Tag psychology

Food Porn

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Mouth and chocolate

If you have ever heard competitors talk about forbidden foods, you have most likely squirmed in your seat as these individuals moaned and squealed with obscene delight as they described favorite dishes in great detail. It is no surprise why fitness people refer to certain foods as “food porn” because they are so taboo. The highly restrictive nature of contest prep meal plans heightens the appeal of foods such as macaroni and cheese, chocolate cake, baby back ribs, French fries, burgers, pizza, etc. (I imagine that those of you who are involved in fitness are salivating after reading that list). Some people actually plan out a restaurant attack based on all the foods they want to eat post photo shoot or competition. I still find it amusing that The Cheesecake Factory has become almost the standard across the country for a post-contest cheat meal, because it has an enormous menu sure to please the palates of ravenous competitors who want to eat everything in sight after being deprived for so long.

Whenever I compete, I have a peculiar habit of keeping the hotel television turned on and set on the Food Network 24 hours a day. Whether it’s Cupcake Wars, Man Versus Food, Chopped, or Drivers, Diners and Dives, I love capturing glimpses of delectable offerings whenever I am in the room. The strange thing is that it isn’t torturous for me at all. It’s actually comforting in a bizarre and voyeuristic way, because I live vicariously through the individuals who indulge in foods that I could only dream of eating. I can sit there and imagine how a dish would smell and taste. Isn’t that how porn works too?

When competitors and people who diet are deprived of decadent foods and suddenly get a glimpse of the forbidden foods, the visual appeal can be staggering. Since we are also animals, we become more intrigued by the things we cannot have, whether it’s delicious food or sloppy sex. When we indulge in either of these activities, we tend to make sounds which reveal the bliss that we are experiencing in that moment. Scientifically, the pleasure centers in our brains are triggered strongly by a fantastic meal or incredible sex. It seems that the phrase “food porn” is quite fitting indeed.

Jump In, The Water’s Warm

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JB5_4435_VZXTSPROPX (1)Ever since I earned my IFBB Pro Card in July, I have been challenged by the universe in a number of ways. Instead of boring you with all the details, suffice it to say that there have been significant upheavals which have forced me to rethink and repattern my life. For a couple of weeks I was fine, then I suddenly sank into situational depression, partially due to the fact that I no longer had a Pro Card to chase after. I didn’t know what to do without a show strategy, so I began to redefine my reasons for being in the sport of competitive bodybuilding. As I began to do that, my body began to rebel, holding onto excess water. I struggled for two months, trying desperately to get back on track.

My entire amateur career was well thought out, with a contest strategy planned out every year. I had files on every contest I planned to do, with notes on accommodations, etc. I would book travel details and submit my entry forms well in advance and make sure that every little detail was attended to. I strongly believed that such habits would remain after I went Pro. Not so. In fact, I planned on one event, then decided against it for financial reasons. I then considered competing at two different events in November but took a wait-and-see attitude because my body was still rebelling and holding water.

Then I dove in and made some terrifying but necessary changes. I left one team and joined another, then decided to prep for an event in my hometown. A little over one week after that, I decided at the last minute to also do a contest in Northern California, faxed my contract over immediately and was locked in. I have been scrambling to get my spray tan and food lined up and haven’t practiced my posing at all. I have no idea what I will bring to the stage. This time, I am allowing the current to take me where I am supposed to go. It has been a wild ride to say the least, but I honestly feel that the universe has put all this before me in order for me to grow and move beyond constraints that have been in my life for a while.

If you are in a rut, allow a bit of randomness and chaos to infiltrate your routine. You may be pleasantly surprised by what it brings.

Holding Yourself Accountable

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It can be very difficult to stay on track with a structured meal plan or training regimen. Heck, I have even heard people talk about how difficult it is to remember to take daily supplements or to floss regularly. The parent inside of each of us often struggles to keep everything in line so that guilt doesn’t set in. When we fall off track, it can be very easy to rationalize the errant behavior, reasoning that perhaps we needed the extra carbs or needed to take a day off training after all.

Just-Do-It-NowFor those of us who are in the fitness world, especially those of us who compete, there is so much structure to our regimens that it is easier to keep ourselves in line. We are conditioned to keep our blinders on and stay the course with food and training. But those who are not immersed in the world of fitness and bodybuilding tend to struggle more with a regular regimen. If no specific fitness or health goal is defined, people tend to zigzag with their regimens, adding more unscheduled fun meals, more alcohol, and more missed trips to the gym.

If you are one of those people who tend to fall off track more easily, there are some guidelines which you can follow (listed below) which will help to keep you in line. More importantly, however, you need to remind yourself WHY holding yourself accountable is beneficial. When you hold yourself accountable, you stoke a fire that propels you towards your health goals. By staying on track, you develop a “can-do” attitude which extends into all areas of your life.

Do somethingHere are some tips on how to keep you on track with your eating habits and exercise plan.

1. Train with a trainer. When you work out with a trainer, you become accountable to that trainer. You need to show up and do the work!
2. Train with a friend. Similar to training with a trainer, when you and a friend agree to meet for a workout, you hold each other accountable. I always recommend setting a day and time and then prohibiting each other from cancelling, no-showing or rescheduling.
3. Prep and pack your food in advance. Prepare your day’s food the night before and store it in individual serving containers so that you can easily pack them into a bag the next morning.
4. Keep junk foods and snacks out of your kitchen. If you have tempting foods in your kitchen, you risk sabotaging your own efforts to stay on a healthy eating plan.

Remember that you can maintain focus on healthy patterns. Keep your eye on the prize!

Ignore The Haters! An Article For Those Who Compete

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Original post can be found at http://www.rxmuscle.com/rx-girl-articles/9306-ignore-the-haters.html

ignore-the-hatersMany of you ladies are well acquainted with the rigors of contest prep and understand the level of intensity and commitment required. Some of you are fortunate enough to have a great support network in which partners, family, coworkers and friends are in your cheering section and encourage all of your efforts. Unfortunately, however, some competitors may have to deal with people who discourage them or in some fashion try to interfere with their prep. I have heard husbands complain that their wives spend too much time in the gym or cannot eat restaurant meals with them. A few of my clients have lamented that family members or friends actually got angry with them for training so hard or for being so driven. The less the hater knows about the world of bodybuilding, the harsher the criticism becomes, usually as a result of ignorance and the perpetuation of erroneous stereotypes about bodybuilding.

I once had a client who almost talked herself out of competing as a reaction to her ultra-conservative mother’s opinion of bodybuilding contests. Her mother was horrified by the idea that women actually got onstage in bikinis and was deeply resistant to the idea of her daughter doing such a thing. It did not matter that her daughter was in her 30’s with children of her own. What was so sad was that everyone else in my client’s life was supportive and encouraging. For once this woman was paying attention to herself instead of doling out her energy to her spouse, children and parents, and it met with resistance.

Another frequent complaint, and one which I have heard personally, is one in which the loved one bitches about how stupid it seems to chase after a national qualification, IFBB Pro Card or Olympia qualification. Those who do not compete cannot fully appreciate the reasons competitors have to reach for that carrot. The drive is deep and in most cases incredibly personal. There is no question that competing can be extremely expensive, and it can be very frustrating to deal with less than stellar placings which push us to do more contests in order to reach our goals. It is also true that the allure of a Pro Card can fool some competitors into thinking that attaining Pro status will deliver much more than acceptance into the prestigious IFBB ranks (such as supplement company contracts, magazine covers, etc.). However, if you are realistic and are pursuing the next level of achievement for your own personal reasons, then declare that when someone tries to criticize you. My advice is to dig your heels in and fight for your right to do something that is inspiring and empowering.

You may have people in your life who believe that you are getting too ripped and muscular. Invariably the people who make such remarks are not weightlifters, so they do not understand the mentality of those who lift and thus are not comfortable with the idea of building and sculpting muscle. If you are in a bulking phase, your appearance can be especially jarring for those who do not appreciate muscle, and the negative comments are likely to increase in frequency. It’s no surprise that those of us who compete tend to hang out with other lifters in an effort to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who can relate to what we go through and who won’t fling negative comments about our muscularity or vascularity our way.

Perhaps you only deal with minimal criticism but still have trouble processing it. I know that the majority of you who compete have been in situations where family, friends or coworkers have tried to convince you to abandon your strict meal plan, telling you that “just this once” won’t hurt you. They may even resort to accusing you of being a stick in the mud for not caving into peer pressure. It is at times like these that you need to remind yourself of your goals and that adherence to your meal plan is an insurance plan to being on point when contest day arrives. You know that every time you fall off the wagon, so to speak, you jeopardize everything you have spent the past few weeks or months to build. Why do yourself such a disservice only to appease others? Do not bother yourself with what they think, because it is not worth it.

Consider the reasons why you compete and what kind of satisfaction you get from competing. Are you really going to let the people in your life drag you down and criticize you for doing something that you enjoy? Remember that your journey is not only about physical transformation, it is also spiritual. You are all grown women with minds of your own, so STAND YOUR GROUND!

Why Being Single Sucks

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Though I will never advocate staying in a relationship in which you are miserable for the sake of being in a relationship, I have always been relationship-minded. I am programmed to devote my time and energy to one man and am puzzled by people who can play the field without any difficulty. To me it is like eating a bunch of different foods at an all-you-can-eat buffet where there are so many choices that you never really savor the flavor of anything. Dating is so random, rather empty, and can often feel more like an interview than a social interaction.
couple-on-a-dinner-date-article
I have been single since April and have hated every minute of it. I hadn’t realized how ridiculously high my standards were until I gave some thought recently to the essential criteria which anyone who would spark my interest enough to date would need to possess. Such pondering has made me believe that the men I would gravitate towards only exist in fairy tales. How could I possibly find someone VERY fit (as in fitness model level or above), VERY attractive, tall, preferably younger, financially secure, geographically close, possessed of decent values, devoted, honest, interesting, affectionate, attentive without being clingy, chivalrous, generous, protective, open to a lifelong commitment, interested in attending fitness and bodybuilding events with me, who truly understands what clean eating is and who won’t sabotage my efforts to prep for shoots or contests? I would say that is a very tall order!

Another thing that runs through my mind is that it is very difficult for me to dine out, especially if I am prepping for a contest. Most restaurant fare is out for me. I am also amazed by how much alcohol some people like to consume during a dinner, and I find it horrifying. I wonder if the guy really needs all that booze to disinhibit himself, and I also become wary that such a man may become presumptuous at the end of the dinner and make an idiot out of himself by making some sort of overt and unwelcome pass at me. Besides, my cheat meals are few and far between, so there is no way I could fill my social calendar while also following a clean meal plan. My fitness goals are far more important than succumbing to peer pressure at a restaurant with someone I barely know!

Being in single mode means the interviews will take place and I will have to assess whether a man has any potential with respect to dating. Something tells me I will spend most of my nights in front of the TV alone instead of putting myself out there. I have no desire to potentially endure the dreaded date in which you know within minutes that there is no love connection and must suffer through the duration of the lunch or dinner. I am also not thrilled with the idea of losing time in the evenings when I could be writing articles, doing food prep or working out.

I truly miss being in a relationship. There is nothing better when the relationship is great and you are always made to feel special and loved no matter what. What I miss the most about being in a relationship is snuggling on the couch to watch a movie, waking up next to the man I love, seeing his personal belongings here and there in the house, his smell, his smile, and his kisses. Hopefully the universe will reward me eventually.

Yes It’s True…I Hate Pink

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PinkI hate the color pink with a passion, regardless of whether it’s baby, bubble gum, rose, magenta, hot, blush, fuschia, or any other shade in the pink portion of the spectrum. So it bothers me to no end when people, especially men, assume that every female likes pink and that all females should identify with the color since it is a “girl’s” color. I am not a fan of gender stereotyping and find myself delighted when I hear a woman say she hates pink, or that she refuses to dress her young daughter in pink. Amen to that!

My mother certainly fell under the gender constraints which dictated that her daughter must wear pink, but thankfully she allowed me to assert my personality and hatred of pink in my day to day wear. However, I did not win the battle when it came to my yearly portrait sitting. In fact, there were SEVERAL years in which I was made to wear baby pink chiffon dresses to my portrait sitting. This was utter torture for me, because I felt like a poof of pink cotton candy, ultra-girly and completely unlike the tomboyish girl I was. My mom would point out that I would only have to wear a dreaded pink garment for a few hours, and that pink was SUCH a good color on me. Truth be told, many shades of pink flatter my complexion very well, but the mere sight of pink just turns my stomach and I will not wear it, period.

Some people may regard pink as a happy, calming, comforting color, but to me, it is just plain UGLY. Even with purple, which is one of my favorite colors, any strong leaning towards the pink spectrum and I will choose a different color entirely. I look at pink and I think of Pepto-Bismol and weakness. It is very safe to assume that I will reject anything (that includes clothing, accessories, decor items, etc.) that is pink. I can guarantee that I will never have logos or merchandise which have the color pink in them. It was difficult for me to pick an image for this blogpost because I knew it had to be pink. My hatred of pink is consistent and pervasive.

Pink is NOT for this girl!

Just Because I CAN Open The Door, Doesn’t Mean I Should…

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door-hold-not-quiteI am starting to get very tired of men who are trying to kill the principle of chivalry by abandoning gestures that make a woman feel special and cared for. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that I am physically strong with visible muscular development, or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I am a mentally strong and independent woman. However, just about every woman I know likes having doors opened for her and having chairs pulled out when she is about to sit down. Call me old-fashioned, but I have always considered such things the mark of a gentleman rather than as a sign of male chauvinism.

Another thing that irks me is when men do not make any move to help if a woman is carrying a bunch of heavy items. Some will even complain that they do not want to be seen as strong men capable of lifting and moving heavy objects because then they feel obligated to help out. When you consider the fact that men outweigh women and have more muscle mass than women, wouldn’t it make sense to offer to help? I have moved 7-1/2 feet tall Noble Firs into the house for Christmas with no help whatsoever, almost throwing my back out in the process. I have also injured my shoulder and wrist when carrying heavy things by myself because men (make that BOYS) were unwilling to help out.

Just to make things very clear, I like having doors opened for me, and I regard offers to help me move items a sign of regard for my safety. I will never take such offers as insults. Men who do such things have manners, something that is seriously lacking in the younger generations.

No Sense Of Direction

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The advent of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation has been a godsend, especially for people with poor spatial orientation or sense of direction. Even those like me with adequate directional skills who were getting tired of thumbing through Thomas Guides have been grateful for GPS navigation. As a matter of fact, I can no longer imagine having a car without navigation built into it (thankfully, many car manufacturers are making this feature standard in some car models), and when I travel I make good use of the navigation application on my cell phone.

GPS and BrainHere is what I don’t like about GPS navigation. I don’t think people pay nearly as much attention to where they are going, and instead act sort of like drones as they follow the directions on the navigation system without looking at their surroundings. It is as though the virtual roads are more ingrained in our memories than the actual terrain on which we are traveling. This means that we never fully experience the mental mapping that usually occurs when we are fully aware of our surroundings. In addition, if we make a wrong turn, GPS systems simply recalculate, so we never learn to re-map, and instead blindly follow the adjusted prompts.

While typing this I ran across an excellent article on The Boston Globe site which is a must-read.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/08/17/our-brains-pay-price-for-gps/d2Tnvo4hiWjuybid5UhQVO/story.html

Honestly, I think we need to pay more attention to the real world in front of us instead of allowing technology to turn us into idiots. Go ahead and use the GPS, but be aware of your surroundings as you travel around. Your brain will benefit.

What Will YOU Do With A Pro Card?

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Ah yes, the Pro Card. The International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) awards Pro Status to hardworking bodybuilding athletes everywhere. Plenty of individuals who are enchanted by the idea of chasing after Pro Status in the bodybuilding world are under the erroneous impression that their lives will change dramatically upon winning a Pro card. While it is certainly a privilege and an honor to achieve Pro status, don’t think for a second that fame and fortune will suddenly descend upon the new Pro. The majority of new IFBB Pros still have to hustle to get sponsorships lined up, and they still have to figure out how finance upcoming competitions. With the slump in print magazine readership it has become more difficult than ever to secure a cover or a feature article, even as a Pro.

It is far more important to showcase your particular talents and strengths and build your career and your brand well BEFORE even attaining Pro status. Every single thing I have done since I started competing in 2009 was done as an amateur and was fueled by my desire to increase branding and exposure. So for those of you who hunger for that Pro card, don’t forget about what you are doing right now. The path you are walking in that race for the Pro card is your foundation for a great future in fitness and bodybuilding. Don’t risk messing up that foundation by forgetting about all the details which will get you to the Pro ranks.

One final note: I am aware of a large number of people who have jumped ship and joined other federations in their quest for Pro status. While some have made the switch in a diplomatic way, others have been so dazzled by the Pro status prize that they opted for an easier route. If switching federations is a better fit for you, then fine. But if you just want a Pro title so badly that this is the ONLY reason for switching, you might shift your focus on building your brand instead and hang up your competition hat. Remember, competing should be FUN. When you stop enjoying it, you need to retire from the stage.

Daruma Finally Has Two Eyes

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A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post about a Japanese good luck charm known as a Daruma (please refer to

https://drstaceynaito.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/japanese-good-luck-darumas/

for original post). I described the power of putting a wish or intention into one of these figurines as a way of focusing on that wish and also as a way of asking Bodhidharma for guidance in making that wish come true. I also revealed that I had a Daruma for IFBB Pro Status which had been sitting on my desk since 2010 with only his right pupil painted in. As the hot weather approached I stopped sitting at my desk since it is in the one room in the house which has no central air conditioning. In an effort to keep my mind focused on my goal, I took a photo of the Daruma and used it as the wallpaper image on my phone.

I would see the image of the Daruma on my phone every single day and be reminded of why I wanted to achieve this goal. It made me push through very challenging times including job loss, the dissolution of a relationship, financial woes, and physical injuries. I was determined to give Daruma his left pupil. When I arrived in New Jersey for the NPC Team Universe contest, I found myself actually staring at the image of the one eyed Daruma. This was meditative, calming, but possessed of complete focus on my goal of winning an IFBB Pro Card.

About three hours after I earned my Pro Card the thought occurred to me that I would be able to paint in the left pupil I had waited years to do, and this became a high priority item as soon as I returned home. After setting my bags down, I sat down with my Daruma and calmly filled in the left pupil and thanked the universe and Bodhidharma for making a highly coveted dream come true.

My IFBB Pro Card Daruma...with two eyes now!

My IFBB Pro Card Daruma…with two eyes now!