I did it...I did 60 minutes of cardio today and it wasn't too bad. Can you believe it? It was over before I knew it!
Yesterday I had a killer leg workout. I had a difficult time walking out of the gym and after I put my food meals for today, I showered and went right to sleep. My goal was to practice my poses but I stood in front of the mirror and couldn't do it. I was beat!
I am totally on "Lock Down" falling Tony's program to a "T".
I've complied a list of 6 signs that you need a new personal trainer:
1. His gym consists of only pick and purple 1 and 3 pound dumbbells.
2. He idolizes Richard Simmons and dresses just like him.
3. His programs are named "The Paris Hilton Body" and the "Nicole Richie Body".
4. He supplement recommendations includes Chinese Herbal Tea. He insists that it is a must because there are no fat Chinese people!
5. He makes you do 40 reps of every exercise using the 1 and 3 pink and purple dumbbells and tells you that it is perfectly okay to gain muscle because a pound of fat weights more than a pound of muscle.
6. He repetitively plays in the background while training you "Let's get Physical" by Olivia Newton John.
7. At your first consultation, he tells you that you already look great and "why do you need a personal trainer?" This actually happened to me once.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Day 50 - Age is not a factor...Condition is!
Yike! Only 50 days until my competition. The weather was beautiful today, so I went to the track to do my cardio. I ran the track and the bleachers. Tony had me increase my cardio and you all know how much I love cardio (maybe if I say I love it, I will start believing it and will enjoy it more!). Today I also worked my abs, I've got to work hard at getting that 6 pack because that's where I carry a lot of my fat. I visualized that 6 pack throughout my workout.
I have been eating clean all week, it's a must at this point.
Today's quote "Age is not a factor, condition is" is from an interview I read by a fitness competitor who was over 40 years. This comment is so true.. I think for the most part people make judgements based on age or start believing that they cannot do something because they are too old. If you start believing something it becomes true. Dara Torres, a 41 year old woman broke a record in the Olympic trials and her age was made such a big issue. The media immediately brought up steroids use. Now I am not saying that she cannot be using steroids, but I think the assumption should not be made that because she is old, then she must be using steroids. I seriously doubt if she was 22 it would have been such an issue.
Throughout time man have been looking for the "Fountain of Youth". Maybe if people didn't focus so much on getting old, and limited themselves because of their age, then they would feel more youthful. Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, believe that you can because "Age is not the factor, but condition is!
I have been eating clean all week, it's a must at this point.
Today's quote "Age is not a factor, condition is" is from an interview I read by a fitness competitor who was over 40 years. This comment is so true.. I think for the most part people make judgements based on age or start believing that they cannot do something because they are too old. If you start believing something it becomes true. Dara Torres, a 41 year old woman broke a record in the Olympic trials and her age was made such a big issue. The media immediately brought up steroids use. Now I am not saying that she cannot be using steroids, but I think the assumption should not be made that because she is old, then she must be using steroids. I seriously doubt if she was 22 it would have been such an issue.
Throughout time man have been looking for the "Fountain of Youth". Maybe if people didn't focus so much on getting old, and limited themselves because of their age, then they would feel more youthful. Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, believe that you can because "Age is not the factor, but condition is!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Day 54 - Perfection Lies Within...
I am down to my last 54 days and now I have to work even harder to train hard and eat clean. I have to tell myself "Don't give up". Instead I have to work hard and remember that this competition is all about competing with myself. We often compare ourselves to others and think 'she has nicer ___ (you can fill in the body part with whatever you want) than I do'. It's not about all of that, it's all about being the best that you can be! We all know how subjective this sport is, but if you know that you worked your "butt off" (no pun intended), and did all that you could possible do then you will feel great when you get up on stage. I learned from my first show that presentation is also a big part of competing. I was so terrified of getting on stage for my first show that my presentation was not the best that it could be. One of my goals of my first show was just getting on stage and it was a fear I had to overcome.The phrase "Perfection Lies Within" to me means that knowing and believing that you gave it your all, that you did all that you can do.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Day 61 - Use it or Lose It!
Use it or lose it, clearly applies to fitness and working out.
Have you ever stopped working out or doing a particular exercise and then you try to do it months later only to find out that it's not as easy as it was, or that you can no longer do as many. I really notice this when I haven't done "body weight pull-ups" for a while. I tried doing body weight pull-ups last week, and I could only do 3 or 4 and last year I did between 7 and 10. That really sucks! But the good news is "Human cells have a fitness memory of about 3 years. Amazingly, if you adopt a fit lifestyle now, within 3 years, your body will behave as if you've been fit your entire life". I just read this in a magazine and that is good news for those who are couch potatoes and want to be fit but have not done so for whatever reason. This may also explain why once you start exercising again, you quickly get to where you left off. It is so much easier than if you have never exercised.
Training:
Today is a much needed rest day for me. Friday and Saturday I had gruelling workouts. On Friday I had a back workout and on Saturday, biceps and triceps. My back is one of my favourite body parts to train and biceps not so favourites. I never seem to be able to see a change in my biceps. My back was extremely sore from Friday's workout and my arms were sore as well, I am not sure why but it may have been from practicing my poses. My goal was to do extra cardio but I was really hungry after lifting so I went home and my goal was to go back to the gym later in the day to do extra cardio but I was really tired and really didn't feel like going back. I learned that when my body needs rest.
I did pretty good eating clean all week. My downfall is fruit, and I did eat some cherries. Cherries are not necessarily bad but they are not on my current meal plan. But they were so good. I enjoyed them more than that cheesecake last week.
Have you ever stopped working out or doing a particular exercise and then you try to do it months later only to find out that it's not as easy as it was, or that you can no longer do as many. I really notice this when I haven't done "body weight pull-ups" for a while. I tried doing body weight pull-ups last week, and I could only do 3 or 4 and last year I did between 7 and 10. That really sucks! But the good news is "Human cells have a fitness memory of about 3 years. Amazingly, if you adopt a fit lifestyle now, within 3 years, your body will behave as if you've been fit your entire life". I just read this in a magazine and that is good news for those who are couch potatoes and want to be fit but have not done so for whatever reason. This may also explain why once you start exercising again, you quickly get to where you left off. It is so much easier than if you have never exercised.
Training:
Today is a much needed rest day for me. Friday and Saturday I had gruelling workouts. On Friday I had a back workout and on Saturday, biceps and triceps. My back is one of my favourite body parts to train and biceps not so favourites. I never seem to be able to see a change in my biceps. My back was extremely sore from Friday's workout and my arms were sore as well, I am not sure why but it may have been from practicing my poses. My goal was to do extra cardio but I was really hungry after lifting so I went home and my goal was to go back to the gym later in the day to do extra cardio but I was really tired and really didn't feel like going back. I learned that when my body needs rest.
I did pretty good eating clean all week. My downfall is fruit, and I did eat some cherries. Cherries are not necessarily bad but they are not on my current meal plan. But they were so good. I enjoyed them more than that cheesecake last week.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Day 68 - Imagination
The imagination exercises a powerful influence over every act of sense, thought, reason,-- over every idea.
Today is my rest day and I am always thankful for rest days. I had a great 4 of July weekend. Tony, my trainer told me that I could have a cheat day and I was so excited but I was having a difficult time trying to figure out what to eat. There wasn't anything I really craved and I finally decided on cheesecake. It was weird, I was disappointed after eating it. I had this apple struedel cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory and it was so sweet. I think I should have just have had a slice of plain NY style cheesecake. I almost did not want to have a cheat day because I took progress pics and and I was happy with my progress (that doesn't happen too often), so I didn't want to ruin my progress, but I figured that 1 slice of cheesecake isn't going to mess me up!
Training:
On Friday I went to the track to run sprints and up the bleachers. The sprints were really tough but I gave it my all, and imagined that I was running for the gold in the Olympics. That stuff really helps me through my workouts. Yesterday, I did intervals on the bike and I imagined that I was riding on the Tour de France. What can I say, I have a pretty good imagination! Running sprints makes me so sore, my calves and quads in particular. I don't like running long distance but I'll do the sprints anyday.
Today is my rest day and I am always thankful for rest days. I had a great 4 of July weekend. Tony, my trainer told me that I could have a cheat day and I was so excited but I was having a difficult time trying to figure out what to eat. There wasn't anything I really craved and I finally decided on cheesecake. It was weird, I was disappointed after eating it. I had this apple struedel cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory and it was so sweet. I think I should have just have had a slice of plain NY style cheesecake. I almost did not want to have a cheat day because I took progress pics and and I was happy with my progress (that doesn't happen too often), so I didn't want to ruin my progress, but I figured that 1 slice of cheesecake isn't going to mess me up!
Training:
On Friday I went to the track to run sprints and up the bleachers. The sprints were really tough but I gave it my all, and imagined that I was running for the gold in the Olympics. That stuff really helps me through my workouts. Yesterday, I did intervals on the bike and I imagined that I was riding on the Tour de France. What can I say, I have a pretty good imagination! Running sprints makes me so sore, my calves and quads in particular. I don't like running long distance but I'll do the sprints anyday.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day 75 - No Excuses!
We have all heard this "I wish I had time to workout, how do you find the time to workout, I don't have time to cook", I need to lose weight etc, etc, etc. Honestly, I don't usually respond to comments like this because my comment is not what they will want to hear. I hear excuses after excuses. Some of the excuses I've heard from friends and acquaintances include..."Michigan made me fat" apparently since she moved to Michigan she gained weight, therefore, Michigan made her fat? A co-worker told me that her company made her gain weight because there is always food in the lunch room?
Sadly, people are in denial and then they expect a magic pill to instantly give them the body they want.
I think one of the greatest feelings is to accomplish a goal and just being able to say "I did it". Whatever the goal may be. There is a sense of accomplishment that engulfs your entire body, and for me it's a natural high and sometimes relief to know that you did it, and may not have to ever do it again. Sometimes it's to set another bigger goal because you have finally come to the realization that you can attain a bigger goal and the smaller goal was just a stepping stone. No matter what you want, just remember that you can do it and that Needing something and wanting something are really different!
Sadly, people are in denial and then they expect a magic pill to instantly give them the body they want.
I think one of the greatest feelings is to accomplish a goal and just being able to say "I did it". Whatever the goal may be. There is a sense of accomplishment that engulfs your entire body, and for me it's a natural high and sometimes relief to know that you did it, and may not have to ever do it again. Sometimes it's to set another bigger goal because you have finally come to the realization that you can attain a bigger goal and the smaller goal was just a stepping stone. No matter what you want, just remember that you can do it and that Needing something and wanting something are really different!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Faith is the Absence of Fear!
I used to be very fearful and my husband once said to me "you can't have faith and fear at the same time"! I thought about it and realized that he was right, I could not be fearful and have faith at the same time and I always thought I had faith! If I really believed in myself and really believed in positive outcomes I could not be fearful. When I thought about it, I thought of the many things I was fearful of and how I overcame them. I always had the "what if" thought in the my head which prevented me from doing. I remember I had a difficult time learning how to swim (everyone in my family could swim except me) and it was because the thought I had was "what if I sink to he bottom, and what if I drowned". One day I just had to actually believe that I would float and when I did I surprised myself, but my thought before I actually did it was that I could do it.
I am sometimes asked why I decided to compete. One of the reasons was to overcome the fear of getting on stage. I figured that with all the hard work of training, I had to do it and I did overcome my fear of getting on stage. If I could get on stage in a bikini I would overcome that fear.
I am sometimes asked why I decided to compete. One of the reasons was to overcome the fear of getting on stage. I figured that with all the hard work of training, I had to do it and I did overcome my fear of getting on stage. If I could get on stage in a bikini I would overcome that fear.
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