If I flex REALLY hard...

So, in honor of #FlexFriday (and because I know how much Jon Beuttner loves Flex Friday), here is my flex picture!


If I flex REALLY hard, I think I see the start of a 4-pack! :)
04/05/13

Overall, things have been going really well.  I have been really busy with prep and work stuff, so my time is very scheduled out.  I am starting to miss some things, like time with my friends and participating in functions that I used to, but at this point, if there is any free time, it is spent getting the finishing touches figured out for this competition, keeping the bills paid and spending whatever time I can with my family.  Only 5 weeks to Empire Classic (Spokane, WA) and then another 6 weeks after that for the Nevada Bodybuilding Championships (Reno, NV).  I can get through this and finish it out!

Last weekend, 3 of the Team Big Jon Fitness competed in Vancouver and it was so exciting to see how they looked and hearing the updates via Facebook from Jon and Shawna as the day of competition went on.  These ladies came in with some rocking bodies and it was so exciting to hear about their experience.  I just hope I am ready when my time comes!

Team Big Jon Fitness:  Hannah, Kayla, Kristy
First NPC Bikini Competition!

I have had to do some traveling during my prep and will have a another big road trip for my daughter's dance competition before my first show.  This last week, was my first time flying and needing to prep my food for the trip.  Thankfully, my husband helped cook a lot of the food, because I had to work late getting ready for the trip and also get my training in.  It was a day trip (up at 3:30 am, home at 11:45 pm) so I had to be able to pack all my food into a carry-on.  When I told my co-worker that I would have all my food with me, he replied "why?  it is just ONE day?".  Not sure how you explain to someone who has never been through this process how much one day can affect you, especially when you are this close.  Fortunately, he was nice about it and I didn't have any issues the entire trip.  I was running late getting through security and my plane was already boarding...  I hadn't had a chance to get ice and the lines at all the restaurants were pretty long.  I was worried, but then asked the flight attendent and she was very accommodating and got me ice for my carry-on cooler!  Whew! :)  It was a day of eating cold food all day, but I got through it.  The tilapia wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!  I endulged in a couple of diet cokes while my co-worker ate lunch at Red Robin and then some chips and guacamole at the airport later that evening.  I was a bit short on my 1.5 gallons, but the fact that I stuck to my food plan for the day made me very happy and a great feeling of satisfaction.

Eggs, oats, chicken, tilapia, green beans, asparagus and protein powder.
Eggs and oats I ate on my way to the airport.  My second oats serving of the day,
I mixed the raw oats with cinnamon and stevia and toasted them
in the toaster oven.  So good!  Kind of like granola to munch on!

I ended up missing two days of cardio (basically took my rest day from cardio on weights on Tuesday) and it was kind of weird for me.  I haven't missed a scheduled workout since November and this week, I will be short one cardio session (going to make-up cardio and weights on Sunday instead of taking that as my rest day).  I got home so late and had to be at work the next morning that I just knew I wouldn't function well on 4 hours of sleep.

I got a new meal plan last week and I am so happy to have even a little bit of carbs back!  I have oats post cardio and post workout now (twice a day) and it is just enough to keep me happy!  No extra fats right now, so I am missing my avocado (and have missed my peanut butter for quite a long time), but I just want to stay super focused with my eyes on the goal.  Trinity actually wanted to try some of my tilapia and she really likes it.  Now another item I have to watch closely, as she will want to eat everything on my plate!  I have had to start making a little extra of everything, so that I can give her some.  She loves asparagus too, so when I portion out my asparagus, I throw in a couple extra spears so that she can have them whenever I eat it.  So happy that she loves all this healthy food, but I cherish every ounce of food that I get and just can't give it away! :)

I will say...  I have always liked gum, but now, it has turned into an obsession!  My selection is growing!  Here is a quick look in my purse right now of what I have available.

If I am not eating a scheduled meal, then I probably have a piece of gum in my mouth.  It helps that if I am already chewing something, I don't mindlessly pop something into my mouth that I shouldn't.  Oh, the plethera of flavors that are out there!  I wonder if there is a growth in sales in the sugar free gum industry during competition season???  :)

I didn't get a chance to post some progress pictures last week.  Here is a two week progress from 8 weeks out to 6 weeks out.  I loved seeing the definition in my back and the changes in my glutes.  I just may get a bikini booty yet!  Shawna works my lower body hard when I meet with her each week for training and I have really been pushing myself as well.  I met up with my friend Suzanne and her husband and attempted to deadlift what she was and I ended up with a super tight back for a good week!  Pushing yourself is one thing, but knowing your limits is a good thing to keep in mind too! :) 

 

 

Tomorrow looks like it may be my last group posing practice.  Every Saturday from now until my show, either the trainers are at a competition, or I am at one of my daughter's dance competitions.  Two of them are local, so I am hoping schdules will work and I can get to one or two more posing practices.  It is crunch time and I am so excited! :)