Triathalon Motivation

I found this on Jensjourney.com - a great blog that's not about Figure or Bodybuilding but I think all athletes need to stick together....learn from each other, motivate each other and gain strength from each other...

Priorities

I have been thinking a while about priorities. I feel like some days there isn't any time to relax, unwind and recover so that I can start all over the next day and do it again. I was trying to decide what to give up! I had a few choices:

• Work - NO!
• Masters - Maybe, but I really don't want to be a quitter
  
• Workouts - Maybe, but I feel horrible when I put that off b/c I'm too busy
  
• Diet - Same as workouts
  
• Housework -Maybe, but I can't live and work in a home that is filthy!
  

I don't want to be a quitter. I want to finish what I started w/ my fitness goals of competing next year as well as my masters. They are both goals that I have started and want to finish...and not too late either because I want to finish my masters and complete my first competition before we have children. The masters is what I was thinking of giving up to pursue my fitness goals, but I just can't stand the thought of starting something and not finishing it. So, then I realized....it's not all black and white!

• I don't have to work 60 hours a week. In fact, they'd probably rather I not!!! It's hard though b/c I really love what I do and want to keep it up and get ahead of my work rather than be behind
  
• I don't have to get a 4.0 GPA on my Masters Program (though I have that now and that's a hard one to let go)
  

I can find a balance with it all I think if I give up my perfectionism to do everything perfectly! I want a Masters and I'd love to put a 4.0 GPA on there also, but realistically, does that matter? Does it matter if I'm fat and unhappy in the process?

I'm learning to let some things go and try to find more of a balance so that I can "have it all" without having to give anything up at this point in my life. Any advice would be great!!!

Also, I have to say that working w/ Erik (Lean Bodies Consulting) really has freed up my time. My workouts are 30-45 minutes each, some days 2 a day, but not bad! And, my meals are so planned that it's easy. I'm sure it'll only get easier to plan my meals the more I get used to these measurements and how much to cook on the weekends to be prepared. Sticking to the plan is the hard part, but being on a plan does allow some brain power to go to other things. There's nothing to think about except what time the next meal is and whether it's already cooked!

Smashfit.com & Heather Frey

I thought I would introduce you all to Heather Frey and Smashfit if you are not already familiar. You can add her and her Smashfit group on Facebook. The reason I suggest this is that she sends GREAT Facebook messages. They are not about training and that if you do 25 crunches a day you'll have abs of steel by June....instead they are mental and pscyhological messages about how to stay focused and keep on the right track, which is what we all need now and then, right?

I attached a sample of one of those messages above. Also, her site has some really great articles also.

My favorite so far....

http://www.smashfit.com/article.php?aid=7

She also has a new shirt that she's selling once you're fan of yours like I am....

Thanks, Heather for being an inspiration!

P.S. I tried to link you to her Facebook pages if you click on the links on my first sentence but I'm not sure if that worked!!! Also, check her out on Twitter!

Lean Bodies Consulting

Well, I said " stay tuned" to my blog for an update on whether or not I chose to hire a trainer, but then I got injured. Actually, just after I signed up with him, I got my diagnosis and we decided it was best to wait until I was healed. Now, I am not 100% better, but almost there and READY READY READY to get back into "training." Since my own "bulking" attempts caused me to gain more fat than muscle, I believe, we are cutting now until I am at a better place and then will start to bulk again. I still plan to compete next year in 2010....so hope that no injuries occur between now and then!! I plan to work with Erik, though life evolves and you never know what will happen in the future. At this point, I trust his plan, knowledge and philosophies more than other trainers I have spoken with thus far (and I've listed those below)....no offense to anyone!

Check out Erik and Noel here:
Lean Bodies Consulting

There are some fantastic blogs on his site. Erik and Noel both have great blogs! I am extremely impressed so far with Erik and his plan! His workouts are kicking my ass!!! I made a bit of an ass out of myself at first telling him I didn't think I needed any training assistance because "there's only so much you can do with training"....turns out I was wrong! I'm learning every day from his plan! Also, his diet is great! It's so simple and makes so much sense AND is really easy to follow.....willpower, as always, is the hardest part!

Things I like most about Erik's plan and "philosophy" and trust him over other trainers because:

• His plans do not include 2 hours of cardio a day to cut. His training is concise and compact and works. Look at Allison Ethier who uses his training.
  
• He doesn't think that a client has to gain a ton of fat in order to bulk and in fact sets a "high" end and once that is reached, cutting begins because, after all, we all have a life to live even if we want to bulk at the same time.
  
• He doesn't plan on a "show" date until he's worked with you enough to see how your body will respond. Makes sense, right? I love the idea of cutting, until you reach see your body responding and THEN setting a date. I think it's the fear of every new competitor to not be ready to get on stage and face the dilema of 1. quitting 2. getting on stage and not being ready.
• Also, check out his CLIENT PICTURES (Before & After) which sold me on him totally!!!

Long story long....I am very excited about this new "chapter" of my life and am really excited about cutting back to my normal size and eventually into better "shape" than I've been in a while or ever. I can already see during week one that I am a bit out of shape and looking forward to seeing progress!!!

Also, I'll start posting progress pics in a couple of weeks. I'll be sending him biweekly progress pics (I think) and I'll start posting them. You've already seen my "before" as the last pic I took after bulking.

My new iPhone Background

Sent from my iPhone

Self portrait

While I was taking pictures of my hair for the previous post, I decided to steal Shawna's idea for a self portrait. I always take photos straight on so I thought it'd be neat to see a photo of me from a different angle. Again, I'm stealing Shawna's idea...thanks friend!

Product

I was asked a while ago to post on curly hair products but haven't yet! I got some new products and thought I'd post those products as well as how my hair looks w/ them...both in the morning and after a full day at work!!! True test, right??!!

Above photos - LEFT is in the morning and the RIGHT is after all day at work (without touching my hair...don't touch curly hair once it's styled...that creates frizz!!!)

I use Redken Fresh Curls as my shampoo and conditioner. I have used their styling products in the past and liked them ok. I felt like some of them weren't strong enough and others made my hair too crunchy....it's always worth a shot to see if you like them or not!
Here are the products I used this morning. First, I put on the Extreme Protein, then the rootful to lift my roots and then the layer lift as a spray gel. Finally, once dry, I always use that spray! I love that spray! It's perfect....thank you Renee for that product. I love it now and can't go anywhere without it!

I'll try to keep doing this when I try new products (or old ones).

In The Motherhood

The jury is still out on this show, at least for me! From what I've read the ratings aren't quite there either. So far, I like it. I like that it shows the faults of women and that wives and mothers are not perfect. The stories are true stories from other mothers, so that is definitely appealing also. The cast is great, these are three fantastic actresses. Try it out and let me know what you think? Do you like it? It is too progressive for may viewers? Do you think it will last? Does it make you cringe to see all of the nannies and the mommies unable to care for their own children even on the weekends? Did the end of the last episode "turn you off" at all with the mom walking out the door saying 'Thank God the vacation is over...back to work!' I'm not a mother, so I have no personal place of reference. I'd love to hear what you think....but in the meantime, I'll be watching.

Perfection

"The moments when you attain a goal and realize true perfection probably account for less than 2 percent of your lifetime, while the process of living and working toward your goals occupies the rest. If you look to perfection to supply your sense of success, you are discounting the other 98 percent of your life."

-- Katz and Liu, authors of The Codependency Conspiracy

Is that me or what???!!! Does that explain you as much as it explains me to a T??!!

Day at the Range

More photos and video to come.....Marcus took some and actually got a video! So cool!

67 Year Old Holds Bench Press World Record

What great motivation for the rest of us!!!
(Thank you Marc C. David of NoBull Bodybuilding)

Keith Urban: Defying Gravity

Another great album out yesterday is Keith Urban....I went to his concert last year (Thanks, Dana) and it was GREAT!!! This album is AMAZING like all of his other albums!!! I have so much new music to listen to....I'm so excited!!!!

with Dana at the Keith Urban concert this time in 2008
Dana looks fabulous while I'm sweating up a storm! This is the day after I cut all my hair off!!!
I really shouldn't look at these pics b/c when I do, I really really want to cut off my hair again...THAT SHORT!

Gavin Degraw: Free

I love Gavin Degraw and a new album came out yesterday....it doesn't disappoint. It's as beautiful as his last two. Check it out on iTunes....it's beautiful music. His piano playing is amazing.

Pet Happy

I got a great email today from Martha Stewart and was so excited when I started flipping through it!! I copied the image of my email. It's such a nicely laid out email and there was some GREAT info! I watch a few quick videos on traveling with pets (because I will be traveling with my Toby in the coming months on my business trips) and it was very informative. I thought I would share!!

Register here for Martha's emails