14 WEEKS OUT from my FIRST Figure Competition!

So if you don't know already, I am competing in my first Figure Competition this year! The competition that I am entering is The Ft Lauderdale Cup on Oct 18, 2014. It is an IFBB and NPC sponsored event and you are able to qualify nationally if I place. Wouldn't that be AWESOME! I think at this point, I just want to make it to the stage and look like I belong with all the other competitors. Not to mention, I don't want to fall flat on my face on stage.

But this year, I set it out to be my best and be at my healthiest. T25 and P90x3 challenged me in ways of my discipline and I loved how it changed my body! I wanted to take it a step further and see where this discipline can take me and I'm just so intrigued by what the body can do. I want to see how nutrition and different workouts change my body. I'm so excited to take on this journey!

I have taken it upon myself to seek out additional help, with the help of an IFBB Pro Figure competitor, Rebekah Willich. She's helping me with the training and also the nutrition aspect. She makes my weekly meal plans according to my needs. So far I've sent her 2 progress photos with them being 2 weeks apart, and she makes adjustments to my nutrition as she sees fit!

My routine so far consists of going to the gym 6 days a week, with 5 of those days adding cardio in. I mainly have to build up my glutes so I'm spending most of my cardio on the stair master for 30 minutes! 

Here is what my schedule looks like usually each week:

Monday- REST

Tuesday - Shoulders/Triceps

Wednesday- Light Legs

Thursday- Back/Biceps

Friday- Light shoulders/Biceps

Saturday- Heavy Legs

Sunday- Back/Biceps

This routine is quite a change since I've been used to the at home fitness programs, BUT I'm ready for the challenge! The workout routine with the machines are all that I've done before. It helped that I've had a personal trainer in the past and my husband is being really supportive right now and going to the gym with me when he can. So I'm very happy about that! The tough part was picking the right time to go to the gym because it always happens that when you need to use a machine, it's always occupied. Grrrr... but oh well.. that's bound to happen.

Another challenge is the meals! And yes, I knew going into this that nutrition was going to be the hardest part! And for the lack of variety, gets a little bit boring. BUT, I've done well so far and I've been on this meal plan now for almost 4 weeks! Haven't had any real moments where I needed something or craved something... so far so good!

But here is what a typical day of eating looks like for me so far!
Meal #1- Shakeology shake with 1/2 extra scoop of whey protein, peanut butter and 30g of oats
Meal #2- Chicken, green beans and almonds
Meal #3- Chicken, green beans and sweet potatoes
Meal #4- Whey protein, 1/2 banana and almonds
Meal #5- Tilapia over spinach salad, avocados and almonds
Meal #6- Egg whites and peanut butter

Not bad! but I know the key to success is going to be discipline and preparation. 

I can't wait to see my progress throughout this whole journey! I've already started seeing some changes in my quads and I think the weakest part for me is my legs. So I will keep building them and just hope they are good enough come stage time!!

Here are my progress photos so far. These are only about 4 weeks apart but no flexing or anything. So it's hard to see any difference but I can definitely see my back starting to get bigger and my waste is slimming slightly. The angles aren't that great but hopefully I can take better pics next time!

Hope you'll continue to follow in on my first Figure Competition Journey!