6-Pak Girl's 2009 Competition Season

[bouncer]

Congrats!!!! You look fantastic. You don't look like you belong in a 45+competition. Gives this old fart some hope at 49!

[wil]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

It doesn't seem that long ago that you were having surgery and here you are collecting some more hardware.


I still can't believe that you are over 35, much less 45.

[6-Pak Girl]

Thank you so much for all your comments and encouragement. Y'all feel like family. No, scratch that. BETTER than family since some of my family isn't very supportive. )

Linda - I had JanTana do my tanning and a wonderful makeup artist named Nancy Jambozian did my make up. Cost me a bit to do it that way but I think the results were well worth the $$.

I'll have JanTana do my tan again at The Cal but I'll be using a different makeup artist so we'll see how it goes.

Merry Christine made my suit and she chose the color for me with some input from my trainer (and a tad of input from me). She did a really great job but her bottoms are cut smaller than most in the back so that was a little "iffy" for me. I had to bikini bite it big time.

This week it's back to the grind stone. I trained hard both yesterday and today and did just enough cardio to keep things moving along. I'm feeling pretty good. My workouts were surprisingly strong. I thought I'd be weak following the comp but I'm actually lifting heavy without any problem. Must be that my body is rested from having a few days off.

[6-Pak Girl]

Six days til the Cal. I’ve been facing a few challenges these past few days. First, my computer crapped out on me. There is absolutely nothing worse than not having a computer that’s working. My computer guru fixed it up enough that I can limp by for another week but he’s going to have to rebuild it. (

I’ve also been super busy with work and have a bunch of upcoming presentations and client deliverables which is adding to my stress.

Added to that is my daughter’s graduation from college, which happened yesterday. It was great but sooo emotional.

And, of course, I’m fighting off a sore throat.

Oh, and I may be doing a photoshoot the day after The Cal so I’ve been talking with the photographer, hair and makeup artist and otherwise trying to figure out if I can make it work.

I’m not as calm as I was before Contra Costa. I’m sure it’s the stress. And, as a result, I woke up today and my weight had dropped to 115.4 lb. That’s too low. I shouldn’t go below 116 at this point before the comp. So I had to text my nutritionist who told me not to do my 20 min of cardio today and to eat a 8 oz filet mignon, 12 oz yam and a salad for lunch. It’s my husband’s birthday today so I said I would treat him to lunch and we could go to a restaurant for the steak. Well, our favorite steak joint was closed and we couldn’t find another one close by that served filet mignon! Geez. We finally found one but they only served a 5 oz (before cooking) steak so I had to order two. I brought my food scale to weigh it to make sure. The two steaks together weighed 7 1/8 oz. A little short of my 8 oz but close enough. I brought my yam with me since the restaurant didn’t have yams or sweet potatoes. I’m sure the waitress thought I was a kook! Maybe I am. )

Hopefully, that did the trick and tomorrow I’ll be back up over 116. Oh the drama of it all!

[tooncesthecat]

Hang in there girl. I can really appreciate what you're going through now more than ever. Stay focused and dial in. You are gonna do great I can't wait to see and hear about your results. (p.s. don't pull a "Toonces" and leave before you get all your awards...hahahaha

[lizzyb]

Lol!! I am picturing you in the restaurant armed with scale and yam in hand!! Hang in there....this too shall pass. sounds like a bit of a busier time leading up to compared to CC, what with grads and all......just take deep breaths and count to ten, keep your eye on the prize.......you're gonna be just fine!!

[6-Pak Girl]

Thanks, guys! I'm hanging in there. It’s Wednesday night, 3 days til The Cal. My weight is at a good place today – 117.8. I’m having a bit of a tough time keeping my muscles full but so far, so good. They're hanging in there. Having the best trainer/nutritionist in the world helps. I just let him tell me what to do and then I do it. Simple, right?! I can tell my body is getting tired. Two shows in two weeks was perhaps a bit of an aggressive goal but hey, it sounded good at the time I registered! )

I’ll spend Thursday evening grilling steak, chicken, and salmon and will also cook up asparagus and yams to take with me. I’ll also pack almonds, oatmeal, rice cakes and peanut butter. All the staples so I’ll be pretty set no matter what my trainer tells me I need to eat. He already told me to be prepared to go out for steak and yam on Friday night before the show. No problem )

Because this show is held in conjunction with the pros, it’ll be a big one. I like how they’re handling the athletes meeting/check in. The figure girls are meeting on Friday evening and then bodybuilding checks in on Saturday morning. That’s so much better than trying to check everyone in on Saturday morning. It also means that we don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. I’m planning on getting to the venue about 9:00 am on Saturday morning. I’ll get my hair and makeup done there. I actually prefer having my makeup and hair done earlier but since the figure girls probably won’t begin prejudging til noon or so, I think it’ll be fine. Who knows, maybe instead of having hours where we just sit and wait, the time will move by more quickly because it’ll be filled with make up, hair, tanning touch ups, bikini bite and posing oil within a shorter timeframe than usual.

Today was my last workout before the show. I worked shoulders heavy but did back and biceps lightly. I also did 20 min of stairs at an easy pace of 7 on the stair master. Tomorrow I’ll do some light cardio but that’ll be it. As much as I enjoy working out, I’m ready to take a few days off. My body is tired. I’ll probably take all – or at least most of – next week off to recuperate and plan my next competition strategy. More on that after this weekend!

So ... the photo shoot ... I decided to hold off. I'm way too stressed to add one more thing to my life. It was actually coming together pretty easily but maybe that's the problem. I'm a planner and even though I've got the photographer, the make up and hair artist, and the shoot location, date and time, I haven't had time to figure out my outfits and how I want to pose. So, rather than continue to stress about it, I decided to ditch the idea for now. I can always revisit it another time, right?

[6-Pak Girl]

So ... here's how I did at The Cal: I won Masters 45+!!!! I also did very well in Open Class D but I'm not quite sure how I placed. I know it was top 10. My trainer thinks I placed 6 ot 7 since that's how I was called out but musculardevelopment doesn't have any placings listed other than the top 5. Hopefully, they'll have that soon. I'd like to know.

I'm super happy with how I did. It was a huge, very competitive show. My trainer, Kim Oddo, had 21 girls in it - 9 were pros and the rest amateurs. His pros won 4 out of the top 5 spots. Geez. How nice is that?

Anyway, we brainstormed my next steps today. Here's the goal: Masters Nationals in July 2010!!!!

How do I get there? Here's the plan: I'm going to go off season for the next 12 weeks, at least. At that time (around Sept 5) I need to decide if I want to do The Sac and maybe Excalibur and then go off season until it's time to prep for Masters Nationals or stay off season for the rest of 2009 and then do the Emerald Cup in April and Masters Nationals in July 2010.

I'm trying to decide if I'd rather have a very long off season period right now and really use it to get some muscle gains (focusing on legs/glutes and wider lat spread) or if I'm not going to be happy with not competing until next April and should go ahead and do a show or two this fall. I guess I'll wait to see how the first 12 weeks of off season goes. Any suggestions/thoughs from ya'll are very welcome.

[lizzyb]

Awesome win girl!!!! Congratulations, you must feel so proud and you should too!
As for what to do next.....you've got 12wks to think about it....take your time, enjoy this moment.

[A1food4U]

Congratulations !!!!

[wil]

CONGRATULATIONS 6-PAK GIRL!!!

[6-Pak Girl]

Hello! I found out that I placed 6th in Open at the Cal. I'm super thrilled with that since it was such as tough big show. That's almost sweeter than my win in Masters! I'm going to try to attach a photos. I think most of my photo file sizes are too big - and I don't know how to size them - but maybe I can make one work.

I decided not to do the photoshoot. I was way too stressed. It was coming together easily and one would think that would've made me happy but I'm such a planner and even though my photographer, hair and makeup artists were all squared away I didn't have time to concentrate on getting my outfits figured out. I decided I'd rather do the shoot when I have more time to figure out the look I'm going for and then to plan my outfits accordingly.

I’m excited to officially start my off season program! I’m training a 5-day split, two days of back for now. This may change to two days of legs down the line. My cardio will be minimal – just 20 min 5x a week at a moderate pace. My nutrition plan is in place to help me grow some muscle so I’m all set. Taking a week off from the gym was hard but very smart. When I started back this week I was STRONG! Of course, every body part I’ve worked out is sore. Guess that’s to be expected.

Today I did legs, which I really don't like to work. For calves I did three different exercises, 100 reps each. It was brutal but a nice change. I'm already feeling it.

I'm going to try some green tea extract when I need an energy boost. Anyone ever try that? If so, I'd love to get your thoughts.

[6-Pak Girl]

I'm 2 weeks into my off season program. I'm not sure if I should start a new journal but I think for now I'll just keep posting in this one. Who knows - I might compete again in 2009 so this journal would still work for that!

Let's see - for my current program I'm lifting 5 days per week (back twice per week) and doing 5 days of cardio @ 20 minutes each - just enough to keep me honest. )

I turned 50 on Friday so I took that day off of training and went to Disneyland with my hubby. We had a great time. I indulged in a few cheats: pita chips, ice cream, a cupcake, champagne and a couple glasses of wine. We must've walked a trillion miles so I doubt I did any damage. We spent the night and came home on Saturday and I was exhausted. I had planned on working out (to make up for Friday's day off) but just couldn't do it. I did manage to get up enough energy go out to dinner with friends but stayed on course by ordering grilled salmon and steamed veggies.

Today I was back at the gym, killing my shoulders and biceps. It felt great. I may not be able to lift my arms tomorrow, though ...

[wil]

Originally Posted by 6-Pak Girl

I turned 50 on Friday so I took that day off of training and went to Disneyland with my hubby.

You may not have seen this... Happy Birthday 6-Pak Girl!


And I still don't believe you are 50.

[A1food4U]

50, unbelievable!!!! Woman like you who train and compete with the 20 somethings are mind blowing. As to the green tea extract; I have never tried the extract but I have been using 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar in an 8 ounce glass of iced green tea. The taste grows on you and i can say that since starting this regime about two months ago i feel peppier and have lost 2-3# without any other dramatic changes to diet or exercise. I think it's the tea.

[lizzyb]

Well happy belated 50th 6-Pak Girl!! You are such an inspiration to us up coming forty-sumthin's (me !). And a true testament that if we stay the course we are on in this world of fitness and diet we can truly be unstoppable (you!! )

thanks you so much for sharing your journal and inspiring us all.......

[gYmgIrL]

Yes thank you! You are absolutely awesome! I love reading your blogs!

[Option1]

50 - wow! The shape you're in and the standard you're competing is just awe-inspiring. Belated congratulations and hippy bathday.

This from an ageing (51), fat idiot.

Neil

[6-Pak Girl]

Hi everyone - thank you SOOOOO much for the birthday wishes and love. Whenever it feels likes it's hard to keep going, all I need to do is come to EF and read everyone's comments and it re-motivates me. THANK YOU!!!!

Lately, I've been delinquent in my blog updates. No excuses, just crazy busy with work and working out.

I developed airplane ear after a business trip to Arizona last week and my ears have been driving me nuts. I think it’s starting to get better. I was still able to work out, but it did affect the strength of my workouts for about 2 days cuz I was getting vertigo. I’m going to my acupuncturist this week. She’s amazing and I’m sure she can help.

I also got stuck at an airport with my plane delayed for 6 hours. It was night so there were no food stations open at the airport. All I had with me was 2 protein bars and a liter of water. I though I was going to starve to death. They almost cancelled the flight and I would’ve had to either find a hotel or stay the night at the airport but we finally made it out that night and I got home after midnight, starving and very, very tired. Lesson learned: Always keep extra food / bars /shakes in my purse when travelling.

My off season program is going well. In fact, it’s going great! I’ve put on a few pounds of muscle while keeping my 6 pack so I’m happy with that and will continue with what’s working. I added a post workout zero sugar carb supplement. It’s Vitargo S2 by Genr8. Between that and the Evogen, my muscles are full and growing and yet I’m staying lean, which is how I like it since I hate cardio and want to do as little as possible. I’ve gained 3.5 inches overall in the last month with the majority in my back and quads.

I’m still doing a 5 day split and I’m working back two days a week and hammys two day per week. Those are my focal points for now. I still haven’t decided if I’m going to do any shows this fall/winter or just wait til 2010. Finances are tight right now so the decision may be made for me!

I’ve been Twittering (you can follow me @6PakGirl) and through that met someone who has a fitness blog. She asked to interview me and will be posting my interview to her blog next week. I was also asked to do a health & fitness Internet radio show so that’ll happen at the end of July. How fun is that?!

So, because Saturday was the 4th of July, I gave myself a little break from my nutrition plan and splurged by drinking a little white wine. I didn’t cheat food-wise, though. The wine was enough of a splurge for me.

Can't wait for this week's workouts!

[6-Pak Girl]

Just a quick check in to say hi and post the link to the fitness blog I was interviewed for: Interview with Barbara Mencer. I feel like a rock star! )