LiveFit Phase 2 Week1 ~ CAAARRRDDDIIIOOOO and girly muscles

NEVER have I been more happy to see the word cardio before. Ever. Infinity.  After 4 weeks of basically carb loading I was starting to feel pressurized.  Though the muscle gains were welcomed the constant full feeling was not.  That being said, it was required for 4 weeks to not do cardio. I can now see why people were having daily freakouts when this program first came out.  It's a daunting task to eat all that food, lift all that weight and stay away from anything related to cardio. 

This week felt MUCH different and the only changes were the cardio and no starchy carbs for dinner. What a DIFFERENCE!  No pressurization, midsection is starting to tighten up, yet I'm still making gains. Happy, happy, happy!

So since Phase 2 ends close to my trip to Jamaica I'm going to continue for a bit in phase 2 and move on to Phase 3 when i get back. Phase 3 starts the serious leaning out process with carb cycling which would be too hard to keep up with while on holiday.  The good part about staying on Phase 2 for a while longer is the extra muscle I'll gain, definitely not complaining there. :)

Living Fit - Week 2

Week 2 is in the bag and we're on to week three. I will admit my diet blew over the weekend but I'm lucky I'm in the building phase. Some extra carbs never hurt anyone trying to gain muscle, right? lol 

My body this past week really embraced the extra food as I figured it would. Now it's saying "FEEED MEEE" instead of "There's no room at the inn." I'm still feeling fluffy which I expect I will for a bit so during my Jamaica trip in 6 weeks I'll have to embrace the fluff. ;)  It's giggly muscle fluff but it's still fluff. Whatever it's my body and I'm feeling really good about the progress I'm making.

So, on to week three of 4 in this first phase, not much is changing right now except for an added leg day, yay! lol  I'm really impressed with the changes I've seen just in the last 2 weeks. It's amazing what simply eating more and simple lifting can do for the body. Over all VERY happy thus far and will obviously continue. I'll be bringing all the info I need to Jamaica with me because I still like to workout while on holidays.  Hubby and I usually have the schedule of eating breakfast then we head back to the room, get our gym stuff on and hit the resort gym. I have the most energy at around 10am but every other day of the week I'm sitting at a desk. Like I am right now. lol  So to me being able to workout when I feel the best is like a holiday. :)

Has anyone else started the program yet, or maybe completed the program?
C

LiveFit - Week one done

I thought I would do a bit of a review of the first week of Jamie Eason's LiveFit program. The first thing that comes to mind is: FOOOOOOOD. SO much food. NOT a horrible thing I just still haven't figured out how to get all the meals in.  The workouts are quick currently. There is NO cardio in the first phase, which of course makes you feel even more like a house because of all the food and carbs you're eating BUT there is a method behind the madness. :)  The workouts themselves take me about 30 mins though they are effective. I'm not complaining at all though sometimes I feel like I'm not doing anything since I'm used to being at the weights for 60 mins at least. 

Week 2 is going to be the same as last week though I think the workouts change slightly (I haven't printed them out yet. lol) It's 7 weeks until our trip to Jamaica for our 5 year wedding anniversary so I may not be as ripped as I was hoping but I'll be on my way. lol

So that's it for this week, I'll check back in a week to let you know how week 2 went. :)

Live Fit, Have Fun

Ever since Jamie Eason's LiveFit Training program came out through bodybuilding.com, I have been pining over trying it. Jamie "let herself go" to complete it herself, her now husband and family completed it as well and the results were fantastic. I've always like Jamie's way of thinking though. The "I don't count calories" way of life works well for me. Just tell me serving size and I'm happy. :)  So today marks day one of me on the LiveFit Program! I'm super excited. There's alot of food in Phase 1 and by alot I mean 6oz of protein in one meal. That's alot of meat people. I think I may split it between my meat protein and some avocado come to think of it.  Anyway, the program gives you alot of of wiggle room in the way of customization. There is a list of approved foods and you can plug them in where it's listed on the food guide. There is a women's and men's version by the way. This isn't just for the female folks.

Another of my favourite aspects of this program is that for all of Phase 1, that's 4 weeks, there is NO cardio. None. Nada. Don't you dare step on that treadmill.  I read ALOT of comments when this program first came out and people's heads were exploding over this concept. When you've spent as much time as I have waking up at 5am for fasted cardio, regardless of how good you feel when you're done, you do a little happy dance to just be focusing on weights. This phase is crucial for building muscle and there is a science behind it so trust the process, follow the rules, and detach yourself from the literal rat race. ;)

I'm going to take progress pictures tonight though I'm not excited about that. No I haven't been diligent the last 2 weeks that I've been out of the "gym" due to an over zealous Costco shopper who slammed her cart in to my heel.  No shoes with backs for this lady. That being said I have enjoyed myself. No take backs. lol 

If anyone is interested in checking out the LiveFit program go here http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-introduction.html. Read all of the info watch all of the videos and get your butt moving. Then come back and check in. :)

Money Doesn't Grow On Bikinis

But it SHOULD. Unless you have a competition bikini and sell that bikini then well technically money comes from bikinis but that is NOT the point I'm trying to make here.

If you haven't figured it out yet, competing costs money. LOTS of money.  And while my husband and I are financially stable we have had some life events and added responsibilities that have caused us to take a step back and say "Not gonna do it" a la Dana Carvey. What I'm saying is that I have decided to post pone my next competition by not competing in Fitness Star Winnipeg September 14th 2013.  As much as I was looking forward to stepping on that stage as a Level 3 competitor there will be time for that in the future. :)

In the meantime, my focus will turn to maintaining and bettering my current physique. As well as working with my sponsors, Gorilla Jack, on column writing as well as some vlog opportunities with my fellow Gorilla Girl, Chelsea Shand. If anyone has any ideas for vlog content such as product reviews, question answering, or just straight up shennanigans, let me know!!

"Desire increases when fulfillment is postponed"
 - Pierre Corneille

16 Weeks

Do you know what kind of people diet over the summer?? CRAZY people! Or crazy smart people.  That's right, it looks like I'll be starting prep for the September Fitness Star show THIS Saturday!!  Oddly enough I am ridiculously excited. There are a number of firsts happening for this show that are going to blow everything out of the water.

1) I am currently 135lbs.  I have NEVER started a show prep at 135lbs.  This means I have 16 weeks to dial in to about 120-122lbs. Insert evil laugh here. ;)

2) As I mentioned above I am dieting through the summer.  Crazy? Maybe. Crazy smart? Definitely.  Who doesn't want a wicked beach body for summer? I feel mentally balanced enough to not worry about what I could be missing. I see summer like Christmas at this point, and I ALWAYS diet through Christmas.  I got this.

3) Ok so this one is and isn't a first but my hubby and I are training together AGAIN! That's right, not only are we doing 1 show together this year but TWO shows this year! We made a ridiculously good team and I am so excited to do it over again. 

I'll take progress pics on Saturday. I am pretty soft around the mid section but that's to be expected since I'm not doing any extra cardio to keep me really lean.  I'm happy right now with how I look and when I REALLY clean up my diet things will pop back in to place.  :)

Check Up and In

So we are almost 3 weeks post competition, I'm sitting around 135lbs which is an extremely manageable spot for me.  My waist measurements are up about 3 inches because honestly I can't maintain a 26" waist. I just can't, and that's fine.  Between PMS bloat, carb bloat, "I don't like what you just fed me" bloat, etc, etc, it's not possible. It might be eventually, but right now it's not.  I can't explain what it is with my midsection, I'm not a doctor, I'm back to crapping once a day, whatever.  Moving on.

I have yet to do the morning cardio thing, maybe THAT would take down my midsection an inch or two.  I just love sleep right now. lol  That being said it's getting brighter earlier in the mornings and as soon as my dogs see sun they are up with the birds.  (which also piss me off when I have the windows open. Late to bed early to rise, what the hell?? Chirping at 5am is NOT cool people)  My food intake is streamlined during the week, I have my plan, I like the food, I don't feel like I'm restrained, it makes me happy. Ketchup on my egg muffins at 10am makes me HAPPY.  Like Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty happy.

Fitness Star International Winnipeg is about 4 months away, that's the ultimate goal right now, so the plan is to maintain until my trainer extrordinare tells me otherwise.  Hubby and I are heading to Jamaica for our 5 year anniversary on August 13th which will be 4 weeks away from the show.  I plan on enjoying myself. That doesn't mean stuff my face but I'm going to enjoy myself. :)  I paid for the damn trip, how much damage could I really do in a week anyway?