Blog Post by IFBB Figure Pro Ellena Reidie I’m so excited to share some great news. Today I left my endocrinologists office in tears… Again. This time they were tears of joy. My quarterly cortisol results came in off the charts even my doctor was shocked at the drastic improvement I made in the last 3 months. For a while my results were showing only slight improvement, from a daily total cortisol level of 8.2 to 12.4 now to over 100 and I couldn’t be happier. My doctor originally diagnosed me with severe adrenal fatigue and advised it would take approx 2 years from the cases she had seen previously. As a professional athlete I guess I didn’t take it too well in the beginning but dealt with it and did everything I could possible in order to give myself the best chance at recovering. Basically I approached my recovery like a 2 year program. Finding a great doctor that put me on the correct path was the first stepping stone, listening to her advice and being consistent was another. I wouldn’t say it’s time for me to jump up on stage again, but it’s time now to continue to maintain these great results while focusing on getting back to a comfortable weight. I’ve managed to drop 4kgs in the last few months and it’s certainly not from dieting, more food and regulation of hormones is what has attributed to that. I really can’t express the weight taken off my shoulders and the amazing feeling inside knowing that I beat this in...
Blog Post by INBA WA President and Figure superstar – Sam Attrill I live a pretty routine life, not much changes from day to day. I basically live at the gym so I am always surrounded by people with the same passion as me. I shop at the same places, go to the same petrol station, park in the same car park to pick up the kids every day. So it’s is basically ground hog day every day for me. I am sure many can relate to that too! So here I am in Phuket and it’s time for my blog. I was not so sure what to write about so I have decided to share with you my observations since being here. The most important thing I have become aware of is I am abnormal! Most of my friends right now would probably be saying, um yeah, you are!! But those aside, I really had no idea! I get stared at as if I am a little green person from out of space!! When did this happen? Have I been that caught up in my own life and bubble that I have not seen it? Has it taken me to get out of my comfort zone to realise? Where did everything go so wrong? Yes, I am a girl, I am healthy, fit and have muscles!! I surround myself everyday in life and on Facebook, with likeminded motivational healthy fit girls that live a healthy lifestyle who are constantly trying to better themselves, so to me I took that as being normal! I now know that could be further from the truth and we are now among the minority of women. The more I took notice of what was going on around me the more I noticed it wasn’t just...
Blog Post by IFBB Pro Figure Athlete Amanda Doherty Why do people make eating plans difficult? Why do some so called diet ‘gurus’ always have to make things so complicated? I suppose, to fool people into thinking they have a NEW easy way to get in shape) lol…. Get a grip! I will stick by this theory. It should be kept simple and natural, a way of life. I don’t believe in a diet that is high in sugar or fat. Even if my so called “macros” are right. (Macro means Macronutrients – or grams of Protein/Carbohydrates/Fat) I would much prefer to spend my calories in wholesome muscle growing, repairing and life enhancing food. High calorie, processed food will do nothing more for you than, make you crave more processed foods and damage your health. In my opinion choosing healthy, wholesome and mostly organic food daily, is the only option. There is never going to be a secret tablet, nasal spray, workout, processed food that will transform your physique or better your health. I believe it always comes down to good, old fashioned, lean, clean meals and lifestyle. You can look and feel good all year round! I always tell my clients becoming healthier, fitter and leaner takes 4 things. * Daily cardiovascular training. * Regular weight training. * Clean/ lean eating plan. * Consistency I personally like to maintain a healthy lean body all year round. Staying in good shape allows me to enjoy my comp preparation and makes it so much easier and...
Blog Post by Clare Ross – INBA Figure Superstar It’s been 2 years since I last competed and let me tell you it has been a difficult time! When I finished the 2010 competitions I learnt very quickly exactly what I had done to my body. I attempted staying at lower body fat through the year but the amount of cardio and dieting I had to do to get there was astounding! What previously had worked for me didn’t even touch the sides. I was dieting harder and doing 2 week out cardio just to try and stay at a reasonable body fat offseason. My body had adapted to a regime of ridiculous low calories and punishing workload. The sensible me made the decision that what I was doing was completely unstainable. I pulled the plug on ever getting back on stage and started to try and find a way back to health, I started to think about repairing my body. When I sat back and wondered what had happened to my metabolism. I have to reflect on exactly how I got into this state. It would not be until I fully owned my role that I would be in a position never to repeat the same behaviour. I would love to blame someone else, the people who helped me with my diet or other competitors who made my behaviour seem normal but really I know I was accountable. Here are the mistakes which led, through ignorance or burying my head in the sand, to me suffering some metabolic damage. I ate under the prescribed amount of calories a lot of the time. Yes, I was given guidelines about how much to eat but...
Blog Post by Jill Taylor – Owner/Director Activewear Online Some of you may be aware that I am preparing for a physique contest in 4 weeks. It will not be my first attempt at getting up on that stage but this time, finally, it looks like I am going to make it. Now many many things can happen in 4 weeks so let’s not count our chickens before they are hatched but my magic 8-ball tells me the outcome appears favourable. I posted a photo yesterday which I’ve included above. I actually did it more to show off the new top I had on (My Coach’s client tank top) than any real “form status” or “progress photo” since at this stage I actually feel tiny, soft and tired. It always surprises me the great and supportive comments that people will post beneath the photos – it is lovely! But what surprises me more is that people seem genuinely surprised at the way that I look, at the improvements that I have made along the way. Almost as though it has happened overnight! Forget that notion! Since I was in decent condition it has been almost 18 months. The first 6 months I spent training hard and eating semi-controlled to maintain a lower bodyfat percentage coming off a failed competition diet attempt. The second 6 months I spent training hard eating whatever the hell I wanted which is also referred to as “dirty bulking” and which is not something I EVER want to do again. The last 6 months I have spent dieting and training to get my dirty bulk bodyfat off to reveal...
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