Prep for first Contest, How do I look so far?

[AmandaKay524]

Hey just wanted to get some opinions from other people. I am training with some great coaches and nutritionist, but sometimes I feel like they are too busy when I want to ask for feedback. The gym has several top level competitors on both the PRO and Amatuer leagues, so I being around them sometimes I feel I am WAY out from being ready.
I started my diet Mid-February, but was already eating by ZONE/PALEO/Primal standards. so I was getting the 30-40-30 ratios by zone standards, but through non processed foods. But grains included in my competition diet
Original goal was to diet from Mid Feb and be ready for a show that is actually today, but they told me I needed a little longer so will probably try for the next one in the area thats still like 2 months away! so I am also worried about my energy levels etc for dieting an extra 8 weeks, with a diet that was written for an earlier contest.

OK so here are the pics..
The first ones in normal swim suit were 2 weeks before I started the diet
The las ones are a couple days ago with the suit i bought for the competition.. I know my legs and booty need to come down alot more and I had just gotten home from gym so forgive the facial expressions but any other critques are welcome please

Oh yea I weighed about 155 in the first ones and down to 141 right now and I am about 5'9. I know most bikini girls come in at most 130lbs.. but i am not concerned with weight if I am a low BF% =)

[andyboi]

Wow nice work! I say go for the 2nd comp and lean out a bit more. But don't do anything too drastic, just keep doing what you're doing and you will definitely get there.

[IronMan2010]

You look good, dont worry about the delay, just dont try and go insane, keep doing what your doing and eventually you'll get tighter and look better. Hope to see some more progress pics, i know what it is like mentally when competing so dont worry about that, everyone gets it. Try and relax and enjoy your prep and on the day of your show all your hard work can be seen

[loudz]

you look great~!~ If your working with the right people you should have no problem placing in top 3 !

You've got lots of time to drop 10lbs, aim for 2 lbs/loss a week!

[juliacheh]

you look great~!~ If your working with the right people you should have no problem placing in top 3 !

You've got lots of time to drop 10lbs, aim for 2 lbs/loss a week!

IMO, too much weight loss at this point. She still wants to preserve muscle mass.
Good luck, OP

P.S. loudz, you look awesome.

[AmandaKay524]

IMO, too much weight loss at this point. She still wants to preserve muscle mass.
Good luck, OP

P.S. loudz, you look awesome.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. and yes I do want to preserve muscle. I enjoy lifting and strength, my trainer told me that as far as leg strength goes I am one of the strongest girls at the gym... Sometimes I feel like I am getting weaker, but it may also just be the fatigue. I am gonna keep at it... I just got home from watching prejudging of the show that was here in town today.. so it kinda reignited my fire just gotta stay busy so I dont think about always wanting to EAT~~ LOL

[loudz]

IMO, too much weight loss at this point. She still wants to preserve muscle mass.
Good luck, OP

P.S. loudz, you look awesome.

Thanks for the kind words which can easily be thrown back! Very impressive physique!!!!! I'm dying ATM ... three weeks out of WBFF BC Champs!

OP, IMO if you keep your protein high, at least 1g PER pound of LBM then muscle loss should be virtually null! Keep doing what your doing! BEST OF LUCK

[loudz]

Fatigue is expected in any diet deficit, just push through it to keep intensity levels high!

[AmandaKay524]

Pushing through!!! Weighed 138.8 this morning.. I was 141 a few days ago!

[juliacheh]

Pushing through!!! Weighed 138.8 this morning.. I was 141 a few days ago!

You'll make it, legs are the last to come in for females, it's a common thing, mother nature thinks that we need this fat for child bearing. Thankfully you don't have to be as lean as figure competitors and have actual hamstring separation - ouch.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

@loudz. Thanks for your kind words, good luck to you. Are you doing physique?

[loudz]

yep! physique!

[JasonWojo]

You've made some good progress so keep it up. It's a learning process too so take the lessons with you to the next show.

Post pics every few weeks here for feedback if you want.

[Barn01]

8wks sounds about right if you stay consistent on your diet and fat loss. So you've gone 8wks now and dropped about ... 15lbs? From the start of a diet that sounds about right. Stick with what you're doing. Sounds like your trainers know what they're doing (and I don't say that often haha)

Great work ... good luck and knock em dead

[loudz]

You've made some good progress so keep it up. It's a learning process too so take the lessons with you to the next show.

Post pics every few weeks here for feedback if you want.

yup ^

[CHRIS925]

yea.. post pictures.. for uhh.. feedback purposes

LOL.. on a serious note.. you are looking pretty good for that show comin' up.. Keep doin' what you're doin' and you'll be golden

[IrishIron901]

[AmandaKay524]

Yes I like to hope they know what they are talking about!! A few people at my gym compete nationally or on the pro level, so it's kinda intimidating and makes me feel like I still have a long way to go.. My weight jump back up to 143 from 138 at beginning of week :-/.

[loudz]

Yes I like to hope they know what they are talking about!! A few people at my gym compete nationally or on the pro level, so it's kinda intimidating and makes me feel like I still have a long way to go.. My weight jump back up to 143 from 138 at beginning of week :-/.

What did you change this past week in your diet? Cardio? Resistance Workouts.. frequency intensity time type?

Your lucky to have other competitors at a higher level training at your gym, utilize them for motivation and i'd personally go talk to them, ask them about there previous experiences.

[AmandaKay524]

What did you change this past week in your diet? Cardio? Resistance Workouts.. frequency intensity time type?

Your lucky to have other competitors at a higher level training at your gym, utilize them for motivation and i'd personally go talk to them, ask them about there previous experiences.

This week diet stayed the same.. AM cardio on empty stomache changed from 55min to 65 min. I had to go out to eat for work once with some clients, so I made sure that the chicken wasn't marinated just plain, with plain steamed broc with lemon nothing on it. I know at a restaurant you can't always be sure they are going to cook it 100% right and I am pretty good at eyeballing my 4oz of chicken since I have been weighing my food even before this prep diet.. Evening workouts... Monday did Back and shoulders, Tuesday instead of my normal Crossfit workout I did an hour long bootcamp with the girl competitors at the gym. It was intense, lots of lunges, sumos, and jump squats and running. My glutes were the only thing that felt tender. Normally do intense legs on Wednesday, but since Tuesday had alot of leg focus didn't want to overtrain 2 days in a row. so Wednesday I went to my skill Olympic lifting class, lifted kinda heavy, but for only 2-3 reps in 3sets. of each lift. Thursday did Crossfit, the workout involved squat cleans and push press, then today cut cardio down to 45 min and then went to Crossfit right after, work out involved running, squats, situps, lunges and push ups. been drinking lots of water, but did have a Propel Zero on a couple days, figured they would maybe be ok since its ZERO everything.?

[AmandaKay524]

OK here are some progress pics that I took today.....

[AngelSS]

Do you see huge difference doing AM cardio on an empty stomach for 65 minutes?

[AmandaKay524]

Do you see huge difference doing AM cardio on an empty stomach for 65 minutes?

no.. just that doing cardio on a machine gets sooo boring! ha ha
But one of my trainers did suggest Amilean lotion for the legs. I need to take my leg and hip measurements still to see if its helped tighten them up.. They feel tighter. I need to get with someone at the gym on posing, I know that will help my look alot too..

[quayleman33]

looking good.

[andyboi]

Still have some work to do but definitely improved and looking awesome!