The S#!* that Lauren says...

It's been a couple days since I last checked in. I have now accomplished almost a full week of this fitness transformation. It has been a crazy week! I have had the blessing of my great workout partner, Whitney, to join me along the way. Here is a breakdown of the past couple days:

Sunday- since I last wrote on Sunday, I was lazy and thought it would be a great idea to prep meals as I go versus all at once. BAD IDEA. Every day has been a struggle to get everything prepped and ate on time (oddly enough). I blame it on being too sore, but preparing meals is definitely the way to go.

Monday-This was my first day doing my conditioning workout without Robert. Let's face it, I was a sally. I introduced the regiment to Whit and we did it together. While I don't feel like I got that great of a workout compared to with Robert. Whitney corrected me on my squats, when in reality, I just couldn't get low because it hurt! Don't worry, she felt it on Wednesday...

Tuesday- Oh, man...this day was a doozy! I had an emergency that got my nerves all worked up, which affected my workout. I did about 35 minutes on the elliptical and felt like I was about to pass out or puke. I tried to walk it out-literally- on the treadmill, but it didn't work! Wah Wah...I was pissed! On the funny side, I am not supposed to eat apples with skin on them, so instead I chose to act like a child and bite out of the center of each slice around the skin...it was hilarious.

Wednesday- I got my Beats by Dre! I am so excited to use them today for Cardio! The nasty taste of chicken is still messing with me...so I am mixing all my food together. If you saw it, you'd be disgusted! Haha, it's great. But, whatever works, right? I met again with Whit to do conditioning again. It was much better! I am a little sore today...but, it feels awesome. I spent the remainder of the night cooking my Steak (I cheated and put a LITTLE salt on it...I mean, come on!) and running around for my last minute costume items. It all paid off!

 

So that brings us up until today! Today is Halloween! I am so excited to celebrate with my co-workers, but I have a date with the gym tonight. I am going to knock out my cardio and hopefully have some time to spend with my friends and family tonight. Can't wait to give you updates...and maybe we will get more pics later this week. Until then, here are a few things you've probably heard come from my mouth the past couple days:

• But the chicken is so chicken-y 
• Who knew that a cup full of almonds was so much! I am almond' out!
• Those donuts look really good!
• That almond tasted like ant poison...not like I know what that tastes like, but you know what I mean!
• I'm still not looking forward to eggs
• What the hell do you put on steak if you don't have salt?!
• Is that a milkshake you're drinking Lauren? Heck yea, a Muscle Milk Milkshake...same thing...not really.
• You can't have any of my nuts, they're portioned out
• We deserve a trip to Hawaii after this competition
• I am just living the dream
• This isn't that good, I promise you that. 

Let's face it...I can't move.

HOLY. SHIT.

When Robert said I would be feeling it on the 3rd day, he was completely nonchalant. This is no joke. I feel like I want to die. I'm sure the people that saw me today thought I seriously have something wrong with me-I was so stiff and awkward walking around! Just a snapshot of some of the questions I got asked today:

• Are you alright?
• Oh no, is that a limp? What happened to you?
• You got that okay? Are you sure?

 Additionally, the stares and chuckles I got from my family were hilarious. Although I may have joints in my legs, they are not functional at all! It took me about five minutes to move in any direction. Getting up from sitting; sitting down. Getting in the car; getting out of the car. You name it, I can't do it today. Haha, I am a mess. But other than that, I am all set!

Today was my day of rest and day to shop for the week and prep. I had a nice relaxing day with my family. I spent most of the day watching football and sleeping...what a rough life! My parents decided to go shopping with me this evening and that was interesting to say the least. It seemed like every aisle we went down, my dad found something ridiculous and asked if it was on my diet. First it was Shrimp Chips (has anyone tried them? They look disgusting...not to mention sounds heinous!), then Chocolate Wafer Cookies...the list went on and on. He's such a great dad, trying to make me smile and make this fun for all of us. After about what seemed like three hours, we finally headed to the check out. While I did get about my weight equivalent in protein during this trip, that was pretty much the bulk of it. Some veggies, fruits and nuts rounded out the rest. I have not, however, purchased the dreaded eggs for my lovely Halloween breakfast of champions! I asked Robert, and wah-wah, have to muscle them down. Again, please pray for me! Looks like I will be making another trip to the grocery store at some point during this week.

And here's the damage...not too bad, but definitely a big commitment. These competitions are a huge financial investment. Just to give you an example...here is an example of just some expected estimated expenses:

• Membership to participate: $150-$250
• Entry Fees: $50-150 per class (traditionally participate in 2 classes)
• Weekly Trainer $75/hour for meal plan, supplements and exercise plan
• Weekly grocery bill $100-$200
• Posing Coach $25/hr (six weeks prior to show)
• Competition shoes $50-$100
• Competition suit $300-$500
• Tanning $250

While both of my trainers have mentioned how costly this competition is, it still is crazy to see everything add up so quickly! However, that is probably what I used to spend on lunch weekly. So, now I have a weeks worth of food.

This week should be pretty interesting. With being so sore, I am a little nervous to hit it back at the gym tomorrow. I have another day of the conditioning workout out, which includes squats and lunges...of which neither I can do right now! On the plus side, my Beats by Dre come this week AND Halloween is here. I have just about finished my "Mario" costume...

 Sounds like there will be quite the festivities this weekend. Between work contests, trick-or-treating with my little love bugs,  a record label party and random shenanigans...I can't wait! One thing I am not worried about...drinking alcohol! That is one vice that I can put off for the next six months...

Until next time.

LD

129...Going Down!

Welp, I made it through my first two days. While that is definitely not an accomplishment in itself, there is much to be said for actually getting through that damn workout with Robert. Holy sore, Batman! Going in to my first session, I was excited and motivated. I thought I was invincible, or maybe tough...but that all was humbled after our initial training. We focused on entire body conditioning, which means everything from Tri's and Bi's to Legs and Glutes. I will be working through this conditioning for the next few weeks and then we will change it up. He has me on a carb flux diet, which will get focus on keeping my metabolism active and burning more calories with the varied carbohydrates  flux throughout the week. The diet seems definitely doable, however I hate eggs. Day six, there are eggs. Four of them. Pray for me!

All in all, I am still ready to do this! I am excited and determined to prove people wrong...but most of all, I am looking forward to the changes that I can make within myself. Here is pic numero uno...a little lack luster on the background scenery, I am working on buying a new mirror...this $5 Wal-Mart baby mirror will have to do for now!

Current stats are 129lbs and 27% body fat. 

Tomorrow will be the first shopping run for the first week of the diet. I will be cooking all day and watching the Bronco's kick some tail...and I can't wait! However, I don't think the cooking will be as much fun as it normally is baking :)

That is enough for now...

-LD

Making Moves...

Wow. I am 28 years old and just now trying to find myself. Plain and simple-well, at least I thought. I have been through some absolutely amazing and tragically difficult times over the past year of my life. I need to find out who I am…and be happy with myself. This is my challenge. Everyone who knows me (or claims to know me) is marveling in the fact that they thought I had my shit together and had the "perfect" life. I have a great job, a wonderful family and group of friends and material possessions that people are envious of (which apparently makes my life, perfect?)–however, I am not happy. I have lived for other people for so long…trying to give and get affirmation to truly feel my worth. I am tired of being the person that helps everyone else out. I need to help myself out. 

Sooo (insert Ryan's crazy Michigan accent)... in an effort to change that, I am challenging myself. I decided that I need to be truly confident and love who I am. So the sick idea I came up with to best accomplish that was...a fitness competition. SHIT. I know, way to swing for the fences, Lauren. Anyone who knows me knows I HATE to go to the gym. Actually, I retract that statement. I hate to do cardio. While I have done it, and bitched along the way, I understand that it does help. I get good at becoming a regular at the gym, however, one slip up turns into a landslide of laziness. I started last year towards the same goal..and I used every excuse in the book of why I didn't make it:

• My trainer moved (who was amazing...and totally not her fault for the move)
• I was in a new relationship with a man I absolutely adored, and frankly wanted to spend all my time with him
• There were too many distractions..Bronco Games, Vacations
• Naysayers...way, to be positive...you jerks! (However, you were right...I couldn't do it). 
• I hated cardio!
• The diet sucks. Like, really sucks. 

And you ask, what is going to be different this time?! Well, I am doing this for me. I need to get me right. I have committed to myself these next six months are all about me. All of my effort is in this. My trainer is amazing, not planning on moving, and will kick my ass. When going through my breakup this summer, I found a quote Demi Lovato said in Cosmopolitan magazine that inspired me and gave me strength in sitting in my emotion. It is no different here. There are going to be times that I want to quit or cheat or act out. I have to sit in the pain, the struggle, the frustration in order to achieve my goal. I am a BADASS, and I can do this.

 While there will be distractions and naysayers along the way, I have decided quitting isn't an option. I have even started to challenge those naysayers; my boss suggested work starts a pool around how long I will last! However, I may be a hot mess. In fact, I will guarantee I will be a hot mess sometimes, if not most of the time. There may or may not be public tantrums in my future. I may show my hangry (hungry + angry) attitude more often than not. But I have a great set of people supporting me who will aid in my perseverance. THANK YOU for your continued support and belief in my abilities.That AND I have told more people than not about me doing this...I refuse to be a quitter. 

I will try and post pictures as often as I possibly can. Everyday may be a stretch...but I am working on it! 

I have my first training session tonight with Robert, and you bet you'll hear about it. 

P.S. I gave myself a "push" gift...a brand new pair of Beats by Dre head phones. I think I am going to need a ton of "along the journey" incentives...good thing Under Armour is sold just about everywhere. 

-LD