Hey friends! I am feeling so much better now, way less bloated and gross. We are thinking I probably lost my period at this time, I'll keep you updated. I know it seems kind of weird to tell you guys about that stuff, but I think it's extremely important to note that it happens to a lot of girls, especially deep into contest prep. I'm actually extremely surprised it didn't happen earlier because mine has a history of being fickle anyways.

Lots of changes were made mid-week and at the end of the week, check it out! I'm sure you're thinking "OMG she must be so hungry!" Actually, I have not had any hunger issues because I've been eating so much volume food. You really don't have to suffer unnecessarily while dieting or in contest prep. Sure, it may have it's difficult times, but you just have to be smart about it and use a few good dieting strategies. Also, this is the ULTIMATE "first world problem", for real. There are kids starving all over the world and I'm trying to hit my macros so I can do my best in a bikini competition. Perspective. I'll save that post for another day.

Competition Prep Data
Week             Weight (lb)           Waist (in)           Low Macro Days           High Macro Days           Low:High*           Cardio**
0                     136.4                     28                      N/A                                  140P/255C/68F              N/A                      0
1                     135.0                     27.5                   155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
2                     133.8                     27.5                   155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
3                     132.85                   27.25                 155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
3.5                  132.53                   27.25                 155P/130C/38F             140P/220C/48F               4:1                      2x7HIIT
4                     132.8                     27.25                 155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
5                     130.65                   27                      155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
6                     NW***                  26.75                 155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
7                     130.95                   26.5                   155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
7.5                  130.6                     26.5                   155P/105C/32F             140P/180C/42F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
8                     130.7                     26.5                   155P/95C/29F               140P/160C/39F               4:1                       2x9HIIT
8.5                  130.0                     26.25                 155P/95C/29F               140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
9                     130.27                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
9.5                  129.45                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
10                   128.87                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
11                   NW***                  26                      N/A                                  135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
12                   127.8                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
13                   127.2                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
14                   126.0                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
15                   125.13                   25.25                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
15.5                124.6                     25.25                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               5:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
16                   125.5                     25.5                   155P/85C/26F                140P/160C/36F               5:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
16.5                125.8                     25.5                   155P/75C/23F                140P/160C/36F               5:1             2x9HIIT/3x30SS
17                   124.4                     25.25                 155P/65C/23F                140P/160C/36F               5:1             2x9HIIT/3x30SS

*Low:High Ratio = Low macro days:High macro days. For example, Week 1 I had a higher macro day every 4 days.
**Cardio = The first number is the times per week. The second number is the amount of intervals. HIIT = high intensity interval training. SS = Steady state cardio (110-140BPM).
***NW = I have been advised not to weigh during this week due to my "time of the month" and the weight fluctuations that happen with it.
Also, I am posting half-week check in data only if changes were made.

 - C

Hopping on the struggle bus again this week! I am due for a period any day now, but it hasn't happened yet so that sucks. Weight keeps creeping up steadily, but I know it's not fat because I have been freaking on point with my plan. All I can do is execute it and rock out whatever changes Layne sends me. This week, we started doing low:high 5:1 instead of 4:1. He also reduced carbs and fat a little. It's funny, I keep hoping he will tell me to drop macros drastically because I'm so antsy to get lean. But obviously, he knows what he's doing. :P

In other news, I should be getting my suit in the mail in the next week or so! I'll be sure to show you guys as soon as I get it! Also, Christine and I registered for our NPC cards and for the show yesterday! Eeek 5 weeks out, let's do this thing! :)

Competition Prep Data
Week             Weight (lb)           Waist (in)           Low Macro Days           High Macro Days           Low:High*           Cardio**
0                     136.4                     28                      N/A                                  140P/255C/68F              N/A                      0
1                     135.0                     27.5                   155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
2                     133.8                     27.5                   155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
3                     132.85                   27.25                 155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
3.5                  132.53                   27.25                 155P/130C/38F             140P/220C/48F               4:1                      2x7HIIT
4                     132.8                     27.25                 155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
5                     130.65                   27                      155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
6                     NW***                  26.75                 155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
7                     130.95                   26.5                   155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
7.5                  130.6                     26.5                   155P/105C/32F             140P/180C/42F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
8                     130.7                     26.5                   155P/95C/29F               140P/160C/39F               4:1                       2x9HIIT
8.5                  130.0                     26.25                 155P/95C/29F               140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
9                     130.27                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
9.5                  129.45                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
10                   128.87                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
11                   NW***                  26                      N/A                                  135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
12                   127.8                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
13                   127.2                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
14                   126.0                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
15                   125.13                   25.25                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
15.5                124.6                     25.25                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               5:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
16                   125.5                     25.5                   155P/85C/26F                140P/160C/36F               5:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS

*Low:High Ratio = Low macro days:High macro days. For example, Week 1 I had a higher macro day every 4 days.
**Cardio = The first number is the times per week. The second number is the amount of intervals. HIIT = high intensity interval training. SS = Steady state cardio (110-140BPM).
***NW = I have been advised not to weigh during this week due to my "time of the month" and the weight fluctuations that happen with it.
Also, I am posting half-week check in data only if changes were made.

 - C

It's time y'all... to let the little phat kid within be set free!! For real though, as I'm currently cutting for my first competition ever, I thought to myself -- what is the most ridiculous protein recipe I could make? And so it came to life -- and it was everything I hoped and dreamed it would be! Enjoy these twinkies and hit your fat loss goals my friends! <3

PROTEIN TWINKIES
176kcal -- 10F / 6.5C / 16P (recipe yields 4 twinkies)

Ingredients:
- 55g light butter
- 2 eggs
- 70g unsweetened applesauce
- 45g coconut flour
- 6g butter flavor/extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 65g vanilla whey
- stevia/splenda to taste
- water to consistency
- yellow food coloring
- light whipped topping (about 3-4g per twinkie)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter slightly (so it's not hot, just warm). Whisk in eggs, butter extract and applesauce.
3. Mix in 1/2 tsp baking powder, stevia/splenda, vanilla whey, and coconut flour.
4. Add water to cake batter consistency (just a little bit) and yellow food coloring to desired yellow color.
5. Spray mini loaf pan with pam and fill 4 mini loafs.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, check with toothpick for doneness. Let cool.
7. Using a knife and a blunted handle/stick (the back of a wooden spoon works great!), poke holes in the cakes. The video above has a demonstration of this technique.
8. Using a piping bag or ziplock bag with a corner cut out, fill the holes with light whipped topping. Enjoy!

I can't believe I'm 6 weeks out. SCARY. I've started some weekly posing lessons with Laurin Conlin who is BOSS. I obviously have no idea what I'm doing so I need all the help I can get! The hard part is I'm not stage lean yet so it's difficult attempting to pose and find a good look for my body as it's constantly changing from week to week. BUT I'm just going to do my best! :)

I'm also super excited to drive out to South Carolina at the end of the month and meet up with my good friend Hana Devore to watch her compete at the pro level and attend a posing clinic! She is such a friggin rock star and super humble/down to earth. She is good people yo. We'll be vlogging all our shenanigans fasho! It will be a good time.

This week I am at my parents' house in Wilmington, NC. I've been enjoying time with family, eating what I want and not letting prep get in the way of life... and progress has been awesome! That is the beauty of flexible dieting. It's sustainable and adhere-able(?)! :P Somehow my waist measurement decreased by half an inch in a week. Kinda weird, but I'm cool with it! Hope you all are having an awesome week!

7 weeks out. Shiz is getting real. I'm starting to see some legit changes in my body, especially my abdominal area, it's pretty crazy. Seeing muscles finally come out that have been buried for years is kind of like unwrapping a Christmas present in slow motion. It makes me happy!

Competition Prep Data
Week             Weight (lb)           Waist (in)           Low Macro Days           High Macro Days           Low:High*           Cardio**
0                     136.4                     28                      N/A                                  140P/255C/68F              N/A                      0
1                     135.0                     27.5                   155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
2                     133.8                     27.5                   155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
3                     132.85                   27.25                 155P/140C/40F             140P/235C/50F               4:1                       2x6HIIT
3.5                  132.53                   27.25                 155P/130C/38F             140P/220C/48F               4:1                      2x7HIIT
4                     132.8                     27.25                 155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
5                     130.65                   27                      155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
6                     NW***                  26.75                 155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
7                     130.95                   26.5                   155P/115C/35F             140P/200C/45F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
7.5                  130.6                     26.5                   155P/105C/32F             140P/180C/42F               4:1                       2x8HIIT
8                     130.7                     26.5                   155P/95C/29F               140P/160C/39F               4:1                       2x9HIIT
8.5                  130.0                     26.25                 155P/95C/29F               140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
9                     130.27                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
9.5                  129.45                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
10                   128.87                   26.25                 N/A                                 135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
11                   NW***                  26                      N/A                                  135P/140C/45F               N/A            2x9HIIT/3x20SS
12                   127.8                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
13                   127.2                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS
14                   126.0                     25.75                155P/95C/29F                140P/160C/39F               4:1             2x9HIIT/3x20SS

*Low:High Ratio = Low macro days:High macro days. For example, Week 1 I had a higher macro day every 4 days.
**Cardio = The first number is the times per week. The second number is the amount of intervals. HIIT = high intensity interval training. SS = Steady state cardio (110-140BPM).
***NW = I have been advised not to weigh during this week due to my "time of the month" and the weight fluctuations that happen with it.
Also, I am posting half-week check in data only if changes were made.
 - C