WEEK 6 (nearly quit!)

weight

5/8- 124.8

5/15- 120.2

5/22- 120.2

5/29- 121

6/5- 116.8

6/12- 117

6/19- 117.6

oh man it was a rough one! i cried almost everyday, and said i'm sorry for being such a grump to many! Tuesday is by far the hardest day for me to get through mostly because of working sooo much and my short day (thursday) seems so far away!

This thursday i sat in my car cried after my coach saw me in my bikini and proceeded to double my cardio sessions. I then did something i have never done before during contest prep... i went off the plan, i had some justin's maple almond butter and a peice of dark chocolate! boy was that delicious! i didn't feel guilty and enjoyed every bite! i got right back on track and felt good. I want to say thanks to all the people i don't know who have stared at me, (and my arms) who have made comments on how wonderful i look and how they wish they could look like me! Yup its these comments that keep me going, keep me believing that changes are happening. The scale doesn't tell the story!

this Journey has made me dig deep and take a look at my life and where i want to be in the future, and i will let you in on this. i want to be near my family in the near future. When i started this i never had any intentions of winning the contest but i wanted a goal.

"without goals you have no direction; without direction there is no incentive for action; without action there is no progress..."

think about that, progress i am making and it might not show on the outside but the progress on my heart and soul has me excited!

like my girl whitney said... i 'm so close but still far away. i head into this week with my eyes on the future.

I'm sorry for being grumpy, its not you its me! and you might want to stay away from me on tuesdays!

"shoulders down, chest up, abs tight!"

WEEK 5

weight

5/8- 124.8

5/15- 120.2

5/22- 120.2

5/29- 121

6/5- 116.8

6/12- 117

Hitting the half way point. Normally most people feel great a this point saying things like " i'm going to maintain at this weight when the show is over" and very rarely can someone do this. for me heading into week 6 i feel a little behind. didn't help that while working with my posing coach he says something to the effect, "well we will have to get rid of the fat to see your abs" ...

it was a crazy week, i saw my trainer, my choreographer, my posing coach, and the suit making lady! but its all the little meetings that keep each day exciting and keep me on track. and for those of you who wonder why i work so much, well here ya go!

I'm sure my training plan (cardio and nutrition) will get an over haul on thursday. part of me says bring it, yet often i get worried it will be to much.

About friday i started missing the social part of life. Lunch with friends, a guinness and a Red Sox game. (they are killing it right now! :) ), a late night movie... can't stay out late when i have to get up at 3am. i have also started thinking about food a little more. but i think seeing the cupcake truck post its location everyday on Face Book is to blame for that!

i think the bottom line for this contest being a little more challenging then normal for me is the lack of sleep.

i can't fix that right so i will continue to push forward.looking forward to my half way point photo's next sunday. Gosh i hope there is some change!

Keep flex'n my friends!

WEEK 4

weight

5/8- 124.8

5/15- 120.2

5/22- 120.2

5/29- 121

6/5- 116.8

All is well....NOW! lets start with last friday my fridge broke but i didn't really notice until monday. then i started have severe stomach aches, bring you to your knees stomach aches! i was rolling around on the floor in pain at my coach's gym and he says "get up and finish these exercises..." i laughed but did it. he proceeds to ask my about the pains in my gut and then says "no more gum!" i'm thinking,Whoa...thats all i got...but do as i'm told and give him ALL my gum. 8 packs i place on his desk, he just shakes his head.Well what do you know the scale starts dropping the next day and no more stomach pains. I let out a huge sigh of relief as i'm sure you all did when you saw my weight today.

I also met with my favorite choreographer to put together my routine. Its sweet!

Tomorrow i go see the best bikini maker in the country, Christine Marsh, to pick out the material for my new suit. Its going to be purple!

My meals are all tasting real good except for the piece of cod i have to eat every night. This week i got to have 5 strawberries instead of the apple in the afternoon, they tasted soo good. I think the more you go without crap food in your daily intake the better the good food taste. So once again the week started off, not so good, and its ending on a high! never quit, dig deep and plow through...like my bulldog does the snow! and yes people are starting to stare at me, which means..."its happening" :)

oh the picture is the book i read when i go to bed at night. i'm serious! i always read cook books when training for a show.

sweet dreams!

WEEK 3

weight

5/8- 124.8

5/15- 120.2

5/22- 120.2

5/29- 121

well week 3 is in the books! i feel good but boy, oh boy, i was GRUMPY on saturday morning! It started out by me reading a post on Facebook that someone was taking their children to 2 movies and then to out to dinner. For some reason this really bothers me, "its a beautiful day get those kids outside and active", i wanted to yell! Why would you bother telling people you are going to sit for 5 or so hours then go eat.... what are we teaching our children!

I know you have all noticed my weight for the week, coach says he is not worried so i will not worry either. I know i look different because people are staring at me and the highlight of the week, i was training with my friend Katie and i whipped out a front double bicep and her eyes lit up and her jaw dropped to floor. "That looks amazing" "do it again" tehe! thats all it takes to keep me pushing forward. i am now up to hour of cardio everyday. I DO love every meal, OK cod every night is not the best but i'm doing ok with it. my newest favorite meal is pictured here. egg whites, with sugar free blueberry jam spread on the top and folded in half. I decided to ditch the apple that day and go big... raspberries!! sshhhh don't tell on me!

OH! how could i forget... i booked my trip to the big show, Las Vegas here i come. it feels good to have that all taken care and as of right now i'm going alone... shout if you want to come, i might need some baby sitting saturday night after i get off the stage. Even better i'll probably be a cheap date! HA!

this is really my fridge, the pile of white stuff on the upper shelf, right side, is my cod.

I have taken to lots of coffee this week it just taste sooo good right now and sometimes its decaf! also at any given time i can be found with 5 to 8 pieces of gum in my mouth and up to 20 packs in my car! The gum is a given i think for most competitors, I'll get tired of chewing a big wad in a few weeks and that will be the end of that!

Anyone ever hear of "Walden Farms" products...i'll be investigating and giving a full report. If you already use these products or know about them what do you think? Ranch dressing with no calories, sugar, carbs... hmmmmm?

Ok time to take my cod out of the oven, cook some broccoli and oatmeal. Have a great week everyone!

WEEK 2

weight

5/8- 124.8

5/15- 120.2

5/22- 120.2

ok so as you can see, no weight change... its ok! i know if i stick to the plan it will happen.

-gonna make this quick 'cause i got to get to bed so i can get up and do cardio at 4am. yep, got to get it done. no excuses people! Monday my weight was down to 118 and i was excited, thinking it was going happen easy....WRONG! Tuesday i felt horrible and my weight started climbing back up (122 on thursday), i was so tired and grumpy buti didn't cave, i stuck strong, ate some steak and carried on. by friday i was feeling great! "I'm the boss" tehe! thats what i tell my dogs...as i write this i have 12 eggs boiling, rice in the rice cooker, fish in the oven, protein pancakes cooking. i heard a lot people tell me 2 weeks ago, "i want to diet with you" and now...not so easy right. the key is to plan and prep. i got in some great work outs this past week and i am sore everywhere... i love that. I'm increasing my cardio this week from 3 days to 5. plus i teach 2 spin classes a week. heading in to Monday feeling good. hope everyone has a great week! remember; PLAN AND PREP!

WEEK 1

weight

5/8- 124.8

5/15- 120.2

Well my house stinks!! i'm a little nervous to have anyone over to visit, the aroma of broccoli, eggs and fish... lets just say its not good! the highlight of the week was when my coach told me i could eat 2 whole eggs before i go to bed instead of a protein shake! "really?! 2 scrambled eggs or hard boiled?" "yolks?" "really?" i think i told everyone that day i got to eat whole eggs! of course they just looked at me. i have a feeling those whole eggs will be reduced to egg whites. i have to put on my bikini next week for my coach. When coach says i need to see you in your bikini it most likely means he is cutting some food or upping my cardio or both.

heard a funny thing this week at the gym..."oh she is one of those people that doesn't eat" talking about me of course. WOW! i thought i'm so full from eating i feel like a bowling ball!

THE 12 WEEKS

"12 weeks" a few people know what this means, and probably even fewer have been through them. Those of us who skip happily down this path have at least one thing on common, we are crazy! HA! I usually don't share much about my journey but this time i'm going to let everyone peek in on my 12 weeks to the competitive stage of Womens Physique.

Day 1 is tomorrow.

Today i cleaned out my cupboards and fridge, even though i feel strong enough (now) to resist any temptation i know i will have weak moments and open the cupboards and fridge over and over looking for something sweet to eat. I also had my picture taken in a bikini which i might share eventually but i'll have to work on some courage for that one! I went out to dinner and ate... and ate... and ate.

I'm ready, I'm ready for this trip...are you?