96 Hours and counting...

We had our last Sunday group posing session . I'm going to miss the weekly posing crew. It was so cool to watch all of our bodies change week to week and have people to talk to that could relate to the experience we were all sharing.
I also had fun watching the physique women and body building men pose. Its a workout in itself for them to pose! One of the girls was practicing her routine to "Gundam Style". It was pretty freakin cool. She did the exact dance moves, then would morph into the required posing (think bicep curls and ab flexing) for the physique category. Definitely something to watch if you are going to the show.
4 more days....thats it! Just 4 days! HOLY. COW! I'm so thankful that I took most of this week off from work. I can focus on the remainder of my prep and relax. Turns out, I will be lifting until Thursday. No complaints here, it will keep me busy and my mind occupied. My split will look like this:
Monday- Back
Tuesday- Shoulders
Wednesday- Chest/Bis/Tris
Thursday- Upper Body (Pump up workout, light weight/fast reps)
Should be a fun week of workouts! Thursday will also be my carb up day (I like the sound of that), so the workout is more full body to get the carbs into my muscles to finish filling me out.
Today I meet with Joe for some more one on one posing. My body is coming in perfectly, but gotta nail down the stage presence! There was a girl in class yesterday that had it down pat! For the first time, I saw my competition. The girl in the pink bikini. She is my rabbit for the next four days.  Nothing is going to stop me.
#eat #sleep #train #work #hustle #kill

My post show stash. Can't wait to dig in! Feel free to add to it. =)

**Christmas bread, baked goods from clients, fun size candy, ice cream, treats my dad brought from Canada, Cadbury Mini eggs (my FAV, I will NOT share these)**

Final countdown

Its actually here. The final week of prep. I can not believe that in 7 days I will be stepping on stage, in a bikini, wearing heels, with a super dark tan and a smile on my face!!! And I couldn't be more excited for it!!! No matter what the final outcome is, I know that I have worked so hard, and learned so much from this experience. There's nothing I would take back, or wouldn't do all over again.
A lot of people have asked me if there is a prize, or prize money if you win this type of competition. There is not, at least not at the novice (local) level. I was never doing this for the prize. I've been doing it for ME! Yep, selfish right. ME!!! Its been close to  a ten year goal of mine to do a show, and as approach 30 years old, I'm finally doing it. BOOM! Theres one prize. The new physique I've achieved....BOOM...another prize. The knowledge in nutrition and training.....theres a 3rd and 4th prize. The pride, will power, determination, the work, the hustle.....the list goes on. All prizes in my book. And I'm taking it all home. =)
The final week of prep is super important. I will meet with Joe (posing) everyday until the show. I will continue to lift until 2 days before the show. Cardio will still be done fasted for 30  minutes everyday, but I can only WALK on the treadmill with an incline. Its normal for the body to fight a little at the end with the body fat drop, which is exactly what mine was doing, so we had to turn the cardio down a notch. I'm ok with that! Its actually kinda relaxing to do something less intense for a change.  I have all my appointments set up for the next week; nails, hair, waxing, tanning and of course a massage!
Jason changed my diet for the final week as well. Guess what......MORE CARBS!!! GASP!!! I don't fully understand it, but I guess we are "carbing" me up, or "filling me back out". So every meal has a protein (tilipia, chicken or egg whites) paired with a carb (cream of rice, white rice or yams). Doesn't sound to bad does it? I know most of you think that all a bikini competitor eats is air and water. Its so not the case here, and I actually get pretty defensive when people make silly assumptions. (I'm sure there are plenty of other girls on a zero carb, miserable eating plan, and I feel bad for them) I've said it before and I will say it again...Hired. The. Right. Trainer. =)
Halloween came and went and not only did I not eat one piece of candy! I really didn't even want any!! Thats huge for me. I love Halloween fun size candy. I did freeze some. Act like. 
Feeling really good about everything entering the final phase of prep. Getting lots of sleep and drinking plenty of water. Dreaming about my post show meal and treats! Who's buying?!? =)

Thanks for following my blog! It means a lot.
Keep you posted on the next 7 days!! =)

Need tickets? Click here

21 more days

Its been an exciting week of prep!!! =)
I was FINALLY able to pick up my suit after a torturing 4 weeks of waiting. Which isn't very long in the greater scheme of things to have a custom bikini made, but I just could NOT wait to see it!! I am more than pleased with how it turned out. Tell me what you think!!! I'm gonna try not to post any pictures of me in it....saving that for the big day!!

***bling bling***

 As I was driving out to Buckeye to get my bikini I got a phone call from my sister Kate telling me that she will be in town for the show! I am beyond words excited for her to come to Arizona and be there for my big weekend. I LOVE YOU KATE!!!!

As far as prepping goes, its just another week except now I'm getting MORE FOOD!!! *not a typo* Yep, MORE FOOD people. More carbs, the good stuff, if you want to get technical. I'm on a random rotation of a high cal, medium cal and low cal day. The calories only vary by 200-300 give or take. On the high cal (carb) days and the days following these high days I tend to have that hungry, I could probably eat everything you put in front of me and never feel full type of feeling ....that's the only bad part about these extra carbs. But being hungry is a good thing! It means it fueled my engine back up into a fat burning, muscle building, leaning out MACHINE! These next 3 weeks is when a lot of changes will be happening. I'm so excited...I think I'll go eat more carbs!! ;)

Weight- 119#
Body Fat- 12%  *finally got an accurate 7 point pinch test*

I can't thank everyone enough for all your support and kind words of encouragement. I couldn't do it without you!!!


**Buy ticketes here**

Ticket Sales

Tickets for the November 9th and 10th NPC Western Regional are on sale now!!!
It is assigned seating, but people tend to come and go all night long, so you will be able to move around, but may get asked to move at some point.
I will know on Thursday November 8th what time my category is going so keep posted to the blog and/or facebook for more info.
The July show was nearly sold out, so get them while they are HOT!

For ticket sales click -------> here <-------

See you all at the show! And thank you in advance for all your support and putting up with my craziness!

Before and After

  WOW!! I can't believe the NPC Western Regional Show is only 5 weeks away! That's only 35 days!!! Holy. Shit!! *excuse my french* *sorry mom*
  Things are right on track.....actually AHEAD of the track. =) I couldn't be more than pleased. Doesn't mean its time to slip though. Training is still strong and eating is on track. Although I'm still waiting for Jason to email me and tell me I'm allowed a burger. *wishful thinking*
  For the last few weeks I've been putting some extra focus on my glutes. I met with Joe earlier in the week to go through some movements. Yep....I can feel my glutes! ON FIRE! So everyday I try to incorporate a few extra glute exercises into my routine. Hoping it pays off in the end. #bounceaquarteroffmyass

  Strength and cardio sessions are still at 5x a week. I've started doing bleachers Sunday mornings, which I LOVE. Whos game to join me?!?! Come on, its GORGEOUS out in the morning!!! Menu plan is the same. I get weekly random refeeds to shock my system. Its crazy how adding a serving (4oz) of yams, or a little extra white rice (1/3c) can jolt the system into overdrive and revv the metabolism. BOOM! #shredded
  Weight- 121#
  Body fat- 16-17%

  I've been avoiding doing this, but after a friend  posted her body transformation, I thought I would follow suit. I give credit to anyone that has posted a transformation pic, it takes a lot of guts! The picture on the left is from the first week of January 2012. I was just lifting heavy at globo gym, loosely following an eating plan, and little to no cardio, maybe dropping into a crossfit class every now and again. Fast forward 9 months to the picture on the right, taken Wednesday Oct 3, 2012. I've been with Jason for 10 months (hired him in Dec 2011), and started following his menu and training program. On July 4th we booked my show.  There is so much I could say about the last 10 months with Jason but I will save that for another post. #consistency #dedication #willpower #drive #GOAL #work #hustle #kill

crossfit junkie                    globo junkie

"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, and months they spend preparing for it." -Alan Armstrong

Tickets for the show are on sale already. click -----> here <-----
There is no rush to buy. They shouldn't sell out.


www.jasonphillipsfitness.com

Catch up.....its been a while

I am just under 7 weeks from the NPC show on November 9th. WOW!!! Time truly does fly. It seems like yesterday I had just marked the date on my calendar. But a whole 11 weeks have just whizzed by us!!! In no time, I'll be counting down the days, then the hours, then the minutes until showtime, not by weeks or months anymore.
Some changes have been made. GOOD changes. I hired a posing coach. Got a menu change. And, drum roll please...........I will NOT be competing in the figure category at this time. And I'm TOTALLY cool with it! To catch you up, I hired Joe Valdez for my posing. He knows his strut! Hes been posing and training girls for years, and as a body builder and ex FORD model trainer, he is most definitely the best guy for the job to coach my klutzy ass to pose and walk in a pair of clear high heels. He brought up the idea of me competing in the bikini category vs figure based on my overall "look" and size. This whole time I thought i was to "big" and muscly to be a "bikini" girl, and that figure was the way to go. But, as it turns out, athletic and muscle is what they WANT for bikini! Its just a "softer" look compared to the figure girls. My dreams of doing figure are not over yet though. Joe and Jason both say that  I am well suited for figure, but at this point, i just don't have the muscle mass to be as competitive with the other figure girls in my height class. So what does this mean?!?! This means I can eat my way through the holidays (mass gain!!!), continue to train the way I do to build more muscle, and then come spring, I should be good to do figure class. My plan is to see how I do in bikini class this fall, and who knows, I may stick to this class for a while. But its always nice to have a plan for the future and set GOALS! =)
I got to design my bikini this past week. Probably the 2nd hardest thing I've had to do for all of this, after the posing in heels. I went and saw this awesome lady Janine out in Buckeye. Shes been making swimsuits for years and really has a handle on the creative side of it. I went with a deep jewel tone purple number with crystals and glitter and bedazzlement all over it!!! So not like me! I can't wait to see it and I'll  be sure to post it on here when its done. It will only take her about 2 weeks to complete! And the answer is YES! She can make your personalized swimsuit for next summer, for like, less than $100!
Janine- janinewham@aim.com
 i had a client ask me if I'm doing things that I never thought I would do to get ready for this show. I had to laugh at the question, because the answer is, HELL YES!! For instance, I bought, and have been wearing a corset. Started wearing heels to work. Waxing......I don't think I need to say more...OUCH! Hiring a GUY to teach me to pose/walk. Walking around a gym in my bikini. The list goes on, but I'm LOVING every part of it. This whole process really makes you get to know yourself.
The biggest question......"What are you eating? Probably next to nothing". I get defensive here because I'm actually eating A LOT, and I'm FULL, as in....NOT HUNGRY!!! Want to know another shocker.....I eat CARBS!!!! GASP!!!!
Heres the new menu plan (I refuse to call it a diet):
Meal 1: 40g Cream of Rice, 2oz chicken, 4 egg whites
Meal 2: 4oz flank steak, 1/2c white rice

Meal 3: 1/2c black beans, 1c green beans, 4oz tilapia
Meal 4: 5 egg whites, 1/3c white rice
Meal 5: 5oz yam, 4oz chicken
Meal 6: 8 asparagus, whey protein shake
The carbs and protein is what is keeping me full. I'm not drooping pounds like I was before, but I can definitely see my body leaning out more. Strange how it all works out. #hiredtherighttrainer
Pancake Monday is no longer. =( Its been an entire month since I have had a cheat/refeed. But its all worth it. 
***reminder: this menu plan was designed for me. may not work for everyone. contact Jason to get your personalized plan! ***
Current Weight: 122#
Body Fat: 17%
Cardio is up to 5x per week, but still only for 30 minutes. Strength sessions are still 5x a week. I've been told that I need to build up my glutes more, so don't laugh at me when you see me doing walking lunges where ever I go!
Overall feeling great and energetic. There are days when I do feel some fatigue at the end of the day due to the lean out and my busy schedule, but for the most part.....this is a walk in the park! =)

Here is a picture taken last week striking my bikini pose. BOOM!
Hopefully I can get weekly progress pics posted from here on out.

strike a pose 9/19/12

backside  9/9/12

 

"You don't always get what you wish for, you get what you WORK for"

Surprise Birthday

Last weekend my dad, sister Kate and my older brother Steve all met back home in Rhode Island to celebrate my grandmothers birthday. It was a BIG birthday. She turned 90 years old, and plans on living until shes 100!!! How great is that! My Dad and Aunt Denise, with the help of my grandmothers "boyfriend" Tommy, planned a surprise party for her. She had no clue that when she walked into the restaurant that there would be 31 people awaiting her arrival with love, warm wishes, hugs and tears. It was such a special moment and she was so excited to see her family and friends all gathered in one room. Although, she was mad at Tommy for keeping the surprise a secret from her. *good work Tommy*
It was so great to to see family I hadn't seen in years, and meet some of my grandmothers friends and "extended" family. Whenever I go back to Rhode Island I tell myself to make it back more often, it had been 2 years since my last visit and that is far to much time in between trips.
My brother captured some awesome candid moments during the party. He has quite the knack for photography.

a loving moment

Happy Birthday Grandma Marie

Dad and Mom

Steve and G-ma

grandma was 24 in the picture

dad couldn't get through the toast without tears

 




"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"