Casandra's road to victory!

imcasandra · 05-21-2009, 10:18 PM

It has been 5 months now since I placed third at the Excalibur in California and 2 additional weeks since I won the NPC South Florida Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships. Both placements qualified me for Nationals. Since then I have been traveling through Europe with my best friend Jessica, spending time with my man the "BIGSTEW"(http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/BigStew/) and quite frankly slacking off in the gym.
I was very happy in being given the opportunity to grace the cover of Natural Muscle Magazine this April and the pages of muscular development this May.
I have been trying to find motivation anyway I can yet have until today fallen short. I tried spinning which was difficult for me as I am a certified meat patty who employs the conventional bodybuilder mentality. I must admit it has been enjoyable but had not given me the boost I needed.
Today I decided its time! Let's just say that when you are previously very lean people feel quite free to share their opinions on how you currently look. But hey, we all need a reality check sometimes!
So today I started off hard-core style I hit legs super hard, followed by 30 minutes of cardio.
In the evening I accompanied my friend Valeria Dalmastro, whom I am helping get ready for her own figure competition, to an unconventional spin class. Wow was I not ready for this! The lady who lead the class was IFBB fitness pro Maria Bellando, and boy was she a firecracker!
Maria was ridiculously high energy. She was screaming, cursing, and dancing the entire time. In fact, mid-way through the class she gave us a little strip tease but of course didn't strip all the way down. This was quite a tough class! In the middle of the class she has you get off the bike and start doing squats. Wow were these squats killing me after doing heavy squats earlier in the day! She made it so much fun as she incorporated some booty dance moves into the squats. I was praying thank you when she made us do push-ups as by then my legs were burnt toast. So we got back on the bike and continued trucking! The energy was incredible, people were screaming, clapping and cheering each other on. Really something else! So I had day one and ate quite clean all day! I'm proud! Perfect day 1! Please follow along and cheer me on, I will certainly need it!
XOXO
Casandra

BigStew · 05-21-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imcasandra

I am a certified meat patty who employs the conventional bodybuilder mentality. ☺

I love this quote baby.
U and me both
LOVE U BABE
Glad your getting ur ass in gear

BigStew · 05-22-2009, 06:04 AM

Morning Hunny
How are the legs doing

imcasandra · 05-22-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigStew

Morning Hunny
How are the legs doing

The legs aren't as bad as I thought.....yet, we shall see tomorrow. I did however have some Beta Alanine before bed since I couldn't find my glutamine within my destruction zone of a home (kitchen is being remodeled). Maybe it helped!
Started my day with a few ounces of extra lean ground turkey in tomato sauce and 1/4 cup of brown rice. Decided to forgo my shake as I wanted something solid.
Ill let you know about my workout later

fltallpaul · 05-22-2009, 09:20 AM

Glad you found my journal...sounds like you have a great plan in place....It's great you and Stew are able to share the bodybuilding lifestyle...

And yes my shoulders were aching when I left the gym...lateral DB raises always kill me...

imcasandra · 05-22-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fltallpaul

Glad you found my journal...sounds like you have a great plan in place....It's great you and Stew are able to share the bodybuilding lifestyle...

And yes my shoulders were aching when I left the gym...lateral DB raises always kill me...

Love those lateral DB raises! I do a drop set with 3 or 4 drops, repping till fatigued then holding up the dumbbells in the 90degree for 10 seconds before dropping weight. It kills! It made my shoulders cap out big time before my last show! Even in those last few weeks I continued to see them blow up.

imcasandra · 05-22-2009, 03:52 PM

So today I did calves. Calves and lats are my weakest links so I have made it a point to myself to work on these parts hardest. I HATE CALVES!!!! I don't know why, but I really hate working out my calves. Mine are simply pathetic, but I have finally come to the realization that like any other body part, you must give them a full 16 sets! (sigh) Unfortunately (since i never do calves) today my calves were more than done after 12 sets.
Standing calf raise(10 turned in, 10 turned out, 10 straight) 4 x 30-30-30 90
Leg press calf press(10 turned in, 10 turned out, 10 straight) 4 x 30-30-20 165
seated calf press (10 turned in, 10 turned out, 10 straight) 4 x 30-30-30 80

It was sad. But I know that soon enough I will see growth if I continue to work at them like I work my shoulders. (But shoulders are so much fun!!!) lol

Then I did 45 minutes of cardio on the stairmaster and followed that by half a banana and a scoop of whey.

Before my workout I had an egg white, mushroom, tomato omelette and half cup of oatmeal at my favorite local restaurant Deli Lane. I have a friend there who is a bodybuilder and always makes sure he makes my oatmeal and has my omelette cooked in pam. It was delicious! Healthy food and shop talk!

Oh and here is my friend Valeria' profile! bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/swimval/
She is competing in 5 and 7 weeks!
I am so exited for her and will be helping her with whatever I can!
Wish her luck!

BigStew · 05-22-2009, 04:30 PM

I am glad you it your baby calves. Keep at it and they will grow

imcasandra · 05-22-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigStew

I am glad you it your baby calves. Keep at it and they will grow

Thanks!

swimval · 06-18-2009, 09:22 AM

I want to read more of your road to victory...

imcasandra · 09-17-2009, 08:00 AM

Ok Folks,
so ive been mia for a bit but Im back to let you know how things are going. So I am now 9 weeks and a day away from Nationals. So far my diet, yeah about that. Just kidding. I have certainly cleaned up my diet and have been trying to stick to it as closely as possible. This coming week I will be sticking to it strictly and to the T. Luckily for me I don't do the whole no carbs thing

So today I have had 8 oz egg whites, half cup oatmeal and a 1/4 cup of blueberries.

next is 4 oz of chkn and a half cup of brown rice. (and i just got a new grill so the chkn is yum!)
but first Im going to the gym to hit my back dirty style!!!
Back was my weak point last season and though it has been slow growing, it is growing indeed. My frot pose is considerably better and I am quite happy with the changes.
The only drwback I have had is that from working my back so much I am also working my arms which continue to grow. I never do biceps!! I measured my arms yesterday and they were 13" around!!!!! What the?!!!
lol
So Im basically on my own for this one, but I am sure I will receive the help of some friends along the way.
Anybody wanna buy me a new suit?

Well stick around, I will let you know how back went!
xoxo
Casandra

BigStew · 09-17-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imcasandra

My arms which continue to grow. I never do biceps!! I measured my arms yesterday and they were 13" around!!!!! What the?!!!
lol

Back on the Good Stuff I see

imcasandra · 09-18-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigStew

Back on the Good Stuff I see

haha very funny

imcasandra · 09-18-2009, 11:32 AM

So I didn't have time to get back on here last night as I was training clients till ( pm. After that, supermarket, grill and sleep.
As for mny back workout, it went pretty well.
I was able to do 7 pull ups all by myself unassisted. I know, thats not much but I started with 2 about 3 months ago, so it is at least progress.

Pull-ups 3 sets 7reps, 6 reps and 4 reps.

Overhand barbell row
4 sets
12 x 95, 10 x 115, 10 x 135, 8 x 165

Single-arm dumbell rows
4 sets
12 x 45, 10x 50, 8 x 55, 6 x 65

wide grip pull-downs
12 x 75, 12 x 95, 10 x 95

finally I used one of the row machines by atanding outside of the machine and pulling downward which works the upper lats.

3 sets

15 x 45, 15 x 65, 12 x 65

I then did 45 minutes of cardio split up between the stairmaster and the treadmil.
After my wrkt I had 1 1/2 scoops of Isopure protein and 1 scoop of waxy maize.

I almost had a perfect day yesterday except for missing one late afternoon meal.

I feel tired today and feel as if I haven't had sufficient sleep in the past couple of days, but on the up-side I feel leaner today. I think I was holding some water. Now the strange thing is that I can see myself getting leaner i.e. my abs are becoming visible and my waist looks small (this is probably the best look for me) yet my weight is pretty high! It had been 132 a couple of days ago when it is usually around 126! today it was still 130.5 this morning. Not sure why my weight is up yet I look leaner. hmmm... Its gotta be water, but I have no clue where it is.

Today I had my breakfast and had to substitute meal 2 for another breakfast as I was out of chicken. (of course) I am taking the day off the weights but will be hitting cardio for 45 minutes. Ill let you know what happens after that.

imcasandra · 09-18-2009, 11:39 AM

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post386531511