Why can't you have just a little piece, it won't kill you?!

Let me answer that.  BECAUSE once you allow yourself a bite here and maybe a small piece there, it is very hard to stop that flow and it becomes like a snowball rolling downhill.  It is not the one small bite that will hurt you, it is the change in your mindset that WILL.  Once you allow yourself a "treat" it becomes harder and harder to tell yourself to stop and that this will be the last one.  Therefore, abstinence is the only way!  :)
Oh of course I say this only about myself as I can not speak for others, but it is prime example of what happened to me Christmas Eve, Day, and the day after.  Now it sucks getting back on track, but that is the only option.

Week 1 update pics

So it has been one solid week of carb cycling.  I owe everyone update pics.  The goal is abs by Christmas......lots of people buy themselves a "little something" for Christmas, all I want is abs for Christmas.  It is taking work and self discipline.  Lots of self discipline!  Did I mention this last Sunday was Christmas with my family where I hosted and made home made spaghetti from scratch, plus pecan pie, chocolate mouse, and cheescake!  Since Sunday was my one high carb day I did eat, but was very careful not to go overboard.  It was tough!  But my abs are a must.  :)

Without further ado>>>>

Was looking a little bloated this morning.

And for those of you who have been with me since the beginning, NO you can not have my special piggy pajamas, they were made just for me by my mom.  <3 

Since Christmas is on Sunday I guess I will have to post later Sunday afternoon, but I will try to get the pics up to let you know if I got my present or not.  :)

Saturday Crossfit

On Saturday's I have been working with a friend of mine to get in shape.  Every Saturday I like to come up with something new, different, or not previously done by me or at least not done in a while.  This Saturday I decided to give Crossfit a try.  It delivered!  Before he got there I had to play catch up and do Chest and Back which took me about 45 minutes and was HEAVY.
Then I had already picked two different Crossfit routines to do.  They SUCKED the whole time, but in a sweet knowing way.  ;)
Here is what we did:
Jack:
10 Push press (65/55)
10 KB swings (40/30)
10 Box jumps
AMRAP for 20 min.
Then....
50 Box jumps
50 KB swings
50 Situps
50 Squats
50 Back Ext.
For time

My plan for us is to do 2 WOD's for the next couple of Saturdays as we build up to the FIlthy Fifty.  If you have never seen the Filthy Fifty take a look:
50 Box jumps
50 jumping pullups
50 KB Swings
50 Steps walking lunge
50 knees to elbows
50 push press
50 back ext
50 Wall ball shots
50 Burpees
50 double unders
Yea! 

What I work with

Everyday I come into my office to the smell of...

Oatmeal raisin......well if that doesn't do it for you then the smell of......

Chocolate chip......and to top it off if I have been good all day they reward me with the smell of......

popcorn in the evenings.  It is really hard some days to pass up all the goodies, especially when I could just pluck a cookie straight out of the oven, still hot and gooey.

But no, I stick to these.......

Guys, it is not even Christmas yet.  My office makes, brings, buys food constantly and leaves it out for everyone.  (#gottalovethem)

If you fail to plan, your plans will fail.  Pack your meals, stick to them, and for heavens sake, get in the gym!



A Must Read

Yesterday I read Pauline Nordin's What Sets You Apart on the Muscle and Fitness Hers site.  When she says "Because you can not buy it" the light bulb went off in my head.  What we do day in and day out does set us apart.  Look around you, your fitness level is much more of a status symbol than owning a yacht.  Simply because what you have can not be bought.

Consider this:  Pauline says "I love knowing I am fit enough to run for my life, I'm strong enough to save myself if I'm in an emergency, that I can defend myself, that I'm building my fort for the long run."  How much do those things mean to you? 

Beastmode baby!

Mini photo shoot in my bathroom

So yesterday I discovered this (wish I had an arrow key).  Do you see my lil friend?  My 1st, so far that I have found.  I am 35 years young and have my 1st one!  I promise you when I go get my hair done in January, I will threaten the hands of my beautician if she goes anywhere near it with color.  I have EARNED that lil booger!

I am starting day 2 of my carb cycle.  Decided since I was pretty much OK with low carb yesterday to go ahead and extend it to today just to get 2 of my 3 days done.  With that being said I wanted to do a "before" and "after" to see how much if any this will affect my look.  So without further ado here is the "before".  Will post the "after" next Tuesday.

Really wish I would think these things through a bit more and post you some pics after I work out and am pumped, but it never works out that way.  :(

And why does it seem like when I am blow drying my hair that I have so much more than when I stop to pose?  Hate that!

Disregard the heinous green robe in the background.  That is honestly 16 years old, I know because I bought it for the hospital when I had my oldest daughter, the beautiful Cierra was born!  My baby!

These are what I am most looking forward too.  I think carb cycling will bring them in and hopefully with Zero cardio, because I do not want to do any right now!  Yep, there it is I said it!  Don't wanna do any mind numbing cardio, just weights!

I have faith!  :)

What am I eating this week??

I must admit I do get tired of chicken.  Even though I change up recipes regularly, (about every 2-3 months), I get to where I can not stand the smell of it and I know it's time.  For this week I will be adding a lot more tuna to my diet for a change up.  Starting yesterday I had my tuna boats, should have taken a pic, but didn't think about it.  I make my tuna very simply......tuna, boiled eggs, and mustard.  Mix it all together and spoon it onto romaine lettuce hearts.  Love it!  Very clean.  Hopefully tonight I will get to try Chelle's Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes from Recipe For Fitness By Chelle.  It sounds DE-Lish!  Hope it is.  Later in the week I plan to do more turkey mini meat loafs.  Another current FAV of mine.  A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

On top of throwing out the chicken for this week, I have decided to throw a few carbs out too.  Starting this week I am going to carb cycle.  My thought is on Monday, Thursday, and Friday will be very low carb days, around 20-30 gr.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday will be moderate carb days, around 80-100ish.  Sunday will be my free for all......  Just wanting to get back in the swing of things.  Not really obsessing over measurements, but keeping an eye to portions. 

Here is a pic of what my cat looks like as soon as he hears me break out the can opener.  :)

Have a great week!

Legs By Harley

Yesterday I txted Harley to ask him to make me a leg workout.  My exact words were "Make it heavy sided to the quads, but some hammies too."  Guys this is what I got:
Giant set of:
Leg Ext
Leg Press
Hack Sq.
Walking DB Lunges    all 4 X 20  That's a whopping 320 reps peeps!  On the 4th round at the hack sq mark I was about to get puketastic.  Lovely!
Stiff Leg DB DL 3 X 10 Really trying to get my form right on this one......
Lying Leg Curls 4 X 8
This morning I am pleasantly sore, not horribly like I was last weekend after my revisit with Integrated-Conditioning, a killer workout-give it a whirl! 

On the flip, I am seriously considering finally making it official and getting my trainers certification.  This is something I have wanted since I was 15 years old and put off for LIFE.  Now I think I might be at a point in the next year or so where I can really dive into my dreams.

Also, I am working on an "informational" post.  I LOVE to read and dig up quality information to help you and me along on this path.  What I have found so far is quite interesting and a bit large.  I need to work it down some before posting.

I leave you with my "tip" of the day....

You have to do a whole lot of these

And these

To get these!  :)

Have a great lift!



Let's Get This Party Started!

This has been on my mind all day.....burning to get out.  I am so hyped about my workouts this week.  They will be hard and heavy.  Plus, I plan to find a little running time to even it all out.

I thought I would share this pic.  We often think about the "perfect" body types for inspiration.  This one made me think long, lean, powerful, agile, quick, defined, able, smooth, tapered, a wicked/fierce competitor.  I would be cool with any of those adjectives describing me.  :)

Are you feeling your inner animal/beast today?

Friday Funny

I thought I would end the week with a little funny........

Since it is football season and since I have been troubled about what I want to do with my own fitness program.  Here ya go! 

Have a wonderful weekend!