HOW DID I DO THIS?

If you have read any of my previous post, you now know that I have a workout partner who has spent time behind bars.  Well today was our first REAL session.  Now I encounter gym drama on a regular, however I felt with a guy buddy, it would not be as bad.  Oh boi was I sooooo wrong.  We meet at the gym, he in his baggy sweat pant and t-shirt, me in my shorts and tank top.  I decided we would start with back and hamstrings for our first workout.  Him being an ex-con wanted to jump into chest press.  "Look you dork, there are more exercises and body parts to go around!" Is the first thing I tell him.  He just smirks and motions me to move this way.  At this point I am thinkin, hey I am the one in charge here.  We start with some lat pulldowns and seated rows.  We move over to bent-over rows and lying dumbbell pull overs.  This is when things start to get a lil different.  I know who he is and what he was known for, as well as do others.  Many know me from being in the gym and being highly anit-social.  No ipod in my ear and making eye contact left me vulverable to conversation.  "Who is your friend?"  I hear from the next bench.  I wasn’t sure he was talkin to me so I kept lifting. "Angela!"  I heard.  "You know my name?"  I looked a lil confused.  This dude went on to tell me that he had taken one of my classes and wanted to know if he was my man.  I just laughed and pushed my partner to the next machine.  I knew I had to get him out of the way, due to his smart mouth.  As we continued to lift and laugh, a girl who remembered his case walked by and smiled.  Of course he smiled back.  This giving her free access to conversate.  "Perfect I thought, he is going to be one of those meatheads I fuss at.  I stepped between them before the conversation could even start.  I looked him square in the eyes and said, "Dude later for her, you are fat, push the weight."  She smacked her lips, folded her hands and stood there.  I politely asked her to go somewhere until we are done.  Now here is my problem, what if he were my man, who do these hungry human hippo’s?  Do they not respect two people together anymore.  Have I been out the game that long that I have forgotten how stupid people can be.  Needless to say, we were able to complete our workout in peace.  But before leaving I ran into that girl in the locker room, lucky me.  "Are u messin with him?"  "I don’t MESS with anybody, we are just friends."  I replied.  "Friends with benefits?" she asked. WTF I thought.  What is a friend with benefits?  I just laughed and said, you figure it out.  As if I have not had enough, I walked out telling him what just happened.  And do you know what this fool asked me?????????????????????

I wish I could tell you, maybe later!  

My girls are member of Nash Jem Elite, the only all-black cheerleading company in Kansas City.  Both have been a member sicne the age of four.  A couple of weeks ago I signed up to be a part of the parent committee.  I never considered myslef a cheermom, just a mother of two highly active cheerleaders.  During our first meeting I was assigned the task of creating healthy meals to be provided for the cheerleaders during the long competiton days.  Of course, many questions came from parents as to why I picked what I picked.  Hence new emails went out explaining each and every food item.  As well did my contact info.  Today, once again the demands of our cheerleaders will be heavy, due to the upcoming two day competiton.  I was asked to give a breakfast menu as well as snack suggestions.  I gladly agreed.  In doing so, the coaches asked would I be consider their teams Nutritional Advisor.  Although it does not pay, it takes me closer to the ROCK STAR status I am trying to reach, lol.  Like my training partner says, "Anything for the kids!"

On the way home from the gym this afternoon, I ran into an old friend.  Well not really a friend, but a friend of my high school ex.  He had been locked up for almost 10 years.  I was happy that he was out and was doing something different with his life.  Now me being who I am asked, "Why you so fat for someone who has been in, didn’t you lift regularly?" Yeah he said, but he couldn’t resist the fastness of food (McD’s, Wendy’s, BK) when he got out.  After complimenting how well I looked and not remember me being that way 10 years ago, he asked what gym was I a member of. I gave him a choice seeing how I am a member of many.  He asked a bunch of other questions as well.  After it was all said and done, we were at 24Hour signing him up.  He asked would I work out with him and I warned him that I train like a beast.  He simply replied, Who do you think I have been around for the last 9 years?" "Oh!" I said.  I walked him through some of the stuff I do and how I like to be spotted and he asked what machines worked what.  Well I will say I am excited, I have been looking for a training partner who was flexible.  I just hope he dresses the part.  I can always seem to tell dudes who have just got out and go to the gym.  They dress all together different.  He better behave himself, I know that much!  Hopefully I don’t scare him away.

Well, just got an email, again.  My trainer is still sick.  So it is back day on my own.  I won’t complain this morning about not wanting to go.  I really don’t have an excuse.  I am up, have completed my am cardio and enjoyed those lovely eggs.  My client is on the way to get her nails done and I am WIDE awake.  So no complaints here.  Although I could go back to sleep with no problem.  But I learned in college that "Excuses are tools of incompetence, used to build monuments of nothingness.  Those that specialize in nothingness, very seldom amount to anything" "My body will not be what I can make it, if I continue to use excuses".  Well it did not end like that, but that is what I go by now.  So as I sit here and type this, I am reminded of the email from my friend in college now, "Dang, Angela you put girls my age to shame!"

I took the girls to see Jumper yesterday.  It was good, real good.  It had to be seeing how I stayed awake.  Sitting for long periods seem to put me to sleep.  They enjoyed it or maybe it was the slurpee’s, popcorn and candy they liked the most.  Oh well just being with them was the best part.  They leave next week to visit thier father.  I am sad about this.  This will be the firs long visit since my divorce.  I am dreading being without them for more than a night.  It is so hard to think about having to share them.  I guess it is only fair or atleast that is what the decree said.  Angela (yes I named my daughter after me) told me that she plans on cheering for the rest of her life.  She wants to know what can she do with it and where will she go to college.  She is 8 and is already planning her future.  I am 34 and barely know what I want from day to day.  I have to say I have some amazing angels.  I call her the "cheer nazi" because she know EVERYTHING about it.  She has been cheering since the age of 4.  I will have to admit, I train hard only because I see the fire in her eyes and the dedication she has towards cheerleading.  Amaziah loves the sport as well, but she is a just doer.  She does not practice as hard as Angela, she just does whatever Angela tells her to do.  They are both naturals, they just take different avenues to their naturality. 

I woke up to train with my trainer this morning.  As I opened my email, there it was.  He is sick.  He was lookin a lil pale yesterday, but I was keeping my fingers crossed.  He said he would still come in but not be 100%. I need 110% in order not to take advantage of him, so I wished him well.  Now since I am on Spring Break, I am debating, should I put on my clothes and go now, or go later.  I am always motivated to go to the gym, when I have to make time.  But seeing that I have ALL day, I want to sleep.  But I know I should just go and get it over, huh?  No that is not a question.  Someone just yell at me and say ANGELA GET YO ASS OUT THE HOUSE!!!  Where is Fern when u need her?  GeminiJedi, I gotta beat you, so I think I will look at your site to make me get my mind right.  I am still on the fence, now or later.  Sound like the candy. Ummm I can eat some apple/cherry now&laters about now.  Oh man I am really babbling.  I gotta stop.  Like Nelly says, if hard work pays off, easy work is worthless.  I guess we will have to see if I go now or go to sleep.

It has been a while since I have posted about gym drama, but I have not lacked much.  So today, as many days, I get the stare down by many.  Wait, let me clear this up.  I am not all that nor do I think I am all that.  I am a very humble person.  However I really hate getting stared at while I workout.  The occasional glimpse is fine.  But when they literally step back to stare, then I have a problem.  Now when I invite stares (short shorts and a sports bra) then yeah.  But not a tank and average shorts.  Well today I decided to say something.  They were staring and saying something (ipod on blast and don’t read lips).  I snapped my neck and said, “Don’t stare if you ain’t gonna speak!”  “Damn, baby, we were just impressed at how u lift.”  OK sorry, but I did not take that as a compliment. Here is my issue (yes I do have many).  Why is it a BIG thing for a woman to lift weights (heavy)?  I know not ALL men are amazed, but the many that are act like we are a rare species in the gym.  I constantly get stared at or told how to do something.  I am a side show or a sissy, either way I WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE!!!  So sorry for being pissy, but I wear myself out at the gym, the last thing I need is to feel self-conscious about being there.  So if you got a tank or tee that says Just leave me ALONE, I am willing to purchase it. 

Thanks 

A!  

I have been lifting heavy for two weeks and regular for one.  When I skip into the gym, I am so excited about what is about to take place.  I put my headphones on Mary J. Just Fine and jump rope to warm-up.  I work up a sweat, wipe it away, and begin my lifting routine.  I lift, I sweat, I bite my lip, I rest and repeat until I complete my session.  As I use what lil strength I have left to place the weights back on the racks, I take a seat.  I sit and ask myself, what are you doing?  Why are you doing this?  You are not gettin paid, you a chasing a passion that may or may not pay off.  You get stared at in the gym, and you hate that.  You wake up thinkin about how much time you will spend at the gym, you eat things that make othehers sick.  All this goes through my head.  I push myself off the bench, totally exhausted from my experience.  I turtle walk out of the gym, full of why thoughts.  I look at the counter person, crack and 1/2 smile and say see you guys tomorrow.  I am not really saying good-bye to her, but to those thoughts I just had.  You see, I leave a part of me in the gym with each and every workout.  I take the good with me and leave the why’s behind me.  I know they will meet me again in the gym, but with each sunrise, I look forward to making thier acquaintance.

A!

My trainer has convinced me to pursue bodybuilding.  Not that it took much pursuing.  I had read and reread the article in MD with Brit.  They are changing the way bb ladies look.  Taking the muscle down 20% sounds like a good time to enter the field.  Now all I have to do is leave those cheetos alone and lean out some more.  I have very thick muscles, so hopefully this will not be a hard task.  BB I mean.  I have always been a huge fan of muscles.  When I was a child I use to ask my dad could I swing from his arms.  ALthough they are lil now, they were huge to me at the time.  He is the only one willing to embrace my change.  My mother and friends are not too happy with my decision.  That is because they just don’t know.  Well my mind is made up I am going to train for bodybuilding.  Sometimes I wonder what do I get myself into.  Only becasue no one else around me is doing it. 

At first I was like, "I ain’t ever gonna work in the classroom".  Then my english got better.  Now that I have been teaching again for the last 2.5 years, I love it.  I remember when Spring Break was 2 days, now TWO weeks.  I am so excited about ALL the things I get to do.  Starting with myself and girls.  15 days of relaxing.  I am geeked about getting up at 7:00 instead of 4:00.  It may not sound like much to many, but that mean mountians to me.  I have a full week planned with my trainer, lifting heavy.  I really enjoy working out with him.  He sees where I am not pushing myself and makes me go theat extra mileage.  I get to take my girls to all the places we never make it to on the weekend.  I also get the chance to spend some time with myself.  I can actually turn off my phones, computer and pager while relaxing in the spa.  I look forward to this time, I just hope I do what I plan to do!