Ready.... GO!

I am ashamed to get on here admit that... I've been pigging out lately. :-( It started Easter weekend and never really let up. I didn't weigh myself because I knew it wouldn't be happy. Weighed in yesterday for a high of 138.0. Yikes!

Here's where I am at regarding USA's. Today I am 13 weeks out. But I am telling myself 11 weeks out. 5 weeks before the show we are going to Hawaii and there is no way in H. E. Double Hockey sticks I am dieting through hawaii. I won't go to town like I would on a cruise, but I will enjoy some treats. Then the next week will be making up for the week I lost. I am viewing those two weeks as a wash. I will be two weeks ahead of the game going into the end of June. I knew this would be the case when I decided to do this show.

So, today I am 11 weeks out! Yikes, again! That really means it's go time. I don't have my plan from Erik and I might not for another week or so (i'm on a waiting list....). So I have made my own plan that I hope he'd approve in the meantime. There are a few healthy ingredients around the house I want to use up before I get his plan so my food may seem a little hodgeposh until then. A few protein bars, some whole wheat tortillas, things like that. I also will have some "free calories" that will equal 10% of the week to keep me on track 90% of the time. When I start with Erik I think free meals go out the window. So I'm keeping them in for now. :-)

Last Spring I gained 10 lbs while training for an endurance event. Through that time I learned that, FOR ME, my body doesn't need that many extra calories for exercise. But if I didn't eat them, I felt like I wouldn't have the energy I wanted to go as hard as I wanted. Maybe I would have... but I don't know because I just ate it up around my rides. I went from about 132 lbs to 142 lbs in 2-3 months. That 10 lbs took me 4 months to lose.

In the last month or so I have gained about 5 lbs. I am glad I have recognized this and stopped it before it grew to 10 like last year. I guess I'm learning something from the past. The thing that I have learned about myself through this particular weight gain is that, FOR ME, I need to weigh/measure my food and follow a plan as if I were on a diet (albeit, with more calories if I'm maintaining) or I throw all caution to the wind. Do I wish it were not this way? Of course. But it's all about learning yourself and your triggers and what makes you have these bad habits. For me it is, just ONE bowl of cereal. That grows to two and three. Or ONE fingerful of pb, that leads me to standing at the fridge eating 4 T. (or so... i didn't measure).

I'm not mad about this. It is what it is. I'm hoping this initial 5 lbs comes off fast. I usually get stuck around 131 for a while so I'm hoping I get down there fairly quickly.

Anyway, I'll be back on later for my check in for day one.

PS. I have gone two weeks without cardio. I have LOVED it. I truly do not believe my weight gain is because of lack of cardio. It is because of the amounts of food I have eaten. With that being said, I am adding in three short cardio sessions starting today.

What is one thing you have learned about yourself through a weight gain? What did you do to change your behavior so it didn't happen again?

My thoughts on one week without cardio

This week has been amazing. I've had SO much more time, my workouts are more enjoyable and I've made myself push even harder through them. I've really been excited to go to the gym because I just get to stick to what I love! I took all of wednesday OFF and today OFF! Seriously, talk about awesome. Here's what the week consisted of:

Sun: off

Mon: 60 min leg workout

Tues: bits and pieces of boot camp (taught), 50m arm/shoulder workout

Wed: off

Thurs: parts of boot camp, 50m arm/chest workout

Fri: 50m back/shoulder workout

My average calories were about 1750 over the course of the week.

I know what you're wondering. Did I gain weight? Calories stayed the same. Cardio taken away.

Last week: 133.4 lbs

This week: 133.6 lbs

NOPE! Amazing, isn't it?! Hopefully this week goes just as well!

I hope you all have a great easter! I'll report tonight on how I did today with all the candy around and I promise, i'll be honest. :-)

Day one of Tracking for LBC

I have to do a three day food log for Erik of everything that enters my mouth including gum, veggies, drink, supplements, etc. This actually really helped me be more aware and not take any BLT's (bites, licks, tastes) because how lame does that look, "One lick off the peanut butter knife"? Right? So it was a perfect day for me. If you're interested in what the food log looks like here it is, copied and pasted:

5:15 – wake up – 1 fish oil, 1 calcium, 1 multi vitamin, 1 vitamin C, 1 Buzz Bite (caffeine chew) – 1 cup water

24 cals/0fat/4carb/0prot

6-7am – Teach Boot Camp (approx 20 min circuit training off an on over an hour) – 3 cups water

7:30am – 1 scoop Jack3d - Greens drink – water, 1/3 c. egg whites, 9g protein powder, 1.1 oz banana, 70g blueberries, 2c spinach, 2 leaves kale, 4 baby tomatoes, ice – 3 c water

143cal/1fat/17carb/16prot

8:30 – 9:30 – Train shoulders and arms for 45 minutes – 3 cups water

10am – PWO meal – 2 caramel rice cakes, 25 mini marshmallows, 5 egg whites whipped with ½ t. lemonade crystal light and scrambled – 1 c water

236 cals/0fat/35carb/20prot

Between meals – 2 baby tomatoes and a small stick of gum

12:15 – Lunch – 1 egg, 3 egg whites, whipped with ½ t. apple crystal light powder, 5g protein powder, cinnamon and vanilla, cooked like a pancake, on top of whole wheat tortilla with laughing cow cheese wedge and 2 T. sf maple syrup – 1 fish oil, 1 calcium, 1 vitamin C – 3 cups water

273 cals/10fat/15carb/27prot

2:45 – Snack – 1 homemade oat/egg white bar (ingredients – egg whites, protein powder, pineapple, splenda, coconut extract, baking soda, salt), 225g plain greek yogurt, 1 pkt Truvia, 1 T. sf Da Vinci coconut syrup, 3g unsweetened coconut

216 cals/2fat/19carb/29prot

Between meals – 3 cups water, 2 small sticks of gum

4:45 – Snack – 4.25 oz sweet potato, 1 T low fat maple nut butter (almonds, real maple syrup, light tub butter), 6 baby tomatoes

142cals/4fat/24carb/2prot

Between meals – 3 cups water

6:00pm – 1.5 oz 96/4 ground beef, 160g low fat cottage cheese, 1 cup broccoli, 4 spray butter sprays, salt, 1/3 c. tomato sauce

228cals/5fat/13carb/31prot

6:30 – treat – 2 squares chocolate – 1 dark, 1 milk

51cal/3fat/5carb/1prot

After dinner: 1 big stick gum, 1 small stick gum, 2 cups water

Specs not counting gum, fish oil, crystal light and veggies:

1312cals/26fat/133carbs/126prot

Specs including everything that entered my mouth:

1415cals/29fat/149carbs/130prot

So that's the basic rundown of my day. Or... not so basic? Water totaled at 22 cups. Twas a good day for me. My butt and hamstrings are super sore so I'm glad tomorrow is a rest day. I'm going to lower the carbs tomorrow since I'm not training.

What counts as "a lot" of water for you? How much do you drink when you are feeling like you didn't get enough that day?

For me a lot of water is anything over 20 cups. Anything from 16-20 is normal or good and anything under 16 cups (a gallon) isn't enough anymore and I will likely feel thirsty throughout the day.

No redemption today

Today was crazy. I start my next boot camp tomorrow and a big ad goes out in a BYU email that goes to 120k people so I had a ton of work to do today to prepare for tomorrow. I was a bit stressed and a lot busy and the fast day didn't quite work out for me. I didn't track very well (I counted but didn't track), didn't drink very much but I worked out SUPER hard! So that's one point in my favor.

I'm going back to just weighing myself once a week so I won't be listing that every day for now.

Workout: 50 minute leg workout - hit two pr's today:

1-Romanian Deadlift - 135 lbs (a 45 on each side) 3 sets of 8 reps and THEN a set of 10 reps

2 - Walking Lunges - holding two 35's - 2 sets of 10 reps on each leg

Woot, woot! My legs will be sore b/c it is only 12 hours later and they already have that "tired - pre - sore" feeling. Love it. Hope I can make it through camp tomorrow!

Water: 16 cups - I know a gallon's not low but I drank most of it earlier today so I don't feel like I've had enough water recently.

Nutrition - 1700 calories - so not a high day - that's right around maintenance for me. But after yesterday I was hoping for some redemption. This just means the rest of the week has turned into a "diet week". But you know what's funny about that... when I eat too much that it warrants a diet week/few days, I welcome it because it means I've eaten too much and most likely feel yucky and "thick". (I hate the F word - fat - I haven't used that word in years). So it isn't a bad thing. It's just a ... thing. That's just how it is. Gotta suck it up.

Words of wisdom today: If you want to maintain your weight you can't eat whatever you want when you want it. You'll most likely gain weight. You will probably have some "diet days" thrown into your maintenance journey and that is ok. It is what it is.

Do you struggle to maintain your weight?

I do but it is worth it. I have to always be conscious of what i'm eating. There is always 5 lbs knocking at my door just dying for me to let it in. :-)

Confession

I munched and munched at my parents house today. Yikes. I lost track of my counting when I was getting over the 2,000 mark. Whoops. A lot of people ask me what to do after days like today when you just flat pig out. Some would say just go back to your regular plan the next day and that is definitely a good answer. Another option though to do about once a week so that you can eat a little higher calorie the rest of the week is Intermittent Fasting. It is perfectly fine and can be good for your system to incorporate either small fasts often or weekly-monthly 24 hour fasts. I have a hard time fasting for 24 hours even for religious purposes so when I use IF methods I usually fast until about noon the next day. No, this will not slow down your metabolism. Yes, breakfast is still important. This is just another idea to try. You might hate it, you might love it. You do your own research and see if it's something you'd like to try. I will be incorporating one of these days tomorrow.

Weight: 133.8 lbs

Water: 10 cups (way low for me)

Workout: off

Nutrition: didn't track but probably close to 3,000 calories.

Do you guys ever pig out like this? Tell me I'm not the only one...

I usually eat more 1-2 days a week but only about 1x/month does it usually get this high. That's ok, though. There's my one time a month. It's outta my system now. Oh, crap, though. Next week's Easter. ;-)

Date night!

Hey guys! I'm glad there are three of you out there checking on me. ;-) Today went well for a weekend. My goal average calories for the week are about 1650 or so (still a little under my regular maintenance since I won't be doing cardio... I have family pictures in two weeks and I'd love to lose just another lb or so. But if I don't it's totally fine. I get skinny face at 131 and under. Lol. I'm such a dork, I know. Anyway, here's how today went:

Weight: 133.4

Water: 18 cups

Workout: Lift back and shoulders and abs - 50 minutes

Nutrition:

Meal 1: 116 g steel cut oats, 1 T. almond milk, 2 T. sf syrup/greens drink - 2c spinach, 2 leaves kale, 70g blueberries, 1/3 c. egg whites, 8g protein powder

Workout

Meal 2: 3 rice cakes, 4 egg whites blended with 1/2 t lemon crystal light and scrambled

Meal 3: tropical homemade protein bar (oats, egg whites, pineapple, etc)

Meal 4: 130g refried beans, 2 oz lean beef, ww tortilla

Meal 5: 1/2 apple, 220 g plain greek yogurt, 12g pb2, caramel da vinci syrup, 2 chocolate squares, 1/2 slice bread, 1 T. pb (random snacky meal)

Meal 6: 3 oz chicken, 2 c. spinach, 2 T. sf maple syrup and 1 T. balsamic vinegar mixed for dressing

Dessert: 1/2 gelato cone from costco and later 1/2 c. ff cool whip with 4g pb2 stirred in

1711 cals; 44g fat; 194g carbs; 129g protein

I'm glad I'm done with the "dieting" for now. I'd still like to get securely down to my happy weight before my family pictures and before I start with Erik but i'll just eat slightly under maintenance and get there slowly.

Tonight we went to Costco and the mall looking for everyone's shirts for family pictures. We found something for everyone but me. :-( I'll have to keep looking. I don't want flowy even though flowy is cute. I don't think it photographs well. Our colors are blue/green/gray with a pop of mustard yellow if desired. It is for my whole extended family so hopefully everything meshes together.

It was so wonderful not doing cardio today. Seriously, I get so excited for my workouts now because I know I don't have to do cardio at the gym. I am loving it.

I think that's about it. I hope you're all having a great weekend!

What kind of "style" do you prefer for family pictures? Total matchy matchy? Color coordinated without "matching"?

I was really going for the jeans and white shirt look but no one else was buying that. ;-) Jk. I like coordinating colors. I am hoping though, since we have to coordinate family members that don't live close by that it all ends up working out.

My new adventure - I'm headed to VEGAS!!!

If you didn't know, I qualified for Nationals in the NPC Bikini division last October and again this past March. I have just decided to actually go for it and head to USA's in Vegas at the end of July! I will be documenting my journey here and I hope you'll follow along for the ride!

First things first. I've hired a trainer I am so super excited about. His name is Erik with Lean Bodies Consulting (clever name, huh? ;-) He was around long before I was but I didn't know it). He has nothing but rave reviews and he seems to have a "new" way of contest prep that doesn't require hours of endless cardio and insanely low carbs and calories. He's good at what he does and I'm going to trust him every step of the way. He has a little bit of a waiting list but I should hopefully get my program by the end of the month.

He has given me a few to - do's before we start together:

1 - No cardio. Yep, cut it out all together. I am actually thrilled about this one as I don't love my cardio. I'm a little nervous. But I'm also excited about the possibilities and the time this opens up. I asked him if he thought I'd gain weight. His response: "Who cares. You need to get out of diet mode and think metabolic repair." Since I am just coming out of a show he wants my calories up and my cardio down in order to "fix me" so his program will work that much better. But, secretly, I'm hoping no weight gain. :-)

2 - Maintenance calories. I guess since maintenance calories would be the level at which you don't lose or gain, I shouldn't gain weight. I may just have to adjust my maintenance calories a tad.

3 - Start at my happy weight. Ok this is my little to do. Since my last show I have been eating too much. I competed at 129.6. My goal maintenance was 132. I was there for about two weeks but then had an off week where too much food coupled with some TOM bloating sent me to 137. This week I've been documenting an example "diet week" in the life of Lindsey and I'm thinking I'll be back to about 133 ish tomorrow. Hopefully after an on track couple weeks before I start with Erik I'll be starting at that happy 132 lbs.

Anyway, that's the new adventure. Who's along for the ride? I want comments people. If I know you're out there, I'll keep posting. How's that for a deal.

Todays comment inducer: Say hello to me in another language. :-)

I'll start. Hola! (I don't know any other languages.)