Now that I'm in the home stretch, I'm going to try my best to blog weekly about what I'm doing, how I'm doing, what I need to do, etc. As long as I can keep up with this, I think it will be a fun way for me to track my progress in these last weeks, which are the weeks where the changes are easily seen week to week.
I think that this week is going to be a big one for me because I really need to step it up! I've got to get more high intensity cardio sessions in, and I really need to get back on track with getting yoga in 3x a week. I can't even begin to describe how good my body feels when I incorporate yoga at least that often.I think that with a little tightening up of my schedule and some good old fashioned time management, I'll be able to get it all done without a hitch.
I'm dubbing this my power week, and I plan to make it just that. Next Saturday, I want to think back on the week and say "man that was one kick ass week". I know that once I step it up, there's no turning back.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Change of plan, but still on track.
After much deliberation, I decided to abandon my goal of competing in Fitness Atlantic on April 17th. While I will likely day-trip it for finals, I won't be there for the whole event. I spent a day pouting about it, but all in all, it's just the best thing for me to do. I have a lot going on over the next couple of weeks and not only will the stress be insurmountable, but now I've learned that the financial requirements are also out of this world. I just have to put my priorities in check! In doing so, I've decided that the Jay Cutler on May 2nd will be my first competition rather than my second.
I'm sad that I won't be sharing the stage with all of my Savage homies, but all is well. I'll just share the stage with them a couple weeks later. No biggie. SO onward and outward! I have a few more weeks to prep and I have to say, I don't mind at all. Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna wake up and head to Sunday Session with my new (but preexisting) goal date in mind.
I'm sad that I won't be sharing the stage with all of my Savage homies, but all is well. I'll just share the stage with them a couple weeks later. No biggie. SO onward and outward! I have a few more weeks to prep and I have to say, I don't mind at all. Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna wake up and head to Sunday Session with my new (but preexisting) goal date in mind.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Camp Savage 2010
This past weekend I attended my very first Camp Savage at Cathy's studio in Norwood. Having been going to Sunday Sessions since September or October, I wasn't nervous as I've come to know (and LOVE) so many Savage Girls. I expected a familiar atmosphere with familiar faces. I expected to learn more about competitive fitness, get some practice time in my heels, and as always to have a kickass workout.
I didn't expect what I got.
I didn't expect that out of the 50+ ladies in attendance, I'd feel equally connected to each of them as if I had known them all for years. I wasn't prepared to be so blown away by some of the stories these women shared about themselves and their journeys in fitness. The one thing that shocked me the most was just the overall feeling that we are all family. You think of getting that many women together for the purpose of learning to compete against each other in this sport and the first thing that comes to my mind is being stabbed in the temple with a 6" clear plastic stiletto, while being held in a headlock by some big burly butch bitch who is trying to steal your protein powder.
Since I've been involved with CSF I've heard about (and experienced) the great comradery that is the greatest benefit of being a part of this team. What I didn't expect was that this same geniality and warmth could translate into a larger group dynamic, especially one with so many absolute strangers. There is something to be said about the power of knowing that when you're pushing yourself beyond your limits, you've got a whole team of like minded people right behind you cheering you on and genuinely rooting for you to barrel through any personal barriers.
That being said, I'll reiterate that I've longed to compete since I was a teenager. Even though in the past I set goals for myself, I never knew what tools would prove more important in helping me to get there. I know now that it's about more than just me and I'll never get there if I seek to do it on my own. Though it may sound silly to those who have no interest in doing what I'm doing, but without a doubt, being a part of this team has been, and will continue to be one of the most enlightening, amazing, and fuzzy feel good puppies and rainbows type experiences I'll ever have.
I didn't expect what I got.
I didn't expect that out of the 50+ ladies in attendance, I'd feel equally connected to each of them as if I had known them all for years. I wasn't prepared to be so blown away by some of the stories these women shared about themselves and their journeys in fitness. The one thing that shocked me the most was just the overall feeling that we are all family. You think of getting that many women together for the purpose of learning to compete against each other in this sport and the first thing that comes to my mind is being stabbed in the temple with a 6" clear plastic stiletto, while being held in a headlock by some big burly butch bitch who is trying to steal your protein powder.
Since I've been involved with CSF I've heard about (and experienced) the great comradery that is the greatest benefit of being a part of this team. What I didn't expect was that this same geniality and warmth could translate into a larger group dynamic, especially one with so many absolute strangers. There is something to be said about the power of knowing that when you're pushing yourself beyond your limits, you've got a whole team of like minded people right behind you cheering you on and genuinely rooting for you to barrel through any personal barriers.
That being said, I'll reiterate that I've longed to compete since I was a teenager. Even though in the past I set goals for myself, I never knew what tools would prove more important in helping me to get there. I know now that it's about more than just me and I'll never get there if I seek to do it on my own. Though it may sound silly to those who have no interest in doing what I'm doing, but without a doubt, being a part of this team has been, and will continue to be one of the most enlightening, amazing, and fuzzy feel good puppies and rainbows type experiences I'll ever have.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Happy New Year
This year certainly hasn't started off with the great bang that I expected. I've missed appointments, gym dates, been late for work, hurt my back, all in the first week of the year. It feels like my intentions are there, but my mind is just MIA.It's like I've got this BOSS master plan, but I haven't caught up to it yet. I'm still moving at 2009 pace. After about 5 days of this ridiculousness, I checked up on my astroanalysis for the year and GUESS WHAT? According to "the stars" my New Year is projected to start off roughly until around the 15th when planetary alignment changes, thwarting me into the beginning of great things. It projected that this will be a powerhouse of a year for me, (which I can feel) and warned of burning out early on. Funny, but I've thought about the same thing with all of the goals I have planned.
All metaphysical arguments aside, (because I'm not interested in hearing anyone's religious rhetoric against astrology) I think it's nifty to ready something like this that really does fall right in line with what I'm experiencing. That being said, my negative feeling about the way the year has started have ceased, and instead I'm pushing on the best I can until things straighten out on their own and I begin MY new year. I also have to be careful not to burnout too soon. I know this is a real threat because I tend to be very idealistic and "want it all right now". Patience has been one of the biggest challenges that I've faced in the past couple of years, but it still seems that I can't quite get grasp the idea of sitting back and waiting for things to unfold. I like to agitate and force things, which isn't always a good thing. This month, and this whole year for that matter I have to remember to focus on the day to day, rather than big picture.
I have goals and roadmaps to achieve them. All that I need to do now is take them one step at a time.
All metaphysical arguments aside, (because I'm not interested in hearing anyone's religious rhetoric against astrology) I think it's nifty to ready something like this that really does fall right in line with what I'm experiencing. That being said, my negative feeling about the way the year has started have ceased, and instead I'm pushing on the best I can until things straighten out on their own and I begin MY new year. I also have to be careful not to burnout too soon. I know this is a real threat because I tend to be very idealistic and "want it all right now". Patience has been one of the biggest challenges that I've faced in the past couple of years, but it still seems that I can't quite get grasp the idea of sitting back and waiting for things to unfold. I like to agitate and force things, which isn't always a good thing. This month, and this whole year for that matter I have to remember to focus on the day to day, rather than big picture.
I have goals and roadmaps to achieve them. All that I need to do now is take them one step at a time.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Feeling Lazy?
Some days I just DON'T want to go to the gym and I mean, it's okay to not be in the mood sometimes. I try not to neglect my workout and will plan a "makeup day". There are days where I just can't wait to get to the gym, days when I'm rather indifferent, and some days where I have to tell myself "just get there and figure the rest out later" because if I think about my workout, I surely won't go.
Over the past 3 years, I've been a member of 3 different gyms (I've finally settled somewhere that I LOVE) and have found some of the most amazing people at these locations. Sometimes when I just don't feel like going to the gym, instead of asking myself "what would so-and-so do" I'll think about the guy with bilateral lower leg amputations who attended my old gym. Or the guy who survived 3 strokes. 3 strokes, and would seemingly be at the gym 10 hours a day. I mean it didn't matter what time a day I'd go, he was there complete with his sweat bands, ready to get in on. The most amazing person of all is the most recent one, a guy with spinal cord injury who is obviously rehabilitating the use of his legs. I saw this guy do laps around the gym with a walker, pushing the walker ahead then jumping up to meet it.... for hours.
I think that having been in environments where I've cared for similar patients who either haven't been able to rehab so well because of either their condition or their lack of will to have to start so "far behind" makes these people seem so amazing to me. These people are all so positive and upbeat while they bust their asses harder than anyone I've ever seen in the pursuit of their former baseline level of mobility. When I think about these guys I think there really aren't many valid excuses to not take charge of your health.
I hope that in my own "fitness future" I'm able to continually push myself to the next level each and every chance I get. For me, thinking about all of the people that aren't able to do so due to injuries and illnesses kind of makes it seem like it's my responsibility to give my body and my life the gift of fitness.
Don't you?
Over the past 3 years, I've been a member of 3 different gyms (I've finally settled somewhere that I LOVE) and have found some of the most amazing people at these locations. Sometimes when I just don't feel like going to the gym, instead of asking myself "what would so-and-so do" I'll think about the guy with bilateral lower leg amputations who attended my old gym. Or the guy who survived 3 strokes. 3 strokes, and would seemingly be at the gym 10 hours a day. I mean it didn't matter what time a day I'd go, he was there complete with his sweat bands, ready to get in on. The most amazing person of all is the most recent one, a guy with spinal cord injury who is obviously rehabilitating the use of his legs. I saw this guy do laps around the gym with a walker, pushing the walker ahead then jumping up to meet it.... for hours.
I think that having been in environments where I've cared for similar patients who either haven't been able to rehab so well because of either their condition or their lack of will to have to start so "far behind" makes these people seem so amazing to me. These people are all so positive and upbeat while they bust their asses harder than anyone I've ever seen in the pursuit of their former baseline level of mobility. When I think about these guys I think there really aren't many valid excuses to not take charge of your health.
I hope that in my own "fitness future" I'm able to continually push myself to the next level each and every chance I get. For me, thinking about all of the people that aren't able to do so due to injuries and illnesses kind of makes it seem like it's my responsibility to give my body and my life the gift of fitness.
Don't you?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday Morning Latte Talk.....
What a great week! Save for the snow and epic cold, I had a fantastically action packed 7 days. Being originally from GA it's has taken some time for me to get used to snow, but I think after last Winter's never-ending storms I've been well broken in. It was my first year driving in snow, DRIVING DURING BLIZZARDS, driving long distances to places I wasn't familiar with, etc. I think I'm probably one of the only people I know that thinks driving in these conditions is just SO MUCH FUN!
What I've come to love the most about snowfall is the sound. Everything just seems so quiet when it snows and as the snow falls, there's a kind of white noise that can only be described as calming to the soul. Something like a summer night's breeze. Even though most places around here didn't get a great deal of snow last week (except for Dracut) I still was able to have a brief moment that morning enjoying the calm of the snow. The funny thing about was that in that moment, I remembered that I have been FORGETTING to take a few moments for myself each day. In that moment I was reminded just how important those few moments can be. Some of you know about the many things on my plate outside of work and working out. As these things independently require 100% of my time and attention (in a perfect world) I often find myself overwhelmed and in need of a break. Well, not really a break, but some time to step outside of the chaos to remember why it all must be endured and to remind myself that though I am IN the chaos, I am NOT chaos.
I don't think that I'm alone in this. We all have busy lives and juggle many roles such as Mother, employee, boss, wife, student, etc. It's easy to get caught up in what you do and forget where YOU fit into all of it.
I am quite a frequent traveller, and my favorite part about the pre-flight instructions is where they tell you in the event of an emergency should the oxygen masks be released, apply the mask to yourself before assisting other passengers. That is the point at which I stop listening. I can't be anything to anybody else unless I'm complete in myself. If I'm constantly stressed out about juggling roles, or mounting obligations and the like, there's no way that I can perform for anyone else to any useful degree.
I said all of that to say this; Take a few minutes of every day to just close your eyes and tune into yourself, where ever you are. Take a few deep breaths and feel them move through your entire body and allow yourself to become fully aware of your body and mind. Be your own visitor. When you open your eyes, you'll return to the same world, but you return at a different place in time; able to make a fresh start for yourself moving forward.
What I've come to love the most about snowfall is the sound. Everything just seems so quiet when it snows and as the snow falls, there's a kind of white noise that can only be described as calming to the soul. Something like a summer night's breeze. Even though most places around here didn't get a great deal of snow last week (except for Dracut) I still was able to have a brief moment that morning enjoying the calm of the snow. The funny thing about was that in that moment, I remembered that I have been FORGETTING to take a few moments for myself each day. In that moment I was reminded just how important those few moments can be. Some of you know about the many things on my plate outside of work and working out. As these things independently require 100% of my time and attention (in a perfect world) I often find myself overwhelmed and in need of a break. Well, not really a break, but some time to step outside of the chaos to remember why it all must be endured and to remind myself that though I am IN the chaos, I am NOT chaos.
I don't think that I'm alone in this. We all have busy lives and juggle many roles such as Mother, employee, boss, wife, student, etc. It's easy to get caught up in what you do and forget where YOU fit into all of it.
I am quite a frequent traveller, and my favorite part about the pre-flight instructions is where they tell you in the event of an emergency should the oxygen masks be released, apply the mask to yourself before assisting other passengers. That is the point at which I stop listening. I can't be anything to anybody else unless I'm complete in myself. If I'm constantly stressed out about juggling roles, or mounting obligations and the like, there's no way that I can perform for anyone else to any useful degree.
I said all of that to say this; Take a few minutes of every day to just close your eyes and tune into yourself, where ever you are. Take a few deep breaths and feel them move through your entire body and allow yourself to become fully aware of your body and mind. Be your own visitor. When you open your eyes, you'll return to the same world, but you return at a different place in time; able to make a fresh start for yourself moving forward.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
"Rock That Body"
By the Black Eyed Peas was TOTALLY my power song of last week. I twarted myself through the week in an obscene manner, kicking my own ass all along the way. I plan to do the same this week.
This morning's Sunday Session at CSF was so awesome (as always) and just the same, it was so great to see everybody after the past couple weeks that there have been no sessions. Every single time I'm around Savage Girls I get SOOOO inspired and EXCITE about the road ahead. I can't wait for my next workout to see how much further I can push myself so that I can proudly wear my "Savage Girl" hoodie. Love it.
So this week I'm got SOOOO much going on. A couple of yoga dates, gym dates, training sessions, classes, other appts, and I can't forget work and studying (which did NOT take place at all last week). I've got a good handle on this month's workouts, so I'm hoping for a good week as far as everything else goes; one that is a perpetual challenge, but not a complete struggle.
To keep myself pumping along I've been organizing some playlists. I've downloaded some music that I would never listen to if it weren't for the fact that I needed some good gym tunes. But now they've all transferred outside of the gym. I find myself listening to my workout playlists when I need a jolt of energy and while I'm listening, I'm reminded of how productive and satisfying my time in the gym is.
I sound like a gym hippie... "the gym is a good loving caring place where I feel at home and relaxed blah blah blah gym gym gym" What the hell do you expect; I'm spending enough time there every week. I could talk about work, but that just sucks, sooooo. As promised to Julie, here's my latest playlist:
Prodigy- "Medusas Path" & "Spitfire"
Black Eyed Peas- "Rock That Body"
Rihanna- "Hard" "Don't Stop the Music"
Britney Spears- "3" "Kill the Lights" "Toy Soldier" "Radar"
Sean Paul- "So Fine"
VNV Nation- "Fearless" "epicentre"
Lil Wayne- "Got Money"
Chris Brown "Transform Ya"
Janet Jackson- "Feedback" "If"
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
Beyonce "Radio"
Madonna "4 minutes"
This morning's Sunday Session at CSF was so awesome (as always) and just the same, it was so great to see everybody after the past couple weeks that there have been no sessions. Every single time I'm around Savage Girls I get SOOOO inspired and EXCITE about the road ahead. I can't wait for my next workout to see how much further I can push myself so that I can proudly wear my "Savage Girl" hoodie. Love it.
So this week I'm got SOOOO much going on. A couple of yoga dates, gym dates, training sessions, classes, other appts, and I can't forget work and studying (which did NOT take place at all last week). I've got a good handle on this month's workouts, so I'm hoping for a good week as far as everything else goes; one that is a perpetual challenge, but not a complete struggle.
To keep myself pumping along I've been organizing some playlists. I've downloaded some music that I would never listen to if it weren't for the fact that I needed some good gym tunes. But now they've all transferred outside of the gym. I find myself listening to my workout playlists when I need a jolt of energy and while I'm listening, I'm reminded of how productive and satisfying my time in the gym is.
I sound like a gym hippie... "the gym is a good loving caring place where I feel at home and relaxed blah blah blah gym gym gym" What the hell do you expect; I'm spending enough time there every week. I could talk about work, but that just sucks, sooooo. As promised to Julie, here's my latest playlist:
Prodigy- "Medusas Path" & "Spitfire"
Black Eyed Peas- "Rock That Body"
Rihanna- "Hard" "Don't Stop the Music"
Britney Spears- "3" "Kill the Lights" "Toy Soldier" "Radar"
Sean Paul- "So Fine"
VNV Nation- "Fearless" "epicentre"
Lil Wayne- "Got Money"
Chris Brown "Transform Ya"
Janet Jackson- "Feedback" "If"
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
Beyonce "Radio"
Madonna "4 minutes"
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