5 Weeks Out & Carb Depletion!

Exactly 5 weeks out now and I am officially starting to feel the effects of having low carbs and low fat. I am tired, irritable and just downright hungry! I wanted to ask my coach today if it's normal to want to just punch people :) Right now my macros look like this (macro nutrients are protein, carbohydrates, and fat for those who don't know):
Protein: About 160 grams
Carbohydrates: About 40-48 grams
Fat: About 20-30 grams
Here are pictures of my meals for the day in order:

Breakfast: Egg whites, Cucumber, and Tofu Cream Cheese (No fat, very low carb)
Snack 1: 1 Scoop of Pure Protein, Sweet potatoes
Lunch: Two cans of Tuna (from Whole Foods) with soy mayo (No fat, no carbs)

Snack 2: 1 Scoop Pure Protein, 1 String Cheese (Reduced Fat, no carb)
Dinner: Casein Protein pancakes (Casein, egg whites, almond milk), and low fat smart spread.
Snack 3: Almonds

By the way, this is not a sustainable diet, meaning that it is only meant to prepare me for the competition, not to make a way of life. After the competitions are over I will go back to somewhat of a "normal" eating behavior. "Normal" for me does not mean eating a bunch of crap though. I still stay pretty clean with my eating normally, because that is how I like to eat. But I will enjoy an occasional ice cream after dinner, I will be able to "eat out", I won't be as strict  with the timing of my meals, etc. There is no reason to go from one extreme to another with food, it's just not healthy. 
So for anyone wondering what a bikini competitors diet looks like, here it is! Each competitor does things a little different from the next one, but this is how I do it. It can be hard at times, I have visions of fluffy white pastries (litterally this happened the other day), but I know that it will all be worth it on stage, and it's not forever!

5 1/2 Weeks Out & Learning to be Patient with my Body

Almost 5 weeks out and I am seeing some progress. My body has been responding slower then I expected, but there is progress! I think at the 12 week point, I expected to get to the competition looking like Jaime Baird but I don't think it's going to happen :) I am realizing that since my body has been this way since I was 13, it might take more then 12 weeks to whip it into shape (ya think?). My biggest challenges have been my lower back (love handles), butt, and thighs. Although, I have seen change in the back end. I take periodic pictures of my backside to track my progress, kinda strange I know :) There has been transformation but not as fast as I would have liked. If I keep doing the work I am doing, and eating right, I will get where I want to be with my body- even if I am at my top physique by next March.
I have to learn to be OK with taking my time as a physique athlete. The girls I see on stage have done hard work, year after year. They show up on stage, year after year, and they work for their placing, year after year. I may not place top 5 this year, but next year I will, then the year after that, 1st place here I come! Although if this can happen faster I wouldn't mind :)
Here are some recent progress pictures:

The side by side pics are from January (on left) and today, February 21st (on right). The picture, when transferred onto the computer, kind of smooths out my muscles, the picture on my phone shows more definition. The tops of my shoulders have become bigger and my arms have more definition, especially my forearms. You can see more definition in the single picture I posted to the top right. Also, my legs have gotten smaller and more shapely. I am losing fat and gaining muscle, exactly what is supposed to happen! I am getting there!!! I will post more pics in a week or two. Wait for it....

8 Weeks Out

So I am at the 8 week mark, I haven't been taking progress pics like I would have liked to but I will start this Saturday and then publish them in before and after pics after the competition with pictures from the competition on my blog. Here are some of the things I have been doing lately:
Heavy leg and glute days. These are my "problem areas" where I still need to lose fat. I have learned an amazing stationary bike routine that has kicked my legs into gear. It rotates between 2 minute, high intensity cycles and after 30 mins your legs are BURNING! I have also learned a routine for training the legs and specifically the butt. It seems to be working really well.

 I have been practicing my posing with my coach and having my husband critique me as well, they both do a really good job!











I got a brand new scale from Costco to measure out my food.
8ozs of green veggies
6ozs of protein
Per meal

I am just having a ton of fun in the gym! I love it there, its a second home to me right now. I am spending about 2 hours a day there right now training.
I will keep you posted!