Should you count calories for weight loss? My experiences!

Now days, the majority of popular diets have a high focus on counting calories and/or counting macronutrients. [Macronutrient: Ratio of carbohydrates, fat and protein]
The reason calorie counting is a main focus is simply due to the fact that you must consume less energy (calories) that you expend, thus putting you in a calorie deficit, in order to lose weight.
If maintaining your current weight is your goal, consume an equal value of calories to your total daily expenditure (TTE). And finally if you want to gain weight, you must be in a calorie surplus.
Excluding those with medical conditions or metabolic damage, at the end of the day it all comes down to calories in versus calories out!

What the hell is calorie anyways?
"Calories are simply a measure of the heat energy in food, typically measured by burning 1 gram of the food. Kilojoules measure the same thing by a different measure.  1 calorie = 0.004184 kilojoules.  1 gram of Protein and Carbohydrate is 4 calories, whereas fat is more than double at 9 calories. 1 gram of alcohol is 7 calories"


***LEARN HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR TOTAL DAILY EXPENDITURE BELOW***

Weight loss via good old calorie counting sounds so simple in theory, right?
There are two sides to every story of course.
Let's have a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks to calorie counting.


Pro's of counting calories

It teaches you to make better food choices or more so teaches you how energy dense poor food choices are.
Before I started counting calories, I had no idea how many calories were in just one 55g Cadbury chocolate bar or the carbohydrate value or breads and pasta. From reading nutritional labels and entering my food intake into My Fitness Pal I have acquired valuable data that I have memorized, which helps me make better food choices everyday.

It keeps you accountable and in control. People are less likely to make poor food choices if they have to write it down or enter it into their food diary. Food diaries have been proven as effective weight loss measurements in holding people accountable to what they eat. You can't just forget about that slice of mud cake you had at morning tea for Susie in the pay office birthday it's on paper. Especially if you have to report back to your coach/nutritionist or personal trainer.

It helps you accurately create a calorie deficit. What gets measured gets managed. Calorie counting takes the guesswork out of losing weight and helps you to be specific, accurate and make every day count. It also gives you feedback that you can change. If you get to the end of a few weeks of counting and haven’t dropped centimetres then  you can go back through your diary and reflect on what better choices you could have made.

It helps with portion control Many people eat double or more the recommended serving sizes of foods, because they’ve never measured their portions. Spending a few weeks measuring all your food brings your portion control back into line. Have you ever checked the serving size on the size of a cereal box and measured it out? It's tiny compared to the usual heaped bowl we all unwittingly pour ourselves every morning.

Con's of Calorie Counting




It may lead to obsessive behavior. Perfectionism at its worst! All or nothing thinking. Me all over!  It can lead to black and white, good or bad type thinking that is a part of a dieting mentality and not ideal for long term, sustainable lifestyle change.

It's tedious, anti-social and blood stressful. For it to be accurate, you must enter in accurate data. This means weighing your food and logging every time you eat so you don't forget.
 Eating in and preparing your food is the way to keep accuracy, this can also cause people to be hesitant toward eating out because they can't weigh it or know exactly what is in it. I had a friend who used to take her digital scales to restaurants and weigh her steak at the table, at the time I understood but for anyone else watching they probably thought we were complete nut jobs.

It doesn’t take into account the hormonal response to certain food types.

Your body responds to each food differently. Each food has a massive impact on insulin and glucose on your blood stream which affects how, where and what, your body does with the energy from the food. A calorie of protein does not affect your body the same way that a calorie of carbohydrate does. It is far too simple to give you the whole picture

 

My thoughts

I have done my fair share of calorie counting and macronutrient counting. Weighing my food, preparing meals, making sure I was withing a 5g radius of my carb, fat and protein targets.
After calorie counting for so long and after considering all the pro's and con's, I personally think think calorie counting is great for the short term, no longer than 10 weeks. It will teach you to make better food choices and less energy dense food choices and you will become more aware about what you eat.
Calorie counting is not a long term solution, it can hinder enjoyment of food and stop you living a balanced, relaxed and healthy lifestyle.
If you are a perfectionist like myself, you can become obsessive and get stressed out when you can't control your calorie intake, this kind of black and white thinking can set people up for disordered eating behavior.

Balance is the key! Thuy and I before walking to get Frozen Yoghurt in Glenelg!

How to estimate your total daily calorie needs.

source: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-determine-your-calorie-needs.html

1. Estimate your basic energy needs.
   Multiply your current weight (in pounds) by 10 if you’re a woman or 11 if you’re a man. Or use the formula in table below, which factors in your age in addition to your sex.
   For example: Sue is a 45-year-old female who weighs 155 pounds. She calculates her BMR like this:
   155 pounds ÷ 2.2 = 70.45 kilograms
   70.45 kilograms x 8.7 = 612.92 calories
   612.92 calories + 829 calories = 1,441.92 calories
   So Sue’s BMR — or the number of calories that her body needs at complete rest to function — is roughly 1,442 calories.
   If you figure Sue’s BMR by using the shortcut method, her needs are about 1,550 (155 pounds x 10 = 1,550) — a bit higher than the full calculation, but still in the same ballpark.

How Many Calories Your Body Needs Per Day for Basic Energy Needs

Age	Use This Equation to Calculate Your BMR
*	Men
18 to 30	[15.3 x weight (in kilograms)] + 679
30 to 60	[11.6 x weight (in kilograms)] + 879
Older than 60	[13.5 x weight (in kilograms)] + 487
*	Women
18 to 30	[14.7 x weight (in kilograms)] + 496
30 to 60	[8.7 x weight (in kilograms)] + 829
Older than 60	[10.5 x weight (in kilograms)] + 596

1. Determine your activity factor value.
   How active are you? Find the description in the following table that best matches your lifestyle. If you have a desk job but fit in a dose of daily exercise (at least 30 minutes), consider yourself in the light or moderate category.

How Active Are You?

If, Throughout Most of Your Day, Your Activities Include	Your Activity Level Is	Your Activity Factor Is
Sitting or standing; driving; painting; doing laboratory work; sewing, ironing, or cooking; playing cards or a musical instrument; sleeping or lying down; reading; typing	Very light	0.2
Doing garage, electrical, carpentry, or restaurant work; house-cleaning; caring for children; playing golf; sailing; light exercise, such as walking, for no more than 2 miles	Light	0.3
Heavy gardening or housework, cycling, playing tennis, skiing, or dancing; very little sitting	Moderate	0.4
Heavy manual labor such as construction work or digging; playing sports such as basketball, football, or soccer; climbing	Heavy	0.5

1. Multiply your basic energy needs by the activity factor value that you determined in Step
   Using Sue as an example, she multiplies her BMR of 1,442 by 0.3 because her activity level is light — running around after her kids, taking care of the house, and fitting in a 2-mile morning walk with her neighbors every other day. Sue needs 432.6 calories for her activity level.
   1,442 x 0.3 = 432.6 calories
2. Determine the number of calories that you need for digestion and absorption of nutrients.
   Eating food actually burns calories. Digesting food and absorbing nutrients uses about 10 percent of your daily energy needs. Add together your BMR and activity calories and then multiply the total by 10 percent.
   The calculation for Sue’s calorie needs for digestion and absorption looks like this:
   1,442 calories + 432.6 calories = 1874.6 x 10% = 187.5 calories
3. Total your calorie needs.
   Add together your BMR, activity, and digestion/absorption calorie needs to get your total calorie needs — that is, the number of calories that you need to maintain your current weight.
   To maintain her current weight of 155 pounds, Sue calculates her total calorie needs like this:
   1,442 calories + 432.6 calories + 187.5 calories = 2,062 total calories

How to make your New Years Fitness Resolutions stick!

With the new year just around the corner, it's that time where people begin making resolutions for 2014.

Many start out with the best of intentions but often fail to flow through with their resolutions. 

According to research by psychologist Ricard Wiseman 52% of people are confident they will succeed yet only 12% actually do! 

Let's make 2014 different! This year is the time to make your resolutions count. Sit down and create your schedule for a New You in the New Year.

The biggest challenge to achieving your resolutions in 2014 is making ones that are realistically attainable and practical to begin with.

 If you eat a lot of take away foods, you may have a goal to kick  fast food restaurants to the curb. 

Instead of making bold statements such as, "I will not eat fast food for 2014" opt for "I will eat fast food no more than once every two weeks." When you achieve this goal,  you can then hone in and change your resolution to "I will only eat take away once a month" And so on. 

Here are some tips for helping make those resolutions stick: 

1. Write them Down

 Write out your goals and stick it up somewhere you can reflect on daily. It will remind you of the goals you have set.

2. Make your goals specific 

Decide how many times a day, week, or month you can do something and shun away from saying "everyday." Life happens, and you don't want "everyday" to be the cause of you throwing in the towel all together on your goals.

3. Keep it Realistic

Although the idea of losing 5kg in a week sounds great  it's not realistic nor healthy. You will also be likely to put it all back on as fast as you lost it! 

 Weight loss goals should be based on losing .5- 1kg a week if you want to lose it and keep it off. 

4. Get support 

Once you’ve set out all the steps you need to take to smash your new year’s resolution, try sharing your list with a trusted friend or loved one. Not only will you be ten times more likely to stick to your resolutions, they’ll also be able to help keep you honest, provide moral support and be there to celebrate with you, when you accomplish your goals.

Train with a friend for support! 

 

5. Seek expert advice 

Seek out a certified nutritionist/coach to write up a diet.

Get yourself a personal trainer to help keep you motivated and design an appropriate program to get you the best results! 

My clients! Smashing abs! 

6. Check in and follow up

When you write down your goals take the time to write down follow-up dates in your calendar. 

Assess your strengths and what you can do differently to improve. 

7. Reward yourself 

Not with food. Treat yourself to a massage, new training shoes or getting your nails done when your goal has been met. 

New Year's Resolutions are a way for us to evaluate ourselves and look for ways to make improvements. 

Don't stress over them. Instead, make them positive, make them real, and make them stick. 

Make your goals SMART

Specific (what, how many times)

Measurable (how will you assess)

Attainable (achievable, practical)

Realistic (physically possible)

Time bound (a goal without a date is just a dream)

My 2013 goal was to compete as a fitness model! Not only did I make it on the stage I won the under 30's fitness category!

I can't wait to achieve my 2014 goals & Would love to hear your goals too! 

You can find me of FB "Jenna Bleakley Fitness, Health & Wellness" 

Here's to You in 2014!

Jenna 

Xxx 

Have a healthy Christmas without Missing Out!

Christmas is here, with New Years fast approaching!

For many people like me this means parties, BBQ's, lunches, dinner and alcohol! Eating and drinking well above our needs.
Did you know that the majority of people eat 3 times the amount they need on Christmas Day alone!? Not to mention those sneaky drinks on Chrissy day! 

We do not have to feel guilty about enjoying ourselves and enjoying sharing food with our loved ones! But we need to learn how to do so in moderation. It is worth remembering that just one week of festivities can mean gaining those few extra unwanted kilos and undoing all our hard work.

Tips to not overdoing it!

My family enjoying a Christmas Lunch together!

- Start the day with a healthy breakfast. Start the day the right way- get the metabolism into gear, fill yourself up, in turn making you less likely to begin the day snacking.

- Drink water, keep hydrated. Not only does water fill you up when you want to keep eating, but it is important to stay hydrated especially if you plan on drinking a few alcoholic beverages.

- If you are like me and love your food you want to eat everything. Choose small portions and choose a little bit of each.

-Enjoy your food. Eat slowly and allow yourself to taste and savour your food before moving onto the next thing.

- Remember it takes 20 minutes for your body to register that you are full. Stop eating before you feel completely stuffed and save some for later.

- Eat plenty of salads and vegetables, they will fill you up without adding huge amounts of calories.

- Have healthier snacks such as raw nuts, fruits and vegetable sticks.

My Boot Camp Girls, smashing it out through out the holiday season!

- Do some exercise. You may want to lay down in a food coma but exercising will help your body digest the food and burn off a few extra calories. Why not have a family game of cricket or go for a walk on the beach or park!?











Follow these simple tips to a healthier festive season, enjoy the festivities and time with your families!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 

Lots of Love

Jenna xx

Christmas Party Time!

Practicing Self Love

Recently, I quit my administrative day job that was sucking the life out of me! This has left me with a lot more time to do some soul searching and self discovery. It got me thinking about self love.
Self Love has been one of the hardest things for me to learn to do and too often pushed aside as a last priority. It shouldn't be this way - Self love is just as important as fitness in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.


"Where the mind goes, the body follows".


I am grateful for the amazing people I have met on my
fitness journey!

WHY IS SELF LOVE SO HARD?
First off, we compare ourselves to others too much. Comparing ourselves to other people just makes us feel worse about ourselves. We compare our lives to our friends, family, brothers, sisters, neighbours, co-workers... the list goes on. I frequently catch myself doing it "I wish I had her body", "I wish I could afford a nice car like that", "I need fake boobs to look like her" blah blah blah.
I am learning to stop myself thinking this way, it is not productive and does nothing for my confidence.




Instead of being over concerned with all the things I wish I had, I am recognizing all the things I DO love about myself and all the things I am grateful for.

Here are some of the things I do love about myself:

Things I DO love about myself:
My blue eyes.

• My naturally long eye lashes
• My blue eyes
• I am kind and non-judgemental
• I am down to earth and 'keep it real'
• I am humble
• My sense of humour
• My belly button
• My shoulders
• My accomplishment of winning my fitness comp this year

The list above was challenging for me to come up with. I am sure I could have easily come up with a much longer list of things I do not like about myself, which is why self love can be difficult.

It is important to have an understanding of what it is you love about yourself so you can practice self love. Try writing a list for yourself. Add to it daily, write down your accomplishments. Ask your partner, family and friends what it is they love about you and refer to this when you have a down day.


I nourish my body with wholesome foods.... And I do not
deprive myself of the things I love.
Yep, that means chocolate too!

SELF CAREI feel a lot better about myself when my life runs smoothly. Small acts of self care daily add so much value to my life.
Allowing myself extra time in the morning to cook up eggs on toast and watch the morning news, keeping the apartment tidy so I feel at ease when at home, going for a beach walk, painting my nails, getting a massage, ensuring I get 8 hours sleep are all little things I do as part of my self care routine.

Watching others achieve their
fitness goals with bodyDesign (Port
Adelaide)
Boot Camps!

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!
My last step for practicing self love is to discover what you are passionate about and do it.
Quitting my day job is the best decision I have made- Discovering my true passion of helping others with their fitness and health goals, I feel I am more connected with my purpose and am living a purpose-driven life. My happiness has quadrupled!

You deserve happiness! Don't let negative talk self-sabotage your happiness.

Practice self love everyday and follow these steps. Remember "Where the mind goes, the body follows"

Much Love,  Jenna xx

Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe

Last week I felt like a chesse cake, so I messed around in the kitchen and whipped up my own version that wouldn't mess up my macro's for the day! GREAT SUCCESS!
A few people have asked me for the recipe after I posted the photo up on Facebook, so here it is:
**NOTE: The ingredient ratio are estimates as I didn't measure, just whacked it all together & hoped for the best ;)

The Base:
1/3 Cup Almond Meal
2 teaspoons of stevia sugar
A little water

The Centre:
150-200g Bulla Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Tblspn Vanilla Essence
1/2 a banana

The Top:
30g Frozen Bluerries

Method:

Find yourself a mould you can use to set your cheesecake in, I used the cottage cheese tub and lined it with alfoil to make it easy to remove!

To make the base, simply work ingredients together to a cookie dough like consitency.
Press the into the mould. Put in the freezer whilst you prepare the centre.

In a bowl mush up the banana and stir in with the other ingredients. If it's thick, mine was, add a little greek yoghurt.
Pour on top of the base in the mould, place back in freezer.
For the top simply heat the frozen blueberries for about 40 seconds in the microwave and crush with a fork. Pour over the top of the cheesecake in the mould.

Let the cheesecake set in the freezer for 1-2 hours depending on the awesomeness of your freezer.

Spoon a small amount of greek yoghurt on the side to serve!
Serves 2, so cut in half and share with someone special <3 or if you are single, share with your cat!

Nutritional Info per Serve:
Calories: 260
Carbs: 19g
Protein: 27g
Fat: 8g

Motivation at NABBA!

Recently, I attended NABBA/WFF SA State Chamionships at Norwood town hall with one of my best friends Jesse.

I had such an enjoyable evening watching the amazing bodies compete on stage after months of hard work in the gym, intense dieting, posing practice and all the thought, time and money spent into bikinis, hair, make up and tans! It was so very motivating to see such beautiful phyiques strut their stuff on stage. The vibe of the crowd was energetic and postive, one could not help but soak up the positivity of the atmosphere!

 



Memories <3 ANB 2013

Being at such a truly motivating event, made me realise that this is what I LOVE to do! Training, sculpting, eating clean, meeting like minded people. This is the reason why I train so hard, eat clean and pretty much talk about training and foods 24/7, not unlike many others in the audience on the night. This is my passion and I feel incredibly lucky to have the oppotunity to be a part of the fitness and competition scene.

I felt a great connection speaking with others who share my passion for fitness. I ran into so many familiar faces who I have met over the years at comps or the gym. Once home, after the competition was over, I could not sleep- I had too much energy and excitement running through my body! Inspired and motivated; I just wanted to get into the gym and lift! A job well done by the beautiful sports models, you have motivated me and re-lit my spark. I feel like I re-found my passion and am so excited to get back on that stage next season.

 

Some of the hightlights of NABBA:
- Lee Priest's routine to the superman theme song. Wow, what incredible dedication and passion. I was amazed to hear that Lee had only been to 3 nightclubs in his life and began competing as a teen!
- Emilie Foden taking out overall sports model. That girl can rock that stage, incredibly beautiful and her hard work certainly paid off.

- My friend Ryan Wait taking 3rd place at his first comp. I love seeing friends up there, he transformation was incredible.
- The glamour and dazzling bikini's- the girlie stuff! I love checking out the bikini designs, hair styles and getting ideas for my next comp.

 

Looking forward to this one next year :D

I am looking forward competing once again! Thanks to all the athletes at NABBA who inspired me and the friends I caught up with at the event!

 

Jenna xx

The Art of Spray Tanning

If you are anything like me, you cannot stand being pastey white at anytime of the year!

Freshly Tanned by Beaute' Aroma!

An ex-solarium junkie, I now opt for the safer option and get myself to Beaute' Aroma tanning salon once every week. It has become my Thursday night ritual. It is amazing how much more confident  you feel being tanned! Not only do you look slimmer, you don't need to wear as much make-up and you exude a natural radiant summer glow.... anytime of the year!
Spray tanning has never been easier. Now with 2 hour tans available you can get sprayed that afternoon and shower before going out in the evening! Easy.



Oops! Tan print

Unfortunately, I have seen and fallen victim of many horrific spray tanning blunders, so here are some tips. It is important to find a tanning salon that offers a variety of options. Spray tanning results can vary depending on your skin pigmentation. For example the violet based tans looked best on me, where another girl may suit a green base. Speak to your spray tan consultant about what base will suit you. My personal favourite spray tan of all time is the "Mediterranean" tan available at Beaute' Aroma (Hove SA). I highly recommend you try out this one; Jenny and Marie are both very experienced spray tan technicians and will advise on the best options.





Meditteranean Flash Tan!
Available at Beaute' Aroma

Beaute' Aroma not only provide flawless tans for both fair and deep complexions, but also cater for pregnant, sensitive and dryer skin types. All tans contained certified organic ingredients, enriched with Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Creatine & Kakadu Plum Extract.www.beautearoma.com.au

The perfect spray tan is only as good as the skin you apply it to. For optimal results see below:
 

BEAUTE' AROMA'S PRE TAN CARE TIPS

1) Exfoliation
SPRAY TAN works on the upper layers of your skin, which are constantly being shed through natural exfoliation. Your TAN will last longer if you exfoliate before getting your Spray Tan. Using a body glove or professional exfoliating product from a tan range, pay particular attention to the knees, elbows and heels. Your skin must be completely free of any moisturiser, deodorant or perfumes before getting your Spray Tan.

2) Do not wax or shave prior to tanning.
Any waxing or shaving should be done at least 24 hour prior.

3) What to wear to your tan
When getting your Spray Tan you may wear as little as you like or a full bathing suit. Most people wear just a G-String but this is a personal choice.
The application of the product takes less than 10 minutes and feels  touch dry almost immediately. It is recommended that you wear light loose clothing after being sprayed as full development of your tan will take 6 - 8 hours and you any undue friction from tight clothing may affect the final result.

AFTER TAN CARE

Spray tan maintenance is just as important as the preparation.

1) Moisturise/Tan Extender
Purchase a tan extender which is highly moisturizing and will stop your tan 'flaking' away pre-maturely; if dead skin cells are shed they  will take your tan with them. Tan extender creams are also great because they contain a little tan in the cream, which will continually top up your colour throughout the life of the tan.

2) Fading

 If you can, avoid swimming for long periods of time as this will cause your tan to fade quicker. Especially chlorinated pools/spas.

3) Showering
Try not to scrub your skin during the life of your tan (usually 7-10 days). When you shower just wash gently.

350 Brighton Rd
Hove
South Australia
5048

Australia

8298 4540
SMS 0410 778 269http://beautearoma.com.au

Post Comp Blues and my journey to wellness

There is countless information, articles, blogs, 'fitspiration' around about people and their fitness/bodybuilding journeys. People, just like me, starting their own blog and Facebook page documenting their progress to the stage- it's very motivational and creates a sense of belonging into the bodybuilding community, which is so wonderful.

Low body fat levels, dry looking for stage.
NOT maintainable for everyday life.

But after competing, after the hype, they just go silent, as I have. No more progress or motivational posts or they find another fitness community to belong to or another life journey; I am the first to put my hand up guilty of doing this.

I competed in June, 3 months ago now. I've had some ups and a lot of downs as well. I started trying to eat normally again in the first couple of weeks after and had a couple of binges on all the things I denied myself of while I was on my strict competition diet. Of course I gained weight, it wouldn't be healthy for me to maintain the level of leaness I reached on stage. However, that weight gain with a sense of feeling lost after competing... "what do I do with my life now" I decided I will just start prepping myself for the next season- That way I had to stick to my diet, lose weight again and re-create my journey. This was a big mistake- I couldn't even stick to a normal eating plan let alone diet again- I started binge eating and it became more and more frequent, which added to my stress and fear of blowing out. I became ashamed of my body and did not want to be seen of fear of being judged. It became a mental game at that point- what will people think of me? Why don't I have any self control? Will people think I'm fat? Why can't I eat normal? Why can't I just look how I did before competing?  

After opening up about my struggles and speaking with other compeitiors I have discovered that my experience is all too common. The process can be damaging to your body image and there is very limited information, education and support about what to expect post-comp and how to handle these issues!
It is not something a lot of people want to admit to or want others to know they are going through, but it is nothing to be ashamed about, there are so many of us all in the same boat!
"I want to share my experience, at the risk of being judged by others, if this post helps just one other girl it'll be totally worth it :)"

Return to wellness! Girls night out with my beautiful friend Thuy

With all this in mind, here is what to expect after your first competition:

1) Sorry to burst your bubble, but you will and NEED to gain weight to return to health. Being at such a low percentage body fat is not normal or healthy.
Re-feeding and adding weight back on slowly is ideal. Slowly introuducing foods and increasing your calorie intake to give your metabolism time to adjust.

2) Slowly decrease the intensity of your workouts- Once again it's all about allowing your body to adjust. The same as you slowly cut you calories down and increased cardio leading up to your competition, you now need to do the same, but in reverse.

3) Have a post-comp eating plan and coach to support you. This is where many coaches lack and often the competitor is left feeling lost and alone and not knowing what to do. Personally, I have started talking to numerous professionals to help me; my first meeting with Michael Johnson and I left with a new attitude- click the following link for his contact details: http://themojomaster.com.au/index.php/blog

4) Learn to love your body, block out the 'mean girl' if your head.
My self worth became defined by how lean I was! I got back to a healthy weight, but still thought I was fat (By the way, I am not out the woods with this one yet, I am still practicing self love everyday)

Everyones experience is different, balance is of extreme importance. There is so much more that makes you beautiful than how lean you are. Your bodyfat levels do NOT define you- there is so much more to life and so many wonderful things to enjoy other than obsessing over your body, food and calories :D

So am I anti- fitness competitions now!? Most definitely not. I just had a bad experience post-comp and I will compete again because I love the sport- I am just that bit more prepared now!
But for now I am enjoying hanging out with my Girlfriends, partner and family. I am also looking forward to having some fun entering swimwear competition (Miss V8- 21st September).

Being me!

Hope this sheds a little light on the unspoken issues of post-comp, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions/recommendations etc jennableakleyfitness@hotmail.com

Love always

Jenna xxx

Fitness Modelling - Compeition Preparation Tips!

ANB Supernatural Mania. 6th October 2013
(Got my mug on the poster
Far right)

I am currently preparing for my next Fitness Model competition's; INBA on 29 September and ANB on 6 October 2013.

With one competition under my belt, I feel more confident and knowledgeable of how my body will respond to the preparation, what works for me and what to expect the second time around. Competing for the first time was a massive learning experience and I would like to share a few handy tips for other first time competitors :)

1) A support network of people you can trust is pivitol.
You will most certainly require these people at one stage or another for advice, support & motivation. Seek out qualified professionals to help with diet, training, posing and the finishing touches (hair/make up/bikinis). I am incredibly grateful to the individuals I have in my life on both a personal and professional level. I have learnt who I can trust and who will be there for me!

2) Do your research before choosing a diet plan.
I approached Sarah Davis Online Trainer for my diet, which was prepared by Dayni Baker from Shape Up. I have a lot of respect and trust for both of these women and know they have my best interest at heart.
Recently I met a girl who is competing for the first time. Her coach has cut her carbs to almost nothing; no oats, rice, sweet potato or grains,. She has been advised to only eat veg and protein and a very small amount of good fats. She has also been told not to have any cheat meals for three weeks and then once every fortnight. To me this sounds like a recipe for some serious damage to one's metabolism!
Be careful committing to a diet such as this; you may drop weight dramatically and really fast, but what you might be doing is jeopardising your metabolic rate which can take months to rebuild. Not to mention potential adverse affects on your long term health.

3) Everybody is different and one diet does not fit all!

Some people cut out a substantial amount of carbs, while carbs can be just what another person needs to keep their metabolism humming. Retrospectively, some of the best advice I received from Sarah Davis was to trust your diet, trust the process, and stick to it.

4) Don't overdo cardio.

You want to be able to slowly increase the duration of your sessions. If you use all your 'leaning down' weapons at once in the early stages of your prep, you will have no ammo left to work with at the time you most need it. You can also lose muscle mass if you do too much cardio. I only did about 30-45 minutes of cardio in the lead up to my competition, 25 minutes intervals and then sometimes a 20 minute job after weights.

5) Weights are ALWAYS, ALWAYS the priority!

Lift heavy and lift hard. Just because you are leaning up does not mean you should stop training for muscle growth. Remember that muscle mass aids your ability to burn calories throughout the day when inactive.

6) Practice walking and posing as early as possible.

I am guilty of slacking off in this department. I was so busy with full time work, training & meal prepping that I neglected posing. Three days before the show, having left it to the last minute, I was in the gym at 4:30am each day trying to master my routine. This deficiency in my preparation was rather confronting and demoralising; you don't want see yourself looking like a gumby in the mirror three days out, so go ugly early and ensure you have your posing down pat at least a few weeks out.

7) Have your cheat meals!

They will keep you sane for the foremost during the week. I was having a small cheat treat during the week and then a bigger cheat meal on the weekends. Don't get too obsessed with the calories consumed, just keep it within a 2-3 hour window. Once you get closer to your comp, your coach will be able to assess when you should stop having them.

I don't believe in having a piece of fruit as a cheat meal. The idea is to re-fuel and re-feed so you have both the mental and physical capacity to keep on training hard. But once again, it all comes down to how it affects you personally, the important thing is to ensure you stay sane. You don't want to find yourself needing to be physically restrained while attempting to inhale a kilo of chocolate at your local confectionery section! Stay sane.

8) Block out the negative comments.
This is a big one for me. I used to listen to the opinions of the others too much. Accompanying my first place trophy was a handful of hurtful comments & accusations. My mum reminded me "what other's think about me is none of my business"; Mum's always know what to say! Surround yourself with positive people & be grateful towards them for their support.

9) Planning, preparation and organisation.
I am an absolute list-making freak. This is a strategy that helps me. I have a countdown of how many weeks until my comp, a journal of my training and diet, I do my week's meal prep every Sunday and constantly make 'to do' lists.

FAILURE TO PLAN IS A PLAN TO FAIL!

10) Things to take on the day of your competition! Another list ;)

These are things I discovered were essential on the day. Pack a small overnight bag (you will have a lot of stuff):

Your bikini in a zip lock bag
Your sports outfit
Sneakers
Evening wear if required
Stripper heels
Socks & jocks :pAny jewelery/accessories/chicken fillets (they're not cheating, they're just breast implants for the outside :-P
Your prepared meals for the dayWater for after comp

Dream tan for touch ups
Make up, hair products for touch ups
Bikini bite / double sided tape
Your competitor number
Vodka shot for pre stage nerves & my lollies! Nom Nom

 

Final Words: Competing in a fitness competition isn't easy, it is a lot of hard work, time and money, but what I can say is that it is totally worth it.
Think about why it is you want to compete, what does it mean to you? Remind yourself of this everyday, I wish you all the luck in the world.
You can keep up to date with my progess leading up to my competitions by following me on Facebook: Hit the link Below.

Jenna Bleakley Fitness

A Sweet Addiction. Fighting sugar cravings!

Everyone has a weakness. Without a doubt, mine is chocolate and lollies.... anything sweet really!
I have found munching on sugary snacks just makes me crave more sugary snacks and I know I am not alone on this ;)
That afternoon chocolate bar to cope with my afternoon slump just leaves me craving another treat in the short term after and then reach for a biscuit in the lunch room at work.
Fact is eating lots of simple carbohydrates, without the backuo of protein or fat, can satidfy hunger quickly and give your body a short term boost, but just as quickly leave you feeling famished again and craving more.
The taste of sugar also releases feel good endorphins and creates a natural high, which is why it is so addictive and people often use it to cope with stress and anxiety.

How to Stop Sugar Cravings!!

• Give in a little to avoid a binge. Eat a bit of what you’re craving, but keep it small try not to exceed 150 calories. Having a small amount of what you love can help you feel less deprived
• Eat something wholesome with the treat. To fill yourself up and avoid eating more sugary treats, for example have some almonds with chocolate chips. You will satisfy a craving and get healthy nutrients from foods that fill you up.
• Go cold turkey.  Going cold turkey helps diminish after a few days, but the initial period quitting is tough. In time you are able to train their taste buds to crave less.
• Chewies! Research has shown that chewing gum can reduce cravings, especially peppermint flavours.
• Eat fruit instead. Get some sweetness from a piece of fruit, you'll also get some nutrients and fibre out of it too!
• Walk it off. A change of scenery can help you fight off the craving, take a 10 minute walk.
• Eat regularly. Eat every 3-5 hours can help keep blood sugar stable and help you to avoid binging on unhealty snacks.

Source: www.webmd.com WebMD Feature By Wendy C Fries, reviewed by Louise Chang, MD.