8 Weeks Out

[mydawgs]

OK, you will have to forgive me if I do not journel well..but I will try and ya all can tell me what I am excluding, then I will add it.

I am on 6 meals a day. First meal is egg whites and 3/4 cup OM with 1 oz almonds. All that follow alternate chicken and fish (4 oz) - 1/2 cup cous cous or yam, and 1 cup of GB or asparagus or spinich. I do a post WO shake with 1 scoop Isopure. I am currently on HMB 3x per day, CLA 3x per day, glutamine in my shake and normal vitamin regime. I am on a gallon of water per day and my treat at night is a grapefruit w/ equal. I exclude the starch meal 6.

I did the MET on 4/12 and I am currently at 125 lbs. I am a little tighter now than I was pre MET I think because I never really left the diet. I basically look the same now as I did the morning before the MET.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/IMG_9000.jpg

Now I have been tanning because I missed on my color at the MET for pre-judging, so I'm not going to make that mistake again. (I am not as dark as in this pic). I will work on getting some pics - I just have not had time.

Any way I am doing 3 days of hamstring post 45 min cardio 3 sets high reps to keep them popped. I have added 2 days of deep front sqats (185 lbs) 15 reps - 3 sets and light leg presses (200 lbs) for same reps and sets to sharpen the separation between my glutes and hamstrings. These are sets I am doing for the first three days in addition to my normal body parts...looking for improved definition at the show.

I work each body part once a week. I do three sets heavy and one at strength reps, to give my connective tissue a rest. All my sets at this point are 4, I will take them down to three at 4 weeks. The only day I use 3 sets is on heavy legs day.

One day I go heavy legs one day - 3 sets front squats at 315 lbs, 3 sets of inner thigh plie squats on my toes at 225 lbs, 185 lb dead lifts 3 sets, and lying presses (lye on the bench, push with your feet up using the smith) 315 lbs 3 sets.

The deep front squats that are light have really effected me...I feel this afterwards, which means I am hitting fast twitch muscle fiber my heavy WOs do not...this is good for me.

Anyway I hope I am doing this right. I will get some pics after next week end, I am going to NC to see my oldest daughter graduate...YEA!!!! So she can start her docterate.......*** taking check book BACK out ****

Naw its all good, but the competing keeps me from killing someone YA KNOW!!!!!!

 

[Thandie]

OK, you will have to forgive me if I do not journel well..but I will try and ya all can tell me what I am excluding, then I will add it.

I am on 6 meals a day. First meal is egg whites and 3/4 cup OM with 1 oz almonds. All that follow alternate chicken and fish (4 oz) - 1/2 cup cous cous or yam, and 1 cup of GB or asparagus or spinich. I do a post WO shake with 1 scoop Isopure. I am currently on HMB 3x per day, CLA 3x per day, glutamine in my shake and normal vitamin regime. I am on a gallon of water per day and my treat at night is a grapefruit w/ equal. I exclude the starch meal 6.

I did the MET on 4/12 and I am currently at 125 lbs. I am a little tighter now than I was pre MET I think because I never really left the diet. I basically look the same now as I did the morning before the MET.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/IMG_9000.jpg

Now I have been tanning because I missed on my color at the MET for pre-judging, so I'm not going to make that mistake again. (I am not as dark as in this pic). I will work on getting some pics - I just have not had time.

Any way I am doing 3 days of hamstring post 45 min cardio 3 sets high reps to keep them popped. I have added 2 days of deep front sqats (185 lbs) 15 reps - 3 sets and light leg presses (200 lbs) for same reps and sets to sharpen the separation between my glutes and hamstrings. These are sets I am doing for the first three days in addition to my normal body parts...looking for improved definition at the show.

I work each body part once a week. I do three sets heavy and one at strength reps, to give my connective tissue a rest. All my sets at this point are 4, I will take them down to three at 4 weeks. The only day I use 3 sets is on heavy legs day.

One day I go heavy legs one day - 3 sets front squats at 315 lbs, 3 sets of inner thigh plie squats on my toes at 225 lbs, 185 lb dead lifts 3 sets, and lying presses (lye on the bench, push with your feet up using the smith) 315 lbs 3 sets.

The deep front squats that are light have really effected me...I feel this afterwards, which means I am hitting fast twitch muscle fiber my heavy WOs do not...this is good for me.

Anyway I hope I am doing this right. I will get some pics after next week end, I am going to NC to see my oldest daughter graduate...YEA!!!! So she can start her docterate.......*** taking check book BACK out ****

Naw its all good, but the competing keeps me from killing someone YA KNOW!!!!!!

You look amazing..
keep up the good work.

 

[BlueBird]

Yeah! Mydawgs and journaling.

Very impressive there, lady. Sounds like you've got everything pretty much dialed in. You look great and I look forward to the next 8 weeks! You don't look old enough to have a college aged child

 

[fitness-rubber]

You look amazing..
keep up the good work.

+1; seriously, it's workin' for you.

 

[mydawgs]

7 weeks out, diet still the same. I cheated on Sat at my daughters graduation because I had to wait 6 hrs to eat so I had a peice of chicken with breading and some chips until my fish and rice came......

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0129.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0130.jpg

Holding a little more water than usual but it's being flushed out with dandilion. My weight is still holding, actually the cheat kept me from dropping which I don't want to do too soon.

 

[pappad]

You go girl!!! Very nicely done!

 

[Thandie]

7 weeks out, diet still the same. I cheated on Sat at my daughters graduation because I had to wait 6 hrs to eat so I had a peice of chicken with breading and some chips until my fish and rice came......

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0129.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0130.jpg

Holding a little more water than usual but it's being flushed out with dandilion. My weight is still holding, actually the cheat kept me from dropping which I don't want to do too soon.

You look so amazing, I'd like to try your rutine for a while.
If you can post your routine, I'd greatly appreciated..

 

[Bikini Mod]

Good God, you look AWESOME.

Please let us know how you do!

The only comment/suggestion I can make is flexing your legs hard (as in the way you stand "relaxed" for judging) just after completing a set. I was always told that this will really help w/separation though at this point I don't know if that is wive's tale or if it really does do that.... Comments, anyone?

 

[Thandie]

Good God, you look AWESOME.

Please let us know how you do!

The only comment/suggestion I can make is flexing your legs hard (as in the way you stand "relaxed" for judging) just after completing a set. I was always told that this will really help w/separation though at this point I don't know if that is wive's tale or if it really does do that.... Comments, anyone?

Yes, I heard that as well..

 

[mydawgs]

Yes, I heard that as well..

Bikini and Thandie you are correct, flexing on a regular basis makes you look harder thus enhancing your separation - and that goes for the whole body. At three weeks out I start posing every night and flexing the body parts I am lifting between each set.

I will post up some of my work outs for you Thandie...I mix them up for muscle confusion. The only thing I do the same is the heavy legs but I accentuate with lighter sculpting activity to shock the muscle.

Thanks all...

 

[Thandie]

Bikini and Thandie you are correct, flexing on a regular basis makes you look harder thus enhancing your separation - and that goes for the whole body. At three weeks out I start posing every night and flexing the body parts I am lifting between each set.

I will post up some of my work outs for you Thandie...I mix them up for muscle confusion. The only thing I do the same is the heavy legs but I accentuate with lighter sculpting activity to shock the muscle.

Thanks all...

Thank you! I am three weeks out myself, but I'm doing figure. The next show I want to put on some mass and I think your routine will help me. You have one of the best physique's I've seen.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Thandie... ma'am please post up pics if you haven't already.

Mydawgs - THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!

We look forward to cheering YOU BOTH on!

 

[Thandie]

Thandie... ma'am please post up pics if you haven't already.

Mydawgs - THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!

We look forward to cheering YOU BOTH on!

Ok, Bikinimon, I will. You're the best! But let me gather some courage after mydawgs pictures..

 

[mydawgs]

Chest:
Three sets heavy (6 reps); 1 set strength (8 reps)
BB bench
DB Flys
Incline bench
DB Press

Back:
Wide chins (3 sets)
Wide chins ( 2 sets weighted 25lb plate)
Narrow grip chin (3 sets)
Narrow grip chin (2 sets weighted 25lb plate)
BB row (3 sets 135 lbs)
BB row (2 sets 155 lbs)

Bis:
4 sets curls (heavy 3 sets / 1 set strength)
4 sets hammer (heavy/strength)
incline curls 4 sets (heavy/strength)
cable curls 4 sets (heavy/strength)

Tris: (3 sets heavy, 1 set strength)
BB press
Cable push down
Dips (3 no weight, 1 set weighted (45lb plate))
Over head DB extentions

Shoulders: (3 sets heavy/ 1 set strength)
BB press
DB press
Wide flys (thumbs down, elbows up)
Narrow flys (thumbs down, elbows up)
Shrugs

Heavy legs as posted earlier, sculpting -1 set per day for three consecutve days post cardio on problem areas 15 reps)


Post any questions...have fun!!!!

 

[Thandie]

Chest:
Three sets heavy (6 reps); 1 set strength (8 reps)
BB bench
DB Flys
Incline bench
DB Press

Back:
Wide chins (3 sets)
Wide chins ( 2 sets weighted 25lb plate)
Narrow grip chin (3 sets)
Narrow grip chin (2 sets weighted 25lb plate)
BB row (3 sets 135 lbs)
BB row (2 sets 155 lbs)

Bis:
4 sets curls (heavy 3 sets / 1 set strength)
4 sets hammer (heavy/strength)
incline curls 4 sets (heavy/strength)
cable curls 4 sets (heavy/strength)

Tris: (3 sets heavy, 1 set strength)
BB press
Cable push down
Dips (3 no weight, 1 set weighted (45lb plate))
Over head DB extentions

Shoulders: (3 sets heavy/ 1 set strength)
BB press
DB press
Wide flys (thumbs down, elbows up)
Narrow flys (thumbs down, elbows up)
Shrugs

Heavy legs as posted earlier, sculpting -1 set per day for three consecutve days post cardio on problem areas 15 reps)


Post any questions...have fun!!!!

Thank you Mydawgs for posting this..
When you say "Wide chins or narrow grip chin( 2 sets weighted 25lb plate)" do you mean you hang a 45lb plate from your waiste?

I will post a progress picture and show you how I'm coming along. I, however do not look as great as you do.

Thank you!

 

[mydawgs]

Thank you Mydawgs for posting this..
When you say "Wide chins or narrow grip chin( 2 sets weighted 25lb plate)" do you mean you hang a 45lb plate from your waiste?

I will post a progress picture and show you how I'm coming along. I, however do not look as great as you do.

Thank you!

Yes, chins I hang a quarter and tris a 45.....

 

[Thandie]

Yes, chins I hang a quarter and tris a 45.....

Impressive! I'll start without any support, which I'm almost there. But you have defenitely inspired me to go heavier.

Here is a picture my husband took three weeks ago. I need major work on my legs. However on this picture it looks worst since my husband took the picture aiming down (silly)
I'll appreciated any critique. Thanks!

 

[mydawgs]

Impressive! I'll start without any support, which I'm almost there. But you have defenitely inspired me to go heavier.

Here is a picture my husband took three weeks ago. I need major work on my legs. However on this picture it looks worst since my husband took the picture aiming down (silly)
I'll appreciated any critique. Thanks!

Thandie

I can't blow the pic up...can you repost it bigger. Looks good so far, but hard to see the detail?????

 

[BlueBird]

Thandie

I can't blow the pic up...can you repost it bigger. Looks good so far, but hard to see the detail?????

I hope Thandie doesn't mind, but I took the liberty of loading her pic to tinypic for you, MyDawgs. BTW, both you ladies look wonderful.

 

[Thandie]

I hope Thandie doesn't mind, but I took the liberty of loading her pic to tinypic for you, MyDawgs. BTW, both you ladies look wonderful.

Thank you BlueBird! I am posting a new picture later on. As I mentioned, is really not clear.

 

[mydawgs]

Thandie you look really good!!! From what I have seen this is the look that is winning in figure...long, lean and sleek! What are you going to carb up on????

 

[Thandie]

Thandie you look really good!!! From what I have seen this is the look that is winning in figure...long, lean and sleek! What are you going to carb up on????

Thank you!!
Coming from you, I'm happy to hear that. I need some size on my legs, however.

I loooove yams and oats. Any suggestion?
going to post a new picture in the next our, which I think it looks better.

 

[Thandie]

Ok, here is my new picture. Just got my suit, so why not start using it..

I tried saving it larger, but it looks the same. Hope you can open it..

 

[mydawgs]

Ok, here is my new picture. Just got my suit, so why not start using it..

I tried saving it larger, but it looks the same. Hope you can open it..

Maybe Bikini can make it bigger for me...

Remember yams and oats are complex, they stay in your system for some time so you can use them before you metabolize them. If your metabolism is quick then those may be ok, if not you might want to consider something faster acting. You can stay with the slower acting carbs just start carbing sooner. I have a quick draining metabolism - so my body draws complex quickly but does not produce fullness until I can over come a bit of ketosis. I am going to try a dry run 5 weeks out, I'll dump the water and wed night start with granola and yam and then on friday hit some cinnabun topping to see what happens. I carbed up too late for the MET, but I used granola (natural no sodium) and yam and I started Friday am. I love the human engineering aspect..being an engineer by trade.

I think your quads look good, hit your calfs really hard starting now (15 reps - 4 sets) and at the show make sure you pump them really hard before you go on stage.

When you get on that stage act like you OWN it...you will do well. Make sure your color is dark...don't make my mistake. I can't wait to see you kick A**!!!!!!

 

[Thandie]

Maybe Bikini can make it bigger for me...

Remember yams and oats are complex, they stay in your system for some time so you can use them before you metabolize them. If your metabolism is quick then those may be ok, if not you might want to consider something faster acting. You can stay with the slower acting carbs just start carbing sooner. I have a quick draining metabolism - so my body draws complex quickly but does not produce fullness until I can over come a bit of ketosis. I am going to try a dry run 5 weeks out, I'll dump the water and wed night start with granola and yam and then on friday hit some cinnabun topping to see what happens. I carbed up too late for the MET, but I used granola (natural no sodium) and yam and I started Friday am. I love the human engineering aspect..being an engineer by trade.

I think your quads look good, hit your calfs really hard starting now (15 reps - 4 sets) and at the show make sure you pump them really hard before you go on stage.

When you get on that stage act like you OWN it...you will do well. Make sure your color is dark...don't make my mistake. I can't wait to see you kick A**!!!!!!

Thank you, you're the best!

Yes, hopefully she'll fix it.
I have a fast metabolism, but this past month it's been sloggish. My abs are not coming out and have been losing 1/2lb per week.
I will hit the calfs hard. Should I do it twice per week?
I'm also planning to get 4 coats (maybe 6)of jan tan and one of dream tan #2.
I don't want to get tanned, don't want to mess up my skin. Too old for that.

Which carbs are fast acting?
Heavenly; you eat cinnammon bun before the show?
Thanks again..

 

[mydawgs]

Thank you, you're the best!

Yes, hopefully she'll fix it.
I have a fast metabolism, but this past month it's been sloggish. My abs are not coming out and have been losing 1/2lb per week.
I will hit the calfs hard. Should I do it twice per week?
I'm also planning to get 4 coats (maybe 6)of jan tan and one of dream tan #2.
I don't want to get tanned, don't want to mess up my skin. Too old for that.

Which carbs are fast acting?
Heavenly; you eat cinnammon bun before the show?
Thanks again..

Sugary carbs that are processed already...jelly, gummy candies, fruit preserves - with jelly and preserves use plain rice cakes. To address your metabolism being sluggish..are you doing am cardio before any food? Are you eating at least every three hours...if not you could be slowing up to hold onto the carbs your body thinks it is not getting a steady supply of often. The am cardio blows through your glycogen storage which in the morning before any food intake is in a lowered state as your body has fed off of them all night. You attack the body fat quicker and the leaner you get the more efficient your metabolism becomes. Oh and makes sure you are drinking at least a gallon of water per day...this also stokes the metabolism!!!!

As for the calves..once a week at those sets and reps is probably the best you can do, the calves are one of the most dense muscles you have, and unfortunately genetics plays a large role here. What you can do is make what you have as hard and as full as possible. Definition sometimes can overcome a smaller muscle group when painted and pumped!!!!

My girlfriend who is a national competitor uses the glaze for the cinnabun...her body absorbs carbs as bad as i do, she said she had great success with this and it tastes SO GOOD!!!!!!!

 

[BlueBird]

Here be Thandie's pic...

 

[mydawgs]

Thandie girl you look GOOD!!!!! Thanks for the pic BB!!!!! I wish in body building we could wear those shoes...they so naturally pump your legs and you don't have to flex as hard ...sigh.

Ok my daughter just came home with Friendlys ice cream......aaaaauuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh. I am going to drink 16 oz of water right now...so I feel like Im gonna heave.....

Ok this is totally off topic, a little mama brag, but I just got my prom pics back from my baby (alright she's 18, but still my baby), and my oldests college graduation!!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0086.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/SassPromMay08016.jpg

I still have my puppies when the youngest flys the coupe this fall for college...ok they are pit bulls but they are sweeties. Thandie I saw your pups as well...ya gotta love dogs!!!!!

 

[Thandie]

Sugary carbs that are processed already...jelly, gummy candies, fruit preserves - with jelly and preserves use plain rice cakes. To address your metabolism being sluggish..are you doing am cardio before any food? Are you eating at least every three hours...if not you could be slowing up to hold onto the carbs your body thinks it is not getting a steady supply of often. The am cardio blows through your glycogen storage which in the morning before any food intake is in a lowered state as your body has fed off of them all night. You attack the body fat quicker and the leaner you get the more efficient your metabolism becomes. Oh and makes sure you are drinking at least a gallon of water per day...this also stokes the metabolism!!!!

As for the calves..once a week at those sets and reps is probably the best you can do, the calves are one of the most dense muscles you have, and unfortunately genetics plays a large role here. What you can do is make what you have as hard and as full as possible. Definition sometimes can overcome a smaller muscle group when painted and pumped!!!!

My girlfriend who is a national competitor uses the glaze for the cinnabun...her body absorbs carbs as bad as i do, she said she had great success with this and it tastes SO GOOD!!!!!!!

Thank you BlueBird for putting the picture up!

Mydawgs, Thanks for the compliment!
I'm eating breakfast first, then I lift and cardio after. I have a nutritionist that said it was ok to eat before, because I start with weights. Also, I have aways been very thin and I don't want to burn muscles. However, I'll take any suggestions.


So, should I carb up with rice cakes and cinnabuns, etc? i would just die and go to heaven...
As far as the food I eat. Now I eat 5 meals per day. My calorie intake has been reduced in order to burn the fat. I was told is possible I'm holding fat in my abs and lower back is due to hormones. (I'm 51) although I never had this problem before. The nutritionis I'm using said they will come out..,we'll see!

When is your show and where?
Mine is the Bev francis in NY on June 7th.

Your daughte is bringing ice cream? OMG, I can taste it
I want some sweet date...Madjool dates..Ahhhhhh!

I don't have great calves genetically, but I will work them hard from now on.

 

[Thandie]

Thandie girl you look GOOD!!!!! Thanks for the pic BB!!!!! I wish in body building we could wear those shoes...they so naturally pump your legs and you don't have to flex as hard ...sigh.

Ok my daughter just came home with Friendlys ice cream......aaaaauuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh. I am going to drink 16 oz of water right now...so I feel like Im gonna heave.....

Ok this is totally off topic, a little mama brag, but I just got my prom pics back from my baby (alright she's 18, but still my baby), and my oldests college graduation!!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0086.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/SassPromMay08016.jpg

I still have my puppies when the youngest flys the coupe this fall for college...ok they are pit bulls but they are sweeties. Thandie I saw your pups as well...ya gotta love dogs!!!!!

Your daughter is beautiful and you look awesome!. She must be so proud.
Is the girl in the orange dress your daughter as well or is someone else; I couldn't tell.

I love dogs, they are so fantastic.
I have a daughter as well, but she's a grown woman. 32 years old, can you believe it? I try to encourage her to work out, but so far, just promises..

 

[mydawgs]

Your daughter is beautiful and you look awesome!. She must be so proud.
Is the girl in the orange dress your daughter as well or is someone else; I couldn't tell.

I love dogs, they are so fantastic.
I have a daughter as well, but she's a grown woman. 32 years old, can you believe it? I try to encourage her to work out, but so far, just promises..

My oldest is in the purple and my youngest is in the orange!

If you feel you are holding BF in the abs and low back try the cardio before the food, but make it low intensity to see if you can see the abs tighten up. Get some ketone sticks and after a couple of days look to see if you are throwing keytones, that will tell you if you are gettin into the muscle, then if you are grabbing muscle switch back to the meal before your work outs. I would not try anything too radical with the carbing up this show if you have not had time to experiment, sugar can also make you soften if you don't react well. Just try carbing up a little earlier if you are NOT throwing keytones as that means you are absorbing the carbs and not filling out quickly. This will just take a little longer. I have never used the raw sugar like I am going to try, but I have time to see what it does.

Girl you look great, it is nice to see us mature women putting it out there - yes??? I am 48! My youngest has one of those sexy physiques with little working out. My oldest is a swimmer so she has the shoulders and back to die for....and I have to work for every darn gain I make!!!!

I'm doing the Tracy Greenwood fitness and figure, Philadelphia BB on June 28th.

 

[Thandie]

My oldest is in the purple and my youngest is in the orange!

If you feel you are holding BF in the abs and low back try the cardio before the food, but make it low intensity to see if you can see the abs tighten up. Get some ketone sticks and after a couple of days look to see if you are throwing keytones, that will tell you if you are gettin into the muscle, then if you are grabbing muscle switch back to the meal before your work outs. I would not try anything too radical with the carbing up this show if you have not had time to experiment, sugar can also make you soften if you don't react well. Just try carbing up a little earlier if you are NOT throwing keytones as that means you are absorbing the carbs and not filling out quickly. This will just take a little longer. I have never used the raw sugar like I am going to try, but I have time to see what it does.

Girl you look great, it is nice to see us mature women putting it out there - yes??? I am 48! My youngest has one of those sexy physiques with little working out. My oldest is a swimmer so she has the shoulders and back to die for....and I have to work for every darn gain I make!!!!

I'm doing the Tracy Greenwood fitness and figure, Philadelphia BB on June 28th.

They are both beautiful! lucky that they are both athletic..

You look great yourself at 48 as well; thanks!
I have to work for this bod myself, otherwise I'd be just a skinny girls..

You have some time for the 28th. You're going to kill them all. You look amazing already. It sounds like you've been doing this for quite some time; you have great knowledge of the sport. I've been working out for 20 years, but competing, this is my 2nd.

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but what are ketone sticks?

 

[mydawgs]

They are both beautiful! lucky that they are both athletic..

You look great yourself at 48 as well; thanks!
I have to work for this bod myself, otherwise I'd be just a skinny girls..

You have some time for the 28th. You're going to kill them all. You look amazing already. It sounds like you've been doing this for quite some time; you have great knowledge of the sport. I've been working out for 20 years, but competing, this is my 2nd.

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but what are ketone sticks?

This is the brand I use, you can buy them at the drug store, like CVS.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/whatisketosis.htm

Ketosis is just a term for your body using fat as an energy source instead of glycogens from carbs. You trigger ketosis by lowering your carbs and forcing your body to use the stored fat as an energy source. The issue is this, when you are extremely lean, ie not a lot of fat for your body to use as an energy source, and all of the sudden you see a spike in the ketones that spill over into your urine, then odds are you are now drawing lean muscle tissue as well because there is little fat storage to be harvested for the work you are demanding of your body. When I see large amounts of keytones I know I am looking at sizable weight reduction...and sure enough I see it on the scale, I also see the muscle come from my upper body when I start to burn muscle. They are a nice tool to stay at that critical balance.

The only ignorant question is one that you don't ask

 

[Thandie]

This is the brand I use, you can buy them at the drug store, like CVS.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/whatisketosis.htm

Ketosis is just a term for your body using fat as an energy source instead of glycogens from carbs. You trigger ketosis by lowering your carbs and forcing your body to use the stored fat as an energy source. The issue is this, when you are extremely lean, ie not a lot of fat for your body to use as an energy source, and all of the sudden you see a spike in the ketones that spill over into your urine, then odds are you are now drawing lean muscle tissue as well because there is little fat storage to be harvested for the work you are demanding of your body. When I see large amounts of keytones I know I am looking at sizable weight reduction...and sure enough I see it on the scale, I also see the muscle come from my upper body when I start to burn muscle. They are a nice tool to stay at that critical balance.

The only ignorant question is one that you don't ask

Nice tool indeed and Very informative. I'm certainly learning a great deal from you.
I'm buying the Ketokix stick and see what happens. I still have three weeks maybe I can reverse the effect.

 

[mydawgs]

Nice tool indeed and Very informative. I'm certainly learning a great deal from you.
I'm buying the Ketokix stick and see what happens. I still have three weeks maybe I can reverse the effect.

Good luck, remember you want to use BF as an energy source to get as lean as you possibly can, but what you are looking for is BIG and QUICK change which means your body has tapped into the muscle as an additional energy source. The way I got out of it for the NY MET (also a Bev Francis show) was to eat a nice fatty cut of steak. Give the body what it needs from an external source so it won't draw from the body. Then you cut back on the cardio and stay on top of the diet because you are now at critical mass. If you want to be even leaner you now have to choose if you want to sacrifice muscle to be leaner.

 

[BlueBird]

Wait a minute now, Thandie has a 32 year old daughter and MyDawgs has a graduating daughter?????!!!!!1

You two do NOT look old enough, but just goes to prove proper nutrition and a comprehensive training program are definitely the fountain of youth.

 

[Tatyana]

Wait a minute now, Thandie has a 32 year old daughter and MyDawgs has a graduating daughter?????!!!!!1

You two do NOT look old enough, but just goes to prove proper nutrition and a comprehensive training program are definitely the fountain of youth.

No kidding.

I have seen a lot of physique athletes from the ages of 40-82 (not kidding 82) who have better bodies than the majority of women in their 20s these days.

Thandie, I would love it if you started your own training/prep thread, you are a total inspiration and have great advice.

One other thing ladies, if you use the image code on photobucket, you can have the pics show up in the thread as pics, rather than re-directing to photobucket.

Both of you have GREAT legs, I have such a hard time getting mine to cut up.

 

[Thandie]

No kidding.

I have seen a lot of physique athletes from the ages of 40-82 (not kidding 82) who have better bodies than the majority of women in their 20s these days.

Thandie, I would love it if you started your own training/prep thread, you are a total inspiration and have great advice.

One other thing ladies, if you use the image code on photobucket, you can have the pics show up in the thread as pics, rather than re-directing to photobucket.

Both of you have GREAT legs, I have such a hard time getting mine to cut up.

Mydawgs, thank you for all of your great advise. I'm still going to follow your progress and hope we stay in touch.

Tatyana, Thank you and I will start a thread. Somehow I have not been succesful on uploading pictures. But I'll try Photobucket.

And yes, I love helping others, which is one of the reasons I joined this website and of course to learn from others as I have with Mydawgs, because I believe not one of us has all the answers; I continue to learn everyday. If I can look like this at 52 (in 3 months)anyone can.

BTW, I have three grandchildren. Of course they call me by my first name...

 

[mydawgs]

No kidding.

I have seen a lot of physique athletes from the ages of 40-82 (not kidding 82) who have better bodies than the majority of women in their 20s these days.

Thandie, I would love it if you started your own training/prep thread, you are a total inspiration and have great advice.

One other thing ladies, if you use the image code on photobucket, you can have the pics show up in the thread as pics, rather than re-directing to photobucket.

Both of you have GREAT legs, I have such a hard time getting mine to cut up.

Tatyana -

How do you lean up? My shoulders and arms come in first, then the split in my chest, my abs, my calves are always lean (I have big calves) , then my quads, then hams and LAST my glutes.

If you know this you now know the order in which your body carries it's BF from most to least. This can help you develop a strategy to attack what you think is your weakness.

When you are show ready, do you feel your lower body when carbed up and painted looks as consistent as the body parts that come in sooner? Or do you feel you have to scarifice a little muscle to get your body parts that are last to come in as lean as you want? Me I always walk that fine line...IF I can hit the loading dead on, the separation between my glutes/ hams and my upper body looks like they all belong on one person, nice and consistent, if I am having trouble achieving this timing I may opt to sacrifice muscle to brute force the most cut look I can get.

Depending on the answers to these questions there are some techniques you can use to enhance your ability to get what you want!!!

 

[Thandie]

Good luck, remember you want to use BF as an energy source to get as lean as you possibly can, but what you are looking for is BIG and QUICK change which means your body has tapped into the muscle as an additional energy source. The way I got out of it for the NY MET (also a Bev Francis show) was to eat a nice fatty cut of steak. Give the body what it needs from an external source so it won't draw from the body. Then you cut back on the cardio and stay on top of the diet because you are now at critical mass. If you want to be even leaner you now have to choose if you want to sacrifice muscle to be leaner.

Mydowgs-

I do want to get leaner. My BF is 12% and I'm not happy with that; I want 8 or 9%. I'm willing to sacrifice some muscles, but not a lot since I'm already small.
Should I eat a steak at this point? or you think is to close to comp..
BTW, I should drink a gallon of water; I've been doing 1/4 and I should know better. Maybe that'll help..

 

[mydawgs]

Mydowgs-

I do want to get leaner. My BF is 12% and I'm not happy with that; I want 8 or 9%. I'm willing to sacrifice some muscles, but not a lot since I'm already small.
Should I eat a steak at this point? or you think is to close to comp..
BTW, I should drink a gallon of water; I've been doing 1/4 and I should know better. Maybe that'll help..

At 12% you should be OK to hit the diet and cardio hard, in other words you should have enough BF to burn to coninue with your plan to keep leaning. I would try the cardio before the work out to see what changes you can effect and how quickly. Keep monitoring your keytones...absolutely up your water intake, this stokes your metabolism which only adds to your ability to burn fat and lean up. Continue to eat what you are as you go forward. Once you see you are starting to throw large amounts of keytones you know you have hit the end of your road and that is when you level with the fatty cut of steak. If you don't get there then no worries.

Keep doing what is working, if it ain't broke don't try and fix it. Get your metabolism working for you again and try the cardio first to see if your abs come in. I find the leaner I am the quicker I respond to changes in my diet and work out. I go for broke here as a BB can never look too lean, but I hesitate to advise a figure competitor because I am not sure what the take is on looking hard vs looking well defined....do you know what I mean? Do you get dinged for looking TOO hard?????

 

[Thandie]

At 12% you should be OK to hit the diet and cardio hard, in other words you should have enough BF to burn to coninue with your plan to keep leaning. I would try the cardio before the work out to see what changes you can effect and how quickly. Keep monitoring your keytones...absolutely up your water intake, this stokes your metabolism which only adds to your ability to burn fat and lean up. Continue to eat what you are as you go forward. Once you see you are starting to throw large amounts of keytones you know you have hit the end of your road and that is when you level with the fatty cut of steak. If you don't get there then no worries.

Keep doing what is working, if it ain't broke don't try and fix it. Get your metabolism working for you again and try the cardio first to see if your abs come in. I find the leaner I am the quicker I respond to changes in my diet and work out. I go for broke here as a BB can never look too lean, but I hesitate to advise a figure competitor because I am not sure what the take is on looking hard vs looking well defined....do you know what I mean? Do you get dinged for looking TOO hard?????

That's correct; I can't be too lean or too hard or I'm disqualified.
I have to pay close attention at this point, which I'm doing.
I will increase the water as you suggested and will do cardio first thing in the morning. I'm also adding two afternoon cardio or three, depending of how I feel.
I took the Ketostix test and came out negative. How often should I take it and if it comes out a trace, small or any other color, what should I do?
Happy training..

 

[mydawgs]

That's correct; I can't be too lean or too hard or I'm disqualified.
I have to pay close attention at this point, which I'm doing.
I will increase the water as you suggested and will do cardio first thing in the morning. I'm also adding two afternoon cardio or three, depending of how I feel.
I took the Ketostix test and came out negative. How often should I take it and if it comes out a trace, small or any other color, what should I do?
Happy training..

When you are getting really lean check every morning first thing....trace is ok, if you start to see the color get darker you know you are in that critical zone...look at your body and decide to keep going or hold up. Use your food and cardio (reducing frequency and intensity to back it off) to control the amount of keytones you are throwing. Remember when you dump your water you will enhance your cuts. This is the challange!

Good luck, you will do well. Run this by your nutritionalist as well. Pics lady, pics!!!! Go get em, GOOD VIBRATIONS from NJ!!!!!!!!

 

[Bikini Mod]

Sorry but I've been taking some time off from the boards, work, life etc...

Damn BOTH you women look great and I can't believe YOU BOTH have grown children!!!

Thandie - Your physique looks great for figure. Be carefull not to get too much leaner as that will really bite you in the ass (no pun intended). Mydawg's advice should help. Let us know how it all works out.

Mydawgs - looking at your workouts I am thinkin one thing = I am DAMNED GLAD I ain't competitive n'more. LOL

Thanks so much for sharing ladies.

 

[mydawgs]

This week I did double cardio sessions...once at 5 am for 45 min then on the way home from work around 6 pm for 30 min. I have been doing this for the last 4 weeks one week on and one week off. No change to the diet.

Only thing I notice during double cardio weeks are off the wall cravings...dang. I suppress with a tsp of PB. This usually means the nutrients in my body are a tad skewed from the increased cardio as the cravings subside when I return to a single am cardio session...I think that is cool...(it's the engineer in me)

So starting this Sunday (will be taking a pic first thing in the morning...we'll see how much my sweet daughter LUVS her Mommy, I am going to do starchy carbs for meal 1 only until Wed evening. Sun I am going to do 2 gal of distilled water, Monday 2 gal, Tues 1.5 gal, Wed 1 gal, Thu 1 gal and Fri 1/2 (finishing before 6 pm). I'll be taking dandilion, urva usi and XPEL 3caps each, 3X per day.

Starting Wed night I am going to add 4 oz of yam and 1/4 cup of sodium free granola with meals 5 and 6. Thursday I will add this to meals 5 and 6. Friday I will add to meals 4,5 and 6. Sat am I will take a pic, eat turkey, yam and asparagus first thing, then every 2 hrs eat 4 oz yam and 1/4 cup granola with 2 TBS of cinnabun topping....I will take a pic at noon....

Here is a question should I do cardio past wed or not???????? I won't during the week before competition so I was thinking not to make the conditions as like as possible,,,but then my freaky minds says OMG you might get FAT....help me I am loosing it bwwwwaahahahahaha

 

[Thandie]

This week I did double cardio sessions...once at 5 am for 45 min then on the way home from work around 6 pm for 30 min. I have been doing this for the last 4 weeks one week on and one week off. No change to the diet.

Only thing I notice during double cardio weeks are off the wall cravings...dang. I suppress with a tsp of PB. This usually means the nutrients in my body are a tad skewed from the increased cardio as the cravings subside when I return to a single am cardio session...I think that is cool...(it's the engineer in me)

So starting this Sunday (will be taking a pic first thing in the morning...we'll see how much my sweet daughter LUVS her Mommy, I am going to do starchy carbs for meal 1 only until Wed evening. Sun I am going to do 2 gal of distilled water, Monday 2 gal, Tues 1.5 gal, Wed 1 gal, Thu 1 gal and Fri 1/2 (finishing before 6 pm). I'll be taking dandilion, urva usi and XPEL 3caps each, 3X per day.

Starting Wed night I am going to add 4 oz of yam and 1/4 cup of sodium free granola with meals 5 and 6. Thursday I will add this to meals 5 and 6. Friday I will add to meals 4,5 and 6. Sat am I will take a pic, eat turkey, yam and asparagus first thing, then every 2 hrs eat 4 oz yam and 1/4 cup granola with 2 TBS of cinnabun topping....I will take a pic at noon....

Here is a question should I do cardio past wed or not???????? I won't during the week before competition so I was thinking not to make the conditions as like as possible,,,but then my freaky minds says OMG you might get FAT....help me I am loosing it bwwwwaahahahahaha[/QUOTE







That depends on how many weeks you have before competition. Is your show June 28th, I believe? If it is, you have another 4 weeks to tweek whatever you need to work on.
If you dont want to make the condition as like for contest, then I would not do the cardio. You won't get fat, just stay with your macros. It sounds like you're doing great.
I can't wait to see the new pictures...

 

[mydawgs]

Thandie my show is the 28th of June...so I'm going for it....gulp

Anyway my husband (who worked all day yesterday) was kind enough to wake up early and take these pics for my dry run...he is a sweetie!!!!

5 weeks to go and the experiment begins!

Tatyana could you post how to use the image tool again on photobucket? What show are you doing, from the pics I've seen you look really good! Figure or bodybuilding? You could do either I think!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0132.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0133.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0135.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0136.jpg


Also, what are the thoughts on adding crystal light to your water???? I can drink it plain or with flavor but would prefer the flavor??? Any comments?

 

[Thandie]

Thandie my show is the 28th of June...so I'm going for it....gulp

Anyway my husband (who worked all day yesterday) was kind enough to wake up early and take these pics for my dry run...he is a sweetie!!!!

5 weeks to go and the experiment begins!

Tatyana could you post how to use the image tool again on photobucket? What show are you doing, from the pics I've seen you look really good! Figure or bodybuilding? You could do either I think!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0132.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0133.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0135.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0136.jpg


Also, what are the thoughts on adding crystal light to your water???? I can drink it plain or with flavor but would prefer the flavor??? Any comments?

Mydawgs, you look freaky awesome!!!!
you're doing sooo well. You certaily have it down..

DO NOT, under any circumstances use crystal light. I used to do that and eat sugar free jello and my nutritionist said, DO NOT do it. The reson is that sugar free stuff stops the ability of burning fat.
I used crystal light (before my nutritionist)for a long time and is really not a god idea. I was having a hard time building muscles.

I'm doing Hercules June 28th as well, so I'll have only three weeks between shows.
I'd like to see progress pictures as you get close. AWESOME!

Oh, I forgot. To use Photobucket, just start an album in photobucket. Once you have pictures saved, click on each additional picture and copy and paste the address into the boby of the page you're working on.

 

[Tatyana]

That's correct; I can't be too lean or too hard or I'm disqualified.
I have to pay close attention at this point, which I'm doing.
I will increase the water as you suggested and will do cardio first thing in the morning. I'm also adding two afternoon cardio or three, depending of how I feel.
I took the Ketostix test and came out negative. How often should I take it and if it comes out a trace, small or any other color, what should I do?
Happy training..

I am sure one of the figure competitors said she was between 4-6% at the Arnold.

I thought a lot of the 'hardness' was all about salt and water balance.

I will see what I can find out, it is quite different for figure in some feddies in Europe, like NABBA which is really popular, the girls come in really hard and ripped, and they have compulsory poses, similar to BBing ones, but with open hands.

Keto stix, they should only ever read 'trace' and probably then only after cardio.

The sticks are designed for diabetics, and diabetic ketoacidosis is a pathological condition.

In healthy people, the ketone bodies you generate from the oxidisation of fat will be used as fuel, not excreted, as you have removed carbs as the source of energy in the body.

 

[Faizakafez]

hmmm i'm going to disagree on the cyrstal light..

you can use it, just dont go nuts. Remove it one week out. based on your current pics your well on track. Crystal lite won't impact fat burning.

i used it in both shows and came in shredded both times.

 

[Thandie]

hmmm i'm going to disagree on the cyrstal light..

you can use it, just dont go nuts. Remove it one week out. based on your current pics your well on track. Crystal lite won't impact fat burning.

i used it in both shows and came in shredded both times.

What work for men don't necessarily work for women, believe me.

 

[mydawgs]

I am sure one of the figure competitors said she was between 4-6% at the Arnold.

I thought a lot of the 'hardness' was all about salt and water balance.

I will see what I can find out, it is quite different for figure in some feddies in Europe, like NABBA which is really popular, the girls come in really hard and ripped, and they have compulsory poses, similar to BBing ones, but with open hands.

Keto stix, they should only ever read 'trace' and probably then only after cardio.

The sticks are designed for diabetics, and diabetic ketoacidosis is a pathological condition.

In healthy people, the ketone bodies you generate from the oxidisation of fat will be used as fuel, not excreted, as you have removed carbs as the source of energy in the body.

I have a friend who did the Arnold Amature, she also did the NY show with me on the 12th of April. Apparently there has been quite a lot of discussion on another forum regarding the "look" that is being rewarded in the NPC and the IFBB. The discussion was started as a result of this:

Greeting All TX NPC Figure Competitors,

This update is specifically for you as it pertains to the new judging criteria
we at the NPC are judging. For the past year you have been hearing rumors or
directly from me that judging will move toward a softer athletic look in figure
instead of the muscular, lean look. Well, we kicked off the national
competition year with the Jr. USA in Charleston and true to our word we set the
stage for local and national level judging. The look is soft and athletic. I
suggest that you go on-line to examine pictures of this past weekends
competition. With the exception of Figure Class D as it was too lean and hard,
but we didn't have anything else to judge in that class. But all others are
representative of the new look.

We look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Train hard and demonstrate sportsmanship always,

Lee Thompson
N.P.C . Texas District Chairman/IFBB Judge
8515 Rue De Maison
Missouri City, TX 77459
281.435.8804

At the NY show this appeared to be adhered to according to my friend and I guess I rather agree. My posing coach is an IFBB Fitness Pro and I asked her and the jury is still out as what you said about the lean look at the Arnold for the Pros is quite true. I don't understand all of it but those of you that compete in the Figure on a regular basis may have much more insight than me.

I completely agree about the salt and water balance as I was taught that this is one of the primary tools to get the skin as close to the muscle as possible. Some of the other major factors would include your BF, muscle maturity or the "sharpness" your muscle can portray. The flexing close to competition aids in producing as much of this sharpness that one can produce based on the maturity. I would think it also helps in your ability to control your muscles when you flex due to the practice..not sure about this but it makes sense at first glance to me.

Would be interested in hearing thoughts on the "look" that is being rewarded by the Figure girls here....any thoughts? Is this for real or what exactly is it?????? I suppose this is a hard thing as it is subjective...soft and athletic to one could be quite different to another. Man nothing like making it any harder than it already is to prepare for a show....sigh

Thandie thanks for the compliments, and right back at ya.

I'll have to research the crystal light thng cuz it sure makes it easier to choke all that water down for the first three days...and then of course you are dying for more at the end LOL

From some of the research I have done because I am a hard gainer and tend to lose muscle quickly when I am trying to be as lean as possible without losing size, sometimes it is hard to stop losing size once I get in this state (of course if this happens the week before a show you are in trouble - unless you are huge and can afford to lose size like my husband), I found the Ketone sticks seemed to tell me when I am at that balance. So if you see an abrubt change does anyone know exactly what is happening metobolically? I'd love to understand the mechanism better! I assumed somehow the energy source for the activity had shifted? Not enough carbs to support the work and vary low fat storage..but still a heavy demand on the work you want the body to do. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...

I did a little research and asked for some help from my friend who is a nurse. Under the conditions I describe above the energy source is shifted to the protien you are taking in externally. The protien is converted to amino acid and then I think another conversion takes place to put it in a usable energy source...the by product of this I am assuming will be indicated by the Ketone sticks. I have my friend and my daughter (she has a BS in excersize physiology) looking to see what the by products are and would they show on the ketone sticks. So why do you lose size....still researching this but I would assume since your body is now metabolizing the protien you eat for fuel to do work, you are not feeding the muscle, thus the muscle molecule cannot sustain it's current state.....will continue to look at this. I think human engineering ROCKS!!!!! Or at least learning about it.....

 

[mydawgs]

A really good read on Ketosis....

http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips011.html

 

[GUARDIAN]

What work for men don't necessarily work for women, believe me.

crystal light works fine for me. just dont overdo it. i use it with my Waxy Maize PWO for flavor.

 

[Chocolate_Thunder]

You look ALMOST as good as Guardian's quads! And that is saying something.

 

[GUARDIAN]

You look better than Guardian's quads! And that is saying something.

 

[Chocolate_Thunder]

Since you were a little upset about that last post I thought I would make a slight edit for you.

 

[Tatyana]

I have a friend who did the Arnold Amature, she also did the NY show with me on the 12th of April. Apparently there has been quite a lot of discussion on another forum regarding the "look" that is being rewarded in the NPC and the IFBB. The discussion was started as a result of this:

Greeting All TX NPC Figure Competitors,

This update is specifically for you as it pertains to the new judging criteria
we at the NPC are judging. For the past year you have been hearing rumors or
directly from me that judging will move toward a softer athletic look in figure
instead of the muscular, lean look. Well, we kicked off the national
competition year with the Jr. USA in Charleston and true to our word we set the
stage for local and national level judging. The look is soft and athletic. I
suggest that you go on-line to examine pictures of this past weekends
competition. With the exception of Figure Class D as it was too lean and hard,
but we didn't have anything else to judge in that class. But all others are
representative of the new look.

We look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Train hard and demonstrate sportsmanship always,

Lee Thompson
N.P.C . Texas District Chairman/IFBB Judge
8515 Rue De Maison
Missouri City, TX 77459
281.435.8804
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH



At the NY show this appeared to be adhered to according to my friend and I guess I rather agree. My posing coach is an IFBB Fitness Pro and I asked her and the jury is still out as what you said about the lean look at the Arnold for the Pros is quite true. I don't understand all of it but those of you that compete in the Figure on a regular basis may have much more insight than me.

I completely agree about the salt and water balance as I was taught that this is one of the primary tools to get the skin as close to the muscle as possible. Some of the other major factors would include your BF, muscle maturity or the "sharpness" your muscle can portray. The flexing close to competition aids in producing as much of this sharpness that one can produce based on the maturity. I would think it also helps in your ability to control your muscles when you flex due to the practice..not sure about this but it makes sense at first glance to me.

Would be interested in hearing thoughts on the "look" that is being rewarded by the Figure girls here....any thoughts? Is this for real or what exactly is it?????? I suppose this is a hard thing as it is subjective...soft and athletic to one could be quite different to another. Man nothing like making it any harder than it already is to prepare for a show....sigh
No kidding, that really sucks. Personally I think the division between figure and 'physique' as BBing is called here should be based moreso on your natural body structure, so if you are longer in the torso and legs, that is really more of a figure body, and vice versa.

How women are going to balance 'softer' with everything else?

What a nightmare.

The UKBFF (NPC in the UK) changed the name of the figure class to 'body fitness', and also, no mandatory poses, just quarter turns now.

One figure competitor I know, Magda, showed up for a qualifier and the judges said she had to do BBing as she was too hard and ripped.

She did the next qualifier in bodyfitness, qualified for the Brits and then placed 4th in bodyfitness.

It is not standardised, and some of the harder, more ripped girls still win.

I would come in how you want to look.

Thandie thanks for the compliments, and right back at ya.

I'll have to research the crystal light thng cuz it sure makes it easier to choke all that water down for the first three days...and then of course you are dying for more at the end LOL

From some of the research I have done because I am a hard gainer and tend to lose muscle quickly when I am trying to be as lean as possible without losing size, sometimes it is hard to stop losing size once I get in this state (of course if this happens the week before a show you are in trouble - unless you are huge and can afford to lose size like my husband), I found the Ketone sticks seemed to tell me when I am at that balance. So if you see an abrubt change does anyone know exactly what is happening metobolically? I'd love to understand the mechanism better! I assumed somehow the energy source for the activity had shifted? Not enough carbs to support the work and vary low fat storage..but still a heavy demand on the work you want the body to do. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...

What do you mean? If the keto sticks go purple instead of beige?

You need to take in more carbs then.

I did a little research and asked for some help from my friend who is a nurse. Under the conditions I describe above the energy source is shifted to the protien you are taking in externally. The protien is converted to amino acid and then I think another conversion takes place to put it in a usable energy source...the by product of this I am assuming will be indicated by the Ketone sticks. I have my friend and my daughter (she has a BS in excersize physiology) looking to see what the by products are and would they show on the ketone sticks. So why do you lose size....still researching this but I would assume since your body is now metabolizing the protien you eat for fuel to do work, you are not feeding the muscle, thus the muscle molecule cannot sustain it's current state.....will continue to look at this. I think human engineering ROCKS!!!!! Or at least learning about it.....

There are a few glucogenic amino acids that can be converted to glucose.

There is no store of amino acids or protien in the body besides the muscle, so when the body needs glucose, it will canabalise muscle.

On average, we make 20-200 g of glucose a day (through gluconeogenesis) depending on how much we take in with the diet.

Ketone bodies actually refers to, erm, let me see if I remember this, I will google after, acetylaldehyde, nope, can't remember all of them, but is is three different molecules from the breakdown of fatty acids OR ketogenic amino acids.

If glucose is not available, amino acids are also slotted into one of the other central pathways of metabolism, the Kreb's cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.

The two central pathways of metabolism are glycolysis, TCA, and the electron transport chain which converts (mostly) glucose into a form of energy the cells can use, ATP as well as NADPH and FADH.

It is sort of like food is money, carbs and protein are 10 dollar notes, fat is a 20 (just because it has more calories), but cells only take coins. These pathways make the paper money into that smaller currency.

Fat, triacylglyceride, is burned in the mitochondria of our cells, in a process called beta-oxidation. The glycerol backbone of trig can be converted to glucose, but the fatty acid chains have to be oxidised.


I hope this helps, our bodies are ever so clever.


I know some people love keto diets, I find that I don't have the energy to maintain the level of intensity training to maintain muscle, so I diet with carbs.

The insulin response also helps to maintain muscle, and I do think once your bodyfat is low enough, the insulin response drives more nutrients into muscle rather than fat, so it is really not an issue.

 

[mydawgs]

There are a few glucogenic amino acids that can be converted to glucose.

There is no store of amino acids or protien in the body besides the muscle, so when the body needs glucose, it will canabalise muscle.

On average, we make 20-200 g of glucose a day (through gluconeogenesis) depending on how much we take in with the diet.

Ketone bodies actually refers to, erm, let me see if I remember this, I will google after, acetylaldehyde, nope, can't remember all of them, but is is three different molecules from the breakdown of fatty acids OR ketogenic amino acids.

If glucose is not available, amino acids are also slotted into one of the other central pathways of metabolism, the Kreb's cycle or tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.

The two central pathways of metabolism are glycolysis, TCA, and the electron transport chain which converts (mostly) glucose into a form of energy the cells can use, ATP as well as NADPH and FADH.

It is sort of like food is money, carbs and protein are 10 dollar notes, fat is a 20 (just because it has more calories), but cells only take coins. These pathways make the paper money into that smaller currency.

Fat, triacylglyceride, is burned in the mitochondria of our cells, in a process called beta-oxidation. The glycerol backbone of trig can be converted to glucose, but the fatty acid chains have to be oxidised.


I hope this helps, our bodies are ever so clever.


I know some people love keto diets, I find that I don't have the energy to maintain the level of intensity training to maintain muscle, so I diet with carbs.

The insulin response also helps to maintain muscle, and I do think once your bodyfat is low enough, the insulin response drives more nutrients into muscle rather than fat, so it is really not an issue.

Thanks Tatyana, what you say is highly aligned with what I am reading. And thanks for clarrifying the different terminology between BB and Figure in the UK. I knew you were a BB...you have a great body. I think your thickness is FANTASTIC. Before I tore my distal and shattered my thumb I was able to compete as a middle weight, but 2 years of not being able to train heavy reduced me to a LW...oh well, sh*t happens. I love your money analogy, makes it crystal clear.

My husband is totally a keto guy. Hell he stops drinking beer a whole 3 weeks out *major sarcasim*...he eats NO carbs..I said NONE. All fat and protien, you should see him shred up, it's freaky. Of course he can't remember his name...but he looks great, always went in around three percent. The lats from hell. But when you start at 270, who cares if you come in at 240?????? He has long since retired but still has that cobra back....what happened to me???sniff!!!!

Me I'm always begging to hold on to it..very frustrating when you live with nuclear metabolism guy who doesn't have to worry...I still love him though!

All information is good, I am starting to see a little more than trace as I have eliminated my starchy carbs, but tomorrow night I start to carb up...and then we will see. Thank you for your response and good luck to you in what ever you do....you have a great look!!!!

 

[ALIN]

OK, you will have to forgive me if I do not journel well..but I will try and ya all can tell me what I am excluding, then I will add it.

I am on 6 meals a day. First meal is egg whites and 3/4 cup OM with 1 oz almonds. All that follow alternate chicken and fish (4 oz) - 1/2 cup cous cous or yam, and 1 cup of GB or asparagus or spinich. I do a post WO shake with 1 scoop Isopure. I am currently on HMB 3x per day, CLA 3x per day, glutamine in my shake and normal vitamin regime. I am on a gallon of water per day and my treat at night is a grapefruit w/ equal. I exclude the starch meal 6.

I did the MET on 4/12 and I am currently at 125 lbs. I am a little tighter now than I was pre MET I think because I never really left the diet. I basically look the same now as I did the morning before the MET.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/IMG_9000.jpg

Now I have been tanning because I missed on my color at the MET for pre-judging, so I'm not going to make that mistake again. (I am not as dark as in this pic). I will work on getting some pics - I just have not had time.

Any way I am doing 3 days of hamstring post 45 min cardio 3 sets high reps to keep them popped. I have added 2 days of deep front sqats (185 lbs) 15 reps - 3 sets and light leg presses (200 lbs) for same reps and sets to sharpen the separation between my glutes and hamstrings. These are sets I am doing for the first three days in addition to my normal body parts...looking for improved definition at the show.

I work each body part once a week. I do three sets heavy and one at strength reps, to give my connective tissue a rest. All my sets at this point are 4, I will take them down to three at 4 weeks. The only day I use 3 sets is on heavy legs day.

One day I go heavy legs one day - 3 sets front squats at 315 lbs, 3 sets of inner thigh plie squats on my toes at 225 lbs, 185 lb dead lifts 3 sets, and lying presses (lye on the bench, push with your feet up using the smith) 315 lbs 3 sets.

The deep front squats that are light have really effected me...I feel this afterwards, which means I am hitting fast twitch muscle fiber my heavy WOs do not...this is good for me.

Anyway I hope I am doing this right. I will get some pics after next week end, I am going to NC to see my oldest daughter graduate...YEA!!!! So she can start her docterate.......*** taking check book BACK out ****

Naw its all good, but the competing keeps me from killing someone YA KNOW!!!!!!

you are looking awesome my dear!

 

[mydawgs]

Thank you to all you kind ladies and gentlemen!!!! I appreciate the positive feedback. But c'mon GUARDIAN lemme see those quads!!!!! I'll have something to strive for

If this carb loading experiment flops I'm gonna be bummed!!!!

 

[bw1]

Looking great!

 

[GUARDIAN]

Thank you to all you kind ladies and gentlemen!!!! I appreciate the positive feedback. But c'mon GUARDIAN lemme see those quads!!!!! I'll have something to strive for

If this carb loading experiment flops I'm gonna be bummed!!!!

u dont have signatures turned on in your options?

it is right there in my sig.

 

[GUARDIAN]

Since you were a little upset about that last post I thought I would make a slight edit for you.

lmao. i was just messin.

 

[talus29]

looking good ... keep up the good work

 

[Chocolate_Thunder]

lmao. i was just messin.

I know. I just can't stand to see you upset!

 

[02gixxersix]

I'd like to hear more about the affects of sugar free stuff on fat burning as this is not the first time I have heard it. I drink diet soda and crystal light by the gallon. In fact before and during my workouts I have a cocktail with Waxy Maize, some BCAAs, creatine, and crystal light, and the same thing before cardio minus the waxy maize.

Either way both of you ladies look amazing and way too young to have children going to prom or older. It definitely shows what a lot of hard work and a lifetime of taking care of yourself can do for you.

 

[Thandie]

Mydawgs, did your experiment worked??

 

[mydawgs]

Mydawgs, did your experiment worked??

Just got back from my friends - Stacys (Fitness Pro). She said we had limited results. Here is why. I was still pulling carbs last night. Water loading - dead on, decarbing - dead on, loading - like spittin into the wind!

So after doubling my carb intake on thursday and fri...I ate a huge steak and yam, this morning I ate a cheeseburger, 1.5 hrs later 3 rice cakes with cinnabun topping, 1.5 hrs later rice cake again, 20 min later 1/2 box of mike and ike, 1 capsule of niacin....and I was lookin good for about 2 hrs!!!! Then tightened right back up again. Stacy said I have been in this condition for such a long time that my metabolism is ZONING big time. No working out today and I am supposed to have a cheat day...not cheat meal, cheat day. Well hell having real sugar in my coffee is a cheat....

Here I am: (at least for a few hrs)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0138.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0152.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0146.jpg

My camera ran out of charge and my friend had a hard time taking clear pics..

Hopefully the cheat day will shock my metabolism so I can dezone a little and train it to be more accepting of carbs quicker....

So I can eat anything I want today....suggestions??? Seriously I am thinkinga PB&J and feelin guilty about that HA

 

[GUARDIAN]

Just got back from my friends - Stacys (Fitness Pro). She said we had limited results. Here is why. I was still pulling carbs last night. Water loading - dead on, decarbing - dead on, loading - like spittin into the wind!

So after doubling my carb intake on thursday and fri...I ate a huge steak and yam, this morning I ate a cheeseburger, 1.5 hrs later 3 rice cakes with cinnabun topping, 1.5 hrs later rice cake again, 20 min later 1/2 box of mike and ike, 1 capsule of niacin....and I was lookin good for about 2 hrs!!!! Then tightened right back up again. Stacy said I have been in this condition for such a long time that my metabolism is ZONING big time. No working out today and I am supposed to have a cheat day...not cheat meal, cheat day. Well hell having real sugar in my coffee is a cheat....

Here I am: (at least for a few hrs)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0138.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0152.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0146.jpg

My camera ran out of charge and my friend had a hard time taking clear pics..

Hopefully the cheat day will shock my metabolism so I can dezone a little and train it to be more accepting of carbs quicker....

So I can eat anything I want today....suggestions??? Seriously I am thinkinga PB&J and feelin guilty about that HA

Looking sharp!!!

Pizza & ice cream......yummmmmmmmmmm!

or i giantic bowl of pasta alfredo topped with shrimp.

 

[Tatyana]

Cheat meal?

An Indian

Chicken Tandoori Tikka Masala

Peshwari Naan

Tarka Daal

Paneer Makani

Pilau rice or bombey potatoes



Eat it for me please, but tell me it wasn't worth the calories

 

[Thandie]

You looked awesome! very vascular..

Cheat meal? I wont be good at this.
My cheating consists of going out to a nice restaurant, having some bread, ordering from the menue without changing it and having a glass of Champagne. Boring..

Nevertheles, how about bread pudding (love sweets), pizza, mexican food with guacanole. Let us know what you had; I'll be curious. Enjoy it!

 

[mydawgs]

OK I ate pizza for dinner and had a meat ball sandwich for lunch...for desert I added the bun to the cinnabun topping with a side of ice cream.....I drank a bottle of diet coke and was still thirsty!!!! I am very full this morning but am holding water...although I now have veins coming down my abs due to the fullness I can feel the water in my fingers.....so today marks 4 weeks out. I am dropping the whey from my diet, I am adding 4 HMB tabs 3x per day and I am adding 2 yohimbee to my pre morning WO supps of 2 hydroxy and 3 dandylion, then 1 more yohimbee with my evening meal. Other than that no more big changes until the final week out...which I am still not quite sure how to handle but will think on it.

Tatyana....I had to google your menu...dang Girl it really looked good, and if I had eaten it, IT WAS SO NOT WORTH THE CALORIES

 

[Thandie]

OK I ate pizza for dinner and had a meat ball sandwich for lunch...for desert I added the bun to the cinnabun topping with a side of ice cream.....I drank a bottle of diet coke and was still thirsty!!!! I am very full this morning but am holding water...although I now have veins coming down my abs due to the fullness I can feel the water in my fingers.....so today marks 4 weeks out. I am dropping the whey from my diet, I am adding 4 HMB tabs 3x per day and I am adding 2 yohimbee to my pre morning WO supps of 2 hydroxy and 3 dandylion, then 1 more yohimbee with my evening meal. Other than that no more big changes until the final week out...which I am still not quite sure how to handle but will think on it.

Tatyana....I had to google your menu...dang Girl it really looked good, and if I had eaten it, IT WAS SO NOT WORTH THE CALORIES

Oh my dear God! you had all that? good for you..
I have to think what to cheat on after my comp. I can't eat any of those items because I haven't had it for years and I'd get sick.
Any ideas for this one?
I can't have dairy and no fry please. I know, I know, I'm boring..

 

[sessa]

I guess the time is coming soon, I just wanted to say good luck!!!

 

[Tatyana]

Oh my dear God! you had all that? good for you..
I have to think what to cheat on after my comp. I can't eat any of those items because I haven't had it for years and I'd get sick.
Any ideas for this one?
I can't have dairy and no fry please. I know, I know, I'm boring..

I ususally have a bar of green and black's chocolate a day for about four days in a row after a comp.

I have read your love of date, fig syrup also rules or dates stuffed with cacao nibs.

I often go for stuff like rice cakes/good quality bread with natural PB and honey as well.

God, I am about 8 weeks out and still have too much bodyfat, I shouldn't be thinking about food in this way.

 

[DBBT]

all pics posted

WOW

you ALL look awesome, great work!

 

[needtogetaas]

wow. good job.

 

[mydawgs]

Ok this is the start of my 3rd week out. I have switched over to fish for all meals but the 1st and third. I am dropping a pound a week on average, don't care I'm still very strong...I actually feel sort of hyped.

I have to leave tomorrow for a business trip...OF COURSE!!!!! I am packing tuna and salmon in a pouch (in water of course) to put over veges for those all day meeting lunches...of which I most likely can eat very little of. Breakfast and dinner are cool. I will be packing almonds for a snack at the longest breaks. What is cool is the hotel I am staying at has a big a** gym on the first floor that opens at 5am....I am so there, heh heh

Anyway I am changing my posing routine up a little and I think I have that under control - and I am not even showing signs of being a wicked b*tch yet........

 

[Thandie]

Ok this is the start of my 3rd week out. I have switched over to fish for all meals but the 1st and third. I am dropping a pound a week on average, don't care I'm still very strong...I actually feel sort of hyped.

I have to leave tomorrow for a business trip...OF COURSE!!!!! I am packing tuna and salmon in a pouch (in water of course) to put over veges for those all day meeting lunches...of which I most likely can eat very little of. Breakfast and dinner are cool. I will be packing almonds for a snack at the longest breaks. What is cool is the hotel I am staying at has a big a** gym on the first floor that opens at 5am....I am so there, heh heh

Anyway I am changing my posing routine up a little and I think I have that under control - and I am not even showing signs of being a wicked b*tch yet........

You're going to kick some big time ass, mydwags...

 

[DBBT]

Ok this is the start of my 3rd week out. I have switched over to fish for all meals but the 1st and third. I am dropping a pound a week on average, don't care I'm still very strong...I actually feel sort of hyped.

I have to leave tomorrow for a business trip...OF COURSE!!!!! I am packing tuna and salmon in a pouch (in water of course) to put over veges for those all day meeting lunches...of which I most likely can eat very little of. Breakfast and dinner are cool. I will be packing almonds for a snack at the longest breaks. What is cool is the hotel I am staying at has a big a** gym on the first floor that opens at 5am....I am so there, heh heh

Anyway I am changing my posing routine up a little and I think I have that under control - and I am not even showing signs of being a wicked b*tch yet........

what kind of fish are you eating, is orange roughy available? how much fat/protein are you eating each meal?

 

[mydawgs]

what kind of fish are you eating, is orange roughy available? how much fat/protein are you eating each meal?

Meal 1 egg whites
Meal 2,4,5,6 Orange Roughy or Cod
Meal 3 chicken

Aprox 220 gr protien
Less than 10 g fat per day, pretty evenly distributed through out the day but for the chicken meal....a little higher protien, but fats equalized with other meals due to the almonds for th most part

 

[Tatyana]

What date is your comp again?

 

[mydawgs]

What date is your comp again?

It is the Todd Howe/Tracy Greenwood show in Philly June 28th.....

How you doin????? When is your show and where?

 

[Beachboy6294]

Wow all of you women look great in your pics!! I have been hearing some great advice in this thread. Mydawg I look forward to hearing how you doing in the show you look really awesome and I love the legs!!

 

[Tatyana]

It is the Todd Howe/Tracy Greenwood show in Philly June 28th.....

How you doin????? When is your show and where?

My first two qualfiers, and the ones that I REALLY want to do are either July 27th, BNBF (British Natural BBing Federation) central at St. Albans, or August 11th, BNBF South at Bogner Regis.

I have a lot of cardio to do to be ready for these.

There are a few more qualifiers in September, one for the NPA (natural physique association - nattie for life) and if the UKBFF/NPA hasn't changed their regs AGAIN, I may do one of their qualifiers in September as well.

All of the finals (crosses fingers) are in October.

 

[Beachboy6294]

My first two qualfiers, and the ones that I REALLY want to do are either July 27th, BNBF (British Natural BBing Federation) central at St. Albans, or August 11th, BNBF South at Bogner Regis.

I have a lot of cardio to do to be ready for these.

There are a few more qualifiers in September, one for the NPA (natural physique association - nattie for life) and if the UKBFF/NPA hasn't changed their regs AGAIN, I may do one of their qualifiers in September as well.

All of the finals (crosses fingers) are in October.

Tat will you be posting pics when you get closer to the contest and after? I would love to see them!

 

[mydawgs]

Yes Tatyana we want PICS!!!!!! Two weeks to go and I am doing well. Thanks to some words of wisdom from GUARDIAN I switched up my rep leg work and the tear drops have appeared!!!! YESSSsssssssssss

Pulling for my girl Thandie....you go and I will be thinking of you on our comp day. You said NY right...was hoping you meant Philly and then we could meet!!!!

Anyway my life has been crazy...my youngest graduated HS on Friday and I was in Boston the week prior....Felt like my diet wasn't as regulated as I normally am as I had to steal time to eat during those all day meetings...but the working out was ALL THAT and more. Since the gym was in the lobby of the hotel...I was there several times a day!!!!!!!

I'll start posting some pics the end of this week........

Stay pumped all

 

[Bikini Mod]

I have so much respect and admiration for BOTH of you ladies. You are truly inspirational and we are very very pleased to have you actively participating in our forum.

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Thandie]

Yes Tatyana we want PICS!!!!!! Two weeks to go and I am doing well. Thanks to some words of wisdom from GUARDIAN I switched up my rep leg work and the tear drops have appeared!!!! YESSSsssssssssss

Pulling for my girl Thandie....you go and I will be thinking of you on our comp day. You said NY right...was hoping you meant Philly and then we could meet!!!!

Anyway my life has been crazy...my youngest graduated HS on Friday and I was in Boston the week prior....Felt like my diet wasn't as regulated as I normally am as I had to steal time to eat during those all day meetings...but the working out was ALL THAT and more. Since the gym was in the lobby of the hotel...I was there several times a day!!!!!!!

I'll start posting some pics the end of this week........




Stay pumped all

I'm pulling for you, my dear friend. And I do wish we were doing the same show, but maybe some day we will. I'm doing INBF in NYC.
I hope your prep is getting better by this time. Two weeks out and looking forward to some new pictures.
I don't know how you do it, but I had a long weekend seminar and it basically sucked the life out of me. I'm looking flat and in need of some good feeding.

 

[Tatyana]

Yes, feed yourself.

I have posted some things on leptin and re-feeds.

I do think it is important to eat above dieting/maintainance everynow and then to keep your metabolism in high gear.

Really, our bodies protect against starvation, not against getting fat.

 

[mydawgs]

I'm pretty tight, throwin a few more keytones than normal..but a little food like Tatyana says will cure that. I talked with my posing coach today, she said to chill after wednesday on the legs...they are very tight but the definition is smooth on the cuts. She said relief from the cardio with the food should sharpen them up. Been posing and doing my routine...lord I think that is harder than cardio!

Well haedin for some sleep. 4 am comes fast!

Night all!

 

[dabuffguy]

Just got back from my friends - Stacys (Fitness Pro). She said we had limited results. Here is why. I was still pulling carbs last night. Water loading - dead on, decarbing - dead on, loading - like spittin into the wind!

So after doubling my carb intake on thursday and fri...I ate a huge steak and yam, this morning I ate a cheeseburger, 1.5 hrs later 3 rice cakes with cinnabun topping, 1.5 hrs later rice cake again, 20 min later 1/2 box of mike and ike, 1 capsule of niacin....and I was lookin good for about 2 hrs!!!! Then tightened right back up again. Stacy said I have been in this condition for such a long time that my metabolism is ZONING big time. No working out today and I am supposed to have a cheat day...not cheat meal, cheat day. Well hell having real sugar in my coffee is a cheat....

Here I am: (at least for a few hrs)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0138.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0152.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0146.jpg

My camera ran out of charge and my friend had a hard time taking clear pics..

Hopefully the cheat day will shock my metabolism so I can dezone a little and train it to be more accepting of carbs quicker....

So I can eat anything I want today....suggestions??? Seriously I am thinkinga PB&J and feelin guilty about that HA

Wow, fantastic!

 

[mydawgs]

Well 6 days to go and I have to say, I kicked my own a** today. Feeling the strain a bit. My right knee is pretty tight. I think I have been lean for too long. I am so tempted to do another show on the 12th of July but this old body is starting to complain...LOL

I will get some pics up tomorrow, I am going to see my trainer at 9 am for the take off inspection! I feel really tight and I like the way I am looking. Not looking forward to the "rest after wednesday" bit. It makes me crazy to not work out, but if I want to carb up efficiently I have to chill.

Posing and running through my routine today left me spent and shakey. I should have done this pre lifting/cardio...but tryin to sqeak out as much BF before next Saturday. Tomorrow starts the water loading...love 2 gallons of distilled...yea right. I have been doing a gallon a day to get my body used to whats about to come.

Incidently, start sending some good vibes to my friend and trainer Stacy Simons as she readys for the Olympia...she is DA BOMB!!!!!! No one does fitness like this girl and the back from hell, and on top of all that talent she is just down right a sweetie!!!!!

Thandie I hope you are hangin tough, I absolutely love your look. Are you craving sugar these days, because I sure am. I wonder what this means....I dream about home made shmores, Lord I could gobble one of them up RIGHT NOW!

Tatyana hope you are doing well too....can't wait to see that body ready for the stage, you know you are FINE!!!!!

Well time to kick my feet up and chill on the sofa until my next meal....then off to the store for some HMB, runnin low.

Happy training all....wish me luck as I start the decarb tomorrow, cutting starchy carbs from all meals but 1 and 2. Pray that the carb loading is quick and efficient...I will be!

Happy training all.

 

[GUARDIAN]

Good luck!

Well 6 days to go and I have to say, I kicked my own a** today. Feeling the strain a bit. My right knee is pretty tight. I think I have been lean for too long. I am so tempted to another show on the 12th of July but this old body is starting to complain...LOL

I will get some pics up tomorrow, I am going to see my trainer at 9 am for the take off inspection! I feel really tight and I like the way I am looking. Not looking forward to the "rest after wednesday" bit. It makes me crazy to not work out, but if I want to carb up efficiently I have to chill.

Posing and running through my routine today left me spent and shakey. I should have done this pre lifting/cardio...but tryin to sqeak out as much BF before next Saturday. Tomorrow starts the water loading...love 2 gallons of distilled...yea right. I have been doing a gallon a day to get my body used to whats about to come.

Incidently, start sending some good vibes to my friend and trainer Stacy Simons as she readys for the Olympia...she is DA BOMB!!!!!! No one does fitness like this girl and the back from hell, and on top of all that talent she is just down right a sweetie!!!!!

Thandie I hope you are hangin tough, I absolutely love your look. Are you craving sugar these days, because I sure am. I wonder what this means....I dream about home made shmores, Lord I could gobble one of them up RIGHT NOW!

Tatyana hope you are doing well too....can't wait to see that body ready for the stage, you know you are FINE!!!!!

Well time to kick my feet up and chill on the sofa until my next meal....then off to the store for some HMB, runnin low.

Happy training all....wish me luck as I start the decarb tomorrow, cutting starchy carbs from all meals but 1 and 2. Pray that the carb loading is quick and efficient...I will be!

Happy training all.

 

[Thandie]

Well 6 days to go and I have to say, I kicked my own a** today. Feeling the strain a bit. My right knee is pretty tight. I think I have been lean for too long. I am so tempted to do another show on the 12th of July but this old body is starting to complain...LOL

I will get some pics up tomorrow, I am going to see my trainer at 9 am for the take off inspection! I feel really tight and I like the way I am looking. Not looking forward to the "rest after wednesday" bit. It makes me crazy to not work out, but if I want to carb up efficiently I have to chill.

Posing and running through my routine today left me spent and shakey. I should have done this pre lifting/cardio...but tryin to sqeak out as much BF before next Saturday. Tomorrow starts the water loading...love 2 gallons of distilled...yea right. I have been doing a gallon a day to get my body used to whats about to come.

Incidently, start sending some good vibes to my friend and trainer Stacy Simons as she readys for the Olympia...she is DA BOMB!!!!!! No one does fitness like this girl and the back from hell, and on top of all that talent she is just down right a sweetie!!!!!

Thandie I hope you are hangin tough, I absolutely love your look. Are you craving sugar these days, because I sure am. I wonder what this means....I dream about home made shmores, Lord I could gobble one of them up RIGHT NOW!

Tatyana hope you are doing well too....can't wait to see that body ready for the stage, you know you are FINE!!!!!

Well time to kick my feet up and chill on the sofa until my next meal....then off to the store for some HMB, runnin low.

Happy training all....wish me luck as I start the decarb tomorrow, cutting starchy carbs from all meals but 1 and 2. Pray that the carb loading is quick and efficient...I will be!

Happy training all.

Can't wait to see new pictures of you. You must be rocking!!!
You are absolutely right; I am craving sugar like mad. Keep thinking about Medjool dates and other sweet things. That's going to be the first thing I'll eat after comp.
I'm struggling with 1.5g of water. I can easy do 1g, but 1.5g is tough.

What do you eat on contest day? My nutritionist has me on lots of chicken, brown rice, sweet potato, salad, rice cake & peanut butter. Then, if & when I need it; Pizza, muffin, gatorate and lots of water.

looking forward to your pics...

 

[drsketch]

Looking great!

 

[mydawgs]

Can't wait to see new pictures of you. You must be rocking!!!
You are absolutely right; I am craving sugar like mad. Keep thinking about Medjool dates and other sweet things. That's going to be the first thing I'll eat after comp.
I'm struggling with 1.5g of water. I can easy do 1g, but 1.5g is tough.

What do you eat on contest day? My nutritionist has me on lots of chicken, brown rice, sweet potato, salad, rice cake & peanut butter. Then, if & when I need it; Pizza, muffin, gatorate and lots of water.

looking forward to your pics...

My first meal on contest day is a steak, red potato and aspargus.

Then after that every two hrs chicken, rice cakes and strawberry preserves - (1 niacin - only once - not sure when, any one have suggestions?)

Right before stage 3 rc & strawb, 1T honey and 2 oz red wine

After pre - judge cheesebuger no bread

Stacy was very happy with me - wish I was as happy.....looking too often I suppose

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0186.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0188.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0187.jpg

Good grief I hate distilled water....

My face is trying not to say...I have to pee...LOL

 

[GUARDIAN]

ripped!

My first meal on contest day is a steak, red potato and aspargus.

Then after that every two hrs chicken, rice cakes and strawberry preserves - (1 niacin - only once - not sure when, any one have suggestions?)

Right before stage 3 rc & strawb, 1T honey and 2 oz red wine

After pre - judge cheesebuger no bread

Stacy was very happy with me - wish I was as happy.....looking too often I suppose

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0186.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0188.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/MyDawgs/FILE0187.jpg

Good grief I hate distilled water....

My face is trying not to say...I have to pee...LOL

 

[mydawgs]

ripped!

Hey you, thanks to that little tip you gave me on the tear drop, that was the first thing Stacy noticed!!!! They arn't as killer as yours but a huge improvement from the last show. Once I dump the water and carb up I might be junior GUARDIAN material!!!! Thank you so much...you are awesome!