FIFTY IS NIFTY...Julia's 2012 Journal For More Muscle

[Cardioconvert]

Pictures look great - excited to hear your feedback on the posing class - it is getting so real isn't it???

CC

[Luvdogs]

10 weeks out! Weigh in: 124.8lbs Very happy with that!

Posing class was a little intimidating at first. The "team" Cami (the gym owner and trainer) has is all bikini except one. They are competing in three weeks, so much farther along than I am. But, it was fun. I did learn some things and it was good practice to "walk the line", do turns, stand in those shoes for an hour I will go next week too and then probably wait to do a private session when they get back from their competition.

Today I am going with my brother to see a probate attorney about his dad's "stuff" and figure out where to begin. Still no death certificate so not sure how much can really happen until he gets that. Otherwise, just got grocery shopping done, doing laundry, etc. Looking forward to tomorrow's training and I should be go to go on the step mill. Glutes are better each day.

[swooshie]

Just peeked at your progress piccies You look fantastic, Julia!!! You are really leaning out nicely and your proportions and muscle definition look fantastic! I like your haircut too

Have a wonderful weekend!

[Luvdogs]

Thanks Swooshie! I am finally happy with a hairstylist! It's only taken nearly 5 years! Thank goodness it only took three massage therapists to find "the one".

Shoulder shot from today. A little blurry but me thinks I see striations...

[swooshie]

I see them for sure!!!!!


Your house always looks so pretty! You and I use some of the same colors in our rooms!

[vanessa40]

You look wonderful. I am so impressed with your dedication. I so wish i had it..
Good luck with the family stuff i know it can wear on you sometimes..

[Redfizz]

Your shoulders look HAWT!

*Chanting*
Ju-LIA! Ju-LIA! Ju-LIA!

[megdaig]

Thanks Swooshie! I am finally happy with a hairstylist! It's only taken nearly 5 years! Thank goodness it only took three massage therapists to find "the one".

Shoulder shot from today. A little blurry but me thinks I see striations...

Just a little striated methinks . Keep it up!

[Cardioconvert]

Great work Julia!

CC

[Luvdogs]

I see them for sure!!!!!


Your house always looks so pretty! You and I use some of the same colors in our rooms!

And my bed didn't even have sheets on it! I have painted the inside of our house three times, different rooms, different colors. I love to paint! The main rooms are finally a color I really like, Keystone Gray, enough depth, but soothing...

You look wonderful. I am so impressed with your dedication. I so wish i had it..
Good luck with the family stuff i know it can wear on you sometimes..

Thanks Vanessa, I just feel like DOING it this time! I think because I didn't compete in 2007, it feels like I need to do this to prove to myself that I can and I'm not a quitter.

Your shoulders look HAWT!

*Chanting*
Ju-LIA! Ju-LIA! Ju-LIA!

Thanks Red, you are a great cheerleader!

Just a little striated methinks . Keep it up!

Thanks Meg, I love your new avi!!! Big congrats again to you!

Great work Julia!

CC

Thanks CC!

Gee, I haven't posted a workout but I did do shoulders & step mill on Sunday, and today was Chest & Arms

Flat DB Press
40@ x 11,10,10,10

Incline DB Fly
30# x 12,12,11,11

DB Tri OH Ext
35# x 13,12,11,11

super set:
EZ BB Curl
45# x 16,11,11,11- I was like: 16, seriously?

Cable tri push down
85# x 11,11,10,10

super set with:
BB Preacher Curl
35# x 13,13,13,13

BW Dips
7,6,6
super set with:
DB Hammer curls
22.5# x 12,11,11

OK, on the last set I over shot the DB Rack and pinched my middle finger between the Db & Rack, can we say OUCH!!!! Blood and bruise I hate breaking skin in the gym.

Washed it up, band aid, on the Step Mill for 30 minutes of intervals.

Was way busy at work today and also picked up my ex- step-fathers remains today for my brother. The meeting with the probate attorney was good. Things are at least moving now.

Progress pics this weekend and Melissa says she's probably going to make a little change to my diet....hum, inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Oh, I gave Miss Abby a bath today too! She has a vet appt Wednesday and I couldn't have her go dirty! She was pretty good about and a goof ball after. Her fur crimps when it is wet, very cute.

[vanessa40]

Ouch your poor finger. I know that had to hurt.
Can't wait to see your new pictures and diet.
Poor Miss Abby..not many dog like a bath..
Hope you have a less stressful day

[Redfizz]

Oh no! Your poor finger! Though coming out of a gym all bandaged up is kinda lol.

I cannot wait to hear what your coach suggests as a diet change.

[Luvdogs]

Golly! It has been so freaking busy! No time to surf bb.com

I have been studying/taking quizzes and exams to renew my California real estate license. DONE Finished the last exam today. Now I just have to go online and pay $245.00. I keep it because it is so hard to get back once you let it go. Really have no intention of using it at this point.

Yesterday was leg day and I took a nice 2 mile walk with my SIL around Virginia Lake after work. I told her we need to find non food/drink things to do for a while. It was fun! Got to hear all about the new BF.

Today was cardio and abs. Feeling leaner every day.

Took Abby to the vet today (walked her there, it's .6 mile each way). She is healthy as a horse and just about as big 82lbs. Momma is BIG trouble. I must be stopped. I am so disciplined about my diet but I give too many treats to the dogs. In 2008 she was 73lbs.

Tomorrow is Back & shoulders with a little chest thrown in.

[swooshie]

Oh I've done that smushed finger thing before too ... hurts like heck!

Cool about the real estate license! You're smart not to let it expire. I think it's fun to watch House Hunters on TV and seeing all of the different houses! Some people's idea of decorating is pretty, um, interesting!!!

Last time my coach adjusted my diet, he took away my apple snack ... boo

[Luvdogs]

Not nice to take an apple away from the Swoosh! Maybe she's giving me a refeed One can hope....

Ok, I am tired of unloading pallets, 4 in two days! I'm pooped! Why did I even bother with back & shoulders today????

Back, Chest, Shoulders:

Assisted PU's
80# assist x 11,8,8,8

One arm DB Row
55# x 13,13,12,12

super set with:
Rack Chins
BW x 11,10,10,10

CG Cable Row
90# x 11,11,11,11

super set with:
Straight Arm Push down
40# x 10,10,10,10

WG barbell Bent over row
65# 10,10,8,8

Incline DB Press
35# x 17,12,12,12

Incline DB Fly
25# x 14,12,12,12

T Raises
10# x 11,10,10,10

Seated DB OH Press
25# x 13,12,11,12

super set with:
Front DB Raise
15# x 10,10,10,10

Rear cable fly
10# x 14,10,10,10

[Luvdogs]

9 Weeks out!! Progress pics in my body space in my suit this time. Bewbs look flat Wish tummy was the flat part...

123.6lbs this morning so I am down a full 10lbs since I started cutting Jan. 5th. Melissa say she is sending my new diet, training, and cardio tonight. Ahhhhh, hope I like it!! Posing class was good last night. I really worked hard. She had me hold poses while the bikini girls strutted their stuff. And we had friends & family there for audience which I didn't know about. So there I am, in my underwear basically, in front of total strangers

I am going to get a spray tan this week. I would like to see what I look like with some color and then I'll have one for the end of the bb.com 12 week challenge photos (April 13th).

[Sawa3]

9 Weeks out!! Progress pics in my body space in my suit this time. Bewbs look flat Wish tummy was the flat part...

123.6lbs this morning so I am down a full 10lbs since I started cutting Jan. 5th. Melissa say she is sending my new diet, training, and cardio tonight. Ahhhhh, hope I like it!! Posing class was good last night. I really worked hard. She had me hold poses while the bikini girls strutted their stuff. And we had friends & family there for audience which I didn't know about. So there I am, in my underwear basically, in front of total strangers

I am going to get a spray tan this week. I would like to see what I look like with some color and then I'll have one for the end of the bb.com 12 week challenge photos (April 13th).

Keep up your hard work. Spray tanning early to get a good base color is always good.

[Cardioconvert]

Glad to hear posing is going well. It is all getting so close now for both of us. I kinda had a little panic attack today about it!

Have a super weekend!

CC

[Luvdogs]

Hi Sawa, Thank you! I am such a pale skinned person, color helps a lot!

Hi CC, 8 weeks and 5 days

Gosh! Super busy this morning. Our biggest Amazon weekend yet! Yeah $$$$$$

Let's see: Sunday was a shoulder & cardio day. Melissa changed up the training (just different exercises, same schedule, 4 days cardio for 30 min each), and changed my diet a bit. No more yogurt, in it's place is a burger & veggies. So protein is up and carbs are down. Eggs & oats at breakfast, more protein powder post workout and rice cakes instead of fruit. More casein at bedtime.

Today was Chest & Arms and cardio which I'm going back for after work. I was going to do it after training, but I was pooped and had to go to my brother's attorney's office with mail from his dad's estate and the thought of all those orders to fill was too much!

Today I did:

Flat DB chest press: 40# x 12,11,11,11-most ever with that weight
Flat DB Fly: 30# x 10,10,10,10

Incline BB Tricep Ext:
35# x 13,13,13,13
super set with:
Incline DB Curls:
20# x 10,10,10,10

Cable UH Grip tri ext:
65# x 12,12,12,12
super set with:
Alt DB curls with twist:
25# x 10,10,10,10

DB Kickbacks:
20# x 13,13,13,13
super set with:
DB Concentration Curls:
20# x 10,10,10,10

Will do 30 min on step mill with intervals on the way home

[Luvdogs]

Yesterday was Leg day:

Leg Press, drop sets
300# x 8
290# x 8
270# x 8
strip weight and go!

Smith reverse lunge
50# added to bar x 12,12,12,12

BB Squats
95# x 9,9,9,9,9

Quad Ext
100# x 9
90# x 10,10,10
super set with:
Walking lunges, just BW, testing glutes and they passed! All healed I believe
20,20,20,20

Donkey calf
270# x 10,10,10,9

Standing calf
90# x 10,10,10
75# x 10

Abductor machine
60# x 10,10
70# x 9
60# x 10
**I was supposed to do band around the ankle side steps, but they bothered my knee so I subbed with this.

My glutes, quads are quite sore today (in a good way). Hubby and I took a 3 mile walk this morning since I was off the gym. It was 29 degrees, burrrrrrr. We took the dogs for a walk last night before dinner. Felt bad about this morning because they thought they were going BUT, I wanted a good walk that did not include picking up dog poop, stopping to pee on everything, and trying to attack any dog that might come along our way....not exactly peaceful with those critters sometimes!

It's in the mid to upper 60's here through the weekend and my birthday! We are not going out to dinner but I am going to make filet with mushrooms and asparagus for Saturday night at home. There was a recipe in today's paper where you dip asparagus in egg white and roll in almond "flour" to crust it then roast so it's crunchy. Going to give that a whirl for something different.

Tomorrow: Back & Shoulder attack!! Oh, and cardio...

[Luvdogs]

My quads are still sore!!

Today was Back, Chest, Shoulders:

Assisted pull ups
80# x 11,9,8,8

WG Lat pull down
80# x 10,10,10,10
compound set with:

Low cable row, V-Bar
90# x 13
95# x 12,12,12

V-Bar pull down
100# x 8, 80# x 8, 60# x 9-drop sets

DB Pull over
35# x 14
40# x 12,12,12

UH grip high cable row
90# x 20
110# x 14
120# x 11,11-never done these so wasn't sure what weight to start at

Incline DB Press
40#ea x 15 , 11,10,10

Incline DB Fly
30#ea x 10,10,10,10

DB Arnold Press
20#ea x 12,12,10,10
super set with:
Front BB raise
25# x 13,12,12,12

Rear Delt Machine
60# x 10,7->50# x 3
50# x 11,8 ->40# x 3

Alt DB UR Row
20#ea x 12,12,12,12
**noticed I have more ROM in left shoulder than right. My right shoulder does have an impingement that I even notice when I sleep, can't sleep on right side. I find it funny though that my right arm is bigger and more defined than my left

DB Lateral raise
17.5# x 8, 15# x 8, 12.5# x 8, 10# x 8-drop set

And I was supposed to do hypers but it was busy so I did:
BB Good Mornings:
35# x 20,20,20-I figure it's the same motion.

After work, going back for 30 minutes on the step mill and abs!

I swear I saw the slightest bicep vein today! Forearms were all veined up. Me likey People are coming up to me now and commenting on how lean I am getting. Kind of fun and makes the dieting worth it.

[Cardioconvert]

Great progress Julia!

Early happy birthday!

CC

[Luvdogs]

Thanks CC, where did 51 years go? Well, I feel great, and I'm competing in my first figure show at 51 years old

Just spent $118.00 on two bags of groceries at Whole Foods...

Today was Leg/Glute/Ham day

Bulgarain Split Squat w/ DB's
20#ea x 14
25#ea x 12,12,12

RDL
155# x 12,10,10

Seated Leg Curl
90# x 12,12,10,10

Machine Hack Squat, feet close
110# x 10,10,9
90# x 10

Walking Lunges
20#ea x 15,15,15,15

Lying Leg Curl, plate loaded
15# x 12.10.9
10# x 10

Then I did 30 minutes of intervals on our NEW step Mills! They must have been put in last night because they weren't there yesterday.

At the warehouse I did:
Sand Bag Hip Thrust, feet on chair I was supposed to do these earlier but ran out of time for the gym
25# sand bag x 20,20,20-we have left over ones from a storm and it was the only thing I could find to add some decent weight!

Sand bag toe raises
25# x 40,40,40
improvise!!

Tomorrow we are having my birthday dinner (yeah, I'm making my own) with my MIL. Just the three of us. I'm making filets (with mushroom/caramelized onions on top) and roasted asparagus. I will have a small glass of wine too.

Sunday (Easter and actual birthday) we're going to breakfast with MIL and grandmother in law, so I have to get to the gym at 6:30am I just prefer to get it done than try to do it later. Plus they are only open 6am-2pm. Then we are going to FIL's house for Easter dinner with several other family members too. I will bring my own food for that one though.

[DieselsMom]

Great workouts and pics look awesome. All your hard work is paying off!

[Luvdogs]

Thank you DM!

Weighed in at 122.8lbs this morning Did grocery shopping and went to Ulta Oh that place is fun! I had a 20% off coupon so I bought an Urban Decay eye shadow pallet. Naked 2, it is called. Smashbox lip color and some hair color. Might as well get it while I had the coupon. I think I'm all set for stage make up. Got my trial size make up and eye lid primer kit too!

Mailing my contest registration on Monday. All filled out, check in the envelope, ready to go!! $194.00 with a photo CD...sheesh. That's for two classes: Ms. Figure Grand Master & Novice.

Getting spray tanned on Thursday, so next set of progress pics will look better. Shooting for the 121's next Saturday.

[Cardioconvert]

Things are moving along so nicely in here with all your prep - great work Julia!

Happy Birthday and enjoy your dinner

CC

[Redfizz]

I am so excited for you, Julia!

[Sawa3]

Happy Birthday and Happy Easter.

[swooshie]

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Julia!! This will be an awesome year for you ... full of good things!!!

[Luvdogs]

Things are moving along so nicely in here with all your prep - great work Julia!

Happy Birthday and enjoy your dinner

CC

Thanks CC, I had a great birthday!

I am so excited for you, Julia!

Thanks Red!! It's becoming very real now!

Happy Birthday and Happy Easter.

Thank you!

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Julia!! This will be an awesome year for you ... full of good things!!!

Ah, what a cute pup! Thanks Swoosh!

Been a little MIA, but I have been training! Sunday was up at 5:50am for Shoulders & cardio before birthday/Easter breakfast with MIL and Grandmother-in-law! Received some nice $$ gifts and a gift cert for 2 massages from my massage therapist And with the $$$ gift I mailed off my contest registration!!

Monday was Chest & Arms, and 30 minutes on the old step mill.

Today I did legs.

Hubs and I are taking the pups on a 2 mile walk after work. Do you he asked me not to refer to him as "honey" at the warehouse Ok, maybe his name is a little more professional Oops, just slipped out.

Hubby is leaving town Thurs-Sunday. So I'll be on my own with the dogs. It will be a nice little break. I enjoy some "me" time when he goes out of town. Just don't let any espresso machines go on the fritz while he's gone. I don't fix them! Our part-time "kid" will be here for emergencies though.