T-minus 5 Days and Counting
Well the crazy pre-contest week diet has begun. I am still a bit uncertain about what to do exactly, but I am feeling better about it. I have been studying standard contest diets and just figuring out how to substitute raw foods in the protocol to achieve the same results. Thank GOD for Sun Warrior protein. It would be really hard to carb-deplete without it, and get enough nutrients.
I am fortunate that I found a compatriot on YouTube—RawVeganBodybuilder, aka Giacomo Marchese. His videos are great and he’s a super guy. I asked for his advice since he has been competing as a raw vegan already. And coincidentally, we have contests on the same day! How cool–two raw vegan bodybuilders competing on the same day, on different coasts, as his contest is in Oregon and mine in Georgia. Good luck Giacomo!
Today, I practiced posing and basketball drills. I can’t do any cardio this week, because that would cause me to retain water under my skin. Normally I hate doing cardio but naturally I don’t think I am lean enough, so I am dying to work out! I had an orange when I first woke up, then a big salad with greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets and celeriac root, with a few Brazil nuts and some of my homemade salad dressing–just a little bit. It has sodium in it, so that will have to go later in the week. Around lunch, I had a spirulina superfood smoothie made with fresh raw almond ‘mylk’, chocolate Sun Warrior protein, spirulina, Elements for Life Blue Green Algae, stevia, and a tablespoon of UDO’s oil. Pre-workout, I made my delicious chocolate ‘Muscle Mousse’ of avocado, chocolate Sun Warrior protein, water and a dash of Celtic salt. Yum!
The workouts are totally different this week. Since I am trying to deplete my muscle glycogen in the carb-depletion phase, I am supposed to change to a high-rep workout without going to failure. The goal is just to work the glycogen out of the muscles so they will be depleted and hungry for carbs later in the week. Hopefully, they will just soak up the carbs when I ingest them again, and will fill out nicely and be full of water, drawing the water out from under the skin into the muscles. This is what causes that really ‘dry’ hard muscular look you see in competitors. It’s not a normal look, and can usually only be achieved for one day. The trick is to make that day the same day as the contest. It’s easy to ‘miss’ and look better the day before, or even more commonly, the day AFTER the competition. Many competitors will come in flat and smooth, and after they lose, go out and eat in frustration–and then wake up the next day looking like a winner. The human body is difficult to predict and manipulate!
After my workout, I had another big salad, some Spicy Lime Cilantro Soup, and Vanilla Sun Warrior mixed with water & 5 grams L-Glutamine.
I was talking with a fellow competitor at the gym tonight, and we were discussing how easily we could shed bodyfat, water, etc. just by manipulating our macronutrient (carb, protein and fat) intake, cardio, and weight training. That led us to wonder how people have such a hard time losing weight and just seem to not have any idea what to do. It reminded me of something I read yesterday, that the most dangerous ‘disease’ is IGNORANCE. Most people just don’t understand how their body works or how profoundly food affects their bodies. I can see my body change after each meal! Any bodybuilder can. A single food–even a single nutrient like sodium–can mean the difference between winning and losing. The only cure for this ‘disease’ is education. We aren’t born with an owners’ manual. We have to SEEK the knowledge and make it a priority in our life. Health is our only true wealth!
I am really happy I am doing this. I am definitely learning alot about how raw foods affect the body, in detail under the microscope of competition. It’s a great learning experience. I did it the conventional way before, and I always felt so awful! I was ravenous, desperate for sugar, exhausted, fighting uncontrollable cravings, headaches, cramps, etc. This time, I feel great! I have so much energy tonight, with no cravings or detrimental effects so far. (I have a feeling the sodium depletion later this week will kill me, though. I love my Celtic salt and Nama Shoyu!) I do miss my fruit, and can’t wait to get back to my green smoothies. But it’s not a bad ‘craving’ feeling, though. I just wish I could have my smoothies. I can make it for a few days without them, but I will be blending like a mad woman on Sunday!
I am watching the National Championship Basketball Game between UNC & Michigan State. What a disappointment! I was hoping MSU would really make this a good game, but they are getting blown out of the arena. Bore-ring!
I will update you on how things are going. Right now I feel great, with good energy and excitement. I am looking forward tomorrow to having a critique of my posing, with great advice and instruction by a master. I need this, and am eager to learn. I am sure he will pick me apart, but that’s the only way to improve. I also need to pick up a few final things to get ready with.
This weekend, I will have wireless internet access in our hotel room, so I will update you from the show too!
Until next time, stay Defiant! Fight for your health. Defeat ignorance, and learn about your wondrous body. Every cell in your body is more complicated and sophisticated than a city of a million people! We are an amazing creation, and we have an innate infinite wisdom that is constantly leading us to better health, if we will just let it–and not fight our own inner physician! Fight the conventional medical doctors–not your Infinite Intelligence inside your own body!
BE DEFIANT!
Christy
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