Mullet Wigs and A Cold Feline

My house is currently 64 degrees.
I'm cold.
The computer keys are cold.
Oscar's balled up like a doughnut knot probably wondering why we're so cheap not to turn on the heat.  I refuse to justify myself to a feline that licks questionable body parts, but I truly have no excuse for not heating this place up.
Until then, I will sit here and marinate in my hoodie like a champ.

What a weekend.
I spent the majority of my weekend in front of a computer mulling through emails and diet plans,...2 seconds away from doing some serious interventions.  If I show up at your door with a trash bag, bottle of laxatives, and 12 step program, don't ask questions just go with it.
The crap people eat still blows my mind sometimes.  Not to say we should never enjoy a splurge every now and then, but my god people, the majority of your food should actually start rotting within a few weeks at most.  Real food.
Needless to say, after the first 3 meal plans, I wanted to bang a few heads against the wall.  I refrained.  But today it was game time for those people.

Speaking of food, I literally choked on my chicken today.
It was about 5:00, and I was predictably throwing down my chicken and veggies as I made my way around the gym.  (Gotta fuel the machine on the fly).  Next thing I know, I'm coughing like an asthmatic, can hardly breathe, and Garrett's looking at me like I better figure it out.  He reassures me he knows the Heimlich, but I'm sure that while he'd dislodge the chicken, he'd also break my sternum...
So there I was trying to hack this white meat up, with my hands in the air having an afternoon near-death experience.  It was like my own sick game of charades, and I was apparently "Dying on Space Mountain."
It was the only time I cursed chicken.
Well, except for the last time I choked...
Damn bird.

On a much more positive note, Zimm stopped by today!  They had to evacuate Christopher Newport because of the hurricane, so he traveled with the GF to come home for a few days.
Great to catch up, and many laughs....always a good thing on a Monday. 
Safe travels back Zimm :)

Well, I am still getting my halloween costume plan together, so I called my mom to ask for a wig or two.  To add to the colorful portrait of my mom, just know that she has a designated "costume box" at home....which ic actually more like a closet. 
I kid you not.  If you need a prop, she's got it.....sad, on many levels.
She starts listing off all these wig options from Dolly Pardon to a mullet, which I immediately wanted of course, but I was overwhelmed after the 6th one.  All I could do was picture her running around in these wigs on a Saturday night with a handful of glitter singing "If You're Happy and You Know It". 
I'd pay to see it.
I'd go so far as to encourage her to strap on the fanny pack to complete the ensemble.

That pretty much wraps up my day.
Dad is dropping off 2 wigs for me tomorrow.....this is what a retired man does.  I don't question it.  Let him roll.

Night folks...

Take It Off

The chicken I just cooked is unbelievable.  Its just chicken, I realize, but its the simple things in life like perfectly cooked poultry that one must learn to appreciate.  Right now, I am on a meat-high.  I've got my jazz music rolling and I am in my own little world....just me....chicken...salad...and Oscar, who is currently bathing questionable body parts in the middle of the kitchen.  Sort of fitting for this household honestly.  I wonder if he ever looks down and thinks "dang,...something is missing...hmmm...."

If I had a dollar for every male nipple I saw today I could make it rain on my entire cul-de-sac.  Apparently there was a shirt-less memo that went around this morning that I missed.  I saw more male chests and abs than I seen since spring break '02.  Every time I turned around someone had their shirt off....Brian...Garrett...Tyler...Zimm....Patrick....
Show me a line up of navels and I could correctly identify each of them.  Wow, my life just reached a new low.

Workout was awesome today.  I had shoulders and core.  It was a brutal shoulder circuit, and I was shocked at how much energy I had even through the cardio.  Gotta love days like that.

Well, it was a solid day with clients and I was thrilled to hear that several people were truly getting back on track in regards to food/nutrition.  Yes, vacation can set you back a couple of weeks if you're not careful, but why keep in that downward spiral?  Ask yourself this....Where am I headed with this?  If you're eating poorly, not exercising, and putting on weight, guess what?  You're headed for more of the same, which will only produce further discouragement.  Suck it up, accept where you are now, and commit to move forward.  If you're waiting for it to get easy, it won't.  If you're waiting for someone to push you, they may not.  Take responsibility for your own health and be bold enough to spark change.
That's my moment-of-passion for the evening ;)

Its 9pm and I have so much to do before hump day.  Make it a great one.  Keep moving forward!!

Victory.....and Chafing...

Well, its official.
I made it 4 weeks without chewing gum.
Unbelievable. 
I honestly wasn't sure if I could do it after the first 3 days.  If you recall, I was pretty much ready to punch my best friend and sell my cat during day 2.  Now, I don't really think about it.  Funny how that works.  BUT, it is certainly proof that we can train our bodies out of poor habits and into healthier ones with a little determination and struggle.  Imagine that...
Will I go back?  Eh, probably not.  Which, I curse Zimm for just a little bit because this happened last year during our bet.  I gave up my afternoon coffee for one month and it completely broke me of the habit.  Not going to lie, I've got a stash in the pantry that would give me lockjaw in a matter of minutes, but I have no intention of breaking in there like the gum whore I once was.  I might have to give this whole moderation thing a try ;)  We shall see...
As always Zimm, thank you for the challenge...I have a love/hate relationship with this aspect of "the summer tour"...mainly love.

On the same line of giving-something-up-for-the-sake-of-self-improvement, my girl Lora is now 5 days without coke.  Let me clarify,...not the illegal form.  I just read that first sentence and realized it looked like I train felons.  I might, but I'd rather not know it.  No, I'm talking about the brown, sugar and chemical infested coca-cola.  As a competitive marathon runner, I was blown away to find out she sucks these things down like water. 
I know you are reading this Lora, and so help you God if you drive through McDonald's tomorrow...hard part is nearly over!
5 days sober...very proud.
As for the rest of you sitting there chugging soda and "purple drink", I hope it makes you sick.  Literally.  Its horrible for you.
Wow, I've reached a whole new non-empathetic level tonight...

Great day at work.  Long day. 
I was absolutely pumped to lift heavy again today.  I had back and triceps and then finished with some cardio.  I could tell my body was still a little tired, but I was thrilled to hit the weights hard.  Shocker.

I made the mistake of wearing pants to work today.
I don't know what I was thinking.  I was sweating profusely by the afternoon, and even standing in front of a fan was very little relief.  I wanted shorts....while standing over a vent....blasting on high...nearly giving me frostbite.
For those of you who don't sweat and merely "glow", I don't like you.  My pits don't like you.  I watch you people and wonder how in the world your sweat glands are that dysfunctional.  Bottom line: I am slightly envious.
In the meantime, I will stick to my deodorant and my non-dri-fit dri-fit shirts and wait until Mother Nature is not so pissed off as to leave us all with 2nd degree burns and horrible chafing scars.

Monday DONE...rest up, new day tomorrow folks!

Full Moon

Where did the weekend go?  I seriously woke up in a complete blur and when it hit me that it was Monday morning I nearly fell out of bed while simultaneously yelling obscenities.  Mom would not be proud.
Yesterday was packed.  It started in a pew and ended at the bar.  Pretty sure that's not exactly how Sundays are supposed to go...
The afternoon brought quite the entertainment as I met my future sister in-law and the bridal party to try on dresses for the wedding.  What a show.  The place was crawling with brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride, secretly angered and jealous friends of the bride,...you get the picture.  We snagged several dresses and then headed back to the dressing room.  Which, was more like a locker room.  It was pre-game volleyball season of high school all over again, only this time I didn't recognize any of the breasts in that room.  Ok, honestly, it didn't bother me at all.  For whatever reason I've always been the "naked kid".  Approximately 98.8% of my friends have seen more than me than they've probably chosen to,...and hats off to my college roommate Liz, who endured more moonings than any human being.  She deserves a trophy.

Needless to say it was an entertaining afternoon with the ladies, and I left there pretty pumped about my brother's wedding and pretty bummed that an A-cup fits nothing anymore. 

The day ended at Dain's Place Bar as we celebrated Zimm's 21st birthday.  Ah yes, to be 21 again.  We had a blast, and its great to have him back in town for another summer of training.  Game time Zimm!

On to today...whew...
Fairly typical Monday,...I was tired,...I yelled at people,...they cursed at me,...etc
I mixed up my workout today and went with back, biceps, and core.  I need to focus a little more on my upper back, so I'll try to train it twice a week with plenty of time in between.  Details,...always about the details.  My cardio today felt borderline miserable.  My calves were tight from wearing heels all day yesterday, so the treadmill hike felt slightly steeper than normal.

I had an interesting conversation with 2 clients just before I left today that I think is more common than I actually am able to address with people.  I'll elaborate tomorrow...right now I am spent and need to hit the bed.  Night!

Rest and Recharge

There are times when you struggle physically.  There are times when you struggle mentally.  There are times when you struggle emotionally.  And then there are those times when life throws a curve ball at your face and you conveniently struggle with all 3 at the same time.  That has been my week in a nutshell.
I was to the point today when I couldn't even make sense...I sounded ridiculous trying to formulate sentences and like I needed speech therapy.  I am spent.  In every area.  In every way.  Majority of my lifts were down in weight this week, mentally I was so stressed I wasn't sleeping well, and emotionally I've been about as stable as a busted tripod.

I had a client come up to me tonight and offer some much needed advice/wisdom.  She can simply look at me and tell something is up...and honestly, I can't BS with people or pretend life is a field of daisies when its not.  She reminded me that when you repeatedly try to give from an empty cup you AND the receiver are left with nothing.  You have to take care of YOU...whatever that means.  For some its a day at the spa, for others its a long bath,...whatever it is that energizes and "refills" you, do it. 
I needed to hear that.  I am all about productivity and being "on my A game" that I forget to step back and recharge. 
For me, I need a day by myself.  I need to come and go as I please, say as few words as possible, and simply be.  I value my quiet time because I have so little of it.  I am not saying every job does not carry its own set of stress and things that will simply wear you down, BUT unless you work with people, numerous people, on a daily basis, you don't fully understand the energy it requires.  Every single person has to be treated, motivated, and understood differently.  Tuning into that with each person is why am in love with and intrigued by what I do, but I would be lying if I said it doesn't drain the hell out of me.  Many nights I come home thankful for only 24 hours at a time.  God knows that's all we can handle.

Of course today was a long day, but a good day. 
My workout was harder than I should have been.  I had back and then sprints.  I honestly fought the urge to not do my sprints today.  I was clearly exhausted, my legs are extremely sore from yesterday's run and lift, and I did sprints Monday and Tuesday.  Needless to say it would've been easy to call it a day.  Ugh...but onward we roll.  I thought of Zimm and sort of pictured him yelling at me to just do it.  (For the record, he never yells at me, but for this moment in time I needed someone yelling obscenities in my ear to nudge me a little bit, ha).  Once I loosened up I was in the zone and rolling.  I had my headphones on so I couldn't hear myself sucking wind, and had to just take them one at a time.  If I sat there and thought about having 8 more left, or 6 more left I could feel my body sink into exhaustion.  One at a time.  I ended up running 17 sprints at 14mph.  10 seconds on, 40 seconds walk.  Since the number was not the same (50 seconds total instead of 1 minute), I had to pay more attention to my on/walk time which sort of kept my mind off of the fact that I thought my hamstrings would snap at any moment. 
I was glad to be done.

I am always amazed by the number of people that think they need to enjoy every single minute of training.  Ummm...no.  In fact, I think if you genuinely do, then you're not working hard enough.  Its ok not to like every aspect, but you do it.  You realize it is essential to meet your goals and you just do it.  Reminds me of when my mom used to always say "Sometimes life is about doing necessary things you don't want to do."  Ok, so she was referring to some family-reunion 4 hours away, but it still applies.  Thank you mom for your wisdom at the dinner table.

I'm looking at these brussel sprouts and really not sure if I can finish them.  You know you're tired when you take bigger bites than normal because its one less fork-to-mouth trip you have to make.  On that note I'm signing off for the night.  Homework is to figure out what recharges you and then seek to do it over the next few days.  We are not seeking perfection, but rather our best selves....an evolving process that is always one day at a time...

Dino on the run...

Dreary Monday.
Came to the gym,...it was raining.
Left the gym,...still raining.
Most rainy days I find it a little more difficult to workout.  I was a little shocked that I had such a great workout.  Everything felt good.  Yes, even the sprints afterward.  I attribute part of it to the 40 minutes of yoga/stretching I did yesterday, and the other part to the 3 hours of sitting I did.  I read that entire time.  Amazing my eyes were not bleeding by the end.

I did shoulders/biceps today.  I've really got to get my arms in gear...biceps need to be a little bigger.  I find bicep workouts to be extremely hard.  You have to lift more for feel than necessarily weight.  And since its more isolation movements, mine are usually shot after 12 sets.  After that arm workout, I looked like T-Rex trying to run sprints.  I did 17, 20 second sprints at 12mph with a 40 second walk between.  Done and done.  Finished with some jump rope, (which makes me thankful for small breasts), stretched, and then it was time to hit the shower. 
After having such a good run, I was once again reminded of how important it is for me to keep my legs loose...but lets be honest, us meatheads rarely spend time stretching.  I look into the pilates room and see Anna in some position that should be illegal and my hamstrings ache just watching.  The worst is probably my glutes/hips.  I cannot even sit Indian-style (which is no longer PC, but we'll pretend its 1987), without my hips hurting.  Horrible...

Devouring some chicken and cabbage right now.  Brian started his diet today...vegetarian Engine 2.  I cannot wait to see his bowels implode by Thursday.  Honestly, I couldn't do it.  I love meat/eggs too much.  Secondly, I'd be shooting whey protein through a needle just to meet my daily requirements.  I really don't know what it would take to make me give up meat.  But let's not test it..
I know it sounds like a challenge Zimm, but don't get any ideas.  I am already waving the white flag of sweet-meat-surrender!

Already 8:00 and I am pooped.  I didn't sleep well last night...way to much on my mind I guess.  I hope tonight is different...otherwise, I feel sorry for my early-morning clients :)

Night folks.

Redemption

Its been a long week so far and its only Tuesday.
Honestly, it was one of those days that I get home and just scream at the top of my lungs.  My cat probably peed himself when I did it.  Ha...wouldn't be the first time.  But I needed it.  It was just one of those days when, by 6pm, the smallest thing could have sent me into "a fit" as my grandma would say.  And what a fit it would be...

Part of the issue was my workout yesterday.  I hate having a bad workout.  I don't mind when its hard, or I'm sucking wind, or if everything hurts....that's life, move on.  But I had several factors that created one perfect storm.  I felt nauseous from the beginning (not sure if it was the creatine I took), my heartrate was already in the 80s before starting, I was mentally distracted, and simply could not maintain the mind-muscle connection on several of my lifts.  By the end I was pissed.  I just wanted to hit the shower and go on with my day.  And on top of that, it was the first official workout of the new year...what a downer.  If that is a reflection of the year, I might as well lay face-down on the treadmill and set that bad boy on speed 12.  Rough start to say the least...

So today I needed a redemption workout.  I hit shoulders, triceps, and finished with sprints.  It was a great second day workout and even though my heartrate was 200 on the sprints, it felt ok and I was pleased with the entire workout.  And thank you Zimm for always encouraging me through it!
I really want my delts to pop this year, so I've got to bust it on shoulder routines.  I toyed with a couple of different training splits for the next 12 weeks, and after consulting with a few friends who are pro-bodybuilders, I decided to keep it a 5-day split and only hitting legs once a week.  That way, I can focus on bringing my upper body in proportion with my legs.  If it looks like I could squat a house, it needs to look like I can press a house as well.  So that's the plan for now.  Started creatine cycle yesterday, weight is at 132,...so we'll see where that number creeps to.  But given that I'm not bumping up my calories tremendously, it may not move.  Eh, I'm fine either way.

Ugh, already 8:20 and I need to get a move on.  One of my new year's resolutions was to read more.  And by "more" I mean more than ridiculous facebook status updates.  Sooo...that means I need to actually get in bed before 9 so that I have more than 3 minutes to read.  Otherwise, I will open the book, read 1/2 a page, and then fall asleep.  I never make it through an entire chapter.  Which explains my GPA through high school.  So here I go...

I'll leave you with a few pictures from New Year's:

Staggering Start

Tuesday kicked me in the face.
I was in my coma-like sleep when the alarm went off and I literally fell out of bed and headed to the bathroom to slap on my war paint and get started with my day.  My eyes were bloodshot, eyelids were droopy (which should never happen at 28 years old by the way), and my right forearm kept going numb while applying eye shadow.  What a positive image, right?!...ha...here we go...

The morning was just one thing into the next.  Busy, but good to see college kids back in town.  Zimm is back (woohoo) and offering some good energy to the gym...even though I give him and Brian crap for talking in 3rd person like they're in some dramatic Matrix-like movie.  Entertaining to watch, even though sometimes I wonder if they even know what they're saying. ;)

Workout today was good.  My chest is extremely sore from yesterday, so hitting shoulders hard today was a trip in itself.  My mind was a little distracted, but about 20 minutes in I was good to go.  Some days you just have to let your body lead.  Turn the mind off from everything else, and JUST MOVE.  Today was one of those days.  I finished with sprints and now have a shooting pain in my rear and is extremely uncomfortable.  I can honestly feel it every single step I take with my left foot.  Tomorrow I'll have to do some much needed stretching and get on that foam roller like a handy snack and have at it...
Does anyone know what I just said?....Me neither...

I received over 3 pounds in coffee today as Christmas gifts.  Fabulous.  I will be caffeine drunk until Easter.

Ok, time for bed...I've got other stuff I need to cover, but right now I can hardly think straight and its almost 9:30.  My body hates me.  Night night.

Food prep and brownie-blowout

Just started cooking for Thanksgiving and as I ripped open the brownie mix it exploded all over me and the floor.  Aaaaand, here we go.  I've got 4 more things to make, and if this is any indication of how its going to go I'm in trouble.

Today was a short work day, but certainly felt long enough.  It was a busy morning as Brian and I ran around like chickens with our heads cut off...needless to say I was sweating profusely.  I've got to seriously do something about that.  Honestly, if I had the means to get botox shots in my sweat glands I would do it in a heartbeat.  I remember taking acrobatics when I was younger and being the only person wearing my jazz shoes so my sweaty feet would not slip on the mats.  "How'd you bust your hip Meredith?"..."Oh, ya know...just doing a cartwheel with sweaty feet"....ridiculous.  All that to say it was a hectic, sweaty morning....

Then Zimm stopped in for a little welcome-home-from-college workout...great to see him!  We got to catch up for a bit which was great.  Speaking in his typical "tour" lingo, his seems to be rolling along nicely as he navigates junior year of college.
Workout today was solid.  I tried this pre-workout supplement that Brian bought and dear lord was I sweating.  Not sure what the caffeine content was, but I had cold sweats and felt slightly nauseous.  Ha.  I was able to keep the weights heavy though, so at that point I didn't really care how I felt.  It was shoulders and biceps today, and I am really digging the partial pull-ups on the rings for biceps.  Neutral position, a little 10 pounder hanging from the waist, then only pulling up to 90 degrees in the elbow...LOVE IT!  You might think that only pulling up halfway would be easier...ha, not so much.  Get your back out of the pull and then watch those biceps work baby!  Good lord I get way too excited over this stuff...

Ok,...Thanksgiving...
When I honestly think about it, we have soooo much to be grateful for on a daily basis.  Sadly, we usually let them slip into the back of our minds until we sometimes lose sight of the vary things that bring us contentment, joy, and satisfaction in life.  Here's my list of things I'm thankful for this year (and yes I will probably leave out some)...

* my basic needs are met everyday with no worry
* the opportunity to do what I love everyday
* the various personalities I get to work with...especially the ones who push me professionally
* friends who are honest, hold me accountable, and love me with all my flaws
* energy to get through 24 hours at a time
* family who are supportive, crazy, and keep my therapist in business
* OCD....it keeps me chronically on time, clean, and more organized than any one human being should be
* adversity
* peanut butter and 2-ply toilet paper (duh)

Oh and the list could go on...

Whew...ok, brownies are done and Ryan and begging for one...ummm, not going to happen.  Poor kid is going to do a number on his intestines tomorrow,...the brownie can wait.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving,...keep your blessings in mind, especially when a family member finishes off the last roll and you're ready to put them in a choke hold.  I totally understand...

:) Niiiight!

Attack mode!!

Starting Monday off with a bang.

After my Saturday morning run, I was able to catch up on some rest during the weekend...the hurricane helped as well.  I simply didn't feel like doing much when its pouring down rain and the wind is gusting over 40 mph....oh, and my neighbor's dog was still barking in the backyard.  I may not be a dog-lover, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out there's something wrong with that. Either find a dog with damaged vocal chords, or bring the thing inside.

I was pretty worthless on Sunday...which I needed.  My mom always reminds me that I have to give myself permission to relax.  It's true....I rarely slow down and then get to the point that I completely crash.  Not cool.

SOOOO....lets talk workout.
Today I started my next strength/power phase, and went to 4-6 reps on all my lifts.  Whew, what a mental-shift!  You would think a rep is a rep, but each rep range has to be attacked differently.  I immediately thought of my husband who is a baseball pitcher.  He went from a starter to mid-relief after being drafted and explained to me that each mind set is very different...from your starters, to relief, to closers.  Still pitching from the mound, but different approach.  I thought about that quite a bit while I was lifting...
With the 6-8 rep range I felt like the first 2 would always feel a little easier than the last 2...sometimes a huge difference.  Because, well, I essentially had 6-8 reps to get to failure.  But with 4-6 reps, I needed to be that much closer to failure at rep 1 so that my journey to failure only took 3-5 more!  Thus, everything was heavy as hell from the start.  A couple of times I couldn't even get the weight into position and needed Brian to spot me.  My arms were shaking like I was having a seizure right there in the gym.  There was absolutely no time to let up.  I felt like I had to be in attack mode from the start.  I reached a whole new level of nuts today in the gym, but I had a blast doing it.

My upper split/lifts remained the same as last week, just with heavier weights.  A few numbers for the day....last 2 sets of DB bench press with 55's...last 2 sets of bent over row at 130lbs...BB curls at 50...French press at 45....overall, great lifting day.  I finished with sprints followed by some easy cardio.  I will sleep like a baby tonight....minus the whole crapping-my-pants thing.

Great to have Zimm in on the workout today!  He was able to join in on all the ridiculousness that goes on from 12-2 at the gym.  And there's certainly a whole lot of that...

Just finished some squash, chicken, and asparagus.  Absolutely love asparagus, but it makes my urine smell like a science experiment.  I bet when God made it, he thought to himself, "hey, you know what would be funny..."  The same thing he said when 95% of my friends were born...which is partly why we're friends...
Not even going to try and explain some family members.  But you know that verse "Jesus wept." ??  Yeah, enough said.

Speaking of family, here's a little picture of me and my darling niece Payton from her "official" birthday celebration this weekend...

That was the highlight of my weekend right there.
Ok, that, and when any suspicion I had about Lady GaGa being an attractive male was completely debunked last night on the VMAs.  Seriously, make up your mind, this is exhausting.

Eh, time for some shut-eye...it was a long day and I am in much need of some rest :)  Night!

Crab grass takeover

Coming home to immediately have to mow the grass is like being greeted at the door with a choke hold. 

If I'd spent more than 2 seconds thinking about it, I would have put it off...just like I have the last 2 weeks.  But my yard is infested with crab grass like its an STD, and I had to do something asap before I got a letter from the home owners association.  Let's just say it would not be the first, and I wish those people had better things to do than watch my grass grow...

Ah yes, so here I am.  Finally sitting down...I might not move for the next 3 hours.
It was a good day, and I felt surprisingly rested and ready for the day.  I was pretty pumped that it was my last day of upper-body with reps 6-8, so I tried to go out with a bang.  I felt that the workout was pretty solid, and I was pleased with my weights....had a strong shoulder-day, so that was definitely a plus.  I finished with some cardio...jogging and eliptical.  Tomorrow is legs baby!  Zimm is in town because they had to evacuate due to the hurricane, so game time at the gym!  Here we go...

J-Shore is about to come on so I have to cut this short...yes, my mindless guilty pleasure.  Whatever,...makes me feel normal watching those people.  Normal and very intelligent...

Night!

Clean...or NOT.

At 4:32 this morning I wasn't sure I'd survive today.
My eyes were watering and just the thought of being on my feet for the next 13 hours exhausted me more.  Today was one of those days you literally take 1 hour at a time and keep yourself away from any sharp objects.  It began when a man old enough to be my dad dropped an f-bomb on me for making him do step-ups.  Say what you want,...just DO IT.  Needless to say, my sanity was questionable by about 3pm...

Honestly though, it was a great day with clients.  Despite my energy levels this week, the fact is that each client does not know the day we've had as trainers, does not know if we're battling something mentally or emotionally, does not know that we've already seen 15 people - 3 of which complained the entire time and cursed like it was part of the routine.  No,...they are simply coming to receive our best.  And the truth is, for that hour, its not about us...its about them.  Giving them all we have and more.  I think the hardest thing about my job is fatigue.  Its exhausting.  And yet the coolest thing about my job is knowing that I'm exhausted from doing what I love, teaching what I know, and changing lives in the process.  I remind myself throughout the day that every client is my first...and somehow my energy and enthusiasm will be renewed for each workout.  And it is...

A little sentimental break there for a sec....ok, on to workout mumbo-jumbo...

I had upper body today.  Reps of 6-8 for 4 sets.  My strength has plateaued slightly in a few lifts, but as long as I'm lifting as heavy as possible, I'm ok with that.

Workout:
Incline DB press
Lat pull-down
Seated BB shoulder press
Seated cable row
DB lateral raises
Alternating DB curls
DB front raise
Lat bar press-down

I finished with some easy cardio...I say "easy", but you really know what I mean.  I did it, that's enough.  I'm excited that my lateral raises have improved tremendously, and my traps are not trying to dominate the movement.  That's been one of the toughest moves for me since I started lifting about 15 years ago.  I have a love/hate relationship with shoulder exercises.  Ehh....

BTW, this is how much I despise doing laundry...as I packed my gym bag last night, fully aware that I had time to do a load of laundry, I said forget it and dug out a pair of dirty gym shorts.  Honestly, they could have been from Monday, I don't know.  And the sad part is that I'm not sure if I could have cared less.  Maybe,...if I tried really hard.  So basically I stunk even before I started lifting.  So unsanitary....and if I sit here any longer I will be a repeat offender tomorrow.  As I told Zimm this afternoon, if I thought I had a line of decency today, I may have crossed it...

Tomorrow is lower/core, then ful-throttle into weekend-relaxation-don't-talk-to-anyone mode.  I need a few days to regroup.  Ok, maybe a week. 

Alright, that's all I got for now,...night!

didn't get the memo...

I'm pretty sure I was meant to stay in bed this morning.
My Thursday got off to a roaring start...which began the second I was about to pull out of my neighborhood and forgot something.  4 minutes behind.  Then about to enter the highway and there's a giant flashing sign that says 40E RAMP CLOSED.  It might as well have given me the finger.  Turning around,...going the back way,...now 9 more minutes behind.  That's 13 minutes....and in my world, that's practically an hour.  There I was, flying down the highway chugging my coffee like its holy water, while trying not to totally lose it.  It was quite a scene.

Then I finally get to work and get all my 6am, 6:30, and 7am clients' workouts written up and ready to roll.  Phone rings.  Two people running 20 minutes late.  Was there a universal meeting last night that took place to calculate ways to screw with me today?!  Guess I missed it...

From there, the day rolled on...
I was pretty spent by the time I had to workout, but I was pleased with my weights.  I had Upper Body today, sets of 4, 6-8 reps.  Given that I'd done cardio the past 3 days, I took today off.  Didn't take much to convince myself...

Workout: (4 x 6-8)
Incline DB press
Lat pull-down
Cable flys
Seated cable row
Seated shoulder press
Bench dips
DB lateral raises
Alternating DB curls

Tomorrow is round 2 of legs.  I'm surprised that I am not more sore from Tuesday, but I'm really not taking any one body part to complete failure on either day.  So my recovery time has been fairly decent.  Exception = hamstrings...they have a mind of their own.

Zimm is headed back to school this weekend, and I'm truly going to miss his drive, intensity, and positive demeanor in the gym.  Some athletes just have leadership qualities that cannot be taught.  He's got it.  And true leaders hold themselves to a higher standard....he certainly does, almost to a fault.  You will be greatly missed Zimm!  But here's to a great Fall season and new chapter!!

I'm now struggling to keep my eyes open.  Time for bed....night!!

Oscar's Revenge

Ah yes, another day.
I awoke from a death like sleep this morning.  You know, one of those nights when you wake up with your face planted in the pillow, probably some drool, and fairly certain you were beat in your sleep.  Yup, that was me at 4:26.  I've needed sleep like that for a couple of weeks now, so I won't complain.

My morning crowd was great, and I had many laughs....if I'm not laughing by 8am I know its going to be a long day.  Seriously, I just looked over into the kitchen and noticed cat vomit on the floor.  (Random and infuriating observation).  My cat is bulimic and sneaks laxatives I want to yell at him.  No really, I had to clean up diarrhea on Sunday...twice.  I don't get it,...he can run and catch a fly in the room but he can't manage to make it to the litter box before the bottom falls out.  Literally.  I'm about 1 dump-mishap away from strapping a maxipad to that feline.

On to other subjects...
Had a great leg workout today.  I didn't time my rest-time between sets as strict as I should have, but other than that I was pleased.  My total volume on squats and leg extensions increased, and I made it through hamstring curls without crying.  My hamstrings are still ridiculously tight, and so the first set of straight leg deadlifts were wonderful..HA.  I've got to get back to stretching more.  I stress it to people all the time, and here I am walking around like an old woman and cursing every time my hamstrings hit the toilet seat.  Its absurd.  Ah yes, we all have things to work on...and my list is a mile long...

That vomit is still sitting there staring at me like a stalker.  Ugh.

Well, the college crew is dwindling down as kids head back to school.  Its honestly been a great group this year.  I think the theme of this summer has been self-improvement and resilience.  Can I get an AMEN Zimm?!  I am still not drinking coffee in the afternoon...not sure how I feel about that one area of "improvement", but ok.  I need to pick another area of improvement for the Fall...hmmm...so much to choose from.  Any thoughts??  If you don't know me, I can't promise that your opinion will matter.  Wow, brutal honesty...no need for improvement there! :)

Well, its about that time...its still light outside and I am about to head to bed.  After I clean up vomit....2 inches from the hardwood floor...just 2 inches.  Thank you Oscar for reminding me why I don't have kids...

Head up...always up...

My intentions of getting into bed by 9:30 last night went straight to the crapper.  I think I finally laid my head down at 10:40.  You can only imagine the explicit words flying when the alarm went off at 4:26.  I think I just napped too late on Sunday.  What can I say, I had NASCAR on, which is the best napping noise ever...well, that and golf.  But yesterday I would have slept through a hurricane.  I was exhausted.  I went running on Saturday morning and was pretty sure I started experiencing heat exhaustion.  Not sweating by the end, goosebumps, a little vomit....either that or the worst case of shingles known to man.  It was horrible.  And I felt pretty horrible the rest of the day.  I never stopped sweating that day.

Later that afternoon I had to attend a cookout at my neighbor's house.  I was there an hour and literally had to leave to completely change clothes.  I had on a white tank-top and proceeded to sweat through the entire thing.  It was like the sweat version of spring break '04....my own wet t-shirt contest.  I look over, and even the 2 overweight menopausal women are not sweating as much as me.  It was disgusting, and I borderline hate summer right now.  There is my "seasonal rant" for the day... Just wait til winter when I can't feel my face and my arthritis flares up, I will be in rare form...

Despite the long, tiring day, I was pretty pumped about my workout.  For the next 8 weeks I am going to do an upper/lower split.  I haven't done anything remotely close to this in about 6-7 years, so it will definitely be an adjustment.  My total volume per body part may actually increase a little even though I'm condensing all upper body lifts into 2 days a week.  Legs twice a week might send me over the edge, but sometimes you just gotta mix it up.  The tough thing about today was that all my lifts were big, compound lifts with the exception of a couple.  I went 4 sets of 6-8 on everything...and really shooting to go as heavy as possible for 6.  Ummm...my upper body was completely shot by the end.  I was amazed at how tired I was.  So after all that fun, I finished with sprints.  Ah yes, sprints are back.  20 minutes sprints, 15 minutes incline walk.  Done and Done.

Workout: *4 x 6-8 on everything
Flat DB bench press
Weighted wide grip pull-ups
DB flys
Bent over BB row
Seated shoulder press
BB curls
Tricep press-down

Ever get in those positions in the gym where you think "boy, it would be bad to pass gas right now"....??...

That was the highlight of my day right there.  Last 3 sets of row, 110 pounds.  You have to find pleasure in achieving seemingly "small" goals in every workout...because it can certainly be a long journey.  And needless to say, my back was screaming after that.

I will sleep like a log tonight...probably in that same position since my rear always feels the need to be sticking out.  Awesome.  Tomorrow's workout will be a good one.  A heavy one to say the least.

Great to have the Zimmerman crew back!  Their intensity, enthusiasm, and humor was greatly missed last week as they pimped it out on the beach.  Way to go guys...ok, mainly Nelson, who at 12 years old is not afraid of the older women.  Thata boy.

Well, that's all I got for now.  Back to the grind in the morning!

No looking back

I am in love with avocado right now.  I can't explain it, but it is like a party in my mouth...a fatty, smooth, green partaaaayyy.  Yes, I realize I am more excited than I should be about it, but hey, its about the little things...

What a great day.
I woke up feeling a little sluggish, but by 6:30 was ready to roll.  My first client and I enjoyed several laughs as we discussed parenting skills.  Yes, this was a little comical because neither of us have kids...but we established some basics.  Our biggest thing was parents who will literally sit there and argue with a 4 year old about what they will/will not do.  Really?  That's a pretty standard understanding in my book....I will not argue with anyone who still wets the bed.  That basically covers everyone under the age of 7 and a handful of drunken roommates in college.  Either way, excellent rule...
No we are not experts, but judging by my shrink's completely full schedule, neither is anyone else...

On to my workout. 
I had legs and biceps today.  Seriously, awesome workout.  I was able to roll from one thing to the next, heartrate maintaining between 168 and 192.  I kept weights heavy, reps 10-12 on most, and finished with a 15 minute bike ride.  Yeah, it was the longest 15 minutes ever.  I am not a fan of the bike.  It hurts....in many ways.  La Tour de France is like one long chafing match and I can't imagine how those men feel.  Actually, I think they are nuts.  It was 9 degrees during their ride today. Nine.  There is not much I would want to do in spandex in 9 degree weather...definitely not ride a damn bike.  Anyway, it did help get some of the lactic acid build up out of my legs though.  So hopefully tomorrow will not be so rough.  Donkey kicks on the cables rocked my world today.  The rear was scream'n.  Great move to hit the upper glutes.  Just in case I need to moon someone, I want it to be delightful...and perky...
All in all, great workout.

Boy did I hit a wall about 2:30.  I came back from Target, (where I was on my mission to get avocados like it was pain meds), and I went straight to the massage room for a nap.  I was out.  I woke up about 20 minutes later just so angry.  I can't explain it...I think it started when I was little.  My mom would come in all happy, literally singing to wake me up...(you can imagine how traumatizing this is for a cynical child)...and anyway, I just would not say a word until I was about to walk out the door for school.  She said I was so angry in the morning.  I say she was borderline high.  Either way, I've never been a happy-wake-up person, and today was no different.  I woke up from my nap and literally started pouting.  How ridiculous.  By 4pm I was over it, thank God...for the sake of everyone.

Guess what,....still not drinking my coffee in the afternoon.  I honestly think Zimm broke me of that habit.  Ugh, mad but ok with it at the same time.  I think I've just switched habits....now its a second B-12 supplement and a glass of green tea around 2:30.  100% natural baby...its about as close to "going green" as I'm going to get.  Thanks Zimm ;)  Time to start prying me away from another addiction of mine....take your pick...(except shoes, I will defriend you)...

Well, another day in the books.
Tomorrow awaits.
I'll leave you with this one last thought to marinade on for a bit....

"Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."

Beep Beep...who got the keys to da jeep?!

First of all, its 159 days til Christmas...yes, I start counting early.  I even watched Home Alone I last night to get me in the mood.  Still my favorite movie and not surprisingly, I can recite every single line.  (My other talent). 

I got to spend Saturday with my sister-in-law and my two nieces.  We even did some grocery shopping and I pushed Payton around in one of those carts with the car attached to the front.  You know the ones...as if I'm not dangerous enough with the cart by itself,...let's strap a child to the front.  I should have worn a fanny pack to complete the look.  I can't tell you how many times I ran into a display.  Poor Payton probably got whiplash.  At one point I look down and she's got her left leg propped up and hanging out with one hand on the steering wheel.  It was the G-rated version of Pimp My Ride.  We had a great time, which was topped off when she dropped her pants in the middle of the parking lot to use the bathroom.  Classic.  I would've given her candy to go #2...

Cardio this weekend didn't exactly go as planned.  I thought for sure I'd get out Saturday morning for a little 6-miler...uuhhh...not so much.  After staying up a later than normal the night before, I overslept and had to settle for 4.  Sunday I stuck to a combination walk/jog on the treadmill for 40 minutes.  Nothing exciting.  And the only good thing about hitting days back to back was that I could just focus on my lifting today...which proved to be plenty.  I was extremely tired this morning even before I started.  Everything felt heavier than normal, which I hate.  But, the reality is that everyday will not feel like a great day.  You just have to move forward, push harder.  I did chest, shoulders, and core.  Reps 8-12.  Hard core workout...feels like I have gas....just my lower abdominal muscles cursing me.

So I won't get into it too much right now, but I am not doing the November show.  Like I said before, I talked to my doctor and its just best right now if I postpone the stage until next year.  Its disappointing, but its life.  Change of focus for the time being, but still headed in the right direction.

So the biggest thing for me now is to get my metabolism back up.  Because I had to keep my calories a little lower since April, ( not knowing if I was going to do the show in November), my maintenance level has dropped, and the amount of carbs my body can handle has decreased as well.  Time to bring those numbers back up.  This can be tricky, but thankfully the body is very adaptive and should respond easily over time.

I'm seriously about to fall sleep sitting straight up.  Got a tough leg day coming up and need some good rest. 

Great to see Kels, Zimm, and Morv today!!  Yall make my day :)

Tuesday smack down

Tuesday is generally one of my favorite days....its not nuts like Monday, its not long like Thursday, its just a very non-controversial day.  Today, Tuesday punched me in the face and then proceeded to drag me by my hair until I was ready to cry "uncle" by the afternoon. 
I got to work extra early to make sure I was mentally prepared for the day, and honestly felt pretty good.  By 9:15 I hit I wall.  I was dizzy, exhausted, and just wanted a nap...ridiculous.  And I truly hate when I start to feel like that prior to a workout.  As if its not going to be hard enough, let's add some fatigue on top of it.  Geez.  I had chest, shoulders, and core today.  I kept weights as heavy as possible, but was honestly struggling during my first exercise.  Everything just felt heavier than normal...so I gave it what I had, finished with a 4 mile run, and that was about all I could do...

By 3:30 my head was on the desk and I literally fell asleep for a few minutes while writing out workout plans.  The phone woke me up.  Stupid phone.  3:45-5:30 was pretty much a blur, and I was surprised and pleased to finish the day without banging my head against the wall.  Seriously though, it was great to be back at work, interact with clients, and just be on my normal-yet-severely-ridiculous schedule.  I enjoyed telling them about my trip to Texas and the many "this would only happen to me" stories.  Speaking of, Lora I was in a mini nightmare on my first flight back from McAllen.  It was a smaller jet...maybe 70 people total.  I start counting to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me before we boarded...yup, 13 kids....13.  I think I nearly went deaf from turning up my iPod so high.  It was 1:00 in the afternoon and I knew these little rascals were already at level 8 on a serious sugar high.  I was pretty much doomed.  Needless to say it was a long flight, but thankfully, there was no crying.  If they had started crying, I would have as well...just before I threw something...

One thing I did learn in Texas was that when a Hispanic woman offers you the "mild" sauce, and you're a white chick with a weak stomach, just say no.  There is nothing "mild" about it and you will likely lose your esophagus.  Lesson learned.

Ryan and I got in a couple of really good workouts while I was there.  My back is still sore from Friday, and my calves from the 6 mile run on Sunday.  Yes, you read correctly.  Zimm asked me if I'd lost my mind...yes, the answer is yes.  I just got in this weird zone and kept going...I will stop right there trying to explain it because I myself do not understand.  I told Brian today that I don't like the fact that I dislike running so much....so perhaps if I do it more, I'll start enjoying it.  Which is probably crap because if you think about it, if you really dislike someone and then go spend a bunch of time with them you don't necessarily like them more.  You might actually look interested in what they have to say but only because you are trying your hardest to figure out a way to care less.  I get it.  My experiment might fail.  We'll see.

Brian also pointed out today that I never post anything serious on twitter.  Ok, let me see if I can explain this....its called tweeting for goodness sake...I can't even take that word seriously.  And quite frankly, it really bothers me when people take themselves too seriously.  Is there a "Chinese proverb" writer on twitter?...exactly.  I will be serious when the time is right...and sharing a precious thought with my followers via phone with the possibility that they could be reading it on the jon, just doesn't motivate me to dispense deep, thought provoking material.  Because at that moment, I come second to a bowel movement.  I'd rather say something random to perhaps evoke a smile or laugh and then go on about my day.

Great to catch up with the Zimmerman bros today.  Nice workout guys... :)  And T, why was the plate on your back during planks a 35 and not a 45??!

Alright, I am already nodding off and I still need to clean my dishes.  Ugh....Night!

Here she comes....butt first...

Today was pretty much like Christmas....minus Jesus' birth, some tinsel, and presents for anyone but myself.  I honestly had a fabulous birthday....I couldn't have asked for more.  I've never felt more loved....well....except for that one time,...ok just kidding.  I can't say thank you enough to everyone who made it special.  Even birthday-cynic-Brian...who showered me with coffee, Under Armour, and a card with the word "bitch".  Fitting.  The funny thing is that, being the card-slut that I am, I told him what the inside said before I opened it.  I'd picked it up before in the store.  Its ridiculous, I know.

I woke up this morning 15 minutes before my alarm because I was so excited it was my birthday.  You would think I was 7 years old.  I love birthdays though.  It might have something to do with the fact that I never got to celebrate my birthday at school when I was little because of summer break...no cupcakes...no "happy birthday" song....nothing.  "Bitter, party of one."  Perhaps a little, but nonetheless I've partied as necessary ever since.  I like to remind myself every year just how little I've accomplished in 365 days, how small my list of friends is becoming, and the fact that I am going to bed earlier and earlier.  Its awesome.  Its way past my bedtime and clearly I should not be held accountable for anything I type at this point...the sarcasm just seems to pour out at an unbelievable rate...

All 3 Zimmerman boys and Kelsey stopped by today for a little birthday-bonding-time.  That was awesome, and truly meant a lot.  Kelsey made me a cookie cake with Duncan Hines frosting (the best), and I am seriously in a sugar coma right now.  I can hardly feel my face and I am sweating head to toe.  She even put m&m's on it...it was like sex on a cookie.  I gladly ate it.  My mom taught me at an early age that calories do not count on your birthday....I will not argue with mom.  I took it to the face...as I should have...

The Zimm crew also surprised me with a new pair of shoes!  It was like giving a heroine addict a new needle... New Mizunos, absolutely love them and they fit perfectly.  Yes, I will excitedly rock them tomorrow. :)

My sister-in-law and 2 nieces also came by today...when Payton said "Happy birthday Mena, I love you" I nearly died. Those girls turn me into mush...almost makes me mad.  Ha.

Mom and dad also stopped by and dropped off my new vacuum cleaner!  Wooo!!  It totally sucks,...I mean literally.  I was more excited about an appliance than the average person should be.  But I've managed to kill like 4 vacuum's already, so I'll take it.

Ahh...all in all, a complete day.  Yes, I still worked out, but any accomplishment in the gym fell second to how great friends/family made me feel today.  Honestly, I was flattered and beyond grateful.  Thus, I will continue to celebrate through the weekend...at least, that's the plan.  I'm 28, not 78...if you're gonna do something, got to do it right...

Goodnight people :)

Jumping hurdles

I can hardly feel my legs...honestly, my rear is one giant knot.  Had a great leg workout today...and by great I mean brutal and not fun at all.  My mom always asks me why I put myself through this.  I don't know.  I like to struggle,...because the feeling of overcoming is greater than the pain to get there.  Everyone is different though.  This is also coming from the person who likes to sleep with the fan blasting and the temperature so cold at night that it gives me nosebleeds.  I'm a sick human being I guess...

So let me just say, my birthday started early today (which I won't argue with).  I received a few cards in the mail and Lora stopped by to give me a card/gift.  I was truly flattered.  She joked about trying to find the perfect gift...everything from peanut butter to shoes to cottage cheese.  Haha...I had no idea that I was hard to buy for.  Truth is, I just love any reason for gifts....I have an entire "gift closet" at my house.  Its already full with Christmas gifts for this upcoming December.  Honestly, you could probably wrap up a fart and I'd be excited.  Don't get any ideas...I have 2 brothers...I've tried it...somehow it always seeps out.  But truly, what a great birthday week its been already...and yet the big hump day awaits...woohoo!!

On a more serious note...what a day.
There are some days in the gym that I am extremely grateful I had a good night's rest and am mentally ready to face the day.  Because its more than showing exercises and trying to motivate each individual as they need it.  Training...especially for athletic events/sports is extremely emotional.  It demands ALL of you day in, day out...because the truth is, your opponent is training as well.  And when it comes down to it, in the last few minutes of play, or the last strides of a race, heart and determination can only take you so far.  Its the preparation, conditioning, and attention to details outside of the arena that will determine the winner.  I read a great quote the other day that basically said that same thing, but the line that stood out to me the most was "You cannot will yourself to win."  I agree.  No matter how much you way want it, you have to be physically capable of achieving it.  And be be physically capable, its pushing to be better than you were the day before....faster, stronger, and more willing to struggle when necessary.

It was tough to watch both Zimm and Kelsey battle this today.  I think both of them are well aware of their talent, strength, and drive to be better.  They are leaders at heart, but both faced a hurdle today...a mental hurdle.  It left them both pissed off and just mentally tormenting themselves.  I use the word torment because as an athlete, so much of one's identity and perception of self-worth is tied into personal performance and talent.  That, to experience anything that causes him/her to question that or inflict self-doubt can be torture.  But the main thing I wanted them to see is that "success", when it comes to training, has to go beyond the expectation of a coach/trainer...it must be a self-satisfaction that is personally defined according to an individual's strengths, weaknesses, and potential.  I firmly believe these two athletes have an accurate perception of their potential and ability, which is why I know its hard for them to experience "off" days.  BUT, the truth is we all have them...everyone.  And your best one day might be a little better than your best on another day.  But the point is that you give it everything you have at that moment...that day.  Beyond that, your demands are unrealistic.  So Kels and Zimm, let today fall in the category of an "off" day.  You gave it what you could.  Understand that today's struggle is just as valuable as tomorrow's successes, and move on.  The goal is consistency....physically, yes, but mentally as well.  The more you dwell on today, the more it invades tomorrow.  Let it go, and I think you'll be amazed by your own resilience and strength...

Well, its been a long day...bedtime awaits, and in just a few hours yours truly will be 28 years old.  A day that reminds my parents each year that one night of crazy passion and some Marvin Gaye will haunt you forever...