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??

Life is good in the off season!

Is it that his weight is hovering around 170, or that we had cookies and ice cream three nights in a row, or perhaps the three comments from strangers about his developed delts in the last week....what it's all saying is that it's time to get back to work and back on stage!

The goal this year is to make one or two competitions, with the focus of four for next year.  Still no definite decision on what competitions, September looks to be busy! Serious dieting not to begin until end of May early June, so I'm going to sit back and enjoy the last few weeks of off season!

Where do we go from here....

Took some time to adjust after Yorton and our extended vacation thanks to hurricane Sandy.  Here we are roughly 6 weeks post-show, Bill's weight is settling in along with his nightly hot cookies and milk.  What happens now?  Both he and I are asking ourselves.  Usually I have a plan in place....for whatever reason I think it was time to hit the pause button and let his body heal.  The downside to not having a plan puts Hubby in a little of a tail spin, trying to find the purpose in training and working through the mental/physical pain of uncertainty.

Yorton Cup 2012 ranks as Bill's most difficult show, placing 3rd was a sweet sigh of relief....in my book he will always be numero uno!  Heading into the new year and training comes back into the forefront, we will start to make adjustments and decide where/when/what show should come and in what order.

2012 was an amazing year as we settled two of our girls in new colleges, 1st/Overall and 3rd place finishes in our first year of pro competing, a daughter completing a marathon.  Looking back on 2012 I am pleased with the outcomes, challenges, struggles, victories, laughter, and most of all our teamwork.  Stay tuned for 2013, you never know where Team Body Shop will show up next!

6 more days till showtime!

It's Sunday morning, Bill is moving at a snail's pace.....eating even takes longer.  Packing hasn't begun, more importantly, getting the travel meals into the freezer.  Hardest part of traveling for shows would be the food prep/organization, there may be slight adjustments in carbohydrates based on how he looks each day.....We need to pack roughly 12 meals to cover 2.5 days of his eating (oh and I will try not to forget about feeding myself, so another 8+ meals).  His house chores are about complete so killing time in between meals will seem like an eternity, I'm sure he's wondering how long before bed so he can tick off this day!

Two training days, 3 posing sessions, and 3.5 days of work left until we board our flight late Thursday  morning.  I enjoy the count-down of body parts being trained (i.e. last heavy squat day etc.), Hubby does not enjoy it, but it helps me bring the stage closer. Mon/Tues will be 1 light set per body part for both days, with the main focus on posing. We believe that we've gotten much closer this show to complete glycogen depletion so carbohydrate re-loading may start a day earlier (he will start to increase his carbohydrate intake Tues/Wed).....hooray for more calories!!

There is a box of Jello No-Bake Oreo Cookie dessert sitting on the counter that Bill has been eyeballing since JMU Family weekend, a slight deviation from his prior post-show wants, he normally wants plain Oreo's and a 1/2 gallon of milk.  Mini Reese's made it into the mix along with the usual payday bars.  First thing when we get to Phoenix.......a six pack of beer (first thing he wants after a show)!!!

Around the world and a ping pong frenzie

Thank you Kline's Dairy Bar for providing a serious craving for my Hubby and an amazing sugar rush that Tess and I enjoyed during our stay at Parents Weekend at JMU.  It also spurred a lifecycle race, ping pong tournament, and a game of Around the World (basketball), and lets not forget the race to the car, Bill did not participate in some of these activities due to his caloric intake.  What a trooper he was as we walked through the dining hall (ranked #4 in the nation) with his egg white omelet, strawberries, two pieces of bacon, and a few slices of pork loin (this weekend will have a re-do so he can really enjoy E Dining Hall!).  Together we have 3 daughters.....never did I ever think that I would be in the boys department in Target (Bill forgot a belt on our trip), he is so lean that adult belts are too big, LOL!!!!

Training has been going well, up until last week he was squatting 405 for his top sets now he's finally made the drop to 365 for his final two weeks of heavy training. This time he was able to hang onto his strength for an extra week (mental note to retrace)....on a personal note, Bill know's I enjoy getting close to his weights - albeit for a short time at just 3 weeks out!!

Finito Completo!

The Yorton project is complete! I can't begin to tell you how relieved we are - 8 months and two expansions, time to focus on the show...for real.   Legend Fitness I can't say enough about the company, what a great process from beginning to end. The bottle of champagne supplied by Frank and Nancy Sharp, that was emptied on Saturday evening, was well worth the wait (thank you Frank and Nancy!). Our week of celebrating will come to a close tomorrow evening as I check off one more year...I've never felt better physically with the exception of my eye site, hello forties!

4 weeks out and roughly 3 weeks left of training (final week will be light, mostly posing), this brings solace to my hubby.  The butterflies in my tummy start now and flutter until he's done competing on 10/27, the excitement builds daily, and  sleeping will be nonexistent as his body readies for the show. Carbs will be cut a little bit lower this week along with posing time increasing...hopefully he decides on his music soon!

Now we just have family weekend at JMU and the Baltimore Marathon before Phoenix!

Refridgerator Challenges

Less than 5 weeks now.......this is where the fun begins.  It was a big sign that Hubby was getting leaner when I found the opened jar of grape jam in the pantry (yes refrigerate after opening) ...no biggee just odd since he is so detailed oriented and through all the show diets I have never seen him do this.  He was down to 153 last week, me I'm up 1.5!  Our fridge is empty, which I blame on Tess for going off to college.....there are no fun foods to even stare at.  So that means more food shows.

Arlington Gold's should pay Bill a salary because when he is dieting clutter bothers him more. It starts subtly, I was getting ready to mount 60lb dumbbells (which he had to hand to me) on a flat bench when he decided to re-align the bench, then he'll put random attachments away, unload plates, and on occasion will straighten large pieces of equipment i.e. leg extension machine.  Training sessions have gotten longer as he fights to remain focused, it's always best if I don't sing!

Yorton project is almost done!  Ceiling fan up, rubber mats have been delivered, mirrors to arrive on 9/29, and we got word last week that the equipment is nearing the end of production.  This week we will go another year of non-cake birthday's/wedding anniversary, although champagne is always worked into the diet!  Happy Birthday and Anniversary to Us!!

Really only 7 more weeks......

A lesson in patience.  Growing up I used to help my daddio with his other job of custom decks/fences, my brother and he would build and I would clean up and seal them.  Last weekend was just such, cleaning up and sealing.  Hubby shows such calm as he methodically seals our deck with a sprayer, I on the other hand, hand paint for what is to total 15 hours over the course of three days.   It's like a bad scene in Karate Kid......  This is all good for Hubby's mind to remove him from the angst of dieting along with a marathon of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives  wtf I'm starving and I'm not dieting (He becomes obsessed with the food network at this point up till show time.....I should start gaining weight any day now)!

7 weeks means adding another day of training.....and just one more to go before posing begins and the late nights run into one another.  Staying focused within the workouts starts to get tough for both of us - I get more excited as the show approaches as he can think of nothing but the muscle contraction within each rep and how it will transpire to the stage. Bill's diet has seen another calorie cut, although minor but important, instead of an ounce of 2% cheese in his morning egg whites, he gets 1/2 ounce and his pure protein bars have been cut in half.....literally!

Keep up the positive thoughts for Bill, this is where the separation between wanting to be number one and training to be number one reigns.

Working through the pain 9 weeks out...

The dorm paraphernalia has been moved to JMU and we're trying to fill the void in our empty house......Saturday brought a long time coming project, painting the garage a calming shade of french gray (now the floor needs to be done, maybe in the winter!). I find solace in painting as where my calorie depleted hubby would say anything but! It was also my way of getting some cardio in for him, nothing like 7 hours of rolling a two car garage ceiling and walls!

His body is transforming almost daily at this point, new cuts and vascularity becomes more evident.  Glycomaize was cut from post-workout shake this week, just a small change to keep his metabolism in check.  Training.....that's another story.  We have been frequenting several gyms in the area to keep focus up and have some variety.  Old injuries can make the workouts incredibly challenging, it never ceases to amaze me how Bill works through an enormous amount of joint pain while still pushing pre-show diet strength.  His strength should start to decrease within the next 3-4 weeks, and where I begin pushing drop sets and negatives to really ramp up the intensity for the remainder of show prep.

Our Yorton project is at a standstill for the moment, thanks to Legend Fitness!  The new equipment is being manufactured and should arrive late September/early October.  We also marked a landmark anniversary, the studio turned 5 on August 27th! A huge thanks to our dedicated clients who continue to spread the word!

12 weeks - ready, set, begin

The beer fridge is empty, I'm ready for this - Bill let's do it! There was a party in our garage Saturday night, which involved a great merlot accompanied by several cookies.   Pre-show diet always seems to add a good 3lbs, sorta like when a man puts on pregnancy weight, preparing myself for the show prep.  His starting weight 166.5, mine....137!

Today marks 12 weeks to Yorton 2012, all flight/hotel arrangements are done so it's time to get back to the bodybuilding workout today and where I will switch to "Coach" mode.  Training has been challenging the past couple of months, training heavy sure does bring the weaknesses to the surface.....

Olympic junkies, no sleep, addicted to the television.  Pairs diving, syncro swimming, medley's, I understand these things and gives a visual to how Hubby and I work together, seamlessly, especially in the bodybuilding arena - seeing him on stage is the byproduct of many years of "putting it together".  Push each other, sacrifice and then sacrifice some more.

The studio expansion, or Yorton project, is coming along nicely...now if only we can find the equipment, who knew Life Fitness doesn't sell a few pieces at a time rather than a whole line - if anyone has a connection please call!

Weber Genesis and Phoenix flight arrangements!

Can I get an "Amen" or thanks to Buddha for yet another lesson in patience?!  After two months of research there is a brand new Weber sitting on our now completed deck (which passed final inspection on 7/6).  You know you've married the most talented and determined man when for approximately additional 40+ hours that it took him to reconstruct our 14 violation deck in 105 degree weather, I can honestly say I have never seen him sweat like that.  He also re-landscaped to make me happy (+3 hours).......oh and he got me a fancy umbrella!

Flights and most hotel arrangements have been made for Phoenix, check.  Now to get his mind set. Diet will begin August 6th.....where I will lose him until December.  It amazes me how he keeps the bill's paid and keep up his tireless efforts for his clients through the "show diet".  Through this month we will set a plan in place for our 2nd expansion of the studio, to begin within the next two weeks.  Heads up for an "Open House" celebration at the studio late September!!

Who uses the side-burner anyways?

Who knew it would take 5 hours to dig 3 post holes in 90 degree weather and what felt like 110% humidity.......after months of planning our deck is nearly complete, check. One of the keys to Bill's competitive season is "projects".  We will begin the 2nd expansion to the studio as his diet ramps up for Yorton. Our second child has graduated, we will have two in college in the fall......with a 10 year break for the final bear to leave the den.

Bill has been in search of the perfect grill to don the deck, which brings the question "who uses the side-burner"..... I will keep you posted as to the final outcome.

Comment of the week "what off day", the hobby takes the forefront as training became more challenging due to the deck building recovery process.....sore joints and the grip began to give.  Next week will certainly be better as the push for the big weights starts!

The Beat Goes On

It's Monday, first day of the training week two-weeks post show, the comment from Hubby, "I'm not used to doing abs"......after I picked my jaw up off the ground and began to giggle on the inside (don't wanna mess up our flow) "exactly" was all that I could come up with.  Mr. Matthews has been blessed, as the girlie's (two eldest kids) like to say, by the 12 pack gods.  I believe he just likes to humor me and my religious ab repertoire......one word, genetics.  Yes he does train abs, 6-8 weeks out of contest he will throw in 4-6 sets of abs in any given week -  yes I did say 4-6 sets.  Seriously. After all these years I can only say "whatever" and just suffer weekly consequences of knee raises, planks, rope crunches, etc.

The envelope also arrived on Monday.......after roughly 8 years of competing Bill has crossed the threshold and has earned money for his hobby, or what I like to call our lifestyle.  We can finally say, yes he does make money at the sport.  He is shopping this weekend for a new gas grill, his Sunday past-time, and perhaps a new air compressor!

First week back in the gym....

This past week has had as many challenges as there have been highs.  It's been six months since the end of Yorton Cup, let's just say enough time passed to where I forgot just how difficult the re-entry is.  Not sure of Hubbie's weight........but the cuts are all coming back into view.  Patience in the gym is key, the weights seem a little heavier than two weeks ago and somehow a change in scenery becomes necessary.  The outpouring support from the members of Gold's Gym Arlington helped keep up the mood despite the stop-watch ticking off breaks in-between sets too quickly!  One particular member, whom we call Jack (82 years young), sent us this email that I just had to share:


Thanks for the informative Fitness Newsletter. I will look forward to future issues. Along with more happy congratulations on winning FIRST PLACE in Richmond here are  a few Biblical references to high respect for our “body”: Philippians 1:20 My deep desire and hope is that I may never fail my duty, but that at all times I shell be full of courage so that Christ would be magnified  in my body. (Body here refers to our “whole being” including the physical. The early non-Greek  Christians did not always follow the Greek concept of  mind, body, soul.)

I Corinthians 6:15 ....your bodies are parts of the body of Christ.

I Cor. 9:24-27...every athlete submits to strict discipline...hard body to win the prize...

Romans 12:1...by the mercy of God present your bodies a living sacrifice to God.

Paul also talks about our having a new body following the event of death..

Best wishes for a good day.

I will see you at the gym,

JT

It never ceases to amaze me how the universe sends you messages, even though we are not highly religious, I've learned to stop and appreciate the random act/gestures that shape our souls, thank you Jack.