16 Weeks Out From Atlantic Classics
I can't tell you how good it feels to officially be done my first week of prep. I stayed on track with both my workouts and my food. Food has always been the struggle for me but I was absolutely stuffed this whole week. Bikini competitors eat...or at least I am. I can't talk for all of them though. At times, I was even forcing myself to eat because I just wasn't hungry (something that has never happened to me before...usually I can always eat). The funny thing is that by the end of the week my body had already adjusted and was looking for food. Our bodies are incredible. I also had a bit of a digestive issue on the second/third day. Let's just say food wasn't being digested as well as it should have been. Having said that, I reached out to my coach who told me it was common and should clear up. By day 4 I was completely 'regular' again. ;)
Here's a run down on the food I ate this week (remember this food program was tailored to me). I did have options but honestly I stuck with this break down because these are the foods that I love most. My meals for 15 weeks out look very similar.
B: 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 Tbsp peanut butter, 1 scoop protein powder (I'm using Promasil)
S: Protein shake mixed with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk and an apple or banana (depending on what I feel like)
L: 1/2 cup brown rice, 110 g chicken breast, 90 g broccoli
S: 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 scoop protein powder
D: 1/2 cup brown rice, 100 g salmon, 90 g broccoli
S: 3/4 egg whites, 90 g mixture of mushrooms, peppers and onions
Since I stayed on track 100% during the first week I was allowed a cheat/treat/reward/refuel (whatever you want to call it) meal. I didn't care what it was called all I knew is that I was able to have ANYTHING I wanted for one of the meals (it actually ended up replacing my dinner and my night snack). I chose pizza. I'm a Richardson - we are all HUGE cheese lovers. My pizza had 3 different types of cheese on it - mozzarella, feta and goat. MMM! It was so enjoyable and the first time I think I ever just stuck to a cheat meal. Usually, it gets out of control and I end up with a night worth of binge eating - not all the time but it is something that I am continually working on to improve. I actually put a lot of thought into this meal and listened to my body. I figured out what my body was craving and planned it out (rather than doing it on the fly). I think it's a technique that I will bring forward with me in the future since it seemed to work.
I have to say that grocery shopping is probably one of the hardest things for me to do. I just want to pick up all the awesome sales on all my favourite things (especially ice cream). This isn't just a new struggle of mine...it's something I've been working on for the last 5 years. I definitely have some discipline but man, it's still not always easy. I just try and stay focused on my goals in the grocery store while getting in and out as quickly as possible.
Our power went out on day 7 of my prep - GAH! Thankfully it wasn't out long but that meant Jeff picked up some Mary Browns. They have some delicious taters and popcorn chicken - which was EXACTLY what he ordered. I promise you this...I just took a sniff of his food.
My workouts were good and my time in the gym was about 1.5 hours 5 times a week. YEAH, that's right - TWO rest days. This part of the workout for me is called 'glute development phase' (come on booty!). I was doing 40 minutes cardio along with weight training (glutes/hamstrings, shoulders, quads/glutes, back/arms, and abs/glues) and my routine is the same for 15 weeks out but does change a bit at 14 weeks out. Over the years I have come to enjoy a lot of exercises so I was able to learn a few new ones and revisit some old favourites (and not so favourites).
Finally, week 1 was over and that meant progress pictures and weigh ins. I felt heavy but I did manage to lose a healthy 1.5 lbs (16 weeks out: 127.3 lbs, 15 weeks out: 125.8 lbs). There isn't much difference in my progress photos - a bit in the back picture but it's only been 1 week. Rome wasn't built in a day! :) Please remember, I am taking these pictures early Saturday morning. It was actually recommended to take the pictures by video and then screen shot each angle (very smart way to take progress photos - that way there is no 'posing') so my expression on my face can be a bit odd at times (or all the time).
I also had an AMAZING chat with my coach Heather which really gives me a lot of motivation for the week to come. I have plenty of time to feel stage ready (no - I don't mean some 'perfect' body I mean confidence)...one thing that I am looking for from this whole process is even more confidence. I have been confident enough to start this process and I am planning on finishing it with even more confidence. I'm addicted to it...and it's probably because I never had it for so many years of my life.
