9/28/12 A day in the life of a figure competitor

So I get a lot of questions about my diet, not so much about my workouts but the DIET. Aaaaah  yes the strict dieting of a figure competitor. Now that I am 30lbs down a lot of people are inquiring.

 I've heard  "You can't have alcohol? No way I can give up my wine" "I would love to compete but cant do the diet part of it" hmmm I say... can't or just don't want to? Well that's not up to me to figure out, all I know is it took me a good month to settle into it.

 I'd like to take you through a typical day and I've been doing this for 16 weeks straight now without fail.

545am  Awake, mind racing on what lies ahead for the day, which is always a lot but always thankful I get the chance to have another day.

6am I guzzle down some water, we NEED hydration first thing in the morning. As I'm drinking my water I'm heating up my breakfast (yes it's pre-made and a time saver) which are egg whites. I'm now back on carbs (yippee) so once my eggs are heated up I make my oatmeal. Oh and coffee is brewing in the meantime. I LOVE my coffee. One thing I had to change which I wasn't doing is eat first thing in the morning. I used to have 2 cups of coffee and eat 2 hours later. It's no wonder my metabolism was SLOW! 

7am   Gym time! I do a 4 day split, 7 days of HIIT and 6 nights of 1 hour steady state cardio. 

9am  2nd meal of the day, to which I have standing up at the front desk of the gym, exhausted from my workout haha! Whey protein shake and almond butter. As of yesterday that changed since I'm back on carbs. 

Depending on the day I'm usually running to train someone in the park, their home or teach a class in my home.

12pm   3rd meal of the day. There are days I'm so hungry I'm willing that damn clock to move. I was having salmon and asparagus but that is changed now to tilapia but let me tell you, cold salmon and asparagus has been eaten in the car on the run soooo many countless times. I think the drivers next to me would do a double take watching me eat asparagus...*shrugs*

Again, depending on the day I'm off to train clients and often times I didnt go to the bathroom before I left so I'm desperate for a bathroom...you know, that gallon of water a day thing gets you every time lol.

2pm  At work, where I've been a consumer tester for 14 years *mental note* Use bathroom before I leave

3pm  4th meal of the day, same meal as 9am all these weeks but as of yesterday that's changed. I like change :)

Clients *ask to use their bathroom before we start*

6pm  5th meal of the day,  garden salad with grilled chicken. Franks hot sauce is all over that chicken...yummy!!

630pm  Gym again....ugh 1 hour of either the dreadmill.....oops I meant the treadmill. I do a half hour then half hour on the elliptical. Sometimes I get on the elliptical and just stay there, too tired to make the switch to something else. *Darn I have to use the bathroom again but refuse to get off the cardio machine* 

Get home to be with my family and collapse on the couch, oh wait I cant I have to prepare meals for tomorrow because tomorrow comes around pretty darn fast!

Laundry needs to be done and a house needs to be tended to.  Time to put my mom hat on, run my daughter to dance class, pick my daughter up from a friends house etc......

830-9pm  The last meal of the day and one of my favs but again as of yesterday that has changed but it was tilapia and asparagus with yummy Franks hot sauce and yep, I eat it cold because its delish!!!

1030pm  Bedtime. Yes I get up at least twice a night..... that darn water thing again :)

Wake up tomorrow to do it ALL OVER AGAIN :)

Oh and that metabolism I said used to be SLOW is now a fat burning machine!! It took time but I got it back where it needs to be! 

Add in the fact that I was planning a wedding amidst all of this and was married 9/22/12 to the most wonderful, supportive man who I am proud to call my husband.

Making time for friends has been non-existent throughout the last 15 weeks as it's very hard to have a social life when you're looking at the clock because you need to eat soon. There are some places I refuse to bring my tupperware to and whip out my meal but I can only hope they understand that I love and miss them and my time will come in just 3 short weeks!! 

 I was thrown some curve balls along the way, after all what would life be without obstacles right? The obstacles are what makes us stronger! I never gave up and will continue to see this through to the end. I have 3 more weeks to hang on to my jeans and shorts that want to fall to the ground. Nothing fits anymore but once this is over I'll be eating more and pack on a few pounds.

Stay healthy everyone, it's the only way to live!

9/22/12...4 weeks out AND my wedding day!

Home stretch!!

To describe how I feel 4 weeks out is this.....I feel like I'm on 3rd base, ready to slide into home. I can see it, I can feel it, it's in sight!!

I never imagined the changes that could occur from week to week. One day something fits, the next day it's in the pile of "this no longer fits". That said pile is piling up more and more. So, some ask me how I've been planning a wedding AND prepping for a figure competition. Let's just say STRESS has become my middle name haha! I'll be on the treadmill OR dreadmill as I like to call it and reciting my wedding vows in my head. Hey, there's not much else to do when  on that thing anyway, I may as well multitask :) 

Going to pick out our wedding cake was interesting. The smells in the cake shop, the pictures of all the delicious cakes but wait it's time for my isopure shake. Yeah well that's the name of the game right? Always keeping my head in the game no matter what! Scott and I received some wonderful baskets from some good friends and there were soooo many goodies in there that I won't be enjoying for a while. Champagne, skinny girl margarita mix, peanuts, cookies and a whole slew of munchies! Again, that's put to the side, hang on it's time for my salmon and asparagus haha.

My coach says I can have a wedding day cheat meal. Woooohoooo! My lips will be tasting some filet mignon with shrimp. Still a healthy dinner if I do say so myself. Once the wedding is over my head is back in the game, not that my head really left the game BUT it will be nice to feel like a lady in a dress and heels with my hair and makeup done rather than being in my gym clothes, ponytail and my usual sweat! 

It's almost time to say "I do" and become Mrs. Diane Adeler!

Be well my friends!!

September 2, 2012 (7 weeks out minus 1 day)

Hey everyone,  thank you for following me on my journey to the stage! I have SO many wonderful supporters both in and out of the gym  and I cant thank you all enough for your positive words of encouragement, especially on the days I'm dragging my ass, haha! 

My body is responding really well to the ketosis diet. I'm seeing and feeling those abs more each day.I never thought I'd say I like it and don't really miss carbs. Trust me I'll be happy when I can have my delicious oatmeal again but until then I will continue to do as my coach says. Oh speaking of my coach he allowed me a cheat meal tonight!! Wooohooo it was much needed. That meal will carry me through until the next one but until then its back to tilapia, asparagus, chicken etc...........

I've gotten more aggressive with my posing practice. Chest up, arch the back, stick your butt out, twist, smile and breathe...wow its hard. I'm so close to being on stage I can taste it. I'm working so hard towards a dream that I've wanted for 6 years!! I tell myself everyday just get up there and have fun, that you're already a winner. I hope I can do that and not get up there and freak out!! By the grace of God all will go well.

Be well everyone and remember, your dreams are not that far out of reach and if they are....get on your tiptoes and REACH baby REACH!!

9-2-12

9-2-12

posing practice 8-31-12

having a little fun :)

"Don't let anyone steal your dream, it's your dream not theirs"

August 25th... 8 weeks out!

Mmmmmm that burger was good...... oh wait,  that was the dream I had last night haha! I also had a dream I was on stage doing what I've been preparing for since June! It's all becoming more real by the day. Especially since I'll be ordering my suit in the next couple of days.

As of Monday my diet changed to a ketogenic diet with extra fats. I can honestly say I'm not missing the carbs. My workouts changed from steady state morning cardio to HIIT cardio (20 mts) which I love. It gets me out of the gym faster....only to have to return AGAIN to do an hour steady state cardio. Such is the name of the game! I can't begin to tell you the emotion attached to this process. There are countless times while doing HIIT work and I'm digging into that sprint (wishing it was over) and I repeat in my head "you got it keep going, keep going" There are days I'm doubted of the whole process as certain body parts are lagging and taking their time to be where they need to be. I turned that thinking around REAL quick and just dug my heels in deeper than ever!

At the end of the day I can say I gave it my all and that's what matters. I'm only in competition with myself and always do better with each day.

Taken 8/22/12 8 weeks and 3 days out

Taken 8/22/12 8 weeks and 3 days out

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” 

~Winston Churchhill

August 2, 2012, 12 weeks out!

Well here I am, 12 weeks until showtime! Training is going awesome, I log my workouts and I look back and am amazed at the strength I have gained since the beginning of June! I only want to continue getting stronger. I have my own personal goals..I'm sort of in competition with myself :)

Last Monday I started going back to the gym in the late afternoon for more cardio which is making me hungrier in between meals. Ugh, there are days I just dream about a certain food and can't wait for the next time I get a cheat meal. But, until then I'm continuing to embrace my meal plan. 

I've learned alot about myself these last 2 months. I'm stronger than I ever thought possible and I don't mean physically, I mean mentally. I have never wanted something bad enough and I dig deeper with each passing day knowing that as each day passes I get that much closer to being onstage. There is no room  for error and no room for failure! No more meltdowns, no more self-doubt. To believe is to achieve....I recite that line in my head more times in a day than I have in my lifetime.

Well it's time to put on my show shoes and practice my posing. I'll be able to order my suit 8 weeks out! Whew this is all really happening, the butterflies just grew a bit bigger :)

Be well everyone and go chase that dream of yours!

                                                             

                                                 

                                              

A great seasoning in Costco

Day 30/Day 56

                                                               

Day 1/Day 56

                                                                         

Day 56..come on abs lets go!

                                                                   

Food prep is the key to success. Tuna, almond butter and eggs!

July 25, 2012

On the right is about 30 days into training

Into my favorite jeans and they are loose

This isnt my suit but I want this color

Seeing some indents :)

My stage shoes....I love them :)

Down a size in the juniors department...yippee!

July 25, 2012 "My favorites"

I love this seasoning on fish!

I can't live without this....sooo good!

My standard dinner, so delish!

Prepping my tilapia with fresh lemon juice on top

I drink this during my weight training and 1 again in the afternoon

Another version of my dinner

I love this bread

chicken & asparagus

Eating on the go and always prepared

lunchtime

Healthy breakfast

July 24th Changes are being made..............

I met with my coach yesterday and was pleased to have dropped 9lbs in 3 weeks and dropped 2% body fat! I have to say I'm completely loving the way I feel. I've never been stronger in the gym as I am now. Keeping track of how heavy I lift gives me a sense of how I am progressing. Writing everything down is key. That goes for my diet. I write everything down, not missing a thing.


The 1st month was a bitch, I had a couple of meltdowns and I must say I was riddled with self-doubt! NO MORE of that!!! I am picturing myself on that stage. The more I dream of it the more I know I will achieve it! 

My workouts are staying the same for the exception of adding more cardio at night. I don't mind it actually...there's that ENERGY thing again lol.


*Goal for myself* To continue increasing how much weight I can push pull and lift!


Some people are asking for progress pics so I will start posting some.


Be well everyone!