WWΙΙ= IIFYM Vs Clean eating war, Adrenal Fatigue the 21st century pink elephant and cutting update

I have had a few people asking for a new blog, so here it is! 

WWΙΙΙ = IIFYM Vs Clean eating

I used to call myself a clean eater. I admit that. But i never really new technically where the "clean foods" started and ended, like, where the line you do not cross is.

I just ate what i thought was "healthy". Oats, berries, salad, veg, chicken, tuna grains ect. Then binge on chocolate, bread, cheese, cake, biscuits, pizza, icecream on the weekend for my "cheat meal".

How is this Clean Eating?? I see Clean Eating Advocates doing the same thing, and then they say after their binge, "back to my clean eating lifestyle". 

HOW IS IT A LIFESTYLE IF YOU ARE BINGEING ON "UNCLEAN" FOODS??

AND ALSO

Oats are processed, and I dont see our ancestors filtering their whey or making "clean chocolate"

Then IIFYM.

Everyone thinks we live on poptarts and protein shakes. No.

My diet is pretty good, 2-3 meals of meat and veg, oats, protein powder, protein bars, yogurt, cheese, that kind of thing. Some days i also chuck in some toasted sangas, cereal, chocolate, 2 minute noodles, icecream, whatever i feel like really. How is this different, in a weekly comparison, if i put all the food on the table from a week now, to a week when i was a "clean eater"? There would probably be less so called "bad food" on the today table. Because im not bingeing! I dont need to! I eat in moderation, i feel satisfied, no yoyoing, no restricting certain things, no bad mindsets.

I think we should all kiss and make up, let people learn what works for them, what fits their lifestyle and let them make their own choices and learn from them. 

ADRENAL FATIGUE, THE 21st CENTURY PINK ELEPHANT

Yes its a real thing and no i didnt just "get tired when i was dieting and label myself".

I got it when i was 14 and it was caused by stress.

It never really goes away. I will never get rid of it, some days are just better than others.

Alot of people are claiming to have this lately in the bodybuilding industry, most are proffesionaly diagnosed, most they are diagnosed from Dr Google. If you believe you have it, seek help and get the proper care needed to support your body. There is SO MUCH hate for people saying they have it lately, to the point of people writing status' on Facebook saying its not a real thing and they are just tired and there is no real test. Truth is, there is no "Adrenal Fatigue test" no, but you are tested on a number of things, including hormones, cortisol, blood sugar over 24 hours, and more. It affects everyone differently. In my case i was oestrogen domanant, i had nausea, extreamly low blood sugar at 3am and my cortisol wasnt normal. I had a few more things but i was 10 years ago and i dont remember.

As i said, it never goes away. I have to really listen to my body, otherwise 1 slip up, and it takes me 2 weeks max to recover. Things that set me off are too much caffine, (preworkouts are badbadbad) not enough sleep, over working myself, getting drunk and stress. Things i do to look after myself and my adrenals are-

- Listening to my body. If i need to have a few days off training i do.

- Only 1 coffee a day and NO PRE WORKOUT

- I take adrenal support supplements

- I also drink 2 cups of bone broth a day.

• Health Benefits:
  • A great source of minerals from bone broth which are easily absorbed by the body
    • Calcium
    • Magnesium
    • Phosphorous
    • Trace minerals
  • Fats in bone broth can help restore gut health which will help with absorption of minerals.
  • A great source of gelatin and collagen
    • helps support connective tissue
    • helps hair and nails grow well and strong
    • can help heal the gut.
    • helps keep joints healthy
    • want even more gelatin?  Add chicken or calves feet to your broth.  Ask your farmer or butcher!
  • Used to treat adrenal fatigue
  • A great source of the amino acids glycine and proline.
    • Proline is essential to the structure of collagen and is necessary for healthy bones, skin, ligaments and tendons.
    • Glycine helps detoxify the liver and is necessary for the body to produce the powerful antioxidant, Glutathione.  Glycine also helps promote muscle repair and growth.

CUTTING UPDATE

So finally, i have started cutting!!

After a year and a bit of "bulking", it was very mentally and physically challenging, so i am very excited to de-fluff! Im still on around 2000 calories, not cutting out any food groups, and have had great results and i am feeling good! I dont know if i will compete, i am doing this for myself, if i do it will be the INBA Tas Titles in September. For once i dont even care if i dont do it. 

So thats me.

Take care of yourself, love yourself, be happy.

Lj. x

Bikini to bulking, Metabolic Recovery and my Topsy Turvey life update.

Yes i know, i havent blogged in atleast 6 months.. but this is whats been happening....

SO as you know, i started dieting for the 2013 comp season after Christmas. It got to Easter, and i had put on 1%bf and weight hadnt budged. I worked SO hard, sprinting intervals every morning, NO "cheat meals" eating all organic food. I got really upset, and gave up. It wasnt until i listened to a someone kind enough to talk some sense into me,that i took her advice, and asked for help from her coach, Layne Norton. After a few emails he had taken me on as a client, and i saw a glimmer of hope in my life that was so dull, unhappy and stressful.

At first it as overwhelming. I had to let go of the dieting, staying lean mindset, and let my body do what ever it was going to do, and increase my food. It is such a mind game, especially being back at dancing where the girls are lovely, but the studio is full of mirrors, and "normal" girls who probably would have no idea about what im going through or why. The food was also a battle. Being "aloud" to fit in treats, stepping away from the whole "Clean Eating" scene, was a MASSIVE head game. I felt guilty for eating "non clean" foods, and kept asking myself,  Do i deserve this? I also had people in my ear saying IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) is really bad and unhealthy, you cant live off Maccas and TimTams. People have a really bad understanding of it. Yes i have maybe a treat every day, or few days, but i still eat quite healthy. I have a much better relationship towards food now. Id rather have a few treats that fitted into my plan, rather that binge and get upset and want to throw it up with guilt. I can now go out for meals, not plan what im eating a week in advance, and buy something random, and eat it. I love the freedom, even though its scary sometimes.

I have been working with Layne for 18 weeks and i have doubled what i was eating before, lost 1-2 kilos, and completely changed my body. I dont think there is ever a day i feel happy about my body, but then i look at this picture, and see the difference, and i try and focus on the outcome. Im slowly getting my head around the IIFYM lifestyle, and my metabolic recovery.

Being a part of Team Norton is amazing. Everyone is so lovely, caring, inspiring, there is just no words for how much they have helped me through this journey. Its the best thing i have ever done and i am so grateful to find such an amazing coach, and  such lovely team members.

Non bodybuilding related news, i had my first Dancing Eisteddfod back after time off, and had a blast. I missed the stage. I decided to start driving lessons to go for my Ps test before my L's expire for the 3rd time, which i did, and failed for going 25km in an intersection, and going through an orange light when i didnt think id stop in time. That was a few weeks ago and im only just getting the courage back to get going again. I am also going through someone in my life having Anorexia, and it has really challenged me mentally and emotionally. Everyday has been a struggle for the last few months, but i try and find some light to get through, and i have had some amazing support from people which im so greatful for.

My aim is to compete next year, im doing it for me, and i am not going to get crazy lean, im going to get to a "Happy weight" and focus on my health and do bikini. If im not ready for Season A, i will do Season B, there is no rush.

I just wanted to let you guys in on whats been happening, and i guess vent a bit aswell.

I have no wise words right now, or know if anyones going to read this, but you only get one life, so if you dont like something, change it. Why not. You only get one life, and every second that passes, you wont get back.

Over and out, 

Lj x

2013, yes im still here!

So, its 2013!

Yes i know, there has been a lack of blogging, and after lots of you nagging, here it is!

Im not one for the "New years resolutions", an excuse to say your going to do something you SHOULD be doing anyway, then because its such a fad, you give up 2 weeks in.

I did 1 things this year, and that was promise myself, id look after my body.

Plan for this year is to compete in September, when i have slowly started prepping for, to insure i dont put my body under stress and it trys to self distruct itself again.

After a bit of convincing, i went back to dancing last month after having a year off. Im loving being back, it feels like home. Thats also bringing a exciting new oppertunity that i will let you guys in on soon.

I am going throgh some family stuff at the moment, that i wish i cold share, but cant. 

Id just like to say.. Actally, its gotten to th stage where i dont even know what to say anymore.

I jst got back from QLD last week, had 2 weeks off work and the stressses of everyday life, which i very mch needed, and im feeling very refreshed and positive. Im interested in starting to learn how to meditate, and learn about Buddism, so PM me if you have some info for me!

Training is going very well, my body is also loving having dancing back in my life, thats after the first few days after class where i feel about 150 years old.

Eating is great, im off cheat meals which is odd for me, i think how bad i react to them has taught me to steer clear! Im lactose intolerant, so im COMPLETELY off dairy, for obvious reasons, and i have also cut down on sweetners, added more superfoods, drinking more green tea, not drinking coffee, and NO PROSSESSED SUGAR FREE FAT FREE GARBAGE! I did a 5 day vegan detox before QLD and i took onboard some of the things, but at this stage, im keeping the meat. i have substituted my WPI to sprouted vegan protein, which my tummy agrees with.

Thats about it from me, il try and keep yo more regularly updated, im heading to FitX this week so i will do a writeup on that!

Im out, Lj x

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My time with adrenal and chronic fatigue.

After one of the athletes i look up to, Ellena Reidie, told her story about recently getting

the illness, it brought alot of other out of the woodwork that are now struggling with this once 

very rare condition. Tonight im going too tell my story, incase it helps others, as Ellena's post made

me feel a little less alone in the crazy cycle, which is Adrenal/Chronic Fatigue.

It all started when i got into year 7. I was adjusting to the ways of "The Big School"

The first day of year 7, a girl i once was friends with in infant/primary school made up a rumor about me, that made me enemies right from the get go. Great start.

One day in PE, i started to feel sick, i thought it was the heat, so i went home, and slept. This went on until year 9, after many trips to the GP they kept telling me it was anxiety/depression, they filled me with drugs, and the only way i could get to school was mum waking me at 4am every morning with a Maxalon (anti nausea drug) then go back to sleep, so i could wake up for school and get ready without vomiting. I got ready every morning, then sat on the couch, feeling like death, until mum drove me to school, then i always had to sit in the cool coridoor for a rest before i could make it to my locker, or the toilet.

It eventually got that bad that i was bed ridden. Rumors flew round that i was pregnant, and god knows what else. Some friends, and even family didnt believe anything was wrong with me, they said it was all in my head, they said just get up and go to school. They didnt understand.

 I still continued going to dancing, as my teacher Adam had once suffered chronic fatigue and understood what i was going through, even if i didnt do much, i still needed to be there, out of that house. I was home schooled for all of year 10. It was the loneliest time of my life. I lost most of my friends, everyone thought i was crazy.

A specialist was suggested to me, so i decided to go and see her. Within about 10 minutes of speaking about what was going on, she stopped me. She said, "I know what is wrong with you". I cried.

After numerous amounts of strange and expensive tests, we received back from Melbourne that i had an Estrogen deficiency, and Adrenal and Chronic Fatigue. She loaded me up with herbal supplements, and gave me a different anti depressant, as i had fallen into a deep depression through the stress, and the not know what was wrong with me. 

I started on the supps, gagging and vomiting every morning. A book she ordered for me arrived, Adrenal Fatigue, The 21st century Syndrome by Dr Wilson. It was like someone had written a story about me. From the smallest things like waking up in the early hours of the morning with sugar cravings to thinking mum hadnt salted the potato's, everything now made sense now.

One day, while lying on the family couch, in my blanket, weighing under 50kg from not being able to eat anything but a small amount of soup and breakfast juice for several months, which often came back up, i looked up to mum on her chair, and said, "I want McDonalds Nuggets". I will never forget forget that look on her face. I think me being sick was slowly killing her inside.

From then on i started to improve. I started college in year 11, it was a struggle getting there and working through, but i completed the year with minimal absences. I created some new friends, reunited with some old, and started to get back on track.

My illness went away, but came back soon after. Then it went away again. I have my good days and bad, and i think the stress i have put on my body this year forced it to linger about again, as to why my comp prep was so distressing, but its something you cant cure, you just have to be strong and push through, and after me putting my heart on the line tonight, i hope i help someone push through.

Lj xx

Post comp blues, kind of.

Well, as those of you who have competed before or have people close to you that have, 

you probably would have heard of post comp blues. You have been dieting for usually around a minimum of 16 weeks, sometimes with no "cheat meals" then you step off stage, and all you

want is food. All the food you have been craving, all the food you couldnt eat for those weeks.

The week after the comp, you tend to just want to not worry about food prep, you just eat whatever, whenever. Then you put on 2, 3, maybe 6 kilo's. Yes, most of it is fluid, from the water manipulation, the stress on your body and the excess sodium you have been ingesting, but it makes you feel like SHIT. As you have read in my previous post Melbourne Classic post, you know i have been there. 

This time i was prepared. I had prepped meals, i had plans of action, i had a positive mindset. 

I wont lie, i did have a bit of indulgence, and the depression and "Post comp blues" still lingered, but i was aware of it, and knew what it was, and i understand what i have to do.

I hate the term "dieting". No, staying comp condition isnt healthy or sustainable, but if you eat clean, train hard, and make being in good shape a happy healthy lifestyle, it isnt dieting, its your life.

Training has ben going awesome, im getting my strength back and im more focused and have more energy. I also have post workout shakes again, (White choc and Raspbery WPI mmmm!)

Nutrition is great, have lots of fun things again, i have learnt to do my own food plan and its so much fun! I have been switching it up alot and one of my new faves is- Cottage cheese, walnuts,cinnamon and stevia before bed <3

Physique- Feeling pretty good, i have put on maybe 2kg, but im happy with the way things are going, and that i havent gone down the dark whole of late night binge eating again :)

Stay positive, focused and happy, 

Love life, Lj x

The not so pretty past 8 weeks..

Well, the last 8 weeks have been crazy, scary, emotional, upsetting, painful, frustrating, confusing, happy and exhausting. Here is an insight on what went on..

I was fed up with being bloated and my body not functioning right, so within myself i knew i needed to go to the doctor.

They sent away tests, they all came back negative, and the treated me with high doses of antibiotics for 3 days, thinking it could either be  parasite that didnt show up in the results, or an infection in my stomach/intestines. After a few days i actually felt a difference. 

My stats kept going down slowly, but my body was tired after nearly a full year of comp prepping.

I was on 3 cardio sessions a day, minimal calories, and being up at 6am, working til 6.30pm, then training and getting home at around 10-11pm every night was taking its toll.

I wanted to give up. I was over it. But at the same time, in my head i was arguing with myself, 

DO IT, YOU HAVE PREPPED ALL YEAR FOR THIS!! So i kept pushing through.

I decided i was going to do the NABBA Tas Titles the week before INBA, for fun, it as in Hobart so no traveling, and i got a sponsor for INBA, Pinup Model Management, and John Dobbin Photography, so money wasnt an issue. I was aware i wasnt in as good of shape as i was in for the Melbourne Classic, but i still put in all the effort so why not.

The week before, i was feeling horrible about my body, and not confident about the comp.

I thought the feeling would pass, but it was still there the morning of the show.

But i still got up there. 

I may have been the only one, and won my division, but i got up there. It was a great experience and i was so glad i did. Atleast i now hold a Title :P

 

The morning after, i got a horrible message, saying how horrid i looked, and that i shouldnt have got up there. I was so hurt and i actually got angry at myself, and everyone around me for letting me get up there. I planned to pull out of the INBA comp, i was convinced i was stupid to think i could get up there in a condition that wasnt my best.

That week, people told me i needed to fight back, and get up there again at INBA. I dont know why, but i listened and i did my peak week all over again and i went to Launceston. I changed my attitude, i no longer cared if i wasnt losing fat, if i was tired, if i look pudgy, i was doing this for fun, and i actually did not care about it at all. I just wanted to get my tan on and get dolled up and look like a cheap hooker.

Im so glad i decided to, as i placed 3rd in my division, and spent the weekend with a great team.

My amazing partner also scored a 3rd and a 4th and im so proud! 

So thats my last 8 weeks, its not some fairytale of a bikini model, its real life, its my life. 

Time to give my body a rest, relax a bit on the diet and training, and hope my body amends itself.

Lj x

JULY RUNDOWN

Well well, long time no hear!

The rundown is..

Training, eating and working hard, after my last bug i have got a horrible rash which

had me on high doses of medication that mucked my body around, causing the last 2 

appraisals at Planet Max to be a very big disappointment.

I was training hard, eating well, feeling positive. It got me into a bad place within myself. My body is obviously not liking what im doing to it, my digestion was also failing on me. i even got that bloated at one stage i couldn't move. 

 But my last appraisal, Saturday, was finally a success and things are starting to move! 

I am around about where i was this many weeks out last comp, so i still have a chance

to compete if things keep moving, but i have come to the realization that my life, body and health come first, there will always be other comps.  

Friday, i bit a bullet and spoke to a clairvoyant. She gave me a positive perspective to my future and my life, said some unreal crazy things that were so true,some things only a few people know about me and made me realize whats important in life.

This weekend i had a rest, had a cheat, refocused my mind and energy, and im ready to take on Monday! 8 weeks out until the INBA Tas Titles, my body will tell me if its my time or not, if not, im living a great healthy lifestyle, and hopefully inspiring someone else out there to do the same. Its all about YOU and what YOU can become, stop comparing yourself to others, because at the end of the day, your only competing against yourself.

PS. I also cut my hair off which was scary! 

 

Take care guys, Lj x