Moxie for Life

I really had a great day! It started at 4 am. My usual alarm time. My daughter had set her alarm and came in to wake me up with a gift. She made me a card and gave me the super cute shirt I’m wearing in the picture. She had gotten it probably 6 months ago and saved it for me. I kept seeing it in her closet and told her to give it to me if she wasn’t going to wear it. It wouldn’t fit her. lol She is a great secret keeper and so thoughtful.

The rest of the day was the usual. Worked and had a nice lunch at a super healthy place with some co workers and at 3:00 sent the students off to Spring Break! YeeHaw!

Went home and had a nice nap and got ready for my night out with my honey.

We went to the Melting Pot…oh man. So good! We had the Mexican cheese fondue starter…with tortilla chips, bread, veggies and apples to dip. I had a California Salad with blue cheese and candied walnuts with a raspberry dressing, hubby had his usual Caesar salad. Then for our main course we had Chicken, duck, steak, shrimp and potstickers in a coq a vin cooking sauce. I’ve never had duck before so that was a fun new thing and I loved it. We finished it off with a Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue with brownies, rice krispy treats, pound cake, strawberries. I think one of the best things other than the food at this place is that it makes you slow down and really enjoy your food and company. It is well worth the $$ for a special occasion dinner.

After dinner we went to see the movie “21″. It was a movie that I could have missed and felt the same as I do after seeing it. It was not so good. It was about 2/3 of the way through and you could have paused it and written the ending without anyone ever telling you and you would be right. Really predictable and cheesy. 1/2 Star out of 5, and that 1/2 is only for being out at ANY movie would have earned 1/2.

We came home and got to bed about 1:30 am…that is 4 hours past my usual bedtime and only 2 1/2 hours before I normally get up. It really was a great day.

Not the most important part, but yet fun…My honey gave me an Angela Adams handbag and a CHI flat iron which I love and have used everyday so far since he gave it to me. (Thanks, Sundie and Kyla. I told you I’d have to get one!) My lovely family gave me lots of fun gift cards which I will enjoy spending!

I am blessed and my true gift is you, my family and friends. Thank you!

Now, to get my butt back to 100% diet. Plllbbbbt.

I want to post about my wonderful birthday, but first I found this article.

Very good (a little long) reading about competing. I’m not really into all the TAO stuff, but the ideas are really good.

We’re going to the Melting Pot for dinner. Yum!

I was going to post a picture of myself 20 a few years back, but can’t seem to locate one right now.

Anyway, I’m a happy girl. God has given me a wonderful family and a few good friends. I’m grateful for my life everyday and hope that I can be an encouragement and a blessing to others.

And as an added birthday gift, Spring Break begins today! Woo HOOOOOO! Partay!

I have been thinking a lot about competing  and BEING a competitor  and what that means for me, right now. It is a part I am playing, a person I become when I train, and when the competition rolls around. But how do I become THAT girl? The one that glides on stage, with the confidence exuding so profusely that the judges can’t help but notice. I want to be that ONE.

So, I have been working on that. I am a bit embarassed to say this, but I got this tip from Tyra Banks on ANTM. She was telling this one contestant that she needed to start playing the part of Supermodel, or else no one will believe you are, least of all you.

Just as an actor prepares for a role. They repeat the lines again and again. Study the character and completely become that person. They believe that for that time they ARE that person and if anyone sees them in the character, their hope is, that they would believe it, too.

I’m walking like a competitor. I practice posing in the mirrors at the gym no matter who’s looking. I dress to compliment my hard work and stand up straight. I hold my head high and imagine walking across that stage, no one ever knowing that my stomach is churning and my heart is beating out of my chest.

I have become what I trained for, ate for and stand up on that stage for. It is no longer a rehearsal, but the real thing. If I  don’t believe it, who else will? And, because I believe it, I will take home the greatest prize: knowing I did all I could  to become the best ME I could be.

Are you becoming what you want to be or are you just a bad actor?

Do you ever wake up fearful of what you were going to see in the mirror, or on the scale, then wrap your whole day around THAT ONE THING?

I had a crazy day yesterday. We had our field trip which was good, but then my schedule got all out of whack and I had about a 4 hour spread from one meal to another. Then I ended up eating a veggie patty and salad, which isn’t on my list and I got in trouble for being late back to school because traffic was so bad. So, I ate very tight the rest of the day. I expected to wake up a bloated fool.

But I didn’t. I got a little extra sleep. I was raring to go and had an awesome shoulder workout. As I was doing my time on the guantlet, I was thinking how focused I am today. Why today?

I need this focus everyday. I cannot base my focus and control on the scale or the mirror. Instead of past success being my main fuel, I  must make my drive to do better than yesterday be my  fuel. I must not use lack of loss or soreness be my excuse to “have  a little  treat” or “do an easy day”. Often when I weigh and I’m the same as before up even up a little, I let that diffuse my drive somewhat. I have to turn that around. I’m looking for that “oh yeah? well, let me just tell you something scale. I’m gonna kick my butt today to show you!”

Today I’m focused. I’m mentally solid. When the waves of doubt and weakness roll in, I’m coming back here, to remind myself that I CAN and WILL push through it and be stronger at the end. And you can, too.

A few side notes:

***I got an amazing two piece yesterday and my one piece should be here for fitting  soon. So exciting!

***The term “shawty” sucks and should be outlawed. So many good workout songs are ruined by this ridiculous, diminutive term.

***I got my first  ever compliment from a FEMALE at the gym. She said “It’s so nice to see a woman with muscle here.” Talk about fuel.

I had my first weight related injury. Pretty good since I’ve been lifting for awhile now that nothing has gone wrong. I was doing decline bench presses and hooked the weight on the right. I guess I just assumed that the other side was there too, so I let go and started to sit up. Well, the barbell met my mouth. I think I had my eyes closed for that second too because I didn’t even see it coming. So, I spent yesterday with a fat lip and now it is bruised underneath and feels just great rubbing across my braces. Thankfully we have a field trip (to BodyWorlds 3) so I won’t have to do much talking.

Also, thank you for all the supportive messages related to my latest pics. After the week I had it was really nice to hear. I’m now back to normal and rolling again. 7 weeks to go.

I was thinking yesterday, at some point I’m not going to compete and will have to learn to live real life. But, I’ll think about that another day.

Here’s the latest. Nitpick away.

Fini.

Let me count the ways!

1.

2.

3.

I was a dork taking pics on my phone in the gym parking lot. But hey, when you got a good pump going you have to record it. My lefty is lagging a bit, but that’s normal. It felt good to walk around the gym like a muscle monster. hee hee. Yeah, I got some looks.

Things have gone considerably well this week considering the arrival of TOM. I even went to the movies today while popcorn was munched and Reeses were inhaled around me, I chugged water. Yes, I did and never caved to one kernal of corn. I’d like to say it was COMPLETELY my will power, but I did get a text from Beka saying she’d hurt me if I touched it. Good enough for me.

On to the weekend. Update pics coming Sunday. Praying for good things, no, GREAT things!

1. I was noticing, while in Ohio, something I thought was interesting. No bathrooms have toilet seat cover dispensers. In California you will have to search pretty hard to find one that doesn’t have them.

So, this leaves me to wonder: Do Ohioans not sit or are Californians germaphobic?

2. There is an ice cream store called Graeter’s in Columbus. I had a scoop of Buckeye Blitz (to honor the state university). Oh wow. That was close to what heaven must be like.

I think today things will be more normal. I felt like this whole week was a blur, which is good I guess. Although, the whole hubby out of town thing was topped by a flat tire yesterday when I went to leave for work. I’m learning to be flexible.

After coming back from the Arnold, I was already behind at work, still a little sick and spouse-less, but now it will be ON for the May 10th show. I’m feeling a little unsure about the Fitness Comp though. Here is the thing, the functional training is just not happening. I think I just need to get to May and then go from there. At the Arnold we watched the Fitness Pro Prejudging. Shyza! Those girls are ripped. At first I was thinking they were figure and was getting upset, then I realized. I mean wow. Crazy bodies!

Kim Klein won…isn’t she gorge?

I’m eating well. Of course PMS reared it’s ugly head this week, but I do notice as I get closer to comp dates, it does subside -IF I am being a good girl. My hubby was glad to be gone during the days of rage. lol

So, since I have to get back to normal that means laundry, vacuuming and crap like that that I love. NOT! Just finished my GIANT 9 egg oatmeal pancake.  I’ll post a pic of it. It is crazy, but most delish! I can hear my muscles thanking me right now!

Alrighty, later my friends.