By Coki Cruz, My Journey and Journal to the Arnold’s
*This journal has multiple entries, please use the menu at the bottom to navigate between them*
9 days out: February 25th, 2020
TRAINING
Monday’s session went without too much of a hitch. I did not miss many (if any) lifts but I aggravated my left vastus lateralis (quad muscle) during squats. After rolling it out, some point pressure (trigger point) release, and mobilizing it, today it felt much better.
Then, today’s lift was pretty good, too. It was a light day, just what the doctor ordered, and I was able to get some technique work done.
You can always check out my Instagram for clips of my workouts.
If you want to see all the lifts leading up to the 134kg/295lb clean and jerk during training a couple weeks ago watch below:
NUTRITION
The last couple days have been annoying. I’m perplexed beyond words as to how one can drop 200 calories and gain 2-4lbs. It defies the laws of thermodynamics! Sure, if this was anyone else I would tell them, “maybe you didn’t track all the food you actually ate.” But this is me, and I know what I ate because I weigh every food item. In any event, Mariah (my wife), keeps encouraging me and reminding me that I haven’t missed a weigh-in yet and that I have the knowledge base to get there.
“Trust the Process.”
Check out below some pictures of my “meals!”
This is my typical breakfast:
- Instant Cafe Bustelo in half-water-half-milk (some times I’ll add a creamer) and a fiber bar and a protein bar
And this is a normal snack and lunch:
- Snacks: another protein bar, peanuts, jerky, pita chips, Sprite Zero
- Lunch: deli turkey on romaine, Parmesan cheese, and Kraft Lite Italian dressing, and Oikos Greek Yogurt
What do you guys have for lunch? I hope it’s more fun than mine!
WHAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND?
I’m frustrated with my weight loss. I hate that I dropped so many calories and yet gained weight. I know that for weight loss to occur I must eat less than I burn, but I’m hungry enough as it is. The last week before I compete is always the most difficult week in terms of diet. I get anxious to make weight, which of course only adds to the difficulty of weight loss. I was hoping to have been 150lbs by now but I weighed in at 153ish this morning. I’m praying that by Thursday I can get back on track. I’ll be eliminating creatine from my diet in an effort to shed some more water weight. Hopefully, that works.
In other news, I received unfortunate news that my best friend won’t be able to make it. I was hoping I at least had him there since my wife won’t be able to make it. I understand the circumstances surrounding his inability to make it, but, you know, it sucks. However, I see this is as an opportunity for me to rely on God as my behind the scenes support. It’s not to say He hasn’t been! But it’ll be more apparent now as I’ll be behind the curtain by myself- no coach. I thank God my parents and grandmother will be out in the stands cheering me on, and when it is all said and done, whether I succeed or fail, God is still worthy of praise.
Thank you Father for the work you are doing in me. I pray that the anxiety for making weight dissipates and I rely more on your strength to sustain me in my hunger. Grant me the wisdom necessary to make nutritious dietary choices that will not only sustain me to workout and recover, but allow me to lose weight and not feel as hungry. Amen.
You haven’t read my first entry?? What are you waiting for?? Click here!
