How To Be An Excellent Cheater…

Since the date of my competition was moved out 8 weeks, I knew I would need one or two cheat meals to keep me sane.  It made sense, but convincing the trainer was another story.  We took pics and practiced posing on Friday.  There were some noticeable changes for the better and the pics reflected all of the hard work.  So late on Friday night I received a text from the trainer that I was cleared for a cheat meal.  After 15 weeks of following a strict meal plan and saying ‘no’ to every craving…I was a little hesitant to go way off the reservation.  Granted…my stomach is used to eating very small meals, so there is no way I could gorge myself.  But still, of all the food in the world, picking one meal was tough.

I had plans on Saturday night and it worked out perfectly that I could use the cheat meal on the occasion.  I had no plan going into it…I still was hesitant about going crazy…and decided I would just enjoy myself.  It was a long night, so the food and drinks were spread out (not in one sitting).  Here is how to cheat:

• 3 small slices of turkey
• 1 small slice of prime rib
• 1 bite of potato
• 3 bites of couscous
• One donut hole covered in rum sauce goodness.
• 3 bites of ice cream
• 2 bourbon and waters
• 2 Beefeater and tonics
• I’ll guess that there was somewhere between 3-5 glasses of red wine 
• and a shot glass full of something smooth…very smooth   

I barely ate anything when all was said and done.  Everything I ate tasted really good.  I just couldn’t convince myself to lose control. 

The alcohol was another story…obviously.  Bad, bad…bad!  But oh so good!  I woke up this morning in the most dehydrated state I’ve ever been.  I seriously couldn’t drink water fast enough.  My body was not happy and I was craving my normal meals…eggs, protein shakes…anything but alcohol.  Whew!  That was one heck of a cheat meal and hopefully will give me a final push to make it the last 8 weeks.  

Another Week…Another Loss

Starting weight 187.  That’s a 5 pound loss from the previous week. 
There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the recent breakthroughs.  I’ve made a few minor changes to food, but that’s it.  I think the trainer is pulling some jedi mind tricks on my body right now. 
Here are some of the most recent progress pics from the trainer.  Still some weak spots that will have to wait until next offseason, but starting to see more definition…
 

Making Abs in the Kitchen

I’d like to think that the 2 hours of cardio and the workout routines also contribute, but food is a huge part of where I am at in my prep.  There have been some small changes over the last couple of weeks to my eating plan, but I thought I’d post pics of what a guy’s contest prep meals look like.  A few caveats before the pics:

I eat this every day (7 days a week) and aside from the green beans of last month I really enjoy everything. 

The only thing I crave is flavor….sugar, salt, sweet, sour…this food lacks all of that.

Everything is measured, weighed, portioned out exactly.  The only thing missing from the pics is the gum and perhaps coffee.  And of course some supplements…but otherwise this is EVERYTHING.

Meal#1 (3 cage free eggs, 2 scoops protein): 

There is nothing sexy about a pic of cooked eggs.  I cook mine in a few DROPS of olive oil.

Meal #2 (1 bag microwave broccoli, 6oz chicken with Mrs Dash seasoning and either mustard or Walden Farms BBQ sauce to dip):

Meal #3 (2 Tablespoons of Skippy Natural PB, 2 scoops protein):

If you ever wanted to accuse me of cheating on a meal…perhaps my ‘Tablespoon’ is a little bigger than normal on rough days.  It’s the closest thing to eating peanut butter and chocolate I get. 

Meal #4  (20 almonds and 1 can of tuna):

You can count ‘em if you want….20!

Meal #5  (6oz of 95% lean ground beef, cup of chopped romaine lettuce, mustard):

It looks disgusting…but it tastes like a hamburger!

Meal #6 (3 cage free eggs):  I didn’t take a pic of this one because I was starving and ate it as soon as it cooked. 

If you enter the meals into an online calorie counter, like Sparkpeople, here are my macros:

Total Calories:  2200

Protein:  300

Fat:  105

Carbs:  35

A little top heavy on the protein compared to most…but that’s how abs are made. 

Finding the answers…

Starting weight:  192.  Down 7 pounds from the previous week.  That’s 40 pounds for anyone keeping track.

I nearly fell off the scale this morning.  This was jacked up!  I marched back to bed in total disbelief.  Ok ok, I weighed two more times just to be sure, but then I was back in bed.  Cardio would need to wait until I could stop grinning…

An hour later I was at the park doing laps around the track and enjoying the great weather.  Crazy how one day you’re contemplating throwing in the towel and then 3 days later you are more determined than ever.  Writing each entry has kept me grounded from week to week and going back and reading the last several entries has provided perspective on the mental pressure that weighs on you.  Perhaps it was just a rut…work, life, contest prep was all getting to me.  Glad that is all over. 

I have been prepping for 13 weeks and there will be more weeks to come.  But here is my review of the last 13 weeks in 90 seconds or less…

• Shaving sucks.  I’d rather do 90 minutes of cardio than spend 90 minutes shaving (yes that’s how long it takes).  I will pay someone to do this.
• Do not put a cup of oatmeal, a scoop of protein and some water in a microwave and cook it.  The result is cement.
• Do not put on icy hot in the gym and expect no one to smell it….they smell it.  It could be worse. 
• Check your gym bag three times before you leave the house at 5:30am.  Wearing gym socks with dress pants is not fashionably correct….yet. 
• Writing a blog is hard work.  But it’s so worth it. 
• Motivation comes in all forms.  Having a little old lady at the grocery store make a comment about your calves can do wonders.
• Do not be ashamed of your playlists.  If your playlist goes from Journey to Jason Aldean to Lil Wayne…then you and I have a lot in common.  Blast it as loud as you can…’Peanuts to an elephant…I got through that sentence like a subject and a predicate.’
• Tanning is cheap therapy.  You can work a lot of personal stuff out by laying down for 24 minutes.
• Massages are not cheap therapy.     
• Don’t ask me how long I spend in the gym.  It’s more than you.
• Don’t ask me if I crave carbs.  Of course I want some effing carbs.   
• Want to see someone doing contest prep sweat…send them an email saying their protein powder is back-ordered.  Are you serious?

I’m sure there are plenty of others…but some times you just have to laugh. 

…But Not Fast Enough

Friday was the make or break point with the trainer.  I am 3 weeks away from the show and it was now or never to decide if I would come in where I wanted to be.  I knew my chances were slim and had already convinced myself that choosing another date and delaying everything would give me more time.  So after stripping down, snapping a few pics, seeing the progress and reviewing the results….we decided it wasn’t my time yet.  It wasn’t a tough decision to make.  Like I said before, I want the chance to compete…not just the chance to get on stage.  I walked out of the trainer’s office with a weight off my shoulder.  The stress of getting ready in three weeks was gone.  WC was ready.  He was beyond ready and could walk on stage in a few days if needed.  So the next three weeks will be about keeping him focused and continuing to prep. 

The next show for me is likely in September….an additional 8 weeks on top of the original 16.  All of the morning cardio sessions I thought were going to come to an end, the strict eating, the inability to go out for a meal, and the disciplined training routines will continue.  Trying to grasp all of that made for a tough day mentally on Friday.  How bad did I want this?  Could I sacrifice the time?  How do I deal with distractions along the way?  Am I even cut out for this?  Lots of questions with very few answers swirled around me on Friday during the day. 

Friday evening was different.  I got a taste of normalcy and what I was missing.  I had several moments where I was ready to give it all up.  It was the easy road out of town.  But I didn’t.  I realized that night that I set out to accomplish something I had never considered before.  This was why I had left the former life behind.  I want to try new things, have experiences that most don’t or can’t, and push myself harder than I ever have.  Life happens… and when will I get this chance again.  Was I really willing to throw away the goal because 8 more weeks was too long?  I realized that night that I had to finish this….because I wanted to.