BUMP to keep you on page one…hows it going???
[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
Stu actually cuts the sleeves? I thought surely that the sleeves simply jumped off the shirt when Stu flexed his arm.
The weight thing can be a mind game sometimes. I’ve always liked Dave Tate’s egg analogy, where sometimes it seems like nothing is happening on the outside, but inside there are processes taking place that just haven’t manifested yet… But yeah, its always nice to finally see that scale tick down.[/quote]
LOL - Stu’s sleeves simply explode off the shirt!! 
It’s getting down to the wire, my first show is in 9 days (May 18), and there is still so much to do! My weight is still at 109, it actually went down to 107.8 last week, so I’m hoping by the weekend I’ll get back to 107ish. Slightly scary since my contest weight was 102 last time. However, 2 things to keep in mind - the first show will be my warmup, the “main event” has always been the Hercules on June 29. Another thing to keep in mind is that I must have gained some muscle, because a number of areas look better than they did before - legs definitely look better, even glutes (although they are still not where they should be) are an improvement - I guess that’s all you can ask for, make improvements and do the best you can with what your given; be it a hectic schedule, demands from a job, trying to maintain some social aspect to life, or a physical weakness (in my case glutes & hams).
I’m proud of what I have done so far, I think this contest prep has been harder than the last time - which is strange since you think it would get easier. I’m my case, life got a little more hectic as far as work & school goes… But mentally, this contest prep was just as hard… thinking it would be easier was probably naive on my part. At the beginning of the prep I kept thinking the weight would fly right off, I’ve done this before so it should be a piece of cake… yeah right, I wish! And I keep comparing myself to what I looked like on contest day, which is absurd, since you calculate everything to peak just for that day. What I also realized is that I’m an idiot for not taking progress pics, I think that would probably let me gauge things better.
So much work - ugh, I haven’t practiced posing at all, and I have to figure what I’m going to do for a tan… sounds like I’m a celebrity walking the red carpet, lol. I plan on practicing my posing every night this week and will have a tan plan before the weekend is over. I made an appointment for a haircut & highlights next week, as everything has gone to hell (my last haircut & coloring was 6 months ago, yikes! and the gray hairs are really starting to become noticeable).
I’m very much looking forward to eating this week, it is a high fat diet - whole eggs, salami, macadamia nuts, it will be glorious! 
Stu and I had birthdays this past week. He turned the BIG 40 and I’m now 38 (at least it’s not as old as he is 
. I had a surprise birthday party for Stu this past Sunday, and it was quite difficult making up excuses and keeping it a secret, I felt like I was living a lie. However, Stu was COMPLETELY SURPRISED, which made me super happy! Everyone had a good time at the party and I (unfortunately) stuck to my diet… well, except for the 1 forkful of red velvet cake with white chocolate ganache filling… which was probably 1 of the 2 best cakes I’ve ever tasted in my life… We took the leftover cake and put it in the freezer for after my second show - CAN’T WAIT!!! Stu very thoughtfully invited our friends and siblings over for dinner at our apartment this Friday night. We will be serving chicken, steak, or meat, tacos - and I will be able to stick to my diet, YAY!
I think that is about it for now, so tired. I really am looking forward to next week, my workout will be much shorter and my diet will be tasty!
Glad things are moving along. I saw Stus post about the party, you are wonder woman, thats for sure. Happy belated birthday to you
Ugh on the not taking progress pics. Hopefully you have a few. I just caught the “coming off a broken arm” in your earlier post. That injury alone would explain more muscle, that and the glutes, legs looking better, I really think you will be pleasantly surprised.
I can imagine its quite the norm to compare yourself against yourself. Good thing you have Stu reminding you of things you may just have to hear from someone else. Thanks for the update !
So Cat’s just been busy as can be (what else is new?), so I figured I’d pop in here with an update. She’s doing her ‘warmup’ show this Saturday. He upper body is tight and looks dead on, capped delts, shredded abs, detailed midback… Legs look much better than last time, calves and hamstrings are much more prominent as well. Hoping to tighten up her glutes a bit more before the June show though(plenty of time!).
My thinking, and this is what I’ve been telling her the last couple of weeks, is that it’s been 2 years since she’s been onstage, and we need to get her comfortable being up there, hitting and holding poses, smiling, walking in heels etc.
Many people at the gym have come up to me asking what happened because Cat looks so drastically different the last few weeks, and all I can say is that you reach a point where the body just tightens well beyond what most people are accustomed to seeing, and even though you may not be contest ready, it’s enough to raise more than a few eyebrows.
We’re going to enjoy a nice post show dinner Saturday night, and then whatever the Mrs feels like having for about half of Sunday (I’m pretty sure she’s gonna opt for sushi). Then it’s time to buckle down, and go into the 2nd show all guns blazing!
S
Good luck Cat, I’m sure you will do great this weekend
Quick lil shot of our dining room table this morning.
S
Best of luck tomorrow, Cat.
Carbs! Wish I were there to watch in person. Best of luck and have fun!
BTW, I know you have no time to follow logs, but Chelsey just got a second place in her first show. She’s hooked.
Contest day, wooo hoo! I’m tanned, carbed up, and ready to go! Thanks for the well wishes!! The last few weeks, hearing encouraging words, has really helped get me thru each day and stay focused. I’m excited for today to finally be here and eat rice cakes & nutella all day!
I have Stu (coach & husband) and my sister Araceli (hair & makeup) with me all day, so it should be a fun family experience! Both of them are so supportive and encouraging!
My weight is 106.6, still higher than the last contest (I was about 102), but I’m ok with it, I definitely gained some muscle and I’m hoping to tighten up even more for the next contest on June 29. I think my cheat meals (tonight after the contest and tomorrow) will help get me thru the rest of this contest prep (mentally I really need a nice cheat meal).
My sister just got here and we are about to head out, check in starts at 9:00 am. I’ll keep you posted!
Talk to us Cat! How’d it go?!
I’m bummed but I learned from the experience. I competed in the DFAC pro/am competition in Irvington New York. DFAC is a newly created federation and it was a very small show with a total of 17 competitors in all divisions. Admittedly, this was my warm up show for the Hercules. My emotions were all over the place the day of the show, nervous, anxious, excited, hopeful, disappointed, upset, and now - I’m at peace with everything.
There were 2 people in the open figure - me and 1 other person - and I was a little disappointed there wasn’t more competition. We went out did our quarter turns - and then the judges asked us to do our favorite front, side, and back poses… I was surprised and completely unprepared to do anything except the required (4 possibly 6) figure poses…
I probably looked like a deer in headlights… and looking at the pictures I needed to smile a lot more… as we walked off stage I thought, what the hell just happened???
At the night show they told the path to walk, and that we could do whatever poses we wanted… again I was puzzled… I thought it was the typical “T walk” that I’ve seen in every other show… to be perfectly honest, I need to work on smiling and my stage presence… my poses are good but the transitions & walking the stage needs more work… the other competitor had great stage presence and a choreographed routine with lots of different poses… I was unprepared for what they asked for…
Physique comparison - the other competitor had bigger muscles and was thicker all around, she also had a little belly… my glutes need a lot more work, however her thighs were cellulite ridden (I feel horrible for saying this… she was really nice, 40 years old, has a young son, and had muscular legs… but also a lot of cellulite). We have very different physiques - my muscles are smaller and not as thick, I look much more “slight” than she does… her performance and stage presence was great, mine - left a lot to be desired (something I relaly need to work on).
She got first place and I got second. On the car ride home I burst into tears and berated myself for not doing better. As always, my sister and Stu gave me a pep talk the ENTIRE ride home (40 minutes). By the time we got to the restaurant I was feeling better. I’m looking at this as a learning experience.
I will write more later today… going out for all you can eat sushi (but first I need to take another shower and get more of this tan off).
Cat Pumpin’ up backstage (while someone sings the National Anthem in the background)
S
Don’t get down on yourself. I’m sure you learn a little more with each show. Use this one as motivation for the next!
Do you have any comparison shots with the other competitor?
I’d love to see pictures of both of you. Think if this as a small audience warmup for the bigger show coming up.
I don’t know how the other competitor looked, but you look phenomenal (please don’t hit me Stu)! Practice free posing, start expecting the unexpected, and I bet you’ll take 1st in the next one.
–Me
Wow…, your a little Pocket Rocket! I can see how it would shake you up, but it was a “learning” experience, so win win. Your going to kill the next one!! and agree with above you look phenom, be proud.
[quote]Thunder Cat wrote:
bigger muscles and was thicker all around
had a little belly [fat]
thighs were cellulite ridden
[/quote]
Her physique sounds worse than yours imo lol. I guess it’s just about getting more comfortable on the stage and feeling natural up there.
A few from my phone. Quality’s not great though, lighting killed most of my pics.
Cat’s on the left, eventual winner in middle, only masters competitor on the right (let her come out even though she wasn’t judged)
S
S
