I'm 15 weeks into prep. I’ve lost in excess of 10kg. My food is low. My training is high. Food prep takes time, as does posing and routine. I’m feeling it for sure. I also have three children, a full-time shift-working job, a husband and the usual house demands. I live semi-remote which can work beautifully in terms of reducing the stress of a city life, but can create other issues in that the resources I need at times are not available. I guess I’m just pointing out that this is not my only focus in life – some days I’m pulled in many directions.
It’s about this time that I have to dig really quite deep to
get through the days. I’m not going to lie about that. It’s not easy right now,
it’s hard. I’m so desperately tired some days and other days I bounce back
quite nicely. I tend to give my best to my workplace and save my not-best (nice
way to say worst!!) for my precious family. Not intentional and not something I
necessarily want to occur and I try everyday to not let this happen. Sometimes
I win, sometimes .. not so much.
People say to keep my eye on the prize. They cannot begin to
imagine just how much I do this. The ‘prize’ is the only reason I continue on
when I want, more than anything, to just have a rest. Not for a day, not for a
week – but I can imagine having a rest for a whole year!! And then another day
on top!!! It’s ok – the mind-games go with the territory. I’m not going to bullshit and fluff the whole
process up to make it sound appealing. I love this sport/hobby/crazy
undertaking – but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
On with the story….
So many things changing on a daily basis. I can see the days
I’m leaning up and the days that I’m holding water – it’s so clear once body
fat gets out of the way. I absolutely LOVE this time and HATE it all in one. It
becomes strikingly obvious when body fat gets lower than is natural for my
physique – I start showing all sorts of symptoms that are quite funny to be
honest, but all indicators that we are getting to the pointy end of things.
Here are a few I’ve noticed;
·
Vitamin C is a great little vitamin. It is good
for so many things and has a link with skin elasticity. My coach has me on these
little suckers all year around for good reason.
About 2 weeks ago, Vitamin C took on a life
of it’s on. Suddenly I simply cannot survive without it. I think about those
little, round, orange balls of sunshine and I savour each and every suck. I
have studied the different shapes on the market and, for a while I was fooled
into the bigger disc shaped ones. Whoa Nelly – they were not nice!! Chalky and horrible. I scooted back to the small ones
and have stuck with the sugarless variety that brings me such joy. I pretend it’s
an orange…. that I don’t have to peel and none of those nasty pips. I savour
and slurp that thing until it disintegrates and then I keep sucking the
millions of fragments.
Rob hates my Vitamin C infatuation. He
hates the noise I make when I’m sucking them. It drives him crazy. Like nails
on a chalkboard. Some days I say sorry and move away with my flaming gems.
Other days I’m too tired and cranky and I suck it harder just to annoy him.
·
I currently have a greens drink in the morning
as prescribed. Don’t think stinky, yucky spirulina of old-times – this stuff is
the bomb!!! It’s beautiful and I look forward to it every morning. It’s
Strawberry & Kiwi flavour and it tastes like a little fruity dream.
Granted, it is green and that is
somewhat off-putting. But who gives a shit??!! Haha – it’s prescribed, it’s
yummy and it fills a little spot in my belly!!! Yet a few weeks ago – I wouldn’t
have bothered with it too much. Now I
count on it first thing in the morning and would stomp on anyone who stopped me
having my fruity, green smoothie!! (not really a smoothie … just a green drink
that I pretend is a smoothie)
What other weird things do I do …..
·
Oh yeah – I eat sweet potato after my workouts.
I dream about those little bundles of carbs while I’m working out.
Unfortunately I’m way too lazy to cook them creatively, like roasting them with
rock salt and rosemary (thanks for the idea Candice) – instead I literally cut
the potato into chunks, skin and all, and steam it for a good 10-15m and then
eat it just like that!! Tiny dash of balsamic and salt & pepper and she’s
all good to go!!
·
Coffee. Coffee is a necessity. No further
explanation needed. It just is.
·
Chewing gum. Sugarfree. It has artificial sugar
and I have plans to quit my addiction closer to comp in order to avoid
bloating. But for now – game on. Rob detests my habit. I very much want to care
that he hates it.
·
Food infatuation. The more recipes and food
shows I can fit into my limited time – the better. I virtually eat it all.
Speaking of food – a very trustworthy
friend informed that last prep I smelt like fish. “Fish???” I retorted back … “I
ate tons (at least 110g once a day!!!
Lol) on comp prep – I SO did NOT smell like FISH!!!”. Nice and quietly she told
me that I did. Smell like fish. Mortified!!! So I’m keen not to smell like fish
this time but I didn’t notice it last time so maybe I won’t this time either.
Until a trusted source tells me. If I were a brave friend, I’d pick a high carb
day for this conversation.
·
There is a physical aspect to lowering your body
fat and that manifests itself in fainting episodes. Totally spontaneous and
very surprising to all in view of this phenomenon. I simply call it, “My Bum
Faints When It Sees A Seat” syndrome. This consists of my bottom literally bee-lining
itself for any article that it may faint on. So far this has included the
obvious; couches, chairs, sofas, ottomans, beds, floors, concrete pads, grass,
steps, benches, tiles. Not so cool has been when it strikes and I’m taken by
surprise; car bonnets, benches, lunch tables.
In my bottom’s defence, this is a fairly
unknown phenomenon and not easily diagnosed or treated. I perceive I have
approx 12 weeks left in which I will find myself seated unexpectedly. I further
perceive that the careful introduction of all yummy things will ease symptoms.
I’ll keep you posted.
·
Sometimes I feel that my head is disconnected
from my body. I can hold a perfectly sane conversation and I’m processing
information normally. But my body is floating. Sounds mental. Probably is. But
I remember it from the last two preps and it’s here again. It’s sorta cool.
·
The really funny thing is – I’m not the least
bit short-tempered this time around!! Haha – I just let everything roll of my
back. Nothing stresses me out and I’m not a cranky mum at all!!!
If you believe the
last point – you’ll believe anything.
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