kaizen cleanse day 1 review

disclaimer:  I am not paid for this review.

so, going into a competition I would never dream of doing a cleanse.  I am a natural athlete with UFE and I have never and would never “cheat”.  However I am going into a photoshoot with Rick Oliver and I am not on point from where I would like to be.  I have been stressed out about this photo shoot since I decided to do it and I decided that as part of my peak week I would try a cleanse.  Going with my “body is a science experiment”.  Rick generally shoots physique and bodybuilders and I am a little tiny fitness / bikini model who loves to lift heavy and who also loves that I’m “trim”.  So. Last week I decided to try out a cleanse.

 

Cleanse decision

So. Not a whole lot went into this.  I will not do a “juice cleanse”.  I also will not starve myself for anybody. I work out 6-7 days a week at 5 am and I love that I lift heavy.   Getting ready for a competition is hard work and adds stress to your body.  While I want to look fabulous in my pictures I do not want to do a full competition prep – I just want to be “photoshoot ready”.  So, I decided to search for an easy to use cleans product.

 

Why review

I am doing a daily detailed review because while I found some great reviews of this product most were through people trying to sell it or Kaizen themselves.

 

Where I got it.

I bought this at www.supplementsource.ca  which is a london (home town) based company.  They had 2 cleanse products and this is the one I chose.

Off the point comment

Canada post is having major issues with finances.  Even though I drive past the supplement source website on my way home there is no pick up option.  Canada post picked up my order on the 11th, drove it to Mississauga to be processed and then drove it back to be delivered on the 14th.  Ya, there are some major issues in canada post. \

 

The product

Kaizen is essentially a natural herbal remedy with a diuretic and a cleanser.  You eat healthy and for the first two days you take the CLEANSE liquid detox purifier twice a day and for 7 days you take the overnight “diuretic”.  (They call it something else… whatever).  So its now day 1

 

DAY 1

Did a heavy leg day at the gym followed by 1.5 hours of pampering at the salon!  Came home to begin my cleanse.

Instructions say to have the first cleanse with 8-10 oz of water after b-fast.  I was a little late on that and poured green sludge cleanse liquid into my giant 1.6 litre water bottle and downed it.  Tasted like crap regadless of the label which reads naturally flavored apple / lemon.  No worries. Drank it up.  Ate normal all day.  Spinach and chicken salad for lunch, tilapia and b-sprouts for dinner and sesame seed snack this aft.

Around 8PM I took second cleanse shot.  It had tasted sooooo awful drink one I seriously plugged my nose and took it as a shot.  Taste is way better.

The Gross stuff.

This is supposed to clean out your kidneys, liver and refresh your skin.  I have pooped a few times today but not like I have pooped more like…. I went poo a lil bit a few times (TMI I know.).

Tonight

According to instructions I take 5 of the detox / cleanse (re: diuretic) pills tonight and see what happens.  Tomorrow I begin my water load and do my last major all over body deplete workout.

 

 

Status as of this afternoon:

 

to see status pictures follow me on instagra @onefitmamacanada

More update tomorrow.

Are You Going To Win?

Winning!

I get asked this all the time.  Most recently by my friends over at www.transformationpics.com.  Also by friends, other competitors and complete strangers.  Just because I do body building competitions many people seem to think “winning” is easy.  I have not placed top 10 in the two shows I have done.  But winning is easy.  I win all the time.  I win by looking the best I have ever looked.  I win by having the guts to get on stage next to the fittest of the fit and looking and feeling great.  I win by knowing that the changes I have made in my lifestyle mean that I will be here for my children, their children and seeing as I had Big Kid at 20, likely my great grandchildren.  That’s winning!  I win and celebrate every time I lift heavier, beat a PB (Personal Best… I’m putting this in cause for a long time I didn’t know what that was and I was too shy to ask 😉

For me, I will not get on stage, unless I look and feel better than I did at my last competition.  Every single time you work out, the longer you work out, the harder you work out adds muscle, definition and form to your body.  I have two and half years of serious muscle built up now.  I cannot wait till show day.

 

Live and Learn

There are very few that can get on stage and win their first competition.  Just having the nerve to put on one of those itsy bitsy suits let along be judged and critiqued on your body is one major accomplishment.  There are oodles of people that get discouraged because they did not do as well as they thought they should have and never compete again.  I am not one of those.  My first show, I learned that even though I had heard it a hundred times, I needed major work on posing.  I also learned how a show is run, and I learned that even though I get nervous, I like being on stage.

 

My second show I realized that while I spent a lot of time on my appearance, there are some things that need to be “perfect”.  Hair and makeup seem like a silly thing to spend time on when you’re being judged on your physique.  These shows are a bit of a beauty pageant after all.  This time, I’m going to spend the money on pro makeup and hair.  I also learned that things like you’re suit, should not be “different”… I love my suits, but sometimes you have to go along with the crowd, there’s a reason certain color are popular, because they look better on stage…

 

Competition are Subjective

You could do one show and place first, and do another and not even make top 10 and do the exact same as you did at the first show and look better.  This is a subjective sport.  Different judges see and judge different ways.  Some of the girls I competed with at my first competition also competed at my second.  At the first show they placed top 10, and then did not place at the second show.  Most looked far better in my books at the second show.  However, it depends who is there, who your competitors are, who bring it that day, who the judges are.  Etc.  I actually placed better my second show then my first, just not top 10.

 

So yes, I plan on winning!

8 + Weeks and Counting Update

8 + weeks or 61 days to go!

Wow.  8 weeks until I am on stage.   It will have been a year since my last show, and I am so excited to bring it.  Not only do I get to compete in the masters division this time (35 years and up) I am going to bring a package way better than last year.  Every training session between last year and this year is going to make my physique that much better.  Some of the little things I have noticed since I have started hard-core focusing on this show:

• Morning workouts way easier
• Still lifting heavy, despite cutting back calories
• Losing more weight without cutting all carbs
• More intensity in my training

I have never been a “circuit” girl despite competing in fitness and bikini divisions where that is the norm.  I like to lift heavy.  This time around I am still lifting heavy but have incorporated circuits into every single workout.  3 exercises, 3 sets, no breaks.  Repeat 3 times and move onto the next 3 exercises.  In an attempt to add more HIIT and hating cardio with a passion I also have incorporated a 60 second of jump rope into each of these circuits as of this morning.  Results to come.

Progress so far

I began tracking on April 1.  My goal was to lose an average of 1.14 lbs per week between now and June 21^st for UFE Showdown.  This seemed realistic, as once you are already very fit losing weight becomes far more difficult.  So far in 3 weeks I have lost 5.4 lbs averaged out to 1.7 lbs per week.  Higher than my goal, but let’s face it the last few weeks things will likely get much tougher.  The nice thing about being ahead of schedule.  So far I am not doing mass amounts of cardio, I am still eating carbs and dairy and I feel great.  No, no-carb brain going on here!

Decisions

I have now officially registered for my show.  So there is no turning back.  I posted a link in the blog to suit decisions.  So if you have not already checked it out, please do and vote for your favorite.  I believe I have decided on the style of the pink one, but not necessarily the pink color (though I do love pink!  And being a breast cancer survivor I love it even more.  Perhaps a diamond ribbon on the bum?

I will be competing in 2 divisions.  Master’s Bikini and Masters Fitness model.  Which means 2 bikini rounds and one fitness wear round.  UFE is rather known for the ladies coming up with somewhat gimmicky fitness wear and I am undecided at this point.  Last year at showdown I made a last minute decision to go with the golf look I had brought, totally not taking into account that I do not play golf.  Hmmm… swinging a golf club on stage in 6 inch heels maybe not so swift when I’d only practiced a couple of times.  I made the decision since most of the sports / fitness wear back stage at the show was fitness wear.  Think sports bra and booty shorts.  Had planned on doing my sailor look but then felt too gimmicky and too close to my bikini wear.  Ugh.  Would love to do something to do with racing as it’s my sweetie’s big thing, hmm… going to have to give it some thought.  Suggestions welcome.

The kids will not be coming to this show.  They are home the weekend of the show, at least as of now.  Though I am trying to switch weekends with the one before because the Canadian Cancer Society 12 hour relay for life is the weekend before and I would like for them to come with me.   We will see if that all comes together or not (stay posted for the link on where to donate) It’s only a morning show so I will make plans for them.  I can still get pictures with them before or after the show but tickets aren’t cheap and I’m not sure it’s the right place for a hormone crazed 15 year old boy.

 

Epic Cheat

I had planned on a cheat night this past weekend.  My birthday is a little less than a month from now and knowing that I will be only 4 weeks out I did not want to set my heart on a big night out (it may happen, depending on where I am with progress at that point) So my sweetie took me to dinner on Friday night (hey, no kids is a mark your calendar event) So, What was the epic cheat?  Burger… loaded, French fries and an appetizer platter.  Couldn’t finish even half, but man was it delicious.

 

Note to self: when you have next to no-sugar in your diet, even a small amount of alcohol = major sugar headache the next day!

Problem with the epic cheat was it carried over through most of the weekend.  While not awful for a non-competitor we visited family on Saturday in the sunshine and had a few pints.  Followed by a fire with the girls, and on Sunday after a great workout and watching the rest of the family eat their Easter Sunday brunch, and working in the garden for 3 hours I may or may not have had part of a pint.  (Hee hee oops).  Ah well.  Not going to beat myself up.  While I would have been even further ahead of schedule during weigh in this morning then I currently am, I am still ahead of where I expected to be at this point and I am going to continue with my plan.

Re-Evaluate

I originally said that I would re-evaluate my plans (diet, exercise etc) at 9 weeks.  Seeing as I am about at that point and still making gains, I am going to leave the plan as is, with the addition of my new jump rope addition to circuits and set another re-evaluation at 6 weeks.  This will be just before my b-day (BIG 35!)  So it may also be where I decide to plan for or not plan for another cheat…. Just so long as I can keep it from turning into an entire weekend!

 

Food for thought

Transformation Tuesday My Bum

Here’s my tuesday brain fart…..

1.  If you lift….just lift

nobody gets it.  The ones that do have no say in your life though they should.  The ones that make life difficult or think they have a say don’t get it

2. You will never be happy with how you look if you have competed

Once you have gone through weeks if not months of dieting hard and working out and look you’re best.  Unless you are about to go through “it” again you will never look like that…. Thus you’re best becomes unattainable in daily life.  Be prepared to not be happy looking in the mirror

3.  Men and ex’s don’t get it.

He will think you did what you did to spite / get him back / make him jealous.

He will never understand it was for you and you did it cause you could.  Regardless, be prepared for backlash of going from fat to fit after.  It pisses them off.

4.  Children are a result of both parents

No matter what you do, how you do it or you’re best intentions….. the other parent can screw up you’re kid no matter what.  Seek help.  Now.

5. You’re not super mom

you are’nt.  You may have the cape and the heels but really.  Do the best you can with what you have and hope for the best.  Its all anyone can do.  Love you’re children. Make the best choices you can and everyone elses’ comments and opinions be damned.

 

Proclaiming this WTF almost Wednesday

shhhhh….. its a secret!

Shhhh… Its a secret!

 

I have talked many times about how to track progress.  Except I’ve never out loud told anyone how i track it almost daily.  No!  I do not get on a scale.  Do not even own one to be honest (it stopped working and I threw it out)  besides that I don’t really care how much I weigh.  I focus on things like how my clothes fit, progress pictures and weather I can see lines in my tummy… oh ya, that’s the secret!

 

NOT THE LINES

You know when you’re a kid and you let it all hang out?!?!

That’s baby boo and his belly while eating a llolipop!

 

Sooo, as we get older and more concerned with our appearance we all learn to suck it in.  Even those that are severely out of shape suck it in.  Those of us trying really hard and working out work our core muscles to make sure it stays in.  Does’nt change that you can still let it all hang out.

 

So, what’s the secret.  When I let it out…. in the mirror every morning that’s my measurement right now.  The day I can “let it out” and still see all 6 abs will be the day I’m satisfied.

 

So.  What’s your dirty little secret?

Competition Decisions

Competition Decision Made!

For anyone that follows me on Facebook  and if not… please do! You will probably have put together the clues….

What do you think this means?

 

I have decided to compete again.

Reason?

Hmmmm the new boyfriend cooks allot and really well, his version of “healthy” however is lacking.  I’m lifting all the time, and heavy, but my diet has been lacking and my water consumption low…. (think 1 liter as opposed to a gallon) and we know water is my friend.  I have always needed a goal to keep on track, like 30 lbs between November and January, a 6 pack by 30, or getting on stage beside 20 year olds to kick me into gear.

june UFE Showdown… open

Reality is… if I keep lifting, and eating like I am, I’m not going back to the way I was… but I am also not so happy with it.  I want to be my best, not a sorta better mediocre version of my best….

That’s me… Boo and allot of boob

 

So, I am going to compete again….  April 5, 2014 at the UFE SPRING BASH.  Which seems appropriate since that was the first show I did.

April 2013 Bikini Competition

 

Here’s the starting point, 12 weeks plus out.

12 weeks or so… out from UFE spring bash 2014

 

Wish me luck!

 

Brain F!CK$%

I know I hav’ent been writing all that fitness related articles since restarting my blog recently.  I’ve actually had a hard time coming up with ideas.  I had thought to re-post allot of my old articles and while I know I saved them somewhere am having a hard time digging them up.

Last year this time I had a million things to write about.  This year, I feel like I have nothing to share even though I know way more than I did a year ago.  Two thoughts on this.  1.  I am losing my edge or just plain losing it.  2.  The more I know the less questions I have and thus the less things to ask others about.

Here’s a mind F!CK for the night.  I have been working out 5-6 days a week for months, since the move back to my home town.  I am not eating as “clean” as I should.  Quite honestly I am eating badly.  Too few calories,mostly the right type of macros.  However, I look in the mirror and sometimes think “good job”  and other times think “ugh, you look awful”.  However tonight I put on a nightgown that I don’t often wear.  Its pretty and frilly.  There is nobody to see it, but it makes me feel good.  However when I bought it, I couldn’t do it up.  During my leanest in June for the UFE Showdown I could do up one button of two.  Tonight I put it on and it does up and is lose.  Yet I do not see it right now.  I feel very out of shape regardless of hitting my PB’S at the gym, fitting into smaller clothing I do not feel fit.

UFE SHOWDOWN JUNE 2013

I totally know that its a mental thing.  I know I am not eating properly and stress is getting to me, and I also know I should see that I am leaner then before but I don’t.  For years when I was heavy I dressed like I was thin.  When I got thin (again)  I dressed like I was heavy.  I am completely aware this is some sort of psychological brain fart going on in my female mind but REALLY:?!?  Ugh.  I like to think that I have it together yet I constantly catch myself in the barbie doll mentality

EXPECTATIONS VS. RELALITY

Anyone else?

 

 

 

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24 hours to first bikini competition On April 13, 2013 I competed in my very first bikini fitness bodybuilding competition.  I had an amazing experience and I say its my “first” because it certainly is not going to be my last. The day before the show I went to the gym to do my last workout before the show.  Up until the day before I had drank more than 3 gallons of water for 6 days and the plan for the day before was about 3 liters consumed before 5pm when the plan was to stop drinking water.  I also got to add in carbs again on Friday.  After my disastrous experience on my experimental peak week however I was very cautious with this.  First couple carbs were small apples spaced 2 hours apart.   I went to the gym in the morning and did a whole body circuit workout that took about an hour. After the gym I ran home and showered and shaved and then headed to the tanning salon.  I had done one coat and washed it off the night before, and I spent close to 3 hours standing around naked waiting for the drenching we applied on Friday to dry.  When I just could’nt wait anymore I put on a t-shirt and really big loose pants and ran home only to find that I had messed up the tan and there were blotchy marks all over.  A few moments of panicked ensued as I was already late to leave and go to the athletes meeting.  I took a damp cloth and blended the worst of it.  Then off to the athletes meeting. I admit I had no idea what this was going to consist of.  I didn’t know weather this was something I was supposed to be dressed up for, or weather I was OK as is etc.  Upon arriving at the meeting I immediately saw two very pretty blond girls that were there as competitors as well.  They were tanned very dark with their hair done, 5 inch heels, dresses and makeup done.  I looked like I had rolled out of bed.  Luckily once I entered the correct room more people looked like me then like them and I relaxed.  The athletes meeting really just means you hand in your bio, sign waivers and get your goodies bag and t-shirt.  I met some people and was standing behind a group of 3 girls all first time competitors in my division (bikini open).  The UFE splits ages up at 35 years old.  I am 33. Meaning while many of the girls in the 35 + group competed in the open division as well I was being judged as equal to an 18 or 20 year old… umm pressure?.  No matter I was trying to make frie On my way back home after the athletes meeting I go a hold of the tanning salon and went back for another coat of tanner.  I then went home – finally. Dinner was a small grilled steak and sweet potato wedges with curry and cinnamon in the oven.  I also drank 2 glasses of wine because its supposed to help the carb up and well… Sleep was an issue.  Because I was trying not to ruin the tan I slept on my back, trying to keep my legs from sticking together and my hands from getting sweaty and touching anything.  Plus I was excited.