Cube Method ~Week Nine~ Out with a BANG!

 Training Log - The Cube Method

Preparing for BATTLE...my Journey in Powerlifting

WEEK NINE
(FINAL week before deload prep for Mock Meet!) Ending this cycle with a BANG!!! You'll see...

My weights are based off my max lifts, whether they be in the gym or in training.

Squat - 185, Bench - 105, Deadlift - 240

Week 9
(You can go back through my blog if you want to read all of the training logs that got me to this point!)

I'm already getting butterflies just thinking about it... as I type this blog... ONE WEEK from testing myself, I could literally just be sick!  I always get this way before a meet.  First of all - It makes me a nervous wreck to be up in front of people.  At the same time, it's SO exhilarating when everyone cheers for you as you take the platform.  Second.... It is TRULY a testament to your training!!!  And although everyone usually FEELS like you're training hard throughout the cycle, getting on that platform to PROVE it is the God's honest TRUTH about where you stand and how HARD you fought to get here... it's that all telling MOMENT
And it scares me to death.
My mock meet will be held at our own gym and with all the guys I train with on a regular basis... so the being in front of people anxiety should not be so bad.  But I know me... and I'm sure I'll be just as nervous!

ALSO - I'm really close to my competition weight right now... with no real strict watch on my diet.
But B-rad feels like I should use this "mock" opportunity to try to do a strict cut.
Our last actual meet, I did a NO-CARB diet for 3 weeks prior to the meet.  I dropped almost 15 pounds and was really close to dropping a weight class.  BUT my lift numbers were down... I don't know if it was because of my diet, or because the meet for me was one flub up after another throwing me off my game.
So manipulating my diet one week out should be interesting this time.. to see how it affects me.

WHICH MEANS....
tonight is my last night to eat....
well... I mean... to eat like I like to eat!  ha ha
We are going to do a strict diet and water manipulation starting tomorrow... to see how well I can cut and see how well I can recomp prior to the actual meet!

So anyway.... this is my last log before deload and diet manipulation.... I'll keep you posted on how that is going and then of course..... MY RESULTS.... next Sunday night

Rep squats
Foam rolling/stretching
Band pull aparts 100
*I have been toying around with a wide stance squat... it really is starting to feel good.  I hope I can get the weight up to my max at my previous stance...*
Wide stance squat:  Bar x 8, 65 x 5, 95 x 5, 115 x 2, 135 x 1, 155 x 1, 175 - FAIL, 175 x 1 (no depth!)
Rep wide stance squats:  95 x 10, 95 x 8
Wrapped my knees and hit 155 x 2 to depth
SSB Good Mornings 60 x 8, 70 x 8, 80 x 8
SSB Olympic Squat 80 x 5 x 3, 90 x 5 x 2
Leg extension  3 x 15  (2 @ 25#, 1 @ 35#)
Plank 1 minute w/ 45# plate

Heavy bench
Foam rolling/stretching
Band Pull aparts - 100
*I've been off the flat bench for weeks, since this is the week before my meet, I decided to test the flat bench out... Here goes nothing!*
Flat bench:  bar x 10, 55 x 5, 65 x 5, 75 x 3, 90 x 1, 100 x 1, 105 - failed x TWO!  (GRRRRRRRRRRR)
85 x 3 x 3, 85 x 5 x 1 *stopped 1 inch from chest*

Incline DB 3 x15 (20#)
Military 3 x 8  (45#)
DB shrugs 3 x 15 (40#)
Band pull downs 3 x 15
Rear delt raise 3 x 10

Here is my 100 BENCH.... that darn elusive 100........ it did feel a LITTLE easier this time...

Deadlift
Foam rolling/stretching
Band Pull aparts - 100
*Texas Deadlift Bar * Pulled ALL SUMO tonight again
Deadlift - work up... 135x5, 155 x 3, 185x 2, 205 x 2, 225 x 1, 255 x 1  **NEW PR!**

Put on the ol' INZER here to try out some overloading... with the straps up!  YIKES!  I had never done this before.... boy it's a PAIN to get down to that bar in that suit....
Tried 275... FAILED.  I think it was mostly because I was fighting against the suit to get in position instead of working WITH the suit. So I tried it again
275 - SUCCESS!  x 1

My 275 lift success is a bit hitched yes... But I still LOVE IT!  WHY?!!  Because my right hand is my OVER hand and I REGRETFULLY forgot to cut my fingernails before deadlift night.  So even with powdered legs, that hand full of nails sunk into my thigh skin on the way up.... I just ripped it out and kept going!  This picture HARDLY does the blood justice!
Real nice....... BATTLE WOUNDS!!!

After this... dropped back down and repped out 225 x 7


 Since I was already in the suit and getting used to having those hateful straps up... We decided to squat some more for my accessory work (and it's always good to get some more squatting in!)

Wide stance squats in INZER single-ply suit
95 x 5, 135 x 2, 165 x 1, 185 x 1, 205 x 1, 225 - failed to hit depth

Put a fork in me.... DONE for the night
Hips are SMOKED!!!!!!  :)

Heres a couple of videos.....

My new PR of 255 on deadlift
*Keep in mind I just started Sumo form about half way through this cycle... and I've already passed my previous conventional PR in training!*


Hitting 275 in a suit *ugly and hitched a bit... but it's my first deadlift in a suit!*

205 squat in the mean ol' suit!  This might be one of my FAVORITE videos EVER!!!

Bodybuilding Night
Pull aparts 100
*this is my last "official" lifting night on the Cube before mock.  So for my accessory body building night... I went a BIT crazy.  The boys are running Sheiko.. so as my bodybuilding accessory work, I did Sheiko!  :)*
Here's how it went!
It ended up being like a THREE hour workout on Friday night........ with a BLOWN OUT pair of shorts to show for it!!!  Cuz that's how I roll!
A total of 16 squat sets were done with a grand total of 56 squats.... and some bench thrown in too!
SHEIKO
Squat:  80 x 5, 95 x 4, 110 x 3 x 2, 125 x 2 x 5.
Bench: 50 x 5, 60 x 4, 70 x 3 x 2, 80 x 2 x 2, 75 x 3 , 65 x 5, 55 x 7
Dumbbell flys - 10 x 5
Squat:  80 x 5, 95 x 5 x 2, 110 x 4 x 4!!  *ouch!*
**I did every single squat wide stance**

Also - just for fun... in one of my first sets of wide-stance squats... as I hit depth - I blew out my shorts.  Don't worry though - I finished my set... cheeks out and ALL!  I finished the work out in blown out shorts with first of all a t-shirt around my waist.... then B-rad got me his squat suit which is entirely GIANT on me.  I put that on over my shorts and held it up with my SpudInc belt!!
Good thing we ARE here to work and NOT for a fashion show!!  ha ha
Cause I of course had NO back up clothing in my bag.
Lesson learned
Tell me THAT'S not dedication and HARD CORE!!!  LOL ...... I dare ya!  ;-)




Here's my 110 x 4 Wide Stance!  Keep in mind I've been doing wide stance squats for.. 2 weeks/maybe 3?

So that concludes this cycle of THE CUBE METHOD........
that's it folks.
All she wrote.
Starting tomorrow...... I'll be in hell...... and likely be an evil WENCH by week end from lack of carbs.
But hey..... I'll make weight and then I'm gonna KILL SOME WEIGHTS come next Sunday

I know you'll be on the edge of your seats waiting to hear my results!!!!!!
I'm just happy Monday after that is Labor Day...... REST DAY!

Butterflies and Hurricanes

It's MEET TIME again!!!

When I started down this road of powerlifting less than a year ago, I had no idea how much it would change me.  Oh some things never change - but when I seriously look back at me THEN and look at me NOW - it really is overwhelming how far I have come and how different I am today.

NOT just in lifting - but in my whole perspective in life.

About me.

About health.

About people that do this religiously.

About ME doing this religiously!!

(I NEVER would have believed that I could actually "FIND" the time to really work out for HOURS.... FOUR days a week!)

It is a new perspective... a new RESPECT

and definitely a new UNDERSTANDING of my body and so much more!!!

I was the girl that thought I could "be careful" about what I eat and maybe hit some cardio every now and again at the gym... and eventually - if I stick to it - I'll have that flat stomach I've always wanted!

I seriously thought that.

And then after a few weeks of what I THEN called clean eating and working out - I would get frustrated that there were no results and eat SEVENTEEN donuts!!  Because it "wasn't going to work anyway"!!

Oh how far I have come and how much I have learned.

Tomorrow will be my second FULL powerlifting meet!

And I am soooooo excited and sooooo nervous at the same time.

I remember my first meet... I was just sick... and absolutely CLUELESS about what I was about to do.  I was more nervous about people watching me than the actual lifts.  I get anxiety getting in front of people.  That STILL hasn't changed.  When I think about tomorrow I am FILLED with butterflies!  It's not even time yet and just talking about it right now has my stomach in knots!  Oh the anxiety!

BUT at the same time..... I feel like there is a hurricane raging inside me waiting to get out!!  And I KNOW once I get there and get in my ZONE - it is SUCH and indescribable adrenaline rush!  And people in powerlifting really aren't there to JUDGE you!  When you step on that platform, all the crowd watching just fades away.  It is just you and the IRON.  And once you attempt your lift, the room is FILLED with people cheering YOU on...... it really drives you to put out to your maximum limits.. and THEN some!!!

I have changed SO much since the last time I competed - I'm SO anxious to unleash this fury and see exactly where I end up.  We have run TWO cycles of  The Cube Method - AND I've been diet training with the world renowned JESSE BURDICK  LOL

I have SERIOUSLY done a NO CARB diet for the past THREE WEEKS!!!!!

NO CARBS

ZERO

SERIOUSLY.

Me.

The girl that LOVES to eat!

AND I went on vacation during that!!!  And came back LIGHTER than when I left for vacation.

YEP - that's right!!!

And trust me - I put away some seafood (AKA protein!) on vacation!

BUT I also worked out 4 days during vacation and continued with NO CARBS!

And it was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be!

(other than on International Donut day.... when the gym PROVIDED donuts for post workout - and my DRILL SERGEANT of a trainer told me NO.... that's it - simply NO!)

So today - I am counting down the hours...  the nerve racking - butterfly filled anxiety hurricane ridden hours....

And I'll drink my coffee.  Just coffee.

And at 6:30 tonight I will weigh in for the competition.  

LIGHTER than I've ever weighed in.

And then I will eat.

Eat like a champion

And prepare for BATTLE!!!

Stay tuned...........

It's not about what you accomplish... it's about what you INSPIRE!

So when I started my blog years ago - I named it "Every Day in Gray" in honor of all the gray we are each faced with day in and day out. 
The scary "UNKNOWN"
The not really yes - but not really NO situations that you face daily.
The " I like you but I don't know if I want to be with you forever" decisions.
The "I got the job but I don't know if it's for me"
The "I know what I should do - but it doesn't match what I want to do"

The GRAY

I hate the gray.
or at least I did......
or I do....
some of it...
the indecisiveness.  the wavering.  the what ifs. 
Yes then No.  Up then Down.   I'm gonna change; no I'm NOT. 
I'm better today... then I'm not.

It drives me crazy!!!

Which is precisely why today I have been putting a lot of thought into my blog.

My every day in GRAY thought VOMIT!!!

And I feel like it's lost direction.
Maybe some meaning...
(and definitely some followers!)

Some days I write.
Some days I don't
Some days I WANT to write, but I'm not sure what to talk about...
Some days I just DON'T want to write.  At all.  (those are the days I probably NEED to the most!)

Anyway - as I'm thinking through my blog today, it struck me as quite ironic with the whole gray thing.

Years ago - when I started blogging, I had a direction.
And I worked and tried so hard to get followers... those faithful readers.
When I look at my number of followers on blogger today - it's the SAME exact number as it was years ago... when I lost track of where my blog was going.
But the number of people who comment is next to ZERO
Do people even read?  or care?!!
And why do I want so bad for them to?

So I wondered... if maybe I need a new direction
and a new following.
Some of my faithfuls still follow along and I'm so thankful for that
But I wonder if my lack of direction has led people to bore of reading my dribble.

So I thought about "The gray"
And it's direction...

And I realized where my direction has gone!!!!!!!

THE IRON!!!!!
my new POSITIVE GRAY!  (no... not Christian Grey.... though that would be positive too!  HA)

I strive to motivate people.... to inspire people.... to give people hope
To BE that ray of sunshine.
I strive to be the one that you find when you are at the end of the your rope and you're falling off...
I strive to the be the KNOT that catches you and keeps you holding on and fighting to pull yourself back up.

It's what I was born for.
To drive
To inspire

For my son..... for my family...... for my friends..... for my patients... and for people whom I don't even KNOW!!!

So I'm wondering if I could start posting my workouts here.
My gym work outs... my LIFE work outs.... my goals... my diet... my inspiration.

Could I give people somewhere positive to go every morning to motivate them to do ONE thing positive that day?  Just one!!
For yourself?  For someone else...  

Because you see...... although I know there will always be haters out there who look at what I'm doing as ridiculous... (ESPECIALLY at my AGE!); I also know there will be people who WANT to be better and do more... whether it be in the gym or out??
And let me tell you - if I... me.... little "toothpick" Tammy can pick up a bar with weight on it and put it on my back and squat it to the floor and back up  --   let me just tell you -   YOU who follow along can do ANYTHING!
I am living proof!!!

My goal for my blog is to be MORE inspirational...
to inspire those who follow me
and to provide a positive inspirational environment that drives people to WANT to follow along every day and see what is new in MY GRAY little world.....
in the gym AND out!

What do you all think?
Seriously.
Do I close the blog up as a place that has run it's course?
or Push it to new levels of being inspirational and focusing more on fitness and pushing ourselves PAST our limits??!!

Thoughts?!!
Comments?!!
Followers?!!
UNfollowers?!!

Cause it sucks to be inspirational.... to NO ONE.

Friday's confessional... those dirty little secrets!!

What better way to celebrate a Friday than with some dirty little secrets!!
 (AKA things NORMAL people are scared to say out loud.... notice the emphasis on NORMAL!)




So without further adieu
Here are my Friday Confessionals!!!
((welcome to the judge-free zone!))

I confess...
I hate the Dentist.  I put it off as long as I can.  Grrrrrr....  so last week, after 3 years... yes THREE, I finally went in for a cleaning.  (ONLY because I chipped a tooth that needed fixing because I couldn't stop "tonguing" it and my tongue was getting raw!!)  I arrive for my cleaning only to discover that I need three fillings!!  (One for every year of skipping = my karma I guess)  So, back this week I went for fillings.... my mouth is STILL SORE!!!!!  Shall I wait another three years to be tortured?

I confess...
I can watch documentaries or movies where people die all day long..... NONE of them break me down like a commercial about an animal.  It's sad really... but I must confess that Clydesdale commercial during the Superbowl literally melted me.  So much so that I was not just "teary eyed" - but literally had tears ROLLING down my face.  I then tortured myself by watching it repeatedly!  WHYYYYYYYY????!!
Here... let's do it again!

I confess....
I hate dieting.  There I said it.  I.  AM.  A.  CARB.  JUNKIE!  Period.   BUT starting next week I'm starting a new diet.  (a LOW carb diet)  Or I'm changing my "lifestyle eating habits"  (snicker snicker)  It's a low carb diet that is supposed to effectively make you lose weight without losing muscle mass.  And I've worked hard for these muscles - so God forbid I do ANYTHING that might cause me to lose ANY of that muscle!!  I'm grumpy when I diet.  And I need CARBS!  Did I mention that.  I REQUIRE carbs....  Did I mention it's a LOW CARB DIET??

so this should be FUN!

I confess....

There are times in my life when I should be happy for people.... and I struggle with it.  (BIG confession!)  There are some people I know that have made, or are trying to make, better choices and appear to be in a better place now.  And I want to punch them in the face.  YES - I realize that is not very lady like and not very Christian like... and very unbecoming....(that's why this blog is called "confessionals") but sometimes - people deserve to fall flat on their faces for a minute?!  RIGHT!!  ha ha.  KARMA!
Some people get ALL the breaks... no matter HOW UGLY they act and treat other people!   blahhhh
Does that make me a bad person?



I confess....
Sometimes I say too much.  Sometimes I am TOO open for my own good.
Sometimes I worry that this confessional Friday blog will get me in trouble.
Sometimes I say things I shouldn't.

I confess....
I'm sorry to admit it makes me kinda sad when very few people read my blog and no one hardly ever comments. I don't write for others, I write for me. But sometimes I'm really proud of something and it feels like I just threw it in a lake. So shout out to Shell at Things I can't Say for giving me a shout out on FB!!! Thanks girl!!

Hope everyone has a GREAT Friday and a fantastic weekend!!!

And on a positive note - cause I always like to leave things positive - A friend posted this on facebook and it hit home with me... and hopefully it will with you too!  I'm SURE he won't mind me passing this along!

The foreclosure of your house, the repossession of your car, the cheating of your spouse that left you broken and without a relationship; all hard situations that forced you to change something that wasn't working. Your financial situation changed and the loss forced you into a life you could afford now. A broken relationship wasn't the one you deserve...forced to be alone and work on yourself until you are in the relationship you dream of. Change is hard but you will end up so happy. Trust God and make the necessary changes. You'll get through this!

Breaking ground over here!!

Making my own rules and crossing lines.... it's my 'thang' right....

I have no fear........  I'm FEARLESS!!!!!
(plus I'm highly motivated and determined!)

This week - -   I'm crossing a line
it's something I never thought I would do...
but I did it.
I'm doing it.  Every day  :)

Wanna know what it is?????

I put my chicken on a scale and WEIGHED it.
That's right.
I weighed out my food!!!

YIKES!!!!!!!

I'm no crazy body building Arnold Schwarzenegger - looking to win some competition.... but I have been working out and building muscle and DANG IT - I'm determined to be able to see these abs I'm working so hard at toning...
to do that.... I gotta drop some BODY FAT!!!

"Abs are built in the kitchen, not the gym"

So I'm counting calories and carbs and sugar and....weighing the food
and dropping some body fat
and I'm gonna find those abs down in there.... hopefully sooner than later.

Another thing I said I'd never do.

Never say never!!!

I got this!!!!!!!

If you're gonna work out - you darn well better look like you do!

You don't get it by staring

You don't get it by wishing

You don't get it by drooling

You don't get it by hoping

You don't get it EASY

You get it by

getting off your butt

working for it

every second

of every day

for the rest of your life!!

Mission Impossible

Soooooo - I'm ONLY gonna share this story - because I love my readers and my crap has been WAY too serious lately - so let me just go ahead and throw myself under the bus for ya!

As you all know, I have changed my diet and I have made this big "bet" with my coach about getting visible abs.  So I'm all HARD CORE eating clean... eating healthy... counting calories, adding protein.... drinking water like it's my JOB!!!!
Because when I set my mind to something - it's ON like Donkey Kong YO!!

ALL.  OR.  NOTHING!!!

So tonight - was my first night back in the gym....
it's been.... ummmmmmm - since before I started Ultrasound school since I've really hit a gym hardcore with a goal in mind.

This is ALSO a different plan than I have ever been on before....
BUT I trust my coach, he has a plan.... and for ONCE in my life I'm trying REALLY REALLY hard to follow instructions and trust someone else!!!  (ya know - besides my ol' trusty Miss Independent... the one that does things MY way on MY time!)

Anyway - I trust in Coach B - so I'm ALL HARD CORE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS!!!!!!

So let's start here......
I walk into the gym today - to start LIFTING!!!!!   Not running on a treadmill or jumping rope or doing crunches.... or ya know - those "typical" lose weight exercises that I expect in a gym.
I was instructed that we would be doing:
Bench Presses (not on a machine.... on a bench... with correct form.  I even watched videos on correct form!),
Squats (no - not with some hand weights.... but with a bar - on my BACK.... PS - I hate squats),
and Chin Ups!  (ok - how many girls out there can do a chin up?  on your own?  REALLY??)

So going in - I'm not having alot of faith in ME.   But my coach does - so it's all good.

I trudged my way through the work out  (some things I'm proud of - and some I'm not....)
I'm gonna share my LEAST favorite part.

Anyone who knows me.... I'm a very strong willed hard headed chick.  When I put my mind to doing something it truly is do or die.  I don't like it ONE SINGLE BIT when I try to do something and I can't.
Insert SQUATS.   (did I mention I HATE squats)
But apparently THAT is the single solitary MOST important exercise in the gym...  apparently if you were told you could only do ONE exercise, that should be your exercise of choice.
I HATE THEM!
AND.......... as it turns out - I SUCK at them!!!!!!!
I don't know why.  I tried correct form... I listened, I followed directions.... blah blah blah.... whatever... but I can NOT put the bar behind my back and squat!
So my great little coach improvised and I did front squats.
(which apparently is the backwards way to go about things....... SHOCKER.... when have I ever done anything the right way?!!  LOL)

I somehow trudge through....  3 sets.   Pitiful, but squats nonetheless.

Have you all ever done a squat?
with or without weight in your hands?  on your shoulders?
Whatever....
have you ever done A SQUAT???

My.  Legs.  Equal.  JELLO!!!!!!!!!!!

But in true HARD CORE fashion - I told you I can't STAND it when there is something that I can't physically do.... so me and my hard head came home and watched a "correct squat" video.
And I decided to "practice" my form with a broom.
A BROOM people.....   one single solitary LIGHT ASS broom!

I put it on my back, as though I were holding a bar back there....... with absolutely NO WEIGHT on it.

And I squatted down.


AND I FELL!!!!!!!  

FLAT on my DERRIERE!!!!!!!!!!
Yep.
SURE did!!!!!!!!!!

Not because the broom weighed too much
and not because I lost my balance...
but for NO other reason than my legs are J.E.L.L.O!!!!!!

I could do NOTHING but sit in my bathroom floor in my house all alone in front of the mirror and just freaking laugh my butt off!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD.NESS.

So now that I have COMPLETELY embarrassed myself for the evening, me and my jello legs are gonna try to take it easy tonight..... no more practicing with my broom.

My poor Coach B!!!  LOL
He must be so proud  ;-)

SERIOUSLY though...  I do have a GREAT coach and he was very supportive and PATIENT with me tonight .....
(I'm a COMPLETE whiny butt when I work out... I don't wanna quit - I just wanna cry about it... and you just have to tell me to shut up and do it...)

All in all - it was a GOOD first work out back in the gym - and I'm totally PUMPED for more!!
I may not have done a CORRECT squat tonight
and I might have just FALLEN flat on my BEHIND in my own bathroom floor....
BUT
I can tell you - that picture up there in my blog - of that chick doing the bench press....
BAD INCORRECT FORM!!!
I DO know that!!!!!!
And I did at LEAST have good form on the bench press!!!

Baby steps.......
Mission Impossible IS possible!!!
Just you wait and see!
(After I find my legs again!!)   :)

Studently speaking...

Friday is upon us - HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

This officially marks the second week of my lifestyle change
(NOT diet!)

There have been other small changes too....
But by far the most drastic change has been my horrible horrible diet!!!  I'm officially "eating clean".
This will NOT however be the most drastic change in the end...
there is still lots to do!!!!

Over the past two weeks - I have had ZERO Mountain Dew and ZERO sweet tea!!  You have to understand - I am a soft drink / sweet tea JUNKIE!  So for me - this IS huge in itself!!!  I have drank nothing but water for almost 2 weeks!!!!  I mean....aside from the ONE cup of coffee I still allow myself in the AM!! 
I said I was changing my eating/drinking habits, but that in NO WAY made me a better morning person without my coffee!  HA!  I did at least switch to splenda and fat free creamer!  :)

And here's the kicker - it hasn't been as hard as I was afraid it was going to be!
It really is about making smarter choices and PLANNING AHEAD!!!  I am soooo not a planner - but I have done pretty well because I put my mind to a goal and we're going for it!
I have prepared in advance (I mean actually cooked!) something to take and eat for lunch every day since I made this change.   I don't even cook dinner people, but I'm on a mission! 
So let me correct that - I DIDN'T cook dinner..... now I cook in bulk!!!  for lunch AND dinner!!  :)

IT'S ON!!!!


AND - I have lost 5 pounds!!

Don't think I'm trying to get all anorexic on ya.... I'm losing FAT (pounds), in order to gain back MUSCLE (pounds).  It's not the number on the scale as much as it is about transforming your body!!!

And this girl has made a nice little $100 wager with her Coach B about who can get VISIBLE ABS first!!!
I have NEVER had visible abs.....
So this is a BIG GOAL for me.....
But we are pushing each other ....

And next week - I start being PUSHED literally by Coach B in the gym.  Let me just tell you that THIS guy dead lifts for fun!!!  Dude is built.  And strong.   And he's gonna push me till I cry  (it's ok - I gave him permission to do so!!)

And hopefully - my goal... no - NOT hopefully - but MY GOAL IS to have visible abs, FIRST all before coach - and SECOND of all, I would like to sport them around before the summer is over!!!!!!!!!  ha ha
so.....

Here.

We.

Go!

My reward for this week..... what I've been looking forward to all week is.......
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup flavored protein shakes tomorrow!!!!!!
You see....... it's ALL about PERSPECTIVE!!!!!!!!!!

So I'm giving myself an A+ so far.  Coach is proud of me... SO - I think I'm off to a good start.   Next week starts the physical pushing and transforming!

Hope I keep all A's!!!!!

Anybody wanna journey with me?????  You are all welcome to make a better you!!  :)

RIGHT NOW!!!!

One of the first things to do in order to grow as a person is to admit your faults.  Admit your weaknesses.  Forgive yourself for your shortcomings!!!

 Makes sense.... right?!!

Wanna know my biggest one?!
I don't have a problem admitting it.....
(shhhhhhhh - don't tell anyone!)


It's patience
I have none.  With anything...
myself.... my child sometimes.... life... whatever it may be?!

I'm a child of instant gratification.
I'm an impulse shopper... I'm an impulse vacationer.... I'm an impulse skydiver!!!
((PS - I just like to refer to it as SPONTANEOUS!!!)

OK - so I know this.
I have admitted it time and time again.

My question is - HOW do you get past that?
Is there somewhere I can go to BUY some patience??!!!
Cause I need plenty.

If admitting it is the first step - whats the next step??
Someone told me to pray for patience one time.  BUT I remember distinctly a woman I went to church with saying DO NOT PRAY FOR PATIENCE, because God will give you trial after trial after trial until you LEARN patience!!!
I've had my share of trials...... I have!!
And It's not that there is anything wrong.
Life is good.

But I was reminded again today that I have no patience.  Just for example, I have been "lifestyle (diet) changed" for 3 whole days now....  THREE
And I got on the scale today.
Wanna know what it said.....
it LAUGHED!!!!
It taunted me with ONE FREAKING POUND.
ONE!

Now granted I just changed my diet 3 days ago, but I started exercising last week.
Can I see a little fruit of my labor (passing up all those blizzards and chik-fil-a and mexican and well... just eating out!)?!!  LOL

I'm really ok.  Most days I'm fine.  Most days I don't think about it...
but then I drive past that yellow convertible camaro and I want it now!!!!!  (dont' get me wrong, I know I have other things to take care of first, but it aggravates me nonetheless that I can't just go to the dealership TODAY and have it in my driveway tonight.)

Patience.
Yes.
If you know where I can get some, let me know  :)

(my "swole" coach would appreciate it too!  ha!  I'm already on his nerves with "what results?  I see NO results?"  )

PS - I'm SURE there are many other character flaws I possess, but THAT one is my vice...  my Achilles heel... the one I can't seem to conquer.

I'm bringing sexy back!!

GAME ON!!!!!!!!
Today is the big day....
(well... one of many big days to come)

Today is the day that I get my "sexy back"  ha ha

Today I begin my new lifestyle diet!!
Last week I started at least making an effort to walk/run a few days a week... got my feet wet.
and it got me wanting more.....

So starting today - I'm on a high protein, lower calorie diet (thanks to my "swole" coach B!)

I'm not going to get all crazy on ya - but I am starting a new diet, a new workout plan... and a new ME!
It's time to get this butt back in shape and bikini ready!  ha ha    Cause it is soooooooo not right now!

I DO plan to take before and after pics....
BUT
you can't see the before pics until the AFTER pics are better
I have to have something to be proud of before I go showing my J-E-L-L-O!!!  ha ha

So anyway - HAPPY MONDAY to you all!!!
Some words to make you smile......

We are what we repeatedly do.  EXCELLENCE, therefore is not an act, but a HABIT!  ~Aristotle~

(change your daily actions until they become habit!)

If you want to succeed in the world, you must make your own opportunities as you go on.  The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a coming.  You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until some one comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.  ~John B. Gough~

(go jump out of a plane if you want, if it pushes you and/or motivates you.
If it's not a plane, do something!  Motivate yourself!)

Nothing great was ever achieved with enthusiasm  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

(do it till you LOVE it!!)

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true ~Leion J. Suenes~

(Dream dreams... have goals.... and push yourself to the edge of a ledge
- it's the only way to grow!)

YES - I am still reeling off my SKY DIVE - and I will ride this wave as long as it keeps me positive, focused, and driven!!!

Have a GREAT Monday......  set some goals for yourself today - something you've always wanted to accomplish.  And when you set it - BELIEVE you can do ANYTHING!!!!

and remember........

Pain 

is weakness 

leaving the body!!!!!!

(no matter what kind of pain it is) 

Motivational Monday - giving a shout out!!

Well... it's Monday again.
I know everyone dreads Mondays... but sometimes I look at them like a clean slate.  When you have had a crappy week or a crappy weekend... you get to start over on Monday. 
It's like a do-over day!  :)

My fresh start begins with Preacher T being home safe and sound  :)   Thank God for save travels for him AND all the work crew.  He brought me a cool shot glass to add to my collection and a kick-a$$ new sweatshirt!  I had lunch waiting for him when he got back to town... so I got to spend my Sunday night with my baby.... eating and hanging out watching Family Guy!!  ha ha  What a GREAT note to start the week on.

ALSO - today... I'm committing to the "diet" and gym.  (no more DQ Blizzards!??  grrrrrrrrr!)  PROMISE!  I am DE-TER-MINED to drop some body fat!!!   Anyone have any losing body (belly) fat tips??  I guess I'm going to officially hand myself over to Preacher T... put my self in his hands.  Here's hoping that we can MOTIVATE each other in the gym and not KILL EACH other!  ha ha  (you guys MIGHT wanna stay tuned for how THAT goes *wink wink*)

What's on your plate for the week???

AND...While I'm on such a chipper note.....I want to take a minute to give a shout out to all my readers!! 
I was talking to a dear friend this weekend (shout out Detroit!!) about my blog.... I was telling him how I can't believe I am still here.  I'm notorious for starting things and getting bored with it and quitting.  But I haven't... I'm still here and still loving every minute of it.  And I have to say......your comments and bloggy love and the free therapy keep me coming back day after day.  There is nothing better than getting online and reading a post from someone that is exactly what I need to hear that day.  And vice versa... I can't tell you how it warms my heart to spill my guts over the internet and get all the love and comments back from you guys!  It just makes me smile to know that simple feelings or words from me can put a smile on someone else's face!  =)

So I just wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU to you all for reading  :)   

and commenting  :)   

and for giving me one more reason to smile  =)

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS week!!!