Six Pack Sarah’s BodyBlog

I have this fantastic best friend named Tiffany (bodyspace name: BlueEyedMom). We’ve been friends for 12 years now, and we have definitely gone through a lot together. She has given birth to three beautiful children, and is trying to lose some of the "baby fat" she attained during the pregnancies. She and I encourage one another in our health and fitness goals via the phone because she still lives in Colorado and I’m all the way up here in good ol’ Boise, Idaho. Lately I’ve been pestering her about her nutrition, so we decided that once a week we’d have a reserved time to talk on the phone while we’re cooking meals in preparation for the next few days. This way, we’re both cooking something healthy and not just running to get fast food, and we still get to have our girly chat time! She always calls me when she’s on her way to the gym, and I do the same for her.

I think it will be awesome once she’s finally here to visit this summer–we’ll actually get to cook together and go to the gym–TOGETHER! It’s so awesome to know that I have a ton of friends and co-workers here that will support me and encourage me in my goals, but also that I have a dear friend 900+ miles away that will do the same thing.

There’s something about this evening that is making me feel rather poetic. Unfortunately, not poetic enough to actually write a poem for my class tomorrow. Sigh. But…I’m just in a good place. The smoking thing, or rather, the NOT smoking thing has gone so much better than I expected, I just moved into a groovy place, I’m making better eating choices, and I just started new classes at Boise State University this week. (GO BRONCOS!)

It’s interesting that I’ve been so worried for the past 2 years about where my life is going, what and who will I become? Constantly asking myself questions that I really don’t need the answers to right now. Right now, I’m in school, I’m working for a fantastic company, and I’m so lucky to have the executives and co-workers that I do. Really, at this point in my life, there’s nothing more I can ask for. Well, besides a trip to Ireland…but you know what I mean.

I realize that perhaps most folks use their blog entries as a way of updating "the people" about their health and fitness routine and habits. I think that mental and emotional health are key to all the other stuff (I don’t think I’m alone here) and I’m finally feeling happy again. For so long I just felt bogged down with worries and not feeling like I was worthy enough to have good things in my life. Then I stopped and thought about it and I realized that I have SO many things to be thankful for. To add on to the things from above, I have an amazing family and a church family that loves and supports me.

 Is this all to gushy for you? Catch me on a day when I’m "grump-fa-luff-a-gus" and I guarantee that you’ll choose this blog over my attitude. LOL.

So anyway–as Martina McBride once said in a song, "I’m a happy girl".

It has officially been 1 whole week since I’ve smoked! I can already feel a difference in my cardio workouts, I can taste food, and I haven’t coughed when laughing! That was always really embarrassing. I’m not going to lie,  I’ve definitely been tempted more than once during this past week to slip up and have a puff, but then I remind myself of a few things:

#1: I will feel like a complete loser if I give in and smoke
#2: I have SO many people in my life that I’ve told about this quitting smoking thing, and they are here to support and love me.
#3: One of those people was Ryan DeLuca–and he’ll smack me a good one if I smoke.

 So…I’m still smoke-free.

I also started modifying what I’m eating as of yesterday. My problem in the past has not been over eating, rather, under-eating. For a long time (probably about the last 2 years) I was only eating one meal a day and it was at dinner time. I wasn’t trying to starve myself, I just didn’t feel hungry throughout the day. After talking with a few instructors at Boise State University (GO BRONCOS!!) and researching articles on BB.com, I’ve realized how damaging that is to my body. So I’d like to try something…Below I’ve listed what I ate yesterday. I would really appreciate some feedback about what I need to modify/add/etc. As you’ll see—I ended up drinking A TON of H20!!

Here’s what I’m trying to do (I guess you’d need to know that if you were going to give me advice, eh?) I’m a thin woman, but I’m soft. I want to cut fat, and tone up. I don’t want to be really bulky, so I guess look at Christina Lindley, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston…That’s my ideal look.

 9:30AM:
1 cup granola with raisins
1/4 cup 2% milk
1 hard boiled egg
33.8 oz water

*Another 33.8 oz water*

12:30pm:
salad (mixture of lettuces) with black olives, mushrooms, & bell peppers
1 Tbs. raspberry vinegarette dressing
33..8 oz water

*Another 33.8 oz water*

3:30pm:
1 small can white albacore tuna
(combined with)
1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese (sprinkled with pepper)
1 hard boiled egg
33.8 oz water

*33.8 oz water*

7:00pm:
1 1/2 cups romaine lettuce
(with)
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegarette dressing
1 apple
66 oz water (I had two full water bottles in an hours time)

So people–I’d really like your feedback. I’m very open to criticism! Thanks for your support!

I had this great plan that I would go to bed at a decent hour, and then get up to go do a lil’ cardio before work. I have not slept all night. At first I thought maybe I was just thinking too much about stuff that has been going on in my life recently. Then for some reason, I started thinking about things that scare me…not good for relaxation. I just kept tossing and turning. So I decided to read a little. But that didn’t make me any more sleepy. I did debate having a mid-morning (2am) glass of wine to make me sleepy, but then I decided against that. So I turned on some light, soothing music that I use when I give massages (I’m not a weirdo, I’m a Certified Massage Therapist) but that music didn’t help either! That sent me into the emotional stage where you’re ticked off beyond all belief that your friggin’ body won’t just let you do what you know it needs to do. Then I started worrying about the fact that Monday (today) will be a long day for me anyway, just due to the circumstances and plans that I have. So at 4:30am, I just decided to get up and log onto BB.com, read a few articles and then go to the gym. After this little blog, I’ll be enjoying my cardio. Ok, maybe not "enjoying", but I’ll be doing it whilst reading my book on quitting smoking.

Oh gosh, did I bring up quitting smoking? Well I just have awesome news! I did not smoke AT ALL Sunday, January 6th. NOT ONE! NOT EVEN ONE PUFF! I cannot remember the last day where I didn’t at least have a few puffs. It was weird, I didn’t plan it that way at all. I was running late for worship (others call it "church" but the people are the church and you can’t go to people….I digress). Ok, so I was running late, the weather wasn’t that great and I was all in a flutter. So I didn’t smoke. Then afterwards, I went to lunch with some friends, then I went walking with a girlfriend for two hours (I know, isn’t that rad? 2 hours!). So things just kept coming up that hindered me from smoking. BOOYA! So here’s hoping that today I will have the same will-power. I just kept thinking "If I smoke now, I’ll be mad at myself because I’ve pretty much made it all day without one…"

So even though I know I’ll be totally tired probably around noon or so, I’m still happy and I feel like I’ve accomplished something.

I’m very happy to say that I’ve been doing better than I thought on this whole not smoking thing. I haven’t completely quit, but I’m working toward it. I have a book that I’m reading called "How to Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight", and so far I think that it’s good material. I also have a lot of support from others with includes co-workers, family, friends, and people of my church family. I know that I can’t just quit something, I need to replace it with something else so I’ve been replacing time that I would normally be in a situation to smoke, with spending time with my family. I have the cutest two nieces that anyone could ask for. Watching "A Night At The Museum" with them is far better than killing my lungs. So not too much to report, but I know that I’ve at least thrown out 2 smokes a day because of this extra family time.

It’s been months since I’ve written a blog and honestly it’s been months since I’ve thought conciously about my diet, exercise plan, etc. I haven’t gained weight, but I’ve maintained where I was at before. I decided that it’s just not good enough. It’s hard to work toward your goals when you haven’t even written them down or come up with some sort of a game plan. It’s ridiculous to expect support from others when you’re not honestly communicating with them–so here’s my huge confession for the day: I am a smoker. I’ve smoked on and off since I was 13 years old. I’ve been thinking about this so much lately because everyone in my life hates the fact that I smoke. I’m not even sure how to begin quitting, so any advice would be great. I lost my father when I was only 18 due to a combination of Post Polio Syndrome, pneumonia, and smoking in his youth. I don’t even have kiddos, but I hate the idea of putting my potential children in the same situation that I was put in. (Not that I’m angry with my father, please don’t think that). I want to live a long healthy life so I can be around for my children’s graduations, marriage, kids, etc. The hugest part of all this smoking stuff is that it’s really a form of slavery. It controls me, I don’t control it. I let myself get grumpy because it’s been 8 hours since I’ve had one (at times). I wouldn’t say I’m a heavy smoker; only about 3-4 a day on average, but that’s not healthy!!! So please, any words of wisdom would be great.

Ok, I know this might seem a little too Customer Service-y, but what can I say? It’s what I do! I was at the gym today wearing my BB.com shorts and fine jersey t-shirt (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/tshirts/jerstblk.html) and a guy came up to me and started asking about Bodybuilding.com. I started listing off a bunch of reasons why BB.com rules the mutha luvin’ world, and that got me thinking…what do other people think?

Here are some reasons why I think that this site is WAY better than other sites that are similar. #1: of course, we have the best Customer Service you’re going to find. Where else can you shop where you’ll be able to talk to Six-Pack Sarah or Juke N’ Move Jason? No, you’ll just get Aunt Jemima if you call one of those other guys. #2: What other website has as much information, in-depth coverage of shows, interviews with the pro’s, etc? #3. BB.com carries over 5, 500 products to choose from and has the fastest shipping, so you’re able to receive the stuff you need in a timely manner.

 Ok, I’ve said my piece. Now it’s your turn. I want to know why YOU think that Bodybuilding.com is so awesome. Gimme, gimme!

Just a quick question to post….I just received a call from a customer today and he asked me why bodybuilders only eat Hagan Daaz brand ice cream. Any opinions/comments/wild accusations? C’mon, give ‘em to me!

It’s ridiculous how long it’s been since I’ve written a blog. My nutrition plan has actually been going really well; which I’m proud of and excited about. But what I’m really ecstatic about is this past weekend! I went to the Emerald Cup in Washington this passed weekend and had a blast. I was working at the BB.com booth of course (I probably saw some of you peeps out there!). I had the chance to meet a lot of awesome people. I went to dinner with a few of them too! These people would include Bob Chic (dude, we go way back), Gale Elie (gorgeous and just all together fabulous), Dexter Jackson, Phil Heath and his lovely finance Jenny. I got pictures taken with all these people, plus Monica Brant, Gunther (ahh) , Sean Ray, and Fawna Modley-Deitrich. Fawnia and I worked at the booth together, and it was so much stinking fun! Of course who was the coolest at the Emerald Cup? (besides my boss Russ of course) All the people who told me how much BB.com rules! Wahoo!!

So anyway…yes, my nutrition has been good. My gym schedule has not. It’s the end of the semester and things are getting more busy all the time. Hopefully that will die down a bit. I’ve barely been home in the past few weeks. Excuses, excuses right? Ya….I’m workin’ on it.

Like the title of my blog entry? Oh how I love Tommy Boy! This quote from that movie is actually a sentence I had to repeat to myself each time I would eat icky stuff like fried foods and a plethora of chocolate. I have been (surprisingly to me) doing well with my nutrition. I’ve actually noticed that since I’ve disciplined myself to not eat as much chocolate (yes, I’ve eaten some since Ash Wednesday, bad girl), fried foods, or drink Dr. Pepper, I don’t even crave it as much as I thought I would. Because I’ve also had a lot of trouble in the past just eating enough, I’ve been planning out my meals for each day and packing it with me. I actually enjoy that time at night when I get to pack up my breakfast and lunch for hte next day. It’s sort of like therapy for me, like how some people (who are nuts) enjoy doing laundry or yard work. I’ve been taking things like oatmeal, fat free yogurt, hard boiled eggs, and fruit with cottage cheese to work and eating consistenly, three hours apart. I can feel my metabolism rising and I’m actually not as grumpy as I was there for a while. (If you don’t believe me, ask CS Rep Dannielle, she’ll tell you that I was a "grumphelu***us")

I’ve also been more consistent with the gym. I’ve been doing a lot of cardio and more weight lifting. BOOYA! Overall, I am feeling fantastic and more motivated than I ever have before. But I know myself, and if I let myself slack even once—I very well might fall off the wagon. Consistency is sooo important!