RAntorcha - New & Improved Natural Freak

[rantorcha]

We all deal with some trials and tribulations in life. If this is as bad as it gets, life is pretty damn good. But, unfortunately, last week my computer got the dreaded BLUE SCREEN!! I am currently illegally using my work computer to post. (shhhhh, don't tell anyone)

So, just to catch everyone up with what's been going on the last 11 days, it has been VERY hectic. This past weekend, not only did we have Stef's show (The Fort Lauderdale Cup) AND her birthday, but we had a 3rd grade project to finish on Sunday. Oh...AND I'm 3 weeks out from my own show - the NGA Pro Universe.

I got my plan this week from Eric and although I didn't have to increase my cardio, I did lose some carbs - which is fine by me. The loss of carbs, PLUS having to do my cardio in the midst of everything going on this past weekend, I crashed HARD yesterday. After my training session yesterday, I was done. I finished up work and I couldn't move!

I did get some good quality sleep last night, so I do feel somewhat better. But, I am resolved to the fact that I won't feel too much better from here on in.

I got my cardio done this morning and am waiting now to go train. It doesn't get any easier this week. I've got to make a small road trip to meet my boss tomorrow morning for work and in the evening I have my daughter's Music show at her school. You gotta do what you gotta do...especially for your kids.

[rantorcha]

Just got my computer back. You really realize what you are missing when you don't have your computer working! Although having an iphone does help, it doesn't quite equal having the ability to work on a computer.

So, this past weekend was relatively quiet. We did double cardio sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. The morning session was more of a brisk pace walk while in the afternoon we jogged, sprinted, etc. For the rest of the weekend, we ran a few errands and did some cooking. We even managed to go to a Halloween party (of course, no drinking for me) and had a little fun dressing up.

With less than two weeks to go now, I am pretty spent these days. My training today was pretty brutal. I "got up" for each set, but I have to admit between sets, I was damn near doubled over in complete exhaustion. I managed to get through but it took everything I had.

[rantorcha]

I woke up this morning and felt a smidge better than yesterday. After picking up the girls from school, I started to feel worse and worse. The diet and all of the "stuff" going into this prep seem to be taking quite a toll on me to the point where it is sucking the life out of me. BUT...there are only a handful of days left. Matter of fact, after this morning, I've got roughly 8 more days of cardio and 11 days until the show.

Time to bring on the pain!

[rantorcha]

Today's training session was MUCH better than yesterday. I actually felt like I had a smidge of energy which was great since training is really what I love most about competing. So now my focus is on eating, resting and hanging out with my girls tonight (after finishing up work, of course!)

I'm pretty much done with my mini-sessions at this point, but I am getting in a little more volume in my normal training. Here is a breakdown of today's training...

DELTS
Hammer Press Machine - 3 sets w/ drop
Side Laterals - 1 set; 1 dropset; 1 double dropset
Rev Cable Crossover - 3 sets
Press Machine w/ palms in - 1 set; 1 dropset; 1 double dropset

Did some abs afterwards, but that was pretty much it for today. I also got some posing practice in. No time to slack now.

[rantorcha]

It's only 10am and I already feel like I've put in a full day! I woke up at 6am to start running my reports for work and make the girls lunch. I got everything done and took the girls to school. Then came home, did my cardio session, ate breakfast VERy fast then hauled ass over to the chiropractor. One last adjustment before the show! All of that done by 9:30am.

UGH...now I need a nap. Hey, but I figured it out and I only have 7 more days of cardio...and 10 more days til the show. FULL speed ahead.

[rantorcha]

I got a pretty nice compliment this morning from my chiropractor. He said he was impressed by the extreme hard work and dedication it took for me to compete. He also said he thought I was about 20 pounds heavier than I actually weighed today. Obviously, he isn't a judge at the show, but it was nice of him to express that to me. It kind of made me feel pretty good.

Feeling good seems to be at a premium this week. I have honestly been feeling like dog crap the entire week. Stef says I must be looking great because you never feel "great" and look great. lol I am not sure about that necessarily, but it does seem to coincide.

We attacked some BACK. Here is how it went down...
WG Pulldowns - 3 sets w/ drop
Rev Bent Row - same
CG Seated Row - same
Rev Hammer Pulldown - same
D-ring Stiff arm Pulldown - triple drop set
Hyperextensions - 1 set, then a drop set to finish things off.

[rantorcha]

NOW begins the real countdown. After today, 1 WEEK TO GO! That's when things get really real. My cardio for today is in the books. All that's really left is a good, solid training session around noon. I'll get some pics taken and send everything to Eric to see what the plan is. For the last week, it's a new update and pictures every single day. No stone is unturned!

At this stage, I really have to force myself NOT to look too far ahead. I have to take things step by step. One meal at a time, one task at a time...almost one hour at a time. If not, I start making myself mental! Anxiety about the show to "jut get here already" is a trap I often find myself in the last couple of weeks before a show. I have done a MUCH better job of handling that anxiety the last couple of times. I have to keep telling myself to "enjoy the journey".

So, this afternoon we had a nice Arms workout...

TRICEPS
Rev Pushdonws
DB Lying Tri Ext
Dip Machine

BICEPS
Arms Hanging over the back of Incl Bench - Bar Curls
Seated Incl DB Curls

mini-DELTS
Side Lateral Machine

That's it...and that's all! Time to finish out the day at work and rest with my girls this weekend!

[rantorcha]

Woke up this morning and got my last (hopefully) cardio session in this morning...a good 30 minutes session on the treadmill. By the afternoon, it was time to hit the gym for my last training session. We did some Delts and Biceps...and for fun we threw in some abs.

Right before our training, I got some pics done and once I got home I sent everything over to Eric. I hope to be getting my plan for Thursday pretty soon.

Once that's done, I will be ready for some serious relaxation. However, rest is something that won't happen for a little while I've got way too much to do. I've got to pick up my girls tonight, get my haircut, do a little more tanning (last time), and run a few other errands.

72 hours from now, it'll be almost over. So, I am trying to enjoy the wave.

[rantorcha]

Ahhhh, yes. The day before the show! The last day to get everything you need done. There's nothing to do...yet, there is a lot to do. Making sure you "got everything" is almost an all day situation.

Posing music on a cd, posing trunks, extra clothes, extra towels, tanning product, sheen product. Oh, and did I mention food?! Gotta make sure you've got your gear. From there, you also have to do a little check-in action with the promoter. Once that's done, its time to rest, relax and WAIT.

There's LOTS of waiting! That's probably the worst part. But form here on in, its all fun and games. I am as ready as I will be and feel pretty good. Now it's up to the judges.

Catch up with everyone on Monday!

[rantorcha]

It's been just over a week since my pro debut and I must admit it wasn't very eventful. I'll be even more honest and say I was actually a little disappointed. Not necessarily in how I placed, but in how I performed. I ate a big piece of humble pie and that would ok if I were at MY best. However, I don't feel that I was at my best at all.

It seemed to me that anything that could go wrong during this prep seemed to go wrong. My body was fighting me hard every step of the way. It seemed like anything I tried to rev the engine back up, just didn't work as effectively as it did just a few weeks ago. After having that feeling day after day for seemingly weeks, I had a bad feeling about entering the show. But, I had already entered and it was only a few weeks to go so I pushed on. If I am being totally honest with myself, I'd have to say that my heart just wasn't into it. But, I don't know if my heart wasn't in it BECAUSE I wasn't getting better or if I wasn't getting better because my heart wasn't in to it. Add to that the fact that I was physically miserable the last three weeks. Again, my body was fighting me hard.

By the end, I tried to convince myself that I was "fuller", but in truth, I just wasn't as sharp as before.

Lessons learned and now it's time to turn the page. I've got to look back on this season and realize what I have accomplished - I won my Pro Card after three years of trying and coming up just short every time. I have to be proud of that.

I haven't set my sights on any competition for next year yet. And who knows, I may sit out a year...or not compete again. But, one thing will remain true - I will go to the gym every day with a new purpose. To improve anything and everything I can.

I am already devising my plan to tweak and bring up weaker points. I'll probably start it the first of the year...and we'll take it from there.