As I mentioned, I decided to go with the criss-cross top as I want to exagerate my shoulders.   I will add more photos once I get the rest of my Swarovski crystals in.  I can't wait to layout the design.   I am going to create it on paper first to see what the overall design will look like.  Once you start gluing, there is no going back.   It's the old "measure twice cut once" lecture I got growing up and my Dad was right…… darn it!   I do need to get it completed sooner than later so I can practice posing in it and get used to putting it on.  The criss cross in the front will make it a little tricky with crystal placement, but I think the cut will also make me stand out.  The traditional halter tops are nice, but it will be nice to be different.    This may either make me or break me on stage.   I'm all about taking chances.  

So, I guess that means I'll be cracking out the DVDand watching them tonite.  I'll keep you posted on what I think as well. 

Time for bed!

My hats off to whoever found coffee!   I have a crazy ay today as I have 8 clients scheduled to train.  What was I thinking?!!!   The good news is that I thought I was on a 50gr carb day when atfer I checked my planner, it is in fact a 75 carb day.  Woo -hooo!  

I have a CRAZY client schedule today.  Going forward, I need to remember to check my planner for my carb schedule.  MAP IT OUT as I did.  It will save you time and sanity -especially when you get the space-cases like I did this morning.  It's only going to get more intense as I get closer to competition day.  I cannot tell you how many times I misplaced my purse and car keys the last round.  

When it comes to me booking my clients, I am going to start keeping my carb amounts in mind as I schedule.  No more 7:30PM sessions.  I am zapped by then (after having 5AM clients).  I am just asking for trouble if I repeat this.  So, live and learn and move on again. 

I was able to work in my lifting (Chest & Tri's inbetween clients.   Pullaparts, "We must, we must's (increase our busts), Tri kickbacks and the good ol bench press.    I had a slight break early this afternoon when I got my cardio session in.   I kept it at minimal (low fat burn) as I needed to save some energy for my next 3 back to back client sessions.   Bedtime cannot come soon enough.  That brings up another point, I try to get at LEAST 8 hours of sleep every night.  I am one of those that need closer to 9 hours of sleep to stay operational.  I seriously think that having mono in high school contributes to my need for more sleep.  Because if I don't, I feel like I am more susseptable to getting sick.   I also get a flu shot as I am around many clients and have had asthma/bronchitis so, it's a good idea. 

Our treadmill  is finally back on track.  2nd Wind was out here (for the 3rd time) yesterday.  The guy was super nice and took extra time to make sure the belt was operating correctly but, he still had to order another motor as he could not figure out where the squeak/tweak was coming from.   This will be the 3rd motor for this treadmill which considering that it is a Pace Master blows my mind.   If this one will not work, then it will be 3 strikes and it's out of here.  I don't know of anyone else that has had this many problems only 6 months into it's life.  Maybe it's the only lemon they have.  Again, I have heard nothing but great things about these treadmills so I am puzzled.   It's not as though it was a Sears ppecial or a close out.  It was well over $2K.  You get what you pay for and like any machine, it still needs maintenance but I certainly hope this will be the last of our issues.

I have my posing completed.  AND…… Yay!!! I got another mirror so I can see my back.  No more shoulder blades popping out for me!  I think I have fixed the defect.  My son is home sick today, which is a bummer since I think he hass the flu.  I just hope no one else in my family gets it.  I'd rather have it than my kiddies.   I think I will take a nap when he does :^)

On that note, I managed to gather enough my frustration and chanel my energy to get in a great shoulder and ab workout.   It went down like this:  Bent over loads to unloads using 20,25lb DB 3 sets of 8, HEAVY front raises (20lb DB) 3 sets of 8, Oblique twists 9lb bar 3 sets of 50, side bends/raises using 25 lb DB 3 sets of 25, military press on stability ball using 25lb DB's 3 sets of 6-8, bent over band crunches.   I then hit hte eliptical (down with the treadmill!! ) and did levels 6,7 & 8 for a half hour while I watched….drumroll….. House of Rock w/Bret Micheals.  I never laughed so hard before in  my life at a TV show (OK, except for early Will and Grace (Karen!) and the Office.   I am totally cheering for Jes.  She is the only normal, down to earth girl on the show.   Heather?! Bret is blind and I am not even going into Lacey as we all know he's keeping her for entertainment value.  What hilarious drama! (Is that an oxymoron??)  If you haven't yet, check it out.  They always play the reruns on VH1 and believe me, it's easy to catch up.

In the meantime, I already received my ProTan and Dream Tan (which is banned for my Nov.10 show only) and when I purchsed both, I threw in Bikini Bite to ensure my suit will stay with me on stage.   I did NOT need it with CeeJay's suit and I may very well not need it with this one.  Better to have it ready for use, than not.  It will be in my bag in case which gives me a peace of mind.    

Now all I need to do is decorate it with the Swarovski crystals I purchased.  I have been researching various designs from other shows, but I don't want to "copy" anyone.   I want mine to be original.  Not overdone but yet creative.  This will be the fun part!  So, I think I'll take pictures as I go.    This was the pick me up I needed.  I am feeling sluggish today and my workout was not the caliber I like.  Legs and calves….. I need to be consistantly training them hard.   I did in fact do cardio today as well (1/2 hour slow fat burn on treadmill) -per my new Aaron plan.  

Our treadmill has been acting up (again) now it is starting to moan.  So far, I am not that happy with it.  We got it in March and so far we have had the cord, motor and microchip replaced.  I don't think I have the time nor the patience to put up with much more.   Yup, that would be the grumpies.  I have officially started getting crabby!  What just happened?   I was in such a great mood when I started this entry………

Later this afternoon I went shopping!!!!  I needed to get some more daily face powder so I thought while I was at Ulta, I'd check out the options for the African American type skin.  The gal thought I was nuts when I asked about finding the darkest/golden color they had.  She thought I was a makeup artist!  Well, after figuring out the color I thought I would just take the plunge and get my fake eyelashes while I was there.  Sav me a trip (and valuable energy downline). I also reccomend taking some of the Protan and layering a couple applications on your wrist to get a good match for your face.   I will be judged on that for both shows.  I have seen competitors in the past that are either way too dark (they put the Protan on their face!) or too light or mismatched.  It looks like someone cut off your head and placed it on another body on stage so, take extra care in making your face match the rest of you!

I am glad  was able to take care of that now, less stress later.   Now, I need to take some time and get work done for my upcoming clients this week.

Later!

Christine also went over some diet planning as well.  Things I have done in the past and most fascinating, things she had done that worked and things that did not for her.  (She competed in the Ms. Olympia).  So, there you have it.  No matter how may times you compete, you will constantly evolve until you get it right.  I believe she mentioned that it took her quite a while to figure out what was the best method for her and from that point until she stopped competing it was only several years she put it to use.  But, she did well off it.  

I am thankful that it was my day off.  I got a chance to sleep in a little bit and spend time with the fam.     Oh!  And I just got an e-mail that my one piece suit has been shipped today.  I am so excited to see it!

I tweaked my shoulder the other day, so I am going to be conservative on the amount of wieght I use today during my back and bicep workout.  My biceps are pretty easy to shape along with my back so I am going to do a "maintenance" workout today.  It will consist of pulldowns, hi and lo rows with some hammer curls (on the Bosu) and single arm cable curls.   Posing again tonite.  I am thankful that our backyard overlooks a pond so I don't have to worry about Joe Schmoe seeing me walk around in my sports bra and shorty-shorts!  I am now holding my front, side and back poses for up to 30 seconds.

Chris Bongiovanni is having a NPC seminar this weekend.  I think I am going to try to catch it in order to get up to NPC regualtion speed.   Plus, she is going over her pre-contest training tips so, it's another source of good information.    It will be fun to see her again since it's been 4 years+!

Chest and Triceps today:  Incline bench 70lbs 3 sets of 8, skullcrushers using 25lb 3 sets of 8-10, TRX chest press  3 sets of 45seconds, dips (did I mention how much I cannot stand them???!) but they work…. 3 sets of 15    Another 175 carb day which is nice, but it gets hard to also get in the protein and the 6th meal in. 

Later….

Yep, she's off to school and it pretty much went down as I thought.  She didn't want me to wait with her at the stop and she actually rolled her eyes when I tried to go paparazzi and get a candid shot of her and her big brother waiting at the stop.

Mealwise…….I'm stuffed!