on a roll now Lori. whats the gameplan for the nex 11 weeks? are you going to break up the training into different stages to peak for the nats? what are your realistic expectations for the back?
The next 11 weeks are going to be interesting for sure. I have never tried to compete in two major BB shows in the same year, so it's hard to know what to expect during this "bridging" time. Realistically, I don't think I can expect to acheive much growth in my back, especially once I am back in a calorie deficit. I think there ARE things I can definitely work on and improve on for Nationals, though.
In general, here's my plan:
---This week is pretty much an off week. I am training and doing some cardio, but I am not dieting (I'm not binging and going TOTALLY crazy either). I am lifting as heavy as I can when I go to the gym because I actually feel GOOD. I took a 40 min walk this morning and am just generally trying to stay in the routine. Gonna polish off the ice cream and goodies in the next couple of days, then go to NYC this weekend for Team U and party a little bit, and then that's about it for the down time.
---Next week I will get back into a more regular routine with cardio once a day and a cleaner diet. I am going to keep some things like whole eggs and nuts and steak in the diet though.
---I am still working through a rebound, so I am taking some herbal diuretics (dandelion, etc) for a couple of weeks and drinking as much water as I can. I will not step on the scale until about 9 weeks out (two more weeks), and hopefully when I do step on the scale, I won't be more than 125. Here's to hoping!
---Based on my weight at that point, I'll get back on the diet and adjust the cardio accordingly. I am planning on getting back on my 12 weeks out diet when I am 9 weeks out from Nats, and I am hoping to only have to do double cardios for the last 6 weeks or so.
I'll adjust as I need to once I get through this week and next week, and I'll keep you posted as to what is going on. I will probably take my next round of progress pics at 8 weeks out from Nationals. Hopefully they will look alot better than the 8 weeks out pics that are in this thread...they better!!!
Training-wise, I am going to:
---Do ABS at least three times a week. I can definitely improve on my abs. I slacked on abs this last go around, and I have very shallow abs anyway, so I need to start working the shit out of them and see if I can get them any denser. My goals with my abs for Nats are (1) build them up as much as possible between now and then and (2) don't stress my body out to the point where I release cortisol the week of the show and end up with a film of water on them.
---Do all wide grip training for my back (in addition to deadlifts, of course). Every excercise will be wide grip. I MAY do back twice a week for the next several weeks, and definitely wide pullups at least twice a week.
---Maintain my leg size. SQUATS!!! ASS TO CALVES! I am convinced that my squatting is what resulted in such major improvements in my legs, so I am hoping to get some good heavy squat workouts in during the next several weeks before I need to back it down again as the show gets closer.
---Do upper body work at least four times a week, possibly five. I need to do back possibly twice, shoulders at least once a week in addition to chest, and then an arm day focusing more on biceps.
---Work on my posing and make up a damn routine. I am not going to let myself go into Nationals without the practice I need and without a routine. I think that I will guest pose at Mike Katz's show in CT on November 1 so that I force myself to put a routine together.
I'll update this thread as I move through the upcoming weeks and we see how things go. This is a first for me, so I have no idea what to expect. I just hope that I can come into Nationals looking as good or better than I did at the NA's, but 11 weeks is a long time to try to hold on to what I've got.
I would be happy with a Top 5 placing at Nationals, but my goal is Top 3, and my ultimate goal is of course a win, but I have no expectations at this point... just hopes.
