Productive and Accomplished

What a beautiful day it was yesterday! I had such a productive day I don't even know what to say! I had completed 70 mins of cardio by 11am and still had energy to spare. I made it to the gym for leg day and when all was said and done, it was only 4 pm. This is the earliest I have been done at the gym for months and I had to call my mom to ask what to do! I really really didn't want to go home for my room looked like a tornado hit (in my defense they were all clean clothes, just hadn't been put away yet). But I did. I went home and got to work. I did ALL my laundry (yes that means 4 loads), I cleaned and put away all the other laundry, I spring cleaned my dresser and closet, new sheets on the bed, cleaned and scrubbed the bathroom, dishes done, food prepped for the next 4 days, amongst other things and by the time I finally sat down it was 7:30 pm. Wow! Time sure flies when you aren't having fun! The feeling of waking up to a clean house with everything ready to go for the day and no need to scramble around is wonderful! I find that I am very productive and work hard in the gym or with my training, I have a goal and I am, as Robin put it, "Full Throttle" (always on the go) yet when I get home, I crash and burn like a little kid after eating a pound of Halloween candy. Goodness am I thankful that tomorrow I do not have to wake up to an alarm buzzing at 3:20 am!

I have been reflecting back on the past few months and the many many sessions of cardio, the hard workouts, the aches and pains, the tears, the sweat, and the many many emotions that have followed as I embarked on this journey. I can not believe the stage is soo close and I am almost there! I can't believe I have been getting myself out of bed and doing cardio every morning at 4 am nor can I believe that I have forced myself to eat salmon and asparagus at 4:30 am. However, what I now believe is this... I believe that I can do anything I set my mind too. I believe that I have more determination and self-control than I ever thought before. I believe that this has been one of the hardest things I have ever done and I really have done it! I believe in myself more than ever and I am starting to believe that I am on the road to feeling accomplished. I wrote a while ago to yall about setting a goal and going after it for you will surprise yourself. Please do that! Go after something that you never thought you could! Do it for yourself! I promise you will not regret it.

Ciao for now,      J

Always give 100%

"Always give 100% and you will never have to second guess yourself." True story right there! 10 days and its showtime! Ohh golly Miss Molly am I excited but nervous! I had a 'Pete Day' yesterday and it went well. I am happy to report I am still on target and where I need to be. While posing for him, I saw things that I had never seen before and it was incredible. I have a nice striation of my quad starting to split up the front of my leg and my hammies are finally making an appearance...FINALLY.. I thought they didn't get the MEMO that we had a show to compete in. Stubborn suckers they are! We discussed the next week or so and I will be starting my final diet on Sunday followed by daily visits to Pete to check in on my physique. That part right there is where I get solid butterflies swooping around in my stomach and I almost lost my tilapia. I thought once a week visits caused anxiety, now everyday? Oh goodness! However, I am stoked to have the opportunity to go in and see him and I cant wait to see what I will look like. In his words, "You are getting shredded." Well thank you my good sir for all your help!

Yesterday was 3 rounds of cardio followed by bi's and tri's. I ended up seeing B.C. at the gym and he jumped in my workout with me for a bit. It was a good one but what I kept telling him was how much eating affects your lifting and strength. Strong=eat a lot! My muscles are still looking full and where they need to be but my strength has gone down a little bit while following the latest cycle of my diet and it is harder and harder to keep my stamina up. I am no doubt stronger than I used to be, but with less fat and food in my diet, I feel like a weakling and I don't like this feeling! I wanna feel like I can judo-chop my way to greatness and right now I feel like I can only sissy-punch. Overall, the week has brightened up and I think a lot has to do with the gorgeous sunshine we have had and another reason being after tomorrow, I do not have to wake up at 3am to do my first session of cardio. I can get up at a normal hour, more like 6, and do it! One word... Hallelujah! I made it with these early early mornings and now I can go to early mornings. What a great feeling that is! Now on to the rest of today... Another session of cardio followed by leg day (better get my game face on for this one) and a modi cheat meal... Gotta love that!

Ciao for now,     J

Be Yourself...

I love the quote, "Be yourself, everybody else is already taken." I think standing on your own two feet and living as your own individual is one of the most empowering capabilities a person can have. I have never wished to be anyone else but myself. Sure I have hit potholes and speed bumps along the way, shoot I have even crashed head on smack into the side of mountains at 75mph, but I have never wished to be someone other than myself. I believe 100% that there is a plan for all of us and that we will never be given more than we can handle! Life can be hard, harder than the 'Situations' abs (or mine in this case) haha, but you keep moving.

Yesterday was a test for me and as I explained it to Batman and Robin, I have been through some tough stuff and this journey has not been easy but these last two weeks until the show are HARD. End of story. I am hungry, tired, sore, stressed out, but I keep going. I get up, I follow my regimen, and I go to sleep to do it again the next day. I was in a bad mood yesterday (I will admit it) but once I got into the gym and started lifting hard and heavy, I snapped out of it and got back to my old self. I then pounded out 45 minutes of cardio and felt awesome! It is truly amazing how working out, getting the endorphins pumping, and getting your sweat on can uplift your mood. I encourage you to get some exercise the next time you are cranky and see how you feel after you do so. You may not like me in the beginning but you will sure thank me at the end! I have been noticing small changes in my physique since beginning the newest diet cycle and one thing I love is how my muscles pop under my clothes. You can see my shoulders or abs when I wear long sleeve fitted shirts and it is COOL. I was talking with a girlfriend last night and admitted that I am soo dang proud of myself for setting my goal and not stopping until I reach it. I am less than two weeks away, I started training in November, and I am going to make it! I have almost reached the stage and I have soo many mixed emotions about it but one is... I am proud of myself. I am who I am and I have stayed true to that this entire journey!

Ciao for now,     J

Keep pushing forward



Posing Practice on Saturday


I did it. I survived the long weekend of craziness with only a few minor bumps and bruises. Friday was a loong day and I am glad the GRE is over! I did not do as well as I had hoped but in all reality, I did not study as I should have and I was not feeling the greatest, probably because of my diet that day. I made it up to my parents and got to visit with some family I had not seen in a long time and it was nice. The hard part about this weekend that I had to try and overcome was all the food that surrounded me including cupcakes, cheese and nuts and chips and salsa (my favorites), starting on Friday and did not get easier until Sunday when I went back to my place. Friday was the worst and I give credit to being exhausted from the long week, the stress of the GRE and the thoughts of all I had to do on Saturday. I ended up keeping myself occupied by watching re-runs of Jersey Shore, thinking how I would not want to live with Snooki. Carly graduated Saturday morning, practice Saturday afternoon and back up to my parents for the festivities with lots of friends and family. I ended up getting my cardio done outside this weekend which was awesome for I didn't have to stare at the same thing over and over and I got to really clear my head. The hills around my parents make for a good butt kicking and I was proud of myself for keeping my schedule although there was party going on that sounded a heck-of-a lot better. There is something about knowing you are less than 2 weeks from being on stage that keeps me pushing forward. At this point in the game, I can not let up, I can not let myself slack or compromise my training/diet. Another run outside followed up by a good cardio session and hamstring workout on Sunday along with food prep and a Costco run with my dad and here is Monday already.

A highlight from the weekend included a conversation that I had with my cousin (I will call her Alligator). She is an amazing woman with a strong head on her shoulders and she was telling me about her journey she is on with weight loss and starting a new life in a new city. She is beautiful, bold, caring, and a joy to talk too and I learned a lot about her that I never knew. It touched my heart in multiple ways to see her bright light shining from within and I am excited to watch her develop and grow into a confidant woman. If you ever have the opportunity to really listen to someone and partake as a spectator in their journey, I encourage you to do so! You will learn a lot about that individual that you may not have realized and you will also learn more about yourself in the process. A quote that I found that made me think of Alligator is, "Like a bird spreading their wings, you must open your mind and believe. The wider you spread your wings, the further you will fly." Alligator this is for you. Open your wings and fly girlfriend! Chase your dreams and believe in yourself. Your family and friends are behind you 100% and are soo excited for all the new discoveries you will make. I love you lady. xoxox

Ciao for now,   J

Staying Afloat

Up at 3 am, cardio at 4am, meal one at 430 am, work at 5 am, and here I am! Yesterday was an odd day for more reasons than one. I was lacking energy (which I have come to find that after modified cheat meals I am not feeling better, I feel worse than the day prior) and my body ached. It was my favorite day in the gym, back day, but it didn't feel like I got the lift in that I had hoped for. I was disappointed in myself and after getting home, I ended up getting sick. I hate throw up. end of story. I don't know if I caught something at the gym (my new M.O.) or if it was caused from stress and anxiety about the next couple days. I have A LOT to do and I really just need to make it to Saturday evening and then I can take a deep breath and unwind, at least for Sunday. I have my GRE's today which makes me very uneasy! I have not studied for them like I should have and that is not my style! I do not like feeling unprepared for ANYTHING so it stresses me out but with being sick, work, training, dieting, practicing, food prep, and all the life in between, I ran out of time. So the next two days look like this: Cardio, work, cardio, lift, GRE, drive to parents, up for am Cardio, Bham for Sister's graduation, Renton for practice, back to the Wood for graduation party, cardio/workout #2 all while dieting and keeping my sanity. Ok and GO! Yea back to needing that personal driver or shoot a jet plane would be nice! I just keep repeating to myself, "keep pushing, keep going, you got this" and I seem to be able to just plow forward. I kind of relate it to one of those horses used back in the day to work the fields. They have all that heavy equipment dragging behind them but they keep working. They keep moving forward even when the work gets tougher than usual. Yes my load is heavy right now and yes I am having mini panic attacks but I keep a smile on my face and keep on keeping on (my new saying by the way). I got this and tomorrow it is 2 weeks out until showtime! Holy moly, where does my time go? Haha wouldn't we all like to know.

On a different note, one of the things that keeps amazing me every time is the inspiration others have found from my journey. I have been told, by some who I had no idea followed my blog and others who I talk to daily, that they have found a lot of inspiration from me and the things I am doing. I do not know how I have done this but it makes me smile and gives me a sense of satisfaction. If others are motivated to live healthier lifestyles and become strong, confident individuals following their dreams, then I have done my job. I know that the road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces calling out your name to sit and stay a while but if you keep your eyes on the prize, keep them focused to what is in front of you, you have all the capabilities in the world to reach it! Keeping that fire alive inside you that burns soo deep it pushes you past what you thought possible, to become what you want or who you know you can be is the ultimate prize and when you get closer and closer, that fire will explode.

Ciao for now,     J

P.s. I want to give a shout out to L.Bug who recently interviewed for and beat out 30 people for a new job! I am proud of you and please know that I am and always will be in your corner, supporting you 110% each and every step. You got this and will be a huge success. Believe in yourself, I do! <3

Share a smile

As each day winds down and I get closer and closer to the stage, I feel more mixed emotions than Charlie Sheen on Twitter. I am excited, nervous, anxious, happy, scared, ect and I know that it is only going to continue. Yesterday was a whirlwind and somehow here I am, Thursday morning wondering where the week went. A few highlights from yesterday... L.Bug surprised me at work with my favorite flower and a handmade coupon book that brought me to tears. She is one of the most trustworthy loyal friends I have had in my lifetime and I value and cherish her more than she knows. Once again, I had to explain to my boss that I had some dang mascara in my eye and they were not in fact tears. Made it to the gym to see the gang and had a pretty good leg workout. I have changed my routine and instead of heavy legs, I am doing lighter weight but about a million zillion reps. Seriously! It looked like this yesterday: 4 sets of 12 leg extensions (48), 4 sets of 15 front squats (60), 4 sets of  15 each side deep lunge step-ups combo'ed with 15 box jumps (120+60=180), 4 sets 24 long stride walking lunges (96), 4 sets of 15 straight leg deads combo'ed with 4 sets 15 in/out box jumps (60+60) followed by 3 sets of 20 each add/abd machines (120), and 3 sets 20 sumo squats (60). That is 684 reps on my legs. Followed by abs. Now, I felt like I could keep going, I still had some energy but when I woke up this morning, I am glad I didn't? I wouldn't say my legs are sore but they are achy and tired. Cardio was a little tough this am BUT I was soooo super excited for breakfast! I didn't have to choke down salmon at 4:30am! Today was sirloin steak and asparagus and I can not tell you how good it tasted. Also, I had cheesecake last night which just makes me want to shout and jump with joy. I don't even really like cheesecake.

I love my time at the gym and when you get to see familiar faces, catch up on the day, and b.s. about any given topic, it leaves me with a smile. I push and push and make the most of every workout, but adding a giggle or a smile in between sets is a good feeling. Yesterday I was in a goofball mood and was shaking my groove thing around the gym to the awful music they play when I got to thinking.  I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think its the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. Its probably the most important thing in a person and for a person. I have been feeling really happy the past couple days (even with all the stress on my plate including my GRE test tomorrow) and that feeling is fantastic. I try to share my smile or my laugh with someone else because it really brightens the day, and around here, that is something we may need more often than not!

Ciao for now,     J

Lyrics for thought...

Halfway through the week and I have been feeling better and better. I met with Pete yesterday to go over the new diet, body fat percentage, progress, and just to flat out shoot the .... It went really well and I felt a lot better about things when I left. We had a good time joking around and talking about what is too come these final weeks until Vancouver. I am still allowed coffee WITH Splenda in it, Boo-ya! However, I now have to limit my gum intake to no more than 3 pieces a day (Very hard for me who can easily chew a pack a day, not sure why it is, maybe a nervous habit?) and I am supposed to be drinking 2 gallons, I repeat 2 gallons, of water a day. This is by far the hardest part for I can get a gallon in but then my belly distends so far out you could rub it for good luck! The diet is going good except I am hungry! It is getting harder and harder to make it until my next meal time without wanting to eat something, anything with in reach so I apply more hand lotion than humanly possible to keep my hands busy (well and soft of course!) After Pete, I ran to our team Stylist to try out my new hair... It is Sa-weet and I am soo excited to wear it in the show. It adds about 6 inches of length to my hair as well as fullness and I almost look like a Chia-pet thingy that magically grew beautiful hair (minus the fact that Chia pets grow grass and not hair but that's besides the point). I was really late getting into the gym for round 2, which made it impossible to find a parking spot AND a piece of cardio equipment but I got in there and got it done. The gym is soo busy around 6pm and is filled with the most random individuals which in turn makes cardio fly by because I am too busy people watching to pay attention to the time. I got home, attempted to get some things done, before realizing it was past my bed time and I had another early morning coming my way.

I spend entirely way too much time in my car, driving from one thing to the next and I am pretty sure I need a personal driver. Well one of those as well as a cook, a house cleaner, and a green bean/asparagus farmer. So if I can meet me one of them and marry him, I will be set. I was listening to Nicki Minaj yesterday and her song "Fly" came on my I-pod. The lyrics jumped out at me and I had to repeat the song 3 more times. The chorus is as follows:

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to fly
to fly

I love these lines! I feel like they describe my everyday life and my journey that I am on. I come to win.Win on my journey. I come to fight. Fight every food craving, every battle that stands between me and my goal. The internal battle I have with myself that I am never good enough. I come to conquer. Conquer every workout, every sweaty cardio session, every meal, every practice. I come to thrive. Thrive off my successes. thrive on the feeling of being a strong confidant woman. I come to survive. I will survive anything and everything that is thrown at me, no matter how much I want to give up. I come to prosper and to rise. Rise against those who do not believe in me and prosper from everything I have learned and experienced thus far. I come to fly. Fly as my own person. Fly with my own wings to wherever I want to go. 

Ciao for now,    J