Sounded like a good idea at the time...

It's 2016 let's switch it up and start that masochistic conditioning program that we both seem to regret when we're half way in!  2015 gave Bill a break in competing, with the mental challenges of moving the business and adding a new business model...so here we go, pick a show any show!  At the end of our conditioning program he should be good and primed to head back to a more traditional bodybuilding workout and hit the stage in May.

For three weeks now withdrawl from Margarita Friday has definately set in, El Paso must wonder where we are.  Bill's spanish was starting to get really good, dos mas margarita's por favor;)  no chips for you Mr. Matthews...

What's it like getting back in the competitive mindset, like it's a lifetime ago.  For now we will ease back...no stress:)

What happens in the off-season...stays in the off-season ;)

After several months hiatus from blogging, we certainly have accomplished a lot...Bill with 3 more top 5 finishes as an IFPA Pro, a Team triathlon, MS Ride for charity, 2 daughters graduated from college (one off to dual Law School/MPA degree programs) and the other joining the work-force, moved our business doubling in size, and hiring two great trainers!

Bill and I made the decision to take the competitive season for 2015 off, completely, to focus on our newly expanded business, bring our trainers up to speed, and for the first time celebrate our birthday's and anniversary without anyone dieting!!  Funny, all I want is a quiet night at home - we are taking our vacation in July as part of celebrating the year off, normally diet's would have been started and time off of the gym would be non-existent...

What's next?  May 2016 IFPA Pro Bowl, one or both of us will be on stage.  Physique seems to be calling my name, so perhaps I will give it a whirl...power-lifting, near and dear to my heart, may also find me on "flight" in-between contests.  Bill will continue his IFPA World Championship quest in 2016, which will take place locally in October.

The extended off season...I miss the stage, our competitor families, and the methodical practice of show-prep.  This year, for the first time we will attend the IFPA World Championships as audience members, going in support of Bill's peers...please stand by ;)

Oh we're not done for the year?!

The question looming "To Yorton or not to Yorton".  The plan for this year was to compete at the Pro International, only...although now I don't think were done for the year.  Hubby placed 2nd in the light-weight division in Kansas, what a great show and we got to meet a lot of new faces along with making some new friends!!  The meal afterwards was spectacular at J. Alexanders , a must if your ever in Overland Park, Kansas!

Training was almost non-existent this past week, took Monday off for our celebratory Dixie Bones feast with light training on Tues/Wed/Thurs....trying to work the kinks out from competing and traveling. Today brought a 5K run, the D.C. Color Run with all of our girls along with beau's Leighton and Lesky.  Next weekend brings a 15 mile bike ride, Biking to Bordeaux to support MS - inspired by our very own Carol Gallahan who battles MS every day with the heart and strength of a lion - together Team Body Shop will ride for "G"!

Friday will commence our celebratory week of Birthday's and our Wedding Anniversary, my favorite time of year!  This past year has marked so many wonderful memories, accomplishments, but most of all growing stronger together.  Cheers to "Us"!!

Less than 6 weeks, really? Fast forward...now less than 36 hours

It's all coming back...after nearly a year off and almost to the 5 week mark, I'm finally seeing the effects of the diet.  This weekend it takes hubby nearly 20 minutes to determine his meal and get to making it.  He has started cleaning up at Arlington Gold's (re-racking other people's weights, re-positioning machines, and organizing plate's on weight trees), yet another indicator that the show is getting closer.  To-date this has been the most relaxing show-prep, posing started last week and all is going smoothly...he even has music picked out already!

Drop set after drop set, this style of training started earlier than previous shows. Determining the drop is almost anguishing for me...it is the extreme in muscle failure, but what an amazing pump. We've moved to other gyms this past week and added in another day of lifting to target the areas that are no longer sore.

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Fortunately and unfortunately, life outside of this blog happened and we are now less than 36 hours away from stage time!  Work has been nothing short of amazing, many new faces along with their exciting new goals!  Hubby has never looked so good, he is ready, we are ready! Brownie's are packed, stand by for details!!

On a very personal note, my home was calling and my Grandmother suddenly passed. I have her to thank for; letting me skate inside the house, dress in fancy shoes, jitterbugging with my grandpa, the art of ceramics, an organic way of life - making me fruit roll-ups from scratch, and blessing my mother with the same skills as a painter along with the ability to make anything...literally. Peace and one love to everyone, make every moment count.

Celebration dinners and the discovery of Sake

10 weeks out, Hubby is down 9 pounds - right on track.  So the first hiccup, I booked the wrong flights....after I received the entry form and noticed Finals is at 5:30pm causing a change in our return flight, oops.  The outbound flight was booked one day too early...big oops.  The studio has been keeping us very busy, so much so that the 10 week mark came very fast.  I was given the two week warning yesterday, training will step up another notch at 8 weeks out.

Strength comes and goes like a bad dream.  Perhaps having Hubby do some time on the bicycle this past weekend to prepare me for my Sprint Tri in Hagerstown, pre-exhausted him for our training week.  Somehow he always finds the energy, he is amazing.  Slight calorie drop coming, which will mean the deletion of Glycomaize (post-workout carbs) and the reduction of flavor (marinade's etc.) in all of his meals.

The past four weeks brought many occasions; Chelsea took the LSAT and applied to Law School, Tess turned 19 and had a wonderful evening out at Kushi where Hubby discovered Sake, Paige had her year end dance recital that brought tears to my eyes, such poise and grace.  Just a few races to get through (with Chelsea) and see her go into her Senior year at Baltimore University, get Tess settled back at JMU for her Junior year...before you know it, it will be prep week for Kansas!

At Jump Start Dance Recital:

Stuffed after Kushi:

14 weeks, Kansas here we come!

Airline tickets booked, hotel reserved, this week the diet starts.  After a weekend of eating out and celebrating the start of a diet, not to mention gaining an extra 2lbs. Tess and I both gained due to Rich Murphy (long time friend) so graciously bringing Hubby back Garrett's Popcorn from New York, my weight is up hovering @142ish...Hubby's starting weight:  170, 23lbs. to lose in order to get to goal weight, and  I will attempt to take off my extra 10 due to the extended off-season!

Training will not change for a few weeks, more of the same and less talking to the folks at Arlington Gold's!  I'm hoping that the series of chiropractic/active release sessions will bring better result for this show prep, training is hard enough let alone adding joint issues to the mix.

Good bye Sunday morning waffles with real maple syrup and eggs over-easy.....well, for 14 weeks anyway!

What a difference a year makes...

This time last year, our eldest, Chelsea, was finishing up her first semester at University of Baltimore, now on track to graduate a year early. Tess, our second daughter, was getting ready to graduate high school, she will have completed her first year at James Madison University this week.  Bill was a week a away from his first IFPA Pro show...

Roughly 6 weeks out from the start of dieting for September 14th competition, things are almost in order and eating out will come to a halt...well for the most part!  The 6 month break from dieting has given the mind and body a much needed break, all the while I have been trying to complete projects so that our focus will be free from, hopefully, major disruptions.  Unlike me, Hubby will need a project to get through the weeks that build up to the competition...hmm what to do??