More and Less

Paleo.  Crossfit.

I poke curiously at both of these things.  Like poking toads in puddles with sticks.  Like, “what is this?”

Curious in a I-may-do-something-about-it fashion.

For the record I have never poked little toads with sticks.  That is heinous.  Nope, not me.

In my part of the world we are throwing open our windows and doors, hanging up the sweaters, and getting sunburned on the back of our necks.  Frankly, I cannot wait until I am in shorts and a tank-top and still sweating.  I like my summers plenty warm and soggy.  When it is finally warm enough to lay by the pool I will be in heaven.  It has felt like a long winter of dark and dreary mornings on the way to work and class where freedom and sunshine are now overdue.  I certainly hope Spring is springing for you wherever you are, as well.  It’s a beautiful time of year, and…

SHORTS AND TANK TOPS?

Oh yes.  That means the season of baring (mostly) all is upon us.  So how is it with you and that last bit of winter fluff?  Those last five?  Is it tight, toned, smooth, and ready to be tanned and displayed?  I’m not talking about that Mule Deer you bagged in the mountains.

Well, I can most certainly say that I have completely…fallen short.  Of my overall goal for March.

Back in September when I really started throwing the iron hard I surmised that I should emerge around this time of year looking as though I could step on-stage and snatch the Miss Olympia title.   I will admit that I have been in a pretty deep funk this last week about this.  Over these last months I spent a small fortune on whey protein, hit the weights five times a week, never missed a dose of supplement, and I still do not look like a Figure champion.  But do you know what I am??

I am in the best shape of my life.

Those people who tell you that the pursuit of bodybuilding takes time, consistency, and patience?  They’re right.  I started researching some of my favorite fitness personalities and re-discovered that it took them years (sometimes 10+) to sculpt themselves into their current shape.  They all admit that it is an ongoing, daily, effort to maintain and build on their results.  So it took me twenty years to get good and squishy – realistically, it is going to take more than seven months to convert my squish to steel.

Whatever you do please don’t do what I did this weekend.

I know enough to have realized that the time has come for me to lighten the weights and increase the reps.  I have built the muscle (seven pounds of it) and it’s time to get it to show.  My diet is always 100% clean but just eating clean will no longer be enough.  Macro ratios will come into play, so will counting calories, and lets not forget cardio.  A friend of mine from my University gym tipped me off about a wonderful little application for your phone called, Lose It!  Just plug in what you eat, where you eat (it has restaurant information too), and it will give you the honest truth.  It will also make you paranoid if, like me, you have never counted calories and have no idea what you are doing.  Keep Calm and Count On.

This weekend I felt…depressed.  So I ate a bad meal.  Which led to another.  Which led to a weekend that, honestly, undid every bit of good I accomplished in my diet earlier in the week.  You can imagine how upset I was with myself.  Usually I am the girl sitting in the buckboard at the front of the Bandwagon, whipping the reins, and screaming cowboy yippy yo ki-yay’s.  The wagon hit a terrible bump, I obviously flew out of my seat, rolled out of the back, and bit the trail dust.  Hard.

It’s Tuesday, I am back on track, and shamefully recovering.  I am trying my best to find a new balance in the midst of this new program, not sweat the small things, and remember the rule of 90/10.  It’s what you do 90% of the time that matters!  When you are juggling the type of lives that we all lead: school, work, family, bodybuilding, diet, social – it get’s rough.

In conclusion, we are occasionally unseated in our efforts.  Shimmy back on that pony and hang on a little tighter.  Show it what all those Deadlift’s and Lateral Lunges have done for your strength.  Keep working, stay consistent, and enjoy this weather.  That’s what I’ll be doing.

Until next time  –  Cs.