Sheeple Sheeping- 9 Weeks out

I've failed.  I'm fairly certain that I've committed every training or nutrition crime trending on most of the more popular nutrition/training sites on social media.  Forgive me father for I have sinned against the most popular cutting edge advisors on the planet:  I've done low carb. I've loaded carbs. I've done no carb, I've done steady state fasted cardio, I've starved myself, I've not prepped my food, I've trained when I'm not supposed to. Plain and simple, I've fallen short.


You see, I've joined this exquisitely interesting underworld of figure competition.  Most of my peers, colleagues and acquaintances have no clue of this which I do.  They look at me and try to comprehend the language of the sport.  Somewhat like the adult human conversation you try have with your dog?  You know - when your dog when it turns it's head sideways desperately trying to interpret and consume what you are saying, hoping to grasp one word that they can identify with.


Well ya see, today I'm 10 weeks out, my macros are at 100/150/40 and I'll prob do fasted cardio tomorrow, maybe throw in some HIIT wrapping it up with a nice insulin spike of fast sugar - with maybe 30 grams isolate with a fructose base.  Blah blah blah blah blah.  With my calculations I should be ripped by show time. No Excuses!


OR THIS


Wow, did you see so-and-so at the last show?  They looked FANTASTIC, Dry, Cut, Shredded, Full.  Who's their trainer?  Well, your friend says, It's the great "Mr. Fantastico" with Blah Blah Training Institute.


Sheeple:I've enjoyed soaking up all of the easily attainable subjective (and even scientific) data on how to find the Holy Grail of building muscle, getting lean and walking on stage to ... um... win?  It's been interesting watching the sociological phenomenon of sheeple sheeping.  Don't do this, don't do that sort of thing, if you want "results" that is.  If we want the prize in life we must find the Holy Grail... of eating, training, sleeping.... to win the prize, that is, the goal that we seek.


I've been there.  I've been THAT person, you know... the first person on the band wagon, the first person to join and follow the latest trend, the latest new product to help you get where you want to go.  There was a time in my life that I could not think for myself.  Eventually I found myself being tossed back and forth, to and fro listening to and following (SHEEPING) every wind of every doctrine.  Ultimately leading me down a path of confusion and an absolute inability to think or reason for myself. I was led from the outside instead of the inside.  I depended upon others to guide instead of my own internal compass.


When I was in graduate school years ago, it was considered TABOO to cite any 'research' from the web.  It was considered unreliable and unsound.  It seems today that we live in an age of information overload in every area of life.  JUST GOOGLE IT.  Hmpf. As a woman that loves to research, disseminate research and look for the holes to punch through it, it baffles me that today we lean against GOOGLE or FaceBook, or Dr. Oz to guide our way.  I cannot even begin to count the number of people that grace my office with their behavioral diagnosis in their hand trying to convince me, a seasoned clinician, what their diagnosis is.  Well if I just do this, this and this... in 5 easy steps, I'll be fixed!
 
Them: "Yes, I'm certain I'm bipolar." 
Me: "How do you know" 
Them: "I Googled it" 
Me: "Where did you find your conclusion?" 
Them: "WebMD"
Me: "Oh"


Oh baby, if life's problems were that simple and easy to rend resolution.

Don't get me wrong.  There is a tremendous wealth of information out there that is incredibly useful and I apply much of it to my training and contest prep. I have just learned to KISS. Keep It Simple Stu#&*.  My own body is the best research ground to research on!  Over the past 3 years I have learned more and more, combined with menopause, how my body responds to different foods, training, and calories. Some of my routines that work are known sins within the expert & popular fitness communities.


Training Update:
I am 9 weeks out today.  I weigh 125 and the scale is coming down nice and slow.  My off season training was heavy and intense, bringing my carbs and protein up pretty high, with not as many training days per week.  Heavy deep squats (I think my heaviest at 6 reps was 210lbs with a good spot).   Also, I continued to do leg presses, weighted lunges using the TRX (one foot in sling) and of course leg extensions and curls. Heavy back (heaviest pull down (with good spot: 150 for 6 reps). Shoulders and of course my 51 year old glutes - hitting all the areas that I wanted to work on.


I'm getting ready for Pittsburgh Master's Nationals! Suit is ordered, hotel & tan are reserved, posing practice is well under way... I'm getting excited, living in the moment, enjoying my job, my family (including my 2nd grandson!) and of course my hobby... fitness.

Here's a pic of my newest grandson Ari Isaiah at 6 weeks old!

Here is a video my trainer took of me doing my last set - 25 reps at 65lbs.  We went heavy using the Olympic bar up to 100 lbs for 6 reps.  Last Set of Military


Here's a few pics I took today after my workout (9 weeks out).

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My life rends something a bit different.  For me: I have found peace and contentment living under grace and not the law.  I will always fail if I succumb to a popular law of the day, formula or doctrine guaranteed to give me success.  I have learned to live life first by the Spirit that guides my Soul and my Body. Using my God-given internally driven compass and filtering information carefully as I let it in.

Simply put, I enjoy seeking truth. Truth Spiritually, in my Soul and for my Body (my physical self). I enjoy helping others find truth as well: Spiritually, in their Soul and their Body.


What doctrine do you follow?  Do follow the popular masses?


What is  your truth?


Thanks for reading... Until next time -