A.J.!

[lynx]

How are you doing? How did your shows go if you competed, I know you had some spells prior. Hope things went well for you and you are doing good.

[marilyn]

I've been thinking about AJ as well...was wondering how it all went and how you are doing AJ?

[ashley diesal]

Hey ladies,
thanks for your thoughts so much. I'm doing better compared to where i was at but this rebound now is really bothering me (prob because i thickend up compared to where i was at)

Over all, what i went through was just plain horrible and still not sure what had happened. Between severe hypoglycemia and a bowel impaction among just feeling terrible..Ive prepd before but i never felt like that or even had any medical issues like i did

So i went to the ER, a nurse practitioner, my primary care and also a gastro specialist..Had many blood labs done, urine samples and a ultrasound on my organs..

They also had me do a diabetic blood test where i had to have blood taken being fasted then drink some sugary drink then testing my blood. To see if i was diabetic..Thank God i was'nt but other testing showed what a rollercoaster it had been over the course of 3 months. My gastro did find an impaction..which was treated successfully..Nothing like giving birth through your colon..ooowwww..lol

So what the docotors concluded and all pointed their fingers to were the diet (i know MOST docs dont know much about prepping and the contest diet) well at least my docs..but just eating chicken and ezekial bread for a contest diet is'nt really all that balanced anyway..

So now, yes im feeling better. I got through my 5 day sugar craze i had when i came off my diet. I never crave sugar so that was weird..All i did was sleep for 3 weeks which is odd for me too..Now im not happy where im at. My coach bailed on me when i started having these medical issues so i feel a bit lost in my direction and wondering if i can ever trust someones expertise when it comes to my health..But i need a coach so any suggestions would be appreciated..

So even though i fell short on my show (2 weeks) I still made an incredible transformation for what its worth. In this up coming week i will post my before and after pics of what i did in 3 months..its actually pretty crazy..

Thank you again ladies for your concerns and thoughts........A.J.

[ashley diesal]

and BTW Marilyn..congrats to you!! I'm so happy for you. Your victory is sooo well deserved. I'm sure you had tears of joy in your eyes when receiving your trophy..Good for you girl!

[marilyn]

I'm glad you posted.....I have been thinking about you and want to send you my email to chat from time to time....I am so happy that you are better...I can't imagine what you went through....sounds scarry and painful...

Please be careful and work with someone you trust and always speak out when it just doesn't feel right..your body will tell you, listen to it....your health is MOST important..more than anyone or anything.


Glad you're ok

[lynx]

Wow! I'm glad you are ok, that really sucks.
Your health is way more important than a trophy anyways. I know it's hard sometimes to say no I'm going to stop, but really when you take a step back and do some evaluating it's not worth it to risk your well being. I'm glad you were able to do that.

Your coach bailed on you?!?! Not cool... what was the response you got when these health issues came up?

[ashley diesal]

Originally Posted by lynx

Wow! I'm glad you are ok, that really sucks.
Your health is way more important than a trophy anyways. I know it's hard sometimes to say no I'm going to stop, but really when you take a step back and do some evaluating it's not worth it to risk your well being. I'm glad you were able to do that.

Your coach bailed on you?!?! Not cool... what was the response you got when these health issues came up?

Thanks Lynx,
He basically said he's never had any client that had any medical issues before which i thought was weird. Don't alot of people in some form? and you just work around it..tweak your diet, training or supplements. When i added double sessions of cardio to my training, something ive done many times in the past. thats when my hypoglcyemia issues got terribly worse. He told me to just suck it up and deal with it because it was a part of being a competitor. When things really got out of hand with all the health issues and i decided to bump the show back to another which was 6-7 weeks out to give me time to figure out what was going on and see my doctors. He told me he could'nt work with my any more because all of a sudden he was so busy which i thought was strange because we had agreed to work together on other shows and my off season. I got completly shut down. I understand its buisness but i felt completly abandoned in a scary situation..

Well its a learning experiance if any. Ive wanted to do this show more than anything since 2003 and really had my heart set on it but thats life. So many times we feel so strong and in control, especially when we are hard training in the gym but its amazing how fragile our bodies can be at times and how we really have to respect it..

[pesty4077]

Originally Posted by A.J.

Thanks Lynx,
He basically said he's never had any client that had any medical issues before which i thought was weird. Don't alot of people in some form? and you just work around it..tweak your diet, training or supplements. When i added double sessions of cardio to my training, something ive done many times in the past. thats when my hypoglcyemia issues got terribly worse. He told me to just suck it up and deal with it because it was a part of being a competitor. When things really got out of hand with all the health issues and i decided to bump the show back to another which was 6-7 weeks out to give me time to figure out what was going on and see my doctors. He told me he could'nt work with my any more because all of a sudden he was so busy which i thought was strange because we had agreed to work together on other shows and my off season. I got completly shut down. I understand its buisness but i felt completly abandoned in a scary situation..

Well its a learning experiance if any. Ive wanted to do this show more than anything since 2003 and really had my heart set on it but thats life. So many times we feel so strong and in control, especially when we are hard training in the gym but its amazing how fragile our bodies can be at times and how we really have to respect it..

Aj, I guess there is always 2 sides to every story. I wish the best for you and your health (which is the most important)

[ashley diesal]

Originally Posted by pesty4077

Aj, I guess there is always 2 sides to every story. I wish the best for you and your health (which is the most important)

And you are def right..i still have the response emails so i was sure to look them over before writing all that..I'm sure he told you his side..

[bugaboo0]

I always get constipated on my contest prep diet too. Sucks! I use alot of colon cleansing products and metamucil which helps alot. BTW there alot of really good trainers out there and alot of IFBB pro ones who can even do online training. They have been there and done that.

[phoenix13]

Wow, I'm glad you are ok! There are other contests. If you seriously compromise your health, it could be a problem to deal with the rest of your life. It's hard to know when to say when sometimes b/c we push so hard. I'm glad you took care of yourself.

[ashley diesal]

Originally Posted by phoenix13

Wow, I'm glad you are ok! There are other contests. If you seriously compromise your health, it could be a problem to deal with the rest of your life. It's hard to know when to say when sometimes b/c we push so hard. I'm glad you took care of yourself.

Thank you phoenix! Its just a matter of now, finding a coach that has worked with alot of women..

[angel29]

I too was curious about you AJ. Glad you are doing well and recovering. So sorry to here about your recent situation. I know your dissappointed but the gains you have made are definately something to be proud of.
I am curious though... When I first saw your before & after pics on the AJ thread posted in Jan 09 it says you made that tranformation in 3 months. I assumed it was a recent transformation, however I see in this post that you have wanted this since 2003. When did you actually start training? Has this been a hobby for a few years now?

[ashley diesal]

Originally Posted by angel29

I too was curious about you AJ. Glad you are doing well and recovering. So sorry to here about your recent situation. I know your dissappointed but the gains you have made are definately something to be proud of.
I am curious though... When I first saw your before & after pics on the AJ thread posted in Jan 09 it says you made that tranformation in 3 months. I assumed it was a recent transformation, however I see in this post that you have wanted this since 2003. When did you actually start training? Has this been a hobby for a few years now?

Hey angel,
Thank you very much for your concern, thats very thoughtful of you.. As for those pix from 2006 I started training a month before (consistently). My recent transformation really puts that to shame. I look back in how stringy my arms were and had def gained much muscle over the past 3 years..Ive wanted to do the Jay Cutler Classic since 2003. I was completly blown away with the quality of the physiques. My first show-INBF Monster mash, was a good show but def didnt compare for many reasons..I may have not made it this year..but there is always 2010..Ive adopted this as my life style and accepting its not all about that one show..but many to follow as well

[angel29]

Originally Posted by A.J.

Hey angel,
Thank you very much for your concern, thats very thoughtful of you.. As for those pix from 2006 I started training a month before (consistently). My recent transformation really puts that to shame. I look back in how stringy my arms were and had def gained much muscle over the past 3 years..Ive wanted to do the Jay Cutler Classic since 2003. I was completly blown away with the quality of the physiques. My first show-INBF Monster mash, was a good show but def didnt compare for many reasons..I may have not made it this year..but there is always 2010..Ive adopted this as my life style and accepting its not all about that one show..but many to follow as well

Well that is some serious personal dedication. I really applaud you and your transformation is still a daily reminder to keep me motivated. I don't wish to accomplish such gains as yours, but I do wish to lean my body a bit and fill the "loose" area's (from serious weightloss) with hard muscle. I agree that fitness/training does become a lifestyle for the determined/strong.

Please keep us posted on your future progress and your health issues...wishing you a speedy recovery to good health and lots of luck on your next goal... I'll be tuned in!!