too much cardio...too low calories?

[Monrea]

I've been training hard for 7 weeks to get to my first figure comp in Aug. But I won't make it as I have not gained enough muscle and 8 weeks isn't enough time to get where I feel I want to be for my first one!
I found a local trainer who I like, but now I'm not sure that things are going right. Now that I'm not doing the August show, but instead doing a show in Oct (gives me 16 weeks out from now) I wondered if I should still be eating as low of calories as I am. I asked him and he said yes, not to change anything. He said this is enough to get lean by Oct.
I also am starting to wonder about the amount of cardio I do chewing up any muscle I might be gaining...since I've seen almost none!
Here's where I am: 1340 cal. a day. Usually just about or under 30g fat (flax oil and a bit of guacamole on some chicken and some reduced fat feta on a salad) 112g carb (oatmeal, yams, veggies), 138g protein (egg whts, chicken, fish). Of course this may vary depending on little changes, but not by much. The day I put this in I even had a square of chocolate (70 cal).
Some days I feel like I am starving to death! And I am so tired that I've started taking RIpped Fuel just to get through the day and not take 2 naps like I'd been doing.
As far as cardio goes...well I do 6 days a week. 4 days I do 30 min. HIIT on the elliptical with 5 min cool down. The other 2 days I do 30 min fast walk/jog intervals in the neighborhood. I'm also going to be adding some dance practice for an upcoming performance....but only if I've got the energy....sometimes I don't.
I lift 4 days a week, legs/abs, chest/back, arms, and another legs/abs day. I've just started lifting really heavy (until failure) in the hopes that I'll see some gains.
I currently weigh 121, am 5'7" and 15%bf. I was at 18% when I started training this way. My trainer wants me at 10%...but I don't know if I can keep going another 16 weeks at this rate. I'm really exhausted.
Can anybody offer any advice? SHould I just stick it out and keep going?

[kittlin]

Personally, while I don't claim to be an expert, it sounds like "What" you are eating is correct, but the amount of calories seems too low to me. For that kind of activity level and the bf% you're currently at....I think you'll burn out before you're close to the contest.

Your trainer might know you better and have more experience with the contests and contest diets....but it sure seems low to me.

P.S. I'll probably see you in October....at the Heart of Texas???? I'll more than likely be there, too!

[missmuscle]

Hi! When I did my first show I worked myself to death and ate little calories. Needlesstosay, i looked terrible at showtime. I since learned, that you need to get the diet perfect and then do interval cardio on an empty stomach. I stopped doing cardio alltogether and ate A LOT more and lifted heavy. I bulked for about 5 months and then started dieting - when you shock your body after not doing cardio for a while, the body fat comes off a lot easier- just something to keep in mind next time :) Just because someone is a trainer doesn't mean they know how to train you! Eat clean with a lot of protein and do cardio in the AM and intervals. I wish you luck on your show!

[Monrea]

Thanks for the help. I'm cutting my cardio to 5 days a week. And I'm going to be eating a little bit more. I'm tired of being tired!

I'm not planning on doing the NPC Heart of TX. I'm planning on doing the INBF in San Antonio. I just don't know if I could get my body to look that judges want for NPC. The girls are sooo lean. They look great, but I hate to set myself up to do a competition where I'm bound to loose because my body just isn't like that. Maybe after a couple of years I'll know more about wether or not it's possible for me.