Sorry–again long time no posts.  I have been busier than a one-armed wallpaper-hanger, & none of my occupations at the moment let me anywhere NEAR a computer!  Things are going GREAT with my training, & I will be competing in just over TWO WEEKS at the Pittsburgh Championships!  This is a HUGE show, & I am very excited about the opportunity.  I have been working SO HARD–literally 3 workouts a day, 5 days a week, & 2 workouts over the weekends.  It is really paying off though!  My legs have NEVER looked this good–although I still have a long way to go to get them where I want to be!

I will try very hard to do a better job at keeping you updated on my progress.  My training business is really taking off, & I am so excited about that too.  I have discovered a new love—BOOT CAMP!   I am now teaching Boot Camps at my local gym & I am in love with it!  I have never taught group classes before, so this required me to step outside my comfort zone, but I am SOOOOO glad I did!   I have wonderful ‘troops’ & we are calling ourselves the “Buff-Armed Forces”.  We all should have the right to BARE ARMS! 

I have several things in the works, too, so I hope to be making some big announcements soon.  Stay Tuned!

I was forwarded this wonderful article by my friends at Sun Warrior, & just HAD to share it with you all!  Enjoy!

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Is Your Favorite Protein Powder Causing Cancer or Preventing it?

Protein is something everyone likes to talk about. Plant-based eaters, especially those who consume high raw and vegan diets, often find themselves on the defensive end of these conversations. This is unfortunate, but the tables are slowly turning. It is now common knowledge that cholesterol, found in all animal products, greatly increases the risk of heart disease, often leading to a heart attack or stroke. Eggs and red meat are notorious for being high in cholesterol, so some avoid beef and eggs and look to chicken or fish as protein sources. While lower in cholesterol than fatty cuts of red meat or egg yolks, poultry and seafood still contain substantial amounts of cholesterol. People are best served to avoid cholesterol altogether by eating a plant-based diet.

Most everyone is familiar with Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s landmark work, detailed in his book, The China Study. Campbell’s research dealt with casein, which is the primary protein component in cow milk and cheese. In his study, rats were fed casein above their protein needs, which caused experimental tumors in the rats to grow. The protein needs of a rat are similar to those of a human, about 10–12% of total calories.1 In Campbell’s experiment, the rats were fed up to 20% of their diet as protein. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2004, protein intake for Americans ranged from 13.4% of total calories in children aged 4–8 years to 16% of total calories in men aged 51–70 years.2 Additionally, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recommends consumption of 0.4–0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight for exercise levels ranging from sporadically active to very active.3 The high end of this protein range is about 15% of total calories. Considering these numbers, it’s easy to see the relevance of Campbell’s work regarding protein consumption.

Traditional bodybuilding and sports diets, especially those targeting muscle growth, typically far exceed the NSCA’s protein recommendation, often doubling it. One can simply search the internet for “macronutrient ratios” and they’ll find that countless people are eating 30% or more of their calories as protein. Whey protein is a popular product to supplement the diets of those aiming to reach this protein surplus. Whey is the byproduct of the manufacture of cheese or casein. While whey is the more popular of the two, both whey and casein are marketed as protein supplements. All animal-based proteins, including powders made from milk or egg whites, should be avoided because of the cholesterol they contain and their link to cancer.

The trend in sales of protein products indicates people are learning the truth about animal proteins. According to 2008 research from Global Industry Analysts, annual sales of protein ingredients are expected to top $18 billion by the end of 2010. While animal protein ingredients account for 69% of the market, the plant protein ingredients market was the faster growing segment, with a projected growth rate of about 8% through 2013.4 There are several plant-based protein powders on the market—rice, hemp and soy are all popular options. None of these protein sources have cholesterol, but there’s something very special about one of them. One of them has cancer-fighting properties.

While casein can encourage the growth of cancer, certain components in rice protein can help prevent cancer. Sadly, these beneficial elements in rice are greatly reduced, or removed altogether, by the time it gets to the plate. Rice bran is the brown coating between the rice kernel and its protective hull. Brown rice maintains a thin layer of rice bran around the seed, but in the case of white rice, this nutrient dense layer is polished off. This is why white rice is a nutritionally dead food.

Inositol hexaphosphate acid (IP-6) is a potent antioxidant found in rice bran. In addition to its cancer-fighting properties, many experts also believe IP-6 can prevent and treat heart disease, kidney stones and liver disease. The process isn’t fully understood, but IP-6 suppresses the production and activity of cancer-causing free radicals. It also reduces the abnormal rate of cell division that defines cancer and tumor growth, allowing cells to normalize and return to regular, controlled growth. Additionally, IP-6 enhances the body’s potential to kill existing tumor cells by stimulating the activity of the immune system’s natural killer cells, called lymphocytes.5

Arabinoxylan compound is produced by altering the outer shell of rice bran using enzymes from Hyphomycetes mycelia mushroom extract. This compound is a major component in a popular alternative cancer treatment called MGN-3 (known as BioBran® in Japan). More clinical trials are needed, but arabinoxylan has shown promise in improving immune reactions in cancer and diabetes patients. Also, pre-clinical experiments suggest that MGN-3 may also be of potential value in treating AIDS patients.6

Rice bran looks to have a very promising future not only as an alternative cancer treatment, but as a treatment for a host of other diseases and conditions. Whole grain brown rice also makes a fantastic protein supplement. There is a great protein product on the market today called Sun Warrior. Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, Sun Warrior rice protein provides a complete amino acid profile. Their old world process combines the sprouted endosperm with the bran from raw, sprouted whole grain brown rice to offer a protein with a 98% correlation to mother’s milk and a 98.2% digestion efficiency. Sun Warrior is raw, vegan and GMO-free.

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Interesting info!  As you all know, I am a huge Sun Warrior fan, & more reasons are being added every day!  Click on the link to the right to order.

Be Defiant!!!

Christy

Sun Warrior Protein
and Muscle Gain

A remarkable quality about Sun Warrior Protein is that it contains Gamma Oryzanol. Sun Warrior Protein is made from bio-fermented raw sprouted whole grain brown rice (with the bran and germ). The Japanese have been using and studying this natural compound for years. Gamma Oryzanol is found in different parts of rice, in particular the rice germ and rice bran. What the Japanese have found is that Gamma Oryzanol increases muscle mass, is a potent anti-oxidant and is very effective in healing ulcers, lowering cholesterol, and other conditions. Gamma Oryzanol is used by some athletes based on early reports that suggested it enhances muscle growth and sports performance. According to numerous studies, Gamma Oryzanol produces these benefits by increasing levels of testosterone, growth hormone, and other anabolic (muscle-building) hormones.

On a basic level, protein is needed to provide the essential amino acids necessary for GH synthesis. Protein is utilized by the growth hormones to build muscles. Protein is made up of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of your muscles and muscle tissue. Without them, it would be impossible to build, repair or even maintain muscle tissue.

Sun Warrior Protein contains all 9 essential and non-essential amino acids in a perfectly balanced Amino Acid Profile. In fact, our comparison by an independent lab test confirms that Sun Warrior Protein is equal or higher in some cases than the amino acid profile of egg, whey, and beef (please refer to the website for amino acid profile comparison charts).

Sun Warrior Protein is living and more potent and absorbable than non-living animal proteins. Most athletes take high amounts of animal based protein that is not usable for the body and is actually acidic creating intestinal toxemia and other disturbances. Because Sun Warrior is predigested with bio-fermentation and natural enzymes, it has a 98% to 99% digestion efficiency. It’s completely hypoallergenic.

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Check out my feature on Sun Warrior’s new site at http://www.sunwarrior.com/experts/athletes.

Be Defiant!!!

Christy

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Here is the link:   Celery as Raw Viagara?

The title surely is an attention-grabber, but what really piqued my interest was the mention of the steroids androsterone and adrostenol. And it is high in arginine, which is the amino acid that creates great ‘pumps’ in the gym, and is in many Nitric Oxide supplements.   It makes me wonder just how powerful celery is as a body-building food? I knew its natural sodium was perfect for post-workout recovery, but maybe there’s even more!

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Defiance note:  I love my celery-kiwi-banana smoothies!   See the video HERE for an awesome post-workout celery smoothie.   Hmmmm….maybe there is another reason……

Be Defiant!

Christy

“Aging Disgracefully—and Proud of It!”

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I just wanted to share this with you! (I like to share!) As you know, I am a huge fan of Sun Warrior Raw Vegan Protein, and I sell it right here on my site–just click on any of the links.   I use it every single day and just love it, and what it does for my physique.    It’s very new on the market, having only been introduced a little over a year ago.   Apparently I am not the only one who likes it, as it just received a prestigious award.   I posted a snippet below. The link to the full article is here: Natural News Reader’s Choice Awards

Snippet from the article:

(NaturalNews) The votes have been cast: It’s time to announce the results of the NaturalNews Reader’s Choice “Best of 2009″ Awards!

These awards are given to the top companies and products in seven categories: Best Health Products Retailer, Best Herbal Product Line, Best Natural Protein, Best Skin Care Line, Best Superfood Powder, Best Multivitamin and Best Food Bar.

Reader’s Choice – Best Natural Protein = SunWarrior
SunWarrior protein was in the lead from the very start of this survey, and they never let go of their top position. SunWarrior is a raw, fermented rice protein that’s taken off among the raw foods community over the last 18 months or so. It has also been well accepted among the “natural” bodybuilding community (as well as with extreme athletes).

The top five winners in the Best Natural Protein category are:

#1 – SunWarrior
#2 – Nutiva
#3 – Vital Greens
#4 – Ruth’s Hemp Foods
#5 – Living Fuel

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Give the Sun Warrior a try!

I’ll be back with some interesting new developments when I have a little more time.  Right now, I have to run to the gym to blast my legs and booty! 

Be Defiant!

Christy

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I am going to be working harder than ever, with an eye toward improving my lat spread and continuing to carve out shape and definition overall. And I get to eat a lot more, though still very controlled and an excellent nutrition plan of whole foods. You can’t grow muscle and lose bodyfat unless you are feeding your body plenty of the right kind of fuel!

That’s one thing people just don’t get. They want to keep cutting calories and eating less, and many times the answer is the opposite. But the food intake has to be balanced with the workout routine, and if the workouts aren’t proportional then either fat gain or muscle loss can result, neither of which is desirable.

The Eleven Percent

So what are you doing during this holiday season? Are you defying all the foods laden with toxins and chemicals that are health-destroying? Are you working toward improving for the future? Or are you giving in to all the temptation around you, your willpower laid waste by the stress of the season? Be Defiant! Damage done now in the wink of an eye will take long hard workouts over a long time to undo! Of course, enjoy yourself and some treats, but keep it in moderation.

Let’s be honest, how many holiday parties will you actually go to? Three or four? Ten? And then the family get-togethers on the actual holidays? Let’s estimate high–say 20 holiday meals and parties. There are 31 days in this month, and you should be eating at LEAST 5 or 6 meals a day, so that’s 150 to 180 meals. An average would be 170. Twenty divided by 170 is 11 percent. How do people gain so much weight over the holidays on only 11% of their meals? Come on, be real. Most folks are eating badly ALL the time, not just the special occasions. Keep that other 89% of your meals full of great whole foods chock full of living nutrition, and the measly 11% won’t do that much damage.

A few other tips:

1) Eat BEFORE you go to a party! Don’t go hungry, for crying out loud! That’s a recipe for diet disaster. Keep up your regular schedule of 5 to 7 meals. Don’t skip any meals!

2) Workout HARD the day before and the day of a party or big family dinner. Set your body up to use as many of those extra calories as possible on actually building muscle! Do big, full-body movements that incorporate all the biggest muscle groups, and use weights that really challenge you.

3) Do short, high-intensity cardio sessions with added plyometrics and intervals that set your fat-burning thermostat on high, and help your body incinerate fat and build shape and muscle definition, even through the holidays. Not sure what to do? I can design a plan for you! See Team Defiance! for details! I will also give you plenty of support to get through the season.

4) Keeping your nutrition very strict except for the 11% can actually set your body up to lose even more fat. Having a ‘cheat’ meal after a few days of strict dieting will replenish your hormone levels, especially leptin, and help you burn fat! And many people report that their workouts the day after a big meal are awesome, when the muscles are fully loaded with glycogen and get really pumped.

5) Keep your carb choices to mainly green veggies the day or two before a big dinner or party. That will help with the ‘cheat’ meal cycle previously mentioned. Avoid starchy carbs, sugars, refined flours and breads. But you do that anyway, right?

6) Avoid alcohol as much as possible. There’s just nothing good I can say about it from a physique standpoint. Sugary, fatty drinks are the worst—a doubly-bad diet ding! (Yes, like eggnog!)

7) Enjoy yourself. This is a time of love and celebration. Love yourself enough to put your health as a top priority. But if you fall prey to temptation, no biggie! It’s just part of the measly 11 percent! DON’T beat yourself up and get caught in the trap of feeling guilty and then eating to comfort yourself. It’s what you do in the 89% of the meals that really counts.

BE DEFIANT!!! BE AN 89-PERCENTER!!!

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Rough Weekend With a Sick Kitty

In case you don’t know, my ’son’ is a precious white and orange kitty named “Jukebox”. I know I have mentioned him before on here. It’s just not right how much I love that cat! I probably need therapy. But he is so loving and precious, and just has the best little personality. He tries so hard to talk to me. He doesn’t really meow–he “wows”. And he “wows” a lot! Thus the name Jukebox–he sings all the time.

Poor Jukey got very, very sick last Thursday night. He was pitiful. I won’t go into the details, as it was not pleasant. I only got about 3 hours of sleep, and even ended up laying down with him on the bathroom floor to try to comfort him. It turned out to be a UTI, which was upsetting his stomach terribly and causing him great pain in his hind end. I was so worried it was more than that. He is better now, and today began eating again. He didn’t eat from Thursday night through yesterday (Monday). But the antibiotics seem to be helping and he is much more like himself again.

Juke is 16 years old. I know the inevitable is coming. I just hope it’s many years from now. He has been doing so much better on his raw fish diet. He used to weigh over 20 pounds, and this weekend he weighed 12 pounds which is a much healthier weight for him. The vet was pleased. I didn’t go into why–vets hate the idea of raw food diets. I guess it doesn’t pay their mortgage like the prescription food does. Going to the vet is highway robbery anyway. Absolutely unbelievable!

I can’t bear the thought of life without Jukebox. I can’t really think about it or I will start crying. I know a pet is not the same as a child or family member, but for me he is, and he is as close to human as a four-legged creature can be. He gives so much love so freely. He is my shadow, and absolutely has me trained–I have to sleep on my back with my left arm (not the right arm, only the left!) out so he can curl up in my arm. If during the night I roll up on my side, he will paw at me and “wow” until I assume the proper position. He is not ‘my’ cat: I am ‘his’ human!

How many of you have a pet that you love so dearly it will rip your heart out to lose them? Have you lost one in the past? I have lost two: my horse ‘Bee” that I had for 27 years, and my first cat ‘Dooger’ who lived to be 18. I still cry over their graves (and even now I have tears rolling down my cheeks–I can’t help it). Both were heartwrenching losses, but the joy and love that they brought to my life for so long is worth it all. Leave a comment and tell me your story about your babies.

I am just so thankful I have Jukebox and all the joy and love he brings to my life. May his precious little soul continue to live in health for many years.

This is Jukebox. It's an older picture, when he still weighed 20 pounds!

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I have been making some changes to the Defiant Health site. And more changes are in the works. Soon you will be able to order many of my favorite products directly from the site, which will make things much easier. Please explore around the site, especially the Defiant Tools page, and keep checking back for new content. I am getting some help from people who know far more than I do about web design!

Be Defiant!

Christy

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Sun Warrior really is a godsend, and an incredible product. I highly recommend it. I use it several times a day! Even if it weren’t raw vegan, it is still far superior to whey or other proteins out there on the market.
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And the incredible Raw Beauty, Lauren Michelle Kinsey, also known as Sweet Raw La-La on her VERY popular blog, Awakening Raw Beauty, was kind enough to include me in her “Raw Built Body Project”. Her site is wonderful and extremely informative. Here is the link to my post:

http://laurenkinseynaturalbeauty.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/an-update-from-christy-duffell-seguin/

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Today was a three-workout day, but comparatively very easy. Rob and Shannon said they want me to recover and rest this week, as I have done all I can do to prepare my physique, and they want me rested and on my A-game come this Saturday. I did really bust it on back and arms, though. I was jelly by the time I was done. The cardio was a piece of cake!

We leave for Florida on Thursday morning. I will keep you as updated as possible!

And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! To all of you who have shown interest in Team Defiance and have sent me some incredible comments. My heart is filled to bursting with gratitude for each and every one of you, and just knowing that I somehow make a positive difference in the life of others is the best gift I can get. I am humbled and honored to be a part of your life. And I promise to keep working hard and hopefully inspire others to be the best they can be.

Be Defiant!

Christy

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As you all know, unless you have been under a rock or don’t have cable, the real estate market is, well……not what it used to be. The reality of that situation coupled with the realization that I am now the happiest I have ever been, has made me want to pursue my true passion–fitness and nutrition.

Now, I am not by any means abandoning real estate! I just have a lot of time now that I didn’t have before, and have put it to good use in the gym. And in studying holistic nutrition. If I had the funds, I would pursue a PhD in Holistic Nutrition, and I do plan to someday. But I study nutrition passionately, and learn as much as I can every day. With what I learned in my studies, and with the consistent workout schedule, that led me back into competition. Which then led me to Team Bombshell, and the rest, as they say, is history.

My friend asked me last week if I was happy. It only took me a second to stop and realize–I am living my dream. I told her, truthfully, that I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. I am so grateful for everything I have—my incredible husband and soul mate, Michael; the ‘bestest’ kitty in the world, Jukebox; a wonderful family; fantastic friends; and I finally had the guts to step out there and really pursue my dream of competing in Figure. People come into our lives for a reason . ‘When the student is ready the teacher appears.’ I was ready, and Shannon and Rob appeared. And my life has changed.

The only thing missing right now is a consistent source of income. I am still working and have been blessed with much more business than most agents have in this market. And I do feel positive that good things are to come. But when I really sat down and thought about what it is I really want, I realized that I really want to work in the fitness industry and positively affect people’s lives through better health and nutrition. Basically, I want to get paid for working out!

I have been working on a recipe book for a while, although I have been very intermittent and not committed enough to it. That is going to change. I am going to work on that with a vengeance. With what I have learned, I really feel I can help guide people to health through Living Cuisine.

But the big thing right now is this:

I just became re-certified as a personal trainer! I had let my certifications slip after I moved here and got so busy in real estate. But I realized I wanted to train people again, especially because I get so many requests from this site and people that I meet in every day life. Plus, with training, I can have a flexible schedule that allows me to also work real estate. So it’s the best of all worlds!

A BETTER WAY:

But with the economy the way it is, the number of people paying 50 bucks an hour for someone to stand over them and count reps has dropped dramatically. I see the trainers in my town suffering the loss of many clients, and the gyms are letting many of their in-house trainers go. So, there has to be a better way. A way to provide excellent services to many people, at a very affordable cost.

I think I have found that way. Inspired by the way that I am trained by Team Bombshell, which works so incredibly well, I realized that this model of training could be applied to ‘regular’ folks–not just us gym bunnies in sparkly swimsuits! Come on–you know how to count. You can count your own reps! What most people need is a plan.

So here is what I am now offering:

Nutrition plans and workout plans emailed every four weeks, with unlimited email support throughout the month.

Everything will be detailed and spelled out for the client, on a daily basis. Each plan will be customized to the client, based on a thorough initial consultation. The initial consultation can be in person or on the phone. I will create the programs and send them to the client. The clients’ responsibility is to simply FOLLOW THE PLAN! Print out the plan, tuck it in your workout journal (you DO have one, don’t you?) and take it to the gym. Have your meal plan with you, and you won’t even have to think about what you are eating every day–it will all be spelled out for you and relieve all that stress!

I want this to be accessible for EVERYONE, so the fee structure is as follows:

–4-week workout plan: $100

So, basically, you get a comprehensive, customized nutrition or workout plan starting at $100 per month! That’s the equivalent of only two private training sessions! If you are serious about your health, you can save $100 per month just by following the nutrition plan and eliminating a lot of unhealthy things that are also costing you money. Heck, $100 is just one decent dinner out anymore.

This would also be on a month to month basis–no contract, no obligation. Your success will depend on the level of your commitment and motivation. 50 percent effort will be a disaster and you will say that the plan didn’t work. So don’t go there. But if you are really committed and self-motivated to achieve a healthy lifestyle, then this would be perfect for you. And remember, it is customized to you, so you don’t have to fear the plan. It will challenge you to achieve a new personal best, but will be very achievable.

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If you are interested in working with me, please contact me through this site, or email me directly at cduffell@sc.rr.com. I am so excited about this new venture, and already have been working with some wonderful clients. I can work with anyone, anywhere in the world. I am even talking to a wonderful lady who lives in Dubai who will hopefully become a client after recovering from surgery. What a cool place to live!

One big thing!!! If your goal is to compete in Figure, Fitness or NPC/IFBB Bikini—then I will refer you to Team Bombshell at www.bombshellfitness.com.

Team Bombshell offers so much more than just the plans–it’s like having your own PR or modeling agency, coaching you in every detail for competition. They own their own magazine, and just do so much for the Bombshells. It’s a comprehensive, incredible program and they have so many connections in the industry to help launch their athletes. For example, Bombshell Cheryl Brown just was awarded a sponsorship by GNC!!! Wow! (What I would give for something like that!!!) I cannot offer that kind of environment, and the serious competitor needs to be in a place that can maximize their exposure and career. So I will send you directly to Shannon and Rob, do not pass Go, do not collect $200!

I am looking for the person who wants to be in their best shape and health. I especially want to work with people who want to explore the Living Foods lifestyle in more depth and still be fit, toned, and not stick-thin and gaunt like so many people perceive vegetarians to be. But I can work with anyone–you don’t have to go raw vegan for me! I promise! I WILL teach you about the power of whole foods, though. It’s your choice what to do with the education.

So here is my pitch–I want clients! I am available and eager to get you on the road to beautiful health and a gorgeous body! Please contact me, and I will go right to work for you!

Be Defiant! Fight for your health–and I will be right there fighting for it with you. I got your back!!!

Christy

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(I wrote this part in the car on the way home last night.  I will put more up as I get the time!)

 Part One:

My first contest in five years is in the books. I did not place as well as I hoped, coming in fourth place.  I was in it to win it!   But the competition was far more intense than I anticipated, which was a good thing!  And the show was one of the most professional, well-run, organized shows that I have ever participated in.  The promoters were top-notch, very kind, super-professional, & really had the best interest of the athletes at heart. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this weekend. It was a wonderful experience overall.  I made many new friends among the wonderful girls who were competing, which I usually do.  The fitness competitors are not at all catty to each other.  There is an unspoken respect for each others’ hard work & how hard the diet is, being carb-depleted, dehydrated, tired & stressed.  Everyone is so helpful & supportive.

I was really wanting to win my class to prove a raw vegan could win, but I ran up against some seriously impressive competition, plus I didn’t hit the timing on my diet exactly right.  I peaked too early, looking great on Friday night, but woke up Saturday morning bloated & smooth in the abs.  The judging was very fair, & if I had been judging me, I would have marked me down for my condition, too.  I think if I could have had a bowel evacuation Saturday morning, I would have been OK (or at least a lot better), but I was too nervous & locked up to go to the bathroom at all. That has always been a major problem for me, & it showed up again. (Sorry for a not-so-lovely subject, but having empty bowels is of paramount importance for a bodybuilding contest!)  After the morning show, I came back to the hotel room and ate a salad, and then my digestive system ‘unlocked’ and I lost more than an inch from my waist in just a couple of hours!   It IS that big of a difference!

I have to admit, I did have a case of nerves Friday night & Saturday morning. I don’t think I slept at all Friday night. I kept going over the contest in my head & visualizing my posing & routines.  I stressed out way too much over it, & it hurt me.  That just shows I wasn’t fully prepared, especially for my posing.  If I had been confident in what I was going to do, then I wouldn’t have been lying there stressing over it & trying to pound it in to my brain.  Instead, I would have been sleeping.  I was told by a mentor of mine that stress can cause your body to retain water, & I definitely believe that now.  And not sleeping for two days definitely leads to stress, & then to water retention—& then to the digestive system locking up, at least for me.

The protocol I was following was written by someone who is following the meat-based Standard Bodybuilding Diet (SBD), & since I couldn’t find any raw vegan guidance that was as structured as this program, I used the same protocol & just figured out raw foods to substitute for the foods suggested in the program. The meal suggested for the night before the contest was steak with a little Heinz 57 sauce & sweet potatoes. The sweet potato part was no problem, but I was hard-pressed to figure out what to substitute for the steak & Heinz 57. I was very worried about sodium & water retention but decided to trust what they were saying. The premise is that when you are carb & water-depleted, when you take in the protein, fat, carbs & sodium, the glycogen-depleted muscles will suck up all the water from under the skin & you will fill out the muscles while at the same time appearing very hard & ‘dry’. My best guess was a nut loaf, since nuts are high in both protein & fat, like steak, & I figured adding Nama Shoyu would be a good substitute for the Heinz 57.

I was feeling so good Friday night. I had eaten exactly as I planned, & followed my protocol to the ‘T’. After my night meal of a nut loaf & mashed sweet potatoes, a couple of hours later I really started to harden up & looked very, very lean. My abs & serratus were very sharp & when I was practicing posing I was really pleased with what I was seeing. I was expecting to wake up the next morning with the excess water under my skin sucked into my muscles, but it just didn’t happen like it was supposed to.  Instead, I seemed to have a ‘rebound effect’ and looked like a bloated whale!

Every body is different, & everyone responds differently to nutrients in foods. I just think that I don’t do so well with sodium, although I am not positive that is what led to my poor condition Saturday morning.  More experimentation will show me the truth.  I definitely learned this week that I am addicted to the taste of salt.  Not having Celtic salt in my food was a real issue for me.  It tasted so bad to me without it, & I didn’t want to eat it.  I really missed the taste of the salt.  That’s not a good thing at all.  I now know I need to work on releasing my sodium addiction.  I am using Celtic salt, which is as good for you as salt can be, but it is still salt.  And just the fact that I can’t seem to live without it shows that it may be something that my body is treating as a toxin & I withdraw from it when I am without it.  Salt was the big thing that I couldn’t wait to eat again after the contest.  I wasn’t craving sugar or sweets, or anything like that, but I wanted some salt.

I definitely dehydrated myself well for the contest. I almost never drink any plain water anyway, so not drinking water was easy for me. But the problem was how to avoid water the day before the competition, when every food that I eat is about 85 to 90% water, being raw, & I do use water, coconut water or fresh-squeezed juice in my green smoothies. I decided the answer to that was dehydrated foods, & I think that was the right answer.  

I am so tired right now. I am unbelievably sore! The hardest thing is to stand up on stage & hold a pose while all the other girls are doing their individual walks. When we are doing the quarter turns, we only have to hold our pose for 30 to 60 seconds, & then when we switch poses we get a rest. But when we are in our ‘relaxed pose’ standing in line, you can’t ‘relax’ because the judges could be looking at you at any time, comparing you to the girl who is walking, or even just seeing you in the background while the individual walks are going on. And you need to look great at all times! I woke up this morning, & I am so sore that it hurts to breathe. Tensing & flexing those muscles for that long is amazingly difficult & painful. I had the ‘misfortune’ to be the first number in my flight of contestants, so my walk was first, & then I had to hold my pose without a break while all the other girls walked. That’s something you just don’t practice. I had practice posing sessions that lasted nearly an hour, but I could relax between poses. On stage, I was holding the relaxed pose for about 15 minutes, straight. Ouch.

I feel so blessed that my parents were able to come to the contest. My mother is my inspiration & the reason I became so passionate about natural health in the first place, as you all know. And having her in the audience was very, very special to me. The emcee for the evening was so wonderful, & he added a note to my bio that he read while I was on stage that I was dedicating this contest to my mother & that she was my motivation & inspiration. And he even had her stand up & wave to the audience! And having my father there with me doing my Harlem Globetrotters basketball routine was awesome as well. He was always my biggest fan when I was playing basketball. Basketball has always been a special bond between us.

My morning swimsuit round definitely didn’t go as well as I wanted. When I looked at the pictures Michael was taking, I could see that I didn’t hit my lat spreads well at all from the back. My front & side poses looked good, though. My front pose with lat spread has really become much better. I am pleased & will continue to build on that. Having the digital pictures was great, as I was able to adjust my pose. My night show poses were so much better, so I learned from my mistakes. That’s the point—learn from what doesn’t go well & grow as a competitor & person.

Even I have to admit that I totally kicked butt on my costume round! I had absolutely nobody in the audience that was there for me during the morning show except Michael, but by the time I was finished with my routine, I had the whole audience cheering for me, especially when I finished my routine by spinning the ball on my finger in true Harlem Globetrotters’ style! I wasn’t going to attempt that, but backstage I was doing it so well, & I knew I had blown my placing in the swimsuit round anyway, so I figured “what the heck!” Let’s go for broke. If I drop it, I drop it. Who cares? I not only didn’t drop it, I frickin’ NAILED it! It was so much fun! And I did even better in the evening show. Many people, including some of the judges, said that I had the best routine of the whole show. They liked that I actually USED the ball in the routine & showed some true skill instead of just trying to be ‘cutesy’.

Part Two to come soon!

Be Defiant!

Christy

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Today, I started with hosting the Senior Alliance this morning, serving Mexican Quiche and Apple Cobbler to people who had no idea what Living Foods are, and probably didn’t really WANT to know.  But I converted quite a few!  I met some wonderful people and enjoyed the meeting very much.   The Senior Alliance is a networking group that I created many years ago for businesses that serve the seniors in our communities to gather, meet each other and create referral relationships to help grow their businesses and help more senior citizens.  It’s a lovely group of caring people.

Then at lunch, I had the distinct privilege of speaking at the Shaw Industries plant’s Lunch and Learn.  What a wonderful, large crowd we had, and everyone was just delightful.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone, and made some great new friends.  I really appreciate the opportunity to share about raw foods, and was blown away by the interest in raw foods, and how receptive the employees were to the idea.  If nothing else, I hope everyone starts making their own Green Smoothies!  There’s literally nothing healthier than Green Smoothies on the planet.

Right after lunch, I had a real estate listing presentation.  I was in competition with other agents, but I won!  Yay!  So I have some delightful new clients and a wonderful home that will be going on the market at a great value. 

Then I finally got to eat — I made my favorite pre-workout meal:  An avocado blended with water, raw honey, chocolate Sun Warrior protein, and raw cacao nibs.  Yum!  Gotta love a muscle-building chocolate mousse!  Michael and I worked back and biceps today, although I am focusing more on just cutting right now, so I was doing much lower weights and high reps, with super-slow reps to really FEEL the muscle contraction.  Then I did cardio afterward.  I did the stair machine for a while until my ADHD kicked in, and then I had to get off and do something else, so I went in the empty aerobics studio and just kickboxed to some rockin’ tunes for a while.  That’s much more fun! 

Then for my post-workout smoothie, I actually made one without fruit.  It wasn’t terrible.  I used a couple of carrots, cilantro, collard greens, parsley, red bell pepper, a lime and celery.  If I had garlic on hand it would definitely have been better.  I resisted adding sea salt, even though I wanted to so badly.  I have to cut down on sodium and fruit sugars for the next week and a half.  My whole goal now is to get rid of any water retention to ‘harden up’ and get ripped for the contest.  It’s now 11 days away!

Then when I got home, I was thrilled to find an awesome package in the mail.  My competition swimsuit and costume had arrived!!!  Kira Jones of Vandella Costumes (www.VandellaCostumes.com) made them for me and just did an AWESOME job.  I was thrilled.  The costume is adorable and the swimsuit is absolutely fabulous.  I would put it on any stage in any competition.   She truly did a professional, outstanding  job.  I will post pics when I don’t look like something the cat dragged in, like I do right now.  The suit is a shimmery purple fabric overlaid with teal-blue glitter and trimmed in Swarovski crystals.  It glitters like nobody’s business!  I love it.  I LOVE to ‘glittah’!!!

I am off to get some much-needed sleep now.  I love you all, and I am so happy I get to share my fabulous, beautiful day with you.  Blessings, love and light to you tonight and tomorrow.

Until next time, Be Defiant!

Christy

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Now I don’t know what he weighs and I don’t know if he does either.  The gym we used to go to had one of those doctor’s scales (with the little slide bar) right at the front entrance.  You couldn’t keep him (or anyone else) off that stupid thing.  It seemed that people were drawn there like a  moth to a flame.  Not me.  He had to make me get on it.  I couldn’t care less what a scale says.  All it measures is the pull of gravity.  It doesn’t know if gravity is pulling on fat, muscle, bone, or heavy cross-trainer shoes.  

Pivotal has scales somewhere, but they are the small kind that looks like a bathroom scale.  So now he doesn’t jump on it every day.  And he is making such great progress!   I have never forced him into being totally raw like I am, but he has gravitated more and more to it, and now is really into it.  And it shows!  He is very, very lean.  His little love handles are totally gone, and he has definitely put on muscle.  I am completely biased and have always thought he was totally hot anyway, but he is definitely getting hotter! 

But I digress….back to the shoulder workout.   I will outline the whole thing in a minute, but have to tell you about ‘crybabies’.   A couple BIG guys at the gym were telling me about a great delt developer which is basically an isometric (meaning static, or just holding a weight in one position) exercise.  You stand up with a heavy dumbbell in each hand, and then with arms straight, lift the bells out to the side just about 1/3 of the way up to shoulder level—and hold them in that position for 30 seconds.   That may be the longest 30 seconds ever!   We did 3 of those to burn out at the end of the workout.  I know why they call them ‘crybabies’.  We were crying for the 30 seconds to be over with!

Tonight’s Shoulder Blast:

• Warmup on recumbent bike
• Hammer Strength press, 4 sets, 1 warmup, 3 working sets.  I got 45’s on my last two sets, for 10 & 8 reps.  Yay!
• Smith Machine front presses, 3 sets, 50-60-&60 lbs. with the last set dropping to 50 for a burnout
• Superset of lateral dumbbell raises and Overhead ‘pulses’, 3 sets with 15 lb bells.  The pulses are a limited range of motion press that really keeps the pressure on the lateral deltoid
• Arnold presses, 3 sets, 20 lb bells
• Superset front raises with a 25 lb plate and upright rows with 40-lb bar, 3 sets, 10 reps  both exercises.
• ‘Crybabies’ 3 sets with 25 lb bells.   Ouch!

Simple post workout smoothie tonight was spinach, banana, kiwi, pineapple, L-glutamine, & Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein.

I made a heavenly superfood smoothie for lunch today.  I believe this would be served as breakfast in Nirvana!  1 & 1/2 Tbs Spirulina (of course!), 1 young Thai coconut flesh and water, 2 bananas, 1 tbs carob, 1 tbs raw cacao, 1/2 tsp Cordyceps, 1/2 tsp Blue Green algae, 2 droppers of vanilla liquid stevia–blend until a creamy concoction of pure bliss!

My breakfast green smoothie was awesome as well—-mango-strawberry!   Yum!  With dandelion & laciniato kale, & fresh aloe vera.

I can definitely tell I have dropped some bodyfat.  I can see it in my lower back, particularly.   I have seriously cut back on nuts and fats.  I am not in full precontest deprivation mode yet, and I may not go too drastic.  I am feeling my way through.  If I feel I need to drastically change before the contest then I will change my diet even more.  The contest is April 11th, so I am about 3 weeks out now.  I have upped the cardio a lot too.

I hope you have an awesome day.  Make it a great day!  You can choose to be happy, no matter what, and you will attract good things.  Make a difference in someone’s life today.  Ask yourself, “How can I make a difference today?” and it will change your focus completely, and new opportunities will open for you.  

Be Defiant!

Christy

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