Week 2 was awesome! I did better than I had planned for this week. I had only planned on working on my breakfast meal, but I ended up working on my post-workout meals as well. I am feeling like I can handle this for years. I am even getting better at separating egg whites. My Taekwondo training is coming along. I feel like I need to train more, but I'm just not sure how, where, or what. Still doing my weights and cardio and am feeling so strong.
Today was the first day of week 3 and I am not happy about chicken breast. I have never really been much of a chicken eater, but this weeks concentration is on eating the right lunch. I need to eat lean protein (like grilled fish or chicken) and veggies. I can add brown rice or quinoa on higher carb days. I don't even know what quinoa is, so I am interested in trying it. I love veggies and do not mind eating all the broccoli, carrots, and snap peas in the world. I like vegetables. I do NOT, however, like fish, white meat chicken, or beans. Beans are the worse, I can't even choke those down. I'm going to experiment with fish. I really want to find ways to get this protein and enjoy it like I do my eggs and protein shakes.
I'd appreciate any ideas or recipes for grilled/baked chicken or fish. Nothing high in sodium or sugar allowed!
Thanks...here's to week 3
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Twiggy
It's only day 3 of this week and I am already considerably more exhausted than I was yesterday. I seemed to have endless energy yesterday. Today, all I wanted was a nap!
I started the day off with 3 egg whites and one egg scrambled, a banana, and oatmeal. That is just over 20 grams of protein, and I am wondering if I need one more egg. I'll research that tonight.
My morning workout started with weightlifting for shoulders, biceps, and triceps. I was checking out my arms and flexing in between sets, and I cannot get over how skinny my arms are. I have almost no muscle tone left! My arms are quite Twiggy! I am concerned that I will not be able to build them up. On the positive side, I was lifting heavier than I did last week. I still felt like super woman in the gym because of my gains in strength. I know I need to hit delts and triceps harder, though.
After weights I practiced forms again for technique. I felt stronger and like I am getting my core strength back. I don't feel like I am going to fall over all of the time...just some of the time. I wish I had a bag at the gym or somebody to hold paddles for me. I feel like I need to work more on speed and footwork, but it's hard to do without a target. Plus, I know once kids get out of school, they will be using the courts and I will not have anywhere to practice at the gym. I've gotta start brainstorming on this one!
To finish my workout I ran for cardio. I hate running! Now my knees hurt, but it is such great cardio and it is also a great leg workout. Speaking of legs...mine are looking HUGE! I read that when you start to build muscle that you can get a lot of water retention because muscles need water. Hopefully it goes away soon because I don't think I can get pant over these tree trunks.
After my morning workout I chugged down another vanilla protein shake. It had 20grams of protein plus the protein in the 7oz of milk I mixed it with. Again, I really need to do more research on how much protein I need before and after a workout. Last I read, I need 1gram of protein for every pound I weigh throughout the day. I'm not sure how I should be dividing these up. Especially since I get a least 2 workouts a day.
This evening my Taekwondo workout involved practicing my competition form. I decided to do a Taekwondo form, but it is one that is not required in my organization, so I am having to work extra hard to get it down right. I love the form though. It is a lot of fun!
I'm gonna stop blogging and start figuring out my protein intake so I can get rid of my twiggy arms.
I started the day off with 3 egg whites and one egg scrambled, a banana, and oatmeal. That is just over 20 grams of protein, and I am wondering if I need one more egg. I'll research that tonight.
My morning workout started with weightlifting for shoulders, biceps, and triceps. I was checking out my arms and flexing in between sets, and I cannot get over how skinny my arms are. I have almost no muscle tone left! My arms are quite Twiggy! I am concerned that I will not be able to build them up. On the positive side, I was lifting heavier than I did last week. I still felt like super woman in the gym because of my gains in strength. I know I need to hit delts and triceps harder, though.
After weights I practiced forms again for technique. I felt stronger and like I am getting my core strength back. I don't feel like I am going to fall over all of the time...just some of the time. I wish I had a bag at the gym or somebody to hold paddles for me. I feel like I need to work more on speed and footwork, but it's hard to do without a target. Plus, I know once kids get out of school, they will be using the courts and I will not have anywhere to practice at the gym. I've gotta start brainstorming on this one!
To finish my workout I ran for cardio. I hate running! Now my knees hurt, but it is such great cardio and it is also a great leg workout. Speaking of legs...mine are looking HUGE! I read that when you start to build muscle that you can get a lot of water retention because muscles need water. Hopefully it goes away soon because I don't think I can get pant over these tree trunks.
After my morning workout I chugged down another vanilla protein shake. It had 20grams of protein plus the protein in the 7oz of milk I mixed it with. Again, I really need to do more research on how much protein I need before and after a workout. Last I read, I need 1gram of protein for every pound I weigh throughout the day. I'm not sure how I should be dividing these up. Especially since I get a least 2 workouts a day.
This evening my Taekwondo workout involved practicing my competition form. I decided to do a Taekwondo form, but it is one that is not required in my organization, so I am having to work extra hard to get it down right. I love the form though. It is a lot of fun!
I'm gonna stop blogging and start figuring out my protein intake so I can get rid of my twiggy arms.
Monday, May 16, 2011
It Taste Like Cake Batter
This morning I had 2 egg whites and one whole egg scrambled, oatmeal, and a half a banana (the other half was bruised). I think I still need more protein because this is my pre-workout meal. I am going to add one more egg white. My post workout "meal" was a vanilla protein shake made with milk. I need my calcium, so I used milk. It was yummy...it tasted like cake batter!
For my morning workout I lifted legs. I can feel myself getting stronger as I go through the moves. My back really hurts when I do squats, so I don't think I am going low enough to engage my glutes. I am seeing definition in my legs now, but my butt is still squishy and saggy. Good news was seeing my quad definition through my baggy Taekwondo pants. I haven't seen that in a really long time.
I worked on forms after doing legs. I am not sure which form I should compete, so I just worked on technique on the forms that I already know. I am thinking about learning a Karate form just for the US Open. I hear that karate forms do better in scoring than Taekwondo forms. If I do a Taekwondo form, it will be my favorite: Dahlee Hyung Sa Chung.
For cardio this morning I swam laps. I felt really strong. I don't know if its the muscle I am building, the breakfast I ate, or a mixture of both. I wasn't fast compared to some other swimmers, but I just felt like I was moving through the water so much better.
Tonight I went to Taekwondo class at Fast Kicks and we worked on forms and did Hogu drills. I loved it, but I felt really clumsy and slow on the Hogu drills. I haven't really trained for sparing in 2 years. I am really nervous about my ability to be ready to fight by July 2. I guess I have to start somewhere.
Well, on to tomorrow...more cake batter!
For my morning workout I lifted legs. I can feel myself getting stronger as I go through the moves. My back really hurts when I do squats, so I don't think I am going low enough to engage my glutes. I am seeing definition in my legs now, but my butt is still squishy and saggy. Good news was seeing my quad definition through my baggy Taekwondo pants. I haven't seen that in a really long time.
I worked on forms after doing legs. I am not sure which form I should compete, so I just worked on technique on the forms that I already know. I am thinking about learning a Karate form just for the US Open. I hear that karate forms do better in scoring than Taekwondo forms. If I do a Taekwondo form, it will be my favorite: Dahlee Hyung Sa Chung.
For cardio this morning I swam laps. I felt really strong. I don't know if its the muscle I am building, the breakfast I ate, or a mixture of both. I wasn't fast compared to some other swimmers, but I just felt like I was moving through the water so much better.
Tonight I went to Taekwondo class at Fast Kicks and we worked on forms and did Hogu drills. I loved it, but I felt really clumsy and slow on the Hogu drills. I haven't really trained for sparing in 2 years. I am really nervous about my ability to be ready to fight by July 2. I guess I have to start somewhere.
Well, on to tomorrow...more cake batter!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Starting Week 2
For week 2 I have decided to work on my first meal of the day and start training for the US Open (open Karate) in addition to continuing my training for figure competitions. I am feeling good after week 1 and I am ready to get started on this week.
I started today with my first breakfast of my "diet". It is not a diet to lose weight, but a diet to fuel my body, help build muscle, and keep me lean. My first breakfast was scrambled eggs (the only way I know how to cook an egg), oatmeal, and an orange. I like all those things, but it took a long time to prepare and I will quickly get tired of eating that. So I need to do some serious research on breakfast for figure competitions.
This week I am going to get serious about my Taekwondo training. I have been going to class off and on since I moved to Tampa almost a year ago, but because of my back injury I have not been consistent. I am blessed that I have to different schools I get to train at. One of them is about an hour from me, but the owners are some of my favorite people in the world. I trust them with not only my training, but also teaching my children. It is a family atmosphere, and I get some AMAZING traditional Taekwondo training. Check out one of my favorite places to be: Family Martial Arts Center
The other school I get to train at is only 30 minutes away, but it is hard to get there with my crazy kids in tow. So I only get to go when their dad is available to watch them. This school is amazing and the instructor is a genuinely great guy. I love the training I get there because it reminds me of my old Olympic Style days. We do lots of paddle drills, which is my favorite thing in the world. In addition, the owner is an incredible martial artist and I have a great deal of respect for him. I am grateful to get to train here: Fast Kicks Academy
So, here is to a great Week 2!
I started today with my first breakfast of my "diet". It is not a diet to lose weight, but a diet to fuel my body, help build muscle, and keep me lean. My first breakfast was scrambled eggs (the only way I know how to cook an egg), oatmeal, and an orange. I like all those things, but it took a long time to prepare and I will quickly get tired of eating that. So I need to do some serious research on breakfast for figure competitions.
This week I am going to get serious about my Taekwondo training. I have been going to class off and on since I moved to Tampa almost a year ago, but because of my back injury I have not been consistent. I am blessed that I have to different schools I get to train at. One of them is about an hour from me, but the owners are some of my favorite people in the world. I trust them with not only my training, but also teaching my children. It is a family atmosphere, and I get some AMAZING traditional Taekwondo training. Check out one of my favorite places to be: Family Martial Arts Center
The other school I get to train at is only 30 minutes away, but it is hard to get there with my crazy kids in tow. So I only get to go when their dad is available to watch them. This school is amazing and the instructor is a genuinely great guy. I love the training I get there because it reminds me of my old Olympic Style days. We do lots of paddle drills, which is my favorite thing in the world. In addition, the owner is an incredible martial artist and I have a great deal of respect for him. I am grateful to get to train here: Fast Kicks Academy
So, here is to a great Week 2!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Week 1 Frumpy
I am by no means overweight or obese, but since my back injury I may be "fatter" than I am used to. I mean that I no longer have the muscle tone I used to have when I was teaching aerobics and training for martial-arts competitions. Just a couple weeks ago I was complaining because my shorts didn't fit, but when I weighed myself I was lighter than I've been in a long time. FAT! Fat takes up more space than muscle. If you want to see a gruesome picture, Google images of 1 pound of fat versus 1 pound of muscle.
Now that I've decided to train for figure competitions, I have been checking myself out. My guns are now just straight sticks, my glutes are droopy, my hamstrings are dimply, I have no idea where my quads have gone, and my back is squishy flesh. As far as abs are concerned, I never really had a good mid-section. Nope, I prefer to eat pizza, pasta, bread, rice, chocolate, and cookies. Good news is that I still have decent shoulders, bad news is that I have got a lot of work to do.
This brings me to the end of Week 1. I decided for this week that I would start training for the figure competitions. I was pretty happy with the cardio that I had been doing because the cross-training has been good for my injuries. The only change I made to cardio was to add one more day of cardio. I had already been weight training, but not with any goals or focus. This week I started lifting harder and focusing on building muscle.
I didn't start training for the US Open yet or start the diet for figure competition because I am breaking into these things a little at a time. But after my first week I am noticing big differences in strength. I am starting to look a little less frumpy, and I am starting to feel some muscles tightening up. While I was running yesterday morning, I could feel a big difference in my strength.
I finished Week 1 stronger and even more excited about my goals for the US Open and Figure Competitions. On to Week 2...
Now that I've decided to train for figure competitions, I have been checking myself out. My guns are now just straight sticks, my glutes are droopy, my hamstrings are dimply, I have no idea where my quads have gone, and my back is squishy flesh. As far as abs are concerned, I never really had a good mid-section. Nope, I prefer to eat pizza, pasta, bread, rice, chocolate, and cookies. Good news is that I still have decent shoulders, bad news is that I have got a lot of work to do.
This brings me to the end of Week 1. I decided for this week that I would start training for the figure competitions. I was pretty happy with the cardio that I had been doing because the cross-training has been good for my injuries. The only change I made to cardio was to add one more day of cardio. I had already been weight training, but not with any goals or focus. This week I started lifting harder and focusing on building muscle.
I didn't start training for the US Open yet or start the diet for figure competition because I am breaking into these things a little at a time. But after my first week I am noticing big differences in strength. I am starting to look a little less frumpy, and I am starting to feel some muscles tightening up. While I was running yesterday morning, I could feel a big difference in my strength.
I finished Week 1 stronger and even more excited about my goals for the US Open and Figure Competitions. On to Week 2...
Friday, May 13, 2011
Hold Me Accountable
I have finally set some goals for this year. If you are reading this, please follow this Blog, follow me on Twitter, and/or friend me on Facebook. I need your encouragement. I need you to hold me accountable for my goals, and YELL at me if I get off track. I am writing this to ask for everybody to help me stay focused on my goals.
US OPEN
One of my goals that I have "re-set" for myself is to compete at the US Open (open Karate tournament) in July. I know I said I was going to train for this awhile ago, but then my back started to act up and I really did not feel like moving, much less training. But I am tired of laying around waiting for my back to get better. The doctor cleared me for any activity, I guess I just have to push through and ignore the pain. Which really sucks! Anyway, I've got 8 weeks to get ready for probably my biggest martial-arts competition yet. I don't know if I will be able to fight, but I am going to start preparing for it. I am going to plan on competing in sparing and traditional forms.
FIGURE COMPETITION
For those of you that have never heard of a figure competition, it is like a body building competition, but with smaller more feminine muscles. There is more to it, I know, but that is just the easiest way to explain it. Anyway, I have been told many times that I should do this, but I have always been so focused on Taekwondo that I blew it off. But now I really want to do it. I found a couple of shows in August that I plan to go to. One is the Florida State Championships in Orlando. I have my work cut out for me, especially when it comes to dieting. Still, I am very excited about this.
I am nervous and excited for both. Keep me in your prayers that my back heals and that I do not get any more injuries on my journey.
US OPEN
One of my goals that I have "re-set" for myself is to compete at the US Open (open Karate tournament) in July. I know I said I was going to train for this awhile ago, but then my back started to act up and I really did not feel like moving, much less training. But I am tired of laying around waiting for my back to get better. The doctor cleared me for any activity, I guess I just have to push through and ignore the pain. Which really sucks! Anyway, I've got 8 weeks to get ready for probably my biggest martial-arts competition yet. I don't know if I will be able to fight, but I am going to start preparing for it. I am going to plan on competing in sparing and traditional forms.
FIGURE COMPETITION
For those of you that have never heard of a figure competition, it is like a body building competition, but with smaller more feminine muscles. There is more to it, I know, but that is just the easiest way to explain it. Anyway, I have been told many times that I should do this, but I have always been so focused on Taekwondo that I blew it off. But now I really want to do it. I found a couple of shows in August that I plan to go to. One is the Florida State Championships in Orlando. I have my work cut out for me, especially when it comes to dieting. Still, I am very excited about this.
I am nervous and excited for both. Keep me in your prayers that my back heals and that I do not get any more injuries on my journey.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Pass-a-Grille Beach
On Good Friday I took my family to Pass-a-Grille Beach, which is just down the road from St. Pete. My parents were visiting from Indiana, and I wanted them to experience the beach without the big crowds. Mission accomplished!
Pass-a-Grille is a beautiful beach that is kind of hidden in a quaint little neighborhood. I think you have to be looking for it to find it, and it can be confusing because you have to drive through part of a hotel complex. But like I said, the neighborhood is quaint with the cutest beach houses ever. After driving through the hotel, you have to be on the look out for the side roads that take you down to the beach. Thankfully the parking takes credit cards because I never carry cash.
The beach itself is not at all touristy or crowded. This can be a bad thing because there are no restrooms or snack bars. The restrooms being the biggest issue if you have children. But other than that, this beach is calm, beautiful, and big. There is a volleyball net, and lots of soft white sand. Because it is not crowded, there is plenty of space to play catch, frisbee, or even wiffleball or football. Not that we did any of those things, but I saw the possibilities.
The water at this time of year is almost perfect. It is still a little chilly, but once you get in, it feels wonderful. I even got my head wet this time! We enjoyed playing in the water with the kids (not my 9 year old...still too cold for her). We saw some huge stingrays...HUGE! And some regular sized ones. This really freaked out my 7 year old. Luckily the water at Pass-a-Grille is pretty clear, so you can see the bottom and watch out for the rays.
This is one of my favorite beaches!
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| Faith and Christian with Grandpa |
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| Faith with Grandma |
The beach itself is not at all touristy or crowded. This can be a bad thing because there are no restrooms or snack bars. The restrooms being the biggest issue if you have children. But other than that, this beach is calm, beautiful, and big. There is a volleyball net, and lots of soft white sand. Because it is not crowded, there is plenty of space to play catch, frisbee, or even wiffleball or football. Not that we did any of those things, but I saw the possibilities.
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| Everybody had to bury Cross |
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| Mom and Me |
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| About as far as Faith would get in the water |
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| Christian and Grandpa wresting in the water |
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| Cross in the beach bag |
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