I agree with my friend from the gym, Tyse. He said, "Either say hello or stop staring because it's rude." He said this because as soon as he walks into the gym, all eyes are on him. He looks and is built like Muscle Mania's Ulisses. I think they even grew up together.

Anyhoo, I say that because, although nowhere near the scale of attention he gets, I understand what he's saying. Sometimes when I'm at the gym, there's the few guys that will either follow me around or just stare at me (not at the same time, lol), but they don't say hi or anything. I don't really know what that means. Am I dressed funny? Did I spill something on myself? Does my head have an odd shape when my hair is up in a bun? I just don't get it.

Today, I parked my car and started to get out when a truck pulled up beside me with one of these fellas. I just kept walking when he caught up to me, and said, "Excuse me." Here we go...

He asked me if he could take my photos. (That's an odd first question.) I asked him what these photos would be for. He said that they would be for his own personal collection. I said that I didn't think so. He asked again. I very politely said no. He said not to worry...he wouldn't post them online or anything. He just wanted the pictures for himself. Again, I asked him what he wanted them for or what he was going to do with them. He said they were just for his personal collection. I told him that I had been in odd situations before, and now, I'm very careful and again said no. He asked, "So, are you declining?" I said, "Yes, I am declining." He then asked if I was a model. I said no and that I was a teacher. He asked once more, and I said no once more.

I am wondering if that "line" really works. I really would have much rather preferred "hello."

Just for the record, I am not sending pics of myself. I have had some requests, even from fellas on here, to do so. I have a ton of pics on here, we don't really need more. And I'm especially not sending naked or braless or all of the other types of requested pics. Sorry. That's how I roll. Or not roll depending on how you look at it.

Yes, we're all here working to improve our bodies, but let's not forget we all have minds, souls, emotions, etc. Further, I have always been a sucker for old-school gentlemen. 

Have a great weekend! I'll let you know how the bootcamp went.

What would you have done?

Last night when I went to the gym, there were four guys that I had never seen before. They were engaging in behavior that was obviously driving everyone nuts, well...obvious to everyone but them.

First, they were talking REALLY loud. It's not a library, but...  

Secondly, they were blocking the mirror. One would be on the bench "lifting", and the other three would stand behind them forming this wall that blocked everyone behind them from checking their form. They just kept walking in front of everyone who was on the other benches instead of going behind them.

Thirdly, they were hogging the dumbbells. Maybe they were afraid that somebody else would grab that weight, and then they'd have to wait to finish a rep? I get it, but I still put my dumbbells back when I'm not using them.

Fourthly, they weren't really lifting in the conventional sense. For example, one would have a heavy dumbbell in each hand, and two of his friends would be on either side of him helping him lift his weight with both of their hands. So it was like each dumbbell was being lifted by three hands.

Finally, and this is the one that drove ME nuts, they kept dropping the dumbbells on the floor...like from their waist or knee level. They'd do like three reps, then drop. THUMP! 1, 2, 3...THUMP! This went on for the entire hour I was there. One of them actually placed the weight on the floor, and I heard his friend tell him, "Dude, just drop it. Why are you putting it down?" THUMP! 

So for an hour, that's what I heard...THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

I'm not a violent person. Actually, it takes a lot to make me mad. I'm more of a "it's okay to respectfully agree to disagree" kind of girl. I have my feisty side, but I'm more playful. Anyhoo, all the thumping was bugging me so much that a thought flashed through my head...throw your dumbbell at them.

No, I didn't.

My question is this, "What would you have done?"

Would you have ignored them like everyone in my gym did, or would you have said something? If you would have said something, what would have said? Have you had to say something before? If yes, how did it go?

I guess I could have gone downstairs and asked one of the staff to talk to them. Maybe I was just grouchy because I've only been averaging like 4 hours of sleep this week.

I leave you with one word: THUMP!

:D 

PS  Pakse posted this vid, and it's HILARIOUS! 

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/82467471/ 

Okay, so I don't have PhotoShop. And yes, I will admit that I'm a nerd, and I cracked myself up after putting this photo together.

People keep asking my what my goal is. I would say that this is it. I want to lose fat, get toned, and cut. However, I do like some of my curves. My goal is to look like this or as close to this at the end of the 12 weeks of the MP Challenge.  =D  If not by then, I def want to look like this by my birthday (July) when I'll be 39.

Want to hear something cool? I'm going to share anyway. One of my former students tagged me and four other girls on a post on his FB sharing a YouTube video. He said that the five of us inspire him to not be lazy and to pursue his fitness goals. How awesome is that? TOTALLY awesome!! I am sharing that video as well. Yes, it is in Spanish but the message needs no translation.  

Many of you know that I work ALL day EVERY day - even on the weekends. I work from the morning until 9pm almost every night, so I don't get to the gym until 10:30p.m. I'm usually there until 12:30-1:00a.m. I'll be honest...it's exhausting!

BUT...

I really do love seeing the changes in my body, especially since I'll be turning 39 in July. I want to have my dream body by my birthday. Yes, I am impatient. LOL!  :p

I want to thank many of you for your encouragement, kind words, advice, inspiration, and motivation. I am really so glad to belong to a community of like-minded individuals who are interested not only in bettering their health and bodies but in helping others achieve their goal.

With that said, I am definitely still in learning mode with all of this workout and nutrition stuff, but if I can every help, I am happy to do so.

Lili 

Just this week, I have had four people tell me that I am their goal. That's crazy! I still have a lot of work in front of me before I reach my goal, but it feels pretty awesome to know that since I have started this journey that I have inspired quite a few of my friends to begin their own fitness journey. To be somebody's goals is that much more awesome! It also carries a lot of responsibility.

I have to stay focused so that I can inspire them to stay focused. My goal is to be strong, healthy, defined, yet I wish to remain feminine. I am inspired by female body builders who seem to have accomplished this.

Even though I work really long hours and straight through the weekends, I will stay focused and regroup when I am tired.

To all of you who continually offer kind words of encouragement - thank you! Keep up the good work and your good progress!! Thank you for inspiring me.