*~ The Road To Recovery ... Into A World Of Strength And Bodybuilding ~*

[nacersusaf]

Aye; I don't know any guys who actually like a 6 pack on a girl. No offense to those with abs, but it is a fact of my life that I've never met a man who preferred a girl with a washboard.

You don't know many guys then...

It's all personal preference anyway. Who cares what "guys" like, as long as the woman feels good about herself. Plenty of men like women with muscles, especially washboard abs. If you had any idea how many compliments I got from men and women alike because of my previous avatar (ab shot) you'd be surprised, evidently.

[h@rdc0re]

Thanks to those we have posted encouragement in my journal ... I appreciate it and always will. However, my lifes been hectic and to those who think they know how much muscle I put on, I could really carealess. I am not gonna single anyone out, but you know who you are.

I have an amazing body right now, And I have no doubts about that. I am very content with my gains and as long as people at my gym, in my house, my friends, and my boyfriend and his family see and recognize my gains. I am happy with that.

There are a few of you, Jaim, Cathryn, Twinnett etc who have been very consistant with my journal and have always been there WITHOUT knocking me down. Thank You.

However, theres been a few that seem to just come around when my journal is hooottt like fire and crazzy just to fuel the fire some more, YOU KNOW WHO YA ARE! And I could reeally carealess what YOU think. Anywho, Thats all. I will still post maybe more so when I have more time.

Well peeace!

[h@rdc0re]

Heres my diet im starting Monday

I like it, its healthy and I think it is awesome!

meal one
2 slice whole wheat bread
2 eggs
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup all bran

meal two(pre workout)
1 scoop whey
300 ml skim milk

meal three(post workout)
1 scoop whey
300 ml skim milk

meal four
Huge salad with cherry tomatoes, sweet pepper, spinach, cucumber and calorie wise basalmic vinegar with tuna.

meal five
protein shake

1 hour weightlifting(intense!)
45-60 min cardio or 20 min HIIT
30-60 min dancing
30 min walking

[miss_carrie]

meal five
protein shake

how come 3 of your 5 meals are protein shakes? i would be soo hungry if i tried that is there any reason you arent including more whole food? (like time constraints or something?)

also, random question, is your boyfriend into lifting or the gym at all? i know mine isnt but i am working on that

[twinnett]

That doesn't seem like more than 1000 calories and that's w/ 3 hrs of activity...

[h@rdc0re]

ITs 1,600 calories hehe sorry, I shouldve put the calories in there.

And my boyfriend hattes the gym lol, bad experience hahaha, I brought him and he was doing bench press and he dropped the weight on his chest and needed my help and all the guys seen me helping him and he said he felt wimpy and embarrased. LOL! I kinda wish he could look past that and get into it like me And thanks Miss_Carrie and Tara!
I have the protein shakes pre and post, isnt that the best time to have them??? Cause it goes to ur muscle instantly because its fast acting?

[h@rdc0re]

Oh and just so everyone knows I think abs are good and I think guys like abs on girls, my boyfriend does, he doesnt like HUGE muscles though, just toned and fit You know

[twinnett]

Those just aren't really a meal...do you know the carb/protein/fat breakdown??

[h@rdc0re]

I will put it into fitday kay, one sec hun

[h@rdc0re]

Heres the breakdown.

[nc9892]

Aye, I said something nice to you about not worrying about your abs or cutting, but then I deleted it because I got sick of being flamed for saying you shouldn't worry about it. I also said good job for gaining 25 lbs. The point of what I deleted earlier was that for me, after I gained 20 lbs I felt like it was a lot. But in relation to the rest of the world, I was still a very low weight. I think the same goes for you. Whatever though if what I said made you sad or angry (non-intentional). If you didn't read it because I deleted it to quickly, at least you did not need to read a bunch more flames with people disagreeing with me on silly stuff.

[h@rdc0re]

Aye, I said something nice to you about not worrying about your abs or cutting, but then I deleted it because I got sick of being flamed for saying you shouldn't worry about it. I also said good job for gaining 25 lbs. The point of what I deleted earlier was that for me, after I gained 20 lbs I felt like it was a lot. But in relation to the rest of the world, I was still a very low weight. I think the same goes for you. Whatever though if what I said made you sad or angry (non-intentional). If you didn't read it because I deleted it to quickly, at least you did not need to read a bunch more flames with people disagreeing with me on silly stuff.

Thank You !!

[fish153]

Ashley, that's way too much cardio. Even for a "cut" ... if you do that much, you will find that you lose all the muscle you've spent time putting on.

Also, I don't think anyone here cut you down - we just want you to be healthy, that's all.

EDIT: Good luck!

[twinnett]

If you really are determined to cut, why cut calories so drastically all at once?? You'll just end up losing muscle..why not maintain for a bit and gradually ease back the calories?

[h@rdc0re]

Thanks Guys. & I am not gonna cut them all at once, but maintain for a month prior to the cut To preserve muscle

[nc9892]

if you were bulking at about 2500, i'd guess you can recomp/maintain at about 21-2300. you could easliy do something in that range. I know you have a fast metabolism, come on! less than 2000 is a non-productive range. Don't make me call Spirt3530 in here to 'rack you over the coals'. ;p

[twinnett]

Wait.....ok..you said you were starting the 1600 calorie diet Mon, but then said that you were going to maintain for a month before thecut and gradually decrease calories????

[cathryn]

Just want to see you (and me) motivated by happiness/health, Ashley...not an eating disorder, a guy, some physical ideal of what a woman should be, a number on the scale, or anything else but YOU! If you believe that all your goals are in line with those positive motivations, then nobody is going to convince you otherwise. But reality checks are GOOD things, I've gotten plenty of 'em from folks on this board as well as family/friends/doctors and I'm thankful for every single one - no matter how gentle the delivery is!

[imperfectly_lou]

If you really think you have an amazing body now Ash, then why cut? Wouldn't it be better just to maintain? There is a middle road between bulking and cutting.

[h@rdc0re]

Aw thanks guys. And Cathryn Your a sweety. Thanks Tara. And imperfectly_lou ... well my body is great now ... BUTT theres always room for improvement, i mean ... I get lotsa compliments for my body ... must be a good thing.

[spirit3530]

Wow I am beside myself. Ash what are you doing? You KNOW that building muscle takes a long time. No one can cut calories like that and maintain muscle without steriods. Your right you don't have to listen to anyone. You definately should listen to your boyfriend when it comes to muscle building and nutrition. At this stage you should have two modes till 2008...maintenance and bulking. Your current plan will have you spinning your wheels again in 2 months and the muscle you have gained will be lost. Even if you aren't at 92 pounds your bodyfat will still be higher than you want it to be.

Mark my words you keep with this plan you WILL be spinning your wheels and starting over again in the next few months at 102lbs with very similar bodyfat that you have now. Good luck on the adventure

[h@rdc0re]

Thanks Spirit. I know I should continue bulking but I want a bikini body for summertime, but when I start bulking again in September itll be much longer

[spirit3530]

Thanks Spirit. I know I should continue bulking but I want a bikini body for summertime, but when I start bulking again in September itll be much longer

Thats why you should eat at maintenance on days you are not working out and eat with increased calories on workout days. If you cut calories the way you are, you are going to become skinny fat.

[fish153]

Thats why you should eat at maintenance on days you are not working out and eat with increased calories on workout days. If you cut calories the way you are, you are going to become skinny fat.

Exactly. Cutting the calories like that and overdoing cardio = muscle loss instead of fat loss = skinny fat = unhappy with body = body dysmorphia = a vicious circle leading dangerously close to old habits.

[h@rdc0re]

alright. so is 1,800 too little?

[imperfectly_lou]

too little for what exactly?

[h@rdc0re]

To maintain and keep the muscle that I have built. =)

[nc9892]

my estimate is that if you only eat 1800 calories a day, and continue working out, you will loose approx. 1/2 lb a week. If you are concerned about taking in more calories than you need, just add an extra 250-300 caloires to this, and try it for a bit.

[zb2612]

ashley ashley ashley whats going on i disappear for a couple of weeks come back in and its total merde in here!!!!!

whats this i read about cutting?!?! now thats something i really would not recomend at the moment especially after your great gains. so what if you've got a bit of fat here and there that is Normal!!! also with cutting muscle loss is inevitable unless your on steroids to prevent that (which happens in some feds) anyway i don't want to see you wate all your hard effort down the drain you've come so far

Zoe
xxx

[h@rdc0re]

Thanks nc9892 and Zoe So 2200 for maintaining?