Sunday, May 25, 2014

Time to Reflect and Reset

Soooooo, Roatan is awesome! I had such a great trip and can’t wait to go back (tentative plans are already set for early next year).

The trip started with us fitness gals getting into the cab at the airport and the cabby asking us, “Are you here for Spring Break??” “Uh, no.” Apparently, the week before Easter is a holiday in Honduras so the beaches were packed (packed!) with people and parties. Such a cool scene, but not the most conducive for photo and video shoots. Also a challenge? The sun. It was hot!! But, it was awesome! We all definitely got some great shots in, were able to get done what we needed to do, and then spent the rest of the time resting and relaxing.

Here’s a sneak peek of what we got up to:


I also got to shoot a beach workout spread for STRONG magazine. It took some good timing and a little patience (we had to wait out a couple boats and a few tour groups), but Paul scoped out an awesome location for the shots. From the quick preview I saw, the pictures turned out amazing! It was such a surreal experience- a vision I pinned on my board last year coming true. I can’t wait to see it all in print.

And, while the first half of the trip was all photo and video shoots (which meant early mornings, no drinking and limited buffet options), after everyone done and everything was wrapped up, it was game on! Pina coladas and banana donuts all around!! It was great to be able to relax a little, have a few (read: many) treats, and really have the opportunity to get to know my teammates and coach a little better.
 
 
Getting our smile ready for the shoot...
and getting caught taking a selfie.

 
Honduras at 6:30 am

 
Paradise at sunset :)

 
Stormy skies and some pretty awesome ladies

 
Some of the ladies

 
Leaving Honduras... but I will be back.

 
Sleep deprived and happy to be home.


Up next?? It’s show time! And not just any show, but the WBFF Vancouver!! I have wanted to compete in a WBFF show since watching the Worlds show in Las Vegas last year. It was over-the-top spectacular! So much glitz and glamour (there’s even an evening gown round). While that’s not the spotlight I usually seek, sitting in the audience made me want to be a part of it, and here’s my chance! This is something that will really push me out of my comfort zone J
The WBFF means business!! Look at all those fabulous ladies!
 
The best of the best!


As of today, I am 62 days out (not that I am counting). That means 372 more meals and 54 more workouts to give it my all - day in and day out. With competing, there is no off time. You have to be on. All. Of. The. Time. This is when every meal, every workout, and every day really does count. And, if I don't do it, nobody will do it for me.

While I thought it would be easy to flip from photoshoot prep mode to competition prep mode after Honduras, I have struggled a bit. Too many treats (all very yummy and worth it of course!), too many distractions and just too much going on in general. It has taken a few weeks to really ‘reset’ and get ready to devote my all to this prep, but I’m on board now. I’ve got a new meal plan, an awesome training plan for the month, and finally a clear and focused mindset. Nine weeks out! Let’s see what we can do!



Monday, March 24, 2014

On Season and On the Road… to Roatan!!


Even though I haven’t been blogging on here as much lately, I have been posting somewhat frequently on Instagram (@jencordeiro if you wanna follow me). And in those posts I had been hinting that I was prepping for something big and exciting… and something that I wasn’t allowed to share until recently.

Here’s the official announcement!


Soooo crazy, right?!? If anyone had told me a year ago I would be prepping for something like this today, I would have never have believed it. I started training because I wanted to compete. I wanted to compete to challenge myself… and once I started, I didn’t want to stop. I do what I do because I love it. Being rewarded with an opportunity like this seems too good to be true. All of it. Too good to be true.
This pic was shared on the Team Blessed Bodies Facebook page and Lori Harder (one of my idols and on the current cover of STRONG) commented on it! How cool is that?!?
 
So, how does one prep for a magazine spread and shoot? I dunno! Lemme know. For me, my food plan and training have pretty much stayed the same. I am so, so, so lucky to have a coach and training program that properly paces me so there are no crazy/ stressful/ desperate measures in the final few weeks. Consistency pays off. Minor, minor tweaks have been made to my food plan. My focus this week is to really balance all my meals and time them evenly throughout the day. Training wise, I just need to keep up with my 5 days weights/ 4 days per week cardio plan. Easy peasy. I have even been scheduling it to make Saturdays my rest days- how delightful!

On top of that, there is a lot to prep for the trip. As I have shared in past posts I always plan out my meals and pack what I can to help stay on track while away. This trip poses significant challenges. Long flights. International borders. Unknown hotel room. I won’t be able to bring any fresh fruits or proteins. And I am pretty sure that Roatan doesn’t have a Whole Foods just around the corner like there was in Vegas. A little more thought will need to go into this…

The other daunting task at hand is wardrobe! Tell me to only eat 147 flakes of oats 10 times a day, I could do it. Tell me to do 500 hours of cardio a day, I would do it. Tell me to go shop and pick out outfits for the shoot- no way!! I’m not a shopper. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal, but I do not like shopping for specific items of clothes. I don’t know what goes together. I don’t know how to make an “outfit”. And I really don’t know how to accessorize. I foresee some agonizing shopping trips in my immediate future. I spent the shopping trip before the TBB Vegas trip repeatedly calling my sister in a panic (Leanne, prepare yourself for another round).

Anyway, 3 weeks out tomorrow! Can’t wait for that sun and sand!!
 
Planking it out to build up those abs!!
 

XOXO
Jen

Monday, February 17, 2014

New Year, New Post (Finally!)


Absence makes the heart grow fonder?? Right? Right? Ha ha ha. I hope so. While consistency has found a place in my daily fitness and food routine (yay for 365!), it certainly hasn’t found a place here yet. Yikes!

It’s now the middle of February (!!) and I find myself back ON SEASON! Whoo hoo! Not that I was taking it easy during my “off season.” Over the past few months, since my last post, I have moved (I absolutely loooooathe packing and unpacking- but love where I am living!), kept up with all my training, did a photo shoot with Mark Bradfield (love him and Sarah!), created an athlete Facebook page (come join!), and filmed a fitness DVD (fun!). My birthday, Christmas and New Year’s Eve also happened somewhere in there too. And, while I kept up with my program for the most part, there were definitely a lot of treats, rest and relaxation as well. I pretty much just hibernated during the Christmas holidays and it was fabulous.
The past few months in pictures :)
 
The new hood!

The new hood!
 
Me with Sarah Shea Smith and Mark Bradfield after a long and fun shoot!
 
My new Facebook page :) Check in out for meal plans, recipes, music and motivation!
 
 
On set of the filming the fitness DVD to be released this Spring!
 
Oh, and I also appeared in a fitness magazine for the first time too! 

My mini-profile in the Feb/ Mar 2014 issue of Inside Fitness.

 
 
And on a poster!

 
Happy to promote such a great organization!


So that pretty much brings me to today. As of February 16 (yes, conveniently selected to be just after Valentine’s Day and all the chocolate!) I am back on-season and training for an upcoming shoot and show. So, what does that mean? On season? For me, that means sticking to my food plan 100% (that is keeping it clean, keeping it within my macros (that is making sure I meet and don’t exceed all my calories, fats, proteins and carbs each day) and balancing each meal to keep my metabolism revved), getting all my training in exactly as my coach lays out (no short cuts- every rep counts!), drinking all my water, and NO alcohol and NO “treats.” Sounds tough, but I am so EXCITED! So excited! Excited to do it and excited for what’s to come. The countdown starts now! Eight weeks out!! #beastmodeon