Linda's Phase 1 to Nat's 09

[Italianangel]

So after a rest, I am training again and refreshed. I don’t get those nasty rebound effects that you read about, I had energy the day of, next day and every day after that. Mentally I was very tired though and am now more determined to come in peaked out better than ever for next year! I was inspired by the judges choices for 2nd and 3rd place.
Of course I want first but the gal who got first is much more muscular than I want to be. I know I felt that if I were not to make top 5 next year I would dabble but you know, I don’t want to win THAT BAD. Honestly, I want to win naturally, so its my way or no way.
I KNOW if I dabbled, I would be impossible to beat, I mean for a natural girl to go up against non natural girls - that already makes you strong but for a natural girl to win over non natural girls would be the ultimate challenge and ultimate victory! For me to cave in would not be ME. I am too strong minded and it’s not the first show I have come back from and felt pressured to use enhancements to better my game BUT…..who is pressuring me? They did not tell me to do this, the girls did not tell me to do that, and they do what they want and I don’t tell them what to do so if the judges want an enhanced look then so be it, I have to compete at peace with this factor……so the learning continues.

So forward:
Here is my phase 1 plan!

http://www.members.shaw.ca/Italianan...ietPlan808.pdf
http://www.members.shaw.ca/Italianan...ingPlan808.pdf

I started this plan yesterday.

Tuesday August 19, 08
I had beet soup for my lunch, split pea for dinner and ended up having 1/2 cup sprouted beans with a celery rib chopped, 1/4 cup fresh blueberries, 2 tbs mct oil and 2 tbs apple cider vinegar and cheyenne pepper plus some garlic onion ms dash and lastly some sea salt for my first snack or mid snack, I don't remember. I have to get the himilayan one its pink, my acu says its better for me.
I also had some raw bars, sweet ones with nuts n fruits n carob. They are so yummy but expensive. $20 for 4 bars n 2 balls.
I had no almonds around so these are a good exchange.

I forgot my workout plan at home so I ended up doing pullups and chins, not lat pull nor hypers. I did a low back machine they ave which you sit in and push back….my back was sore. We are still doing renos, its a big old home and it sucks money….but anyway, we had to move our treadmill which is almost gym quality, its the evo smooth and its big n heavy…..so me and 2 guys, me on the light end basically doing deadlift lowering down each stair for 3 flights.
my hand was ripped up from the strap.
I had to do it side ways with right dominant but I am sore today and a bit yesterday.
well, its worse today but I doubled my curcumin and have been working on it with traumeel and thought! it helps, plus pms again, so my back will hurt a bit.

Did alt db curls n bi machine, not what was listed……no wrist work, did abs….not obl….I messed up.
So I adjust the rest and then day 4-6 can be done right.
I also did upright bike, not stair master but my back did not prob want s.m anyway, so bike was better.
Tomorrow is Yoga and this week I may only get it in once but I may do some at home, we will see…….I have never done it alone and I guess I feel I may not get the form right alone, I am so anal about form and such…….and I am not a yogini so I look to the teacher for guidance when my form is off and it does happen during classes where I get corrected so I feel at home I may do something off and then ….I donno, ruin it, get hurt?

Well, thats that.

Oh yeah, I am on smart cleanse 30 day with the fibre, I use my own oil from pvl (mct) and north coast naturals (hemp). I think its all on the diet plan pdf.

Oh and I forgot my tea yesterday but today its made and ready.

Today so far I am on track but its early.

On a personal note, I have not had too much time to read or paint but things are coming along so nicely with all my plans and visions. I am amazed how far positive thought can take you. In a month we have accomplished and achieved and received both materialistically and emotionally, more than in the past 17 years! Just by changing my thinking!
I little spirit and positive thought, so underestimated……..I am learning much!

Linda

[lizzyb]

Hi Linda!

First one in!!!

Wow, your plan sounds soo solid!
Lol! I used to do that often when I used a gym, I'd forget my layout and end up winging things.....I hated to walk around with my journal in hand. I then would read up before heading out.....Oh my about moving the tready.....that's gotta hurt!

What is curcumin and traumeel, and what are their purposes?
Why exactly do competitors do a cleanse post comp.? Like what is the purpose of that practice?
Sorry for the noob-like questions, but I'm just totally curious is all ;-)

Glad you are back......we missed ya!!!

[Italianangel]

Originally Posted by lizzyb

Hi Linda!

First one in!!!

Wow, your plan sounds soo solid!
Lol! I used to do that often when I used a gym, I'd forget my layout and end up winging things.....I hated to walk around with my journal in hand. I then would read up before heading out.....Oh my about moving the tready.....that's gotta hurt!

What is curcumin and traumeel, and what are their purposes?
Why exactly do competitors do a cleanse post comp.? Like what is the purpose of that practice?
Sorry for the noob-like questions, but I'm just totally curious is all ;-)

Glad you are back......we missed ya!!!

Its funny, I had all the clients programs but forgot to put mine in the clipboard!
I bump training and clients together to fit it in between or around my appts and for the most part its consistent but I can fit it in anyway at all now that I am armed with stuff to train on.

curcumin is tumeric, its used in curries, its a spice but it has been shown to help with inflamation and pains from plus more studies are being done. so in high doses in caps, it seems to help! I have to take double when hurting but it works.
Traumeel is an arnica cream, topical for areas which are bruised, sprained, strained or sore........my back.....but also good for when you bruise/ding shins, knees etc etc. Sprained finger, pulled muscle....all good.
I am supposed to get arnica oil, to put on the areas cuz its supposed to absorb better so I am gonna try taht soon and it can be used during my massage sessions....deep tissue is part of my healing, twice per month alternating with acu.

btw I welcome your questions! I bet you were the one who asked but many would be thinking the same questions so this way you help out a few others.

Even when you diet as a natural competitor, you tax your kidneys with the higher level s of protein which is done for weeks/months. The hormones and blood sugar is also worked so the liver, adrenals, thyroid also need attention so I like to give my body a break, which is what this does, no sugars or toxins, its like an internal spa. Of course the colon gets a cleanse too, why not, part of the deal although I don't get bad stuff going on too much there some gals do but overall, due to my past ED I did damages to my digestive and I do eat junk between my dieting and such, so its a sensitive area which can feel even more abused than someone who did not ruin their insides.......so even more reason to cleanse as it is kind to the system.
It will help me be moderate in sugars and junk too, once I am done and I really rather stay off flesh more than not. I will eat fish again but more like once per week if that, rather than many times per day ........the mercury in fish will accumulate in my system so I need the cleanse for that too - just because I at so much, I don't eat eggs or poultry due to allergy and tend to not eat other flesh so......fish fish fish, and more fish. Now that I am off season I rather get my protein elsewhere and am lowering my normal intake for off season to give my body a break anyway......so rather than the normal 240-260gms per day I will take between 160 and 200gm per day.
Linda

[Italianangel]

I forgot to say I used the triple A juice for Tuesdays 2nd juice and yesterday I used Muscle Beach...CAN'T DO THE CUKES. ugh. I will prob replace the cuke with apple, I just cannot handle that taste without bread and cream cheese!
I had a couple apples with pb........I had a headache and not sure if its the cleanse, I also got nausea and they say cleanses can do this.......but its pms so it could be that and then there is the fact I drank tap water.....I have a water machine so I drink from that with water bottles, 19 litere ones......so anyway, ran out, in between and had to use tap water to drink, did not boil it......so who knows. I did try a organic ww bun with goat cheese garlic flavor, its from the health food store and I only got it cuz my acu wants me to get off dairy and try goat from the organics, and my drs have told me and my dad that since I was under his care so........I am trying. I have 2 goat yogs in the fridge to try, I did not even look at nutrients, I got a vanilla and a raspberry, I never get flavored but its goat yog......I have to tread carefully here.
I can't believe I made it only 1 day without grain......well lets see if I can get to tomorrow. I had another vegan bar, fruit n nut but ground to like a bar.......not too soft and its all so ground you don't feel either fruit or nut.....make sense?

I have a judging meeting tomorrow an hour out from my place then I have to go back early in the morning. I am judging a show, a natural bb and figure show. It not bad because they got done pretty early last year so this year I expect similar even if more athletes enter.
It does get slower to judge as more athletes enter because you want to be very accurate and fair and I make notes! Anytime an athlete wants feedback, you need to make sure you have notes because you won't remember who is who afterwards.
I have massage tomorrow, I missed acu last week cuz she was ill so I had no treatment after contest and that could also be why my head aches......you can get pretty wound tight after tensing and posing and being dehydrated all at once and it can sit like that for weeks unless released so I look forward to tomorrow, although it will hurt.......its a week of relief afterwards.
So this means Saturday I eat whatever I end up eating. but they say to break from wheatgrass for a couple days per week, and I will try not to go crazy and will stick with as clean of foods I can find unless I manage to bring some, I have no idea whats to eat where I am going and I don't want greasy fried or too much grains........who knows, I may end up with a bag of doritos and a pepsi..............

Anyway, I only had one appt for this morn and he canceled so I get to catch up, although yoga is at 7pm....I should go, we will see.
I have only 1 more appt today for a home session client and then my day is done!
I don't take holidays or travel, I just enjoy time at home when my clients go away and take holidays. I have been busy anyway so it has worked out very nicely.
Today I may have a super 8, we will see. I do like the AAA juice. Its amazing how much more produce I am getting in, I know I prefer veg but like most vegetarians its the starches I liked more, the grains, breads, rices, so really, I have to force higher amounts of veggies or eat out! There is a great few health food places on the Drive, anyone who knows Vancouver, knows the drive, hippy dippy, multicultural, little italy..........so I always find something there I can have within mins from home, and the drive has markets so there are always organics, and low cost produce plus you get exotic stuff cuz we have a middle eastern market, European, Asian....so any thing you want from any part of the world you can find on the drive or not too far from my neighborhood! Both healthy and indulgent.

Linda

[Italianangel]

Never made yoga, never trained the past 2 days, today I had to cancel work, my tummy was off but I think I need to get the grains in now, I guess I should have used more of the fibre stuff, only used it once per day. I did have a bun again yesterday with goat cheese, like a tsp on the whole thing....its not too bad so far but I cannot smell well so I think my taste was not fully in tact. I had celery with pb yesterday cuz I had no nuts around and for the 2nd juice I had to improv so I went with apples, orange, pineapple, beats and spinach. This morning was out of ginger.......wow, I live at the market now! YOu know though, compared to normal grocery shopping, eating like this is sooooo cheap. I come home with 5 heaping bags, heavy with produce for like $40! All the stuff on my juices lists and more.
But even when I was dieting for contest I got in more grains than this, it really seems to affect me, I strongly feel it was more behind my headaches any tum issues than anything else, I am sure the pms just makes it feel worse but as of this weekend its done so at this point even today and yesterday I would say pms is over.
I actually felt gurgles from my ORGANS, not my tummy, my liver, pancreas, kidneys........I know because I have felt it when getting deep tissue work done in those areas when she works my digestive and such and I thought it was my tummy even so it was on my side or other areas an she said it was my organs.......so i can recognize that and so its good feedback that they are cleansing.
I was going to try to go through today too but I have an hour drive tonight to the judge meeting and cannot be in pain or anything so I am going to have some steel cut oats in a bit.
I canceled work but only needed to miss 3 appts and could have done the ones from here out but you never know so to be safe.
I will go with my body the next few days now, still juicing 1-2 times per day with wheatgrass and same idea but with more grain product and leniency. Saturday I have no idea what I will find to eat but don't want to crap out my tum or this cleanse so I will maybe hit an earls for a salad or something, I know there is one of those out there, and you can find a clean salad in some places, usually expensive but I don't care, I rather eat a healthy one than a crap one which is cheaper.
I am going to try to catch up on my exercises today, modification of my 3 days missed or something, I may have time to do it all slowly through the day since I am at home now, although I do have leniency to pick up the program Sunday and loose the days since my time of since contest was only a week or 10 days. this is Linda ME and Linda Trainer fighting with herself, saying you have to catch up and ME saying but I need a break I am not feeling 100% then Linda Trainer says 'but you feel better now so get it done, your slacking'......

and my clients think they have it hard, HAH!
Linda

[Italianangel]

I also forgot to add that I have had that beet soup I made 2 days ago for both meals yesterday and the day before and its only got one beet, its got loads of kale, garlic and brocolli too!
I got some fresh raw hazelnuts / almonds so I am set, and just grabbed some ginger and a brown rice bread, which is gluten free but not sprouted......but don't think rice is sprouted anyway so I should be safe, all the other sprouted breads were wheat....which I don't think is a huge deal for me, if I am sensitive its not something obvious to me. But wheat is not suggested on cleanses so.....sprouted or not, I went with brown rice bread.
I really need to figure out how to cook millet, made it once in a recipe adn it turned out gloppy, I wanted to eat it like rice, grainy, so I am going to try cooking it alone and see if I can get it to be more like rice rather than risotto or porridge.
I grabbed some collards too, or chard, for a recipe I got for stirfried collards.....I may have that for lunch, I am a bit late today with meals cuz of my tum, had massage today too which helps, but anyway, am home most of today until I go to the judging meeting hence my many posts to catch up and clarify.
I may try that power 8 juice or whatever its called for my last juice today, super 8, I am not looking at my sheet but its there.
Linda

[lizzyb]

Hi Linda!! Sorry you are not feeling well....

Millet....hmmm that is a toughie.
What an honour to be asked to judge....that must great fun for you! I think it's neat that you get both perspectives...as competitor and as judge.......the ying and the yang of it, so to speak.

Get well soon.....

[lizzyb]

Hi Linda!!

Just popping in to see how you are feeling. Hope your week-end was great, how did you get around the meals after all? How was the comp, you were presiding at?

[Michael Elias]

Hey Linda.
Good luck with your training.
You can definitely do it without chemical enhancement". Don't listen to anyone who says you can't.

We'll be down in Miami for the Nat's next year too, so I look forward to seeing you on stage!

Go get em! I look forward to following your log.

- Michael

[vanessa40]

Hi Linda..
Just checking in ..your plan looks great..
Hope you had a nice weekend..

[Italianangel]

Slow to start, in 3 weeks I am only 4 days into program.....essential behind by 2 weeks if I were to do the pace I intended, but between renos and family stuff I had to miss some days and ended up behind. Its not a huge deal but I did notice I am not as cut.
Up to a week ago I was sittingat 112 so I had only gained 2 lhs since contest and was still cut.
With less training I put on a bit of bodyfat, not sure my weight but anyway.......I am going to finish this and get on the ball for week 2 and so on. I keep fighting 'back off' vs 'push'.....its hard, I am used to pushing and maybe too much so that could be whyt growth had been small, lifting too much won't give you size, just strength or power......but I love it too, but my back likes the back off.
Finally did yoga last week adn that day I felt great and even did some back bends, back bends dudes..........been years.....
Diet cleanse has been good overall, I mean not perfect but very good. Had a few cheats this weekend but overall been doing well!
The show I judged was a whole new story compared to my contest and was so refreshing to see some normal, natural bodies. It was a feel good show from start to finish and what counts is that they are all about integrity, not numbers.
You saw bodyfat, cellulite, figure girls with out 6b packs.......real bodies and it was nice. I seriously am going to retire in this fed. YOu can get a pro card as a bb in this fed, a naturl one and when i judged it I was 3 weeks post contest, in my shape then I was tighter than some of the ones on stage, it was a very real show!!! I will post a few pics later but go to naturalbodybuildingcanada.com to see more about that show, dated August 23rd.
I haev not started the other stuff, plyos, kickboxing etc so I need to get on that too.
I guess with all the time training I just needed to slack a bit more.
My drive and intention is there I just need to get moving and be less lazy about it, with the renos and work I have been distracted but also with family stuff.......tomorrow is another day!
Linda

[lizzyb]

Back bends.....OMG does that bring me back a few years, lol!! Linda, you'll have to post some pics of all these renos you are doing....I bet it's going to be amazing when you guys are done.
My hubby's hobby is to renovate.... sorry about the family 'stuff', I know how draining that can be on one's spirit.

thanks for putting up the link naturalbodybuildingcanada.com , lots of great reading in there, didn't have the recent results posted yet though, but would love to see pics if that as well.

[vanessa40]

Hi Linda...
I love yoga too..it's so relaxing..back bends..have not tried any of those yet
You take care...

[6-Pak Girl]

Hi Linda,

That's so great about the show you judged. Real bodies - not "enhanced." About time!

[Italianangel]

this was a scrap, I got no where, started okay but have had worse back issue, so its been sketchy....I am going to start a new journal............
I have to look at myself as a client and really crush this ego which is ruling me.
I go in to train moderate and instead I am always pushing, always trying to lift more and lift heavier and actually I get into the habit of getting ornry when I cannot do something so I will then go back and keep at it til I get hurt......when I cannot do something its normally due to injury anyway......so to prove to myself I can still do it, rather than wait til I feel better I push. I really do know better, and am aware but just cannot seem to fight my ego sometimes.
I have to get over this obsession with heavy lifts, constantly trying to prove to myself how strong I am, competing with the world, men too, to lift heavier than those around me etc.....it so silly. I get in there and am strong but am never happy so I push. I guess since I am not focusing this energy on my old anorexic behaviours it comes out in other ways. letting go of squats and deads is hard, I will do them and can only go light, so I try to push to moderate on the next set and then suffer in pain, and I just cannot stop doing them, I get in and say I wont but then I do.........its such a psycho deal and ........I guess its just more growing right?
so I actually backed off on yoga yesterday rather than push to cripple myself, I am feeling motivated again to work at it and am going to set myself montly goals instead of looking too far, I may have to forfeit competing this year if my back acts up too badly and if its not in Vancouver that won't be such a big deal but if its local I will do it no matter what and watch me end up coming in in better shape next year since I am so paranoid right now about everything, and just being anal.
Actually, Erin, if you read this, you asked about motivation and I think those short term goals is the way to go. NOw in your case, I would say that those gatherings between now and the new year are a good goal. Is there a dress or outfit you want to fit into to look drop dead hot? I would think about the parties, the big ones and aiming to turn some heads and have people come to you asking....how did you do it? Looking to you for diet and training advice.
I think getting on here more will work for us all to remotivate each other I have missed each day and I would come and read and not post, one for time but also because I had not much to say feeling that if I am failing myself I will definately not be helpful at that time.....but I always bounce back. We all do!!
Chicks are so strong.
I have also been looking at a project and working on getting it to the next level, have picked up on work and had many pondering moments where I prob could be on here but was just sitting and thinking......trying to figure out how my life will now proceed with my new body. having thin discs means I have to face lifestyle changes again........some of it is hard to swallow but again its ego. We feel we have to invincible and we are ashamed to feel pain and say we need help.........I know this is not just me and I know better but I guess I am human too.
I let everything fall behind that was not needing immediate attention, so my inbox is again up to 200 emails, many to file and tons are posts here which I wish to attend to eventually but then get there and its all been answered......oh well. Today is a new day and I am going to start a new journal. Not sure what I am going to call it exactly but have an idea.
I am also going to stop using the BLOG feature, I have no time to paste to much so I am going to post here and bb.com and lindacusmano.com..........that's it.
I am prob going to put notes on my other groups to come here instead so I can cut some time down a bit and be around more as I never have time to go to those groups and post much.
It is hard to face that I may not be able to do kickboxing, dance or gymnastics anymore, and that I will have to do fitness routines without these elements I love but my acu says that we can beat this and I need to be patient, and do what I would advise a client.....well duh, but again ego, I am invincible...........see the problem???? Well I am working on it.......
Linda

[vanessa40]

Hi Linda..
Girl it's great to see you post..
You take care of that back..ok

[lizzyb]

Hi there Linda!! Super to have you back lady!!

I am sincerely sorry for what you are having to face these days.........Having to face life on life's terms is never an easy process. Sometimes if we push ourselves too hard, we are actually beating ourselves up......not fair. I hear ya, on the ego thing and all, and sometimes though we don't believe in the word "can't", we perhaps need to replace it with "shouldn't".

And for my goals.....personally, I'm not wired that way. I feel great in my clothes, in my skin even......it's not an attention thing for me. I love working out and how it makes me feel on the inside. How I look on the outside is a beautiful side-effect.......my own secret wish, just for me and nobody else is I'd love to have a body like Jamie Eason's,lol!! Is that possible, achieveable for me? Maybe, but it is certainly what does drive me! (my secret girl crush, lol!) Heck I just walk into any Walmart and I feel alot better about me, and say to myself 'there but for the grace of god go I!!', lol!!


a little anectdote for ya....one of my faves...."if we are stressing about what we could've been or should have been, then we are also simply sh1tting on who we actually are in this moment"

be good to yourself girl, and we are all here for each other!