Dare to Soar BodyBlog

Just a bunch of random thoughts and feelings today. 

Feeling good.  Great progress this last week.  Check it out in the transform2008 blog. 

Stay strong.

Had a fabulous leg workout yesterday.  Lucky to be able to walk today.  Yeah it was that intense.  In my newest pic, I realized that my legs are lagging behind.  They need to get started shaping up.  I dont think I am pushing them hard enough.  The inner thighs, the hips, the quads, the glutes are going to bootcamp.  Thats right.  They will shape up.  They have no choice.  The drill sargent is in town and ready to kick some butt. 

On another note, I cant get my workout video to load for the contest.  I feel so stupid.  If everyone else can get it to work, why cant I.  Its not brain surgey.  Well this week you will have to settle for a video of the video. LOL  I know how to load those but the quality kind of sucks.  Oh well, maybe next week.  I will keep trying. 

The weekend has arrived. I am so ready for it.  I need a little rest and relaxation.  I plan on having some quality family time and some time for myself too. 

I am going on a "date" tonight followed by a hot bubble bath and a full body massage.  Doesnt that sound relaxing?  I have worked hard the last four weeks of my transforamtion and I deserve it.  I may even stop by the store and pick up a Nora Roberts book I havent read.

Tomorrow I will have family time.  If it warms up slightly, we will do something out doors.  (Last weekend I took them rollerskating because it was so cold.)  If not, I think it is the perfect weekend for a game night.  We may even through in a movie with popcorn…for the kids.  That Disney movie with the Rock (mmmm) is out on dvd.  

Sunday I take a little time for some yoga and maybe work in another full body massage if I am lucky.  I will also work on my meal plan.  Got to stay focused on the goal.  I know.  Doesnt sound really exciting and active but this weekend I am looking for relaxation. 

Going from fat to fabulous is creating a lot of changes in me.  They are not all physical.  My husband is starting to wonder if he really wanted what he was wishing for.  He wanted the old me in a pretty package but it doesn’t work that way.  When you make a major change, it affects all areas of the person and life.
I am no longer content with our old life style.  I want adventure and passion.  I want to get out and explore…blaze a new trail.  I don’t want to do things just because someone else wants too.  I will no longer accept just going through life. I want to live it.  I am becoming selfish. 
That’s right.  Before my world centered around others and making their life better.  It no longer does.  Now it’s all about me and what I want.  I realized that I was suppressing and limiting myself.  I had dreams and desires that I wasn’t reaching. I was throwing them in a box in the closet to be dug out in old age with regret.  I was helping other reach their dreams while mine collected dust.  I put everyone else, including the dog, before me.   I didn’t realize how unhappy I was.   
I no longer settle or just agree.  I am finding I no longer have things in common with people I have been around for a long time.  My old friends and habits no long fit like a comfortable worn shoe.    I have a new pair to break in.
Things that didn’t matter before do now.  I expect romance and pretty words.  I want hot dates and sweaty sex often and not just when he is in the mood.  That’s right. I expect him to step up to bat even when he isn’t the one call the game.  I did it for him and now its his turn. Oh and dont even think about not cuddling. I used to be easy to get along with now I am demanding.  Although I didn’t realize it, I had many needs that went unmet and now that is going to change.    I won’t settle for the “old married couple” life any more.  There are adventures out there to be had and I am going to take them.  Life is for the living and I am so ready to live. 
Now don’t get me wrong. I am a good wife and mother. I still do those mundane things like cooking and clean and going to work.  I just expect more attention and want to do things that interest me.  I think when my husband wanted me to change physically he wasn’t thinking that it would cause a tidal wave of changes—especially those that he would have to make.  This is a little warning: you better be careful for what you wish for.    

Todays post is in the Transform2008 log.  Let me know what you think.

A sculptor takes a blob of clay and works it. Pushing and pulling, pinching and poking, stroking and smoothing.  His fingers manipulate the clay shaping it into what he is visualizing in his head.  He gets his hands dirty.  Occasionally, he has to start over, take a little more off here, or define that area a little more.  He knows inside what this blob is capable of becoming.  He feels it.  With effort and work, his vision comes into view for the world to see.  Sometimes this happens quickly and other times it takes a while.  It doesn’t matter, the finished art is beautiful.

For me, my body is this blob of clay.  I am slowly removing the layer of unnecessary clay (fat) when I do my cardio.  I am sculpting and defining muscles every time I make that mind-body connection when weight training.  By sticking to my diet, I am manipulating my body to become what I visualize for it.  I know what I am capable of.  I know how I want my body to look. In my head, I can see the muscle definition in the arms, the flat stomach, the tight butt, and shapely legs. I can visualize myself having the strength to climb a mountain or paddle through the white water.    One day my piece of art will be complete.  Until then I will keep pushing and pulling, pinching and poking, stroking and smoothing….

We are at the one third mark of the contest.  I am really pleased with my results so far.  My goals were to lose 24 pounds and 10 inches. I have accomplished 40% of my weight loss and 36 % of inches goals.  That tells me I am right on target.  More importantly I feel as if this lifestyle is really starting to sink in.  

My competitors are doing fabulous.  I cant say that anyone of us is doing better than the other.  We each have our own style and our own obstacles to overcome. No one wants to slack because we know that the others are giving it all.  When I don’t want to do those last 10 minutes on the treadmill, I remind myself that Maddi isn’t slacking.  If I want to eat something that’s not on my plan,  I stop and ask myself if Jumborider would eat that.  If I fall and don’t want to get up, I make myself because I know that Fusioncom jumped back on the wagon and could be passing me up.  When I feel like throwing on a lighter weight, the thought of SCT leg pressing 900 pounds makes me push harder.  They fan the fire within.  If that don’t work, I remind myself that I have friends that are following along and they will all kick my butt if I don’t keep going.  I also better not even think about hitting that snooze button, I don’t want my “mickey” getting upset. 
Someone asked me about the prizes. I actually had to look up what the prizes were.  To me getting my body back and feeling great is the reason I am pushing so hard.  Yes, the money is nice. I will have to buy new clothes.  The sups are fabulous but the real prize is the self esteem and the pride in knowing that I have regained control of life… of myself.  I have learned and embedded the good habits that this lifestyle brings.  I am leading by example for my kids and others who are looking for hope and inspiration. 
I have so much hope and determination to continue what this contest has started.  As of today, we have 26 weeks before the circle meets in July.  I plan on losing fifty-two pounds before I sit down and share a beer with my friends around the campfire.  I will have so much to celebrate with them.  My birthday is the next week and I will only be 15 pounds short of my long term goal.  I will also be skydiving at the end of July (one of my larger life goals).  Oh it will be my one year anniversary with bodybuilding.com too.  On that note, if things go as planned I will have lost over 75 pounds in that year.  Now that will be a fabulous accomplishment.

What are you going to accomplish in those 26 weeks before we share that beer?

The circle is meeting this summer.  I am so looking forward to it. I have made some fabulous friends here and I think it will be wonderful to finally meet them in person, hang out, and have a little fun.  When you have someone that is a constant source of inspritation and motivation for you, meeting them in person and hanging out is a major highlight.  Thanks Ninja and BryanGee for putting this together. 

Speaking of friends, I finally made it around to the majority of mine.  I was awed and inspired by the successes, hard work, and the dedication that I read about.  You are all doing so fabulous. You keep me inspired and pushing forward. 

I took some time this morning to get my workout tracker and my bodyspace page up to date.  I was slacking a little and didnt want to get to far behind.  I also listened to the interview with WNSO Probodybuilder Kris Gethin.  It was really informative. Thanks bb.com for hosting it.

My plan for this afternoon is to sit down and plan my diet for the next couple of weeks.  I also have to get my video taken for next week.  Not certain what I will do yet. I would like to make them a little more exciting.  Right now … they are very basic and kind of boring.  LOL

Have a great weekend.