Showing posts with label motivational quote of the day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivational quote of the day. Show all posts

November 19, 2013


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

AMAZING THINGS

Sometimes we move through life so fast we do not give ourselves room to think, let alone breathe and “smell the roses”. Sometimes all the hustle is to cover up the fact that we are aching, the bustle to keep ourselves occupied from thinking. Sometimes we simply do not realize what we are doing until we suddenly stop for a moment and realize.

When we move so fast we can miss the things that are there for us, sometimes waiting, sometimes knocking on the glass, sometimes chasing after us, sometimes simply looking for the right moment. We might miss an opportunity we passed by so quickly we never even knew it was there. We might miss the stranger who could have become someone important given half a chance. We might miss what deep down we are truly seeking in keeping busy.

When we stop and allow our mind a moment of stillness we can hear that knocking, the pursuit, that little whisper inside telling us truths we might have been “running from”. We allow not just our mind rest, but our body too, allowing it opportunity to refresh as our soul renews. We can see what we’re doing to it and determine the steps to “right the wrong”.

Pausing, if only for what seems like a moment can be enough. It gives life a chance to “catch up” with the amazing things that it has been desirous of for you, the blessings He wants you to have, the opportunities that call for you alone. When you stop and rest you allow all the amazing things meant for you to finally reach you and when that happens, you can see your life start to change in new and different ways. Perhaps some you might not have thought to want or have again.

© 2013 Rosie Chee

March 9, 2013

2013 | Day 67: OUR LIGHT


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

OUR LIGHT

Sometimes when life brings our spirits down, we forget that it is only temporary and that we have the power within us to light our OWN way. We have a flame inside us, whether it’s only a tiny ember in this moment. That flame has the potential to burn high AND bright and saturate the area around us with light so magnificent the path before us could not be clearer. We have the power to be a light, not just for ourselves, but for OTHERS as well. We have the courage, no matter how far down it is hidden, to work THROUGH anything life throws at us, no matter how destructive the heartache and pain.

When the walls are closing in on us, causing claustrophobia, our night sky devoid of stars, we have to reach down INSIDE of ourselves and look for that light. We need to search for that spark, no matter how small, and learn to wield it with such might that it cannot help but brighten the room so that we can see the walls, that crack in them for us to escape through. We have to let it become THE star in our night, guiding us back to the dawn, where everything is born again and given another chance at life and to reset our soul.

TRUST in yourself, in your instinct, in that light. Trust it to keep you alive when you think all is over and that there’s nothing left, when it gets hard and you have nowhere to turn, when the weight of the world feels as if it rests on your shoulders alone. Trust that the light you have inside you will see you through, that it can light up your ENTIRE world so that even the shadows are scared to come near. Trust that light and SURVIVE. Survive to LIVE!

© 2013 Rosie Chee

December 17, 2012

2012 | Day 352: BEST DAYS


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

BEST DAYS

You may have had some AMAZING days in the past – days that will always be memories that you look back on with a smile in your soul. You may have had some UNFORGETTABLE days in the past – days that will forever be imprinted so deep on your heart that you will remember even at the most random of times. You may have had some BEAUTIFUL days in your past – days that made you feel so full of love and hope and joy that when you reminisce you can almost taste those feelings all over again.

But . . . The BEST days of your life are yet to COME!

There WILL be MORE amazing and unforgettable and beautiful days in your life . . . In your FUTURE. Those days are going to be even MORE wonderful than the ones you have ALREADY had. Not because they have yet to be, but because they hold PROMISE of the future, of what that future IS and will be. They give you something to look FORWARD to, even as you live in the NOW and allow yourself to be fully present in the experience of TODAY.

LIVE LIFE COMPLETELY . . .

© 2012 Rosie Chee



OTHER NOTES

FitnessX Magazine

The December 2012 issue of FitnessX Magazine is now out - you can get your print copy or read it digitally for free HERE.



My "Training for a Marathon" column article this month is on Periodization of the Marathon Runner's Training Programme for Optimal Performance.

July 1, 2012

2012 | Day 179: ALL for YOU


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Shattered Faith

Quote for Reflection:

Photo credit: Jerry Beck

TRAINING

Run 3 miles

Stretch 20 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: Terrible. Not good at all.

Energy: Feel like a train has hit me - probably lack of any stimulants. Just have had a huge migraine all day.

Quality of Training: Slow. Exhausted. Lower legs REALLY feeling the running I have been doing on the treadmill over the last couple of weeks - minimize or eliminate that from now on! Just general overall shattered feeling.

Body Composition: 8.4% bodyfat - that's -1.2% bodyfat from last week. And at over 10 pounds more than I was a month ago at 8% bodyfat, the difference noticeable re muscle mass in my delts, arms, and even upper back, with some in my glutes and legs as well (since I've been riding my bike everywhere) - the latter of which I will have to do my best to get RID of, or at the least slim down a couple of inches in each leg and overall glutes/hips for me to be ok with it. I am a lot BIGGER than I've ever been at this body composition - in my arms and delts it's ok, but not ANYwhere else!

Supplements: Ran out of Alpha-T2 on Friday and Shred Matrix on Saturday, and will finish up last of my bottle of AAv2 tomorrow.

Muscle Bombshell: Sam has honoured me with being the MB Cover Model for July. July is a month that has a couple of significant dates for me, one for which July was my "chosen" month for this honour. Anyways, thank you, Sam

June 30, 2012

2012 | Day 178: I DECIDE


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Choice. Change. Control.

Quote for Reflection: 

TRAINING

Run 3 miles

Stretch 25 min

Quality of Training: I wasn't going to do anything today and make it this week's day OFF...BUT...Decided to go for a quick run (and will do another tomorrow morning)...

OTHER NOTES

Muscle Base

If you have a female client who's unfamiliar with training - especially weights - then this is for you (and her):
Read it here.

Honoured to have a Featured Interview coming too

June 13, 2012

2012 | Day 162: Contrast between Illusion and Reality


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Goal-Getter, Go-Setter, Dream-Catcher

Quote for Reflection:
Image credit: Blue Mountain Arts

TRAINING

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 28 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 1 x 50 sec sprint/10 sec easy
d. 4 min jogging

Stretch 20 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: A little.

Mood: Out of sorts since after training.

Energy: I have it, but there is a LOT of pain in both my shoulders, especially INSIDE the joints, particularly my right, that has been bothering me, so much that I do not even want to MOVE my right arm much today.

Joints: The Aleve is coming out again tonight.

Quality of Training: I did HIIT, albeit a little later than usual. Both shoulders were hurting during it, but I pushed through. I WAS going to do a second training session this evening, but decided to be smart and give my body some time to recover, especially since it's going to be 2-a-day training back tomorrow, and my shoulders need to be READY for it (even if they're not)!

May 30, 2012

2012 | Day 148: ALIVE and BLESSED!


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Take a Chance!

Quote for Reflection: “♥ RESULTS and EXCUSES are "MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE"...YOU DECIDE ♥ Which ONE are you going to CHOOSE? Well, that depends on whether you like to “WIN” or to “LOSE”! When it comes to ACHIEVEMENT, or lack thereof, are you going to come up with an EXPLANATION or be the next great SENSATION? ♥ You can EITHER come up with a “SONG AND DANCE” OR you can decide once-and-for-all to TAKE A CHANCE! Step out of your “COVER-UP” and put on your “makeup”...tear up your "COVER STORY'S" page and take “center stage!” ♥ Do not come up with a “MAKESHIFT reason” as to why you are going to “sit out” this SEASON, but “MAKE the SHIFT” to “suit up” in FULL GEAR while you are HERE!! While a “DEFENSE” can win a GAME, if you create one for the “game” of LIFE, you are the only one to BLAME! There is absolutely no “JIVE” as to why you do not STRIVE to make the very most of being ALIVE! ♥ Remember, there is absolutely no COMPATIBILITY between "ALIBI" and "ABILITY", nor are there any "GROUNDS" as to why your GOALS do not “GROW in leaps and BOUNDS”! ♥ You have EVERY good "REASON" as to WHY you should TRY to REACH FOR every STAR in the “SKY"...there is just no RATIONALIZATION for STAGNATION ♥ If you want to be SUCCESSFUL at your life "CALLING", you must first quit your "STALLING"!...ACCOMPLISHMENT cannot CO-EXIST with "COP-OUTS"♥” - Lauren Christine Frahn

TRAINING

HIIT Skip:
a. 4 min skipping
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 4 min skipping

Abs (1 min recovery between quadsets):
QuadSet -
1. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises (feet to touch bar) 3 x 15, 12, 12
2. Ab Rollout 3 x 15
3. Inverted Knee Curls (on pull-up bar) 3 x 5, 3, 1
4. Pikes (on floor) 3 x 15

Stretch 20 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: I actually started getting pretty tired last night and went to bed just before 2330. Slept heavy last night, exhausted, waking to take a call at 0607, but going straight back to bed afterwards, not waking until close to 0930, giving me 8-9 hours of sleep, which is a lot for me, but must have been needed. Woke feeling every minute of yesterday's photoshoot in my back and legs, LOL

Mood: I feel like I'm floating! So happy and light and I can't stop smiling

Energy: My body feels like a bomb hit it, but there's energy there.

Quality of Training: Yesterday was the equivalent of a training session all in itself, so didn't do a lot today, making training "lighter" to give my body a chance to recover before it gets hammered again tomorrow. Only HIIT needed to be done today anyways, so did that, albeit short, and skipping, not sprinting, finishing off with a little bit for abs. Inverted Knee Curls are something I have never done before (which you can tell) and boy were they a killer - struggled with them, my arms feeling them more than anything - but definitely something I'm going to start including in my training.

Body Composition: 8% bodyfat - so -0.8% bodyfat over the last week (I was actually 8.8% last time I noted this, not 8.3% - did not realize I had not input the right calculation in my spreadsheet for that column until recently), which is pretty decent, especially for having only "dieted" the last three days before my photoshoot. Not the 7.8% bodyfat (or less) I was aiming for re my photoshoot, with girths also a little bigger than I wanted - I definitely have more muscle mass than the last time I was 8% bodyfat, looking better overall, and although a little surprising to myself, I am completely ok with it, especially given the circumstances of the last few days.

Supplements: I finished the last of my Erase on Monday and had the last dose of my Erase Pro this morning.

Other Notes: I am so very Blessed...Yesterday was like a dream, and in Dom's first dress (a couple of images already up on my Facebook timeline), I truly DID feel like a fairy-tale princess. MAGIC is the only word that even comes close to describing what yesterday was, and even that is INadequate. I could not have asked for a better birthday, and it is a day I will forever remember and hold dear...I have changed more in the last few months than I ever have, growing and learning to finally accept myself, embracing fully everything that I am, knowing that I am becoming the woman God intended me to be. It's taken a long time - 28 years to be precise, but I am THERE, and I am grateful for it. I am thankful for YOU, who really "started" me coming to this place. I am thankful to the wonderful friends I have made along the way and the amazing people in my life right now. I am letting go of the things that I have let hold me back for so long, and as I release things (and people) from my life, God is "replacing" them with precious gifts that truly overwhelm me. Life is Beautiful and I can SEE the Beauty. I can let myself relax and ENJOY it, taking pleasure in my life as it continues to unfold. My soul is SMILING

May 15, 2012

2012 | Day 136: Will you fight or will you walk away?


MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Your ORIGINALITY

Quote for Reflection: “♥ Your ORIGINALITY determines your PERSONALITY. Never "compromise" your IDENTITY by "FORGING" another's SIGNATURE ♥ What makes you UNIQUE is what makes you "MAGNIFIQUE!"...Gain "POPULARITY" with your "SINGULARITY"! ♥ DEMONSTRATE these qualities that make you GREAT without feeling the need to IMPERSONATE! There is no reason to be a “CLONE” when you are AMAZING on your “OWN”! ♥ Attempting to make another’s IMPRESSION your own is not very "impressive"...and is "regressive" to your personal DEVELOPMENT. To make a real "breakthrough", STAY TRUE to Y-O-U ♥ When you "PATTERN AFTER" another, you are creating a "HOLDING PATTERN" for yourself...You will never get AHEAD of the "competition" with REPETITION ♥ While it is okay to “FOLLOW SUIT” of another who is “wise”, make sure that you are ultimately “wearing” your own “size”. It is not easy trying to "FIT" into someone else's "SHOES", so CHOOSE to STAND FIRM in your own! ♥ Anyone can "PLAY A PART", but that means you are not "ACTING" from your HEART. "PRETENDING" to be someone YOU are NOT should never be a "goal", so always ASSUME the “role” that is deep within YOUR “SOUL” ♥ Your VISION of SUCCESS will not become "clearer" if you are using "smoke and a mirror". APING another is “monkey business”...Do not make the "goof" of a SPOOF or the "gimmick" of a MIMIC! ♥ You were BORN AN "ORIGINAL" and not meant to be "copied"...Keep it that way, until the day that you can fit in a Xerox "paper tray"! ♥ In order to ADVANCE, you must take a CHANCE...on YOURSELF! If you are told that you must CONFORM in order to optimally PERFORM...”BEG TO DIFFER”! ♥” – Lauren Christine Frahn

TRAINING

Session 1

Run 3 miles

Stretch 21 min

Session 2

Skip x 1,000 revolutions

Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between trisets):
TriSet A -
1. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 4 x 6
2. Dips 4 x 8
3. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. Incline DB Bicep Curls 4 x 8
5. DB French Press 4 x 6
6. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet C -
7. DB Zottoman Curls 4 x 12
8. Straight-Bar Tricep Push-Downs 4 x 12, 10, 8, 8
9. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet D -
10. Weighted DB Crunches (on bench, knees at 90 degree angle) 4 x 10
11. Pikes (on bench) 4 x 15
12. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 108-112 rpm

OTHER NOTES

Mood: Even though my left wrist is still in pain, it's been a good day God continues to Bless me - I have so much to look FORWARD to! The only thing that's missing is YOU.

April 29, 2012

2012 | Day 120: ...see the flames burn bright...


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"♥ It is not by chance that those who “PROVIDE” the most to others “COINCIDE” with the most “GRATIFIED” people on the planet ♥ There is a direct “parallel” between the BLESSINGS that you GIVE and the “BLISSFULNESS” that you LIVE. By always "OPENING DOORS" for others to live the BEST lives that they CAN, your “THRESHOLD” for THRILL increases again and again! ♥ Simply, the more that you DO to bring another “GLEE”, the HAPPIER it is that YOU will be! You will never “HOLD BACK” your own “EXUBERANCE” when you manage to “UNLEASH” another's JUBILANCE! ♥ Adding “PEP” to another's “step” will “ELEVATE” you to "WALK ON AIR"…In causing another to feel #1, Y-O-U will float "ON CLOUD #9"! ♥" - Lauren Christine Frahn

TRAINING

Sunday

Day OFF

So, adapted my training this week based on how my body was feeling and what was going on - not doing the post-weights cardio of 20 minutes on Wednesday or Friday, and making today a day off (since I haven't had one this week) - which turned out ok, and probably helped me get my body composition down by giving my body more recovery time (since I DID push it pretty hard this week, Monday through Wednesday especially).

OTHER NOTES

Body Composition

7.8% bodyfat - a loss of 0.7% bodyfat over 10 days (although really -0.5% bodyfat in 8 days, because I was 8% bodyfat Thursday and Friday). I hit my goal body composition for this week (so the three days re Monday to Wednesday of "helter-skelter of hellacious training...an entire week's worth of training crammed into THREE days, with those days also using EXTREME dieting" - with a "cheat" meal after shooting with Walt on Thursday night - certainly worked)! Also 2.6 pounds HEAVIER than I was last time I was this body composition (November/December 2011), so I definitely have more lean mass, muscle in my delts and arms, and a little more in my lower body (GRRRR to that). My girths are now back to being SYMMETRICAL re both arms and legs, so that is another pleasing factor. Now I just have to MAINTAIN this body composition and get even leanER - it will be slow from here on out no doubt, but I am determined to progress and not step backwards (although fluctuating between this, lower, and 8% bodyfat will be ok), improving from here on out in EVERY way!!!

Florida & Photoshoots & Fun

After all the upsets of the week prior, and my life being turned upside down multiple times in the several months before that, this last week went rather well. BETTER than well - it didn't happen for Thursday (8% bodyfat was close enough though), but by Saturday I was the body composition I wanted (and looked the best I ever have re leanness, definition and vascularity), my body in a condition I was "happy" with (but want to and will improve on); and all my photoshoots went great, with the best shots ever being taken at the end of each one (some real stunning ones - among the top shots I have ever taken); and having the week I have needed for so long away from everything to clear my head and get some new perspective and focus. It was a truly awesome week, spent with some amazing and inspiring people, and I have come away from it with fresh determination, ready to give everything I have to making my dreams REALITY!

For the Month of May

I have the honour of shooting with Tony Mitchell again AND Jerry Beck for Iron Asylum at the end of May - coinciding with my birthday, which shall mean another few days of fun-filled work, smiles and laughter, relaxing and enjoying the company of more amazing and inspiring people! Today is a last chance to chill out and relax before starting back into heavy training tomorrow in preparation for this shoot - I plan on and WILL be the leanest I have EVER been for it, in the BEST shape of my life to date! Very excited...And because he is also awesome, I have the privilege of being the first to use Matt Pearson's latest version of Abliderate Advanced - something he kindly "created" for me based on my needs (THANK YOU, MATT!) so I'll be able to see how that goes...

April 27, 2012

2012 | Day 118: If a star could light the way that could take me back to you...


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"♥ If you don't “PERCEIVE” yourself as an “ACHIEVER”, it is impossible to PERFORM as one…It is only when you “CONCEIVE” yourself to be a PERSON OF ACTION that you can actually become one ♥ In order to create an “ELECTRIFYING” life, you must first IMAGINE yourself as a “LIGHTNING ROD” in order to “CONDUCT” your behavior accordingly. The SKY is the limit for you so long as you REGARD yourself as the “RISING STAR” that you are! ♥ When you BELIEVE that your efforts are “WORTH-while” and can ENVISION yourself as having tremendous “VALUE”, you will produce RESULTS of equal “WORTH”. As soon as you “RECOGNIZE” yourself as being capable of ANYTHING, you can “REALIZE” EVERYTHING that you “VISUALIZE”! ♥ Eliminate your “SHORT-SIGHTED” outlook by always wearing your “SPECTACLES” of SUCCESS…the VIEW will become nothing short of “SPECTACULAR”!!♥" – Lauren Christine Frahn

TRAINING

Session 1

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 12 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 10 min jogging

Stretch 16 min

Session 2

Skip x 300 revolutions

Shoulders/Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between quadset):
QuadSet A -
1. Seated Bent Over DB Rear Raises 3 x 10
2. DB Hammer Raises (each hand with individual DB) 3 x 10
3. DB Lateral Raises 3 x 10 per side
4. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. DB Bicep Curls 3 x 10
6. DB Hammer Curls 3 x 10
7. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 10 per side
8. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Weighted Crunches (on bench, knees at 90 degree angle) 3 x 10
10. Reverse Curls (on bench) 3 x 10
11. Pikes (on bench) 3 x 10
12. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions

Stretch 5 min

Woke up an hour later than planned, but went for my HIIT regardless. Body VERY sore from yesterday (for all those who think that posing and/or modeling is easy, believe me, it hurts almost MORE than an intense resistance session the day after!), feeling every pound on the pavement...Finally settled into the hotel at Hollywood Beach, starting my training session an hour later than I wanted to. But, did it - in the hotel Fitness Center, using what they had. Session was ok, my body sore. During QuadSet B left wrist was aching badly, then the pump in my left bicep became painful, but it was all made up for by seeing the definition in my delts and arms strongly throughout training, vascularity just popping - this is what I want for photoshoots! Abs coming out nicely, and I posed for a little after the session - I look the best I ever have from the waist up, IMO, which gave me a smile (I am still 8% bodyfat, but my girths are a little smaller than yesterday, - albeit overall body mass more - and FINALLY BOTH my arms and legs are back to being SYMMETRICAL, so definitely pleased with that, and hoping for 7.8% bodyfat - or a little less - tomorrow!)...Didn't do any post-weights cardio, since I will practice a little more posing tonight before bed...Now going to go and walk along the beach - I have missed it so much, and for it to be practically on my "doorstep" right now, is truly wonderful...

April 19, 2012

2012 | Day 110: I won't turn around, can't be afraid...Innocence gone, can't be the same...


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love

TRAINING

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 30 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 4 x 50 sec sprint/10 sec easy
d. 4 min jogging

Shoulders/Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between quadset):
QuadSet A -
1. Rope Crunches 3 x 20
2. Ab Rollout 3 x 20
3. Pikes (on bench) 3 x 20
4. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. DB Zottoman Curls 3 x 10
6. V-Bar Tricep Push-Downs 3 x 10
7. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 15 per side
8. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Rear Flyes 3 x 10
10. Plate Hammer Raises 3 x 10
11. Alternate Plate Single-Arm Lateral Raises 3 x 10 per side
12. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Run 4 miles @ 5 min/mile pace

Stretch 20 min

Bed at 0108, waking at 0330 and 0430, finally getting up just after 0500, giving me just over three hours sleep overall. Fresh though...Headed to the gym in reasonable spirits. Got there and went out on the road for my HIIT Run. Sprints were not fast-fast, but they were ok. Did a few more and added in several longer ones as well, just to ensure intensity and volume...Then to the weights. Using quadsets again, making sure it was non-stop go-go-go. Surprisingly didn't really feel my abs too much on Rope Crunches or the Ab Rollout, but feeling my left hip pop and "resonate" in my left lower back during Pikes. Skipping rapid. Sheen of sweat on my face during and after QuadSet A, vascularity popping, and ready for the roadmap that appeared on my arms during QuadSet B. DB Zottoman Curls were a grit of teeth, my left wrist starting to ache on the last set, but pushing through. Used the same weight as yesterday re V-Bar Tricep Push-Down and fared better, enjoying the definition (left side definitely stronger than my right here). Same weight as yesterday re Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls and forced out more reps with as well, loving the definition and pump from them. Skipping still fast. Went five pounds lighter than yesterday re Rear Flyes and did a lot better. Just a single large plate in front of me today for Hammer Raises, surprised that it almost felt light, but not towards the end, and certainly not on the last set. Again, Alternate Plate Single-Arm Lateral Raises - these hurt me the most and on the tenth rep of the second set my right shoulder cracked/popped loudly and I was in pain from then on, close to tears at one point during my third set, determined to keep going no matter what. Skipping frustrated, annoyed at myself, light-headed after the first set, having to "catch myself" on a bench from falling over at the sudden spinning...Finished off with a 4-mile Run outside (since the Recline Bike was in use when I was done with my weights), enjoying it...Back to the hotel to stretch. Then into the sauna for 25 minutes, before heading out to the spa for my last "leg massage". Afterwards, stayed in the spa and held myself under the water, the roar of the jets through the water pounding in my head. It was actually EASIER to hold myself under here than in the pool, and I was able to hold my breath a lot longer, staying under for FIVE minutes! Felt refreshed and calm afterwards...Which is good, because I have ~18 hours of traveling ahead of me today/tomorrow...

OTHER NOTES

Body Composition

8.5% bodyfat - a loss of 0.7% in FOUR days! Which is AWESOME (even though it doesn't feel like it to me, not completely, especially when I scrutinize myself in the mirror)! Now to lose 0.7% bodyfat more over the next 5-6 days and I will be sweet (and very pleased). Girths today are not a lot different than a few days ago, albeit there is a little change - that said, last night was my "refeed/cheat" meal (yes, MEAL - and within the Lean Gains 16-hour fast/8-hour feeding window too), so could have some effect on this. I still want to lose >1.2 inches from each my waist, hips, and both thighs though (and I will - hopefully by the time I work with Walt)!

April 14, 2012

2012 | Day 105: In God's Hands


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"♥ There may be times in life where it feels that a METEOR has suddenly STRUCK everything that you knew to be “normal” and sent it flying into the air...LET THE PIECES GO... ♥ Do not frantically attempt to grab the "debris" from "space", for you will be interrupting one of the most AMAZING processes that we as humans "face". WHO we presently ARE has been shaped by EACH and EVERY experience and encounter that we have ever had ♥ While you may feel completely OUT OF control, understand that what is happening is Divinely UNDER CONTROL. When life delivers a "BOOM", it is simply making ROOM for a newly formed TRAIT predestined by your FATE ♥ There are absolutely NO MISTAKES in what these "QUAKES" shake into our lives. Allow the "dust" to SETTLE where it may, revealing in its "aftermath" the BEAUTY of something much larger than us at work. It is these "STRIKING" moments that have the greatest "IMPACT" on who we ARE...ultimately, they are what DEFINES US ♥" - Lauren Christine Frahn

TRAINING

Skip x 1,000 revolutions

Full-Body (30 sec recovery between trisets/skipping):
TriSet A -
1. Stiff-Legged DB Deadlifts (DB to touch floor) 3 x 10
2. Neutral Grip Seated Row (each hand with individual handle) 3 x 10
3. Side-to-side DB Push-Ups (feet on floor, hands on DB) 3 x 10
Skip x 300 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. Rear Flyes 3 x 10
5. Plate Hammer Raises (each hand with individual plate) 3 x 10
6. Alternate Plate Single-Arm Lateral Raises 3 x 10 per side
Skip x 300 revolutions
TriSet C -
7. DB Zottoman Curls 3 x 10
8. V-Bar Tricep Push-Downs 3 x 10
9. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 10 per side
Skip x 300 revolutions
TriSet D -
10. Swissball Crunches (feet on wall, knees at 90 degree angle; from 270 to 180 degrees) 3 x 10
11. Pikes (on bench) 3 x 10
12. Reverse Curls (on bench) 3 x 10
Skip x 300 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 111-115 rpm

Stretch 25 min

Just a single session today, since I am NOT having a day OFF training this week. Fifth resistance session for the week - the best of them all so far, actually, which is surprising, given that it IS close to the END of the week and I've been struggling BADLY up until now with almost ALL my weights! Headed into the gym and started out skipping - rapid, a SMILE on my face (the first at the START of a session this week!), no issues with my knees, shoulders, or left wrist...Vascularity and definition strong from the start, I began "backwards" to how I would usually do a Full-Body session, wanting to give my shoulders and biceps' tendons a little more time before hammering them. TriSet A was done with relative ease - stronger than last time I did it, with less pain too. Then to TriSet B. Rear Flyes may have been a little light, albeit the weight I used (and STRUGGLED with) on Monday, which I guess is ok, since I am going to be doing Shoulders again tomorrow. Used a plate in each hand for Hammer Raises today - wincing with this, but not as much pain as holding a single large plate in front of me (like yesterday). Decided to be different and ALTERNATE with the Lateral Raises re single-arm - this actually caused the MOST pain in my left delt/biceps' tendon, and the last set was done rather slowly. Determined to keep my weights up, used the same weight as I did last week on Arms/Abs' day re DB Zottoman Curls - did two more reps each set as well, albeit one less set than for that session. V-Bar Tricep Push-Downs almost seemed easy, despite the fact that I did not lower the weight by much from what I use on Arms/Abs' day. Alternate DB Hammer Biceps Curls caused a lot of pain, especially in my left delt/biceps tendon, exacerbated by a highly painful pump. Vascularity was prominent in my right side during Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls, but in my left side during DB Zottoman Curls, which was odd. For another change, I started TriSet D with Swissball Crunches - my feet on the wall, knees at a 90 degree angle, and, to INcrease the degree of difficulty (and consequently pain during the exercise), I did my crunches from 270 degrees to 180 degrees. Pikes were LOVED - although my left hip (AND lower back on the last set) were popping almost every rep. Finished killing abs with Reverse Curls...Cadence was slightly higher during post-weights cardio, which was fine, although it WAS a little effort in the second half, my left arch beginning to ache some...

April 13, 2012

2012 | Day 104: Underwater...or...Breathing...


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"♥ If something doesn't feel right in your life, FIX IT…The reason that you have this "urge" to IMPLEMENT a CHANGE is because you are not currently in the state of HAPPINESS and CONTENTMENT that you are INTENDED to be ♥ HAMMER away at your HOPES instead of sitting with the WOBBLY feelings of UNSTEADINESS ♥ You are being ENLIGHTENED with the REVELATION that you have some "loose screws" that need to be TIGHTENED. When this light is SHED upon you, head to your inner TOOLSHED and get to WORK…All of the DEVICES necessary to make the needed ADJUSTMENTS are WITHIN you ♥ Do not "screw" around with the DRIVE that has been placed within you, but be the SCREWDRIVER to your GOALS and twist away until they are LOCKED in place ♥ You are the MACHINE that can MEND whatever it is in your life that needs REPAIR…RESTORE yourself to OPTIMAL condition. Never settle for a FRAGILE future…your DREAMS are not meant to be BROKEN ♥" - Lauren Christine Frahn

TRAINING

Session 1

Run 7 miles @ 4.9 min/mile pace

Stretch 20 min

Session 2

Shoulders/Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between quadset):
QuadSet A -
1. Rope Crunches 3 x 15
2. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises (feet to touch bar above head) 3 x 6
3. Ab Rollout 3 x 15
4. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. DB Bicep Curls 3 x 21s
6. DB Hammer Curls 3 x 10
7. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 10 per side
8. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Rear Flyes 3 x 10
10. Plate Hammer Raises 3 x 6
11. Plate Lateral Raises 3 x 10
12. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions

Again, due to my late-night training (finishing almost at midnight), didn't go to bed until I would usually be getting UP, waking after ~5 hours sleep (which is about "perfect")...Didn't head out for my 7-mile run for ~3 hours post-waking, allowing time to see how my body was feeling, which was "eh" but not completely terrible. Same 7-mile loop as Wednesday. Out uphill with a headwind, but at a pace that had me feeling better than I did on Tuesday - at least my legs didn't feel like lead, although my left shoulder/biceps tendon was biting throughout it (holding my left arm in as close as possible as I could to my side the entire run). Finished in 20 seconds LESS than Tuesday's run, although it averaged out about the same (to 1 d.p.), and feeling slightly better for it, able to push it a little harder towards the END...Back to the hotel and into the sauna for 20 minutes (much prefer the wet sweat in here to the "muggy" sweat from my run). Then out to the pool, holding myself under for just over 3.5 minutes (wonder if this is contributing some to my left wrist hurting, since I push UP against the edge of the pool with my LEFT hand when I do this). For some reason I was calmer today, and it wasn't as much of an effort - until close to the end, when the sound I heard was the pounding of my heart along with the tiny "ripple" of the water on the surface above me. Gasping, hopped over to the spa (which was colder today) for my "leg massage"...Both shoulders being pesky re pain today...Slight change in plans once got to the gym - instead of doing Full-Body, because my shoulders were both very bad (I want to be able to train tomorrow and the next few weeks - I have to get through until the end of MAY remember!), I stopped after Shoulders, making it the session I was going to do tomorrow (might have to forego Full-Body this week - besides, I will already be doing five resistance sessions this week, so let it go, although I really should NOT have). But, how the session went: Started out with Abs, deciding to add Hanging Straight-Leg Raises/Pikes back in (since it's been a while since I attempted them) - shoulders were giving me so much pain that six reps was all I could manage on each set, dropping to the floor as they "gave out" on me from the pain. Held the Ab Rollout a little longer to "make up" for it. Skipping was concentrated and reasonably paced - love the way delts and arms look when doing it. Vascularity was back to "normal" today, spiderwebs of blue-green snaking their way from wrist to elbow and up to my anterior delts - the skinfold I have on my forearms is still that which I want on EVERY skinfold! Left wrist very painful from the first set of DB Bicep Curl 21s, but pushed through. Had to drop the weight for DB Hammer Curls - pump was very strong in biceps here, so strong it was PAINFUL. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls were all an effort and a lot of screwing up my face, wanting to drop the weight and throw a tantrum from the pain assaulting my anterior. Skipping was a brief relief before more torture. I had to stop after completing all sets of QuadSet B and strap my left wrist up it was that bad (had not worn it from the start, just to see how it would handle the weights). Added five pounds to Reverse Flyes than what I have been using and grimaced out 10 reps for each set, slowly. Plate Hammer Raises were painful and, at the same weight as I have been using, had to stop after six reps each set (I probably could have done a couple more on the last set, but by then my mind was not in it). Plate Lateral Raises were done with tilted wrists, so not to hurt my left wrist any more...No post-weights cardio - I SHOULD have (it would have stopped the bad that came later)...A lot of mental abuse going on - no one else needs to berate or punish me when I do enough of that to and hating on MYSELF...

April 3, 2012

2012 | Day 94: Do you know what it’s like when you’re scared to see yourself?


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"When we are born, we are all given one thing that we can count on: a life to live. Each of us has a life. For some it is shorter, for others it is longer. For some, it comes with challenges whether physical, mental, emotional, or circumstantial. For others, there are few challenges.

"But regardless of the hand we are dealt, we must play it out. We can play, we can fold, or we can hold the cards and do nothing. But in each instance, we make a decision. Even when we decide to do nothing, we have made a decision.

"And where you are now in life is the sum total of all the decisions you have made in your life.

"The good news is that if you don't like where you are now, YOU CAN CHANGE it! You don't have control over the past, but YOU HAVE CONTROL over today and tomorrow!" - Lee Labrada

TRAINING

Elliptical 30 min

Stretch 21 min

Almost instantly asleep after posting yesterday's update. However, it was not to last and I woke up just ~1.5 hours later. And for some reason, STARVING, which led to me wolfing down almost everything I could find, ~1,000 calories in chocolate, ~1,000 calories in multigrain crackers, ~1,000 calories in almonds, and then close to another ~1,000 calories in cottage cheese and bacon bits (with the crackers), which was interesting to say the least, and yes, regretted afterwards. Anyways, wide awake again, I didn't start feeling my eyes "tire" until ~0330, when I fell asleep for ~4 hours. Which is ok (see "Other Notes" below re training changes)...After time to "gather" myself, I went downstairs to the Fitness Room and did the Elliptical for 30 minutes (yes, 10 minutes more than I usually would - someone had set it at for that and I couldn't be bothered changing it), where my knees were mostly fine (sharp pain on the inferiomedial aspect of my right one for the first half) and only a slight twinge in my left arch during the first few minutes. My left wrist was in a lot of pain though - I've actually had it strapped up since last night it has been that bad, and going to keep it strapped for a few days to let it "settle". Afterwards, sat in the sauna, actually enjoying the feeling of sweat dripping on my skin - very relaxing. Back to my room to stretch...A 7-mile Run WAS on the agenda for this evening, but I suddenly got very exhausted and passed out for several hours, waking to the thunderstorm (love waking to the sound of it, by the way, and for some reason makes me think of being back at the beach house, watching the waves crash on the shore as the rain pounds the windows) outside, and just letting it go - after all, it SHOULD be a "easier" week this week, and the "deload" may actually HELP re progress...

OTHER NOTES

Changes This Week

This is my thirteenth week back training since my time out for all the injuries that assaulted me at the end of 2011. It's been a slow recovery process, only really being able to up my training over the last five weeks, but it's been well worth it. My last "easy"/deload week was six weeks ago, and because I need my body to KEEP going for at LEAST another SEVEN weeks before I will allow myself to have a week of only 3-4 days of training (i.e. a week "OFF" - anything LESS than 1-2 resistance sessions and 2-3 cardio sessions and my body is not very functional, so that is what my weeks "OFF" will consist of henceforth, if they are given), THIS week I am changing things up a little re training days, albeit keeping the volume the same, as well as intensity, just "spreading it over" the week instead of "clumping" it, so that my body gets a little bit of a "WTF?!" and CONTINUES to make progress, since this week is ESSENTIAL - I NEED to lose at LEAST 0.5% bodyfat this week! Also adding in more "recovery" measures re sauna and the hot/cold-spa/pool at least 5-6 days this week (continuation to be determined at the end of the week).

Also going to use this week to REALLY get a handle on my nutrition, since the last two weeks were so completely UNdisciplined and far OUTSIDE of even MY "normal", that even with my training hard and intense, I fell backwards faster than I could blink (highly disappointed and disgusted with myself!), and that is NOT acceptable! I know what my body is "comfortable" at, and if I am going to be "unconditioned", it canNOT go above that, which is currently is, and I will endeavour to ensure it is not so again. To be perfectly frank, the way my nutrition was five weeks ago was the period when my body felt the BEST, and I definitely know that the Lean Gains 16-hour fast/8-hour feeding window suits my body the best as far as nutritional protocols. So, reiterating this fact more to myself than anything, mentally "setting" myself for what MUST be.

March 27, 2012

2012 | Day 87: My Obsession


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"4 simple words, DO THINGS WITH PURPOSE..." - Joey Swoll

For the complete Motivational, review WITH PURPOSE | WPM Women.

TRAINING

Day OFF

Yes, not like me to take a day off at the START of the week. That said, my right knee just kept on bugging me all night (and morning). As did the pain in both shoulders, growing through the morning (and yes, little sleep had). Took G8 at 0310 though, since I WANTED to sleep - did not get to sleep until just after 0400, but slept for a respectable five hours. Woke feeling like someone was trying to drill a hole in my head - something that has happened EVERY time I have used G8 (not just the times I have slept for hours, since a couple of times I have NOT slept), so there might be something there causing it...Anyways, not training has given me some time out and mental energy to make today highly productive...Looking forward to tomorrow though and getting back to training...David, you call me "a "driver", but I am DRIVEN: By something so very deep inside; something that refuses to die or give up or let go, and I cannot - I WILL not - ever stop doing all I can while I still have life left in me to do it!...

March 24, 2012

2012 | Day 84: Break Me Down


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Walk your path one step at a time – with courage, faith, and determination. Keep your head up and cast your dreams to the stars. Soon your steps will become firm, and your footing will be solid again. A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable direction you could have ever hoped to follow.

"Keep your belief in yourself and walk into your new journey. You will find it magnificent, spectacular, and beyond your wildest imaginings." - Vicki Silvers

TRAINING

Recline Bike 20 min @ 112 rpm

Stretch 30 min

Took half a scoop of G8 at 0432 and went to bed 10 minutes later. Asleep by 0500. Woke on the hour every hour from 1000-1300, and, feeling completely shattered, went back to bed at 1310, finally waking at 1510 (woken by a text). As with every other day this week I have slept, took a real EFFORT to NOT just lie back down and go back to sleep, getting up to start my "day"...Waited a couple of hours before doing cardio - decided to do the Recline Bike and leave my run until later (when it's dark and likely to be deserted out - I like it better that way). Right knee was really bad and every spin felt like someone was stabbing me with a very sharp knife in the superiomedial aspect of it. Regardless, I didn't want it to be a "slow" session and gritted my teeth, forcing my legs to spin. Right knee was NOT very happy afterwards, although relieved to be done, throbbing with both pain and heat...Stretching did little to "ease" anything today. Although my mind screams protest against the idea because this week has been so terrible with everything BUT training, I quickly made the SMART decision NOT to do a second cardio session and give my knees a chance to recuperate a little...

March 23, 2012

2012 | Day 83: I'm standing on the outside...looking in...


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Even the strongest looking men and women fall sometimes!...Reality hits, we have to look deep inside and face realities and truths that are hard to swallow...you begin to find yourself, your purpose on this earth and it is most likely going to get harder before you break through. But when that shift happens the sheer strength in freedom, peace, and serenity is breath taking...Thank you God for sending me to that place so I can see the beauty in this one!" - Ben Booker

For the complete Motivational, review We All Fall | WPM Women.

TRAINING

Thursday

CrossTrainer 10 min

Back/Chest (30 sec recovery between trisets):
TriSet A -
1. Single-Arm Bent Over DB Rows 5 x 12, 12, 8, 8, 8 per side
2. Push-Ups (feet on bench, hands on DB) 5 x 8
3. Skip 5 x 100 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. Supinated Bent Over BB Rows 4 x 12
5. Incline BB Bench Press 4 x 8
6. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet C -
7. Supinated Lat Pull-Downs 2 x 12, 8
8. Cable CrossOvers 2 x 12
9. Skip 2 x 100 revolutions
TriSet D -
10. Single-Arm Bent Over DB Rows 1 x 8 per side
11. Cable Flyes 1 x 10
12. Skip 1 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 106-108 rpm

Stretch 20 min

Dosed G8 at 0029 this morning and was asleep by 0200. Woke once mid-morning to a text and then was instantly back out until another text at 1426. Like Tuesday, it took me quite a while to "wake up", not even wanting to get out of bed, my head feeling like someone was playing drums in it, stuffy, ears hurting, not great. However, after ~12.5 hours of sleep, it was definitely time to get UP. Also on waking, SHARP pain DEEP in my LEFT shoulder, a little like my right was back in late November (please let it be nothing serious!). As with Tuesday, decided to do my training later on at night, not walking up to gym until close to 2230...Started off with 10 minutes on the CrossTrainer. Beanie on again today, making my head feel even warmER. Legs ok, but right shoulder/arm was in pain during, even keeping it in an invisible sling across my stomach...Started off the same as last week re Single-Arm Bent Over DB Rows, with LEFT side this time, to give my right a chance to "recover" some - used the same weight as last week to start, not managing as many on the first set, but fine the second, going up by five pounds for the last three sets (and yes, adding in a fifth set from last week), managing ok, although feeling sharp pain in my shoulders on the last couple of reps on each of the last two sets; vascularity DRY ROPES, particularly through/in my left delt and bicep. Push-Ups were ok - used a higher bench than last week re feet on, and went down slower as well, my shoulders feeling EVERY rep. Skipping to finish off each triset was fine. Used the same weights as last week re TriSet B. Did BB Bent Over Rows at a tempo of 1-1-1 this time, making it harder, trying as hard as possible to keep my right elbow in, but failing miserably. Incline BB Bench Press wasn't difficult until the last rep of the last set, so will up the weight next week - strength improving here, which is good. Added in Supinated Lat Pull-Downs and Cable CrossOvers today - wanting to do MORE for my back and chest. Plus an additional triset incorporating another set of Single-Arm Bent Over DB Rows (since I have seen the best increases in my arms since including these in my training) and Cable CrossOvers (since I want to include more of these in my training henceforth), loving the definition and vascularity each brought out. Favouring right knee (which has superiomedial swelling) during all skipping for TriSets B through D, painful still from yesterday...Finished with 20 minutes on the Recline Bike, trying to spin a little faster, limited by the pain in my right knee, but digging in regardless...

Friday

Session 1

Recline Bike 20 min @ 108-112 rpm

Stretch 28 min

Session 2

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 24 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging

Full-Body (30 sec recovery between trisets/skipping):
TriSet A -
1. Weighted DB Crunches (on bench, knees at 90 degrees) 3 x 15
2. Reverse Curls (on bench) 3 x 15
3. Pikes (on bench) 3 x 21
Skip x 300 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. DB Bicep Curls 3 x 21s
5. DB Hammer Curls 3 x 10
6. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 10 per side
Skip x 300 revolutions
TriSet C -
7. Rear Flyes 3 x 10
8. Plate Lateral Raises 3 x 15
9. Plate Hammer Raises 3 x 10
Skip x 300 revolutions
TriSet D -
10. Neutral Grip Seated Row (each hand with individual handle) 3 x 10
11. Side-to-side DB Push-Ups (feet on floor, hands on DB) 3 x 10
12. Stiff-Legged BB Deadlifts (on bench, reaching down 6 inches with the BB) 3 x 10
Skip x 300 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 106-108 rpm

Stopped by the supermarket on my way home from the gym (from Thursday's training, since I left the gym just after midnight). Ended up devouring ~4,500 calories from 0100-0200, I was that hungry (although, after training, it's not UNusual and quite "normal" for me to do this)...Was still wide awake at 0330, which is when I would normally "get up", but no way was I going to get ready for training having eaten all that not so long ago, deciding to wait until a similar time to do my weights tonight. At 0440 though, I took half a scoop of G8 and sat back in my desk chair to watch the second episode of Missing. Dozed off lightly for ~2 hours, which can't really be counted as a "night's sleep" (even though, until recently, it WAS what my "night's sleep" mostly WAS), more of a "nap". Wide awake, up it was again, to continue on my "day", eating some more. And then some more. Seriously, what is WITH the even MORE pronounced appetite than usual (especially on the heels of me wanting NOT to be like this)?!...Anyways, since today is a "double" training day, I did what SHOULD be my "evening cardio" late morning (since I planned on doing my weights later tonight), after that wolfing down close to another 4,000 calories (I know, just after CARDIO!), not really caring about it by that point. Left shoulder IN the shoulder still hurting sharply, even at rest, doing NOTHING?...After spending the mid-afternoon a bit lacklustre re energy, surprised myself when it came to HIIT, my sprints fast and explosive! Right knee was a small bother starting out, but the heat seemed to "take away" the pain - until after I'd finished my sprints (when my left arch was also causing issue). On my return, I weighed myself (not something I usually do at the "end" of the day), just to see what was what, and no wonder my knees are in pain, LOL - I am just over 10 pounds heavier (although, granted, the majority of that is food and water weight from my eating this week, hopefully with some muscle mass, and no doubt a little bodyfat) than I was when I did this very training session last week!...Headed off to the gym in high spirits, looking forward to hammering my body into submission! Started out with TriSet A - weight a little more than last week, adding more reps to each exercise, loving the Pikes especially. No beanie for this session - my body has been like a FURNACE all day and didn't need any MORE heating! On a whim I decided after my last set of Pikes to do 300 skipping revolutions between each change of trisets (since today they were not a part of the triset) - noticed the pain in my right knee from the start, and ended up favouring it badly from there on. Not to worry, during TriSet B I just stood with more weight on my left leg. Left the weights the same as this session last week - my left wrist in quite the agony, deep in the bone, the pain located where I've fractured it twice, gritting my teeth and pushing through it. Had to "shake" my left wrist a little between exercises to help me manage. Loving the "dry" vascularity I could see from the first set of 21s, seeing that double vein separation in my biceps (actually noticed fresh stretch marks on my biceps today, indicating muscle growth, so pleased with it). Biceps were pumped and painful by the end of the last set of Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls. Skipping was a hodgepodge of favouring my right knee, but still done to par. Rear Flyes were an effort, particularly on the last set, feeling it in my traps, my neck "clicking" and "creaking" back into place when I turn-twisted it after each set. Used plates instead of dumbbells for Lateral Raises today, to help my wrists a little re less pain, doing them at a fast tempo to keep the intensity up. Plate Hammer Raises were painful, but worth it. Decided to do something different re Back that I haven't done before (with Clients yes, but not personally in my own training): Neutral Grip Seated Cable Rows, but each arm with its own handle, bringing my elbows back as far as I could - increased the weight on the second set, but lowered it slightly for the third. Side-to-side DB Push-Ups were interesting, and on the eighth rep of the second set there was a loud crack in my right shoulder, followed by pain, that I ignored and pushed through. Finished off weights with a very FAST final 300 skipping revolutions...Onto the Recline Bike for post-weights cardio. I knew my right knee was NOT going to like it, but I did it anyway. Right now my body is my ENEMY and it MUST be brought to SUBMISSION and just DO as it's TOLD! Kept the pace "reasonable" - fast enough, but not too fast to aggravated my knee further (although anything would, really)...Limped on home, my left shoulder in sharp pain as well, LOL. Walking home made me suddenly miss doing long walks alone in the dark, the stars twinkling overhead, with barely another soul around to "disturb" me. It's so peaceful, so calming, still...

March 19, 2012

2012 | Day 79: Never Surrender


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You've got the power to make choices… Your life is the manifestation of the choices you make each moment and each day. When you use this awesome gift to your best advantage, there is nothing you can't do." - Donna Fargo

For the complete Motivational, review You've Got... | WPM Women.

TRAINING

Session 1

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 20 x 20 sprint/10 sec easy
c. 4 x 50 sec sprint/10 sec easy
d. 4 min jogging

Shoulders/Hamstrings (30 sec recovery between supersets):
SuperSet A -
1. Behind-the-neck BB Military Press 4 x 10, 8, 8, 8
2. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet B -
3. Rear Delt Flyes 2 x 10
4. Skip 2 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet C -
5. BB Military Press 4 x 10, 8, 8, 8
6. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet D -
7. Plate Hammer Raises 2 x 10
8. Skip 2 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet E -
9. Plate Lateral Raises 6 x 15
10. Skip 6 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet F -
11. Stiff-Legged BB Deadlifts (on bench, reaching down 4 inches with the BB) 6 x 10
12. Skip 6 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 104-108 rpm

Stretch 25 min

Session 2

Recline Bike 20 min @ 110-112 rpm

NO sleep last night - given that Sunday is the ONLY day I "allow" myself to "sleep in" or my body to "catch up" on any sleep it "misses" throughout the week, I didn't get up for almost half a day later than I usually would, LOL, enjoying the feeling of waking and just lounging and drifting back in and out of sleep (a rarity for me, since most Sundays my body still wakes on the clock to 0330 and won't go back to sleep)...Anyways, ready as anything for HIIT this morning. No beanie today, since it’' been so humid the last week (think wearing it was contributing a little to my light-headedness during training last week, too). Sprints were good, albeit not as explosive as they were in starting off last week, but endurance was definitely there and I ended up doing several longer sprints towards the end of the session...Brisk walk to the gym and straight down to business, wanting to get resistance training over as fast as possible, since I was feeling a little nauseous after HIIT (and had a first training session with a new client about the time I got back to the hotel after my own training). Behind-the-neck BB Military Press was painful for me today, so not a lot of changes here from last week, although I was not able to do as many for the first set as I was last week. Skipping after sets of the former was fine - calves looking decently defined. To "make up" for my lack of strength with Behind-the-neck BB Military Press, I upped my Rear Delt Flyes weight by 15 pounds. BB Military Press was a little better than its rear counterpart, but "matched" the reps to the latter. Skipping fine, delt definition coming out nicely. Did Plate Hammer Raises today, to hit my lateral delts a little more (as well as anterior), and also because I was getting light-headed about this time - painful, but manageable. Almost tripped on one set of skipping here, but "caught" myself. Instead of doing Single-Arm Lateral Delts today, just did them together, with a little lighter weight than last week (and plates, not dumbbells), but with a faster tempo, to feel more of a burn. Having to really concentrate on my skipping after each set, slower and then faster to keep myself "on my toes". Stiff-Legged BB Deadlifts were fine - stretching down lower, with no sore mid to lower back as there was last week. Relieved to finish and just get on the Recline Bike for 20 minutes...Slept for an hour from ~1030 and that was it for the day. After last week's evening cardio sessions, knowing how much the 7-mile runs took out of me, decided to make those ones on Wednesday and Saturday - when no resistance training in the morning, and do 20 minutes on the Recline Bike on Monday and Friday evenings pre-bed. As it was, when it came time to do my evening cardio session, it was raining outside, so down to the hotel Fitness Room it was anyways. Wore a hoodie, to make sure I got and stayed hot (instead of a beanie). Right from the start, right superiomedial knee was very painful and throbbing (even afterwards - for quite a long time), and it was just determination NOT to not do it and keep going that got the session done...NEVER SURRENDER!!!

January 29, 2012

2012 | Day 29: Let's get it on!...Let's tear it up! I'm staying straight to the core...


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them." - Norman Vincent Peale

For the complete Motivational, review Dare Greatly | WPM Women.

TRAINING

Third week in training. Still a little under Maintenance training without post-weights cardio, but everything else ok.

Training completed this week:

Monday

Session 1

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 12 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 10 min jogging

Stretch 28 min

Session 2

Shoulders/Hamstrings (1 min recovery between sets):
1. Smith Machine Seated Military Press 4 x 12, 8, 6, 6
2. Smith Machine Seated Behind-the-neck Military Press 4 x 10, 10, 8, 8
3. Single-Arm DB Lateral Raises 4 x 10 per side
4. Stiff-Legged BB Deadlift (on 6-inch box, BB to touch floor) 4 x 10

It was awesome and such an ALIVE feeling to be back up at 0430. My HIIT Run was just that much better and I felt positive. Sprints were done as best I could, albeit having to slow down a little to favour my right knee after the eighth one...Resistance training was completed after work. Because I wanted to build on what I had done last week, did the same exercises. Started off with Military Press using the Smith Machine, immediately putting on the weight I finished off with last week (when I pyramided it up, to see what I could handle), and did that, albeit struggling quite a bit in the last couple of sets. Heavier Behind-the-neck Military Press this week than last week, and surprisingly, it was easier for me than the regular Military Press! Did the first two sets of Single-Arm DB Lateral Raises as last week, but because my right side was feeling ok, went up for the last two sets, noticing then the difference in strength and function, the pain forcing much slower tempo. Felt back crunching and clicking on EVERY rep of the Stiff-Legged BB Deadlift, but no pain in it - only in my hamstrings, from the additional stretch provided by the 6-inch box I was standing on...It would have been ideal to do 20 minutes on the Recline Bike post-weights, if just to help my hamstrings recover, but they were all being used, the gym the busiest I have ever seen it...

Tuesday

Session 1

Run 3 miles

Stretch 36 min

Session 2

Recline Bike 10 min @ 119 rpm

Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. Dips 4 x 8
2. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 4 x 6
Alternate Set B -
3. V-Bar Tricep Push-Downs 4 x 8, 8, 7, 6
4. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 4 x 8, 8, 6, 6
Alternate Set C -
5. Overhead Rope Tricep Extensions 4 x 10, 10, 8, 8
6. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 4 x 15, 12, 12, 10 per side
Alternate Set D -
7. Rope Crunches 4 x 25
8. Knee-Ins (on floor) 4 x 25, 20, 15, 15

Run was done in the dark. Cool the way I like it, my knees feeling ok starting out. However, not ending so well, as I limped the last half, trying to put as little pressure on my right side as possible...Resistance training had to wait again until after work (getting very frustrated with this, especially as at that time the gym has become so full that it’s enough to want one to say fcuk it). Started out with Dips - not as painful as last week, but starting to feel it on the last set after the third rep, pushing through anyway. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls were a definite effort - strength is far from 100% here, not to mention nearly dropping the barbell during the last set after four reps because of a sharp pain shooting through my right bicep. Went up in weight from last week with V-Bar Tricep Push-Downs - strength surprisingly has not been lost here. Lighter EZ-Bar Bicep Curls - less than what I wanted to do re reps, but was willing to take what my body would give. I was definitely not a pretty sight in the gym this session for sure. I was a mess, my hair all over the place, sweating, on the floor between sets, especially during Alternate Set D, my head between my knees, catching myself, determined to finish it out, no matter what...

Wednesday

HIIT Recline Bike:
a. 4 min @ 115-119 rpm
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 12 min @ 114-119 rpm

Stretch 22 min

I was actually going to try HIIT skipping today, but the movement was too much for my right shoulder/bicep, so I turned to the Recline Bike. Really feeling it in my legs and glutes. Definitely far more preferable running - and better for my body and results as well!

Thursday

Session 1

Recline Bike 10 min @ 108-110 rpm

Session 2

Shoulders/Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between trisets):
TriSet A -
1. Swissball Crunch (270 degrees to 180 degrees) 4 x 20
2. Deadbug 4 x 8
3. Plank 4 x 1 min
TriSet B -
4. Dips 4 x 8
5. DB Zottoman Curls 4 x 12, 10, 10, 8
6. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 4 x 10 per side
TriSet C -
7. DB Clean and Press 4 x 10
8. DB Lateral Raises 4 x 10
9. Rear Flyes 4 x 10

Stretch 20 min

I was going to do 20 minutes on the Recline Bike during my brief lunch break, but the pedals kept "skipping", which was not kind to my knees, so after 10 minutes I stopped...Left my resistance training until after work, which went overtime by over an hour (and left me wanting to beat something to a bloody pulp - the perfect mood for crushing the weights), leaving me enough time to get in a shorter session, so I decided to do Shoulders/Arms/Abs and leave Full-Body to Friday. To get the session done in the time I had and make it as intense as possible, I did three trisets, with minimal rest at the end of each, barely giving myself time to recover before breaking my body down some more. Abs were screaming after the last few sets of Swissball Crunches - believe me, if you really want to feel a burn doing them and you’re not doing bridge crunches, do them up to 180 degrees (instead of from 180 degrees). Back was killing me after Deadbugs, hence stopping at only eight reps for them, and forcing the last two out on the last two sets, despite my protesting body. Dips were better - less painful than last week. DB Zottoman Curls were painful. To make it seem better, vascularity was very prominent, although muscle mass was far more noticeable in left side. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls were very painful to do, but I forced them out. DB Clean and Press was another very painful movement - sometimes I still need to push my right arm up that high to get it there, but near tears, I made sure I got it there without assistance. Rear Flyes were hard, even at a light weight, feeling my right biceps tendon stretching...

Friday

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 12 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 10 min jogging

Stretch 23 min

I was SHATTERED on waking, so decided to leave my training for a little later. Later I decided to just do my HIIT and my resistance session on Saturday, especially since my right shoulder and bicep was hurting the worst it has in the last three weeks. Not long into my run my lungs were burning, my throat dry, feeling like I couldn’t breathe, an effort to move my body. After my sprints, pitiful attempts at speed, my pace dwindled almost to a crawl as I literally dragged my exhausted body back to my room.

Saturday

Run 1.5 miles

Full-Body (30 sec recovery between supersets):
SuperSet A -
1. Rope Crunches 4 x 20
2. Stiff-Legged BB Deadlifts (BB to touch ground) 4 x 10
SuperSet B -
3. DB Bicep Curls 4 x 21s
4. DB Hammer Curls 4 x 6, 8, 8, 10 per side
SuperSet C -
5. DB Hammer Raises 4 x 10
6. Rear Flyes 4 x 10
SuperSet D -
7. Push-Ups (hands on fists, feet on floor) 4 x 10
8. Supinated Lat Pull-Downs 4 x 10
SuperSet E -
9. Single-Leg Deadlifts 4 x 10 per leg
10. Ab Rollout 4 x 10

Post-Weights Cardio:
Run 1 mile

Stretch 20 min

Full-Body back in session! After a quick run, it was all go. No taking it easy, with supersets and little recovery, albeit nothing my body is not used to being abused with. SuperSet A was fine, although feeling my abs burn towards the last set, and getting quite lightheaded during the last couple of sets of Stiff-Legged Deadlifts. Had to go a lighter than usual for DB Bicep Curl 21s, feeling my right bicep screaming through the last two sets. If that was painful, the DB Hammer Curls were even more painful, and I ignored it, almost in tears and vision blurring from the being dizzy and heady, pushing through, dropping the weight down for the last couple of sets. More teeth gritting for DB Hammer Raises, feeling the sharp stabbing pain through my right bicep and shoulder. Rear Flyes were no better, and I had to force the last few reps out on the last two sets, shaking to keep from growling. Push-Ups were not as painful as last week. Supinated Lat Pull-Downs were manageable, although feeling heavier than usual. Noticed during Single-Leg Deadlifts that my balance on my right leg is off-kilter and going to need working on. Ab Rollout, although perhaps the simplest exercise of the session, was the killer, and really finished me off...Since the Recline Bikes were all in use, I went out for a run, because I wanted to do SOME post-weights cardio. Right ankle gave out and collapsed on me - not cool; that’s the umpteenth time it has done that over the last couple of years (think) - hence not the 3 miles I WAS going to do...

Sunday

Day OFF

It has been an exhausting week, and even if training has not quite been at Maintenance, I AM relieved to have today off after my working week.

Training has definitely been a battle this week, but I have pushed myself, not just because I want to see what my body will take, but because it has been very stressful at work, my aggression and frustration through the roof, needing an outlet to take it out on. That aside, the week started off AWESOME, welcoming in the Chinese New Year - and believe me, it DID feel like "change" when I woke that morning, something inside me, my attitude and outlook different somehow - bouncing off the walls, smiles and laughter (getting back into schedule helped as well, and I think my boss realized for the first time just HOW important training FIRST thing is to my function and well-being).

OTHER NOTES

Body Composition

Back up to 9.3% bodyfat - which is surprising, since my diet has been clean and spot on ALL week (just goes to show that 100% eating clean and "dieting" does NOT work the best for my body!), AND I have been back in training (albeit not yet at Maintenance). Girths have decreased a little though re waist, glutes, and legs, along with overall body mass. It's a start, but NOT good enough.

Supplements

Last day of Battlefuel on Monday. Starting back on Recompadrol on Monday - I have missed this, and looking for it has been like searching for gold, so thank you Zach for pointing me in the right direction Made an order in the middle of the week for the rest of my "staples", so they should arrive mid-next week, just in time to start about the same time as February - I am looking forward to it to say the least; the products I use really DO make a DIFFERENCE for me!

Muscle Bombshell

As my day was winding down yesterday, it was a nice surprise to discover that my Interview for Muscle Bombshell has been featured on their website! I am honoured and want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me on my fitness journey throughout the last year - although going at it alone can be done, sometimes knowing that you're not traveling alone makes it all the better.
 To check out my Interview, see: Rosie Chee Scott - Fitness Expert and Elite Athlete

A Beautiful Blessing

Even through the storm clouds of this week, I've had a smile in my heart, a blessing completely UNexpected, but my saving grace, making me believe in things I had all but thrown away hope for. Here's to bringing that smile into next week and making it the BEST one of this year so far!

God Bless and Keep You All Safe and Happy!