Who would have FIGUREd?!?!?

[lilramm]

that I would fall in love with lifting and decide to compete?? This is my first time starting a journal, so bear with me!! My name is Sarah, I am 26 and I am going to begin prepping for my second and third figure shows. I did my first show last year and placed 2nd which qualified me for nationals, so here I go!

A little about me:
I started "working out" because I looked like crap. At 21, I was flabby and cellulite covered my hips and thighs. My boyfriend, now husband , suggested weight lifting. I randomly lifted and did whatever routine I felt like doing at the time. I continued to eat like crap, drink all the time and aimlessly "worked out." After realizing this wasn't working, I had my husband show me around the weight room. At first I was afraid of "getting too big", but I listened to what he had to say.....three years later and I'm hooked. In the words of my husband, "I created a monster!"

As of now, I have been lifting "for real" for about 2.5 years. I did my first show last June and LOVED it! With the help of the hubby, I did all my own prep. I enjoy figuring it out for myself, for me its more fun. While I am not against having a coach, I feel like having someone tell me when and how to eat and lift would seem like work, at the moment its just not for me. Am I possibly limiting myself? Maybe, but I really enjoy the aspect of prepping. I don't even have a posing coach, youtube works just fine for me

I am 18 weeks out from the NPC Garden State which is a national qualifier and the same show I placed 2nd last year. I also plan on doing Team Universe two weeks later in July, which will be my first national show.

Current stats 5'7.5" 148 lbs, body fat 20%, looking to get down to low 130s.

At the moment I am eating whatever the heck I want, making sure to get 160-175g protein/day. I will start cutting in about 2 or 3 weeks. I plan on recording my workouts and diet (when I start cutting) up in here!! I work 3, 13 hr days a week with a 1 hr commute each way. So, I only lift 4 days/week.

Here are some pics I took today,

[lilramm]

So, I guess Ill post my work out from today.

Today was back/biceps. I lifted with my new gym friend who plans on competing with me!!!

BACK:
pull ups unassisted, body weight=148 lbs
8
6
5
5
4

face pulls
80x10
90x8
90x8

BB bent over row
95x12
105x10x3

lat pull down drop set
140x12,
100x14
repeat x3

T bar rows (we made it w/ a bb stuck in the corner, plates and used our wrist straps as "handles")
80x12x5

BICEPS:
chinups
about a million, lost count!

BB curls
55x10x3

DB curls
30x10x3

took my dog for a 2 mile walk, thats enough cardio for me for now!!

[smiskell]

In on this journal! Good luck! btw its nice to see another girl with similar stats.. Im also 5'8" and 4 weeks out from a show, so a little lighter for now, but ill be up around 140 again after my shows

[lilramm]

In on this journal! Good luck! btw its nice to see another girl with similar stats.. Im also 5'8" and 4 weeks out from a show, so a little lighter for now, but ill be up around 140 again after my shows

Yay!!!!! Thanks girl! Do u have a journal on here I would love to follow along

[lilramm]

some comparisons from last year to now:

[curjo]

That's some really good progress for the year, particularly in your shoulders and legs. Spinal erectors looking jacked too! Good luck with your comp!

[smiskell]

Yay!!!!! Thanks girl! Do u have a journal on here I would love to follow along

Yes, "My Gluten Free Journey to a Natural Bikini/Figure Competition in 2013". I decided to stick with bikini but when I started I wasn't sure

[Cytrainer913]

I'm guessing you did n npc show last year?

Are u able or ever thought about trying a natural show? There are quite a few in nj, which seems to be where u r from? The inbf, ocb, nga n the DFAC as well.

[lilramm]

That's some really good progress for the year, particularly in your shoulders and legs. Spinal erectors looking jacked too! Good luck with your comp!

thanks!! Its been fun seeing all the changes Ive made!

Yes, "My Gluten Free Journey to a Natural Bikini/Figure Competition in 2013". I decided to stick with bikini but when I started I wasn't sure

I'm def gonna follow along my sister did bikini last year and had a blast!

[lilramm]

I'm guessing you did n npc show last year?

Are u able or ever thought about trying a natural show? There are quite a few in nj, which seems to be where u r from? The inbf, ocb, nga n the DFAC as well.

Yeah I did npc. Never thought about doing a natural show, even though I am natural of course, simply because I really like the exposure u can get from NPC. I plan on becoming a pro one day

[lilramm]

today was legs, i worked out with my 2 friends, we kicked each other's asses!!

BB SQUATS;
95x12
115x10
135x8
155x6
155x6
135x8
115x10 (i love squats, i go super low!!)

SIDE LUNGES;
75x12x3

HEX BAR SQUATS/DLs;
95x12x3

1 LEG HIP BRIDGES
w/45lb plate x12x3
supersetted with
(dont know what its called, but we tuck our heels under a bar, lower and raise our body w/ our hams and glutes) x3 sets

LEG CURL
100x12x3

LEG EXTENSION
130x12x3

BUTT MACHINE
125x12x3


could barely walk after this!!!

and a quick pic from my show last year, going to look a million times better this year!!!

[lilramm]

I'm guessing you did n npc show last year?

Are u able or ever thought about trying a natural show? There are quite a few in nj, which seems to be where u r from? The inbf, ocb, nga n the DFAC as well.

Just looked into some of these shows that u mentioned, maybe I will give it a try!! I had never really considered any of the natural organizations b/c I had always thought the shows were super small. Why do u recommend these over NPC? I mean I get it for natural BBers and maybe Im being naive, but do that many figure girls in the npc/ifbb "take stuff?" The ones Ive met in person have actually been quite small, so I guess I just assumed that most figure girls are natural, other than implants of course which I don't even have!!

[Cytrainer913]

More than what you know or even think, of course this amount they use would be a lot less than a female BB, but really also have to look at it another way as well, you do all that work and to not always be on an even playing field, kind of sucks.

A lot of those shows will get into the 70's and a couple will hit over 100 and most of the numbers in todays shows do come from figure and bikini.

More is notoriety is coming towards the natural side of the sport but we have to continue to support it as well, otherwise the prize money for these shows will not get better.

Right around that time is a show just up in NYC called the INBF Hercules and it's a big show and not too far if your in central NJ or north.

I think you could do very well in the natural shows for sure, great shape and some good muscle as well.

[lilramm]

Wow, i guess I never realized!! Ive met a few ifbb figure pros and they seemed so small so i guess I just chose to remain naive!! My husband kept trying to tell me they're not natural, but I just kept arguing with him!! any who...

How do these wnbf/inbf shows work? What is the difference in the shows, some of them say "pro qualifier" can u win a pro card at one of the regular shows? then what r the pro leagues? sorry, i have a lot of questions, ive never looked into this before!! does the posing differ much from the npc?

[Cytrainer913]

Well, he knows, trust me! Now don't get me wrong there are some that have stayed natural and do well, but nothing to me that really will get them out there more than being natural pro. It has to be taken to that next step you know.

Poses are not much different for figure, but they can tell you how they want you to do your walk when you do it, during the competitors mtg. Some let you do your walk to your own music as well.

Now most that say pro qualifier, and if it says that, then if there are more than one class for figure then you have to win the overall to get your pro card after they have you do your piss test, and it comes back negative, you are a pro! There are also super proqualifiers and for this win your class and you get your pro card that way as well, of course the numbers will be greater in these shows.

[lilramm]

Thanks so much for all the great info, I'm gong to have to do some research, but I am definitely open to doing a natural show!!! Oh, one more question, is creatine okay? Thats the only thing i've ever "taken"

[Cytrainer913]

Take your creatine, not sure how you are pre workouts but yes to those as long as there is no DMAA in it, and your protein powders can help as well along with a good BCAAS mix!

[lilramm]

Great! I def see some slight strength gains when i take creatine, i'm glad to hear its ok!

Oh and I hate PWOs!! black coffee is plenty for me! Thanks again!! Ill keep in touch as far as my decision

[dizzle32]

wow looking great keep up the great work!

[lilramm]

wow looking great keep up the great work!

Thank you

[smiskell]

Great! I def see some slight strength gains when i take creatine, i'm glad to hear its ok!

Oh and I hate PWOs!! black coffee is plenty for me! Thanks again!! Ill keep in touch as far as my decision

I started to get away from PWOs too because they caused my to feel really burnt out, like my eye would start twitching! I take a 200mg caffeine pill and mix a scoop of pure beta alanine with my xtend and sip on that. Its been great and way less expensive!

So I am actually doing a bikini show with the OCB (natural) in March then the NPC in April. I can let you know what my experiences are with both organizations. I won't be competing in figure, but I can still give you a general assessment of what I thought of each show and the people there! I am purposely doing both shows because I want to find out what org I like. My prep coach is a judge for the natural orgs (OCB, INBF) so he favors those divisions, but for some reason (I have a few, but nothing really concrete) I am drawn to the NPC. I think it would be worth doing a show and finding out, but I'll definitely let you know what I think after i've done both!

[nightxsky]

You look AMAZEBALLS! Great progress for a year I'm in!

[lilramm]

I started to get away from PWOs too because they caused my to feel really burnt out, like my eye would start twitching! I take a 200mg caffeine pill and mix a scoop of pure beta alanine with my xtend and sip on that. Its been great and way less expensive!

So I am actually doing a bikini show with the OCB (natural) in March then the NPC in April. I can let you know what my experiences are with both organizations. I won't be competing in figure, but I can still give you a general assessment of what I thought of each show and the people there! I am purposely doing both shows because I want to find out what org I like. My prep coach is a judge for the natural orgs (OCB, INBF) so he favors those divisions, but for some reason (I have a few, but nothing really concrete) I am drawn to the NPC. I think it would be worth doing a show and finding out, but I'll definitely let you know what I think after i've done both!

Yeah def let me know how OCB is. I did NPC last year and really liked it. the show i did was a "small" national qualifier but there were a lot of competitors!! I kept being told that a lot of girls in the NPC aren't natural, which is unfortunate, especially with the smaller, softer physiques in figure these days. Its def attainable naturally!!

You look AMAZEBALLS! Great progress for a year I'm in!

Thanks!!!!!! and welcome

[lilramm]

Did shoulders this morning, then went snowboarding! It was beautiful out, almost 50 degrees!!
My workout from this AM:

warm up with cables (side, front and lat raises)

handstand pushups against wall
about 3 sets of 4 (got VERY hard towards the end!!)

seated DB OHP
30x12
35x8
40x7
35x8
30x10

standing BB OHP
65x10x3

seated lateral raises
20x10x3

standing 1 arm lateral raises
17.5x12x3

cable high face pulls
20x15x3

bent over lat raise
10x20x3

front raise
plate(45lbs) x12x3

Thats it for now Working the next two days......

[lilramm]

So, i worked the last two days, so no gym for me! My workout from this AM;

Chest/tris:

bodyweight dips (147 lbs)
12x3

BB bench press
95x12
105x10
115x6
105x10
95x12

BB incline bench
75x12
95x10x3

skullcrushers
55x12x4

superset w/

bench dips with 25 lb plate
12x4

calves:

Giant set of:

calf raises on leg press
180x12x3

seated calf raise
170x12x3

smith machine calf raise
105x12x3

Legs tomorrow, so I'll be eating A LOT today!!!

[lilramm]

I am sooooo sore from yesterday!! my chest is burning!! Oddly though, only my left calf is sore. Ive never had that happen before, I must have been compensating or something, weird!

So, I am about 17.5 weeks out from my show. I will probably start my diet next week, at about 16 weeks out. I only dieted for 14 weeks for my first show and def feel that I needed just a bit longer. My friend is also doing the show with me, it will be her first. Since I only have one show under my belt, its def hard for me to give her advice!!

Anyway, today was legs:

BB SQUAT: I go super low, in fact, last week, some dude told me I was going too low, lol!! WTF?? too low!?!?!
95x12
115x10
135x6
155x6
135x8
115x8
95x12 was feeling a bit weak today

BB LUNGES:
45x12x3
superset w/
DB SIDE LUNGES:
30x12x3

BB RDLs:
105x12x3

SINGLE LEG HIP BRIDGES w/ plate
45x12x3

HAM KILLER(don't know what its called lol!!)
bodyweightx12x3

LEG CURL
95x12x3

SINGLE LEG, LEG PRESS
50+sled(dont know what it weighs)x12x3
^ was not much weight on the SL leg press, but I was dying!!!

Thats all for now!!

[fltallpaul]

Awesome Progress!

[Cytrainer913]

I know you said you do your own diet and it looks like your body responds pretty well to what you did last time. and you did very well last time.

Like you said I'm not sure how your friends body reponds to dieting compared to you, so watch to see? and how much shorter or taller she is than you? how much extra weight is she carrying in terms of for the show?

when you do your prepping do you track your macros?
Protein?
Carbs?
Fats?

[lilramm]

Awesome Progress!

Thanks!! Coming from you, Ill take that as a HUGE compliment!!!!!!!!

I know you said you do your own diet and it looks like your body responds pretty well to what you did last time. and you did very well last time.

Like you said I'm not sure how your friends body reponds to dieting compared to you, so watch to see? and how much shorter or taller she is than you? how much extra weight is she carrying in terms of for the show?

when you do your prepping do you track your macros?
Protein?
Carbs?
Fats?

I have no idea how she is going to respond to the diet. shes shorter than me and has more bf to lose, but she seems to have a pretty even fat distribution. My fat goes right to my butt and hips!! I guess we'll see. I have told her that doing a show on your own, espcailly for the first time is going to be a huge mental game.

Anyway, yes I track all my macros. I did carb cycling towards the end when I was in a pretty high deficit. It seemed to work quite well for me. I lost about 15 lbs last prep. Luckily, most of my lifts stayed the same and I never felt horrible!!

[Cytrainer913]

Her cals might have to be a little lower to start and she might have to get herself going now to stay even with you!

Can she manage the tracking thing? If it's not ready yet get her started as this is the hardest part and right now she seems like she may have to use more time and use the couple of extra weeks and start now, macros are a bit of trial and error, if not comfortable doing it.