CRAIG PRODUCTIONS LLC

After working for hours trying to figure out how to embed a YouTube video into the blog here I have realized I cannot figure it out...or maybe my patience has just worn out!  So here is a link to a YouTube video I did explaining a bit about where I'm at and where I am heading.  Its a history of my journey thus far and a precursor of so much to come!  Please check it out HERE. But be aware, I am a goofball and have a very dry sense of humor...hahaa ;)

Tags: Figure | Fitness | adrenal fatigue | isagenix | Emerald Cup | Craig Productions | fitness routines | competitors | mind | strengthFigure | Ironman | training legs | setbacks | energy | vision | discipline | focus | training partner | disciplined | focused | night show | persistence | commitment | choice | challenge | personal training

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Big Things Coming...I am incredibly excited to start the next chapter in my life.

13 Days Until My Last Day Of Class

13 Days Until I Can Start Studying To Get Certified As A Personal Trainer (if not earlier)

19 Days Until I Graduate From College

66 Days Until My First National Show in Vegas

Woot Woot! So to say the least...I have some exciting things coming up! I cannot explain the joy that I feel about my life right now. It is kind of funny actually because there are a few things in my life that are not going well at all, BUT I am choosing to focus on the the GREAT things coming up and I am choosing to focus on all the amazing things/people the Lord has blessed me with over the past couple years! That's really what it is all about people...Perspective and attitude. You ultimately decide how to live your life...You decide upon your outlook and your attitude and how you react to the things thrown at you. It's your choice...Turn around and avoid the challenges in your life or soldier up and be strong...Meet those challenges straight on. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches and do so with a big thankful heart and a big happy smile. Cliche...I know. But it is SOOO true! So that's where I'm at.

I actually just got home from the gym and had a fabulous workout...I mean KILLER workout. I started off somewhat slow and then that fire in me started burnin' something fierce and I finished weights very strong and then my cardio was even more fierce. It made me think of Julie's blog AWHILE back about giving it your all when you have that burst of energy...Heck if you're feeling energized and strong, THAT is your time to truly push your limits. So that's what I did. My 25 min on the stepmill and 10 min on the treadmill left me absolutely dripping in sweat and it felt so refreshing. Nothing feels better than building up my body...Making it stronger, healthier, faster and just BETTER!

So I'm pumped and can't wait for my cardio tomorrow AM! Then I'll be heading to work...then to LA Fitness for a Chest/Bi/Tri workout + cardio. Busy day, but as always it will be absolutely FULL of opportunity and I better be ready to rock and roll!

Bless you all and please please please spend some time tonight planning how you can get one step closer to your goals/dreams tomorrow. Life is so short and you've got ONE life to live...I hope you are all pushing forward through your life achieving all that you are meant to achieve. We each have something truly special to offer to the people around us and it would be soooo silly for you to not grasp that tight and make the most of it! DREAM BIG! ;)

Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE!

Diane

Tags: Determination | Goals | training | energy | posingfocused | determined

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There's nothing better than "The Zone". It's a place I reach a few months before a show. My focus is strong and my determination to succeed is unstoppable. Once I'm in "The Zone", I always strive for a better tomorrow. Each day I strive to beat myself and improve in every way possible. It is really an amazing feeling. There's something about putting my heart and soul into training that makes me feel amazing. It creates energy - Unstoppable energy. Yes..I do get tired...I do get exhausted...But it is my mental energy that is never-ending. Once I have that vision for my future, nothing stops me from doing everything possible to succeed. So that's where I'm at. I have both the Vancouver show and ECUP on my mind - All day. Every night I lay in bed and CLEARLY visualize the stage...I visualize every single aspect of the show..My posing..My walk...My hair...Check-in...Pre-Judging...If I don't visualize it, I cannot expect to reach my full potential. That's all there is to it - Strong, Powerful, Thriving Energy and Determination. If that's what it takes to succeed, I'm on it.

So my workouts have been amazing. Yesterday was legs! I'm still lifting heavy. Heavy Squats, Heavy Leg Press, Heavy Lunges, Heavy Sumo Squats...I love it and I hate it. Overall...My booty is HURTING today...My glutes are killin' me and it is only the 1st day. Tomorrow they will be worse. But I have to love the pain. It is amazing to know that I'm making progress and growing :) Little by little I'm putting on the muscle I need to gain!

Think About It:
**A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive, and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done. Once a man has made a commitment, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It's something we call heart power. Once a man has made a commitment, nothing will stop him short of success** --Vince Lombardi

Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE!

Diane

Tags: Determination | Mindset | Thoughts | focused | drive | energy | vision

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-Whiskey River BBQ Burger from Red Robin...With fries
-Guacamole and Chips
-Onion Rings
-Pizza from The Rock
-Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
-Big Salad with DRESSING
-Burrito from Nick's Grill in Kirkland
-Strawberry Slim & Fit Smoothie from Emerald City
-Snapea Crisps

These are just a few of the things that I want to eat right now...WOW.
I was hoping that this would allow me to vent and get over my cravings...Maybe it worked, but who knows.
My cravings are coming and going...Not nearly as bad as they normally are. I remind myself that I really don't want all this food. Realistically the food will taste good at first, but then I will just feel like crap!! My body does NOT want any of this food...It's actually quite happy with whole and clean food. My mind and my emotions...now that's another story. My Mind THINKS that I need a burger ;) Hopefully I didn't make any of you competitors too hungry.  We're almost there, so no worries! Just think...16 days and all you Ironman competitors can enjoy whatever it is that you have been craving for the last several weeks!

So yesterday was a great workout. I had an awesome AM cardio session. I did the Elliptical for 60 min and was even wanting to do more. My energy levels were kickin'. Then I met Katy and Pete at Snap later on to lift and do a little more cardio. We did back...It was a great workout and Pete kept us moving! We did a variety of exercises in order to hit all areas of the back. Then I finished up with 30min of cardio. After that I went tanning (Boy am I white!!!) and then went home for awhile. I hung out with my dogs and just relaxed. I didn't have to prep any food because yesterday morning I left the house for work WITHOUT any of my food for the day. Major Bummer. So yesterday I had to improvise...which worked OKAY. But anyways, that just mean't that I didn't have to make any food last night. That was nice. After hanging out at home for awhile, I headed to LA for my last cardio session. I did another hour of cardio and loved every minute of it...honestly. For some reason I was REALLY feeling cardio yesterday!!

Today...Well, that's a different story. I could barely put in 30 min on the Elliptical today. I felt like I physically could not finish 30 min. Hopefully I'll gain some energy and strength through-out my day to get me through lifting and more cardio later on. I know I can do it. It'll be tough today, but I've got it handled :)

Once I get off work today, I'll head to LA for some more cardio. Then later this evening I'll meet the girls at Pete at Snap for shoulders!! Gotta work on that round cap! Each workout helps.

So that's all for now. I'm getting super excited for the show and cannot wait for it to get here. Almost Show Time!!!

Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord's Light SHINE!

Diane

Tags: Shoulders | energy | cravings

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Wow!! So I have A LOT that I want to talk about…I’ll have to write some this morning and then check back later for my review of the bikini competitors at the USAs!

I want to first talk about the message at my church, Champion Centre, yesterday.  It was a great message and I think it applies to all of us competitors.  The title of the message was “Energy Crisis?”

Pastor Kevin mentioned that we have a “perceived” energy shortage in our society.  But really, there is a lot more energy available than people are tapping into. 

There’s a constant theme of being tired in our society.  Even with new technology that makes cleaning, traveling and jobs more easy, people are more tired now than they were 60 years ago.  60 years ago people had more physically laborious jobs AND they had less technology to manage daily tasks.  Yet somehow, Americans are always too tired.  This perceived lack of energy is hindering a lot of opportunity in our society.

Pastor Kevin made of a list of SOME of the things a perceived lack of energy affects:

A lack of energy…

…hinders relationships. We’re just too tired to spend time on our relationships.

…hinders family.  We’re just too tired to spend time with our family/children after work.

…hinders productivity.  We’re too tired to get things done as productively as possible.

…hinders exercise.  Many Americans put off working out bc they are simply ‘too tired’ to go to the gym.

…hinders healthy eating.  This is why many rely on fast food….Americans are too tired to go to the grocery store and actually cook a meal.

His point was that we DO have the energy, if we’re willing to tap into it.  But, the sad thing is that most people “plod” along tired on a daily basis instead of taking control and changing their attitude and vision for life.  Overall, he concluded that, “What most people consider a shortage of time and/or energy is actually a shortage of vision.  We have a vision problem, not an energy problem”

After he said this, it just clicked.  When you have vision for your life, the energy will follow.  If you have a strong enough vision and big enough goals and dreams, you WILL find the energy to go after them. BUT! If you do not have a vision for your life, there’s no need for energy.

“You don’t get further, energy-wise, than your vision will take you.  When vision comes, the energy comes and motivation flows – But never beyond your vision.  So, enlarge your vision” – Kevin Gerald

I think if people really listened to this message and actually followed up with action, we wouldn’t have so many tired people in our society.  I mean, think about it… Bodybuilding competitors are WAY more active than most, yet the majority of competitors have way more energy than the inactive people that I know.  A lot of this has to do with vision.  Competitors have a vision for their future.  They have a vision for their next show.  This vision gives them the energy to train. So my point is to enlarge your vision in life. Enlarge your vision for your family, your career, your health, your next show etc…This will give you the energy to live a life overflowing with blessings and amazing experiences.

So, today is day 1 of VERY low carbs.  I’ll be sticking to very low carbs until Friday.  As I mentioned before, I’ll be doing this once a month until the show.  So my meals today are pretty boring.  It is either a scoop of whey with water or a chicken, spinach and broccoli salad. YUMM ;) Today is leg day…I’m very excited to get into the gym and kick booty. Picturing a lifted booty and sculpted thighs and hamstrings gets me through my workout. Gotta make progress…We’re almost two months out!! Whoo!!!

So off to work I go! I’ve got my protein shake in hand and I’m ready for the hot day ahead.

Remember…Stir up your vision. You’ve got one life to live; Live it with VISION.

Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Let the Lord’s Light SHINE!

Diane

Tags: energy | vision | legs

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