Are you a lion?

"Lions don't have to roar. There is power in silence, confidence and persistence. Those who work don't talk and those who talk don't work. Handle your business. Measure your efforts by results. Focus your time, energy and activity on mastering and executing a plan. Avoid the energy draining practice of telling people what you're going to do. Instead, spend your time and effort in doing the things that are necessary to accomplish your goals. Keep your focus and stay determined in order to pursue your dream. Let your work, not your words, speak for itself. You have something special. You have Greatness within you!!"


Let your work, not your words, speak for itself! This is a line that stirs the fire deep down inside of me. A line that pushes me to be my best and show the world exactly who I am. I am a woman who has huge opportunities awaiting for me, I just need to have the faith to reach out and grab a hold. I am a woman with greatness inside of me that I have yet to discover, even though others may see it. It is for me to accept my self as a whole, each and every part of me, and open my heart and eyes to all the possibilities at my fingertips.


It is exhausting trying to be something for everyone else. It is a life that I lived a few years ago and even now still find myself looking for acceptance when all I need to do is look myself in the eyes and say "You are enough." Avoid the energy draining life of taking what other people think about you to heart. Who cares what other people think?! In all honesty it is more of a direct reflection of them than it is of you! I told Mr. T this weekend that that next time I step on stage, the glow will not be from the glaze. The glow will be coming from within! I have been the one placing limitations on myself and for me, it is my work that will show who I am. I am the quiet, humble champion that loves herself! Each and every part!


And with that folks..... We won the Superbowl! lol What a weekend of hype, spirit, love and support for our Seahawks! It gives me the chills when I see our city come together and show such love for the Hawks and after a game like yesterdays... We ain't finished! Our team is going to do some great things and so all you haters, keep on hatin'. I have to admit that I did not know my mama was such a hawks fan until they were in the Superbowl... I have to share this picture of her shrine and I am pretty sure is going to keep on getting bigger!

Ciao for now!




J

A new year.... A new me!

Welcome to the new year (yes I know this first month is almost over but better late than never right?) I need to start off by saying I have been slacking on keeping you updated because to be honest... Life has been more crazy and busy than ever. Mr. T and I just got back from an amazing trip (ok it was a trip of a lifetime) to the French Polynesian Islands where we stayed on Moorea and Bora Bora. We spent our days laying in the sun or laying there burning, snorkeling, and even swimming with sharks. I was able to get a couple workouts in but it was so hot and humid, I wanted to puke within minutes of lifting. The food on the other hand... well let's just say I would not survive in France. It is pastries, bread, fatty meats, bread, wine and did I mention bread?! There was bread everywhere! No big deal you are thinking but when you do not eat bread it can be quite the ordeal lol. We managed to eat the best and cleanest we could however now that we are home, my body is loving fresh veggies and lean proteins. Here is a couple of pictures from the trip... :P

Our morning coffee view 

Our home away from home

Of Course I had to post this! This is a bodybuilding gym (Of course we could not read it) that was located in some guys garage. 

Okay now back to reality! I mention in the title a new me... What I am referring to is simply this... I will no longer compare myself to anyone other than who I was yesterday. Comparison truly is the thief of joy and I deserve to be happy with myself dammit! So that is the one and only resolution I made!

Ciao for now,

J

Learning to "be"

I have done a lot of thinking lately and I think the title says it all....Learning to "be" is a very very hard thing for me as a competitor. I compete because I like the challenge, I love to push myself beyond measures I did not think I could achieve and lets be honest, I like the way I feel when I am dieted and ready for a competition. Now to go from abs and striations to a "softer" look is very tough mentally. I know I can get back to where I was and I know it is necessary to soften up in order for my body to heal and recover but even if I know without a doubt I will get back to contest shape, it does not make it any easier. Mr. T always reminds me of this and does not understand where I am coming from but why would he? He can clean up his diet for 2 weeks and drop 20 lbs! That's the difference between males and females plus after a competition, hormone levels are all over the place so if I am not ready to cry then I am ready to punch someone in the face, which makes those "days" that much harder. I bring this up because yesterday was one of them and I am trying my hardest to live in the present, enjoy my current state, and not focus on all the things I wish I could change about myself. We are our own worst enemy and it is very true that the mind-body connection directly correlates! If I think I am fat, damn well I will hold the toxins that are not only filling my mind but will be shown on my body. We as humans come in all shapes and sizes and it is about the journey. I know my final destination but there are sooo many bends, curves, and stops I will make along the way. It is my goal to inspire those who struggle with the same negative self-talk, show you how I overcome it and provide healthy ideas, recipes, workouts, and much more along the way.

Updates Updates!

Now I told you I would keep you updated but since life hit fast forward and I can barely keep up, I will update y'all on the last couple months (well since my previous post). I had a show on September 28th and I won the overall. This was my first show under new coaching and it was a blast. Not only did I feel really good the entire time, I also received feedback from important individuals that acknowledged my new look and said to "keep doing what you are doing". This is a huge step in the right direction! I was nervous to get back on stage but glad I took the leap to do so. Shortly after this show.... I married Mr. T!! Yep, this is the same Mr. T that I mentioned a long time ago that I would go and workout with (and yes Jr. was there to celebrate) :)  Not sure what I did or how I scored such an amazing man but he is now my husband and I am the luckiest girl alive! He has been my rock and pushed me during prep all the while still being patient with me as I planned our wedding. Yes, I planned a wedding all the while prepping for a local show and Nationals. After the wedding, I went straight back to work. Nationals was only 4 weeks later...

That leads me to here. We just got home from Florida on Sunday and Nationals did not go as I had hoped. I brought in a strong physique that I am happy with and my coach was there to keep tabs on what my physique was doing until I stepped on stage. I am disappointed with myself for I royally screwed up my posing. I felt confident and ready to step on that stage but my posing showed otherwise and all I can say is I will learn and grow from it and it WILL NOT happen again. When the time comes to start my next prep, I will be practicing my posing daily and I will be seeking the advice and help I need to ensure I am spot on and confident when it comes to posing.

The photo on the left was a national show a year ago and on the right is this year. 

It is always a humbling experience when you work so hard and try for something that you really want only to be disappointed with the outcome. This is what separates true athletes from their competition. A true athlete stands up after they fall and pushes forward only to strive to be better the next time. I will not quit nor will I let this drag me down for too long. I have a strong support team behind me who believe in me even when I don't. I know the outcome I desire and I will chase it until I get it.  

Ciao for now,

J

Time away... Can be a great thing...

Sometimes in life you need to just take a step back (or maybe a few steps back) and re-evaluate what is important in life and where you currently find yourself in the midst of this crazy, beautiful ride we call life. That is exactly what I have done over the last several months. Soo much has happened, it is tough to determine a starting point!

Lets start with... I am a Masters! I finished my course and thesis work at Central and now have my Masters Degree. I graduated and moved back to the West side of the mountains and have been busy planning a wedding, working, and of course training!! Life had been extremely busy, and I am finding it hard to catch up most days... This is new to me. I thrive off of a hectic schedule but there are nights I am not eating dinner until 8pm and its straight to bed to get up and get to the gym by 4:30 am. I am not complaining one bit... but I am stating that the saying "You better look around once in a while or life will pass you by" is 100% correct! The last couple months are a blur and look its freaking September already!

Training has been going really really well! I am feeling good about where I am and feel I made some decent progress since July of last year. I will keep you posted on my upcoming plans but I am excited for what's to come.

J

Reflection part 2...

The drive to Vegas was easy peasy compared to LA (18 hours!). We arrived to a big spacious house were we would be spending the next 5 days preparing for USA's. We slept, drank gallons and gallons and gallons of water between all the competitors, trained and posed, and stained the toilets orange from Jan Tana! It was great to be close to fellow competitors and when show time approached, I had wicked nerves. I placed a lot of pressure on myself and expected a lot out of myself at this show and I did not finish as I had hoped. That is alright though. After many tears, times of question and disappointment and a solid break from the gym, I have collected my thoughts and I am ready to push forward to the next one. You see, this competition does not define me nor does any competition. Yes, I am a girl who will get up at 3am for cardio, eat cold salmon or tilapia (gag), and jam pack my days with food prep, training, and school work in order to achieve my dreams but win or lose, I am still me at the end of the day. I am still the girl who wishes for the world. I am still the girl who loves a snorty, stinky bulldog and would do ANYTHING for my family. I will be there for my friends when they may or may not need me and I will fight for what I love. Competitions aside, I am still J.

Ciao for now

Reflection Time Part 1

Jon Lindsay Himself at LA Championships!

It's been a long time coming and probably the most interesting experience I've encountered on this crazy journey. I was training for the mother load of shows and we were heading to do a wham-bam-2 in a row set of shows. We drove 18 hours to LA for the LA championships. We experienced training at the "Mecca of bodybuilding" aka Golds gym Venice, we experienced a shortage of sweet potatoes (apparently CA only has Yams), we had 6 of us in one house with 3 of us dieting and it was challenging yet very rewarding. We got pulled over twice in CA, competed in my first ever CA show and finally broke up with Tilapia! The show was on a Saturday and figure was out first for prejudging. I received first call out along side another gal and that was it. I was off the stage in a few minutes. The rest of the day was spent cheering for my team mates and waiting, waiting, waiting! The figure division was first in prejudging but last in the evening show. SOO after a long wait, got back on stage and.... WON THE OVERALL :) It was amazing and I felt great about the package I brought to the stage. I have a beautiful sword (as big as me) and memories with great people. That night I chowed down on two rice cakes with almond butter, hit the sack and headed for round 1 of cardio the next morning. You see we still had one more show to go! USA's...

Ciao for now,

J


Overall Win at LA Championships