YES!!!

End of Week 6, and I've seen results in my kangaroo pouch!!!! It feels great!!! Lost 1.4 lbs this week...I feel wonderful and motivated! 

This week I have also started doing 2 a Day Cardio sessions. I've read several articles that say for women the 2-a-days help women with their trouble spots (stomach and thighs-hello that's me!!)  My second cardio session will be low-intensity for 30 min....let's see what the results will be at the end of the week :) I love experimenting :) 

**if it's important to you, you'll find a way, if not, you'll find an excuse ** 

WoW-that was exciting!!

Today, marks the end of week 5 and the numbers for my weight and body fat stayed pretty much the same.  My Week 5 pictures have improved, my weights in the weight room have increased as well.

I have started to take fat burners, not hydroxycut or anything like that, it's called Shred.  I'm hoping my problem area will start going down (my kangaroo pouch), we shall see at end of week 6.

Today, Benjie (my cousin) and I went to my first NPC competition, the NPC Denver Open.  There were a lot of thoughts that went through my head, mostly anxious thoughts...some included:

'Well I think I'm ready to workout again'
'Omgosh! My Bikini is not Bling-ish enough, I need to talk to Mom'
'where's my Lufa?' - if you don't know what I mean by that, just ask. :)
'Suck it in Monique'

After my adventitious day, I was tired and a little un-motivated, Benjie showed me a lot of inspiring pictures of fitness models and where they started versus to where they are now.  It really motivated me and picked up my spirits....check out my two favorite:

http://liftmeupfitness.com/2013/09/30/my-fitness-secret/

http://www.trimmedandtoned.com/top-fitness-model-nifma-champion-jill-mcconkey-talks-with-tt

Quotes to Live By

It's just another day, another week in the life of becoming a Bikini Boss...lol...I heard that term this week, and I know I use it every time I reference the Bikini Competition :)

I scheduled my photo shoot with Brett Seeley Photography.  Check out his work, it's amazing and I can't wait until May 24th (my photo shoot date)  (http://brettseeleyphoto.com/)

Everyday I get more and more motivated to work out, yesterday was my off day, and today I can't wait to get off of work and WORKOUT my arms :D

I've been doing this for about 35 days or so, and I'm SOOOO addicted, the quotes are true:

- Once you see results, it becomes an addition
- It takes 21 days for something to become a habit
-"Life may knock the wind out of you, but never let it knock the WIN out of you" - Stephen Price

Week 4 Down...11 More Weeks to GO!!

Week 4 is done, and I'm seeing LOTS AND LOTS of progress...let's analyze the ups and down....

Ups: my backside is making a lot of progress...you'll see soon enough!

Ups: My Bikini came in....whoop, whoop!!

Ups: I'm down to 124.4, that's a total of 3.8 lbs lost, and 9 more to go.

The ONE and ONLY down:
MY body fat when up by .6%, I'm assuming it's a combination of the two: emotional eating last weekend, and stress/worry when it comes to my Lolo Bobo...RIP my Lolo Bobo :D


**I exercise because somehow completely exhausting myself is the most relaxing part of my day **
On that note, I'm off to the gym, it's leg day and CARDIO :D

HAPPY SATURDAY :D 

Bouncing BACK!

Well, I'm bouncing back from my weekend of eating foods I shouldn't have eaten.  I weight myself everyday and I have finally passed the weight that I was at, at the end of Week 3!...Everyday I feel better and better about working out, I'm seeing results and having to go up in weight while I'm weight lifting puts a HUGE smile on my face.  Tomorrow will mark the end of Week 4.  I can't wait to take my Week 4 photos and to get my body fat %!! :D 

Stronger than....

As stated earlier, I am an emotional eater...and that's exactly what I did this weekend, I ATE!!! I did exactly what I wasn't supposed to do.  :( I think of it this way though... I'm 13 Weeks out from the competition, and ideally you would start training 12 Weeks out.  Sooo, that's how I justified that to myself :) and best believe as soon as I got home last night, I made sure to make all my meals for today!! ... however on a positive note, my week 3 pics look good!! Improving a lot!! and I lost 2 PERCENT BODY FAT! Yea Boi !!!

****BE STRONGER THAN YOU EXCUSES****

Adjustments...

This week has been a tough week to be motivated :(

However, I did alter my diet....I have incorporated high and low carb days, and used iiyfm.com to determine my calorie intake.  I need to have 1477 calories a day, and I was getting 1300.  That's why this week has been a tough week to be motivated because my calorie intake was lower then it needs to be, therefore I had no energy.

And, I have also altered my workout plan.  I rotate my days every three days between the three: legs, arms, cardio, and every week I will do that rotation two times, making it 6 days a week I'm working out.  On day 2 and day 4, I'm adding 15 minutes of HITT training on the treadmill or the stair master.  Starting 8 weeks out from the competition, I'm going to add a day to do an additional 15 min of HITT, do that two weeks, and then add another day, until week 15, and I'm doing HITT every day.  That way I'll work my way up to cutting weight as I get closer to competition.  The same thing with my carb intake, as I get closer to my competition, I'm going cut my carbs.

Tomorrow I'm going to get my body fat and my weight update, but like I said last week, I'm not anticipating great numbers...boohooo!!  and we are also leaving for St. Louis for my Lolo Bobo's funeral, all the kids are going to support Tom and Mom and it makes my heart smile that we all be there for him :)

We are staying at a hotel, and I called to request a fridge and microwave, and they said YES! See, it never hurts to ask :)...and they have a fitness center at the hotel, double YES! I'm mainly going to pack my snacks, and cranberries (to add to chicken salad I'll order when we eat out)

This is how I felt this week...

I never regret when I do it, I always regret when I don't!!!! 

End of Week 2!!! Good News...Bad News...

Good News: Down 1.6 lbs, brings my total weight loss to 3.2 lbs...I started at 128.2, I need to be between 110-115...I'm at 125...going to measure my Body Fat % next week, excited to see that number :D!!! The area that I've noticed the most progress is my BOOTY!! Yes!! I like big butts, and mine is getting a LIFT!! :D

Over the weekend I was blessed enough to accompany my sister and her friends to a Women's Conference.  One of my sister's friend, Jen is a Fitness Competitor and I was able to pick her brain about my routine and if there is anything she would do differently.  One thing I took away from it was to eat a little more carbs (complex ones) so I've added Ezekiel bread (1 slice) and brown rice (1/2 cup) to my diet.  The reason she suggested I eat more so that when I get closer to the competition I'll have carbs to take off my diet, and so that I'll have more energy.  We will see how that goes.

Bads News:  I'm presumming that my numbers won't be as good as they have been for Week 3.  My Lolo Bobo (Grandfather on my StepDad's side) has passed away last night.  I'm an emotional eater, and I'm doing good not eating outside of my diet plan, but I have NO ENERGY to workout :(  We don't know when the funeral is and I'm going to go, with that I'll need to find a gym and pack my food.  All of those items equal up to stress, and stress adds body fat to one-selves.  I'm trying really hard to stay relaxed and know that my Lolo Bobo has started his eternity in heaven and is having a blast up there telling his stories to all his new friends....I love you Lolo Bobo and you will always be in my heart and I'll see you again <3 <3 <3