Bringing in 2013 ...

Happy New Years Eve!

Just finished my workout today at the gym and I wore this! I never feel this comfortable in my skin ever! Did Back, Abs and Bi's today and didnt sweat too much which means I am dehydrated..gotta get 3L at least today...no I will get 3L ..but anyway

All i can say is wow...how liberating!

Liberation by definition is the act of being liberate..and Liberate means - Set Free!

Have you ever felt liberated?  I always think about where I have been where I am going...I talk about my journey alot not because I am bragging but because I need to REMIND myself where I came from...where I started and that it wasnt always like this! Just like with any change...you get a promotion...do you sometimes forget that you started in the "pit" as i like to call it with the worker bees and now you are managing? I admit sometimes I forget that I knew no better than the next person about fitness and etc...eating healthy whatever.. still really dont but I am learning and trying to help people, or motivate them to go for what that want.. doesnt have to be in working out or weight loss but I guess because I can relate that is where my calling is... so to speak..thats when I  can truly say " I know what you are going through" " I understand" because I do! Now I know that it can be done, and sometimes it does suck, and you dont always feel in the "mood" for this shit..but that is life! Right... anything you feel emotions to you are going have those "screw it" days but then you need to remember what you are trying to achieve here.. and thats a personal goal that makes you happy, will make you happy! Not for your hubby, not for your friends...but for you! I still have work to do, and improvements and of course it is never enough to a degree, because we have yet to achieve perfection in our eyes if at all... but I feel good...I feel free...I feel Happy...I am Happy! I dont know what 2013 will bring but I imagine great and wonderful things God willing. I am more happy to take another breath, live another day but I am more happy that I look in the mirror and see something I needed to see in a long time - Andrea... for who she is , what she has become.. Strength..Resilience.. Peace.. I even went to lengths as cutting my hair short and being natural because it felt right! Scared as shit but I said  screw it....now not everybody is that crazy but you get the idea... I could go on and on about this but I just wanted to put it on paper... I read through my blog when I feel shitty because it reminds me of where I been...that I need to get it together and focus...so here is one post for the last day of 2013....

Bringing in 2013 proper!

Exercise and Dieting is a state of mind....

Eating Right and Exercise is a state of mind, just like any habit or "obsession" the value that we put on that habit or item determines our frequency of executing that habit...for example our habit to have morning coffee and when you dont you feel terrible is a state of mind...now put that in perspective to exercise...when you build a habit to go to the gym every day you feel terrible when you don...t not because you are a bad person but because the value of exercise is just as important as that coffee.....the takeaway is the start of any goal or change in your life is to mentally develop thoughts of what you are seeking..."do you want a smaller waist, do you want to live a longer life..whatever the case it starts with you period....

 

Folks always ask me how do I resist temptation, I wont say I resist it but I take the value out of the food itself! Chocolate...no big deal...i can eat it later, I wont die...etc etc... when it holds less value to you on the scale of needing it/wanting it....thats when it becomes a NON FACTOR... and when I increase value on competitng I choose of course the competiting, contest prep, Bodybuilding...then I am going to go for that goal...so thus here I am!

 

 

It is Week 2 with 22 weeks left to go....down 2 lbs from last week..

 

Dieting is good thus far... Christmas had a few cookies.and some nachos but it is what it is.. after that clean eating...

 

Next week go to my vacay to austrailia which I am making an assload of protein bars and bring some frozen chicken but that is the extent. I normally pick and choose something that I never had before or only austrailia has it ... I am just more glad to be with my hubby and we get to have a TRUE honeymoon, and vacay...

 

 

Exercise is good, calves are sore and trying to improve my squat game. i am trying to get a weightbelt personalized to wear to the gym to help with my back on those deadlifts...other than that getting my tattoo today and resting my body. Normally I have my cheat but I am going to save it for the new years eve since I am going to a potluck today.

 

Here is my little instagram product for progress.....

 

Working on tightening posing and squeezing those muscles for them to pop as much as possible...

I will update before I go to Austrailia, but the plan is to remove any type of internet from this vacation because it aint going no where...

Talk to you guys soon!

 

6 days till 2013....

Its Christmas Day on Okinawa, another day for me and the hubs...No snow...No cold well just a little...just cooler weather and us... we had some gifts acquired from the states when he came home but other than that we had our tree...and the angel atop of it. Anyway sitting here..with nothing to do really since all the stores are closed and I watch the polar express well it watches me because I missed most of the movies...I reflect on the past year... and the year coming..2012 was the year of transformation for me..and I mean whole heartedly and it is amazing to see the point I am at rght now...let me paint the picutre for you


Jan 2012 began with my husband being deployed to Al Udeid Qatar...not a dangerous place but very far away from me and the doggy (his family) not with in reach...a plane ride away..to me that is far...

                                                 Doha Area

                                        
                                                            

                                                        Hubby to the far right...

 

By this point he had been deployed a month, he left early Dec where he missed his birthday and our wedding anniversary.. rocky huh? We had been seperated before but it still takes something out of you everytime you do it. The roughest thing about being mil to mil is playiing tag your it with deployments. We do not have kids at his point but when we do I hope we can provide a stable environment as long as the Air Force will allow us.

 

 

So at the time I was selling Pampered Chef and working which kind of am doing this but now its on the backburner....just to keep busy and my mind off things...and it is hard to keep busy 18 hrs a day when you are not sleeping.

 

and of course we had our daughter Sakura

 

                                                           Pretty but she is definitely spoiled...

So here we are April 2012, few months passed...hubby would be home soon in June (still not soon enough)

I had wore this outfit and I was told I was getting a bit overweight...now in comparison to the picture above and now yea I could definitely see it but at the time I felt "fine" well tried to be as comfortable I could be...there was no walking around in bra's or working out showing my tummy. lets just say its thats acceptable level of comfort where your not like depressed or bawling over but you defintely wouldnt publize photos of your tummies area... if you get my drift...

After that I decided to do something... I Looked for workouts, I did research I tried to workout and eat whatever I wanted not understanding why I did 2 hrs of cardio and still looked exactly the same! A common misconception but very much the truth that dieting well eating clean, the right things is key to losing weight...but thats another enty...

Anyway I ran well I sought out this pretty lady right here...

    

                                                                Zoa Linsey

I call her wonder woman personally...she saved my life..whether she helped to push me..show me the right direction or whatever the case but I have so much respect admiration for her as my cocah mentor and friend....

She worked with me right away, I just wanted to lose weight and then she suggested competing..all i can think is WTF..but I said screw it! Whats competiting..?? well turns out that you walk around in a bikini well I learn its posing suit now...flexing your muscles and showing your physqiue off..

first thought was my husband jumping on a plane to come back here and whoop my ass.. lol which he may have easily done once I talked to him about it... but he eventually came down...anyway...here comes transformation

Started at 150 lbs maybe more...physically I am 4 11 (shorty) so the weight only expands versus staying in place...

 

 

 

I trained, I ate things I didnt really care for, I got frustrated, I ate next to no sweets...but I saw results...

 

2 weeks after starting

 

8 weeks

 

 

16 weeks - Show day which happened to be the same day of the Typhoon, so glad we didnt canx because I couldnt diet another week without choking some dayum body....

 

 

Never in my life had imagined where I would be in this life...to this caliber and point of being in something that I found to truly be natural for me...I am in no way advertising this as being a way of change but I do want to say that if you go for something the you want to  achieve and do your best....IT WILL CHANGE YOU.... you will not be the same person...you may be better or may be worse...BUT YOU WILL CHANGE..

It did for me....in my personal life..

 

Family Life

                                 
                                                       Work
                                    

 

Friendships

 

 

There is nothing that I feel is impossible for me at this moment and if it is, then I will find a way to conquer it...thats who I am ...thats who I will continue to be in 2013...

 

 

and I will go into 2013 continuing with my prep but with a smile on my face, motivation and fire in my heart and spirit...my faith in a higher power.

 

I look forward to the future... 2013 is going to be bigger and better.... you guys have no idea....I really dont but its going to be great...hope you follow along :)


Drea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entering Week 2

Well today would officially be the start of week 2 on Okinawa,the interesting is that people are like "its the holidays" why workout...well because I have a goal to meet and I have carved out earlier times so I can be with my familly which is my hubby who is in the gym with me lol...2 times in a row hubby came, and I think I am starting to motivate him just a bit, he has been really frustrated because he hurt his back and really hasnt been feeling too hot but yesterday he went, and felt good, even went up in weight! I took a picture of his back just so he could see later what his hard work does!...even when we are in the gym but not working out together I still very much enjoy just seeing him go at it... . As for me, I am learning these new workouts and been feeling pretty sore from them, once I learn proper forms, i can go up in weight well first just complete the set, thats the important thing.. I had some frustrtation as I still got this stupid cough, not going anywhere just yet...so I am trying to bundle and make sure I got socks on my feet..this change in island climate done got me and my husband sick....aside from the illness I made some protein bars yesterday with chocolate species whey isolyze. The recipe adjusted my amount of protein and carbs so I can have one... I am excited! May try some other new things with my vitamix over these two days...today working chest/delts and calves....let you know how that goes...Merry Christmas Eve!

Contest Prep Week 1

Whew, its Saturday here on Okinawa... I would type this on Sunday but hubby is golfing so I get the peace to do it ...Anywhoo...this week has been Rocky and I mean from Day 1 it just got rough...first off I am starting brand new workouts Zoa created for me which are more intense than what I thought so I am going through the learning stage...the only difference between that and previous was my level of experience, this go I am more than capable of performing research to get to where I need to go and learn the exercises in the proper way...and of course I can go to my coach and ask of course . I am starting early well as soon as possible in prep because I plan on being better at this.. i spent off season working on Mental toughness, portion control, educating my self, meeting some of my goals and now I am back in it .... so now its time to move it to the next level whatever that is...Zoa says winning! I agree but I dont want to be concieted either, I will for sure improve, I will for sure give it my best and I will for sure listen to my coach day in and day out so if that is the keys to winning then I am golden ...So i started this week stepping my game up with exercises learning new ones but on top of that I caught a nasty cold/sore throat that slowed me down... I didnt stop working out which was bad but I could clearly see that it was affecting my capability for energy and lifting..even no explode couldnt help but when I was talking asprin and cold medicine I could imagine NO explode just kept me Awake in the gym period... I have a little cough now but I am getting over it.. yesterday got my period so bloated up like a balloon today and not feeling like moving too much...lots of hydrating and all so we shall see if it works. .. I did some shopping for foods and start of my routine of working out...cardio has been kind of sucky and slacky because I could barley breathe when I ran it just was exhausting...so yet again..when you are sick ...Sit yo ass down somewhere lol...as my husband says sometimes lol...cant help it ...and yesterday we got a box in the mail from hubby shopping in the states when he was gone last month and he got me some workout clothes, jammies and a coach purse... he is awesome.. I didnt ask for any whatsoever but makes a girl feel special and honestly the icing on the cake was the angel he brought home since there werent any on island...to put on our tree...the one that looks over us always I feel like spiritual... it made me cry just a smidget ...but it just brought to terms why i love him so much .... ok enough mushiness...I been thinking about gettting my hair cut for the new year too...with a vacation to Austrailia on the 3rd I want to be the hotness lol... well something like that so I am going to see a stylist today and see if I can get the hookup ona new doo.... So other than that, today I am doing some a bit of cardio and going to shop a bit...pretty nasty outside..took some pics today of the first week... Enjoy! oh and just a few pics of this weeks activities

 

 

 

Oh I forgot to tell you guys I ordered a 6 pack bag from Isolator fitness so hopefully it comes soon because the bag I got now..HOT MESS ! and I gets my cheat meal today! ...

Entering Day 3 Rocky as you know what!

Well!

Yesterday was no joke, a nasty cold bug is going around our office for 2 weeks and it finally managed to "bite" me where it really really hurt so to speak. I woke up yesterday morning with a scratchy throat and congestion and thought I could "tough it out" so to speak. I drank my usual greens and ate my meal before the gym,...now mind you this is only Day 2 of dieting and the workouts that my coach gave me. I had never seen them before or put them together in this way so that should have been my first strike.... being sick and not listening when my body was clearly saying "dont" . So I went to the gym and even after drinking my pre workout N.O. explode I still felt at 80% not even that vs. what I normally feel when I am 100% which is ready to work! However I was not: strike 2 still not listening to my body when it said Stop.  I continue to work my chest, hamstrings and when it got to abs I dayum near puked...and that my friends is Strike 3. I went to work, vs making an appt because of how long it takes to get one, not as easy as if it were slower and everyone (on base) werent dayum near sick due to the weather change. So I worked half day and went home to try to sleep...medicate to hell. My dog was ready to play however I was not , Sorry Sakura :(... Hubby came home and bought every made at the store not sure what I needed...and I guess its kind of like asking a male to buy tampons, lol every brand they see on the shelf " oh this is a good one, well that one has wings, super?" lmbo....no boo I told you to get Maxi! lol In this case, I got Dayquil, Nyquil capsule, Nyquil Liquid, Halls , Aleve and what else he could find. So sweet! I had talked to my coach Zoa as well and it was great conversation, remeber about the decision to switch divisions, which I already knew in my mind that BB (Bodybuilding) is where I need to be...to each its own but my physical makeup and "attitude" fits that division or even physique and I am ok with that...Honestly I am happy as shit to hear it.....I enjoyed talking to her. She is awesome coach and a great friend and I am blessed to have her in my corner... She believes in me more than myself sometimes and that is Essential in doing these type of things... Anyway I will harp on that later... I am up early just making sure I woke up since taking my sleeping pill last night... and my voice still isnt right but not as bad..its up and down..we shall see. I still am making sure I get my meals in but a workout for today may not be in the cards either..but the reality is...if your body is not in top condition DONT MAKE IT SUFFER MORE... dont FORCE the cardio if you clearly cant...its not making you a failure...its just saying (your body) its time to rest.. I learned this lesson as truthfully I may have put myself in danger lifting all that weight and not feeling 100% and could have lost grip whatever the case...not dramatic but you get the idea... the point is ...LISTEN TO YOUR BODY... I learned that today but it doesnt mean the diet slacks off.. still had my meals last night, woke up to eat them and doing it this morning. I will see how things go, truthfully I may not be any good for today either...it is what it is.. I am putting my health first which really you cant go wrong with that!

Day 1 of 24 week Contest Prep!

Day 1 described in 1 word, Craziness! Well I guess off season clearly had a bit lax. Granted I did eat 80-90% clean with cheats every now and then but I didnt workout as frequently or hae to keep up with a schedule and eating as much so to speak. SO my first day I craved sweets just because I am restricted now or as some like to say It Just Got Real!... In the morning I had Chicken Breastisis prep...you wouldnt recognize it without all the delicous flour and seasoning and hot sauce all over it...lol I sure didnt! just kidding..anyway got Ms Dash in the mix and handled bizness and prepped my 6 meals...felt like I was eating alot today but not really..when I was done I stil was hungry mins later...metabolism for your ass anyway ...had a case of the mondays and put my husbands uniform top on and went into work! fail...i would have passed with the exception of it looking like pajama shirt , like a kid wearing their dads shirt for dress up! lol So anway went home...work was busy, drank my N.O explode advanced strength which is an instant stroke in a can...first sip felt my heart beating..sweating..its insane but I really got a boost..  then on to workout #1 ...called a bicep blast...my coach had something special cooked up for me..because by the time I was done ..the bar felt like 150 lbs of dead weight which is IDEAL but I definitely hated to use my arms anytime after that. Also did some back work which included some chin ups and rack pulls (a new one I havent done before so that was interesting) I used the squat rack which I never really did before but now I look the feeling of the barbell and put some weight on it even if it is 10s...pain is pain! After being done I had the chocolate pb isolyze from species! OMG...that stuff is liquid crack post workout...you feel rejuvanated or for a split second like you are having some sort of dessert...it is no joke! After that I had my meals and went to do my cardio which involved treadmill intervals..no joke... so now I am done....this day has been interesting but tommorow start the process all over..now to get some sleep and do my 530 am workout.... this is only the beginning of becoming a better me... I hope you guys follow in my journey!

12-12-12

What a significant date! Alot of ppl were trying to get married to have it on their certificate..craziness.... but anyway today well yesterday in Okinawa was my wedding anniversary. 3 years strong...so blessed to have my boo...he is just awesome..

Couldnt celebrate since it was during the week but we will do movie night and crab legs on friday and saturday a nice dinner and twilight...

After that Sunday I meet with my coach and we begin prepppp....oye... but I am excited for the changes...I will be moody, irritable but happy to move forward and improve my body. I will post pics, vids whatever of my progress....I ask am I crazy for 20 weeks of dieting? Maybe but I love it and cant wait for this journey with my hubby by my side cheering me on # TeamConn

A New FB Page...!

Hey yall...

just started a FB page called Lovers of the Fitness Lifestyle...hope to motivate, inspire and inform that anything is possible if you try your best and put your mind to it...Like and sharing is encouraged!

Competition Prep on the rise!

So I am working with Zoa again my coach from the 1st go! Hooray! I am excited for year 2 and I plan on doing both shows this year which are about 3 months apart such excitement. Hubby is on board most definitnely for this year and then after that we want to plan for our extended family..shhhhh but I am focused on the here and now... so happy for contest season again but then I think wow off season was only about 4 months but then I have about 5-6 months of prep for the first show in June... my energy is up and the movation is higher than ever... So basically i need to be good on christmas not because of dieting but because I need to start weening myself of these things but if not thats fine too because when its time to be focused I will be.... tommorow (friday) is when I have my fitness test! I hope to improve on the run time and meet my goal of 10:24 i have someone from my unit running with me as a motivative thing so I can push a little further we shall see..either way just wanna get it over with so I can move on...hubby gets here Sunday and I am so excited...I really really miss him..at the Christmas party I got kind of side because he left but I know it was a short period I just had missed his smiling face ...so hitting the spa sunday morning and picking him up sunday night...Saturday I will be chilling not too much...hopefully not too sore from pt test....anyway I will let yall know how it turns out... this morning having some protein pancakes with egg whites...so amazing! I have not exercised for 3 days period, i think my body just hit a wall and couldnt take it anymore...so friday I test then start back saturday with some cardio depending on how I feel but I love spin class so much fun!