The "Terrible Twos"

Of course I am not two years old and I do not have a two year old, but I am two weeks out from reaching a very challenging goal! This stage of my contest prep has brought on a new set of challenges that I felt were like the "terrible twos". Fatigue, bloating, and stress all in within the last week. WOW how so much can affect and change in so little time. Many days I felt like I was back to the drawing board with my diet and working to balance my stress & fatigue. I will admit it was not easy, but hey I want to reach my goals so I was determined to keep my head up and not become to overwhelmed. I am sure most mothers go through these feelings of frustration when their toddler reaches the "terrible twos" and they can't give up, so either can I! I guess this was they best way I can describe how I was feeling & what I was going through, by comparing myself to what a child goes through during this stage in their life.

The first step and challenge of the week was to begin a process of elimination with my diet. Like I mentioned I was dealing with bloating, so little by little I began a process of elimination. It seems this time around with my diet and being vegetarian there have been some obstacles, but nothing I could not overcome. What it came down to was removing protein powder & tofu from my diet. So here is what became of my diet at two weeks out:
Weight at 2 weeks out: 123.2lbs

Meal 1: 1-low carb yogurt, 3/4 cup frozen strawberries, ½ c unsweetened Almond Breeze and ½ c fiber one cereal- 200 calories
1 slice no sodium Ezikel bread with sugar free jelly-90 calories

Meal 2:
4 cups spinach salad with 6 spears of Asparagus
3 oz Fish- 15g protein
1tsp. olive oil & 2tbsp balsamic vinegar
Grapefruit
Total calories 350

Meal 3: 3 oz fish, 1/4c c brown rice, 1/4c black beans, 1/4c lentils & 2 tbsp. salsa -
260 calories/ 26.5 g protein

Meal 4: 1/2c egg whites, 1/3 c oatmeal, 1/3 c pumpkin -190 calories/ 12g protein

Meal 5: 4oz fish and 2 cups broccoli
oasis jalapeno hummus 2tbs 33cal, 1gfat, 4g carb-0sugar, 95mg sodium
180 calories-23g protein
1270 calories

The other tough challenge I faced during this week that I had not really been affected by before was extreme fatigue. With adding in additional cardio and reducing my caloric intake, it truly began to play a role in my nervous system and I was starting to feel the negative side effects from it. I always try to find a balance with how much or how little I do to get in the best shape & condition I can for show day, but I realized I was pushing it a little too much. When my body was screaming to stop & my mind wanted to keep pushing along, there were times I had to compromise or else I would be sacrificing positive results. This is one of the most difficult times as it gets closer to the competition and there is a such thing as overdoing it. The last thing I want to have happen is to become sick or injured and then unable to compete at all. I am really working hard on listening to my body & learning sometimes it's ok to say when.
Here is what my training routine was like at two weeks out:

Thursday- 45min AM cardio- 5min walk warm up 10 intervals 1min run 8.5speed, 20 squats =25min. 15min intervals 1:1 stepper. 1min level 6 1min level 8. 5min walk cool down. 30 min PM cardio bike- 20min posing practice
Friday- 40min AM cardio- 30min elliptical max incline resistance-9/ 10min recumbent bike. Afternoon weight training at Overload & 20min spinning
Saturday- 30min morning bike, 1hr posing practice. Really sore & tired today. Very run down & fatigued. No PM cardio.
Sunday- 20min AM cardio- 2000m rower 8min43sec, 5min cool down walking. 60min PM cardio- 30min elliptical max incline resistance 10, 30min walking 12incline 3.3speed
Monday-60min AM cardio Spinning- 30min PM cardio 1:1 interval on Stepper level 6: level 8- 15 min posing practice
Tuesday- 30min AM cardio bike-4x20 no weight squats. PM weight training. 45min PM Cardio-30min walking 12incline 3.3 speed, 15min bike recumbent- 15 min posing practice
Wednesday - 30min AM bike, 20min PM elliptical max incline-resistance 8, 30 min walking 12incline 3.0 speed- another very fatigued day. Felt sick & weak after PM cardio.

As I prepare for my final week, so many emotions are happening from being excited, nervous and anxious all at once! I am truly feeling ready and so proud of how hard I have worked and what I have put into each workout and each day to help me reach my goals. I compete solely for myself and to set personal challenges and goals. At this rate I will be exceeding my goals if I maintain focus and keep working as hard as I have been.

I will be working over the next few days to share with you day by day how I am feeling and my progress as I am heading into the most important week- Show Week! Just days away until I step on stage at the 2010 Arnold Sports Festival! Wow I can't believe I have chills just from typing this. Thanks for allowing me to share this experience with all of you!

So I guess The "terrible twos" can be rewarding as well as challenging!