I'm Struggling

I'm struggling. That explains it. I've been MIA because I have a number of pressing issues on my plate right now, I don't know which way is up. I'm OK, I'm healthy and I'll be back on and posting when I have my feet on solid ground.

Thanks For Sharing

I hate when I catch myself sweating the small stuff. I think that I'm more progressed when it comes to that, but it catches me sometimes. Hey, I'm human. I bring this up because I was pissed off at something a few minutes ago at someone I love, and I read a post by a blogger I am following (In the Life of Mary http://lifeofmaryr.blogspot.com/) and it stopped me in my tracks. It brought me back to reality and reminded me that life is too short to get pissed off at the small things.

I've also been thinking lately about how people come into our lives when they are supposed to. Over the past year, I have made some amazing friends and connections with people I never could have imagined. I am so very thankful for these awesome people in my life. The past couple of years have been particularly challenging for me. I've dealt with the loss of my mother, aunt and grandfather, the loss of my job (hopefully temporary), gone through a divorce, problems with my children... there is more, but you get the point. I have made good decisions and bad decisions and have learned from every one of them. Some have hurt and some have been exhilarating. I am evolving as a human being with the help of others and again, I am thankful. I feel so fortunate, blessed if you will, that through the challenges there is light, there is joy, there is progress. I just wanted to share these observations.

On another note, my legs are on fire! If it wasn't for the 100 ass to the ground squats last night in addition to 100 lunges and all the other grueling activities my trainer had us do in class, today was leg day. I met my trainer Jenn at the gym today after an important meeting I had this morning that had me stressed. I just wanted to bang it out and be done. I love that "done" feeling. We hit it good, and my legs are paying the price. I feel accomplished and I just love that feeling.

By the way, the small stuff I was referring to earlier was this. As most of you know food prep can be time consuming to say the least. Now if you have other people to cook for it makes it a bit longer and it's so tempting when you are making yummy food that you can't even taste because you've set your goal and that doesn't fit in. My husband knows what's "my food" but he took some of it, not all of it, but some of it and didn't tell me. So when I went for it tonight I was like "this isn't 3 oz., did I screw up?" So I text my husband and he admits to taking what he knows is my food because he was tired and hungry and proceeds to tell me that I'm too focused on food. I remind him of my goal and this is what it takes to get me there, etc. etc. But since this was all through texts because he is working, he stopped responding and I just have to leave it alone. I'm not going to hold on to it. I will however speak to him at another time so that we are on the same page.

Anybody else understand where I'm coming from? Let me hear ya, I may be overreacting so if I am I need to hear it.

There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. ~ John F. Kennedy

I like to start my blog posts with a quote and kind of center the post around it. Today I chose the quote above for a couple of reasons. First, I think this quote speaks to most of us trying to do something extraordinary while still trying to maintain every other aspect of our lives. Our marriage or relationship, our work, our children, our families, our household and any other obligation that we may have. It can be tough. Second, I understand and have experienced the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. I bring this up tonight because I gave up time with my children to get my workout in tonight, and doing so always raises the question "is it worth it?" And while I can think of no better time spent than time spent enjoying my family, I can think along the lines of this quote and say YES! Yes, it is worth it. I know by taking care of my body, and working toward a goal are very powerful actions to take, not always an easy task, but important for my children to see. I believe it's important to set the example that you, and only you, have responsibility over your body (with a few exceptions of course). At the beginning of this year and for 2 years before that, my triglycerides were sky high. The normal range is anything less than 150 and in February of 2009 they were 383! Oh yes, I meant sky high. I finally realized I needed to get my act together and that I was paying a price for being inactive and overweight. I opened myself up to many health risks including heart disease, diabetes and pancreatitis. I'm 31 years old! I don't want those risks in my life, nobody does. But not many want to do what it takes to lower their risks of certain health ailments. I want to watch my children grow up, and start their own lives, not be in a hospital or on 50 medications because of my own undoing. I deserve better; they deserve better. That is why I will sacrifice some time with them now, to get my workout in. At the end of July 2009, I went back to the doctor and had follow up blood work. Triglycerides came in at 167; 216 mg lower than 5 months before. I'm still a little high (over 150) but nowhere near where I was, and I'm not going back. I will not go back to a life of "comfortable inaction" again. What are you sacrificing for your current lifestyle?

Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer. ~ Marcia Wieder

Woke up at 7:15 am and got my booty going outside for a.m. cardio. It went well, it was the perfect weather for running outside. I have been exercising later in the day or evening for so long now that I forget how much I hate exercising, or doing anything for that matter, on an empty stomach. At the end of my run I was so excited to come home and eat my egg whites and oatmeal. I heated up my breakfast and scarfed half of it down before realizing I am meeting Jenn at the gym for legs in about an hour and a half and I really didn't want to do that on an empty stomach. I took my time on eating the second half of my breakfast while getting my daughter up and ready for school. Dropped Cass off at school at 9:15 and off I went. Legs! Awesome leg workout! But that hill climb in between super sets SUCKS! Incline on 15 or as high as it goes, speed at 3.5 which quickly dropped down to 2.7 by the second climb, for 5 minutes. We did this after the first and second super sets and at the beginning of the second climb I was starving again. By the time we were done I was so excited to get my protein shake into my belly. Another day down, another day of a very challenging workout and another day closer to my goal.

If you aren't going all the way, why go at all? ~ Joe Namath

I worked bi's, tri's and chest today, and found it challenging, as usual. I did a lot of self talk, as usual. Then, I followed it up with cardio and I didn't feel like doing it, but I kept thinking that I really do feel like being lean, so I kept going. I kept going when I wanted to stop. I feel better for it, now that it's done of course. I take it one workout at a time and mentally get myself through it. I am thinking that this is usual for someone who is seriously training, I can't be the only self talker. Started a new meal plan today and so far so good, I'm about to get cooking momentarily but I just wanted to post a quick blurb about today. More to come.

Legs! Ouch!

Week 1 is coming to a close and I'm happy to say I've followed the diet to a T and so far I've dropped 5 lbs. since Sunday. As far as my workouts went this week, I was being careful because I injured my arm and did not want to make it worse. I pushed a little last night in Boot Camp and I'm happy to say it feels good today, no pain. I'm still going to be careful and use light weights for a few more days. As far as my legs go... holy cow are they sore, and I'm only 3 hours post workout. I am icing my knee because it is still swollen from the car accident 2.5 weeks ago. I have a feeling this bruise will be with me for quite some time. Leg workout was a very challenging workout, but I got through it. Here is what I did:

Warm up - 5 minute walk on treadmill...(Incline 2/Speed 3.5) then do 20 walking lunges (with no weight added) one time.

1) 15x - Full (ass to the ground) squat/Stiff leg dead lift combo using 20 lb. DBs in each hand
2) 25x - Pop Squats
Repeat this super set 3 times

Cardio - Treadmill hill climb - 15 incline and speed 3.0, walk for 5 minutes

1) 15x - Machine Leg Press 15 reps, 65 lbs. 1st set, 70 lbs. 2nd set, 80 lbs. 3rd set
2) 15 x - Seated or laying leg curl 15 reps 50 lbs.
Repeat this super set 3 times

Cardio - Treadmill hill climb - 15 incline and speed 3.0, walk for 5 minutes

1) 15x - Bench Step ups each leg (no weight added)
2) 50x - Calf raise on the floor (no weight added)
Repeat this super set 3 times

Cool down - 10 minutes walking backwards on treadmill (Incline 5/ Speed 2.2) then walk forwards for 5 minutes (Incline 2/Speed 3.5)

I am icing my knee because it is still swollen from the car accident 2.5 weeks ago. I have a feeling this bruise will be with me for some time. Other than that, it feels pretty good.

Ready... Get Set... Go!

I can't believe it's been 2 months since I've posted but here I am. I am about to embark on a new journey with diet and exercise. My goal is to transform my body into a competition body in the next 11 weeks. I'm not sure if it's possible, but there is only one way to find out and I'm going to. With my trainer's help and the support of the rest of the Fitness Jenn Team, I am confident that this will be a success. Even if I do not hit the mark and I have to postpone my stage debut, it's still a win/win situation, because what's the worst that's going to happen? I'm going to get leaner and toned and become a hard body? That's winning to me. I must admit I am nervous and anxious. Sticking to such a strict diet and exercise regimen is going to be the greatest test. But again, I am not alone in my journey and I will surely lean on my teammates as well as support them. To my family and friends, I ask for your support and encouragement please. I will keep posting throughout my journey, the good and the bad.