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Cara |
| Paying the Price.... |
| 05.20.2011 01:52:12 | |
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Well I’m finally back on the Blog…after the Emerald Cup my family and I went on vacation to UK and Cyprus….maybe it was a mistake to go away so soon after competing because all my promises to stay focused, keep training and stick to my diet, fell by the wayside when we landed in Cyprus and I walked into my parent’s house….I knew I was in trouble…..I enjoyed all things edible, kicked back and enjoyed myself J(way too much). The training side of things was fine….for the first 10 days….then I picked up an injury to my ribs rollerblading….training stopped….for 2 WEEKS!!! I also forgot….in fact every year I forget…..I get hay fever in Cyprus….I spent the best part of the vacation sneezing, blowing my nose, an itchy throat, itchy, watery eyes…and no amount of anti-histamines worked!....can you imagine sneezing 4-5 times in a row when you have bruised ribs? Can you feel my pain?? Does it sound like the vacation from hell? I actually had a wonderful time with my family, Mum and Dad looked after us so well….as they always do, the kids played with their cousins, I got to hang out with my sister before she (and her family) moved to Germany, Paul and I ran to the beach (before I got injured), we had a street party for the Royal Wedding, played netball, won a quiz night at the local pub…and the list goes on J Now we’re home, the jetlag is nearly gone, we’re back in our routine again…and I love it…my throat hasn’t itched once, my eyes are fine, my ribs aren’t fractured, just bruised (I have one that’s mis-aligned so I’ll be getting that sorted ASAP)….I’m on the mend….HOWEVER….I have inflicted plenty of other damage on my body….I don’t want to know what my body fat is, I’m soft, I’m unfit (compared to where I was before my vacation) and I HATE feeling like this…..BUT it’s the price I paid to skip on my diet and not train (although the not training wasn’t really my fault!)….so not being one to dwell, I’m back in the game, training hard (as hard as I can with rotten ribs J), and diet is C.L.E.A.N…..I know I’ll be back to where I was soon enough, I just have to put in the time now (the consequences of my previous actions)… I cringed as I sent pictures to my coach….I’m waiting to hear from him now….then I’ll know what my next show will be….yes, I will compete again this season, definitely Brad and Elaine’s Ironman, and will see what I can fit in before then. So you get reading material from me for a while longer J Enjoy Cara x Tags: |
| The day is done.... |
| 04.17.2011 06:01:17 | |
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The day after the day before….how am I feeling? Full…..mmmmm, chocolate, homemade cakes, pizza….I’m on a food high….which will all end on Monday…..I had a glass of wine after the show and realized I actually didn’t want or miss the wine at all, I wanted the food….if you can call it that…more accurately, I ate the equivalent to a somewhat large bowl of sugar – haha…ah well…. And the Emerald Cup? I am SO glad John and Roxana were there along with my Onstage Image teammates, I felt so included, it was great to be part of a team….it was great to see girls I’m met at posing practice….there were familiar, friendly faces everywhere, which made my first time show experience a fantastic one, I didn’t feel out of my comfort zone at all…..UNTIL….I got on stage for pre-judging….OMG….I was like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car……I got on that stage and my whole body shook…it was ridiculous, even my smile was shaking….I was stressing so much about the shaking that I didn’t focus on my posing as much as I would like….I soon spotted Paul in the crowd and that calmed me down a bit….but not quite enough, it was a relief to get off the stage and breath….that was the hard part…now I could relax and enjoy….my second trip on the stage was not scary at all, I felt at ease, relaxed and in control….I didn’t shake and I smiled my little heart out….I just wished I could have done that when all the judges were scrutinizing…..I still have no idea where I placed, but I actually don’t care (don't get me wrong, I'd like to know, just it doesn't matter), I knew my physique “weaknesses” before I got on stage, I achieved SO much to get up there, I never thought I could do it, and I did….from start to finish, the blogging, the people I’ve met, the training, the eating, the journey has been an amazing one….and I am hooked, I’ll be back Thank you Brad and Elaine allowing me to share this amazing journey, you put on a fabulous show, and I will be wearing my Emerald Cup shirt and pin with pride!! Thank you to all those who have read this blog, the comments you made, made me laugh, encouraged me and kept me going each day…. Sisters in Iron…..I’ll see you again soon Tags: |
| Christmas Eve??? |
| 04.15.2011 03:12:42 | |
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It’s Emerald Cup Eve…I’ve left a protein shake for Santa and a bowl of spinach for Rudolph…I’ve hung my stocking over the fireplace and am hoping for it to be filled with yummy chocolate goodies by morning J I had my first coat of tanner courtesy of John and Roxana Kreklo of OnStage Image, I’ll be back in a couple of hours for the next one….what a strange experience, a line of booths which are private but you can see out the top, people coming and going, checking in, waiting for friends…etc, you’re in your booth, butt naked, freezing your little boobies off while someone sprays you an interesting shade of…um, let me think…burnt orange?? Then you’re left to dry….for what seems like an absolute age (because your freezing your little boobies off!!)….eventually it’s time to get dressed and get warm….and mentally prepare yourself for the next round…..brrrrrr, I’m not ready yet J….got a HOT cuppa in my hands and am thawing out! It doesn’t seem quite real that the big day is tomorrow, and it’s all coming together….very excited, was great seeing some of the girls at the tanning this morning….can’t wait for tomorrow!! Tags: |
| SOOOOOO CLOSE...... |
| 04.13.2011 11:28:59 | |
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OMG – where has the time gone? My last blog was at the 2 weeks out point…..Wow…. I was lying in bed last night, I have been struggling to get to sleep straight away these last couple of nights….last weekend was our gym launch of the new Les Mills music so I was excited about that and always lie in bed with all the new music and moves buzzing round my head on the eve of a launch….then I of course have all this competition stuff on my mind too…not in a bad way…although last night I must confess I was lying there saying to myself “I’m done with this diet, I’m done with chicken, I’m done with juggling my schedule and kids to squeeze a workout it, I’m done with my short temper with my children….etc”….then I eventually fell asleep…and woke this morning, refreshed, motivated and not thinking those things I was last night….maybe I was just frustrated by my lack of zzzzzz’s…whatever is going on in that brain of mind I can tell today will be a good day (the fact that it looks like the sun might well shine also helps J) 3 days to go..... Tags: |
| Time to Party???? |
| 04.04.2011 12:02:11 | |
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Where have I been? At the gym mostly….the training was taken up a level and though sometimes I can’t actually feel the muscles I’m stretching at the end of each workout I am loving every minute of the pain and sweat, just loving it…..it’s cleared my mind and brought me down to earth, not with a bump, with a nice soft cushiony landing (which is NOTHING like my butt right now BTW J) to the reality of competing, this game, this show, this “Grand Finale”…where actually, everyone is a winner, everyone has achieved something by walking out on that stage, everyone has a story, a journey and this is their prize, their 5 minutes to show off their hard work, whether you leave placing top 5 and are on cloud 9, or you didn’t quite get the place you wanted and are a little disappointed....(BTW anyone in my class who gets top five and doesn’t want yet another tiara, come see me and I’ll gladly take it off your hands….. my 4 year old daughter is convinced her Mummy is going to walk away with one….Mummy is trying to prepare her for a reality check J) in a way it doesn’t matter…did you bust your butt preparing? Did you challenge yourself every time you stepped into that gym? Give 110%? Did you love every minute of getting glammed up for the day? All the preparation, all the pretty stuff, seeing friends; old and new, catching up, pumping up, photo shoots, strutting your stuff, finally eating the forbidden fruit (burger, fries, pizza, chocolate cake, whatever it may be)….did you? Then I think you’re a winner!!….I have gotten to the point where the nerves have gone….they’ve gone, and left is excitement….I’m excited like I would be for a party…sound crazy? When else would I glam myself up to the max…I’m a Group Fitness Instructor and Stay at Home Mum….there is no glam going on there….so this is it, less than two weeks…..and it’s Party time J Tags: |
| getting settled in.... |
| 03.30.2011 06:24:30 | |
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So, a week into my new regime and how do I feel? Put it this way, even my fingers are tired J My workouts are fantastically intense and I love it….today was brutal though, only because I teach RPM (spin) then I had to get my work out in….AND it’s a little deplete day today….”HELLO….WHERE IS MY FOOD AT?” And Tuesday is a repeat….teach, train….not much in the food department….Roll on Wednesday J Aside from that I am loving having my butt kicked and feeling like I’ve achieved something in the gym, earned my meals and also earned my right to get on the E Cup stage…..I’m in a better mindset about the show and have managed to release a lot of the stress (unnecessary I might add) I had been carrying around…with the help of wise words and perspective of some new friends. I’m also loving being part of a team, I guess I feel more at home in a team (or pack – haha), I’m not really an “individual” sports person so this journey has been a weird one in that respect. So Daycare for my kiddies is all booked, I’m free to tan, makeup, check in, pre-judge….etc without stressing about where my darlings are at….that’s another load off my mind (remind me to do a Saturday show next time!)….amazing how much THAT was stressing me out….don’t get me wrong, my kiddies drive me crazy and the thought of 2 days “sans les enfant” (that would be French for “without the children”) sounds fantastic, but when they’re not with me, I miss them like crazy and worry about what they’re doing, are they safe? Having fun? Can’t win huh? Anyway, in the final countdown….and I’m now starting to think about chocolate, alot J Tags: |
| Sprint to the line? |
| 03.23.2011 23:09:15 | |
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What is the whole point of this blog? To share my journey to the E Cup; the ups and downs, the fun times and the not so fun times….I have found it hard to share this week as I’ve not felt like talking, to talk would reveal that I haven’t been feeling prepared coming into the Cup, I had been keeping my head down telling myself I’ll be alright, when deep, deep down I didn’t feel it…so it got to a point where I decided to do something about it….action…in brief, I changed coaches….it’s very late in the game and now I have a sprint finish, let’s see how we get on…..no more details, but there it is… Happy Training Tags: |
| Count down, 31 days to go...... |
| 03.16.2011 03:26:24 | |
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4 weeks and 4 days…..or 1 month to the date…whatever way you want to look at it, it’s not far away, we’re entering the home straight (and for those competing at Vancouver you’re even closer!)….The reality is starting to set in with the simplest of actions. My tan appointments are now booked and paid for, the day I’m getting my nails done is set, what to do with my hair has been decided, my suit has been sent back for final alterations, posing and walking has been practiced and practiced to the point where soon (hopefullyJ) it will be natural and I won’t think about it (and there are still 4 weeks to work on that). My last supper has been enjoyed, and I’m focused for the next month’s work and diet….yes there are still a few things to sort out, but slowly, piece by piece, the puzzle is finally coming together….though I’m not much of a girlie girl, and I’m slightly overwhelmed by the thought of the tan, makeup, hair…etc, it is a new journey for me and I will enjoy the ride J I’m also looking forward to meeting people that I’ve become Facebook friends with, but I’ve not actually met yet, my fellow bloggers Ginny and Karly, who have both answered questions, passed on helpful advice, and shared their experiences with me, I feel like I’ve known you two forever and we haven’t met….yet J I have started thinking a little about what to do post show…and my immediate plan will be to add more calories back into my diet and throw myself into the weights (quite literally)….enjoy feeling strong and try to sneak a pound of muscle on where I can….then, yes….I have been thinking about another competition….my mind is not made up yet, I will decide after the Emerald Cup, but I figured (haha), I have NPC membership, I have a suit, I have knowledge (kind of J)…so maybe I should make the most of this season….we’ll see…the food and wine might win be back J Anyways, competitors….eye on the prize, it’s nearly show time….spectators…we’ll see you there!! Cara Lee Tags: |
| Bye bye my monthly friend |
| 03.10.2011 04:16:54 | |
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Warning….I will be discussing FEMALE STUFF today, if you don’t like chatting about woman’s bodily functions, I suggest you go read someone else’s blog J Before I “chat “about this subject I figured we should check out the technical term for what I’ve experienced this week: Amenorrhoea (BE), amenorrhea (AmE), or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age More specifically: Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea Women who go through significant weight loss, dieting, or perform considerable amounts of exercise on a regular basis are at risk of developing hypothalamic (or 'athletic') amenorrhoea. It was thought for many years that low body fat levels and exercise related chemicals (such as beta endorphins and catecholamines) disrupt the interplay of the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. However, recent studies have shown that there are no differences in the body composition, or hormonal levels in amenorrhoeic athletes as compared to regularly cycling athletes. Instead, amenorrhoea has been shown to be directly attributable to low energy availability. Many women who diet or who exercise at a high level do not take in enough calories to expend on their exercise as well as to maintain their normal menstrual cycles.[6] A second serious risk factor of amenorrhoea is severe bone loss sometimes resulting in osteoporosis and osteopenia. It is the third component of an increasingly common disease known as female athleIte triad syndrome. The other two components of this syndrome are osteoporosis and disordered eating. Awareness and intervention can usually prevent this occurrence in most female athletes. Many doctors simply prescribe the combined oral contraceptive pill to women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea, and these women continue in their patterns of under-eating and over-exercising. Often, they do not realize that they have a problem until they are trying to conceive, when their amenorrhoea leads them to seek the treatment of a reproductive endocrinologist.[7] So after reading this (courtesy of Wikipedia), I was a little taken aback….I don’t think my diet is that extreme, even at this late stage in comp prep, yes, my calories are low…but they’re not that low…..and exercise? I’ve exercised a hell of a lot more in my life, I’m training smarter these days, not being a slave to the gym for hours at a time, and to top it all off…..I AM on the combined pill…so technically I should still get a period? I hear what you’re saying under your breath….maybe she’s pregnant???? As much as I’d love another crazy Lee child running around the place (note the hint of sarcasm in my voice)…I checked and I am not pregnant! I had never really given the lack of a period much thought when deciding to compete, I kind of had the attitude “that won’t happen to me”….I’ve always have a normal functioning body, regular periods, regular symptoms, normal well woman checks, my “woman’s” stuff is good and sturdy thank you very much …my body is stronger than that right?…it won’t stop functioning as a result of my training/dieting…but….apparently, I was wrong! I guess the biggest thought provoking topic is the long term affects this type of training/dieting can have on your body (yet again)….if you look at that last part about osteoporosis (something women are in danger of developing anyway – thank you hormones…another reason why training with weights is SO important – keep up that bone density!)…and other issues (check out the Triad Syndrome, that’s a little scary too), it does make you stop and think about “sensible” competing….I suppose, not overloading your schedule with competitions, letting you body recover and function properly for a while after competing, before putting it under pressure again….we all know the drill…extremes of anything is not good…same goes for this… Compete Smart my friends Cara Lee PS apologies to those “anti discussing woman’s issues” people…. PPS again, I’m not a medical expert, this is just my minimal research and opinion…just sayin…. Tags: |
| Pushing through and 6 weeks to go :) |
| 03.03.2011 09:51:22 | |
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I took a “cold day” on Monday. Hubby got back from Europe on Sat and as usual returned tired and under the weather…the children had been “fighting” colds all week, and of course the minute Paul gets back, I relax and I then start to feel rotten….QUICK! Give me drugs!! I cannot and will not get sick!! Sunday is usually a rest day….so I took it J and then decided to get a sub for my class on Monday morning (thank you Debbie!), cancel training with Cory and take that day off too…..and you know what? I AM SO GLAD!! Ok, maybe I’m not quite operating at 100%, more like 90%, but I know had I not taken that extra day, had I “pushed through” I’d be in a worse place now. Had a great training session with Cory today and looking forward to PUMP tomorrow….all good J In general I’m pretty conservative when it comes to training with a cold, or if I’m not feeling well, I’d rather take it easy and give my body a little bit of a head start at getting better (I don’t feel like training when I’m sick…so I listen to my body!)….I know people do it, and it’s a personal choice…but seriously, you’re not well, you go to the gym, push through your workout….get to the end, you’ve underperformed (because you’re sick!), your self esteem takes a kicking because you’ve underperformed (er…because you’re sick) and oh yeah, your immune system has also taken a beating ….your body is trying to heal itself and you’re giving it extra work to do? be smart people….take some rest days, eat good CLEAN food, get the fluids down you and get some sleep….there…I’ve said my two cents worth J SO….6 weeks to go, and I’m on a little bit of a rollercoaster ride of feeling in control some days and not feeling so on others….I don’t know why, self doubt? Being over critical? We all know we're our own worst critics!! Because this journey is a new one for me I’m not 100% sure how I should feel or look at this stage of the game, what is the right or wrong way….is there a right or wrong way?…well, we all know there isn’t, everyone is different, we react to different foods, different types of training, I guess I’m just trying to enjoy the journey without getting too hung up and overwhelmed by it all….and when I say enjoy the journey, I’m talking about the different training I’m doing and the way my body is changing….not so much the food I’m eating – haha….isn’t it funny how when you know you’re NOT ALLOWED to have something, you want it even more (I’m not usually bothered by cupcakes…UNTIL NOW!)….and then as a chick we have those wonderful hormones to deal with - anyone else want to stuff their face with crap the week before their period? YES, I’m talking to the ladies here….sorry you men have it easy….us females have to battle our hormones who seem to want to usurp control of the decisions we make and our actions (or reactionsJ)…it’s tough to stay rational sometimes….anyway, I digress….back to the Emerald Cup preparation….I’m trying to keep my head down, stay focused and motivated….it’s only next month, time to get serious….friends? I’ll see you in 6 weeks (unless we’re in the gym)….socials? Not so much right now – no offence, I need quiet early nights….please don’t be offended, that’s just how I have to be for now J Until next time Cara Lee Tags: |
| My Sister.... |
| 02.27.2011 13:49:22 | |
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I’m going to go off on a tangent with this blog, apologies in advance, I just want to write this down….Today I have been thinking about my sister J We’ve been buddies for a long time now (ooh, about 30 years J). For those of you that don’t know me well, my sister, Karen, and I went to boarding School in England (our Dad was in the military so moved about a lot). This meant that from a young age (8 years old!) we relied on each other for support, company….nighttime bathroom visits (it’s scary walking down 4 flights of stairs the dark when you’re 8….especially with the ghost of Queen Mary haunting your school – well, that was the story and as a child I believed it!!). As we got older and moved into senior school (Junior High) we were both selected for sports teams in our grades, and found the physical education side of school easy and enjoyable, so much so that because we were in different year groups (and therefore different teams) we often met for lunch time sports clubs and practices, so we could play together (I always remember our PE teacher cheering for Karen – she was the younger one - willing her to beat me at whatever we were doing….I don’t think it happened though….sorry Karen J…actually I lie, I remember playing badminton with my left hand once…. Karen beat me then!!) Our main (and favorite) sport was lacrosse….in England, more often than not, it’s the posh private schools that offer lacrosse as a school sport…and apparently ours was posh enough…so, again, we both made our teams, we joined a local club that practiced at our school, and when we were old enough, both got selected to represent our county (a big deal when you’re at school!)….This was our love, always out for early morning practice, lunchtime practice and evening club activities, our parents ALWAYS came to watch us play. In High School we’d play for school, our club, county and East of England. Once we left school we’d travel to play at the same club (Beckenham lacrosse Club…I still have the jacket, and shirt, and kilt….), again playing for East of England and eventually making the England under 21 squad (the B squad I might add, and I believe we actually only played Scotland and Wales!! J). While all this lacrosse playing was going on we had a chance to live together for a year – honestly? One of my favorite years ever!! We lived together, trained at the gym together; circuit training, running, weights, classes, we were training buddies!!! And of course travelled around playing lacrosse together (remember that lacrosse tournament in Germany???), I laugh when I think back now…we were the “Ferguson sisters”, (our maiden name) Karen was a wing attack and me a wing defense….ultimately the runners of our team….and Karen, left-handed, had an AWESOME shot (at goal) on her…other clubs actually knew who “The Ferguson sisters” were (that makes me chuckle too J)…It wasn’t just about me and Karen though, I LOVED our team, most of the players coached us when we were at school, they had taught us the game, we had SO much respect for them and now we got to play with them…that was a reward and honor for me!!.....ah, happy days…I could reminisce all night…but I won’t bore you anymore!! What happened next? Karen went back to uni to do her teacher training, I met Paul (now my husband) and we moved to Australia, Karen got married and moved to Germany….so our “training together” days had run their course and other aspects of life took over, since then we’ve never lived in the same country!! We’ve also spent the last 5 years having children (2 for me and 3 for herJ)…. So….Why am I going on about this? Why? No reason other than while I’m on this new adventure, training for the Emerald Cup, I miss my sister more than ever, my training buddy! When I’m in the gym; teaching a class, lifting weights, going for a run, even after all this time, I wish Karen was there with me, my best friend, my training partner and ultimate team mate…. For now we support each other from afar. I hope that one day; we will live in the same country and will reunite as training partners (Even if we have to wait until we’re old ladies!!!). Love and Miss you, my sister, Karen xxxx Tags: |
| surviving....just.... |
| 02.25.2011 10:00:57 | |
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My single parent week is nearly over – YIPPEE! I don’t know how you do it, all you single parent’s out there…it’s the evenings that got me….sat at home, kids in bed, no one to talk to, no motivation to do anything (like tidy up the kids toys, laundry, even loading the dishwasher)…it’s funny how when I have Paul here, he might be doing email or watching TV, not actually paying any attention to me or what I’m doing, but because he’s there I seem to have motivation do those things…when he’s away I don’t want to do anything…WHY IS THAT???? And with my eating – I have had the worst week for cravings, I have wanted to eat all the bad stuff and it’s been a real battle to stay away from the kids snacks/treats…etc, again, when Paul is here he’ll sit next to me in the evening, maybe have a beer, some treat or another (chocolate, cookie, that kind of thing) and it doesn’t bother me at all, I can watch him eat and not feel the need to have any myself…this week, I’ve been literally looking through my cupboards questioning what I could get away with eating….my conclusion? Not a lot (I went for the sugar free jello, when what I REALLY wanted was the giant bowl of granola!!!)….So it’s safe to say I’ll be THRILLED when I have my husband home and I’ll be so busy looking after the kids and him I’ll be thinking less of what I’m “missing” out on food-wise…(I mean come on Cara, its only 7 weeks, GET A GRIP!) On the training front, things have been great, still strong, still lifting good weight, enjoying the plyometric aspect of the training Cory has incorporated, LOVING teaching my classes, and motivated when I’m training on my own…so THAT’s all fabulous! Anyway, two days out of routine due to the snow, so I have everything crossed that the schools will be open tomorrow therefore the gym will be back on track and I can hit it up for some training….WITHDRAWLS!!!!! Have a fab weekend all Cara Lee Kids in the snow this morning......
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| Posing class, flying solo and getting some understanding |
| 02.20.2011 00:15:55 | |
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So after Cory read my blog and commented on my cookie eating I actually felt like a naughty school girl!! haha…So I have been absolutely shamed into avoiding those cookies from now on (at all costs, I don’t want detention!) Last night was group posing practice with the lovely Rose Patterson (host) and Elaine Craig (our wonderful promoter)…OMG it was BUSY!!! Loads of girls keen to get their heels on and learn to take the stage…what I was most impressed with? The amount of girls who, like, me have never done this before…I must say, WOW!! Women of different ages, backgrounds, some who had travelled from Eastern Washington, and quite frankly, I shouldn’t have expected anything else….a complementary class? Giving ladies and insight into stage presence…how to walk, turn and pose….who wouldn’t come along? Listening to Elaine’s tips, watching the seasoned competitor’s walk and moves as they demonstrated (BTW Juliana? I wanted to rip her lats and shoulders off and use them for myself….in the nicest possible way of course!! Awesome, just awesome!) My only little negative for the night…I WAS FREEZING!! My little toes were like blocks of ice by the end J and it was so busy, we had to get so much packed in (and I had to leave early to collect my children) that I didn’t really get a chance to chat to anyone properly….so can we do a social next time - haha? (We can serve chicken breasts, spinach and water….no nachos or cocktailsJ). Anyway, I am thoroughly looking forward to the next one already (although typically it’s on my husband’s birthday so I can see another early departure for me!). Elaine supplied us with some samples, and Posters, which I’m going to put ALL over the place! (the posters that is, the samples…well, I’ll be sampling of course!) Paul is away right now, he’s in Europe for 10 days, and I’m wondering if that will make my life easier or harder with regards to my current routine….I’m not sure, it means I can eat when I need to (particularly on the weekend s and evenings) without worrying about him, and it means I can go to bed ridiculously early if I’m tired and/or hungry! But, it also means it’s just me and those darling (but crazy) kids of mine, who I will be trying to get to bed early while he’s away (if they insist on getting up at 5am, they can go to bed a little earlier for Mama!)…. Friday (yesterday) is Butt Bible day, I use a work out for Pauline Nordin’s book (the crazy, but Awesome lady who owns “Fighter Diet”), but yesterday, I was a little unmotivated to do that set routine and fancied doing a couple of my own moves (not my own made up moves, but a few that aren’t in Pauline’s book), so I mixed it up a little, and I got to the end, unsure if I got a good workout in….does that sound a little crazy to you? Ok…a little insight to me…if I don’t take myself to the point where I might throw up, I don’t feel like I’ve had a hard enough workout…training for this show has really slowed down my training and educated me in the different ways to train my body (and preserve my body, not wear it down, aka training it to the point of barfing J)…so anyway, I figured, I worked all the areas I needed to, I felt the muscles working as I wanted, so I should trust that I ticked the boxes and should go grab a shower….fast forward 9 hours, walking up the stairs…..OH YES definitely hit the areas I was meant to in the gym today!!! OUCH! Trust the process Cara, you understand it better than you think J Anyway once again I have babbled forever, the next 48 hours will be about me surviving the weekend, lots of activities to wear my children out, and a couple of gym session for mama (teaching PUMP on Sunday morning at Gold’s Issaquah – yay J) Have a fabulous weekend all and chat again soon Cara Tags: |
| The Dark Side, box jumps & the ramblings of a virgin figure competitor |
| 02.16.2011 11:20:23 | |
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So just checking in with the latest in the world of Cara…..those who saw my Facebook status know I was seduced to the dark side of a valentines cookie yesterday…yes, I was a little annoyed with myself, but have moved on and have remained on the straight and narrow today (phew J)…even avoiding the cake and cookies at my Brit group catch up this afternoon (not sure how I keep ending up in situations where there is an abundance of all things sugary!)…keeping my food tight has been easier than I thought, so I was taken by surprise by my lack of will power yesterday…I wondered why that happened? Was there a reason behind it? The only thing I could think of was that I didn’t drink enough water, it got to the afternoon and I hadn’t drunk anywhere near what I normally do (very busy schedule so I guess I forgot!)…..anyhoo, I ensured my water intake has been back to its usual standard today and I’ve not felt those hunger pangs, so maybe that was it…. Training still going well, Cory throwing all sorts of fun stuff at me like box jumps….I did ask for a trampoline at one point J (and I HAVE to go to the bathroom before that kind of jumping!!!) I wonder what I’ll get next week. And I’m relieved that my energy levels in the gym haven’t been affected…yet, although still no cardio right now so I kind of have it easy (in a manner of speaking)…. I was wondering if my ramblings seem silly to seasoned or pro competitors (hmmm, would a pro even read these blogs? Who knows!!!). After all, you guys know the drill; you’ve done it many times before, the training, the eating…etc….can you remember your very first show? How did your prep go? Did you feel you took the stage in control? Did you feel ready? Or were you a tad overwhelmed? Perhaps a little uncomfortable and out of your depth? I can only go by what I’m feeling, and the closer I get, the more excited I get, I try to imagine what I’ll look like with the hair, the makeup….that tan J….and of course the muscles! (Yes, and the heels tooJ). I spent time pondering the backstage layout….and then what’s going on there, all the girls getting ready to get on the stage, are they laughing and having a good time? Are they stressing (for whatever reason)? I like to picture the laughing and good time option….because surely if it was THAT much of a stress we wouldn’t do it….right? Ok, so I have a few pre-conceived ideas of what it will be like, but I am keeping an open mind to the reality, and I intend to enjoy every moment. I haven’t been doing this marathon of preparation (and yes it is a marathon…NOT a sprint) to get all in a tizz at the last minute over something silly and not savor and enjoy what I’ve worked my butt off for J (please note, I WILL get in a tizz if I fall over in my heels or I have some sort or wardrobe malfunction and my suit reveals something it shouldn’t, just so you know) Alight….I think I have expressed my opinion enough for one night (geez does this girl ever stop??)…So, have a fabulous evening whatever you are up to and I shall be seeing/meeting a few of you at Posing Practice on Friday – yay! Cara Tags: |
| WHERE HAS MY FOOD GONE???? AGAIN!!! |
| 02.12.2011 09:24:23 | |
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Yes, I know I have written about this before…but it’s happened again….my food has been tampered with….I’m now “carb cycling” and it has NOTHING to do with riding a bike I can tell you that for nothing! To optimize fat burning (and muscle retention) carb cycling is the way to go apparently, so I have a mix of high carb (which isn’t actually that high, just higher than the low carb days) days to boost energy and refuel the body, then low carb days to fire up the metabolism and burn that flubber jubber (aka….fat)….I started on Wednesday with a high day, followed by two lows….so far so good…I’ve noticed its taken me time to feel awake in the morning on these 2 low days, but I did have to pick up an extra PUMP class at the gym so that would have had an effect too….I will keep monitoring…Rose asked me to practice my posing a while after breakfast and see how my body looks and feels, I must say I’ve only done this once this morning, but honestly I felt lethargic and pathetic…I didn’t want to lift my arms to brush my hair, let alone go though my poses…I did it anyway…and will keep at it to see how my body differs between the high and low days (maybe a little caffeine in the morning might be the way forward J). I’ll be interested to see the next lot of changes my body makes in the coming weeks…. More posing tonight with Rose….looking forward to that J And on a unrelated topic that I’m excited about, my daughter Scarlett got in to Full Time Kindergarten – yippee for her (and MummyJ)
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| How did your Super Bowl weekend go? |
| 02.09.2011 03:46:31 | |
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OMG – not sure how I did it, but I did it – I sat with my friends, in front of a fabulous array of yummy snacks, inhaling all those yummy smells, watching people munch the yummy treats, washed down with yummy wine….and I didn’t touch ANY OF IT….my willpower has less holes than I thought J (and I took my homemade cookies…didn’t eat those either!)…I actually can’t believe it…well, I guess I survived the girls weekend too, so I should give myself more credit J I realized though – while watching everyone else – how much we actually eat when we’re not really paying attention….handful of chips here, little cookie there, a beer, a wine, a burrito..Before you know it you’ve added another 700 calories to your daily intake….make that a regular occurrence and suddenly you’ve gained 10lbs…..HOW DID THAT HAPPEN??? Isn’t it amazing how the weight can creep slowly on and honestly you have no idea how it got there…”I eat healthy”, “I eat small portions” “I don’t eat chips or chocolate”….so how did it happen? Well, just like the Super Bowl weekend, social occasions become an excuse to indulge, and we’re a pretty social species J so these occasions happen more than we think. We also “reward” ourselves more than we should…I find having just one cheat meal a week can be tricky, I’ve worked hard, I deserve a whole day of treats…right? (Not for me right now – maybe in 10 weeks I can have a whole day). Our portion sizes have become somewhat exaggerated in recent times too, Paul (my husband) and I sometimes order 1 steak between us when we go out to eat….because they are HUGE! Yes, we get funny looks, but we don’t careJ. Don’t eat chips and chocolate? Great, you’re making good choices, but eat too much of anything and you’ll get fat…. (Although I DO question if you could eat enough spinach and broccoli to make you fatJ, I’m not willing to try it out…any takers?). I could chat all day about how fat creeps on your body and how people find it hard to change their lifestyles to remove that unwanted fat….but alas I don’t have all day J Sooooo, think of the above as a little food for thought (haha), be a little more conscious at your next social gathering, ask yourself; “do I need that handful of chips?”, “is another glass of wine really necessary?”, “seconds of dessert?....really?”….you never know, you might have more self control that you think J Good Luck and have a fabulous week Cara PS me and my kids checking out the Sports cars in Redmond (now I’ve figured out the photo thing) PPS getting leaner and loving the progress!!! (9.5 weeks to go) Tags: |
| Confessions from the cookie jar |
| 02.06.2011 05:28:45 | |
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I think I’m going to have to give up baking with my children until after the show….I mean, I make pretty healthy cookies, but not that healthy….and no matter how full I am or how much will power I have, they always say “EAT ME EAT ME!”…and I can’t say no…..don’t get me wrong, I don’t stand there and scoff down a quick half dozen, I only have 1 (and I pick the smallest one I might add)….but it’s really not good enough is it now???? (I also don’t bake very often, baking today has been the first time since Christmas)…anyway, I have proved to myself that my willpower has holes…no more baking J Now just have to get my children (and husband) to get those cookies down them quick-smartish (and if you know my husband you’ll know that he’ll rise to the challenge ) Aside from the baking confession everything else is going great….off for my first posing lesson tonight, heels in my bag, ready to go strut in front of mirrors and feel like a right goof ball J Ok, so posing has yet to win me over, and that’s probably because I haven’t really done it yet and don’t feel I know what I’m doing…I’ll get there…I promise!
Ok….it’s now 3 hours after I started writing this, survived my first posing class with the lovely Rose, taking me through the basic mandatory poses with and without mirrors…which was fun J I just need to get practicing on my own and get comfy with all the moves and then work on some stage presence…. (So not too much work to do then – haha)…oh…and I ate another cookie….darn it, I blame my husband as he went to the pub while I was out so we didn’t eat until 8.30pm (meal time is 7pm for me!) Baking ban now enforced in the Lee house for the next 10 weeks! Tags: |
| Practicing Patience, among other things :) |
| 02.02.2011 10:17:49 | |
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Sorry for the lack of blog recently. I’ve kind of lacked the motivation (or maybe inspiration) to write. Things have been ticking along rather well, I feel in control of my training and diet, and even managed a girl’s weekend away and returned victorious (I didn’t cheat on my food….OR drink!) I am blessed with fabulous friends who let me do my thing and encourage me to stay on the straight and narrow….what is it with people, apparent “friends” who try to sabotage your plans? (even if it is unintentional)…thankfully, I have not had to deal with that! Yes, there have days where I’m hungry and days where I’m exhausted, physically and mentally and its taken all my patience to not take it out on my children (they like to test the boundaries anyway, but when the test them with a hungry and tired Mama they sometimes get more than they bargained for!), but we’ve been getting through the days and it’s been pretty easy….long may it continue! One thing that has been tested is my patience (and not just with my children). Those who know me, know that I'm not a very patient person, I want it now (or yesterday). So I have been “practicing Patience” (Thank you Rachel Harris for that phrase) as I’ve seen small changes occur with my body, but not nearly as much as I’d like (I told you, I want it all now J) So, I’m keeping my head down, sticking to my plan and trusting that those currently in charge of me (my food and training) are leading me in the right direction (and I have no doubt about that) So, until next time, have a great week Cara PS Pic is of me and my PUMP team that I launched with last week (we launch new music every 3 months), and I haven’t sussed how to do the large pictures yet so get your magnified glass out…(well I tried, and clearly failed....)
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| How do you do it? |
| 01.25.2011 12:24:24 | |
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| That fine line.... |
| 01.19.2011 09:45:14 | |
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Saturday afternoon doing a quick Skype chat with the in-laws, my father-in-law was telling us he knee was still bothering him (not been right for a while) and when he took himself off to the Doc he was told he’d done too many marathons….too much running for too long and his knee had had enough (Stephen is in his 60’s). Now let’s chat about my father (just turned 60), he has an Aneurism on his aorta, right by his heart – “ooh, that sounds serious” I hear you say, well, yes it is, Dad is unable to run or do any strenuous cardio above a walk or leisurely swim, (and Dad has ALWAYS been a fit and very active person!) he is also unable to lift anything over 10lbs (it could be 5lbs, but I’d have to check) – either way, it’s not very much! He shouldn’t be carrying his grandchildren!! (He does…). This wasn’t an injury per-say, but it did develop due to adverse health, High Blood Pressure brought on by stress (having 2 daughters?J), and so now he has had to alter his lifestyle to accommodate this affliction (BTW an aneurism is where a small area of a blood vessel has stretched into a little bubble, it may continue to grow and if it reaches a certain size, it’s at risk of bursting and - depending on the location - its gameover for that person….and no, the location of Dad’s is not good, however his is being monitored and it has not grown significantly in the last year J) What am I trying to say? I’ll get there I promise…. Now I understand that everyone is different. Some people’s bodies handle wear and tear better than others, and mentally, what one person might find stressful, another may not, but mental tension/stress/illness can and most likely will manifest in a physical way; from tiredness and headaches to something more life threatening like an aneurism. BUT – Before you drop what you’re doing, throw yourself on the couch and kick back with a cold beer and bowl of nachos because clearly exercise itself is a health risk…think again…there are FAR MORE health benefits to keeping active than to not, I’m thinking about the more extreme levels of training, for those of us that get caught up in a goal, training hard, dieting hard, we need to remember that there is a fine line between maintaining optimal health and quite frankly, downright abuse….so it is important to listen to your body, take a break if you feel your body asking (or yelling!!), take time out from the crazy focus that’s driving us towards our goals and remember the bigger picture (who and what will still be around after you’ve reached your goal??? Because life does go on), and keep a check on your stress levels, trying to find time to relax and let go of things that might be getting stressy…I know, I know, easier said than done sometimes, but at least if you’re aware then you’re one step closer to getting a handle on it J Look after yourself and you’ll be more likely to be able to dash up a flight of stairs in your sixties J Cara PS This blog is my opinion only not medically researched facts….just sayin PPS Yes, yes, I do try to follow my own advice Tags: |
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