It’s been 4 weeks since my last show, i.e. since my last dieting phase, and I’ve adjusted into off-season protocol now. This past year I feel like I’ve really learned a lot about training and nutrition, and I had a really great competitive season, but now it’s time to dig in and really make some changes in my physique. Looking at competition photos, and seeing how prolonged dieting affected my shape, (I was dieting from June through til end of September, almost 4 months!), I will choose only 2 shows next year, and space them out so that I gain from the first and have my best shape for the second. Having all my shows together was harder in the end, and really took the Hedonista out of the Healthy part of things…all work and no play makes Michelle a grumpy yogi! I spent all summer in Montreal and didn’t get to have even one croissant! How sick is that??! I haven’t yet decided which shows I will do, and I probably won’t decide until January, with my coach and partner Jean-Jacques. I’ll keep you posted. Also, I really notice that most of my muscle loss was in my glutes, abs, shoulders and arms, so I’ll be focusing on adding some size to these areas all winter. Most of my training programs will stay in the hypertrophic rep range, (8 – 12 reps), and I’ll be changing everything up every 4 – 6 weeks, depending on response. My attitude towards nutrition has also changed. Instead of limiting carbs, I’m now concerned with taking carbs in and getting my body into a hormonal state that is anabolic, not catabolic. No, I’m not taking supplements…when I say “anabolic” I simply mean that I’m doing what I can naturally, through food and training, and bodyfat, to encourage my body to build more muscle tissue instead of breaking it down. I’m not stuffing my face however. I teach yoga everyday, and have to still look fit for my students. I also couldn’t stand being unfit, just to gain a few pounds of muscle, especially when it’s not necessary. While I am letting my bodyfat go up to around 12%, and I’m making sure that I start and finish my workouts with plenty of nutritients, including carbs, in my body, I’m eating reasonable small meals periodically throughout the day. I am, however, far more relaxed about social meals, and if I want to eat a muffin for breakfast, or have some pasta at night, no problem. That’s what a fast metabolism is for, and I make sure I hit my muscles hard the next day so I don’t waste those extra carbs! When you’re a hard-gainer, every workout, and every spoonful counts! :))
Stay tuned as I come up with some new recipes for the off-season, and some variations of some of my favorite exercises.
