2+ Weeks Post Show

Sorry/ not sorry I suck at follow ups. Or at least timely follow-ups.

A little over two weeks ago I graced the stage at Battle for the Eagle as a figure competitor after years of talk. Prep was not easy, but not the worst thing ever. Admittedly I could be experiencing some form of competition amnesia in which the show experience was so great that I forgot the most difficult parts. Or I really do like cod and tilapia that much. Which is why my freezer is full of white fish and I have only eaten chicken and egg whites post show as lean protein.

I could give a detailed play-by-play of the entire weekend, but I will spare you that. Especially with the amount of down time, cod, and yams involved- you'll likely fall asleep mid-post and forget why you clicked on this blog to begin with.

Tiara Reception Stop

Day Before Show Highlights

      242 ounces of water consumed
      7 meals of steamed cod and boiled yams    
      2 of these heated in a convenience store    
      3 coats of spray tan
      0 threats of divorce

Modified Night Show Side Pose
(One pose I will be working on) 

Show Day Highlights

     2 hours of sleep

     4:30 am makeup session

     3 (more) coats of spray tan

     2 slices of BACON!

     6 ounces of water consumed

     8 novice competitors

     9 open competitors

     4 handfuls of Skittles

     4th place in novice

     1 happy Cathy 

       (and equally happy Mr. NN)

I got an eagle! 

After the show I was delighted to shower and put on a pair of jeans. After watching some of the bikini girls compete while enjoying my first fresh hop beer, the Mr. and I trotted off to the sports bar in the casino. There we watched the end of the Wisconsin vs. Ohio game while waiting my first post show meal to arrive. I managed to have 2 chicken wings, 10 nachos, 1 chicken strip, and one JoJo before throwing in my napkin. (I swear it was all the rice cakes sitting in my stomach that made me full.)

The next day I still had a little left in me. Prior to getting on the road I did my first cardio tapering session. (I'm still tapering cardio, because sometime things we hate are hard to give up.) Then we packed up and hit the road to make it back home in for the Packer vs. Cowboys game. And to get my Cinnabon.

Cinnabon Highlights

      75+ mph average speed to Pilot Station

      2 bites given to Mr. NN 

      1 Cinnabon virginity lost

      3 minutes until it was no more

That was Battle for the Eagle 2016 in a nutshell. I am currently in build/ beast mode- with more carbs added back into my diet and cheat meals (at my discretion). I've been trying to not go nuts on the weekend eating/ drinking everything in sight. Which I haven't been stellar with, but I have been doing way better than I did after my very first show. That may be because Culvers does not exist in Oregon and I work full-time. I'm on the road this week for work, but I haven't loosened the reigns much. My meals are all packed and I have researched gyms for the towns I am in.

The Mothership.

But next weekend all bets are off. Because I'll be one of the many bodies in here and nobody puts Cathy in the corner. Nobody.
 

Gray Day and Cinnabon

I am having a gray day. Not only is it overcast here, but it is type of day where retail therapy only works for 30 minutes. (Thanks Target!)

First work related issues pushed me to reward myself with new slippers (and then shirts). Not too long after arriving home, my 50+ pound "puppy" took me out cartoon style. If you would like the mental image here it is:

Her running full speed down the stairs, me standing close to the wall to avoid her path. Puppy came in tight because she loves/ hates me, took my leg out from under me and resulting in me landing on my back.

If it wasn't me, and I wasn't near tears, I would have been laughing. Once I placed her safely in her crate (where I could not harm her), I opened my e-mail to discover my make-up artist for the show had to cancel.

Eight days out. 

I heated up my tilapia, yam, and broccoli (because that is what I can call "comfort food" right now) and opened my laptop. After visiting the show's website, I got the contact information for the show's official makeup artist. Thankfully she had one last spot open and I was able to nab it, for 4:30 am. Sometimes it is small victories that get us through the day. Now I have someone to make me pretty, again, and all is semi-right with the world.

Next week is peak week, the week all this hard work comes together before getting on the stage. I took the time today to arrange my workouts for the next week so I have a plan going in. The plan is basically don't kick my ass too much, don't try to lose anymore fat, and try to relax. I tried the relax part this morning by doing a yoga DVD, but then I felt like I pulled a glute. Not effective relaxation.

Tomorrow I meet with my coach where I will get the day-by-day diet for my last few days before the show. I know for sure caffeine will be out. If I thought I was cranky now, I apologize in advance to anyone who comes near/ contacts me. My puppy may be spending more time in her crate.

I am currently attempting to not plan out too much of my post-show life. However, I have quite the list of items I want to indulge in. For instance, Cinnabon. I have not touched one in at least a decade, if not two. But I know of two truck stops between Salem and Portland that have a Cinnabon in them. I know this because I travel that route on an almost daily basis. Those truck stops are also the closest places to Canyonville that have Cinnabon, other than Eugene. (But in Eugene you have a drive a ways off the interstate to get to the cinnamon roll (because that's how they mark it on their site locator and yes, it made me drool) and there is Packer game to be watched that afternoon. #priorities). Please note that their website is pretty much Cinnaporn. I need to close that window... in 5 minutes

You ice that Cinnabon- you clean-nailed Cinnaworker.
Ice it reeeeeeal good.  

What else will I indulge in after the show? The list includes pad thai, wings, nachos, a quesadilla, fried chicken, and beer (mainly fresh hop, Oktoberfest, and pumpkin beers). However, after eating super clean for the last 3 months, one's body can not handle those items very well. So it becomes a jig-saw puzzle of fitting in these items with social activities on the calendar since many think of the time after a show as if one has been released from gastro prison. Which after working this hard, the last thing I want to do is re-insulate my abs in a quarter of the time it took me to get here.

You can bet there is a plan coming to avoid that as well. Until then I am going to enjoy these last few days before the show and get ready to display what I was able to do.

Zucchini Flax Seed Breakfast Bars

For the last 10 weeks my breakfast prescription has been oats, egg whites, flax seeds, and salt. In fact, three of seven meals each day has been oats, egg whites, and salt. You may be wondering how one eats the same things over and over again without wanting to kill oneself.   

By adding "free" stuff to it, of course! 

What is considered "free"? According to my coach canned pumpkin and zucchini, as well as spices, were free item. Leafy green veggies are also on my "free" list, but there isn't anything on that list that I want to stick in my oatmeal.

The most common thing to make is protein pancakes with those ingredients. Just throw the items listed in the prescription with some cinnamon, vanilla, and Splenda in a blender, puree it together, and pour the mixture in a heated frying pan. 

I did that a few times, as that was an old standby recipe for me. However, my blender (now recently departed) was intended for making smoothies and couldn't handle all the macros I stuffed in it. On my quest for making things easier, I thought why not just take the blender out the process and make bars out of it?

 

As much disgust as my fish meals bring to the workplace, these bars have had the opposite effect. In fact, a couple people have asked for the recipe. Finally after 10 weeks, I am finally writing it up for all to enjoy. Since I have had to adjust the amount of egg whites and oats as my diet has progressed, I think I have landed on the perfect combination. Check out it out below for a great breakfast option on the go. In fact, I plan to make these (with non-free additions) even after my show as a breakfast/ snack option.

Zucchini Flax Seed Breakfast Bars 

6 Servings

What you need:

4 cups of oats

18 egg whites

3 tablespoons of flax seeds

1 tsp of salt

1 medium zucchini, grated (about 3 ounces)

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

3 packets of Splenda (or other artificial sweetener of choice) optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

In a mixing bowl, combine oats, flax seeds, salt, cinnamon, and Splenda. (Empty the Splenda packets and do not put the actual packet in the mix). 

Next add the wet ingredients (zucchini, egg whites, and vanilla). Mix well. In a greased baking pan (preferably with cooking spray), pour the contents of the mixing bowl. 

Place the baking pan in the oven and set the timer for 30 minutes. Remove from oven once the timer goes off. Package as you wish, maybe have one fresh, and refrigerate until use. They're good cold or reheated.