Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Pre-Arnold Challenge

Happy Wednesday Bloggers,

We are about 2 weeks out from the Arnold and I am fully in prep mode. Even though I am not competing, I still have to be looking and feeling my best as I represent Oxygen, Clean Eating and The Eat-Clean Diet on the booth.

I am basically following Cooler 1 plan.

Anyone want to do it with me?


I'm issuing an Pre-Arnold Challenge. For the next 2 weeks we'll do Cooler 1. Join me if you're interested even if you're not going to the Arnold.

What will the next few weeks include:
Tightening up the diet (see Cooler 1 Plan in The Eat-Clean Diet for more details)
Feeling a little hungry... this part is no fun
No fruit
Lots of wheat grass, salmon, and spinach
Not skipping any workouts!!!!
Adding a ½ hour of morning cardio
Training heavy with weights in the evenings

It's been hard to get into prep mode because there has been a lot going on at home. I’ve been driving back and forth to Belleville about 3 times in the last week! I had to help my daughter with a driving ticket, I had to return my other daughter and her friend to university after spring break, and yesterday I had to take care of both a sick daughter and a sick mom. But no more excuses.... time to get down to business!

By the way, I think it's time for February to end. We need some sunshine and warmth!

For a little time out this afternoon I will be doing an ionic cleanse at the Hockley Valley Tea Company. You sit and soak your feet and all the "yucky" (for lack of a better word) comes out. At least that will warm me from the inside out, even if the weather can't.

Why don't you do something nice for yourself, too. Remember, taking care of you and loving you means you can take care of and love someone else that much more!

Hugs,
Tosca

p.s. I'll be answering questions soon!!

22 comments:

Maria Peters said...

Good luck, Tosca! Cooler 1 can be challenging when you haven't done it for a while. I am on Day 2 of Cooler 1 - I am doing it while hubby is out of town this week. :)

Kristen H said...

I am down under the 200 pound mark! I haven't even done the cooler. I figure, when I plateau for a while I will do the cooler plan. I figure, just the main changes my husband and I have made so far are super beneficial. I am down just over 15 pounds!!! I figure the cooler would be too overwhelming place to start and I would give up.
You are certainly looking AWESOME! Way to Go!

Anonymous said...

I am IN for joining you on the Cooler 1 for the next 2 weeks! This will be great motivation!

Anonymous said...

Love your t-shirt, where is it from?

Good Things Green Things said...

Tosca,
I'm gonna give Cooler 1 a try, although I don't know what I'll do without fruit for two weeks. I've got to do something to get this baby weight off! Let me know how the ionic cleanse goes, I've been wondering about them. Take care!

Andi

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

For the "no fruit" aspect of the plan - is that because of the simple sugars/excess carbs??

Anonymous said...

Hi Tosca,
I was wondering if there is anything "clean eating" that can help with bloating and cramps for that time of the month. A week before my period I feel bloated, achy, and just plain mean. Then when I do have my period I do begin to feel better other than some bad cramps. This does hurt my progress with eating clean and working out because of how awful I feel. The cravings for something bad to eat. Also just feeling achy that makes me not want to work out. So I was just wanting to know if there was some clean food that can help with these areas. So I wouldn't feel bad around this time of the month, and that can also help me stay on track. Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

Q: Can you elaborate a little about the different categories of competing ie. Fitness, Figure, Figure Masters, Fitness Model and Fitness Model and how far developed you need to be for each.

Anonymous said...

Q: Hi Tosca~ just wondering what type of hair removal process you would recommend if any? What might your helpers think of Laser hair removal? Does waxing actually weaken the muscles underneath the skin? thx.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tosca~
Is is okay to change your routine everytime you do a workout? Say for example it's chest, back and shoulder day...can you change the routine every week instead of doing the same routine for 4 wks and then change it?

Anonymous said...

Hi Tosca~ I agree with you about taking care of yourself. I'm a big advocate of it. I'm always telling others that they come first...yes your kids and family are important, but face it...if you don't take care of yourself first you can't give to others who need you. So to all those ladies out there take good care of yourself and treat yourself good so you can give to others who need you.

Anonymous said...

Does Bikini Model competition still require the same weigh training dedication and what look would the judges be looking for? Soft, cut curves, etc?

Anonymous said...

Hi Tosca,

I'm curious how you felt after your ionic cleanse and what are some of the benefits you experienced. Love you t-shirt!!

Barbie

Christine said...

Just curious why most of the followers pics are missing and listed as 'undefined' is there something wrong with the site?

Mindy said...

Tosca, you are so inspiring to me! I'm almost 29 and I can't wait to look like you when I'm 50! I'm starting to eat clean and I can already feel a huge differnce in how my body reacts to food. Thankyou for popularizing this common sense approach to how we feed our bodies. Eating clean has huge implications not only on our bodies, but our environment too. I applaud you! Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Hi Tosca~
I have been weight training heavy and eating clean. I find that I am always sore after a workout 12 hrs after to be exact, and I only workout 3 days a week.
It takes several days for my body and muscles to get repaired and grow. I do see results though. Is this okay? Is it okay to wait till you are completely healed before working out again? I find that if I do workout more...my body gets stressed and fatigued not to mention more pain? Am I an anomaly, lucky or doing something wrong? I don't believe I am overtraining. Could this just be my system? My routine is as follows:
Sat - Leg & Glute Day
Sun - Arms & Abs
Wed - Chest, Back & Shoulders

And I change the routine of exercises every work-out - could this be the culprit (my body doesn't have time to adapt say for 4-6 weeks)?

MCP

Anonymous said...

Im In!

Audrey

Christine said...

I'm in for the challenge!

Anonymous said...

You go girl!!!

Christine said...

Hey Anonymous


I can share my personal experiences with hair removal.

Laser is hair reduction. Usually requires three sessions per area 6-10 weeks apart depending on part.
I have never had hair regrowth for under arms - so that area is best success story.

For lower legs - I have the series about twice per year and it works well and you could shave if it regrows where with waxing you have to let it grow a bit to grab onto - not a pretty sight between waxings.

Bikini- brazillian is another issue - it seems to require more treatments -hair just does not want to seem to disappear from there easily but I still only have the series done twice per year

And after my series of laser (3) for the bikini area I have electolysis for the panty line area where panty meets thigh and works very well and I figure between the two over time I will have a good reduction. Particularly for the portion which would show with a competition suit.

There are light hair and dark hair lasers - the light hair ones (for lip) I don't find very successful - so I find electrolsis best for that (although you may be too young yet to experience that little issue) (it is supposed to be permanent but would be tedious to do a large area as well as expensive.

Hope this helps.

Christine said...

Sorry to be so chatty but to anonymous who asked about figure, fitness, figure model you can see some physique pictures at the site below

http://sleevelessafter50.blogspot.com/2008/12/female-competition-physiques-difference.html

better still - till Tosca answers her book the Eat-Clean Diet Workout has a section on physique competition - her book and info in oxygen magazine got me interested in grand masters figure competing.

Anonymous said...

Is it necessary to work your forearms separately, or do they just develop by doing other compound exercises?