8.5 weeks to my show

[gabjo02]

I could use some help and reinforcement here.

This is the deal, I am a shrimpie at 5' 1" and I have a show in 8.5 weeks. This is the my 3rd show this year. My last show was on June 5th. However, I have enjoyed my summer and of course I rebounded greatly. I compete at about 108-110 pounds and guess what, I am currently 125 pounds . Is a fat reduction of 15 pounds doable in 8.5 weeks.

My diet is really really clean now and I take in at least 2+ gallons of water a day, and I am so crazy that I am doing about 2-2.5 hours of cardio a day already and really reduced sodium significantly. I train 5 times a week (always changing it up).

For my last two shows I have only used ephedra, and now I am nervous that I can not come down as much as I need to in 8.5 weeks by not doing something else, maybe clen but never used it, so not sure if my expectations are extreme.

By the way, I should mention that I compete in figure not bodybuilding. My assumption is that since my off season was relatively short, the weight I put on must be mostly water and should come off relatively quick but I would also feel more comfortable if I had longer to diet more like 10-12 weeks, unfortunately, I only have 8.5 weeks.

Your thoughts? Advice?
Thanks

 

[graybass]

Holy moley,
You sound just like a figure competitor that I'm training right now.
To gain that much weight, that quickly, a great % must be water. Not all of it though.
Remember, it's considered ideal to lose about 1lb per week.
also I hope your not doing 2-2 1/2 hrs of cardio in one session. If you are, you'll be losing just as much muscle, as fat.
Bottom line, Everyone is different, maybe you can do it, if every thing is perfect.
I've been training cliets for almost twenty years, and usually the longer road is better. Most precontest training is at least 12 weeks long.(as you know)

PS, where are you competing ? My girl's going in a national qualifier in Jersey.
And, that amount of cardio would work best in two sessions, one morning, one early evening. (with rest and food in between)

Good luck graybass

 

[gabjo02]

Yeah its sound like we are in the same show, I am competing in NJ as well.

Anyhow, yes my cardio is actually broken out in 3 sessions. In the morning before breakfast, my lunch break from work (if I can get away) and after I train in the evenining. Unfortunately, though rest is a problem I will always have problems getting enough, given my lifestyle and family obligations. I will do my best.

Is the girl that you are training taking anything other than epehdra. Is she using clen?

Holy moley,
You sound just like a figure competitor that I'm training right now.
To gain that much weight, that quickly, a great % must be water. Not all of it though.
Remember, it's considered ideal to lose about 1lb per week.
also I hope your not doing 2-2 1/2 hrs of cardio in one session. If you are, you'll be losing just as much muscle, as fat.
Bottom line, Everyone is different, maybe you can do it, if every thing is perfect.
I've been training cliets for almost twenty years, and usually the longer road is better. Most precontest training is at least 12 weeks long.(as you know)

PS, where are you competing ? My girl's going in a national qualifier in Jersey.
And, that amount of cardio would work best in two sessions, one morning, one early evening. (with rest and food in between)

Good luck graybass

 

[robbie]

Yeah its sound like we are in the same show, I am competing in NJ as well.

Anyhow, yes my cardio is actually broken out in 3 sessions. In the morning before breakfast, my lunch break from work (if I can get away) and after I train in the evenining. Unfortunately, though rest is a problem I will always have problems getting enough, given my lifestyle and family obligations. I will do my best.

Is the girl that you are training taking anything other than epehdra. Is she using clen?

My good friend GRAYBASS was 100% right.
I will add a few things if you dont mind.
I would say first it's a mistake to cut sodium this early because you want to cut sodium about 10 days or so before the show because than you would shock your system to release more fluid. The water intake is pretty high I think but if you can drink that much, than keep it up untill 7 days or so before the show.
Also you never mentioned if you used any diuretics or if you intend to, because that changes everything.
As for adding Clen to your program, YES it would help altough dont expect miracles from it but it would definately be beneficial no doubt about it.
One more advice for future dont do too many shows close to each other because your body can handle only so much (especially since you are Natural...ephedra and clen dont count) and also try to stay within 10-12lbs within your contest weight to make things easier.
And dont worry if you do it righ, you have enough time.
Good Luck
P.S. I am guessing here but you are probably doing the Golds Gym Classic...

 

[graybass]

Gabby, (sorry, sounds like that would be your nickname) LOL!

Robbie is so right about cutting sodium too soon. Also cutting sodium too soon makes it easier to make a mistake, as you'll be really sensitive to any salt at all.

My client is taking Phentermine (which I don't personally like) Just on cardio days, which at this point is almost everyday.
Clen would help.

Keep us posted on your progress.
graybass

 

[~bmf2~]

Advice above is spot on... but I would like to know...

What does your diet look like??? you said you cleaned it up but what is clean to you...

 

[gabjo02]

my diet

My diet is probably to clean if there is such a thing (virtually no fat and very little carbs). I eat approx. 7-8 times a day and each meal consist of about 30g protein (tuna, turkey,tilapia and chicken only). My carbs all day constist of 1.25 cups of oatmeal spread over 3 meals and a 4 oz. yam with my fish after my workout. My veggies include spinach, broccoli and asparagus and that is not really limited but I probably only get about a 1.5 cups of veggies all day.

Thats my diet

So its pretty clean

Unfortunatley, I must admit that I am noticing that my head is just not in it and I may reconsider this show all together and not try and push myself to do so many in the first year. My trainer thinks I should hold off because I am pressured by the amount of weight I need to lose in the short amount of time to lose it. Since I am stressing over it so much, the stress alone will impede my weight loss efforts.

Just this past weekend I went to a wedding and I was starving watching everyone else eat and I went overboard and overate, I felt like shit over it, both physically and mentally. So I am thinking that my mind is just not in it right now and I should take it easy and maybe just get in shape lose the weight SLOWLY and feel good about myself.

I know there was an earlier post which indicated that 4 shows a year was too much, and that is what I was hoping for, I have already done 2 this year and I can not get over how the cravings for the worst food ever hit me, these may have been things I would have never included in my diet in the past, but when I felt deprived of them for so long I tend to go overboard, which has been my problem. Does anyone else feel this way? Am I not in the norm?

Thanks for your help

Advice above is spot on... but I would like to know...

What does your diet look like??? you said you cleaned it up but what is clean to you...

 

[robbie]

My diet is probably to clean if there is such a thing (virtually no fat and very little carbs). I eat approx. 7-8 times a day and each meal consist of about 30g protein (tuna, turkey,tilapia and chicken only). My carbs all day constist of 1.25 cups of oatmeal spread over 3 meals and a 4 oz. yam with my fish after my workout. My veggies include spinach, broccoli and asparagus and that is not really limited but I probably only get about a 1.5 cups of veggies all day.

Thats my diet

So its pretty clean

Unfortunatley, I must admit that I am noticing that my head is just not in it and I may reconsider this show all together and not try and push myself to do so many in the first year. My trainer thinks I should hold off because I am pressured by the amount of weight I need to lose in the short amount of time to lose it. Since I am stressing over it so much, the stress alone will impede my weight loss efforts.

Just this past weekend I went to a wedding and I was starving watching everyone else eat and I went overboard and overate, I felt like shit over it, both physically and mentally. So I am thinking that my mind is just not in it right now and I should take it easy and maybe just get in shape lose the weight SLOWLY and feel good about myself.

I know there was an earlier post which indicated that 4 shows a year was too much, and that is what I was hoping for, I have already done 2 this year and I can not get over how the cravings for the worst food ever hit me, these may have been things I would have never included in my diet in the past, but when I felt deprived of them for so long I tend to go overboard, which has been my problem. Does anyone else feel this way? Am I not in the norm?

Thanks for your help

Based on what you said...I'd suggest you take a break. Rest re-evaluate your plan for the next season and than go for it. Your diet is NOT perfect, but not bad either. Thats not important right now. What is important is that your body tells you to take a break. If your heart is not in it, thats a good indication that you need a rest...both mental and physical.
Good luck in whatever decison you make.

 

[G-Head]

That is a decision you and trainer should seriously sit down and talk about NOW, but I am in agreement with the above statements. Your body needs a break and it's telling you with sometimes not-so-subtle signs. Going into a show with the attitude you mentioned and not doing as well as you can, by not looking as good as you can, will leave a bad taste in your mouth. Be honest with yourself and good luck.

 

[gabjo02]

thanks for your posts

Thanks for all those who posted with their help.

I have decided to take a rest for the rest of this season, and focus on getting stronger and if I chose to do it again, my mind and body will feel different about it.

I have so much on my plate for the remainder of this year to focus on, I have started a new job and I will be traveling quite a bit for work, which also stressed me out as to how I would get the diet right when not at home or even in this country.

Thanks Again for your help and support

That is a decision you and trainer should seriously sit down and talk about NOW, but I am in agreement with the above statements. Your body needs a break and it's telling you with sometimes not-so-subtle signs. Going into a show with the attitude you mentioned and not doing as well as you can, by not looking as good as you can, will leave a bad taste in your mouth. Be honest with yourself and good luck.

 

[graybass]

Gab,
Good choice! Focus on strength, and having fun in the gym.

Don't be a stranger to the other forums on this board. Keep us posted on how everything is going.
We are all kindred spirits here!