Sunday's ramble

I can't believe it's Sunday already. I mean, where did the week go? I can't believe it's already the 3rd last day of March!!!!

So not much been going on in my world. After last post I did a pretty good back session but didn't make boxing in time, so had to do boring machine cardio. My little cousin happened to be at the gym (she turned up for the boxing class I wanted to do) and saw me when she was done...and what do you know??? Asked me, very hesitantly, if I was preggers. It's getting ridiculous now!

So she ended up back at my place too to join me and my other cousin for a coffee, it was great catching up with the both of them :) Had a nice night. The pair of them convinced me though, to go and get a second opinion on my pregnant look. What I failed to mention in last post was that after the last doctor ruled out my bathroom issues as being responsible for the swelling, given I am now empty but with a growing tum, he tried to convince me that I was merely getting fatter and storing fat in my belly for the first time in my life. After arguing with him (and almost walking out) that I know I'm not getting fatter as my skinfolds are coming down (last measure I was around the 10% mark) and my belly is rock hard - if it were fat it would be jelly-like - he felt it and agreed that maybe it wasn't me just putting on fat. I pretty much demanded the referral for pelvic ultrasound. SO anyway I got up yesterday and went off to see my cousin's doctor, who appeared to actually know a bit about medicine. She immediately took my concerns seriously and told me that the symptoms I am having, and the massive swelling, are indicators that there may be something going on with my ovaries. Anyway she sent me straight to pathology for a blood test, the results of which will be in on Tuesday. All ties in with me getting the ultrasound done that day too so will know a lot more after I see her again Tues afternoon. I am feeling a little hopeful that they can find what the issue is and sort it out now.

Trained legs yesterday and blasted them. I did another unorthadox session - consisting only of 10 x 20 reps on the leg press, stacked with 160kg (not sure how much this particular machine weighs but it's a pretty heavy one). That's the heaviest I have ever gone for the 10x20 set workout so I was pretty impressed with myself. Not sure about walking for the next few days but we'll cross that DOMS bridge when it happens lol. Oh I made the last set a drop set - I got my colleague Aftar who was working yesterday to take one plate off at a time til it was just down to machine weight (had 8 plates on), I pumped out between 10-20reps per weight. All in all an awesome session, leaving me nauseous for most of my half hour cardio session that followed!! Some of the regulars saw me when I was just getting onto the crosstrainer, and looked up saying "you just did legs didn't you"!! I think the "I'm about to throw up" look usually gives that one away lol.

ANYWAY aside from that I have had a very boring, low key weekend. I have seriously been too tired of late to do anything, I planned a DVD night last night but was too lethargic to even turn the player on. So I sat on the couch on the computer until I had the energy to shower and go to bed.

Today is a new day though, and I am off to spend the day with Miss Fern. I believe we are going for a kick-ass walk (although she may end up piggy-backing me, haven't warned her of that yet), I think we are making a pitstop into ASN Bondi Junction as Simon (owner) is down for the weekend - besides which I need more supps :) Then we are meeting another figure chick, Claude, for coffee...and then Fern and I are off to COLD ROCK to cement my "no competing this season" decision with a big ice cream cheat meal. Mmmmm Cold Rock....For those who read previous posts during the week you will know I have been looking forward to it all week :)

Anyway will be off now. Hope you are all having a fab weekend. Til next time, train hard and be good :)

Vic x

A bloody belly big mystery...?

It's funny...I keep reading everyone else's posts, and looking at all your progress pics, and every one seems to be getting smaller and coming in nicely...and then there's me and this Goddamned belly of mine.

So we have had lots of progress this week - well medicine wise, anyway. I have spent sooo much time in the bathroom this week I am actually contemplating getting it renovated so I can fit my bed, computer desk, filing cabinet, laptop, stove, fridge and kitchen sink in there. It is seriously getting beyond a joke - but in saying that it is obviously a good thing that all that junk is leaving my body.

BUT - there is still mystery.

I woke up nice and early for my 5am start at work, and thought 'might step on the scales this morning, after 4 solid (or not so solid? sorry, I know it's really bad humour to be making poo jokes, isn't it?!?!) days of elimination, surely there would be a massive drop on the scales'. Well, I would assume it's normal to have thought that.

WRONG.

The scales have actually gone up a kilo. WTF?

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE.

Yep - you are seeing correctly. It hasn't gone anywhere. Hasn't budged. Actually in comparison to last week's pics, it has increased in size (I really should be taking measurements).

Thinking this is getting beyond a joke, I went for my follow up at the docs. Given that I have had so much "activity" this week he is now adamant that the swelling is not related to the clogging I have been experiencing, because obviously that is shifting but the belly isn't. So ladies, back to square fucking one. I am now booked in for a pelvic ultrasound on Tuesday morning to see if they can find anything going on with my reproductive bits. I now have one word. FAAARRRRKKK!!! (Maybe Frankie is right - maybe it IS an alien after all??)

Anyway enough of the tummy talk. Onto other things. For the first weekend in, hmm, not sure - I have the whole weekend off! YIPPEEEEEE! Don't even know what I am gonna do with tomorrow!! I am gonna go train back this arvo, followed by a boxing class, and then my cousin Dani is coming over for a coffee n catch up, which will be awesome. Dani is my very first (and only ever) training partner, we used to train together when I first took up the gym, as she had been a regular gym-goer for years. Now I write her programs lol.

Tomorrow is leg annihilation day # 2 for the week, and no plans for the evening - me thinks a DVD night may be on the cards!!

Sunday is my catch up day with the fabulous Miss Fern. Then back to the grindstone come Monday.

Hmm ok been rambling for way too long now so will be off.

Hope you all have an awesome weekend :)

Train hard & be good,

Vic x

Wednesday Blog

Wow, what a creative title I have come up with today lol.

Well people, we have had 2 and a bit days of action with the belly (the bit being this morning, given it's only 7.30am and it started at 6am...I call that action) however the baby look has not budged...I still look about 7 months preggers. I have Friday off work so will get myself back to the Doc's for a verdict then, hopefully the bulge has diminished somewhat by then...cos currently it is making every day a fat day!!

I have very mixed feelings about not competing in May. I had my heart set on it, new bikini ready, comp bag all prepared etc...but I know I need to be 100% on game and I'm not so it's better this way.

I trained (or should I say obliterated) legs yesterday and felt awesome afterwards...did squats, leg press, stiff legged deadies, extensions, curls, and calf raises, 4 sets of 20 for everything...DOMS set in badly last night at work, the end of the shift was killer to say the least, picking up all the weights off the floor was agonising!!

Today is rest day so cardio only, can't do anything too high intensity due to leg pain lol...not to mention fear of anything high intensity being too much for my tummy to handle at the moment!

I have come up with a new recipe that I am loving and is very comp diet friendly...about to go buy some more ingredients for it now so can make a few more days worth. Basically I fold 2 egg whites, chopped mushroom, spinach, tomato, and garlic paste into 500g either turkey or kangaroo mince, and whack it in the fry pan. No fats needed due to the egg whites. I have been experimenting with diff veges in the last couple of weeks and the different minces and it is delish...especially in a salad :)

I got ANOTHER job offer yesterday lol...followed about an hour later by a call from a gym I sent my resume to about a month ago, to discuss job opportunities there...can't believe it! About 6 weeks ago I was trying so hard to find local work...and now I am getting on average 1-2 offers a week!! Go figure? When it rains....lol

I have booked in for a massage tomorrow straight after work and can I just say...I CAN'T WAIT!! It has been WAY too long since I had one done and I am in desperate need. The knots in my shoulders/back/neck are going to need a lot of elbow work to say the least!

Not much else going on to report on, just been working working working. Looking forward to my cheat this weekend - the plan is to smash down some COLD ROCK...mmmm I LOVE COLD ROCK!!! hehe

Better jet-ski, the cardio is waiting...

Train hard n be good,
Vic x

Game Over (for now)

So I woke with a bit more clarity today.

I am pulling out of the May comps to concentrate on getting my health back to normal, which I have realised in the last few days is not going to be a quick-fix - guess I didn't want to think that way though.

I called Mike to tell him and he thinks it's the best thing for me. I am going to continue to train as normal, keep eating clean with the odd cheat here and there (ODD being the operative word!! I think I will try to keep it at one meal a week, that being said I have just had 2 rows of well-deserved dark chocolate with almonds to seal my decision, and as a bit of an 'end to the stress'), but add a few more carbs back in and back off the cardio a little. I will still see Mike regularly (prob once a month for now rather than weekly) as we still want to bring my skinfolds down slowly - I will be doing a fair few shows in the Sept/Oct season, hopefully including the INBA Natural Olympia, so the intention is to stay ahead of the game, given I have 10 weeks of solid comp prep up my sleeve 6 months out....that way there won't be any panicking at comp time. At last measurement (last week) I was at about 10.5% body fat but that being said, I am holding a lot of weight that I probably wouldn't be if my digestive system was actually working so that percentage may be a little inaccurate. Either way, if I can continue to drop that at a slow and steady pace I am going to be in top condition come 6 months.

I am sad about the decision but relieved at the same time, I was under a lot of pressure because my progress hasn't been as good as it normally is, and it was doing my head in a fair bit.

Anyway I just wanted to put an update on - I guess the decision feels more final when I have let people know.

Til next time, train hard and be good.
Vic x

Aaarrrggghhh

I have just gotten home from watching the Australasians. I love going to watch comps :)

The quality of competitors this year was really good for the most part - unfortunately there weren't that many!! 'Specially female - seriously, 2 novices, one masters and 6 opens for figure. Zero fitness, zero physique. They didn't even break the opens up into heights!!! But as I said the standard was there, and most competitors put on a great show, specially Nick Jones and Michael Galley in the Under 80kg mens who were being very playfully competitive on stage and made it quite entertaining.

The guest posers were awesome too!!

On a downer however, Mike was at the show and we had a serious talk about the likeliness of me competing in May. I am definitely out for the INBA on 3 May, there is no way I am going to make it in time, because I have not been digesting any food my dieting hasn't been overly effective. I am looking very muscular at the moment but won't lean up enough in time. The meds I have been put on for my tummy haven't kicked in at all, and it's now Day 4... Unless something miraculous happens in the next few days I am pretty much pulling out of the season entirely. Yes it will mean I can focus everything on being in killer condition for the Sept/Oct seasons but I am devastated that after 10 weeks of full on comp prep I am pretty much almost certainly pulling the pin. Mike is determined that my health needs to be my priority - and yes I know he's right - but anyone who has been through comp prep knows how hard it is or could imagine how hard it is to walk away from.

Anyway guess I will be praying for a miracle in the next few days!!

Vicki

BRING IT ON!!!

I titled this post BRING IT ON, referring to comp prep but it kinda has a double meaning...

I went back to the doc's the other day and we are trying for a medicated solution at the moment... I have been prescribed with a medicine to drink that is kind of like a colonic irrigation but reversed (well not entirely) - I drink this stuff and it is supposed to flush itself into my system, break everything down and remove itself if you know what I mean - well that is the plan. Anyway I have been prescribed with 8 (yes EIGHT) times the normal dose because my problem is so chronic, and have been given a week for it to work. If it fails I have to go back and discuss other options. The doc said it may take up to 3 days to start working on me. It has been 2 days so far so I am still hopeful that given the amount I am taking it will work. Pls keep your fingers and toes crossed for me because I am determined to compete in 43 days!!! lol

Dieting this week hasn't been so hard. I haven't been feeling hungry most days because of my tummy issue, which probably isn't a great thing for my metabolism but it's great for me that I haven't been feeling hunger pains - so some good has come of this :)

I brought my cheat meal forward one day this week and had it last night (Friday) rather than having it tonight as was going out to dinner in Newtown with some of my old workmates from when I worked in the corporate world. We went to one of my old local haunts, an Italian restaurant called Gigi, which does awesome food. I had marinated olives for my starter, a calzone (one of those folded pizzas) with ham, tomato, mushroom and bocconcini for main, and my trusty old gelato for dessert - I ate every last bit of my whole meal and enjoyed every mouthful. I have a gut feeling that this was my last cheat meal for the season so made sure I savoured it :)

Trained like a machine today - I always train awesome after a cheat as I am well and truly carbed up. I got to work early (had to work 9-2 today) and did a half hour on the stepper. When I finished work did one of my 'unorthadox' legs sessions - new one today:
5 x 20 smith machine squats supersetted with 5 x 20 farmers walks (dumbells)
5 x 20 45 deg leg press
5 x 20 close feet smith machine squats
3 x 15 single calf raises
and topped it off with another 20min on the stepper.
I haven't done any ab work in 2 weeks now which sucks cos normally do abs 3-4 times a week but I just can't bear the thought of doing stomach work at the moment!! Can't wait til I can do them again!!

Went for a much needed haircut after work, I am growing it out from being short and it was just shapeless so needed to be done. Going to colour it tonight :)

Anyway better jet, gonna go for a walk soon and then have some dinner and an early night....off to the IFBB Australasians tomorrow and CAN'T WAIT!!

Til next post, train hard and be good - and have an awesome weekend :)

Vic x

Feeling Brighter

Morning all :)

Thought I would blog as have woken in a fairly positive mood today, which is a very nice change from how I have been feeling lately. Feeling leaner (aside from the obvious growth), which is nice for a change.

I have posted one of my comp pics because looking at them always makes me feel more motivated to get off my ass and kick some butt in the gym. This one is from my very first comp....gosh seems so long ago!!

I got my CT done yesterday, and while I haven't been able to get back to the Dr for a verdict as following the scans I had to go to one job, then straight to the other, I am happy to report that nothing additional popped up on the CT. I will be going to the Doc's today to see what they have to say about treatment, so fingers crossed that it doesn't involve a surgeon and his knife.

I have continued training normally in the interim because I really have no idea what is going to happen from here but am very hopeful that it is still GAME ON for May! Did an awesome legs session on Tuesday night and yesterday was rest day. Both days I missed my 2nd cardio session - simply due to lack of time (unavoidable due to work and time spent getting tests done) but got up this morning and went off to the 5.45am RPM class. Just had my fave brekkie - oats with protein powder - this morning was Creme Caramel....mmm love my protein oats, even in the off season!!

Don't start work til 12 today so planning to get there at 10am and do the rest of the day's training - Chest/Triceps, and second cardio session - before I start. Then off to the doc's after work.

Having dinner with Mum tonight which will be nice, haven't had one-on-one time with her in ages, so was nice when she asked me yesterday if I wanted to go over for dinner tonight. Dad is off to Melbourne early this morning for the weekend (the sacrafices men make to play golf, I dunno!!) so she is there on her own for tonight, but she's off down the coast with one of her friend's for the weekend too.

Anyway better jet, will probably post again once I have been to the doc's...keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Til then...train hard & be good,

Vic xx