My Engineered Prep | My Engineered Nutrition

"It's a marathon, not a sprint" - Unknown

Alright, let's get real. I promised to be transparent with this process, so transparent I will be.

I'm frustrated.

This week (so I thought) went really well. I was hitting my nutrition goals, I was working hard in the gym, I was getting my sleep, taking my vitamins, drinking a lot of water - everything that should lead to progress. Saturday morning I was excited to see what changes I had made. When it came time to take my measurements you know how much progress I found?

Zero.

My measurements and weight were the exact same as last week. You know, the same numbers that I wasn't pleased with because it was a step back from the week before that. Initially, I let these numbers get the best of me. I was upset with myself, thinking I should have done better, worked harder, been more focused. This, however, doesn't get me anywhere. I also immediately texted one of my best friends in a fluster, as she is my voice of reason. She calmly replied:

"It's a marathon, not a sprint. If you sprint through miles 1 and 2, you won't even make it to the finish. Your starting point is so much further than what you've had in the past preps!!"

(I knew she was my best friend for a reason)

Looking Back

She was completely right. I was being too hard on myself. There was no reason to panic this far out from my show.

The photo below shows my starting point at each of my preps in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In 2013, I was 13 weeks out from my show for my starting point. In 2014, I was only 12 weeks out from my show. At this point in my prep, I am 14 weeks out from my show.

*Starting at left: 2013 - 13 weeks out, 2014 - 12 weeks out, 2015 - 14 weeks out*

For even more comparison, here is how I finished for my shows in 2013 and 2014. I wasn't nearly as far along at the start of these preps as I am at this point. However, I am still very proud of what I was able to accomplish in a short window of time. This was a good reminder that progress takes time.

Moving Forward

As you can see, I've definitely transformed my body over the last few years. While I may have veered off course a time or two, overall it has been a result of consistency and hard work to get me where I am today. If I've learned anything from my past experiences, it is that progress and results are not immediate, nor are they a linear progression.

Still - I'm bummed I don't have more to show for at this point. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I know where I can improve. Friday night, the night before my check in, I had dinner at my cousin's house. While I planned ahead and made sure I saved ample macros for the meal, I'm sure I underestimated what I really ate (no, I didn't whip out my food scale at the dinner party) - not to mention the 2 glasses of wine I had.

However, I can't beat myself up about the past. I'm reminding myself everyday that it is important that I keep looking forward and stay positive. Each day I work hard WILL pay off and the results WILL come. As tempting as it may seem, there is no need to jump to extremes at this point. As my best friend so wonderfully pointed out - I don't want to burn out after mile 3, I'm in this to cross that finish line.

But... when all else fails and you are still feeling like you need some sort of pick me up: invest in new training shoes :)

Nutrition

If you follow me on Instagram you already know what I was chowing down on this week (cough, cough - you should follow me if you aren't already).

Lunches this week were a medley of roasted vegetables over a bed of kale and lemon juice, topped with Roasted Chicken and fat-free feta cheese.

For dinners, I was absolutely loving my Rosemary Balsamic Pork Tenderloin with roasted sweet potatoes. And for dessert on lifting days, I couldn't resist my Apple Cider Protein Donuts!

Lastly, this weekend I made a super tasty brunch! Why go out when I get make something great at home?! I sauteed brussels sprouts, leeks and ham together and served that with an egg white omelette and breakfast sausages.

Progress

My measurements stayed the same as last week. I still took photos for documentation. As a plus, I think my arms are already beginning to take shape, which really excites me! I also see a bit of progress in my thighs, woo!