No particular reason - I'm just being a crab today. I'm not even going to make excuses for myself. I have a short fuse today and I can't really pin point why. I will say, that I'm typically one of those people who is in a very good mood - so I guess I am allowed every now and then.

I am cynical and blah today. I am not even motivated to blog right now but I'm more motivated to blog than to re-organize my filing cabinet so blogging wins. :) Everything is annoying me, and on top of that, I look like crap because I didn't do my makeup. I got enough sleep last night but went to bed kind of annoyed... This morning I got up and did my cardio - but even that was annoying me. I thought about quitting like 3 times during it, but knew I'd be even more mad at myself if I did...so I finished.

"You cannot always rely on motivation - sometimes you just have to do the work."

I don't even mind doing the work really. PHYSICAL work. That is all I want to do lately and it's making my jobby job that much harder to be at. I am constantly thinking about my next meal, next food, what to make for the next few days' worth of food, what to buy at the store, my next workout - ect. Mentally, I am EVERYWHERE BUT HERE lately. I feel disconnected from everything and it's only been the last 2 or 3 days. Annoyed with certain people, annoyed mostly at myself for being annoyed...house is messy, fridge is empty...so much do to. Ya know?

I want to get home and do my fit testing because my P90x pull up bar came yesterday!! That was the highlight of my day. I wanted to do my P90x stuff this morning but the sleeping bear hubby said I can't do that in the mornings because our basement is right under our bedroom and you can hear everything through the vent. (He is right). Sigh. Ok, so I will have to do that when I get home...But for the record, I am happy about that.

I got my H1N1 vaccine yesterday. That stung like a motha! I am not usually one to wince at pain - I have always thought I had a high pain tolerance, but this seemed to hurt more than most shots. I like to watch the needle go in. Do you? This one went in smooth and proper - it was the serum that actually burned - it was like I could feel venom running through my veins and down my arm to my fingertips. CREEPY!! I was sore for about 30 min, then it went away. Expected my shoulder to be sore today - but it's not.

Omg I am so not in the mood to be doing anything today. It feels like a great day to just be at home, under my Snuggie with a glass of wine. Yes, I said wine. Yes, I have a Snuggie. No, I don't care that it's only 10:31 am right now. Ok, maybe hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps (MY FAV). Yes, I totally would have schnapps in my cocoa in the morning. Matter of fact, I admit to doing it many times last winter on the weekends. And on Wednesday night.

Gosh I am sassy today.
One of my (favorite) managers walked by and smelled the eggs I heated up for my 9am meal and said "Peeuw!" (how does one spell that anyway?) and I just said. "egg whites". Of course I am thinking -"Come on. Seriously. You have smelled that at least once a day for the past year in here. You cannot tell me you're not used to it by now." LOL

That's how I know I'm annoyed. She is my favorite and I still rolled my eyes at her (in my head). Also, I am annoyed when people IM me (work IM, we have a messenger thing to communicate with so our fat asses don't have to get up from our desks) and just write me an instant message that says "Becca". EVEN when my busy signal is up. I purposely will not respond for a few min. because of that. I mean, you see I am busy. If you need something, ask me a question and I will answer you. Or maybe I won't, but either way, get it out of the way. Don't just type my name. I know my name.

I am also annoyed at myself for having too many Hershey kisses with almonds. I have had 2 today, but yesterday I had like, 3 or 9. So much for no cheats during the week. Saying and doing are 2 different things, and even though I'm not in prep anymore and am perfectly allowed to have these little bites here and there, I am again torn between maintaining the hot bod and eating the good stuff. It's a win/lose no matter which way you cut it.

It is SO much easier during contest prep when I have a valid date in mind, an excuse why I cannot partake in the goods...ya know?

In unrelated news, I am still camera-less. This REALLY stinks.
I do not want to wait till Christmas to get a camera, and Tim and I talked about paying for my personal training cert as a Christmas gift...which I know is more important than a camera...right? Right?!!

OH! Wanted to share something totally random with you guys - but I thought this was really cool and just discovered it. For all you book readers out there - http://www.bookcrossing.com/

Take a book you no longer want, and go register it for free at this site. Then, give it away, give to a library, leave it on a bench at the gym, whatever - the next person who finds it will see the sticker/paper with the little website and goes to the site and types in the registry number...and gets to enter themselves in there too. Where/how you found the book, what it's called, what you thought of it, how you'd rate it, and you can even type a little blurb about whatever you want before passing it on. Basically it tracks the book like the dollar bill thing you might remember from a few years ago. Cool huh? So if you have extra books at your house you know you don't want anymore, before you donate it or recycle them, take a few moments and go there and register them. :)

So now I am about to read this book called "Lethal Genes." It's a crime novel (my fav) that I found here at work in a common area.

Hope you are all having a happy Friday!! WOO HOO!! THE WEEKEND IS FINALLY HERE!

Ope’s creates food with a distinct philosophical base. Simply, we are committed to improving the health of our planet and the health of all life that inhabits it.
Ope’s as a business and philosophy, was created by Dr. Richard A. Oppenlander. For the past 28 years, Dr. Oppenlander has studied nutrition, the implications of our dietary choices on the environment, and our food industry. From that research, evolved a broader understanding of the enormous impact our food choices have on many aspects of life. Also apparent is the need for healthier food options and accessibility than what is currently available through fast food outlets, academic institutions, hospitals, and conventional retail outlets. So, Ope’s was created offering a new mode of quick service restaurants, food options that we deserve, and a new program to increase the awareness of the effect our choices have on our planet.
Ope’s has developed and operated the world’s first franchiseable healthy fast food restaurants. Systems of operation, production protocols, and menus including numerous trademarked items were all established. In 2002, though, we closed the restaurants in order to devote our full time and attention to our food production business, Export Ope’s, LLC. Through Export Ope’s, we create our trademarked food items which are available now in universities, selected retail outlets, and corporations. We hope to have our products available everywhere possible. Accompanying these food items is an enlightenment system to elevate consumer awareness regarding food choices.
All Ope’s products conform to the following for very specific reasons based on research, facts, and a belief in a peaceful, healthier planet:
Organic
Vegetarian
No dairy
Contain natural occurring phytonutrients
No addition of preservatives, additives, colors
No refined carbohydrates or processed foods
High in natural fiber
No cholesterol, saturated or trans fat
Proper balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and essential fatty acids

Opes is a Michigan based company, and is located right in my town of Kalamazoo, Michigan, so you know I had to represent!
I like their philosophy on food...and that the founder is a doc who actually studied nutrition. There is so much crap going into food these days, it's nice to know there are ready made (AND TASTY!!) options out there that don't include them.

Ok moving along to the good part. When I first heard of Ope's stuff sandwiches I knew I had to get my hands lips on some. I contacted them and asked for a sample, and by later that morning, someone had contacted me for my address. Because it's local, one of their employees lived close enough to me - and dropped off 2 whole bags of goodies for me to try! I even got an email saying how my dogs barked their heads off at her, and how "beautiful" she thought Petey was! (Now you know that anyone who thinks Petey is cute gets and automatic A in my book!)
But seriously, home delivery!? Talk about customer service!

One bag had the much sought after stuffed sandwiches, and the other...COOKIES!! OH NO!! Well, since I was still on my bikini diet - I wasn't able to try them...but I have and that is another post of it's own to come at a later time.
I have been trying to limit all of my samples to just one a day or one every other day. Needless to say I am way behind on the yummy goodness reviews...I have a stack of wrappers from various places that I am saving as a checklist; The Ope's sandwiches were eaten ASAP though - because there was nothing in them that I couldn't have on the comp diet! Believe that! It was a treat I allowed myself on my high carb days. SO GOOD!
Here's the nutritional breakdowns: (They were all pretty much the same, with only a gram or two difference in carbs or fat)

Cals; 200. HELLO!!? How is this possible? It was not small! I'm in heaven!
Total fat: 4g
Total carb: 36g (why it was for high carb days only!)
Fiber: 9g (yeah, that's fabulous!)
Sugars: 1g (yes people- only 2g sugar. Same as as serving of whey!)
Protein: 15g!! WOO!!
and only 15mg of sodium!!

But here is the best part - the ingredients:
Organic spelt flour, water, organic shredded vegetables, organic non-lactose soy and organic rice cheese, baking yeast, sea salt.

Tomato and Cilantro: yummy goodness

Yep, that's it. All of their sandwiches are vegetarian/vegan friendly, dairy free, wheat free, and MUAY DELICSIOUSO. This and a side of tuna and I have a perfect meal.

I liked mine heated in the toaster oven over heated in the microwave, but waiting for 15 mins for it to cook while having to smell it was pure torcher!

I had the following varieties, and while I loved them all, some were better than others - (but it's totally my personal preference I'm sure)

Veggie: B. Good, but I like a kick to my food so this was a little on the plain side.
Southwest: (this one had cilantro, organic black beans, and lots-o-onions. A++
Tomato/Cilantro: A
Pizza: OMG. It tasted like...PIZZA!! Cheese, marinara, THE BEST ONE EVER!!
Mushroom/Onion: B. But only because I am not a big mushroom person.

Spicy Veggie: A. Super yumbles.

Ok. Hopefully you guys will take a moment to check out this awesome company, and maybe even order some food. (Genie, this would be perfect for your sensitive digestive system :)

I am a HUGE FAN and will be buying these for sure in the future. Actually I have already bought a few since my samples have run out. They carry them in the deli at The People's Food Co-op (which you all know I am an owner of and love so much!)

Tasty, Healthy, and diet friendly...because let's admit it, healthy does not always mean diet friendly :)
This is food you can really feel good about when sinking your teeth into, especially for all you clean carboholics out there!

Don't forget: TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER THE FABULOUS FAGE GIVEAWAY http://rebeccastaggs.blogspot.com/2009/11/fabulous-fage-giveaway.html

I woke up this morning and looked everywhere for my abs. Though they aren't quite the 6 pack they used to be, they were still there when I looked for them. I looked in the mirror, I searched high and low, and couldn't find them anywhere!! Instead I found this note:

Dear Becky,

Since you have decided to stuff your face full of chocolate rum balls and
unauthorized chips and salsa, we have decided to cash in on some much
needed time off. On loaner, we are leaving you with a soft watery midsection,
which will help keep you warm until our return. We are not sure when we will be
back, but are not going to stick around to watch you gorge on Thanksgiving and
Christmas. More than likely, we will see you in the spring, when you start
acting like you care about us again.

Have a great winter, fatty.

Abs

The nerve!! They were just here, and now they have up and skipped town. True, I may have eaten Red Robin, rum balls, and chips and salsa, but other than that I have been hitting the cardio, lifting, and sticking to clean foods. They acted like I don't care about them at all. What touchy S.O.B's, they are!! The body is a crazy thing...
So, to stick it to them today, after doing an hour of cardio and an killer back and bicep workout, I went to Coldstone. How you like them apples!?

P.S.
STAY AWAY FROM COLDSTONE CREAMERY!! They have pumpkin ice cream which I hear tastes just like pumpkin pie. It's extra tasty if you add Kit Kats in there, as your mix ins...Or so I hear.

P.S.S.
The no-bake rum balls I made for Tim's birthday were off the hook, too. (I'd take a picture but you know, no camera. BOO HOO!)...I kind of like not-so-sweet treats and these rum balls are the PERFECT mix of doughy goodness. OH yeah, and Rum and chocolate. HELLO...
Here is the recipe I used. I have used it many times before, they always turn out great. I like this one because you use a can of evaporated milk instead of corn syrup like most rum balls call for. A couple suggestions on my part:
1) You really only need about half the crushed walnuts they suggest, otherwise you'll have way too much walnut pieces left over. I think they would be better without the walnuts all together, actually.
2) Recipe calls for a 16 oz. box of Nilla wafers. Can't find this size box anymore, it's 12 oz in stores now...so you will want to buy a second box and procede to 2/3rds of the box and use the other 1/3 box in the recipe.
3) If you want your balls to be doughy, you need to use a blender or food processor. Simply crushing them doesn't work. TRUST ME.

THERE ARE ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER THE FABULOUS FAGE GIVEAWAY! http://rebeccastaggs.blogspot.com/2009/11/fabulous-fage-giveaway.html

Hey Bloggy Fam -
Just wanted to take the time to wish my girls April and Angela good luck at their show this weekend. They are hitting up the KYM and hopefully coming home with some Hardware!!

If you aren't a followers of theirs, you should be!

April, an Indiana gal who has always done figure in the past is going to make her NPC Bikini debut! I THINK SHE IS GONNA RAWK THE HOUSE this weekend! I expect her to do very well in the bikini division. She's another red-headed hottie - It's just The Weigh She Is

Angela, one of April's bloggy BFF's is going to be hittin' the stage in Figure again this year, shorty class (B?). She is a little Philly girl who is probably just getting picked up by April from the airport as we speak! They will be making the road trip to KY for the show. I think this is the best she has looked - at least since I have followed her blog and I am very excited and proud for her! She has worked long and hard to get where she is too - and I think she is just gorgeous. Check out her Work In Progress

Most of all, I just hope they have fun. I am sure that they will. They have been baking up a storm and planning all types of fun and goodies for this reunion.
I wish I could be there with Genie in person to cheer them on - but I will have to settle for cheering from home. I am so excited right now, I feel their excitement. It makes me want to do it again, NOW!

Ladies - good luck out there. Please keep us posted. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Hey Friends,

I have always enjoyed the solitude of the early mornings. The moon shines brightly in the early morning as there are rarely any clouds in the black morning sky, and people aren't asking a million things of you. There is quiet while the rest of the world sleeps. Only other early birds get this concept - and even in the gym, they are quiet. Verbally quiet. (This doesn't mean we don't rock the iPod on blast!) ON a mission. Have stuff to do - so the lolly-gagging must be saved for another day, or another time. The morning is a time to be in your own head without interruptions for me. I value this time.

So moving along...scale reports I am only 5lbs up from stage weight nearly 2 weeks ago. THIS IS GOOD. Mentally for me I am in a place I have strived to be at for a while: HEALTHY & FIT. I don't have to be eating everything in sight just because I am not on a competition diet. I allow myself little bites of things here and there, and I enjoy the tastes of baked goods, nacho cheese, etc, - in small amounts. One bite tastes as good as 10 because I'm going for flavor, not quantity. I have learned FINALLY after many years that I am not nourishing my body with those foods anyway, so there is no need to do more than taste them when I am trying to maintain or obtain a goal with my body. Now don't get me wrong, I am allowing myself cheat meals - I CANNOT DO without them - but not over-indulging in bad foods during the week has kept me in a physical place I tried to find for so long....I'm happy here. At least - for now anyway. It's only been 2 weeks and know the metabolism will slow and the fat can creep back on over time....but the food isn't goin' anywhere.

Tonight Timmy and I are going to Red Robin for the first time in a long time...and I am going to eat the fries and enjoy every minute of it! I am really looking forward to it because it's our routine. I have missed it. Tim and I have a lot of little routines that bring us such sentimental joys sometimes (don't be fooled by all the muscle, my man is a big time softy! SHHHH!!) We used to go every Friday, but 2009 has been a year of either me a diet, or Tim on his diet. The people at Red Robin know us by name, and they know what we order every time too. What, is that bad?

OK OMG!! I just remembered posting about this same thing last year! LOL!! I went back and it was last November - exactly a year ago. Ok...so I just got sidetracked and spent a little time reading my old posts. Talk about a trip down memory lane...posts from me getting ready for my first figure show...all the emotions...and uncertainties with myself...From scared, lonely little dreamer, first time competitor to a lil' bikini winner with 3 shows under my belt, and an awesome support system, and 74 followers. I just got emotional there for a second. Gawd I am such a girl sometimes!

This one earns a close SECOND place to the Peppermint Mocha. Second place is good, ya know. It makes the Egg Nog, Pumpkin Spice, and Gingerbread creamers taste like poo. I urge you to give a try - The small comforts in life...Gotta love 'em.

(on the right, beat by the tall class winner in red...I wanted shorty to win. I think we're pretty similar actually...and that's all I've got to say about that).

K, you guys seriously...I am lovin' the Amazing Wheat Grass. I have to say that out of all the supplements and health regimens I have ever come across in my life, this has to be my fav. I REALLY believe in this stuff.

Here is a pic of one of the ways I spruced up my Amazing meal the other day - Before my camera totally took a poo on me. :(



And yes, this is just an empty wrapper. LOL. This hungry girl could not wait to eat it to take a picutre. I feel like the Berry bar might have even been better than the peanut butter. How can that be? Better than chocolate coated peanut butter? Someone check my temp, please! Maybe because it was so much less fat and also less calories. LOL. No chocolate though...choose your poison...Here are the specs on the bars-o-goodness. AND YES, I felt like I could feel the natural sugars and fruit energy goodness kick in...this was pre-coffee - pre lifting this mooring. I wish I could eat one of these every day before my workout...or after, but I'm too busy eating my Fage! LOL! I just can't get enough. I am gonna get fat I swear.

What is a blogger supposed to do without her trusty camera? I called Canon and it's no longer under warranty, and it's $99.00 to fix. Buck that, I can get a new one for 150.00 on Amazon that will blow my old one out of the water...now where to find $150.00.....
In the meantime, till Santa brings me a new camera (hint hint Timmy if you are reading this) I have hijacked the camera at work.
I don't bring it home though, which is why I can't take a pic of my body...unless...well I could, but I think if someone caught me walking out of the bathroom with a camera, I'd have some 'splain' to do...They won't notice...right? It's not stealing, it's BORROWING...we only use it for Christmas parties anyway...seriously....It's big and clunky though, but thieves beggars can't be choosy...

I have gotten a few emails and FB comments on what comes next for this bikini child. Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS! I can't diet over the Holidays too hard. I need some soul food and family time which in my house, includes mucho mashed potatoes, spiced egg nog, and pumpkin pie. It's just the way we do it and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I would be jumping the gun in saying I want to do the Arnold Amateur with someone...so I just won't say it yet. :P

But for serial, Jr. Nats are on the calendar for this girl - FO' SHO. It would take a broken leg or a death in my family to stop me from that. I know national shows cost a lot and I am broke...but don't care if I have to hitch hike to Chicago and stay on the roof of the venue...I am still thinking about North Americans in August, and USA's in July because flights to Vegas are only $89 bucks for the red eye here in MI...but again, those are just maybes.

Mine can!

Good afternoon Blogger familia!
I am writing to tell you how much I am lovin' life right now! More so - my diet! I am a happy girl with upped carbs, fruits and dairy back in my life. Ahhhh the little things in life that we learn to value so much, right?

Okay, okay, this post really isn't about me though - It's about FAGE Greek yogurt.

LOVE.THIS.STUFF.

So far, there is only one store in town (a small and pricey speciality & natural health food store) that I have found to carry the 0% Fat variety - and the two times I have gone there to buy it, it's sold out. BOO! The grocery store nearest my house carries the small, single servings of it, but only in the full fat, or 2% with honey, cherries, or peach. Too much sugars for me...

So, this blogger - being the self experimental person that I am, contacted Stacy at Fage and she was ever so gracious to send me some. We actually wrote a few emails back and forth about random stuff - she is awesome - Thank you Stacy!

So, the yogurt came before I was able to eat it due to my competition diet. I unpacked it in the fridge and told Tim he was NOT ALLOWED to eat it.

You bet your sweet aunt fannie that I had some as soon as I got back from Monster Mash last weekend. It's part of my diet now - I build it in - and the best part is, it's easy to do!

This stuff is PACKED with protein, and has far less sugars than any other yogurts I've encountered...Take a looksie:



The serving size is 1 whole cup! YAY! Finally someone who understands a quarter or half cup isn't going to satisfy a hungry gal. I have been mixing a half cup of the yogurt with some other goodies, but even if you choose to do a whole cup -the nutritional damage is nada! Not to mention it doesn't have any artificial ANYTHING. I used to be a fan of Dannon Light 'n Fit but after a while it started to taste chemically to me - I think as I started to wean myself off a lot of fake and processed foods, my body developed a sensitivity to them...other than the occasional sugar free jello - I am freed from the chemicals that are asparatame!

Ok back on track here: I am a huge fan of this yogurt. It's so thick. "Ridiculously thick," according to Fage themselves. I am glad they have started selling in the US now.
The texture actually reminds me of that of sour cream. Or THICKER. It's smooth, heavy, and rich. It's got a very unique flavor - A no-flavor flavor, since I didn't have any added ingredients when I tried it. BUT GOOD. I cannot explain it any further, you're just going to have to try it for yourself. :) Oh and another thing - I have seen recipes that call for it - you can even use it as a sour cream if you want to - I put it on lean turkey tacos the other day (thanks to an idea out of Oxygen mag from a few months ago) and LOOOOVED IT.

Since experiencing the wonders of Greek yogurt, I have cut down my oatmeal drastically in order to be eating this yummy goodness instead! I have added jam to it,

pumpkin, whey powder (talk about making the prefect protein pudding!!) and yes, naughty me, even a little Jell-0 brand sugar free sprinklings of pudding powder...Ah Therese....so good...
I have to say though, my favorite so far is the canned pumpkin with a little pumpkin pie spice. It's not sweet, so some of you might like to add a little brown sugar - but I like it that way. It looked like baby food...but it was great!

Tonight after my workout (leg day people, gotta work on those quads of mine!!) I will be eating a single serving Fage with PEACHES!! YAY!!! I know the sugar is a little high for a contest diet, but it will be a great clean carb after a workout and I will burn that sugar right up. CLEAN, not junk sugars. I am looking forward to it.

So bloggy fam, do something good for yourself and check out all that the Greek yogurt Gods at Fage have to offer. The website tells a bit about the company and what they do - and the nutrition facts about the varieties available. Take a moment and share the love:
http://www.fageusa.com/

It's 1:30 pm on Sunday and I need to get on the cardio bike ASAP. I just ate a crapload of sugar in the form of sweetened condensed milk, flaked coconut, rice krisy treats and toffe chips. WTF...

I have baked 2 bags of chicken, cleaned the kitchen, packed meals for the next few days, crept around on FB, and now blogging.

First off: I am in the running to be sponsored by FitGemsNation for my 2010 show. I currently have my heart set on Jr. Nats in Chicago, and North American's in Cleveland in the summer. I need some time off of dieting, need to bring up my rear and tone down the arms/legs and lean them out a bit. I am very excited for 2010. My entry has been accepted and I am up against some very worthy girls - no matter who wins, it won't be a bad choice. I would like to thank C-Ray for the opportunity to be sponsored at all. He started FitGemsNation simply for the love of the sport and the industry says a lot. I feel fortunate to have stumbled across his blog and eventually, the SITE. I realize that there are many eligible girls vying for the sponsorship but the opportunity itself is worth the mention. I am planning on hittin' the nationl scene, but you know cost is always a concern. Shows and competitions in general are costly, especially on the National level...
Decisions will be made by a panel of judges - please send prayers my way that they will see my hard work, dedication, and drive when considering me for the sponsorship. I want to ROCK the bikini stage at Nationals and help give it a good name in the NPC!

So today I am one week post-comp. The rebound from my figure and bikini comps this Spring (back to back shows) was BRUTAL. BRUTAL I SAY! Everyone tried to warn me but I really didn't realize how hard it was going to be, both phsycially and mentally. It's very difficult to see all of your hard work of dieting go down the toilet in just a few short weeks. 3 months to take it off, 3 weeks to put it back on. All 14 lbs.

I know myself - I have learned that I look and feel better at 125 lbs than I do at 130. Vanity? Sure, maybe a little - who doesn't want to be physically fit, admired by others and look damn good in a pair of tight jeans? This summer I maxed out at 134 pounds, and though I have a bit of muscle - that is just too much for this 5'4 girl to feel good about. I weighed 118 on stage- water depleted this last week, and though I know it's impossible (not to mention unhealthy) to keep contest weight year round, I LOVED how I looked. It was my personal best that I have brought to the stage in the three shows I have done. Because my summer was so lax in both the cardio and diet areas (never one to take time off from the gym or weight training, because I actually enjoy it - cardio, not so much!) I had to diet 10 weeks to get on stage for the Monster Mash. BOO! I don't want to have to do that again, and stress out and wonder if I am going to make my goal body. Now, I did it, but it wasn't easy and I was second guessing myself the entire time right up until the end. As of this morning, I am 124 lbs, which is 6 lbs up from what I weighed when water depleted. I have kept the cardio in - and the diet, though not contest clean, has been much cleaner than my off season summer diet. I ate junk the night of the show, and the next day on the 4 hour drive back to MI from OH - and with the exception of a little too much dried fruit (my weakness) and some upped carbs, I have been back on the clean eating machine routine since Monday. I had to make the choice: either get fat again and be unhappy, or keep the cardio in (boo!) and diet cleaner this time around, but be happier in the long run. Sure I miss the splurges and Heath bars and red wine, but it's a temporary satisfaction, where being fit is with you all day.
Since the cardio is part of my routine during pre-contest times - and I am used to building it into my day - I have decided never to let it slip -
It's simple really, how can you expect to up your calories and lower your activity level and NOT gain it all back?
I know it will come back...but I don't need all 14 pounds of it. I need to continue to improve on areas and tighen up in general...I HAVE A PLAN THIS TIME.

Bikini girls 'shouldn't have to diet" and "bikini girls dont' need an offseason". Whatever. Where there are improvements to be made, there will always be an offseason for this chica. :P

This has made a world of difference to me in my post-contest life; both mindset and body. I feel good, I look good, I am clean and energetic...and motivated. This is what I needed to do. The bloat and soreness post comp only lasted 1 day instead of the near 2 weeks of discomfort and distended belly that I had last time - and flushing my system out with water has certainly helped. Last time post contest was SO AWFUL. I looked pregnant and literallyl my skin and organs hurt. I was bound and determined not to let that happen again. So far, I am succeeding.

Alrighty blogger fam, time for that cardio. Maybe I can at least break even today. I went to the gym this morning and hit chest and shoulders...but I am literally DISGUSTED at myself for going over on the sugar...1 hour cardio...nothing less will suffice.

Have a fabulous day!

Oh.My.Goodness.

I have found a new product that I am very excited to tell you all about. You may have heard of it already, but until the good people at http://www.amazinggrass.com/ (Thank you Teri Jo!) sent me some of their samples to try, I was curious, but proceeded with caution. With so many supplements out there, and organic, natural, health oriented products, I had to try it for myself to be sure. This whole concept, product line, and idea of a superfood powder that contains far less sugars and calories than most, while packing a crazy amount of antioxidants and enzymes totally appealed to me. I can build it into my fitness lifestyle - guilt free.

Amazing Grass is a great company. Their customer service has been top notch as far as communication and helping me help myself to their products, and all the yummy goodness (and health benefits) they have to offer.

When the samples arrived, I ripped them open immediately. I was excited to see many different varieties, but because of being on a bikini competition diet, I wasn't able to try them all just yet. They also make some pretty yummy super food bars from what I hear - I am going to give one a taste later today! One thing I tried immediately because I had heard great things (thanks April) was the Amazing Wheat Grass. All of their superfoods contain some of this as well. There are different flavors to choose from: Berry, Chocolate, and some for kids as well which I did try; smaller portions and more flavorful...but OH SO GOOD!

The best thing about these products are the health benefits. The hubs does NOT like to eat veggies. AT ALL. I am always telling him he needs to eat some broccoli, or trying to shove green beans and asparagus down his throat. We all know that the antioxidants and other nutrients in veggies are very important where protein absorption, oxygen in blood, muscle building, and vitality are concerned. When he found out that he could have all this in the form of a tasty powder, PLUS other nutrients that he was missing out on, he was ADAMANT that I share the samples with him. To top it off, he actually ENJOYS them. For someone who eats nothing but chicken and salsa or chicken and hot sauce and oats EVERY DAY all day, this is great.

Since the show, Tim and I have had a serving of either the wheat grass, an Amazing Meal, the Berry Green Superfood, or the Chocolate Superfood each day. I can tell you that I am regular, (hooray! I have issues with this sometimes!) I feel energetic, and I feel good because I know each time I drink my little AMAZING drinky drink, I am doing something good for myself. I wonder if this is what actually has helped me with my post-contest bloat. I bloated for one day only - and I have had the energy and motivation to be in the gym and doing cardio every day since the day after the show. After three days straight on the grass I am happy to give it nothing but thumbs up. I FEEL CLEAN. I FEEL GOOD.

I eat veggies whenever I can- Tim, not so much. I like the products - but he actually NEEDS it. I personally like to mix them in with my vanilla whey, while Tim likes it with Crystal light. How you enjoy it is up to you!

Tim and I both spent time on their site and thoroughly compared nutrition facts and supplement facts on the different super foods. The Berry Green has the most antioxidants and vitamins in most categories - I mean, just go there and take a look, it will "Roxers your boxers!" (as my friend Jordan would say.)

I took some pics of my yummy green and brown shakes, but they are stuck on my memory card - but my camera is having issues! :( It won't turn on! (YES JES, it decided to break!!! You weren't crazy after all :) so you will have to wait till it comes back to me...I miss my camera...

Tim is not easy to sell on ideas, not to mention he is...frugal? LOL. However, even after he tried the stuff, he was hooked. He knew his nutrition was lacking in that area, and this was a quick, easy, tasty, and affordable way to supplement his diet properly. We immediately ordered 200 servings of it. This is something that anyone can build into their diet at 30 calories per serving. Both Tim and I will be taking it daily now, and we are going to let our friends know about it whenever possible. Consider us "Grassheads for life." I can't wait till it arrives because all my samples are gone! :) I was so excited about this product - that I will now be officially promoting it on my blog. There are some things in life you try and you like, and you may try them or get them again, and then there is Amazing Grass. If you want to get some, just click on the link on my sidebar to place your order. Since I am now a proud Amazing Grass affiliate, I get referral points :)

If you have any questions let me know.

PROLOUGE: I actually posted this post before the one below, but since I STARTED the one below first and saved it as a draft, it's showing up backwards in the timeline. SEE BELOW FOR FUN STORIES ON PART I!!

Hey You guys - Ok so I am getting flack from my lovely followers for not blogging about the comp!! I AM SORRY! Eveyrtime I sit down to blog, I get sidetracked or derailed...


I PROMISE I have a draft sitting, waiting for fun explainations. I got second...here are the links to the pics on FB...with some details in there.

Jes rocked the house, I got second place by a point, and Genie took the entire DAMN SHOW with the Class C win and the OVERALL!!! IT WAS A GREAT TIME! MORE UPDATES LATER.

There is so much to tell you guys, we had a great time and I want to share detials but you will have to wait till I wrap up this food drive. A day or two, I promise.

One final note: Second is good. First would have been better, but I know I looked my personal best and I AM VERY HAPPY with how I looked. I know I will only get better from here, and I felt just FABULOUS that day!! It was such a wonderful experience!

MONSTER MASH 2009 Becca's Facebook Album!

YOU BETTA THROW GIRL!!

That was the catch phrase of the weekend for the "Team Interwebz" at the 2009 NPC Monster Mash Natural in Middletown, Ohio. WAS A GREAT WEEKEND!


I can't even begin to tell you how great it was to get to meet Genie and Tasha in person. As soon as we walked through he hotel doors, it was as though we were long lost friends that got to be reunited. One thing that threw me off was how small Genie is in person. I mean, I guess at 114 lbs she WOULD BE small, but because she packs so much muscle per pound, in progress pics you would just think she is a big girl - (muscle wise LOL) There is nothing but pure lean muscle on that girl! In clothes, she looks teeny tiny though. It's great. When she ripped off her jacket she was all biceps and shoulders, and this insane little waist...we loved it! And Tasha, though she says she weighs a certain poundage, doesn't look like it all. Girl is stacked the max - All muscle (and boobs!) there too! Even with her off season body- you can tell she is strong as an ox.

Jes and I arrived after Genie had checked in, and Tasha joined her. Once we got there, we immediately started gabbing and hugs all around - real hugs too - like we were old pals. I said, I could totally see how people fall in love with others online. It was so easy to know them.

We dumped out all our treats on the bed...and vowed to devour them all the next day. NOT! We barely put a dent in them. LOL. Jes made goodie bags of 100 calorie packs for all of us, and I bought us light up wine glasses and a bottles of Michigan wines for them to take home. It was fun.

That night was early registration. We went down to the lobby at the hotel (aka Days Inn - which, BTW, had no elevator - and we had huge rolling coolers we had to lug up the stairs, that was fun!) and the lobby was PACKED. Registration went smoothly and we went to bed by about 10pm that night.

The next morning of course, we were all up before our alarms went off at 500. Jes and I got to wolf down 2 double cheeseburgers sans buns from McD's for our fat load (not as appetizing as it might sound after being water depleted, lol...but it got the job done. I still enjoyed it. Is that wrong?

After painting Jes, she had to hop in the shower and exfoliate again because her skin was not taking the Jan Tana in all places. We blame her hard water from her country bumpkin house. :)
She hopped in the shower and I literally scrubbed her back and stuff as hard as I could with a wet washcloth, and it helped a lot! Repaint, then paint Genie (with Jantana ultra one, and her color kicked ass!) Then it was my turn. We were out the door with hair, makeup, and meal 2 done by 840. WOO!!

Once arriving at the venue we realized the promoter of this show meant bi-ya. (Business, lol) the mandatory meeting started on time, non competitors were not allowed backstage (which only sucked because Tasha had to spend so much time alone) and the expeditor's more than kept us updated with the printed schedule of events and call outs to who was supposed to be lining up at the time.

The venue was a college auditorium (University of Miami of Ohio) and was nice enough, but the dressing rooms were too small. Backstage was big and the pump up rooms (separate for men and women, we hardly saw any men the entire time!!) were good but there was only one bathroom for all the girls and this was not good.

On to stage stuff. I was the first of our crew to hit the stage. I know people say you get less nervous as the shows go on, but I actually like the nervous feeling. I think what I have is more of an adrenaline rush? Idk. Anyway as we lined up my knees were knockin' and my heart was pounding big time, but once it was my turn to walk out, it was like a calm washed over me. I had to do what I had to do. Immediately before walking on, the expediter said, "hit only 2 poses." This threw me off BIG TIME and I was not excited about this. I had 4 planned out, a front with my leg popped out AKA bikini pros, front relaxed, backside, and front relaxed other side again. WTF, 2 poses? Ok, so I went out, hit my front relaxed, and hit my back pose, and then hit the front relaxed for a split second before acknowledging the judges. In the line up, I was dead center and they rotated the girls around me on both sides. I really thought I had it, I felt like I was in the best shape, (especially after checking out the girls close up) but you never know exactly what they like. My body fat was the lowest, but my presentation was definitely lacking, and I may have looked too hard. I know what I need to do next time. I am NOT going to change my conditioning, I LIKE IT and it's the look that is getting awarded on the National level...but I will need to step up my pep on stage for sure!

(Skip ahead to after Prejudging. This is where I let Genie and Jes tell their own stories)

After prejudging, Tasha reported that she thought I had first or second...as did the other girls. I thought this was the case - but Tash did say, the other girl was "workin' for Jesus" out there. LOL!!! AND, she went before me and hit way more than 2 poses. EFF!!! Next time I'm going to do what I practiced, and not rush! What are they going to do, pull me off the stage or DQ me for hitting too many poses? It only takes a second, and I honestly think I was the only girl in the short class who listened! BOO!!!

Nways. We went back to the hotel after making like 8 U-turns because I do not know how to use a GPS in a strange town...and I was OUT LIKE A LIGHT! The night before, I was up at 1:45 and didn't fall back asleep AT ALL. (Hence waking up before the alarm. I tried to take a walk at 4:45 am but it was raining so I went and watched the news in the lobby with the front desk guy). I slept from like 2pm till Jes woke me up at 4:45 to get ready for the night show. We were back at the venue by 5:15 for the mandatory meeting. The rest of the show went exactly as planned.

Jes totally rocked that teeny zebra bikini and I am so proud of her!! She literally had a 6 pack after her water was gone and her stage presentation was AWESOME!!

I took second, which didn't surprise me all to much. I wanted the girl who beat me to win against the tall class winner, (cuz she beat me!! LOL) but she didn't. Their bodies were TOTALLY different from each other, which is puzzling in itself but I gather that the judging for bikini goes more on the overall package and presentation than the separate body parts themselves, like shoulders, back, legs, etc as in figure). For example I was lean and muscular where the overall winner was skinny and long.

During the Figure classes, Jes and I were were already in the audience to watch Genie as they brought out the top 5 in every class... We jumped up and down and were yellin' at the top of our lungs when she won her class! "THROW GIRL!!!" and "SAMMONS!!!!!", "48" and "GENIE!!!"
Then going into the overall, omg it took FOREVER. They played the entire length of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" as the 4 class winners stood there. I think that song is always going to be that moment to me now. I was literally on a natural high. As soon as they announced Genie, Jes and I screamed the top of our lungs, and jumped up and down (but not before I splashed a Little Gatorade on my turquoise velour bingo night gear jumpsuit. Yeah, we were those girls and it was worth every dirty look and every second of oxygen deprivation.

MORE LATER GUYS! THIS POST IS TOO LONG AND ITS TIME FOR BFAST!!
I will add pics when I get a chance, but for now, check out the post below to the link to my public album on FB!!

Jes will be her in half an hour. My stuff is about to be loaded in the car, all I need now is to put some makeup on this face and we're hittin' the road. A quick trip to walmart will include an oil change for the ole' intrepid, and while that happens, we are getting our pedi's done by the walmart place - Angel Nails. LOL!! Can't be a $25 dollar 25 minute pedicure! A quick trip through the ailses for last min. necessities and we are on our way!

It's a 4.5 hour drive to Middletown (Pretty much Cincinnati I guess) from here. We are getting our body fat done before we hit the highway, and we should be at the hotel around 4pm.

I am so excited!! I can't wait to meet Genie and Tasha in person - this has been a long time coming and I have butterflies. I just know we are going to get along great and have a great time!! OH yeah, and there is a show involved, too. LOL Wish us luck!!

One of the girls I grew up with has recently signed on with Structure Fitness. Here is part of an email she sent me this morning - I just love it. I love to hear that she is loving her diet, the changes it is bringing, and the STRUCTURE it is creating in her life. I just wanted to share it with you. I wrote back to her saying "Don't you feel so alive?"

I honestly know my life would not be the same without this fitness aspect - I grow to love it more and more each day and realize what a happy place it puts me in.

There were other parts and other emails, and other feelings she has had apart from these - but I just love listening to her rediscovering her muscles. She is 4 weeks into the routine and diet and people are noticing. Her jeans are fitting better, she's getting compliments. I hope she is reveling in every moment of this.

SIDEBAR: 2 days left! Jes and I are leaving tomorrow for Ohio and I can't wait to tear it up on the stage in da 'Natti!! WOOO!! I hope you are all having a great day.

There is this line from a song "the strangest things seem suddenly routine' and that's my life right now. This morning I was up at 7 and at the gym by 8. I used to think a productive early morning was to have coffee brewing by time Oprah came on at 9. My life feels like I have so much more focus and stability now that I'm taking time for myself and learning soo much. Every lift, every movement is waking up muscles that I kinda forgot I had. When I first began I couldn't really feel the difference between a chest press or a shoulder press, they just felt hard to do. But now I can feel the muscles moving and when a machine or movement does an isolation I can just feel it. Its like my body has wanted to do this for so long and its happy to be doing what its suppose to be doing!
This is week 4 for me. And I told myself I would wait until the end of the month before I take my measurements again, so that's what I got goin on for Sunday! I'm really excited to see any results but the measurements don't really matter. I just KNOW i look different. I feel lighter and like i have tons more energy. And in related news I think all the supplements are making my skin look great (or maybe that's the water, who knows)

OMG Blogger Fam, where does the time go!? I can't believe it's been a week since I posted - and I have been so busy! Every time I think I have a moment to update you guys, I get railroaded catching up on blogs and next thing I know I am out of time. Not to mention I have been SWAMPED at work and totally trying to relax when I can at home.

I am in the midst of running our organization's the food drive again this year, and let me tell you it has not been easy. That will be a whole other post when I get around to it. It takes up a lot of my time - but I know it's worth it. I have emails to friends I need to return, calls to family members I need to make...I will be happy when this is all over and I can breathe! It's times like this when I am reminded that this is really what life is all about. I AM LIVING. I feel alive!! I am so thankful for that.

Wow, OMG. I can't believe in three days I will be on the stage...
I cannot WAIT. I am so excited. Did I mention I am not sure whether or not I'm more excited about the comp or just hangin' out with my girls? We are going to have so much fun.

This is really what it's all about. If you can't have fun with it, if you don't ENJOY what you do, then what is the point to life?

Ok, so I have been snapping pics of food and random things here and there to update you guys with, but like I said...Time.

This past weekend Jes and I had the opportunity to do a shoot with the FABULOUSLY TALENTED David Martinson. Who is he? Nobody famous...yet. But he's got skills and he's got a great eye, not to mention camera and editing program to bring it all together.

He is currently working on our pics - and I CANNOT WAIT to see the rest of them.
He contacted me via Facebook (recently shot one of my gym girlfriends and I LOVED her pics) and said he wanted to shoot. I said, "Wow, I have a show in 2 weeks, let's do it this weekend!" and we were off. I called Jes and said, "what are you doing in a few days, want to do a shoot with me?!" We had fun...even though he took all day setting up his stuff and we were freezing!) Who are we to turn down a quality photog? I am in good shape now, and I need some quality pics LOL!

With his connections, we were able to get into a beaten down warehouse to snap some pics. I am not sure how they will turn out, but I felt like the shoot went well. Here is the teaser he did - this is all I have seen so far:



On another note, prep is moving along swimmingly. Swimmingly as in drinking 2 gallons of water per day swimmingly. The one thing this does for me in the immediate sense (other than the obvious which is burdening me with copious amounts of trips to the ladies room) is help me feel less hungry. I always forget that drinking water DOES help with this. Note to self; increase water on the regular.

I am all packed for the show. The only thing left to do is pack my cooler and make the treat I will be taking with...

Show bag - check

Rolling clothes bag - check

Big ass cooler chock full of boiled chicken, rice cakes and junk food - pending.

SO MUCH FUN.

I don't think I have changed much since my 3 weeks out pics, which is a little disheartening to me. I have been working out and doing the cardio but that's ok...I am doing what I can and the end is here now. Stressin' will not help. I feel like I look good for a bikini comp. Right now I weigh 123 which is a pound more than I weighed the morning I stepped on stage for Grand Rapids (when I won). I expect to drop at least 2 or 3 lbs of water, so I guess I am right there!

I would like to thank those of you who have supported my efforts and followed my musings along the way. Because of my virtual community, I can share the most random things and know that SOMEONE else, at least one other person, usually finds them interesting.

So tonight I will boil my chicken. I am not doing a sodium load but will do a deplete and drop water on Friday because I hold water like a camel. I'm getting my body fat done with Jes before we leave town Friday morning, and I think I will be around 10 or maybe even 11%. UGH! I was 8% for my figure comp and when I dropped the water I looked good. I was 3lbs heavier for my bikini comp and when I dropped the water I look good. Some girls don't need to - I do.

So needless to say, that should be an interesting road trip to OH stopping to pee every half hour! LOL!!!

Ok, I am sure I am forgetting something. I am water logged, belly looks distended and I have to pee...but I FEEL GREAT. I am ready to bring it.

Jes, Genie and I are hoping to sweep the show. HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE!?
:P Wish us luck!!

We will be updating as much as possible via text, FB, Blogger, Twitter, and telekinesis. LOL.
Hope you are all having a great day!

Beejeezers! I am getting so excited for the Monster Mash!! I really don't know which I am more excited about, getting on stage and hopefully doing well, or just seeing my friends and having a kick a$$ girls weekend. Ok I lie, I am totally more excited about the later of the two. It's been forever since I have had any type of girls weekend - and I am more than giddy to meet Genie and Tasha in person! I feel like I have known them forever and I already know we will be friends for life.

Woke up looking AWE-SOME this morning! I should have taken a pic but I am in a hurry to get an hour of SS fasted cardio out of the way - cause I am meeting up with Jes and I still have to shower and such. She has some PB2 for me, and I have some goods for her. We live an hour apart, but there is a Waffle House exactly half way in between that sits right off the the highway. Yeah, we are dieting and going to waffle house. I can haz coffee and that is it - but I'm giving her the last week of diet today - Tim did it last night and we're going to review it and talk about Reece's cups and such!! WOO!!!

Sometimes you just gotta love life. Right now I am feeling fabulous, my friends look like supermodels (Yes Genie, even after being on death's doorstep this week you are rockin' it!) and you have to give thanks for what you have in life. Today is def. one of those days of clarity for me. It's important for me not to become too self absorbed in the competition aspect of competing (hmmm sounds like an oxymoron) and just enjoy the ride that takes me to the end point.

Ok, so I know that title totally sucked you in.

COMP DREAMS WTF! I haven't had any up until now - last time I was having many of them and they started way sooner. Well, last night the insomnia and weird dreams finally kicked in and I had a doozy! I was onstage - everything was great (BTW I TOTALLY dream in color - what is this crap about people dreaming in black and white? Stupid scientists) and I did a bangin' job with my posing/routine/strut whatever you want to call the bikini girl walk. ANYWHO, so then I go to wave at the judges, and out of the corner of my eye, I see armit hair!! OMG! But not like, "Oh crap I didn't shave last night) it was like, "OMG, there is a jungle of taco smelling 70's bush coming out of my pits!!" I even heard a collective gasp from the audience, it was clear as day. Then I lift the other arm and it was there too. I just totally ran off the stage. That was it! I was crying back stage and so embarrassed...and then somehow, my sobs turned into grumbles....
My eyes flitted open and my trusty little best friend (Petey) was at my side of the bed, with his snout 2 inches from my face. He was 'grumbling' (a sound bulldogs make which is kinda like a throaty growl, but it doesn't sound mean) at me. He needed to go out. I looked at the ceiling (I have one of those clocks that projects...VERY COOL unless you cannot sleep!) and it was 3:00am on the dot. I let him out, went to the bathroom, hit a few ab poses (at 3am yes I did thankyouverymuch) and let Petey back in.

I still don't know if m whimpering while sleeping woke him up, or if his grumbling woke me up...
Either way. Got back in bed and laid there till at least 4:30 cause that's the last time I looked at the clock... Tossed, turned, could not get comfortable, etc. You know the deal.

I woke up at 6:30 and now after facebooking and online shopping catching up on my blogger fam, I am almost done with my hour of cardio. Gotta love laptops! Time for some oats and MuscleTech Hardcore Vanilla Cake Batter Whey, (while I can b/c whey goes out next week, boo, I could live off this stuff!!) a shower, and then I'm on the road to meet Jes!

Yep, today is gonna be a great day. Hope yours is too!!

DISCLAIMER; THAT IS NOT ME IN THE PICTURE AND DO NOT SEARCH ARMPIT HAIR IMAGES UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR SOME EARLY MORNING PORN. "SAFE SEARCH IS ON" MY ASS! LOL

So easy a caveman could do it. LOL. I made these up myself in a moment of creativity, though I'm sure I'm not the first. You can gauge your amounts by how it looks - or how much you feel like making but I could only make enough for one day anyway so here's what I did:




You will need:

1. 1/2 cup of quick oats, or oat flour
2. 1/2 bag of THAWED boneless, skinless chicken breasts tenders. If using breasts, cut into strips/smaller pieces and dont' forget to cut the fat off!
3. Cajun Seasoning
4. Butter Flavored Spray Pam
5. ziploc bag
6. A blender, magic bullet, or food processor

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Spray your pan with Pam and set aside.
• Put 1/2 cup of quick oats into the blender and chop/crush. I made mind kind of gritty but you can do a fine powder if you prefer.

• Place a quarter cup of the ground up oats (it's oat flour, people) into a ziploc bag.


• Sprinkle in a good amount of cajun seasoning. Maybe about 2 TBSP... Shake and mix.
• After you have cut the fat off the THAWED chicken and cut them into strips, place one or two into the bag and seal tightly.
• Shake it up and cover all the areas of the chicken evenly - a la Shake 'N Bake style.
• Remove chicken and place on pan.

• Repeat till you have used up all your ingredients.
• Before placing in the oven, spray the butter pam over it once really quickly for a little moisture.
  
• Put in the oven and cook for 20-25 min until chicken is done.

• Enjoy!

Or that it's marbled with sweet cream and chocolate? It doesn't look that good...

My fav, Ezekiel Bread with Smuckers Sugar Free Strawberry Jam! YUM!

XOXO - Bec

Make Goo/Pudding

Well, I actually know why it took me this many years to try it. Cause I'm cheap. I am cheap when it comes to food because I eat so much of it and I am perpetually broke so really, I have no choice. Getting married didn't help that because Tim is wise with his money and a gram of protein is a gram of protein to him in most cases, expensive or not. LOL. Some things in life are worth paying the extra penny for. Whey, when you go through as much as we do, is not.

Forgot to add these, also taken this morning. I would have just re-edited the other post but you already know how annoying it is when you add pics in Blogger and then have to drag them around. Anyway, I think my abs look better in person, but it could be in my head! I know with a tan and some glaze and stage lights, I will be happy. The definition just doesn't show. I think it's the lighting in the bathroom or with the flash, not sure... Anywho, here ya go!

Hello Minions!! Just kidding...

So as promised (and on time!! WOW) taken this morning... 2 very different suits and my thoughts on the suits.

I would like your feedback or opinions on the suits...I think I know which one I will wear for prejudging, but I am not sure and would like to hear you guys chime in w/o hearing what I am thinking... just don't be offended if I choose the other one! :P

THE SKINNY: Suit 1


Pros: Love the color and the fit of the bottoms; Top gives decent support. (not that there is much to hold up!)
Cons: the strings on the top are super super long and very thick. I feel like there is lots of material that covers too much of my back and is distracting.

Good Morning Blogger Family,


It's 6:30 am here in cold and rainy Michigan. I don't think I have seen the sun shine once in the past week. I love a good rain, I really do - I LOVE Thunderstorms, but this whole drizzle for a week thing is not as cool.


First, Can I get a hell ya for Friday?? WOO!!


I look great this morning - the leanness is starting to come on full strength...THANK GOODNESS. I was really starting to worry! There was about 2 weeks there where I was really caught in a web, clambering for progress. I guess upping the cardio and cutting down the carbs never fails.


Today is the beginning of day 4 with NO complex carbs at all, and I am still feelin' ok...not great, but good. I love my oats and Ezkiel Bread - besides having something crunchy, I love the mental satiation that I get from good ol quality carbs.


So, my new suit came!! I have 2 new ones now (bringing my bikini total to 17, someone take my credit card away! LOL) and I don't know which ones I want to wear!! I AM SUPER excited to share my pics with you guys, I am going to have Tim take them tomorrow. I may even have to put a poll up. They are 2 very different styles, one is scrunch butt and one is not, but one is plain and one is patterned, and one is kinda...oh geez, I will just post the pics tomorrow. I tried taking a few last night but I was displeased with them because of guzzling water all day and a full belly of broccoli. I looked lean and preggo, it was strange.

I need to drink some dieters tea or something today to get things moving, if ya know what I mean. It's been over 2 days, which is a long time for me...I will have to do a review on that - I have had it many times but figure a good review of it is in order..


So, as you guys know I have an issue with stepping on the scale. I do not like it! I haven't weighed since we got back from our mini-moon on Aug. 4th. HONEST. I don't miss weighing myself at all, I simply go by how I look and my clothes fit...

That being said, I will weigh myself tomorrow at 3 weeks out because I need to know how I am progressing and have notes for next time. I actually wish I would have weighted more just for stats and progress to look back on - for the future.

I still can't believe there are only 3 weeks left. I am so excited...it's all coming together and I cannot wait.

Hope you have a great day!

OMG. I can't believe we are sitting at 4 weeks out. Where does the time go. I look at my sidebar and see that 27 days and it's unreal. It's 27 days because right now, 4 weeks from now, prejudging would have already been over and I'd be offstage - getting a photoshoot with Genie and Jes!! UNREAL. I have reached the point where I am exited, but just ready for it to get here already. I need a weekend with my girls. I want a glass of wine and big ass plate of pasta. I'm ready to do the damn thing.

So, today is kinda sucky so far. Tim is crabby. I am not going to get into it but all I can say is that I waited around to hang out and have a good day with him just to get bitched at. So, didn't get my progress pics taken, didn't get any fasted EMC because HE NEEDED TO USE THE BIKE, (like doing cardio is going to help him after eating half a gallon of ice cream and a whole bag of Reese's cups/kit kats in my face last night (yes, a whole bag as in the kind that cost 8 bucks that you buy to hand out for the whole neighborhood on Halloween)....it's just been that kind of day. I went to the mall, exchanged my cell phone, went tanning, now home and doing cardio since the bike is free....

I really wanted ice cream last night. The diet is harder this time around and I am not sure why. Mentally it's breaking me...I am doing what I need to do but I'm not leaning out as easy as I did the last time. I am 4 weeks out and look like my 6 week pics from last time..idk. I am doing more cardio, and having more cravings. I am really having to dig deep right now to do it, too. I know that I am not going to fail, I WONT LET MYSELF but I am really needing a little ME time right now. I think maybe since we were both dieting at the same time I was so focused on him and his show...I spent every fricking waking moment in the kitchen because I was cooking DOUBLE chicken and such...now it's over and he has been on a 2 week binge. (Oh update, he has put on 28 lbs since his show and is loving every moment of it. He looks better than most men still, but is walking around like house and waddling even because his thighs are rubbing lol....yeah - sexy I know).... but now he is eating everything in sight. He is going to Q-doba almost everyday, and has been eating a box of cupcakes per day (Krispy Kreme, the boxes they sell at the gas stations). Not to mention CiCi's all you can eat pizza buffet...he has gone there at least 4 times that has reported to me, and he WILL GET HIS MONEY"S WORTH. He ate 21 slices the other day...So yeah, he's enjoying himself and all his big glory.AND... I don't mind...usually. He has all day to do that and I dont care cause I know he'll stop soon and make sure he doesn't go overboard. He has earned it, after all...But seriously at 10pm on a Friday night, we're laying there watching TV and he wants to go to the store for ice cream. So we go, buy some, and that that turns into ice cream and three bags of candy..which he rips open as soon as we get in the car...and I get to hold it. I know I feed the beast - I told him to get kit kats and I'm sitting there opening them and handing them to him...stewing. BUT...I have to remind myself...I CHOSE THIS COMP. I"m the one who picked the date and it's not his fault I am still dieting. I can't be mad...outwardly.

Ok, this post is far less fluid and incorrectly written than most of mine. I am not going to proofread it either b/c I don't care.
I'm wrapping up an hour of cardio and SO HUNGRY. EDGY.

I can't be fun all the time. These are the moments when you cannot rely on motivation.

SOME DAYS YOU JUST GOTTA DO THE WORK.
I NEED TO DO THE WORK EVERY DAY if I want to reach the body I want. Still obtainable but no room for slacking. AT ALL.

Tonight we are going out with a group of friends to my beloved Red R0bin, then bowling. It should be a good time and I am looking forward to it.
Hope you guys are having a great day!!

I like SALTY sweet potatoes. Tim likes sweet. I made some with cinnamon and splenda for him,

Also, I boiled and mashed up about 3 cups of them. That is 6 serving of sweet potatoes for all you non dieters out there...so I had to freeze them for future usage. I mixed them with a little pumpkin pie spice, sugar free maple syrup(Cary's) and oats and they made a GLORIOUS mush. Great pre or post workout carb meal. I had some yesterday before my back workout with vanilla whey, ...Nuked it...omg, it was a total pumpkin pie mush. LOOOOOOVE IT. I forgot to take pics of that though.

Toodles!

Yeah, I am not sure what this pose was. (Above)

I have a scrunch butt suit that I think I will probably wear for my show. Right now it's a little too snug and makes my butt look overly round...(it is all the suit's fault of course!)I would like to make excuses like, "I was holding water from TOM" or "I had a high carb day the day before" etc, but the truth is, I was bone dry and had just woken up. This is just what I look like. LOL

That'll do 'er! Have a freaking awesome rest of your day. XO

Bec

As you may remember from a while back, I made peanut butter. One batch I threw in some natural unsweetened cocoa powder with a lil' Splenda for Timmy since he is such a chocolate hound. I am too, but not like him! It only added 3 carbs per TBSP, and I put 2 TBSP in and got like 3 cups of PB out of it, so per serving, it is probably negligible.

Enter Sweet Potato bar. Cake? Loaf? I called it pumpkin bread. I even thought about using pumpkin but sweet potatoes with pumpkin pie spice taste like pumpkin, plus are lower GI. I really have no idea what I should be referring to it as; but it was damn good! This was weeks ago, before The John Simmons show in Detroit that we did so let's see if I can remember now I made these... I boiled, peeled and mashed 3 cups sweet potatoes. Added in some cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, PureVia, (love that stuff...I still think I might like Truvia better though) 4 scoops of vanilla whey and a cup of egg whites. Whipped and poured into a greased 9x13 pan and baked for 30 min at 350. or maybe 375 I cannot remember. Anyway the toothpick came out clean and I served them up. Tim was not interested in them, because he is not a big fan of sweet potatoes, but I thought they were damn good. They were also great on the road, cold, to thrown in a ziploc bag and made an easy meal while sitting backstage with Tim.

BUT...they were BEST with peanut butter on them, served warm. The breakdown (sans PB) was 10g protein per bar (12 bars from one pan) 10g carb, and 89 cals. 1 fat. Not too shabby.

Seriously people. You know nothing in life is better than the chocolate and PB combo.

I know it looks like a lot of PB but really, I measured! These are not big pieces.

After such grande creations, there are still moment of sheer desperation and cheap-ness. Tim needed some clean, fast absorbing sodium free carbs for his carb load, so we made white rice. We made too much and I was forced to eat it for my pre workout carbs for a few days in order to use it up, cause yes, we are cheap and hate to throw food out. One morning before the gym I had an aching sweet tooth, so I mixed up a 1/2 cup rice with a little of my unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a teeny (like, sprinkle cause little goes a LONG way) bit of cocoa powder, and 1 scoop of whey. Reheated...OMG. I was in heaven. It was like cocoa krispies, kinda. But warm. Ok, it was like oatmeal, but with rice. Whatever. It was good. Cocoa Rice for bfast? Who comes up with this shtuff?

Ok, moving along to the next weird thing I do...

OOOOOOO!

I already knew I loved it. It's the only fruit I am allowed on my diet and I only get it before or immediately following a work out due to sugar content - but thought you guys might enjoy this lil' blurb from Muscle and Fitness Hers...

http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/grapefruit/nutrition/122

Hey ALL!!

Here are a few of my PERSONAL thoughts from this past weekend's show.
Tim looked fab, but he got 2nd to a very worthy competitor. The bikini class was...well... the winner looked good and was deserving, though skinny, she at least had some tone. Second place's body in the short class wasn't too bad except for some ill-placed boobies. She had tone, but kinda posed like figure...my guess is she used to do figure. She looked good for her age, anyway.

This is the "hot" shirt you all like. LOL. It can actually be worn as a dress if I pull it down (I think it was supposed to be a dress) but I am not that hootchie. LOL...well, not at a competition anyway. A night out in Miami would be a different story. I wish I would have taken more than just 2 pics of myself that day to show my arms and stuff for updates for you guys. It actually opens up to show a lot more of my center abs, but I kept adjusting it to cover.... Note to self: Pick up double sided tape.

So here is my midsection as of yesterday morning; A sneak peek for ya'll. 6 weeks out this weekend...time to buckle down...

Enter Walden Farms Blueberry Pancake Syrup (one of the only Walden's products that doesn't taste like ASS xanathan gum, IMHO.)

What is that Magnesium with chelated zinc doing in the picture, you ask? I recently began taking it for metabolic health. I am not sure if it's in my head or what, but I feel better since starting it a few weeks ago. I finally read "Master Your Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels and though I never did a review on it like I said I would (ok, it was great) I have made a few changes as suggested in the book and I am feeling better already. It might be in my head, but either way, I'm going to stick with it. Most women have low magnesium levels (among other things) anyway so for less than $4 at Walmart, I decided to give it a shot. Next time, I am going to get NOW Brand if I can track it down, as they are 400 mgs per pill instead of 3 pills. Thanks Stace.

Prep is moving along nicely...slow...but nice. Haven't had to kill myself on cardio just yet so I can appreciate that for the time being. I seriously cannot believe Monster Mash is less than 7 weeks away now! YIKES!

Oh, lastly, here are a few pics from Tim's show this past weekend. He ended up taking 2nd to a deserving guy who has won 4 shows in our state already this year. There is always somebody better, whether they show up or not that day is the determining factor. :) The only sucky thing was this guy weighed in at 199, and the cut off for light heavies is 198. BOO they waved him in anyway. Many people backstage saw and heard this and it def. ruffled a few feathers... Had he been a heavyweight like he SHOULD HAVE, Tim would have won his class. As far as the judges go, they did a good job. Tim is not denying that this competitor was better, simply in the wrong class. Such is life.

He looked phenomenal and I am soooo proud of him. He did a few things different this time around for this show, a few things he needed to try out and see how it affected his body. He just decided to do this show one week out, and will be bringing a tighter package to the Kalamazoo stage this weekend for the Southwestern Michigan.

Dead. Sexy. Timmy.
Backstage

Tim, Kally (congrats on her first BB show!! She will probably be coming down with Jes and I to do the MM in Oct. Why diet for just one show? This girl is new at this - but hittin' the circuit like a pro!) and RJ at the John Simmons

Ok, I know this is random but this squirrel was so cute I had to take his pic. He didn't care that I got close...Detroit squirrels have no fear. (BTW, for those of you on FB, sorry that these pics are repeats lol)

PEACE OUT HOME SLICE! LOL!! OH AN PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENIE!!

Prologue: Sorry I have been gone so long from blog-land. Ok, other than my quickie egg post, I know it's been about a week since I even logged in! I have not read many posts yet, I caught up on a few of your blogs this morning and am making my way down the list. XO

Hey all!! I have been so busy lately, I feel like I've neglected blogger land! SORRY!!I hope to be back in blog land tomorrow, catching up with all your blogs and what not. I feel like am playing catch up with with the entire information super-highway internet web online community WORLD after missing my laptop all weekend...I have some more fun pics of my best friend's wedding and my home made peanut butter event, but I'll have to post them later.

Here is a quick but neat idea; SO EASY, a caveman could do it. I had to share.

Prep is going great, gains in the form of losses are being made...and OMG, you should see Jes! She is kicking my butt in the diet department!! Anywho..egg whites...
Sometimes you feel like cinnamon, sometimes your feel like crushed red pepper...maybe some chipotle...either way, this is the key!

Got this idea from a girl off Siouxcountry, so I can't take the credit...
I used a silicone baking dish, and it worked perfectly; preheat oven to 375. Do not spray/grease...Pour in egg whites, almost up to the top, as they won't raise much. Sprinkle in whatever 'toppings' or spices you desire. Bake for 30 min. Voila!
My 12 egg 'muffins' were about 2 and quarter cups worth. I ate 6 as a serving, cause I typically eat a cup or a cup and a half as a serving...
It was great because I just let them cool and threw them in a plastic baggie and took to work! Easy way to take/eat egg whites on the road, too, as I learned this weekend when I took a 5 hour road trip to our best friend's wedding!

"I would never had imagined in a thousand years that you would have gone into body building. what ever was the reason for that?"

Hi Guys! Happy Friday!

Amaze Yourself - Approved Foods

Hey! So I am at work this morning, doing my usual internet check ins, and what do I see on Twitter?? Tim must have just woken up and tweeted this, and you guys, he looks FANTASTIC! 5 weeks out tomorrow, he is 198 lbs (5'9) and will be a light heavy this year.

TimothyStaggsLooking a little leaner. About 198 lbs! http://twitpic.com/due8c

CHECK HIM OUT! WOOTY WOO!! Happy Friday!!

After Melting...YUM!!!

For me, it's good to throw something new in every once and a while, though I will say I guarantee if Tim were to see me eating this stuff he'd tell me I didn't need it, just like I don't need sugar free pancake syrup with my eggs on my high carb days. PFFT. He is so old school when it comes to contest diets. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. It works for him, but I need variety.

Anywho, moving along...contest diet and prep is going great so far. After my first few days and initial water weight drop, I am feeling like a million bucks. Of course I am only really just getting started, but the my mojo is rockin' right now. You know, that feeling of, "I hope it's this easy all the way through!" which...I know better but still, one can always dream... :P

Having gone through figure (and bikini) comp prep, I learned SO MUCH about myself. The limits that you can push yourself to, what your own private breaking points might be, the emotional and physical growth that you experience...it's all great. I am looking forward to this prep and really digging my heels in to see what, if anything, I will learn this time around. How will it be different? How will it be the same? I already know I want to bring a better package to the stage for Monster Mash. Even though I won my class and overall for at my last show, I wasn't 100% happy with how I looked, or my stage presence. Tim totally disagrees with me, but I think I should have/was going to get second place. There was a girl who was a few weeks out from her figure show that competed in my bikini class and her walk and presence on stage was better than mine, when I view the video. Tim said she was too lean/figure lean. She ended up getting FOURTH, and was quite disappointed. Admittedly, I would have been, too - but in this sport you never know what the judges are looking for because it's just one human's opinion of another. There is no point system, no official rules to abide by, and it is so subjective... After the show we chatted and she admitted that she thought she may have been had much of a figure look, but thought it was worth a shot. If you remember, we put about 4 lbs on me between my figure show and my bikini show...I felt like it looked like more. I trusted Tim and did as he and my buddy Dave suggested, after all, they were my coaches, and it worked...but there is something to be said about competing against one's self. Since the induction of Bikini to the NPC, the girls have progressed. A lot of this is simply that better contestants are coming out for it, and they are being rewarded properly because, (Issac Hinds quote) "The judges can only judge what is in front of them." I was fortunate enough to do a smaller show, and it was the virgin voyage of Bikini in the state of Michigan. When I look at the National level competitors now, I know if I ever want to fit in on that stage, I will need to sass up my walk a little bit, and BRING IT!
So speaking of dreams and goals and applying yourself....WELCOME, JES!!
You have heard me mention her many times in my blog, and she has finally joined the blogger world as of last night. She is doing the Monster Mash with Genie and I, (Tasha is not competing this fall but is still flying out stay with us and cheer us on! She will be our backstage cheerleader and glaze girl LOL) and will be documenting her first journey to the NPC stage. Please stop on over to her blog and say hi. I have told her all about the support, friendships and various things I have learned from my blogger family, and I would hate to look like a liar :P

It will be fun to see how Jes changes herself in these next 11 weeks. It is always great to AMAZE YOURSELF!

Ok, finally wrapping up a few loose ends here; I have been fidgeting with my blog till my eyeballs are just about falling out of my head. I am sick of it. I fixed the date/undefined part on my template and decided this template is gonna stay after all. I haven't read anyone else's blogs for a few days and am hoping to catch up on that this weekend...but a couple quick notes;

Krissa- keep up the good work! I saw your progress pics and you are doing it! Your waist is out of control tiny!!
Angela - I know you would have done the MM if you could have. I am bummed more of you aren't coming but there will be more shows and hopefully more get-togethers. I cannot afford to do the KY Muscle (Monster Mash is already more than 5 hours away) but maybe next year?

Alrighty. I am hoping/thinking I covered all the bases. Time for another carby meal :P and then a kick ass leg workout after work. I thought I would switch it up today and get my carbs in before my leg workout so I skipped the gym this morning.



Oh! Here is my fav way to make Asparagus "fries". Preheat oven to 425. Cut asparagus stalks in half and place on cookie sheet with butter pam sprayed on top, add cajun seasoning/seasoned salt. Bake 30 min. They will come out kinda burned looking and about half the size they were when you put them in the oven but I swear they taste like french fries!!!

Hope you are all having a fantabulous day!

xo
Bec

Hey Guys!
Well, I finally just finished my Honest Scrap Award. Thanks for the nomination.
I work up at 6:20 this morning and couldn't sleep anymore! Typically during the weekends I try to make myself sleep in a little so I can snuggle with Timmy but it wasn't happening today. I decided to get on the bike and catch up on blogs and Siouxcountry and what not. I just did an hour of steady state cardio on the bike, and I'm waiting for my friend Tina to wake up and text me because we have a coffee date this morning! It will probably be another 2 hours since she is the sleep in type of girl. DANGIT! I need my coffee sooner. I might have to brew some here before meeting up with her. LOL

Anywho, prep is going well so far. The vacation was fun and I'm glad I got it out of my system. I had enough junk and ice cream to last me a while...at least, that is what I am saying now. LOL
After my bach party I hit it hard for 2 weeks, then the wedding and vacay probably set me back even and now the 12 week clock is officially ticking...I probably should have weighed in yesterday, (exactly 12 weeks out) but I didn't, so I will do that today. You all probably know that I never weigh myself, I think last time I was in prep I weighed like 2x during prep, once being the start day and then the last time was morning of...to me, it's all about the look and feel. How do my jeans fit, how tight are my bras cutting into me, etc. When I started to see abs again and striations in my shoulders and chest, I knew I was doing something right!

Ok, not much else fun here to report. A few of you have asked me if I was gonna do the KY Muscle. The answer is NO. I tried to rally the troops for Monster Mash and that clearly didn't work and I can't afford going out of state 2x in 3 weeks for a show...if It were local, I'd totally do it, but it's too expensive to spend the weekends away, even if you split a room. Genie and I are gonna tear the stage up in Ohio and that will have to be it for me. I am sad that I can't meet more of you, and sad that you guys didn't think the Monster Mash would work for you but what can you do? I am contemplating finding a local show or two around here that I can do. I'd like to do one with Tim but I won't be ready when he is ready for his show, and he doesn't want to maintain for another 6 weeks....I can't say I blame him!

I hope all of your days today are off to a fabulous start!! I'm HANGRY!!!! Time for bfast! Happy Sunday!!

Okie Dokie Artichokie!

This award has been bestowed on me by 2 of my bloggie family members; I am only going to do it once. Thanks so much for the award Lizzy and Melissa! I am honored!! I know my blog isn't for everyone, and may not reach everyone or touch them personally, but if I can humor or enlighten at least one person, then it was time well spent.


This award is:

"bestowed upon a fellow blogger who's blog content or design, the givers opinion, is brilliant. This award is about bloggers who post from their heart,who often times put their heart on display as they write from the depths of their soul".


The rules to accepting this award are:

1)Brag about it
2)select 7 blogs you find brilliant and link them to the post
3) list 10 honest things about self



Ok! Here goes:

1) I am bragging right now. Someone (or more than one person, actually) thinks I am cool enough, or that my blog is good enough to come from the heart. That means they actually like what I have to say, and look forward to my posts. WOOT!


2) Yikes, with so many great blogs out there, this was a toughie. I looked at my blog reader list and decided to pick 14, and then randomly did a drawing from that point! Don't feel left out! I only subscribe to cool blogs so all of you were in the running! If you are nominated by me and do not carry on the award, other than a slap on the wrist from me I will say I understand. It's a lot of work! LOL. I am not re-nominating Lizzy or Melissa, who both suffer from terribly honest blogs, :) or April who I see has already had a round of nomination.


I nominate:


Stacey at M&TC


Genie at Third Wish


Dawn at Excuses Don't Burn Calories


Marissa at Figure Girl In The Making (by they way, vote for her HERE!!)


Tina at Figure Diva (you really don't post any more honest thoughts than this girl, whose heart I swear types sometimes without her brain's approval! LOL I mean that in the best way possible)


Ruby at Each Journey Begins With A Single Step


Therese, (our resident foodie blogger) at Hott, Healthy, Housewife



Now on to 10 honest things about me:

1. I like men with muscle. Skinny boys just won't cut it. Sorry, I don't want to be able to pin you down if I really try. Sure, I like to give you a run for the money, the tomboy side of me loves to play and wrestle, but in all honesty, I want to be physically dominated and pinned down in the end. :) give me a huge...set of biceps any day.

2. I despise cardio so much that I would rather eat less than do it. This coming from someone who has an appetite like a 200 lb man is saying a lot. The only reason I do it is because I absolutely HAVE TO, and now that we discovered my laptop fits in the handle bars of my recumbent bike, I have no excuse not to.

3. I cannot stand watching big people whine about their weight. Sorry, but 99% of you did it to yourself. I am not JUDGING, I am reflecting. I know because I was chubby once and I KNOW it was because I let myself go. I remember thinking about it while it was happening; "I shouldn't eat this, I'm getting fat." So that being said, I have little patience for it. Knowing it and fixing it is one thing, knowing it and whining about it while you eat Burger King is another. What I like to see is bigger people doing something about it, and making a change. I know that is a lot of work and it's inspiring!!

4. I have a mental block with food. I either over-indulge or can't partake at all. There is no healthy medium with me and I know this - and I'm trying to fix it. I am trying desperately to find the in-between body I will be happy with.

5. I "read" books on tape/cd. I'm so sick of the radio stations around here, I borrow them from my mom and dad who have 100s of them. Every time I'm in my car, I'm listening to a book. I actually look forward to car rides now. Yeah, I'm that cool.

6. I drive Tim NUTS with my "up and at 'em" morning personality!! If you ever want to see a grumpy bear at my house, be here at 5am on a workday when I bang the kitchen cupboards around too much or try to put the moves on him before 9am. LOL

7. I think my dog Petey is cooler (and cuter) than anyone else's dog. FACT. Try to tell me differently and you are wasting your time.

8. I didn't learn to swim till I was like 19. I was in college!! I had a near death experience in the pool when I was about 8...I was literally drowning and my life flashed before my eyes, it's true what they say about that happening. I was getting flashes of my lunch box, my kitchen at home, and my dad. The lifeguards were not paying attention and my younger brother saved me!! After that I was too scared to go in past my shoulders for 10 years or so...

9. I am not 100% sure if I want kids or not anymore. Life is so good right now I can't imagine it changing...but I'm scared if I don't have them, I'll regret it. I used to really want them, BAD...But lately the biological clock they keep talking about seems to be ticking backwards. I know that is going to break my mom's heart if I don't, but I know my brother and his wife will so it's ok, right? I'll be 29 next month...I have a few years to decide yet...

10. I am still bitter about some figure girls hatin' on the bikini division. I have had some very rude comments directed at or around me regarding this. I love figure, I love FBB, I love it all and can't imagine bashing another division. I respect it all, same as I respect my garbage man for doing his job. It's not for me, but it's for someone. Sure, it may not have as much muscle or the diet may not be as strenuous, but can you really knock someone else for doing what they think is great and works for them? You know I tried figure and I loved it. I will get on the figure stage again one day...but it doesn't mean bikini is dumb to me. It's just DIFFERENT. I can't change people's opinion but to say things like bikini girls don't work out is just ignorant. Look at Kristal Marshall and others. Not everyone has the same IDEAL self...I bust my ass in the gym and for those who think otherwise, you can kiss it. Yeah, I said it. There's a doese of honesty for ya.

This is Petey and Ruby at the afterparty. Yes, when the wedding reception ended we had about 20 people (close friends and last soliders standing back to my house for some mayhem. We never like to see a good party end... I will be posting more pics and captions as they come to me. I didn't have my camera there, but my friends all did, so as the pics come, you will see them.

MOVING ALONG...

HONEYMOON! NOT UNTIL DECEMBER OFFICIALLY! But...of course we wanted to spend some time together alone after the wedding. My friend Karen (LOVE YOU KAREN!) helped hook it up! I wanted to spend a few nights up north in MI where Tim and I could have some peace and quiet away from it all. He loves LOVES fishing, so naturally I was thinking somewhere near a lake or river where we could take the fishing boat. He has been working SO HARD and so much this summer he has hardly had time to stop and enjoy himself! Well, Karen's parents own a second home in Ludington, MI. It's right off Lake Michigan and there are tons of little surrounding lakes and rivers to fish, not to mention the most beautiful dunes in the state! They just built the home 2 or so years ago. They let us stay there! It is a gorgeous 5 bedroom, 3 full bath, open floor plan. I should have taken pics! DANGIT! It wall all done up with the cape cod style decor, colors, and decorated with cottage-style furniture and lighthouses. We loved it! I am blessed to have such good people in my life! I knew I wanted to take Tim away for a long weekend but honestly renting a place like that would have been at least $250 a night, and that is out of my budget right now (and always I guess). We were so fortunate that they opened up their home to us to use. Complete strangers! It is obvious to me where Karen gets her kind heart. Her mom is such a gem!

Anyway, the only down side to our mini-moon was that it rained 99% of the time :( We weren't able to do everything we wanted to, seeing as it is a beach resort town, but we didn't let that stop us! We still went fishing on Hamlin Lake (big lake compared to ours!) The waves were terrible because of the wind and rain - especially on our little flat-bottom fishing boat! We were like Skipper and Gilligan out there. LMAO! But, Tim loves fishing, and I wasn't about to stop him from going. (I on the other hand, thinks it's TERRIBLY BORING, GAH). So we did that, (in the rain) and then walked the peir to one of the light houses (in a windstorm!) but still managed to have a great time together. Even though Tim was is contest dieting, apparently it is a Ludington requirement that you eat at the house of flavors, which is an old ice cream/dairy since like 1921 or something. They skool Baskin Robbins 31 flavors with a whopping 46 or something like that! HUH! This boy of mine is an ice cream NUT. Since there was not a lot to do sitting at the house, we decided to go out for dinner and ice cream. OK...LUDINGTON = SEVERE DIET FAIL. Yeah, we packed a huge cooler full of contest food...but other than having oatmeal for bfast, we didn't touch it. Pizza, burgers, and an all you can eat buffet? WHAT? We had MAJOR ice cream every day that we were there...and that's all I gots to say 'bout that. Tim was ahead of schedule and I will be 12 weeks out this weekend. We will be fine... it was worth every calorie.

This is my super piggy eating the "Super Pig's Dinner." It's served in a pig's troth (LMAO) and you get a button for eating it all. It is bigger than it looks here, 7 scoops of whatever flavor ice cream, and whatever toppings you want! We got this every time! OINK OINK!My Turn! The next day...lol....

That night it stormed so bad that it knocked over the deck furniture and blew down big branches...but you know...it was romantic. :)
The next day, more fishing, better weather, and we hiked 2 miles up the dunes to the historic lighthouse in Ludington...Though it was still kinda cool and the sand was wet, the sun decided to come out from behind the clouds a few times. Also, the 2 mile hike at Ludington State Park was just what the ice cream doctor ordered...

The next day we packed up, threw the sheets and towels in the washer, took the trash out and said goodbye to our little cottage, making sure to sign the guest book. I seriously wish the time didn't go so fast. I also wish I took more pics. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. I got back home, did some stuff around the house yesterday and am back to work today.

Boo work. Shoulda took Thursday and Friday off and just called it a week off. I don't know what I was thinking.

In closing (whew!) I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of you who have sent your love and congrats to me! I really feel the love tonight *Elton John plays in the background*

On a less fun note, I am weighing 134 right now, which is the highest I have weighed since last fall, pre contest diet.. Boo. So literally, DIET FAIL. Rememeber that whole "I'm not going to gain it all back thing? PFFT. So much for that week of low carb before my wedding. We have eaten junk junk junk since the day of my wedding and my body is letting me know. Now I am back and it's time to kick it full force...I know am looking better than I did in the past at this weight, so I can only assume my year of hardgaining has worked. I have busted my arse in the gym, eaten relatively clean to grow during the weeks and supplemented myself right for once. I'm hoping that this is partially a little bit of muscle. I will not weigh myself again for quite some time.

But seriously, it will take me a while to catch up to all of your blogs...please don't be offended if I have missed some posts or comment less...if you have had something major happen while I was away, hit me up!

Enjoy the pics!

Freezing our butts off in the cold, but making the most of it!

Fishing in the rain....Only a true fisherman can enjoy that!

The BEAUTIFUL Historic Big Sable Point Lighthouse. I wish the weather were better for these pics! BOO!!

We talked to a sweet old guy who worked here. He and his wife get to stay here during the summer. The lighthouse is run by volunteers and they get to live there for free while they work. Cool huh?

My handsome hubby on top of the dunes on Lake Michigan.

Ah, finally some sushine, albeit short-lived!

Ok, this is just an out house along the hike to the light-house. It is a 2 mile trip...by foot. I thought this was cute and rustic....LOL....

Don't ask....

Well gang, we did it! I am now mrs. Staggs! We are up north for the next few days at a lake house, be home tues nite. pics & recap soon! Woo hoo!

Above: A few of the girls and I - playing Vana White after after bottling, corking, labeling, and sealing our wine...Oh yeah, and after 2 hours of wine tasting...LOL

Below: Me, showing you how fun it is to push a cork into a bottle of wine using this contraption...Appearantly it is very fun and also a turn on? I am not sure...

Above: Me bonking one of my best friends Kellie over the head.

Below: After wine making/tasting, Round II. Back to my house for a change of clothes, spaghetti dinner, more wine, druken catch phrase (love that game) and THIS DESSERT! HOLY COW! Jes is the party planner extrordinaire! She did ALL of it, with some help from a few other good friends. Spaghetti and meatballs, bruschetta, wine, sangria, margaritas, TONS of naughty appetizers, FOR 20 GIRLS! I am loved!! Below: This pic explains it all....I should have known something was up, double fistin' while it's still daylight is not a good sign. LOL
Above: Oh boy. My friend Andrea agian. She was HIT like Tina Turner. Reported to me that she later threw up the whole next day. She never drinks, so for her it's all or nothing. LOVE YOU GIRL!! LOL. We had old skool music going in the kitchen before we went out, and it was a dance party - SOUL TRAIN STYLE! I will spare you the other pics...

I cannot hang with the big dawgs anymore. I was so tired and bloated the next day. No headache, didn't really even feel hungover, just holding SO MUCH WATER my feet looked like a little fat preggo lady's! Alcohol has such a terrible effect on me now! Even 3 glasses of wine, (feel fine then) but has me hurtin' the next day. Like literally my skin is sore. WTF. Maybe because I rarely drink anymore?
Ok, below: Me, on the piano and the dueling piano bar. I told my friends I did NOT WANT to go up there or have them sing me a song, but my cousin Tracy never listens. I had a good time with it anyway, though, as you can see. LMAO. Yeah, she was hit, too.


Oh, and here is a cute pic of him with a salmon he caught off Lake Michigan last weekend. For his bachelor party they went up north and did a fishing charter, canoeing and camping/boozing weekend. I LOVE TIM's smile in this pic, he looks so happy. It's not the biggest salmon he has ever caught, but it was the biggest of the day that day. AND, might tasty, might I add *licks lips*
Then, lastly, because I said I would post some wedding stuff; here is a pic of the flowers that we are using for our centerpieces for the wedding. This pic is lame, I should have taken it of the entire table of vases. We were fortunate enough to BORROW these, 24 inch crystal vases from Jes' mom - (her brother got married last summer). WOOT! There are tall ones and short ones, so they will be every other table on white linen, under a white tent. I will def. be posting more pics later but as of now, this is all I have. They are lime and purple hydrangeas, with lavender and tall grass, and those brown curly grass things. I have no idea what they are called, I am not a flower person. LOL. But anywho they are gorgeous and very high quality for being 'fake' flowers. WOOT!!

Hey Gang,
Ok, Sorry that my posts have been further between than usual. I have received a few emails from caring people wondering where the F I have been and how things are going. I LOVE YOU GIRLS!

Bare with me as this post is prob. going to be short and to the point. I am on the recumbent bike and home, and the handle bars fit my laptop perfectly so I am now actually enjoying cardio! WTF!? I have 14 mins to post before my 45 min session is over, then in the shower and off to work. Gonna start this week out right for sure!!

Ok, have been eating really clean and doing cardio daily for the past week. Had a couple little bites of stuff, like Redi-whip, half a Hershey bar, etc this past week but that is over now because.........(DRUM ROLL PLS) PREP FOR MONSTER MASH HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!
I am putting my weight in my title just for Genie this time. I don't weigh myself much at all during prep but of course I will every now and then...

This past weekend I was 14 weeks out! I typically wouldn't start so early, but I know I am going to have TWO BIG CHEATS before MM, which are 1) MY WEDDING: 5 DAYS FROM NOW HOLY COW!!! and 2) My 10 year HS reunion - Sept. 26th. This is one month out from MM, actually 5 weeks so I am not worried. Goal and plan for adding in the extra 2 weeks of prep is to make sure that these days are enjoyed to the fullest and prep/body won't freak me out. I got down to 8% BF (started at 18%) last show within 12 weeks and that was with a few cheats, so I am playing it rather safe this time around. For bikini, I won't have to drop as low as that, but I would rather have plenty of time and add some cheats in, obviously,than rush it to the finish line.

Ugh, I have been wanting to update so bad lately but every time I get on fricking blogger I get engulfed in catching up with everyone elses' stuff and never get around to doing my own. I SWEAR I want to update you on my wedding and stuff but realistically now, it's not going to happen till AFTER. But maybe I can this week. Ok, strike that. I'm putting it down as a goal to do before Friday. This week will be busy with last min wedding details, but hey, there is always lunch hour at work, right?

Tim is 8 weeks out from his show this past weekend and looking F.I.N.E. OMG, you guys, the boy is already ahead of schedule and that is WITH his 3 day binge (bachelor par-tay...camping, canoeing and charter fishing up north with the boys). Yes, my man is a good one. Anyway, his abs are so fabulous can we say I just want to drooolllllllll on them...

I really cannot understand how some women don't like the look of muscles. Anywho, Moving along.

Jes officially started her prep this past week and since she hasn't started her blog yet, I will update for her. The week went well and as far as I know, she reports no cheats. She dropped some decent poundage, but we all know that is not what really matters...it's the look and feel and size. Prob. mostly water at this point but now that she is one week in, we can determine/monitor the loss and know it's fat at this point... WAY TO GO JES!!! YOU ARE GONNA BE SMOKIN"!

Let's see, what else? Nothing comes to mind at this point. I am going to miss the little bites of stuff here and there, but after talking /listening to some of you guys, I am going to try to do it 100%~ Marissa, no more 'built in reeses cups for me" lol! OH DEAR, wish me luck.

You guys, I am so freaking pumped for MM! I only wish it were sooner.
I decided for sure not to wear the Ed Hardy suit :( but instead will wear my blue scrunch butt suit that all the girls are sporting for bikini since Issac and Sandi said it, and their word is gold. Plus, why cover the booty? It is, after all, my selling point. According to ppl who attended my bikini show, that is the reason I won. YIKES! Better get the rest of me to come along with it.

OH! One last thing; I TRIED FOR HOURS yesterday to get the freaking tabs on my blog. Forget it, wayyyy too much work. I tried like 5 different hacks and 20 different templates and I am sick of it. Either I am a retard or everyone else's rules are wrong, which I do not think is the case....
Boo. I'm so over it at this point. This is the template I am stuck with for a longgggg time now, so I hope you like it. It is way too much work to replace the widgets.
If any of you know how I can get rid of the word "UNDEFINED" on my template, let me know. I thought I was beyond novice when it comes to HTML, but I have been owned by the template gods...

Hope you are all having a great morning and that you carry that on into your week
LETS DO THIS!!

XO
Becca

Hey Ya'll!
Ok, I have been super busy and neglecting my blog. Let me catch you up to speed.
The original title of this blog entry was going to be "Inspiration, Support, Friends, Bachelorette Party, Wedding Bells, & Boob Job" but that didn't have a great ring to it. LMAO!

So, where do I start? First of all, I just wanted to pause and say that you never know how you might be effecting someone else. The things you do, or don't do...the things you have done in the past...

I just wanted to share something quickly with you guys; I recently got an email from a friend of mine. We used to work together, and thought it's been years and we haven't seen each other as much as we would like to, we do email every now and then.
I sent her some pictures from a mutual friend's wedding we both attended, and then out of the blue, I got this email from her the other day:

Hi Becca,
I thought I would let you know- the pics you sent me from your competition and especially the pics from Katy's wedding (the one of my HUGE @#$ from behind) inspired me to finally get really working out. You looked so good. While I will never look like that, your dedication to what you did and your attitude have been something I thought about. So, I have been faithfully working out since you emailed me those pics- 5-6 times a week. You were the final link in the chain that pushed me over the edge. So, I wanted you to know that. While I have a ways to go, I am actually seeing results. Looking forward to seeing you at your wedding. Have a wonderful July.

Isn't that great? Not only did it make me feel good that little old me has motivated her, but SO HAPPY that she is taking the initiative and working out again. I wrote her back and talked about a few things, one being support. I talked to her about my blogger friends and other great people who helped me reach my goals. You all know how important it is to have the support of others...Without you guys, it would not have been as rewarding, or 'easy' for me. There are times along our journeys when we all need a push - whether it be for fitness goals, educational goals, family goals...whatever they may be. Just a friendly reminder to you all. After I read this email from my friend, it made me take a deep look at others in my life who are trying to reach their goals. I sent a few check up emails so as not to be so self involved. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that...other people are all living their life and have goals just outside their reach...

ON THAT NOTE!!!!

I AM SO FREAKING PUMPED RIGHT NOW! MY BEST FRIEND JESSICA HAS DECIDED TO DO THE MONSTER MASH WITH US!!
WOOT!!! You guys have heard me talk about Jes before. She was one of my number one supporter/fans with doing my show, and also is the same friend who did my fabulous hair and makeup...
It will be her first competition ever, and it's going to be so much fun! With the introduction of bikini into the NPC, it is giving her a chance to show her stuff!
She is coming to spend the weekend with me because it's my bachelorette party. We are going wine tasting/making! It's going to be a blast - I PROMISE pics and details later...
Anywho, since Jes is coming up this weekend, we're going to sit down and go over the competing basics, and outline a good diet for her. She has done Body For Life before and had great results. She has what it takes to stick it out - but it will be a journey that's for sure!! I am really looking forward to it. I might strong arm her into starting a blog of her own...stay tuned...

Lastly, to those of you who have written me inquiring how my wedding planning and what not was coming along; YES, I AM SUPER EXCITED AND PLANNING IS GOING GREAT! I know I need to sit down one of these days and blog about what the heck my wedding is even going to be like, but I am going a mile a minute these days with the wedding, planning my 10 year reunion, prepping all of Tim's comp food, etc. For a while there - we had nothing to do but hurry up and wait. Now that it's only 2 weeks away, the little details are coming into play and I have been a busy bee!
2 weeks to the wedding....14 weeks out from Monster Mash. The diet starts officially this upcoming Monday. Needless to say, the bach party is going to send me into prep with a full tummy. Jes has planned my bach party to a tee...She is making spaghetti and meatballs with all the fixins for 20 girls, and has recruited some of my other friends to help. She even hand made some party favors for everyone who is going! It's going to be a great!!!
Ok, more details later, but it's going to be a day of wine, friends, fun and pasta. I haven't had pasta in FOREVER! What more could a gal ask for?

Oh and one last thing before I finish penning this novel...
I have 2 consults set up with some highly recommended area cosmetic surgeons to see about getting me some boobies! I am excited!! Nothing major, just need to add a little somethin' somethin'. I am currently a middle B, and would like to be a full C. NO PAM ANDERSONS happening here, don't worry. I want them to be very tastefully done. When I dieted down, my boobs were so small! I didn't even need to wear a bra, they were just little mosquito bites! I HATED IT! SO DID TIM LOL!!! It's always made me self conscious. I have worn extremely padded bras my entire life and I'm tired of it. I need to look good when the clothes are off, too. I've wanted to get them done my whole adult life. Since I am now into competing, I may as well do it! Why wait to enjoy my body to the fullest? I am young now, in great shape, and need to do this before I am old and washed up. LOL. I know I don't have to justify it, they are very common in this industry. I am really looking forward to my consults. Tim is going withe me because he has questions and concerns as well. He is a detail oriented person so he wants to ask the questions and make sure he feels satisfied with the surgeon and the answers. After all, this is is no small operation. I will have to take time off work and the gym, and be careful when I start lifting again. Even though I probably won't get the boobs for a while, they reccomend going to more than one surgeon, and getting some ideas as far as whether to go over or under, saline or silicone, etc...There are so many details to hash out! I need to make sure I do this right. PLUS, it's going to cost a bit of money, and I'll need to start saving for. Ideally I'll be getting them next spring, but who knows...

Have a great day!

Hey Guys,
really quick, just wanted to say I need your votes again! This time for a modeling contest at World Phyique! I submitted pics and was chosen for their July Contest. Like a dingbat, I forgot to post that the voting has started. I really want to do well in this contest, and the competition is WAY less than it was for the Flex bikini contest (fewer girls) so I have a chance. PLEASE vote for me!!

Here is the link. I will be sending out an email too, so if you can forward it to any friends who you think will throw a vote in for me, please do, I really appreciate it!!


http://www.worldphysique.com/contests Rebecca Snide

Thanks guys!! I really do appreciate it. If you end up signing up for World Physique (kinda like bodyspace) you can vote everyday!!!(hint hint!)

Also, while youre at it, don't forget to vote for Marissa at Flex Online bikini contest!! She is in the third row and really needs your votes!!
http://www.flexonline.com/flexmodelsearch/vote

Have a great one!

Hey Guys,

Please help me sell my suit by reposting this in your blog if you would be so kind. I know many of you have followers that are not following me. I was going to sell this but the girl flaked on me and I don't have the need for a figure suit at this time. I LOVE THIS SUIT THOUGH and would totally keep it if I didn't need the money or if I were competing sooner in Figure...but it's going to be AT LEAST another year or more before I think about that division again...

$600 new - Christine Marsh Design. Black with red/raspberry glitter and AB crystal Swarovski stones. Only worn once.Fully adjustable - straps tie into loops hidden in the back of the bottoms so height is not an issue. Original owner was 5'7 but I am 5'4 and it fit me great when I tried it on. Small front and small back. Would best fit someone B-C cup, but there are well padded cups in there now.
This suit is stunning!! The pics just don't do it justice.
Asking $275 OBO. PLEASE MAKE ME AN OFFER -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37743552@N08/sets/72157618490896455/

Feel free to contact me at Rebeccansnide@yahoo.com

WOOTY WOO!!!
Dudes, I am pumped!!! 17 weeks out this past weekend I am ready!! Well, not ready body wise, LMAO! But anywho, the stuff has been posted. http://www.bodsquad.us/

I somehow mis-counted the weeks (again, grr lol) and I don't have to start prep for a few weeks yet - but Tim started his contest diet and I am the food preparer, and because we're not going out to eat, and the junk food is out of the house, I am hoping little changes start coming sooner... I was looking pretty good a week ago, but yeah, you know what holiday festivities can do to ya! I was glad I was able to partake in it though I love my summers and I didn't want to be dieting...Got my wedding and bach party coming up...Oh boy. This is what summer is all about. Give me a chilled glass of pinot gris and let me sit in the sun with friends and enjoy it!! My 4th of July was spent with friends and family and I couldn't ask for more.

Ok, so back to the Monster Mash; I booked 3 rooms for 2 nights already at the host hotel. Yeah, I'm that lame. I am looking forward to meeting Genie and Tasha (and whomever else attends) in person!! WOOT!!!! BRING IT!!

O.m.g! Parmesan basil wheat thins are the bomb dot com! Lol! Stay away from them!!

Hey yous guys, remember my post about the Wii Fit and my friend's dad who was seeing tremendous results using it? Here is an update from him. See, it just goes to show you don't need anything fancy to change your life - just determination, common sense and consistency. This is incredible!

Here is a link to the original post which will give a back story:

http://rebeccastaggs.blogspot.com/2009/05/wii-fit-ur-doin-it-rite.html

And here is the update. Thanks for sending this along, Jordan!!


“Steady As She Goes”
June 26, 2009 8:09 PM
A couple of days ago, I hit 163, which means 70 pounds are gone. That’s amazing, and it’s also time to stop.The Wii is telling me that my ideal weight is 157.6. Well, guess what? NOT GONNA HAPPEN!As Annie points out, my frame is pretty big, especially my rib cage, and 157.6 is just too light. So now the objective is to pack on a little muscle and pick up a couple of pounds. I’ll aim for keeping between 165 and 170 and see how that works out.My high school weight was 175, and my high school and...
Journey to Better Living
June 8, 2009 8:10 PM
Finally my doctor is taking me completely off Lisinopril. Over the past six weeks I’ve been going in every other Monday for a blood pressure and heart rate test. In between times we’ve been lowering my dosage of Metoprolol to the point where it’s one-quarter of what it used to be.In consultation with a cardiologist, he decided to keep the low dose of Metoprolol and eliminate the Lisinopril. This resulted in my blood pressure finally rising above 100 to 112/63, while my heart rate stayed at 45....

BAH! Ok so as you all know, I am doing bikini instead of figure - at least until I can get me muscles to grow a lil. Well, I have the exact same Ed Hardy bikini that Mariza Prince wore at Jr. Nationals and I was considering wearing it...but now, after all the hub-bub/fuss and talk about her hiking her suit up and winning, and drawing attention to it, I feel like I'd be a poser or a wannabe. But dangit, I really wanted to wear that suit! I love how it looks on me, and I love the fact that very few ppl had worn the Ed Hardy stuff. Now it'll probably be EVERYWHERE at EVERY SHOW. Ok, and for the record, it really doesn't fit like that. IT is NOT a thong, and it is supposed to cover more than it did in the pics. It looks good on me, but not as good as it did on her of course b/c my a$$ doesn't look like that!! BOO.

There was much discussion as to whether or not it should have been allowed. It's a gorgeous suit and she has a gorgeous body. I personally don't see anything wrong with it save the fact she shouldn't have hiked it that much, but hey, she could pull it off, so why not see if you can get away with it? She freaking ROCKED IT DUDE!! I think if they really had a problem with it, they would have told her to pull it down... I think it boils down to discretion. I know that is not how the suit is supposed to fit because I own it. So, now if I were to show up in that same suit, would the judges dislike it? Would I be told to change it? Would it matter or am I over-analyzing?

I think I am going to try to wear it for Monster Mash (less than 18 weeks now ladies, WOOT!) and just bring my back-up to be safe.

Thoughts?

My fav way to start a Sunday...
I am not usually one to sleep in, can't do it even if I tried...I am a morning person and I have been all my life (much to Tim's dismay, LOL). I love the solitude of the early morning. It's a good time for me to catch up on my blogs, read the news, visit the boards, etc. I sat down this morning at 6:10 am with a cup of cold coffee (oh, I LOVE IT. I brew a pot of it in and put it in the fridge -I'm a coffee snob so this is the good stuff - and then I pour a cup of it whenever I want to. I typically only chill my coffee during the summer or on really hot days. Anywho, I sat down this morning and spent some good time on Siouxcountry.com and then when I hit the 'new post' button, I had to laugh because I was in about 5 of the new ones. LOL. I guess you can tell when someone wakes up or visits the boards.
Anyway what I was going to say is that today's "sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee and the newspaper" is slightly different than it was for our parents. No longer paper print, we wake up and fire up the laptop...but the idea is still the same. What happened last night in our sleep? What is new? We have to make sure the world didn't come to an end on us while we dreamt...

I love lazy Sundays. Unfortunately I don't think today is going to be one of them...
Tim's 12 week diet was supposed to start yesterday but he couldn't resist one last weekend of junk starts tomorrow. Today for me is a Sam's Club run; we need butt-loads of chicken, broccoli, etc. Then I get to come home and make it all. I am glad I was a smart cookie and did all the laundry yesterday.

Needless to say, this is our last weekend of cheats. For him for sure, and though I have been eating 100% clean during the week and working out hard corz during the week, weekends have been lax. Well, no more I say!!! I haven't gone overboard, but again, the cheats are out the door after some farewell ice cream today. Genie says the mini ice creams are on sale for a dollar where she is. BLASPHEMY!! Ah, I must go and check it out. Have you guys seen these mini-containers? They are 1 serving and they are too cute!! I know with Tim doing contest diet, it will only help me, too. See, when I was in prep, we still went out to eat every weekend, or he would at least bring home a pizza. Yes, I would go to Red Robin and drink tea while he ate!! I'm sure the ppl working there thought I was anorexic or something, lol... anyway, we did that because I was USUALLY cool with it. When he is prep, I dare not try that.
So no going out to eat starts today. Last night was our last food night out, and we went to TGIFridays and had nachos and spinach dip....

18 weeks as of yesterday till Monster Mash 2009 people!! YAY!!
I will officially start prep on Aug 2 (Sunday, the day after my wedding) and that will give me 12 weeks.

I am going to leave you with this raw image from my photo shoot that I had a few weeks ago. It's one of my fav non-body shots. It was fun. There are many many more pics, but I am supposed to have him retouch them and put his logo on them before I post. However, I don't think a little sneak peek will hurt anyone...


I hope you all are having a lovely day thus far!!
XO
Bec

Oh PS Akesha: Yes the nut butters are way cheaper than the jar kind (if buying organic or original) and they are on the bottom shelf when you walk in, a few feet ahead on the right wall of the store. :)

Stace, I hope you got them by now!! I hope the mail man didn't run off with them, and I hope the packaging held up!!! EEK!!

Here I am scooping out Stacey's almond butta. Ew look at my freaking elf ears!

Dried fruits, various granolas, sugars, oats, flour, nuts, flaxmeal, etc all in bulk.

Spices, herbs, and loose leaf teas...

Fresh Deli Foods - Organic, natural and Veagan, made fresh daily

Have a great night you guys. XO Bec

Our buddy Dave stopped by yesterday to meet Petey. Petey, if you didn't already know, is only the most awesome American Bulldog on the face of the earth. Dave had only ever seen pics of Pete on my blog, and though he has heard about Petey through Tim (Dave is one of Tim's newer but really good buds) he had never been to our house. Dave could not believe how big Petey was in person. He thought by the pics I had on the sidebar of my blog, Petey would be a lot smaller. Everyone comments on what a big dog he is. To me of course, he's just my little bud but I guess I could see where people who didn't know him might think he's big. He is currently sitting at 105 lbs, and he should be about 100. Vet said Pete is just a tad overweight. How we let that happen in this household, I haven't the slightest. LMAO.

So Dave, these pics are for you. You know how big I am, and now you can have a comparison. He kept trying to do one of his favorite tricks, (high five!) or hit me in the face, I'm not entirely sure of his goal. They turned out pretty cute despite my early Sunday mess with no makeup. Ruby (our other dog) tried to get in on the fun but Petey was not having it. LOL

He's such a fat lazy boy sometimes. Look at him just chilln' all huge by the fireplace. I had to wake him up and get him motivated for our photoshoot, but he knows how to act whenthe camera is around. I freaking love that dog!

Ok, let me start off by saying I know that is an improper title. In case any of you don't already know this, it's a Timbaland song - and it's a good one. It always makes me want to put my party hat on and do a little dance...

I am just blogging to say hi, ramble, and check in. Diet has been going well (100% again) all week until yesterday. I wasn't going to have a cheat meal this weekend, because breaking even is not my goal yet I seem to be doing just that. HOWEVER....I did end up eating crap yesterday. I had a small 7 layer bar, 5 meatballs, cheesy potatoes, and pasta salad. Oh and wayyyy too much beer bread. (Tastefully Simple Savory Wheat Beer Bread IT IS TO DIE FOR).

This is the problem with me. I enjoy food, and I enjoy events. When summer time rolls around, it's the hardest. Friends are getting married, having baby showers, etc...every weekend there are temptations thrown in your face and whether you decide to partake in the food portion of the event is up to you and only you. No one forced me to eat this stuff. I could have just had the chicken and the veggie/fresh fruit tray but my gluttonous ass had to have more. When I was in prep I had a reason not to eat that stuff; if people asked, I was training for something. Now it's like, "well, I'm not really on a diet, I should be able to have some of this stuff" I find myself somewhere between feeling justified and feeling guilty. I don't like the guilty feeling, and I hate that I know I have an unhealthy relationship with food...so I eat some of this stuff to prove that I can - that it'll be ok... it is, but the guilt still comes afterward. Breaking even wasn't my goal, and while I didn't entirely overdo it yesterday, it was still off-planned foods I could have refused. It's so strange - some days I can do it no problem, and some days I can't. Friday night Tim and I went out to a pizza place and you know what I had? Salad bar, no dressing. And I was happy, WTF? Yesterday, all walls came down, damitol. Hey, at least I passed up the free booze. Oberon too, my favorite...(Gotta represent Kalamazoo!) There was a time when that was impossible for me to do, esp. if it was free!! LOL
I think to myself...why should I feel guilty? No one is making me diet, I know I am still in "good shape" comparatively, and I'm healthy. I should be able to enjoy summer foods - not overdoing it is the key. I have a hard time with that. Everything I do, I do to extreme, whether good or bad. I know all these things, yet I struggle with feeling good about them. Knowing and doing are two very different things. All common sense can go out the window. I can't help it, its just 'The Way I Are'.

So what I'm going to do today is make the most of it. Gonna hit legs really hard- My dumb ass gym doesn't open till 10am (Arg! These are the days I wish I didn't switch gyms. I have been up for hours lurking around the house waiting for the gym to open and I could have gone and been back by now if I still had a membership to my old gym. I love it but the hours suck!)....but I will do what I can. Goal is to get "Laugh At Me Legs" again as coined by Em :) I am just going to get over my cheat foods from yesterday and use those carbs and energy in the gym...

Hope you are all having a most excellent day.

OH! Tomorrow I am going to take my camera to my little co-op store that I blogged about to get some goodies. I am sending Stacey some almond butter, and two types of peanut butter for her to try & review! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their stuff and it's all natural, organic..it's the best...I was bragging about it and after her Maranatha post I said I'd send her some of mine to try. I figured I'd make a little blog about it since I'm always going on about that place. The people who work there will probably think I'm insane as I take pics of myself scooping out bulk almond butter into containers, but oh well. They are crazy themselves. LMAO.
Stay tuned.

Whoa guys, I totally over-trained legs on Monday. Well, in a good way I guess, cause Lord knows I need the work, but it's bad...more than just muscle soreness bad, I am injured. I mean, pain, like limping down the hallway when no one is looking bad. I try to walk normal when people are around but I'm sure I look like a buffoon with an abnormal gait. LOL. OH well. It's mostly just my hammies and adductors - I did super heavy (well, for me)iso lateral lying hammy curls 100lbs for 8-10 reps and also heavier and more reps than usual on the adductors.
I've been trying to get my lower half to match my upper half - that being said I am going all out in the gym, especially on leg day. Glutes and quads are sore from squats and leg press too but it's NOTHING compared to my adductors. I can't even cross my or take a normal step w/o pain.

After I snapped out of whatever the F funk I was in a week or so ago, training has been GREAT!This weekend Tim and I had some majorly bad food (pizza, ice cream 2x and all types of summer grub at our neighborhood block party) and needless to say we both called that our last big cheat weekend. He starts his contest diet next week I think, and has a photo shoot coming up next week with the same photog that I used last week...so we're both on the clean up train and I'm loving it. Diet was 100% last week except Friday night and Saturday (all day, whoops) and has been 100% this week so far too except for one freaking Cadburry mini-egg. I just gave my mom a whole 5lb bag of them b/c I needed to get those things out of my house!

It's funny how you can sometimes be your own biggest motivator. I was so sick of being sick of myself that I pulled myself up by my bootstraps. I remember something Jordan used to say that Pauline posted on one of her blogs last year - You can't rely on motivation, sometimes you just gotta do the work!
So that knowledge helped me just do the damn work, and seeing the little changes that have come in the past few weeks (minus my bad weekend this week, bah!!) have already got me in a better place.

What does it for you?

Moving along...
I emailed the promoter of the Monster Mash and he wrote me back right away. He said that the info is not yet posted to the website but he is finalizing that and it will be up shortly. Still tentatively set for Halloween itself - and it is a natural show. He said as soon as it is posted he will email me - but here is the site anyway in case you want to check for yourself http://www.bodsquad.us/

I am pumped for this. I'm so pumped I wish it were this weekend. LOL! Well, ok not quite because I wouldn't be stepping on stage if it were, but anywho...I am excited.

Ok, on yet another note...I didn't place in the top 2 (not that I was expecting to) for the Flex Online Bikini Model Search. The girls that placed top two look great and are very deserving of it. I just wanted to thank all you guys who voted for me - so thanks for your support. It really means a lot to me. I have decided not to enter for July and August. I have however, entered another online model contest at www.worldphysique.com but doubt I will be picked for that. They only choose like 6 girls out of all the entries...

Wedding plans are planned - literally all I have yet to do is order the cake and hurry up and wait. Tim and I went shopping this weekend and bought a khaki colored Perry Ellis linen suit for him to wear (since we're getting married on our lake/beach) and OMG HE IS SOOOOOOO FREAKING HANDSOME IN IT! I wanted to rip his clothes off right then and there in the dressing room, but I am pretty sure the staff at Macy's wouldn't have appreciated it...so I just sat in silence daydreaming...

OK! Right-o! Enough of that.
I hope you guys are having a great day!