Share the Journey!

When I was first asked to write about my fitness journey by a colleague at work, I was a little apprehensive. I asked her if I could do it a few months down the road when I was further along. She was persistent and I agreed to write something, but that it may be short and sweet. 

I was worried about having my thoughts and blog out there for everyone to see, how funny really because it is out here for anyone to see but what I mean is people close to me, friends, Facebook pals, co-workers, etc. I was worried about what they would think and worried about letting people read the struggle. Then it dawned on me……. I am writing this blog and mapping out this journey to help people. I want to inspire others and help in their journeys. 

My daughters were SO excited when this article was published - they told their friends their mom was in a magazine and tweeted it and everyone was so excited. I however was there feeling nervous again and kinda unsure if I liked all the attention it was bringing me. My oldest daughter Gillian said to me " MOM, u have worked so hard, you never post anything about yourself, you never talk about your accomplishments, post this on facebook!" She was right, I needed to be proud of where I have come and how much I have accomplished to date. I think I have been waiting until I get to my ideal "stage" ready state before I share my stuff and that's isn't the point is it………it's to share the journey!

I guess it has been 8 crazy, wonderful, exhausting, and rewarding months so far. I look forward to the future and all that will come with that. Until then I will keep pushing forward, I will keep updating everyone and if you haven't been taking the time for yourself - YOUR TIME IS NOW! Start doing something that makes you happy and share your journey!

Wonder Woman

Some days it actually feels like I am wonder woman - I wonder how I even accomplish what I do in a day - in a day. Here is a typical day for me - 

5:30am - Wake up 

7:00am - Start work - I have a 1/2 hr drive to work each way

3:30pm - Leave work - run any quick errands in the city before heading home

4:30pm - GYM - 

6:30pm - If all went well I'm leaving the gym

6:30-7:30pm - Making dinner / eating / cleaning up dishes, etc

7:30-8:30pm - Prepping for the next day - driving girls where ever and picking them up if needed

8:30-10:30pm - Misc stuff like laundry, cleaning up house, chatting with girls, garbage out, hot tub checked, oh did the grass get cut? What about getting the groceries and lunches and folding the laundry and killing the spiders and setting traps for the mice - really - YEP - welcome to my world and that is just a piece of it. 

10:30-11:00 - Try to be in bed and check emails, etc and rest to do it all again the next day :)

So here it is - if I can do it - so can you - I am not complaining here, I am simply pointing out how crazy my life is and to some degree it has been my choice but when there is a will there is a way! So wonder woman I am.

 Here's to all the wonder women out there - keep pushing forward - the sacrifice will be worth it!

Willpower

Willpower is a very strong tool, however you do have to be ready for change. I could not stand where I am today a year ago or even 10 years ago. I wasn't ready and I was not going to make that change. I knew I wanted more from my fitness but wasn't willing to put the time, effort, dedication, and sacrifice in to get the results I wanted. Therefore, I got the results I worked for and that wasn't much. I seemed to yoyo like most people, down 10 then back up 12 then down 15 and up 10 - back and forth driving myself crazy along the way. I wished for the body I wanted everyday but I never woke up with it. 

One day something changes or you just have enough of saying and thinking and you decide to start doing - I said I would quit smoking - when I decided to quit - I quit - I was ready for change and I then had the willpower to not start again. I then decided to get into the best shape of my life and finally get strong and healthy - the stage is a goal - I needed to push myself to new levels of fitness and train harder than ever before. If I wanted it - I needed to change. 

I have people come to me now and ask me or comment on my willpower and how do I do this and how could I change my life so much and can I help them, etc. I always say the same things, YES I will help anyway I can, this level of fitness is not for everyone, you need to be ready and willing to change and make the sacrifices in order to be successful. If they are willing to change then anything is possible. I am just a regular person like you and putting in the blood, sweat, and tears ( oh yes tears - today I was a little weepy - it was leg day) you can achieve anything, weight loss, toning, build strength, and even compete on stage. 

So this really is the truth - people are not better than you or have more willpower than you - they have just embraced the change and you can too!

Family First

Thanksgiving weekend up at brothers cottage has started to become a tradition. I have to be very honest when I say it's the last place I want to go - why u ask - cause it's great food - booze - no gym - I'll be right off my program - I'll be tempted to eat chocolate - Oreos - pies - potatoes - bacon - Etc - etc -etc. 

Well this is where we need to be - family - together eating crap - playing games - laughing at papa - enjoying the amazing fall trees as they shower us with leaves. This weekend the gym doesn't matter - it will be there Monday- my diet is suffering a little but it won't kill me. The memories that we will all have together and remember is what's really important- Family is always first!

Only the strong survive

It seems like forever since I blogged and its amazing how the times flies by. I wanted to be able to express to everyone how I have felt every step of the way and I guess the last few months have been very busy and very difficult as well. 

I am still strong on the road to the stage but August had a few minor setbacks - one being a music festival in Lucknow and the other was an annual camping trip with my entire family and friends. So what that means is the diet suffers a bit. Had some drinks and some bad - but good food. 

Here is what I didn't expect - the guilt - the guilt that comes with that is terrible. I felt like I had to do more cardio and extra long days to repair what I thought was damage I was doing. It is such a mental game. 

My coach describes this journey to the stage perfectly - he says - It's a marathon, not a sprint - and I am a sprinter let me tell you and it is hard to just know that this takes a long time and tons of sacrifice to get there. So for the last few months there hasn't been alot to say except the same meal plan and still following the program at the gym, I think I was getting lost in all of it a bit and not feeling the direction that I wanted to feel.

That brings me to today and I am on a new 12 week sub-preshow prep and this changed my diet and programming so it has brought me back to life. I have completed the first week and I won't lie - it was hell - sore everywhere and wanting to give up a few times but this is when I realized that maybe I have used up all my weak and all that is left is STRONG! 

Progress

So it's very hard to post a progress picture when your not "there" yet but this just shows the progress along the way. So as off Aug.1 - I'm down 20lbs and my body fat is now at 17%. Weight is 135. I guess weight really doesn't matter and my coach doesn't go by weight or measurements - he goes by look - however after 4 months I wanted to see where I was. I won't get on the scale again for another 12 weeks then I'll update again. It is amazing to visually see the change - it's hard to see when it's my body. The hard work and clean eating is paying off and I look forward to my new program that is coming next week :)

PUSH

This road is not an easy one and you have to constantly PUSH yourself. You push through the hurt, push through the tears, push through the setbacks, push through the good days and push through the bad ones. It seems all I do is push and push, however things are happening. I have been off the scale and no weigh-ins or measurements for some time so I can't update you with my results but I can say this, I feel good, I know I have lost weight and I have tightened up forsure. I have people telling me all the time now that they can see the results. They see the muscle definition and the loss of weight. I think it is harder for me to see a huge transformation because I see myself daily but I can see the shape in my arms, shoulders, and legs - oh and abs are really coming - 4 pack and working on the 6 - lol. My next weight and measurements I'll be sure to post however I don't really know when my coach is going to do that. My advice is even if you have a week or two where you don't feel or see any results just PUSH through it and PERSIST UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!

True strength!

Isn't this the absolute truth! The workout is the easy part - the diet is a constant thing - you have to be very prepared and you have to have control all the time. I have 2 teenage girls who still very much enjoy icecream - popcorn - candy - all that fun bad evil food - lol. So I do have some of that stuff in my house so I have to always steer clear of the sweet stuff. It would be a lie to tell you that I haven't had any of that stuff it's just that I don't have it very much and as a small treat I will indulge a little. When I do have something like that, I feel guilty and I have heard other people say that but it is a weird feeling - like a huge let down and I have to remind myself how far I have come and how great I am doing and how it has been 17 weeks since my last drop of alcohol - so the occasional cookie or frozen yogurt isn't the end of the world. I do however find that I add in a little extra cardio - that makes me feel better some how - lol! I wonder if everyone who trains and eats this clean feels the same way. It would be nice if the gym was all it took to get there but diet is so important and really it is the majority of the journey. I would say that I have it all down pat - 99% of the time and well that other 1% - hummmmm it's not gonna kill me and hell it keeps me sane :)

Do it !

So what's stopping you from doing all those things you have always wanted to do? Chances are it is YOU that is stopping you, one excuse after another. This is a story that I know all too well. I would daydream, obsess, think about getting to the stage but had every excuse not to do it. I also have a career path that I have always wanted to pursue and tried 10 years ago but circumstances were different then and I was not able to proceed in that direction. However here I am today and what is stopping me - well 10 years - I tried that excuse to myself and guess what I have always wanted to go for it so I am going to give it a try - if I am successful then it will change me and girls lives for the better and if I am not then maybe that is not my path, but I'll be damned if I don't at least try and go for it!

Over and over I hear the word "YOLO" which means you only live once and that is so true. I want to make the most out of my life and inspire my girls and others. This path I have chosen is not for everyone and it has taken me years to get where I am today. My advice to you is go and do what it is your heart desires because it will keep bringing you back to the same place years later and you will still want to do it and you may not get the chance. Live happy, make others happy, take pride in what you do every single day, make a difference and make them remember who you are!

New program - Leg Day!

This week has been by far the hardest training week yet. It is always a hard week when coming off a transition week (rest week), however all I can say is WOW! I think my coach said the words " SHOCK AND AWE" and I was more thinking along the lines of him trying to kill me...lol! So my new program is still kinda normal 6 days a week with more HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and 3 lift days - the interval training is now much more difficult timing in at 61 minutes plus core training afterwards. Wednesday is now leg day and today is Sunday and this is the first time I could talk about leg day - lol - yep it was that bad! I am not going to sugar coat this at all - TERRIBLE - it was mental. My trainer said sorry a few times, I think he felt bad for me- lol. SO here is a little picture of this workout - starts with 3 sets of 40 walking lunges 45lbs dumb bells each hand ), can you picture how this feels? We take 30-45 sec breaks between in set and stretch - it is timed so try that and see how your heart rate has no chance of recovering in 30 seconds and then on to the next set. Then Hack Squats, One legged leg press, Leg curls, Glute machine/bench step-ups, then kneeling leg curl and the hip abductor/adductor machine. Seriously this workout the entire time was so mental - I talked to myself the entire 90 minutes - ya it was that long - I had to push myself so hard. Your legs are done after the lunges yet you still go on to the next. When we went to the smith machine to do the Hack squats ( our gym is not equipped with a hack machine ) my legs actually gave out - I dropped right to the floor- it was insane. My mind had the weight and I was good but my legs gave out. I rested for a second got up and said " ok lets get this done", and on I went. This by far was the hardest I have worked ever I think - wow - I wonder if  I will be saying this every 6 weeks, lol!

It was a tough week and talk about sore, I had to have ice cold showers to try and help with the pain. It is hard to stay focused and happy when something like that is happening. This is why I waiting until today to post this, if I had posted this Wednesday night, I may have had to put a 18+ rating on it - haha! Tomorrow is Monday, a new week and here it is - I SURVIVED - and I will continue to push hard and get stronger. Your mind is a amazing tool and your body can handle incredible things :)

Stay focused everyone!

Changing Focus

14 Weeks ago - I switched bottles around -lol! What an old stack compared to the new. Sometimes you just need to change focus. What is it that you are trying to accomplish and what is standing in your way. What changes are needed to succeed and then you make that change if it is what you really want. This is where only the strong survive. You can talk the talk but can you walk it? How many times have you heard people complain about things like their weight, job, marriage/relationship, yet they do nothing about it. So it can't be that awful if you are willing to live each and everyday of your precious life in it. I think we all know that you need to stop fearing change and just leap......have faith, and the rest will work itself out.

The key I have found is ONE DAY AT A TIME! We are so much stronger than we think we are! When you change your focus , you change your life, and for me this has been an amazing experience so far. Do what you need to do, not what you think others want you to do, and most of all BE HAPPY!

Smile

Well I made it through another weekend - alcohol free - lol - that is quite the task when it's 100 degrees on the beach and everyone around you is drinking - WTF! Actually it wasn't that bad - I'm focused and I don't want to jeopardize my results this far. 

So the transition week is finally over - all I did this week was 5 days of moderate cardio ( oh ya I snuck a run in to see if I could still do it - yep 5K no probs ) to rest my body and get it ready for the next 6 weeks. 

Sometimes I just need to smile and realize I've already accomplished 12 weeks with no setbacks - another 12 weeks - no problem. One day at a time, one workout at a time - it will come! I guess it's true that if it was easy everyone would do it! So the strong really do survive because it takes alot of strength, drive, discipline, and determination to ride this wave. I am looking forward to Monday - a new week - a new program - and new results !  

So just stop for a minute - and smile!

Eating Clean

TRAINING IS EASY - EATING CLEAN IS THE HARD PART! I'm sure we have all heard this or some form of it - it's 80% diet 20% gym - Abs are made in the kitchen - and all that other diet stuff. So what I have found out already in 12 weeks - this is SO true! The training is not easy but eating clean and staying faithful and not slipping is even harder. It takes the most will power I have ever had to use. I quit smoking a while ago and that takes some willpower for a few weeks but then your done and that's over. This eating clean is a part-time job - u need to shop-alot-to get fresh produce and meat. You need to prep it and have it basically prepared if you work fulltime like me. If you are going out for the day, you need to bring it all with you, it really is tons of work. Don't get me wrong here and I am not complaining - I'm just telling it REAL - so that you have an idea what is involved. Before I started this path, I wasn't a terrible eater and I ate pretty good. However, we would go out alot and grab subway or wraps for lunch, etc. I was never a fast food person so that doesn't bother me. I was however a huge salt person, I loved to eat popcorn, chips, pretzels. The sweets weren't really my weakness except the double stuff Oreos - love those little guys. Over the last 12 weeks I have found myself time to time dreaming about ice cream and chocolate. Today it was consuming me. I had to chew about 14 pieces of gum today - lol. It is so strange that all of a sudden I want SWEETS. I am allowed one medium sized fruit mid morning with my protein and let me tell you the fruit takes like candy its soooooooo good. My point here is it would be very easy to just cave in and go for ice cream or eat chocolate and the temptation is everywhere, all the time. If you want it bad enough you will just find a way to deal with it. I chew gum - lol and then blog about it.

Stay strong and eat clean - it will all be worth it :)

The Race Horse

This is my transition week again so that means nothing but cardio at a moderate pace - no lifting and only 4 days. In other words - REST - then we hit it hard for another 6 weeks. I found out today that I get a little depressed or something during this week. I am not sure why this happens but I now realize I felt this same way the last transition week I had. I know that my body and muscles so very badly need the rest but my mind is somewhere else. I was expressing my feelings to a close friend today and he said to me, " take advantage of it and recharge the batteries girl- u will come out stronger next week " then he said the reason your feeling like this is because "YOU ARE A RACEHORSE, AND RACEHORSES DON'T LIKE TO JUST TROT!"

Wow - I was amazed by that comment. He actually thinks of me like that - he sees it in me every day at the gym - he sees the greatness within me, even when I don't. I was aware again today how important it is to surround yourself with people who believe in you. People who want you to succeed as bad as you want to. I have been called alot of things in my life and today " A RACE HORSE" OK- I like that one - lol!

Inspire Everyone You Can

I got a text message today from my oldest daughter today - it was a picture of a lady at the gym and the caption said "to hear the boys say - YOU BENCH HOW MUCH?!" lol- I sent her back a smiley face then she says, " I'm so proud of you Mom" - WOW - my eyes swelled with tears. To hear your daughter tell you she is proud of you was just an amazing feeling this morning. I really then realized that they watch everything you do and see your drive and determination. They see me now eating clean, fitness, working hard, being completely disciplined and they understand. I think they are learning as well. They often tell me that someone at school has said something or a teacher has asked them what is your mom doing - they talk about it with their friends, their teachers, even strangers I bet - lol. So if they talk about my fitness goals with all these people - I am also assuming they talk about everything they see and hear. I guess I am glad that I am not that crazy wild party animal parent that lives in the bars and has men over and parties at my house because if that were true - they would also talk about that. I think it is great that they want to share my life with their peers. Both my girls have shown an interest in the gym and now they both come with me a few days a week and they are interested in the lifestyle. I don't want them getting crazy into the fitness just yet but staying active is very important and eating better is a great start. I have always wanted to inspire people and I am so honoured that I have inspired my daughters. Today has motivated me more than ever to succeed.

Thank You to my 2 amazing and beautiful daughters - U inspire me every single day- I love you both more than words could ever express!       

Milestone

Fridays = Leg day

BAM! Rocked leg day! I hit a milestone and was able to do 3 sets 15 reps of 300lbs on the leg press. My trainer and I were quite happy - we high fived each other and he took a few pics. Very Impressive he told me. It felt great to push it that hard. The leg press is the first exercise that we do and then more follow. I was able to increase weight on every single leg exercise yesterday - it was incredible. I am getting stronger every single week.

When my trainer Josh asked me why I was so pumped up - I laughed and said it's my new Under Armour clothes - hahaha! He thinks we should tell them there clothes make me strong-lol. I told Josh my new goal is to be a fitness model for Under Armour - they are by far my favourite gym gear.

Prior to getting to the gym I told myself no matter what I would push 300lbs on that machine. My mind took my body where I wanted it to go. IT IS A MIND GAME and your body will listen and respond. Keep thinking positive and picture the end result and your body will amaze you and it will follow the plan.


 STAY FOCUSED ;)

Never Quit

RULE #1

I posted this on my instagram (deannabishop)yesterday, and I had a comment from my girlfriend and it said " what, you first quit smoking, then quit drinking, you quit eating bad, and you quit hanging out with me - ahhhhh I think I see a pattern here - lol"

I thought about someone possibly commenting something like that when I post something about never quitting, but we all know what this was intended to mean and I thought her comments were cute :)

You can never quit on yourself or something that you really want to do or accomplish. When you quit something I find if it is something that you really want it will haunt you and you will need to keep going or continue with it. I have had this fitness thing in my head for some time now - really started getting serious about a year ago. All I could think about was getting "jacked" and being in fantastic shape. I would look at other women who worked out and was jealous and wanted what they had. In my car while driving, I would daydream about being in shape and having that "stage" body. I could see myself there, in perfect shape and then helping others as well. One year passes and I still can't shake the thoughts so I realize I need to make it my goal and here we are today.

It has been almost 10 weeks since I started with my new program and goal and it has already been a fun and exciting journey. I am looking forward to the next 10 weeks :)

NEVER QUIT!

Staying Loyal

HOW TRUE IS THIS ???

You know commitment when u see it. You also can feel when u are totally committed to something you have said you are going to do. Long after everyone else would have quit or gave up you are still doing it - COMMITMENT!

Another Monday is here - phew made it through another weekend and it really is getting easier to not go out drinking and get all hungover the next day - I don't miss that at all. I get up Saturday morning, make a green tea have a little breakfast then off to the gym for my cardio/core training. I feel alive at the gym. I am very pumped and happy when I leave and then I carry on with my day. I have to do alot of prepping on the weekends to get ready for the week. Anyone out there who trains like this will know the commitment involved in prepping your meals.
 Sundays are my one rest day so no gym and that can be hard sometimes but this week I had a few friends stop over and we went on a road trip out of town to a fundraiser and had some fun. I packed a cooler with my snacks and lunch so I would not be tempted to eat bad things - lol. However after the races we stopped for some wonderful soft swirl ice cream - u know the twist stuff half chocolate and half vanilla - well the 2 places we stopped one was closed and the other ran out right when we got there - wtf is that- I was so bummed out - I was gonna have a treat and that is what I wanted more than anything else. I have been waiting forever-lol. I settled for a small ice cream instead and was indeed disappointed but oh well, life goes on and guess what it still tasted very good and I am ok with the fact that once in a while you just need a treat!You can't be mad at yourself for giving in now and then.
 It really feels real now - I am so committed that nothing can stop me. I have been able to know what to avoid and how to succeed so far. I have no fear in me and I know that my drive and determination will carry forward on this journey.

I am staying loyal, are you?

Got what it takes?

Don't be fooled and think that this is an easy path to choose. I knew when I decided to get "stage" ready that it would take everything I had in me to get there.

Today is one of those days - totally exhausted! People ask me at work if I'm okay - I find myself a little edgy with everyone - why? It is because today I am wiped out! I was at the gym until 7:30pm last night then had to run to grocery store to get more produce for dinner and I had to prep the next 2 days of food for work. All that means late getting to bed and then up at 5:30 to be at the gym at 6am for another training session - because of my work schedule and my trainers it just works that way on Wednesday nights and then early Thursday mornings and let me just say - WOW- I am so wiped out. So that huge crazy on top of the world smile and attitude has just cracked a little and I just need some rest. I thought I would share this because it is all not just yeah gym then home and rest - there are so many other things going on and sometimes I just wanna scream too!!!

It crosses your mind - why am I doing this - and God I need some help here - and there isn't a day that goes by that something on my body isn't hurting - like why the hell go through that - the answer is - because once I get to my goal it will SO BE WORTH ALL OF THIS. Oh and tomorrow and leg day - someone should probably just kill me now :( LOL!

I have what it takes and it will take everything I have - how about u?

Believe in Yourself



Happy Monday! (aka - back and bicep day -lol!)

What a great day! I guess I always hear so many people say how they hate Mondays and blah blah and I just think it is all the way you look at things. Here was my outlook today - yeah its not a rest day - you see Sundays are my 'NO GYM" day and I need the break but I like the gym so I look forward to Mondays because I get back to lifting. I work just like everyone else and was up at 5:30am to get ready for a long day training people all week then gym right after work and home to make dinner and laundry etc - and then just do it all over again tomorrow. I have no idea where or why I have changed and became so "ok" or "happy" in all of it, but I have. I have learned to accept it and embrace what life has or throws at me.

So here we are with a picture of my fortune that I got tonight from my daughter. My parents took my youngest daughter out for Chinese food (yummy - I miss Chinese food -lol) and they brought me and my other daughter a fortune cookie home. We love to get fortune cookies - we laugh our butts off always saying that your fortune means so much and that you are suppose to hear whatever it is. So my daughter opens hers and the look on her face was incredible - she had tears a little - she needed to hear what her fortune had said. She had a bad week with a boyfriend who took her friend to the prom and not her after much drama - and anyways her fortune simply said this "YOU ARE PRETTY" and that was exactly what my 15 year old needed at that moment.

I opened my fortune after her all excited - threw out the cookie even though I like them - and mine was the picture above - Believe in yourself as it will bring you strength to overcome any obstacles- WOW! AMAZING - I had to share this with everyone right away. It is SOOOOOOO true. Just believe and anything is possible and I have been overcoming obstacles lately one by one. This little cookie with a message was just a reminder and it made me smile. I hope you all get that message loud and clear....

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF !!!

Cravings

GUM!

This is the secret to surviving the urge to put something in your mouth. GUM! It seems like I may have a problem here but, whenever I crave something sweet or I am just bored, I chew gym. In fact as I sit here right now I am chewing.

I was a runner prior to all this bodybuilding training. I always had to have a piece of gum in my mouth whenever I ran. It helped me for some reason, I didn't need to drink water so I could run without carrying a bottle. I still chew gum at the gym now -in fact- if I forget my gum, I will go back out to the car to get it - lol - #obsessed!

I have really found that it helps with cravings. If I need that sweet fix, bang - sweet gum it is and there are ALOT of gums out there. I only buy sugar-free gum and I have found that I like the Extra Fruit Sensations ones the best - sweet watermelon - taking first place. It seems to hold the flavour longer and doesn't get all hard to chew like some of them - I need a gum that can handle at least my lift session before I throw it out. Hope this helps anyone who is looking for something to take a bit of the edge off. I have a few more tricks but I'll save those for another day :)

Find Yourself!

What an amazing day! Today was the Oil Slick Challenge in Petrolia. It's a fitness challenge that has teams of 4 competing around different stations. Today myself and my 2 daughters volunteered. What a great day. It was so much fun meeting new people and members I have seen at the club but never knew their names. It is amazing when u just put yourself out there what happens.

I also got to meet and spend some time with a IFBB Pro who has competed for 15 years and has her own show now. WOW - what an awesome lady and what an inspiration. I left there today again feeling I was on the right path and people are just put on your path along the way. I feel energized and alive today - maybe just another little "kick" saying your going to do this and nothing is gonna stop u!

Once you find yourself and what it is you are going to accomplish - nothing can stop you :)

Just breathe !

Ever wonder if you are on the right path? I think that everyone who has faith knows that you are exactly where u are suppose to be at this very moment. We sometimes need to remind ourselves of this and just get quiet enough inside to know it!                                                                          I have been meeting new people these days and have quite the gym group going - the trainers and staff and even some fellow workout people. I find myself drawn to them some more than others and I am sure this is because we all share a common interest - a love and appreciation for the gym. When you surround yourself with "like" people those other people in your life seem to fade a little and maybe that is normal. I have been putting myself out there and making myself available for new adventures - something very new for me is that I am volunteering at my gym for a large fitness event they are hosting - I am not really sure I have ever openly volunteered for anything before - however this feels normal to me and getting up early on a Saturday morning to help out all day - awesome! To be honest I would have never given up a Saturday morning or anytime for that matter - being so busy all the time but something is different now- am I still busy? Oh my - I'm more busy now than ever, however my priorities have changed and things are just different and helping out people and community seems so important and I'm glad to be doing it.

I definitely believe, I am where I need to be!

So I just breathe and know it to be true!

Absolute Exhaustion

Getting to that next level takes everything you have in you!

Friday is my leg day and let me tell you, I was still sore from last week just a bit. I was scared going in. It was a beautiful day and I even changed my session time to go in at 4 to try and enjoy a little sunshine. I think now that maybe I was avoiding leg day a little bit - lol.

I can't even put into words what type of pain I was feeling after the first leg exercise ( leg curls) - wow - we really pushed it. Then it was time for the leg press - I was screaming inside - the weight seemed so heavy like I was moving a building - I wanted to swear and yell and phew my first set was over - only 2 more sets to go. So i went through that agony another 2 sets and really I think I was defeating myself in my head. My leg- inner thigh was on fire, not sure if I strained something or not but I still carried on. Now we move right on to dumb bell lunges - oh ya - crying :( All I can say is - burning burning burning - someone kill me right now- picture this - I am sweating up a storm - legs feel like they are bleeding inside, inner thigh has something strange happening and I have 3 sets of 30 to complete. The last set - I took a deep breathe squeezed the dumbbells hard, my hands hurt, my legs hurt and I just focused and at that moment of ABSOLUTE EXHAUSTION, I finished the lunges, dropped the weights, thought I might cry a little and moved on to ......

The next level

Keep pushing hard - u can defeat yourself ;)

Diet vs meal plan

My goals have brought me to a place where I have had a meal plan created for me and tweeked so that I can reach that goal.

Is it a diet?

I would have to say "NO" because here is the difference. A diet you start and then stop eventually and usually cut out carbs or eat less or count calories or count points - I think u get my point here - I am eating better than I have in my entire life. I feel better and once you get disciplined and prep food its not all that hard to follow.

I am eating protein (lean meats) and eggs - also protein shakes pre and post workout. Lots of fresh veggies and a little fruit. I have carbs such as Ezekiel bread, sweet potatoes, beans, rice, gluten free pasta, quinoa carefully placed during the day. It is a very simple meal plan and it is working. I have chosen to quit drinking because why would I put in all this effort and just drink it away. I read this statement last week that said " YOU ARE EITHER IN OR YOUR NOT", so when u make a huge leap to follow a program like this then u can't be in just half way or in this week and take a week off or eat however u want and drink like a fish. That is like someone quitting smoking and having a few smokes here and there and whenever they crave one - well HELLO - u haven't fully committed have u! We all may have a cheat meal here and there or that odd drink but my point is that u give it ALL or you are not really serious or ready. So I have heard a few times in the last few days - how long are u gonna stay on this diet - I just smile and say its not a diet - I just choose not to eat that food anymore. This is my choice! 

Here's to everyone out there who gets it - who works just as hard at the gym as they do on their food consumption and to everyone else -

Enjoy your Big Mac :)

Pain

Pain won't last forever but holy shit the last 2 days have been brutal.

Today is Sunday - aka - rest day and this new program phase is really intense. I was a little sore during the week then Thursday came with shoulders and calves - so needless to say my calves hurt like hell on Friday and guess what Friday is? Yep LEG DAY - OK, I whined and cried my way through it- I'm not even kidding when I say whined and whimpered like a little kid - oh and that was only after the 3rd exercise and 3 more to go. I was in pain before, during, and after. I knew that wasn't a good sign for what was to come.

So Saturday I hit the gym for my cardio interval training and core - by the way  my core is still burning from Wednesday's core workout. I am sure u can see where this is all going - straight down hill. I finish my interval cardio, legs are on fire and I am screaming inside. Then comes more core work and my abs are bleeding on the inside I'm thinking. I finish and guess what -------- I survived but had a full day ahead of me with the girls and moving new furniture in my place, etc. At this point after the workout and I get home, I can't even walk downstairs to do laundry without being in extreme pain every single stair. My girls feel so bad that they are bending to get things for me and going to get the laundry just so I don't walk downstairs with tears in my eyes. I finish my evening with a hot bath in Epsom salts in hopes that would help - not really :(

Today I wake up, can barely get out of my bed - wow - I thought yesterday was bad. I find it amazing that after a year of running and some weight training that now with this program I could hurt so intensely. So I don't think I will forget Mother's Day this year because I had so much to do and was in pain every step of the way.

These are just a few of the joys of wanting something so bad - at any cost. It all starts again tomorrow :)

Pain is only temporary!

Lifting = Happy

So today after a week off the weights and resting my muscles I am back at it - heavy and hard ! Oh and it made me very happy. New program for the next 6 weeks and I can tell already its tough but it will be so rewarding.

Today was back & biceps and I felt weak after my 2nd exercise then realized that I was wiped out from the first one that everything after that seemed so hard and almost impossible. It is funny how that happens. By the end, it hurt to pick up my water bottle -lol- and I felt kinda out of shape or weak, but during my cardio (30 minutes) I once again felt on top of the world. I felt strong and alive and most of all HAPPY!

It is a crazy feeling and I am happy to be back to lifting again. I said it, me the cardio running freak would rather lift now than anything else. It's amazing how it makes you feel.

So if I'm lifting - I'm happy !

Meant for greatness

You will overcome!

What a weekend I had - no gym because of my resting week and I had already been the 4 times I was allowed to go and do cardio. So Friday night huge party night in my town - it happens on the first Friday of every month. I stayed home - in bed by 10 - it really kinda bothered me. I could have gone out and not drank and not have eaten anything but I just decided to stay put. However until Friday night I was doing very well with food. No cravings - really its been easy. Then it hit me - all I wanted was junk - anything - chips, popcorn, cookies, cakes - icecream - it was all I could think about - it drove me nuts until I finally just went to bed to make it stop. I think I was bored and when I am not busy I wanted to eat. I'm sure I wasn't even hungry but that is how easy you can sabotage your goals. Saturday I kept very busy had a friend over - awesome night - didn't crave any crap and today I was so busy outside that I just followed the plan and it hasn't even crossed my mind to cheat. I know I can have that cheat meal here and there but I still haven't caved. I just want to be sure that I am on track and if I really want something then I will but not out of boredom and not all the time. I know that it will take longer if I was to just keep doing that so I choose not to.

So this weekend I struggled a little and I overcame it - yahoo!
We are meant to be great!

Compromise

Anyone else out there live by those words? " I can't. I have to go to the gym."

It seems like that is my life and I have heard workers in the gym say things like, "you live here" and  your here more than me", well true or not it does seem that way. We make those compromises in out lives to make sure we get our workouts in. Over the last year at the gym I was very faithful and went 5-7 days a week but was not with a trainer so I could change my schedule if I needed to or if something was up. Now looking forward and with a new program starting Monday, I am committing to 6 days a week for this next phase and I am booked each day with a trainer so there will be no compromising this time. I am fully committed to making my appointments and I will be living at the gym, well 6 days a week -lol. It seems kinda crazy to some people but anyone out there who is on a mission they know what I am doing and it will all be worth it. I am sure I will miss some things and everyone around me ( my girls ) will have to be patient and wait until my workouts are complete before we go out shopping and all that fun stuff. I have even had to change my work schedule a little to make sure I can get all the workouts in and still have it make sense for my girls and myself. I guess this is my social life for the next few months. I am sure it will all work out just fine, I'll keep you all posted ;)

Laugh!

As soon as I seen this picture I thought.....my belly (abs) hurt and not from laughing but from the insane ab workout that I did the other day - lol. Then I kinda giggled to myself and was thinking about when I have laughed so hard that your belly does hurt. It made me smile:)

Laughter is so important and if you can believe this I laugh at the gym all the time. I can be with my trainer and so insane and pushing to the very core and actually on the verge of a terrible swear word coming out because I'm on that last rep and my triceps are burning like hell and ----bam ---- I start laughing cause he knows if I didn't I was gonna scream - lol. I am sure some of you can relate. I think that when u are in the right frame of mind and your goals are set, there is no anger and you can see past the extreme pain and kinda giggle or laugh, even say " What the hell am I doing" but the set is now over and on to the next exercise. I really think keeping this frame of mind is very helpful and makes you much more successful then being down and negative. So for me, I will continue to workout insane and lift heavy and scream inside but in the gym you will hear  my laughter and giggles and I am that girl who is having the time of my life.

So train, until it hurts, then do 2 more &
Laugh, until it hurts, then a little bit more ;)

Living Strong

Wow! This picture sure sums it all up. I am a kickass woman! I also know alot of women who are as well and maybe they just need to start believing it. I was telling my trainer today that I am happy. I am very busy but that all seems ok because I am happy. I have set out where I see myself, who I see myself with and in time it will all just fall into place. We need to have faith that everything will be great and keep that positive energy going and all around us. I can't have that negative stuff around anymore, it is just too draining. I haven't felt myself the last few days- I think I may have been coming down with a virus but I have just remained positive and I seem to be coming through it quite well. I have also just completed my first 4 weeks of training, phase 1 - complete - accomplished with pride!

Next week brings a transition week which means that I only do 4 days of just cardio. This week will help me recover from phase one, muscle, tendon, CNS (central nervous system) recovery. Then we turn the heat up on the next phase. So the week of cardio gets me mentally prepared for Phase 2. All the new programming is coming this weekend - so exciting - and I will be prepared to hit it strong! Here's to Phase 2 :)

I AM STRONG

I AM WORTHY

I AM BEAUTIFUL

I AM PERFECT

I AM ME !!

Another Monday

So it's Monday again, that means weight and measurements today - to be honest I hate doing it weekly.

I'm down 1 pound and actually it's really only .5 but they called it 1 - and body fat down .3 - this is where it gets a little frustrating - I wanna see that scale move 2 pounds a week but that isn't always the case based on all kinda of things. I already know this however, sometimes it's just frustrating. No cheating, no drinking, working your ass off, and .5 of a pound :(

Ok see I'm a human woman, have the same feelings as tons of other women out there. I

I know this will work! I know success is coming - I'm actually succeeding every single day - stay positive - stay focused -

I CAN DO THIS!  WATCH ME!

It's My Road

Today I got a unexpected text from a friend asking how the training was going. I said how things were great and I'm on track, I think I might have mentioned the hours spent prepping all the food and said it really does seem like all I do is work-go the gym-prep food-clean up- laundry- and sleep. She responded with "yes it;s lots of dedication"and then asks if I have met anyone new - a guy - LOL - I have no time to breathe somedays and I can't even imagine the effort that would be needed to have or start a relationship right now, haha! I mentioned that it would be nice to have someone here that is on the same path or road as me - we could split the work load and go to the gym together, etc.

That is really the last thing I am thinking about these days and it will all fall into place when its suppose to. I chose this road (path) that I am on and it is mine alone but alot of people walk the same road and the support out there is great. You have to do the work yourself and you climb all the hills and mountains yourself but along the way you meet all kinds of people who are on the same journey. You also run into people who just help push you when your a little stuck or pull when u need a jolt.

I just want to thank those of you who are my friends and who want nothing but success for me. I too want the same for you :) So I am always here to walk with you when you need it!

12 Things Successful People Do Differently

We all want to be successful! I don't think anyone says " Hey I think I'm going to try this and fail." We have great intentions and sometimes we just don't follow though because of many reasons. The question is - Are they excuses? Do we find a way to just make up excuse after excuse to why we can't do something or why we aren't successful. When you have a goal - something you want so bad it consumes you - you will make a plan and follow through.

S.M.A.R.T Goals ( Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Realistic-Timely)

You have a goal, you know what that looks like to you, so roll with it. Be specific with what you want and be very realistic because I want to be a Victoria Secret Super Model might not be all that realistic, lol. If you want to lose 20 pounds and your plan is to do that in 2 weeks, why set yourself up for the failure. Make a plan and follow it. Set a date or time frame that makes sense and is achievable, be patient and track your progress.

Staying positive is so important! If you do not get the results you are looking for that week, just breathe and have faith with a smile that next week you will. Celebrate every little accomplishment. Share with the right people. It is so easier to have people that think the same way you do help and motivate you. Try to surround yourself with these positive goal oriented people, it will help.

My goal doesn't exactly have a specific ending date but what I said to myself was that for 3-4 months I would be very specific and follow the plan perfectly. No drinking, no eating anything that is not "clean" and on my meal plan, 5 days a week at the gym, no negative self talk. I track everything and share my successes weekly with a few close people and my blog-lol. Once the first phase of my plan is close to completed, I will then decide and set another plan. It would have been very unrealistic for me to say that I will never have a drink again or a slice of pizza - of course I will - its just that I am in control of when that will happen and I have made a deal with myself and I will follow through.

Already I am successful :)

Love Yourself

I came across this picture a few months ago and immediately it hit home. I have always used the term "FLY", like its time for me to fly and even in my dreams I try to fly - this F.L.Y. - first love yourself - so damn true.

When you end a serious relationship you feel as though u have lost part of yourself - who u are- I'm sure most people can relate. Some people need to just find someone else to make them whole and others don't want anyone and live in anger and regret and all the negative self-talk.

I think you truly have to find you, love yourself, and others will come next. You need to be a whole person and find a whole person to spend your time with. I have started to love myself, I feel as though I am healing every single day. I use to run alot- I think I was running from something- always running to clear my head and try and ignore life or work out the tragic things in my life. Let me tell you that I have found peace. I have let go of the past - finally- it has taken a very long time to get here but each day brings me closer and closer.

So how does this relate to my fitness goals - well if u remember I think early on I mentioned I would blog whatever came into my mind and this was it tonight-lol. I decided to stop being afraid - afraid of what others would think- afraid of failure - afraid I wasn't good enough - afraid I'm not strong enough - and just do what I wanted to do - start to LOVE MYSELF - so I made a plan - set it in motion - following though and I am happier each day. Every workout now has purpose, I'm no longer running away from something - I'm present and focused and I can do this.

I hope that everyone reading this gets it - F.L.Y. - first love yourself !!!!

Without Fear

It's Monday again and here we go with all the measurements and body fat % - yuk. Normally, you wouldn't measure yourself every single week and I hate scales - I never use them but in order to ensure that they have put me on the best program and if modifications are needed then we need to do it weekly. Good news - down 2 more pounds - and body fat % went from 25.5 to 24.3.

I don't really worry about those numbers too much in my head because I know I am not cheating and I am staying completely focused so things will change no matter what eventually. I know that if the weight doesn't change this week, it will the next.

What amazes me still is the fact that we increase all my weights again today. It seems like all we do is increase and increase. It's a great thing but it surprises the hell out of me that I can actually lift the weight - I just trust without fear.


Today started out rough but ended very strong. I can't tell you the feeling you get when you are so exhausted and can't push another rep but you find the strength to just push it a little more and a little further and you did it. The accomplishment makes you smile inside and out. I am sure that I am glowing after a work-out like that - well sweating and glowing haha. I pushed myself hard tonight and decided that is the only way I'm gonna bring it - HARD!

Can't wait to crush it Wednesday :)

Fire Within Me

Woke up this morning early around 7am - trust me that is early for a non-work day. Fire just burning in me, thinking about the gym and training and how this will be when I hit my goal. Today is another "rest day" but I couldn't do it. Here is the text I sent my trainer at 8am, "I CAN'T DO IT - 2 rest days - its killin me- I'm heading to the gym - I'll take a day off during the week instead-lol ;)"

When I get to the gym the trainer working today says, " Hey what are you doing here?" I knew I would get busted that is why I texted my trainer, lol! It really doesn't matter what 2 days I take off my point is

the FIRE within me. There is no way I can wait 2 days before going to the gym. Once you feel like this there is no stopping it. Today was Cardio and Core and it was awesome. I came home feeling ALIVE and started in the kitchen prepping for the next 3 days. When you have your mind set on a goal, you will do what is needed to progress.

FEEL THE FIRE WITHIN YOU!

Succeed

Rest days are the hardest for me :( I have so much to do but can't seem to shake the going to the gym or running thing. I am sure if you are dedicated to something you understand completely.
Here is what my weekends look like now, rest days so I have to shop(food) and then "PREP" for the next few days. I have been prepping 3 days ahead so that means breakfast, lunches and dinners are ready to go so that when I wake up I can just grab what is needed and run. If I didn't have this stuff pre-cooked and pre-packaged ready to go, it would be impossible because I am way to busy.

Part of my success right now is the time I am putting in making sure I don't fail, that all the angles are covered. There is NO way I have time to cook breakfast in the morning ( I am up at 5:45am) now and I need rest because I'm not getting to bed until 10 or later. So I pre-cook all my meat for 3 days and salads are made and bagged in the fridge. I have veggies all cut in containers as well. This program also has alot of supplements and vitamins so I have those ready to go the night before to ensure I don't miss anything.

Seems like alot of work eh? Well to be honest, IT IS! However, I will be better with it and even more organized, the first week I cooked way too much resulting in waste and I hate throwing out food :( This week I am better and it will just get easier and easier.

I'm on a mission so I will just keep going until I succeed. I had a guy at the gym tell me I was looking good yesterday - yep it's already paying off, lol. I think it is nice that he even made the effort to talk to me. The buzz is all around the gym that I am on this new program and I am determined to get "stage" ready. I can't say enough how important it is to have people who support your goals around you. They help LIFT you up :)

JUST BREATHE

Today I will ...

Well the second week of training is done - I'm sore today, mostly my shoulders but it really is a GOOD pain and worth ever single ache!

I realized my dedication more today when someone at work said  "I know what Dee's doing tonight - gym followed by a run-then dinner then bed cause she isn't drinking anymore"- WOW do they know me or what. That is what happened tonight and I thought while at the gym - yep Friday night and I'm at the gym and not going out drinking and I'm good with that. I think I also realized that when I meet "the one" he will have to love the gym cause I want to share that passion and motivation. I think it is important for couples to share common interests. I also think that you have to surround yourself with "LIKE" people because others will try to bring you down or throw you off the path.

All I see is the end result and I am not stopping until I get there. When u decide that you want something bad enough you will do whatever it takes to get there.

So I guess tonight will be a nice relaxing quiet evening home and that may be just what the doctor ordered :)