progress

I had to go back on my diet again yesterday - I was eating ALOT at the beginning of the week.

I thought I'd post a few progress pics that weren't of the standard norm!

Taken 2 weeks and 2 days out from the Masters - one of my more prominant bodyparts!!!

Some thoughts on my physique...

I had a good time running around stark naked in the woods with two men the other day!! Here is Kevin Fleming shooting me. It was on the verge of a downpour all afternoon, however we were able to escape the wrath of the storms, which were pretty wicked in surrounding areas. I had to spray a host of bug spray to keep the 'skeeters and horseflies off of me! The aroma of OFF mixed with ProTan is definitely not a sweet one.

The low diffuse lighting lent itself to the mood...we got alot of FANTASTIC images, and I can't wait to post some of them in my Members Section! Very artsy, and very naked! :)

We went into the studio the next morning, and shot some more.

Here is my two cents worth about my physique - when I don't flex, yes, there is muscle, but I do not wear it in a "muscular" fashion...sometimes it is not until I flex where some people actually realize that I have as much muscel. My physique is structured so that I could probably weigh in at 200 pounds and still not look as "muscular" as some women at 150. It is a curvy, athletic, feminine physique. Probably one of the more "marketable" physiques. However, onstage, I think that the judges will once again "miss" me, because of that fact. I can flex and hold my own, but they do their very first initial assessments from the quarter turns, and I'm not sure I look muscular enough. My arms are smaller in proportion to my torso than most national level female bodybuilders, not that I think that is bad, I think it looks more proportionate and more "feminine", but it is not what the judges are used to seeing, or liking. Heck, all dieted down right now unpumped they measure 15 and a half! My abs are of a different breed than most - they aren't the big, overdeveloped turtle shell looking abs that the judges are used to seeing and rewarding. Of course, I like mine, and I'm not changing them. It makes my waist look smaller. Then they'll look at my back and probably say it is "overdeveloped"...HAH!!! My legs have size to them, but because of the "athletic" shape to them, they don't appear as big as some legs, but they are.

To sum this up - I doubt that the judges will ever place me high. So be it. If I could change it, and heck, we all know that I could change it if I really, really wanted to, but I won't. Because, after all, I am female, I am a woman, and I think I have a perfect blend of what I perceive women's bodybuilding to be. But my opinion doesn't count on stage.

I trained legs on a Sunday, yesterday, due to the fact that I have a photoshoot on Tuesday, and we are doing a "run through" prior to the show, for the shoot, and training them yesterday was the only solution, unless I didn't do them at all...that was not an option!

These pics were shot immediately after training legs, so I was not as sharp as prior to, and I was pretty much on the verge of falling over, having used up all of my energy reserves, mind you!!

The Nautilus Duo Squat is currently my favorite leg movement. We are still doing pre-exaustion because I'm still weak as a kitten (purrrrrr).

Tuesday I have a photo shoot with two photographers at the same time!!! One of them being the world famous Kevin Fleming. http://www.kevinfleming.com/. He has won numerous awards worldwide, covers of Newsweek, National Geographic, etc., people pay multiple thousands of dollars for his work, so having the opportunity to spend several hours having him shoot lil' ol me is an honor!

Yes, a "run through". I will be tightening up and hardening up considerably these next two weeks. I have to eat a ton of food these next few days - I was 150 yesterday, that being my lowest as I still expect to weigh in around 152-153. I am halfway tempted to break out the Little Debbies, but I will save those until after the show. I did buy myself a box of Zebra Cakes to take with me - they are packed already (the only thing that is thus far!!!)

2 weeks

Let's get it over with!!!! :) Yes, I'm ready - I'm lean enough, now it is just the finer details to be worked out.

I really don't feel like I'm training unless I am training at heavy weight maxes, but I guess my training is still effective, because my traps are very sore today., and I couldn't give you a clue as to why they are so sore, except maybe that there isn't enough recovery food being ingested.

I did eat "normally" a couple of days this week, but my "normal" eating is always so clean it would make you sick. I'm hanging in the 151 +/- range, and will most likely increase a few pounds in the next coming weeks if our plan pans out properly, and I would certainly bet the bank that it will.

The Evil Genius actually froths at the mouth as he sits and calculates and analyzes and maps out my plan. He's extreme, but hey, I am at this stage of the game because of him. I always say - I'm the carpenter, but he is the architect. I just follow blue prints well.

Because you asked for them - I did find a couple of blade throwing pictures. They are obviously a few years old, because - look how skinny I am!!

Happy Independence Day

Good thing I am on a diet, or I might be complaining that I was sitting here all alone with nary a place to go for the holiday - no BBQ's, no Happy Hours...actually, my downstairs neighbors have a garage that they have turned into a Tiki Bar - they have the grill for bbq fired up, they always have an open invitation for all of the neighbors. It's open, and they are serving! It's way cool.
I may go to the movies. There are loads of fireworks around here, but heck - the crowds!!! I live in a resort, and summer holidays are atrocious! Perhaps a scary movie at the theater is in order...I haven't been to a scary movie in ages. Alone, of course... :( :( :( I should go to the one theater that doesn't serve popcorn, because if I smell the popcorn, it is all over!!!
Actually, I am at my lean point today, I do believe, so I'm eating regular today. I have to carefully consider getting any leaner than this, as that will take away from the roundness and fullness that I have worked so hard these past 6 months to create. I am already feeling stick-like, and I think that staying the course at this point, and just manipulating the water out of my system is the way to go for me to step on stage. I don't feel big and muscular at all. I feel very curvy, and feminine, and ok, I admit, quite sexy...(did I say that?) ooohhhh...

My strength is still down, but that's ok, as long as I can acknowledge that it is from lack of fuel and this long drawn out diet that seems like it is never going to end...I've been on it forever, or so it seems....

Sometimes I get asked what else I do for fun... not that there is much time for other activities, but sometimes I do get out and go target shooting with my busines partner / friend Jody, who is THE firearms expert and enthusiast. I have a 9mm (German Makarov) and a 45 (Bersa sub compact). Me thinks its time for some target practice. I'm a pretty darned good shot, if I do say so myself. I also like to practice throwing knives, but I pretty much suck at that. I have a small compilation of knives and swords, the focus mostly on interesting switchblades. Big shiny blades mesmerize me...HAH! I don't have any very recent pictures of me shooting, but here are two from about three years ago -

3 weeks

Proof that I grew some gams - it is almost time to show them off. 3 weeks from today. I only have about a pound to a pound and a half to lose for leanness, so today it's LaTolteca time!!!

LaTolteca is a very popular and very good Mexican restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Their portions are also very big, and, the Golden Margaritas are sooooo very good....sooo good!

: )

I was reading some forum posts somewhere recently and the topic was avoiding alcohol whilst dieting for contests, and some even avoid it altogether in the offseason. Mind you, I do not go out and get wrecked, more than two drinks at a time is almost always over my limit, but heck, I've told you, two a day, most every day is my standard. Today I'll toast the abstainers whilst sipping my margarita(no salt)! Hmmmm, just realized I haven't had an IHOP day in quite sometime -

Bill Jentz, how about some Harvest Grain pancakes?

Here is my training partner, GW (George Wilson). This was taken yesterday. I love that intense expression on his face. ATTACK!!!! He is definitely a blast to train with.

Last night's workout was quick paced, and lots of drop sets. Definitely work, hard work, but gosh darn it, I miss my deadlifts! The real key to why I'm avoiding them, as well as other big movements, is that I just don't have the wherewithall.

I'm posting some new things on my free site(http://www.katebaird.com/) from time to time. I have a little pre-contest interview with me posted, and I'm going to try to take one picture out of every Members Gallery and post on the 'Bodybuilder' page (with the exception of the nudes, of course!!!). One more progress pic from last night for the road:
I will be ready! Have a Powerful weekend!

3 weeks 5 days....

I have abandoned squats now for the rest of my prep. There just isn't enough of me to get through those these days.

Last evening we played the pre-exhaustion game w/ curls and extensions, then hopped on the Nautilus Duo-Squat machine. I forgot how much I LOVE that machine. It allows you to get a super range of motion, and it works the entire front and back of the leg, and glutes very well too! It does save the area above the knee, so we were able to progress over to our much loved Sissy Squats. I didn't even miss squats last night...that was until I saw someone else squatting in the power rack... :(

Progress - I finally had those shoulder stripes (striations) that I've been looking for yesterday. I do fade as the day wear on, but they were there early iin the morning. I'm still a bit watery, but I do believe that that is my plague forevermore. I am not ALOT watery, just a bit. Water is, however, combatable.

I also wanted to point out that in addition to doing no cardio, no abs, drinking wine every day and eating red meat everyday, I also eat FRUIT (oh, the EVIL fruit!! ;) ) everyday, all the way through contest prep - AND peanut butter (I just now ate a TBSP)... and I don't practice any of that "no-carb low carb high carb" rotation that seems to be ever so prevalent in contest prep these days. Every bodybuilder I talk to or hear talk is always on a no-carb day...OY VEY!!! Carbs are what fuel your brain, why would I want to purposely cut my brain power down? Sorry, I'm starting to get on a roll here - no, I haven't placed very high YET in a BB contest, but you canNOT dispute the fact that my conditioning has always been among the best in the show. I was very much overlooked last year - and this year...HAH!!!! Let us not forget that I did my first national level show with only a year and a half ot training under my belt, and I held my own. This year is only 3 and a half years into training, so I still have lots of gains to make, both in bodybuilding and powerlifting!

on track

Posed and posed yesterday. I am not the most creative poser in the world, but it will be sufficient, I think.

The progress pics aren't good enough quality to post. The lighting was insufficient without flash to view any detail.

I do take pictures in the am every couple of days to monitor water etc. Here is my back yesterday morning.

Got traps?

Dragging Big Butt

I am still dragging severe butt, and dragging face to go along with that. My strength continues to decline, but at least I look decent. Water has become an issue. it comes and goes and we are still trying to figure out why. If anybody can get a handle on that, B will - the Evil Genius!
When it comes, it comes in vast quantity. But then, thankfully, it slips away... we do need to get a handle on that though.

I had a photo shoot with my beloved Clyde Carr yesterday! I will say this again ladies - if you ever get an opportunity to work with him, do so! He is so much fun and easy to shoot with. He has a very artistic eye. He came here from his home in Annapolis, and we drove down to Cape Henlopen. It was hot and very sunny, not the perfect lighting for what we wanted to capture, but it was such a delightful day, no big deal.

Because I only had two days notice, I was a bit watery. Of course, I woke up this morning much drier. Doesn't that figure?!! This bicep picture is one from yesterday. The legs are from this morning - proof that the water drained a good bit. Also proof that I have been doing my homework over the past 6 months. My fat distribution is totally different than ever before, also.

We don't think that will cause any problems or concerns.

I don't think I will be coming in much leaner than last year, at the Nationals, as I had previously thought I might. I have worked hard at creating a fuller rounder look, and coming in leaner may cause some of the fullness to disappear. I was pretty lean last year anyway. At this point is looks like I will weigh in a couple of pounders lighter than we had planned. Current projection is 150-152.

4 weeks 5 days and counting....

Up until this contest prep, I really did breeze through all the contest preps prior - not this time.

I am hurting physically. If I didn't have this contest committed to I would take off three weeks completely from training. Really,really, I would. My body is calling, no - screaming for it - it has been three and a half years non-stop, no rest. Bodybuilding, powerlifting, no rest no rest no rest. I need some rest, but I can't yet.

My strength has finally plummeted, spiraling downward it goes. I mean waaayyy off. No steam for pushing. I really felt it today with legs. 315 on squats felt like 450. My legs have that kind of tired exhausted feeling waitresses get from working a double shift at a busy restaurant. That's the best I can describe it. I've had it for several weeks now, and I suspect it is not going to get any better until after July 21. And last Friday, deadlifting was almost a joke. I will say this about fat on the shins - when you are lean and dieted down, pulling the bar up against your shins feels like a grater on your bone. Fat at least provides some padding. Oh, it was horrible, plus I had no steam to begin with. I'm walking around like a zombie these days. Lord knows what I would be like if I did that no carb stuff like most of the other bodybuilders I know. No, I don't play that stupid game. Don't even let me get started on that subject - - -

Here is me yesterday 5 weeks out. I was watery yesterday. very watery, and the lighting sucks too. Too bad we didn't take my picture today. I dropped two whole pounds of water over night. For no explainable reason it just drained away over night. I actually look better than this. I am not pleased with any of the pictures from yesterday, but I vowed I'd post at least one progress pic a week for you all to at least be able to criticize me (HAH!).

I did go off my diet Saturday. My second cousin got married, Jenny (she was even more beee-yoo-tee-fool than she normally is !!). I was so hoping to go hog wild on wedding cake.

I looove wedding cake (especially FROZEN wedding cake).

Buuuuutttt - we didn't get to sit down to eat until after 8, and the main entree wasn't served until 9. Then they served cheesecake for dessert. I do NOT like cheesecake. My brother and his wife and I left the premises around 10, and they still hadn't cut the wedding cake. I was beside myself. Luckily they did have a plate of cookies on the table. I only had two, and it wasn't anywhere near the replacement for wedding cake that I wanted so bad....but hey, I didn't gain any weight!!

Leaning Down

First of all - WELCOME HOME DAVE KERGAARD! I haven't seen you yet, but soon I do hope to.
There is nothing of excitement to report. This go 'round finds my body feeling the lack of fuel (read - FOOD!) more severely than the other times I have prepped for a BB contest. Strength is down a bit, determination and drive isn't though. I was 157 yesterday. I increased my calories just a little bit yesterday, by about 250, because I don't want to be a stick on stage. I figure I'll be around 152 or 153 at weigh-ins. I plan to be just a smidgeon leaner than last year.
I was just thinking how ironic it is that I have more of an hourglass figure now than at any other time in my life, and the curvy result is from building muscle...so there yah go you ol' naysayers who insist that muscle makes women blocky and masculine!

GW and I have picked up pace in our training sessions, they are becoming just this side of aerobic...burn that adipose tissue!!!

The weather here sucks - it's about 60 or less today, grey sky - long sleeves are donned and I even have the heat on. It is expected to go up to the low 90's this weekend...whacky! It makes me tired.

Methinks it's time to throw a big juicy steak on the ol' George Foreman...red meat every day during contest prep, and wine. Cannot live without wine, so I don't. :)

6 weeks to go - I have dropped some of that awful water weight I had been carrying around. I don't know what made me puff up so, but at least it is starting to dissipate. I am still a bit more watery than I would like to be.
The clean and pressing contest...One guy got 10, 0ne got 9, most got 5 or 6, two guys got 3 reps...I stopped at 11 only because I was so winded. I knew I didn't have to do anymore, so I didn't. The first rep was so bad I thought for sure that I'd be lucky to get 5 reps. I finally started to get the hang of them around the sixth rep, at about the same time my breathing was beginning to get labored. Obviously my conditioning has waned. I will need to focus on bettering that. I think that implementing clean and pressing into my training will be beneficial.
Hanging at about 159 pounds now.

6.5 weeks out -

Had some progress pictures taken, but I am soooooooo water logged, I am not happy with but a few. I also need to practice posing, as I am not happy with that either. I have to pose differently because my physique has changed so much. I don't like posing anyway, I don't do it much unless I'm prepping for a show. Most bodybuilders will jump into a pose at any given opportunity. Not me.....I guess I'm just a humble little girl : )

I took Monday off from training legs - I was so beat up and EXHAUSTED - going through another insomnia phase (SUCKS) and was very beat up from the cleans and presses last Friday. I cleaned and then I pressed. I didn't clean and press yet. I make my attempt this Friday. All of the other competitors have made their attempts. I am the only woman, the lightest, and the oldest. The wieight to be used is 135, and the goal is 10. None of us have clean and pressed before, nor done any Olympic lifting for that matter. One out of ten so far has acheived the 10. One acheived 9. The others all fall between 3 and 6. Go Kate Go!!!

Today was chest and shoulders. I did not do triceps because of the plan for Friday - saving them to be fresh. The new method of benching is proving to be the way to go. I did 275 for two good pauses, and in a friggin' exhausted, beat up and also worn out from dieting state. Go Kate Go!!! 225x8 and a half. 265 x 6. Go Kate Go!!!

Yes, insomnia - it's the kind where I keep waking up for long stretches several times every night, fragmented sleep,worse than no sleep in my opinion. I've suffered from sleep problems off and on all of my life, and truthfully, it is worse than most anything that I can think of. If I had to choose between $100 million dollars and 6 hours of straight sleep every night for the rest of my life - I would choose the sleep. Honest, I would. I really, really would.

Row Your Bar

My last posting might have sounded a bit harsh and unlike me as far as airing something as such publicly, however it is true and I have all the evidence in the world, as he is likely to deny the claim - anytime anyone wants to view evidence, I've got it - and lots of it. That's why the police agreed to put the warrant out for his arrest. 'nuff said.
Back to training- I was slyly entered into a "clean and press" competition by none other than my dear friend Paul Timmons, owner of the Firm...I had never done any type of Olympic lifting, so why me?? I dunno. Anyhooo, I got a lesson on clean and pressing Friday evening from B, who is quite knowledgeable.
All I want to say is I hate Olympic lifting. No, I wasn't bad at it, I just don't like it. However, that being said, it is good from time to time to learn new things.

GW and I did some good ol' fashioned T-bar rowing, with the bar stuck in the corner of the room(of course you have to put a towel down there to keep the bar stable and also to keep it from marring the wall). I lovelovelove T-bar rowing. I hadn't done those for ages. They hit my back in such a place that I don't feel from any other back movement. As the gym doesn't have dumbell higher than 125's, I will probably be doing more T-Bar rowing in the near future than dumbell rowing, cuz we all know that I like to row really heavy.

Bruce Thompson is a THIEF

I am making this post because I am truly getting aggravated. I took this to the State Police SIX weeks ago, and they are FINALLY putting out a warrant for this guy's arrest - Many people in the gym communities know Bruce Thompson in Delaware. He has been a bodybuilder for years. He used to promote the DE State bodybuilding show, and he asked me to help him promote the East Coast Classic this year, which he had done for six years. However, what it all boils down to is this - Bruce stole $2100 of mine He deceived me, and will not return it. I reported him to the NPC, and yes, I have tons of correspondence and documentaion to prove my story. I gave it all to the police, they agreed with me that the man committed fraud and stole (yet have done nothing).
SO if you come across Bruce Thompson - will you just ask him where my $2100 is please?

Doing Cartwheels -

I decided that since I had no powerlifting meets to worry about in the near future, and with the way things have been going, I was in the mood to think that perhaps I may not ever step back on to the platform again.... so i thought, why not just play around with some different things in the bench press, and just see what happens. No pressures, no worries...I made one adjustment, changed one lil' ol' thing, and BAM! This is it - why have I not experimented with this before???!!!! Should I kick myself or be ecstatic? Should I berate myself for not trying this before or should I shout out to the Heavens that I've fucking finally got it???? !!!! I think the answer is that I'll do some cartwheels and dance and jump up and down. If I could only go backward a few days and do this on the platform.... What did I do?you ask - I'll elaborate another day, just rest assured that I have FINALLY FUCKING GOT IT! I GUARANTEE it will show in my performance. EEEEEEHAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I have been so tired, so friggin' exhausted lately. When I diet my sleep suffers dramatically. Then there is this other stress coming in and slapping me around. I figured if I could get 225 off of my chest for one or two I'd be happy. I managed 225 for 8 and a half, PAUSED ( don't think I could do a bench press now without pausing)....then 245 for 6...then 225 for 6 or 7....and they were PERFECT, beautiful - can you tell I'm all warm and fuzzy???? Now I'm so excited I just want to scrap the Masters and push forward and get on the platform again and prove that I CAN bench 300. But fret not, my darling bodybuilding fans - I'll plug along, and step on stage on July 21. I've already sunk too much time and money and effort into this to turn back.

I am freaking because with the nutritional and supplemental changes I have made this go 'round, I am holding an ocean of water....no, make that TWO oceans of water under my skin. Last night, retention was so severe that it hurt. Have you ever experienced that? It makes you feel like you are going to just start trembling and jump out of your own skin. I miss my usual dryness.... all this to MAYBE please the judges and MAYBE get recognition for my efforts. I will guarentee you that I will be the best that I can be. I'll like me - you all will probably like me, so there ya go!

Persevere....

That's all I can do -truth be told - I did a small APA meet this past Saturday. I had hoped I could come here and say that I beat that "thing"...well, actually I did beat that thing. I did not do that "thing" that I always did when benching....255 was my opener. Talk about EASY. That was like, as I say, playing with Tinker Toys. HOWEVER (always a friggin' however with me, isn't there???) I had no steam to put up more than one. Was it because I was sick last week? Was it because my lovely son and his lovely friends kept me awake Friday night until 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning, or was it just because???? I don't know. I got my opener deadlift, too, at 400, then ran out of oomph for anymore. We agreed, however, had I gone all out for bigger numbers on the openers, that I could have, I just wasn't programmed on Saturday for anything more than one. :( :( :( So I am plagued by a curse, or what is it? I still suck on the platform.

See that picture of me with a blue belt on - Hell, that's simply not a fashion plus with a purple singlet. One of the prongs fell off of the lever on my belt just moments before the meet began. I borrowed my friend Paul's, but it really was a bit large. Anyhoooo, that's me after missing my second bench - not happy, no...

Monday was a SMOKIN' leg day at the gym Again, I am so tired - I have not been sleeping well for weeks. But, sometimes, even though the strength levels drop, there is a certain ability to push further into "the zone" when I am tired - maybe because part of me is too exhausted to think about it or argue with myself over it. I'm getting the hang of the wide stance squats. I can go deeeeep. B wasn't there to tell me this or that, and so I gave this and that no regard, and it worked. Sometimes you just have to trust that you know what you are doing is right for you. I'm liking this technique, and today, the day after - my legs are totally fried in every fiber.

8 and a half weeks to go -

8 and a half weeks out - 162 pounds.
Sorry for the bluriness

Improvments -

Not much to elaborate on concerning Monday's training. It was "bodybuilder" style training with GW...just work, hard work - it was not a squat night, we chose Smith Machine lunges on a box - good stuff. They are like one legged squats. You are supposed to use the box to your advantage and go deeeeeeep, using the hamstring to power you up. Pant pant wheeze...I cut my total volume back tonight, for certain reasons, but it didn't matter. The pump and leaden feeling in my legs was outstanding. Those lunges really did the trick.
I've got a touch of that "thing" that is going around - my son and his friend both had it last week, hence my contracting it from them. It's been coming on since last week, and now the fever is confirming it.
B took some progress pics of me, with just a little less than 9 weeks, but they are very blurry. I'll put up a couple, but keep in mind that they are blurry...ok, like you wouldn't notice the blurriness, duhhh...
Biggest improvements in my physique - at 9 weeks there is distinct leg definition, whereas it took much, much, much longer to appear last couple of times. AND, my quads are definitely bigger. I did measure them, but I take bodybuilder stats with a grain of salt, as most of them do lie concerning measurements and max lift poundages, so I'm not even going to elaborate - just note that they ARE bigger. You won't get by without noticing. And as I stated in an earlier post - I'm much fuller and rounder, I've got more of an hourglass shape happening this time... My biceps have come back up, too. I'm actually much more "symmetrical" ( I know that this term is erroneously used, but that's how the bodybuilding world uses it). My abs are still going to be the last thing to come in, as they always are, but they are there, waiting...and NO, I haven't trained them directly. B suggested I might do a set or two last night just for the heck of it....I scoffed at the notion.
I did a very short chest, shoulder, tricep session last night, Tuesday - I'll tell you why at a later time.
Still hanging at around 161 - 162. B thinks 5-6 pounds to go, I say 7-8.
Methinks I've almost got the draft of my posing routine...music? Tool!!!

Curvier Physique

There is absolutly no reason to elaborate on last night's training. I was dragging all day, tossed and turned and was awake most of Thursday night. I worked all day with a client showing property, so I had no time to rest, hence I was feeling like a wet dishtowel by the time I got to the gym. And the weather didn't help -what gives?? Cold, grey, damp, windy...that's enough to sap anybody's energy. It is supposed to be spring, but the weather here has been blahhhhhh. I waited with excitement all week to go in and play with the new Texas deadlift bar, but Kate was not in a playful state. My feet have been really hurting, too. I don't know what it really is, has been happening for years. In the center of the balls of my feet it gets to where it feels like my feet are splitting apart when I walk. It comes on every once in awhile, and for some reason something spurred it on last week. Yesterday the weight of the deadlifts were enough to agravate the left one so bad that just standing on it was aggravating it - VERY painful, like a foot on fire. I pulled my shoe and sock off to look, and sure enough it was swollen. Obviously, I didn't do calves last night, and probably shouldn't for awhile.

We did deadlift, had to. There was a new Texas deadlift bar - but it certainly wasn't stellar - I am just so glad to have gotten through it without pulling my back out one week from....aaahaaa.....

Update on that foot situation - B looked it over carefully. He is diagnosing some kind of fluid retention right there in the middle of the balls of my feet. What spurs it on? ?????? Dunno -It comes, it goes, it is painful. This is why I do not often wear shoes with high heels or shoes without good padded support under the balls of my feet. I walk, it feels like my foot is splitting apart. What to do about it??????? Dunno -

My physique is going to look soooooooooo different on stage this year. I'll be coming in with a lot more "curves", rounder, less angular than before. I already don't quite recognize myself when I look in the mirror in certain poses.I'm not so sure I'll be as dry onstage, but THAT is obviuosly not what the judges are looking for these days. I like the dry look, though, but we'll see. It's nine weeks out now and we still have some experimenting to do before I step on stage. I did mail my entry out the other day, so I WILL be at the Masters' Nationals.

9 and 1/2 weeks

The lighting is not very good, but here I am at nine and a half weeks out - that reminds me, I should send in my entry fee, thanks....

Good news - the Power Goddess is on the upswing again! Still not quite up to where I was, however 275 paused was easy as pie, as they say somewhere or another - I was going to do two, but I did not want to spoil that moment. It has been awhile since 275 went up like that. Like SMOKE!!!I did a static with 295 for 10 seconds, no sinking - EGADS!!!That should be a contest right there. How much weight can one hold for how long without sinking the bar?

Oh, that's right, I'm supposed to be talking about muscle shapes and sizes and definition and vascularity because I'm in bodybuilding mode. HAH!!!! Hanging about 163 with about 9 and a half percent bodyfat.

155 is the goal, and I'm on target - diet wise I am ahead of the schedule, but that's because I have some time scheduled to go off the diet ( stay tuned). I was noticing, by looking at some pictures of me, and how could one NOT notice - how friggin' developed my gluteus medius is -

as well as my lower back. The judges are sure to hate that! I also noticed how wide my leg biceps are - I was wondering why I could never get that look where from the rear you see the quads flair out beyond the hamstring so big and full on some women - because my hamstrings are wiiiiiiiiiide - and peaked low. I'm just a different breed of body.

That's just what they call a "teaser" there from my new gallery from my Members' Section.We spent a lovely afternoon in beautiful Cape Henlopn Park last Sunday. OK,so it was public nudity, and illegal, but we got some really good shots. If you ever get to southern Delaware, do not miss Cape Henlopen State Park. It's a real treasure. We go there often for photoshoots, and never run out of scenery.

Dave - chocolate cake-come and get it!!!

When you get back to Delaware Dave Kergaard, GW and I are taking you out for a big piece of chocolate cake with EXTRA whipped cream...I forget wether we are supposed to take you to Fish On or Big Fish, but it is a date when you get back, HAH!!! Counting down ---
I had a photo shoot yesterday, reviewed the photos, and I am NOT at all happy with what I look like...ooooooo! I have relegated myself to the fact that the judges will NEVER reward me...WHY? you ask - I have this physique, that collects muscle as curves, I wear my muscle so "feminine". Not such a bad thing, you say, and in reality, it is not, but heck - I could weigh 200 lbs and still look like a big figure girl. Seriously - some women, they put on as little as 5 lbs. of muscle - they look big and powerful, some look blocky, some look masculine, some look MUSCULAR. I put on 40 pounds of muscle, I look curvy. What gives? OK, not such a bad thing, but in a competitive SPORT where judges "say" they like that kind of physique, but do NOT reward it., in fact they score it DOWN..well....... Is that why I am unhappy with my physique? In part. Never mind - don't feel like elaborating on that subject any longer.
GW and I had another kick butt workout session. I used up all of what I had to give. We squatted. My second session with the wide stance. I went even wider this time than last time. This extra wide stance allows me to go deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. That is good. I am still having trouble remembering to thrust forward instead of blasting up. When I get that down I think this stance will allow me to hoist great numbers. We did slooooooow hacks after that, slooooow leg curls, and then Hammer machine single leg deadlifts. Oy Vey!!!!
I like training with GW very much. He's a good guy, and motivated, and SICK!!! I miss B, but I think he'll be training with us in a few days...I hope.

Deadlifting Maniac

In my Power Goddess photo gallery, there is a photo of a man named Paul Timmons. The caption reads something to the effect that he was the first man to swim across the Delaware Bay from Cape May NJ to Lewes DE, which he did in 7 hours and 15 minutes. (Just imagine yourself swimming for 7 hours and 15 minutes nonstop!) Paul has been in the IronMan Triathlon several times, he has swam around Alcatraz Island, he has done so many athletic feats, and just keeps on doing them. He loves to challenge himself.



Recently he became fascinated with the 300 Challenge, and the philosophies and training methods that are associated with www.gymjones.com. Paul read about one of their challenges - how many double bodyweight deadlifts can one do in 20 minutes. The record Paul set out to beat was 36. He asked me to come in and video his feat, and to stanby with moral support.



Paul crushed that number with a total of 55 reps at 325 lbs (his bodyweight just moments before the attempt stood at 161).
I believe he went 18, 10, 8,7,7,4,and 1. He didn't go for the calculated method, rather the all out balls to the wall method. He's so superiorly conditioned, I am still in awe after watching that. Needless to say, yesterday, the day after, it was rather hard for him to stand! I can't wait to see what his next personal challenge is -

GW and I trained back last eveining. We did barbell rows, which I probably only do a few times per year, and haven't done in a very, very long time. But they felt very effective. We only went up to 225, I got 12 on my last set, I do remember that, then cable rows, stiff arm pull downs, barbell shrugs, kettle bells slow curls, and the Hammer preacher machine...and seated calves. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a good couple of hours of work.

No cardio

First I must brag on my darling son, Slater. He is 14, in the 8th grade. He won an annual award from his school last night for recognition of his artistic talents. The picture here is one he drew a year or two ago. I like it because it actually kind of looks like Slater. He is also an extremely talented musician. He plays guitar, base, keyboards, and trombone. He even writes his own music and he and his friends in their band play it. I always say I must have done something really right in my previous lifetime to deserve him(couldn't be this one)! A proud mama I am.

GW and I had a kick ass workout today. My bench is still not up to par, but it was much improved over the last couple of weeks. Improvement is always good. I'm being conservative in my expectations, even though it is a false conservatism. It was a good all around work session, both of us tired, both of us stressed, but still putting what we had into what we could, and making it all work out positively.

Dieting is coming along fine, in fact, I probably need to ingest more calories. I'm already eating more than I think I should, and I've already lost 8 pounds in 10 days. I'm going to reiterate a point here that no one believes, but is true. I do NOT, nope never, don't even THINK about doing cardio. I honestly believe that most people overdo it wayyyyy too much, then try to compensate the overtraining and muscle loss by adding in extra pharmaceuticals that they could have foregone in the first place had they skipped the cardio. Most of them aren't doing true "cardio" anyway... you don't want to believe that I don't do any, well, don't, but I'm certainly making out ok not wasting my time bouncing up and down on the friggin' eliptical machine or stationary bike. I have better things to do.

Thigh pulverization

We have this Paramount Leverage Squat machine, that is kind of a wicked machine. It usually just sits there, very uninviting. No one wants to even acknowledge its presence. It is not an easy machine, actually quite hard to get used to, hence its unpopularity. We have been using that. We did leg presses prior to them. I took a tight control on all of the down movements on the presses, slower than usual. I was imagining myself in an inverted squat. Back to some slow repping on extensions and curls, too. I love/hate that. ANyhoooo, what yesterday's session did to me -
I live on the third floor of a condominium building. I have to walk up / down four sets of nine stairs each. 36 total stairs. Short of a few times that I have been injured, this was the most tortuous trip down the stairs I have ever taken. My God!!! The mid outer thigh area is pulverized. Up was a test, but tolerable. But Down!! - I almost laid down and rolled the way down to alleviate the pain. Wow. I'm inclined to stay inside for the next few days just to avoid the trip back down. I'm not even sure if I have soreness in any of the other areas of my legs, this is so darned overwhelming. Broderick says my body likes being a bodybuilder. I say poppycock.

Standing straight and pulling hard

Deadlifting was interesting last night. It was the first time back deadlifting since I pulled my back out...was that four weeks ago already??? I trained alone, which made my mind set a bit more relaxed - no pressure to perform, go at my own pace. "relaxed" as I went in thinking that with the state of things, I might just back off after the first rep if it didn't feel right, and I did not expect it to at all. I made sure I warmed up until I felt ready. I decided 315 would be my first and possibly last set. I surely got the groove going right away, even though my right hand grip wasn't right. I had to reset the grip at least half of those reps. I made ten, so no telling what number that would have been had my grip been proper and I could have zipped right through. So what the heck, 365 it was, for 6. Perfect.
That's about where the energy started fizzling and the weighlifter's headache came in ( like an ice cream headache, but caused by training)...so I backed down instead of loading up and did another set of 10 with 315...perfect. And when I was all through deadlifting, I was still able to stand straight up, no back pain, no hip pain, no pain anywhere...
All of the work Broderick has been doing on me is just showing amazing results. I look back at pictures of myself through the years, even before training, and can see how bad my stance was. It is so different to be straight. Remarkable.
I'm still learning where my sugar intake needs to be. I was sipping on a homemeade magic sugar potion all through the session last night, and it sure made a difference in my physical state, but I still most definitely need to consume more throughout the day. Everybody else sees sugar as toxic - I thrive on it.

wigged

I'm not so sure my bench sucks, I think it's just kind of a "burn out" phase...not that I mean "just", as those who know me will attest to the fact that this kind of thing really wigs me out, but I keep working and trying and overcompensating and it leads me into that big sink hole called "burn out".
I'm trying new things on the bench, as well as the squat. I did a "static pause" with 275 for 10 friggin' seconds! I didn't let it sink into my chest at all, I held it very well, thank you, but pushing it up after 10 seconds certainly was not possible.

I LOVE playing with the kettle bells! Used them for lateral raises and triceps overhead extensions. Using variations of standard dumbells and barbells is great for a variation on muscle fiber stress. There was a time that I was in Puerto Rico for a month. I stayed in a cute little house with a big oceanfront yard. Behind a shed in the yard I found some poles, some cinder blocks, and some buckets, and some rocks. I'd put the cinder blocks on the poles and used that for the barbell. I filled the buckets with water and rocks, and some with sand. They were my dumbells.

JC wants to know what color Kool-Aid I drink? I like all kinds, yesterday was orange. My favorite is lemonade. I am a lemonade and limeade freak. Fresh squeezed lemonade just properly sweetened is to die for on a hot summer day. Kool-Aid gives me the sugar that I need quickly upon rising in the morning.

Relearning the Squat

Because my hip flexors are a problem - a big imbalance of strength - we've decided that I should give wide stance squating a go. It certainly is a trying task learniing new tricks and shaking off the old habits, but I do believe that once I get this wide stance squat technique down, well, big numbers. It was kind of scary because I wore my Inzer power shoes and they are somewhat slippery on Midway's floors, so I had to not only concentrate on squatting, but keeping my feet flrom slipping out from under me. I only went up to 315, no wraps, but I think it's going to work for me in the long run. Then we used the Paramount machine that somewhat simulates a sissy squat. NO ONE else ever uses that machine, but it is quite effective, I like it.
Soreness is happening in new places - don't we all love/hate that feeling?

I've been dieting for three whole days now. My big problem is convincing myself to eat enough sugar. I just finished my morning glass of Kool-Aid.

One thing after another....

New injury - something around the area of the left shoulder blade...I woke up the other morning and it made its presence know, I don't know where it came from??? The rest of my self is on the mend, but the right glute is still out of sorts. One thing after another after another....

Tonight I changed up on my bench teqnique a bit. I'm making a consious effort to decend slower, so when I get to the bottom stopping isn't such a shock, then I won't feel I have to gather up and sink the bar into my chest - yep, that's what I do on the platform. People have been telling me I relax at the bottom, and I have been wondering what the heck they are talking about, because I know that I don't "relax", however it does look like it as I am regrouping and sinking the bar into my chest. My benching was fine this evening, even all beat up and sleepy.
Some day I will get it right on the platform.

Since I am technically in bodybuilding mode now, we played pre-exhaustion on our legs the other night. I hated that. 2 kinds of leg curls and leg extensions before we even made it over to the leg press... then we finished off with something I DO like. One legged lunges on the Hammer Strength deadlift machine. Those are so awfully gruelingly good.
I was back up to 171 last night. B thinks we can get me to step on stage in the low 160's in July...yikes! The judges will never like me, so I may as well do whatever I like as far as bringing a physique to the stage.

Delaware Power Classic

The second annual Delaware Power Classic is now in the books and I couldn't be happier!!! Well, Yes, I could be happier if I was actually able to have competed, but it just wasn't happening as far as the squatting or the deadlifting. My back and hips were a mess. Cramps were a bit of a problem, too, for some reason. I did bench, but I did what I always do on the platform...I sucked. However, I THINK I know what I'm doing MENTALLY as well as physically, so I've got my plan brewing. Keep on plugging....sigh...
The meet was tremendously successful. They came! Over 40 competitors this time - and very good lifters at that. The helpers we had - judges, spotters, loaders, administrators, photographers, videographers, DJ, clean-up, EVERY ONE of them, were priceless. Never enough praise for them. Powerlifters seem to bond very much differently than bodybuilders. I feel quite honored and blessed to have had the individuals that were there with us helping in pure spirit and love of the sport, many of them I had never even seen before yesterday, and several who show up for support every time we gather, bless their hearts.
As I did not squat or deadlift, I finally got to sit in my own judge's chair and judge for awhile. I will probably be doing more of that as the meet is really getting a good reputation, and as it grows, so do my responsibilities and I may have to bow out of competing in my own meets...(but, as you may know my ways by now - don't hold me to that).
I won't go into names and numbers performed, because you can read the results and view video clips on www.DE-APF.com when they are prepared. However, I must say that the caliber, determination and spirit of the athletes was second to none. I am so proud to be a part of this event. I have told Broderick he would be allowed to compete in our next event, and I would take his place, but I will NEVER be able to step into his place and expedite a meet the way he can. So B - forget it - HAH!!! Jack and Chrissy Osborne, owners of The Training Center - THANK YOU!!!

he's magic!!!

He is magic - Broderick I am speaking of. I have been to a couple of chiropractors on a very regular basis for going on six years now, since I slipped a disc. He's better than both of them combined.
He has been "adjusting" me daily since I screwed my back on Saturday morning. I believe he has analyzed the situation correctly and we have a plan. I went into the gym to have my daily adjustment this evening. I picked just the bar off the squat rack to test squat so we could analyze where I was at. It was painful and very uncomfortable no matter what foot position I took. I really had no hope whatsoever for squatting this weekend. At the end of his workout, he worked on me~dug his magic fingers and elbows in and assessed my position. I went back to the squat bar and tried squatting again. I now have HOPE!! Miracles do happen. Three hours later and I can still squat down and feel no pain.
How blessed I am to have someone who will actually take the time and care and want to fix me?!!
He has explained to me that the problem is that my hip flexors are imbalanced in strength compared to my glutes and back and thighs...we did some grueling (yes, GRUELING) exercises this evening to start to help to combat the situation.
Will I squat this weekend? I am going to go into it as if I am. I will warm up, and assess my position. I am looking positively at squatting on Saturday.
Bench? Heck, it's still not where it was a couple of months ago, but I will try.
Deadlift? I have a feeling that I will be too scared after what happened last weekend. Fear is a killer. I have fear. If I can possibly release the fear, or at least numb myself to it, it's a go.
Those are my plans, but don't expect anything.

Strained

I strained my back pretty bad this morning..deadlifting. Not enough warming up is my educated guess. It's not "out", but manuevering around is difficult...and painful. I jumped from 315 for only two warmup reps right to 405, which I did lock out, but I definitely need to throw a 365 in there, maybe even two, and some warmup pull downs and db rows or something of the sort to begin with. I will be ok for the meet, I am sure, but methinks today and tomorrow are going to be void of much movement on my part. :( The rest of the workout was so-so. We didn't move all that fast through it, because the guys were helping Bill Lewis break in his new bench shirt, which tore down the center when he attempted a 585. That sucks, because he has a meet next weekend. Bill has the potential to be one of the best benchers anywhere...we all can't wait for the day when he realizes his potential.
I couldn't shrug after the pulling of the back. However, I was able to do prone rows on the machine, and v grip pulldowns.
Paul got some kettle bells in for the gym. I adore kettle bells. Couple of sets of regular speed biceps curls with those, then the last set was a super slllllllooooww one, and the kettle bells were just God-awful for those...awful in the best way!!! Then B had GW and I on the preacher bench where he applied constant resistance for two sets....awful, they were simply awful.
Donkey calves really made my calves swell today.
Didn't attain the 175 lb. goal - missed it by half a pound. I must begin the diet today to get to 165 for the meet next week.
Now it's hot bath and rest time.....

Lasik

So what was I doing in Phoenix???? Lasik eye surgery. Why fly all the way to Phoenix from Delaware for the procedure? I have a prerequisite that my eye surgeon be handsome and personable. Oh, and he is the world's best - Dr. Michael Granberry, of the Lasik Vision Institute of Phoenix and the Lasik Spa in Los Angeles (www.Lasikspa.com). I can't tell you enough how hospitable his entire staff is, and how expert they are at making you feel comfortable.

No, it doesn't hurt, and the procedure takes only about ten minutes on average, but anytime you are in apprehension of somebody poking around in your body, especially when you are awake, and in your eyeballs nonetheless, there is a level of fearful anticipation that you just cannot deny. Dr. Granberry has a very gentle aura that diffuses that fear. (If I could just have Dr. Granberry there with me on the lifting platform...). Dr. Granberry, I've thanked you already, but I truthfully cannot thank you enough. So, thank you over and over and over again and again and again.

174

I know I should never train two days in a row, especially back to back after legs. However, there wasn't much choice for me this week. It was a "labored" session. GW and I trained chest, delts, tri's last night. Neither of us were in our strong modes, but for some reason both of us got incredible pumps...like my delt meat was ripping right through the skin. At this point, my bench is so off, I am negative about benching at the meet, however, both B and GW have already decided for me that I am. B's already planned my sequence of attempts...sure, I can refuse, but not attempting is as big of a failure as a failed attempt - even bigger... but don't read that as a definite. I am still undecided. I was up to (OMG) 174 pounds last night. My all time heaviest - approximately 12% bodyfat. I have to get down to 165 for next Saturday, so best cut out my late night Debbie Cakes tonight.

I'm baaack

Squat day - last one before the meet. The Delaware Power Classic held at the Training Center in New Castle Delaware...my meet, my baby, my big party...
I was TOTALLY out of it all day. I slept 9 1/2 hours last night, when as a norm 5 1/2 to 6 is usually a difficult stretch. My eyes rolled to the back of my head and didn't want to emerge back to the front. It's 10 pm now and I still haven't come out of the coma, but the training went well in spite of my state of being.
I pulled a VERY good 445. Then B made me put 500 on my back, unrack and stand there for 10 seconds. My hip was out again, it always gets misaligned when I travel. It prevented me from doing a down set of reps, but as walking to the refriidgerator a few minutes ago was a total chore, my legs won't miss it. B yanked it back into place afterward, thank goodness.
Barring anything wierd happening, I will squat at the meet. I trained for the meet this time by not training for the meet - just simply train like I always do - to get stronger. I think it's the way to go for me from now on for powerlifting meets., by cracky!

pulverized pecs

So, when I don't bench it's supposed to be easier, right??? NOT!!! We did flat bench db's (up to 120's)and decline barbell(up to 315), and by the time we got to incline smiths, my pecs didn't want to work anymore! and THEN...swinging up some one armed 60 pound db lateral flyes for delts...crud - WRECKED, I am wrecked for sure!

I meant to finish this posting and have it up the other day, however, I got sidetracked getting ready to fly out to Phoenix, where i am right now. I will elaborate further on my trip upon my return.

squats are on

I'm finally over the 170 lb. threshold, and boy! Do I feel like a TANK...I was up to 171 and a half the other day.
Squatted yesterday, on a Sunday afternoon, just to throw ourselves off the norm of usual Monday eves. I hadn't had anything over 405 on my back since weeks before the New Year.
435 was ridiculously easy. I just told somebody that if I can't pull off a 455 at the meet, then I am going to go bury my head in the sand.

To make up for the lack of reps in my squat, they made me do a 40+ rep set of leg presses...ooooo! My upper glutes got to burning again where I couldn't find a comfortable spot to put them at ease. I'm working on the "shelf butt" effect!

We trained at Midway Fitness Center, here in Rehoboth Beach. Marti, the owner, just invested in a super duty power cage, and I am in love with this thing. Who cares about men when you can have a super duty power cage instead?
B just started working at Midway, so we'll be performing our circus act there from time to time.
It is a well equipped gym, save for the fact that the dumbells only go up to 125's, otherwise lots of good equipment. There are numerous older Nautilus machines, that are fantastic machines, and they should have never stopped manufacturing some of them. Nothing compares to the Nautilus multi-exercise machine, the decline chest, the duo-squat, to name a few. Midway is a nice place to train at when you are visiting lovely Rehoboth Beach DE.

JC - keep your comments coming, I love them!

Body parts at 169 lbs.

Yankin'

I was up at the Training Center on Saturday - did my back. No, still not recovered. I may never be recovered again in this lifetime...I don't know. I was hoping to use their brand new Texas Deadlift bar, but alas! It was locked away in a closet. Perhaps they are waiting to break it out next month at the powerlifting meet that will be there? What powerlifting meet you ask? Well, since you asked - April 21st, the APF/AAPF Delaware Power Classic, produced by none other than yours truly... me! (and Broderick - who is the DE APF state chairman) We run a good, fun, well expedited meet - lots of lifting talent in the groups of lifters we manage to have had with us in the past - Brad Vargason and Scott Yard have both set wold records with us, just to mention a couple - and we have a RAW (in capital letters - HAH!) division. Will I lift in it? I plan to do something, but I doubt I'll go in full power tis time - stay tuned.

Anyhooo...even though I was tremendously drained of energy, I just couldn't walk out of there without yanking on some heavy dumbell rows. I did manage two sets of deadlifts, 365 x 5 and 405 for one measly rep... telling ya, I am still just so terribly tired after a few reps. As none of the gyms in my area have anything heavier than a 150 dumbell, I had to - HAD to yank on something heavy. They were calling to me - "Kaaaate, pick me up". I was too fatigued to even think about the 180's, but I did do a set of 150 for 8, with 160 for 6...then 170 for 4... not my best, but it felt really, really good to pull those. REALLY good.

I want to have a contest of "odd lifts" and include dumbell rowing as one of the events.

This picture has nothing to do with training, nor does it have anything to do with anything relevant to anything I have to say at all.
It is me buying tomatoes at the grocery store.

Juggling

Rather than sit here and type about my training sessions this week (and my new wrestling/jui-jitso/self-defense lessons), I'm going to touch upon something that I get asked frequently - how do I juggle all that I do and get it all done? Heck, when juggling, I drop alot of balls, believe me...and then I go the other way and over-extend myself, and get into "the hole" (where I am now, by the way). I am a single mom, ok - divorced single mom, work full time as a real estate agent, part-time as a personal trainer, competitive powerlifter, competitive bodybuilder, produce two powerlifting meets per year, oh my God, STOP!! I'm tired!!
I was blessed with a wonderful child, who is 14 now and his age makes things a little easier as he gets older...Real estate can be flexible, yet sometimes you have go to go when "they" beckon you. I am very lucky to have a partner who puts up with me! (If he is reading this, well, remember Jody, I have to put up with you, too!!! )He is a great business partner. He even gives me encouragement to pursue my extra curriculars. The powerlifting - bodybuilding juggling hasn't been too much of a problem, but it IS getting more difficult the better I become at bodybuilding. What does that mean? Well, for example, I got reamed out by my trainer (B) the other day, he says that indeed I really do walk around much too lean to be continuously lifting the poundages that I do... read: WEAR AND TEAR! However, I feel much too "clunky" to walk around over 11 or 12% bodyfat...I can't figure some of the bodybuilders who put on so much body fat when they aren't in competitve mode -
Producing the meets? Well, that's just like being the hostess of two big parties to me...I love it. And me competing in those meets, well, I'd just be pacing back and forth anyway, so use the energy constructivly, right?
I brought up this topic, mostly because I am "in the proverbial hole". I had the surgeries, didn't ease back into things like I should have, just went hog wild, started with the wrestling...on and on - My body is starting to physically rebel by the constant tiredness, the bothersome joints, non-recuparative muscles after workouts... it all adds up. I have to be good to myself now so as to avoid any perpetual repercussions. It is entirely possible I may skip competing in the Delaware Power Classic on April 21. Of course, that would make B very happy that I could tend to only running the show - I may just do that, and be "the anal judge"...(no one wants me to judge - I am very, very strict). Maybe I will compete, I don't know yet. Bodybuilding -I am definitely planning on the Masters' Nationals on July 21 - that is my priority at this point in time. I need to try to make those judges wipe the crust out of their eyes and notice me. I may never accomplish that, but at least I know that I am better than they have given me credit for thus far...

Leg Pressing

I am just dragging my big ol' butt this morning. Maybe the time change affected my sleep, because I haven't been sleeping soundly the past two nights. Maybe I pushed myself just a little too hard last week? Or maybe alot?
And last night - wow, George and I went to town. He felt like he was on the verge of having something, and I was brain-numb tired - did you ever get so tired that your brain was numb? So, we claimed that we were going to "back off just a bit"...we lied.
We didn't squat - I try not to squat every week anyway...we used the Hammer Strength leg press, which I am learning to love. The movement is so much like a squat. It works the entire leg in the same fashion, regular leg presses don't really do that. AND - a milestone!!! I wrapped my own knees for two sets. I've tried to put that off as long as possible! There is room for more practice and improvement, but they were sufficient - not too bad. I think I did sets of 12, 12, 12 20 - not my usual low reps, but, again, I don't think my legs will shrink after the way they were pounded last night.
I introduced G to Sissy squats, manual with a 25 pound weight...I learned to do this movement when I first started training, and still love them to this day. It is RARE to see somebody else do them. B hates them, so when I train with him, I don't get to do them much,but I beleieve in sissys...
We got out of the gym in less than an hour and a half - incredible. I see some sweep coming, but my legs are never going to look like they have as much sweep as some others because of the long vastus lateralis - it attaches into my knee. I'm going to have to grow big FREAKY legs to make them look like they are as big as they are. They are big, but deceptively so.

Saturday morning and I feel like the big choo choo train has taken me for a ride underneath for a few miles once again...so good to be back -
Wednesday, chest day was a bit off strengthwise - not that they touched the muscle at all during the operation, but I imagine that since it is the immediate area there is some local trauma to the pecs just being in the same vicinity? What do I know, I'm not a medical professional...maybe I was just plain weak on Wednesday for no reason - ??? 225 bench for 6 pauses - good, long pauses, but still, a few off my form. I backed off the total routine by three less sets than normal. Thank goodness, because here it is 4 days later and my chest is still WRECKED!!! owwwww - my delts and triceps are probably sore, too, but the pecs are so pulverized that it takes away from any other sensitivities I may be experiencing.

Last night - deadlifts! I had no expectations...well, ok, I always have expectations to pull maximum poundages, but I wasn't going to chastize myself if it didn't happen. My energy levels deplete rapidly, still, and again they did last night. I find myself panting after a few reps exhertion...strength wise I was on, but when it comes down to the last rep and max effort, I couldn't tally forth into that zone...I'll come around again soon, I do imagine. I did 365 x 5, 405 x2, 315 for 5 resets...I opted for the resets rather than go for the normal 315 for max reps.

I may have died! George and B were doing these awful 30 + rep sets just for the heck of it...rest assured that I did NOT join them in their antics. I did do one high reps set of 20 on the cable row, but for the most part, I stuck in my usual low rep range.
My biceps were pummeled last night, too. Went up to 60's for a few on the dumbell curl...I try like heck to enjoy working my biceps, I really do...but I reall don't enjoy training them at all.

I fell asleep early last night and slept late this morning. I'm just a poor ol' tired little girl.

Having troubles keeping my weight up - or should I just say I can't seem to eat enough. I'm still hovering below 165. I feel like a stick.

TOAST

No easing back into things for me. I told B not to let me go hogwild. But, i think he gets all warm and fuzzy when he sees me go hogwild so he let me, he encourages it... I went 315 for 9(dammit, nobody stops at 9!!) then 365 for 3...no knee wraps...so then B decides I'm going to do a 405 with no knee wraps. Could I have said no? - well, yeah, sure, I could have...but if you read my blog on a regular basis you are getting to know me well enough to know that I wouldn't back down at the challenge if somebody paid me....well, maybe if it was a very, very large sum of money... so I tried my very first 405 with no wraps. I made it halfway down (which by the way is a full squat to most people) , but I knew I was too exhausted to stick with it, so I left it at that. I didn't wimp out like my usual, I KNEW it was too much. I was exhausted after the first set, winded, toast, so by the 405 it was just too much. Next wek - Hell yeah...2 with no wraps...I will, because I can. Biomechanically my groove has come back better than ever, just lovely ol' squats they are.
We then progressed on to FRONT squats...yeah, taking it easy - HAH!!! Only 135, but I made sure to do them floor deep, and B said I even unlocked on a few of them...y'all know what that means?? It is when you go down, then go down some more with just your butt...three sets, about 10 , 8, 6 I don't remember....
We did extensions and curls, mixed regular and slow, and donkey calves, but by the second set of calves - I knew I had over done it...danger zone. Luckily I brought some gummy Legos and had some dried peaches in my bag...my blood sugar just plummeted, and it goes so fast, not with a warning - it just drops from being ok to danger zone, just like that. And then I got wierd and scared to drive home....it was almost like being drunk. Had I been one iota over that line I would have eaten more then waited.
Good to be back? You betcha!!!

87%

That's about how much of my normal self I feel today - about 87%. I was wavering back and forth today about hitting the gym for an abbreviated training session. I couldn't decide if going would be pushing it and be detrimental, or if going would actually help my system "jump start" for Monday- because no way in H-E- double hockey sticks am I missing training Monday, no matter what the story is. So I opened my front door. It was at least 60 degrees out, and sunny. That was enough to push me outside and down the road I went.

I still have these lovely swollen black eyes. It is kind of interesting how people either look at you, or try not to look at you without asking what in the world happened.

I did about half of the amount of work I would do on a back - bicep day. No really heavy movements...my lowest rep set was 8, most were in the 10-15 range. I set out to do one armed lat pull downs, but as soon as my arm reached up to and grabbed the handle, I knew I'd have to scratch that one off of my list of exercises. It felt like it was stretching my breast open.

All told, I did 15 sets, including 3 for shoulders (heck, can't let those wither). I weighed in at 162...my arms and shoulders and legs look a little leaner, even after laying around for two weeks. My abdomen is bloated, but that is probably due to all of the drugs, the laying around, and a bit of an off-kilter diet.(what, me eat Pringles???) I had to take some super duper anti- biotics, because the doctor wanted to be cautious and to make sure my fever wasn't an infection. I knew it wasn't, but better not to risk it - I took the last one yesterday but they really made me funky. Glad they are over with.

So I came home, ate, took a hot bath, and actually fell asleep!!!!

Anyhooo - here's a "16th" place back for you....yeah, that's right...yes, I'm griping, and after looking at pictures I just received from Eric Lemke taken the morning after the Nationals...well, Hell, I have to.

Granted, I looked a bit fuller the morning after the contest, as many people do, but 16th place was highway robbery... there, I finally said it out loud, but that's all I'm saying. A few new pics were posted on my free site, on the Nationals page....Eric Lemke is a pure joy to work with, can't wait to work with him again. And someday, when my webmaster REMEMBERS...there will be a new video posted on my free video gallery page (he'll read that, but will he post it???)