The number one question I’ve been asked lately “what have you been doing?” “What are you eating?” “Send me everything you eat!” Well friends, that’s why I have this blog! It’s all here!
While on bikini contest prep, I have adhered to macros, workouts and cardio tailored to me by my coach based on how I’m looking/ feeling and show timeline. I will admit that I was NOT 100% compliant until about 2 months before the show, and even then I had a few slip ups.
There is no magic pill. It takes dedication and no excuses. You can’t binge drink and eat pizza every day and expect it to just happen!
#1 ALCOHOL
Up until about a month before the show I was having one alcoholic drink with dinner with my boyfriend per week. Before that it was a couple per week and maybe a shot or 2 at work (I’m 100% over that now). I cheated on my birthday with lots of wine, lobster ravioli, sushi, lobster rolls and more wine in February. I really doubted I could do any of this for quite a while. I loved my booze, am encouraged to drink at work, and love date nights with my boyfriend! Then one day it just clicked. What am I doing with my life? Do I want to be like these drunk people acting foolish and going nowhere in life? Or do I want to be healthier, feel amazing, change my life, figure out my purpose and true career goals. Well the answer was clear. Immediately, all the leftover Tito’s in my house was poured out. I practiced in the mirror “no thank you, I’m prepping to win a bikini bodybuilding contest” when booze and bad food was shoved in my face at work. At first it was hard, I craved my relaxing glass of wine at the end of the night. I was asked to go out and get wasted by my friends. I said no. I was 100% compliant to Malayna’s guidelines and pulled a 360° turn around (her words)! The weight from quitting drinking alone fell off. The first 10 lbs were easy. After a few weeks I didn’t crave alcohol at all. Even now, after indulging in post show treats and a few glasses of wine, I noted my goal wasn’t to get drunk, but to just enjoy a social drink. I also noted I will 100% take chocolate over wine any day!!! Not drinking alcohol is something I don’t even think about anymore, and I don’t miss it. I never want to act like a fool (it’s a good time to be the only sober one and see the mess take place) or wake up feeling like I got hit by a bus hungover. Your girl has too many goals!
Ok so now that my alcohol speech is over (it really did make a huge difference how I got here) let’s move on.
#2 WATER
Since I started working with Malayna, I have been attempting to drink a gallon of water a day as our protocol. Literally, for months it was the hardest dang thing ever! I’ve hit it a few times, but not consistent until probably around February. Like anything, the more I planned for it the easier it got. During peak week I was drinking a gallon and a half a day, so yea the gallon is easy now!
#3 WEIGHTS
Pick things up and put them down. Heavy things. Don’t be afraid to lift HEAVY (with good form of course)! I’d always go to the gym and lift 5-10 lbs and do hours of cardio because I was afraid of bulking. You will not get bulky! You want those muscles to show when you lose the fat and lifting heavy burns more fat! My coach gives me my workouts tailored to me and my goals. I’ve never missed a workout and have always been 100% in the gym even on vacation and toward the end of prep when I just want to sleep.
#3 CARDIO
No you can’t avoid cardio completely (except in off season, when I was building it was like 10 minutes a day and a 10k step goal) and if you’re prepping for a show it can get intense. My highest cardio of peak week was 90 minutes of incline walking. No HIIT, no sprinting, no running. Just walk. Walking is the best thing to lose weight. Seriously. Most of my prep I was doing 45-75 minutes 6 days a week. This is also mostly my own fault for not complying with the no alcohol thing. This time around we’re starting with 45 min a day and seeing what my weight does post show.
45 min a day is great! I loveeeee a nice sunny day, a good Podcast in my earbuds and a walk around my neighborhood! Those 90 min sessions were friggin tough, but I just had to watch some YouTube and push.
#4 DIET
Macros. What’s a macro? A very common question I’ve been asked lately! Macros, or Macronutrients, are Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats that you consume through the day. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. My coach sets my Macro goals for me based on what my body is doing and how far out we are. Peak week my carbs got as low as 80 grams a day to dry me out. Currently we’re at 145 grams a day on diet break/ reverse before we push into this next show. Now I see what I’m capable of I’m ready to beat my last package!
A useful macro calculator online: https://www.katyhearnfit.com/macro-calculator
Again, there is no magic pill. It takes work, time and dedication. The biggest excuse I hear is I don’t have time. If it’s that important to you to look good, you make time. We all have jobs (I have 3), commitments, bills, etc. The only thing I don’t have to worry about that a lot of people do is kids. But I also know plenty of women who have kids and also compete and live a healthy life for their families and themselves. Put yourself first for once!
HOW??!
Take an hour a week to meal prep for yourself. Put your hair in a messy bun and rock out to some T Swift and cook! My 1 hour meal prep is coming on the blog soon!
Take 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes before bed to plan. Failure to plan is planning to fail. Before I go to bed I think of what is left in my fridge, what’s going to go bad, what am I craving, and start thinking of meals for the next day.
Groceries: Make a list! I’ll be providing my grocery store staples on and off prep. I actually find on prep I spend less at the grocery store. Unless I plan on making something special, my meals and groceries are pretty much the same every week.
Workout: Write up a workout plan or find a free one online! I’ll also be blogging and writing up plans for busy people so stay tuned! I love the YouTube workouts by Pamela RF. They’re quick and fun! She even has calendars on her social that tell you exactly what to do. There’s always 10 minutes if you want it bad enough. Start with 30 minutes 3x a week.
Walk: Park farther away, walk to the mailbox, walk the dog (heck, walk the cat, kids, hamster….whatever) walk for 10 minutes at lunch after you eat, walk around the block after dinner. Start with trying to get 5k steps a day, then 6k, then 7k etc!
Water: Go on Amazon and buy a half gallon water bottle. They’re pretty (mines pink!) and easier to carry than a 1 gallon. Try to finish it around 1:00, then fill her up! I use mine to measure and just pour water out of it to make sugar free lemonade, drink my BCAA’s and my greens and reds. Anything to get the water in!
My next post will be a full day of eating, with a video so you can see everything I ate on Wednesday, May 18 while on diet break after my contest.
What is next for me?
I’m not going to lie, prep has got me in such a routine that I almost feel lost without daily checks ins and posing. I guess I’m feeling the “post show blues” even though I’m still on prep. Because we have 10 weeks and I’m starting in a better place. I definitely want to make some tweaks to posing and make it more fluid and dancer-like (seeing as I am a ballet dancer!) and I have some great ideas for my next I-Walk! I started at the gym today even though I didn’t have my heels.
I also have been looking for a new apartment since the rumor around town is that we’re getting a 22% increase I can’t afford by myself. All of my friends are married or live with their boyfriends so a roomate isn’t an option. I spent all day calling apartments and hearing the same thing….we’re full. Even if we weren’t full, we start at $2,000 a month. SERIOUSLY!? Even the ghetto of West Warwick where I’d have to live among druggies is full. Literally everything is FULL. So I had a minor panic attack because since my shifts at work were taken away and the only 2 shifts I have left are really half shifts because they’re shared, and the lack of customer service because everyone is focused on drinking and partying is driving away customers is leaving me almost making less than when I worked full time in graphic design. I had a minor “what am I going to do with my life?!” Meltdown today and came up with some solutions.
1. Weddings are picking up! Yay! I’d like something to do during the week to earn money though.
2. Fitness photo shoots? Travel?
3. Remote design work! It’s everywhere!
4. Custom illustration. Pets, dancers, weddings, whatever. Bikini show day illustration??? I don’t think ANYONE has done that!!
5. NASM- Finish CPT and Nutrition Coach classes! I could do this at my gym during the week since I pretty much live there!
Ok that’s all I have for now. For my background, I have a degree in Fine Art, a degree in graphic design, and have been running my own wedding photography business since 2015. I have more talent and skills and don’t get drunk and give terrible service at a bar where I’m unappreciated (yes I’m being a salty beach, I’m just fed up). I know my worth, and I want to make a difference in peoples lives by helping them find the same Zen I have with living my fittest, healthiest life.
No matter what hurdles I have to face I will do it.
10 weeks to beat this package, IT’S GO TIME!
Food and Fit with Alicia 