Angie's Journey

[gbaby11020]

Hey ladies :)
Starting my own journal(finally!!!) here we go:
Stats- 19 yrs old 5'6" 148 lbs. 18% bodyfat
Looking to drop the bodyfat and increase muscle :)
Currently, doing 5 days of cardio, 3 weight training(30 minute jogs & upperbody/lowerbody split)
Just wanted to get myself started! Will post later on today with training and nutrition!

Angie

[MsJewels]

Hi Angie,

I'm also fairly new to bodybuilding, but right off the bat I can tell you that you're doing too much cardio. Check out my thread to see some of the comments and advice I was given.

http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=412778

[VanillaBean_21]

Yes, do drop the cardio. Take it from me, you won't gain muscle if you are doing that much cardio.

[gbaby11020]

Ok ladies, I'm currently out of town visiting my parents, so I'm not able to vary the food choices today, but I'll make the best with what I brought home and what they have:)
Meals:
1.oat bran w/ apple; protein shake w/ milk (green tea)
2. Protein shake with orange
3. Tuna sandwich with asparagus (green tea)
4. Cottage chees & natty pb
5. Chicken & Brown Rice
6. Cottage Cheese w/ sugar free fat free chocolate pudding mixed in (yerba mate tea)
Supplements:
EC stack (2x a day)
CLA
Fish Oil
Multi
ZMA
Training:
Well yesterday was back/bi/tri's day, so today is just cardio. I decided to cut down on my cardio to 4 days instead of 5. Today, I'm just going to jog with sprinting intervals for 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Feel free to critique my schedule ladies :) I'm currently cutting..any info or opinions are appreciated!

[Krissypoo]

6. Cottage Cheese w/ sugar free fat free chocolate pudding mixed in (yerba mate tea)


You take mate'. How do you like it? What benefits do you see? I have some but I am skeptical. Does it contain caffeine. I have read conflicting things about that. Just crious...

[MsJewels]

Feel free to critique my schedule ladies :) I'm currently cutting..any info or opinions are appreciated!

Well, that's a totally different story if you're cutting. Cardio is not so much the enemy, then, but tell us how many weeks until you competition? (And so you've already gone through the bulking stage?) What's your bf at right now? Maybe post some pics if you have so we can let you know if you appear to be on track.

[gbaby11020]

November is when the comp is...I'm currently at 17% bodyfat ( I got down to 12% in August of 2004, but bulked until now) I will post pics when I get a camera set up sometime in the near future...

[MsJewels]

Don't take my comment as expert by any means on this one, but if your comp is in November, this seems much too early to start cutting. A few other girls have started cutting journals, and they seem to have started about 3-4 months prior...

http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=373550

http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=351604

http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=398253

[Sunshineslynn]

Yes you are cutting to soon. You need to focus right now on building the muscle you need to compete and then around 15weeks start adding in cardio and cleaning up diet. You will never accomplish a lot of muscle mass the way you are training right now. That much cardio will only reverse what muscle you have built and you dont want to throw all your hard work down the drain. This comes from experience. If your comp is in NOV you need not to cut until around August. You also stated that you got down last August to 12% was this for a comp or just to see if you could do it?

smiles
s

[gbaby11020]

oops ladies :) The 1st comp is in June; the 2nd is in November! I wasn't sure if i was going to do the June comp, but I have decided to do it.

[MsJewels]

So how does this work? A comp in June, then a comp in November? Does she cut now, then bulk again afterwards, then cut again for the November competition?? Sounds like an unhealthy thing to do that often, no?

[gbaby11020]

So how does this work? A comp in June, then a comp in November? Does she cut now, then bulk again afterwards, then cut again for the November competition?? Sounds like an unhealthy thing to do that often, no?
yeah, that's why I think it would be best to just do the June competition.. Here's todays entries:
Diet:
1. Oats & Protein Shake
2. Tuna with asparagus
3. Apple & protein shake
4. Soy Crisp Protein Chips(car ride home for 3 &1/2 hours)
5. Go Lean Blueberry Waffle & Protein Shake
6. Grilled Chicken salad
Before Bed: Cottage Cheese with natty pb
Training:
Cardio day: 30 minute intervals on elliptical
I realize I relied too much on protein shakes today, but I had to drive home from my hometown today, so it was a hectic day :)

[gbaby11020]

Diet:
1.Oats with Protein
2. Low Carb Noodles with Tomato Sauce; Chocolate Cottage Cheese Shake
3. Mixed berries(2 serving)
4. Pre Workout(Vanilla Protein Shake)
5. Salmon with Asparagus and Baked Sweet Potato
6. Cottage Cheese & Natty Pb
Supplements:
EC Stack, CLA, Multi, ZMA
Training:
45 minutes Spinning class...its a whopper! ;)

[gbaby11020]

Yay for Fridays!! Just a little thought: Be thankful for you body. Whatever shape, size or color...You have been blessed with a mobile body that you can do amazing things with! Next time you think about cardio and cringe(Like I have done sooo many times), remember this: You have legs & you CAN run,bike,walk, etc. Just a little reminder to keep in your head throughout your workout..it works for me :)
Diet:
1. Oats/banana/egg whites with cinnamon
2. Grilled Chicken with Asparagus & Sweet Potato(2 of my new favorite veggies :)
3. Vanilla Protein Shake(cottage cheese,vanilla soymilk, protein powder)
4. Tuna with FF mayo/ Green Salad with light dressing
5. Cottage Cheese Pudding
Supps:
EC Stack, CLA, Multi, ZMA
Training:
40 minutes of cardio- 30 jog/run intervals; 10 minutes walking

[MsJewels]

yeah, that's why I think it would be best to just do the June competition.. Here's todays entries:

No, no, don't drop your second competition - Ask others on the site how they train for multiple competitions in one year. It is done, I was just putting the question out there so that I could learn along with you.

If you don't get responses here, post on the training thread.

[Sunshineslynn]

5 days of cardio even for a June show is to much. you will burn to much muscle that you have worked for. I usually dont kick up the cardio like that until 4-6weeks out. I am atm getting ready for a May 14 show and I am only doing 2 hiit sessions and 1 30-35 moderate int. session. I am retaining my mass really well but I am dropping inches along with bf. If your diet is right on then you dont need that much cardio. Your cals seem a little low. how many are you currently taking in?

smiles
s

[NavyGal]

After you cut for your June competition you can becoma a little lax on the diet and still train to maintain your muscle for about two to three months and then cut again for the Novemeber show, just remember you might not need as much time cutting for the second show because you won't have as much bodyfat to get rid of.

[gbaby11020]

Yeah, I figured 5 days of cardio was a little much for a June comp, but was afraid to cut it down. I ll start doing 4 instead... I'm currently taking in around 1600 cals a day

[Sunshineslynn]

My cals are still around 1800-2000 yes that will drop some as i get closer. If your eating plenty of protien and lots of veggies you should not have to worry about doing that much cardio. Please heed this advice I have done what you are and did not realize I was actually hendering myself. This time it seems I am dropping inches and around .5lb a week. So if your having problems with some area fats so on try changing what your doing. Like try to aim for 3 sessions of cardio but separate them from your weight lifting if you can. I can't imagine trying to do cardio after weight lifting since I have tired myself out from lifting.

[gbaby11020]

My cals are still around 1800-2000 yes that will drop some as i get closer. If your eating plenty of protien and lots of veggies you should not have to worry about doing that much cardio. Please heed this advice I have done what you are and did not realize I was actually hendering myself. This time it seems I am dropping inches and around .5lb a week. So if your having problems with some area fats so on try changing what your doing. Like try to aim for 3 sessions of cardio but separate them from your weight lifting if you can. I can't imagine trying to do cardio after weight lifting since I have tired myself out from lifting.
yeah, i don't do cardio after lifting, I wait atleast 6 hours if I do them on the same day(I usually dont though) So I should raise my calories a couple 100? I've heard different things from different trainers in the past..thanks for your help :)

[gbaby11020]

Dont feel like typing out my diet today because Im tired, but I did a full body training session in the gym :)