What A Weekend...

Good Monday Morning:I am feeling better thanks to your helpful words on Friday. I am totally back to basics here and realize I need to set goals for myself and decide what I want to do. One goal is to purchase snow shoes. We have so much winter weather this year I need to take advantage. I'm sure the dogs would love trekking around with me too.

I have finally gotten back to a training routine: 3 body parts each day with 1 - 2 exercises and 3 sets of 15 reps using moderate weight so as not to stress the muscles. We're just reminding the muscles of the training I was doing before. Sat: shoulders, chest, and back; Sun: hamstrings, glutes, quads; haven't trained yet today.

On my husband and I attended 2 Christmas parties. The first was a wedding/Christmas/everything celebration with friends from Milton. My friend Leslie made her famous chicken stacks (the recipe is in the Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook) to keep the meals clean. We also feasted on Heart Smart Lemon Mousse and homemade cornmeal biscotti. With the occassional glass of wine it was a great night.

After feasting at Leslie's we enjoyed some dancing at our friends Richard and Marilyn's annual Christmas party in one of Kleinburg's gorgeous golf courses. It was a late night, but a great way to start gearing up for the holiday season.

On Sunday I woke up bright and early to drive to Belleville for brunch with my daughter, Kelsey-Lynn. I drove back home that afternoon to get ready for the Sarah Brightman concert. She is one of my favorite artists. It was one of my Christmas presents to my husband. The concert was just mind blowing. Her shoes and her clothes are unreal... but her voice completely filled the Air Canada Center. The place went nuts when she sang Phantom. Afterwards, we drove home in a snow storm and have a good foot of snow on the ground this morning!!! Wow. Maybe we will have a white Christmas after all...

I will post some pics of the snow once I load them onto my computer.

Friday Frustrations

Well bloggers I am feeling out of sorts today. I have been working towards a goal for so long and now I don't really have anything pressing to work towards. I feel a little strange.

I have been trying to shake this feeling so this morning I forced myself to get up and do cardio and plan out my meals for the day. I haven't been training for about 1.5 weeks so I need to get to the discipline that I was at before competing.

A lot of competitors struggle with regaining a balance after a show. It's a relief to have such structure during competition training even though it's hard. You don't have a choice about working out and eating clean. Now I have to get back to reality, and remember my own personal motivations for staying lean. It's a mental game because the instant you step off the stage you start feeling different and looking different.

This is Day 1 of going back to normal. Food wise I have already introduced regular water back into my diet (rather than distilled). I will also be introducing more dairy, fruits, and whole grains. But the backbone will still be protein and veg/fruit and whole grains at every meal. This morning I had oatmeal and egg whites. I would have had fruit, but I need to get to the grocery store to get some.

FYI, at comp by BF was 9%. I have already gained weight after the show because I introduced water and sodium back into my diet. So I have gained water weight back. My normal BF is about 12 - 13 % ... I'm not a big person and I never stray too far from comp weight... I'll usually gain about 5 pounds back after the show.

The next thing I have to look forward to is appearance at Arnold Classic at the beginning of March. That is quite a ways off so in the meantime it will be all about getting back to balance...

Thanks for sticking around for the post-comp slump... I'll pull through!

Happy Thanksgiving America!

Enjoy your well-deserved holiday Eat Cleaners...

I would also like to give my thanks to all of you for your never-ending, totally uplifting support. You've really helped me get through the last few months of insanity. I couldn't ask for better Sisters in Iron. THANK YOU!

Hopefully your meals will include some "clean" options today, but I can understand the temptation of pumpkin pie and ice cream.

If you're stuck for ideas I do include a Holiday section in The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook. The Pumpkin Hummus is one of my faves.

Taking a walk after Thanksgiving Dinner is one of my family's favorite things to do.

What are your family traditions for the holiday?

Since today is not a holiday in Canada it will be back to the grindstone for me. That includes catching up on a zillion emails, hitting up the grocery store, and putting pen to paper. It's sunny but chilly here today. I love it... what a nice change from the desert!

Now go enjoy some delicious Thanksgiving eats...

-Tosca

Heading Home

Hello Eat-Clean Bloggers...

Did you miss me over the last few days? I took some down time on Sunday and Monday to see the sites with my daughter and husband. We walked along the Strip, strolled through the Forum shops at Caesar's Palace, and enjoyed some yummy meals. The picture to the left is at dinner on Saturday night at Nove Italiano in the Palms Hotel. I did indulge in a delicious glass of wine and some incredible polenta. To the right is a shot of my daughter and me in front of the Bellagio pool (my favorite hotel). Later that day we had afternoon tea at the Petrossian in the Bellagio. Delicious!

I didn't stray too far from contest eating (minus my pasta splurge on Saturday afteroon after the show, the wine at dinner, and the scone at afternoon tea.... okay, maybe I did stray a little!!) because I had to stay in shape for the photo shoot I had yesterday with Elaine Goodlad in the Red Rocks Canyon. Look out for these pics coming to an Oxygen near you...


Spending 1 week in Las Vegas is a LOOOOONG time away from home. I am happy to be heading back to Toronto today even if that means snow. My cozy bed, my paper-filled desk, and my empty fridge (gotta do groceries tomorrow) await me! It's back to reality!

-Tosca

The Results Are In...

4TH PLACE!!!

WOW!!!

After Friday's terrible show day I was shocked to make it to the Top 5... BUT I prevailed.

With your words of encouragement I rocked the stage this morning. My energy was through the roof and I actually had a lot of fun.

I am really happy with my placement, but it just goes to show you the amount of variety there is between competitions. I am tighter than I was at my first competition in September, and I placed one spot lower.

Thank you all for your support.It was wonderful knowing you were all behind during each step and turn and flex.

BUT I am happily retiring my competition suits, and taking a few days off.

Enjoy the photos below:
1. Getting glammed up thanks to Elaine Goodlad
2. Getting poofed up thanks to Franca
3. Good luck kisses
4. The Ms. Bikini America Masters Class top 5
5. My sportswear bikini
6. My glam bikini
7. Accepting our awards
8. The post-show latte I guzzled... AHHHH!
9. The post-show chicken penne I noshed on.... YEAH CARBS!!!!!

DAY 2 IS HERE... THIS IS IT!

DAY 2 DAY 2 DAY 2 DAY 2

WOW!!! This is it....

It's been a whirlwind. I can't believe we are already at the end of the road.

Day 2 and FINALS have arrived.

To keep you occupied in the meantime I have a little photo review of the happenings here in the BIG LV: 1. My last workout before the event. 2. The crew 3. Getting tanned/painted... thanks Fra! 4. Yet another bowl of oatmeal 5. Photo shoot by the pool 6. A pic of ALL the competitors by the pool 7. Pumping up back stage 8. My "athletic" suit 9. My bikini


My energy is getting low. As much as I've trained and prepped and on and on I am getting tired. Carbs are the greatest things and I can't wait to have them back in my life.

Let's give it one more push through today...

I'd like to hear a communal WOOOHOOOOO!

The Very Tanned and Tired,
Tosca

THE DAY HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Here we go...

It's Day One of Ms. Bikini America. Preliminaries start at 9am!

I arrived in Vegas on Wednesday afternoon and spent all day Thursday registering for the event and doing some media events and photo shoots with the Ms. Bikini America crew.

I will update with pictures soon, BUT...

I just wanted to THANK all of you for supporting me through this journey. You have no idea what it means to me and how much it helps me stand up on that stage with confidence representing Eating Clean, Oxygen, my family... and YOU!!

Wish me luck!!