January 2012 SEE PROGRESS NOT IMPERFECTIONS

I have had this blog for about four years now.  It was awesome to stumble upon the title Progress Not Perfection and have it stick.

Since I have been running my business out of South Boston Yoga I have a new theory on Progress not Perfection.

To see Progress Not Imperfection

Try this for January 2012. Love yourself.  Watch yourself get stronger. See the good, don’t get hung up on the negative.  This is something that the “yogic mindset” does better than anything I have ever encountered.

It can take around 4 weeks of hard dedication to your training regimen and nutritional compliance to SEE visible results.  On the other hand, learning new movement patterns and moving your body in a pain-free way can happen in just 1-2 sessions! Focusing on these little steps keeps you motivated and positive.  

Your mind can be your worst enemy or your best friend. Yoga helps the later to be the case :)


P.S. If you are looking for something to do this New Years Eve, check this out  celebrate the new year with health and wellness and an amazing community!

Love is my religion

Around the holidays talk of religion increases.

What are you celebrating with your family? 

Where are you going?

What are you doing?

Regardless of whether you believe in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, or Judaism there are important and vital commonalities that go hand and hand with every religion. 

Religion by definition is:  a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spiritualityand, sometimes, to moral values.^[1] Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to givemeaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestylefrom their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. ( THANKS WIKIPEDIA)

Two and a half years ago when I embarked on my Yoga Teacher Training at South Boston Yoga, I had no idea that it would be so life changing. For those of you who know me...I AM NOT A BULLSHITTER.

The Body Awakening Teacher Training was just that. It was about delving deep within yourself to become a better person and secondarily a better teacher.  Patanjali and the Eight Limbs of Yoga taught me more about life than anything else I had ever been exposed to. It actually made sense.  These steps were the guide to living a meaningful and purposeful life.  Not only do they address moral and ethical conduct, the importance of self- discipline, they also take HEALTH into account.  Together these eight limbs have undeniably provided me with the most spiritual guidance in all of my 28 years.

On occasion I get asked whether I go to church on Sunday. I thought about this for quite sometime.  I go to my yoga studio every Sunday morning :) 

I have concluded that Yoga is my church and Love is my religion.

There is never a Sunday morning that goes by where I don't leave my studio feeling peaceful, content, balanced, grateful,  or as I like to call it " BLISSED OUT."

Friends and family can tell when I haven't gotten my yoga in. I am not myself. I am more anxious and stressed out.  I begin to let the chaos of everyday life affect me negatively, I get caught up in the thoughts in my head.

Since I am a trainer first and foremost people come to me and ask what yoga can do for them. 

My immediate thought is "What can't yoga do for you?!!??"

But they want to know if yoga can "tone" your arms and strengthen your core. 

I have learned to think before I speak. 

Honestly I don't think of yoga as exercise anymore.

I think of yoga as a path to get more out of life...perhaps everything you could ever want.

Is your present plan taking your future into account?

Throughout my experience as a trainer I have worked with a variety of clientele.  They have always been “regular people “ but I have run the gamete.

I started in downtown Boston with busy office types.  Here I tried my best to undo what these workaholics did day in and day out.

Then I went on to kettlebell specific training.  Here I had a following of former athletes and more of the “hardcore” workout type.

After this I worked in a more corrective atmosphere, this consisted of teaching people how to move better and get the most out of what they could do when they worked out.

Now out on my own, I run my business out of the largest yoga studio in Boston.  These people are already as mobile as can be, oftentimes to a fault. I teach them that getting stronger and more stable is only going to improve their bottom line.

Strength and proper nutrition have always been my common thread amongst the years.  I have experienced training atmospheres that couldn’t be more different and have been able to take what I love about each of them to create my own program.

The following question is something I ask myself and all my clients…

Are your current training and nutrition goals/programs going to work for you presently as well as in the future?

What is the point of a being able to do this

Or this

When by the age of 60 you aren’t able to enjoy everyday activities without pain?
The same applies to the way that you eat.
Are you living life so restricted that you cannot even enjoy fruit?
Or are you fueling your body with processed carbohydrates day in and day out?
Again two extremes.

My point is its all possible, it also means that you have to be ALL IN :)

It’s not about moderation or limiting your experiences when it comes to fitness or food. It’s about training smart and looking at your ultimate goal in a healthy way.

Brussels Sprouts Slaw

Courtesy of Paleo Comfort Foods

1.5 lbs Brussels Sprouts, trimmed
1/2 cup thick cut bacon, cut into small pieces
1 cup large pecan halves, toasted
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
3 TBSP fresh lemon juice
2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 green onions, cut on the bias

Preheat oven to 325 F. Place pecans on small rimmed baking sheet. Bake nuts until toasted- about 5-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crispy.  Drain on paper towels, save the extra bacon fat for future use.

Whisk mustard, vinegar, and lemon juice in a small bowl, whisk in oil. Season with pepper.

Using processor fitted with 1/8 to 1/4 inch slicing disk slice Brussels sprouts ( can be sliced with a knife as well) Transfer into a large bowl.

Preheat large skillet over medium heat, and add in 1-2 TBSP of leftover bacon fat. Add in Brussels sprouts and saute until softened and slightly brown.

Pour the mustard/vinegar/lemon juice/olive oil mixture over the sprouts.

Mix in 1/2 the pecans, the bacon, and green onions. Place slaw in a serving bowl and top with the remaining pecans.


Wanna change something up?
Try chopped or shredded Granny Smith apples or walnuts instead of pecans.
Don't like bacon, use another oil of your choice!


ENJOY :)

Banana Pumpkin Pudding

Happy Thanksgiving Guys :)
There are so many things I have to be thankful for today and everyday!

Have food allergies or just trying to eat a little healthier this holiday season?

I know you all love PUMPKIN so give this one a try!

BANANA PUMPKIN PUDDING

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
5 dates, pitted ( I used 3)
1 ripe banana frozen
1/2 15 -ounce can of pumpkin
2 ice cubes
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Place all ingredients in a high powered blender and process until smooth.
Spoon into custard cups. Chill at least two hours.

Food and Relationships

Now folks I’m not talking about your relationship with food.  I am talking about how your partner’s habits influence what you eat.  Not even necessarily your partner, the same can hold true with your family, your roommates, or even your co -workers!

Most people with “normal “ jobs have Saturday and Sunday off….correct? People still feel that cheating or splurging the entire weekend is fine. Year after year, I see my female clients start to get serious with their boyfriends…they move in together and the next thing I know, they have fallen into the eating habits of their significant other. This happens with both MALES AND FEMALES! I just happen to train a shitload of ladies.

Gaining weight, feeling tired and unmotivated is not easy on anyone’s self esteem no matter how much somebody loves you.  It’s all about you loving you :) And we know the fundamental difference between males and females hahahaahh

With the change of season I cannot tell you how many of my clients are coming to me complaining about how HORRIBLE they feel after their weekends of “falling off”.  Whether it be, too much wine, too many meals out of the house or too many shitty snacks while watching Sunday football. They come to me self loathing, unmotivated and BLOATED!

To me, poor nutrition is a deal breaker.  If you don’t care enough about what you chose to fuel your body with, you order out every night, or beer is considered an entire food group to you…

I am not the girl for you.

Some may say I am basing this on vanity.  The truth is I bust my ass training so that I can feel good mentally and physically.  I eat healthy because it makes me happy. But I also take care of myself out of respect to my partner!  You had better believe that if they’re the one I’m going to be getting naked with for the rest of my life they had better like what they see :D  They had also better be around when our kids are growing up, and not go croaking on me because they didn’t take care of themselves!!!

Now I have never lived with a guy, granted I have spent 99% of every waking day for years at their apartment, but I have NEVER lost my own kitchen.  I have never been without the luxury of “returning to my comfort zone.”

I also do not have children. 

The fact of the matter is most of us don’t have the greatest will power to not eat the things that are in our kitchen cabinets.  If we can establish better nutritional habits as a team there is no denying that we can be a happier healthier couple and family for the years to come!

I love it when I see younger couples venturing out together to support each other on the road to healthier living :)  Whether they are running together,  hitting up the gym at the same time; or taking active vacations to ski and snowboard …I dig it.

I find however that the nutritional portion of the lifestyle change is much more prevalent with people of my parents generation.  Whether it was a health scare or just aging in general many couples in their 50’s and 60’s successfully improve their nutrition TOGETHER and inadvertently they strengthen their union as well.

Don’t be afraid to sit down with your partner and have an honest conversation.  If something matters to you speak up and let your voice be heard.

And together take baby steps towards being more nutritionally responsible ;)

And if you like, next post I'll help you with some baby steps!

Domesticated Diva

As a girl who lost wheat and gluten due to allergies long before it was COOL...there are so many amazingly yummy recipes out there now!!! I LOVE IT
Running my own business has changed my schedule drastically, now I have time to come home cook and eat midday :)
A recent favorite of mine was taken from www.health-bent.com

Butternut Squash Lasagna 

1 lb hot Italian sausage, casing removed

• 1 red onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 15 oz can pizza sauce
• 1/2 c roasted red peppers
• 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
• couples leaves of fresh basil 
• 1 small butternut squash

Get your oven to 400ºF. In a saute pan crumble the sausage and brown it, along with the onions & garlic. While that’s going, cut the top and ends of the squash off and peel it. Split it into 1/4′s. What I mean by that is, right where the squash starts to turn bulbous, cut it in 1/2, width-wise. Split those two halves in half, lengthwise. This will make it much easier to cut into planks. Pull out the seeds. Don’t be anal about getting out all the strings, as you won’t even notice those when they’re cooked. Slice the squash into the aforementioned planks.

Make the sauce by pureeing the pizza sauce, red peppers, olive oil and basil. If you don’t a contraption that will puree (blender, food processor, immersion blender), chop up the red peppers and just whisk everything together.

Using a 9×9 oven safe baking dish, put down enough sauce to lightly cover the bottom of the dish. (This keeps the squash from sticking to the pan.) Next add the squash, trying not to overlap the pieces, then spoon on the sausage mixture, followed by the sauce. Repeat until all your ingredients are used up…trying to reserve enough sauce to cover the top of the lasagna.

Bake for 45 minutes. You’re looking for a bubbly pan with a crispy, browned top. Right out of the oven, the lasagna may by liquidy, let it set for a good half hour before cutting into it, as it will solidify.

Fun Food for Fall

Ever since the completion of competition season last year I have been "nursing my body back to health."

Eating more like a "Protein Type" Metabolically speaking.

This can coincide a bit with the hugely popular PALEO way of eating.

If you haven't read Wolcott and Fahey's The Metabolic Typing Diet  or Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution

I strongly suggest you head to the library or Barnes and Noble and dig in.

Here are a few metabolically friendly fun Fall recipes :D

A state of confusion

When I actually have the time to think about it, its PRETTY FREAKING CRAZY how much health and fitness professionals have going against them BEFORE they even MEET with a potential client!

As a trainer I have come far enough to know that no two people are going to see equal success on the same training program.  Why would I assume that nutrition would be any different?

Sure there are countless ways to eat that have become popular over the years

Lets see

Vegan, Vegetarian, Raw, Macrobiotic, Paleo

South Beach, Atkins... ah the cookie diet

Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet
you see the list goes on.

Oh and then there are the fitness fads

losing 7 lbs in 7 days with the ab chair,

toned sexy legs with a pair of shoes

100's of repetitions with light weights to get "toned"

Zappos MBT Walkers

WHAT THE  ****!

No wonder everyone is so confused!  We need to first worry about our HEALTH and then worry about weight loss.

What is the point of having a bangin body when you feel miserable all the time?

In the past year I have found myself on opposite sides of the spectrum. Throughout this journey I have learned invaluable lessons that help me be a better coach and trainer. 

What is your health potential? Are you still looking to get to some "goal weight" or are you looking to protect yourself from cancer and help prevent disease?  You can do BOTH, it just might take a little bit longer for the later!

The secret is there is no quick fix. Nutrition takes time, preparation and PATIENCE. A solid training program requires consistency and EFFORT.

This may seem odd coming from a trainer but here is my

HONEST ADVICE to EVERYONE out there. 

Get your nutrition under control, then worry about training.

Love Fitness?!? Love Cruises?!??!?!

How about a  STRENGTH CRUISE?!?!?!

STABILITY

You either have it or you don't....Most likely you dont :p

You all have heard about STRENGTH
You all have heard about FLEXIBILITY

To me neither is all that great if you don't have stability!

I want to allow my clients as well as myself to be able to train/be active and healthy for as long as we can!

Do you give a sh*t about your stability?

Mike Robertson wrote a great article for T-Nation a few weeks back that will help you understand a little more on my rant!

Gone apple picking and need to use the apples any and every way imaginable???

Well here is a GREAT AND EASY RECIPE straight from the pages of  my favorite magazine Clean Eating!
OCTOBER 2011 PG 52

Seared Pork Chops with Apples and Leeks
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
4 40z boneless pork loin chops
1/4 tsp each sea salt and pepper
2 leeks, rinsed and well hopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 apples ( McIntosh, Fuji or Gala) cored and diced
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

Instructions:
In a large skillet, heat oil on medium high. Season both sides of pork with salt and pepper and place in the skillet; cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Add leeks and garlic to skillet and cook for 2 minutes on medium high heat, until soft. Add thyme and cook for 1 minute, until thyme is fragrant. Stir in broth, apples and rosemary and bring to a simmer. Return chops to pan, partially cover and cook for 3-5 minutes, undisturbed until chops are tender.

Serves:4
Total time: 20 minutes

Nutrients per serving-
260 calories
Fat 8g
Carbs 20g
Protein 27g

And if you're a MEAT AND POTATOES kinda person, cook up some Quinoa for an additional healthy starch !

SOUL's DESIRE

Each and every month I read Yoga Journal, and without fail there is ALWAYS a passage that speaks to me.
Take me 4 or 5 years ago, I don't even think I'd really ever read the magazines I would get!
 Instead, I would skim through looking at the photos and never find any meaning in what I was "reading".

This month was a particularly special month for me and so was the passage that spoke to me.  Unless you come to my apartment and teach me to use my scanner ;), or hit up the shelves of your local grocery or bookstore....the following link will have to do!

As September (my first month of working for myself) comes to an end I would like to share an excerpt from Rod Stryker's book the Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom.

Hey you... you know who you are ;) this is for you!

Like a magnet, you are attracting thoughts, events, lifestyles-everything that you are living. And so, as you see things the way they are, you attract more of the same; but as you see things as you would like them to be, you attract them as you would like them to be. This is why the better it gets, the better it gets; or the worse it gets, the worse it gets- people tend to look mostly at what-is.
~Abraham~

I haven't felt this good in a long time.  Here I am in my new apartment.  In my healthy and strong body.  I have made the decision to go out on my own and try and make it :)

Indeed I am scared but also extremely excited for the possibilities that lie ahead.  

The first person I told that I was leaving my "secure" job was my momma.  She reacted panicked and said "Well what are you going to do?!?!?!?"

I can laugh about it now, because MOM I KNOW YOU ONLY WANT THE BEST FOR ME :)

 As I have become more and more comfortable with my decision there have been little signs that speak to me each and everyday that assure me that this is my path!

THIS IS FOR YOU

The dirt on clean eating

Love a good read?


Check out Alan Aragon's latest article here.

Farm Stand Feasts

There's nothing I like better than being offered someone's half of the farm share when they go away :)

Here are two recipes you will surely enjoy, for some veggies you might not not eat as often as you would like!

Ingredients

Fresh Okra

Almond Meal (Flour)

Sea Salt

Egg Whites

SunFlower Oil

*Keep in mind the quantities depend on how much you want to cook

"If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of."- Bruce Lee

I love T-Nation,  but to your average girl or even guy the very appearance of the site may be intimidating.
I have read a few of my favorite articles on this very site.

 This one really hit home with me.

Funny that I was just discussing this very same topic with a client the other day, even though I'm just 27 I'm getting used to "coincidences" happening like that.  Everything does happen for a reason folks ;)

So this client of mine, she loves what I have done for her in terms of functionality because it has enabled her to ride her bike with greater ease...
she loves riding her bike, it is one of her favorite pleasures in life.

I can relate I replied,
it's like me with weights.

She looked at me surprised.
And I found myself a bit surprised.

I'm not sure how to describe it,
although Nate seemed to have climbed into my brain and did some of the work for me.

I encourage you to read it,
I promise you will be able to relate to it in some way shape or form :)

The incredible edible EGG

AT LAST!!!!

Three or more years ago I was diagnosed with a BUNCH of food allergies/intolerances.
I eliminated these food groups and felt instantly better.

I then decided to contest diet.

I did a meat and egg free contest prep :0

Little did I realize what a toll this would take on my body. Four shows later I worked with an amazing nutritionist who helped nurse me back to health :)

I am so FREAKIN EXCITED TO SAY that eggs (YOLK and WHITE) are no longer an issue for me!

This means MAJOR MENU EXPANSION and a HEALTHIER STACEY :)

I was pretty sure I would never have another pancake in my life!! 

Just goes to show... NEVER SAY NEVER.

The following recipe is from fellow yogi, bikini and figure competitor and health nut Jen Comas Keck!
Check her out here.

ALMOND FLOUR PANCAKES 
(low carb+oat free to boot!)

4 egg whites

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (Sun Warrior has 14g of protein, this will vary)

1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese

1/2 cup almond flour (often referred to as almond meal at health food stores)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2-4 oz of cold water to make pancake batter consistency

Mix in a blender until smooth

Coat your pan with coconut oil and cook 3 pancakes.

These will brown a bit more than traditional pancake batter.

Makes 3 servings.

Per serving:

Protein: 18 grams

Carb: 6 grams

Fat: 10 grams 

(1.3g coming from saturated fat)

Calories: 186


Jen points out that there is no bad time for these protein packed pancakes.
Most of us folks like to have our last meal consist of protein and fat, so this is a welcome alternative!

Protein Powder Recommendations

Over the last few months I have gotten a lot of inquiries about Protein Powders.

Depending upon what your goals are my recommendations to you would differ.

If your goal is weight loss, substituting a protein shake or any other "liquid meal replacement" is not in your best interest. Eating REAL FOOD satisfies you and the thermogenic effect of food (chewing and digestion) will help you as well :)

If you are looking to put on mass, the same too applies EAT MORE FOOD.  FOOD IS GOOD :)

When I do supplement my nutrition with protein powders I like to cycle them, the following are a few of my favorites.  

These are all dairy and wheat free.

If you don't mind a little chalkiness SUN WARRIOR Vanilla is your GO TO!

Berry Flavored Vega is great if you are into a fruity green shake, it is on the expensive side however.

When you are traveling or in a pinch, you can find the Chocolate Vega shake and go at all Wholefoods locations :)

Lifetime Basics Plant Protein Unsweetened variety is my go to when I am hardcore dieting.  This can be mixed with liquid to make THICK PUDDING- LIKE TREATS!!!!

Life is yours

Don’t wait for someday. This is the day, this is the moment, this is your opportunity to live.

Let go of any thoughts of unworthiness or limitation. You absolutely deserve every joy you can imagine and you’re fully capable of creating them all.

Stop settling for what’s merely easy or comfortable or convenient. Give yourself the respect you deserve and take on the difficult challenges that bring real fulfillment.

Give your life some beautiful, meaningful substance today. Remind yourself of how fortunate you are to have each moment, and sincerely, authentically fill those moments with richness.

Acknowledge and be thankful for what you desire to experience, to express, to give and to live. Then, fully engage the power of your purpose and make it happen.

The best of life is never out of reach. It is yours to fulfill, with richness and substance, right now.

— Ralph Marston

Water Water everywhere, not a drop to drink!!!

Friend and fellow trainer Jenna Klane Nelson owner of The Training Fix had a great post that I wanted to share with you...

Warning : This is a lengthy post and I encourage you to really take the time to read it because I think this is so important, and could really help out each and every one of you with your health in the long run.

I love random coincidences.. they always freak me out in a good way

Repetition is the mother of all learning

The same can be said for how many times you can tell someone something until they finally believe it themselves.  You could flash the same message in someones face numerous times until that light in their head finally goes off!

For me it is very rewarding when clients and friends reach this point, because it is then I know WITHOUT A DOUBT that they will succeed :) 

A great friend and client shared this Gray Cook article with me on not one but TWO of my favorite topics!

Nutrition 

and 

Exercise

This girl knows a great read when she sees one, check it out for yourself!

WHY WE MOVE POORLY and WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT 

GRAY COOK

Recently while reading the book Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It, I could not help but draw a parallel with my work with movement dysfunction. Why We Get Fat is well researched by the author, Gary Taubes, who presents the basic case that we can become leaner by avoiding certain foods— and not just consuming the latest advertised “low-fat over-processed prepackaged, take-our-word-for-it solution.” This simple logic is almost too basic for today’s health-obsessed consumer. We want fast, sexy and cheap, but we can’t give up anything. That’s just crazy!

...for the remainder of the article click here.

Assessing vs Assuming

from my years of training experience I can say with 100% certainty that the old adage is true and that the later does indeed make an ASS out of YOU and YOUR CLIENT.

This isn't what you want as a trainer or a client.
Am I correct?

The Functional Movement Screen is the greatest tool you can have in your arsenal as a fitness professional.
When I screen a client, I am able to have a concrete plan of attack for my programming.  Thus allowing for the greatest client success, which makes both of us happy.

Sure pushing, pulling, squatting and lunging are movements that are highly encouraged.. but without proper mobility and stability these exercises cannot give us the core involvement that we need to be efficient and progressive with our workouts.
When our core is firing to its potential and our movement patterns are symmetrical, anything and everything is possible.
And AMAZING RESULTS ensue without OVERTRAINING :)

A carefully created program is good, but a specifically sequenced warmup can make that same workout GREAT!

This is where I think many trainers as well as those of you who workout, mess up.

Lessons Learned

You remember my inspiration for first competing!?!?!?
Alli McKee!

Well we still have yet to ever meet in person,
but we email and facebook message and
I feel like I know her and we are close
even though we've never met!

As you know a lot has happened in the past year and as a result I have learned incredible lessons.  You also  know that I wouldn't take back any of these experiences because they have made me who I am.  As well as helped align me on my path to happiness.
The following is an amazing read that will touch you no matter who you are.

http://allimckee.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/my-perspective-25-values-and-lessons-learned/

Curious about what goes along with competing?

Here is a GREAT interview!
GOD I FRIGGEN LOVED THIS

http://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/ep-35-in-the-trenches-fitness/

Turning Tables

I have said this before yes I know.  Oh what a different a year makes :)

This time last year I had finished up my first PEAK WEEK and was getting ready for my first walk on the Figure Stage.
This year the tables have turned and I am taking my first client to the stage!


Not only is this woman my client but she is an amazing woman and beautiful friend!


Now for the guessing game
WHO's WHO!?!?

Wish her luck :)))))))))

INBF Northeast Classic and WNBF Pro American- Prejudging 9 AM Finals 5 PM!
Marlborough MA

FUTURE OF FITNESS

Many of you who have known me for quite sometime, know about my addiction to Oxygen Magazine since I was a young girl.

I'm not the cover model but I'm in the June issue!

Oxygen Future of Fitness

Recommendations

There are always products I am recommending to clients, family and friends.  Whether it be the latest sneaks, the yummiest snacks, or the best yoga classes.

When it come to high quality, affordable, equipment I always recommend Perform Better!

Are you correcting patterns with Gray Cook Bands, giving yourself an at- home- self- myo-fascial - release on a foam roller, are you strength training with Kettlebells, or are you  getting serious work done with ROPES and SLEDS?!?!?!

Forks over Knives

What do YOU think?

I think its time for a reunion at the movie theatre ;)

My Butt is Big

Now.
A year and a half ago, not so much.


Along with a bigger butt came bigger legs and a bigger back.  A more muscular me.
Some LOVE it, some don't.
I myself struggled to accept the new body I created by training for figure competitions. 

The muscle that you work so hard to put on by training like a madwoman for months and months doesn't just magically disappear once you walk off that stage.

We are LIVE folks :))))))

If you have a second, please check out my new website!

The past few months have been spent thinking about what really makes me happy and what I want for myself in the future.
Instead of spending the winter season stuck inside a conventional gym evaluating my body in the mirror, I chose to try out snowboarding :0

My first lesson was from NONE OTHER than my POPS!

Yeah he's gonna be 58 this year :) and he can rip it up!
 My cousin Danny, Uncle Billy, my Daddio and I all drove up to the mountain together.

I had sooo much fun falling on my ass, and not knowing what the f*ck I was doing!
So much fun in fact that just 2 weeks later I bought my own board :0

“You’re going somewhere, but I’ve been to somewhere, and I found it was nowhere at all.”

-Scott Abel

This guy is one person in this industry who isn't afraid to talk about the darker side of what can happen when you compete. 

Make sure you understand that I am not saying this happens to every girl who steps on stage but it DID happen to me and it happened to the EXTREME. 

One of my main goals for 2011 is to get healthy again.

-to get back to the point where I have the energy to do all the things I love.

-return to a place where I am comfortable in my body and can move freely without restriction.

- have the time to try new things and step outside of my comfort zone.

- spend more time with family and friends.

The first step for me was to get my nutrition on track.  

In order to achieve this I sought out help from Aubrey Thompson.

In order to share with you all that I have learned throughout my process with Aubrey blogging would become my full time gig.  

For now I will share with you an article fellow RKC Andrea U-Shi Chang shared with me which touches upon quite a few of Aubrey's teachings.

http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/beginner_fats.htm

Warning---this is a somewhat long article, don't just skim through it!

You never want what is true, you are so entangled in the illusion of the false.

You want what you don't have, and you don't have what you want and so you suffer.

It's so perplexing why not simply reverse it, why not want what you have and not want what you don't have?

It's so simple.

You could be happy.

Freedom is here for the taking.

You want little things when you could have the entire universe, eternity, eternal life...

Take that.


-Nisargadatta Maharaj

"The Joy of Discovery"

Remember how your new year's resolution included reading more books than you did in 2010?!

Well here is my first MUST read of the year.

The 4-Hour Body

Most of you know Tim Ferris as the best selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek. Apparently he's not stopping with just one.

Tim Ferris and I attended the same RKC certification in California back in 2009, and I was lucky enough to swing next to him in our final test of the weekend :)  You can check us out at :51 in the clip.
He's the guy in yellow and I'm the gal in blue.

I also had the opportunity to sit in on one of his lectures while out in California.  This dude's smart. Like crazy smart. Love him or hate him, you can't deny the fact he is WICKED SMAAHT.

The 4-Hour Body is a must read, pick up a copy and select a few chapters that interest you.
Whether you want to get bigger, faster, stronger, thinner, sleep better, injury proof your body or learn the secret of the 15 minute female orgasm....
this book is for you.

What is to give light, must endure the burning. 


Viktor E. Frankl

Exceedingly Positive

Don't worry about getting it done. Just get it done.

Don't complain about what has gone wrong. Just do whatever is necessary to make it right.

Your time and energy are too precious and too powerful to waste on things that will just bring you down. Instead of bringing yourself down, lift the whole world up.

Decide to live life on your own terms and make those terms exceedingly positive. Choose to spend each priceless moment in the service of your highest values.

Whatever the situation, you get to decide how you will be. So always direct your energy to where it will bring new richness to your world.

Take everything in stride, and respond with your own unique, positive perspective. Live on the highest level you can envision, and cheerfully encourage everyone else to come along.

-- Ralph Marston

Happy 5 year anniversary to someone special who exemplifies this in every way possible

xoxo

Happy New Year....Resolve to move BETTER in 2011

Taken straight from the MYOFORCE team :)

This weeks blog is not going to be on your typical New Year's Resolution.

AHH sure everyone resolves to eat better and nearly everyone resolves to exercise more in 2011 than they did in 2010.

I am here to tell you that your first resolution should be to move well first before moving often.