More Changes

I am now a little under 7 weeks out from competing, and more changes are being made.  Last Sat, I went to a posing clinic at STS, and Scott was kind enough to give an honest assessment of how he thinks I am doing and looking.  We were both in total agreement that my glutes need to be a lot tighter.  So, he gave me some extra exercises to do. Some are five days per week, and one is twice per week.  These should help tighten me up in the glute and upper thigh areas.  It's refreshing to hear an honest opinion and for someone to be willing to help!
In addition to those changes with my training, I will also be making another small change to my diet when I hit the 6 week mark.  I'll be going from 3 days no fats/ 2 days fats to 3/1 for 2-3 weeks, depending on progress.  Then, I'll be cutting out fats completely.  I also discovered when I was out sick, that by adding in some quinoa cereal a few days/week, I am feeling a bit better AND more weight started falling off!  So, for energy at the very least, I'm keeping it in my diet.  
Yesterday, I went to see an old friend, Jerry Slaton, who was also my trainer for about 100 years. Just kidding, but he did train me for many years:)  Anyway, I went to him to take my measurements and body fat.  He has kept a log for me of my measurements and body fat for the last several years, which is helpful!!  Yesterday, at about 7 weeks out, he measured me at 9.9% body fat, which seems to be right on track because last time I competed, in 2009, at 8 weeks out, I was at 10.5%! A few of my measurements were even a bit smaller this time, and most of my skin fold measurements were the same. So, I am right on track, not behind as I thought!!  The main reason I go to him for this is that he's very good with the calipers....and GOOD quality calipers, not those cheap plastic ones.  Checking body fat this way is MUCH more accurate than other methods, such as the hand-held bio impedance machines, which can be VERY inaccurate. Thanks again, Jerry!!
On another positive note, I finally got to do some work on my routine yesterday!  i changed up the choreography a bit, just to suit me better.  It's coming along nicely!  I really need to just practice as much as I can to polish it up as it looks pretty rough right now, which is how it always looks in the beginning stages:)  I am definitely stressing a lot less about the routine now and feel comfortable and confident that I have plenty of time to be ready!!
So, all in all, aside from being sick still, everything is falling into place! I am pleased at this point!!  Thanks again to Jerry Slaton and Scott Keppel for their help!
P.S. Another video by Shannon and I will be done soon! So, be on the lookout!!

I Believe

Sometimes, I wonder if anyone besides me has a "theme song."  I guess a theme song could be a song that symbolizes your life, a period in your life, or even just a certain situation in your life.  I have a theme song that kinda sums up my whole life, as well as my "career" as a fitness competitor.  The moment I heard this song, (when I was watching the movie, 'Honey') it hit me...THAT'S MY SONG!!!!  I had to wonder if I wrote this song about my life and forgot I did it! lol  
There have been many times throughout my life when people believe that I "CAN'T" do something.  Sometimes, they even put little seeds of doubt in MY mind, BUT I have to try to ignore that doubt and find my own strength and BELIEVE in myself!  Sometimes, I have to dig deep, really deep, to find that strength and belief, but it's always there!  Have I ever cried? OH YA!  Have I ever wanted to give up? YA!  However, I've NEVER let things get me down for long. 
When I'm going through a rough time, I listen to this song over and over.  I know my kids get tired of hearing it at times, but hey, maybe the words and the meaning will sink into their little heads too!!  
I've heard negative comments about me competing from the very beginning...actually before I even began. If you've read my bio, you know what I'm talking about.  I COULD HAVE allowed that negativity to stop me in my tracks before I even got started, but I CHOSE to keep going after my dream and prove people wrong!  To this day, I still CHOOSE to use those words, which I can still hear in my head plain as day, to light a fire under me!  That man's words motivate me more than anything else!  
Anyway, I'm starting routine choreography/practice today, which for me is the hardest part of the competition.  My theme song gets me going, gets me amped up, and reminds me to believe in myself!!! I listen to it over and over on my way to the gym and on my way to practices, and I just wanted to share MY theme song with you because this is ONE of the things I do to keep my chin up and my attitude positive.  Enjoy!  Drum roll please..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXZdudAoZHA

Because I'm Kind Of a Big Thing (JK)

Today, I received an e-mail from a lady who does it all!!  I was going through her web site, and she seems pretty amazing!  Her name is Janet Marisco, she's a figure pro, and she has a radio show called, "The Body Shop." She asked me to be a guest on her show on Jan. 30!  I've been on the radio a number of times in the past, and I absolutely love radio! OF COURSE, I agreed to be on her show! After the touching letter she wrote to me, there was no way I could ever say no....not that I would anyway:)  This is something I enjoy doing!  I hoe she doesn't mind if I share her letter with you.  I want you to read it because it really touched me.  Sometimes, actually most times,  I have absolutely no idea how I impact the lives of others.  When I hear stories like this, I feel grateful and blessed that I am somehow able to inspire people, motivate people, and make people see that their excuses are just that ---- excuses.  If I can do it, so can they!!  So, here's the sweet letter I got from Super Woman herself, Janet Marisco:

Barbie, my name is Janet Marsico, I am a WNBF Pro Figure Competitor, 
the 2008 WNBF Pro Figure World Champion, as well as the official stage 
coach for both the INBF/WNBF. I also have my own spot on FTNS Fitness 
Radio every Monday night at 9:00 live. The only live internet station 
in our area (I live in New York but the station is in Connecticut and 
airs via internet nationwide). I bring on guests in our industry every 
week for an hour and interview them about their involvement in the 
fitness industry and their contribution to the sport itself. I have 
already had Tosca Reno from Oxygen magazine, Jennifer Nicole Lee will 
be coming on this month, etc. The reason that I am reaching out to you 
is you actually have a special spot in my interest, and I will explain 
why. Whenever I conduct any of my one on one Workshops with a new 
client, I have what I call my "fitness bible" where I have pages and 
pages of visual pictures from magazines of photos of competitors from 
different competitions from several organizations from my many 
different magazines. I show them many great shots of the correct 
poses, suits hair, make up and then I also show them the girls who are 
in the "wrong" stances, etc. Then I always look them in the eyes and 
say "and then just when you get to the last week towards your show and 
you think that you can't, you feel it's too tough, try telling it to 
Barbie Guerra"... I then turn the page and they kind of look at me in 
confusion. I then tell them, "no, that is not a photo shop picture". 
It's the 2006 article from Oxygen magazine of you on stage at a fitness 
competition and the article is entitled "The Amazing Courage of Barbie 
Guerra"..... I have had this article in my "fitness bible" since then 
and I cannot tell you how much the girls sit back and read the article 
and how much it gives them a different perspective on what strength and 
the level of fitness that anyone can achieve if you really want it.. So 
thank you for allowing me to give that to my clients for so many years. 
I really should have written to you many years ago.

So this brings me to wanting to invite you to be interviewed on my show 
either at the end of this month, or early February. I think my 
listeners would love to hear your story, the competitions you have 
competed in and I personally would be honored to get the change to 
speak with you and get to know you as all of my clients have all had 
the chance to read that article so I know they would be most interested 
in listening to the interview.

I will be on tonight at 9:00 if you would like to listen to see what 
the show is about and what I go into with my guests. You can log in 
live at ftns.co (it's not .com) and get back to me at your convenience. 
I would absolutely love to have you on the show. It would be a 
telephone interview for an hour so there is no need for any travel 
plans.

Warm regards, Janet Marsico

PS: My web site is thefigureworkshop.com if you wanted to see a little 
bit about me and what I have been doing over the years as well...

Now you probably understand why I said "YES!"  What an honor to be in her "fitness bible" for all of her clients to see!  Thank you again, Janet! I can't wait for my interview in a few weeks!

Because I'm Kind Of a Big Thing (JK)

Today, I received an e-mail from a lady who does it all!!  I was going through her web site, and she seems pretty amazing!  Her name is Janet Marisco, she's a figure pro, and she has a radio show called, "The Body Shop." She asked me to be a guest on her show on Jan. 30!  I've been on the radio a number of times in the past, and I absolutely love radio! OF COURSE, I agreed to be on her show! After the touching letter she wrote to me, there was no way I could ever say no....not that I would anyway:)  This is something I enjoy doing!  I hoe she doesn't mind if I share her letter with you.  I want you to read it because it really touched me.  Sometimes, actually most times,  I have absolutely no idea how I impact the lives of others.  When I hear stories like this, I feel grateful and blessed that I am somehow able to inspire people, motivate people, and make people see that their excuses are just that ---- excuses.  If I can do it, so can they!!  So, here's the sweet letter I got from Super Woman herself, Janet Marisco:

What's New This Week?

This week, my legs are feeling a bit fatigued. So, I'm going to go ahead and do only one leg day this week instead of two, but I am still going to focus on those problematic areas that I mentioned in one of my past blogs.  The double cardio sessions are going as well as can be expected.  The step mill and I .... well, we still have that love/hate relationship going on.  I don't expect that to ever change.  I am hoping to get working on my routine this week, which is exciting and scary all at the same time.  Most of the things I'll be doing in my routine are things that I have not done in a few YEARS.  I am extremely rusty, to put it mildly. In fact, after going over just a few things today with a friend at the gym, it was very apparent that my skills are not just rusty....they straight suck right now!  This is going to require A LOT of work!  Practice, practice, practice!  I am expecting my body to be hurting all over when I begin choreography and practices.  It's a good thing I have plenty of epsom salt on hand!  I've done this a million times before and survived. So,  I'm sure I will survive this again.  It isn't going to be easy though...not that it ever is!!  In the end, all the hard work will have been worth it, and I'm looking forward to it!  
When I hit the "8 weeks to go" mark, which will be Saturday, I'm changing up my diet a little bit. I'll be going from 2 days with no fats/2 days with fats to 3/2 for a few weeks.  Then I will switch it again to 3/1.  The last 3-4 weeks will be all proteins and asparagus/green beans/salads/cucumbers.  That is what I am NOT looking forward to.  Again, I will survive.  Although, at that point, I really feel for my family because I know I'm not exactly a joy to be around.  During that time, I don't even like being around me!!  I just hope they can remember that it is only temporary and be as understanding as possible!  As usual, I will keep y'all updated if I make any changes!  I also want to get some pics up sometime soon.  Maybe on Sat, I'll have Q take some pics.  :)  Have a great week!!  I hope you are keeping the resolutions you made!  Don't ever give up!  Remember --- "CAN'T" is NOT an option!

Bleacher Babe Workout Video

Yesterday, my friend Shannon and I, shot a video of us doing a bleacher workout!!  The video is only 3 min long...because I'm sure nobody wants to watch us for an hour or more going up and down the bleachers! So, there are just short clips of some of the fun things we do on those bleachers!!  i hope you enjoy it!
https://www.facebook.com/shannonjdougherty/posts/273411336052402?notif_t=mention

Sweepin' and Shapin'& Movin' and Shakin'

Yep, I'm working on my sweep, but I ain't talking about sweeping the floor!  I've decided to split my leg training into two different days so I can give each part the work and attention it needs.  I have decent quad development, but my outer sweep has always been lagging behind.  Instead of a nice rounded out outer sweep, mine is just kind of straight up and down....not much shape there.  So, on my quad day, I am really focusing on that.  I'm hoping I can grow that into a nice shapely outer sweep.  
I also have good glute development and plenty of "mass" there, but I also hold onto extra "fluff" in that area that is extremely stubborn and never wants wants to go away until about 2 weeks before I step on stage.  I freak out and obsess over it every time, too.  So, on my other leg day, I am focusing on shaping that booty of mine.  So, I'm doing more exercises that focus on shaping the glutes, rather than putting so much effort into building them. Trust me, I've got enough size back there, and it follows me everywhere! haah  
I'm also still doing my cardio twice/day, more than half of which is done on the stepmill.  I'm doing a lot of intervals on the stepmill as well as on the treadmill.  I vary the speed and the incline/resistance constantly, no matter what cardio machine I'm on.  I've also been doing some walking on a negative incline, as well as some backwards locomotion just to keep it mixed up and to make my muscles work in different ways.  
Bleacher workouts are still part of my training as well.  I just haven't done them in about a month because of football games, weather, holidays, kids' surgeries, etc.  However, this week, I'm supposed to be doing a bleacher workout with my friend, Shannon, AND we're making a video this time!!! Of course, I will post it as soon as I can!!
I've kept dance in my regime.....because it's fun, and I love it!  As soon as I get my music, I will be choreographing and practicing my fitness routine, which will also help burn some fluff and help with my conditioning.  The routine is definitely the hardest part for me.  However, it is also the most fun part, and I can't wait to get movin' and shakin' on that!!  I will try to get a video of my routine for you all to see at some point as well. Maybe I can recruit Shannon for this job;) wink wink:)
BTW, I hope everyone is having a great new year so far!! If you've made any resolutions, resolve to not give up on them!!  Remember, "CAN'T" is NOT an option!!!