I am gradually beginning to come to the conclusion that the exercising I could do prior to pre-contest is no longer as easy or as enjoyable. I have taken many a long hike and bike ride with friends and enjoy spending time outside of the gym doing something active. And there are some pretty great bike trails and hiking here in Ohio. We are talking 26-30 mile bike rides and 2-3 hour hikes.

Last night I went out on a 27 mile ride, at the turn around point at 13.5 miles, I was spent. And just knowing I had the same distance to ride back....what the heck was I thinking. Jason tried to tell me that these weren't a good idea but nooooo, I wouldn't listen. I was dog tired last night. Got home, force fed myself and went to bed. That dang alarm clock at 0515 went off and the struggle began. I dragged butt all day today. I'm no sissy but at one point I was in tears I was so frustrated with work, stress, military exercises, and general office BS, and the lack of energy. My second meal of the day was 2.5 hours late and I was about to snap because of commander's calls. Don't interfere with my fuel darnit, especially when I am running on fumes. LOL.

I know I can handle this, and am definitely not going to quit. Just wanted to vent a little bit (ok, I'm whining) about my own stupidity and to realize that there are limitations when on a pre-contest diet. And, on that note, I'm going to bed to recover.

LOL!!!!!! Well thats life isn't it! You learn from mistakes. Sometimes it takes 13.5 miles to realize that you're a bonehead LOL! You'll recover AF Chiq, and I'm sure Jason is reading your post right now shaking his head in disbelief and saying to himself "i told you so"!

So yeah, you already know this, but it doesn't hurt to hear it from somebody else: stick to the diet and your regular training schedule, no more crazy adventures for now!

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regular training schedule, no more crazy adventures for now!

Crazy ventures. AF, listen and listen good. If you know you're going to do this, you know you want to, it is much like everyone here, plan.

If anyone had the opportunity to go on a cruise because of some family celebration they'll take it and some suffer and some make it right through. I had some weddings to attend and I enjoyed myself. I ate my food, and had a great time. There were two times my precontest had too much cardio. The first was disasterous. HIIT on an empty stomach and 1 hour at that. The second was the best shape ever. I ran an average of 5 miles every other day and walked on incline between. I added a lot more food.

Unless you're pro and there's money involved, make the ultimate sacrafice and skip family, etc. Hey, I'm the person that gives it all. When I compete, whatever it is, there's 190 lbs of competition.

There are some charts you can estimate your caloric expenditure. Much like a bad day with the cheat meal, you can have a good day out of a potential bad day.

I think JBeanie has a formula or chart for reference.

Summer time there is not like summer time here in TX, where it can seem to last through November. When you have a chance to get out and enjoy the weather, take it.

What you've done can be fixed in one or two days. Don't workout Friday and you should be back to normal.

Excellent post Frank! So true. Were you at the Europa Supershow this year? If so, wish I could have met you.

Mark

Too late CB, Jason already said "told you so" with a LOL. I'm sure he was shaking his head too. Definitely a lesson learned, and yet another instance where I should have listened to some good advice. Moving on.

AFChiq,
I recommend you stick with the plan as J has planned for you. I think it's important to keep us on track and keep him in tune to changes that need to take place in diet/workouts to obtain our goal. I save the off season for those long rides & runs~ and acutally look forward to it.

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Crazy ventures. AF

I did mine yesterday. It was unexpected, dehydrated and overworked. I'm dead today. I ran out of food and water. A two hour trip ended up being 7 hours and too much lifting in heat.

I basically told AF one per week and we may need to increase carbs that day and I provided a diet that she can eat on those days. I also said that during prep unless Im lifting or doing cardio I pretty much just veg out so that I dont burn LBM.

But, like Frank said diet can be adjusted to account for it, but its not an exact science, but AF and I did discuss adding some food on these LONG adventures.

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but its not an exact science

Depending on goals and health, you can darn near make it an exact science. Who would want to take along all the gadgets?

One might consider what a diabetic must do to perform a long hike, bike ride, etc. So, talk about planning.

i think frank nailed that one. i know people who NEVER leave home wihout a bag or cooler full of various spplements, several types of food, a jug of water, and needles and insulin. just leave out the needles and insulin. lots of people carry a bag of some sort everywhere anyway.a serving of mass maker would have been nice at about 13.5 miles.

Part of my problem is that I deploy often and am gone to BFE for 6-7 months (I know its short compared to the Army's deployment sentences). That cuts a good portion of my year out and, I have been lucky to be gone most of the time during the winter months. So I try to do as much as I can while home before I go again about 8 months later. Contest or not, I am going to do the best I can to allow myself to "live a little" and do things I love.

So, with that being said, adjustments will be made. Less distance, slower paces, once a week as J suggested and adjust my diet as needed to allow for it. I keep him posted on what I do at all times so he knows what's in the mix. Love it!

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So, with that being said, adjustments will be made. Less distance, slower paces

Too much personal competition. I can't always hold to it. I tend to go all out and for that reason, there are times I just don't do it at all. LOL Really. One example is to go jogging on a track. Too much adrenalin just walking up to it. I can't slow pace jog, even wearing cowboy boots. (Now, I'm joking.).

Well AF Chiq, I did the same as you did this weekend and my husband and I went on a 10 mile hike today consisting of moderate and difficult trails. So I upped my carbs today and I'm feeling okay for now. Did not have a watch with us, and the first time we took these trails, and when we got back to our car it was 3 hours later. Luckily I had eaten right before hitting the trail and had my next meal waiting in the car, although we did not know it would take that long. I sipped on my glutamine select throughout the hike.

Couldn't resist the beautiful weather (which will be coming to an end soon) and the thought of hiking all around these waterfalls. Nothing better than being out in nature!

Think I'll be taking tomorrow off from the gym.

Ahhhh, it's hard to resist isn't it? Especially with the season changing and the leaves are turning colors. Too pretty to resist.
I don't take the next day off from my normal routine though. If you have a set schedule, I would recommend sticking with it.

I have a mini-vacation planned to go to Hocking Hills State park to do a little hiking and ziplining for a few days. The cabin even has a hot tub on the porch. Can't wait.