Bikini Contest Prep Recap | 4 Weeks Out

I hope you all enjoyed your Father’s Day.  We celebrated my husband and made it his day, but this was also the first one without my own Dad and it was really tough.  I was maybe taken by surprise at how sad I was because I’ve been doing relatively well accepting the loss.  It reminds me that there are so many of us with Dads not around (gone or estranged) and that’s so hard to deal with.  Sending lots of hugs to all of you in my same boat, many of my own close friends included.  I shared some special photos on my Instagram if you want to check in.

Life goes on and it’s back to bikini competition prep recap today.  I welcome the distraction.  My son has let me know he’s not loving the day camp I signed him up for for these next few weeks (even though he asked to go there originally), so I plan to keep him home with me lots, which means he’ll become my gym partner.  When I train with my trainer, he can hang out with his toys and iPad and at my other gym where I just do cardio, they have a “kids gym” he can play at.  But, I like having him with me, so we’ll be good.

4 WEEKS OUT 
Below is my 4 Weeks Out picture on Sunday, June 14, 2015.  We measured my body fat via calipers on June 10 and it was holding steady at 19.5%.  We are supposed to measure again this week and I always get nervous about that. 
Bikini Contest Prep - 4 Weeks Out

WORKOUTS 

This week I trained 4 days with my trainer, but only did cardio 3 days and I’m supposed to do 6 (45 minutes each). 



Monday:  Train Legs + Cardio (53 minutes on treadmill, 30 minutes of sprints)

Tuesday: Train Back& Triceps (no cardio because I had James with me and I didn’t want to keep him at the gym that long).  You can check out this video clip of us working out together.  John had me doing jumping jacks in between this one set, so I asked James to join me. 

Wednesday: Train Biceps & Shoulders  (45 minutes on treadmill- 30 minutes of sprints, then walk at incline 15, pace 2.5)

Thursday a.m.:   Train Chest (no cardio)

Friday:  0

Saturday: 0

Sunday:   Cardio (45 minutes – steady jog around neighborhood)

I almost didn’t workout on Sunday because I had a serious case of the lazies, but then I realized that would be 3 days in a row without any exercise.  I don’t think I’ve done that since this prep started.  For me, at 3 days I start to feel even more sluggish, so exercise (even when I don’t feel like doing it) actually invigorates and gives me more energy.   I typically workout 5 or 6 days, then take one day off.  
Putting on my hot pink running shoes actually makes me so happy that now I’m looking for a bright yellow pair or maybe something like this aqua pattern since I really like ASICS too. 
I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy working out in great quality clothes and recently got this funky zebra print sports bra and leggings from PrismSport.  The fabric is the best material ever and so soft and the neon green piping on the top glows in the dark.  When you live in workout clothes, it’s fun to change it up!
PrismSport Workout Wear
I wanted to share something with you though- the whole “loose skin after weight-loss” issue that I’m not immune from.  Even though I’ve been relatively fit my whole life, I gained about 55 pounds during my pregnancy and got huge.  Losing the weight took me about a year and my stomach has never 100% recovered.  I still have a little bit of loose skin that I’m not sure will ever go away completely. 

PrismSport Workout Wear & the loose skin battle/solution

Last year, I bought Bliss FatGirl Six Pack and I’m still using it.  I can’t really tell if the product works or my skin just improved because of diet and exercise, but since I still had it, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to keep using it. A little goes a long way.

As far as the belly skin goes, that’s one reason why the posing practice is so important in bikini contests.  When you’re standing very straight, sucking in, and holding your body in the best angle to show off your curves, of course your figure looks better.  That’s also the reason for the heels- shows off the leg muscles and booty better.

But, when I’m just standing/sitting there, it’s not as taut as it looks in the posed pictures.  However, I will say that since I started training for this contest 8 weeks ago and I’ve lost fat and built muscle, my body looks more toned in general.  I couldn’t even see my leg muscles when I started- even if I was flexing.

PrismSport workout clothes
Thank you John Sherman!  This guy knows his stuff, but is so incredibly humble it drives me crazy.  The below pictures show my progression the last few months. 
Bikini Contest Prep - 3 months progression | Honey We're Home
FOOD
Gah!  Every week I feel like I struggle so much with my food. My Meal Plan is basically still the same as when I started out.  I am proud to say I did perfectly since that last cheat a week and a half ago on Thursday.  But, it seems every weekend I lose my motivation to keep eating the SAME THING and I just want to taste something different!  On Friday, my son and I went to Chipotle and I ordered a burrito bowl with just rice, chicken and pico.
Chipotle has an online nutrition calculator so you can add up your ingredients and see how they measure up.  The calculator says my burrito bowl consisted of 4oz chicken, 4oz rice, and 3.5oz salsa.  I compared that to my normal meal at that time: 5 oz. chicken, 1/2 cup rice, 1 cup green beans.  The red numbers are my meal, and the numbers below are the burrito bowl.  You can see the numbers are similar except for the fat and sodium.  
I guess you could consider this a “better bad” choice. 
Then, on Saturday, we were out and ended up at a restaurant for an early dinner.  Although my husband pretty much eats like me, every once in awhile I know he would prefer to go out so this weekend I gave in.  At the restaurant, I ordered the Mediterranean pasta.  I’m afraid to even know how the nutrition stacks up on that one.  I ate about 3/4 of this plate.  A generic mediterranean pasta salad on MyFitnessPal said (2 cups) = 484 calories, 73g carbs, 16g fat, 13g protein, and 955mg sodium.  Yikes!
My iced coffee would also be considered a “cheat” because I added a splash of half & half.  
I know those things are off limits on prep, but this week, they saved my sanity so I just have to live with the consequences.  I have 3 weeks left now, so that’s actually still a good bit of time to see more results.  But, it’s also so much closer now! The end of prep is near!  
3 WEEKS OUT 
My 3 Weeks Out picture was snapped yesterday, Sunday, June 21, 2015.  I’m seeing definite improvement in my abs and legs.  I’m really excited to see what the next three weeks hold. 
Bikini Contest Prep - 3 Weeks Out
Thank you so much for your encouragement over the last couple months! It means so much to me and helps keep me going!

MORE BIKINI PREP POSTS

If you missed some of my Bikini Prep Posts, you can get caught up here:

And check out my FITNESS tab for all health & fitness related posts.
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keep in touch! 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

31 Comments

  1. YOU LOOK AMAZING!! So proud of you and thank you for motivating readers like me with your posts. I love to see your workout schedule and your meal plans. It is is fun to feel like part of the journey! Keep up the good work!

  2. Was thinking of you all yesterday. The first holiday without a loved one is the hardest (quite frankly they are all hard). Sorry to hear James is not a fan of the camp. He sounded excited to go at first. Wondering if it is the "curriculum" or the dynamics of the kids attending with him that changed his mind. I know you are glad to have him with you however, just have to make adjustments. I honestly don't know how you do it…so don't be too hard on yourself when you have an "off" day. In the end you will have accomplished something most of us could not begin to do, it truly is for you and no one else. Gosh, it seems like the time has flown by this go round.

    1. James loved the first camp he went to for 1 week because it was "construction: build it" camp and he had a great time there. This one was the same as the after-school program at school, but it's different teachers/students so he's not familiar with them. He is looking forward to Lego Camp (12-3pm) for 1 week in a few weeks. 🙂

    1. I wish I was stronger to avoid those cheats. I would be even further along by now! But, I have to accept and move on, just keep going. Thank you so much for your support.

  3. Megan you look fantastic, and so love your realistic yet dedicated approach to this whole process. You're going to do great!

  4. You look great and I applaud your determination with a little guy around! One question, on your 30 minutes of sprints, is that interval work or literally 30 minutesat a sprint pace. I love that you do cardio and strength training!

    1. Oh hell no! I could never keep up a sprint pace for 30 minutes! 😉 On the treadmill, I walk 1 minute at 4.0, then run 1 minute at about 8.0. I may go faster, up to 9.0 – but I might only run that speed for 45 seconds. So, for 30 minutes, I'm alternating one minute walking, one minute sprinting. I just keep adjusting the speed of the treadmill and watch the clock the whole time. I count the saints, knowing 30 minutes means 15 sprints. I never feel like I can finish, it's always hard as hell. But, the 30 minutes seem to go faster when I'm doing sprints and afterwards, I feel great knowing I accomplished them!

    2. Haha! I figured it was interval work but I wanted to make sure. 30 minutes would be tough, kudos to you! You are looking great and are an inspiration to this mother of two!

  5. I Love that you showed the loose skin photos! You are such an inspiration! I just turned 39 and am determined to be in the best shape of my life by the time I am 40. I have almost a year, and know I should break it up into smaller specific goals, I am just not sure what they should be. I would love to lose 15 lbs, but the focus of my goal is more about being more fit and healthy. I would welcome any ideas about goal setting. Keep up the good work!

    1. I'd try making small changes to your diet first or just tracking it in myfitnesspal so you can really see what you're eating, then you'll be better able to tell what you need to change. Another great goal is with exercise, if it's just to start or incorporate weight training or lifting a little heavier each time. I'll have to think some more on this one, maybe discuss it in a future post.

  6. You look amazing and I am SO in awe of your dedication! I can't wait to see the conclusion of your fitness achievement, but I also miss your home posts and projects girl! You are super talented and I can't wait for more of both

    1. You and me both! I've been so fitness/exercise focused lately and the workouts take up so much time, but I've got a running list of home decor ideas I'm itching to get to! I added some summer decor to our entry way and master sitting room and actually photographed it yesterday and it felt so good to get back to that! I'll have to share those pics soon! Three weeks until this contest, then I'll be back to more regular home posts. But, posting might be a little lighter as we enjoy those last weeks of summer. My son goes back to school mid-August! Seems so soon!

  7. Hi Megan,
    Let me start off by saying that you look amazing and I love all your blog post. I'm currently training for my first OCB bikini competition show. I'm 11 weeks out and I'm also my own coach & trainer with help from the hubs. I've been doing a lot of research and your blog has helped me stay on track and focus. I also feel like the diet is definitely the most challenging for me not so much eating the same thing because I do switch up my protein and veggies around, but more like I crave sweets especially when I'm PMSing, my coworker keeps a dark chocolate bar in her desk for me so when I really need that little kick of sugar she breaks me a little square and it taste like heaven…lol. Today is my first posing class and hopefully I get some helping tips especially when it comes to peak week, since I have no idea how the whole depleting thing goes. Thank you again for your helpful and motivational post.
    Thanks,
    Dayi – Dayi's Sense of Style

  8. Hello! I first wanted to say I literally have no excuses! You get it done! I love that about us women! I rarely (although Im sure it's been done) hear about men with children and doing competitions. My question is (now that youve completed this comp) how did your calories drop over the 12 weeks? Like 1500 week 12-10 then 1400 week blah blah. Thanks! And keep blogging! Its very inspiring! I would love to d one day but it's a dream of a dream of a dream.

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