Bodybuilding Pics Are In! - Derek

The aforementioned pictures of my very first bodybuilding shoot have arrived. Check them out (here). Please remember that despite all the practicing, I am far from a master at posing technique yet. That shoot was a great chance for me to practice dieting and exercise techniques on myself, rather than as I usually do on my clients : ). It was a valuable learning experience to say the least, and as Marcella and I prepare for the next one this March I have a refined game plan that will hopefully get both of us into even better shape.


For those who are interested, I will soon be posting our exercise strategies, routines, and diet strategies as we prepare. While likely few readers have a physique photo shoot as their upcoming goal, our plans will hopefully be helpful to those both looking to gain muscle and/or lose bodyfat. And speaking of physique photos, it may also prove useful for any readers that are participating in this years' 12 Week Challenge. To you and everyone else, good luck, work hard, and keep eating your produce!

A Note on Resolutions for 2010 anda Meal Plan to Come!! - Marcella

This is my personal opinion, by the way, and not necessarily Derek's:

There's a big difference between committing to accomplish something and committing to "give something a try".

If you've committed to improving your diet and exercise this year, congrats to you: the spectacular way you're about to feel in your own body is reward beyond anything you could receive by accomplishing any other goal. Really, it's not hyperbole - all other achievements follow from the way you feel and the way others perceive you, and being confident and comfortable in your own skin is key.

If you've decided to "try" to improve these things, you may as well not bother because you've already decided to fail. You've gone and already built in an excuse for your failure by adopting such a sorry excuse for a commitment: after all, you never said that you definitely would, just that you'd try, and things have just been so hectic, and etc., etc....Life is probably never going to provide you with the perfect backdrop to reach your goals with ease, and really, why expect such ease anyway? Is a goal that allows you to pamper yourself along the whole way really worth reaching?

Don't make it an all-or-nothing thing, either, as that's another way to doom yourself to failure unless you're a Buddhist monk. Indulge once in a while and feel no guilt. I'd say a reasonable guideline is healthy 95% of the time, indulgent 5% of the time - that's my opinion only, however.

Just my thoughts as I prepare to post an awesome, full-blown meal plan with recipes and shopping lists that can make it relatively straightforward to achieve the above goals. It's in Excel format (I can finally put those work-derived spreadsheet skills to use), and I'm going to figure out how to make it download-able from our website. The first week is done, and I'll leave it to Derek's discretion whether to make the following weeks password-protected for client's use only.

We'll be following this plan over the next 2 months at least as we work to get in the best possible shape we can, both for our photo shoot and our wedding this June. I've made it as hectic-lifestyle friendly as possible, considering I literally schedule my day out in half-hour increments and have about 1.5 hours per day to be messing around with preparing food. I'm sure it's imperfect, but that's the bonus of a download-able format - alter to suit yourself!

Happy New Year! - Derek

After a long and eventful absence I'd like to wish everyone a strong and motivated start to 2010. While most people I've talked to (as well as myself) didn't exactly stick to their diet plans 100% over the holidays, January is a great time to get back on track and strive for your goals as we look forward to the upcoming spring. A few notes on where we've been the past 2 months:

• Visited family and worked out at Gold's Gym in San Diego
• Moved into our first home on Thanksgiving day
• I had my first bodybuilding photo shoot (pictures to come)
• Celebrated Christmas!
• Spent lots of quality time with heavy weights. And family.
  

We are also currently training for a March photo shoot where we will do couples posing and even some themed fantasy photos, so stay tuned for our game plans as that approaches.

Until next time, eat plenty of beans and greens!

Black Bean Cakes - Marcella

Easy Black Bean Cakes (pictured with roasted corn salsa)

• can of black beans, drained really well
• 1/2 green bell pepper, minced
  
• 1/2 onion, minced
  
• 2 tsp cumin
• salt to taste
  
• whole wheat bread crumbs, or alternative flour (soy, almond, garbanzo bean)
• 1 -2 tsp olive oil or cooking spray
  

1. Mash the first five ingredients together with a fork or potato masher. Add as much bread crumbs or flour as necessary to keep it from being too sticky and form it into patties (if you have cooking spray it helps to spray your hands with it a bit first - that also works for measuring sticky things in measuring cups or spoons).
2. Heat oil or cooking spray in frying pan, add patties and cook on each side til browned - probably 5 minutes per side or so. Easy.
3. For topping you could do sliced avocados, plain salsa from a jar, pico de gallo, and/or roasted corn (available frozen at Trader Joe's).