I do this for the thrill, I got this high without taking a pill :D

Truly this has been one of the most challenging weeks yet. I have switched my eating to 1 high carb day to every 3 low carb days. The mood swings are kicking in I feel like I am in my first trimester of pregnancy again which I must love because I was going through those crazy prego mood swings exactly this time last year. :D I am so proud of myself for how far I have come and to be completely honest really it is a high unlike you have ever experienced. Cardio the first two weeks was hell I could only think negative thoughts and whined and complained through it all. That's just it, through it all. Even though I hated it I did it and something in me has switched. I look forward to my runs on the treadmill and my motivation song.... Taking me higher :D I could run forever now but have to stop myself because if you do too much cardio it will start eating away at your muscle. 20 minutes is nothing :D Training never felt better. I can hold my positions for longer and can transition even better then I ever have. I feel strong and unstoppable. Even though I have crazy mood swings I just can't get enough. And yet another quote "I can't get enough I can't get enough I can't stay on the ground" :D Next time I write it will be about the ultimate high, getting up on stage in front of hundreds of people competing against the best athletes around fighting for the gold :D HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

cardio my arch nemesus

Today was a killer!!! Not only am I realizing more and more that my bird legs need a ton of work not only on shape but balance but now I have to up my workouts to 6 times a week with cardio 3 times a week. ARGH!!!! I was really enjoying this week of lifting heavy stuff and feeling strong now to add the monster. Today was not too bad I found myself playing a little game to keep my mind off of the cardio. Bonnie has me doing 2 minutes up to my maximum heart rate. If you are not sure what that is think of it as sprinting as hard as you can and staying at the level where you feel you are about to collapse without actually doing so. I had to resume at 80% of my maximum heart rate, (which is around 195 beats per minute) for 2 minutes then bring my heart rate back down for 1 minute. I had my stop watch set and counted just the 2 minutes then 1 minute instead of going for 30 minutes. I then pictured it as reps and sets. 2 minute reps equals one set then 1 minute of resting time. That means I completed 10 sets with 5 minutes of resting time. I found that 30 minutes to fly by much better then reading the clock and thinking IT'S ONLY BEEN 4 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!! :D  

Tag team!!

Another excruciatingly wonderful workout :D During the workout I struggle to keep my mind from telling my body "Give up! It's too hard!" Thankfully I had the help of Bonnie yet again to hold me accountable. We played a little game today called tag team. I cannot handle running on a treadmill for 30 minutes it makes me want to scream and run out of the gym as fast as I can and swing by the next mcdonalds for a nice mcflurry to ease my misery. Well not this time. First bonnie and I ran around the entire shopping complex which equals about half a mile. Once our warm up lap was over I went inside and continued with box jumps until she made it as fast as she could around the complex again. Once she reached the gym we switched. I gotta say I never would have pushed as hard as I did if I didn't know that she was jumping her little heart out until I made it around again.  Being a part of a team is really motivating and drives you to do your best even if it seems hopeless. Half an hour of cardio and a few miles later I am WORKED!!!! Funny thing is I felt as though all I wanted to do was lay down on the couch and never move again, but after I left the gym and got home I found myself with more energy then I had when I started. Amazing thing the body is :D I can already see dramatic results my muscle is leaning out and my legs are toning up. All in five days YES!!!! I'm in it to win it and I won't stop til I get enough YEAH!

Num Num Num Num

It has been five total days of eating correctly and no not a diet. Eating correctly gives your body the proper fuel it needs to carry on such a heavy work load. You wouldn't go on a road trip without checking the tires, changing the oil and filling up the gas tank would you? Well a show is kind of like a really long road trip one that takes weeks, months and sometimes over a year to work up to. Your body needs the fuel to perform efficiently and effectively. Here is my meal plan. I challenge you to try it even for a week and see how you feel.

Meal 1
Oatmeal pancakes (1/2 cup oatmeal NOT INSTANT and 6 egg whites)
Flax seed or in pill form ( I would definitely go with the pill BLAH!!!!)

Snack 1
Whey protein drink
6 strawberries
One tablespoon adams natural peanut butter chunky

Lunch
Flax
Red potatoes (NO BUTTER)
Chicken or turkey breast (Unseasoned)

Snack 2
Lean protein shake
.5 servings of almonds (app 11 :D)

Dinner
6 Jumbo shrimp
Steamed broccoli (Around 6 or 7 pieces good size

Snack 3
Ground turkey
Asparagus

Seriously try it see how you do. I have noticed remarkable changes in my body already after five days because my body is storing the nutrients where it is needed and does not store it much like clean oil does not stick to your engine and gunk it up. Remember this meal plan is for me personally, a person in extreme training for a competition. This is not for the regular individual so if you partake in my challenge the other part is to up your weight training to 5 days per week so your body can use the energy and protein the way it is intended.
Bonnie created this meal plan for me and has so many amazing recipes that anyone will love. She is incredible and is creating a healthy eating BUT still deliciously scrumptious cook book. If you can't live without sweets and seasonings you will definitely want to give her recipes a try. You can find a few on facebook their page is called Dialed in Fitness. Happy grubbing!!! :D

1st Posing class

I am starting to get the hang of cooking every day and preparing my meals. The gym is my sanctuary and I am happy to be there working 5 days a week, and I have prepared everyone for the crazy mood swings I am about to experience. Out of all the challenges a natural figure competition has to bring I was in no way prepared for the posing.
Okay really posing? All you do is walk out and look pretty right? Well have you ever tried to keep your entire body flexed while looking relaxed for longer then 3 minutes. GOOD LUCK!!! Along with the elegant style and poise you may find in a beauty competition add to that extreme tension all while walking and turning and keeping a smile on your face. Yeah if I can get past the hunch back of notre dam look in my shoulders and the clenched bug eyed look on my face we may have a competitor.
Bonnie you have your work cut out for you but I am working with the best so I have high hopes and great confidence. Better practice in the bathroom mirror not too much time to perfect this.

New Home New Competition

     It has been 3 months since the disaster happened in December and I could not be more grateful for the way it played out. For those of you that don't know, the previous studio owner I was renting space from told me one week into December that we were all being evicted in two days. My world was turned upside down. I had just moved into this space 4 months earlier and had no intention of leaving for a very long time. Reluctantly I packed everything I had and was ready for the word on where we would be moving. After no reply to any calls or texts I drove around the where about's of the new studio until I found it. Luckily the owner was inside late Friday evening so I could prepare for my class the next morning. I knew something was wrong, the feel of the new studio was dark and negative.  Everything that could be challenging for me was made even worse by this individual who did not have the courage to simply say " I don't think I want you here". The last straw was the schedule change that happened without my knowledge.
     Luckily the book "Who moved my cheese" is embedded in my mind and I had started looking for a new studio long before the worst hit. M.E. Studio was listed on KSL for rent and I jumped at the opportunity.  After speaking with the owner, I decided to start a few classes.  Without meeting her Mell gave me all access to the studio and even left me a wine glass with kisses and a card. I could not believe how amazing this woman was. So kind and trusting to a complete stranger. Within two days after I found studio M.E. the worst happened and I  moved everything AGAIN after only 2 weeks.
     3 months later I was still searching for my new home for my business I stumbled across Dialed in Fitness. I had started personal training at Gold's and hated every second of it. After being stood up for the third free session I drove over to Dialed in to test my luck. I spoke with Brad the owner and instantly we connected in the way a sister would with a brother. I had put all of my trust in him to take me in and help me get back to the confident business owner I once was. I started right away and felt right at home as did my clients.
     Brad's wife Bonnie was always spoken of but I had never met her. She added me as a friend on her facebook page and wrote me messages as if we were sisters, welcoming me to the gym and telling me how excited she was to take my program. I knew I was going to instantly love her and I was right!! Bonnie participated in 4 pole fitness classes and has not stopped telling everyone how great they are. She is constantly working to help me get new clients and always asking if there is anything she do. I have finally found my home and my true fitness family.
     During one of our sessions Bonnie spoke of an NGA competition she wanted to do April 9, 2011 and we started toying with the idea of my joining in and proving the JW Method is a true fitness program. We started right away.  I am 5 weeks out from the competition and I have been eating clean food in the correct portions sizes and ratios 6 times per day and I have upped my training to 5 days a week. Bonnie has taken me through a bit of intense weight training and might I add OWIE!!!! Hurts so good I can barely walk without limping :D I slightly understood the intense training and lifestyle sacrifices that had to be made from watching my husband but I had no idea about the emotional roller coaster ride. Keep your arms and legs inside ladies and gentlemen and hold on tight cause here we go!!!!!!
   

Inspiration

One of the most beautiful things about dance is it allows you to express yourself in many different ways. I have never been able to really explain how I am feeling through words but for some reason pole always helps me let out every emotion. Recently Ellen Degeneres brought bullying to my attention. I have walked in their shoes. I was bullied relentlessly in school just for being scrawny and awkward. I can't imagine being bullied for something you live with your entire life such as sexual preference and who you choose to love. I have been inspired by this message to put together a routine that speaks to those who are being bullied.
People have been blaming the parents. Some say they need to be more involved with their children and explain to them that bullying can damage someones self worth. I feel the parents are who they are and probably were bullies themselves. The real strength and change needs to come from those being bullied.
Change comes when one stands up for what is right even if the risk of falling themselves is as stake. I am willing to take that chance and help the broken mend themselves and strengthen their spirits. All of us have our trials many of which come and go but if you have something that people view as incorrect or unacceptable it is time to take charge and see that life is beautiful. The trials will follow you but if you learn to see the beauty beyond it makes life worth living.
Suicide is never the answer as Ellen tells "Change will come and you should be alive to see it".
The routine will be ready to view within a few weeks. One thing with pole that you have to push through and endure is physical pain, pole burns, raw skin, metal to bone. My entire body is raw and in trauma because of the feelings I have for this subject. I am willing to push through the pain so others may do the same emotionally. I hope it helps those broken spirits but if not I hope it helps to inspire those who are strong to carry others when they are weak.