Happy New Year (Now get to work!)

I can't believe that I am going to say this...  But, thank God I am going back to work tomorrow and getting back into a schedule/routine!  The last 10+ days away from work have been so incredibly busy that I really didn't have much time to 'enjoy' that time off!  I learned some things about myself that will hopefully better prepare me for what is to come in the next couple of months as I enter prep season.

1. I am not as good of a planner as I thought I was...  There were too many days where I was caught out and about and because I didn't want to make poor food choices, some of those days resulted in a missed/skipped meal (which is just as bad).  I would eat and then set out to run errands and think that I could get back home in 3 hours no problem...  Ya, right.  I was lucky to get back home in 5-6 hours on several occassions.  If I was smart, I would have at least packed at shaker cup of water and some protein powder. 
2. No matter how strong of willpower I think I have...  When I am alone, it is little to none!  When I am around others, I can turn down sweets, pass on things that I love, but because these people know what I am doing, I feel accountible and can easily let things pass by.  When I am by myself and let's say, making cakes...  passing up a handful or two of mini marshmellows or licking too many spoons of white chocolate butter cream frosting just doesn't happen.  Not to mention there are always leftovers (cake tops, frosting and sometimes fondant) afterwards.  So, even though I love making cakes for friends/family, I think I will just have to say no during my prep.  Unless I can have a personal assistant standing there watching me the whole time and keeping the goodness out of my mouth, I can honestly say that I just don't have the will power to resist.
3. All the talk of New Year's resolutions made me realize that I don't want to set any.  I don't want to limit myself to thinking this is the only time of year that goals can be set.  I made the decision to compete back in October.  If I had waited until the New Year to set this goal, I would be months behind any progress that I have made.  I almost did wait...  I was in the middle of the TSN Lean Lady Challenge and trying to lean out and Jon convinced me that if I wanted to build any muscle, I should start right away.  So, even though my goal at the time was to win the TSN challenge, I decided that my goal to step on stage and compete was more important, so I had to make some adjustments and realize that you can't win them all...  decisions have to be made and I needed to decide what was more important to me.  With that being said, I want to compete.  I am pretty confident that it will be accomplished in 2013, but to go even further, I want to compete in figure and I want to qualify.  That may not quite happen this year, but just because muscle growth seems to be a slow process for me, I am not going to give up just because it may not be accomplished in 2013.

So, with that being said, the last few days especially haven't been the best for me.  Skipped meals due to poor scheduling and too many treats to fill the gap.  I know that I am better then this...  I have been pretty spot on last couple of months since I started with Big Jon Fitness, so I am not sure what happened.  Back to routine and a different type of 'busy' is what I need.  Even though my evenings are crazy with Trinity's schedule, I have it mapped out and as long as my food is prepped and ready to go, I do not fail.  It is actually easy for me.  I have a couple of days left on my big meal plan (and those monster shakes that I love), so I want to do it right and be 100% with it.  I received a new meal plan that I will start on Saturday.  I feel fortunate that I really like the plan (this girl will be eating steak every night!) and it appears that we are gradually lowering calories back down as I get closer to prep starting.  The new plan is around 2,200 calories, so about an 800 calorie/day drop.  I am curious to see if I will maintain or start to lose.  I am not sure what Jon's intentions are with it (he says, "eat this" and I say "ok")!

As for training, I haven't missed a workout since I started on November 3rd.  I may alternate which two days a week I take my rest days, but I have gotten every workout in.  I just need to make sure that my dedication in the gym is just as high when it comes to the nutrition aspect.  As far as training on my own, the last couple of weeks I have seen the intensity go up.  I am pushing my limits on weights and I have Suzzane and my husband to thank for that.  Having a partner to workout with makes such a difference.  I am not afraid to really push things, because I will know that they are there to help me push through or to get those extra reps out.  Case in point, my upper body was crazy sore this week.  I love that feeling, because I know that I put the work in.  First workout of the new year???  Why legs of course!  I am just hoping that our 5 am gym time is still a quiet time!

So...  if I were to set a New Year's Resolution...  I guess it would be to keep an open mind and always strive to do better in whatever I am doing.  Make a change, go for it and don't let any road bumps along the way discourage me.  I can do this!  (and so can you!)