Body. Mind. Spirit. Are you ready?

Three weeks into my 30 day hot yoga challenge. Loving it! With one week left in the challenge I know I can't just stop after the 30 days is over. So I've decided I want to keep going ... incorporate it into my regular exercise regime. I made some other decisions too. I decided I won't be competing next year (or maybe ever ... but never say never). My body, mind, and spirit are not ready ... They're screaming for a break from that kind of training and that kind of dieting. I'm not abandoning my healthy lifestyle at all. I'm still going to exercise ... full body workouts a few times a week ... Yoga at least 3 times a week ... And probably hit a boot camp or two. I'm still going to eat healthy. My eating will be an experiment involving vegetarian meals and raw food ... not a complete change ... just an experiment.

Yes! That's my decision and I'm sticking to it!

So why am I thinking about getting on stage again next year? Sigh. It's probably because I went to a competition this weekend. Seeing all the athletes on stage got me excited. I wanted to be up there. Of course I always end up running into fellow competitors from previous shows or trainers asking me when I'll be on stage again. When I say "I don't know" ... all I hear is "See you on stage in 2012!" or "Come on! You love it! You have fun up there!" Or "Thought you'd be on stage tonight" or "You get better every year!" Comments that have the potential to sway me from my decision to NOT compete next year (or maybe ever ... but never say never). But ... it's not going to happen. My mind is made up. As much as I think I want to be on stage next year I know my body, mind, and spirit are not ready.

Falling in L.O.V.E. ... Again!

If you think I'm going to spill the beans about my love life ... You're right! But wait! I'm talking about my first and only true love ... I'm falling in L.O.V.E. with ME!

I never stopped loving ME. But to be honest, I was having a difficult time liking ME. Well the physical ME I'd see in the mirror every day. You see, it's been well over 3 months since I competed in my 7th figure competition. And it's only been about a month since I started loving how my body looks. That's the thing about physique competitions. My body doesn't stay that lean, ripped and stage-ready all the time. Post-comp I don't do nearly as much cardio, I have "dirty" food whenever, and if I want to skip a day in the gym ... I do it.

However, after 5 years of being in this lifestyle, each year I've adopted more and more healthy habits in my EVERY DAY life. And it has paid off. I may have my curves back but they're sexy, not sloppy. I may not always have a "leg day" or "back day" every week but I'm active at least 4 days a week. I may not pound out a solid 60 minutes of cardio daily but I'm teaching several fitness classes a week ... working up a sweat with my class participants. And sometimes as I'm calling out the next move, I catch a glimpse in the mirror and there's still some definition in my arms and shoulders. There's still some strength in my legs as I put my class through dozens and dozens of squats.

But what's best of all, after every workout, I feel good. And isn't that what it's all about? L.O.V.E.!

Lazy Days of Post Competition

I have been so freakin' busy but I still feel lazy. Why? Because I've had very few "focused, goal setting" workouts. Not that I haven't been active. I teach 2 to 3 Ripped classes per week. So I'm still moving. However my gym visits have been sporadic and with little planning. I guess I'm still in the lazy days of post competition. I feel a little lost. Still haven't decided what the BIG fitness goal will be. I still feel I NEED a big fitness goal. But I do have some little (medium) goals to help me along the way, hence the "busy-ness".

Courses like crazy!
I'm expanding my knowledge in fitness. And with courses come exams. One coming up next Thursday. And another course starting mid-July. Let's just say I'll be studying a lot this summer.

Teaching a ton!
Probably going to be teaching Ripped classes a lot more during the summer as some instructors will be taking vacation. I may even make some appearances at Talisman Centre! It will be lots of fun and I could use the experience. :)

Invitations and mini road trips!
I put my social life on hold during contest prep. Not anymore. Hoping to do more stuff in and around Calgary. And hopefully another trip to Banff with DF this summer!

But there's something missing. Oh yeah. MY training. Well that kind of "kicks off" in July. I've figured out what my physical goals are ... 1) lower body strength and 2) lower body size. Yes. I said SIZE. You may be asking "What is a 42 year old woman doing trying to build size on her legs?" Very good question. I still don't know if I'm going to compete. But as Trainer N8 said "You can still have physique goals ... competition or not".

So Trainer N8 will be the "Sergeant" in "Operation Leg Bomb". Gonna blow these legs up real good! Be ready for the F-bombs and other colourful expletives N8ster! It's going to be a fun experiment!

Wait a minute! Who am I kidding? It's going to be hellish! I'm going to embrace my laziness for a few more weeks.

P.S. Despite not hitting the gym as much as I think I should, I'm proud to say I'm still eating clean!

10 Almonds Per Day (And Other Important Numbers)

I never thought I'd be so pumped about having 2 tablespoons of any condiment per meal. My trainer said I could! But when I asked him if that included ALMOND BUTTER he said "Almond butter is not a condiment." Whatever. But I do get to have 10 almonds per day. One of my friends asked me "What happens if you have 11?" Good question. Nothing really happens. "It's just a guideline", I told her. "Like the number on your scale."

Fitness/figure competitors are so obsessed with numbers ... calories, weight of food, weight on the scale, body fat percentage, days and weeks until competition etc. Here are some numbers I'm dealing with right now: my goal is to lose 3.4% body fat in 3 weeks ... just in time for filming day for the Ripped: Chiseled workout video. And even though it's not a competition, sometimes I get overwhelmed and just don't want to count anymore. Or I just don't want to stand on the scale every week and here it creak and wonder what the number will be this time. It can be agonizing and frustrating sometimes when that number is not what you want it to be.

So I've decided NOT to focus on certain numbers right now (BF% and weight) and just DO THE WORK. Because I believe if I DO THE WORK the results will come. So here's to day two of my 3 week plan (more numbers ... ha!) ... all meals consumed (no extras), cardio completed, and hour of honour accomplished. Bring on day three!