Bren

09.02.2010 09:29:10

Ok folks...time is ticking away! The Ironman will be here in a blink of an eye! Am I starting to stress more? You betcha! I realize there is only a few more workouts for each of my bodyparts...but I'm thankful that the end is in sight for double cardio! lol. I'm getting used to double cardio, but just one time a day would be a welcome relief to my aching joints and muscles!

I'm practicing my mandatories and feeling more confident with them. I don't feel quite as goofy when I hit my poses! My routine is a work in progress. Dave and I are seeing how things flow, and may make small changes to it.

My energy levels seem to come and go. One minute I have a lot of energy, the next I'm totally drained. Getting through work today was extremely tough. I actually felt so exhausted I thought I might throw up. I popped a Zip Fizz and carried on. What a trooper....ha ha!

My look varies from day to day. Some days I think I'm looking like a bodybuilder, and other days when I've lost fat but my skin hasn't tightened up yet..I look like a Sharpe` dog, all wrinkles and folds of loose skin! Not a pretty sight!

I continue to struggle with hunger...it seems I'm always hungry! Dave says it's the time to be hungry...my body needs to eat at the fat. So, everytime my tummy growls and it's not time to eat...I just think to myself that I'm getting leaner.

I'm loving the fact that I'm livin' the dream of a bodybuilding lifestyle. It is hard...much harder than I ever imagined. I'm not kidding when I say losing 90 pounds and getting fit is the hardest thing I have ever done. It's so rewarding though, and worth every minute of pain and suffering that have occured so far. I know more pain is yet to come in the next 4 weeks...and to be honest, I'm very nervous about how hard it's going to get. It seems some days I'm so tired, I just try to survive...already. I wonder how it can get any harder, but I know it will.

I want to give a shout out to a new friend, James. He was kind enough to e-mail me to tell me that my blogs inspire him. He plans to do the Ironman for his first competition, and we are bouncing our concerns, frustrations, good things, and bad things off of each other. It's nice to have another first time competitor to talk with. I know when I have the first competition under my belt, the next shows will be a piece of cake, but right now...everything is new, exciting and scary. I'm thankful for James, and his sense of humor that keeps me going throughout each day. We've asked ourselves "What were we thinking when we signed up to flex, in nothing but a teeny tiny suit in front of hundreds of people?" LOL

I'm learning to be more organized, focused and to stay on task. I have a lot to do in a little bit of time each day. There really isn't much time for anything else in my life right now. For now, that's okay. I wonder how I could ever have enough time to be involved in a relationship someday in the future. Not many people are understanding of the commitment that this lifestyle demands to be successful.

Ok, I have to rant just a bit...to be successful at anything you have to give 100%. We all know that. I have been bustin' my glutes in the gym for over a year to get this far. I'm dang proud of the fact I see results from my hard work. What really gets me is all the people that complain to me that they're out of shape and wish they could accomplish what I have...all the while eating something extremely fattening in front of me. Aaauugh! I want to scream... I saw a girl on the horizontal leg press yesterday actually reading a book while she was pressing. OMG! I laughed so hard! Who is she kidding? Does she really think she is going to see results? Our success is a direct result of the effort we put into achieving our goals...whatever they are. I must be getting crankier, because I'm losing my patience with people that whine and complain about how fat they are, yet don't want to suffer a bit to get what they want. I just want to tell people that if I can do it...a 47 year old lady, who was never athletic, who didn't like to be sweaty, who never had confidence, who didn't have dedication or determination..then ANYONE can do it! You are never to old to become better. It's never to late.

Well, that's it for now...shoulders are waiting to be worked hard...gotta go!

Think on it

Time keeps ticking away. As each day goes by, you could be one step closer to your goal, or one step farther away. Think of where you could be in a year from now if you commit today to being the best you can be, and working hard towards your goal. A year will come and go, in a blink of an eye...will you be better next year? You could be...just work hard everyday! It will happen!

Bren

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Changes

08.25.2010 09:05:41

Hi everyone! I'm now less than 6 weeks out from the Ironman....5 1/2 to be exact! Time is going fast....but slow. I'm enjoying the process, but I really just want the Ironman to get here already!

Lots of changes are occuring that I thought I'd share with you.

First, I'm getting leaner, but my issue is with my skin integrity. Since I've been overweight a good portion of my life, my skin was stretched out for a long time. I'm not sure if it will snap back or not.

The other changes that are occuring, are that fatigue seems to be setting in. Lifting is getting harder to push up the same weight, and cardio is not fun anymore. I realized I have absolutely no energy during cardio, the last session I did. I usually sing to the music when I work out at home. Not anymore. It's all business. I'm just trying to get through it now.

One other thing I noticed is that I seem to be interested in food more....always thinking about my next meal or snack....and I daydream about carbs!

I don't even have to talk about how tired I am throughout the day, despite how much sleep I get. This past weekend, I layed down at 4 pm to take an hour nap, and woke up at 2 in the morning....disoriented. The questions started in my mind....What day is it? Is it 2 in the morning or afternoon? Is it a work day? I looked out the window and it was dark, so I knew I had slept for 10 hours straight. I had missed dinner. Since it was 2 am I didn't want to eat, as I would be doing cardio in a couple of hours and need to do it on an empty stomach.

My joints are starting to ache a lot. My knees are hurting like they did when I first started double cardio and my body had to adjust to the extra sessions. Wrists, elbows and fingers all just ache.

I'm a little more mellow, mood-wise, as well. It's getting harder to work at my job, since I'm so tired. I don't seem to have as much patience with people either. I just try to get through each day.

I'm working on my routine and that's fun...also practicing my mandatories. I have to admit though, it was easier to practice when I didn't have to, and was just doing it for fun, and also when I had more energy. Holding a mandatory pose is hard work. It takes a lot out of me.

I really didn't expect to feel this way at 6 weeks out. I expected to feel this way around 2 to 4 weeks out. For whatever reason, I totally hit the wall this past weekend. It was a definite change...very obvious to me. Dave didn't pull any more carbs, he just says the changes are partially due to the fact I'm getting leaner. All I know is it sucks! I want to feel good. I'm getting the body that I've always wanted, but I'm too tired to appreciate it! lol

I don't want to seem like I'm complaining. I just want to blog about the changes that I'm experiencing. This has been a year long undertaking for me and it 's coming to a pinnacle. It's gonna happen! Besides, I can't complain...I chose this! It's my choice to go through this. It 's getting hard, and I know it will get even harder. When the women competitors get up onstage, and they look perfect...beautiful hair, makeup, nails, suit...and they are all smiles...what you don't see is the challenges that came before, that had to occur for them to be onstage.

Dave said it's all a mental game at the end. Yep! I gotta agree. All I want to do is go home, crawl between the sheets and sleep. I don't want to go workout, do cardio, practice my mandatories and run through my routine a few times. However, I have to. Not doing it, is not an option any more. Every day counts. Every rep, every minute of cardio, every mandatory pose I practice hard, and every time I run through my routine..... counts!

So I will press on....I keep thinking about the words a fellow competitor, Guy, said to me.."One day at a time, Dixon!" I couldn't agree more.

Think about it:

One day at a time!

Bren

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08.16.2010 05:58:53

Hi Everyone! I said I'd blog more often now that the Ironman is close...and here I am again! The Ironman is less than 7 weeks away! Wow, where does the time go?

The title of my blog today represents the feelings and emotions that I've been experiencing the last couple of weeks. I know it's a strange title for a blog about bodybuilding, but follow along with me, and hopefully I will enlighten you!

Air traffic controllers have a very important job. I don't know much about their job, but I imagine the main goal of an air traffic controller is to bring a plane in for a smooth landing, without any disasters occurring. I was thinking about how my trainer, Dave, is kind of like an air traffic controller. He is directing me each week...what to eat, how much cardio, how to pose, etc., and sitting back, carefully watching me bring my body in. His job is to to pay careful attention to the factors that could potentially be disastrous to me. Since this is his first time coaching me and dialing me in for a competition, there are a lot of unknowns, but he's been doing this for a little while now...lol... so I trust him! I realize that I'm the "Pilot" of this "Plane"...my body,...and I'm listening to Dave bring me in. I have confidence in his abilities to guide me, so that I don't crash land. However, I also realize that I'm the one actually flying the plane, and despite his best guidance, I could still crash the plane if I don't listen to him.

I can see the airport from here...the Ironman stage is very near. I can see the lights. I can hear Kim, the MC, announce my name. I can hear my friends, and family, cheering loudly for me! I can see myself onstage doing my mandatories and evening routine...and I can hear Dave's voice in my head saying..."Just do what you need to do each day...and you'll get there".

I'm not freaked out anymore about whether or not I'll be onstage. I know I'll be onstage. The question I ask myself each day is "How am I gonna look?" Sometimes I feel as if I'm coming in fast...like a plane that is about to crash...wings tipping side to side and dropping altitude quickly. Everything seems to be going in fast forward for me now. Not only am I shopping, cooking and weighing foods, eating every 3 hours, training and 2 hours of cardio daily...but now I'm practicing posing and my routine. I'm also thinking about all the other "stuff" that competition preparation requires as well. Things like...pre-judging and evening suits, putting together a costume for the evening routine, makeup, nails, jewelry, tan...and I can't forget about the foods to pack, for carbing up on the morning of competition!

So, there is a lot of things going on in my little mind these days. I'm questioning whether or not I will have loose skin on my abdomen from losing 85 pounds and counting, or if it will tighten and disappear. I have to deal with the fact that I'm not going to have the super tight skin that the young competitors have. That's ok, for now. I do want my skin to tighten, don't get me wrong...but in some weird way, it's like a badge of honor to me. I went through 2 pregnancies, that gave me my 2 wonderful boys, and I have won the battle with obesity, after being fat for most of my adult life! That being said...I might have to get a little "Nip tuck" in the future, if the skin continues to hang around! I never in my wildest dreams would've imagined that I'd be living in my body the way it looks and feels today! I still have a lot of work to do however, and each show I do, I'll strive to be better than the time before. (Yes, I want to do more shows...Dave says wait and see how I feel throughout this competition before deciding if I want to compete again or not...but I already know I want to!)

Not too many changes in training or nutrition...except for the fact that to get lean, the carbs have to drop a bit. I'm missing my huge bowl of oats...I remember telling Dave a while ago, 3/4 cup of oats was too much..that I felt I didn't need it. What was I thinking?!!! Now, I have to be satisfied with 40 gms...and even that will be cut down more, if not all the way out, I'm sure!

At less than 7 weeks out, I'm nervous, excited, scared...but most of all...happy. I really am "Livin' the Dream" that I've dreamed for so long. The end is in sight...but yet it's not the end...it's just the beginning. Yesterday while I was driving, a song by Tim McGraw titled "It's Your Love" came on the radio. A few of the lines in the song jumped out at me and it brought tears to my eyes. The line that meant the most to me is "Who I am now, is who I wanted to be....I'm stronger than ever, I'm happy and free". That pretty much sums it up for me. I believe the best is yet to come.

So, as I enter into the final weeks...and knowing it's gonna get harder...much harder, I'm thankful for the many friends that are my support system. I really couldn't, and wouldn't want to do this, without the help and encouragement of so many people. My best friend, Janet, will be loaning me her suits...and sewing my costume. That takes a huge load of stress off me! She's super busy right now, but has agreed to help me out, and I'm forever grateful to her for her help. Dave, Julie and Mark have lead by their example of how a bodybuilder lives each day. They've shown me how to keep focused and stay on task. They are my "Tough love" people that cared enough to set me straight when I got off track. Elaine, Lindsey, Rose, Diane, Zoe, Anastasiya, Kathy and Ursula have supported me and are encouraging me in so many ways... I'm so thankful for each one of these wonderful ladies.

Life is Good...but very busy!

Think On It:

Pilots need air traffic controllers to safely land their plane...Competitors have coaches to successfully dial them in for a show! I'm thankful that my coach is there, illuminating my way...

Bren

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The Mindset of an Athlete

08.09.2010 10:35:38

Hi everyone! Yes, I'm still alive and kicking! I haven't blogged in forever (sorry Elaine...I'm slacking!) My latest challenge to blogging is a computer that isn't cooperating with me! I think I may have to trade in my MAC for a new PC. The reason I would do that is because, #1 it is obsolete, and #2 my kids understand PCs but not MACs so when I have a problem they could help me. Anyway, for now I will have to blog on my office computer, which means I have to be at the office longer...not fun! So, until I get things squared away with my computer, the blogs will probably be shorter than normal...but I promise to blog more frequently as we are nearing the Ironman...

So what have I been up to the past month? Well, let's see...training with Dave to bring up my delts. Wow, I couldn't believe how fast they improved just lifting heavy! With Dave spotting, I can go heavier than I can by myself and I'm beginning to see definition in my delts. Still working on rear delts which are weak. I'm also working on my back, as it needs to come up as well.

The last month was very challenging for me as I wasn't sure (almost on a daily basis) if I was going to be ready for the Ironman. As I've said previously, I was never an athlete when I was in school. I didn't develop the discipline and focus that being an athlete requires. So, fast forward to my later years...and how do I approach this bodybuilding lifestyle? The only way I know how. Problem is, the only way I know how...wasn't working well for me. I was beginning to freak out, realizing that my dream of being onstage at the Ironman was slowly slipping away from me if I didn't make a change.

So what was I doing wrong? Well, for starters...not eating on schedule like I should. Talking too much in the gym. Yeah, I got my workout done, but it took longer than it should. Not pushing on each and every set...as hard as possible, and not getting enough sleep. Facebook...I've decided it is evil! lol! It sucks me in every night....when I could be sleeping! I also was putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. I was practicing my routine and trying to learn how to pose before I needed to. If I don't have the body to place in the top 5...then there ain't gonna be a routine! My friend Julie ratted me out to Dave...she told him I wasn't focused on my goal. Dave spent a whole training session having a heart to heart talk with me about my reason for doing bodybuilding. Was I doing it for someone other than myself? Was my heart really in it? Did I really want this more than anything? We literally didn't train that day, Dave just talked and I listened. I'm thankful Julie ratted me out...even though I got "in trouble" from my coach...it more than likely kept me in the game!

I'm learning more and more each day about how bodybuilders really live. It's a lifestyle that isn't easy for sure, but very rewarding. I now know the importance of eating the right foods, in the right amounts, at the right times. It's alot more important than I thought. I know the importance of pushing as hard as possible on every rep of every set...until the muscle is on fire! That's when the growth begins. I also know the importance of sleep to repair and grow the muscles, and cardio must be done like you mean it! Every part of the equation needs to be in place to achieve great results. When you hear the saying "Eat, workout, sleep and repeat"...it's true. That's what the bodybuilding lifestlye is all about. Your life revolves around food, training and sleeping. Work, of course, needs to be part of that saying... to pay for all the supplements! lol

I'm now 8 weeks out from the Ironman. The last month I didn't believe in myself. I didn't think it was going to happen. Now I know I'll be onstage. I know this, because Dave said I'll make it if I keep doing what needs to be done each day. I believe in myself now, and realize that the hard part is yet to come. I feel as if I'm getting ready to go to battle. Actually, I am in a way. I will be doing battle with myself. I will soon find out if I have the mental toughness...the mind of an athlete. I will need to stay focused on my goal and push through the hard stuff. Right now I'm feeling pretty good, but I know that's going to change in the next few weeks. In a way, I'm excited to see what I'm made of...can I handle it? Will I do just one show and be done? I don't think so...I want to compete! It keeps me focused on my goals. I know it's going to be hard. Probably the hardest thing I've ever done....but I'm up for the challenge. To date, I've lost 85 pounds. I want to come into the show losing 100 lbs, that's been my goal all along. So I need to lose another 15 pounds in 8 weeks. I'm putting on my blinders...only focusing on the competiton and what needs to be done each day. I feel more focused than ever. I realize that it is only 8 weeks....the time is going to fly by. Each day counts!

Think on it:

The mind of an athlete...focused, disciplined, determined to do what is necessary, to achieve the goals set out before them.

Bren

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06.25.2010 07:27:37

Hey all! It seems like FOREVER since I last blogged! I've been busy with the "stuff" of life...and training, of course!

Today's blog is about procrastination, priorities and paper plates. You're probably wondering how these topics are all connected...well, follow along and I'll explain!

So tomorrow is officially 100 days from the Ironman. Yikes! Those of you that know me...are aware that I'm the queen of procrastination. I don't know why, but I do my best work under time pressure. If I have months to get something done, I'll wait until the last minute possible. I think it's the adrenaline rush I crave. Dave keeps telling me I have plenty of time...and I do have a lot of time, however, I have a lot of fat to burn between now and competition day. I don't have the luxury to procrastinate now. Every day counts. Every meal, every workout, every morning cardio and every evening cardio have to be spot on!

Priorities need to be set. I'm on vacation from work for the next 3 weeks. I'm now able to totally focus on my eating, training and sleeping during my days off. I've not scheduled anything during this time, so that I can concentrate solely on competiton preparation. I'm thankful that I have this time off, and know that I can make great improvements during this time. It's my "ME" time. Dave and I were talking last week during our training session, about how I need to make "me" a priority. I can no longer afford to put others' needs above my training. It's selfish, I know. I have a hard time putting myself above my kids, and my friends, but it's what needs to be done right now. I'm a priority.

Paper plates. What is this about, you ask? Well, I was telling Dave about all that I have to do each day, and how much tupperware I go through to pack my meals. Dishes are always sky high in the sink. Dave just said "Paper plates"...and the light bulb clicked on in my head! Yeah, why haven't I used paper plates? Scoop out food, slap it on a plate, eat and throw away the plate. Just as simple as that! No dishes. Why didn't I think of that? Dave is a smart guy...that's why he's my trainer! :) So, I went to Costco on my way home from his gym and bought disposable, biodegradable plates and bowls, and now life is easier.

I have to say how thankful I am for supportive friends...Dave, Julie, Elaine, Ursula, Lindsey, Diane and Rose. They have all lifted me up and encouraged me, in one way or another. I'm also thankful for my wonderful boys, Ryan and Jeffrey who put up with me. They are the best kids I could ever ask for, and am so thankful for their love.

Life is good for me right now. I'm in a good place. My previous blogs have focused too much on my personal life and the trials I was going through. I needed to write about it though. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I went through the tough times, and I'm a better, stronger and more confident person because of it. I know I have more tough times ahead of me...let's see, there is double cardio, carb depletion, sodium load, dehydration...what else did I forget? I probably don't want to know too far in advance, what lies ahead. lol. I'm just going to have fun. I'm SO excited to do my first show! It is pretty much on my mind at all times. I'm so excited that it will be Brad and Elaine's show. They know how to put on a great competition, that's for sure!

So, I know there are a lot of seasoned competitors out there reading this...but do you remember the feeling you had when you were prepping for your very first competition? I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it. I'm going to have so much fun with this. I take it seriously, of course...but I want to have FUN, FUN, FUN!

Right now I'm concentrating on my shoulders. I need to build them up. I'm beginning to see muscles slowly emerging...it's very cool! I want the fat off NOW...but it will come off in time. It's funny, a couple of weeks ago, I was so stressed, thinking I might not strip the fat off in time...but now, there is a calmness in me. I've changed my mindset. Dave has said all along, "do what needs to be done each day and don't worry about the rest"...I CAN DO THAT!

Think On It:

Guy Overby sent a message to me the other day. He said "Your first show will always be a bit more special than the others." I can't agree more with that. The Ironman means so much...the fun, the excitement, the stage, the competitors. It's only something I'm dreaming of right now, but soon it'll be a reality! The Ironman will always be MY show...the show where I proved to myself that I could do what it takes to get there!

A side note...ya gotta check out Guy Overbys profile pic on Facebook....it's incredible! (hope I didn't embarrass you Guy...but I'm telling ya, the people need to see that picture of you!!!)

Bren ~

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Opps!

06.02.2010 15:56:41

Apparently I just deleted my last blog, "A Little Feedback", by accident! Oops! In case your wondering where it went...well, ya got me! I'm sure it's floating around in cyber-space somewhere, but I can't find it! I was responding to a readers' comment, and hit the wrong button! I think it is gone forever! Oh well...

A side note for my reader, Susan, that was trying to get in touch with me before I deleted my response to her, by accident. Susan, my e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please send me a note...I'd love to get in touch with you. It would be fun to compare notes, since the Ironman will be your first show as well! If anyone else would like to get in touch with me, for whatever reason, please feel free to use the above e-mail address. I will respond as soon as I can...

Cardio was off the hook tonight! I usually get on the elliptical and burn about 800 cal per hour, according to the machine. Heart rate is around 150 bpm. Tonight...I rediscovered the wonders of Zipfizz! For some reason, the last two days I have used Zipfizz, I have had great cardio workouts! Tonight, I was on the elliptical for 60 minutes and torched over 1000 calories! It was my personal best workout ever! The only problem is that it's after midnight and I'm writing my blog now, because I'm so pumped from such an awesome workout...I have tons of energy. Too bad I have to get up at 5 am for work. Bummer, gonna be a bit tired tomorrow....but then there's Zipfizz! lol The stuff seems to work for me...good thing Costco sells a big pack of it!

So, this coming weekend is 16 weeks out from the Ironman! I know, I know....all you seasoned competitors say that's PLENTY of time! Well, Dave wants me down about another 25 pounds. Yikes! I was 153 today. (I'm 5'6...and used to weight 230 pounds) So, that is just approximately 1.5 pounds per week. Dave is increasing my cardio to 30 minutes in the morning, in addition to my hour of cardio in the evening, 7 days a week 'til showtime! I'm enjoying my last few days of only an hour of cardio per day. It will definitely be a shock to get up at 4 am and start cranking on my spin bike, but I'm thankful to have a piece of equipment in my home that I can hop on, and not have to drive to the gym so early in the morning. I'm not complaining...I will do what needs to be done, just might be a bit more tired until my old body adjusts to what I'm putting it through.

I'm starting to listen to songs to see what "grabs" me, for my bodybuilding routine. It's getting fun, knowing in a few short weeks, Dave will be creating a fun routine for me to pose to. I can hardly wait. For me, the posing, practicing my routine and getting my suit, is the icing on the cake! (Hmmm...another mention about cake....I said something about cake in my previous blog...what's up with that? As long as it's cake mix from Parrillo products, then it's all good! Parrillo brownie mix and cookie mixes are keeping me sane right now! They are the perfect "treat"!

Ok...time for some shut eye! Sleep is just as important as eating right, working out and bustin' it on cardio!

Think On It

Next time your doing cardio...do it like you mean it!

Bren

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Lessons Learned

05.24.2010 11:05:45

Hi everyone! I believe I have an interesting blog today. One that many of you might be familiar with the subject matter. My blog today is on my recent experience with the Hcg diet. Have you heard of it? If not, take a moment to look up Dr. Buff's blog. Dave has done some research, and has written about what he found out about the diet.

I'd like to tell you my story involving the Hcg diet. Looking back, I wonder why I did it in the first place, rather than just stay on the plan Dave had me on. I'd have to say that I decided to do the diet because of a co-workers apparent success with the diet. I say apparent, because she is not a bodybuilder, or involved in figure, fitness, or bikini competitions. That was my first mistake. My co-worker wasn't all that overweight, just a little soft. She went on the diet, and within 14 days she had lost 15 pounds. She looked great... in clothes, anyway. I don't know how her skin reacted to losing such a large amount of weight in such a short period of time, and I don't know if her skin is sagging or not. I anxiously awaited her body comp results. I remember thinking she is going to lose alot of muscle. I can't remember exactly what her comp results were, but it was around 13 pounds of weight lost, to 2 pounds of lean muscle. So it got me thinking...what if I just dropped the fat now, at 20 weeks out, then concentrated on building muscle up after the fat is lost? I decided not to run it by Dave...that was my second mistake. I knew he would say to just stick with the plan he had laid out for me. I wanted to try this diet, to see how my body would do, so I decided to do it on my own. What was I thinking? I pay Dave to work with me, to plan all the comp prep and to help get me to where I need to be. Why did I not run this by him?

So this is my experience with the Hcg diet, and I hope it helps someone that may be considering doing this diet. I met with a doctor who did a health history, took measurements, and did a body composition. The doctor then interviewed me as to why I wanted to lose weight. I told her I wanted to do a bodybuilding competition and get very lean. As a doctor, she said she could only advocated going to 21% body fat, but that lots of people chose to continue on with the injections of Hcg to continue to get leaner than that.

I then got a supply of 14 days worth of Hcg. The program has you fat load for the first 2 days. That was a head trip for me. It was so hard to put fattening food in my mouth after I had gone so long without that kind of food. The first day, I forgot to give myself the Hcg shot in the morning, so I had an extra day of fat loading. I felt nauseous, had a stomachache like you would not believe, and diarrhea for 3 days.

The next step is the extreme low calorie phase. I would have a protein shake at 6 am, one at 9 am, a small meal of chicken breast and a handful of veggies at 3 pm and then 6 pm dinner, which was the same as lunch. The day ended with one more protein shake at 9 pm. I could have various meats, but I chose chicken, since I like it the best and am used to it.

The first 3 days, I was starving! I was lightheaded, dizzy and just didn't feel good. I was extremely fatigued. I decided to substitute beef for the chicken and my energy levels improved a bit, but not enough to work out. The first week you are not supposed to workout with weights, but since I'm preparing for the competition, the doctor said I could lift, but I would need to lift light. Part of me thought, why bother to lift light? I concentrated on lifting with lighter weight and more repetitions and really squeezing the muscle I was working. Then I got on the elliptical. Thought I was going to faint and fall right off the machine. I had zero energy. No wonder I was exhausted...I had absolutely no starchy carbs in my diet.

After the first week I called the doctor and said I was starving all day. I was used to eating a huge amount of food before...lots of fibrous veggies, and a little bit of starchy carbs along with my protein and I was very satisfied. However, on this diet, I was hungry all the time. I was given the okay to eat more protein whenever I wanted. That helped alot. I wasn't hungry anymore, but still missed my starchy carbs!

At two weeks I had lost 6 pounds, one of which was muscle. I wasn't able to workout at all, as I just felt terrible. So, two weeks, and I only worked out once. I even missed three days of work, since I felt so bad. The third week I felt a bit better, since I wasn't starving, however I just didn't have the strength I needed to lift heavy.

I was having coffee with my friend and fellow blogger, Julie, and told her how I was doing on this diet. She told me I needed the starchy carbs in my diet to be able to build muscle and that I should tell Dave what I was doing before it was too late. Before the diet, I was concerned that I may not lose the fat, now I was concerned that there may not be enough time to build muscle up! Aaaggghhh! Muscle takes time to build, and you need calories to build it. Julie explained that the cutting part of the competition prep is the easy part...I will be able to lose the fat with double cardio, but the muscle building is the hard part. All I can say, is thankfully Julie prompted me to talk with Dave about it, before I lost all hope of making the Ironman.

I had to tell Dave what I did. That was hard for me, since I really listen to what he tells me, and I follow his plan. I just don't know what got into me. I still don't know why I decided to go off the path, and follow this diet. All I know is that I was scared of not making it up onto the Ironman stage. I know that my body is slow at burning fat, and I wanted to get a step ahead so I didn't have to worry about the fat loss close to the competition date. It hit me when Dave said I was basically trying to shortcut things. At first I thought I wasn't trying a shortcut, but really thinking about it, I realize I was. I was counting on a magic pill, or in the case of this diet, a magic injection. I wanted to just jump ahead of the game. Dave had outlined a good plan of eating the right foods, in the right amounts, at the right times...and I wanted to speed it along faster. What I realized is that the diet will work, but at what cost to me? I quickly found out it was not the right way to prepare for my competition and had to go to Dave and admit that I tried something without consulting him first, and I failed. Dave was very understanding, but reinforced his quote..."There is no easy way to accomplish a hard task."

So, I needed to know how badly this hurt me. Dave did a body comp, and I have lost 13 pounds of fat, and one pound of muscle since my last comp 3 months ago. I can deal with that. What we don't know is how my metabolism has been affected. That, I will find out soon enough. Dave said I have my work cut out for me. I will need to lift heavy, and bump up my cardio to an hour daily for the next three weeks, then we will start adding time at 16 weeks out. I gotta admit I'm not looking forward to that. I love lifting weights, but HATE cardio with a passion. I know, I shouldn't say that, but it's the truth. Can't stand going nowhere fast, on a piece of gym equipment! However, it is what needs to be done, and I'll do it.

I have learned many lessons from this experience. First, I learned I need to be able to talk to Dave, my coach, about anything. It is his job to educate me on things relating to bodybuilding. It is my job to follow his advice. How can I be successful if I'm not doing the work that he has laid out before me? If I would have come to him with this Hcg diet, he would have done the research, informed me about it and I would have realized it is not for bodybuilders, and I wouldn't have gone down that path. I should have talked to him, I know that now.

Second, I learned to stop comparing myself to others. Sure my co-worker lost weight. I don't know how her skin looks though, and she is not preparing for a bodybuilding competition. Bodybuilders strive to put on as much muscle as possible, and this is not the diet for anyone wanting to do that.

Third, I learned to trust myself. Dave explained that my body is like a big Mac truck going up a hill. My metabolism is slow...just creeps along like the Mac truck. But it makes it up the hill at a consistent pace. I don't know why I thought I could change my body into a Ferrari! I'm consistently losing a pound a week. I'm beginning to get to know my body. It surprises me with the changes that are happening to it, and for that, I'm thankful. I don't need to rush the process. Improvement takes time and effort.

Now I'm back on track. I had some wonderful starchy carbs again, and had a great back workout! It's only been 12 hours and my back is SORE! Yay! It feels good to lift heavy again. Still not loving the hour of cardio, compared to 45 min...but I'll get used to it. Just somethin' that's gotta be done if I want to get to where I'm going!

A big thank you to Julie and Dave, for picking me up, turning me around, putting on my super hero cape, and getting me back on my road to the Ironman! You guys are my support and I'm so thankful for you both!

Think On It:

If you are training for an event, in my case a bodybuilding competition, you need to listen to just one person whom you trust. Find that person and follow his or her advice and forget about all the other people saying there is an easier or better way. Focus on the goal, listen to your coach, and believe in yourself that you will succeed!

Bren

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Somewhere In Between...

05.09.2010 12:23:30

Hey everyone! I haven't blogged in a while, since I haven't been feeling up to par lately. I haven't been extremely sick, but I'm not really well either! So, like my blog title, I'm somewhere in between! You know the feeling...blah! A week or so ago, I started becoming exhausted all the time...more than normal. I wasn't getting the sleep I needed and my training was starting to suffer. I just didn't have the energy. Things at work were crazy, and I wasn't getting my protein shakes every few hours throughout the day, like I'm used to. Little things were beginning to add up. Stress at work, not enough sleep, falling behind on housework, lack of time doing anything fun, recent break up...blah, blah, blah...and I was getting crabby! I knew I needed to change things in my life. So, I took some time to reflect.

I took a step back and focused on things that make me happy. I realized that I wasn't spending any time doing the things I love to do....reading (usually fitness magazines), listening to quiet music, taking walks, riding my motorcycle or my bicycle, and having coffee with friends. My life had become boring and mundane, and a bit of depression was starting to set in.

Earlier in the week, I woke up one morning and as soon as I got out of bed to get ready for work, I felt lightheaded, nauseous and had a terrible stomachache. I'm a dental hygienist and I see 10 patients a day. I don't call in sick to work. I showered and as I was getting dressed I realized that I wouldn't be able to work the way I was feeling. So, I called in sick. At first I felt bad that I called in. I started to second guess myself. Maybe I could push myself. I listened to my body and crawled back into bed. I slept most of the day. The next 2 days, I called in sick as well. I knew that my body was telling me something, and I had not been listening to it lately.

So, I learned it is important to listen to your body when it is trying to tell you something or it will just shut down! My batteries ran out! I didn't train at all this last week. I know it will be ok, and it won't set me back too much. This week I will have more energy since I listened to my body and took some time off, and I can once again hit the weights hard!

As of today, it is exactly 21 weeks until the Ironman. For those of you that compete, I know that sounds like alot of time. For me, it means I have 21 weeks to lose 15 pounds before I get onstage. I know it sounds easy, but I have work to do! I have lost 75 pounds to date, and my work is not done yet. I'm feeling great about my progress so far. I love going into my closet and trying on clothes that I haven't worn for 10 or more years, and finding that they are too big! Yay! I am giving all my "big girl" clothes away, since I will not allow myself to ever be fat again! The feelings I have about my changing body are priceless. I feel normal again!

This week, I learned about balance. It is important to me to concentrate on bodybuilding, and it can be all consuming, but I realized that I needed to have more balance in my life. So, I will do my best to stay on task in the gym and get my chores done efficiently, so I have more "fun" time.

Think On It:

Take care of yourself. Listen to your body. Find balance in your life.

Bren

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Life Goes On...Part II

04.28.2010 10:31:54

Hi everyone! If you've been following my blog, the title of today's blog may sound familiar. Life Goes On...Part II. Yep, Deja Vu.

I've been in a new relationship for the last 4 months, which officially ended today. With a sad heart, I decided my desire to compete, is greater than my desire to share my life with another soul. I find that to be sad, but true. You see, the last 6 months I've been focused on one goal...bodybuilding. I want to compete in the Ironman. What does that mean? To me it means doing each day, what needs to be done to achieve the goal I've set for myself. That means spending time shopping and preparing meals, eating on schedule, going to work, going to the gym after work, cardio and lifting for a couple of hours, going home to shower, prepare for the next day and drop into bed tired...no,...exhausted. I'm not complaining, as I've chosen this lifestyle. What I am saying, is that sometimes we sacrifice alot for our passion.

Before I began the relationship, I was completely focused on one thing...preparing for the Ironman. It didn't take long after the relationship started, that I began to slip up on a few things, here and there. Going out to dinner, and eating things not as good as what I could prepare at home, not getting a workout in, and cutting gym time short so I could go out for an evening. Well, little things all add up to alot. I want to see results, and although I am seeing results, I know I can do better. I know when I'm cheating myself.

I was telling my friend Kathy about my recent breakup, and she suggested that maybe I was using the relationship as a way to sabotage my bodybuilding goals. Hmmmm. I asked myself if that was in fact, what I was doing. It might have been, I really don't know. I've been questioning myself everyday, if I have what it takes to really achieve my goal. To get to the gym each day, lift heavy, do cardio, eat clean and repeat. Sometimes I think I can't do it, then I look at how far I've come. 70 pounds lost. I know I'm repeating myself from previous blogs, but I think that there is a really important element in fat loss that is often overlooked... our mind. My coach is probably sick of hearing my doubts and concerns about if I make the show or not. One of these days, he's gonna slap me upside the head! I KNOW that I have what it takes. Each day doing the necessary, and doing it well. I "hear" Dave everyday. I KNOW.... I just have to do what needs to be done. So, why do I doubt? Why do I believe that I wont make it? I need to work on changing my thoughts. What the mind believes, the body achieves. We have all heard that saying before, but it's so true. My mind is fighting with me! It's not believing, and trusting, that all will work out.

So, here's where the sabotage part comes into play. If I choose to be in a relationship, and devote attention to the relationship, and if I don't achieve my goal of competing in the Ironman in October, then in my mind, I have a reason why I didn't achieve success. After all, relationships with the people we love, is the most important thing in the world. But can I have both? Can I have a relationship and still achieve my goals. I know it's possible, many people have relationships and compete. However, for me, being in a relationship, and trying be everything to everybody, proved to be too much. I wasn't doing well at either bodybuilding, or being attentive in my relationship.

So with renewed focus, and telling myself that I can do this, I forge on. I need to prove to myself that I can do anything I set out to do. I don't know if I'll ever be able to be in a relationship while I'm preparing to compete, unless it's with another bodybuilder. Someone who understands the dedication and devotion that's required. When it came to the issue of bodybuilding, I was in a very supportive relationship, but I found that I just didn't have any energy left over, and my relationship came in 2nd place. Sad, but true. Does that make me a shallow person? Maybe. However, for me, at this time in my life, I feel compelled to put all my energy into preparing for the Ironman. It has not been an easy road for me so far. No one said life is easy. I just have to keep on, keepin' on.

So, another failed relationship. Do I feel bad about it? Yes,....but I feel good about myself. I feel good knowing that I will not give up on my goals. I will not let what my mind is telling me, override what my heart wants. I need to develop a mental toughness and these challenging times I seem to keep having, are helping me with that! So, once again...a shout out to my friends, Dave, Kathy, Julie and Elaine, for being there for me when I need y'all! Each one of you are important to me, and I appreciate your friendship more than you will ever know.

Think On It:

Follow your heart

Bren

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Time To Crank It Up!

04.19.2010 14:09:54

Hi everyone, I'm back from a wonderful vacation. I took a little trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a week to relax and unwind. When I first arrived in Cabo, I was amazed at how beautiful the surroundings of the resort were. Flowers, palm trees, pools, and the gorgeous pacific ocean was what I saw from the lanai of my room. However, I really "lit up" when I saw the fitness center. Wow! Everything I needed was there, and it was all nice equipment and in good condition! I got a great chest workout and an even better back workout in. I did treadmill for cardio one day, and ran stairs for an hour the next. I went to Costco there, and stocked up on chicken, eggs, peppers, broccoli and rice.

Everything was perfect, but I realized I was so focused on eating perfect and working out, that I wasn't really having much fun. When I was at the pool, I was thinking about my next meal. When I was relaxing on the lanai, I was thinking about the next workout. I know that's what needs to be done when you are preparing for a competition...training and eating are always on your mind. However, as my trainer Dave has been saying, I have plenty of time. I need to be able to relax and enjoy life, this far out. So, I "heard" Dave's voice, and listened. I relaxed. The rest of the vacation I didn't work out. I didn't worry if I went out to eat. I ENJOYED my vacation.

I arrived home late Friday, so I wasn't able to attend the Emerald Cup figure competition. I was bummed that I wasn't able to see my friend Julie onstage. Julie got the tiara that she worked so hard for! Yay! I'm so happy for her. I wish I could've been there to see her face! For those of you who don't know Julie personally, she is an awesome lady, and I'm so fortunate to have become friends with her. If anyone deserves a tiara, it is HER! Congratulations Julie!

I did get to go to pre-judging and the evening competition. My friend Kathy competed in the Masters over 50 and took 3rd place! Very impressive, since this was only her second show! It was so fun to watch her shine onstage. She truly looked like she was having fun up there! I was able to help her get ready backstage before the show, and she was just so relaxed, she's a natural competitor! Congratulations, Kathy.

Those of you who know who Janet Guenther is, know that she always comes giving her very best. Janet shined onstage. She keeps getting better and better with each competition. Not only did Janet take first place in the Masters over 50, but also Masters Overall. She added yet another sword to her collection. Just a few short years ago, all Janet wanted was to just get one sword. Now, she has many swords decorating her office wall. Not bad for being almost 60 years old. Janet also entertained the crowd with another awesome country routine. Congratulations Janny!

What can I say about my trainer, Dave? We all know him, and expect a great show from him. He did not disappoint! Dave rocked the house with an awesome routine....high energy, and lots of fun. Dave came in 4th in a class of great looking guys over 50. Dave also competed with a beautiful lady, Marga, in a mixed pairs routine that was off the hook! If you didn't get to see it, you missed out! It was an awesome routine with a hilarious ending! Congratulations Dave and Marga!

I have to say a big THANK YOU to Brad and Elaine Craig for allowing me to go backstage at the Emerald Cup. What an honor! Since I blog for their website, I was given a VIP pass to go backstage anytime I wanted. I felt so important! Brad and Elaine are so accommodating to the competitors, and put on the best shows ever! Not only are the shows organized well, and lots of cool "stuff" is given out to the competitors, but Brad and Elaine are such nice people! Thank you Brad and Elaine, for your hard work and dedication to the sport of bodybuilding. Your shows are truly a class act!

So, since my vacation is over, it's time to crank it up! Time to start thinking seriously about the Ironman! Of course, I will still be listening to my trainer, Dave, but I'm feeling the energy to step things up a notch. Vacations are good, they rejuvenate you. The Emerald Cup is always inspiring. I'm amazed at all the beautiful physiques that graced the stage at the EC. As I sat in the audience watching the show, I began to get a little nervous. If all goes as planned, I will be stepping onstage in 24 weeks. I gotta admit, I got a little freaked out just thinking about it. So many eyes will be looking at me. Can I do this? What if I get stage fright? I know that when the time comes, and I'm getting ready to walk out onstage, I will be nervous...no doubt about it. Even long time competitors get a bit nervous going out there. What I do know, is that I want to do this more than anything. It's what I think about each and every day. Now that the Emerald Cup is over, and the competitors are enjoying some well deserved rest, I'm starting to get really excited for the Ironman. It was so fun to be backstage at the EC...to feel the energy of the competitors. Watching people getting tanned, putting on make-up, pumping up...that's exciting to me. Not many people get to go backstage at competitions, I feel very lucky to be able to experience it before I actually compete.

Congratulations to all the EC competitors. No matter how you placed in the line up, you are all winners! Now, onto the IRONMAN!

Think On It:

What would bodybuilding be like, if we weren't blessed by Brad and Elaine's hard work in putting together the Emerald Cup and the Ironman? They promote not only one, but two fantastic shows, the Pacific Northwest wouldn't have if it weren't for them. Take a moment from your busy day, to show your appreciation for Brad and Elaine!

Bren

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Meltdown time!

04.07.2010 09:15:33

Ok, it finally happened...my meltdown that was destined to occur. Last Friday, I was working out with Kathy at Dave's gym. We were just wrapping up a hard leg workout. On my last set of the hack squat, tears began to fall. Dave looked over at me and asked what was going on. All I could say was, I don't know if I REALLY can do this. I don't know if I have what it takes, to do the hard work that is needed to change my body. I don't know if my body will actually transform enough, for me to be able to step onstage. All these thoughts kept going through my mind. I have told EVERYONE I know...friends, family and even my dental patients at work, about preparing for this bodybuilding competition. I HAVE TO BE ONSTAGE OCTOBER 2ND, 2010 AT THE IRONMAN.

What if I don't achieve my goals? What will I do? I let the little voice inside of me take over. You know the voice. It's the one that says, you can't do this. You're not strong enough. You don't have the determination to succeed. It's never gonna happen. Sure, you've lost weight, but you'll never have the discipline to restrict your carbs, so that you will become as lean as you need to be to step onstage.

WOW! I didn't see that coming! One minute I'm feeling good about myself, the next I'm crying on the hack squat, leaving Dave to wonder if I've completely lost my mind! Part of my emotions could be from watching everyone at the Vancouver show and thinking how great everyone looked. My friend, Kathy, just competed in her first show. I have watched her the past few months, becoming more lean and hard each week. I look in the mirror and see changes, but not as pronounced as I saw in Kathy each week. I know in my mind that she was lean to start with, and I have a lot of fat to lose before I begin to see the wonderful muscles I'm building underneath all that fat. I know it, but knowing it, and feeling the feelings, are different. I talked with Kathy after our workout while we were doing cardio. Actually, I cried, and she patiently listened and encouraged me. Like Dave had said earlier...just do what needs to be done each day...Kathy reminded me that I CAN do this! I just need to take it one day at a time.

I left Dave's gym contemplating why I had a meltdown. Maybe I was tired, stressed or I just allowed the negative thoughts to take hold of my emotions. Whatever the reason, I had to change my mindset. I started thinking about how far I've come...70 pounds in a year. That's a great achievement! However, what's most important to me is HOW I lost the 70 pounds..that's what I'm most proud of. You see, I did it by combining important key elements of successful weight loss: cardio, weightlifting and clean eating. I think about my previous exercise and eating habits and realize just how far I've come. In the past I've only incorporated one or two of the critical componets to sucess. I would diet, or I would work out like a maniac. I didn't do both at the same time. Now, I'm doing all three things and it is working. My kitchen cupboards are no longer filled with boxes full of preservatives. Now, my kitchen is filled with eggs, chicken, oats, rice and veggies. I feel so much better eating these foods. So, I don't mind that I had a meltdown. It allowed me to stop for a moment, and think about how far I've come. It reminded me once again to stop obsessing over what is beyond my control. All I need to do is focus on doing what is necessary each and every day, and then let it go. Give it my all, and that's all I can ask of myself.

Since that day, my workouts have been incredible. I don't think about how far I have to go, I think about the workout I'm doing that day, and that day only. I give it my all. Cardio has me dripping wet with a puddle of sweat under the elliptical machine. Weights have me so sore the next couple of days, I'm reminded every minute of the improvements I'm making. Yes, I have a ways to go, but soon I will be rewarded with an incredible body. When the fat melts off and the muscles start to pop I will be ecstatic!

I guess I was just overwhelmed with how much there is to do. Thanks, Dave and Kathy for reminding me to take it one day at a time!

Think On It:

Remember the age old joke, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time". Corny, but true.

Only be concerned with today. Tomorrow will take care of itself!

Bren

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My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me

03.29.2010 14:29:50

Hi everybody! I just got back from an awesome weekend at the Vancouver show! Bikini, fitness, figure and bodybuilding athletes combined to make a great event. This particular show was a great experience for me in many ways. It was wonderful to see all the gorgeous physiques of the competitors onstage again, kicking off another great season of competitions. Of course, it was wonderful to see friends I haven't seen in a while, and to meet those I've only known online, like fellow blogger, Diane. By the way, Diane is even more beautiful in person! She just shines! Anyway, I came away with more than I had expected from this weekend, and it really didn't have much to do with bodybuilding. What I learned this weekend was more about self-confidence, the importance of friends, and letting go of the past. I know this blog is about bodybuilding, and my journey to the Ironman in October, but today I feel compelled to write about what I took away with me from the Vancouver show.

So, you're probably wondering what I'm talking about. Well, to start with, I came away from the show with more self-confidence in myself. Many people commented on how much better I look since last year, which is always nice to hear. I'm thankful that people noticed and complimented me, however, the self confidence didn't come from people, it came from within me. I can't really explain it, but I felt good about myself, knowing that I've finally developed the discipline and dedication to the sport of bodybuilding, that I never could before. I've been going to shows for the last 10 years, helping out backstage, and have always admired the competitors. I wanted to be like them, to live the lifestyle, walk in their shoes so to speak, (especially those really cool hi-top Otomix shoes...lol) but I never thought I could really do it. Now, I'm actually doing it...I'm making my dream a reality!

I want to give credit to fellow blogger, Julie Michaelson for helping me along my journey. Julie is an amazing woman! I feel fortunate to have spent some time getting to know her a little better this weekend. From the moment I read her blog, she has inspired me to be my best. She has helped me through more challenges than she'll ever know. When I feel like this lifestyle that I'm now living in is too tough, I think of her. Julie has 4 kids, a full time job, and has gone through some major life changes recently...yet she keeps on going. She doesn't give up. She has a mental toughness that I admire. That's what I think about when my life gets crazy....Julie and her perseverance. What I like most about her is the confidence she has in herself now. It's a genuine respect for herself. She seems to have found peace and contentment with herself. She looked happy on stage. It didn't matter as much to her where she placed in the line up of her figure class, but more importantly that she knew she did her best. She took control of her life and changed it for the better. Being on stage was her moment to shine. The icing on the cake. I'm so proud of her! She deserves to be happy! She's learning to let go of the past, and look forward to the future.

I'm also learning to let go of the past and look forward to the future. This weekend brought up old hurts, seeing my ex at the show with someone else. Yes, it hurt a bit, but after getting some wise words from Dave, I realized I hadn't fully moved on since the ending of my relationship, and needed to let it go, once and for all. I need to move on if I want to become the strong, independent, self-confident woman I want to be. So, I cast it away, completely. I let go of the past, and I have to say it feels good! I left all my sadness about the ending of the relationship, right there in Vancouver. How can I be fully happy if I'm always living in the past? How can I actually live in this moment if I'm always thinking about things that have been? So, the Vancouver show will always be the place where I decided that I'm worth it, that I deserve to be happy. Next year at this time, I'll step onstage at the Vancouver show and celebrate my life! Thanks Dave, for sending me a wake up call, I got the message loud and clear...."it's time to move on, girl"!

So, I didn't talk much about my training or how I'm feeling physically, but mentally I'm in a good place! I took a few days off training altogether, partly because of the show, partly to give my aching knees a rest, and partly to reflect on my life. I've come a long way since I was that chubby girl, (or FAT girl... let's call it like it is, as Dave would say) insecure, depressed and lonely. I have to say I'm amazed at how far I've come in a year. Last year at this time I was crying my eyes out each night, hating who I had become, and the direction my life was headed. Now, I'm a happier, more confident person. Like Julie, I took control over my life and made changes that were difficult at the time, but they have made such a difference in my life. I'm at peace with myself and am excited for what I will create for my future. It's possible to change our life for the better, at any age. I will be turning 47 the day of the best show in the NW...the Emerald Cup! I can't wait to spend my birthday watching my friends and bodybuilding family, struttin' their stuff onstage!

Although I didn't have much to say about bodybuilding specifically, my changes in how I feel and how I view myself are directly related to bodybuilding. It's because of bodybuilding and eating healthy, that I have lost 67 pounds and counting. It's because of bodybuilding and eating healthy, my blood pressure and cholesterol are low, when they used to be dangerously high. It's because of bodybuilding and eating healthy, that I respect myself and know that I deserve the best in my life and it's because of bodybuilding and eating healthy, that I have made wonderful new friends. I'm so thankful for bodybuilding and eating healthy, it has completely changed my life. My best days are ahead of me!

I want to give a shout out to a few fabulous people....

First, Kathy, you did an awesome job on your first bodybuilding competition! You were fantastic! Congrats on Masters Bodybuilding 1st place! :) I loved your routine. Now on to compete in the EC, and I know you'll bust your gluteus maximus, to bring it! Good job, Kathy! You go, girl!

Dave...what can I say? You ROCKED THE HOUSE with an awesome routine! Very funny, great music and classic Dave moves. I didn't know you could move your hips like that after a hip replacement! Over 50 Masters, and you've still got it goin' on! :) Loved every bit of it!

Julie, you found your cape and showed me where mine was. Thank you, I thought I'd lost mine. You lift me to new heights, can I fly with you sometime? I'm so thankful for your gift of writing. You're an inspiration to me through your words. You're beautiful, inside and out. Be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished...you've come a long way. There are GREAT things ahead for you!

Elaine, you are one of the most positive people I know! Thank you for being so supportive and encouraging! You have a smile that lights up the gym, and your kind words always make me feel better about myself. There's no one I'd rather workout at midnight with :) I can hardly wait until the day of the Ironman! Thank you for letting me write about my dream to walk onstage!

Think On It:

Surround yourself with positive like-minded people and they will rub off on you! Who do you hang with? Positive people lift you up, negative people drag you down.

Bren

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Keep on keepin' on! Consistency is the key!

03.18.2010 13:49:56

Hi everyone! I've been busy each day doing what I need to do and doing it well! I hear Dave's "voice" everyday.."find out what is necessary, and do the necessary well".

So far this week I'm doing good. My knees are still aching something terrible, and I can't figure out why. I cut my cardio to 45 min and there hasn't been any change in my pain level. I'm pushing as hard as I can through the discomfort. Tonight on the elliptical my knees were screaming at me, but it wasn't intense pain...so I figured I wasn't getting off the machine until my 45 min were up. Then home to ice them. Ice is now my best friend! I have an ice bag on my knees in the car when I'm driving, at work during my lunch break, and I even fall asleep at night with an ice bag draped across my knees. Hopefully, the knees will become stronger, and the pain will go away soon.

I saw fellow blogger, Julie, at the gym tonight. She's going to be competing in figure in a little over a week, and she's looking good! She was tearing it up on the elliptical. She's my hero! She's such an inspiration to me. Since I'm a dental hygienist, I see most of my patients every 6 months. Many patients have complimented me on the transformation that is taking place with my body. I just smile, and thank them. The next question out of their mouths is usually....you guessed it..."How are you doing it"? Ha Ha...you have to laugh at that, don't you? Well, let's see...hmmmm....I'm not sitting on the couch stuffing my face with junk food anymore! If you "get up off of that couch" (and dance 'til you feel better .. Lol) ... do some exercise...and eat healthy, the body responds by getting more fit. It's interesting how many women my age have said that I'm an inspiration to them. I hope that I can change someone's life, by changing mine, and leading by example. That's the way I see Julie. She is changing her life for the better, and in the process she has become an inspiration to me.

So not much else is new...I'm just really excited for the upcoming competition in a little over a week. Even though I'm not ready yet to compete, I feel an excitement that I've never felt before as the show gets closer. The Emerald Cup is going to be spectacular, as always, and I cannot wait since it will be on my 47th birthday this year! There is nothing else I'd rather be doing than to watch my friends and bodybuilding "family" compete onstage. I've been backstage helping competitors get ready before. It's always exciting to be backstage. I love the smell of posing oil, the glitz and glamour of the figure ladies, the strong bodybuilding women and men and watching everyone in the pump up room! There is so much energy backstage. However, this year I'll be watching the show from the audience. I want to see the competitors onstage posing, since in a few short months I plan on being onstage myself. I've been to bodybuilding shows every year for the past 10 years. I watch the show, but my main focus has always been helping backstage. This time my attention will be on the competitors and their posing styles....what to do and what not to do. I can hardly wait!

If you're getting ready for the upcoming shows, keep your chin up and push through during these last days. You can do it! Although I haven't experienced the last week before a show, I've watched others go through it, and I can only imagine how tough it is. I will experience it soon enough! lol. If you are just trying to lose weight and become more fit, the only thing I can say when people ask me how I'm making progress is...just keep on, keepin' on. Consistency is the key!

Think On It:

The day's not over, 'til the workout's done! Working out everyday isn't an option, it's a necessity if you're going to improve your level of fitness. It isn't a sprint, take your time...be patient...consistency is the key.

Bren

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03.13.2010 10:47:27

Hi! I wanted to share with everyone what my son created for me! As you might know, my son Jeffrey is a student at WSU. I spent some time visiting him this week and showed him my profile pictures that I have on my Facebook page. Jeffrey surprised me by creating this wonderful collage of my transformation. Thank you Jeffrey, you are awesome!

Today I have officially lost 65 pounds from my heaviest weight. Wow, that's like half a person! Lol! The first picture in this collage is by no means a picture of me at my heaviest weight. I never wanted my picture taken at the size I was. Now, I'm finally enjoying having my picture taken with my friends and family. I look back and am sad that I missed out on so many memories being recorded, in print or video, of the happy times in my life. However, it is what it is! I wasn't happy for many years in my life, and I neglected taking care of myself in the process. Now, I can say that I enjoy the way my body is feeling. I feel stronger both mentally and physically. Sure, I have aches and pains from working out that I didn't have when I was just plain lazy. During my training session with Dave last week, I talked with him about my knees really bothering me. I ice them all the time now. I'm not really sure why my knees hurt so much, it could be from lifting heavier than I ever have before. Whatever the reason, Dave was asking me if I was an athlete in my earlier days. I just laughed. Far from it! I didn't play any sports in school....unless partying was a sport! lol. Anyway, Dave said athletes are used to having something hurt on their body. It's just part of life. Well, honestly I don't like having my knees and elbows talking to me all the time, but I also know that I'm making progress, one day at a time! My knees remind me of the hard work I'm putting my muscles through, forcing them to grow bigger and stronger with each grueling workout.

Workouts are going great. Eating is going great. I'm focused. I'm lifting as hard as I can and seeing progress. More importantly, I feel so good that I'm finally doing what I always wanted to do. For so many years I wanted to get in shape, but never put forth the effort required. I guess I was just wishing it would happen magically. Haaaaa! The body is outside proof of the inside transformation. Not a day goes by that I don't feel better and better about myself. I now think of myself as a stronger person. That alone is worth all the pain and time involved to create change.

So many people say they don't have time to workout or eat healthy. I used to have that same thought process. Now, I look around at all the overweight people in the world and think to myself, how much time are they shorting themselves in the long run? Their lives are being cut short because of extra weight and the lack of cardiovascular fitness. I sometimes think to myself, WOW! I'm almost 47 years old and I'm finally getting it! No longer do I feel exercise and eating right is all just to look good. I need to keep my body as healthy as I can, so that I can enjoy life more throughly while I'm still alive, and possibly live longer. Of course looking fantastic is a great incentive as well! :)

Think On It:

If you think you don't have time to exercise and eat healthy, will you have time for illness or disease? Take care of the only body you have. Treat it right. Exercise, eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Listen to your body. It knows what it needs.

Bren

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It's all about the intensity!

03.08.2010 15:43:37

Hi everyone! This week I learned a great lesson from 3 wonderful people that I know, and I wanted to share that information with everyone.

So what did I learn this last week? Well, Dave showed me how intensely cardio should be done. Dave has elliptical trainers at his gym, and I had him jump on one of them and show me how hard he works out on it. Hmmm...it was alot more intense than I usually do. Dave sets a goal of how many strides per minute he can do, which I've never done. I usually just get on the machine and work out at the same level and resistance settings. After my training with Dave, I have upped my intensity. I'm doing the elliptical, but with a purpose now! Every 5 minutes I push as hard and as fast as I possibly can for a minute, then recover and do it again throughout my whole cardio session. I'm usually cruising on the machine around 180 strides per minute, but now every five minutes I'm pushing 225 for a minute, which gets me breathing even harder and sweating like I never have before.

The second person that I've learned from is my friend Kathy, who is preparing for her first bodybuilding show in Vancouver in 3 weeks. I work out with her at Dave's gym and she never ceases to amaze me. We work legs every Friday together, with Dave coaching us. I admire Kathy, she is a hard worker! Kathy really "digs deep" and lifts hard. As Dave says, bodybuilding is a mental game. You need to be able to push through the pain, to dig deep from within. I remember when I first met Kathy and told her about Dave. I explained that Dave doesn't waste his time on anyone that isn't dedicated to doing what is necessary to achieve results. I was concerned that Kathy may not realize how dedicated and determined she needed to be to work with Dave, and I didn't want to refer someone to Dave that wasn't willing to put forth the effort required. Well, she is amazing. She does everything Dave has coached her to do, and she is seeing results.

My third person that inspires me is fellow blogger on this website, Julie. If you've read her blog, you know that life is not easy for her. She works as a personal trainer, and has 4 children... 2 of them being twins! Julie and I work out at the same gym, Gold's in Bothell. I saw Julie a while back at the gym and she looks great. She's getting ready for the Vancouver show, and will be competing in the figure division. I can't wait to see her onstage and cheer her on. What really hit me the other day is how hard Julie was working out on the elliptical. She had her earphones on listening to music, so I just gave her a wave "hi", and didn't stop to talk. She was focused. It was back day for me, so I had my work to do as well. Between sets I glanced over at Julie to see if she slowed down...nope, she just kept on going like the energizer bunny on that elliptical! Lol! I remember when I first met Julie. She told me how happy she was to see her body transform into what she always dreamed of. I think about what she said, and the emotions she had when she looked in the mirror and realized she created the body of her dreams. That's what I want. It's what I think about daily. I want to look in the mirror and not recognize myself. I want to have the body I have always dreamed about!

Have you ever really looked around the gym and watched people doing cardio? I can't help but notice how many people either read a book, get totally engrossed in TV or talk on their cell phone while they are supposed to be pushing hard to burn as many calories as possible.

I want to thank the 3 people who inspire me and push me to do my best. They have no idea how their actions spoke to me this last week. Thank you Dave, Kathy and Julie for inspiring me! You are very dedicated individuals and I admire each one of you! I hope someday to be an inspiration to others as well. Keep on pushing hard!

Think On It:

Just a little rant...can I do that? Tonight at the gym, the person next to me on the elliptical talked endlessly and effortlessly on her cell phone the whole time she was on the machine. Is it just me, or is that just a little annoying? Lose the cell phone while at the gym...and concentrate on pushing as hard as you can...you will get better results for all the time spent in the gym. Just a thought.....

Bren

Time to Focus

03.01.2010 13:13:55

It's time to focus! For all the competitors that are doing the Vancouver show in 4 weeks, you should be very focused right now. You should be dialed in on your training and nutrition. Eating, sleeping, working out and repeating...each day. I'm excited for all the competitors. I'll be helping my friend Kathy with her first bodybuilding show and I can hardly wait until the day of the show. The Vancouver show will be even more special to me, since later in the year I'm actually going to be stepping onstage myself.

The title of my blog "Focus" has more to do with my last month of training than anything else. I have my trainer do a body comp on me each month to see how much fat I'm losing. Well, let's just say this wasn't the best month. As I mentioned in my last blog, I had a business trip I had to go on and wasn't able to eat exactly how I normally do. I still ate pretty good and worked out while I was there, but my foods were not the same as what I would eat at home. When I got back from my trip, I came down with a really bad cold that left me not able to work out for a week. Two weeks in a row of not following the plan. Not good. I also started a new relationship, which I allowed to take some of my focus away. We all know about the first stages of a new relationship. We want to be with the person as much as possible right? Well, I still got my workouts in most days, but they were not like before the relationship started. I would run into gym and get my workout done in as little time as possible. 45 min of cardio instead of an hour and.not as many sets of my workout exercises. I told myself I have plenty of time before the Ironman, so a few sessions at the gym that are shorter and less intense won't matter this far out. Wrong!

What I learned is that EVERY DAY counts! What I eat, or don't eat...matters. The number of reps....matters. The total number of sets...matters! It all either takes me closer to my goal, or farther away. I had to learn the hard way. I lost a pound of muscle, where the previous month I had gained a pound of muscle. Yes, I was sick and I was away on business, which were out of my control. However, I chose to cut workouts short, or eat or not eat something that was on my plan. I take full responsibility.

So, I learned from this experience, and am thankful that I have time to make amends. Time to focus! Bodybuilding is a priority to me and it requires sacrifice and some amount of suffering. It's what I want to do and nothing is going to stand in the way of my goals.

So...I am focused...are you?

Think On It

The choices you make everyday about foods and training either bring you closer to your goals, or farther away.

Bren

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Challenging, but not impossible!

02.10.2010 12:11:43

When you think of traveling, what is it that comes to mind in regards to eating clean and staying on task with your training? Well, in the past, I've only seen the obstacles that stood in my way. Now, I have a whole new outlook.

This past week I traveled to San Antonio, TX for a continuing education seminar. I went with my co-workers from my dental office. We left on Wednesday morning and didn't return until Sunday morning. Before I left I gotta admit, I was a little freaked out about how I was going to eat clean and train. Most of the meals would be provided for me at the 3 day seminar. I wouldn't have much choice in my food selection. Then there were the traveling days. How was I going to eat on the plane, and in the airport, with all the somewhat needless restrictions on what you can take through security? What could I possibly do to keep up my training? All these thoughts kept running through my mind. I was determined to do the best I could with the circumstances I had.

So, what did I do? Well, I packed a huge canister of Parrillo protein powder in my checked luggage for starters. For those of you that aren't familiar with Parillo products, they are awesome, and are quality products. Just a side note, I order them through my trainer...gotta have my Parrillo fix! Lol. Look them up on the Internet..www.parrillo.com. Anyway, the canister took up about a third of the space in my luggage, but I didn't care. Next, I packed a ton of protein bars in my carry on luggage, so I always had something to eat when I was traveling. When I got to the hotel I found a small convenience store that just happened to have frozen chicken breasts, 2 pieces to a package, and eggs. Wow..I couldn't believe it! So I purchased chicken, eggs, carrots and water and ran back to my hotel room to cook. I had a room with a kitchen, which I was very thankful for. I defrosted the chicken and put it in the oven to cook while I hard-boiled the eggs. So far, so good, I thought to myself. I would be able to have chicken and eggs for breakfast. Now all I had to deal with was lunch and dinners provided at the conference. The lunches were buffet style, so I was able to pick the healthiest options. Dinners were a bit more challenging however. Most of the time I ate a piece of chicken or eggs before going to dinner, so I was able to get good quality protein, and not have to rely on what was served to me.

I was fortunate to have a fitness center that had elliptical machines, recumbent bicycles and treadmills. The fitness center even had a selection of dumbells up to 25 pounds. I was able to get in my cardio and did an upper body workout with the dumbells. I combined a variety of exercises for back, chest, bis/tris and shoulders into one giant workout since my time was very limited, and the weights were so light. I didn't get sore at all, but I felt good that since there weren't any machines, I was able to improvise, and get a high rep workout in.

I know now that when I travel, whether on business or for fun, I can make healthy choices and not just give in to the idea that my routine has to be disrupted. It takes planning, and lots of it. I put alot of effort into the thought process of what I would be able to do to stay on task. I was fortunate, as I said earlier, that I had a store nearby, a kitchen and a fitness center. However, if I didn't have these things I still would have been able to drink protein shakes and eat protein bars to get me through. I would have found a hill to walk up or jog around the hotel for cardio, and I would have done bodyweight exercises to get some lifting done.

So did I eat the best foods? No. Did I get the best workouts in that made me sore afterwards? No. Did I get the best cardio sessions in with the limited time I had? No. Was I proud of myself? YES! I did the best with what I had. Challenging, but not impossible! I'm most proud of the fact that I have challenged my old way of thinking. In the past, I would have taken time "off" from eating healthy and my workouts while I was out of town. No longer! I wont let obstacles stand in the way of my goals now.

Dedication and determinination. Was I tired after sitting in lectures all day? Yes. Did I go workout late at night when all my co-workers were heading off to bed? Yes. Was I proud of the fact that I was the only one in my office that exercised while we were there? Yes. I did it!

Think on it:

When you want something bad enough, you will not see the obstacles, only the goal before you! Quit looking at the obstacles and making excuses. Go for your goal, and let nothing stop you! You can do it!

Bren

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Life Goes On....

02.01.2010 14:10:01

Hi! I'm back! You might have been checking in on me and wondering where I've been. Sorry to make you wait so long. I've had a big setback in my "road to the Ironman", but I'm back now. Let me tell you about my last month....

Without going into too much detail about my personal life, I want to let you know how emotions can destroy our training goals if we choose to let them. I was in a relationship for ten years. About a year and a half ago, I chose to move out. I purchased my own home and began a life on my own so to speak. However, my ex and I didn't have full closure on our relationship until just recently. Even though I've started dating again, when my ex began dating someone new and told me about it, my world fell apart. I couldn't handle the fact that our relationship was now truly over. We were both finally moving on. When I heard the news, I was physically sick and couldn't eat or sleep for days.

In the past when I was stressed or depressed I overate. I binged on sugary foods, fatty foods anything to drown my emotions. That's how I ended up weighing so much in the first place, before I adopted the bodybuilding lifestyle. (225 pounds at 5'6...not a pretty sight). Not this time, I had no desire to eat. I didn't have an appetite at all. I sank into a giant black hole of depression. It happened fast and hard. I literally couldn't eat. The thought of food made me sick to my stomach. I wasn't sleeping well. It seemed all I could do was go to work and come home to my place of solace, where I could cry my eyes out each night. Training was important, but I just felt like I wasn't able to give it 100 percent. I couldn't eat at all without my stomach physically aching, and I had absolutely no appetite. Those of you that have never dealt with depression before might not be able to relate, but I know that there are many of you that can.

So the first thing I did was to call my trainer and friend Dave. "What do I do Dave"? I asked. "Can I live on protein bars and shakes to get me by until my appetite returns"? I wondered how far this would set me back. Dave was very understanding and had good insight into my situation. He basically said I would have to separate my emotions from eating and just force myself to eat healthy. Bars and shakes would be okay temporarily, but not for very long. Dave said not to worry about the competition. I'm a long ways out to the Ironman still. If I had only been about 8 weeks out it might be different. So that gave me peace. Dave also told me this will pass...the hurt will be intense for a while, and it will never go completely away, but the hurt will be less with time. I held onto that thought every day.

I told myself I'd grieve the ending of the relationship as long as I needed to, but in the process I would force myself to eat.

The only thing I could force down was chicken, broccoli and rice. I was eating the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I just kept telling myself that this will pass. Just hang on. I continued to workout. I didn't put much effort into it though. Cardio was good. I got on the elliptical or spin bike and cried. Tears would run down my face, which made me look like I was sweating alot!

So I ask myself what did I learn from this? I learned a lot which I believe will help me with my preparation for my upcoming bodybuilding competition. I learned that we don't always feel like eating the right foods or training with purpose. We are not "motivated" (Dave dislikes that word) to eat the foods that are best for us when life sucks. Motivation is temporary and fleeting. I was not motivated to eat or train during this time, but I was disciplined and dedicated. I forced myself to eat. I forced myself to go to the gym. I didn't get the best workouts in. They weren't something I was proud of when I was done, but I was glad to keep doing what I needed to do even if it wasn't my best. I didn't give up. I didn't say forget the bodybuilding competition. I kept going even when I didn't want to.

When the final weeks of my preparation come and I have no energy, I feel tired, I don't want to eat certain foods, and don't feel like training hard, I will think back on this time in my life and realize that I made it through. I'm a winner. I not only survived this last month, but thrived. I'm happy to report that I'm better now. I still have moments that I feel sadness for a loss of a relationship that was at times wonderful, but I know in my heart we are both better off as friends. I can now move on.

Life goes on....

Think on it:

Do you ever feel like eating junk foods, skipping your workout or not taking care of yourself? Of course you do. We all do. Getting anything you really want in life requires dedication and determination. Know in your heart and mind that working out and eating clean is good for your body and mind. Think of the feeling you have when you leave the gym knowing you worked hard. Be proud of yourself. If you are in the middle of a stressful situation, push yourself beyond what you think you can do. Then you will have the great feeling of knowing that you did everything you could with the circumstances that surround you at the time.

For those of you that haven't checked out a great video clip yet, open up Dave Patterson...Raw located on this websites home page. Great information for everyone!

Bren

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Consequences

01.05.2010 01:56:32

Happy new year everyone! I look forward to 2010 being my best year ever! This is the time of year that many people make resolutions. Everyone wants to improve upon areas in their lives that are lacking in one way or another. Relationships, personal health and fitness, work, organization...whatever it is that has fallen by the wayside. I gave up making resolutions years ago. I never followed through. Oh sure, I used to start a "diet" more Mondays than I can remember. If a Monday happened to fall on the first day of the month, it was even better. I seemed to think that if I started a new behavior on the first day of the week, month or year, then I was working with a "fresh slate" so to speak. Looking back, I see how foolish my thinking was. It doesn't matter when you start a new behavior, what matters is that you actually START!

So my journey to compete started in June of 09, when I began to workout just to look and feel better. I was tired of being fat and unhealthy, and everything that comes with a lifestyle of neglect. I was always tired and sluggish, and because of being overweight I couldn't do the things I wanted to do easily. I kept working out, and slowly began to lose bodyfat. It's so exciting to see the changes happening in my body. These last 6 months I've witnessed so many changes. The biggest outward change is that I'm developing muscle and losing bodyfat. The inside however, is where the real change is happening. I've developed a self confidence that I never knew I had. I feel good about myself for the first time in a long time. I had pictures taken the other day, and I actually liked what I saw! To me, that's a miracle in itself. You see, I "hid" whenever a camera was pointed in my direction for so many years. I missed out on so many memories of me and my kids when I could have been in photos, because I hated my picture being taken. In fact, I don't even have a "before" picture of me at my heaviest weight, because it was too painful to see myself in pictures. Now, I like pictures of me with my friends and family, because I know I am achieving the goals I have set for myself, and it is beginning to show. I know I have a ways to go before I am in competition shape, but I'm liking what I see so far. Hard work and dedication does pay off!

Training is going well, however, I had a little injury that has left me trying to deal with the "mental" issue of bodybuilding. Here's the story. About 2 weeks ago, I smacked my knee into the footboard of my bed. I hit it HARD. At the time, I heard a cracking sound. "Not good," I thought to myself. As I lay on the floor, writhing in pain, my first thought was "Is anything broken?" No, I had just hyper-extended my knee joint and it hurt. My next thought was "Is this going to affect my training?" Well, I put ice on it throughout the week, but it didn't get better very fast. I was supposed to train legs later in the week with Dave, and I realized that it just wasn't going to happen. So I did a hard chest workout instead for my weekly session with Dave. I was disappointed that I didn't get to work legs, but relieved I wasn't hurt bad. It just needed some time off, and I would be back to training legs next session. The next week it was feeling pretty good, but still had a few issues with it "talking" to me. I didn't listen to it. I wanted to go snowboarding on Christmas day, even though I knew my knee joint still felt a bit unstable (I had a previous ACL reconstruction in this knee and I've felt the same "unstable" feeling in this joint before). I didn't run it by Dave to see what he thought about snowboarding since I had hurt the knee, because I knew he'd say it's a bad idea. I knew in my heart and mind that I needed to rest it if I wanted to train legs at my next workout with Dave. So what did I do? I went snowboarding. Hmmm..., I did not listen to my body OR my mind telling me I shouldn't go. I went boarding on Christmas anyway. Since I weighed 50 pounds lighter than I did last time I went boarding, it was so much easier and way more fun! I paid a price for it however. My knee started to "talk" to me...well...scream at me, actually. I think I heard it scream..."Boy are you stupid,...you gonna pay for this!" I was supposed to work out legs the next day with Dave. When I told Dave that I went snowboarding, and my knee was still acting up a bit, but I wanted to try to do legs anyway, he said in a matter of fact voice, "NO, we're not doing legs!" That kind of took me by surprise, since I thought bodybuilders just pressed on, working through the pain. Surely, Dave would tell me to just deal with it. Nope, he said no leg workouts until it heals up. Ice and rest. Okay. I can understand that. What I wasn't prepared for were the intense feelings I had about missing leg workouts. I got mentally messed up. I talked about it with Dave, and he helped me to wrap my mind around it, so that I can continue to train for my competition and not be left with permanent injuries. Here is a sample of the questions that flooded my mind...are my leg muscles going to atrophy if I miss 2 or 3 leg workouts? Will I be able to squat the same weight when I come back to legs? How many weeks is this gonna put me back? Am I gonna make my competition in time? All those questions were really messing with my head. He answered every question! Rest and ice are important after an injury. If you don't rest an injured joint, you risk arthritis setting in. Don't want that! So rest and ice, and listen to Dave. That's what I'm gonna do. When it's okay to work legs, I will work them. I will not worry about what I can't control.

So what did I learn from all of this? I always want to learn something new from my life lessons! What I learned is that there are CONSEQUENCES to our actions. I knew that I shouldn't go snowboarding, but I did it anyway. Now I delayed my leg workout at least another week. CONSEQUENCES. I learned to ask Dave for his recommendations on training issues and to listen and follow his advice. Dave is my advisor, and that is why we have trainers...to advise us what we should do, to help us achieve our goals. CONSEQUENCES. I learned to listen to my body. If I just would have listened....CONSEQUENCES!

On a brighter note...I made my first goal. I wanted to have lost 50 pounds by Christmas day, and I MADE it happen! 50 pounds lighter since last Christmas...Yay! Notice I said "I MADE" it happen? I am realizing to achieve goals, no one else is gonna make it happen for you. I made it happen. It was a priority for me. You have to want it! You have to desire it... more than anything else!

Think on it:

If you have ever run out of air in your lungs while under water, all you can think about is getting to the surface of the water and taking a big breath. You're not thinking about anything else, you're just focused on that one thought. You want that air... you need that air. That breath of air is the only thing that matters to you at the time. You know that feeling?

Training is alot like that. To get what you want, you have to want it that bad.

(This thought was taken from a movie. The coach had held a players head under water until he was struggling for air. When the player came up to take a breath, the coach said that is how you should be training...like your life depended on it. I can't remember the name of the movie. It might have been from Remember the Titans. I just wanted to give credit where credit is due).

While I'm at giving credit where credit is due...a special "thank you" to Dave Patterson, for giving me advice and helping edit my beginning blogs. He knows his stuff, and I appreciate the help he is giving me to get me started. Thanks Dave!

Bren

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Crunch Time!

12.22.2009 13:50:07

Ok people, it's crunch time! No, I'm not talking about ab work...I'm talking about only 3 more days until the BIG Day! I can't believe this was the last weekend before Christmas and I didn't get any shopping done.

Life got a bit crazy for me this weekend. My son flew into SeaTac airport for a short layover on his way to Mexico. I was able to spend a few hours with him before he flew back out. This meant I stayed up all night to enjoy every precious minute of time I could with him. Which meant I slept all day today. I woke up at 3 in the afternoon, and the adrenaline started pumping before I even got out of bed. My mind started racing. I have so much to do, how am I gonna fit it all in? How am I going to get Christmas shopping done, get meals ready for my work week, and find the time to exercise? Hmmm...I started to think things through. First and foremost, I know when we are stressed cortisol is released into our system, and guess what happens then? Belly fat! That's right, the very thing I am trying to get rid of. I took a deep breath and began to make a game plan for the day. I'm not working Christmas eve day...so that will be my shopping day. I might even get some great sales that late in the game! I planned out what stores I absolutely needed to go to today. Costco was it. I needed food for the week. Then what? Prepare meals for the week. Easy! Dave showed me how simple preparing meals can be. I used to make a huge deal over preparing stuff. Not anymore. All I can say is Costco, baby! I get tons of stuff there and make it simple! For example, this week I'm packing cans of chicken breast that require a can opener and a fork. Throw in some veggies and rice and call it good! Next on the list...how was I going to find time to get my exercise in? Reality check! I'm not FINDING time I'm MAKING time. Big difference. It's all about priorities! Finding time, to me, means I'll try to get it done. Making time, however, means it will get done! Dave always says "do or do not, there is no try". You might remember Yoda saying that line from a little movie named Star Wars!

We all have the same 24 hours in each day. Sometimes I feel that there's never enough time for the things I need, or want, to do. When I really look at my life, and the lives of people around me, I've come to the conclusion that we all MAKE time for the things we want to do. We just make it happen. Most times it requires that we sacrifice something else. I really wanted to just sit down and watch a video this weekend. That's all I wanted. 2 hours to just relax and veg out in front of my big 56 inch screen TV. Not much to ask, really. Did it happen? Nope! Why not, you ask? After all, I had all weekend. Well, I chose, yes...CHOSE to do other things that were more important to me. Spending time with my son. High priority! Getting shopping done so I have good, healthy, foods to enjoy all week. High priority! Getting enough sleep so my muscles can grow bigger and stronger. High priority! Working out and getting cardio in so that I can kick butt onstage come next October. High priority. Sitting on my butt, watching TV... way down on the priority scale. So you see, I could've watched TV, but what would I have had to give up? When I'm onstage, whatever the outcome, I'll ask myself one question. The only question that really matters. I'll ask myself, did I do my best each day to prepare for this show? Could I have done any better? I want to be able to say with confidence, that I did everything I possibly could have done. That I gave 100% each and every day. Sure, I could have watched TV. Maybe not got my workout in today. Probably no one would know that I slacked off today...but I would. (actually Dave would figure it out, come body composition test time!) ha ha. I'm beginning to see the light. The competition is with yourself. Each day trying to be the best that you can possibly be. Each day improving on the day before. The actual bodybuilding event should be a celebration of all the hard work that was accomplished to get to that day. (I am learning Dave! Weedhoppah catches on quickly!) That being said, even though it is 10 pm I am going to the gym to "make it do what it do"! Thank you Golds gym for being open 24 hours!

So at this crazy-busy time of year..."crunch time" 'til the big day, ask yourself what's important to you? For me, in this time of my life, it's surrounding myself with family and friends who love and support me. Giving my all, each and everyday, to a sport I love, bodybuilding. Remaining as stress free as possible, because really, the stuff that we think is a big deal, really isn't after all. So, this week make the time to eat healthy, exercise, sleep, hug the ones you love and remember to breathe!

Think on it...

If you do each day what you need to do, the week will take care of itself.

If you do each week what you need to do, the month will take care of itself.

If you do each month what you need to do, the competition will take care of itself.

(Dave Patterson)

Bren

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CRAIG PRODUCTIONS LLC

Home of the Emerald Cup and Washington Ironman

Bren

When you think of traveling, what is it that comes to mind in regards to eating clean and staying on task with your training? Well, in the past, I've only seen the obstacles that stood in my way. Now, I have a whole new outlook.

Dedication and determinination. Was I tired after sitting in lectures all day? Yes. Did I go workout late at night when all my co-workers were heading off to bed? Yes. Was I proud of the fact that I was the only one in my office that exercised while we were there? Yes. I did it!

Think on it:

When you want something bad enough, you will not see the obstacles, only the goal before you! Quit looking at the obstacles and making excuses. Go for your goal, and let nothing stop you! You can do it!

Bren