Simpy Irresistible

[Simpy]

As promised I am starting a new journal. I kind of just wanted a fresh start with my journaling. I had gotten away from the real stuff. I rarely put in my diet, which is a big deal for me. So, at least on the days I journal, I will be keeping up with what I'm eating.

Recently, I did a figure competition. I had thought that I would compete one more time this spring, at the Jr. USA's in Charleston, SC. I think I've pretty much talked myself out of it, though. I really want to do it, but I didn't finish as well as I had hoped I would at my last show and I really think I need to focus on getting better before I step up the competition. I'm not worried about losing my eligibility. I've never not placed at a figure competition, and I've been qualified to do national level shows for years now. I just don't think I'm ready.

Also, I have a few things personally and professionally that I would like to focus on. I think that whenever someone says they have person issues to work on, everyone assumes that's a bad thing. It's not. My personal and professional lives are both going very well at the moment. I just want to improve on a few things. I'd like to focus on that for the next few months.

So the Jr. USA's are out. I do think that I will head down in May to see the show, however. I would like to see how a national level show is run. I'm also now looking for a show to do this fall. I think I'm done with the local shows for the time being. I'd like to go somewhere new. So if anyone has suggestions, let me here them.

One thing that I really want to work on is my off-season diet. I'm dedicated this time to keeping my body fat low. I weighed myself this morning, and after dropping most of the water that I gained after my show, I'm down to 144. So I'm technically up 4 pounds. Of course, I've also been eating carbs like crazy, and the 140 that I was before was carb-depleted. As of tomorrow I'm officially back on my diet. I will still be carb cycling for a bit. I think I'll work on it for the next two weeks. Then I will slowly add carbs back into my diet until I'm at maintenance. Eventually I'll work up to going above maintenance to increase muscle mass.

This past week I've pretty much eaten everything that I wanted to, but I'm ready to get back on the wagon. Even my eating everything I wanted to hasn't been that bad. Today I did have pizza buffet (2 pieces of pizza and a fatty salad), but yesterday's biggest cheat consisted of peanut butter and crackers. Hardly going to ruin me. I even ate two obligatory ice creams this past week. I'm finding that I did miss fatty, carby, salty food. But I haven't really missed sweets at all. Could it be that I'm beginning to overcome my addiction to sugar?

I've written out a new workout program for myself. It consists of five lifting days. Legs, upper body push, upper body pull, total body push, and total body pull. This will allow me to work each body part twice a week in only five days. It will also help to keep my workouts a bit shorter than they have been. I'm aiming to get about 10 reps on each set, excluding calves and abs. The biggest goal is to get very close to failure on each set. I'm really wanting to push myself and grow my damn shoulders.

After looking at pictures of myself I find that my lats may be a bit overpowering for my shoulders. My lats are certainly not kick-ass. My shoulders are small. It doesn't help that I have wide hips, which also makes my shoulders look less impressive. I also discovered, after seeing pics, that I was not nearly lean enough. That's why keeping the body fat low is so important for the next show.

That's all for now. I'll post up some recent pics in a few minutes, so stay off my back (or butt as it may be) Eric!

[Simpy]

Here is a link to the show photographer's website. I was figure class E, although this link should take you directly there.

http://rochelle-hubs.smugmug.com/gal...5_g42tV#P-1-15

Below are a few pics that my mom took and two of my booty. Big Sexy is never pleased when the booty starts to say goodbye during a contest prep. My butt's fairly good sized even when I'm dieting, but hardly what I'm used to. Don't even ask why I put that on here.

Also, there's a pic of Harry and me. I looked horrible, but as you guys can see, Harry's a cutey.

[mystix]

nothing like clicking a blown up ass to kickstart your day thanks!

[Simpy]

The second picture is right after Cadillac got water all over my arm. Stupid me wanted to take pics next to the fountain, so I take total blame.

There's also two pics of Cad and me at Great Wolf Lodge. I really liked the first one, but it was blurry. The other one's just okay of both of us. The last is a picture of my two men having fun in the water.

[Arlecchino]

Subscribed.

Edited to add: Bull****. Your hard work was and is incredibly obvious.

[HC]

I am in too!!! woot!

NICE PICS - you look terrific!

bleh on the heavy tans...it looks kind of weird but I know it makes the muscles pop

[Dedicatedforlife]

Subbed

You look like a totally different person with all that ProTan or whatever is on you!

[Simpy]

Originally Posted by Dedicatedforlif

Subbed

You look like a totally different person with all that ProTan or whatever is on you!

I know. It's freaky. I hate it because it gets in my pores. Gross.

[NuclearArms]

Good to see a new thread and outlook.

Best as always. Say hi to the big guy for me.

[Hibiscus09]

I love all the photos! You look fantastic and your son is sooo cute!

I also think your journal title is cute.

I'll be interested in reading along to see what you do to stay leaner this time. I'm sure you'll do great!

[Arlecchino]

Hey Leah, since you are not all that busy, possibly you could go over the details of your last week of contest prep.

[twinnett]

A new journal. Nice! You looked incredible at your show...working on the shoulders will make such a difference!

Love the pics....your little boy is just adorable!

[Buffycat3]

Hey Leah....I am liking your attitude toward your next step in life, family, and body.
They are really true and commendable goals.
I wish you the best!!

You are a beautiful woman...and the photos from the show prove it.
Thanks for sharing your contest and family photos with us.
I Love Them!!


PS: I never knew how to train shoulders in order to make them bigger....I don't know if I should be doing the 'less is more' strategy, or blast them hard to make them grow

[sherdi]

You look fantastic Leah...you should be happy with yourself. I am always really inspired by the way you can objectively look at yourself and make decision based on your intiution. Good luck with your new program and journey!

[ubermumma]

Oh good a new journal....I was way too far behind in the other one!

You looked great at your last show. I can't wait to see where your new plans are going to take you

[amj0883]

I think you looked fantastic!! Thank you for sharing your photos...I can only imagine how nerve-racking it must be..

[HC]

I still can't believe how good you looked!! well...strike that...I can believe it..you work so hard. But it really cool to see for ourselves! thanks!!

[Arlecchino]

Good morning Leah. Again allow me to compliment you on your hard work and dedication. You should be justifiably proud of what you have accomplished, both on and off the stage.

[daddybeast]

A few things. First of all the new Avi is great!!. Second the pictures are good but not near as good as seeing it all in person.

This being the first show I went and actually watched I think the funniest thing is what my wife said to me. She asked me, "Why does everyone look like an Oompa Loompa" I laughed for a while and then explained to her about all the tanning products they use.

[TheLBM]

nice tan girl.

[vanillabn]

Glad you started a new journal - now I can start from the "beginning" of this one Great pics, you look fantastic! Your workout program plan looks great too.

[hbk442000]

no one tells me anything...or was that the point

[Surive123]

I'm In Simp.

[SPACECLOWN]

[daddybeast]

Simpy, Where's the thong shot we took at your show?

[HC]

Originally Posted by harrybeast

Simpy, Where's the thong shot we took at your show?

harry!! haha your avi's are really cute

[daddybeast]

awe thanks.

[Simpy]

Originally Posted by NuclearArms

Good to see a new thread and outlook.

Best as always. Say hi to the big guy for me.

Always good to see you!

Originally Posted by Hibiscus09

I'll be interested in reading along to see what you do to stay leaner this time. I'm sure you'll do great!

I won't be staying leaner if my no-carb days keep going like today's feast went.

Originally Posted by Arlecchino

Hey Leah, since you are not all that busy, possibly you could go over the details of your last week of contest prep.

Sure. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday I water load and salt load. Both are rather painful. I try to get in 2 1/2 gallons of water each of those days and salt all my food. By Wednesday I'm back to normal salting and 1 1/2 gallons of water. As hard as it is to get in the extra water, I'm super thirsty when I start to cut back. Up until this point my diet is exactly the same. On Thursday I drop to 1 gallon of water and no salt whatsoever. I also cut veggies at this point. I ususually do protein pancakes for breakfast and then double boiled chicken and grapefruit the remainder of the day. On Friday I drop to 1/2 gallon of water and think I'm dying I do beef and grapefruit all day and almonds at my three main meals. I also do some sort of carb on Friday night.

This time I skipped the cheesecake and went with a glass of red wine instead. That was a bad choice for me. It made me a bit sick and super tipsy. I didn't like it at all and doubt I will do it again. I also think it may have been to blame for me getting up Saturday morning around 1 AM sick as a dog and lying in the bathroom floor with my face on the tiles.

Saturday morning I do two hard boiled eggs w/butter and tad bit of salt. Beef and grapefruit for my first two meals. For my carb-up before prejudging I did a carb drink mixed with a bit of salt and some glutamine. That was great carb choice for me and I'll definitely be trying that again. It didn't taste half as good as trail mix or rice cakes and jelly, but it did the trick. On Saturday I only sip water and suck on ice.

As far as a workout goes, I do a final leg routine on Sunday. Mostly just to get a pump. I do an upper body pump, decreasing weights each day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Nothing but posing on Thursday and Friday.

Originally Posted by twinnett

Love the pics....your little boy is just adorable!

I think he's pretty cute!

Originally Posted by Buffycat3

PS: I never knew how to train shoulders in order to make them bigger....I don't know if I should be doing the 'less is more' strategy, or blast them hard to make them grow

I don't really know either. Shoulders are my nemesis so I've tried a little bit of everything. I keep growing, but not at the same rate as the rest of me.

Originally Posted by sherdi

You look fantastic Leah...you should be happy with yourself. I am always really inspired by the way you can objectively look at yourself and make decision based on your intiution. Good luck with your new program and journey!

I'll be honest, it's very painful to look objectively at my physique. It's hard to admit when something's not good. It's especially painful when it's something beyond my control, like wide hips. All I can do is try to camouflage it and go from there.

Originally Posted by ubermumma

Oh good a new journal....I was way too far behind in the other one!

You looked great at your last show. I can't wait to see where your new plans are going to take you

I was behind in the other one too. I've been lazy these past few weeks.

Originally Posted by amj0883

I think you looked fantastic!! Thank you for sharing your photos...I can only imagine how nerve-racking it must be..

Thank you.

Originally Posted by harrybeast

This being the first show I went and actually watched I think the funniest thing is what my wife said to me. She asked me, "Why does everyone look like an Oompa Loompa" I laughed for a while and then explained to her about all the tanning products they use.

The tanning is freaky if it's the first time someone's seen it. As I was getting off the hotel's elevator and older lady said to her friend, "There must be a really powerful tanning bed here. Everyone's so dark!" That cracked me up.

Originally Posted by TheLBM

nice tan girl.

It's starting to come off in big patches. I look like I have a skin disorder.

Originally Posted by vanillabn

Glad you started a new journal - now I can start from the "beginning" of this one Great pics, you look fantastic! Your workout program plan looks great too.

I doubt you'll learn anything, but always great to have you.

Originally Posted by hbk442000

no one tells me anything...or was that the point

****! You found me.

Originally Posted by NeverBackDown

I'm In Simp.

What's up, Mark?

Originally Posted by SPACECLOWN

[IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z66/Riverh/Submarine.jpg[/

Double ****!

Originally Posted by harrybeast

Simpy, Where's the thong shot we took at your show?

I PM'ed it to you. Don't tell me I sent it to someone else. *smacks head*

[Simpy]

Today's diet has been a mess. First, I walked off without my protein shakes for snacks. Dammit. Worked right through until lunch time, at which point it was pouring the rain. Guess who forgot her umbrella. *Raises wet hand*

I ran to my car and proceeded to get soaked from head to toe. I had wanted to stop by Panera on the way home for a Greek salad with tuna. I just didn't want to get out in the rain again, though, so I chose Arby's drive-through instead. Getting a salad would have required pulling over to eat it, so I opted for popcorn chicken (smothered in buffalo sauce, of course) because it was easy to eat. So that's head smack number two.

I did get a protein shake this afternoon. After picking up Cadillac from school, Big Sexy and I stopped in at the pet store to get all the set-up stuff for a salamander. Cadillac found one yesterday at his Papa's house and could not bear to part with it. While there, Big Sexy went next door and got some Chinese food. So I filled up on Sesame chicken tonight. No rice, but still. . . . it was good in a bad kind of way.

Tomorrow is another day, I suppose.

My workout was fuked up, too. We worked out at the college gym and I completely forgot that the college kids get free run of the place at 4 o'clock. The sucky part was that we got there at 3:30. Obviously not much time for me to get going. It made it far worse considering I did next to nothing last week or the week before the show. I'll be sore, even with only a few sets and exercises.

Squats: 2 warmup sets, 135 x10, 10, 10
Leg Press: 270x15, 360x10, 10, 10
Calf press: 270x20, 360x15, 12, 10
Hanging abs: 15, 15, 15

I was getting ready to start SLDL when Big Sexy informed me it was time to go. I'll do better tomorrow.

[HC]

oh Damn about leaving the shakes...that screws me up for the day too!

Glad you got some workout in even with the kids...

and you are right TOMORROW is another day!!!