Peak Week Ups and Downs

One of the reasons why I started this blog is so that I can document my contest prep. Well, I've failed at that because I have been way too busy. For the last month or so I would go to work, eat, work-out and go to sleep. My weekends have been busy with errands, trips home, more work and seeing my friends.

My competition is 2 days away. I am nearing the end of the infamous Peak Week to prepare for competition. During Peak Week, athletes typically do a carb depletion/loading phase and a water loading/depletion phase to get our bodies ready for the stage.
The way I understand it is that the easiest way to cut body fat before a competition is to cut carbs such as fruits, colourful veggies and grains and increase the amount of protein and fat you're eating. The lack of carbs makes you leaner but it also makes your muscles flatter as glycogen stores in your muscles deplete. A few days before a show, athletes will suddenly eat tons of carbs to increase their glycogen stores. This makes the muscles puff out and appear fuller. For me, carb depletion/loading meant subsiding on edaname, tofu and steamed broccoli for a couple of days. I was hungry. I was tired. My head was foggy. I was super cranky. Just being at work annoyed me to the point where I just wanted to walk out haha. I don't remember my last depletion being this tough but I am leaner now than I was before, which probably plays a role. Now I'm getting banana, sweet potato, white rice and lots of oats. I've gone from feeling hungry to super full. It definitely messes with your body!

Bodybuilders are dehydrated when they step on stage. Dehydration gets rid of bloating and makes your muscles appear hard. Most athletes go through a loading phase where they salt their foods to retain water and drink tons of water (I was up to 6L a day). Then salt is avoided and water is cut. When water is cut, your body thinks that it is still taking in 6L of water a day and so it eliminates water like you're still drinking a large amount. This helps squeeze every last drop of water from your body. This time around I bought a 4L jug for water loading/depletion. When I measured out my water, I found it easier to get it into me.

As for the show, I'm getting very nervous. For months, I was really confident in my posing. Just lately, I have had some conflicting opinions on how to walk, how to transition and how to do my mandatory front pose. I felt like I was a newbie all over again and it left me very confused and disappointed. I know that posing is one of my weaker points but I wasn't prepared to be told that what I'm doing isn't good enough. I took the day off work today so I can focus on posing as well as get things done around the house.

Tomorrow I have my first mani/pedi booked and I go for my spray tan. Then show time! After the show I get to binge a little bit but I have to go back to dieting because I have a photo shoot booked at the end of the month.

I've been down a little bit as well. I almost had a break-down at the gym the other night. I was very upset that some of the people I love don't support what I'm doing. I really really want them to be at my show and it hurts a lot that instead of supporting me, they either remained close-minded or have shunned me for being a vegan. It's hard! I keep reminding myself that some  people are jerks. It hasn't been working though.

I'm going to do some baking today so I have some post-show noms on hand. Since all I've thinking about is FOOD, here is a cool survey I found on The Laziest Vegans in the World:


What is your favorite store-bought veggie burger?

I don't have veggie burgers that often so I don't really know what my favourite is. I grew up with Yves veggie burgers. They're pretty tasty!

What is you favorite frozen dinner?
I haven't tried many because there is such a mark-up here in Canada. I love Tofurky Pepperoni Pizza. They're the king of frozen pizzas.

What is your favorite ice cream?
Larry and Luna's Coconut Bliss is the best. I don't know which flavour I enjoy the most.

What is your favorite chip or cracker?
Mary's Gone Crackers are awesome dipped in almond butter. My rats even love them!

What is your favorite cereal?
Peanut Butter Puffins with almond milk and blueberries.

What is your favorite candy?
PC European Dark Chocolate and Zazubean Nut Bar. I am a sucker for chocolate.

What is your favorite cookie?
Do the Sweet & Sara Peanut Butter Smores count as a cookie? I wish you could get these here in Canada!

What three pre-packaged food items would you take to a desert island?
Dandies Marshmallows to toast over my survival fire, breaded calamari from Sophie's Kitchen because it is so darn crispy and yum and... Lara bars!

Name a product you would like Veganized?
They need to veganize those little crispy vanilla wafers so that they can finally make vegan Mr. Bigs.

What are your favorite local and/or online stores for Vegan products?

Locally: Organic Earth Market, Superstore and EnVie.
Online: Vitacost because shipping is so affordable.