.. I increased overall.. but didn't pick up a heavier DB then I did last week if that makes sense.. ) and definitely over did it. I think I seriously screwed up my right shoulder. Not that I'm going to let it stop me from lifting just as hard.. but  I'm just stupid. Same thing I did to my left a couple years ago.. strained it.. didn't back off.. and ended up having subluxation issues. All the ligaments on the left are loose so that shoulder is fairly unstable--although I've done a good job this last year strengthening the muscles to make it more stable--and now I'm doing the same thing to the right. Gotta be careful. It hurts to hold anything in my right arm, I had to have all my weights handed to me in the starting position (above my head usually) so that I could do the lifts. But the actual lifts gave me no trouble at all.. so who knows. Maybe we'll have a couple cancellations on Monday and I can have my CI take a look.

My workout was good though.
Flat DB Press
Incline DB Press
Incline Flyes
Dips
and some ab exercises

The abs were challenging but every week I get better at them and have to take fewer pauses to curse.

And guess what else is stupid? I've gained 2# this week that I've been gone. And I know I haven't been eating more, but it's probably because I'm not eating as much but also not working out as intensely. Don't worry, (I know you all are) I'll be back on track by next weekend. Progress pictures need to be taken and I need to make a decision about when I'm competing. Fingers crossed for November.. but I'm not going to do it if I can't be ready. Gotta stay focused.

This evening after getting back, I had a nice video chat with my sisters, and practiced my spanish. We've decided to make a spanish cooking video. Once it happens.. I'll be sure to post it for y'alls viewing pleasure :)

Well, I'm going to do a little icing and then hit the hay. So happy to be back home, just wish Bliz was here with me! Oh well. 8 weeks and I get to be back with my biffer (yep, Ceej, I'm using that now!) Adios mis amigos! Tener una buena noche!