3 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

Here we go….the last stretch!!!! 3 weeks out! It's actually days now...but let's keep it at 3 weeks :)

I must say past week was amazing in terms of muscle development and reaching personal and surpassing my best thus far….Diet ….What diet? Food tasted amazing this week! Andrew and I created some incredible competition recipes. Having a husband that works in the restaurant industry has kept me motivated to come up with some crazy flavour profiles…culinary term! I just wish there was a little more of it! Not really hungry just craving some flexibility I guess.

Our focus past week has been purely on training hard…getting our posing done nightly which based on progress pics looks better and better. We are mastering how to hit those poses just in time for show time!

I am leaning out big time…veins are popping out…bring on the carb up!!!! I can’t wait!!! My suit needs to be adjusted smaller almost an inch on each side. It was tight when I got it! I can’t believe that.

I weighed in at 105.8 lbs. this morning. Crazy!!! I haven’t even cut any water…. I don’t weigh myself daily as I did in the first few weeks so I do it every Saturday and Monday…It’s the weekend that I always worry about….he he

Everything ….I mean everything is too big on me…Except my gym stuff…I did pick up a few cute things for the gym that’s where I spend 15-20hrs a week after all…I have to feel good about myself. It’s a small investment and a much deserved reward for all the hard work!

Work has been getting busier and busier with the spring/summer golf and boating season approaching its peak time I have a tough time focusing on the details and find myself double and sometimes triple checking things and yes I am irate and have lost my cool a little…Thank god for an amazing team that helps me push through those crazy moments…they do pass but not without effort on my part.

They know it’s almost show time and want me to do well. So this is a huge thank you to them for putting up with me and my drama!!!!! Especially Jenny, Chrissy and Maggie who hear it all….the good, the bad and yes sometime the ugly!!! Thanks girls!

Let’s not forget my hubby he has been amazing through this ….he seems to be so grounded with everything and other than seeing him a little tired…more than usual he has been handling me very well…

And lastly my BFF Marie…she has been calling me “chicken little”…Because there are moments in my day that feel like the sky is falling and she’s there to always save the day. Love you like a sister!!! I mean that!!!

Anyways these are the Thank You’s for this week…There are a lot more people that deserve a huge Thank You…I will mention them as I post my pictures after the show since there has been a small army supporting my progress.

I don't care much about the lack of flexibility in food...yes I am aware of the limitations but what I miss the most is my friends and a social life more than anything in this experience as this is my first prep I am not sure how strong my will to resist that glass of wine is and that little piece of fruit or a cracker and cheese combo…so to be honest I have just distanced myself a little from the world…and are really focusing on training and achieving my best and bringing my best to stage!

I miss Friday evening date nights with my husband…We have been married for 16 years this year and we have always had Friday evening dates to reflect on the week catch up and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s been over 2 months since we had a date night….hence the term of a double date at the gym and the cute gym gear he he…We get excited to see each other after work and spend a little time working out and sharing some fish and rice cakes on the way to the tanning place after…lol

I can’t wait to spend time with friends and family after the show…enjoy a few cheats and just relax with a plan in hand to get back on track Tuesday morning after we get back from Kelowna. I can't wait.....

That’s it for this week. Stay tuned for progress pictures of the last 12 week in my prep and yes the before 40+ lbs. image from last year…Full bikini shot….Yes saving the best for last lol

Till next week. Thank you for reading my weekly rumbles.

Xo Grace

4 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

Wow! 4 weeks has crept up and passed now i am into 3 weeks…Sounds so surreal that this Saturday will be 3 weeks!!! I am so excited….and nervous of course but that’s to be expected….It’s my first show after all.

It was a great week ….I was a little more irate than usual but coping with it and trying to catch myself.

Panic buttons went off with my BFF last week… thank goodness she gets me and knows it’s my nerves, anxiety and not some bizarre condition.

I am a bit carb depleted and can’t wait to get home every afternoon to indulge in a tiny dose of pre-workout carbs….Crazy I know but it’s the highlight of my day…..

Had an amazing workout with my hubby on Sunday….went heavy and exceeded my best and with that being said I do feel a bit more fatigued and could have lounged on the couch with my doggy all day long sipping tea!!!!

Not that lucky but it could be worst. I do run a marina/golf course facility among many companies so it’s not too shabby to look at beautiful boats and a lush golf course.

 

For the first time in this experience of prepping for a fitness show I was excited to go to my posing class strut my stuff or at least get better at it. Our Kelowna team looks amazing "Tight n' Tiny". We had weight-ins as well as BF% measurment progress taken. I was curious of my progress from my trainer’s perspective and wanted to know what’s next. Came down a pound and BF% is steady. I did measure smaller almost an inch in my thighs and waist. No Change in meal plan!!!! I am happy!!! Progress is good!

Everything is officially too big on me….even my shoes…lol. I am living in my tights for the next few weeks and loving it!

My suit is all ready....so beautiful and it looks good on too!!!! I can’t wait to step on stage and show off my hard work….oh man is it ever hard some days are harder than others!

I am starting to think about my post competition and how things will go….will I become depressed and get the blues, rebound, gain weight?…I know I will make a plan...I always have one. Next on my mind...How I will place in the show? All the hard work and then its over what will be my next set of goals?….and the topics to write about to keep everyone visiting my blog until I start prepping for my next show ha ha...ok...now let's back up and get through this one first….lol

Some of the questions and topics that I have been asked to write about so far through E-mails, Facebook and Twitter are:

More info on food: This is by far the biggest request

·            What I’ve learned about nutrition throughout my journey to a healthy and fit life

·            What I eat now that’s different from before-grocery list

·            Cooking challenges and more... more recipes

·            Cooking with teenager/kids in the house

·            My views on clean healthy eating

Friend & Family:

·            Challenges with support from friends/family

·            Was the experience what I thought it would be?

Self Improvement:

·            Shopping and how my body & style have changed with my weight loss and yes that includes progress pics.... :)

·            What continues to inspire me and keeps me driven

·            How I deal with plateaus

How to set up goals:

·            How to start on goal

·            Setting Short term goals vs. Long term

If you have any feedback or would like info on something specific…Let me know and I will try to share my experience.

Thank you for reading

Till next week

Grace xo

5 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

Yay….5 weeks out!

BCABBA Membership Card

Its official I received my BCABBA Membership Card as well as my confirmantion for the Kelowna show. Hair, Make-up, Tanning all booked!!!!

It was a great week of TRAIN, EAT, SLEEP AND REPEAT!!! With a full work schedule, family time and a bit of social life all bundled up into a week. Yup it was busy!!! Rewarding but busy.

I have adjusted emotionally to my meal plan which was a relief and allowed me to fully focus on training hard and not focusing so much on food. With my body in full machine mode I did feel hungry. First time in this prep experience….I will have to remember that for my next contest prep…he he at 6 weeks you get really hungry at the 2 hour mark and with the distinction between hunger and cravings …I am truly hungry no cravings or mind games this week. I am determined and motivated to bring my best to stage and have fun along the way. This is the week I realized that you truly have to be happy to be able to do this type of disciplined training, meal planning and everything else involved in prepping for a show. I know I have said it before but it really helps having my husband prepping for the same show and just being able to understand what’s happening to you is also happening to your partner. Supporting each other has been huge…some days I need more support and some days he needs some TLC as well so being there for each other is important.

After a full week of training meal planning….I was kind of done....This past Saturday marked 5 weeks out and although there were no weight ins or BF testing….I did drop about 2 lbs. in weight….This is great progress. I started with 121.8lbs at 12 weeks and weighed in at 108.0lbs on the dot on Saturday morning….with 5 weeks left there will be very little left of me….It all happens in the kitchen that’s for sure…..you can run you can workout all you want but if you don’t feed your body proper nutrition nothing happens.

With a full week behind me on Saturday after training with Leigh and posing class I booked myself for needed and well deserved reward…..a chiropractic treatment followed by massage therapy! Ahhhh heavenly! I felt like a new woman! And since there were no line ups on the US border we made a quick family trip across for some needed food supplies. We were in line for mere minutes before entering Costco Bellingham on a Saturday afternoon…Are we nuts?! Even the customs officer thought we were very brave to go to Costco on a Saturday….and to our surprise it was busy but smooth and quick exit within an hour and $600.00 later mostly on proteins and we were on the way to Fred Meyer for spices…

Thank goodness we have a deep freezer it limits our food shopping to once every two months and a huge savings as organic proteins are less than half price in the US than they are in Canada.

I get asked quite often about what we eat to stay fit. I won’t go into what I am currently eating as it’s not suited to someone not competing and I have an agreement with my trainer and I do pay for it after all to prep for my show so there. But the off-season grocery list we take to the store and follow is Michi’s Ladder. Here is a bit of info on how it works and you can clink on the link below to download the list if you’re interested.

Climb Michi's Ladder

Michi's Ladder is not a diet. It's a simple substitution plan. To lose weight, try swapping the foods you eat for similar foods in tiers 1 and 2. The more you eat in tiers 1 and 2, the more you'll increase your chances of losing weight.
There are some healthy foods in lower tiers, but they're either calorie dense or nutrient deficient. To lose weight, you want to maximize the nutrients in every calorie you consume.
Note on frying: Foods should be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, poached, baked, or broiled. Frying automatically drops even the best foods into tier 5.

MICHI'S LADDER GROCERY SHOPPING LIST

The food journey is something that is a huge part 80-90% of my fit life journey and it all starts with how you feed the body....I read a quote which is my motivation for this week
"What you eat in private shows in public"

Till next week the fit life journey continues.

Thank you for reading

Grace xo

6 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

With less than 6 weeks to go...I have noticed some pretty significant changes this week! Since my last weight in I dropped 4lbs and 1% of BF....getting so close to the 10% mark.

My meal plan has been tightened slightly…..which is ok….it’s only 6 weeks….haha easier said than done J

I had a strong week of doubles ….switched it up slightly with cardio in the evening 3 days a week as the weight area at the rec centre has been packed and hard to focus on your own workout when it’s this ridiculously busy.

My quote for the week during each cardio session:

“No One Ever Drowned in Sweat but I Will Keep Trying” Not sure where I saw this but I like it….keeps me pushing on.

Cardio seemed more intense this week ….I am definitely getting smaller and leaning out as my lulus are feeling loose but still need to tighten up the blessed lower half of me. I have 6 weeks to get that in order J

It’s been nice to have a few extra days off through Easter to rest up, cook, portion and freeze meals for two for the week…lol

We sure are going through a lot of egg whites….wish they came in one gallon jugs….redefining jug nation lol

Speaking of jugs this week I found drinking water hard….I can barely get the three liters in me….I will try to get to a full jug this week every day!!!! This is my mission. I feel better and my workouts are so much stronger when I get the water in my body.

I never noticed it before but somehow this week it was hard to drink up….hmmmm?

Life is good.....6 week and counting!

Thank you for reading

Grace xo

Me and my Honey Training on Saturday (6 week mark)

7 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

OK....7 weeks and counting!!!!....It was a good week of hard training and clean eating!  There was no weight-ins this week and no BF testing but I did drop another pound and feel leaner. Here is a sneak peek of my progress and the only one I will post before the show!!!! Gotta keep some mystery of the before and after’s and 12 weeks in between :)

My last letter to myself....or better said my FAT as its kind of hanging out where I need it to come off.

"Dear FAT! I see you do not like hanging out in my upper body I appreciate that and love my abs, however anytime you’d like to begin coming off of my legs and ass, that would be really great. I only have 7 weeks Thank you!!!!"

This made me laugh the moment I posted this to my Facebook page....and I reread it when I need to focus on doing more lunges more squats more dead lifts.....I now dream of these "Three Musketeers" as I call them....pretty much every night!!!! More More More.....and then I wake up at 5 a.m. exhausted when hear my husband start the Cappuccino machine for our morning Americano's and get ready to do cardio as soon as our gym opens at 6 am. That machine although not very loud is my queue to get up....somehow my body just knows it's that time. Strange!

So far I have enjoyed the process of transforming my body....I find it fascinating what can be accomplished with a little tweaking here and there, however that has come with some unusual cravings....at least they are unusual for me. Pizza, Ice Cream ....among a few. I don't eat these things as a choice for a cheat meal or have ever craved them before....I frankly don't like pizza...What can I say and Ice Cream is only welcome with some sort of warmed dessert....OK now it going to get ugly and out of control so I better stop... but YES the craving are driving me a little crazy and I am sure they are driving Andrew crazy too....as I am a bit short with everything I do these days....It can be the simplest thing as getting a glass of water that will irritate me out of the blue....So weird...I am not hungry!

After all....I do eat 6 well balanced meals a day...so it’s not the hunger getting to me...It’s my mind!

Anyhow enough about my food drama...It's a New Week and I am pumped to make a breakthrough in my legs and a** this week....Any pointers send them over!!!!

Leigh Brandt IFBB Bikini Pro...my amazing trainer tells me it’s all gonna come in the last few weeks....Well it’s the last few weeks and its not budging....lol....I am probably freaking out since this is my first competition.

Now if I can only master posing I will be golden.....ha ha ha...This is another topic that needs a full blog by it's self....I won't go there but I can say one thing...You're only as good as your posing! I totally believe that to be true....I didn’t before starting the process but now I see the difference when I give it a 100% and when I don't.  It has to be perfect as you can have the best body and if you don't show it off with confidence and pride it’s useless. You're only on stage for 90 seconds or so....if you get called out for comparisons maybe then a little longer...but in the scope of things it’s a relatively short amount of time compared to all the meal planning and training, but the preparation that goes into it is intense. To the average person it may seem so simple but its actually hard work and I am pooped after a full hour of posing in 5" heels. I can't wait to get home eat and not move off the couch for at least an hour and YES my back and every little muscle is sore as if I just did a mega workout.

I can't imagine what the next... well now less than 7 weeks will look like with my meal plan changing this Saturday, evaluating my progress pictures for training tweaks, daily posing practice at home and weekly with my Body By Brandt team! We all look so good I can't wait to get to stage!!! And the best part of it all is that my honey it going to be there right along my side. We will cheer each other on!

I think that's it for this week. Looking forward to the week especially with Easter fast approaching and a few extra days off work it will be nice to plan out meals for the following few weeks!

Till next week and Thank you for Reading

Grace xo