Mac on a Mission

Hog Wild

2010-06-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

I've been gone the last week in a drunken, food-induced stupor. I figured if I ate and drank all the stuff I had been craving during training, I won't want it when I start back. We'll see.

I'm back in the gym for real this week and I have about a month until the next show I plan to enter.

It's the San Jose Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure and Bikini Championships on July 10.

There are other upcoming shows I may do:

Vegas -- July 10
LA -- July 24
Windsor -- August 7

Anaheim -- August 14

Reno -- August 14

If anyone's interested in a trip, let me know. I'd love an entourage! ;)

Lucky 13?

2010-05-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

So the results are up and I placed 13th among 19 in the short class. I really, really wanted to be in the top 12, but I also wanna have babies with Robert DeNiro, so...

My scoring was actually not all bad. You want the lowest score possible. Each judge give you a rank/score. I got a 10, 16, 13, 16, 9, 13, 12. So three of the judges put me in the top 12, which is nice.

Overall, I did much better than the first show. I still have a lot to work on as far as stage presence. Here's the lady who won the entire bikini contest, Joy Grajo.

Waiting

2010-05-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'm still waiting on the results from the show. So keep your fingers crossed!

I'm thinking about doing another show in July, but not sure. Since the countdown to my show is over, my blog has to change focus a bit. Any suggestions?

Climbing

2010-05-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! I'm home from my show and three champagne glasses into my post party!

The competition at the show was fierce, but you're girl did pretty well. In the short class there were 19 girls. I got called up on the second line, which means I could be in the top 12. They only announce the top 5 during the show. But here are some pics!

Thank you sooo much to everyone who came to support me. My row dawgs Danielle & company, Benca, Rob and Brandon. And a huge thanks to my trainer, Kiefer and his lovely wife, Caroline. And of course, Derricke, my driver, my support, my snack provider -- thank you.

I'm bout to go crush some nachos and french toast. Catch y'all later!

Picture Me Winning

2010-05-21T15:17:00.001-07:00

Jose was kind enough to e-mail me a few pictures from last night's shoot. I'll get the rest in a few days. Check it.

Posin'

2010-05-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

Had my late night photo shoot with the great Jose Fajardo. And let me tell you -- it was hard.
Bless his heart, he was so patient with me. But you're girl is definitely NOT America's Next Top Model. Props to Tyra -- that 'ish is hard.

But I think we got some good shots despite my goofiness. I'll get them up ASAP.

One day to go...

Crunch Time

2010-05-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

Almost time, gang!
Got in a brutal workout with my fearless trainer last night at the UFC gym in Concord. I didn't get to kick any ass Octagon-style, but it's a beautiful gym.

Late last night I had my first run-in with Pro Tan, the at-home tan product many competitors use. It's pretty cool stuff. Kinda gets everywhere, but after one coat I'm noticeably darker. I'll continue to add a coat each night until show day and one more that morning.

The darkness of a tan hides imperfections, makes you look slimmer and accentuates your muscles and curves under the bright stage lights.

My new tan is perfect for the photo I'm taking tonight. Friend and photographer, Jose Fajardo, is going to shoot me tonight!! He's extremely talented, so I'll finally have some good pictures of myself.

Stay tuned...

Hayward Here I Come!

2010-05-17T20:10:00.001-07:00

Five days 'til the big show, folks! Did you get your tickets yet? They sell fast! Grab them here.

Here's the info again:

NPC Contra Costa Bodybuilding, Figure, Fitness & Bikini Championship
Chabot College Performing Arts Center
25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward
Prejudging, 10 a.m., $25
Finals, 6:30 p.m., $25/$35

Gol !!! (for the soccer fans out there)

2010-05-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

The good news is I'm down to my show goal weight of 112 two days before schedule!
Bad news is I'm hungry, tired, sore and my [insert euphemism for period here] is kicking my ass.

We're all family here, right? OK. I've been asked two questions repeatedly by women.
Has the training affected your period?
Has the training increased your sex drive?

Answer 1:
I've come to believe that all those stories about how your period goes away or gets easier for women with very little fat are just urban legends to make us lose weight. No, it hasn't made it any easier. Actually it's been more erratic.

Answer 2: (Mom and Dad, if you're reading, now is time to scroll away.)
Oh yea! Eating very little food, training vigorously and watching my boobs shrink away has made me randy as a virgin at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch. No, people. Not the case. Yes, I feel sexy with my new, tight body, but I didn't get any complaints before and I was eating enough food so I didn't fall asleep before the 10 o'clock news.

So keep that in mind before you follow in Mac's footsteps.

What a Poser

2010-05-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

I attended a posing practice Saturday at a dance studio in San Carlos. Kinda frustrating.

The gals who grew up taking tap and jazz and other dance classes as kids have a huge advantage over me. I played the piano and ran track. If you need someone to play some scales or pass a relay baton, I'm you're girl. But this whole graceful, smile, glide thing is really chappin my ass.

The instructor was very helpful and encouraging. I've got my three poses down for the show and understand the way the line ups will work. I just have to practice. A LOT! I've been in front of the mirror trying to smile for long periods of time and not look constipated. It's harder than it sounds.

Workout Whining Revise

2010-05-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

Forget everything I said yesterday. Just remember one thing:

GET OFF YOUR PHONE!!!

It's not cute. You're just taking up space and wasting time. Go talk loudly on the phone on the BART or in a store line or one of the other super annoying places people do that. Please just stop doing it at the gym.

Besides, it's super germy and dirty to bring your phone into the gym with you, let alone put it up to your face.

Get it together.

Workout Whining

2010-05-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

As you know, I spend a lot of time in the gym. I got to a big box mega-chain gym because it's cheap and close. During my time there I've run into many characters and seen a lot of no-no's committed. Here are a few:

Don't sit bare-assed on the locker-room benches. We don't need you to pollinate the surfaces of the world with your post-workout junk.

Stop working out in your jeans. I know you feel more hard-core with your denims on, guys, but com'on. It's far from gangsta.

Lose the entourage. A half dozen guys led by an OG, strolling around taking up equipment isn't a workout. It's an afternoon at the Elks lodge.

Guys, stop using the girl-sized weights. If I have to look for the 10-pound dumb bells one more time to see some dude grunting out a set with them, I'm gonna snap.

There's plenty more, but I'll let you chew on these first.

Waist of Time

2010-05-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

I know it's annoying to say, but none of my clothes fit and it's becoming an issue. I spend hours trying to sift through my wardrobe to find something I don't have to wear suspenders with.

For those of you who know me, I'm a clothes fiend. I've got a lot of clothes and to not be able to wear the majority of them is like playing crack pipe keep-away with a junkie.

A belt no longer helps, so I'm resigned to only dresses and stretch pants. There are a couple of pieces that fit both before and after, though. Before it was Jessica Rabbit -- now it's more like Jessica Lange. I wear that stuff to work now instead of the club.

On to the Next One

2010-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Two weeks 'til my next show! I've buckled down again on my diet after getting to slip a bit after the first show.

I'm going to learn from my mistakes. Smile. Smile. Smile.
I looked nervous and unsure of myself on stage. That won't happen again.

Got to be confident, poised, sexy and show my pearly whites.

I've begun to look at the dates and locations of upcoming shows. Reno. Vegas. Florida. Road trip anyone?

On to The Important Stuff

2010-05-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

The real question about competition day is what did I eat afterwards?

Well, I had a goodie bag in the back ready for as soon as I walked off stage for the final time. A big bottle of Gatorade, peanut M&Ms and Cheez-Its. (And lots of water. I was soooo thirsty)

Then at the house a little champagne, then a burger at the restaurant. And a little known secret -- there was a late night stop to the chicken and waffle house! Delightful!

But this week I'm back on the wagon and gearing up for the next show.

Done Sulking

2010-05-04T16:49:00.001-07:00

Ok, Ok. I'm done crying about the first show. Here are a few more pics.

Go 56!

2010-05-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

Although I didn't win (or do anything close to winning) I think I did a pretty good job my first time around. And I looked like a million bucks!

All of the competitors were very nice, helpful and gracious. I met some girls who will be competing in the next show I'm doing and it'll be nice to see familiar faces.

The show makes for a very long day and I celebrated with my friends along with grease, chocolate and alcohol. I get one more day of freedom before it's back to the grind Monday.

I'll post more show pics when they are released.

Thank you!

2010-05-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Overall, this was a good first experience. I've learned the ropes and will be much better prepared for the big show later this month.

Gotta say thanks to everyone who came out to support yesterday. I know it was a very long day for everyone. Huge thanks to Kiefer who was supposed to be packing and preparing for a honeymoon in Vienna with his lovely (wife who also came out to watch.) He took video that I'll post asap.

Derricke, who hung in there until the results were called when he was supposed to be at work. My rowdawgs, Danielle and Sarah, who even though they were sitting all the in the back I could hear loud and clear. They were around all day and I love them for it. Also thanks to Ina and our boy Keegan even showed up, days before a military deployment.

Also, thanks to everyone one else who sent me well wishes that day. It really helped a lot!

Down But Not Out

2010-05-02T09:31:00.001-07:00

I lost y'all. Lost big. Came in dead last. (Well not dead last, but trust me, it might has well have been.) I'll just say I was very surprised by the results. All of the photos will be available Tuesday, so I'll post the shots of all the girls lined up. Here's a back stage pic.

Let's Do This!

2010-05-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

On my way out the door. You'll know tomorrow how I did. Plus videos!!
Wish me luck!

T Minus...

2010-04-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Ok gang, In 12 hours I'll be headed to the big show. I'm feeling pretty good right now. I've gotten my final tan, so I'll be nice and dark, my suits are ready to go. I just have to show up and bring it.

Cheer me on!

Before and Awesome!

2010-04-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yea, yea this does look exactly like a friggin' Dexatrim commercial or something, but like those ads, I wasn't happy to take the before picture either. I was tickled as hell to take the after one, though.

.For the record, I think I looked good before I started this whole thing. But I look pretty great now too. (Except for the whole boob thing).

I see people who are amazed by how different I look. It's hard for me to see the changes as drastic, but when I think about the numbers, there is a lot of me that's disappeared (including the boobs).

Today I made my goal weight, 112 pounds! I started at 129 so, I've lost 17 pounds and at least 7.5 percentage points of body fat. Not too shabby for a curvy girl with the big booty. (Boobs weren't bad either).

Brick House Y'all!

2010-04-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

First competition is three days away. After three hard months of training and dieting here are my comparison stats (in inches):

1/28/10 ~ 4/27/10
chest: 34.5 ~ 31.5
neck: 12.25 ~ 11.5
arm: 9.5 ~ 9.5
waist: 26.5 ~ 24
hip: 37.5 ~ 34.5
thigh: 21 ~18
calf: 14.5 ~ 13.5

We had an issue at the gym yesterday with taking my body fat, but I'll let ya'll know when I find out. Also stay tuned for the real deal before and after pics!

Now I'm Official

2010-04-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

Got a package today: My Bikini Bite arrived.

Bikini Bite is this glue-type stuff that you stick on your butt so your suit doesn't ride up during the competition. Fun, huh?

Next to arrive? The fab jelly inserts that go into my bikini top.

On the Dark Side

2010-04-26T21:06:00.001-07:00

I'm now about two shades darker than I was this morning and I'm getting darker as you read.

I hung out au natural with Evie, who runs Mist Tan , while she sprayed me dark.
The tan lets your muscles show up better and look bigger because it creates shadows. (I asked her if she could make my boobs look bigger, but no luck.)

The agent is supposed to keep darkening for the next eight hours, then I have to rinse it off. (Yes, that means I have to wake up at 3 a.m. to take a shower).

Right now I have an August complexion in April. Pretty cool!

I'm going back Friday to get one last shellacking.

Countdown!

2010-04-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

My first competition is in six days!!!

I have a million things to get done between now and Saturday and I'm kinda losing my ish already.

tanning
beauty maintenance (nails, waxing, eyelashes, etc.)
pick music for the show (any suggestions)
train
practice walking and posing
meet with Alex, posing coach extraordinaire
whatever things I'm forgetting now that I'll flip about on Friday night when I remember

Oh yea, and I have a JOB!

Carb night, bitches!

2010-04-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

It's on, yo!

I met with my trainer today and thank all that is good, he didn't take away my carb night.

And guess what I'm having tonight, folks? Pancakes!

You heard me right. Fluffly, delicious, made with flour pancakes. Yum!

Walk the Walk

2010-04-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Sooo nervous. I'm going to a posing practice tomorrow with some local competitors.

I've been practicing on my own, wearing my shoes and working on my poses, but it all feels so awkward.

I'm supposed to be poised and graceful like this girl.

I'm not. Uh oh.

What Momma Says Goes

2010-04-22T18:18:00.001-07:00

I put my folks on my donors list because they've supported me in every way, forever. (They assure me that a monetary contribution to Mac on a Mission is soon to come -- check's in the mail kinda thing I guess.)

But Momma Mac was not pleased to be placed below Daddy Mac on the list. No, this isn't a how-could-you-place-me-under-my-EX thing. My folks have been married for 30 years now, so it's much bigger than that. This is a how-could-you-place-me-under-my-HUSBAND-thing. (Read: "You know I run this.")

So she says:

"Excuse me, why is my name under Daddy's?"

And the only answer to a question like that from Mom is:

"I'll change it right now."

She's now at the top of the list where she belongs.

An All-Time Low

2010-04-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I've mentioned how sick I am of the like five different things I'm allowed to eat at this point.

Cheese is a distant memory. Potato chips only float around in my dreams. And dark chocolate? Sigh. (Let's not even talk about booze. I may begin to weep.)

So in an effort to branch out a bit but not blow the work I've done in the final weeks, I purchased soy cheese.

What is soy cheese, you ask? Yea, I'm not sure either. All I know is that it's low in fat and carbs and I put a pinch of it in my eggs this morning.

Delicious? No. But it did melt like cheese and have the same consistency. That's gotta be worth something.

Uprising in the making

2010-04-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

There are rumblings of something that could cause a revolt in the Mac on a Mission crew.

The elimination of carb night.

Yes, you heard it right. My trainer is considering bumping off my carb night!

He's still "thinking about it" 'cause he knows the wrath that eliminating it will bring.

I'm meeting with him on Friday. Let's hope the man brings good news.

Time to Rally!

2010-04-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

I've lifted. I've dieted. I've practiced. I've cardioed.
Now all you have to do is sit on your butts for a while and watch me do my thing. In less than two weeks, I'll compete in my first of two shows!

Trust me, it'll be an occasion. This is the first time I've been on stage in front of a crowd since my elementary school play. (Well there was that time in East St. Louis, but we'll say that doesn't count.)

It'll cost you 25 bones to see the action.

Silver and Black Muscle Classic, May 1.
Fremont Federation of High Schools, 4610 Foothill Blvd. Oakland
Main show starts at 6 p.m. and the tickets are $25.
Come support your girl!

Losing Lbs.

2010-04-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

So at this point I'm supposed to be losing two pounds a week with a final goal of 112-114 pounds. I started in January at 129 pounds. Here's my progress for the last couple of weeks:

4/2 -- 122.8
4/5 -- 121.8
4/8 -- 121.4
4/9 -- 120.6
4/12 -- 119.8
4/13 -- 118.6
4/14 - 118.4
4/15 -- 118.6
4/16 -- 116.4
4/19 -- 116.2

Suit Situation Part 2 (Broke Edition)

2010-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just spent more money on a bathing suit than my cable, power and phone bill combined!! Sigh.

I chose this one called Purple Rain. She put a hurtin' on my wallet, but this suit is cold as ice.

They say you gotta pay to play. Let's hope this Beach Bunny suit helps me cash in on a win.

Carbtastic

2010-04-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

You know the deal guys. Carb night! This week I'm changing it up though.

Instead of the burger and fries I usually scarf down, I'm gonna have sushi. So not only do I get delicious cuts of fish, but also beautiful, fluffy rice! So good food wrapped in carbs. A dream come true.

This has been a good week dietwise, actually. My energy is higher than other weeks and I'm just trying to buckle down for the last couple of weeks to May 1.

Farewell to the Girls

2010-04-14T09:39:00.001-07:00

Tis better to have boob and lost then never have boob at all? The jury is still out.

Yea, I'm going there again. Because the post shower talks I have with myself in front of the mirror are getting old.

Right now, I'm clocking in at 118 and less than 15% body fat. When I started this journey I was almost 21% fat and just under 130 lbs. Apparently, the majority of that was in my bra.

Was.

If this weren't a family friendly blog, I'd consider posting some before and after shots, so you all can join in my grief.

Daddy No Likey

2010-04-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just got off the phone with Daddy Mac.

"I understand what you're doing, but I'm not crazy about it. I read your little page today and Chris Rock came into the picture."

Huh, Dad?

He's talking about the shoes I bought for the show. Yea, those. Comedian Chris Rock explains what a father's sole purpose in life is and my dad thought of that when he saw the stilettos.

"So I'm thinking, 'where did I go wrong?'"

Awww, Dad.

So for the record people, my dad is the best damn dad in the world. He gave me plenty of hugs and raised me to be a respectable young lady.

Well, at least until this.

Walk This Way

2010-04-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

Since blogger is having some serious technical issues with uploading video, I've captured some stills from my first stab at walking like a bikini competitor.

Yeahhhh, I need a lot of practice. For the May 1 competition, there are a lot of required moves. Not only is there a line up of all the contestants, but during the individual showing in front of the judges, you have to do a "T" walk. Here's me following Alex on the "T" walk. Yikes!

It's going to be hard not only getting the moves right and remembering the angles that make your body look the best, but to get it all done and not look like I'm thinking "turn and tilt and smile." Don't wanna be like those folks on dancing with the stars who are mouthing "1 and 2 and..."

Lean and Mean!

2010-04-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Lean 'cause I'm down to like 1400 calories per day.
Mean 'cause I'm down to like 1400 calories per day.
And it's Monday.
And it's raining.

I Gotta Do What?

2010-04-10T15:52:00.000-07:00

I just had an 80 minute sports massage because my body is beat up! My muscles have had it and need some serious therapy. I got worked over. I'm supposed to feel like a million bucks like 48 hours from now.

Actually, a lot of body maintenance appointments are going to start cropping up. I'm going to have to take care of some serious waxing if I wanna pull off any of those bathing suits, and I've gotta pay someone to paint me about five shades darker.

Not exaggerating either. The bright stage lights wash you out making your definition not show up as well. Also, apparently, a dark tan covers a lot a flaws.

Another inside tip I've just learned -- you can't use deodorant with some of these super dark fake tans because it makes your arm pits green. So all of the beautiful, toned women you see up on stage, stink.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

2010-04-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is carb night, so I should be in a great mood. But alas, I'm mourning the loss of a great companion through my journey thus far -- my almond butter.

I have to cut calories and my beloved almond butter clocks in at 200+ a day for a couple of tablespoons.

It was the one thing that I looked forward to eating during the week and was a great addition to my nightly protein shake.

You will be missed, dear friend.

Suit Situation

2010-04-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Need your opinion on something of the utmost importance -- my bathing suit.

I just realized that for the May 1 competition, I need two suits. One solid and one with a print. I have the solid one, but the print one will be used for the evening finals and I wanna hit 'em with the hotness.

I figure lots of girls will come with the cheetah or snake patterns, so I'm not doing animal print.

Check out these suits and let me know which you like best. My fav is the first one.

PURPLE RAIN HALTER

SWEET LOVE TRI SET

BLACK MAGIC WOMAN TOP

BIG LOVE RUFFLE TRI TOP

Walk the Walk

2010-04-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all. My achy, 'ole knee is acting up on me again, so I had to take it a bit easy. Keep your fingers crossed it'll feel better soon.

Last night, I met with the stage coach for the first time. (My dad thinks that title is hilarious --"like with horses?")

Over the next few weeks, she will help me with my overall stage presence. So how to pose, walk and conduct myself in front of the judges.

I was nervous to meet with her, but Alex Navarro is not only quite accomplished but really helpful and super nice.

You Can See Through My Shoes

2010-04-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

I ordered my shoes this week. To adhere to the rules of the competition I got them from this suggested site. And yes, it is a uniform store for exotic dancers.

I don't make the rules, folks. I just follow them. I opted for the 4 1/2 inch fitness model shoe a.k.a. 421-Brooke.

For the contest you must wear clear heels. It doesn't matter the size of the heel, but I can rock some high heels and the higher the heel the better you look. I'm hoping my heel expertise will work for me. In San Diego I saw some girls who obviously never wear them and shuffled awkwardly around the stage.

I'll test them out when they arrive. Hopefully the plastic doesn't chafe my feet.

Hottest Night O' the Week

2010-04-03T10:20:00.001-07:00

Who needs date night when you have carb night? I'm kidding. They've actually become one in the same. It's the one night a week when I'm not saying "I can't eat that." Means carb night and date night officially merged.

I had a juicy burger and crisp sweet potato fries. And all was well in the world.

Almost Time...

2010-04-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

For carbs! I've continued to the six-day no carb, one carb heavy "cheat" meal diet. It's tough, but seems to be working. I'm down the my lowest weight and I'm looking lean.

The way my week is set up, Friday is my cheat night, which gives a whole new meaning to TGIF! There's a bag of pretzel chips on my counter calling my name.

Hungry

2010-03-31T16:45:00.001-07:00

Oh, and miserable.

America's Best Mac Crew

2010-03-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

The San Diego competition made it clear that I need a bunch of fans to root me on in May. Those girls are tired, hungry and nervous and the ones who had a big cheering squad obviously fed off of it.

My folks can't make the trek from back East, so I'll need at least a dozen people to make up for the noise my mom would have made for me!

So clear your calendars for May 22 folks! (And if you really love me May1 as well. I'm doing a warm up show that day.)

The info for the show is in my links list below. Who's making the posters?

I'll start working on the route for the food crawl I'm going as soon as this is over!

Weekend Wandering

2010-03-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

I've seen the most change in my body during the last five days compared to the rest of my training time. My mid section has gotten smaller, so much so that I had to shop for new jeans. It was surprisingly easy to find a pair that fit (guess I found the upshot to my downsized backside.)

The Oakland Marathon runners breezed by my building this morning and there were a ton of them! You could see participants around the city with their medals and numbers throughout the day. They must have been riding a terrific high having been a part of such a tremendous event. Congrats to them.

You Asked For It

2010-03-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Ok kids. I've gotten requests for updated photos, so here we go.

I took some earlier pics that Daddy Mac said looked "scary." Thanks, dad. So I toned down the flexing and here's what we get.

And Nike, if you're reading out there, "I think Nike has the best workout products for women. I love wearing Nike gear!"

Seriously, thanks for the support so far everyone!

Workin It Out

2010-03-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

I got a mini workout rockin' with Jay-Z at his concert Wednesday night, but unfortunately, that's not enough.

I've updated my workouts page. My workouts have ramped up significantly in the last couple of weeks. My "favorite" new exercise is the sumo deadlift. It works the butt, quads, and hamstrings at once.

Here's the other stuff I have to get done today before I can have my carbs:
free motion pulldowns, close parallel grip pulldowns, 45 degree reverse grip bentover rows, cable lat pushdowns, shoulder blade pulldowns, chin pulls, lying cable side laterals, hyper extensions. Plus 30 minutes of cardio.

If you wanna join me, I'll be at the 24 hour fitness by the lake.

Veggieful

2010-03-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Because I've plateaued as far as weight loss and because I have a stress fracture in my foot (that happened about three weeks ago) I have to continue the 6-days no carbs, 1-day light carbs regimen. This way my cardio doesn't have to be as intense on the cardio day. Also, my weight loss should become more steady.

It's much easier this week than the first time and its Friday already, so you know what that means -- pretzel chips!! Yum!!

The other days, though, I'm pretty much only eating veggies and protein. Here's what I had yesterday for instance:

2 eggs
1 c. spinach
1 scoop protein (after workout)
1 cup steamed carrots
1/2 c. leeks
4 oz chicken breast
steamed collard greens
salad greens
cauliflower: steamed, blended with garlic and parsley -- pretty convincing "mashed potatoes"
1 scoop protein powder (before bed)

I'm trying to vary my veggies. Any suggestions?

Progress Makes Perfect??

2010-03-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

Fat report: Jan 28 I was packing 20.5 % body fat. By Feb. 22 I was at 17.5 %. Just got measured today and have made it to 15.5%. Progress? Yes. On track? Not sure. To be competitive I should be around 12 percent. And remember, the more fat you lose, the harder it gets to lose more.

Onward we go...

Power of the Parents

2010-03-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm almost 30 years old. Yes I live 3,000 miles away from them, but make no mistake, Mama and Daddy Mac still have some serious veto power.

When I decided to do this competition, I figured my folks wouldn't be too pleased. They're no prudes, but having their only daughter prancing around on stage in a bikini is probably not their favorite idea.

So I waited almost a month before telling them and went with the make-them-think-the-worst-then-hit-em-with-not-so-bad-news tactic. Here's how it went down:

Mac: OK. Listen. I've got something to tell you that you probably won't like, but I've already done it, so it's too late to stop me.

Daddy Mac: Yea...?

Mac: I'm going to do a bikini competition. (Give them the general details)

Mama Mac: That's great! Exciting! I'm proud of you.

Daddy Mac: Will there be pictures taken? (Read: Will I potentially be going home on everyone's camera phone?)

Mac: Yes, Dad, there will be pictures.

Daddy Mac: Uh huh. Well, if that's what you want to do... Watch out for the weirdos.

Dad has since warmed up to the idea.

Carbs Sweet Carbs

2010-03-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

I had carbs Friday night for the first time in a week and it was a beautiful thing. When I say carbs, I don't mean I was able to eat a plate of pasta and a loaf of bread, so don't get too excited. I did, however, eat what I thought were the tastiest rice cakes and pretzel chips I'd ever eaten. Make fun all you want, it was delish. I also had a handful of french fries and a half cup of ICE CREAM! Well, it was low fat ice cream, which would probably make it ice milk, but you get the point. I was in hog heaven.

Like I said before, the point was to deplete the body of carbs until the night before the competition, then load up on carbs that night. Your body should peak the next day, but the timing is different for everyone. I actually peaked on Sunday. I looked leaner and my muscles looked fuller, so I'll have to adjust during competition week for that extra day.

And for the ladies...

2010-03-22T21:59:00.001-07:00

So like I said, the whole crowd was there to see the men. Not just the ladies scoping out the eye candy, but for the actual competition part of it. Go figure. I didn't stick around for the heavy weight dudes, but these lightweights were real easy to look at.

The men all pose at the same time on stage and have these elaborate methods for making individual muscles pop out to the fullest. After all the poses are called, the whole group gets to do a 15 second "pose off." It's the most enterataining thing you've ever seen. Enjoy!

Recon

2010-03-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple pics I took at the San Diego competition. The ladies came with the heavy competition. This was one of my favorites. (Although, she came in second in their class). Every contestant has nice photos taken of them when they pose onstage.

As more women find out about the bikini division, the more compete. Let's hope the these gals don't wanna make the trek to Oakland (hopefully for my sake, these chicks believe the neg hype about the town.)

All of the women I talked to were really nice, actually, answered all the questions I had and even wished me luck on my mission.

Warning: Future Bikini Pro on the Loose

2010-03-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

I'm back from San Diego and have a much better idea of what I'm getting myself into. The atmosphere was full of energy and several people there asked me if I was competing that day!! That felt great.

There was a lot of competition in the bikini division. So many girls that they had four classes (depending on the number of entries, they break the division up by different height groups). Each class has a winner, then an overall winner is named as well. There were almost 75 girls competing in bikini!

An expo was set up outside the auditorium with booths selling everything from protein gel and supplements to posing suits and workout gear. Check out the tank I got!

Things You Learn at a Bodybuilding Competition

2010-03-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

1. You (well I) have a looong ways to go. The girls there were fierce.
2. Arrive early. It gets packed and/or sold out and you can't see squat in the back of the room.
3. The crowd is actually there to see the men.

There were caravans of campers, lots of big hair and tanned bodies, and more protein products than you can shake a stick at.

I'll share lots more (along with pictures) tomorrow. Stay tuned!

San Diego Here I Come!

2010-03-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm headed to SoCal to check out the NPC San Diego Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championship. I'm excited to see exactly what I'm getting into -- you can only learn so much from YouTube. The vibe there is sure to motivate me, and who doesn't love a weekend in San Diego!

Water water everywhere and I have to drink it all

2010-03-18T10:43:00.001-07:00

Two gallons today, folks. If you're thinking, "dang, that a lot o' water," we're on the same page.

The idea is to get my body used to getting rid of all that water, so when I cut water consumption way back the night before the competition, it won't hold onto that water. And since I'm doing a test run this week (see post "Ground turkey and other evil things") yesterday and today have been like an unglamorous showing of Cirque's O.

If you need me, check the ladies room.

Oh Where Oh Where have my goodies gone?

2010-03-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

Listen up ladies. If you wanna keep your curvy boobs and butt, this ain't the lifestyle for you. Yes, I knew they'd shrink -- being mostly fat and all -- but not this fast! This is supposed to be a family friendly blog, but, I gotta tell you friends, the good 'ole T & A is the first thing to go.

It wouldn't hurt as bad if my tummy fat was departing at the same pace. I know, I know, belly fat is the hardest to lose, but dang Mother Nature, do you have to be so cruel?!

Food Rant No. 1

2010-03-16T23:19:00.000-07:00

I know I just talked about food, but it's really on my mind this week, so I'm going to tell you about the temptation that is around every corner. It's only Tuesday night, but I've encountered some of the biggest tourmenters.

First, from the boss there was "I just got back from Spain and brought chocolate for everyone." Followed shortly by a helpful co-worker's "it's so-and-so's birthday, there's ice cream in the freezer." Another exceedingly annyoying co-worker (soley because of his unhumanly high metabolism despite downing several bakery sticky buns a week) makes sure I'm aware of every treat in the office, just before saying "oh, right, you can't eat that."

To make matters worse, I had to attend a banquet tonight. What was for dinner? Bar-b-que!! The good stuff.

Besides the 'cue, there were rolls, baked beans, potato salad and cookies. Oatmeal, white chocolate macadamian -- I even saw a chocolate chip one that was dipped in chocolate -- are you kidding me?! I'm not talking about those crunchy, semi-stale, store bought cookies either. These suckers were the ones that obviously have 17 sticks of butter in them and soak through your napkin. Yea, those kind.

You'll be proud to know that I didn't partake. The progress I'm making pushes me to stay strong.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day though and I am Irish girl after all. Guess I'll just have to add a few drops of green food coloring to my egg whites.

Ground turkey and other evil things

2010-03-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

I used to kinda dig ground turkey (when it was mixed with ground beef as nature intended) but now it’s just a light-colored, odd-smelling substance that I eat several pounds of a week.

This week I'm actually doing a "test run" for the competition week. That means that since Thursday I've had no carbs except fibrous vegetables, and let me tell you, it sucks. Not only am I tired and grouchy, but I’m bumping into stuff and dropping things like I’m drunk.

The point is to deplete the body of carbs until the night before the competition, then load up on carbs that night. Your body should look its best the next day, but the timing is different for everyone, so this week is the test.

I’m really looking forward to the fun carbs I get to eat Friday night, like pretzel chips, rice cakes and low fat granola! I know, I know, doesn't sound exciting, but hey, when the only thing you look forward to eating each day is the one tablespoon of almond butter you’re allowed, pretzel chips are like crispy treats from heaven.

Other evil things;
DHA fortified eggs -- taste like fish and not in a good way
Psyllium husk -- edible sawdust
A cheese-less life -- no explanation needed

Cutting the Fat

2010-03-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

So, right now my biggest obstacle is fat. At the beginning of the year I had a body fat percentage of 21%. By mid-February, I was at 17%. I still have a looong ways to go, though. To be really competitive, I need to be in the 10-12% neighborhood. Problem is, the leaner you get, the harder it is to lose fat. Your body goes into survival mode and starts holding onto that junk.

There are many ways to calculate your body fat. A fairly accurate and accessible way is by measuring skin folds on several body parts and inputting the amounts into a formula. For a general idea of your fat percentage, try this at home test. You'll need a tape measure.

The average body fat of an American male age 31-35 is said to be between 17 and 25 percent, but the ideal percentage is between 13 and 17 percent. For a woman age 31-35, the average body fat is between 26 and 33 percent, while the ideal is between 21 and 26 percent.

The Skinny

2010-03-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

So what is a bikini competition, you ask? Well, bikini is a very new division in the bodybuilding family and began just last year. 2010 is the first full season there is a pro bikini division. I'm starting off as an amateur of course, with the hopes of qualifying for a pro card. To get an idea of the different levels check out 2009's overall 2009 NPC Nationals winner, Jessica Anderson. The next level up is figuure. These competitors have more muscle definition and less fat than the bikini competitors. Mindi Smith won the 2009 NPC Nationals overall in Figure. Finally, the last level before bodybuilding is fitness. These women are even more toned and tight with even lower fat percentages. That division must also perform a choreographed routine along with the typical poses. Adela Garcia is said to be one of the most accomplished fitness competitors ever.

Welcome!

2010-02-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hello! Welcome to Mac on a Mission. My friends call me Mac and my mission is to train for my first bikini competition. I'm not a certified trainer or a dietician -- hell, I sit behind a desk all day. But I am a sassy urbanite ready to do what it takes to reach my goal -- kick some butt at the Contra Costa Bikini Championship on May 22!