Competition day is here!!! :-O

It's funny to think back that 5 months ago I made the decision to compete. I am here today typing this and knowing that I have worked hard. I have prepared for this day to be in the best shape of my life!

So the day has arrived. I am ready to do this. I have been cutting down my water little by little. I drank 1 gallon on Wednesday, 3/4 gallon on Thursday, 1/2 gallon yesterday, and today I will drink about 4 cups of water -- or less....I have never done this! I also started taking a diuretic on Wednesday. I haven't been peeing much, but my feet and hands get sweaty at times. I also feel hot and sweat. I have seen some ab definition that I am liking a lot! Today I am eating carbohydrates as my meals, every three hours:
6:45am; 1/3 cup cream of wheat, water, 1 cup soy milk, 1/2 banana, 1tbs. flaxseed, 1/2 scoop whey protein
9:45am; 1/3 cup cream of wheat, water, 1 cup soy milk, 1/2 banana,
12:15pm; 2 rice cakes, 15 almonds
2:45pm; 2 rice cakes, 1 tbsp. almond butter
5:15pm- 3/4 cup yams; 1 tbs.almond butter
7:30pm - dried fruit

 I have my outfits ready, including the jewelry and shoes. Now I have to go buy my rice cakes and hairspray :)

When I was 24 -- about 5 years ago, I said to myself, "I want to be in the best shape of my life by the time I am 25. Boy, I had a lot to learn! I had to go through a crazy roller coaster for the next 5 years to get to this point.

Before I hit 30, I am in the best shape of my life, will have competed in my first bikini show and I have learned about myself more than I ever have. It took so much work, effort, sacrifice, commitment, self-awareness, motivation, inspiration, belief in myself, perseverance, consistency and more to get to this point.

I am proud of who I am what I have achieved. I am proud of where I come from, who I come from a and where I am going. This is only a stepping stone to become the woman I am meant to become. This journey has taken me to places I have never before.

Let's see how it goes tonight!

Mexican sweet bread and competition-prep!

Over the past several weeks I have made dramatic changes in my fitness and health. I have learned about my strengths and weaknesses. I have learned to admit those weaknesses and figure out steps I can realistically take improve.

I signed up for this bikini competition to see what I can achieve. If I never try, I will never know what I am capable of! I am ecstatic to think about how I will feel when I stand on that stage and the lights shining on me wearing nothing my a bikini and heels on! When I walk on the stage, I will be confident stutting my stuff at the audience and judges to see all my hard work! I have never done this or gone this far and that is why I am so happy to do it.

Life is about living it and loving it. This journey has taught me a great amount of thing about myself and about life. I realize that I can do anything I set my mind to. Although at times it is hard to say no to food -- I have learned that that is alright. This is the first time I do something like this, so I am still new to all of this. I don't have to be perfect. As long as I control ,y portions and my indulgences, I will be alright.

A couple of days ago I went to my parents' house to visit. I told myself I would not have sweet bread (which I always seem to give in to and have 1 bread piece too much) because I am so close to the competition that I want to eat as clean as clean means! So I decided not to think much of it and just go and visit. I've read that the more you try "not to think" about something, the more you think of it!

 ...But guess what, a few minutes in my mom and dad's I made myself a cup of cafe con leche and I started eating sweet bread! Ah! It was a conscious decision I made. I felt my tummy and I remembered my hard work at the gym that morning, but I did not put that bread down. I did not want to feel guilty any longer. I did not want to feel the responsibility to eating super clean or being on a contest-prep diet. I decided to eat and enjoy my bread and cafe con leche! After wards, and after drinking a few sips of my dad's sopa de letras con pollo and after feeling full and bloated. I stopped. I had eaten enough and was ready to move on and continue with my goals until competition day.

That evening after dinner I told Bret that I love sweet bread and I love preparing for a contest, but that I decided that sweet bread is something I do not intend to give up for now. Restricting myself to it only makes me feel guilty and sick! I will work on my portion control, however, but I plan to eat it :) Sweet bread and a cup of cafe con leche makes me happy. Yes, I call it "emotional eating". I admit it. My goal is to one day go to my parents' house and NOT have sweet bread when it is there. I need to work on my self-control and self-gratification when it comes to this. I know I will achieve it...but for now, I will eat it :)

Love,

Bea

My Sportswear Outfit

So the countdown to my competition continues! This weekend I will get my shoes, jewelry and sportswear outfit: a Mexican soccer player! Hopefully I will look like any one of these girl, lol! 

Today I woke up extra early (5:15am) to make sure I got everything prepared for the day and ate breakfast before my workout.

5:25am Meal 1
Protein pancake: 1/2 cup Egg-beaters; 1/4 cup oatmeal

8:45am meal 2
Protein shake: 2 oz. soymilk; 8 oz. water; 1/2 medium banana; 1 scoop whey protein powder

10:45am Meal 3
Protein pancake: 1/2 cup Egg-beaters; 1/4 cup oatmeal

1:45pm Meal 4
2 cups sald (lots of veggies); 1 chicken patty with chipotle sauce; 1/4 brown rice

4:45pm Meal 5

7:30pm Meal 6

Okay...I am not the best eater when it comes to contest-prep

Okay...I am not the best eater when it comes to contest-prep. This is my journey, and I am learning along the way. Yes, it is important to focus on the outcome. You alsways need to start with the end in mind. The end -- being when I am up there! But it is also important to enjoy your way getting to the destination. My journey is different than all others and I have learned a long the way that it is not easy. I am learning who I am, what I want, what I don't want. I think through this journey I am building character.

The expwriences that I have learneed have taough me many things. 

I have learned that my concentartion span in short. My mind shifts from one thing to the next very quickly. 
It's hard for me to focus. Well let me reprase -- it's not as easy for me to focus. 

I associate feeling good and feeling love with food. This morning I made crepes for Mother's Day. I learned from this video:

I ate: 1 whole crepe with cream cheese filling, strawberries, bananas, whip cream, yummy! ...Not too bad. I did eat 2 panes de dulce (a little bit of empanada de pi~na, una quesadilla muffin, 3/4 cuerno); Cafe con leche....and bolillo. Strawberries with sugar. 

I felt stuffed, but kept on eating bolillo until  Oneyda (my sister-in-law) told me, "Bety, cuidado con los carbohydratos..." And I said, "Ay! Tienes razon. Ya, ya," and I put it away. 


I left Norwalk at 12:00pm and it is 1:40pm and I am still stuffed...I am at Starbucks drinking coffee so I can get pumped up and go to the gym. I need a hard/tough workout session! I am 19 days out! OMG! The last 3 weeks have to be CLEAN!!! Let's see what I can do.


Love, Bea



“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”

May 18th, 2011

5:35am Meal 1
3" part of banana; 1/3 cup oat flour; 2/3 cup egg whites; sugar-free/calorie-free syrup (yum!)

WORKOUT:

8:10am Meal 2
Protein shake: 8 oz. water; 2 oz. soy milk; 1 scoop vegetable protein; 6" banana

10:25am Meal  3
4 organic hard-boiled eggs whites; 1 cup spinach; 1/4 cup sauteed yellow and orange bell pepper strips

1:20pm Meal 4
8 strips of chicken-less chicken; 4 oz. organic zucchini; 1/4 cup sweet potato


3pm cup pf coffee with 1 half-n-half tub and Splenda
 I just finished my coffee drink and it was so good! I have to remember though that 30 calories IS 30 calories = at least 3 minutes of running. This far into my contest-prep, every minute of physical activity take a lot of work. Every calorie counts and every calorie adds up to more, so I need to remember that this time is critical in the last stages, days, hours...and eventually minutes. Okay, so I messed up. Learn from it and move on. My next meal is at 4:30pm - stick with the Master Plan, Bea!

4:30pm Meal 5
4 egg whites; 1/4 cup sweet potato

7pm Meal 6
chicken; asparagus; small salad

My mother's accident/fall

On Friday night my mother had an accident at home. She was outside by the pool are and moved a wet and heavy carpet from a beach chair and when she tried to do that she lost her balance (as the carpet was too heavy) and she fell into the pool -- the pool was empty of water.

This experience was a wake up call for my family and myself. For my family, each member was moved in a different but similar way. For me, it reminded me of how much my mother means to me. She is the woman who gave me life -- the most important woman in my life. She is the most loving, caring, strong yet sensitive, successful and intelligent, hard-working, honest, innocent, courageous, amazing....and on an on. My mother has taught me everything. I owe her everything. I realize that I need to do more for her. She has given so much of herself to me, my siblings, my father and my nieces and nephews.My mother is my hero. She is a fighter of life and a light of wisdom, courage and love.

There are still a million hugs and kisses I have for my mother. There are still a million words of love that need to be exchanged with my mother. We still have walks on the beach and hikes in mountains we need to explore. Thank you, God, for saving her from that fall. Thank you for taking care of her and giving her that shinier light of love and life she carries in her eyes every single day. I dedicate this song to my beautiful mother: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEN1iECja0w

After this incident, I also realized once again how fortunate I am. I have a wonderful, supportive and loving family. Both my parents, sisters (Martha, Lupe and Laura) and brothers (Betito and Javier) have always been there for each other regadless. The moment my father came to this country, he had a dream of having his entire family with him. Through hard work, perseverance, persistence, sacrifice and suffering (physical and emotional) he didn't stop until he made that dream a reality. 22 years later (since my family began arriving to the US), we continue to stick by each other's side.Over the years we have become closer than ever and we will continue to be together. I dedicate my family this song by John Lennon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KsemcYtF7E

My family is #1 and showing them what a priority they are is something I must do every day. I will live and love my family by sharpening the saw:

Mind - read with them, share books, make plans, have discussions, write letters/ poems
Body - Exercise with my parents, sisters, brothers and nieces and nephews; eat healthy, nutritious and organic foods, drink pure water; ignore eating unhealthy foods; practice healthy behaviors
Heart - Love and show affection, understanding, listening, cooperation
Spirit - Contribute as a family in events that support our beliefs and mission; give back to others

Love,

Bea

Indulging at my sister's bday party yesterday; Today I am back to my disciplined self! :)

Last night I indulged....Yesterday was my sister Lupe's 35th birthday! I am so blessed to have her in my life. Lupe has been there for me during the hardest times of my life, like when she took care of me in Mexico while my parents were in LA and my older siblings were not at home. Lupe would pick me up from Commonwealth elementary School (when she was in Virgil Junior High) and walk me home. Lupe also noticed I was having a seizure in the fall of 2001 and she took action to make sure I was safe and treated at the hospital.

Lupe has also been there for me during the most beautiful times of my life, like traveling from Mexico City and crossing the border to reunite with my parents and older brother, Javier in L.A. Lupe gave me my first job at Always' Insurance in LA, as a receptionist, telemarketer and deposit checks in the bank :). Lupe gave me rides everywhere when I was a teen -- I learned to drive in her 2000 Honda Civic! I thank God I have a wonderful sister like Lupe. Lupe is super-intelligent, hard-working, caring and conscientious. I love my sister!

For her birthday, I gave Lupe a copy of Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinny_Bitch_Bun_in_the_Oven. Lupe is about 12 or so weeks, pregnant!!! Yay! God is amazing to bless her with another child! I am so excited to be a tia again -- for the 12th time! I hope that my sister begins to take charge of her diet to be the healthiest mommy she can be! I will help and support her along the way!

So for her Bday my mom made her mole poblano -- one of my favorite, if not my favorite Mexican dish! I ate it with shredded chicken on top of a bed of spinach, lettuce and carrots and topped it with sunflower seeds! I also had some pan de dulce, small slices of chocolate cake and flan (that Martha, my oldest sister made) and blueberry, and carrot cakes (my sister-in-law, Oneyda made). I also had lots of coffee, and as a result I went to bed past 11:30pm...

I usually sleep about 7 hours, but because I ate so much the night before, I was determined to wake up at 5:10am and go for some cardio on an empty stomach the next morning. I was at the gym by 5:40am and I ran/jogged 2.25 miles in 23 minutes = 200+ calories.

6:05am 1 medium banana

bite of chicken patty :)

Meal 1 7:07am
Protein pancake:  3 large egg whites (+ some yolk), 1/3 cup oatmeal, 2 tbsp walnuts, sugar-free/calorie-fee syrup. Yum! This is so delicious; I am happy to eat it every day!

8:00am - Starbuck's coffee with non-fat milk (and a <1 oz. of half-n-half)

Meal 2 10:10am
3 large hard-boiled egg whites; 1 organic brown rice cake; 1 tbsp. almond butter

Meal 3 1:10 pm
1 cup organic green beans; Chicken patty (minus one bite from earlier :); 1/4 cup boiled sweet potato

Meal 4 4:10pm
1 cup veggies (brocoli, carrots, sugar peas); 1 high protein bar

Meal 6 6:30pm 
Chicken-less chicken with chipotle sauce (HOT!!!); 1/4 cup brown rice; 3 cup salad with lots of veggies and vinegar; 1/4 cup mashed avocado
Meal 6 9:00pm 
Almonds, walnuts, almond butter - yum! I shouldn't have eaten that though :-( (Updated in the PM)

Well, now I have to motivate myself to complete the PowerPoint presentation for tomorrow's last day of Dr. Mo's class. Thank God!!!

Love,

Bea

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

6:15am
1/2 cup oats; 4 egg whites; 1tbsp ground flaxseed; calorie-free syrup

9:30am-10:30am WORKOUT: Heavy LEGS, glutes

• 12minutes on step mill
• Deadlifts 4X10 - 60 lbs barbell
• Leg Press (feet together) - 15 (155lbs), 15 (175lbs), 12 (195lbs), 12 (215 lbs)
• Smith Machine Lunges - 10 (60lbs), 3X10 (70lbs)
• Butt Blaster - 15 (90lbs), 12 (90lbs), 15 (80lbs), 12 (80lbs)
• Hip Abductor - 12 (80lbs), 10 + 5 partial (90lbs),  2 [10 + 5 partial (100lbs)]

10:30am
6oz water; 4 oz. soy milk; 1/2 banana; 1 scoop whey protein powder; 1tbsp. ground flaxseed

12:40pm
7 strips chikenless chicken; 1 cup asparagus and mushroom sauteed in olive oil, and spinach; 1/3 cup sweet potato

3:45pm
1/2 cup apple sauce with dash cinnamon
4 egg whites
12 almonds


6:45pm
 
Tasty Little Crunchy ~ All Natural CRUNCHY Granola Bar

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size:	2 Bars (40g)
Servings Per Container:		6
Amount per Serving
Calories Total	180
from Fat	50
Amount per Serving		% Daily Value+
Total Fat	6 g	9%
Saturated Fat	.5 g	3%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0
Sodium	160 mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate	25 g	9%
Dietary fiber	4 g	18%
Soluble fiber	3 g
Insoluble fiber	1 g
Sugars	8 g
Protein	6 g

8:00pm
Large salad with balsamic vinegar
tacos -1 1/2 corn tortillas with 3/4 cup ground beef-less beef and green bell peppers 
1/4 cup avocado (with guacamole seasoning)

10pm 1 glutamine cap

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Meal 1 6:10am
Protein pancake
-1/2 cup rolled oats; 4 egg whites; 1/2 yolk
-1 tbsp agave syrup

Meal 2 9:10am
-1/2 medium banana
-1 scoop soy, rice, plant protein (18g)
-1 tbsp. ground flaxseeds

Meal 3 12:00pm
-3oz. grilled chicken
-1 cup green beans; <1tbsp. olive oil
-1/3 cup mashed sweet potato

Meal 4 3:00pm
-1/2 cup chopped green apple
-4 egg whites
-12 raw almonds

Meal 5 6:00pm
-7 strips chicken less chicken
-large salad; <1tvsp. olive oil

WORKOUT: (Active Rest Day) 45 minutes uphill walk

4 weeks out!

I am 25 days away from my competition!

The time has come for me to do my very best in my dieting and nutrition.

Meal 1 7:00am
-1/2 medium banana
-3 egg whites
-1/2 cup steel-cut oats
-1tbsp. ground flaxseed

Meal 2 10:50am
-1/2 medium banana
-1 scoop whey protein powder
-1/2 tbsp. ground flaxseed

Meal 3 12:50pm
-2 cups salad
-chicken-less chicken, sauteed asparagus and mushrooms with olive oil
-2 corn tortillas


Meal 4 3:50pm
-3 egg whites
-1/4 cup diced green apple
-10 almonds


Meal 5 6:30pm
-3 oz. chicken
-2 cups salad
-1tbsp. olive oil

Meal 6 9:30pm
-1 scoop protein powder

Here is what I look like so far... My best picture yet! I am so excited! :-D

Before - February 2007

My training for today:

 

AM: SHOULDERS, ARMS

•  1.15 mile run (13 minutes, 90 calories)
•  Arnold Press - 3X 12  (15lbs ea arm)
• Overhead Press - 4 X 12  (20 lbs ea arm)
• Lateral raises - 2X12 (12 lbs ea arm); 2X 10 (15lbs each arm)
• Front plate raises - 2X8 (25lbs); 2X12 (12lbs. each arm)
• Reverse Flys - 4X12 (20lbs each arm)
• Superset (2X) Incline barbell curls (8 X 20 lbs ea arm)  w/ Tricep kickbacks (10 X 15 lbs each arm)
• Superset (2X) Hammer barbell curls (8 X 20 lbs ea arm)  w/ Skull crushers (10 X 15 lbs each arm) 
• Tricep press down 3X12 (24lbs)
•  1.15 mile run (11 minutes 90 calories)

PM: CARDIO 

 30 minutes, 3.18 miles (296 calories)

That was all for today! 24 more days till competition! I better order my bikini soon! Next weekend I should go buy my shoes, accessories, and start practicing putting my own make up on!

Good night!

Love,

Bea