Basic Curvatures

The state of the "basic curvature", if you will, of women is something that is CONSTANTLY being talked about. Are models too skinny? Are "plus size" models too skinny? What IS plus size anyway? Are Lululemon pants just expensive clothing made for skinny people?  If you've seen the news lately then you know that last one is a HUGE issue right now and many a Facebook rant has been posted. 

The Lulu issue has sparked a few of my friends on Facebook, who have amazingly honest and "Stop feeling sorry for yourself" attitudes like my own, to post on the subject which then makes me post on the subject because the rants are incredible.  What is ironic is I was having a conversation with a girl friend of mine about how fit chicks like us have issues just fitting in to "normal" clothes because of our curves.  I came to the conclusion that all women have issues with clothes regardless of the size of your pants and that we need to start letting go of that stupid tag number and just wear what FITS. 

I had that very idea pointed out to me by my good guy friend, Shane.  He said "For guys, we have NO idea what the tag says. We go in, pick something out, if it doesn't fit we find a size larger and continue on."  You mean they don't DWELL??? They don't have a minor melt down in the change room over the fact that the size 6 pants they've been wearing for a year suddenly don't fit in the ass or quads because of our glorious, hard earned, muscle?  That their favourite dress hanging in the closet no longer fits in the back because of the pull ups they've been desperately trying to complete? 

Well first of all I don't think they would be looking at a dress in their own closet (well maybe, I don't know lol) but you see my point.  We put so much focus on that stupid number it drives us to eating disorders, to break downs. I am an advocate of being healthy at whatever size you are.  My weight fluctuates more than I'd like and I have a bit more curves this year than last and, yes, I did have a week of minor melt downs and tantrums when I couldn't fit my favourite dress, but I also have to look at the bigger picture.  WE have to look at the bigger picture.  My goals currently are muscle building. That results in certain changes. Suck it up buttercup.

Ladies I urge you to start dressing for your body. Buy clothing that fits and not something that gives you an instant muffin top. If you're not fitting in to your current clothes, assess the reason why and possibly make some changes. Either in your routine or your clothes, whichever way you want to go.  Don't get mad at large corporations for being honest as to the fact they don't carry sizes larger than 12 or whatever it is they're saying.  Business it business, it's not supposed to be personal.  What's personal is how you feel about yourself. Know that ALL women are having the same issues you are in that change room. I have gotten stuck in a shirt because of my back. I almost got stuck in a pair of pleather leggings because of my ass, ok? I'm there with ya! 

Be healthy, be happy, be yourself, and be happy with being yourself.

Music For My Soul

It's been a bit since I blogged. Heck it's been a bit since I steadily worked out! But today's blog isn't going to be about fitness, no, today's blog is about getting back to something I've been missing for a while.

Music.

For those who don't know, music has been a part of my life from a very early age. At 7 I "discovered" my voice. At 16 I decided to finally take vocal lessons after singing with the likes of Celine Dione, Whitney Houston, and Maria Carey in the comfort of my room for the previous 9 years. At 17 I finally took the leap into public singing by entering my hich school's talent show.  At 20 American Idol was all the rage and singing competitions of the like were popping up all over Winnipeg. I entered every.single.one. and didn't win anything until 2004 at the age of 23.  About 4 years ago I stopped singing publicly altogether, due to the lack of joy it brought me, minus a large country music festival's contest which I entered mostly to get tickets for the weekend.

I have NO shame admitting that by the way. :)

In the last 5 months I did some thinking and reflecting on my years of the competitive fitness lifestyle and on how many things I didn't have time for while training because of it.  I then made the decision I was going to take at least a year off from competing to focus on my relationship with working out and food, then re-evaluate my feelings after that. In the meantime I vowed to engage in something I have missed out on. 

I decided to join a choir! :D  The Stonewall United Church's Christmas Cantata choir to be exact!

I haven't been this excited and nervous in YEARS. Nervous because choirs are serious business. I have been singing country music for 12 years with one other choir experience probably 6 years ago. I haven't hit my soprano high notes since, well, 6 years ago. Oddly enough, though rusty, they were still there last night. I actually managed to keep up with the well seasoned singers! lol To hear the harmonies of my soprano group against the female altos and the tenor and baritone men was music for my soul and made me feel complete again. 

I can't wait for our performance in December. :) 

Phase 2 - Week 2 ~ DO OVER

Since I'm going to be spending some extra time in Phase 2 anyway I figured I could get away with sacrificing this week because everything just got to be too much.  I photographed a gorgeous wedding last weekend along with an engagment session, couple that with The Attack of the Killer Uterus and my full time job being a gong show, I am tapped. 

Like a keg after a frat/sorority party........just blowing foam. 

I took out alot of my starchy carbs for this week because eating them and not using my muscles would just make me fat and well, Jamaica is in 18 days. lol  I'm not sure what this will do to my progress but whatever. In the third week of this phase we start to calorie count and do higher and lower calorie food days before we start carb cycling in Phase 3.   I'm not going to switch to that until I get back from holiday so I can continue building muscle.  And well not have to think so much about what I'm doing. lol

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. :)