5 Days | 15 Hours | 15 Minutes | 15 Seconds and Counting

Rounding the last curve, I am just under six days out from my first bodybuilding competition.  This week I was faced with an additional challenge of being under the weather.  So when I already had zero energy, I went on ahead and overdrew that account this week and I was definitely in the red.

This week - even more this process - has been a true test and there were times where I felt like I wasn't going to make it.  It is a good thing that "feelings" really don't matter and this not only pertains to prepping for a competition - it applies to life in general.  The reality is, everyday for different reasons we will feel a multitude of emotions - some for reasons we cause and many from situations beyond our control.  In one day alone feelings can change dramatically.  WE have the choice whether we succumb to the feeling or we acknowledge and and keep going.

What if you reached the end of your life and had the opportunity to meet the person you could have been if only you were not afraid and you stayed the course?

Direction does not rely on feeling.  Direction means that there is an intended destination and regardless of the "weather conditions" the destination is still unchanged.  Yes, sometimes we may have to take a detour, sometimes we my slow down due to changing traffic conditions, we'll get a flat tire.  We will be halted by sickness, by sadness, by new additions to our lives, etc... The journey will be filled with many emotions and will not always be a pleasant one.  However, in the end, we must stay the course, maintain our direction, finish our individual race.

Diet
As I talked about last week my diet is hard right now.  I've made it a bit harder on myself - honestly being lazy.  I have been fulfilling my diet conditions eating only turkey and rice cakes.  The turkey is not the problem - it's the rice cakes.  Now rice cakes are good, don't get me wrong, but in the last two weeks I have gotten pretty much zero fiber in my diet.  Needless to say, some normal bodily functions were not too "normal".  Yesterday I restructured my meals to include more romaine lettuce and green bell peppers (paprika).  This also has help with hunger in general.  You can almost eat lettuce and bell peppers to no end and the volume it adds really helps.  So I took a little extra time to cut up the veggies to eat yesterday and today and I'm hoping that it gets everything back on track.  Moral of the story - don't be lazy.  You will pay for it.

I talk to the Boss later this evening but I am not expecting any changes this week regarding what I eat.  I already packed some chocolates away for Saturday night that I got for my birthday.  Chocolates and Pizza.  That's all I dream about.

Training
This is the part that I love.  I cannot say this enough.  No matter what, when I walk in the gym everything is okay and if it was already okay, it's better.  Who can be upset at that?

My strength is definitely down, but I go as heavy as I can.  At this point though it's not about setting new PRs and trying to up my weights.  I train to remind my muscles that they need to hold on and remind them what they are capable of.  I do a lot of pumping to keep blood flow moving and working on pumping up for the show on Saturday.  Cardio is still maintained at 45 minutes a day.  I do try to get as much more general movement in as possible, but I will admit I don't over do it.  This week I couldn't anyway.  My body was one rep away from making me sit my behind down somewhere.  Friday I felt better and it was a good training session.  Puts things into perspective when you get sick.  Before I had zero energy. Then I had negative energy.  Now I am back to zero energy and it feels great.

Weight
Last week I saw a big jump in the weight loss.  I spent most of the week this week pretty much on the same level and going back and forth between 69.8kg to 70.2kg.  Yesterday, I didn't even realize it, but I was down to 68.8kg.  I just logged it and kept going and didn't even think twice about it.  I realized it this morning when I got a message from the Boss and he saw it.  This morning I was 69.0kg and I'll take it.  I'll probably be somewhere near 68kg by next weekend.  The goal was 67kg, but I will take the 68kg.  I have definitely worked hard for it.

Progress Photos
Since this is the last entry before the show, I decided to spice up my outfit with the Nike shorts my sister bought for me.  Next week there will be show photos, lessons learned and next steps because this is only the beginning.

            

         

I dedicate this post to my friend Lynn Mells who answered the call to go home to the Lord almost 3 years ago now.  I can't believe it's been so long.  Lynn battled breast cancer twice. And the second time she lost that battle.  Lynn and I went to the same gym, that's how we got to know each other.  We took kick boxing together.  Then we started to do things outside of the gym.  We ran in races together and spent Saturdays doing our long runs together.  Even when she was "sick" - she still ran.  I remember vividly one autumn Saturday morning when we were doing a long run in Kensington park. We were talking about a guy that she was dating and the fact that he did not know she was currently battling cancer.  Her reasoning was that "she never wanted to be look at like the 'sick' girl."  In my memories, Lynn is not that girl.  She is a great mother, loving daughter, passionate mentor, and wonderful friend.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about my friend.  And I try to live my life not to be anything but who I want to be, and to do that to the fullest.  Even until today, Lynn inspires me and I am thankful for the time we shared.