Hi all, I've just layed around most of the day today.....not feeling well. I spoke with my nutritionist today. We discussed the "plan" for nationals. He told me to take another week off from training....let my body rest. Then the plan is to start a "bulking" phase for about 4 weeks. I need to put on a few lbs of muscle in my upper body before Nationals in November. It is amazing how fast you can put on muscle if your diet is high enough in the proper calories. Since I was 5 1/2% bodyfat at Team U, he told me not to get above 9% during my bulking phase. I have to get my body used to a higher calorie intake again, so then it will drop fat properly when I start dropping my calories closer to contest. Gotta keep that metabolism burnin!!! I find this part of training so fascinating....nutrition really is 90% of contest prep! The training part comes so easy for me, I am totally addicted to working out. The diet is and always will be the hardest part. Well, the kids are wanting me to fix them something to eat....and I've got about 10 loads of laundry to do:) I'll write again soon.

Tami