One Step Closer

I had a chat to my coach yesterday! Every thing is in place and now I await my training plan and macro split. I'm getting really excited about getting back into a lifting routine. I've been lifting regularly, but I have been feeling like I just need that little extra. A goal to lift my game!

Not looking forward to tracking my macros again but it's definitely needed. My eating has been a bit out of whack lately so I'm sure it's going to be the kick up the bum I need.

I will be keeping my upper/lower split but consistently lifting 6 days per week. I'll be in off-season prep for the rest the year and then pre comp will begin early next year.

Nine months to go until comp time!

Photos and measurements completed

OK.... this is the nervous bit. I have sent off my before photos and measurements to my coach. There is so much to do over the next 9 months. You can see my before photo on my Instagram (@thefitmumma_) as I'm too lazy to get it off my phone and onto my computer! I might post it on here later.

9 months... the length of a pregnancy. Considering how LONG 9 months feels when you are pregnant, I am confident I can achieve what I have to in that time. Not saying this is going to be easy. I've done enough research over the past few years to know that competition prep is far from easy. I'm sure there will be good times, but I'm sure there will be crap times too. Like when I really don't want to do some cardio, or I can't be bothered tracking my lunch, or I can't be bothered going to the gym because I've had a long day or I've gotten up during the night with the kids.

BUT this is a goal I've had for three years now, and it's something I just want to do for myself. I may do it once and decide it's not for me, or I may love it and continue. Who knows...

So it's August...

Long time no update! There is a good reason for that, and it's because I haven't been doing anything! I've been a bit busy this past week at least, so I've taken to doing quick little workouts at home.

But this morning I look at my phone and realise August is here, as it has been for a few a couple of days now haha. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. Coaching starts this month. Half of me wants to just head to the gym right now and the other half of me wants to go to the toilet (what I do when I'm nervous..haha) and go hide under the covers. I assume the latter won't get me on stage though..

Plodding along..

Nothing really to report this week so far. I'm really just plodding along. I couldn't get to the gym this week so have just been working on my nutrition and doing what I could at home. It's been a full on week as my cold that I now has seems to suggest!

I've probably mentioned this before but I've been enjoying a bit too much sugar lately, so I've been concentrating on minimising my intake. I'm doing well! I'm not avoiding it completely, just ensuring I don't have it every single day or in large amounts.

Thinking of starting with my coach earlier than I originally thought.. will have a think and update when I've decided!

The day has finally arrived!

Well, I use the word "finally" loosely. It's not as though it's been months and months, but it still feels like it has.

I have sent my paperwork back in to my chosen coach. I'm really quite nervous and there is always thoughts in the back of my head of "what if I can't do this?" and "should I be doing this?". A bit of background: I have been wanting to compete since 2012. I did have plans to compete in season B 2012 but it was clear I was not ready. I did not leave myself enough time and I look back and cringe at the thought of it. Plus I know so much more about nutrition, training and body composition now than back then. I've come a long way and so has my head space! I won't lie, though. There have been plenty times in the last month where I have thought I should just not start prepping. I'm very good at shying away from a big task. so much so, that in the middle of labour with my son (the pushing stage to be exact) I decided I couldn't do it anymore and it was too hard and he was just going to be stuck there forever haha! I quickly realised what a ridiculous thought that was and continued pushing. I mean, there was only one way he was getting out by then so I couldn't just give up! And I've just gone way off topic..

Anyway, back to my negative thoughts above, I am assured these thoughts are normal and I had some lovely past and present competitors give me some pointers for handling comp prep. I should add, I'm not even in "comp prep" yet.. the prep I will be starting with my coach is off-season prep, but I will still treat is as though it is just as important as on-season prep because it really is. What we can achieve in these few months before official prep starts will help a lot. I start mid next month! This gives me just enough time to finish my 4 week challenge.

Even though I'm nervous as anything, I'm confident that I can do this. I've seen enough before and afters to give me the confidence that anyone can do this. I'm confident in my choice of coach too. Make sure you stick around for posts once the coaching starts; I'm sure it will be a hoot!

Mixed week

My 4 week challenge has started and it's going pretty well! I haven't been doing the eating plan so far, as I just really haven't had a chance to sit down properly, look through it, and plan my meals accordingly. I'm just going to go through until the end of this week doing my own meals then sit down properly and have a look and plan. Also made tonight a rest night so I could get our tax returns done (oh the joys!). I worked hard the last two nights, though, so I'm ok with that.

However I am still coach-less! I'm still waiting on replies so it's getting me a little down. I know I have a long time to go but I feel like I'm in limbo, and the longer I don't have a coach locked in, the more time I feel I am wasting. Strange, because I wouldn't be officially starting until August or September, but I'd like to still have them chosen in the event I decide to start sooner.

It's been a long day so off to bed I go! Will update again soon x

4 Week Challenge

What a boring week! I took this whole past week (yes, all of it) off from the gym as I was getting sick and it was the last thing I needed. I think I mentioned that in my last post. I thought instead of training and possibly being kind of sick for goodness knows how long, I'd just ride out the cold and then I'd feel better and carry on. I'm finally at that point of feeling better so back to the gym I go this week. With a few changes :)

Two of the coaches I spoke to were unfortunately not the ones for me. There's only one so far that I'd be happy going with so I will await their next response and go from there. Even though I'm enquiring now I wouldn't be starting with them for another 2 or 3 months.

That brings me to my 4 week challenge. Even though my motivation levels are high at the moment, I feel I just need a little 'kick'. A little something extra to focus on. I've known about this challenge for a while now and I was curious to know what it was like. I always feel a little silly doing these things; I'm a Personal Trainer so I do know what I'm doing. But sometimes we all need a little push, and with all I have on my plate at the moment it would be nice just to have someone do all the thinking for me. I get to just eat what I'm told to (I've actually never been good at this, so this will be a challenge in itself!) and rock up at the gym and do the workout that is prescribed. I'll be sure to update you as I go along!

Hope you all had a great weekend x