THOUGHTS OF A FITNESS FREAK

when was the last time I posted?  Hm, well I think it was after I did back and bis maybe?  I went and did calves and foreaems the night night.  You know how exciting that is…..some barbell front raises and behind the back curls and hammer curls.  Calves I just did the usual donkeys, slide and seated raises.  I threw in some full body stuff, but not too much as this is bulk time.  I weigh 123 right now, so I have a four lb gain already in the last few weeks since competing.  Im trying to get up to 130 this time.  I made 129 last time, but dropped to about 115-118 to go to the Arnold expo in Feb.  Its super cold here, so it kind of takes the wind out of your sails as far as wanting to go out and go anywhere at all, even the gym cus its dark at 430pm.  Its been about 22 degrees and with the wind, probably minus 5 for the past week.  My cardio is hauling wood from the driveway up to the fireplace and in to the woodstove, moving furniture and boxes and running to the car before I die of exposure!!!  I think  burn 1,000 calories just trying to stay alive.

I went for an interview about the sales job at my gym.  I was dissapointed.  The owner had brought up all this great stuff in my initial interview, but this one today was just offering a sales position at 1/2 of my current wage, plus commision. The is no guarantee that I will even be making what I make now as the economy sucks and people are squeaking by as it is.  Also they offer a real cheap package and the more expensive, all inclusive, so if a customer wants to just get the cheapo membership, my commision will be next to nothing!!  If I had a second income, say with a spouse, it would be a different story….but as a single parent……thats too risky for me.  Im going to have to turn it down.  I really wanted to work in the gym, but I can’t risk not making enough and losing my job security..  Does anyone here have an experience with membership sales?  I also wanted to do some personal training and was told by the owner that it was a possibility and he wanted to get me certified as well, but today…….that was kind of frowned upon in my opinion.  The man I spoke with was basically just offering me a $9 per hour job and alot of if’s.  Plus it might mean more hours than I work now and may affect my training if I work until 7pm.  I don’t have the type of training that takes 20 minutes.  Im not a train during my break woman, thats for wussies.  Im still at a loss as to how this could possibly work for me, maybe I could do part time and see how much business and how many appointments I could generate?  I do want to train people though!!   I don’t see myself helping anyone if I am kind of just sitting at a desk wearing dress clothes.  I need to be moving, be active and stuff…….movers and shakers go further….yesireeeeeeeee

Ok, I have a meeting of the minds for the US fight league tomorrow.  the league is growing and the marketing and promotions guy wants me on board.  Thats an exciting thing for me.  The commision on signing sponsors is nice too, but I do have to do the legwork to get some to sign on………more work, but some would be internet based.  Im not too concerned with finding time to do this job.  Its not like its full time as I dont have time for full time anything.

Tomorrow I am going  to train legs with Art.  Im trying to see if I can cripple him for at least a day….just kidding Art!!!  Oh, went out for girls night last night…saw a show…amazing fun….VIP everything…high rollers lounge at the casino, hotel………I will talk about it tomorrow.  My fingers hurt from moving , so Im done typing for today.

Later

I have been offline because of my move, but Im back now. I swear I go from morning until 12am non stop.  I still have a few things at my old house, but I took today off to finish up.  The crappy thing is it is in the teens outside, so I am going to freeze my arse off doing it.

Last night I tranied with art.  We did back and bis.  The night before was abs and I trained alone and went pretty heavy as far as the cable crunches go.  The other things like bench crunches and inclines, well inclines I did a 25 lb plate, but I had ben up to a 45, so it was light for me.  Its so weird, my diet has ben crappy lately, so I was thinking I lost weight, but now I am really not sure.  I think I look a little "fuller" in legs and butt though and I am not crazy lean.  Although it is hard to tell sometimes when you are all bundled up and white as a sheet. 

Last night we did alot of curls.  Dumbbell, ez bar, preacher, cables and machine curls.  For back we did a couple hammerstrength machines, bent over rows on smith, single arm dumbbell rows, seated cable rows, lat pull downs, lat machine, lat pull downs, pec dec in reverse.  It was actually a good night. 

As far as back size, I dont need to train heavy.  I had the most developed back on stage, but if I got a little wider, I wouldnt mind.  I dont have any shows until April though.  I need sponsors and I have to start writing letters to local businesses.  This is hard because not many people know what figure is, so I have to explain it a little bit.  Hopefully I will get a few and it will enable me to compete at masters nationals in July in PA.  Thats a plane ride for me and a hotel stay. I still have 8 months to get bigger legs, so we will see.

I hope everyone has been well.  I know I ned to clean my inbox, but if you need to reach me, just hit the email rather than the PM button.  Sometimes they get lost in my spam folder, but I do check for them.  Also, I have my myspace page, so if you have a myspace, hit me up there.

The new house is great.  1/2 the side of my old house, but so much easier to take care of so far.  Plus I have a landlord……….thats like a built in husband I can call to fix stuff.  I am tired of fixing my own stuff!!!!

Later peeps.  I will be back!!! 

I know I have some ladies who come here to read my blogs and workouts and I have been slacking in the posting area lately.  Its semms all I do is move crap around.  The house is almost done though. 2-3 days max because the new hardwood floor got polyurethaned and needs 3 coats..and time to dry.  Seeing as it has been raining for days, its going to take some time. I just want it done with, new job, new house, new lease on life after all my hard work.

Yesterday, or rather, last night I trained with my son.  yes, he is back from the Marine Corps and is apparently staying for awhile.  I took him through my chest and tris workouts.  Of course he knows everything.he is almost 21……..yeah, right. Needless to say, I see him stretching out his sore muscles today. Poor baby, right? We did all the usual stuff because he is really not used to much besides bench and dumbbells, so we used the rack alot and he never did inclines before or chest press/dip machine.  I had some decent strength, but not as much as usual. Im just tired from going all day…6am til midnight, then sleeping on the sofa is making my neck hurt.  Even my bench was only at 105, so bulking is not happening right now.  I can’t wait to get me "yee hah" back on. To some people my workouts may be pretty intense, but to me……..I suck.  I broke my camera, so I cant even do progress pictures and I havent booked any photographers lately.  I always need to have something going on.  It’ll happen.  I just have to be patient.  I miss you guys you know.  It seems alot of people are going away from this site.  I know some of it has to do with some of the photos here.  Like I once said, there are probably spouses and partners walking into rooms and seeing 1/2 naked chicks bent over in thongs and banning their husbands from using the site.  Its a shame.  I dont come here to see some dudes junk covered with a towel or their hand.  Listen fellas, if you can cover your junk with one hand………you are not impressing anyone….hahaaaaaaaa!!!! 

I come here to talk to like mineded people and to share what I know.  What good is knowledge if you don’t share?  I think it also aids in changing minds about what women who workout look like.  It makes people want to be healthier and happier and that makes the world a better place..does it not?

Im giving you guys a million hugs and well wishes…….

your cheerleader of fitness,

Fern 

It probably could have been better, but I did back and bi’s.  I didnt want to go nuts because I am still moving and I didnt want to get sore because I have been off my game for a week. Nothing like trying to carry stuff when your arms feel like rubber, ya know? So, I did alot of curls but only went up to a 40 lb barbell and 20 lb dumbbells.  I did get a decent pump on but my diet has been way off and I had alot of carbs today…oh and stress of course.

I know I told you alot of bad stuff has happened to me in the past couple weeks, but one good thing happened today.  the VP of my gym mentioned hiring me again………it’s on!!  I was getting worried because I had a meeting with the pres and him and they were going to contact me and I hadnt heard anything.  I figured they either changed their minds or were just busy…….ok, fine , I was worried they changed their minds about hiring me!  This is a huge deal because I love fitness, can talk about it all day and I think I can be a positive influence on the members.  I think it’s important to know peoples names, say hello when they walk in, encourage them, notice when they are gone, etc.  It was very important to me when I started.  The old manager used to say "hello beautiful" and be super chatty when I went in there.  I was nervous enough starting out and it really helped me feel more comfortable.

Oh, back to training.  For back I did some bent over rows, shrugs, seated cable rows, lats press downs and pull downs….nothing crazy.  A few more days of this moving stuff and it will be back to business. maybe I am just a little sad about leaving my house although it is time to move on and have some positive changes….I will miss it after 11 years.

Thanks for listening to all my woes.  I have learned alot about myself from all that has happened in the last few weeks between my dog dying, my phone, my broken camera, etc…….I’m one tough cookie.  I also know that some people have experienced some worse things in life that I have even if mine seem very bad to me.  I have a friend on myspace who lost her son to suicide……….my crap seems so minute as compared to that.  My stuff will pass and hers will never pass, for this I am grateful. 

Thank you for being my friends.

Fern 

I got this late last night from my friends Jodi and Eric at the gym.  It said "we miss you"!! they are the best!

Aww………Im getting misty…..hahaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!  I am dragging my arse in there tonight

Yes, I am bumming….probably no gym tonight again. Tomorrow makes 1 week, never did this before and I don’t know how to take it.  I have no propane in my stove, so I cant cook decent food.  We are living on sandwiches and stuff we can cook on the grill.  I bet I lost 5 lbs and was putting on some good weight too.   My move has been delayed more than a month now, 1/2 my belongings are at the new house, but as there are no floors installed yet, I cant stay there……..Im so lost.  I really just want to hang my head and cry.  I hate feeling helpless and I hate asking anyone for help.  My son and I have been moving boxes and furniture for sevaral days into a shed at the new house, I sprained my finger……..I may be strong but let me tell you, hauling furniture is not easy for someone my size.  Im just bone tired.  Working all day and then coming home to moving every night is a real pisser.  Its cold, its dark………at 430pm!

So, I will try to find a way to get to the gym by friday night.  I can stay late.  I will move all afternoon and then go…I dont care.  I can’t handle it!!  Im a lost puppy.

One plus to this whole deal………the new house has a hot tub.  It may cost me money, but just thinking about sinking into that sucker at the end of a rough day…………awesome!!! 

Ok, got to go load up the truck again.  Talk to you later

Im trying to keep up with the comments, but have been so busy with trying to move.  You dont know you have alot of stuff until you try to move. Also, my new floors were supposed to be in by today and they havent even been started yet.  So, consequently, we are still stuck here.  It looks like a bomb went off in my house and I don’t know where 1/2 of my clothes are.  I am driving this huge old dodge pickup truck my brother in law loaned me.  Its kind of fun, but its HUGE!!!!  and loud too.  I find myself wanting to drive off road and just go nuts because its like a monster truck. 

I havent even trained since last friday and I think this is the longest I have ever gone in 2 years without training.  Im a mess, living on sandwiches and soup is not a good thing.

I havent heard anything about my new job in a couple weeks.  Thats probably a good thing at the moment because thats a job you have to wear dress clothes for and I have no idea where they are right now.  Its a gym job, but this position requires dressing nice. 

I am also working with a friend, Orlando , who runs promotions for the US Fight League and am supposed to be helping him get some sponsors.  This might mean some travel and meeting with people to talk about it.  The next fight is at Foxwoods casino on the 29th of November, so if you live close, come on down!!!  Its expected to be a sellout.  This league is growing more every day.

Yes, the rice and phone trick works.  My screen is a little dark, but I think thats because of the toilet cleaner I dropped it into.  Oh well, its better than nothing I guess.  

I am hoping to get over to the gym for an hour tonight.  I am neglecting my training partner and feel really crappy about it. I know this is probably good to get me through a plateau….but he’s just coming out of the gate really and I dont want him to backslide.

Well, hopefully no one thinks I am a snob for not writing back.  I will get back on track after this weekend.

Fern  

No gym in 3 days because of my move. 

Anyway, tell everyone if you didnt know that if you drop your cellphone in a toilet or wash it……………..throw it in a bag of rice for a few days.  i thought it was hopeless and I still have a few beads of water on my screen, but it turned on this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I thought it was hopeless and I didnt have insurance.  the phone was only a few months old.

So, if it happens to someone you know…tell them to try the rice trick……

I have not gone in 2 days now.  Tomorrow I am going to turn into one of those people going through detox.  I will get cranky, sweaty, itchy and start to dry heave………..like the DT’s……..maybe see pink elephants?

I have been "moving " for 2 days now.  I finally get a peek into my new rental house and BAM……..can I say SH*THOLE here?    The landlord let people live in it while their new $400,000 was being built and it was behind schedule.  He did their foundation.  So, he doesnt visit them, they paid rent on time and 6-8 months go by. o finally after being a month behind in getting out, I  got in there last night.  I nearly sh*t myself!  I knew they had dogs because I stopped over there with my sister and you could hear them barking, but we didnt go in that time.  Its a raised ranch, I know the standard layout. So we go in yesterday, my daughter and I ,and I was floored!  The landlord had started remodeling before they moved in, most of the upstairs was new and was freshly painted and they ceiling done.but NOW…..the counters and the island are broken, holes in the walls and doors, cermaic tiles broken ,dog crap on floors ,stench everywhere, counters were filthy with food.you could tell these people had no cleaned or vacuumed in months.  There was even an inch of filty and dog hair adhered to the ceiling fan and the popcorn ceiling, cobwebs and doghair everywhere….even dog vomit down one wall..never cleaned up. The dogs used the corner of the fireplace for a pee station!!! I wanted to puke…..the paint is filthy, light switches were black and it took me 4 hours to clean up most of it.  The only good thing was that there were no cockroaches anywhere. Thank GOD!  How could you have 5 dogs and never vacuum?  Its disgusting.  The landlord was pissed.  Oh, here is the capper…….while washing the bathroom floor, my cellphone fell out of my pocket and into the toilet.  I wanted to collapse and cry for hours I was so miserable , my knees hurt, my whole body hurts and I havent even moved furniture because the landlord has to put in new floors.  I have to be out of my house in 4-5 days!!! Do you think a human head can just explode?  I think mine might……..stand back……..fire in the hole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yes, I need the gym………need my feel good endorphins so I don’t go crazy.  I doubt I could do legs but there has to be some part of me that doesnt hurt that I could work.  All I ate today was frozen pizza and had a protein shake and 3 gallons of coffee……..I think I have dog hair in my brains.

Ok, lets say tomorrow is going to be a better day………..I will think this or go nuts……..hair pulling, running in circles , babbling incoherantly…………nuts.

Apparently I discuss some hot topics and people don’t sometimes agree with what I say, but I say it anyway.  Speaking my mind makes me an individual and a non conformist. I am also very stubborn and strong willed, so my opinion doesn’t change often, but I will listen to yours of course. Words that are written are often misconstrued and taken out of context, in fact a whole fight organization Elite XC seems to have gone belly up starting at one mans words regarding a fight he won.  If you know MMA, you know what I am talking about.  I have had a few online disagreements and a few back and forth emails of course……its really not worth it.  The biggest so far has been about figure, 1 being and organizations someone told me was adding a gown round to figure and now the rumors regarding the 1 piece in the NPC and their posing and "softness".  Perhaps I loved it the way it was a couple years ago and don’t love it so much now?  Someone writing to me is not going to make me like losing the 1 piece!  Crap, I love that suit.  Besides that, I have deformed flared ribs due to scoliosis and always do better in the 1 piece because it hides my defect. In the 2 piece, its difficult to keep in place on my chest even with glue and I have to tighten my abs as much as possible to actually hold in my rib cage as they are very prominent from the side. Not so easy, but you can see why I am on the fence about it.  As for some of the women saying the 2 piece shows  off abs, well…….maybe 4 of us had abs in the show I just did and the girls who won…..didnt……….so much for abs. I think I am just going to try a different organization.

Enough of that…just observations…….opinions and such…..no brawling, no yelling…….nope. Call me a muscular Chelsea (Handler) Lately………

I went to the gym and piddled around. It was hot and humid in there……plus there was someone I really don’t like it there…….I just did my thing and chatted with my  girl Jodi at the front desk. I was also thinking that I couldnt wipe myself out because I have to move furniture around tomorrow and hoist it into a pick up truck, so soreness might be a BAD thing for once. Yes, I am driving a borrowed pickup truck tomorrow and yes, I will be blasting some country tunes to put me in a mood for sure!!!  My son is here to help me though, lets see if I can outlast a 20 year old Marine