What do you want?

I have been posting for a month now, and I get feedback occasionally which I greatly appreciate. This has morphed into something other than what I first intended, and I suspect it may change quite a bit as I continue.

I would appreciate feedback about what readers would like to hear, perhaps it is more recipe related ideas, training (such as actual exercises, sets and reps), what to eat when not dieting for a competition, what to eat (or not) when dieting for a competition, what happens at a figure competition, anything!

A I mentioned in my earlier post, people ask me about training all the time, today it was three different women, and I love it! The fact that they do not feel intimidated is great, and we can all learn from each other.

So, I made business cards so I can just give those out, and that way when people ask, they will have my blog, twitter, email. I did not list my cell phone though, you have seen almost every part of my body, I at least need a private phone number!

Also, I would like to ask that you pass this on to anyone you think may enjoy it, I hope that it offers entertainment and insight into how anyone can become healthier and look better at the same time.

Feedback can be via the comments section, or email, either works but the comments allows others to view and add their comments too.

Thanks!

I never said it was easy

I was talking to my father the other day about my posts here and he told me that my regime is fairly rigorous, and perhaps rather demanding for most people. I thought about it for a while and I suppose he is right.

I never said it was easy, if it were, then the vast majority of the population wouldn't be overweight or even obese.

It is quite difficult at times, but as I always say, we put effort into what is important to us, and if it's not important, we can easily make excuses as to why we don't need to do it.

At every competition I look around and I think "wow, look at all of these beautiful bodies! Where are these people every day? I certainly don't see them at my gym, at work or at the grocery store!"

The bodybuilder or figure competitor is not your average person, and there just aren't that many people out there willing to stick to the lifestyle that long, it is hard, not only for the competitor but for their loved ones, they live part of the lifestyle whether they want to or not. This is something I always try to remember, and unfortunately sometimes I forget and it comes up when it's a problem.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone, but I do want to be honest about what it takes. My stories and posts are certainly not all about competing, and you don't have to have an interest in competing to learn from me, you can still glean bits and pieces to take away to be a healthier version of yourself, although it is a bit comforting to know that at least some people recognize that it takes a great deal of hard work and dedication to achieve this.

I am stopped at least once a week by someone who comments on my physique, they usually ask if I am a bodybuilder because when I am not competing, I get a lot bigger and more muscular. I never knew what to say about that until a couple months ago and I started saying "yes I am"...people seem to understand that best, so I find it the easiest explanation as to why I look "freaky" to them.

Then there are those who want a personal training lesson while standing in line at the grocery store, or advise on how to get rid of belly fat. I don't mind offering advise, in fact I feel quite complimented that I am asked, but I really cannot help much in the matter of 5 minutes, it just is not that easy.....

Lemon-ginger chicken soup

I love soups that are broth based, they seem fresh and clean. I also love all of the ingredients in here. This is simple, delicious and not a thing in it is bad for you!

You can have it with a big salad, or a plate of steamed vegetables.


2 ½ pounds (approximately) boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
12 cups chicken stock (two 49-ounce cans)

2 stalks lemongrass, about 4 inches of the bottom succulent part, cut into 2-inch pieces, split in half and smashed with a heavy object

¼ cup lemon or lime juice

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon red chile paste or equal amount red chile pepper flakes, to taste

1 heaping tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon peeled, mashed fresh ginger, or more to taste

3 small carrots cut into thin rounds (optional)

2 ½ cups cooked rice

Chopped fresh cilantro and mint for garnish, optional (cilantro is best, but any fresh herb will work).

In a pot large enough to hold chicken cubes, poach chicken in water until just starting to lose pinkness, 3 minutes. Drain and set aside. (pre-cook so scum does not ruin clearness of broth).

In another large pot (or clean out the previous pot) place all remaining ingredients to except chicken, cooked rice and garnishes. Simmer 15 minutes.

Add chicken, simmer additional 5 minutes or until cooked through.

Just before serving, add rice. If you don't intend to serve the soup right away, don't put the rice in, as it will soak up the liquid as it sits. Remove lemongrass before serving, if you like. Serve very hot, sprinkled with chopped cilantro and mint, if desired.

Serves 8

SC got his groove back

SC told me that he is going to start competing again, and I think that is wonderful! He is going to do it "raw" and no that does not mean naked...(he had to explain it to me, it means without one of these really tight compression suits). He is an Olympic Lifter. I think he said he might then try Power Lifting too.

No this is not him, and I forgot to ask just WHAT he will wear...I will have to ask Friday, I mean, it's all about what you get to wear right? I am thinking that whatever he wears, it won't have rhinestones like my suit does though.

Anyway, he wants to qualify for the Nationals, he did it before and he can do it again!

It's funny, he and I do not see eye to eye on what we do. He supports me a 100%, but will look me in the eye and say "I hate bodybuilders!"... but for some reason I am not quite a "bodybuilder", so he continues to train me in the areas I tell him I need to focus on, and I am OK by him, for now that is.

I think it is because I understand there is a huge difference in training for bodybuilding or training for strength, there are differences in the hypertrophy.

Of course the only reason why I understand this is he had me read a text book, called The Science and Practice of Strength Training by Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky and William J Kraemer, which I had to read two times and I think I shall read it yet again....and then he expected me to explain what I got out of it to him....

Bodybuilding is smoke and screens, it's all about looks. Just because you look like a bodybuilder with big, huge muscles does not mean you have corresponding strength.

A person training for strength will train much differently than a person training for bodybuilding. And you can be incredibly strong and not have a huge puffed out chest and arms like a bodybuilder.

I think the reason why he is accepting of what I do, is that I am truly interested in strength, and that is my main focus when not prepping for a competition. I am really, really strong! It just so happens that my muscles got really nice looking while I was training to get stronger...

I am glad he now has a goal to work towards, it makes every step of the way a step forward in the right direction. Goals add meaning and spark to your life.

I think he was lost for a while, but he looked excited when he told me about it, I could see got his groove back.

Abs

We all have abs, but few of us have abs we are proud of. All of us, myself included seem to want the infamous "six pack", well men do, I know many women who only want "flat" abs, but I want those bumpy, lumpy, muscles that I see on some men, and it is a very difficult look to achieve.

This is me, the night before my last competition when I have already been spray tanned. I have worked for months, dieting, exercising, mentally preparing and still, I am not happy with this, but I should be because they look pretty darn good.

It's hard, really hard to get a six pack, in fact, the only way that you really can is by eliminating all of the excess fat you carry.

Your abs are there, they are probably just covered with a layer of fat (sorry, but that's the truth).

It is like the saying in real estate "location, location, location"; however for abs the saying is "genetics, genetics, genetics", you either have the right ones or you don't.

FP tells me to do lot's of ab exercises, SC tells me I can do them all day long and it won't make a difference if I have body fat covering them, so I choose to follow both of their advise, I lose the body fat and do all the ab exercises, it certainly cannot hurt if I have the time right? I do agree though, you have to lose the body fat.

Let's see how my abs look in 4 weeks, I will take another picture the night before my competition and post it, maybe I will post them side by side to compare, I think they look better this time around!

Shout out to "R"

"R" knows who she is, she is a regular at my gym, and I want to say how fantastically proud I am of her!

Up until a few months ago, "R" would stick to cardio, she is quite diligent, doesn't miss a day and always varies it using different machines, so if you gotta do cardio, she would be doing it right (you know how I feel about cardio, but that's only my opinion).

"R" hired a personal trainer, a very patient and well qualified one I might add, she has helped me a few times too. Guess what they have been doing twice a week? LIFTING!

None of this silly jumping around stuff, but real weights, cables and machines. Last week "R" decided on her own that she needed to start lifting three times a week, so she asked PT for a worksheet of exercises to tackle on her own, and she made that first scary step of venturing out into the unknown, all alone...and she lived to tell the tale!

Yesterday she sent me an email, checking in on how my arm was (thanks for checking in!), and I don't know if she realized what she was saying, but she wrote "Cardio day for me as well tomorrow. Sigh... Lifting is SO MUCH MORE FUN!"

I think "R" is on her way to a personal transformation! How exciting! You go girl!!!!

More injuries

This one isn't very serious (I hope), I was at the gym this morning and using the squat rack doing my front squats. I bent down to replace a 45 pound weight plate onto a lower post and someone had over stacked the top posts, so a 10 pound weight fell off, about three feet and smacked right onto my flexed forearm, it is rather painful at the moment.

I am really not sure what people think when they do that kind of thing, or when they walk away leaving three 45 pound plates on each side of the bar so the next person has to pull them off.

I have an ice wrap around it, feels good. I just cannot afford to have a big bruise with my competition only 27 days away...