StephanieShine’s BodyBlog

July 31st, Thursday
12 pm - Rachels Driving Lesson
2 pm - Rachel & Josies Photos in Portsmouth
Clean Clothes, Chemistry Class, Vocab Book
Work 4 to 9:30

August 1st, Friday
Take Car into Oliveras
Stop n Shop
Work 5 to 10:30

August 2nd, Saturday
Major Body Workout
Work 5 to 9 (Go in at 4 pm)

August 3rd, Sunday
AM Workout: Shoulders, Biceps & Triceps
Work 11 am to 10:30 pm!

August 4th, Monday
Work 11:30 to 7
(Go in early, Leave later)
Headlight Assembly

August 5th, Tuesday
Rachels Lisence at 9 am
Freddie Works 10 to 4, Footbal 6 to 8
No Work for Me!
Sleep at Rachels.

August 6th, Wednesday
Rachels Lisence at 9 am
9 am - Green Grocer Fruit Tasting
Work 11:30 to 4
(Go in at 11, leave at 4:30)
Walgreens before Work
Tanning After Work
Cash Check at 5 pm
Rite Aid at 5 pm
Derek comes over at 9
Rachel comes over at 10

Today I deadlifted at 100% of my body weight again. With the same warm up I was able to accomplish a set of 9, 5, 5 and lastly 4. Yes its certainly an improvement in reps but I also added in another set. Its just 12 hours after my workout and my lower back is (in a good way) sore and my legs/glutes are tight.

Yesterday I deadlifted 100% of my body weight for 6 reps, 5 reps and 3 reps.
…
Im not sore or tight today at all.
Interesting. I know soreness isn’t a measure of anything. But maybe on Saturday I’ll add in a few more sets.

When your reasons to move forward outweigh your excuses for staying put, you will move forward. When your thirst for success is more powerful than the desire to stay within your comfort zone, you will succeed. When the reward is meaningful enough, you will act. When you connect your deepest purpose with the goals you set, those goals will be achieved. When you understand that there is a real and accessible pathway to the most magnificent dreams you can dream, you’ll get yourself on that path. When you know without a doubt that every action has a consequence, you’ll focus all your actions in a positive and valuable direction. When you love what you do, you’ll do it with grace and ease and excellence. When you do what you love, you’ll provide a steady stream of unique and extraordinary gifts to life. When you are completely clear about why, you’ll be able to figure out how. When you let go of the need to need, you’ll fall into a massive sea of beautiful abundance. When you are ready, life is here to fully live. Choose it, and now is when.

I have been saving everything and pinching every penny (well, at least every quarter) because I am going to college in a month. With moving time coming closer and closer I began thinking that if I already spend very little now, why would college be any different. All meal plans are paid for (thanks mom) and transportation costs with be nearly nothing except for the occasional trips off campus. I should be spending money on worthwhile, exceptional experiences and not ’stuff.’

A few weeks ago my best friend proposed that I go to France with her over holiday vacation. France. It doesn’t really scream anything to me. After all of the stories and adventures and experiences I’ve heard through letters and phone calls while she was in an exchange program for the past 7 months really intrigued me. I’ve been yearning for something different since January. Yeah, college would be a huge change in my life. But Paris with my best friend while we are still young. The question really is France-Why not?! I can definitely afford it. I’ll be 18 by December. I will have been away from my friend for 3 months. Why not?!

Im going to Paris.

My workout today pumped me up alot. The day started with shipping off some old books that had sold on ebay for a decent profit considering I would have never touched those books again. The books that didn’t sell I donated to the library this morning. After my incredible workout and quick, healthy lunch I went to work. It was a short shift, only 3 hours and very undemanding. I had plans to hang out with a friend I rarely-never see but it didn’t work out on his side. Even after a nasty conversation with my ex, I still managed to keep myself sane and work with a clear head.

When I got home, I did a little banking. Wednesday is payday for me. Got a full check this week. I first settled my debt to my savings account that I owed from last weeks deposit. I then deposited my $125 weekly minimum and still had plenty left over to knock a huge chunk off my tanning ‘debt’ to myself. (Paying myself back for when I spent more on tanning, when I should have been saving) I also got a $100 graduation check, yes a month late but better then never. (Wow that sounds ungrateful, but its not like that I will spend some thoughful time writting them a thank you letter soon) I put the $100 on my debit card for now, to use unti next pay day, or to transfer some into savings later in the week when I know my budget. I also transfered some of my ebay profits from my paypal account to my debit/checking account which will be sent directly to savings once its cleared.

Wednesday is also schedule day. The new schedule comes out for the next week. Let the planning begin!! First I calculated that I would be working 34.5 hours. Then I found little half hour time slots that I could fit in, for example coming into work early or staying later when I could. I filled my schedule with 40 hours of work, setting myself up for a full paycheck for next week. Then at home, I used my Sunbird Calendar software and added in all my hours and arranged visits to my best friends house, workout times and dates and study times around my work hours. My whole week is now set both financially and time-wise. =]

Today I slurped down some NO enhancer and I drove to the gym. It was a Legs, back and chest day. Which are always big days for me. And I always go in with high expectations and leave with atleast one personal best under my (sweaty) belt. So really every gym day is a big gym day. But today was sort of different.

Today I brought my overweight co-worker and now friend to the gym with me. She had never been to a gym before in her life! She wasn’t affraid to try any of the machine or anything and she trusted me when I said push a little harder. We started with deadlifts, which I start every leg day with. We grappled a bit over proper form and importance of a warm up set. She got discouraged when I first lifted 100 lbs for 6 reps. But she reassured herself when she saw me grunting to get past the last rep. She reliezed that not matter what weight she was using if she exerted the same effort then we were both at the same level. Then came Squats and Lunges. While she used less than 1/2 of what I was lifting, she powered through each rep in sync with me. She had to use the leg extension machine for her quads because the lunges were hurting her knees.

Then came the back routine. I started the lying t-bar row with 122 lbs. I stuggled through a few reps and when it came time for her set, she definelty outshowed and impressed me doing double what I did. For her last set she was able to crank out 142 lbs for 10 Reps! Let pull downs were next we did 3 sets of about 9 reps, but she managed to do about 12 each time.

Chest was last, warm up with the butterfly machine taught her how to squeeze her shoulder blades, dig her heels down and squeeze her but. All helpful for when we would bench press later. On the butterfly she did the same as me, which happened to be my personal best so far; 70 lbs for 13 Reps. Dumbbell pullovers however, involve a bit more triceps so I bumped her down to 15 lbs for 12 reps while I stayed at 30 lbs for 8 reps. On the bench press we both used a 50 lb barbell and got 3 sets done of about 8 reps each.

We both agreed that we had done alot. It took 2 hours instead of my usual 1 to have her tag along to show her how I do things correclty and to watch her for each of her sets. I was sufficiently hungry and not up to any cardio.

With both enjoyed our own inexpensive, high protein lunches with milk and broccoli and a local little diner. I hope to do it again soon.

Last night I was reading articles on the computer until it got pretty late. Sitting next to my open window I could tell it was about to pour. First came thunder, then the light, slow pitter patter of rain landing on the leaves of the tree in the front yard. Then the rain really came down and the thunder continued. While my mom and brother slept in rooms on opposite side of mine, I  got up from my desk and walked to the other end of the house. I opened the doors to the back deck. The air was nice. I stuck my arm out past the slight overhang of the roof. Cool rain, falling randomly against my open palm. I pulled my arm back in. I turned around to look into my kitchen, not that I thought anyone had heard me get up, but if anyone was there, I wanted to show them the rain. Kind of silly since a storm was clearly over our heads, but I really wanted them to feel it too. In the exact moment I turned around a lightning flash lit up the house. I missed it because I had to turn around. I faced the open door again, this time stepping out a little. It was a bit cooler now. I stuck my arm out into the air again. The same random drops hitting my arm and hand.

I returned to my room without drying my arm and without saving what I was doing on the computer and layed in bed. I fell asleep quickly with nothing imparticular in my head.

As you know I like to go tanning. And I like to try out all different types of tanning lotions. I probably had over 40 sample packets sitting in my "beauty drawer" of my dresser. Today I took the empty bottles of the Redken samples and filled them with tanning lotions. I put all of my "Guilt Trip" Lotions in one bottle, all of my "California Glaze" lotions in a bottle and all "Envy" samples in a bottle. I cleared out about 20 packets worth out of my drawer and they are now sitting in 3 tiny, space saving bottles. Clearing out all of these packets didn’t nesesarily make more room, because they were laying on top of other stuff. But now I can actually see and use the beauty products that were previously buried.

During this I relized that I had 3 bottles of firming lotion. Talk about unnecessary! 2 of the bottles had only about an ounce left in each so I poured those 2 into my biggest, newest 17 oz bottle (that I probably only used for a week then forgot about it.) Now its like I have that full new bottle all over again. There is even more space in the drawer now too!
The next action in my organizing project is to gather all of my hair creams and serums from the floor and give them their own neat place inside to beauty drawer with my body lotions and facial products.