Keri Lynn Ford

My mantra for the next seven weeks is "less thinking, more doing". It's not like I haven't been doing this already, but it is a great reminder to quiet those noisy inner voices. Push through being tired, sore, hungry, full, lazy... whatever it might be.

These last couple of months leading to the WBFF stage are not only about dialing my body in, but also about the "performance" details which includes hairstyle, spray tan, jewelry, shoes, bikinis, possible theme wear, possible gown, photo shoot and travel details.

I am enjoying the fact that my cardio was cut back this week, but the workouts are intense and I am pushing HARD. I am still sore from a workout I did almost five days ago! Sprints have also become part of my workouts.

I rotate these four days. Just to give you an idea, this is how my weekly sprint workout looks:
• Day 1: six (one minute) sprints cycled through my lifting sets
• Day 2: six (one minute) sprints in a row before cardio
• Day 3: series of twenty (thirty second) sprints
• Day 4: no sprints

I really hate sprints, but I know they are going to help lean me out and show my level of conditioning. It's just a little boost to burn off some sugars before I start my cardio. I beat my 20-series sprint time (previously over 18 minutes) and did all thirty second sprints in under 14:55!!!!!!!! Woohoo! I wouldn't say I was barely winded, but I felt like a beast on the treadmill! I can even see other muscles in my arms and shoulders starting to pop, and it actually encouraged me to workout in a tank top last night. Fun tip: I hate working out in tank tops!

Food prep at it's finest!
A peek inside my veggie drawer.A typical meal: 3oz green beans, 3oz sweet potato, 3oz tilapia

Cheers to sleeveless shirts!
xoxo
K

I bet you won't be able to guess how I spent my St. Patrick's Day, haha! Friday night I felt like I had an eyelash in my eye and although it felt irritated, I thought nothing of it and went to bed hoping to feel relief the next morning. When I woke up Saturday I STILL felt that damn eyelash in my eye so I grabbed my magnified mirror to investigate and I saw a little black dot on the iris of my eye. I washed my hands and tried to gently "wipe it away" with my fingertip only to have it not move. My eye also became extremely angry with me for irritating the clear source of discomfort... sooo I decided I had better go to the eye doctor to have them check it out.

Upon checking my vision (which was fine) and then examining my eye in their crazy magnifying, flashlight machine thingie, the doctor told me I had a piece of metal embedded in my eye and that it was already rusting!!! WHAT?! How the HELL did I get RUSTED METAL in my eye?!!!! Maybe I should rock this look?I could only come up with two possible sources: a teeny, tiny piece of foil or a single metal filing off of a dumbbell. I mean, what else could it be? He quickly sent me off to urgent care and used the word "emergency" when he phoned them. Ten minutes later, I was reading eye charts again and having them re-examine my eye. Yes. Yes, I did indeed have rusted metal embedded in my eye and they would need to remove it. Um, and how were they going to remove it? They used numbing drops and a sharp tool to dig it out while I had to sit AWAKE with them prodding in my eye. Last January I had gotten LASIK (you are awake for that too) and this wasn't nearly as scary, although I was all choked up on the verge of tears anyway. The doctor was successful in removing the metal and all the rust, but I had to sport a giant white eye patch until the next morning. As upset as I was about having a patch over my eye, I was more annoyed that my Saturday workout and Sunday rest day were switched on me. Aside from a little burning, I felt no pain and yesterday I was as good as new. If you see me training with my eyes closed or wearing safety goggles now though, you will understand why. 

Since I was now "patch-less", I hopped right back in the saddle to complete Saturday's workout on Sunday. I'm curious to see how my body will change by the end of this week. I am also rotating four days of different diets that are designed to help my body shed some additional fat. Hello OATMEAL, avocado and egg yolks! I actually am able to have oatmeal three out of the four day rotation, which as you know... is very exciting for me. My cardio was also cut back to one session immediately following weight training for this week. I am still doing an hour of cardio, but somehow it feels like so little compared to what I was used to doing! I actually have several new early morning clients I am training in the gym now, so it is great motivation to get my workouts out of the way before the day starts! I honestly still feel like I am missing something, but I will embrace being DONE with the gym all in one trip for the time being because who knows what my cardio will be next week!! :)

Aye aye!
xoxo
Pirate Keri 

P.S. Did you know that September 19th is "International Talk Like a Pirate" Day? (And there is an entire site dedicated on how to do it?!)

Yesterday I popped out of bed with my head already buzzing with to do lists. I was grateful for my rest day because the way I tore up the gym this week was no joke. Every set I pushed to lift a little heavier. Every rep I lifted to completion. Every time I felt pain I reminded myself that THIS is what it takes.

On Monday my diet changed too which is making me feel a little more sane. I also have more energy because the calories are higher. I still miss the love of my life (aka oatmeal) though. I just LOVE oatmeal. I'll be excited when I can have that and some fruit again, haha! Oh, the little things. However, I am enjoying several new additions to my diet including avocado, egg yolks and brussel sprouts.

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day preparing, measuring and packing all of my specific meals and supplements for the weekend. My husband and I are going to Mammoth with a group of friends this weekend. While I am not a huge fan of skiing (mainly because I am not very good at it), I know it will be a fun escape... as long as no one starts helping themselves to my precious weighed food in the fridge :) What are your plans for this weekend?

Pretty much how I spend my entire time skiing. lol

Today was check in day for me and although I have not had any weightloss this week, my body feels and looks different almost daily. Having said that, I get antsy that my body is not progressing fast enough. I just try to stay positive and have faith that my body will just keep changing little by little and come together as the weeks dwindle down. I have less than 14 weeks until my WBFF Kansas City show!

In other news, not only am I a sponsored athlete with GEO and Eggology.. for the past year I have been working on the design and brand development of Eggology's International relaunch! You will see these new labels on Eggology products in Whole Foods nationally. What do you guys think?

xoxo
Keri 

A few months ago I received an email from a woman named Tricia who said she wanted to interview me about my life as a Fitness Model and GEO Sponsored Fitness Competitor. A little skeptical, I agreed to do an in-person interview with her at a local Starbucks during one of my head-spinning-busiest-weeks-ever and I am so glad I made the time to meet with her! Thank you, Tricia, for your interest in interviewing me!

You can read her recap on her first impressions of me, find out what it's really like to take my Ignite group fitness class and see what my 2012 goals are with the WBFF (World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation) on her website at: triciaanne.com/

Tricia Anne is a Communications graduate from Radford University who is a Public Relations Professional and Extreme Sports and Fitness Blogger.

Well, this weekend was pretty rough. I am exhausted and I'm having one of those "why am I doing this again?" kind of days. On Saturday I "cheated" and ate two bowls of oatmeal (see what happens when we ration out oatmeal?!), one egg yolk, strawberries, Corn Thins (rice cakes) and a bite of a protein cookie. Ok, ok. I know these are normal foods, but not all of these are in my diet plan at the moment. I just finished doing a crazy three-week fat-burning diet that made me drop a few stubborn pounds and I am down to 115lb - woohoo!

Starting Friday I had that familiar tight feeling in my throat.. you know, the one where you are feeling burned out on the edge of exhaustion and you can feel your body fighting off something? I was supposed to go to the gym to do cardio this weekend, but after teaching two bootcamps and a headache I just couldn't muster up the energy. I even ended up taking a nap on Saturday afternoon which I never do! Part of me wants to say, suck it up and soldier on... this is what it is supposed to feel like!!! And the other part of me wonders, "when is it ok to listen to your body?" At the end of the day, I know my body best and I opted to listen to it. I would like to think I know the difference between "soldiering on" and when my body truly needs a day to recharge. I also know that I hadn't had a rest day in over a week.

On a positive note, I went shopping with my cousin on Friday and bought the hottest pair of SIZE 25, blue pants. I hate the shoes they have pictured here, but how hot are these pants?!

Did you all watch the Superbowl? I was routing for the Giants and I am so happy they won! What a game.. literally until the last second! Now I am off to the GYM and the grocery store to stock up on foods for the next phase of my diet.

xoxo
Keri