In addition to my last post

As if anyone should need any more help making the decision......

And for you know who, you know who you are......

I hope you had your fun and are ready to get back on track.....AGAIN.

Weight loss

"You didn't get out of shape and unhealthy overnight, and you won't get fit and healthy overnight - despite what the infomercials tell you"

"I wake up every day with the realization that this is it, that there's only one shot at this life and I can either enjoy the ride and live it to its fullest and to my highest potential or I can mess it up and go back to being that fat person who was eating his/her way to four hundred pounds."

"The closer a food is to its natural state, the better it probably is for you. "



And finally...

Enjoy some time outside getting your fitness on while the weather will still allow!

This weekends top ladies!

Good luck to the following ladies who will be competing this weekend:

Melissa

Tenecia

Tess

Get your strut on!

Flex Magazine for $2.99/year

Go to Genie's Journey at her blog to get the link.  I thought surely there is going to be a catch when I actually order, but no, I got a year's subscription for $2.99!!!!

Thank you Genie!

A little pop

Yesterday was leg day for me.  I had planned it perfect with the girls both being busy to give me time to play. 

So here is the workout:
Leg ext 2 X 10 & 1 X drop set to failure
Leg press  2 plates for 20 reps
                 4 plates for 15
                 6 plates for 10
                 8 plates for 6
DB step ups 3 2 X 10 (on the 2nd set I felt a huge "pop" in my back, scared me, hurt like crazy, but no way I was stopping, will explain more in a few)
Modified with: 1 X walking lunges with double dips
Lying leg curls 2 X 10 & 2 X drop sets to failure
10 min on step mill

Honestly this workout contained a bit more that I had to put off.  I still had 3 sets of box jumps and 3 sets of switch jumps to go, but when my back popped, there was no way those things were going to happen.  When I got in my car to drive to pick up Hannah it was hurting so bad I thought I might pass out while driving.  I got home, took a pain pill, fixed up a hot bath with epsom salts, soaked, took a sleeping pill, hoping it would just knock me out and I wouldn't feel the pain, and went to bed on a ice pack.

So much for a beautiful leg day, but I am hopefully going to be better by Saturday so I can have a repeat.  :)

Latest shoulder workout

I have decided to start posting most of my workouts again.  Maybe they will help someone looking for a change up.


Shoulders:
Smith Machine press 4 X 10
Arnold press 3 X 8 (lighter weight than I normally do for a regular press)
Plate raises 3 X 8
BB push press 3 X 5
Rear delt flyes 3 X 8-10 (wanted rev pec deck, but some guy was hogging it) 
Baby laterals 3 X failure


Legs next!

No matter what you are going through

So many times when troubles come our way it is easy to "not go to the gym today" because that time can be used somewhere else.  From now on, I am going to make a pact with myself that when "life" happens, I will still go to the gym.  My workout will not suffer because of whatever has decided to rear it's UGLY head in my life.

 

 

Accountability

I started this blog in part to hold myself accountable and to learn from others.  It has done both.  Bloggers are an amazing group of people. 

With that being said, I have decided it is about time to post some updated shots of me, so you guys can see how I am coming along.  One of the things I have "discovered" since I started this is that this is my life, my choice, no one can make me do the work if I do not want to.  This sport has taught me alot about myself over the last few years.  I look forward to what I can do from here forward.

 Pic from last night.

For Cierra, I love you baby

I love you and have all the faith in the world that you have got this.  Your life is full of possibilities and all you have to do is realize that.  I will always be in your corner pushing you on to greater things because you deserve the best.  Be happy above all else!

Love,
Momma

Newest Chicken Recipe

People ask what I eat and why.  Most of the people I talk to the biggest pitfall I notice in their diet is the lack of protein.  It always amazes me to find the "average" person may not even consume 50 grams of protein a day.  Wow!  Of course their carbs are off the charts and fats right along with the carbs.  Just like everyone else, I do not have time to cook a meal every night of the week, so I find ways to prepare my foods ahead of time and store them for later.  Which leads me to my newest chicken recipe.  I say my newest because I have to change it up pretty often to keep getting it down.   

Here ya go:
I buy boneless, skinless chicken brests in the 5-6 lb range.  Not sure what chickens these brests are coming off of, I know I would not want to meet one of them in a dark alley, so I cut each brest in half and put about 4-6 pieces in a gallon size zip lock bag.  (Keep in mind I am not in a competition mode right now, so I really do not measure or weigh anything)  Along with the chicken I will pour in about 1/4 cup of olive oil, about 1& 1/2 tbsp of cayanne pepper, 1 tsp paprika, and 2 tbsp Tuscan  or Carribean Mrs. Dash seasoning.  Seal the bag and squish it all around.  Put it in the fridge over night and then cook as needed, generally in the morning as I am getting ready for work. 

Lots of people want to know how I eat so much dry chicken, my answer is I don't.  I can not choke done dry tasteless chicken, I refuse!  This chicken is so juicy and tasty.  And it will stay that way for days after cooking. 

Enjoy! 

Catch up

Hey guys, I thought it was about time I did a "catch up" blog.  Let's start with training.  Honestly I have only been in the gym about 4 times over the last 2 weeks.  Bad, yes I know, been moving and getting signed up at a new gym and plenty more excuses where those come from too if anyone would like to hear them, but I am sure you are all good.  :)  My diet actually has not been too horrible.  Even if I have a "cheat" during the day my other meals are good.  Overall I have been keeping it clean and healthy.  I have cleaned out most of the sugary foods I had in my house.  This was very important to me, not just for me, but for my family.  Sugar=Bad!  That is all you need to know.  We get plenty of sugar from our healthy carbs and fruits there is no reason the eat a snickers every day or in my girls' case a pop tart.  Ok enough of the rant.  

This week the plan is to continue eating clean, and to get in the gym every day.  Oh, speaking of gyms, I am really not very happy with my new gym.  Its one of those 24 hour places.  Not that I have anything against that, but the equipment is lacking in my opinion.  And the lay out is pretty screwy.  Going to try to make it work this week.  Maybe after a solid weeks worth of training it will seem more like home.  I sure hope so. I will leave you with this:

"If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people."  ~Virginia Woolf
 

For Harley & Robin (and many others)

Never does one feel oneself so utterly helpless
as in trying to speak comfort for great bereavement.
I will not try it.
Time is the only comforter for the loss of a mother.
- Jules Renard

Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
- Anonymous

There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.
They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.
They are messengers of overwhelming grief ...
and unspeakable love.
- Washington Irving

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you Until we meet again!
- Anonymous

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.
- Anonymous


What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across
the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
- Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator 1830 - 1890

Sugar & Cancer (A must read)

Guys, this is something near and dear to my heart.....A serious wake up call, for all of us, but more so for those of us who are mothers.  Please take a look at this article Sugar and Cancer.  I have seen this before, but had slipped back into old habits and put this out of my mind.  This is enough to make me want to go home and clean out all of my cabinets.  Why do I even have that junk in my house!  When we are trying to lead healthy lives we all say "Why should my whole family have to suffer with me?"  We need to wake up, it is not suffering.  We are chosing to give our children a healthier life.  With so many things being linked to cancer and cancer being so widespread why are we contributing to a known cause in our own household? 

I plan to "clean" my household up and I hope you do the same if you have not already.

In Case You Don't Know

Today is Friday!

Something I saw on a fellow blogger's site......Maybe KellyO, not sure, but worth another share!

For me more than anyone else

"Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enjoy your day!

Been Moving

Sorry guys, I have been moving, no time to read or post.  Will be back soon.  Take care!