My Figure Bodybuilding Journey

I guess it comes down to the individual and their goals. For me, I never do cardio before my workout and thats because I want to gain muscles.

Basically its ok to do a five minute warm up on an exercise machine before you start your workout, but to do an extended aerobics session before hand is almost pointless. You will only end up depleting your energy stores (glycogen), and block GH (growth hormone) release during your workout.

But again it comes down to what you want to achieve, and what sort of physique you want.

Posted by Splice at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

I just wanted to welcome Jane to blog world :-) I meet Jane through a bodybuilding forum and she is based in the A.C.T.
Jane has just started her first ever blog and I wanted to wish her all the best with her goals, I know she will achieve them.

Its great to see our community growing :-)

Good luck!

Posted by Splice at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments

Hello everyone !! I hope you all had a great weekend. Weekends are generally the most challenging time of the week because of the extra temptations that are presented to us. For me, it has taken many weekends of frustration but I am learning how to keep it as successful as the week days.

It's funny how sensitive your body becomes once you are on a clean daily eating regime. I know everything I put into my body because it consists of the same sort of meals each day. Yesterday afternoon I felt bloated. I thought "why am I bloated now". So I figured it had to be the dressing that was put on my salad at lunch. Anyway, feeling bloated sucks big time because it plays with your head bog time (and Liz will understand this). Im now feeling bloated, so this now means that I feel fat, it then makes me think I must have eaten to much salad for luch and the snowball effect goes on.

Today, I look back and think how silly was I too think like that yesterday. No bloating today and I feel great. It is amazing how much your mind can trick you into believing things that just aren't possible at the time.

I know a few girls who are competing in October, and I can see that many are going through some magor issues and some minor issues right now. I was there I went through it too and may or may not go through it again within the next 11 weeks. This being my first comp I am starting to see it is something many of us go through. So what is it? Is it the pressure of having to be in condition within a time frame? Many of us well suffer from self doubt, but I think this is normal for an athlete to go through.

I just think its great that we have such a great support team here in blog world, because without it I know I would have trown in the towel a long time ago.

My new program is going really well, just what I needed to give me something to challenge myself with at the gym. I just know I will be hitting some PB's throughout the next few weeks. My energy levels are unbelievable.

It's finally all starting to come together for me me perfectly. Lots of spark, nutrition is perfect and I have been sleeping like a baby at night. But the best thing of all is im happy. Im back to my bubbly, cheeky and happy self once again.

I find that listening to what my body tells me is very important. You know by what you eat and how you train by the way it reacts. It is a fine tuning process and it takes time to understand it. But if you focus more on those reactions, then you will notice what it is that causes them and you will know what to do.

Have a great week.

xxx

Posted by Splice at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

I have had a brilliant week :-) I can't not understand where all this energy has come from, I have surplus supplies of it at the moment. I have even been doing extra cardio to try and use it up, but it is having the opposite effect and creating more energy.

Training is awesome, Im getting so very stronge. And cardio is still giving me a high. Nutrition is still spot on and I have never been so healthy before in my life.

I can't believe how many subtle changes I am seeing already. It is so very exciting to watch my body transform like this. I am noticing not only the BF loss (clothes are falling off) but I see the muscles coming out all over the place lol.

I still don't have a song, but im getting close, I think. Just need a little more time on that one.

My plans for this comp prep are coming together beautifully and I have so many ideas coming to me now.

It's all good!!!!

Posted by Splice at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

Being less then 12 weeks out now just reminded me of my 12 week challenge that I started in March 06. I remember how well and on top of it I was. And the results showed.

So now the stakes are higher, I am actually going to work towards getting on stage and competing, this means working towards a dream I have wanted for many years.

I have been through so much in the last month and have had a lot to deal with and come to terms with and I think it has been getting in the way of my focus and goals towards this comp. So the reality of it is, I need to put that aside for a while and just move on with my dream to compete so I dont have regrets. Regrets are the LAST thing I need to come out of this right now.

So my lastest update is that I have narrowed down my search for a contest bikini down to two. And out of those two i have a favorite. I will wait to see what Jo thinks when she returns from Thailand.

I am looking for songs, I have found a couple but need to look around some more incase the one I like doesn't work out for me.

Training is perfect, I love picking up weights so I generally have a kick-ass session at the gym.

Cardio is going really well too. My fitness levels are increasing and it gives me a major high, which then motivates me to be the best I can.

Nutrition has been generally good from 16 weeks out. But from Monday it has been nothing short of perfect. I have lost 2 kilos in four weeks. I am trekking well there.

Posing still needs help lol. I have been practising and know that I can only improve. I need two really focus on facing the opposite direction and getting the feel of it.

Basically since last Monday (only a couple of days ago) I hit the switch and have gone into that zone I used to be in. In that zone I find motivation, determination, focus, drive and the want to succeed.

I will keep you posted on how im doing :-)

Posted by Splice at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments

Last night was the biggest test ever for me. We took Mum and Dad out to dinner last night to a nice Thai place, I ate a yum beef, it is a delicious thai beef salad. So after dinner Hubby suggested having dessert at Pancakes in Paradise!!

I felt my blood pressure start to rise, not because I was mad with him for suggesting it (since im the one going into the contest and not everyone else around me), I felt it rise because I was sooo very frightened as to how I would handle this situation. Pancakes are my most desired and loved food of all!!

So once there, we sat ordered the pancakes and I waited. I could smell them, yum. Then they came to the table and I was dreaming about diving into them lol.
I watched everyone around me eat these delicious indulgent pancakes whilst I drank my skinny latte.

I didn't give in to temptation and let me tell you it wasn't easy. I sat their saying that I was going to come here and have my pancakes when the comps are over. I will eat them without a shred of guilt because I would have earned it.

I should feel stronger about the whole situation but I am divided between feeling stronger and setting myself up for a fall. Right now I feel in control and now is the only thing that matters.

Just for the record I really want people who read this to know that competing is a great process and if reading my blog makes it come out in anything other then that its due to other reasons. I deal with more challenging things on a daily basis that more so causing my "down times". This comp just happens to be another challenge I have taken on and hopefully it will help me get through other issues in life.

So my comp prep is coming along really well. I just have to tell my brain that lol. Once my mind catches on, its all good.
Lately Josh, has been my brain, and this has kept me in line. Thanks again JD, you go beyond your call of duty, how lucky for me to have such a wonderful and understanding trainer.

Posted by Splice at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments

This Saturday I am driving to Brisbane airport with my son to pick up my Mum and Dad!! I can't tell you how much I can't wait to see them.

It has been four months since they were here. That's a long time for me without them. When I lived in Canberra I saw them every weekend.

So they are staying for five nights it will be fabulous to catch up. My dad and I are going to the gym for a workout on Sunday. It will be so cool to see him and talk about the comp, training, eating, supps and all the stuff we love to rave on about in the bodybuilding world. My poor mum and hubby will be soooooo bored lol.

I actually started my 12 week program just after they left, so they will be suprised to see my changes. I can't wait to show dad my quads! And I can't wait to show my mum my new contest heels, she will freak.

I am still going pretty strong with my daily nutritional food intake (not allowed to use the word diet). I am trying to come to grips with my problem but it will take time. I opened up to someone today and it helped alot. Perhaps its a start to the road to recovery, who knows.

Thank you to everyone who continually comes here and offers me so much support. I am overwhelmed. I think about all of my new blogging friends all the time. Boy we are a special bunch who really need each other at times.

All my love,

Deb xxxx

Posted by Splice at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

It's one of those days today!! The one where you feel like throwing in the towel, quitting, giving up blah, blah. I asked myself "why am I doing this?" I really want too and always have wanted too. Is that good enough reason for me to keep at it?

I guess if I don't I will feel worse. I have come this far, it would not make sense to quit now. The reason for my "down" feelings and why they come around more often is known by me. Especially lately, something has dawned on me, something I have been in denial about for way to long. Something I need to deal with. Something im not ready to talk about.

My nutrition is still spot on. I have increased the meals and am finding it pretty easy to deal with. I am suprised that I can eat so frequently and still manage to feel the weight slowly coming off. I know my metabolism has sped up, I can feel that too. So I guess im on the right track right now.

Today I stood in the bathroom with my heels and practised posing until I broke down. I cant do it!! It is getting harder, I seem to be loosing it. I have to stop being so down on myself.

Perhaps I need to look at the positives so far. They are:

1. Im healthy, I eat good clean food.

2. Im loosing weight.

3. ......I cant think of anything else right now. Perhaps I will try this again in a day or so when im feeling better about everything.

Posted by Splice at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

Happy Birthday Lia...........

Thanks too you Lia I found myself in this wonderful place "blog land". And through your encouragements you have helped me to start my blog which in turn has lead me to many, many wonderful friends, and it also has helped me in my dreams and goals.

You still continue to support me through my journey even though you have your own one to walk through.

I can never thank you enough. You are the most special person I have ever come accross and I still haven't had the pleasure of meeting you in person as yet. But I can't wait until I do!!

So I think you deserve the best ever birthday just because you are you :-).

Best Wishes,

Deb.

Posted by Splice at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

I had a big posing weekend. It is going to take so much practise to get this right. Sometimes I wonder if its worth it. I can't believe how hard it is to pose.

I finally start to get somewhere and then im told I need to be able to do the same poses facing the opposite direction.....grr.......it's like starting all over again. I am in pain, but that part doesn't worry me, its just muscle pain anyway.

My nutrition is good. I have lost a little weight in two weeks. At least all the focus on the poses is taking away (a little) from the eating plan.

I know I keep saying this, but what would I do without Lia???? I would be a complete mess. I email her asking her things I need to know and pictures I need to see and what does she do? She gets everything to me ASAP. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lia. You are keeping my head in the right place. Focused!

14 weeks out......today my biggest fear is posing. I want to look good on stage but I have this horrible feeling I will be shaking to much. It keeps happening. I guess I will wait until days before the comp before I know for sure.

The next couple of days I will have to find a song for my routine. Then work on that!!! How do you make this fun? This whole comp prep, how is it fun? I wish I knew.

Posted by Splice at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments