Simone's Contest Prep

3 weeks, 3 days

2010-09-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, This week has been okay but today I am starting to feel it.
My diet changed again and as of last Monday my diet is basically just chicken with some fats.
Meal 1-chicken
meal 2-chicken
meal 3-chicken and avocado
meal 4-chicken
meal 5-roo and avocado
meal 6-almonds and 1/2 shake.

Hhmmm.
Also, 2 hours cardio and 1 weight training session per day.

All things considering, I am doing alright.
Work is busy and I have just secured a shop to move into hopefully over the next 2 months.
So my 'spare' time (ha ha ha) is taken up with council proposal's, builder, plumber, electrician, accounting, bank meetings, business planning etc.
I have to say that I am learning a lot!
I found out last night that there are about 5 of us competing in the same category.
I hope I am not the worst. lol
I am soo confident.
My weight this morning was 60.0kg. Still carrying it mainly around my butt and thighs and a little in the lower stomach.
I am glad that I have another 2 weeks after the vics to get in better shape for the nationals.
Its been interesting seeing the changes and going through the dieting process again.
Its nice to fit into all my clothes again too. I just hope they still fit me after the comp. I will just try to do enough cardio and try not to eat ridiculous amounts.
Easier said than done...
Oh well, better go, have one client booked in and then a massage, then more cardio. yay

4 weeks, 2 days

2010-09-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hi again. I have to say that I have felt not too bad this week. Sunday was a bad day but I am doing alright esp today.
I got up this morning to do another hour of cardio and had good energy. I don't know how and I dont know why but I am glad.
I still could not exert myself too much but I am coping.
Blew up at mum on Thursday after she handed me a recipe.... I swear I feel like she is trying to sabotage by efforts at staying as sane as possible.
Lost it at the idiotic real estate guy who left us all standing in the cold and wind waiting for him to turn up and show us through the shop I am interested in leasing.
After I rang him and, surprise surprise, he didnt answer, left a message and then rang the real estate to find that he hadnt even left the office.
His excuse.. 'I was on the phone for 45 minutes'.
Well, a quick message to myself to let me know would have been curteous. It is obvious that I dont mean shit and am not worth even that, according to him.
I just hate how unprofessional some people are and wonder how they are still employed and in business. His whole manner is atrocious.
Anyway, I certainly let him know that in very polite curteous words. lol
Body fat is still dropping. Weighing in this morning at 60.6kg.
I am getting excited but also really trying to enjoy the whole process.
Poor gonz has been rather neglected as I consider only myself and my needs. I really cant cope with considering more than that at the moment.
He's hanging in there. We are looking forward to the freedom of having meals together again and having a choice although I am not craving lots of crappy food I just will enjoy eating basically the way I was for most of the diet. Oats, egg whites, mountain bread. They are the things i am missing. Oh, and a coffee with milk in it...

5 Weeks!!

2010-08-29T15:44:00.001-07:00

Okay, it's hard now. Struggling with feeling angry and irritable at the moment. People trying to help but it just makes me more annoyed. I think its just that they dont understand. They say things like 'not long now' or 'you're looking great' or anything really....
Yeah, i look great in clothes but thats not the purpose of this. They have no idea what i need to look like or what i actually do look like. I think the perception out there is still that i am just trying to be skinny.
Or I get, 'you poor thing' 'what? you cant eat that?'
You know, no one put a gun to my head. This is my choice and I choose to do what is needed to get up there and be competitive. I am NOT a poor thing!!
Or others saying, can you eat salad? And trying to offer me alternatives.
'No, I cant. Everything is weighed and timed' I can only eat what I prepare and at certain times and in certain amounts.'
I go to mum's and she talks non stop about the restaurants people are going to, the food she is preparing, the food she wants to prepare and the food others are preparing etc etc.
Dont people have anything else too talk about?
Its not like i can relate to her at the moment.
Then she goes overboard in trying not to talk about food by making a big deal about 'slipping up' and talking about food.
Thats the kind of thing that drives me nuts. That and people trying to find ways of this not being hard. They just dont get it. It is hard and it is meant to be hard and thats why most people dont do it.
If it was easy, everyone would be walking around with shredded bodies full of energy and happiness. la la la
Do you readers get the message yet? lol I am agro!!
Oh well, not long now...... ;-)

5 weeks, 6 days :-)

2010-08-23T04:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, getting closer. Today was a big challenge. Still have this throat infection, work was very busy, and 2 cardio, 1 weights session.
I felt like i was turning into the exorcist chick at the gym. Poor Gonz got most of it.
I have also dosed up on painkillers for most of the day and spend half of it spitting up yellow phlegm. yay.
Things are crazy in the Simmi household.
Well, this is my path and I am truly walking it alone from here. Gonz was left behind a long while ago, he is support where he can be but I am out on my own now.
I am really feeling that now. No one around me understands what I am going through. Thats okay. I do thrive on this kind of challenge. I am going to make it, I dont think it gets much harder than this.
Time for bed, then get up and do it again. I hope tomorrow is more managable with work. I still need to bring in the work (and money) but please tomorrow, dont be too crazy...

6.5 weeks and counting!

2010-08-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, well besides getting another cold things are going well. Diet is booring but I have to say I am usually not hungry. My mind is starting to play tricks on me. telling me this doesnt really matter, I don't have to try so hard, its only a bb comp and i shouldnt let it take priority over life... things like that.
If i listen to that it can really undermine my efforts and I have coped my talking to Gonz about it and just generally talking about that.
Life would be easier (i think) if i didnt put so much effort into other things like my business, keeping up with friends and family etc. But I am NOT prepared to take things that far. My business needs to grow and it will be there after the comp.
I can honestly say that I feel a lot more sane this time round. I dont know why, perhaps my previous eating disorder DID have a massive impact on my head space and contributed to the cloudiness. It has really not been too bad this time.
I am gradually having a harder time getting a good night sleep due to my mind going over things and I anticipate that that will settle when i finish competing.
Training is hard but it is so nice having Gonz there to keep me going when my muscles are screaming and burning and i feel like dropping them and crying. ha ha I sound like a pussie.
So, today is legs then a massage then more cardio. Cardio is prob harder than weights as my legs get the shakes and i feel like i can keep going.. but i do. I have one ear phone in and have the tv going as the IQ box is recording all episodes of Star trek deep space nine and Voyager. That keeps me distracted for now.
Not long to go and its very exciting.

8 weeks to go!

2010-08-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sunday today. I am feeling better. Had another bad one yesterday mainly work related. I really need a receptionist!! And I have started making this possible.
Last cheat meal also today and I am looking forward to getting together with Cath, Jared and the clan for home made gnocchi. It's been good to relax today and prepare for the next week. As of tomorrow I no longer have my oats for breakfast. :-(
Instead, it will be 80g chicken. mmmmm
I am thinking its time to switch to free range for better taste.
Cardio has been twice a day too. The felt on my spin bike wore down to the plastic and I was lucky to have Gonz around to replace it as I had no idea.
So, the bike is now all ready to go for the next 8-10 weeks.
Training will be supersets for the next 2 weeks. My weight is about 64.5kg. I am happy with my progress and not stressing too much about getting in shape in time. I know it will happen.
And I trust Donny's advice.

8.5 weeks out

2010-08-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

3rd July and time is going by quickly. Started cardio twice a day now. Feeling my strength reducing too. My head has also started playing tricks on me and i did have a mini melt down friday and saturday. I put it down to doing too much. Gonz and I have spoken about it and I feel better now.
Sunday was spent on the couch and i didnt even get out of my pajamas all day. that is very unusual for me. Had a great sleep and woke 5:30am to get back on the bike.
Weight is down around 66kg.
The next 8 weeks are going to go so fast and it is getting exciting.
I have decided i need some help around work etc. and Gonz has started taking over some of the jobs i would have normally done.
This allows me some time to just lie down or sit and do nothing (which i feel like a slack arse for doing). It really does help. I have also been stressing about working alot and fitting everybody in but I just have to say no for my own sanity.
We have a few things on this weekend which i feel a little anxious about but after this weekend, I wont be doing much at all.
I have started forgetting things and have made a few stuff ups like booking a whole client list in for last saturday in sunshine when no one was going to be there. No good.
I now am looking for a receptionist to do a few hours a day, will ask mum first.
Training going well otherwise and loving seeing the changes in the gym mainly with more vascularity coming out. I am waiting for my stomach to show veins as it means that gut is nearly gone. Woo hoo.

11.5 weeks to go

2010-07-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Thought I should write something as I have been slack. As this will be my last comp I want to keep good notes to reminisce when i am old and fat. :-)
My weight has really started moving in the last few weeks. Today I was 66.9kg which is more than my target for the week.
Life is so busy right now but I am doing alright. Diet has been great (just a bit boring) but I am enjoying it as much as I can. My body is staying relatively injury free helped by a weekly massage and needling treatment. My head is good, I couldnt ask for more.
I estimate about another 7-8kg to lose and I hope I can make that all fat and nothing else.
Cardio is still low intensity 45 minutes 5 days a week. I am still training hard and am staying strong. Even increasing sometimes in weight which I couldnt do during my previous comp preps. I have some days where I feel hunger but for the most part i am not hungry. I am trying to drink 2-3 big cups of green tea and some days forget to have a coffee cause I am trying to get so much tea in.
Winter has been cold but I have the spin bike at home and put it in front of the tv so i can watch taped episodes of Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Voyager.
I was a bit lost after I finished the last season of Next Generation but have finally almost moved on..
Anyway, I will try to post once a week from now on.

17th May 2010-Day 1

2010-05-17T00:24:00.000-07:00

Day one of 140 days (as my partner Gonz has told me). I am feeling the effects of the change of diet almost immediately. I wonder if it is all in my mind?
I think by the end of this week or next week I will have adjusted to the food and it won't affect me like today. It is also my birthday and so I chose to have today off. Why not?
I have also taken a good look at my training intensity and was more strict with resting time. As a result, I was exhausted after my workout. Good. I hope to see the benefits soon.
Gonz has decided to diet with me. I do not advise this and have asked for a diet plan to be written up for him. No sense us both being crazy.
I havent weighed myself yet but will do so tomorrow morning.

The next and last comp year

2010-03-04T23:53:00.000-08:00

This will be my last year competing for awhile, probably forever. I want to start a family but have this one goal to complete.
Thank you to my family, Gonz, and Donny Henderson Smith and Hayley too.
You guys are the support I need to reach this goal in the best condition of my life.
Last year was a great year for healing my body and mind and I am now ready to achieve this goal as well as any others I decide to go for after this.
January 1st 2010 was the start of a strict training regime. Three weeks ago I really cleaned up an already pretty clean diet. I am feeling good, strong and motivated.
May 16th will most likely be the start date for competition prep phase. Then 20 weeks of dieting.
I will be competing Oct 3rd and hopefully the weekend of 17th October in Sydney. I am thinking about doing the NABBA show in the middle of them (10th Oct) just cause its there and I will only be in this condition once more.
I have 2 injuries that I am managing with regular Physio and massage and some osteopathy and the regular appointments are making such a difference. These guys are also an essential part of my support network as I know my body would probably break down if I didnt have these treatments weekly.
So I will be working around a dodgy hip and right shoulder bursitis but I am feeling that this is not going to hold me back.
Okay, more to follow..

5 DAYS OUT

2008-08-11T00:11:00.000-07:00

Well, almost here!!
day 2 of carb depletion going as well as can be expected. I am still working although not alot. It is very hard to stay focussed. I have enjoying rambling around the streets doing a little shopping although trying to be careful with the finances. I have kept myself amused with new purchases of a digital camera, digital home phone and answering machine, and I just bought a house!
I went out the other day on a chocolate mission for comp day. I have a nice stash in the cupboard waiting for saturday. yay. Rocklea road and lindt chokky. mmmmn.
I did some practice yesterday with my bikini on and I am happy with my progress. I would still like to be leaner but everyone has something they would like to improve on. Overall I have made good improvements and am happy.
The weight circuits weren't as bad as I anticipated. I have my last one tomorrow which is a full body circuit for about 30 mins. I think it is heaps easier than doing 8 x 8 x 8 sets and thats the only reason i find it easier. Also going from one body part to another gives each body part a bit of a rest which also helps alot.
But other than that, there isn't a lot I can do at this point besides hold tight and stick to my diet until the day. Getting exciting now. I can't wait to see everyone else and how they look and come up as well. There should be some pretty impressive physiques there.

13 days out

2008-08-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday and right now I am feeling pretty weak and flat. I have moments where I think i feel okay and then i hit a wall and feel like i am going to collapse. Training is real hard and I lose the little bit of energy I manage to muster very quickly. I am getting quite lean but feel really small up top. My legs still look pretty good. Had a small party at my place last night where I cooked 2 dishes to share and people brought a plate and drinks. I had help to cook the mini cottage pies and vegetable pie and they turned out really well. I didn't eat one single morsal either. It smelled great and was nice to cook something other than chicken, brocolli, roo, egg whites. I am so close now that I know I don't have long to wait until I can enjoy a nice meal myself.
Life in general is otherwise going well and I feel quite relaxed about it. My business is up and growing steadily, relationships and friendships going well and I am seriously looking at property (which I feel surprisingly calm about even though it has been the one thing i have aimed for but also been scared shitless about).
I just want to feel normal again and I want this cloud to clear out of my head. I do have moments where everything is clear but they don't last long.
Routine is sorted and I am going over it again and again. Posing could still improve. Cardio is a real struggle but I am getting through it. Just day by day. I hope the October comps aren't this hard to prep for. I hope the hard work i do now will make that 8 weeks all the more easier. I guess it all depends on how much I eat after the bendigio show. thats going to be hard cause I have so many things I want to eat.
oh well.

6 Days Out

2008-07-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

Today I have started 4 days of zero carbs. Yay. I am very spoilt to have a personal cook these days who is diligently cooking up 5 kg of chicken breast and broccoli and zucchini for my eating pleasure. My head is already pretty cloudy and typing is even a struggle. I think i have pressed the delete button more times than these words (if that makes sense). I have a bit of work this week but over all I am staying home. Friday is the killer with 22 people booked in but it is also a carb day so thats good.
Overall I am happy with my condition at this point and although i won't be a my very best on sat, I am still feeling good with what I will bring to the stage. Then 5 weeks later I should be 100% for Bendigo.
I will be wearing my old bikini and doing the old routine this weekend and then I have a new bikini and routine for Bendigo.
Gonna go now cause this is too hard...

2 Weeks out

2008-06-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well I am 2 weeks out from the all-female's which I made a decision at the last minute to compete in. I am giving figure a shot as I will still have 5 weeks after this comp to get leaner for the Bendigo comp.
I have been practising being 'girly' which is interesting.
Weighing this morning at 58.1kg (but I could tell that the scale wanted to say 58kg :-) )
Perhaps that will happen tomorrow.
I am pretty happy with my progress so far and should do alright for bendigo and october.
Diet is extremely bland now but it doesn't really bother me. I think adding a lot of flavour to my food will be too much for me at this stage and even when off the diet.
I am sleeping a lot better this time around too and am alot more relaxed.
Still eating tuna every day and I still like it. I also like my green vegies and sweet potato. Egg whites are still pretty good too.
I am starting to get more vasular now and am trying to get my weaker points into better shape. i.e. legs and butt and lower abs. that is where the body fat likes to sit.
Everything else is pretty much organised and ready to go.
I don't have any progress pics yet as my photo person is not around anymore so I have to get someone new to do that and mum will help me on the day now.

WEEK 7

2008-05-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

Well I am into week 7 and feeling pretty good. Weight is slowly coming down and I am seeing changes almost daily which I am loving.
Carbs are pretty low at the moment and I have added some high intensity cardio 2-3 times a week to help cut up my legs and butt.
I have been unable to get more photos as Phil is in hospital after his back op and he was the main photographer for me. Thats okay though.
Weighing in now about 60.8-61.1 kg.
I am kind of proud of the fact that I have eaten tuna for every meal since starting this diet. I am wondering how long i can keep it up b4 I can't stand to look at tuna anymore.
If anything, I am having trouble eating enough. Getting full before I even finish some of my meals.
But my head in in so much better space this time round. I couldn't ask for a better mind set (although I am still looking forward to that pizza at the end of the tunnel :) ) But really I don't care about the pizza... So strange. I think I am actually happy within myself and that makes all the difference.
Still training strong. 13 weeks to go.
Looking forward to flying up to Sydney for the ANB comp up there on 25th May. I have heard that ANB is alot more popular in NSW.
Anyway, until my next blog....

4 Weeks in

2008-04-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

I am about to go into my 5th week of dieting and things are going well. My weight has not dropped a great deal on the scales but i have taken a few photos and measurements and have been relying mainly on the mirror to see changes.

I started at 65.6kg and this morning weighed 62.1kg. So far my training is going well but I have already noticed a drop in strength in the chest. Otherwise I am just as strong in other body parts.

I have been having a bit if a life, going out but not staying too late. My family has also been alot more supportive this time round. I think they appreciate it more since going to the last comp.

I am so much better in the head this time and alot calmer and happier. So far things are good and I am just enjoying the process of watching my body's changes and reactions.

It helps that I can talk openly with some close friends as I tend to hold things in. This is a big year as I want to enter a few comps if i can. I am planning on going back to school next year and so may need to have a few years off competing. It will all depend on what I can manage. I am definitely giving this my all this time round. No regrets at the end.

Ready to start the hard yards

2008-03-28T02:08:00.000-07:00

Well its nearly 1st April and this was the day I decided to begin dieting. I have actually started early, last Tuesday night after I got back from Bathurst. I have let things get really out of hand. This week is also a week off and I have just been doing a bit of walking and thats all. This Monday I will begin training again and there will be no more breaks till the comp.
I met up with Jo Rogers last Thursday for some posing practice for an hour. And I had forgotton what hard work it is. She really did get me to make some nice improvements though and its up to me to keep practicing and improving now.
I am pretty excited to get back into the gym but will still have to take it easy on the biceps as I still have that injury (golfers and tennis elbow). I started taking super cissus twice a day and hopefully that will help repair the tendons. I have also started taking fish oil again. Its has improved some but is very frustrating that I can't continue training at that intensity.
Next post will be after I am into my first week. Hopefully I will have lost about a kilo then. Last weigh in was 64.6kg

Getting Closer

2008-03-14T04:31:00.000-07:00

2 Weeks until the diet starts. Things are going well enough except for a left arm Golfer's elbow problem. Only really noticable when training biceps so far.
I won't get on the scales now but i feel i am about 66-67kg.
I had to go and buy bigger pants finally. I was in denial for a while and just squeezed myself into my largest pair of pants. I still wear my pj's but with all the buttons undone :) Not a pretty sight.
The positive thing is that have gained a good amount of muscle and I can't wait until it all starts to show.
So until then, keep on eating :) train hard and sleep well.
I have made some great gains in the gym. I can lift heavier dumbells by myself and have gotten up to some weights i never thought i would get to. It definitely helps having a good trainer to push the weight higher than you would think yourself capable.
I will start to do regular entries when the diet starts, with photos and measurements.
It will be a 20 week cut this time and no high intensity cardio

2008-02-06T01:21:00.000-08:00

Today I got Phil to take a few shots of my back cause I haven't been able to see how I am progressing. I was surprised at the improvement. My weight at the moment is 63.7kg. The low GI thing seems to be going well and I have felt alot better in the last week.

February 3rd 2008

2008-02-03T03:42:00.000-08:00

Well, Wendy gave me the idea to start my own blog after reading hers. Its a great idea to share with others as well as let out my thoughts during the whole competition process.
So this is my first post and I am trying to build as much muscle as i possibly can before starting to cut.
My strength has been great and I have been making some good improvements since October. I know this also because my Mum was a bit shocked the other day in the gym and thought I was looking a bit masculine. I took that as a compliment.
She doesn't really get it but I have been teaching her to spot me in the gym and surprisingly, she picked it up really well. Better than some of the Idjiots I have asked for help in that past.
I am in the process of changing gyms AGAIN. Geelong just doesn't have good serious gyms. I will be rejoining Fitness Physique soon. I have my trainer in Melbourne that I see once a week and another membership in St Albans at a gym filled with guys, an older Serbian lady who has obviously been training for centuries and me. Its funny..
It has been hard to get my eating in order as I am either eating too much or restricting too much. I think I have cracked onto a good thing at the moment. I have started eating meals based on the low GI principles. This has helped me alot, I have less bloating and I have been able to add more variety into my diet that I wouldn't have normally done. This is great at the moment until I start dieting then it will basically be the same initially but gradually reducing the calories. Its been hard because I also have some food intolerances which I am still trying to sort out with my specialist. I have to do 3 days of hydrogen/methane breath tests where they test certain ingredients on you and determine exactly what intolerances you have. Should be interesting.
Everything else otherwise is going well. I love my cardio and to force myself to not do too much and rest my body. I was still doing 1 to 2 cardio sessions per day up until last week. I have cut that back to try and get more energy for my weight workouts.
I have been doing regular measurements and they are posted on www.Bodybuilding.com
At the moment my weight is 62.7kg. I am not bothering to do body fat % this time. Its too hard. The mirror will do and photos.
I am doing the workshop run by Jo Rogers and Donna Jones on feb 17th. Should be good. I will try and get to some of the ANB workshops too. It all helps to stay motivated.
I want to be bigger and better this year. Yeah