Neglect is my middle name...

Ok I know I have not updated this in a while - but I am not sure who is reading anyway. :) I have been dieting for almost 2 weeks now and I can tell you one thing for sure - it is going to be a long pre-season! I am exhausted already and I am only doing 65 minutes of cardio per day. It will be at least 2 hours come show time.

And neglectful of Larry too. I have not been on him about his diet. He did get to the gym on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (at 5:00am), but I have not been a drill sergeant with the diet. And I need to be. My own self-interests have been front and center. AGGG!!! I will be better!

So as for contest prep, like I said 65 minutes of cardio (45 minutes in am and 20 in evening). Diet is a lot of food right now, but nothing really tasty - unless you call a protein shake tasty. That will change - there won't be a lot of food soon, and it will continue to be "untasty." But come show time I will be happy I laid off the HoHos. :) Who wants to see jiggle in a blingy two piece.

Well that's it for now.... If you are reading POST!! :)

Beth

And the fun begins...

Today was the first day of my competition diet. Larry and I got up and went to the gym to do our cardio - 45 minutes. We then went into Brooklyn to see our friend who just had shoulder surgery. Ate breakfast at a diner - I had a protein shake. Then to the gym to train with Mario. It was back and hamstrings. OUCH!! Right now I am a bit hungry, but not that bad. It is going to be a LONG 15 weeks.

Beth

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Well I have decided to do a show on May 1st with my girlfiend AnnMarie. It is a big show, and I am probably out of my league, but I guess the the saying GO BIG OR GO HOME applies. Larry is going to get on the diet bankwagon as well. I probably should give myself more of a break, but I really love the goal of getting up on stage. So anyone in the area on May 1st is certainly invited.

Diet starts with 45 minutes of cardio 6 times per week; weight training 4 days per week; and 6 meals with a mix of protein, carbs and healthy fat. A LOT OF PROTEIN! Cardio will increase and food will decrease over the next 15 weeks. Towards the end the food is scarce and it gets up to 2 hours of cardio a day. Needless to say, those days get a bit crazy. But I just do what my coach says and train like a madwoman!

Throughout the 15 weeks, Larry will support me. He knows exactly what I need and I could not do any of this without him. He makes sure I have all my food, tries not to eat in front of me and just is there when I lose it. Like I keep saying - everyone needs a Larry. (Just not mine!!)

Wish me luck!! 15 weeks flys by so fast.

Keep reading - if you are out there.

Will post a training video soon. (Really as soon as I figure out how to do it...)

Beth.

Long Time No Post

Sorry I have not posted in a couple of days. But not sure who is reading anyway... Regardless, I thought I should keep up with it for anyone who may be reading. Last couple of days have been hard for Larry to get to the gym. I will give him until Saturday and then it is back to my nagging self.

I have trained with Mario a couple times this week. He kills me every time - and I love it. It is strange how I can look forward to such abuse. But there is nothing better than feeling the soreness of a good workout over 2 or 3 days. And when it is too hard to sneeze because you killed your abs - YIPPEE! Sick, I know.

Going on a competition prep diet on Monday - may start Saturday. I need the disciplined structure to keep me honest. Getting a little on the chubby side right now. (Larry hates when I say that. Look, I know I am not fat, or even chubby. But I am not as happy at my present weight as I am when I am closer to show weight. It stinks, but you get used to being able to fit into everything. It should not mean so much to me, but it does. One of my many faults!)

Wish me luck, on my way to a hard training night.... Here's to wishing I feel sore as all heck tomorrow!

Beth

Bone Marrow Drive

Larry and I are going to a Bone Marrow Drive in Matawan this afternoon for a friend whose son has Lukemia. Such a sad story. The father is doing everything he can to find a donor. Its so easy, you just get your cheek swabbed and you get put in a national database. If you are ever a match, they let you know. I cannot even imagine how amazing it would be to be able to change the entire course of someone's life by donating some marrow. Hell - no reason not to become a donor as far as I see it! Well, the first step is getting in the registry - so we are on our way to that.

Larry and I were at the gym this morning. Larry probably did more than he should have - because he worked out with me for a while, then his friend Charlie came to join us. He then did cardio. (Hope he is not too sore and cursing me out tomorrow.)

I promise to figure out how to post video... now that will be fun. :)

Stay healthy!

Beth

TGIF

That is all I have in me tonight.... Tomorrow is a new day,

The Cheesecake Factory is the Devil....

Want to know how to blow all your hard work in the gym..... go to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with a client who really wants to eat!! Holy cow - was I a cow! I am still full and it is 8:39pm. You know you are in trouble when the "weight watcher" menu starts with meals that are 600 calories or less. Well if the low calorie lunch meals have 600 calories, how many in the regular ones?? Tomorrow it will be veggie and fruit smoothies, herbs, protein shakes and cardio, cardio, cardio. I know this is not the best way to be, but at least I know today's slip will not be repeated tomorrow. Everyone has cheat days. The key is to pick yourself up and get back to clean eating. I give myself one cheat day or meal depending on my shape per week. I think this is necessary to keep yourself sane. If I know I can have my DD coffee with cream and a bagel on Sunday, makes it easier to have my coffee with skim milk and egg whites during the week.

Ok so where is Larry tonight? Well he went into Brooklyn to have dinner with his Mommy tonight. He is a really great son. Larry's Mom is 84 and amazing. Larry is (not surprisingly) her favorite and anyone who tells you differently is a liar.

My Larry is the best.... so keep telling him to stay on track with his healthy diet and exercise.

Saturday I am going to try and post some video of Larry and his friend Charlie at the gym. For now - here is one of my favorite pictures of Larry and me.


Beth.

LARRY'S MOVIE NIGHT - WITH CARDIO!

Larry and I did our cardio last night at Gold's in Old Bridge. They have a cardio movie room designed specifically with Larry in mind. He can do 45 minutes of cardio in there like it is nothing! I am so proud of him!! I have to stay out of that room - it makes me sick. I actually fell off the back of the treadmill in there because I was too into the movie. (Must have been a Brad Pitt movie or something... LOL)

One thing did bug me last night at the gym though and I just have to say it. Forgive the rant, but if you cannot rant on your own blog, where can you rant??

I know a lot of people are new to the gym at the beginning of the year, and I hope many stick with it. But for god's sake, if you are coming to the gym, don't sit on the squat rack bar like an idiot and talk up all the "girls" in the gym. Last night some guy, thinking he was all that and a bag of popcorn, had his butt on the squat bar for about 10 minutes. Since Gold's in Old Bridge only has one squat rack, I finally had to go over and ask if he was "using" it. He looked at me like I had three heads and said no. DUH! I know he was not using it - unless it was a new ass exercise I am completely unfamiliar with. :) I actually think he thought I was hitting on him. Well, I wanted to hit him, but not in the way he thought!! (And how anyone can think I am hitting on them in the gym is beyond me. I go in looking like a complete idiot - with a big sweatshirt, stupid looking hat and leave me alone attitude.)

Ok - rant over and I feel much better.

But in general to all you new gym members. Go in with your head high and get in there. Most gym rats are more than happy to help you if you need it, and don't mind you being there as long as you are doing something and trying. (And if some do mind - so what. You have the right to be there. So don't be afraid to "exercise" those rights! Keep it up and next year you will be the gym rat!)

Stay healthy!

Beth

OUCH!

Had a great back and biceps workout last night. And abs! Everytime I sneeze today, I am reminded of those ball crunchs last night. As you can see from the picture, my abs are completely missing - flat but no striations. I need the striations!!

Did I mention I have a great trainer. Plus Apollon Gym in Edison where I do most of my weight training is just the coolest place. Very motivating to work out with such amazing athletes!

Tonight Larry and I are going to Gold's in Old Bridge to do cardio. I just could not move out of bed this morning. Larry would have gone - but I lost my morning mojo.

Larry made tilapia and asparagus for me last night and so I have been able to eat really good today. Everyone needs a Larry in their life - just leave mine alone please!

I now have to create a lower calorie, lower fat, good protein and carb diet for Larry. And make sure he remembers to take his vitamins. We use an Isotonic variety from Market America. Really great vitamins - OPC, Acai, Resveratrol, Multi-vitamin, calcium, Vitamin D. Men - don't forget you need your calcium too!!

Until tomorrow (and if you are reading this, post something....please) :)

Beth.

First Monday of 2010

Well today is the first Monday of 2010 - and since it came after a late night Jets game and my poor husband did not get home until late, I let him slide on the 5:00am cardio session. Tomorrow - no excuses. (I did not want to get up either as it was darn cold out this morning.)

I am going for a killer back and biceps workout tonight with my trainer - and about 45 minutes of cardio.

I have yet to see how Larry ate today, but when he is on track he has amazing will power! Puts me to shame. I ate good today, every couple of hours, protein, good fat, carb mix. Now eating a tuna packet before my workout.

I am thinking about throwing another figure show in the mix - in May with my friend AnnMarie. That is only about 18 weeks away, so it would be right back in competition diet mode. Not sure I am ready for that yet.... :) Larry is probably not ready for that either. I tend to get a bit self-absorbed (even more than usual).

Beth.

UPDATE: Decided no show in May - too soon and just not fair to Larry. Will just look to July. Gives me time to build those abs!! :)

Alone Time at the Gym

So today is Sunday. I think I will probaby be at the gym without Larry on Sundays. Sunday should be a day of rest for him - without me bothering him to get to the gym. Rest is important - I will probably give him at 2-3 days off per week. For me, one day of rest.

Today I did some light leg work. My hard leg days are with my trainer - and he kills me everytime. Today on my own I just did some squats, leg presses, hack squats, calf raises, and lying leg extensions - then 30 minutes of light cardio. (Oh and then abs. I need to do abs a lot. Need that 6-pack!)

Home, and some protein and carbs to feed the muscles.

Tomorrow it is 5am cardio for Larry and I, and then weight training at 8:30 pm for me. The Masters' Nationals is mid-July. I have a lot of work before then!! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Beth

RESOLUTIONARIES UNITE - AT THE GYM

DAY ONE AT THE GYM FOR US RESOLUTIONARIES. We met friends and actually mixed working out with some catching up. Larry did great, training arms and doing cardio. As we go forward, I will post his actual exercises and progress. Maybe as I get better at this I can even post some videos. Isn't technology great!

I did triceps, chest and shoulders. Then 35 minutes of low intensity cardio. Came home and had a shake with non-fat yogurt, a banana, blueberries and a scope of high quality protein powder. (Sure I would have preferred a bagel with cream cheese, but we all have our little scarifices.) :)

Just as an aside, when I was fat, I always wondered why skinny women were on the nasty side. Well now I know why - they are HUNGRY and probably work their butts off in the gym!! It is amazing what a sugar rush will do for your mood. And for those who say "skinny feels better than a cookie tastes" - well in my opinion, they are not eating the right kind of cookies. For you fellow resolutionaries who have decided this is the year to lose weight and get healthy, in my opinion, you just have to come to grips with the fact that dieting is not easy. It takes a lot of work, scarifice and dedication. It is great to look good in a pair of skinny jeans and have people ask how you stay slim, but it is much better to feel great and know that what you are doing will keep you around with the people you love for a much longer period of time.

So I guess the saying should be "being healthy feels better than any food could ever taste because if you are dead, you ain't eating nothing." ;)

Beth.

And it begins....

It is the beginning of a new millenium and it is time to get serious about getting (and staying) healthy. So my New Year's Resolution this year is to get my husband into shape, to help him lose weight and live a long and happy life - with me!

For me, it is about staying in shape and getting in better shape - figure competition shape. My goal is the 2010 Masters' Nationals in Ohio. Pretty lofty goal - but if you do not aim high, you will always fall short.

So I invite you to follow us on our journey - which will be filled with highs and lows, ups and downs, success and failure. But by next year at this time, we shall see where we are. JOIN US.....