News!

It has been a busy couple of weeks in my world. It's Finally summertime in Vancouver and the weather has been amazing. I haven't posted a blog in a couple of weeks and there are a few things going on so I thought I would share.

I have been working on this project for sometime and am proud to announce that Fit Life 24/7 is the official Canadian Distributor of the famous nut butters. I launched my new company out of pure passion for fitness and healthy lifestyle and wanted to add a few key items to sell that are simply amazing and fit into my lifestyle. Here is a little info on Nuts 'N More

Nuts ‘N More was founded by fitness and nutrition experts who were looking for fortified peanut butters and other healthy sources of protein for themselves and their clients. All natural butters can be chunky and hard to spread. Nuts-’N-More created a unique recipe for our fortified butters, and a natural process that simply involves crushing the nuts and blending the ingredients in a way that achieves the finest texture of all natural butters.The result is the products being brought to market now – spreadable and incredibly delicious, all-natural peanut and almond butters that have 14 grams of protein per serving, without any extra calories or fat. Simple and all natural! Nuts-’N-More quickly expanded from fortified peanut and almond butters to other varieties such a Toffee Peanut Butter – all of which are all natural and fortified with whey isolate and flaxseed which will be soon available in Canada
If you would like to order some to try please visit my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheFitLife247 and sent me a direct message or for orders outside of the Vancouver Lower Mainland http://ca.nuts-n-more.com/

On another note my hubby made it to the Nationals. The 2012 CBBF Championships are being held in BC this year which makes it easier on us...No Travel!!! Andrew has worked so hard this year with 3 shows back to back all six weeks apart his 5th placing has been well deserved. YES I am a Proud Wife!!!!

 

All in all this has been a great year for us so far. Lots of excitement with a lot of dedication and commitment to our new lifestyle. It has been almost a year since we have started training with Dean and Leigh of Body By Brandt and couldn't be happier with our transformations and new lease on life.

I start prepping for my next show 2012 Sandra Wickham Fall Classic in a matter of weeks....well kinda already started. Focused, Determined to bring my best to stage.

That's all I got this week...Till next time :)

Train~Eat~Sleep~Repeat

xo Grace

Recap since Kelowna Western Canadians and whats next!

It’s been a busy month. I can’t believe it has been over a month since my last blog….

Following Kelowna Western Canadians I trained really hard and ate a lot to prepare for my next show which was on June 9^th Northern Classic in Fort St. John as I came in way to lean for the Kelowna show I wanted to work on looking a little fuller for FSJ….It didn’t really work to be honest but I did enter Open Class in Bikini instead of Masters Class which is 35+. It’s been a few weeks and the results were finally posted on the BCABBA website and I placed 8^th in Open class compared to 6^th in Kelowna. I am thrilled with the placing as it was tough competition and to enter with girls in their 20’s is intimidating to start…

I drove to Fort St. John with three other BodybyBrandt teammates, all bikini competitors Amy, Cordelaine and Rina…It was the best girls trip of my life….I have never laughed this much. Even thinking about it makes my cheeks and abs hurt…Yes I am laughing at loud…What happened in that car stays in the car…haha…Lots of laughs, some tears and lots of post competition cheats.

Since both shows I have done two photo shoots which were a lot of fun. First one was the day before the Kelowna show with Gus Mctavish Lake Okanagan and the second one with Pink Elephant Indoor shoot just last week before the BC Championships where my hubby competed.  I was able to volunteer at the show, support the athletes and Andrew in his journey to the Nationals…as he placed TOP 5 at the BC’s he is prepping for the next show right away…back to morning cardio, meal planning and double dates at the gym…lol

Here are some photos from the Kelowna shoot with Gus Mctavish

Andrew and I train together, so this means we do doubles together…I am not in prep until August where I am switching classes from Bikini to Figure but this is how we support our success and progress.

Train together, eat the same and which includes 6 am cardio 7 days a week. There are days where I am up at 5am ready for the day and some days I just want to roll over to his side of the bed and just sleep….

Since the shows…I have enjoyed some treats, sushi dates with girlfriends and great home cooked meals and most of all my daughters baking…I love her creations…she’s so good at baking and those scones are kinda unforgettable….Just thinking about it makes me want one.

Well that’s all for now. Thank you for reading and if you get a chance visit my facebook fitness page https://www.facebook.com/FitLifeJourney for clean recipes,  fitness tips and supplement reviews.

“Listen to your Body, Train hard, Eat clean and Results will Follow”

Xo Grace

"Better to age like fine wine than turn to sour grapes"

This is my week’s title is my motivational quote and its how I truly feel.  Exercise and proper meal plan is the key to stalling the aging process. I feel and in my opinion look 10 years younger to some of the pictures I look back at from a year ago.

Since the show not much has changed in terms of my day in day out activities. I have done a lot more cooking for my family, friends and my staff at work…Made them perogies and coconut crust key lime cheesecake cupcakes. Yup….and I had some…!!!! So good!

Cupcakes were clean! No sugar in anything other than the whipped frosting which I didn’t indulge and perogies….Well it was well planned carb up for a heavy leg day with Andrew!

Polish Perogies-With Cottage Cheese, Potato and Onion

Key Lime Cheescake with Coconut Crust

So what’s next…..

Keep On Push On onto the next show!

I have decided to compete again before the BC Championships. Heading up to Fort St. John in just over a week with a few girls from our Body by Brandt Team. I will step on stage hopefully a little fuller than in Kelowna where I competed in Masters Bikini as in Fort St. John I entered into Open Bikini. Once I return it will be just under 3 weeks until the 2012 BC Championships held at the Massey Theater in New Westminster BC where I will compete in Masters Bikini Class and if I place well in Fort St.  John I may be able to cross over between Open and Masters. 

Will keep everyone posted on improvements as I prep for the next two shows with progress pics and all.

My meal plan has slightly changed from my first prep. My trainer has added some fats and few extra carbs to a couple of my meals. We will monitor over the next week to see if I making any progress and we’ll go from there.

Please note that just because I need to fill in a little it doesn’t mean I am binge eating.  I eat the same meal plan as I have for the last 9 months. Clean and nutritionally wholesome food! In addition to that I eat a lot…. I mean a lot of raw veggies. I rarely cook my vegetables.

I still currently eat 7 meals with 60% of my carbs at breakfast and the other 40% equally divided Pre and Post workout!

I have added berries to my oat meal…yummy!!!!

Other than nutritional changes the preparation for the show is pretty simple… Hair…Make-up and tanning is set.
My water cut should be minimal but I will let my trainer decide based on my presentation and we will go from there.

I will wear the same bikini as I want to see the difference in my stage photos from one show to another. Of course I would love to wear a different suit to every show however financially that’s just not realistic.

Training is the same just more focused on muscle groups and with a little more weight since I am eating more gotta earn it!!!! J

I can’t wait to share some of the pictures from my Kelowna photo-shoot with Andrew. It was so much fun to be able to shoot together and have fun at the same time. That trip was so great! I will remember it for a very long time.

Thank you for reading.

Grace xo

Kelowna Western Canadians 2012-Results!!!!

Wow what a weekend!!! Full of excitment, anxiousness and craziness....

Me and Andrew after the morning show.

I didn’t place Top 5. based on placing the judges were looking for a softer look.
I did get into 1st call outs in the pre-judging but didnt make it into Top 5 in the evening.

I feel I definitely brought my best to stage after 6 months of hard training and over 40lbs weight loss since August 2011. With that being said am I disappointed I didn’t place TOP 5? Of course to a certain degree I am but not discouraged that I won’t compete again.

I am in the Masters Class therefore I am less than 6 weeks out from my next show! I am hooked….I totally loved being on stage and can’t wait to get feedback from the judges so far I have been told I came in too lean for Bikini Class but I will work hard and try to tweak my look for the 2012 BC Championships held on June 30^th. I don't think much can be done in less than 6 weeks and its highly unlikely will I present a softer look.

I committed to train hard to look lean all year round so not sure if my abs will appear less visible on stage at the next show but I will try to work on making improvments based on feedback! I was at the gym the day after and that’s all you can do….carb up, refuel your body and get back to the gym to use it all up and the workout was amazing!!!! To say the least…I am still sore today!

Our dinner reward meal on Sunday after our workout

My husband Andrew placed 3rd in the show. I am so proud of him. We have worked so hard!

Left side 2nd Place....Middle 1st...my hubby on the Right 3rd

We came home last night and prepped food did cardio this morning and it felt good to get back to the gym.

and here we go again less than 6 weeks....

Anyhow here are some pictures from the show....All of my show pictures are by ProShotPhoto.com as I did a photoshoot with Gus Mctavish so he captured some great shots of me on stage.



And here are some before, along the way and 12 progress pictures prior to the show...

July 2011- Started working out a bit on my own.

September 24th, 2011 after training with Leigh for just over a month

12 weeks out

11 weeks out

9 weeks out (missed 10 weeks)

8 week out-Front

8 week out-Back

7 week out-Front

7 weeks out-Back

6 weeks out-Front

 

 

6 weeks out-Back

 

5 weeks out-Back

5 weeks out-Front 

4 weeks out- Front

4 weeks out- Back

3 weeks out- Front

3 weeks out- Back

2 weeks out-Front

2 weeks out-Back

2 weeks out-Back flexed

Counting Down the hours-Kelowna Western Canadians 2012

Here we are..... Just hours away from my first show!
I am super excited to step on stage and show off my hard work, dedication and willpower to change my life not only phisically but mentally as well. There has to be balance in both to achieve the ultimate results and although everyday is work in progress it keeps me focused on my goals.
Quote for the week: "Willpower is like a muscle, The harder you train it The stronger it Becomes"

This really stuck with me this week as the process of contest preparation is not easy by any means and defiantly not for everyone. There have been ups and downs but overall more ups which makes it worth the extra effort and push the last couple of weeks.

Andrew and I have a full day scheduled with photoshoot, family time and athletes meeting tonight which will keep our nerves in check and focused for tomorrow and we are cutting water today so that should be interesting.... I am glad we came up last night but our drive was horrible....horrible accident, rain, snow!!! It was a crazy ride but we made it safe and sound and slept very well. Short and sweet today!

Athletes Meeting- Over 90 Bikini Competitors

Full update as soon as I get back.

Thank you for reading Grace xo

Last Countdown! Kelowna Western Canadians 2012

Last countdown

This is when excitement kicks in….which doesn’t come without a few road blocks on an hourly basis lol and a bit of drama! I am European after all and have been told I thrive on drama!

Just had an amazing chat with my best friend who always knows the right things to say….when to say them...and how to say them that makes me realize the sky is really not falling! Thank you Marie!

Keep On….Push On…Stay Calm!!!

She gets me….and not many others do other  than my husband of course!

It has been busy 12-15 weeks for us. 14-20 hrs. in the gym every week really takes a lot of strategic thinking ,planning and organization.

Training and meal planning have been the easiest part of the journey and one of our successes as we are both so committed to achieving our goals not only to bring our best to stage and make our trainers proud but to really see how far we have come along in this journey and what to look forward to next.

Yes a little down time first but further down the road ….like a week after the show…New training program….New meal plan….New set of Goals and next level of intensity in terms of gains, changes and further progress.

This is what makes me excited …the show is so close now!!! The only way to stay focused and on track afterwards is to really have the next goal.

Once thing that has been a challenge is really finding time for family time and time for each other!!! Tough one! This will be one of the areas where we will put a lot more emphasis on when we compete again to ensure more balance is achieved in quality of life in terms of balancing family, work, training and all the other distractions that present them selves. We have not lost focus on this and are aware of the shortfalls and will have to get better….That’s All.

I am taking tomorrow off…to take care of the household for the week after we come back from Kelowna. We leave Thursday afternoon and are back Monday afternoon….Tomorrow will be busy as I want to accomplish as much as possible before I have to start cutting water…Prep meals for the trip and after….Pack for the trip... then hair and nails followed by last minute laundry and at my house there is always laundry. Thursday….Cardio Only! I will miss weight training for sure as cardio isn't my fav...but with everything going on it won't even phase me that I didn't get to do round two. I need the rest so the plan is to sleep until I have to get into the car for our road trip! SHOWTIME will no longer be the light at the end of the tunnel! It will be reality full of excitement…photo shoot, tanning, makeup, hair, stage time followed by a great meal with friends and family!!!!

Can't get any better than that!

Thank you for reading and I look forward to sharing all the show pictures with you!

Grace xo

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