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Dear Diary... Love, CB

Goooooooood Mooooorrrrning, Elite Ladies!!!!

I'm back on the cardio wagon... And it feels good. Mmmm

Some morning musings:

I love this "Christmassy time of year". I could write so much but I'm already getting thumbthritis, I think so I will wait until I am at a computer.

Let me just leave you with this one thought for the morning: During the holidays (usually Thanksgiving but I reserve the right to be non-punctual in my e-life) I often reflect on what I am grateful for. And I thought I should let you know that on my list was the ladies (and supporting gents) of this forum.

Women, especially, are inculcated with the belief that other women are competition (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy the mental image of my future figure competitors wolfing fruitcake as much as the next girl), but this attitude strips us of one of life's greatest tools for empowerment -- teamwork. Ok, I know I can be a corny-a$$ b!tch but you're free to click "next thread", and if you're one of those innate alpha females I encourage you to keep reading.

Having a team helps you meet your goals. No one here wants to see you watching Sleepless in Seattle and hitting the papery bottom of your Edy's gallon. This forum's occupants offer support, the occasional advice, accountability and humor (most importantly).

Those of you who take the risk, post your struggles and wins, and open to support in this forum are setting yourselves up for some serious results in 2012. If you haven't done it yet, start a thread and use it. I don't care if you're writing about walking your dog around the block. Then cheer some other of these sweating, pumping ladies on.

I am so grateful to have you ladies, this incredible resource, and an endless supply of workout partners.

Looking forward to continuing the journey for the rest of 2011 through the holidays... And beyond :)

Joy to the world.

Love,
CB (living proof that exercise releases endorphins)
 
Goooooooood Mooooorrrrning, Elite Ladies!!!!

I'm back on the cardio wagon... And it feels good. Mmmm

Some morning musings:

I love this "Christmassy time of year". I could write so much but I'm already getting thumbthritis, I think so I will wait until I am at a computer.

Let me just leave you with this one thought for the morning: During the holidays (usually Thanksgiving but I reserve the right to be non-punctual in my e-life) I often reflect on what I am grateful for. And I thought I should let you know that on my list was the ladies (and supporting gents) of this forum.

Women, especially, are inculcated with the belief that other women are competition (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy the mental image of my future figure competitors wolfing fruitcake as much as the next girl), but this attitude strips us of one of life's greatest tools for empowerment -- teamwork. Ok, I know I can be a corny-a$$ b!tch but you're free to click "next thread", and if you're one of those innate alpha females I encourage you to keep reading.

Having a team helps you meet your goals. No one here wants to see you watching Sleepless in Seattle and hitting the papery bottom of your Edy's gallon. This forum's occupants offer support, the occasional advice, accountability and humor (most importantly).

Those of you who take the risk, post your struggles and wins, and open to support in this forum are setting yourselves up for some serious results in 2012. If you haven't done it yet, start a thread and use it. I don't care if you're writing about walking your dog around the block. Then cheer some other of these sweating, pumping ladies on.

I am so grateful to have you ladies, this incredible resource, and an endless supply of workout partners.

Looking forward to continuing the journey for the rest of 2011 through the holidays... And beyond :)

Joy to the world.

Love,
CB (living proof that exercise releases endorphins)

Cutie...you never cease to amaze!!
What are you Tony Robbins' sister!? ;). LOL. You are one righteous girl in my book!!

Love, love, love reading your posts in here! Always waiting for your reply or post is like a kid waiting for
Christmas morning! You're truly an amazing woman!

Thanks for the motivation and inspiration! Agreed on competition between women..absolute bs. Hate that it is that way in some circles. No division here sistas!!

So glad I found EF. I'm learning and have lots to learn but I'm
Here if anyone needs
Me!

Love this place!!

Cutie..have a great one. You of all
People deserve it!!

Ps.glad you kicked that flu's ass to
The curb.
 
Btw....hope all of your competition this year gets fruitcakes and big gulps for Christmas!! Ziggy piggy...Ziggy piggy....(I might have been the only person to see Bill and Teds...)
 
Btw....hope all of your competition this year gets fruitcakes and big gulps for Christmas!! Ziggy piggy...Ziggy piggy....(I might have been the only person to see Bill and Teds...)

Lol!

That just made my morning ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIUQdDF6PGs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
 
Great post cutie! Now back to work. Lol you ladies are inspiring for sure. Time to go hit some arms before you ladies get bigger ones than me. Lol have a great day and kill it girls.

Sent from my DROIDX using EliteFitness
 
Gm, Chicklettes!!!!

I could NOT get myself going this morning (stayed up too late!) and was moving through molasses going through my morning pre-gym routine. TG4espresso.

Also, someone stole my laundry detergent from the laundry room in my building along with some clothes it will take me weeks to identify. Merry Christmas, thief! I hope your (my?) laundry came out smelling fresh!

So it slowed me down, but it takes more than that to stop this train....

And WAY more than that to shut me up ;p

This morning I'm thinking about the whole "New Year's Resolution" concept. It's not something in which I usually participate because I, like many of you, am regularly reassessing and making efforts to improve. Definitely less than perfect... For example I need to continue to work on my patience and could spend less money. These are ongoing developments for me, though. Questing to be a better human. Word.

What I'm musing on this morning are the words of St. Augustine (yeah, really), who I will likely misquote here as saying,

"Complete abstinence is often easier than perfect moderation."


Wha? Now I'm sure you have all read the (very good, IMHO) advice that depriving yourself only sets you up for future overindulgence. Some of the best advice I ever got/used about getting through the seemingly endless string of holiday meals was to not change my regular eating plan, to have regular meals and then when the time came sit down to "the meal" less ravenous than I would be had I fasted.

This is all well and good, but there are those foods, at least there are for me, that cannot be consumed in moderation and are better off left untouched. I have learned this from trying to "engage" with them repeatedly over a long and mixed dieting history. These select foods have made it to a more permanent black list.

I am not talking about the obvious sugar and flour laden baked goods or the salty-fatty stuff. This problem affects many "clean" eaters. Overindulgence of even the "cleanest" foods will sideline results. I know for one workout friend it's grapes (probably the sugar spikes her insulin too much?), and that a lot of clean eaters struggle with nuts.

Got something like this? A food nemesis? Maybe it makes sense to take it off your plate entirely (for now)....

This can be overboard and I'm not talking about becoming orthorexic/anorexic. If you struggle with one of these issues this advice probably isn't for you (my heart goes out to you, though, and I pray daily for those who haven't yet broken through).

A good litmus test for whether you might have a food like this is writing about/thinking extensively about how your average interaction with this food goes. Not just the one time you kept true to your promise and had "just one", but your overall score sheet. Lifetime outings record. If you find you're not winning the match the vast majority of the time and you're having trouble breaking some kind of results boundary, you may try the whole abstinence thing out.

Which brings me to New Year's Resolutions... Why wait? Start today!

The best predictor, so they say, of future behavior is current behavior. In the words of Russel Crowe's character (knees weak) in the Gladiator (Maximus? But I don't know if this is historical),

"What we do in this life echoes in eternity."

Wanna hear a good echo in a few months? Make the right noise now!

Happy Friday!
Merry Christmas!

Gratefully yours,
C
 
Just re-read my post and it sounds a little preachy....

Take everything I write during cardio with a huge dose of salt. Those endorphins make me loopy!
 
Wow Cutey I just read your post bout been grateful for us lot on EF. Girl you have a great way with words very educated . I would never be able to put things to words like that lol,
I think your an inspiration in more than one way your fabulous chic!

Thanks so much for been the perfect training buddy.
 
Just re-read my post and it sounds a little preachy....

Take everything I write during cardio with a huge dose of salt. Those endorphins make me loopy!

I think your post kicked ass. Well except the Russell crowe part. He was small. Lmao.

Sent from my DROIDX using EliteFitness
 
Dang gurl!
When I do my MetCons all I can manage to process is " Im too young to die"
You are an insperation.
 
Romans must of lol building forts and castles with no diggers or machinery lol.
 
Cutie...your posts are inspirational as always!! So glad your endorphins kick in while your doin cardio!!
Keep them coming!! Love readin them. Thanks for the inspiration chic!!
 
So out of my element!

Went for a run outside this morning and couldn't post while running. First of all there was just too much turbulence and secondly my fingers were frozen. Visiting relatives up north.

Finally located a gym and working my way through legs. It feels especially brutal today. I don't think I'm fully recovered from that flu!

Finishing this one out a little imperfectly. Glad I got here. Hoping to find time for a nap!

Merry Christmas!!! (I kind of miss everyone... Is that weird?)
C
 
You've got some skills if you can run and post at the same time!! Lol. Stay warm! Merry Christmas to ya!
 
Good morning, Ladies' Room!!

I'm back in my "work town" for the last week at this job. I can't believe I'm moving again but life deals the unexpected sometimes, right?

This morning is a date with the step mill... Pumping out some major soreness from my Christmas Eve leg workout. As I mentioned then, I had a lot of fatigue going into it and thought maybe I was wimpin'. The soreness yesterday and today, though, seem to indicate otherwise.

But you know I've always got other possible explanations brewing ;) These are the 2 front runners:

1. H2O: With the holiday traveling and the crazy work schedule in the days prior (plus the touch of flu), I have no doubt that my efforts to stay hydrated were insufficient. I actually TRIED to drink more water, focused on getting some electrolytes, but this kind of drinking makes for unhappy car-trips. As it was I squirmed in traffic a couple times waiting for the next exit. So, in short(er), it's altogether likely that there was some dehydration. This could both explain the fatigue on the day of the workout and the soreness now. If this is the case, I'm on board, doing some light cardio and drinking a good amount of water to flush out that lactic acid. Bottoms up!!

2. Economical Packing: As an independent woman, I abide by the philosophy that "if you can't carry it, you shouldn't pack it." Thankfully, my time at the gym allows me to pack some hot rollers when needed, but this trip home especially employed the minimalist packing credo. I probably took it a little too far, though. Weeding through the vitamins and supplements I would "really need", I elected not to pack my huge tub of Glutamine. Now in a less "smash and grab" packing diva would have measured some into a suspicious-looking plastic bag, but I had gotten out of work earlier than expected and was excited to (LOL!) beat some of the traffic. As you all know, Glutamine is great for muscle recovery, and quitting cold turkey for a few days (especially leg day!!!) probably contributed to the gluteal and quadricep unhappiness.

So maybe I was working hard enough, or maybe I wasn't working hard enough at recovery. You be the judge! Either way I'm making a more concerted recovery effort today!

xo
CB
 
Spent all day working on a stupid presentation for my stupid job and I'm blowing off some steam on my back workout.

Amen

I lub lifting
 
Gooooooood mooooorning, "Lounge" Ladies (and Gents)!

Pumping out some cardio and aware that I need more sleep. Can't keep burning the candle at both ends and expect to have a wick left when I need it!

Did Slat's abs (has anyone seen the bro lately?) and fighting for every minute on this medieval torture machine of perpetual stairs. ;p oh the drama! Know what? I'm gonna stop fighting it and just do it.

I'm getting slammed in my last week of work. Making a clean exit is always an energy-consuming endeavor but they are definitely not making it easy. They heaped a presentation on me at the last minute and know I can't dog it because I need a positive review from the director for my next position.

Sometimes life, like the step mill, has you by the ovaries and if you squirm you're just gonna injure yourself. It makes sense in these positions to put your head down, apply a little elbow grease and push through.

In the words of God-knows-who originally,

"Sometimes the best way out is through."

Cmon, CB... Quit squirming in your cosmic seat and put your head down. Get a shoulder into it, throw some f'ing elbows if you have to but get this biz done.

xo :D
 
Good luck this week girl!! You can do it. Just know it's almost over...the end is in sight. :)
 
Thanks, ladies!

I'm off to go beat the snot out of my delts and then sit back down for more workin' before bed.

So grateful for the gym. I think I'd go outta my gourd if I couldn't work out.
 
Back at the gym for cardio 2... thanks OWL

I love that you can call me on my bullshit.

There are so many "friends" who will tell you to "be gentle with yourself", "have an extra cookie", it's ok if you miss your workout, go out to dinner...again.

These are often the same friends that encourage you to splurge on shoes you can't afford. They're generally not highly motivated individuals and generally not meeting their own goals. Many of them couldn't identify a goal if you rapped them on the knuckles with some almond biscotti.

So why do they do this? I'm not sure and it likely varies individual to individual. Maybe you ARE overtraining. But maybe misery (or mediocrity) loves company.

You won't get that from me, girls... And I don't want it from you either. Sure, if I think you need a day off or some more calories I'll be the first to let you know... But I'm not going to let you fizzle out in a streak of underwhelming nothingness, at least not without casting a huge firework-induced shadow first.

So please don't be impressed by my early morning cardio, or my "double session" that is really just the rest of what I had to cut short this morning. Be impressed when I bring home the trophy I so badly want... Or when I disappear in a cosmic burst trying ;p

xo
 
Last day at work... Have to come back next week for exit interviews but last working day.

Gonna get my a$$ handed to me. Good thing I already worked it off this morning! Cardio and abs done and done.

xo
 
PS I'm going through some huge personal life changes right now (no, Plank, I'm not getting a sex change) and I just wanted to check in and commit to staying on track with

1. Training
-lifts
-nutrition
2. Nutrition
3. Rehab/prevention of injuries
4. Sleep
5. Hydration
6. Exhalation

Never hurts to get an extra prayer or two thrown your way... If you find yourself with some extra time send a little one up for me?

Thanks, girls (and guys).

You are a big part of my team :D
 
Hang in there!! Sometimes it's tough to maintain focus with all the life changes and we're here for you.

Good luck with the last day on the job! :)
 
Yeah I'm on it for ya chic I will chuck a prayer your way. Hope things get better soon. Remember what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Haha my fav quote !
 
Thanks, ladies!

I'm a lucky girl.

God bless. I'm out for an early morning jog in the countryside... Going to try to not get eaten by any large cats or bears.

xo
 
Lol... I left my pepper spray back in the "neighborhood"

Didn't think about an air horn. Wonder if that would work in the urban wild too? ;p
 
Lmao your country side has large cats and bears Jesus! Ours has cows and cow shit oh and sheep how very boring compared to yours lol
 
I practically have snakes and alligators in my backyard. never a dull moment here, a regular jog becomes an obstacle course.
 
I honestly have no idea what the native fauna there included... What ended up making me the most cautious were the bright orange hunting warnings.

I stayed on the road and avoided the trails.

Had to cut it a little short and am finishing out the rest on the bike now after doing some legs.

Can't believe this week is over. It was crazy start to finish. Ready for some good sleeps....
 
Ugh... Had a food slip last night (small but it's the action that counts).

Banging out my cardio but wanted to check in and commit to keeping squeaky clean today.

Will "close the loop" and check in tonight. Let's finish out 2011 with a little rare perfection ;D
 
Killing back right now

A little annoyed at this suburban yuppie gym cuz no one knows how to work in

Not gonna take the shine off the 3x15 I just did on underhand bb rows at 140 lb
 
Yeah you see this year out with a banging gym session Cutey. Lol
 
PS I'm going through some huge personal life changes right now (no, Plank, I'm not getting a sex change) and I just wanted to check in and commit to staying on track with

1. Training
-lifts
-nutrition
2. Nutrition
3. Rehab/prevention of injuries
4. Sleep
5. Hydration
6. Exhalation

Never hurts to get an extra prayer or two thrown your way... If you find yourself with some extra time send a little one up for me?

Thanks, girls (and guys).

You are a big part of my team :D

Hey cutie! We are all here for ya in your life changes. So do you have another job lined up? Love your commitment. I expect nothing less from you!!

You got some extra prayers coming from the south!
 
Cutie..I'm always so impressed by you!! You are so dedicated and your posts and thoughts are killer. So proud of you. Happy New Year. Can't wait to follow your progress this year!!
 
Go girl go!!

Thanks, babydoll!

Live from the step mill it's Tuesday morning....

Off to a little bit of a rough start but getting in gear here. Had to move my car this morning which wound up requiring almost an hour of gas-burning driving around my neighborhood looking for a legal spot.

Ended up meter parking so I could get this day started!

The rough part, though, was that during that time I got a phone call from a potential employer saying "we had you down for an interview this morning."

I have the letter they sent me confirming for Friday in hand but the customer is always right, right? Ugh. Definitely doesn't make me look good regardless.

Anyway... Will just have to reschedule and show up smiling.

Otherwise, things are good here. Woke up starving last night, which is weird because nothing was really different, took some L-carnitine and BCAAs and went back to bed. Woke up this morning with another ab -- I love it when the Results Fairy visits!

Was thinking this morning a little bit (while searching for a parking space) about being "in the groove." No, I'm not talking lava lamps and swirly purple fabric... I'm talking about the "sweet spot" where after a few weeks of clean eating and exercise everything just gets easier.

I'm aware that this too shall pass and I'll have those mornings where I just don't see the point, but it's amazing how consistent right action yields the right mindset (and we know the right mindset yields consistent right action... See where we're going with this?)

I know what it's like to be in a rut, and the only thing I can suggest to those who are there now is to put one right-placed step in front of the other. Then repeat.

Bear with me folks... Imagine you are a homesteader on the Oregon Trail. You've got your wagon and you can follow in the "ruts" of the person before you. Now, for the most part, I'm a "color outside the box" person. But the body likes consistency, reliability... You provide it with this and it will give you what you're asking for (if it can).

Back to your wagon... One day, a raccoon runs out in the road. Your oxen are startled and put you in a ditch. Maybe the raccoon is your Aunt Nancy force-feeding you poundcake (I'd suggest you break the crazy loon's poundcake over her jello mold, but let's say this time you didn't). For whatever reason you're in the ditch.

It can be a little rough to right the wagon and coax the oxen out of the ditch, but once back on the path we are in for some smooth sailing.

The problem, in my experience, comes in when instead of getting fully back on the path we have 2 wheels on the trail and the other 2 in the underbrush. This is worse than resting by the side of the road. We are taking out cacti and kicking up dust. Our oxen are frightened and it's a bumpy ride. Chances are after a little while one of our wheels will fall off or we will break an axel.

I've posted this quote before but it's worth the repost:

Sometimes "Abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."

What habits are you holding onto that are making your road rough? Where are you taking half-measures? Fully committing is easier! Try it! Yes, it might mean having to stop and rope yourself out of a ditch but making sure all 4 wheels are on the trail makes for smooth sailing and a lower repair bill at Lenny's Wagon World.

Did I mention I had too much caffeine this morning?

I think now I'm starting to see more results because I unwittingly had a wheel in the underbrush. I wasn't sleeping enough and I was way overloaded at work. (btw... A work contact emailed me to let me know that they tossed the project they had me spend the last month working on because they decided to do a different topic... Such a predictable move -- lol!)

Anyway... I know I still have a lot of "stuff" ahead of me. I don't think anyone can control for the "stuff" life throws at you. It's about your response.

This morning I'm on the step mill later than I would've liked but I'm on it. I'll be back again later for arms and I'm having a freaking steak for dinner cuz I want a good sleep! Oh, and I'll go easy on the caffeine -- lol ;)

See you in "Oregon"?
 
Wow Cutey that's a great way of putting it ! You have such a way with words you should write a book I'd read it !!

Paying to park your car ? That sucks!

Also how long til you compete now?

Your doing a amazing job huni your a gem on here a honour for us to have you !!
 
Wow Cutey that's a great way of putting it ! You have such a way with words you should write a book I'd read it !!

Paying to park your car ? That sucks!

Also how long til you compete now?

Your doing a amazing job huni your a gem on here a honour for us to have you !!

Donna, you're too sweet. Don't ever change, my girl!

I am 12.5 weeks out. Have about another 6-8 lb to lose, I think. Trying to take it slow.

Considering a cycle. We will see in the next couple lb. If I lose my shoulders again before my legs cut up I'm running some var.
 
Aw thank you cutey I don't intend too any time soon lol...hmmm not long really it will fly by to me what your doing is the hardest part it's all very well building muscle but I think I'm going to find it hard when it comes to cutting . Well I can't wait for you to get up there and show them all your hard work, Best of luck to ya girl and I hope them shoulders stick around for you lol...
 
Love your posts. Jealous that you woke up with another ab! Lol. That never happens to me! I sometimes wake up and I've misplaced one. Geez. Sorry your morning got off to a rough start.

Always sucks when things get out of sorts with a potential employer!! Always makes me feel weird....especially when it's their mishap. Bu, like you said..who's right!? Right!!

Love your post. Right on!
 
Thanks, chicas!

Back at the gym for some bis and tris... If another one of these beatnik wannabes brushes by me while I'm holding something heavy I'm gonna kick his latte-drinking ass.

Then again if I can still move my arms at the end of this I haven't done my job ;)
 
Ok... So at about 3 am I wake up ravenous and shaky. Couldn't fall back asleep. Definite hunger.

Not surprising I guess but 2 nights in a row of that were enough to indicate that something else would be needed.

So I did what any reasonable muscle-chick would do, and ate 4 oz of lean sirloin. Lol

So hard to know when I'm losing what I should be losing without losing what I shouldn't be losing.

Not adding $hit to my own plan without talking to my trainer, though. He'll be getting an email today... So stoked for leg day! It's like Christmas, minus the screaming niece and nephew ;p

I am at the cusp of bodyfat % that makes me a little more nervous...a little less comfortable, a little less motivated. For now, I'm psyched to uncover the next bit of evidence that I busted my butt during the off season!

xo

PS major life drama... Ugh. Not gonna be a freaking victim, not gonna be a rearing biatch either... Just gonna stay calm and address the sitch -- why? I'm a baller ;D
 
Ok... So at about 3 am I wake up ravenous and shaky. Couldn't fall back asleep. Definite hunger.

Not surprising I guess but 2 nights in a row of that were enough to indicate that something else would be needed.

So I did what any reasonable muscle-chick would do, and ate 4 oz of lean sirloin. Lol

So hard to know when I'm losing what I should be losing without losing what I shouldn't be losing.

Not adding $hit to my own plan without talking to my trainer, though. He'll be getting an email today... So stoked for leg day! It's like Christmas, minus the screaming niece and nephew ;p

I am at the cusp of bodyfat % that makes me a little more nervous...a little less comfortable, a little less motivated. For now, I'm psyched to uncover the next bit of evidence that I busted my butt during the off season!

xo

PS major life drama... Ugh. Not gonna be a freaking victim, not gonna be a rearing biatch either... Just gonna stay calm and address the sitch -- why? I'm a baller ;D

Lmao!!! Your last sentence made me think of something I heard on espn yesterday and I've adopted it as my mantra. Terrell Suggs told skip Bayless on the show, First and Ten, "Ball soooo hard!" that's what I do. I ball so hard. Hahahahaha!!!!
 
Lmao!!! Your last sentence made me think of something I heard on espn yesterday and I've adopted it as my mantra. Terrell Suggs told skip Bayless on the show, First and Ten, "Ball soooo hard!" that's what I do. I ball so hard. Hahahahaha!!!!

lol..I like it!

You got this CB! I'm there with ya...and staying calm and not engaging in the war takes all the power away. Stay strong! We're behind ya 100%.
 
Love it, girls!

We be ballin' now

And you're right, Cali...it's just not worth it.

It's awfully tempting though. I'm running at about 80% of not engaging! Had a mild slip up a few days ago. lol
 
Yeah the lords prayer "let us lead Not into temptation" lol. You can do this girl you ha e the EF army backing you up we will beat the shit outa temptation !!
 
Lmao!!! Your last sentence made me think of something I heard on espn yesterday and I've adopted it as my mantra. Terrell Suggs told skip Bayless on the show, First and Ten, "Ball soooo hard!" that's what I do. I ball so hard. Hahahahaha!!!!


I bawl so hard...:worried:
 
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