Bikini Contest Prep // THE PLAN

I started working out with my trainer this week and it's been very challenging.  I'm training to enter a fitness bikini contest that is just shy of 15 weeks away- July 5.  This post is a brief overview of the training plan so that you can get started too.  If you want a bikini body this summer, you need to start working on it now!  As the weeks progress, if the plan changes, I'll let you know.  I will also break down the exercises into more specific details in future posts.  

 Jennifer Nicole Lee image via

For now, here's the plan: 

TRAINING PLAN (15 WEEKS OUT)

WORKOUTS

Workout 3 days a week with my trainer (1 hour sessions, hitting all body parts in those 3 sessions).  The workouts consist of plyometrics- also known as "jump training" based on having your muscles exert maximum force in as short a time as possible.  The result is to make you burn calories and fat, seeing body-shaping results sooner as your muscles adapt to more challenging fitness workouts.  We have been doing 3 exercises in quick succession (12-20 reps) followed by a 2-minute rest.  We've been doing 4 rounds of this, so 12 different exercises in all.  This kind of workout really gets your heart pumping and I'm gasping for breath by the end of each set.  But not so much so that I'm getting light headed or going to pass out.  My trainer said in 3 weeks, my conditioning will be greatly improved and these first workouts will seem easy.  I'm trying to remember the specific exercises so I can write about them in more detail later. 

CARDIO 

I do 4- 30 minute cardio sessions per week on my own.  I usually do the treadmill (sprints - 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off at a 8.0 mph or walk at an incline of 21 at 2.1 - 2.5 speed without holding on.)  Or I get on the stair master and alternate between 60-80.

ABS

I do an ab routine right before cardio 4 times a week.  

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

I take all the same vitamins and supplements I posted about with the addition of glutamine (for muscle recovery).  I haven't bought the glutamine yet, but will soon. 

MEALS 

I haven't had to change my eating at all since I've been on a solid meal plan for the last 7 weeks.  My trainer said that we're going to see how I do with the exercise and cardio first, without changing my diet.  Then, we'll add more cardio and/or adjust my diet as necessary.

Here's what my meals look like now:

7:00 a.m.  Protein pancake (1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 4-5 egg whites w/ 1 tblsp natural peanut butter and 1 tblsp sugar free syrup.  Coffee with vanilla caramel creamer.

9:30 a.m.   Lean protein (appx. 4 oz), 1 cup veggies, 1/3 cup brown rice

12:00 p.m.  Protein shake

3:00 p.m.  Lean protein (appx. 4 oz), 1 cup veggies, 1/3 cup brown rice

6:00 p.m.  Lean protein (appx. 4 oz), 1 cup veggies

8:30 p.m.  Greek yogurt

This is a general guideline.  I still use condiments and seasonings.  Snacks include cashew, apple or celery with natural peanut butter.

(My meals vary week to week, right now I'm eating my Tex Mex but have added brown rice and bell peppers and I also steamed asparagus to eat on the side). 

BIKINI CONTEST GOAL FAT PERCENTAGE = 8-12%

Whoa! That's really low, right?!  My trainer explained that the goal of our training plan is to decrease body fat while increasing muscle mass.  He understands that the "bikini" girls are not supposed to be huge, just fit/athletic-looking with visible abs.  He commented that most people come to him in less good shape than I'm already in, but there is still a lot of work to do. 

I really like his approach though because he advises that the process should be enjoyable and I shouldn't feel miserable or like I'm dying.  He's careful to let me take a break when we're working out when he sees that I need it, but he's still super challenging.  I can tell you I wouldn't workout this hard with plyometrics if I didn't have a trainer.  I do enjoy (for the most part) my meals and eating healthy. Like most people, I have a lot of stresses in my life.  My dad is sick (but healed in Jesus' name), my mom is worried sick, my brother is going through stuff and life can be hard in general.  God, the power of prayer, keeping tight with my family, and working out HARD are my stress relievers.  I am thankful that God made me capable of exercise, that I have the physical ability to do it.  

We will measure my body fat on Friday, so we'll see where I am now.  I am so curious to see what my body will look like as we continue.  

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YOU CAN DO IT, BUT WILL YOU?

What our health and happiness come down are choices.  I make a choice each day to eat healthy, exercise, and respond to life the best way I can as a Christian woman.  I am not perfect, do not claim to be, and my goals in life are about progress and never the “P” for perfection word.  I struggle with things just like you do, have had my share of crap in this journey of life, emotionally and physically, and I have come out the other side learning and growing in a positive direction.

I will always be a work in progress, and we are all that in this life.  I enjoy writing which is why I Blog and what better way to provide motivation than to share me with you.  You will either like me or not, and that is a choice as well.  Reading my Blog gives you a small glimpse of me, although I try to be thorough, it is not the same as developing a close “friend” relationship chatting up a topic of conversation.  As an internet personality, I have had and do get my share of “haters” as the net likes to call them, but also a great number of supporters, but through this process, my goal and intention is to reach out and get people thinking about their health, making CHOICES to change and adapt healthier ways of living, and ultimately a healthy lifestyle. 

I am a trainer and coach who is passionate about helping people, and I do walk the talk of my mission.  I do not accept excuses or reasons why health is not made a priority and that is not called being unreasonable, it is being truthful.  I am not talking about reasons such as an upcoming surgery, injury, or illness that has unfortunately put a person in a position of inability to exercise.  I have suffered that journey and understand the frustrations, and emotions of dealing with such a crisis.  I am addressing the everyday person walking around with so much created busyness that they “think” that they just can’t fit in an hour of exercise at least 3 days per week, or prepare healthy meals. 

YOU CAN DO IT….BUT WILL YOU?  That is the question of the Blog and each of us has a conscience controlled decision to make when it comes to taking care of our health in all aspects.  We choose to exercise, eat healthy, be happy, and let go of pointless drama that is out of our control.  We choose how we spend the precious minutes gifted to each of us daily, and how we respond to the situations of this life.  I motivate YOU with “YOU CAN DO IT” because you can, and this coming from one busy business woman, wife, mother, grandmother, who is basically fifty and experiencing the throws of menopausal symptoms and existing injuries.  There are times that I feel like I can’t do it, and that is the honest truth.  It is in those moments, that I have to dig deep inside me and pull out the strong, and hope that the motivation kicks in mid workout.  YES, I am just like you, but the choice of “WILL YOU” is always mine and yours. 

This is not about comparison of me to you, but a straight up calling you out on the carpet and asking “WILL YOU start a healthy lifestyle?” and if not, WHY?  I will tell you that YOU CAN DO IT, but it will take the action of YOU to make it happen.  If you feel this is coming on strong, then I have accomplished a goal of getting you to think, maybe even creating some feelings that have been stuffed inside yourself too long and it is time to cleanse that body emotionally and physically.  Are you angry, bitter, frustrated, unhappy, and using the “too busy” title or other reasons to not address those things.  If that is the case, time for some internal cleaning of house, and time to get healthy.  YOU CAN DO IT…BUT WILL YOU?

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Stay Healthy!

Darla

Corrections to the New Review Paper on Dietary Fat and Cardiovascular Risk

The meta-analysis by Chowdhury et al. raised quite a furor from certain segments of researchers and the popular media.  I find this reaction interesting.  I usually write about obesity, which is a topic of great interest to people, but my post about the review paper received more than twice my usual traffic.  People whose findings or opinions are questioned by the paper are aggressively denouncing it in the media, even calling for retraction (1).  This resembles what happens every time a high-profile review paper is published that doesn't support the conventional stance on fatty acids and health (e.g., Siri-Tarino et al. [2], which despite much gnashing of teeth is still standing*).  I'm not sure why this issue in particular arouses such excitement, but I find it amusing and disturbing at the same time.  This kind of reaction would be totally out of place in most other fields of science, where aggressive public media outbursts by researchers are usually frowned upon.

As it turns out, the critics have a point this time.  Significant errors were uncovered in the original version of the meta-analysis, which have been corrected in the current version (3).  These include the following two errors, one of which alters the conclusion somewhat:

• The outcome of one observational study on omega-3 fatty acids was reported as slightly negative, when it was actually strongly positive.  This changes the conclusion of the meta-analysis, making it somewhat more favorable to omega-3 consumption for cardiovascular protection.
• The authors left out two studies on omega-6 fatty acids.  These didn't change the overall conclusions on omega-6.

Read more »

Extra Lean Ground Turkey Fried Rice

Oh my goodness friends!  I made a meal that I'm in love with and couldn't wait to share it with you. Last week I posted about my pre-made extra lean ground turkey meals.  I ended up adding 1/3 cup of steamed brown rice to get some carbs in and then, to change it up, I decided to make it Asian and fry up an egg and onion in a tiny bit of peanut oil (a "good" fat) and then added in the pre-made meal.  It is so good! 

Here is a pic of the pre-made meals (before I added the steamed brown rice).

To make the meals:

Extra lean ground turkey (I buy 99% lean) - brown it with mushrooms, chopped onion, garlic, about 2 tablespoons of worchestershire sauce, low sodium soy sauce, and Dijon mustard

Steamed chopped veggies (I used zucchini, squash, and carrot)

Steamed brown rice 

In each meal is about 3/4 cup of the meat, 3/4 cup to 1 cup veggies, 1/3 cup of rice.

To make the fried rice version:

Fry up some eggs in a tablespoon of peanut oil along with chopped onion (scallions would be perfect but I didn't have any).  On medium-high heat, add in the rice, turkey mixture, and veggies.  Let the rice get "fried" and keep stirring until it's all heated through.

For one meal, I added one or two eggs- this was for two meals.

Let me know if you try it! 

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Bikini Contest Prep Update: So far I've met with my trainer once and we train again tomorrow (where he'll measure my body composition and give me a meal plan).  I'll be sharing those details with you soon! 

Book Review: Your Personal Paleo Code

Chris Kresser has been a major figure in the ancestral health community for some time now.  It's funny to recall that I was actually one of his first readers, back in the early days of his blog when it was called The Healthy Skeptic and the audience was small.  Chris's readership rapidly eclipsed mine, and now he's in high demand for his ability to convey ideas clearly and offer practical solutions to important health concerns.

He recently published a book titled Your Personal Paleo Code, which also happens to be a New York Times bestseller.  The primary goal of the book is to help you develop a diet and lifestyle that support health and well-being by starting from a generally healthy template and personalizing it to your needs.  Let's have a look.

Introduction

Kresser opens with the poignant story of his own health problems, which began with an infectious illness in Indonesia and several courses of antibiotic therapy.  After years of struggling with the resulting symptoms, trying a variety of diets, and finally accepting his condition, he was unexpectedly able to recover his health by adopting a personalized Paleo-like diet that included bone broth and fermented foods.

Why Paleo?

Read more »

Would you do health impact assessments if you didn't have to?

Carrot and Stick by Bruce Thomson

There's an interesting article by Elsa João and Anna McLauchlan in the latest issue of Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. They asked 187 Scottish Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEA) practitioners "if SEA was not compulsory, would you do it?"

This made me wonder about this question in relation to HIA. In many, if not most settings, there is not a requirement that makes HIA's use compulsory. For most HIA practitioners this question is not a hypothetical one. We encounter it in relation to every HIA.

Some recent  research I was involved in found that only 7% of HIAs conducted in Australia and New Zealand between 2005 and 2009 were done to meet a legal or regulatory requirement.

The overwhelming majority of Scottish survey respondents said they would do SEA even if it was not compulsory. In HIA practice we rarely have to wonder, which is a luxury in some ways. Most HIAs are done freely and to learn something. The link between voluntary involvement and the ability to learn something from HIAs is not theoretical. As my colleagues and I found in this study, the extent to which participants had a degree of choice or control over their involvement in an HIA had an impact on their receptiveness to learning from the HIA process and acting on its recommendations.

Interestingly, even though the survey was looking at SEA in Scotland where its use is mandated, the themes identified through the survey resonate with those we encounter in promoting HIA's use:

• the perception that a similar process are already being done;
• a lack of resources;
• the need for a ‘leaner process’; and
• the difficulties that can arise when external conditions or many decisions have already been determined.

The article is well worth reading, here's the abstract:

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is undertaken in more than 60 countries worldwide. Support to the SEA process can range from formal legal requirements to voluntary ‘ad hoc’ approaches. In the cases where SEA is legally required, such as in Europe where the SEA Directive sets a framework for SEA legislation in 28 countries, practitioners may engage with SEA but in a reluctant way. This paper reports on a unique survey of 203 key people responsible for implementing the SEA legislative requirement in Scotland. The majority (53%) of the 187 practitioners who answered the hypothetical question ‘If SEA was not compulsory, would you do it?’ said ‘Yes’. However, results suggest that the responses were much nuanced. Practitioners were asked to explicate their reasoning and, irrespective of whether the answer was ‘yes’ or ‘no’, common themes were evident in accompanying remarks. This paper enables reflection on reasons for acceptance or rejection of the SEA process by discussing: the perception that a similar process to SEA is already being done, the problem with lack of resources, the call for a ‘leaner process’ and the difficulties of undertaking SEA when conditions are already determined at a higher ‘tier’.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/iapa/2014/00000032/00000002/art00001

From Katie Hirono on behalf of the US Society of Practitioners of Health Impact Assessment:

The Society of Practitioners of Health Impact Assessment (SOPHIA) seeks recommendations for exemplary HIA reports for the 2014 list of outstanding HIA reports. The SOPHIA Model HIA Reports Library functions as a periodically updated repository of exemplary HIA reports. The library is intended for:

1. People who are unfamiliar with HIA and want to understand what a high caliber HIA report product might look like (for example, people thinking of commissioning an HIA)

1. HIA practitioners seeking above average HIA reports as a reference

You may recommend HIAs done by yourself or other practitioners. The HIA can be on a project or policy, done in any location both in the U.S. and abroad, and be either stand-alone or done as part of an integrated assessment.  As we have already selected reports from 2009 – 2012, ideally these reports would have been released within the past 2 years. 

You must be a member of SOPHIA to submit a recommended HIA report (but can join easily here: http://hiasociety.org/?page_id=48). Or, click here to submit a recommendation: http://hiasociety.org/?page_id=29

Bikini Competition Prep (15 Weeks Out)

I have always wanted to enter one of those fitness bikini competitions, but never have.  My first one will be July 5, 2014!

via

Jamie Eason has been my inspiration because she is short like me and I admired her physique, thinking mine could look similar if I really dedicated myself.

via

I know that to get in that kind of shape, you have to train hard consistently, but equally as important, you have to eat in a very regimented way (5-6 small meals a day with a specific balance of protein, carbs and fat).  I never thought I had the discipline to sustain that kind of lifestyle for any length of time so I let that goal go, and went on with life, but continued working out and tried to stay in shape.  But, back of my mind, I always wished I would have gone for my goal and wondered, "What if?".  

Last year, my cousin began competing in fitness competitions (over age 40!) and she recently visited from California, encouraging me to enter one this year as well.  She helped me get online and find a contest close to home that I could train for.  A "typical" training period is 12 weeks (for those who have done them before), but I chose a competition that is currently 15 weeks away (July 5 to be exact), and I start training with a trainer 3 days a week starting tomorrow- Monday, March 24- and I'll also workout on my own.  My trainer will prepare a meal plan for me.  Since I have been eating really clean and 5 meals a day for the last 7 weeks, I'm more mentally prepared to keep it up through the contest prep time.  We'll see . . . .

15 WEEKS OUT

Here is what I look like now (15 weeks out from the July 5 competition):  As you can see, I have quite a bit of muscle to gain.  I'm 5'1 and weigh about 110 now. 

I'm super excited to see how I can develop my body in this amount of time and I'm happy to be reaching for one of my "bucket list" goals, even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else. This is a perfect time for me to train for this competition because I'm currently staying home and my son is in pre-school part of the day.  I take care of our household, keep up my two blogs (this one and Honey We're Home), and help out my parents, but I'm the kind of person who likes to have lots going on, accomplishing things throughout the day.  

I'll have to figure the training out as we go since my son's school ends in May.  I know that lots of women do this kind of training while working full-time, but I don't know how they do it (especially when they have kids too)!  

_______________

For background, in terms of female fitness competitions there are several divisions in the NPC (National Physique Committee of the USA) and I will be competing in the "bikini" division. 

Bodybuilding- extreme, big, bulky muscles (think women with muscles as big or bigger than men)

Physique- similar to bodybuilding, but toned down a few notches

Fitness- very lean and muscular, but no extreme bulk or veins and requires a 2-minute routine scored for strength, flexibility, and cardio/tempo

Figure- small degree of muscularity with separation, but no visible striations, overall muscle tone with shapely lines, firmness; lean but not excessively ripped. Overall appearance including make-up, suit and skin tone is part of the package. Muscular but still feminine; definitely not as much size as a bodybuilder.

Bikini- very athletic and fit with balance and shape, usually with visible abs

BIKINI DIVISION RULES FOR NPC TEXAS

POSING SUITS: Bikini contest posing suits (two-piece) for am prejudging must be brought to check-in and be approved by the Head Judge. The bottom of the suit should be in good taste – not too low in front and covering 50% of the gluteus area (bring a second suit with a more modest bottom, just in case). Bikini suits should be “off the rack” types. Thong suits are not allowed. Competitors must wear high heels. Jewelry may be worn (think tasteful). 

You should bring a second suit in case there are questions about a suit style or some other mishap occurs. Emphasis is on “tasteful”, remember these are family shows. There are also a variety of different products to temporarily glue your suit to your body. 

HAIR / MAKEUP: While there are no rules on how to wear your hair, just remember that judges cannot judge what they cannot see. Remember to move your hair aside so the judges can see your back development. For makeup, the more finished and feminine you appear, the better your overall presentation. Keep in mind your face and body tan should blend. 

POSES: The bikini swimsuit round will consist of the model walk at center stage – front stance with hand on hip, full turn to a back stance with hand on hip, and return to front stance. No lewd acts are permitted and will result in disqualification. 

SCORING: The scoring for bikini will be done during prejudging in one round –two-piece. Live scoring at the night show consists of front/back turns. 

Judges will be scoring competitors using the following criteria: 1) Balance and Shape; 2) Overall physical appearance including complexion, skin tone, poise and overall presentation.

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via

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I will be tracking my progress here and will share my training regimen and diet as I prepare.  Kinda scared for my first training session tomorrow . . . . . 

The effectiveness of HIAs conducted in Australia and New Zealand

It occurred to me that I haven't posted a link to the final report on the Australian Research Council-funded study on the effectiveness of HIAs conducted in Australia and New Zealand between 2005 and 2009. The report has lots of information in it. Download it here.

San Francisco Department of Public Health's annual Health Impact Assessment Practitioners' Training

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the San Francisco Department of Public Health's annual Health Impact Assessment Practitioners' Training (July 14-17, 2014). Register early at the link http://bit.ly/1mhK7lh

What is Health Impact Assessment?
Health impact assessment (HIA) is most often defined as “a combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population” (World Health Organization, 1999).  

The field of HIA and the process of getting health into decision-making continues to evolve and grow http://www.healthimpactproject.org/hia/us

How will you and your team enhance skill sets, leverage big data, meaningfully engage communities, and have collective impact? HIA is one of many tools that may be considered for health-protective policy and action.

About the SFDPH HIA Training

What:  
7th Annual Health Impact Assessment Practitioners Summer Training Course

Where:
TCE Oakland Conference Center, 1111 Broadway, 7th Floor, Oakland, CA

When:
July 14-17, 2014 (attendance all four days is mandatory)

Instructors:
HIA practitioners at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and community, academic, and local government partners

Cost:
$960 (includes the cost of course materials, breakfast and lunch; accommodations and travel not included).  We are working to raise funds to support attendance of organizations facing financial hardship. We STRONGLY encourage applications from community-based organizations who are actively planning, considering, or doing HIA to apply.

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

My last post dealt with my struggle through illness, and I must confess that at three weeks out, I am still dealing with residual upper respiratory issues and decreased energy.  My body definitely dictated my abilities and limitations and there was no way I was going to be able to return to high intensity workouts and my favorite HIIT routines have been taking a back seat for the moment.  This is all part of “realistic expectations” and although I may want something right now, it just is not going to happen.  Sadly, there is no such thing as here today and gone tomorrow, and patience is very important on our journey to health and fitness. I will share that it is frustrating though and it is OK to feel like that.  I am happy to be feeling better, working with my fabulous clients, and able to be social with family and friends.

My “Realistic Workouts” post illness started with no more than a six minute warm up, and basic large muscle movements like squats, lunges, pull-ups, light chest press, and core approximately ten reps and two sets for a total of thirty minutes.  Believe me, that was taxing enough and I was ready to stretch.  Today was my first twenty minute ARC trainer warm up and it felt pretty good, but I can still feel the lag on the energy.  It is so important to pay attention to what the body is saying, and it will scream when I have had enough. 

Realistic expectations involve creating plans that are reasonable, and obtainable.  Going into something with the wrong mindset, and with the expectation of achieving a goal that is impossible will cause feelings of discouragement, and often times the “give-up” decision is made before seeing any positive progress.  All effort toward weight loss and muscle gain is progress and it does not matter how long it takes, as long as the work is consistent and dedication to the program becomes a lifestyle.  Results happen when perseverance is put into place and healthy eating and consistent exercise is a lifestyle.  There is no magic pill that is going to create this lifestyle, but it is a wanting to be “REAL” about what it will take to obtain a healthy body and being patient through the process. We all want things to happen quicker than they do whether that be to look and feel healthier, have a better job, more money, new car or things, but the key is PATIENCE and REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. 

Rushing into a seemingly healthier body using unhealthy means, making a quick job decision that does not feel good, or grabbing that credit card to satisfy the “things” itch are all unhealthy ways of obtaining our wants without patience, and not being “realistic” or healthy with our choices overall.  Unhealthy choices like these are the cause of “yo-yo” diet frustration and gaining back even more weight, create an unhappy personal and job life, and open the door to credit card debt that leaves a person stressed to the financial max.  I have this saying that goes “Nothing Good Happens Fast” as it relates to these topics, and it really can be applied to many things in life.  Taking care of ourselves is about a healthy lifestyle, and the choices we make each day that keep us progressing in a healthy direction.  We all have the ability to get healthy and become our BEST self at any age, and any circumstance.  It is keeping our “Realistic Expectations” front and center in our life to make that happen. 

Gearing up for my fabulous fifty in May!

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Stay Healthy!

Darla

New Review Paper on Dietary Fat and Heart Disease Risk

A new review paper on dietary fatty acids and heart disease risk was just published by Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury and colleagues in the Annals of Internal Medicine-- one of the top medical journals (1).  The goal of the paper is to comprehensively review the studies evaluating the effect of dietary fatty acids on heart (coronary) disease.  The review covers observational and intervention studies pertaining to saturated, monounsaturated, trans, omega-6 polyunsaturated, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats.  The paper is notable for its comprehensiveness (inclusion criteria were very lax).

Here is a summary of the results:

• In observational studies that measured diet, only trans fat was related to cardiovascular risk.  Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats were unrelated to risk.
• In observational studies that measured circulating concentrations of fatty acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA, DPA, EPA, AA) were associated with lower risk.  The dairy-fat-derived margaric acid (17:0) was also associated with lower risk.  No other fatty acids were related to risk, including trans fatty acids.
• In controlled trials, supplementation with omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids did not alter risk.

The authors conclude:

In conclusion, the pattern of findings from this analysis did not yield clearly supportive evidence for current cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of saturated fats.  Nutritional guidelines on fatty acids and cardiovascular guidelines may require reappraisal to reflect the current evidence.

My view

Read more »

Operation Get Lean // Week 6 Recap

Hello 6 weeks!  I'm happy to report that I'm still sticking to my "get lean" program and I'm definitely seeing results- which inspires me to continue.  I saw on Pinterest recently a quote that said, "Summer bodies are made in the winter."  Luckily, we still have some time until summer, so might as well start now!  It's a bummer to be uncomfortable in your clothes when it's hot and sticky outside. 

I post progress pictures on my Instagram (@honeywerehome) and use #honeywerehealthy if you want to follow along.  

(This pic was snapped on Sunday, right after my shoulder workout.  If only they always looked so buff!) 

THE WORKOUTS

5 minute treadmill warmup (speed at 4.0), then go directly to planks.  I actually held a plank for 5 minutes!!! on Sunday.  (Which goes to show that often our physical ability is greater than our mental limitations.)  Having my stopwatch on my phone helps because I can see how long it's been.  I just felt good and wanted to see how long I could go for.  When I passed 4 minutes, I held on until 5, but it was super hard.  The next 2 planks I could only do 2 minutes each.

I'm also realizing that incorporating 3 planks into the workouts makes for a long workout- (3 planks for at least 3 minutes and 2 minutes rest in between = 15 minutes + 5 min warmup = 20 minutes before I even get to weights).  Now that I'm lifting heavier, I rest at least one minute between sets, so the workouts take longer there too.  And if I'm doing cardio at the end, that can be almost 2 hours at the gym on those days.  So, I may do one plank and then pushups.  Or just add in abs between sets and skip planks all together.  I could easily just do planks at home.  We'll see.

Also, I want to build my booty, so I'm doing squats and kickbacks every couple days (even on non-leg days).

Finally, I find that I really need more rest to recover.  My body is tired!  I'm trying to get at least 8 hours a night but it's hard because I'm a night owl.  My alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. and those mornings come fast! (Especially last week with the time change.)

Monday - Shoulders, 3 planks (3 min each)

Tuesday - Back & Booty, Cardio (20 minutes on stair master at Level 60)

Wednesday - Bicep/Tricep, 3 planks (3 min each), Cardio- 30 minutes on stair master at Level 60

Thursday - Legs, 3 planks (2 for 3 min- was going on 5 hours of sleep)  Cardio- 15 minutes on treadmill at 3.5 (this isn't really a cardio workout, but more of a way to stretch my legs after lifting heavy leg weights to make me less sore later).

Friday - Off

Saturday - Off 

Sunday - Shoulders & Booty, 3 planks (5 min, 2 min, 2 min)

You can see my specific workouts here:  

BACK

SHOULDERS

BICEP & TRICEP

LEGS & GLUTES 

THE MEALS

I'm still on THIS MEAL PLAN.  *UPDATE:  I'm adding 1/3 cup of carbs (brown rice) to the two earlier meals. 

7:00 a.m.  oatmeal, coffee with creamer, (and 3 egg whites- just started adding that this week

9:30 a.m.  protein shake (lately 1 scoop of protein powder with 8 oz 1% milk)

11:00 p.m.  lean protein and veggies and 1/3 cup of  brown rice

3:00 p.m.  lean protein and veggies and 1/3 cup of  brown rice or greek yogurt 

6:00 p.m. lean protein and veggies 

8:30-9  egg white omelet or greek yogurt 

I snacked on cashews and celery with natural peanut butter.

It's not difficult to prepare the meals since I usually cook in big batches (I find it's actually more time consuming and hard to come up with different meals for each day and then cook that night), but it's hard to be eating every few hours.  The times above are a guide, but if I'm hungry, I eat and if I'm not, I don't.  I'm not "forcing" myself to eat at those times.  I also keep my portions on the smaller size, and I don't eat until I'm stuffed.  I've found that this way of eating has helped keep my energy steady throughout the day.

I hate running low on my food and worrying about quickly having to cook something, so this week I'm prepared!

I use 3-cup Glad containers that I bought at my grocery store, but I found some online at Amazon too.

                                                                           

"Cheat" meals this week included: 

Monday- evening hot cocoa 

Thursday- 2 pieces of pizza

Friday- Starbuck's iced tall 2-pump mocha, no whip.

Saturday- BBQ (2 ribs, loaded baked potato (but they forgot the bacon:( 1/2 cup jalepeno creamed corn.

I also had 2 of these WW ice creams bars this week.  They are really good!

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Leg & Glute Workout

Happy Friday to you!  Today is a "rest" day - yippee, I need it!  I've trained heavy Monday through Thursday with my sleep all messed up and finally got a good night's rest last night.  I feel so much better.  We are having a bout of gorgeous weather here and I'm chaperoning a class field trip today so it's going to be a great day.  

Below is the LEG & GLUTE workout I did recently.  I'm training to add more muscle definition to my legs- I have lost so much over the years.  My calves are genetically round thanks to my mom, who has the same legs.  

SMITH MACHINE SQUATS

I always start with these, a great compound exercise that works primarily the thighs, hips, butt, quads, and hamstrings.  The "Smith Machine" keeps the barbell steady and will only move up and down (as opposed to forward and backward), providing more stability.  I put that cushion on the bar too behind my neck because it's more comfortable.  

Image via JP Training Systems

LEG PRESS

This machine might look intimidating, but I love it for training quads. I put 115 pounds on each side, for a total of 230- your legs are often stronger than you think! 

Image via Teach PE

BARBELL STEP-UPS

You step onto and off of the bench 10 times on each leg for a total of 20 reps.  This one really gets your heart rate up, but go at your own pace and be careful not to fall- place your whole foot on the bench, not just your toes. 

Via You Tube (click for video)

LEG EXTENSION

This machine isolates the quad muscles.  You'll need to adjust the back to fit your height.  I can use it on the "shortest" setting, but I found a back piece that fits into the chair and like using it so the machine fits me perfectly.  I put 70 pounds in the workout, but I'm up to 75 now. 

Images via Shape Fit

DEADLIFTS

A great hamstring exercise.  

Image via The Deadlift

STANDING CALF RAISES 

Image via Cybex

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Tricep/Bicep WORKOUT

Ready to get some nice, shapely arms?!  Here is a great workout for your biceps and triceps.  I used to not care too much about tricep or back exercises, but they are necessary to achieve that sculpted looked I'm going for.  

I've got a pretty good bicep coming along- it doesn't look that pumped unless I'm flexing though.  

This workout incorporates "dips" and "pushups" which you can do at home too.

SEATED TRICEP PRESS

Image via Katsized

DIPS (triceps)
I put my feet out farther than pictured below, it's more difficult that way.

Image via Women's Health

PUSHDOWNS (triceps)

Image via Nathalie Holmstroms 

Image via

Don't be intimidated by the machines.  Ask a trainer how to use them if you are unsure.  But, they usually have a modular that shows the body part the machine is intended for (blackened out or colored orange) and an illustrated drawing of how to do the exercise.

Some of the machines come with different attachments and you may need to switch them out to get the one you are looking for. At my gym, extra handles/attachments are kept in a specific spot, but sometimes I have to take one off of one machine and move it to the one I'm working on.  If I can't reach it, I'll just ask someone for help.  Also, I'm careful not to take a weight/attachment that someone is using- just ask first!  

They all "clip" on.  So, for instance, for TRICEP PUSHDOWNS, if you didn't want to do them with a rope (like the guy is doing in the second photo above) you can unclip it and replace it with a straight bar like in the photo of the woman. 

Also, most machines have plates that are weighted 1= 10 pounds, 2=20 pounds, 3=30 pounds, etc.  If you need 15 or 25 or 35 pounds, you can add a 5 pound plate.  Sometimes I have to look around to find a 5 pound plate- but they are usually hanging on the side of a machine.

NARROW PUSHUPS (triceps)

Image via Gorecess

INCLINE DUMBBELL CURLS (biceps)

Image via Bodybuilding.com

Image via EliteFTS

ALTERNATING DUMBBELL CURLS  (biceps)

Image via Women's Fitness UK

BARBELL CURLS "21"  (biceps)
These are my favorite!  Use a barbell and follow the guide below.

Image credit unknown

You can see my SHOULDER & BACK workouts too.

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