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Home » Fitness » Pro Prep Diaries: New Years Thoughts

Pro Prep Diaries: New Years Thoughts

By: Liz  /  Published: January 4, 2016  /  Updated: October 30, 2016  /   Leave a comment

As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please see our disclosure policy for details. Thank you for being so supportive!

FIRST OF ALL: The other day at the gym I accidentally unplugged my headphones slightly, so I Was Made for Lovin’ You by KISS blasted out loud to everyone in the vicinity. Cool person cover: BLOWN.

In the interest of being kind to myself this year/this prep, I ordered an acupressure mat & pillow set and a lacrosse ball  from Amazon to use for workout recovery purposes. Both are painful, both are wonderful.

Acupressure mat and lacrosse ball

I picked this mat & this ball

The reason I got the lacrosse ball: a couple of years ago I had a pretty painful shoulder issue, and after much WebMD research, I figured out that it was probably because I had tight pectoral muscles. (Who really thinks to stretch their pecs regularly? I sure didn’t.) So I took a lacrosse ball and pressed/rolled it between my pec and a wall, and after maybe 30 minutes, my shoulder felt SO much better.

Then when I took my first progress pictures of this prep, I noticed that my left lat appears much smaller than my right one. It’s partially because it’s on my non-dominant side, but I thought that maybe with some massage via lacrosse ball rolling, I could release some of the fascia and help it grow a little better.

IT REALLY HURTS, but I will keep you posted on whether it helps correct the imbalance. To be competitive in bodybuilding, your proportions and symmetry have to be as close to perfect as you can get them!

Lacrosse ball rolling

Maybe don’t use the ball on your eye tho

I got the acupressure set because I saw Courtney post it on her Instagram and I was curious!

https://www.instagram.com/p/_seoWewpGk/?taken-by=petiteathleat

I really love how the pillow feels on my neck and on my lower back, so I sit with it in those places while I lay in bed before going to sleep. It makes my skin tomato red afterward, which is a sign of increased circulation.

Anywho, here’s this week’s progress comparison! Lighting is a little different but I think I’m a leeeeetle bit leaner already.

#proprepdiaries Progress Jan 2


Catch the first post in my figure competition prep series here, and follow along with my pro figure competition journey with Instagram hashtag: #proprepdiaries!


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About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

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I’m Liz! Thank you for visiting Eat Move Make. Here you will find a collection of easy & delicious year-round recipes, seasonal ideas, and DIY craft inspiration. Visit my About Me page for more of my story.

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Meet Liz

Hey there, i’m Liz!

I’m the founder of Eat Move Make and a North Carolina mom of two humans and six cats. I love to cook, bake, craft and travel. I’m also addicted to tea (but not sweet tea).

When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

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