retrospect 2011

the word for my 2011 has been "POSSIBLE"
 making the seemingly impossible,possible
making what seems so hard to do,possible
making things happen when you need them to possible
learning life lessons are possible...daily.

this time last year,
 this was my list of to-dos:

*compete on the pro stage in the next 18 weeks,and make a name for myself on the pro circuit
*compete in my first triathlon
*PR in a half marathon
*break 20 minutes for a 5k
*get my kids involved in every sport they want to do over the next 12 months
*strive to be and do my personal best each and everyday
*reach and exceed all of the above....
things i WANT to do this year:
*PR in a marathon
*run as many local road races as possible
*get my kids involved in road races as well
*never settle for mediocrity
*reach and exceed all of the above.....

the only things i didn't do was PR in a 1/2 and full marathon,and i didn't break 20minutes for a 5k. everything else,i reached and in a few,i exceeded my own expectations!

lessons learned this year:
its possible to train for a triathlon and figure event. however,in the end,something has to give-and in this situation it was triathlon training. sure i did the work,but if not training for figure,I'm sure my results of the tri would have better.

its possible to train for speed for 5ks and a figure event.while i didn't PR in 5ks this year,i did shave over 4 minutes off my 5k times from the first race i ran after having M (7 weeks) and to the last 5k i ran this year.
HIIT,400 repeats and hill repeats(3x per week) did the trick.

its possible to train for a figure event while pregnant. totally not advisable,(obviously not after the 2nd trimester!!)but it can be done!!!

however,ALL the training,all the prep,all the hard work put in for a figure event did not prepare me for an unexpected and heartbreaking placing.
the biggest lesson i have learned in regards to Figure comps this year is that
i learned that its just as important to be humble in the face of a heartbreaking loss,as is a stunning victory.

i learned that although i am a Pro,i am still a rookie.......
and its a long way to the top.sometimes,when you are thrown at the very bottom of a deep well,you are merely being forced to travel in the only direction left to go,which is straight back UP,right to the top.

i learned that just when i think my body can physically do no more,just when i think i cant lift heavier,cant run further or faster....

it can,
and it does,
even when every fiber in my being tells me it cant.
i learned that i have true grit and am unbreakable!

life lessons i learned this year?
Being a mom is the hardest "job" in the world,yet the most rewarding,challenging and fun thing God could ever ask me to do.
life is 10%  what happens to you and 90% about how you react to it.
Home is where the heart is. Home is your family,whether blood relatives or not.
Family is family,whether you always like them or not.
Life is fleeting,so make the most of it.
Time is irreversible,spend it wisely.
Life is what you make it,so make it awesome!


"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Love the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Kiss slowly. Forgive quickly. God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be worth it...."


so whats in store for my 2012??
i have to think about that one.
that's a whole new post!
 
So what are YOUR 2012 resolutions or goals?
 
hope all have a very happy and safe new years eve!!!
here's to nothing but great things for the upcoming year!!!

2011 part 2 july-december

OK here's the other half of 2011!

July-my husbands birthday,our 9th wedding anniversary,5ks in full swing,2 very exciting moments i will remember forever 1) lil M took her first steps!!! and 2) one of the best days of my life happened. my son ran his very first ever 5k! and the whole family raced that day.what could be better than finally living a day i have been dreaming of for almost 8 years? nothing really,but winning overall female and a $100 gift certificate to the local running store was just more icing on the cake! this was also the first overall win i had made not only
in a new state,but first overall win after having M.

august-a very busy month!! my little baby's first birthday!!! fall sports for the kids started-3 sports and one busy mommy!!full prep mode for the world cup!which proved to be the hardest prep ever to date!! family trip to Busch Gardens. first time kids went to an amusement park. they only rode 1 big kid ride and 2 little kid rides. $300 down the drain! highlight was M meeting the love of her life,Elmo! she ran up and hugged him and loved on him!!school started up for B and A. second grade for B at a new school was hard on him,he missed his old school and all his friends. he learned that re-zoning without moving stinks! on the other hand,A started kindergarten,a big step for her and she has loved every minute so far!!


September- went by lightning fast. sports activities almost every night and games every weekend. didn't give me much time to sit down and breath. training was super intense,still raced a few 5k's and continued to make top 3 and win $$!yet my body was feeling effects of being over trained over the past 9 months.

October-another busy crazy month!!! sports ending for the kids,my big boy's 8th birthday! the big World cup! the end of the hardest prep ever.a heartbreaking placing,life lessons learned,the very very unexpected news about finding out i was pregnant again so soon after the 3rd baby (4 weeks before the show,the day i turned in my entry fee actually!) a great Halloween with all the kiddos,and of course feeling all day sickness for the entire month.


November-thanksgiving road trip to TN,telling family on both sides the big news they already suspected....and still feeling sick. dealt with respiratory issues with A which left me out of the gym,and then we travel for 2 weeks,which also made gym time scarce.


December-busy month gearing up for holidays,getting through another bout of pneumonia with A,Christmas fun with family(without travel and no hitting deers!!),and not running the half marathon i had planned on account of still feeling like dog poo with intermittent all day sickness.
gearing up for 2012!!

so that was the year in summery!did i reach the goals i had made?
what did i learn from all of the adventures?
will save for another post
what did YOU accomplish,big or small the last half of 2011???
what was the single best thing that happened for you in 2011?

2011 recap part 1-january-june

last day of the year???
2011 has flown by!!
going to break this up to save on a really long post.
lots has gone on in Melissa's world this year! writing this more for myself than anything,i guess. something written so i can see what all this year has brought. but feel free to read on!
a brief summery of January-June

January- wanted to kick off the new year on the right foot and started to get myself in prep mode.signed up for my first ever triathlon. my big girls adventure in preschool in a new state started (5 month waiting list)

February-a challenging month.my big girls 5th birthday!! first big birthday party for her where she got to invite lots of new friends from school.dealt with lil M's first bout of being hospitalized with pneumonia in conjunction with the death of my husbands grandfather,spent valentines alone with a sick baby,and by months end added triathlon training in the mix of prep (after 2 weeks off to take care of M.)

March- a good month in regards to the kids health,ran the first 5k of the year,made top 3 and won $20! first ever cash prize for running!went to my very first posing clinic,started to find my inner cheetah/athlete again,and the kids started spring sports. training started to get super intense.

April- WOW! now this was a crazy month!!!! prepping through Easter,prepping through triathlon training,shoulder injury, completing a huge goal i set for myself by surviving my first ever triathlon without drowning! a day i Will NEVER forget! and then after the tri it was crazy mode training for first show of the year.peak week traditions included the baby fracturing her femur and being in a full leg cast,then having respiratory issues the night before my "come back" show..
i did however,accomplish another big goal-to get back on stage only 8 months after giving birth.... then winning overall and a 3rd Pro card in Figure! not expected,but a much needed boost to carry me to the first Pro show of the year.

May-another crazy month! trained like a mad woman for my first pro show of the year,2 weeks after a triathlon i barely made top half to qualify for the World Cup.peak week theme included hubs getting violently ill the day of the show.turned out to be food poisoning..also trained and ran through an IT/hip injury,and still ran a 1/2 marathon a week after the show. i loved running that race even though i didn't race at all! towards the end of the month,my adventure in 5k's started! also thought it would be a good idea to try an NPC show.

June-my birthday!! no cake due to being in prep mode,(or so i thought) but still had a good time with family.on the last day of the month i did something i have never done. i backed out of a show,the NPC show i had planned for in August. as it turns out,this was a very good decision.

so there is the first half of 2011!
major things accomplished:
competed in triathlon
won 3rd pro card 8 months after a baby
finished a 1/2 marathon (didn't PR though,heck,didn't even "race" but it was still good fun run!)
did all of the above within a 4 week time frame (albeit training had been 12 weeks)


July-October get busy so will save for part 2.
so what things did YOU accomplish Jan-June of 2011??
was is what you planned or expected?
tell me about it!

"you'll shoot your eye out,kid"

Christmas recap/highlights in pictures:



yes,this is a real Red Ryder BB gun.....

 Thankfully he hasn't shot his eye out!
Squirrels,birds,tin cans----watch out!!!!

and this princess got Taylor Swift everything...

this little tired princess got a Scout pal

  the commotion of it all made her even more tired,so after a nap....

more presents-her first ever baby running stroller for her dolls

and then later big brother taught her how to play Wii bowling

watch close...

was it a strike? how many pins down?

 yes,it was a touchdown!!! (er,strike!)

and then after Wii,it was dress up time for the lil princess

wish i had a video of the kids on the trampoline Santa brought them. lil M thought it was a track and literally ran circles all over the place!

all in all Christmas was a fun day for us all.
now we are gearing up for a brand new year hopefully full of just as many adventures and fun!!

more on 2011 in next post (will do a highlight recap in sections,inspired by EMZ,a very amazing superwoman--check out her blog asap!)
as well as goals and belly pics!
over 4 months along now! still not feeling well,and since i dont look pregnant yet,i just look like I've gained a lot of weight! gah! bleh! thats one of the hardest parts to get past through out pregnancy (...aside from all the other body changes of course,and lets not mention L&D and what happens during and after.....but its SO worth it all!!!)

,feeling preggo but not looking it and to others who dont know,well i just look like the typical college gal with a beer gut,or to those who see me in the gym and dont know..well im sure it looks like i went way way over board after the show and just ate myself into looking like how i look,LOL!

happy Thursday yall!

Merry Christmas!!!

Just a quick note to wish every one here in blogland a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!!
although we aren't traveling out of state this year (thank goodness! last year packed enough stress to last a while!) things will be busy as we get ready for the new year and everything in between!

in the midst of the hustle and bustle this time of year brings,please be sure to take more than a moment to remember the true meaning of Christmas this year.
I know its hard to not get caught up in the middle off the craziness,but try to spend more time with family,friends and loved ones,
get back to old traditions,or even start some of your very own.
Christmas is what we make of it.there is still time to embrace the spirit and meaning of it all!!

Happy Holidays yall!

2012 plans to be posted soon,as with more belly pics...
this pregnancy is going by really fast so far,perhaps due to keeping up with the 8 year old who has suddenly forgotten what "inside voice" means and thinks its not cool to take a bath anymore,the sassafras 5 and 3/4yr old(,NOT just 5,mom!) who loves to inform me that she KNOWS Santa is watching and i don't have to remind her 100,432,072 times to be good. (if she knows this then why does she still fight with her brother and not clean her room the first time i ask?)
of yeah and the cutest little almost 17 month old who just learned to climb OVER the safety gates in the house..the stairs are no longer off limits in her world (or so she thinks)
she also has a very curiuos mind which translates into mommy having to grow an extra pair of eyes in the back of my head. out of the 3 kids so far,she is the most active one,the daredevil,the escape artist...but golly miss molly, she is so stinkin cute and goofy, and the most fun loving cuddle baby!!! cant help but love all of my babies for who they are!
looking forward to this weekend!!!

Merry Christmas!!

nothing new

nothing new or wildly fascinating to discuss.
my blogging has been slacking,i know!
my only reason?
 last week was a long week.
my daughter is still sick.
yesterday was a long day.
to sum it up quickly:
dr visit,puking up meds...twice(in the dr office-first time fast acting nurses had a bucket-second time,not so lucky-gah!!!),shot of antibiotics in the leg,lots of screaming,chest xray @ hospital,in the process was a mixup between inpatient and outpatient. we were supposed to be outpatient-it was a big mess but husband made sure to get that fixed today.then there was a shortage of supply for daughters much needed prescription meds...and to top it all off,when i picked up dinner,my grilled chicken was fried chicken.
given the past 4 hours i had spent dealing with the above mentioned,i pulled the skin off and had my chicken anyways...yeah it was one of those days!
 the diagnosis for my middle baby?
severe bronchitis.
thank goodness it hasn't progress to pneumonia yet!
follow up with dr tomorrow
so far she seems like she is on the mend..
poor girl has had it rough and has missed a full week of school. she is home today,and maybe,just maybe she will be feeling well enough to go to her class party tomorrow? that's the last day of school before the break,so we will see how she feels.

so that's how it went down last week.
taking care of a sick child,trying to keep the rest of the family healthy, running on little sleep,trying to keep the baby out of the Christmas tree and trying to teach her what is appropriate to throw away in the trash can.
mommy's shoes,her sisters baby dolls,her brothers legos and daddy's socks are NOT on the list!!!!

in other news-
i haven't made it to the gym or for another naptime workout.
i am one tired mamma right now to say the least.
one day soon i will be back to being the fitness super mom,but making sure my middle baby is healthy comes first!

hang with me yall, i will be back at it soon enough..
the adventures of Melissa's fit pregnancy will resume eventually!
in the meantime i will be trying to avoid giving in to the latest cravings of cupcakes (the good kind,like wedding/baby shower cake kind with uber gobs of sweet icing) Chinese food and mayonnaise...
not all together of course!!
but man..... I'm sure i would look something like this after a trip to a Chinese restaurant and dessert at the bakery!

happy Monday yall!

nap time workout

so my middle baby has been sick all week and i haven't been in the gym in 5 days.
to keep me from going crazy i was able to sneak in a 30 min TM session and a shoulder/triceps workout in the living room during nap time and after Alex's breathing treatments and such....

didn't get that much in,but still...something is better than nothing,right????
here's hoping next week i can finally start resuming a regular workout and nutrition plan!!!!!

curse these ramen noodle cravings!!!!

lol!
happy Thursday yall!!!

14wks along-belly pics and rambles

so I'm a few days late posting a belly picture,but here it is...

14wks along,and am officially in the 2nd trimester!!!

and i so dont look how did at 17wks preggo with M

http://melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com/2010/03/belly-picsdo-you-see-twins.html

ahhh well. im trying not to focus on that.trying is the operative word.

now that im feeling slightly better i am hoping to be more consistent in the gym. i did get manage to be in there 3x last week,and was able to run,which felt great! and now today my middle baby is sick so i have to take today and tomorrow off...hoping i can get in 5 days this week and get my miles back up to at least 40+, i really want to aim for 50+,60-70 sounds better,maybe i can get those miles in if maybe 20 or so are from elliptical?

we will see how i feel. one of my goals,aside from a healthy baby and pregnancy,is to stay active and be in the gym at least5x a week if not more.and be active all the way up until d-day.

i don't want to gain a million pounds and will try to keep the gain between 20-25,although it feels i have gained at least half of that already!!! lol!!!

in other other news...

i MISSED a 5k race yesterday. i had my alarm set,and when it went off,i shut the alarm off instead of hitting snooze. i was disappointed i didn't race for a few reasons...

i ran this race last year,except i did the 1/2marathon (yeah 16wks post baby!) instead of the 5k

i really wanted to run!

i wanted top race at least a few races early in this pregnancy,and still do well and win,just how i did last time

and when i looked at the the results from this race,i totally kicked myself in the arse because i so could have made top 3 female,if not overall...

ahh well. next race is on January 1rst.

lets see if i can make an AG award or better!!

anyways,in other news...

life is rolling along pretty fast these days,with Christmas around the corner and chasing after a VERY active 16month old on top of a feisty 5 yr old and a sometimes rambunctious 8yr old...
yeah its always interesting in this house!
we wont talk about how housework seems to never end.
why cant i ever get caught up on laundry???
lol!

so thats about sums things up. i get in the gym when i am feeling good,and hopefully this afternoon/evening sickness fades completely instead of being hit or miss.
i still have heartburn all the time.
still having crazy (for me) cravings,
still planning on being a (big bellied) running fool
and i am really trying to enjoy every last bit of this pregnancy,even the not so fun parts.
this is my last baby,and i know i will miss being pregnant eventually.
OH i almost forgot!!! (yeah major pregnancy brain here)
Terry felt the baby kick last night!!! i have been feeling him for the past few week but last night daddy was able to feel that little kick!

anyways,dinner time here-will leave yall with some pics over thanksgiving!

the holidays arent the holidays unless granny shoots her gun!

 M's first xmas present! (we celebrated xmas and thanksgiving at my MIL)

 happy M!

 out in the country,letting the kids run in the fresh air. lots of acres for the kids to play here!!!!

view on the front porch.
i sure do miss TN!!

happy Monday yall!!!
will try to get to get back to fitness blogging again asap!!!!

ahhhhhh,back at the gym today!

as much as i procrastinated this afternoon about going,i finally just told myself i HAD to get in the gym today. no excuses today aside from rainy weather and a slightly queasy belly.
grabbed a quick snack and wrestled lil M into the car seat and
so glad i got back in the gym!
got in a leg workout and 5 miles on the elliptical.
i am planning on running again this week. 3 weeks without being on a TM.......yeah just doesn't feel normal!

have check up tomorrow.
i am moving into the 2nd trimester this weekend!
so far things are going along OK.
still feel sick at night,and lots of heartburn,i am having crazy cravings,and just generally feel tired.
hoping the 2nd trimester brings more energy and less raw-nee-nee-naw feelings!!

BUT,my main goal here is to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
as long as this little peanut stays healthy,i could care less how i feel!!!

here's hoping to a good day tomorrow and a great workout week!
belly pics this weekend!!

my big fat secret...

hey yall! im back from thanksgiving travel!!! it was a good time in TN,the kids had a blast with thier cousins,we got to see family on both sides,we had AWESOME food (thanks dad!!!!),we didnt want to come back,
but,you gotta do what you gotta do-school and work continues here....
 and of course workouts and such! i have been out of the gym for almost 2 weeks!!!!!
eeeeek!
being out in the middle of nowhereville has its setbacks! (but also tons of perks!will share some pics next post)
i am looking forward to getting back on track and get the kids back on thier schedule and get things going again!
i can not wait to workout today!!!

SOOOOOO
about his secret...
i have been dying to share this a lot sooner. it totally explains why my contest prep was the HARDEST thing to get through! it explains my reason for doing a marathon and taking a year off from competing. it explains why my 2012 plans have to change drastically,it explains why I'm adding a lot more craziness in my life.

some of you may have guessed it,my family sure did,even after i denied it and hid it for about 7 weeks,lol!
so the big fat secret?
the big unexpected event in my life i was NOT expecting?
yup.....
BABY #4 is on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!

and yes,this means i was pregnant on show day. a very sick, pregnant lady was gracing the stage at the World Cup! i was 8 weeks along then,and i am 12 weeks along now.
i found out about this little miracle the same day i turned in my entry fee.
4 weeks before the show.

 i was torn about what to do,BUT in the end,i decided that i had worked too hard for this to just stop so close to the biggest show of my life.the worst that could happen is that i would come in the show looking softer than normal,which i did...i just wasn't planning on feeling so sick and my tan being jacked,lol!


while i don't recommend anyone to ever compete while pregnant,
its possible,and
i am proud of myself for making it through this prep,for modifying things i needed to-although to be honest i didn't modify much. i did have to slow down with sprinting,and i did modify nutrition. i cut carbs sooner in order to combat my body's natural need to hold on to fat while pregnant.
At 4 wks out,i still had an inch to loose in my waist,and 1/2 inch to go in my hips.
trying to loose when your body is programmed to GAIN? ugh!!!!! very hard to do!

the positive is that since i was only 8 weeks along on show day,my body was still in the early stages of pregnancy,so even though it was hard to lose,it was still possible and safe to do so.
(but trust me,if i was further along,i would have chosen not to compete)
i talked about this with my Dr,and since she knows i am not like the average person,she gave me the green light to go for it. My body is conditioned and used to the vigorous regime of exercise,so she assured me no harm was being done to the baby.
The baby is like a parasite,and what it doesn't get from outside sources,he will take from the mommy-
which means i felt like dog poo!!!!!
and boy did I!
waking up to do cardio when feeling nauseated and exhausted,making myself eat chicken which made me literally gag and dry heave.
trying to drink water,which made me feel even sicker..
making myself get through a workout when i barely had the energy,attempting to sprint like a mad woman on my speed days,even when i felt like i was going to puke,
telling myself the entire time that i really must be crazy for doing this....

yeah the list could go on,but ill spare the details...
all in all, all though I'm glad i followed through with my plans to compete,i have never been more relieved to have a prep over in my life!!!
i feel i can finally sit back now and enjoy the pregnancy!

so,there it is,the big secret is finally out!
whoooo!
and no worries,I've been making plans for 2012 and 2013.
my main focus after the baby gets here (June!) is to run,to build my base and then in late October or early November of 2012 run my first full marathon. I've done plenty of half marathons before and my training runs have been comparable to Marathon training,but i have never committed myself for a full 26.2!!

I'm excited about it. the good news is that i can still run while pregnant and even though i cant run fast,i can still build my mileage.

i am planning on several 5ks throughout 2012 as well,
perhaps a possible triathlon or 2,there are a few local sprint triathlons in November.
and then 2013 will be my year to get back on the stage.
i do plan to change organizations. I will be trying to climb ranks through NGA and WNBF.
the IFPA World Cup has changed locations to AZ next year,and even if did qualify for it,i wouldn't be able to make the travel.
and for me to qualify i would have to compete about 8-12 weeks after the baby is born.
to be honest,i want to give myself a full year to get ready to be on stage again. i don't want to settle for top 5. next time i am on stage i want to WIN. next time i am on stage,it will be for my personal redemption,it will to be take home the gold,and it will be to prove to myself that i can do this at the pro level,and do it well.
i want to make my comeback show nothing less than awesome!
sure,in the grand scheme of things placement does not matter,this is such a subjective sport that placings are no big deal....its the journey that matters,
BUT a win at the pro level would sure help validate things even more!

while I'm patiently waiting for summer to arrive so i can meet the new addition to the family,you can bet i will still be in the gym,still running,still lifting,and of course i will use this blog as a pregnancy journal. i will give monthly belly pictures like i did last time and plan on listing workouts and such.

one thing i have learned through my last pregnancy is that pregnancy is NOT an illness. you can still workout and do everything you did before,but with modifications after the second trimester.
(which reminds me,next week i will hit the 2nd trimester!! really???)
and you can still get your body back after having children....I'm living proof!
looking back at pictures i still cant believe i looked like that so soon after having a baby...
but its totally possible!!!
 guess i learned a lot this year about what is possible,but I've rambled on long enough so will save that for a different post.
the big question I'm getting now (aside from how many more kids are you having?and btw i am done at 4,this is my last baby!!)
is this:

 am I going to add size/mass for my next show??

at this point i am undecided.
so yall just have to follow me along and find out what i finally decide!
 anyways,hope yall have a great rest of the week-i need to catch up blogger and see what everyone was up to over the holidays!

Happy Thursday!

bags packed

ready to hit the road in 4 hours!
making the long 12-14hr drive(depending on how many stops it takes with 3 small kids)
back home to TN!
will be MIA for a week or so..
my MIL lives out in nowhereville,TN and i am so ready to be in that little log cabin out in the woods,towards the bottom of the hollar,and close to the farm...

(from those who arent from the south hollar(also spelled holler in some areas, especially Kentucky)  is  very old Southern USA term meaning "down the road a spell" or, more accurately, "down in the valley a ways.")

true country living still exist in these parts...
it will be a breath of fresh air for us all,away from the hustle and bustle of city life!


hope all have a wonderful,happy and safe thanksgiving!!!!
just make the best of it and remember all the reasons you have to be thankful for so many things in life!

2012 plans to be coming soon!

i've asked a lot from myself

wow,its been almost a week since i blogged?
well, I'm still here.
I'm still in the gym but only about 4x per week.
i should have stopped this de-loading phase last week,but am really enjoying the non pressure of just being in the gym for the sake of lifting,and not thinking about lifting heavy or speed work.
although i have started running again...and it feels good! to just run for the sake of running!

normally,i would be driving myself crazy right now,telling myself to find another athletic goal ASAP,telling myself i have to always be doing something to push myself harder,always wanting to do and be more....

but last week as i was running,i had a moment of clarity (yup,i seem to always have my best thoughts/ideas/epiphanies while running).

my big thought?
i have asked a lot from my body this year.
i have asked it to recover faster than normal from the birth of child #3,
i made this body ready to compete in my first ever sprint triathlon,
then turn around 2 weeks later to win my 3rd  figure pro card almost 8 months after having a baby.

i forged through with running to win (in my shock) a local 5k race (and $100!) as well as make several first in age group placings in local road races (and win more $$$)!.
i also put the huge task and physical strain on this body to qualify for the World Cup....

and i did! and i was able to compete on the World Cup stage!

so yes,my body has been through a LOT of hard training over the past 10 months. i have ran 1818.78 miles and have spent over 300 hours training.
i asked so much from myself his year,no wonder my body is enjoying this break!!!

BUT 2012 is just around the corner,and i am gearing up to ask much more of myself..
i will enjoy the "rest" now,
big plans are coming next year,
i am adding more things in my schedule aside from a Marathon!
stay tuned to find out what!
oh yeah and about that secret...just a few more days-then the reveal!

happy Thursday yall!
will promise to pick back up with regular blogging/commenting soon!!

things i learned along the way...true grit,i am unbreakable

*Warning: long post ahead*

I've always considered myself a strong person,physically and mentally,
and in regards to emotions,well lets just say I've been described as stoic by others.
You don't have to be an athlete to be a strong person from the inside out.
i know plenty of non athletes,non competitors who have more true grit in real life than anyone else-

(my grandmother being a prime example)
and i am reminded of what my Opa had to say about building inner strength and character...
something along the lines of:

i think life molds you,

circumstances,choices,decisions,actions and reactions,all make you who you are and how you handle yourself in the world.

and yes,he alluded to having grit.
What is this grit?

"firmness of mind or spirit; unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger."
(Webster Dictionary)

But if you get right down to it, "grit" is an attitude, a belief that you can conquer anything, if you stick with it. It's a belief in yourself, a determination to win, a plan for success. It's sticking to a job until "it sticks to you." It's not giving up, nor giving in. It's putting your best into a project. It's not giving in to your five-year-old when she wants ice cream before dinner. Where I come from,we also call it "spunk," or "full of spit," or just plain "determination."

"Your determination determines the determination of your life"

Grit is that the person who tackles the problems in life head on, deals with the trials of life and living, and looks on problems as challenges and the sound of potential defeat as a call to action.
It is the never-give-up, never-give-in, act-not-react type of individual, who has "True Grit," and who, when confronted by an adversary, spits in his eye.

So what does this all have to do with things i learned along this latest journey of mine to the Pro stage?
yup you guessed it.
Grit.
i found it....

i already figured out that i am way more stronger than what i ever imagined,physically,mentally and emotionally.
i learned that just when i think my body can physically do no more,just when i think i cant lift heavier,cant run further or faster....
it can,
and it does,
even when every fiber in my being tells me it cant.
i learned that i miss having energy to play for hours with my children towards the end of prep.
i learned that my body loves and needs carbs.without much of them,i turn into a very grouchy mommy.
i learned that its just as important to be  humble in the face of a heartbreaking loss,as is a stunning victory.
i learned that although i am a Pro,i am still a rookie.......
and its a long way to the top.sometimes,when you are thrown at the very bottom of a deep well,you are merely being forced to travel in the only direction left to go,which is straight back UP,right to the top.

but one thing that is standing out for me about what i have learned,is learning something about myself.
well realizing something from a different perspective i should say...
2 things actually.
the most obvious...
i found i have Grit. True Grit,just like John Wayne!
and the 2nd...

remember the last post about "normal"?
well,i have never wanted to be that. i have always strived to be above average in everything i have set out to do,and this has transcended into not only athletics,but in all aspects of life.

and i think it has finally sunk in that I,and other people in this subculture of physique competitions are a different breed.(this can even be said of extreme athletes,such as triathletes and endurance and Olympic athletes)
it takes a special type of person to be a Figure (bodybuilder,fitness,bikini,etc) Athlete.

it takes nothing less than true grit,nothing less than an intrinsic desire to reach and exceed expectations,not only of yourself but of others as well.

it takes discipline,strong will and a desire to never give up,no matter what the circumstances are.
it takes a special drive to push the body to its breaking point,even when you feel its past that point,even when the mind is screaming at you to stop,
hell,even when your body is screaming at you to stop....
you don't.
you keep going
above and beyond thresholds you didn't know existed until you broke through them...

it takes going that extra mile,doing that extra lift,adding more when you want to do less,
and yet some days it takes training smarter not harder....

it takes a sense of fine tuning your physique and knowing and understanding nutritional limits,nutritional science and how it all plays a role for the bigger picture...
not only for show day,but for overall physical health and nutrition.
and it takes applying all of this,this entire mindset, to real,everyday life.
this is how you know you are an athlete for life.
when there becomes no real "off season".

so even though i wont compete in figure for another year or so,i still feel like i will always be that crazy head athlete. its just a part of me,not the whole part mind you. theres more to me than just fitness!!!

BUT bottom line,i learned that yes,i am not "normal",and in the whole process of training for this last show,i realized that i really do have more true grit inside of me than i ever thought.
i learned that i can get through anything life throws at me
i learned that i am unbreakable.

and just before i was about to post this,i read something from Jennifer's blog today and thought i would share it here.
I AM UNBREAKABLE
 By: Lucas G. Irwin


Most people don’t understand, but you’re ok with that. For you, training is not a hobby or a social activity; it is a way of life. Those around you say that you are obsessed, taking it too far and possibly insane. They can’t understand why you won’t eat birthday cake, why you bring Tupperware full of chicken to a party or why you go to sleep early on a Friday to rest up for a Saturday training session. But you don’t care. Their accusatory tones, sarcastic remarks and insults are merely cotton bullets firing at a titanium wall of perseverance known as YOU. You know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that any negativity that surrounds you is fueled purely by jealousy. Jealous that you are capable of unconditionally committing to something that most cannot stick to for more than a few weeks as part of their yearly resolution. Jealous that you gladly embrace a level of pain, discomfort and fatigue that others cringe at the idea of suffering a fraction of. Jealous that you take time to count carbs, protein, fats and calories while they count their chicken nuggets to make damn sure their 10 piece isn’t a 9 piece. In short, they’re Jealous of YOU. Ironically, all the comments, nagging and questioning that is meant to break you down a little, does just the opposite. Every negative word reminds you of how special and uncommon your mechanical allegiance to training really is, in turn, pushing you harder. So bring it on! Let them call you obsessed, crazy or insane and watch you get stronger with every word. The only one who can slow you down is yourself. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, you are both an immovable object and an unstoppable force……
YOU ARE UNBREAKABLE.


Let your mantra for this week be this: Get Grit...... and be unbreakable!


Happy Friday yall!!!!!

taking a step into "normal"

and going back to my roots..... (more on that in a minute)

so the past 11 days i have been walking on the "normal" side of life.
(does normal really exist though? ahhh,the blurry lines of distinguishing what is normal and what isn't. in my opinion,no one is "normal"!)
 but for this situation,
"normal" meaning:
NOT waking up before dawn to run,NOT planning workouts for the day (no worries,I've still been in the gym!) NOT pre-making meals (no cooking chicken by the pounds!really?) NOT going balls to the wall in the gym EVERYDAY,
NOT running at 10PM after the kids are asleep, NOT dreaming about food,NOT feeling guilty about watching Food Network....
and not feeling guilty about a million pieces the occasional piece of Halloween candy, possibly daily.
oh and finally being able to have coffee...WITH pumpkin spice creamer!

so this is what "normal" feels like?
eh....although i am really enjoying the sense of nutritional freedom (i think I've baked more this past week than i have in a while-from pumpkin chocolate chip cookies,cupcakes,hashbrown casserole,twice baked spaghetti,etc,etc...)
i am already missing the structure of prep and am ready to get back to MY normal....

my normal meaning:
*crazy workout plans(-ie laying in a puddle of blood,sweat and tears and actually wanting to repeat the process the next day-yes im sick like that)
*listing goals
*structured meal planning (but with room for moderation of course! skipping the treat bites everyday and going back to my normal of  modified cheat meal 1x per week,with the usual healthy stuff during the week)
*enjoying running
*loving to lift
*reaching and exceeding expectations
* being my typical, "crazy head athlete" self

over the past 11 days i have learned something about myself. but will save that for tomorrow's post!
(things i learned along the way)
over the past 11 days i have felt my strength return in the weight room,my patience levels have increased with my children,and i generally feel like things are getting back on track after the show.
of course,aside from the post show bloats. i swear i feel like i have gained 454,677,887.9 pounds.
each time i make a vow to myself to reverse my nutrition plan,but to be honest,i haven't this time.
and the weird part?
i don't feel guilty.
my body NEEDED the break
i gave into my cravings
and i am easing back into my "normal".
and i am feeling good about this decision.

i am also feeling good about transitioning  into an "off season" (do they really exist??)
i am making a choice to go back to my "roots".
not the genealogical kind,but going back to my first passion,the place i feel most at home.....

i am making and finalizing my 2012 plans and athletic adventures.
one big hint??

26.2

yes,im taking the plunge into Marathoning!
how can i do this while also trying to get size for my next show?
part of that falls into place with my big secret(stay tuned for the big reveal!)
and part of that secret is the reason i am incorporating more crazy things (aside from shows) in my life....
its going to be a crazy ride yall!!
more on that later!!

but,back to basics here,
 i do know that i am going back to running,
i am going back "home"...
(and may join  Jennifer on the dark side in the near future.....)

these past 11 days i have taken a step into normal,only to find i like my normal better (with room for moderation)
these past 11 days,i have felt more at ease than ever after a show,
i have a sense of calm and a clear sense of the path i need to be following,
it may be a crazy head athlete path,but its my path,and I'm excited to be making a new journey in 2012!!!

top 5-and feedback

ok top 5
from left to right,2nd,3rd,1rst,5th,4th



picture courtesy of photoreflect
so far,the judges feedback comes down to three things

1) SIZE:
i am WAY too small. i need to get bigger shoulders and a stronger V. i need to build more mass,bottom line.
2) POSING:
my posing was off. i wasn't displaying my physique in a way that gave me justice. i have to learn a better way to showcase my strong points,and minimize my weak points. my presentation could have been better as well.
i do agree with this 100%. i was sick and felt physically unable to flex and keep things tight 100% on stage. i did try,but needed to get in my stance and readjust several times.that was noticed!!!
3) TANNING
my tan was very splotchy and it showed on stage. it was even called "distracting". GAH!!!
my days of Dream Tan are over,next show i will be using spray tan LSR

and one glimpse of feedback i received threw me for a loop,and i don't agree with. (HOWEVER,in this judges defense,i did not see myself on stage,they see me at angles i cant see myself,so i know i looked different to them,than i looked backstage,and i looked different when posing is not well.)
i was told i was way too soft and that my glutes need work. i was also told that if i brought the same detail as i did last show,i would have placed better......
hmmm,last show i was way too lean and detailed.

so there it is.
i have some thinking to do.
one thing i do know for sure is that i am taking a full year off of competing.
yup,1 full year.

i know I've said this a hundred times before,but i really do want to take a moment to say to thank you (again)to all of you,for all the kind words and support i have received on this blog!!
it truly means so much to me,
and even though i wont be competing next year,
(ok,so maybe there might be one show i have my eye on in 2012)
you can bet i have some killer plans for 2012...
stay tuned to find out...
oh and about that secret...stay tuned for that as well
:D

TGIF yall!!!!!!!!!
time to make a pumpkin roll and some home made chicken noodle soup on this wonderful,cold fall day!!!
i love this weather and love it that i can finally sit back,relax and start enjoying this holiday season!!!!
Christmas shopping starts tomorrow!!!!!!!!

picture-this is what i brought to the stage....

i am at a loss for words...

i cant explain this one...


http://www.thenaturalmusclenetwork.com/IFPA/Contests/resultsIFPA20111029MD.html


but i guess attitude is everything!!!!

i will be eagerly awaiting judges feedback on this one,
i know my tan was FUBAR,
i know my posing was off,
i was sick.
i am hoping that is why.
because my physique was lean and conditioned,especially in comparison to the the 2 gals who placed above me.
posing can do either great or horrible things to the physique.i am sure(at least hoping!) that is what threw me under the bus.....


oh boy, i so want to tell a secret but i have to wait,
all i can say is that i thought i did well considering everything going on,
i am humbled to say the least,

its a long way to the top,and sometimes you have to hit bottom in order to be forced to travel the only direction you can,which is right back up to the top...


 it is what it is,
live,learn,grow,move on...
attitude is everything!!!!!
although i would be lying to say i am not heartbroken,
to say i don't feel disappointment,
to not feel mad at myself for not pushing through harder on my posing......
the list could go on with my mixed bag of emotions right now....

BUT
 i am choosing to learn from this
 and will use this as a catapult to make my "comeback" show better than ever!!!!

this is all i have so far....

so i finally found a single picture!!! right before i was about to go on for t-walk....
i love my curly hair!!!
and you can see my husband walking towards me in the black t-shirt with long sleeves underneath!
will post more pics once i can!!

halloween!

me,my husband and all 3 babies went trick or treating last night...
we all had a great time and little mckinnley discovered the taste of kitkats!!!! and a lolipop!
lol! this was her first experience trick or treating and she had so much fun!!!! wish i had more pics,but here are just a few!


i had an 80's rocker,GI Joe,and a little 50s girl.....

and oh yeah,not only did i eat too many sweets,i broke out in the crazy rash all over my body-it started right after the show and i am itchy like crazy!!!!!!!

attitude is everything!-show recap!

hi all! sorry for the delay in posting-i have not been feeling well lately!
first thing first-i don't know my placing just yet. i didn't make top 5,but I'm pretty sure I'm 6th. of course i could be totally wrong. this was by far the toughest class i have ever been up against!!!!
and this was by far the best show I've been to in regards to things running on time and very very very well ran backstage. awesome expediters,great promoter,and a very entertaining event (from what i saw of it!)

SO,ill try to make this recap brief-
we will start on Friday-2 hours of sleep,up early to head off to check in. got my polygraph,my numbers,and was off back home to get a 2nd coat of tan.
cleaned house,tried to eat,but wasn't feeling well at all.
managed to eat 4oz of rib eye steak with 1/2 a sweet potato and called it a night!
well, i was up ALL night. no sleep what so ever.
3AM i roll out of bed,get my final coat of tan on and at 4AM my glam squad Tracy came over to get hair and makeup did.
my tan wasn't dry when she came over,but i put my suit and clothes on anyways,which later turned out to be a big mistake.
so by now i am feeling lousy,my stomach is very upset. i try to eat and actually had 3oz of steak and 1/2 a sweet potato. i felt a little bit better and was able to enjoy tracy's company in the wee hours of the morning.
5:30 my hair is almost done,but i need to leave by 5:45.
5:35 the babysitter shows up,
5:45 my make up is being applied.
6:00AM we should have left 15 minutes ago.
in my rush to leave the house,i forgot my camera.
i forgot bikini bite
i forgot my green zip up jacket.
i felt very unprepared and disorganized.
but i took a deep breath and told myself that attitude is everything. i didn't need to worry about the small things today.
this was my day,and even though i had EVERYTHING going against me (this is an entirely different post to be coming soon) i decided right then and there to just roll with the punches and just sit back and enjoy the moments on stage,enjoy the time being able to be on this stage I've worked so hard to get to...and of course to not worry about anything and just have fun and do my best...
SO we leave the house at 6:05
it is pouring rain and almost freezing outside. snow was expected!
a cold, wet,dark dreary ride to the show...
i start feeling sick again.
7:42 we arrive.
18 minutes till show start and i had to do final touches on makeup and hair(which my hair looked GREAT btw!) and of course try to fix my tan.
thank goodness my husband had a trainer pass and was backstage with me!!!!!
he did the best he could with my splotchy tan and did great job at reassuring me everything would be OK.
then it was a mad dash to get lined up backstage. didn't have time to pump up aside from some pushups,and oh snap i forgot lip gloss!
oh well,no time to really get nervous,i just knew that from what my husband told me about this being a tough class,and from what little i got to check out the other girls in my class....yeah i KNEW i would have to bring it,i KNEW this would be the hardest show of my life.
and we filed on stage.
i got moved around some,towards the middle at first and then towards the ends. i knew once i was compared to the 1 and 2 gals,i was moving down in ranks.*sigh*
we were up onstage for about 25 minutes,holding quarter turns forever and a day.
and yall, i felt SO SICK. i thoughht i was going to throw up or pass out on stage.
i did my best to keep my composure,i tried to mask it,but my husband saw right through it. i heard him holler for me in the crowd,which helped some,and i would look to him to see if i was posing OK...
i was never more relieved to walk off stage!
i did feel confidant that i was able to hold my own,even though i didn't make top 5.
i felt happy with how my physique looked on stage and i KNOW there is nothing i could have done differently to have looked any better,especially given the circumstances leading up to the show (again,another post on that one)
all in all,i had given it my best shot.

i needed a few minutes backstage to get my stuff ready and to try to feel better. i needed to get some fresh air and be outside so me and my husband left the venue for a while. we went to burger king. he got a mocha joe iced coffee and hash browns and i just sipped on the coffee (yuuuuum!)
i started feeling a little better. it was really nice to just enjoy time with my husband,without the children running around. it may have been a cold,snowy,sleety rainy day,but i did enjoy that time sitting in parking lot with my feet up and relaxing with my man!we talked about the lineup and tried to figure out my placing based on how the judges moved us around. we both thought i was 6 or 7...
10:00 we get back to the venue,watch the end of BB and then off we go backstage to try to work on that tan of mine!
it was freeeezing backstage.
i get touched up and try to pump up,but i was still cold. time for t-walks now.
i am 8th/20 to go on.
i walk out to Ozzy.
'im not going away"
totally not expected,i was the only figure gal to have old school rock!
my t-walk was mediocre.
i just did basic poses,nothing sassy,sexy or classy likemost of the other girls.
ms plane jane...
oh well,
attitude is everything!
so i watch the other girls and had a really good time backstage freezing my rear off with the other girls. all of the pro ladies were so down to earth and it was really nice to be able to hang out with them and just feel relaxed and at ease.
time for awards,i knew i wanst top 5,but held my breath anyways,lol!
i hang around to watch the tall girls and then it was time to go,i was freezing,tired,hungry and ready to go home and see my babies!
didn't stay for rest of show or to talk with judges.
i KNOW what i need to work on.
I'm too small.
i don't have the mass some of these girls have.
I'm not sure if i was too lean or not this show,i didn't think i was,but my husband said i looked really really small on stage.
i did email the judges so I'm sure i will hear something soon.
i do have some decisions to make about competeing (again another post here!)

so the next stop on the way home.
subway!
the.best.sub.ever!!!!
subway club with cheese!!!
 and sun chips,and a diet coke...yeah only in America,i know!

and then it was home and spending time with the kiddos and baked pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!
I've been ina  sugar induced coma since then...i really need to slow down on the sweets,LOL!!!

so there is the long recap!
although it wasn't the day i was expecting to have,i am so proud of myself for pushing through with prep and being able to walk on that stage without feeling like i didn't belong there!
this was by far THE hardest prep i have ever had,emotionally,mentally and physically.. a lot of things were going against me,but i pushed through and made it to the stage!!!!
but as I've said time and time again,attitude is everything here. although things were hard,i tried not to stress,i tried not to make mountains out of mole hills,because if i did,things would have been a lot harder!!
 i do want to take moment to say a huge THANK YOU to all of those who have supported me along this journey and have been cheering me on along the virtual side lines!
it really does mean so much to me!
thank you to each and everyone of you!!!!!!!!
will try to find pictures and post them soon,i didn't have my camera with me at the show so i have to wait for stage pics to be up online...
grrrrrr
oh well,hope all are having a great Tuesday!
for those still reading along,bless your hearts! congrats for making it through the novel!
: D

blinged out

finally finished stoning my suit!!!
800+ stones later and here is a sneak peak:
excuse the blurry-ness,these pictures don't even show half of how sparkly it is!

Friday I'm headed off to check in and then after that its more coats of tan,and getting the house picked up and show bag packed.
and then i will be looking to my pre-comp meal of a big fat juicy steak with sweet potato!
nom nom nom nom......

and then in 36 hours,i plan to get major carb faced and I'm sure i will wake up Sunday morning looking something like this:

happy Thursday(almost friday!) yall!!!

last chance workout :D

AM cardio:50 minutes running done!
afternoon workout: DONE!
legs/shoulders/abs/tris
4x24 single leg leg press jumps
4x18 hip abd
4x18 hip add
4x15 lying leg curl
4x12 upright rows ss w
4x30 dirty 30's
giant set of
4x15 hack straight leg dead leg lifts
4x15 DB overhead triceps extension
4x12 DB lateral raises
4x12 front raises ss w
4x15 DB kickbacks with twists
3x12 military press ss w
3x10 dips
quad set of
3x30 weighted hip ups
3x30 weighted russian twists
3x12 pikes off ex ball
3x1 minute plank with alternating lateral arm movement

immediately afterwards:
30 min HIIT on elliptical. (5 miles)
1 min on/1 min off
total sweatfest.

PM cardio: DONE!
 after kiddos went to bed i ran another 5 miles on the TM.
i am officially DONE with workouts!
now its up to nutrition,water and tons of good luck to carry me to the stage in less than 72 hours!

yay!
to say i have been burning my candle at both ends is an understatement,
my body NEEDS the rest on Thursday and Friday.....well "rest" from the gym.
still a busy next 2 days until show day.

its the final countdown yall!
I'm getting excited!!!!
and my husband cant wait to get his wife back. she has been temporarily replaced with Ms.Moody Cranky Pants.
she will be gone soon,promise!!!!
heres praying to the prep gods i come in on stage looking how i need to
and that all stays stress free,
everything will run smoothly
and that i can trust the process!
happy wednesday yall!

pics-smoke and mirrors

so i finally got a couple pics to upload.....this is how i was looking was at two weeks out

 and this is where i was at 4 days ago

im doing my best to stay positive here!!
one good thing is that i ALMOST done stoning my suit!!!!
i ran out of stones and am waiting on more to come in tomorrow. should be done by Thursday-i am excited about that...
i am also getting really excited to be able to eat "real food" after the show.
4 days left!
gah i have literally been dreaming about food.
th other night i dreamed i was eating homemade chocolate chip pumpkin cookies after eating lomein noodles,fried rice and big bowl of cereal with a banana sliced on top...
how crazy is that???
just had to LOL on that one...
I've had crazy dreams during prep before,always involving being on stage wwithout a tan and in horrible condition,or forgetting my shoes or suit,or makeup.....
but food dreams?too. funny.

anyways,
tomorrow is my last chance workout,
I'm actually looking forward to it!
its legs/tris/abs/shoulders on the agenda,followed by sprints and then i plan on running until my wheels fall off that night.....

for those competitors out there,
what is the craziest dream you have had during prep?

measurements-1 wk out

still not able to get pics on here!
gah!
but i am seeing changes.
measurements:
waist-20.5"
hips-29.5"
thigh-14.5"
arm-9.4"

because my shoulders have grown some,i am seeing a slightly stronger V,my back has gotten a touch more thickness to it,and has kept the detail work in as well...
my abs are there,i just can not figure out how to get them to pop out when im in heels!
shoulders are finally capped off nicely,
my legs,well i am very impressed with how they are looking.glute/ham tie in is there,hams are split as with quads,and i can see glimpses of the 4th head of the quads if i flex just right.....

now its just the hoping and praying that my body holds out on me and does nothing crazy during peak week. if i can just maintain what i have now,then i will be bringing in a hopefully more competitive package to the stage...
4 more days left to hit the weight room
and then its up to nutrition and water (and some good luck) to carry me through until show day!

:D

peak week

well, even though that doesn't start until tomorrow,the misadventures of peak week have already begun. (yes,every peak week has started off bad,EVERY one)
my middle baby has caught the sickies i had and was up all night puking.
I'm sure its just a matter of time before the other 2 catch it it as well.
as most know by now,i have a phobia of vomit.
this will be a nerve wracking week for me to say the very very least!!!!
ill be a sanitizing fool for the next week.
don't know when i can get in workouts seeing as my husbands work schedule is crazy busy.

heres to a better day tomorrow and a hopefully stress free rest of peak week?????????

back in the saddle again...

thank you everyone for the kind words/comments on my last posts!
the positive vibes were felt,and I'm feeling a little better.
I'm back at it-back in the gym,back with cardio,back on track with nutrition....

I've had some tough workouts these past 2 days,and by tough i mean pansy.and by pansy,i mean pansy as in light weights.
but its something,and that's better than nothing.

i hope i can try to find the energy inside and crank out 6 more days of workouts. i hope the little sickness wasn't a huge setback,I'm still a little bloated over,but hopefully by this weekend,things will be looking better.
i will try to post pictures this weekend.
camera is still not wanting to upload pics!
grrr.
9 days left.
i can do this.
i am stronger than what i think...
this is the time where i have to step up or shut up,where i have to dig deep and push hard when my body doesn't feel like it can go anymore,and then after that,push myself even more.
time to play the game!

:D

sick

oh no! 11 days out from this show and i am sick.
was up all night.
not much is staying down.
im feeling like dog poo right now.i am  hoping this passes ASAP.
this is not a good time to be getting depleted right now!!

and yes lacey,i have been thinking about you and when you wrote this post:
http://shesinyourface.blogspot.com/2011/09/perspective.html

heres hoping i feel better soon and am able to resume contest prep as usual by tomorrow!!!!

birthday boy!

i cant believe that my first born baby turned 8 today!!!!
he is so awesome.
i am truely blessed to have such a wonderful young man!!

seems like yesterday he was holding his first little sister...

 and wow,it feels like less than yesterday he was my sweet lil baby boy!

of course he will ALWAYS be my sweet baby!
where is time going by????
happy birthday to my monkey mo Bailey!

2 weeks out!

yeah 12 days now!
my camera is down so no pics until it works again!
ugh!
but i am seeing small changes
measurements-
waist-20.6"
hips-29.8"
arms-9.4"
legs-14.6"

lots going on here in the Cunningham house.(hence the semi MIA in blogland) busy with sports and school stuff with the kids,and of course keeping up with a 1yr old and getting workouts in and cardio and staying on point with nutrition..
so a run down with prep:

physically-exhausted. counting the days until AM/PMcardio is over with.my body is really feeling the training.
my strength is WAY down. seriously,10lb DBs feel like 50lbs!
 little sleep (thanks to my lil teething party girl) and over training makes for long days.
mentally-to be honest,at times i'm having a hard time staying focused. i am still staying on point with nutrition and workouts,even though i could totally choke slam someone right now for a frappacino and/or fresh baked bread!!!
i just try to tell myself to take it one rep,one mile,one hour,one meal,one day at a time!
one mental block i am having right now is trying to feel more positive about going in this show fuller and not as detailed. for some reason,even though i know i will go on stage in great condition,i fear i wont feel i am stage ready and will totally be blown out of the water on show day.
 yeah i know totally silly-but its one of those thoughts in the back of my head.
i always have these doubts so close to a show.....

emotionally-ready to do this!ready to get back to "normalcy"after the show. my husband wants his wife back and is really wanting to feed this gal more carbs and soon! i get cranky when i start to taper carbs! am really trying to keep things in check though. although my energy and patience levels are very low right now,life is still moving right along and just cause mamma is tired,dont mean i can slow down any at all!!

in other prep news,i received the roster of the lineup for the show.
16 gals.
tough gals.
good news is that there will be 2 classes,so i wont be with the tall girls this time!

this will be a hard show to place at. every single girl competing is out to win this.
in a way,knowing who is going to be there has helped calm the nerves some. I've been on stage with at least half of these girls before. I'm feeling slightly intimidated,but slightly excited to be able to share this stage with this group of ladies!

its getting down to the wire now! I'm just hoping and praying my body holds out for 12 more days!!!!!
:D
today's workout was surprisingly good considering i was really tired and sore!


plyos-30 minute sweatfest...NO REST in between cycles this time

cycle 1: (each exercise 30seconds)
weighted sumo squat with explosive jumps,traveling russian jumps,knee tucks,lateral sprints,front raises

cycle 2:
jump lunges,lateral step up and overs,mountain climbers,gazelle bounds,DB flys

cycle 3:
double box jumps low to high,weighted ski lunge,blurpies,kareoki

then ended with hack deadlifts,traveling lunges,reverse traveling lunges and mule kicks.
ran out of time to do sprints but will playcatch up tomorrow!
so I'm going to keep this ball rolling....this is my last full week of workouts!
i gotta make every workout count...
I've got a pro show to win............(but ill take top 5!)

i call it the booty shaker....

plyos today,but the giant set i did AFTER totally left my glutes on fire!
the exercises?
15 DB stiff legged deadleg lifts on upside down BOSU
30 DB traveling lunges
30 DB REVERSE traveling lunges
12 pistol squats,(each leg)and I'm talking ATG here....
30 seconds rest,repeat 4x.....

by the 2nd set my muscles were shaking,aching and burning!
 the plyo work:
3 rounds of 3 cycles:

group 1:
box jumps-low to high
blurpies
weighted ski lunge
lateral sprints
group 2:
weighted jump lunges
weighted lateral step ups
mountain climbers
gazelle bounds
group 3:
weighted sumo squat with explosive jump
traveling Russian jumps
jump tucks
karaoke

by the last cycle,that karaoke looked like a sideways shuffle...
ended with about 5 miles on elliptical
just finished up 6 miles running on the TM while the kids are in bed.
i am one tired mamma!!!
this week will be busy with ball games every night,and then my sons birthday in 6 days!!!
he wants to make lots of treats,like cupcakes and chocolate covered marshmallows and all sorts of Halloween themed things.
and i will. he only turns 8 once!
at this point in prep,although the IDEA of sticking my face in a bowl of chocolate sounds tempting,my body really isnt craving sweets.
what i am craving though:
COFFEE. and fresh baked bread.........and a bowl of cereal.
mmmmmmmm
oh yeah and sleep!!!!
18 more days....
 it seems like that will take forever to get here.
my body is feeling the training,
my mind is all over the place...

but deep down i know i can do this!!!
heres to a great week yall!!

suit is here!!!

WOW!!!! you know you have a tiny suit when the package is small,and when opened,all the contents fit in a ziplock sandwich bag.
you know its an even SMALLER suit when it can fit into a SNACK bag

the GOOD news is that this new suit has a different cut than the last one. a stronger V front and bottom...and yes very little coverage in the back! the other good news---when i tried it on,i didnt feel like crawling into the closet and crying for days,LOL!!!!
it actually fit well...what?????
well, i still need some work to do,but its not nearly as bad as i was anticipating!
SO i just ordered the stones and hopefully by midweek i can start stoning away...

hope yall have a happy weekend!

3wks out!

just a few pics.funny how this morning was random picture while getting kids ready for baseball/t-ball/soccer games...lol!

 and this was last week.........

so not much change this week.
measurements:
waist-20.6
hips-30.2
arm-9.5
leg-14.6
still have almost an inch to lose in my hips/glutes.dangit!!!
yesterdays workout was solid.
i really had to push myself and if i sat down for too long i was afraid i wouldn't be able to keep pace....
the run down
back/bis/abs/shoulders
4x12 pullups
giant set of
4x12 t-bar ss w
4x18 barbell curls (6 reps narrow,nutral and wide)
4x12 upright rows barbell
giant set of
4x12 woodchops
4x12 hi cable single bicep curl
4x20 weighted crunch downs
giant set of
4x15 straight arm lat pull down ss w
4x30 mofo's (10 reps cable curl rear facing,10 reps curl forward facing,10 reps lateral curls)
3x10 lateral raises

4x12 rear delt fly
quad set of
4x12 military press with arnold twist
4x20 v-up
4x15 pikes on ex ball
4x1 min planks w alternating lateral arm movement

i was exhausted after this so i did an easy 5 miles on elliptical and then ran later last night for 5 miles.
got 4 miles in this morning,planning on speed work (HIIT) and legs/triceps in gym and then an hour of cardio tonight before bed.
i still have almost an inch to lose in my hips/glutes.have i mentioned that?
after tomorrow is said and done with,i should have about 85miles under my belt for the week
.next week I'm aiming for 90-100 and then after that will taper down the miles some back to 70ish,and then peak week,yeah maybe 45 or less...

to be honest,this week has been very hard on me emotionally.
more so from a personal aspect.
all i can say at this point is that life can throw some pretty wicked curve balls sometimes,and I'm dealing with stresses of that.
no worries,i will be OK.
 i am a worrier by nature so add in the stress of life plus the physical (and sometimes emotional) stress of the show...
yeah,i know these next 21 days will be hard and that will only make prep twice as hard.
BUT all i can do is just stay positive,stay focused and just roll with it!!!
what doesn't kill me,only makes me stronger.
here's praying to the prep gods to help me lose that last inch and keep/gain some detail work!!!
:D

here's to a happy weekend yall!!!!!