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Hey girls!

(10 posts) (6 voices)

Started 2 years ago by JackieO
Latest reply from lizzinsb

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JackieO
Member

Just finally officially joined the network and can I just say - WOW! It's amazing! I've not even been a member for 24 hours and I already feel like I've gained a ton of knowledge through all of Gina's videos, posts, nutritional guides and not to mention the recipes and all of the awesome insight and experiences you gal's share too! I'm so excitttedd! :)

So, my name is Jackie - I started competing in bikini and figure competitions this year. I've always loved working out and have been involved in sports my whole life. Growing up I did cheerleading, cross country, soccer and dance. I got into weightlifting after graduating from college (went to Penn State, Goooo Nittany Lions!) after having the post college blues! I moved to London after graduation and my doctor there recommended going to the gym and quiting caffeine and I've been addicted ever since. My dad competed in bodybuilding when I was growing up for about 6 years so I watched him train and diet. I still remember going to his shows too... so from then I always wanted to get involved in bodybuilding in some way. With me now competing it's really brought my dad and I closer together and I'm super thankful for that.

My family and most of my friends are super proud too (which feels amazing!). I say most of my friends as there's always those few who just don't get it!

I learned about the network through Gina who has been wonderful at helping me figure out (haha, no pun intended) what I need to work on. So, I (like Sabrina) am entering the off season as of Saturday... I competed in figure for the first time at the Pacific USA - where I met Nikee and Jess (who were lovely!). I know that my posing definitely needs work! I only had a week or so to work on it as I've been competing in bikini for most of the season. Entering the off season is kinda of scaring me a bit, I'm not gonna lie. I'm so missing that sense of 'something to work towards' (the show) and am having some trouble finding that happy medium. I want to be able to live a healthy balanced life while still living a 'normal' life and getting back to seeing my friends, going out once in a while and surfing. It's tough though as I'm sure you gals understand! And then there's that lingering desire to want to stay in show shape! Like Nikee mentioned in one of her posts I'm craving peanut butter like no other!!! But I'm very excited to try out the recipes from the network. I made my first batch of protein pancakes last night and I SO wish I had discovered the network when training for the show - it's like you're not even dieting!

I'm also trying to decide whether to officially go with bikini or figure...

It's so great to be here and meet you all! I'm very excited to become a part of such an awesome family!
xoxo

Posted 2 years ago #
Sabrina8
Member

hey Jackie and welcome!

Better get a plan for your offseason is my suggest... *lol*
(I found it out the hard way and regained close to 30lbs within 3 months). :-)

What do you like on bikini-competitions
and what was different doing figure?

Posted 2 years ago #
Your Host, Gina
Administrator

Jackie welcome, welcome!! So excited to have you in our fitness network and excited to help you along your journey!! You have come to the right place and I am 110% confident that with all the support, recipes and tools, you have nothing to worry about, as you enter into your "off season" or down time. This is the time to just live the beautiful healthy balanced lifestyle without "having to do this and having to do that". It is amazing the freedom you have while staying fit and enjoying your workouts and life. It is so fun to get back to reality and balance. Be excited and don't fear, we are here to help guide you! That is very cool that you were raised in such a fitness oriented family and that your dad got you stated. That is a similar story to mine, with my dad being a huge influence, introducing me to the industry. That is really special that you and your dad have build such a close bond, through this process.

I am glad you are taking your time to browse the site, as there is a ton of valuable info that will help you along your way. So glad you have explored our healthy recipes, as these are KEY to your success. Who wants to eat bland food. So many people think your food has to be bland, dry and bla to get in shake but little do they know, our healthy food that will get us in the best shape of our lives is better than most 5 star gourmet restaurants and I am not kidding about that. You have just scratched the surface with the protein pancakes. Your entire menu and take on foods is about to change... watch out, better get your apron because you are going to be spending some time in the kitchen!! :)

We are all here to help you in anyway we can and so excited you have joined the family!! Welcome Jackie!! hugs

Posted 2 years ago #
lizzinsb
Member

Hi Jackie! Like you, I am new to the site. I also competed last week in the Pacific USA's (bikini). I'm a bit apprehensive about the off season as well. I know I need to put a "plan" in place. Personally, I'm going to take the next month to figure things out and set another fitness goal (and run as much as I want!).
I've just started to look into the recipes on the site. I made the Sweet Potato Pancake this morning and it was awesome! I wish I knew about this when I was training. I absolutely love to cook and the past few months have been well...boring food wise.
Nice to meet you Jackie!

Posted 2 years ago #
Nikee
Member

YEAH MAMACITA! So glad to see you on the site Jackie! You looked wonderful this past weekend and it was soooo nice to meet you at the show. Girl, I've been a member since October and I still find new and amazing recipes and great nuggets of info. There is a link to Gina's old site that has 2 years (I think it's 2 years) worth of great additional info. And the protein pancakes are just the beginning, seriously!

I just went through my first prep and can honestly say I made more delicious meals on the prep that I did before I got involved with this lifestyle. Also, I had more variety in my diet that I did before the prep. How great is that?!?!

Again, so glad to see you on the forum! Listen and share. You will get so much out of this website!

Posted 2 years ago #
Erin
FORUM EXPERT

Welcome Jackie! Love your enthusiasm for the site. And, how in the world did you manage to compete without protein pancakes? LOL! I can't even imagine. I'm all about the food which I'm sure you'll quickly figure out. "Keep a girl in diamonds" doesn't mean much to me but "keep a girl in food"...NOW we're talking!!! ;-) Welcome and glad to have you here!!

Posted 2 years ago #
JackieO
Member

hey ladies!!!! thanks so much to everyone for the warm welcome!!! i'm sorry it's taken me a bit to reply - i was on an internet hiatus over the weekend, trying to get back to a 'normal' life of sorts!

Sabrina, I really like both figure and bikini. The posing is very very different and I only had a week to work on the posing for figure as my coach suggested entering and trying out figure a week or so before the show. I definitely need to work on stage presence for both regardless of which way I go. Also, from my experience the diet and training is much more intense for figure.

Gina, thanks so much for your motivation and for this fitness network! That's awesome that your dad got you into fitness as well!! He must be so proud of you! It is such nice thing to share with your dad because as females it's not often that we have things we can relate to with our dads like fitness. I'm super excited about getting that apron on and trying out all the exciting new world of recipes that you guys have opened for me! I've been totally grubbing on the protein pancakes - love them!

Hey Liz! That's awesome that you're a newbie as well! How's off season going so far for you? You looked awesome at the show! Any suggestions or advice that's helping you make the transition to off season??

Nikee!!! Yessss! So great to be here! Aww you're so sweet! You looked amazing in the show!!!! When is your next one? It was so great to meet you as well :) I've been checking out the old site as well - there is such a wealth of info on both!
I so see what you mean about the delicious meals! I have a feeling you guys are going to teach me how to cook! I'm not that great in the kitchen but the recipes seems super easy...

Hi Erin! I'm loving the recipes that you've posted on here and your motto! You're a gal after my own heart! :)

Posted 2 years ago #
lizzinsb
Member

Hey Jackie, Just curious how your off season is going so far. I'm hanging in there....pretty much eating clean and sticking to 6 meals a day. I'm actually taking the week off from working out with my trainer and doing my workouts on my own. I haven't done that in ages. I'm kind of looking forward to being responsible for my strength training for the the first time in forever!! I'm doing better with sticking to my meal plan this time around. After my first show, my sweet tooth got out of control and I packed on 5 pounds in no time. I learned my lesson the hard way.
Anyway, hope all is well with you!

Liz

Posted 2 years ago #
JackieO
Member

Hey Liz! So great to hear from you, thanks so much for thinking of me. Sorry it's taken me a few days to get back. I'm on vacation at the mo - visiting my family in Charleston, SC. I surprised my mom for her bday and she was VERY surprised and frightened too! Haha. But it's been so great to see my family and they are really impressed with all the progress I've made with competing.

Anywho, I've been thinking of you ladies and missing you all! I'm glad to hear you're hanging in there, Liz! Can I ask what diet you are following? I've been eating clean althought I have had a few cheat/refuel meals since I've been on vacay (I've been trying to keep the refuel meal to once a week on a normal basis). I'm thinking when I return to LA that I'm going to try Gina's Quest Diet plan for a change.

Aww Liz, good for you! I'm glad to hear that you've been doing your own workouts. That's awesome! Do you have a specific workout split you are following? I've actually taken this week off from strength training (as instructed by my coach as it's the first week I've had off since April and it feels good!) but I've been doing cardio... riding bikes with my fam and then running a few miles around the river, it's so pretty and such a nice change from the gym. And Liz I soooo feel you on the sweet tooth - that's been a struggle especially in being home as my mom and I love our frozen yogurt from Costco! Haha. And Edy's/Dreyer's yogurt blends, YUM! But, yes that weight catches on fast!

I've learned in being home and eating different foods and eating out more than I usually do (I've been sticking to the same thing with being in competition mode just to keep it simple) that I can venture out and eat different foods and while still managing my weight which feels great.

I definitely want to look into switching into an off season workout routine when I get back to LA as well. The competition workouts I'm doing are a bit too much to keep up with off season and still lead a semi-normal life....

Great to hear from you, Liz! :)

Posted 2 years ago #
lizzinsb
Member

Hooray for vacation! Hope you are having a great time with the family!! I leave for vacation a week from Sunday and I can't wait!!! A whole week in Hawaii with the family.(totally looking forward to runs on the beach!!) As far as my diet, I've been pretty strict since my show in August, only because I had a photo shoot last weekend and well, vacation is coming up. I figure since I going to be living in my bikini for a week, I better look good!! For the most part I've been carb cycling. But, I have had a couple of refuel meals. My husband took me out for an amazing sushi dinner a couple of weeks ago! It was so yummy, but I definaltly felt it the next day. Tonight, we are going out with friends for pizza....I'm a little nervous about that, since I haven't eaten pizza in about 10 months. I think when I get back from vaca, I'll still continue to carb cycle, but I am also interested in the Quest plan as well. I think I could incorporate that with the cycle.
As far as my workouts, I've been getting in what I can. It's been a little hard since I've started school, but I'm doing it! This week, I had a back/shoulder day; a leg day (that was an awesome workout - I did circuts of weights and plyos...I kicked my own butt!) and yesterday was chest/bi's/tri's. I'll get in glutes/hams this weekend. I've been running a bit more too, which is nice. I've really enjoyed coming up with my own workouts. I must admit I was a bit hesitant at first because I am so used to relying on my trainer to tell me what to do. But I've found that I have the tools and I am able to push myslef. :) I'll start working out with my trainer again next week 2 days a week. I think she's got me on a total upper body day and a total lower body day. We'll see how that works...for bikini, she had me on a 4 day weight training program - 2 leg days, back/chest, shoulders/bi's/tri's and abs ever other day.
This off season thing is definatly a work in progress!
Enjoy the rest of your vacation, Jackie!!

Posted 2 years ago #

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