I both love and hate Mondays. They are the start of another long week of work, but they are also a chance to start again. I hear it in the gym all the time: "I'm starting my diet on Monday." "Monday, I'm starting a new phase of lifting." "I'll get back on track Monday."
Well today, I am one of many Monday resolutioners.
Today is 11 weeks out before the August 28th CBBF show. I've been up and down and back and forth about the date of my next show this past few weeks, and have finally decided for SURE that I'm going to do one. I feel so much better when I have a dated goal in mind. I find it much easier to stay on track.
So here are the rules for right now:
- No diet coke, except on cheat day (but I can have coffee, yay!)
- One cheat meal a week (although no more DQ blizzards... :( )
- 1600 calories on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with a 50/30/20 split for protein, carbs, and fat (these days I train with weights)
- 1300 calories on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, same split (no weights)
- Cardio for an hour on Saturday, rest on Wednesday and Sunday.
- No dairy except milk in my coffee
This morning I started out with a small banana, a Tbsp of peanut butter, and a protein shake. I'm about to eat meal #2, which is oatmeal, vanilla protein, and blueberries. I also packed a big tuna salad with salsa for later, and some lean turkey with sauteed peppers and onions. I look forward to eating it all!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Heavy is Heaven
I need to train with heavy weights!
Suddenly, yesterday morning, in the midst of a sweaty bootcamp session, it hit me: I loooove to train heavy. Not that I don't enjoy bootcamp and all of the conditioning and the skyrocketed heart rate and the legs-so-sore-I-can't-walk-straight feeling. I love all that.
But there's something unparalleled about the push of heavy weights. When you push them away from you, the gravity of them hits you back and snugs you right into that bench. And your focus intensifies. You frown. You set your jaw. You engage all of the muscle fibres you can possibly engage, and the weight does your bidding: it moves. You repeat this process ten, twelve times or so, and your body begins to fatigue. You push against that tiredness, recruiting more muscle fibres in an effort to keep going. And finally, when you can't push them up once more, you plunk those dumbbells down - hard - because you earned it. The blood engorges your arms, fills you up, and makes you feel tired but somehow invincible. You look in the mirror and see that vein in your bicep bulging. You shake your arms, roll your shoulders. Sip some water. And wait for that next set to take you back to that feeling of blissful agony.
Heavy day tomorrow. :)
Suddenly, yesterday morning, in the midst of a sweaty bootcamp session, it hit me: I loooove to train heavy. Not that I don't enjoy bootcamp and all of the conditioning and the skyrocketed heart rate and the legs-so-sore-I-can't-walk-straight feeling. I love all that.
But there's something unparalleled about the push of heavy weights. When you push them away from you, the gravity of them hits you back and snugs you right into that bench. And your focus intensifies. You frown. You set your jaw. You engage all of the muscle fibres you can possibly engage, and the weight does your bidding: it moves. You repeat this process ten, twelve times or so, and your body begins to fatigue. You push against that tiredness, recruiting more muscle fibres in an effort to keep going. And finally, when you can't push them up once more, you plunk those dumbbells down - hard - because you earned it. The blood engorges your arms, fills you up, and makes you feel tired but somehow invincible. You look in the mirror and see that vein in your bicep bulging. You shake your arms, roll your shoulders. Sip some water. And wait for that next set to take you back to that feeling of blissful agony.
Heavy day tomorrow. :)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Cautiously carbing up
Given my new "off season for now" training regime of Boot Camp twice a week, heavy full-body weights once, and three sessions of 45-minute cardio, I have decided to increase my carbohydrate intake. Doing this slowly and without suddenly going overboard will be the challenge; me faced with carbs is akin to a vampire faced with a helpless victim...
Yesterday, I added half a sweet potato and cottage cheese to my afternoon salad. Today I spread my peanut butter on a rice cake (so good!) and had that with a protein shake pre-workout. This afternoon I plan to have an apple and more peanut butter with my shake. It doesn't seem like much, but even these clean carbs are already making a huge difference in my energy levels and allowing me to work harder in the gym (and possibly give better massages... I should ask my clients if they notice a difference!) ;)
Now if I can only dodge the bowl of peanut M&Ms that always hangs around the office, I should be set...
Yesterday, I added half a sweet potato and cottage cheese to my afternoon salad. Today I spread my peanut butter on a rice cake (so good!) and had that with a protein shake pre-workout. This afternoon I plan to have an apple and more peanut butter with my shake. It doesn't seem like much, but even these clean carbs are already making a huge difference in my energy levels and allowing me to work harder in the gym (and possibly give better massages... I should ask my clients if they notice a difference!) ;)
Now if I can only dodge the bowl of peanut M&Ms that always hangs around the office, I should be set...
Friday, June 4, 2010
change of plans
I've decided to skip the July show in Montreal. I'm enamoured at the moment with fresh summer fare, including pints of blueberries, locally grown cucumbers, and (ok, not so "fresh") light frappucinos from Starbucks ;)
In light of wanting to eat these things (and more!) I think I'm going to take it easy until August, when I will resume training in earnest for the October show in Ottawa. So, while still eating clean most of the time, I am now letting myself indulge in a bit of extra fats and carbs, and I must say I'm enjoying myself!
It is a little strange, however, to see the changes in my body. I'm trying to get used to the softer look of my arms and abs, and the fuller feeling of my legs in my jeans. Body image is an ongoing process for me, and always has been; I have to watch that I don't get too self-critical.
But so far, so good :)
In light of wanting to eat these things (and more!) I think I'm going to take it easy until August, when I will resume training in earnest for the October show in Ottawa. So, while still eating clean most of the time, I am now letting myself indulge in a bit of extra fats and carbs, and I must say I'm enjoying myself!
It is a little strange, however, to see the changes in my body. I'm trying to get used to the softer look of my arms and abs, and the fuller feeling of my legs in my jeans. Body image is an ongoing process for me, and always has been; I have to watch that I don't get too self-critical.
But so far, so good :)
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