So the following blog features my first official attempts at preparing my now new favorite #fitfood! Big Breakfast Bodybuilder Style
#CombatProteinPancakes: See a previous post about #proteinpancakes for official details and recipe comparisons, as well as a “syrup” substitute idea. The recipe for the pancakes was originally found on http://www.bodybuilding.com and I tweaked it to fit what’s already in my kitchen.
Pre mixed batter saved in fridge
Combat Ingredients
2 scoops MusclePharm Cookies n’ Cream Combat Protein
1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp almond flour
2 egg whites
4 ounces water
Directions
1. Mix together all ingredients in a blender until you achieve a pancake-like consistency.
2. Preheat a pan over medium heat, then spray pan with non-stick spray.
3. Place mix into pan and cook both sides until mix is fully cooked through.
Test with a toothpick.
Yields three pancakes. Serving size: 1- 3 pancake
Macros for another "syrup sub" option
The picture at the top of the post features what I call “Just Plum-Tastic” jam. Homemade jam made from dried plums, better known as prunes..lol! Don’t knock it until you try it!
In a previous post explains how I made another syrup sub called Date Syrup, same concept and instructions can be applied for either fruit, with the exception of grounding the fruit first mixed with water, then placing it into the pan to sear briefly. Let it cool and “gel” then serve!
It's FlapJack Time Golden Brown YUM!Recipe yields about 3 huge pancakesPlating Time - Ready to Eat Protein Pancakes and Egg Whites
Enjoy at liberty. .. #IIFYM…Until next time. ….I AM CANDICE MARIA
Binge Clean – eat healthy, fun and nutritious. Yes 1st thing I laid hands on were some carbs in the dressing room backstage… bruised banana anyone?…lol!
Post competition fit food "binge"
Get home to change clothes for the post show Ruby Tuesday meet, greet, and critique and grabbed hold of a bowl of sweet potato, broccoli
and a couple scoops of my food addiction #cashewbutter
So yeah my post competition “binge” was all healthy food… #dontjudgeme! …lol! Even after attending the Ruby Tuesday meet, greet, and critique with the judges after the show, it resulted in a salad to go as my meal choice!
The reason? I have another show to prep for that’s why! I #refuel my body for performance, not for pleasure, it’s a huge difference!
But please believe every bit was devoured before the night ended, my muscles were famished. ..lol!
Have you checked your macros lately? Can you say off hand how many total fat grams, total grams of carbohydrates, and total protein grams you’ve consumed in a 24 hour period! I can and have to have 30 days worth of intimate conversations with and about them, with myself, my body, my kitchen, and my coach. It’s a beautiful relationship, because I know the end result is going to be amazing!
I have always been good about food journaling, but since i hit 30 days to the stage, I have gotten so close with my macro’s relationship that we plan our futures together in black and white before the day even starts! Yeah that pic is my food journal macronutrient totals for the next 24 hours, already planned out with total macros that I have already sent to my coach for his approval! Trust the plan, trust the process!
During all of this I reflect back on how i used to have to beg clients to send in food journals and on a weekly, not even a daily basis, and always got excuses. It would frustrate the heck out of me, because there’s no room to wonder why the results are not showing up from the workouts I would give some of them if they haven’t willingly changed their diets!
I write this and shake my head. My how the tables have turned, but needless to say, nobody has to beg for mine, because I know how important it is to the overall process.
Yes, even trainers complete food journals,especially when we have our own fitness and athletic endeavors to achieve! It’s important to reaching your full potential in whatever you expect to achieve along your fitness journey, regardless of your overall goal.
You don’t have to be prepping for the main stage to get to know the Macro’s intimately. Heck just do it because you love your body and want to be mindful of what’s going into it everyday!
Until next time. ..#EatClean … #TrainDirty and #MeetYourMacros
So yesterday was my mom’s birthday. Needless to say, I spent most of the day at work or working out, so I avoided being tempted by the following:
Mom's Birthday CakeCryptonite Cake The Devil.....lol!
The last two pic are some of my favorite “big girl foods” ….lol! Super addictive cheat foods for me. But at 30 days to the stage and with the strict structure of my nutrition regimen right now, this girl opted for her favorite healthy treat and still celebrated moms on her birthday!
MY CAKE & COOKIES
Yep my frozen cashew mylk to the rescue! So no need to miss the fellowship of family celebrations, just don’t indulge and kill your progress!
Until next time #EatClean – #TrainDirty and trust the process!
The art and science of amateur and professional natural bodybuilding is a strenuous and very delicate process. You get comfortable with being uncomfortable very quickly, especially if you want to see winning results!
My Competition Coach Winning his Pro Card
So today I had my first official athlete’s check in with my friend and now competition coach, IFPA Pro Natural Bodybuilder, Ryan Davis. The pic above is from his winning show last Fall where he won his pro card in Atlanta.
It is my hope with his help to make just the right adjustments needed to step back on stage in front of a different federation and eventually crush my competition in the natural female bodybuilding circuit. My mantra now and days is #WORKHUSTLEKILL! I saw it on a #DLB video, and took it to heart! She’s one of my favorite professional female bodybuilders and she definitely works hard and kills her competition!
Anyway, back to the story. ..lol! I went into my first competition last Fall eyes wide shut, wrong federation, no connections, no trainer, no coach, which was a little arrogant on my part because I figured, I knew how to work out and eat right, how difficult can this really be. Too much pride to ask for a second pair of eyes to monitor my process, needless to say it showed on my presentation on stage and going home with nothing but an “experience” of just showing up. Fast forward to today. ..
This year my mind set has changed as even the best of the best pro’s have coaches, trainers, nutritionist, etc to help them prepare. It’s hard to keep your macros straight, adjust your own diet, maintain your workout schedule and juggle it all with work, life, and living. Having that support system of someone dedicated to your process to remind you of the important things, check on you, keep you focused when you feel like giving up because your carb intake is so low your body starts rebelling, and your getting cranky! Having someone in your corner, like a professional fighter in the ring truly matters!
I’m actually pretty excited about the next 30 days, moving forward from the current shape I’m in with the help of my coach can only get better as long as I stay focused and committed to the process! This is definitely a journey I decided to embark on mainly just for me, a little selfish, but in the end it makes me selfless! It teaches me to show myself what I could achieve with precise discipline. Sometimes I second guess it, get tempted to give in to “being normal” but I look at where I’ve been, where I am now, and how far I can go and I keep pushing, I keep food journaling, counting macros, and busting my ass everyday in the gym to be the best version of Candice I can be. OUTSTANDING!
Some may call it vain, others may say it’s crazy, but for me it’s a way of life, a passion, something I love! My desire is to live my dreams doing what I love as a health and fitness professional and making a comfortable living doing it, so if I never step outside of my comfort zone, I will never be seen, and if I’m never seen, I will never gain the platform needed to accomplish my dreams and goals in the future! So this journey is one #tobecontinued!
So, I’m contemplating firmly about working my way back to the competition stage!
5 Weeks From Current Figure Show
The show I had in mind to do is now 5 weeks away on August 23, I’ve decided to go ahead and put my foot down with myself and give it a try! Different organization this time, a natural federation, drug-free athletes only, level playing field, and I’ve also recruited the advice of a friend who’s also a coach and pro level competitor with the same federation who’s supplied me with some great tips along the way! #shoutout Ryan Davis, IFPA Men’s Pro Natural Bodybuilder !
Any who, back to the diet and meal prep!
Tuna and Green beans plus a drop of sweet potatoCook in bulk and measure out portions
So my diet is exactly what I titled this post with the addition of a few other items to include fresh fruit/vegetable juicing!
My Skinny Juice - Leaning out Dropping the Fat
Yes it’s gonna be the same foods every single day, but one thing I learned in yoga school and about ayurvedic and natural medicine is that a mono diet, a diet that consists of the same foods every single day over a specific period of time, is the best way to learn what works best for your body, create a state of healing and in the case of my figure, and possibly physique, competition training it’s the best way for me to see the results of my training and workouts in the gym!
SAMPLE DIET 1 MONTH OUT (5 Weeks)
NOTES: Super clean, super low fat.
CANDICE MARIA 