There is nothing like seeing the sun rise above the ocean; especially in New Zealand, and in summer. With streaks of pastel leaking across the sky, the reflection of the clouds and their marvelous colour on the water streaked sands, you could almost believe you were in either fairy tale or painting. Pinks giving way to glorious crimsons and reds, flecks of gold reach down to the shimmering blue of the ocean, the foam on the waves like frothy light frosting finishing off an already perfect look is pure paradise.

Even better is the sound of the waves in their roll and crash, hearing the thunder, watching the swells as they create lines of beauty. Some complete, while others slide down into the stillness and form again at another point. They look so calm, sound so calm, so small, when in reality they could topple you in a heartbeat, hidden rips and undercurrents pulling you back with them and sweeping you out into the beautiful blue deep.


Something about them transports you to another place, a realm of rejuvenation and healing energy for a tired soul that has been drifting with seemingly no direction, like one of the waves themselves, from place to place, touching shores and cultures, always coming and going and never staying, always changing.  Peace is found in the gentle wind breathing salt air as the ocean caresses your skin, tension slipping through the soles of your feet as you feel the sand sink beneath you with the pull of the tide.


Close your eyes and empty your mind of everything but the feeling, the sensations, and embrace the gentle quiet stirring inside, whispering of dreams and flickers of hope like the brightening of the sky above you. There is a desire to stay there, in that place, in that peace, a wish to be able to lock yourself inside a glass bubble in that ocean, on those sands, for a lifetime, where your soul is nothing but light, in tune with the universe and every vibration of love.


But nothing lasts forever. Not even the sunrise. The magic of that magic gives way to the bright light of day, blinding beams as you open your eyes to the ocean. The ocean does not change, the effervescent blue still real and perfect, a reminder that there is heaven in everything, perfection even when perfection seems to have passed. It enables hope to stay as you turn from the horizon and leave the ocean’s arms for the way beyond the sand.


Words: © 2018 Rosie Chee

Photographer: Rosie Chee

This is where my heart

belongs: here, with the crashing
waves; home in this calm.

Haiku © 2018 Rosie Chee

Photographer: Rosie Chee

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Nothing like a reminder of how short life really is to motivate you to make the most of your life NOW.

Follow your heart. Chase your dreams. Never stop believing. If they rest insistently on your soul they're there for a reason, and sometimes it's only in the DOING that the reason becomes clear. Listen to your heart. Live your dreams. Never give up. Whatever you love to do you love for a purpose, and sometimes only YOU can fulfill that purpose.

So go out into the world and live unapologetically as your soul is led, the sparkle from your heart shining in your eyes as you live loving life and all that you do, being open to and seeing the magic come alive in every moment in the beauty surrounding you. Live so that come the time your ability to do so fades, you will have lived so completely and ultimately that you have no regrets, because you will have done all that you can with all that you are, become more than you ever thought you could and made all the difference only you possibly could have.

Make the MOST of your one, precious life and if you are not already, start doing it NOW.

© Rosie Chee

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Pohutukawa trees and the beaches of endless sand ... two things of immense beauty unique to and that I miss from my homeland ... the glorious crimson red of the blossoms always remind me of Christmas, the New Zealand summer Christmas filled with sunshine, family and memories ... it's still Christmas Day there, soon to be Boxing Day and here, His Birthday begins ... I wish everyone everywhere the joy of love and family on this day of all days, and for those who are not (whether by choice or otherwise), remember that there is always love abound, and may your heart still smile with [His] happiness ...

RCS Newsletter :: January 2012 | The SWIMSUIT Edition

It's summer in New Zealand (how I miss it), the time of barbeques, the aroma of the tropics, playing in the sun, sand and surf and swimsuits. Males want the washboard 6-pack abs to show off, females the flat and lean midsection of a fitness cover model.

This month in the 'Training' section, I have explained a couple of key factors in leaning out and building your midsection, so that when you ARE lean, you have the abs perfect for showcasing in your swimsuit.

In this month's 'Nutrition' section, I have outlined three simple but important tips that will help you transform your stomach from average into something that you can be proud to show off at the beach.

Check out the fifth edition of the RCS Newsletter, "The SWIMSUIT Edition" - you can review it HERE.

Day 358: Happy Christmas New Zealand!

This goes out to EVERYone - family, friends, and even those I do not know, because I believe that it is something EVERYone should have!

 Have a Truly Blessed Christmas All!

Day 70: 128 Days Out

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Live life, be creative and have EXPECTATIONS. It is those very expectations that will inspire you to extend yourself and drive you to achieve your full potential. Limited expectations will deliver limited results, whilst HUGE expectations will deliver the results you deserve." - Andrew Horton


TRAINING

Session 1

Back (1 min recovery between sets):
1. Reverse Rows 4 x 8, 7, 6, 5
2. Supinated BB Bent Over Row 4 x 8, 7, 6, 5
3. Supinated Lat Pull-Down (in squat position) 4 x 8, 7, 6, 5
4. T-Bar Row 4 x 8, 7, 6, 5

Post-Weights Cardio - Treadmill:
a. 2 x 90 sec @ 15.2 km.hr / 30 sec rest
b. 2 x 60 sec @ 15.2 km.hr / 30 sec rest
c. 4 x 30 sec @ 15.2 km.hr / 30 sec rest
d. 4 x 30 sec @ 16 km.hr / 30 sec rest
e. 4 x 30 sec @ 16.8 km.hr / 30 sec rest

Stretch 20 min.

Session 2

Chest (1 min recovery between sets):
1. Flat BB Bench Press 4 x 8


COMMENTS

Sleep - Time and Quality: ~8 hours sleep. Less than ideal.

Mood/Aggression: Mixed bag of emotions today.

Energy: Good - definitely need to run MORE.

Endurance: Good.

Strength: Going up.

Pump: In arms.

Vascularity: Strong.

Quality of Training: Back resistance session was ok. Pushed myself to go heavier . . . Post-Weights Cardio was good - definitely need to do more running. OUTSIDE is BETTER and needs to be done PRE-weights! . . .

Recovery: My delts and arms are still recovering.

Other Notes: My thoughts and prayers are with those I love back home. The world is changing, and I wonder what home is going to be like when I go back.

Day 358: Happy Christmas United States!

Quote of the Day

"One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering." - Unknown

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min easy
b. 8 x 50 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 4 min easy

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: ~6 hours, which can be classed as slightly over normal for me.

Energy: I was energetic when I first work up for a few hours, but the last half of the day I have been falling back into fatigue, and think I even passed out for an hour on the couch.

Stress: Even on today of all days, still high in some areas.

Quality of Training: Ok.

Body Composition and Look: I am definitely holding water, and the reason has become apparent - it's not entirely due to my lack of water consumption over the last week. Today, of all days, and now, of all times, when it is such a rare event - sometimes being a female is a nuisance. Ah well, hope it's over quickly . . . My lack of RESISTANCE training has also made a difference on how my body looks and feels - just goes to show how IMPORTANT this is to me in my ability to maintain my leanness and physique, not just for health and fitness reasons. Looking forward to being back to a proper training schedule next week . . .

Other Notes: HAPPY CHRISTMAS UNITED STATES! It's my second White Christmas - yes, it snowed last night (and I was out shoveling this morning). As much as I enjoy the snow, next Christmas I definitely want to be back home in New Zealand - especially since my immediate family is expanding, and I don't want to miss out on the lives of my family and friends any more than I have already by being over here in the US. Until then, those I love and care for are in my mind and heart, and I look forward to being able to see them again. And in the meantime, it's time to make a fresh new start!

Day 357: Happy Christmas New Zealand!

Quote of the Day

"That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." - Abraham Lincoln

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: WTF is up with me these days?! I slept for nearly 12 hours! Woke with a screaming migraine to boot - so very uncool.

Energy: Feel like the walking dead.

Stress: High as ever.

Quality of Training: Decent.

Other Notes: HAPPY CHRISTMAS NEW ZEALAND! If I was back home now, I would be celebrating Christmas in the summer sun with family and a real Christmas tree - I actually miss it. Will ring the family later today . . . Ironically, I finish my current bottle of Erase tomorrow (not happy about that either), and I finished my current bottle of Lipotrophin-PM yesterday. Not got much BLACK CATS left either - at this rate, I'm going to be going into 2011 with barely even my STAPLES. Ah well, time to start the New Year off with a fresh, clean canvas to paint new chapters of my life on . . .

Day 260: Two Weeks until my US Figure Debut!

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 2 min easy
b. 12 x 1 min effort/30 sec easy

Posing Practice 15 min.

Stretch 30 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Staying positive!

Energy: Definitely there.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Great.

Stress: HIGH.

Libido: Working OVERtime!

Endurance: Fine.

Pump: Didn't actually get much of a pump today during Posing Practice - mustn't have been flexing hard enough (sigh).

Vascularity: Better.

Quality of Training: Just a quick HIIT session today.

Recovery: Legs feel better. Body not aching today.

Body Composition and Look: I should have started the Eviscerate a few weeks earlier, but eh, you live and learn . . . Holding a little water from the Eviscerate, but I knew that would happen, so are not too concerned with it - it will go in a few days of stopping Eviscerate use . . .

Other Notes: Used the last of my Shred Matrix today . . For some reason, people seem to think I am experienced when it comes to Figure/Bodybuilding competition - this is simply not the case and highly INaccurate. I have done ONE competition: In 2004, and that was for FUN, just because it was something different, and in New Zealand - Figure is completely DIFFERENT over there than here, and over there we do quarter turns, the five bodybuilding poses, AND a 1-minute posing routine. Anyways, this is all very new to me as well, although I have definitely NOT been preparing the way the vast majority - if not all other - competitors do and are, and it is very controversial. However, I do what works for me. I know that for my next competition a few things WILL have to change, and I will make those changes. Also need to stop feeling like a goof - I'm so self-conscious just practicing posing and my walk in front of my husband, let alone in front of an entire AUDIENCE, and I HAVE to get over it! Otherwise, BRING IT ON!!!

Day 243: Posing Needs MORE Work

Training

Cardio - Rollers:
a. 5 min @ 39x12 @ 120-125 rpm
b. 15 min @ 39x17 @ 120 rpm

Posing Practice 5 min.

Stretch 21 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I suddenly realized last night that the sleeping pattern my body has fallen into my [I]New Zealand[/I] body clock,going to sleep between 8-10pm and waking up at ~3.30am - which would be ok if I was IN New Zealand, but I'm not, so it has to right itself, and quickly . . .

Mood/Aggression: NOT very happy with myself.

Energy: Took me quite a bit of time to get myself going for training, dragging my feet for a resistance session - until I realized that I don't have to do Arms until tomorrow, which was a small relief. Feeling very shattered.

Mental Focus and Clarity: I have study to do - before AND after work - and need my head focused.

Appetite: The last week, it's been the equivalent of forcing down 1-3 decent-sized meals every day. After yesterday, though, I am quite ok going back to my excess of BC+EAA (and good fats), because food still makes me feel unbelievably nauseous and upsets my stomach badly after every meal . . .

Endurance: Good.

Quality of Training: After some adjusting of my bike - the freight messed it up a little - I was on and away. Nice to be back on the rollers again. Heated up FAST. Legs were ok . . . Had a really strong PUMP in my arms during posing practice, which was interesting. Definitely need to take this up to 10-15 minutes a day from now on, and start practicing my T-Walk soon . . .

Other Effects: Woke with a scratchy throat and thirsty as all hell. Still hot and thirsty, and it makes me feel like sh*t every time I wake up - at least during the day I am sculling back galleons of water . . .