Eden’s BodyBlog

This weeked I indulged BAD!!  I thought I could play it cool in the weeked but it got out of hand.  Today though was the day for the comeback, not only in the gym but in my clean eating.  I started the day off with very low carbs so I could get back onto my carb deplete, but that may not have been the best way to go.  Close to the end of my shift at work, I was not well at all.  We’re talking numerous trips to the bathroom to throw up and then back to finishing up whatever car I was working on.  Luckily it was time for me to leave work.  But I was pretty mad cause I NEEDED to see the gym today and hit it really hard.  WIth all the swine flu going around there might have been cause for concern, but I knew I wasn’t really sick. Either my lunch didn’t agree with me or I hadn’t eaten enough carbs, cause sometimes that can make me sick too.  SO home I went, but I was determined to make it to the gym later.  I ate a bowl of chicken soup with rice and chilled for a bit and then after a little rest, I felt like my body was good to go.  I took it easy at first but felt the energy of the gym take over.  I ended up having a pretty god workout and as I drove away from the gym, I felt so happy and excited that I was able to work out after feeling so sick earlier.  It’s one of those things where you really listen to what your body is telling you.  Tomorrow I’ll have a little more carbs and be ready to hit the gym without the before sickness.  But really a little determination goes a long way!

I never want to take my abilities to be in shape for granted.  SOmetimes it’s easy to stick to eating clean and working out.  It’s just something that I do that’s part of my life.  But we all know that for some reason or another, something happens and all of the sudden the workouts are dragging and you’re not eating like you used to.  My plan was to bulk up a bit but that didn’t work out like I thought.  In my mind I was thinking, I need this to put on muscle, but binging isn’t the way to go.  After a week or two I noticed my abs weren’t looking like they used to and I freaked.  I’ve had to clean out my kitchen of ANY temptations.  Even little things like peanut butter, tortillas, things like that.  I’m only human and people think that it’s easy for me to be in shape and live a healthy lifestyle, but like I said I have my weaknesses too.  But somehow I’m starting to come around.  I’ve been talking to a lot of people at my gym and it’s so cool how supportive they are.  They go through the same setbacks and we are all there to support each other, just like on here.  Bottom line is that we never give up.  I’m always saying "NO excuses" to people.  But on the flipside, I understand the setbacks, it’s how we come back from them that counts though.

I’ve been using Hot Roxx for the last couple of years and it’s been a great way to start the day and give me a jolt of energy.  But what is better than hot rox?  What’s stronger?  I need to cycle off of them cause I feel like I might be getting immune to them.  If you’ve used Hot Rox or have found something better, what was it?

I want to start bulking up soon.  I’ve been using hot roxx to give me a jump start in the mornings while I’ve been getting lean and maintaining that leanness.  But when I start to bulk up, is it still ok to use the hot roxx or whatever fat burner to give me a jump start to my day?  I’d use coffee or whatever but sometimes it’s not strong enough.  I know it’s hard to put on muscle and stay lean at the same time, so I’m not expecting that to be the case, but I still need the energy.  I haven’t been using the hot roxx like it says, like to take a couple a day.  It’s more like just one that I use for the energy.  Any advice on the whole bulking and energy thing? 

So this weekend I let loose way too much and indulged.  Not in junk food really but in too much carbs and stuff like that.  Then this morning I get a text from a photographer saying he’s ready to do a shoot this week and to pick a day.  What the hell!  Does he not know that a girl needs to get ready for these things?  GUess not of course.  But I guess it’s crunch time now.  Cardio it up?  Cut carbs all together? Go crazy trying to get more lean?  Oh good grief!  Guess I’ll have to figure this one out but if you have any last minute suggestions, let me know. 

I’m not writing this to toot my own horn or to say women are better than guys.  It’s nothing like that.  I’m just here to say that us women can work with the guys in the same environment and still kick ass. 

WHen I was hired on to be a tire technician, I was the only female in a shop full of guys.  I thought I was pretty strong but talk about getting a humble slap in the face with reality.  I just didn’t have the strength that my muscles showed.  There was a time when I wondered if I’d be able to stand up against all these guys and be working on cars, mounting and balancing tires on huge steel wheels, aluminum rims, and freaking big ass 6-wheel trucks.  But time and patience has shown me that I can.

I can’t count how many time people have come into the shop to get new tires and they’ll take a look at me and say, "she’s going to put my tires on?  Hows this little woman going to put these tires on my truck?"   Ya it was a little nerve racking at first but now as I’m working and I see the customer standing there in the window watching me work I’m thinking, "that’s right, this chick is putting your tires on and she’s doing just as good as any of the other guys in the shop."  When I’ve finished and proven to the customer that this chick can cut it, it’s really cool when they say how impressed they were.  I get lots of compliments on how fast I am.  I’m not wanting to dog on any of my coworkers but the fact that I keep myself healthy is a big factor as to why I’m so fast. 

Is it a Man’s world?  I’m not here to define that or make arguments on women’s rights or whatever, but I am here to say that it’s NOT a man’s job anymore.  It’s my job and I’m out there busting my ass for all of the women out there who have doubts in their minds if they can put on muscle, lift with the guys in the weight room, or even serve in the military with their brothers.  Women we can do it so do it and don’t play your gender card and say I can’t I’m a woman.  To hell with that Ladies! 

Guys, you just keep pushing us.  WHen I’ve had guys ask me if they can carry their tires they just bought out to the shop for me, I smile and say, no I got this.  And the best part is to see thier faces as I carry them out as if they weighed nothing!  I don’t get mad when guys assume I’m weak or can’t lift for ****.  It just fuels my fire even more and the cool thing is, when it’s all over, the guys have a lot of respect for me and that’s a big compliment.

All of this just began by picking up a set of dumbbells.  So get out there and grab’em!  Grab them and see where your life takes you.

I’m already thinking and planning what I’ll do when it comes time to put on some serious muscle.  I’m getting some good ideas for supplements and nutrition but as a Tire Technician whose job is physically demanding, it’s hard to gague how much more or less I should be consuming.  Each day is different and some days are a real ass kicker.  I suppose I could be old-fashioned and try to just listen to my body, but I don’t want to confuse listening to my body with my brain saying, hmmmmmmmmm a loaf of bread sounds really good right now.  OK that was a little extreme, but you get what I’m saying.  What do you think?

I need some input on supplements!  Now that I have your attention let me lay it out.  Summer is almost over and it will be time to bulk up with some serious muscle.  I know about creatine, tribulus, protein and all of that fun stuff but here’s the question, which supplements, brands are the best for building muscle?  Ladies with massive muscle, I’m really wanting to know what has worked for you.  Guys too, but I don’t want to take the wrong supplement.  I just want to put on some serious muscle and in order to make the investment worth it, I need some feedback.  Tell me what’s worked for you, including the best brands.  Thanks people!

Last week I was doing reall good with my training and eating.  I had a family reunion coming up and I wanted to look Killer!  I did pretty good but like a lot of people, when there’s the temptations sitting around, it can be hard to resist.  I did ok, but I could have done better.  But now i’m back home and back to the routine, but after the little indulgences I’ve foind it still difficult to stop the pointless snacking.  But little by little I know I’ll come around like I always do.  I had a little photo shoot yesterday and I didn’t feel like I was looking my leanest but my photographer thought I looked great and pumped so I guess there was no permanant damage done.  But now I WILL get back to being hard core in the gym and in the kitchen!  Hold me to it though!

So lately I’ve noticed something different and weird.  I’ll sit down to eat what I normally eat and the same size that I normally eat, but now, it’s too much.  I can’t seem to put food away like I used to.  Is my stomach shrinking? Why am I feeling full when I haven’t eaten the normal size portions?  I feel like I have that..what’s it called, lap band or something like that wrapped around my stomach that only lets me eat so much.  This isn’t a bad thing by any means.  I’m just curious as to what’s going on.  Any thoughts?