Food Tips: I decided to stay away from so much salsa for one simple reason: garlic breath! I have switched to Jalepeno Tobasco sauce and Red Hot Buffalo Wing sauce. I put it on anything and everything just to spice it up! I have found Walden Farms sugar-free pancake syrup. This is a treat and I dip my egg whites in it. I try to stay away from processed "anything" and sugar-free syrup IS processed so I go easy - but still... a nice TREAT. Lastly, I have found a jerk rub from World Market that I put in my ground turkey breast. It gives it a BITE!
I still buy my food in bulk and try to cook up on Sunday afternoons. THIS IS HARD! I just want to lay on the couch but have to force myself to plan, plan, plan and cook, cook, cook. I will tell you right now, the pay off is worth it... seeing my physique change into something I never thought possible at my age!
Training I continue to train Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday. Cardio is at 2.5 hours per week (one hour of lunges on Sunday). I am focusing on weaker muscle groups and for me that is low glute, high hamstring & shoulders. Todd has noticed the shoulders are starting to take shape so I will pull back on those extra training days for now!. This has been an interesting journey for me because I can't seem to zero in on those muscles when I train. It seems my low hamstring takes alot of the hit when I do specific movements. Here is a video showing a new move that seems to work for me.
Smith Machine Glute Press: Here is a video of my first practice on targeting the glute: I am underneath pushing the bar up with my foot and SQUEEZING my glute. Very precise and slow movement for me right now - just trying to get the feel and zero in my mind to the muscle.
Delt Raises: It took me a while to master this move as well. Mind to muscle connection is the theme for my training these days. Todd had to correct my form because I had a tendency to pull my shoulders back while lifting the dumbell. Here is a front and rear shot
San Diego show August 21st my two partners in crime - Ruthie and Stacy- took a quick road trip to San Diego to check out a California NPC show. We noticed that the production company and entire show had a much more laid back feel than the Arizona show we visited in July. We met some really nice people and was able to connect with a posing coach: Alyssa Parker. We plan to head out one more time before the show and Alyssa will help us with posing.
Suit Selection Last week Ruthie and I went to NUPARR in Phoenix. We tried on some suits and learned that we will need to come back to order our suits when we are within 8 pounds of our competition weight. Suits start at 180.00 and add any bling and the price goes up. We are probably going to add our own bling so I have been studying alot of suits and designs.
Progress Pics:
At 9 weeks I am 119 lbs, waist is 26.5. Todd is watching me closely and says "I'm coming down nicely, not too fast which is good" -
Impressions: Learning to live in the moment. Proverbs 21:5 "The thoughts of the [steady] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want." I have learned to live more in the moment. I have lived most of my life hypervigilant, always looking to the left and to the right; ahead and behind... subconsciously waiting for the next traumatic event whether it was real or perceived. This process has helped me live and breath right now in the moment... to experience what is happening to my body, in my thought life, and what the Spirit might be telling me. I am learning to worry less, trust more and relax in the presence of God knowing He has me in the palm of His hand - I am perfectly safe and secure in Him.
Stay steady, in Him... until next week - 7 weeks out, Phase VI will be under way!
