Comments on: Contest-Prep Bipolar Disorder http://www.nourishedfitness.com/2009/11/02/contest-prep-bipolar-disorder/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=contest-prep-bipolar-disorder "there are no rules to this thing" Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:34:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: April http://www.nourishedfitness.com/2009/11/02/contest-prep-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-113 April Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:48:02 +0000 http://nourishedfitness.com/?p=407#comment-113 I'm doing Kentucky Muscle on Nov 14th! My pumpkin got nixed a few weeks ago and i'll be backed up ever since LOL! Mmmm...greek yogurt with berries and if i'm feeling naughty I may add granola! I’m doing Kentucky Muscle on Nov 14th!

My pumpkin got nixed a few weeks ago and i’ll be backed up ever since LOL!

Mmmm…greek yogurt with berries and if i’m feeling naughty I may add granola!

]]> By: Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) http://www.nourishedfitness.com/2009/11/02/contest-prep-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:42:58 +0000 http://nourishedfitness.com/?p=407#comment-112 I am a moody thing, too, when I'm sleep deprived and am calorie/carb cycling. Hang in there...it will pass! Love the protein pancake recipe, btw! You clever thing! ;-) I am a moody thing, too, when I’m sleep deprived and am calorie/carb cycling. Hang in there…it will pass!

Love the protein pancake recipe, btw! You clever thing! ;-)

]]> By: April http://www.nourishedfitness.com/2009/11/02/contest-prep-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-111 April Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:03:24 +0000 http://nourishedfitness.com/?p=407#comment-111 Oh yes, i'm the mood swing queen. I think some of it is from red hair though ;) I'm REALLY bad this week. Only 11 more days and then the stress of competition prep is lifted off. I will go to what I was eating over the summer which included Kashi, fruits and an occasional sandwich. I was in much better spirits then :) Oh yes, i’m the mood swing queen. I think some of it is from red hair though ;) I’m REALLY bad this week. Only 11 more days and then the stress of competition prep is lifted off. I will go to what I was eating over the summer which included Kashi, fruits and an occasional sandwich. I was in much better spirits then :)

]]> By: Caron Braunstein http://www.nourishedfitness.com/2009/11/02/contest-prep-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Caron Braunstein Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:21:28 +0000 http://nourishedfitness.com/?p=407#comment-110 Love your blog, Alyson. I love all your dedication and that you are sharing your journey with us! I have never competed for stage but have learned all about healthy nutrition and training from many years working as a group fitness instructor and from the many competitors I've met and trainers from my gym. 3 yrs ago I followed everything I had learned and won a 12wk transformation out of 65 men and women at my gym and I know the mood swings you are talking about! For everyday health, it is best to eat a balance of protein, fat & carbs but the ratio changes drastically when you are dieting down for a stage. Those healthy carbs that feed your brain and your energy stores and your feel-good factor are being cut to the bare minimum. You probably get irritated if anything gets in the way of your scheduled workout or your next meal or if anybody just gets in the way, period! ;) You are on a mission and nobody better not mess with that :) If you ever had a bite of something you're not supposed to have, you may start thinking you've messed up your whole body, ruined your chances of doing well and may even start doubting yourself. These thoughts are normal. Your brain will try to mess with you. Your body is burning up the excess energy now...let those thoughts go and continue to do your best. Living on a competition diet is not something that anyone would or could do forever. Any contest diet moods swing you may be experiencing is a common result of carb-cutting. Maybe over time and with future contest prepping it won't be so bad or so drastic, because you'll know what to expect and you'll know you can get through it! It's time to put your game face on and picture yourself on that stage. You are almost there and you are doing an awesome job! Think of it this way: When you go on a long road trip for the first time, the trip always seems to take forever and there's a little voice in your head pleading, 'are we there yet?'. The trip home always seems much shorter. This is your first contest prep. You are almost there!! :D Next time you prep for a competition it will be THAT much easier for you, because you'll know what to expect from the dieting and how your body will respond. Keep up all your hard work. When you are done shining on that stage you will be able to ease up and enjoy a nice carb coma :) Love your blog, Alyson. I love all your dedication and that you are sharing your journey with us!
I have never competed for stage but have learned all about healthy nutrition and training from many years working as a group fitness instructor and from the many competitors I’ve met and trainers from my gym.
3 yrs ago I followed everything I had learned and won a 12wk transformation out of 65 men and women at my gym and I know the mood swings you are talking about! For everyday health, it is best to eat a balance of protein, fat & carbs but the ratio changes drastically when you are dieting down for a stage. Those healthy carbs that feed your brain and your energy stores and your feel-good factor are being cut to the bare minimum. You probably get irritated if anything gets in the way of your scheduled workout or your next meal or if anybody just gets in the way, period! ;) You are on a mission and nobody better not mess with that :)
If you ever had a bite of something you’re not supposed to have, you may start thinking you’ve messed up your whole body, ruined your chances of doing well and may even start doubting yourself. These thoughts are normal. Your brain will try to mess with you. Your body is burning up the excess energy now…let those thoughts go and continue to do your best. Living on a competition diet is not something that anyone would or could do forever. Any contest diet moods swing you may be experiencing is a common result of carb-cutting. Maybe over time and with future contest prepping it won’t be so bad or so drastic, because you’ll know what to expect and you’ll know you can get through it! It’s time to put your game face on and picture yourself on that stage. You are almost there and you are doing an awesome job!
Think of it this way: When you go on a long road trip for the first time, the trip always seems to take forever and there’s a little voice in your head pleading, ‘are we there yet?’. The trip home always seems much shorter. This is your first contest prep. You are almost there!! :D Next time you prep for a competition it will be THAT much easier for you, because you’ll know what to expect from the dieting and how your body will respond. Keep up all your hard work. When you are done shining on that stage you will be able to ease up and enjoy a nice carb coma :)

]]> By: Carrie http://www.nourishedfitness.com/2009/11/02/contest-prep-bipolar-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Carrie Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:45:22 +0000 http://nourishedfitness.com/?p=407#comment-109 I've never experienced emotional mood swings when training for a marathon or triathlon. I think that the mood swings are due to diet. When I trained for endurance events, I always had enough food (I always ate whatever I wanted). On the other hand, when you are dieting for a show, it is ALL about diet. When I've read other competitors' journals, I have seen similar tendencies. A lot of them said the 4th week out from the comp was the worst! I've also seen some competitors say that they did not have a bad prep (and actually enjoyed it) and they attributed their good prep to their diet coach. That's awesome that you got to watch the Cardinals game from a suite! I bet that was a blast! Good luck with the rest of your prep!! I’ve never experienced emotional mood swings when training for a marathon or triathlon. I think that the mood swings are due to diet. When I trained for endurance events, I always had enough food (I always ate whatever I wanted).

On the other hand, when you are dieting for a show, it is ALL about diet. When I’ve read other competitors’ journals, I have seen similar tendencies. A lot of them said the 4th week out from the comp was the worst! I’ve also seen some competitors say that they did not have a bad prep (and actually enjoyed it) and they attributed their good prep to their diet coach.

That’s awesome that you got to watch the Cardinals game from a suite! I bet that was a blast!

Good luck with the rest of your prep!!

]]>