Pam's :) Journal

Greetings!   I started with Dr. Joe and Sean one week ago.  I have only competed once this past spring in the NPC Ocean State Natural (April 19, 2008) as a novice in figure and did not place – actually I came in dead lastL  LOL!  That’s OK – seriously! I had the time of my life at the competition and loved every minute of it!!  SO much so I want to do it again! 

A bit about me.  I am a bit older than your usual figure competitor (47 years old), and I do not have the physique/ musculature of an NPC competitor (nor do I want to look like them - I like a leaner more natural look like you see in the natural fitness magazines).  My interests in figure are a bit different, too.   I don't have aspirations of being Monica Brant or Jenny Lynn or going on television and battling as an amazon like Val. LOL! The long and short of my story is that I was obese (I am 5' 6" and used to weigh 250 lb) all my life until I woke up at age 40 and realized if I didn't change my wicked ways I was headed to any early grave. I tried to lose weight on my own (not very successfully) and then due to the kindness of a colleague I joined WW and lost 110 lb. I have maintained that for almost 5 years (come 7/13/08 that’s my 5 year anniversary J).   Last year after "lurking" on the O2 boards for a while for a variety of reasons I thought prepping for and competing in a figure competition would move me closer to achieving some of my personal goals, which it has. I signed up for Cathy Savage’s SOS program in Sept. 2007 but I have learned that 1) I DO need a coach; 2) and I need more interaction with my coach than I seemd able to get with SOS;  3) I want a “killer” body LOL! I want to lose more weight – I think 130 lb would be better on me – and I want a pair of chiseled thighs and abs, too! LOL!; and 4) (last but not least) I want to learn about nutrition and find a healthy way of eating that I can sustain for the rest of my life that fits with my fitness goals.  I was a vegetarian before I started SOS and I would like to eat healthy and build muscle on a vegetarian diet if possible.   I am here to learn everything I can about everything – nutrition, exercise, posing, etc.!!

Last Friday when I started I weighed (eek!) 140.8 lb.  I am 5'6".  This morning I was delighted to see 135.8 lb on the scale.  136 lb has been my “happy weight” for the last five years so it is an understatement to say I am pleased (I am freaking ecstatic!!) 

Welcome Pam!

You've lost over 100#-Wow!!   You're gonna see great things this year with Dr. Joe.

Welcome Pam!  You've definitley come to the right place...Dr. Joe I mean!  What you have achieved is just phenomenal...114 pounds?  WOW!

We are somewhat similar (other than I am NOT a figure competitor ) in that I am 48, new to the sport, got into it to take it to the next level and see my abs...I have lost 62 pounds, and wanted to understand nutrition.

What Joe teaches is so logical and makes so much sense that it's easy for me to understand why I was heavy.  You will LOVE working with him and the Diet Doc staff.  Congrats on reaching your "happy weight" and good luck meeting the rest of your goals.

Welcome Pam.  Congrats on your weight loss and journey to the stage.   You're in great hands with Joe and Sean.  

I'm another master's competitor at 43. 

I'm looking forward to following your progress. 

Julie

Welcome Pam, I'll be 52 in August and like Patti said; it's never too late. Never go by a number, that will only limit you. Looking forward to your progress..

Hi all!  Thanks so much for your warm welcome!  Truly sorry about the conversation interruptus.  I had Vista "challenges."  (sigh!)  Story of my life.  One of the things I enjoy so very much about Vista is the way you can be right in the middle of writing something and then the screen goes blank and Vista installs an "essential" update which cripples your computer.  Nothing like it!  LOL! 

This is great!  So many of you are at a similar age!!  LOL!  So I guess I don't have to worry anymore about being an oddity, huh?  LOL!  and I must say I love all these nice bodies I am seeing in your avatars!!  

I live and teach in Boston proper - Back Bay actually.   I grew up just outside of Boston matriculated at Wellesley then MIT and briefly checked out the 'other' coast before returning to Boston, which I truly love.   

So far so good :)  Morning weight 136 lb

My macros are 125/100/25 

Biggest challenge so far has been trying to identify protein sources that don't use up my carb requirements.  I am vegetarian so most of the usual sources tofu, seitan (wheat gluten), beans, etc. all contain carbs as well as protein.  I love eggs/eggwhites but I try to eat them once a day.  Boca burgers, tofurky and most of the "fake meats" are pretty high in carbs.  I know a lot of vegan and vegetarian folks subsist on protein powder but I really don't like the stuff and the only ones I will even touch are the ones that are pudding like (and probably bad for you) Bodytech pp and BSN Dessert.  I really like to chew my food not drink it which also means I am not a smoothie girl.  

Things I really need to work on are

1) a more even distribution of my macros over the course of the day - I didn't realize it but I am a horder:( and save my food for the evening; and

2) a more regular eating pattern with more meals.  I usually get in 5 Sunday and during the week but three on Saturdays when I care for my mom.  

I understand your dilemma.  I used to be ovolacto vegetarian and then I was vegan for awhile when I first started with Body for Life.  I ran into the same problem and I eventually got very tired of the protein choices, so I converted back to a meat eater.  You can do a lot of things with the whey protein powder, like muffins, pancakes, cookie like concoctions, etc.  I was thinking there was a Boca burger that didn't have as many carbs in it, but I can't remember the variety.  Check Morningstar Farms stuff, too.  Maybe it was theirs.  They had a sausage that was great.  You may find, too that once you spread out your macros more evenly that you won't mind a shake here and there.  You can put the whey in your oatmeal for instance in the morning.  If you eat egg whites, I'm assuming you also will eat cottage cheese?  Egg whites and cottage cheese were my main protein sources for a long time.  Very versatile foods that you can make taste very different ways.

Pam, it's hard for me to relate.  I was raised a farm girl- I love beef!

I'd do as much egg white & cottage cheese as possible. 

Also, Joe has an article in the "articles" section about this.