Goal Setting

Now that my competition is over it's time to set a new goal. My new goal will be to gain 10 pounds of lean muscle mass. This isn't easy for me since I don't put on muscle easily (most women don't). I am going to have to increase my calories to at least 2000 calories a day. My basal metabolic rate (BMR) is about 1200 calories. That is the amount of calories I need to eat each day just to maintain my weight. This does not include an additional activity such as working out. Now when I include activity, I figured I will need to be at about 2000 calories to allow me to gain weight. I am going to see if I can gain half a pound a week. The good news is I get to eat lots of food and I very little cardio. I am going to try hard not to gain a lot of fat.

During the last 2 weeks of my competition I was asked some really weird questions. Some of which include:

What are you taking? Mmm, not sure what they are referring to, but if they are referring to steroids that is one of the most ridiculous questions I've ever been asked. Let me tell you, if I was taking any type of steroids or growth hormones I wouldn't look like this, I would be way bigger. Now why do I have to be taking something? There is no magic pill people, just working out and eating the right foods!

Do you workout a lot (like twice a day)? Hell no! Unless I was getting paid in endorsements or something and I had a contract stating that I had to maintain a particular level of fitness, why the heck would anyone want to workout twice a day or more? Nothing else to do? Nope working out once a day is enough and doing a million sit ups isn't necessary either.

Do you eat? I really could not believe that question! I was getting my nails done and the manicurist asked me if I eat. Now, I know I was extremely lean because this was the day before my competition, and I am generally not usually this lean, but what a dumbass question. I mean I don't look anorexic (I hope)!

What happens when you stop? Okay, my sister was asked this question and I am not sure what this person was referring to? Stop what...working out? Not sure. If I was asked this question, I would have said "I don't know, what do you think would happen if you stopped working out?" Actually, I had someone tell me that I shouldn't workout and lift weights because once I stop my muscles will turn into fat! She actually believed that! Muscles do not turn into fat. If I stopped working out, I would most likely lose my muscles (and it doesn't take long), and I would gain weight in the form of fat, instead of lean muscle mass (which is generally my goal when I workout) but muscles do not turn into fat and fat does not turn into muscle.

Enough with the dumb questions!

The Olympia is on September 25 this year and I just added a link with a live web cast. I am really interested in the Figure and Fitness category, of course. I am not as much interested in the Bodybuilding. Those guys/gals are just way too big (my opinion anyway). I want to see if Jenny Lynn will win for the 3rd time in a row. It looks like Monica Brant will not be competing.

I am taking it easy with training this week, I am a bit under the weather, my throat is sore and I really need to rest before I start training towards my next goal. My husband and I joined a new gym, so goodbye to Golds Gym. We are now at Lifetime Fitness. They just opened a brand new club in our neighborhood and all the equipment is new and I can't wait to get started.