Because my strength kept increasing, I decided to one-rep max it… on deadlifts. I got 225! That is the first time I have EVER had TWO 45 lbs. plates on each side of anything! It was exciting!

I also went running 2 miles (first time in forever) and accomplished it in under 16 minutes! That surprised me, I was thinking it would be more like 18 minutes since I haven’t been running. Another feat!

Besides those two accomplishments, not much else except for feeling a little worn down.

Things I have learned from the first month…

- No matter what is going on in your private life or how you feel, you must still push through it in the gym

- How to make a kick ass Key Lime Pie Protein Shake

- How the muscles in my back work and how to sculpt different areas

- I am stronger (esp. on shoulders) then I think I am; I don’t realize my full potential at times

- Every day I will be faced with a decision to cheat. Whether it is someone bringing cupcakes into the office, champange at a bachelorette party… there will ALWAYS be something. The only way to get through it is to remember that a temporary craving will not satisfy my overall goal and the only one I would be hurting is myself.

Saturday- Went well, kicked butt hiking (well more like walking down a fitness trail and playing on a swingset), but it was fun! Then worked out and watched a movie. Eventful Saturday night- I know… But, as you all know it is so hard to find things to do… I can’t go to dinner with my friends that are not cutting (unless I want to watch them eat)… I can’t go to a bar without people trying to force me to drink. So, I stay home and watch 9/11 conspiracy movies.

Sunday- Wow, I don’t even really remember what I did Sunday. Oh yes, I got up early to work out, shoulder day. Then, I had to work at the Country Music Expo. A good-looking man bought me my first cowgirl hat… EVER! I believe he told me his name was Arm… Arm Zilla…. I packed all of my food along with me. It was kind of a pain in the rear, but sill feasible.

Monday- Arm & Chest exercises went well. I was a bit more naseous then usual. Still going strong on the diet.

Tuesday- I felt like SUPERMAN all day- especially during my Leg workout! I hit some nice squat PR’s.

Wednesday- SAME THING! AMAZING back workout! A PR in EVERY exercise I did. Eating consistantly and better has made me a heck of a lot stronger.

Thursday (today)- Lance (Beezer37) and I discussed a different diet for today because I do not use weights. I only teach an hour of hip hop at LA Fitness. We also discussed some weak areas that I need improvement on. My workouts right now look like this:

Monday: Chest&Arms

Tuesday: Legs

Wednesday: Back

Thursday: Cardio Hip Hop class only

Friday: Legs

Saturday: Back

Sunday: Shoulders

I am going to replace one of my Leg days with another Shoulder day instead. I am still so excited about cutting. I haven’t managed to F it up yet!   I know, I know, it is only day 11…. but I feel like I have accomplished so much. I still have a LONG way to go!

Friday’s diet went well, but my work out did not. I did not have much motivation in the gym. Ugh! I just felt weak and tired the whole time. After the gym, I ate, relaxed and went cosmic bowling! Getting done soooo late made me weak, exhausted and hungry….. but I still managed to stick to my diet.

Today is normal so far. I went grocery shopping for the week. And I will soon go hiking to enjoy this BEAUTIFUL weather, then to the gym! Yay! Back day #2! Sooooo excited!

One more day and I survived my first week. Hurray!

After abs, teaching hip-hop class! Hurray! Other than that- not much going on in my fitness world.  Can’t wait for FRIDAY!

The 30 minutes of cardio this morning kicked my booty! I switched it up from the treadmill at 4 m.p.h. on an incline of 6, to the elliptical with an 8 for resistance. Ugh! The baggy sweatpants (and my Reeboks with the straps- heart that song) and sweatshirt I wore, were drenched with sweat a mere 13 minutes into cardio!!! Eeek!

After cardio, I only had about 8 minutes before work. I decided I could take a quick shower while my egg beaters sizzled on the stove. Haha… right! They were a little crispy on one side- but still good! Mrs. Dash fixes all!

I am looking forward to working back today. It is THE ABSOLUTE favorite part of my body. I hope it will win me a pretty novice figure trophy Oct. 3. How cool would that be?

The junk food cravings still have not kicked in yet. I hope they never do! Hey… a girl can dream! I am enjoying eating clean. I am full of energy right now and do not have lows and highs from lots of sugar and carbs. Mmmm…. It is almost that time to eat again…chicken and brown rice……  

Just to think about Key Lime Pie, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, dark chocolate draped over coconut, Pinot Grigio and Champagne….. mmm……mm…..makes me nauseous. Although, I’m sure I will be craving them later down the diet road.

My thirty minute cardio session was invigorating Monday morning (as well as earlier today). I do miss morning cardio during the spring/summer because it keeps me motivated and alert the rest of the day!

Diet is alright so far. I feel better physically, but that could just be mental because I know I am eating cleaner. My stomach never feels completely full, but it doesn’t feel like it is so hungry it is going to eat itself either.

For my first workout, I started with bis, tris and chest. Today is LEG DAY! My second favorite to back day (which is tomorrow)!  All I can think about is how great I will look. That goal is so attainable. I can see it already. I wish I could fast-forward to Oct. 3…. But I will just have to take it one day at a time! J

You should punish your appetites rather than allow them to punish you.

Pain is temporary; pride is forever.

Suffer the pain of DISCIPLINE, or suffer the pain of REGRET.

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

It’s kind of fun to do the impossible… - By my hero Walt Disney

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

MOTIVATION is what gets us started, HABIT is what keeps you going.

The basis of self-discipline: Don’t allow the edges to blur.

We musn’t let our passions destroy our dreams.

It is easier to supress the 1st desire, than to satify all that follow.

You must motivate yourself everyday.

Better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

Progress is the activity of today and assurance of tomorrow.

One must eat to live and not live to eat.

There are 2 ways of meeting difficulties; you can alter the difficulties or you can alter yourself to meet them.

There’s always free cheese in mouse traps, but the mice there ain’t happy.

Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort, even the difficult may become easy.

Success is counted sweetest by those who never tasted it.

The power to endure harm outlives the power to inflict it.

You’ll never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.

Happy are those who dream dreams and willing to pay the price to make them come true.

No dream comes true until you wake up and go back to work.

A man is not old until regret takes the place of dreams.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Toil, feel, think, hope; you will be sure to dream enough before you die, without arranging for it.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.

You’ve got to be before you can do, and do before you can have.

Do not let what you can’t do, interfere with what you can do.

Remember, you can spend money, but when time is gone… it’s gone forever.

I believe that if you really want to do something, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse.

I believe you cannot hit the jackpot, without being willing to put a few quarters in first.

When you make up your mind to accomplish your goals, your decisions become very easy.

Sometimes what you are speaks so loudly, others cannot hear what you say.

• BELIEVE while others are DOUBTING
• PLAN while others are PLAYING
• STUDY while others are SLEEPING
• DECIDE while others are DELAYING
• PREPARE while others are DREAMING
• BEGIN while others are PROCRASTINATING
• WORK while others are WISHING
• SAVE while others are WASTING
• LISTEN while others are TALKING
• SMILE while others are FROWNING
• COMMEND while others are CRITICIZING
• PERSIST while others are QUITTING