Not Skinny!

I was so wrong last weekend when I said the competition was 3 weeks away.  It's not on the 12th.  It's on the 19th!  So now it's 3 1/2 weeks until I get my batch of cookies and pork burrito.  But that's okay.  A relief, actually.  I'm almost ready but there are some tricks I still need to accomplish before then.  

Suit:

I got my suit!  First of all, there's no way I'm spending $250 +++ on a swimsuit, which is the price of a nice blingy suit.  Unless I'm being paid to be in it, it's not worth it.  So I did some internet-ing and found a how-to on competition bikini making.  It started with a trip to Target and another to Hobby Lobby.  After all is said and done, my blinged-out suit cost maybe $50.  

Recipe:

I have a recipe to share.  It's kind of like chicken salad, but without the fat and calories of real chicken salad with mayo.  I don't have exact measurements so if you do it you'll have to just do it according to taste.  

Put thawed chicken breasts in the food processor.  Once they are ground and not chunky, add celery.  Real stocks of celery.  Then add some ranch seasonings (or Italian or Caesar salad dressing seasoning). Cook it like you would cook ground beef.  Put it over salad with rice.  Enjoy!

There are a couple of things I want to address.  I've had some comments where people are concerned that I'm not at a healthy body weight or that I'm making my readers think that being "skinny" is the thing to be.

During this entire process I have been at a healthy body weight for my height.  I am 5'8" and from start to finish (post baby until now) I have been between 170 and 129 pounds.  I should be anywhere from 126-167 pounds according to healthdiscovery.net.

I do not like the word "skinny."  I am not skinny.  I am healthy.  I am fit.  I eat a lot.  I lift weights.  Anyone could do the things I do and get the results I get.  It has taken 10 months to get where I am so if anyone is looking for a quick weight-loss plan, this is not it.  BUT, this is a healthy weight-loss plan.  And when I say "weight," I mean "fat."  I have gained muscle and lost fat, which I think is most people's goal.  So yes, I do have a low body fat percentage and no, I am not unhealthy nor skinny.

I teach my daughter the difference in "treats" and healthy food.  She would choose treats all the time and I let her sometimes.  I don't ever say "skinny" or say that I'm fat.  I don't want her to focus on those things.  She needs to learn how to eat well and I'm trying to teach that.

The second thing I want to address is pictures of me in a bikini.  Honestly, I'm not super comfortable in a bikini.  I go to church and there are a lot of judgers at church.  I don't love that.  I've been called "worldly" behind my back by someone who was once a good friend.  Most people understand but I guess I feel like I have to explain it to that small percentage.  I'm not doing this for sexual attention.  I am doing this as a goal for me and I post it on my blog to motivate others.  Not to brag, not for attention.

The pictures below are of me before my phone call with Jerry yesterday.  I made breakfast for my family before and changed a poopy diaper after.  I feel like I'm going to roll my ankle in 4 1/2 inch heels.  All of those things are real life.  My life.  Not a fantasy.  But I love it!

PS  The tanning bed has done wonders.

3 Weeks Out!

Three weeks to C-day.  That's "cookie" day for those of you who didn't know.  And when I say "day" I really mean night because the show gets over late.  

I'm excited!  I'm excited both for the show and the after party (dinner).  I have worked so so so hard and I am seeing insane results.  Of course there is always room for improvement, but that's what March is for (the next show-- if I do it).  

For the next two weeks I'll be doing phone training with Jerry.  That's basically where I have Tom take a picture of me posing and send it to Jerry and he tells me what I need to do to be ready.  Right now I'm trying to build my glutes so I work them twice a week.  

I'm still on two-a-day cardio.  I do 35 minutes of intervals in the morning and 45 minutes in HR zone later in the day. 

I'm also still on high/low carb days.  I like different things about both menus.  My favorite "treat" is Smart Balance butter.  At first I couldn't eat the stuff without gagging unless it was on food (how normal people eat it).  Now I just eat plain-ole SB butter.  It's kind of like eating Lindt chocolate balls.  You know, the texture, not the taste.  But it does taste good.

I really need a cookie.

I have my suit!  I'll do a post about it later this week.  It's turquoise.

Oh, and I started tanning in the tanning bed.  The first day I only did it for 8 minutes and didn't really get much so the next day I did 12 minutes.  Totally burned my entire front torso.  Ouch!  I'm so getting skin cancer.  Crap!  But don't worry, the next day I tanned with a shirt over my front torso to get my back.  Now my butt is a little pink and the cancer will be balanced.

We just moved to Idaho and I had to get a new gym.  I found one a few miles from my house.  It's open 24/7 and has tanning beds.  Plus it's kind of a great deal for Idaho -- $20/month for gym and tanning plus $30/month for babysitting for both of my kids.  Wooh!  The bad news is that I have zero cell phone reception there so no chatting during cardio.

Training while moving was awful.  I didn't exercise for a few days and my eating was off.  I didn't progress during that time but I got right back on and things are looking good for the show.

Well, I just wanted to give you a quick update.  And I want to invite you to the competition!  It's Saturday, October 12 at 6 PM.  Mark it on your calendars.  It will be in Salt Lake City.  I'll give you more deets soon.  But for real, come.

5 Weeks 5 Days, and Counting!

A lot has happened since I last posted.

I went to my first body competition (to watch).  Oh. My. Goodness.  What have I gotten myself into.  There's a possibility that I didn't realize that you're up there in this tiny bikini under high school auditorium lights trying to walk in 4 1/2 inch heels.  Every little extra ounce of fat jiggles.  Not cool.  And this is on girls who look amazing.  Fingers crossed that I can make it in 5 weeks and 5 days.

I stopped nursing when Sophie turned 9 months.  She also grew two teeth and thinks it's funny to bite.  So not funny.  Anyway, now I am taking some supplements.  I take pyruvate, amino acids, CLA, essential fatty acids, fat burner, and Blitzz (energy).  I'll be honest.  I don't like supplements.  It's too soon to tell if they are working and they make me nauseated after I take them.  Plus, swallowing like 10 big pills is not fun.

I now weigh around 130 lbs.  Once in a while I hit the 129's but it usually bounces back up.  I don't care about weight and I would love to gain some more muscle.

I'm 10.8% body fat.  I have another 2-3 to go for the show.  It's getting so close!

I've been able to run a couple of 5Ks.  The first was The Color Run (so much fun!).  If you have the chance to do it, DO IT!

The next was for Leamarado Days.  That's the celebration of the town next to the town I'm from.  I always run the 5k and this year I took 2nd while pushing Morgan in the jogger.  It's a small race but fun to be there.

You know I'm planning what I'm going to eat the night of the show (when it's over).  Right now I'm thinking of sharing a pork burrito from Cafe Rio then going home to have milk chocolate chip cookies/dough.  Not just a cookie.  A batch.  And my mom said she'd make some of her delish frosting for me.

It's been pretty hard lately to not be burnt out.  I am doing low/high carb days.  That is 3 days of low carbs/calories and 1 day of high.  On the low days I don't get fruit and I really have no meals to look forward to.  I mean, there's only so much to do with chicken and rice, especially when you can't add salt (which I am not supposed to do anymore -- and for me that has been the hardest of this whole thing).

Here are a whole bunch of shameless selfies for you:

With just the right posing and lighting, I've got cut abs!

Before's in June (top left).  Then end of July (ish).

End of August

As hard as it can be at times, it's worth it!  I feel so good.  I mentally needed this after all the baby weight I put on.  It has taken 9 months to get to where I am now!