winner winner chicken dinner

glory to God, Sonny won 1st place in his division at the Ft. Worth MuscleMania bodybuilding show this past weekend!! here's Chiso congratulating him and apologizing for sleeping through the entire evening show in mommy's arms.  630-930...what a nap :shock:

i'm pretty proud of this guy.

i was screaming as loud as i could!!  great show and amazing jobs done by all.

here are Sonny and some of the other competitors soaking in their win.  cloud 9 status!

Chiso clearly just wanted to play with that ball, but we got a good family shot outside the venue during intermission break.  immediately following the show, Sonny's team went to dinner at Blue Mesa  to celebrate their accomplishments, weeks of hard work, dieting, and training.  both of our phones were almost dead after our long day, so my camera flash was toast.  horrible lighting for these next few pics, ugh.

along with Sonny's show day meals, i prepped all of mine for the trip as well.  and this meal was not apart of the plan lol! neither was the pizza Sonny brought me from backstage earlier.  nevertheless,  i started with a  dinner salad of field greens topped with tomatoes and red onion.  balsamic vinaigrette was on the side.

Sonny got the Perfect Tortilla Soup which had chicken, tomatoes, jack cheese, smoked chiles, and fresh lime in chicken broth.

CHIPS. sweet potato, tortilla (blue and flour).  and honestly they were nothing to write home about.  it's just that they were in front of me and i was hungry!!! snacking ensued. excessive snacking.

having no flash totally took away from the dish, but it was way tastier than it looked.  i got the Spa Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with asparagus and grilled sweet potatoes.  the Spa section on their menu was detailed with nutritional stats and lighter options.  i totally appreciated that.  why don't restaurants just do this for the entire menu?  we're prolly better off not knowing in some cases!

Sonny asked the server for the dish with the most food and variety like he always does and ended up getting a sampler platter.  like he always does. lol.  the Mesa Sampler came with a carmelized onion quesadilla, mixed nachos, and chicken taquitos.

so on the way back to our hotel WE wanted something sweet and went through a Mc Donalds drive through in hopes to get some ice cream.   the machine was already closed down for cleaning for the night.  that has happened to us SEVERAL times... we should know the darn schedule by now.  so we ended up at the next best thing... actually it's prolly the best thing lol.

we split a whatasized vanilla shake and i'm pretty sure i slurped down 70% of it!  i hadn't had one in YEARS.  it was.... incredible.  Sonny mentioned going to In-N-Out burger too (hey we don't have one in Houston) but i had to put my foot down and call it quits.

we got some rest and headed home the next morning, but not before grabbing breakfast.  i took a selfie of my abs before we left though and i wasn't surprised that they were still flat.  after i eat crap, it pops back up to say hello on me 3-4 days later.  for a while i had myself fooled!  the symptoms may be delayed  (bloating, gas, bubble guts, pimples, fatigue, flat muscles, heaviness) but they ALWAYS come.  always.

Sonny wanted to start breakfast with a BANG but Ihop was the  best option that popped up on our GPS.  i was somewhat relieved and i'm also glad there were no Shipley's around :shock:

now THIS is a breakfast of champions.  ^^^ there's one right there, tee hee.  Ihop always did have crazy portion sizes.

Sonny smashed a steak omelette topped with cheese and tomatoes,

and a stack of what Ihop is famous for.... mmmmmm.

we got Chi a kiddie sampler of baby cakes, scrambled eggs, and turkey bacon which he did NOT like and took off his plate immediately.  i'm not a fan of the texture of turkey bacon either...i don't blame him.

 

time to get back on track.

after examining this pic closer, that totally looks like a bug in my oatmeal!!!!! LOL. i remember seeing it after stirring my bananas in though and it was definitely an oat.  i think.  i hope.

i also got a spinach, mushroom, and tomato egg white omelette that was pretty amazing.  i'm am in complete love with their Simple and Fit menu. look at all those options!!! the website is super user-friendly. seriously, GO IHOP! 4 thumbs up from fitfoodiele.

the oatmeal came with butter, brown sugar, and milk on the side, but i didn't use them.  you know what i used!  packet of stevia from the stash in my purse.

didn't bring any Walden Farms syrup with me, but they did provide sugar-free syrup.  again, GO IHOP!  HEB sells Cary's syrup as well, FYI.

we hit the road and made it home safely, thank God.  THEN i hit the gym solo to get a head start on that vanilla shake before it did too much damage lol.  Saturday was a full rest day and i did absolutely nothing for the first time in a while, so i was ready to go and pump some iron.

one of the bodybuilders gave this advice to the crowd at the show:  'it's not about who can squat the most.  it's not about who can bench press the most.  eat right, squeeze the muscle with each rep, and train hard.'  it was short, sweet, and really hit home.  during that workout, i did my best to squeeze my glutes, hams, quads, and calves with each rep. i felt and saw a difference immediately.  oooh it burns. STILL feeling it.

i did legs and cardio and got up outta there.  will be switching up my routine next week though-  time for something new.  next i hit up the store cause my Sunday just ain't right without some grocery shopping.

CONGRATULATIONS SONNY!!!!! XOXO

le

goodies

so thankful for encouraging friends!got this in the mail today from a dear friend of mine and it was RIGHT on time.  today is low carb day :lol:  thanks, BM ;) love you, girl!

july was a BLUR. hey, august.

there are a bazillion products i cannot wait to try next month. next month...NEXT MONTH is my show!!!!  burnout is not even the word these days.  i have been trying to run outside more for my cardio cause even the smell of walking into my gym sometimes makes me sick to my stomach, sad, and a tired, defeated feeling comes over my entire body.  yes, all that happens at once!  nothing a rest day can't fix though...i'm definitely waving my white flag and in need of one.  i am still learning to listen to my body and not overdo it.  over time, i have learned to distinguish the 'crap i don't feel like going to the gym' feeling vs the 'i have absolutely no energy to lift a THING today' feeling.  there is a huge difference.  when the only thing i can take away from my workout is the fact that i can say i went, that's not good enough.  i'm doing more harm than good by forcing my workout rather than just sitting down somewhere, resting, and hitting it hard the next day.i posted this earlier today on IG- another instagrammer mentioned how her abs stay flat even after a satisfying meal and i LOVE that and couldn't agree more.  it's all from simply keeping your diet clean.  before, i'd either be a bloated mess all over or mushy in my midsection from high sodium, sugar, and additives hiding in processed and restaurant foods.  my tummy stays the same all day long- flat.

what's happening this week? finding a SUIT and themewear, that's what.  i have been googling to the high heavens on what colors pop, what shade is best for my skin, etc., aaggggggghhhhhhh!!! my posing coach, Christine, simply said 'go with your first instinct.'  simple as that. so, i will.

i visited a shop by referral from Christine, grabbed a handful of suits and tried them on.  those things are pretty darn tiny.  talk about 'barely there', my goodness!  stepping outside my box, big time.

i am such a BOY with this kind of stuff.  there is so much more to be done. hair, nails, waxing, tanning, etc,.  this is a pretty darn expensive sport.  and i didn't even mention my training yet! (workouts, meal plan, and FOOD).  i discussed with Christine the best portion of the show for me to enter seeing as how i have about 5 weeks left.  she advised me to stick with Bikini.  so, Figure will just have to wait as i don't have enough time to put on THAT much muscle.  so, if there's a next time, i'm comin for ya, Figure!!!

so i have said already how excited i am to get back in my kitchen and make and EAT up some stuff.  i see new products every day on instagram, blogs, and foodie mags,  and i went online and finally ordered a few that sparked my interest and my taste buds!  i was supposed to stop looking at these sites before my comp, i know.  anyway,  i'll pass on bargain shopping for clothes, but not food!  it really is cheaper to order some stuff online.  and there are always coupon codes, free shipping, and other deals that help.

via IG (instagram), @powercakes gave out her coupon code for saving 5 dollars on your first www.IHERB.com purchase. SWEET DEAL!  i just used mine AND got free shipping since my order was over 20 bucks.  now, if September would just get here already i'll be one happy fit foodie.  look what i got:

soups, stir-frys, and spring rolls OH MY!! these are kelp noodles.  i loooove thai crystal noodle soup and pretty much all type of soup.  and noodles.   i have so many ideas for these puppies.  and hello, 12 calories per serving! I KNOW!!  kelp noodles are raw, gluten-free, fat-free, rice-free, low in carbs & calories, full of minerals and ready to eat.  have you tried them?

been hearing SO much about this stuff.  what sold me? 'tastes like cheese'.   well we'll just have to see then, won't see.  after reading reviews, customers raved how great this stuff is sprinkled on air popped popcorn, over soups and stews, and even encrusting proteins in it.  i'll see what i can do.

so splenda's rep has gotten worse and worse over time.  it's been known to cause/increase the risk of cancer, weight gain, bloating- man too many negative things to name.  just red flags everywhere.   i actually swore off the stuff a few months ago (Sonny chunked it. all of it.), but i walked past the above pic in HEB and the mocha part sucked me right back in.  however Sonny threw it right back out.

  then i heard/read about Stevia.

zero cals, non bitter, all natural.  i bought the granules from HEB before i discovered there was a liquid form!  so, i ordered some.

vanilla,

and

chocolate!

no sugar alcohols, bitter after-taste, and calorie free. stay tuuuuuuuned.

3 more things- look, i had a lot to say today.

1.) when i visit food blogs, i look for specific things. fantastic, enticing pics draw me in first and foremost, but what i always end up looking for and totally appreciate is nutritional stats!! people can say they don't count calories all day long...but come on..you have to have SOME kinda ball park figure to make sure you're staying on track, clean diet or not.  SO, one thing i plan to execute after this show is including the nutritional stats to my recipes.  sure, there are a crapload of web apps these days that you can just type the ingredients into yourself, but i dont want you to have to work so hard when you come visit me!

2.) although i have no plans to ever fully commit to a 100% paleo, vegan, vegetarian, or even clean diet (only 85% and i meant that), i can't get enough of their deserts!  there are sooooo many ways you can 'indulge' and satisfy your sweet tooth without eating the full fat and calorie laden stuff.  i am on a mission to create cleaner deserts as well as incorporate more natural, raw ingredients.  working on cleaner pies, cakes, cookies, muffins, breads, and pudding recipes all day every day.

3.) i'd tell ya what i'm having for dinner but you already know. :roll: just got through putting some of my meals together for tomorrow .

i'll tell you anyway.  marinated sirloin steak, french cut green beans, and brown rice.  after i nuke one, i add low sodium worcestershire sauce or my mustard, and some fresh cilantro.  yum!!

 Chiso is keeping busy in the midst of all this madness.

happy friday in advance!  nite.

le

progress through your process

i feel like i owe double posts for not speaking in 7 days straight :( it's been an eventful week over here.   Chiso and i took a walk in the neighborhood tuesday evening, and wed. he woke up with a fever and a rash :roll:  oh, and he's teething again.  needless to say, we took a trip to the Dr. and all is finally well, thank God.

speaking of God, ever hear a sermon and feel like it was tailored JUST for you?  i'm nuts over all things food and cooking, so this made complete sense and keeps replaying in my head:

'if you're  a true cook, then you know you must wait until the water is boiling before you add in your grits.  God has PLENTY of good stuff waiting to pour into us, but He won't give it to us until we are bubbling and ready to receive it!!!'

if you don't grow during your process (whatever it may be), something is wrong.  you mature and change over time for the better.  however, you must commit and put in the work.  stay positive and keep moving towards whatever you are working on!!!

UPDATE: *stats taken on 7/20*

151 lbs.

16.2% body fat

6 weeks in,

8 weeks left,

and time is FLYING.

my scale said 148 lbs this afternoon (sunday) and it's definitely because i added sprints to my training this past friday and saturday.    sprinters are able to keep their muscle but blast off fat with High Intensity Interval Training.  a mixture of both steady state cardio and HIIT is an awesome combo and will get my body where it needs to be.

last night, my man and i stepped out to the movies for the first time this YEAR now that i think about it.

s/n: yet another item of clothing i hadn't worn in ages- these pants are 3/4 and i'm really glad i held on to them!  6 weeks ago, i was in 7/8's. ok anyway, we saw Dark Knight and it was long.  we are pretty tall and we need our leg room.  we both had to stand up and stretch several times!!

 gaaaaaah that popcorn smell smacked me right in the face when we walked in.  i saved my 'dessert' from the meal i consumed in the car on the way to the theater, and whipped it out to snack on during the movie. so not the same.

some alone time was great, but i would have rather watched Spider Man or a comedy!

good times!

today, we hit the gym together for some upper body and cardio.

Sonny never fails to remind me why we work out separately LOL.

i'm working my way up to un-assisted dips, but he convinced me to do them without any help.  i know i'll appreciate it.

later.

yes, that's as far as i could go down, lololol. give me some time.

did some bicep exercises as well then hit the elliptical machines.

sonny on his weapon of choice... it's either this or the stairmaster for me when i'm in the gym.  it's waaaaay easier to get my heart rate up and keep it there when i run outside, though.

pressuring me to hurry up and finish!  just 5 more minutes!

so what's new in the nutrition dept?  my trainer has introduced me to zig-zagging, also known as,  carb cycling.  i'll expand on that soon, but beef has been incorporated into my meal plan for the next two weeks, whoop whoop!  gives me a little break from chicken and tilapia, not that i needed it.

i marinated the sirloin in some liquid aminos (found at good ol' HEB), green onion, and a different seasoning per steak (lemon pepper, smokehouse maple, garlic and herb) and prepped our meals for the next few days.

hope they taste as good as they look! i'm so ready to see the change carb cycling brings.

p.s. check for the abs post tomorrow.  sweet dreams!

le

posing camp

i picked up my show shoes friday during my lunch hour and had my first encounter with Cindie's Lingerie.

always seen it, never been inside. :shock:

taking pics from my truck, LOL

i found'em.  however,  the only pair left in my size had clearly been worn and damaged.  there are no refunds or exchanges, so i wanted and expected a brand new pair!  i was sent to another location to pick up the shoe and long story short, i was given the platform version of what i needed and didn't realize this until i got to camp:(  that was SO my bad for not checking in the box first.  i couldn't understand how or why my feet suddenly stopped working.  i could barely make a turn without toppling over and i was pretty embarrassed.  well, this has since been corrected- i went back to Cindie's after camp and got the right pair.  i have been walking and posing all around my house in these things to make up for lost time!!  practice, practice, practice.

immediately before camp saturday morning,  i got my workout in with Travis, my trainer.  so, i had to go two more hours on my feet after going to war with him and the weights.

getting in some much needed ab work.  stability balls are GREAT for your core.

it's over. finally.

i brought my breakfast with me of course and snuck it in right before we started.  you already know what it is!!

this is the woman right here- Christine Anderson, my posing coach.  here she is introducing herself at the beginning of camp.

i met some excellent, down to earth former and future participants.

 instasummary:

 i am definitely in good hands.  Christine's work speaks for itself and she possesses such a sweet, humble spirit.  she has had amazing success in this industry and i'm soaking up all the info i can from her.  Christine's husband below, Charles (l), is a retired competitor with several trophies under his belt as well.  what a team!

i met several ladies competing for the first time and we excitedly exchanged numbers to keep in contact during the coming weeks and beyond.  i also met JC Shivers- he shared with me how stepping onto his first stage just last May and winning several consecutive shows since then has completely changed his life.

i am just inspired every which way i turn in this process!  i'm holding onto every positive piece of advice and fueling my fire with the negative.

pressing forward with 11 weeks til show time!

le

biki...no

yesterday was the day. bikini day.  my trainer told me the previous week that i would need to bring one with me so we could check my progress so far.   all i could think about was 'somebody get me a razor' :lol:

i am officially 12 weeks out from the show.  a gigantic inspiration and fellow blogger friend of mine,  Nichola, opened my eyes to just how much time we have left! :shock: please read about her transformation from 170 lbs to competing in her first figure competition last month!!  AMAZING.  all this time i've been saying 'September' which makes the show sound light years away.

i was super anxious to hear my results.  see the chart below.  do you know where you fall??

body fat stats (%)

	male	female
very lean	<11	<19
lean	11-14	19-22
healthy	15-17	23-27
average	18-22	28-35
unhealthy	>22	>36

don't know? well, whip out your caliper.  kidding, you can find it at home using a scale, measuring tape, and a calculator.  try it.

**2 week results**

5lbs and 2% body fat down, + several inches all over.  although my biceps are going the wrong way , booooo

161.5 lbs ----------to---------->156.5 lbs

21.9% bf----------to---------->19.8% bf

hips 39.5 ---------to---------->35.5

abs 31----------to---------->27.75

neck 12----------to---------->11.5

chest 35----------to---------->32.5

bicep 11----------to---------->10.5

forearm 9.5----------to---------->9.5

thigh 21 ----------to---------->20.5

calf 15----------to---------->14.25

i'm still 5'10''. see my before pics here.  and ignore my ghetto tan..i ran in the sun like 3 weeks ago and it still hasn't faded. currently:

give mommy a minute, Chiso, please

for real, i'm almost done, Chiso, really

OK, last one, gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

clearly that baby was ready to nurse and we were playing around.

bikini pics before my workout.

my trainer says i need to hit my abs way harder and he's right.  will just keep working.

how do i feel?  i'm happy to report that my sugar cravings have pretty much subsided... almost completely.  i can't tell you how happy i am about that.  HOWEVER, i now feel like a typical preggo woman cause i'm craving fatty foods like pizza, fries, cheeseburgers, lasagna, and mac n cheese. and  i didn't crave a thing when i was preggo!

it's sunday so i'm in the kitchen prepping our meals for tomorrow and tuesday. i don't make them too far in advance cause 1) these things take up a crap load of space in the fridge, and 2) food poisoning is not cool and i can't afford to get sick at this stage in the game.  better safe than sorry!

heading out for some more family QT today- have a BLESSED rest of your day as we get ready for another week!

le