IFBB Flex Pro Prep – 49 days

My little guy getting his Christmas wish - a recycling truck.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

I have been looking forward to this time of year since the end of Thanksgiving.  Our Thanksgiving in Canada is in October.  With no snow basically up to the day before Christmas, I have been loving the weather, and my training has been going really well.  I am not freezing all the time due to the warmer temperatures, which makes going outside more pleasurable than previous years.

Biking, hockey, and even soccer outside mid-winter is a welcome surprise for any Canadian.  Usually we can do all these activities with snow, but somehow doing them in December seems like we are getting away with something.

Snow has arrived, and apparently there is a storm on the horizon, so perhaps winter will be upon us in no time.

Great news to share – I have been invited to the 2012 Arnold Classic for the Fitness International.

Click Here for the full listing of IFBB Pros Invited to the event this year.  The Arnold is one of the most pretigious events of the IFBB professional events, and I am very proud to be attending. This will be my 3rd consecutive year!

I was a little concerned about getting in this year, as there are very good fitness girls in the industry. I don’t personally believe that fitness is dead, just having a bit of a lull moment. I am sure the pendulum will swing back the other way as the numbers in the other divisions start to even out.

This week, I managed to get in 3 trainings, and 2 routine practices. My fourth training was today – Sunday – yes, I trained on Christmas. I was able to get into my gym as I work there, so many of those who work there are gym rats (like myself) 5-7 days per week, so not even Christmas warrants a holiday from the gym.

Next week (or this week I should say), I am trying to fit in 3 trainings, and 2 routine practices.  Building up the stamina for the routine is always painful.  Who knew breathing could be so hard!

Other than this great news – the holidays were spent with friends and family (and my lucky blue cooler), even in the mist of my mother-in-law’s amazing baking, and drinks flowing.  Yes, I said no.  They knew. Everyone knew that I was dieting. Usually I feel left out.  But this year, I am feeling in control, and not really tempted by what is going on around me. When you want something, a goal to achieve, these moments of small sacrifice don’t seem so overwhelming, and you are able to see the bigger picture.  This is all just temporary.  Any sinful food is always available at my disposal.  I don’t have to eat it today, or tomorrow, or 6 weeks from now.  The moments I spend with my friends and family as just as rewarding, fun, and enjoyable if I eat chicken and broccoli or whatever else is being served.

This week’s pictures:

Changes are happening.  Dieting is always such a slow process. I could take pictures tomorrow, with slightly altered lighting, and look completely different.  They are just one point of reference, as my eyes always see something different than what the camera says.  I think the camera is a better set of ‘eyes’.

Till next Sunday,

A.

IFBB Flex Pro Prep – 58 days

Hi Everyone-

Training is going really well.  I am taking the time this year to really focus on every exercise, every movement, every rep, rather than being done with my training so that I can hurry up and move on to the next moment.  I tend to rush things rather than living in the moment.  Take some time for myself, and really just ‘be’.

Last week I got in all my trainings, 4 days, plus 2 routine practices.  The second routine practice was not great but sometimes you go in and just have to punch the clock.  I wanted to go to the gym earlier in the day, however, errands, and the holiday spirit kept me from doing that.  By the time I got there in the late afternoon – the gym was not even open. Found out there was a campus wide blackout for the day.  I practice my routine at one facility (the university in my town) and do my weight training at the gym in which I work.  So I had to come to my gym for the routine practice.  It had a great aerobic room, however, it is not very private. It can be difficult at times to ignore what is going on around you in order to be in touch with your creativity.  I was not have a super creative day on Sunday, and felt as though my time was wasted.    I was very frustrated at myself as I left, as I mull over the little details of my routine.  That is just me.  I will spent 20-30 mins just finding the right moves for a 4-count.  To say exactly what I think the routine should say.

Eventually when I let go, and just let the routine come to me,  it appears.  I love when this happens.  To allow myself to let go in order for the information to be received is the toughest part. I am learning to access this quicker as I practice that side of my creativity.  Forcing the routine never goes well for me.  The result is never genuine.   And usually the judges can see right though that and score accordingly.

Diet has been surprisingly good. I am not having any cravings.  I eat, I wait, I eat.   Not much else.  On the weekends, I usually go a bit crazy and just tell myself, “it will be ok”.  Well you know what?  It is never ok, and when you are preparing for a show the mental part is the biggest obstacle.  I want to be a contender not just a participant in these events.

Here are this week pictures. Significant differences can be seen once you change into a regular stage suit – vs a regular bikini or just a sports bra and shorts.

Sport Nutrition Insider – Interview

I was recently interviewed by Jose Antonio, of the International Society of Sports Nutrition for Sports Nutrition Insider.
Here is the interview.

Feel free to leave comments at the bottom of the post.

Sports Nutrition Insider has oodles of good information, and succinct interviews of some of today’s top trainers.

Have a good Monday,

A.