Changing it up...

Alright, today begins the first day of my official contest prep....going to attempt to do a show in 7 weeks.  That is not much time, but two other ladies from the gym are doing it and I just want to see what happens.

Soooo, I planned my meals for the day, cut back my calories slightly, and I changed up my lifting routine.

TRAINING PLAN: 

Monday (am): HIIT (incline sprints), abs, hamstrings and calves
Monday (pm): Chest/Triceps

Tuesday: Back/Biceps

Wednesday (am): HIIT, abs
Wednesday (pm): legs

Thursday: rest

Friday (am): HIIT, abs, quads, glutes
Friday (pm): shoulders

Saturday:  rest/ make up day

Sunday: soccer game

IT IS ON

Training, that is.  The stitches are out and I have the okay to start doing some very light lifting.  I have to pay attention to my body and take it slow, but I am getting my mojo back:)

So, here's to throwing out the Whole Life Challenge and the craziness of trying to get as lean as possible....and on to growing time.  I know that I can't lift heavy anytime soon, but I'm going to work my way up so that I can add some size over the winter.

Why throw out the Whole Life Challenge?  I just wasn't that in to it.  I do like the idea of staying away from most grains and dairy and I'll continue to do that, but the more strict things became the more I wanted to eat things that I normally don't even crave.  It just wasn't healthy for me.  I'd rather stick to a 85% clean diet and keep a fair amount of carbs so that I feel strong and I can grow.  Add into the mix that I ate whatever I wanted after surgery and just got into that downhill spiral of being depressed because I couldn't lift... Just not the right time for me to lean out.

I'm also incorporating more running so that I can hopefully PR at the Turkey Trot this year.  I had a great time last year, so this is going to be a challenge especially since I haven't trained much.   Lord knows, when I am running my appetite is a nasty beast.  Take away carbs and I'd be miserable to be around.

Positive Thoughts

That is what I keep telling myself after my follow up doctor's appointment today.  I went in to the appointment thinking this is the last of the air cast, the day I will register for the Cville 10 Miler and Half Marathon, AND they day I will get to try out my new Garmin watch! 

I left with a totally different outlook.  After 8 x-rays it was determined that the medial tibial stress fracture of my left leg is close to being healed, just not quite there yet, and the sesamoid bone in my foot that has been bothering me on and off for the last year and half is still cracked in half.  Freaking great news.  I am scheduled for an MRI on my left foot this Thursday to determine whether the break never healed on its own, whether it is in the process of healing or whether I was born with the bone in half and just have stress fractures on it.  Unfortunately, many sesamoid fractures do not heal very well and can result in surgery to remove the bone all together.  Definitely not something that I want to have to do and thankfully Dr. Wilder will make that the last resort. 

He did say that my tibial stress fracture and hip problems are all probably stemming from my foot.  So, no I don't have a problem with weak bones or issues with healing.  I'm over hearing all of the comments about how much milk I drink, what is wrong with my bones, blah blah blah.  I drink a full gallon skim milk in a week by myself and devour 1/2 gallon of almond milk.  What, now?!  One issue has caused the other problems, plain and simple.  Who knows, maybe my foot caused compartment syndrome 9 years ago when I first saw Dr. Wilder?! 

I went from thinking I was going to be free to run tomorrow morning to being told I need to get another insert for all of my shoes, stay off all cardio equipment and load bearing exercises except for the bike, and NO body weight lunges/squats, etc.  NOT the answers that I wanted today. 

However, I am happy to report that I finally came to the conclusion this evening that my upper body and core will continue to get more defined and I will set up a lower body circuit that will not include any load bearing exercises.  I can do extensions, hamstring curls, abductor/adductor machines as well as some glute moves.  The calves will remain scrawny.  I've had 12 hours to feel sorry for myself and I'm over it.  The bike will be my friend tomorrow morning:) 

And just for good measure, at least this hideous air cast is off for the time being.  I know it is a terrible picture that I took in the dark, but isn't the running skirt that Carrie gave me for Christmas, cute?! She knows me too well:)

So far, so good

So far, I've stuck to the meal plan and ate my second "cheat" meal of the week today.  It consisted of a chicken enchilada, rice, and black beans from Mi Rancho PLUS a kiddie cup of vanilla with chocolate chips at Kline's!  It was just what the doctor ordered:) 

I think I made the smart decision of not going to the gym today because my arms need a break, but tomorrow it is on!  I'm thinking about doing some cardio, abs, and a heavier leg workout.  We shall see.

Meal Plan

So far the meal plan has worked for 4 days with one "cheat" meal. I haven't even had severe withdrawal from my chocolate chip loaded Eggos and glass of milk every evening.  My plan is to have two "cheat" meals per week, which will probably result in Mi Rancho chips and salsa!  Yummmm.  And, it certainly did result in some Mi Rancho last night!!

So long dear friend!

Tuesday's meals:

• Overnight oatmeal - 1 cup old fashioned oats, 1 tbsp pb, 1 tbsp flaxseed, 1 cup almond milk, 2 tablespoons of egg protein
• Snack- Protein shake (same ingredients as usual)
• Snack - apple with 1 tbsp pb and 1 tuna potato cake w/ peanut sauce (recipe to come)
• Lunch- turkey sweet potato meatloaf, broccoli 
• Snack - tuna potato cake with peanut sauce and two pb balls
• Dinner- Turkey burger on mult-grain sandwich thin, mixed veggies, sweet potato fries
• Snack- finished off oatmeal leftover from breakfast

Wednesday's meals:

• Overnight oatmeal - 1 cup old fashioned oats, 1 tbsp pb, 1 tbsp flaxseed, 1 cup almond milk, 2 tablespoons of egg protein
•  Snack- Protein shake (same ingredients as usual) 
• Snack- rest of the morning's oatmeal
• Lunch- leftover meatloaf with mixed veggies
• Snack-skipped
• Dinner- chicken quesdilla rellena, chips and salsa, diet pepsi

It is on!

Happy New Year 2012!  Rich and I celebrated by watching the first half of UVA's bowl game and then hitting the sack.  I don't think I've watched the ball drop once in the last 5 years and I am a-okay with that.  I'd rather have my head on my pillow.

The bigger news is that we've set some pretty exciting fitness goals for the new year.  We are both at our goal weight right now, but this could change if we throw in some bodybuilding competitions.  So far this is what we have on our 2012 agenda:

• Charlottesville 10 miler, March 31st at 7:15 am (we'll see what the doctor says about my stress fracture on Jan. 17th)
• Charlottesville Half Marathon, April 7th at 6:30 am (again, we'll see...)
• OCB Atlantic Super Show, May 5th (Rich- bodybuidling, Dana-Figure...still not sure if I have the nerve to actually do it)
• Women's 4-miler, usually Labor Day weekend
 

I am sure we'll have more to add to the list as the year goes on, but this gives a good start.  We started our clean eating plan yesterday and other than being starved when I got up this morning, it is going smoothly.  I'm thankful that Rich has this week off from school so that he can prepare all of our food!


Yesterday's meals for me:

• Breakfast- 1 cup of old fashioned oats, 1 cup of almond milk, 1 tbsp nat. pb, 2 tbsp egg protein
• Snack- Protein shake - 1 banana, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 scoop egg protein, 1 cup almond milk, 10 almonds, 2 tbsp flaxseed, 2 cups spinach, 1 cup ice
• Lunch- two scrambled eggs with 2 cups of spinach and a whole wheat english muffin
• Snack- 1 cup of 2% cottage cheese with 1 tbsp walnuts, 1 tbsp raisins, 1 tbsp flaxseed
• Dinner- turkey sweet potato meatloaf, 1 cup broccoli, 1 cup collard greens
• Snack- 2 pb balls (new healthy recipe!)

Woot woot!!

The big weigh in for Jennie and Carrie was this morning!  Besides being flashed with spandex and Carrie's oh so appropriate comments, it was a huge success:)

I got permission from Jennie to officially post the news and Carrie will just have to deal;)


Jennie's results:

• Weight: 138      (-1 lb)
• Chest: 38 in.        (same)
  
• Waist: 32 in (-2 inches!!); smallest 30.5 (-1.5 inches!!)
  
• Hips: 39 in.       (-1.0!!)
  
• Thighs: 19 in.   (-1.0!!)
  
• Arms: 10 in.      (same)

 Total # of inches lost in 6 weeks = 5 inches!!!

Carrie's results:

• Weight: 149     (-5 lbs)
• Chest: 37 in.        (-1.0 inch!!)
  
• Waist: 34 in.        (-1.0 inch!!); smallest 31.25 (+.25....wearing a sweater...NBD!)
  
• Hips: 41.5 in.       (-1.5 inches!!)
  
• Thighs: 21.5 in.   (-1.0 inches!!)
  
• Arms: 10.75 in.      (-1.25 inches!!) 

Total # of inches lost in 6 weeks = 5.75 inches!!! 

My goal was for them to lose 5 inches and they were right on the money!  I couldn't be more proud of these two! And, I couldn't be happier to have them at school with me to keep me sane and make me laugh!