josephinedalton’s BodyBlog

As a personal trainer, I’ve come to the revelation that most people that come to me to lose weight are actually seeking happiness. They are unhappy with themselves for whatever reason and think that maybe losing some weight or looking better will be the answer! 

 A friend sent me this and I wanted to share it with everyone, especially the bodyspace members who are unhappy with themselves (inside or out) and are attempting to better themselves starting with their image & weight.

No matter if you’re skinny or fat, fit or unfit…. you are not worthless !

 A well-known speaker started off his seminar by:
>
> Holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, ‘Who would like this $20 bill?’
>
> Hands started going up.
>
> He said, ‘I am going to give this $20 to one of you
>
> but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.
>
> He then asked, ‘Who still wants it?’
>
> Still the hands were up in the air.
>
> Well, he replied, ‘What if I do this?’
>
> And he dropped it on the ground
>
> and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
>
> He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.
>
> ‘Now, who still wants it?’
>
> Still the hands went into the air.
>
> My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson…
>
> No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it
>
> Because it did not decrease in value.
>
> It was still worth $20..
>
> Many times in our lives,
>
> We are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt
>
> By the decisions we make and
>
> The circumstances that come our way.
>
> We feel as though we are worthless.
>
> But no matter what has happened or
>
> What will happen, you will never lose your value.
>
> Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased,
>
> YOU are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.
>
> The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know,
>
> But by
> WHO WE ARE
> And
> WHOSE WE ARE.
>
> You are Special-
> Don’t EVER forget it!
>
> Because you mean more than twenty dollars to me!!!!
 

Nuff said.  I never did understand why jealous people have so much power in this world until I realized it was ‘weakness’ (in its general definition as it applies to human spirit) that governs so many behaviors amongs people, but especially in the fact that it’s in epidemic proportions. Do these people realize that being jealous of others for anything is their outward admission to suffering from some sort of subconsciously accepted weakness?  What a way to go through life… hating others for their accomplishments or virtues when he or she him/herself cannot look inward and correct that which is flawed but fixable !

There are two songs that I wish I can blast through the airwaves and drill into other peoples’ souls (especially young girls).. Whitney Houston’s "Greatest Love Of All" and Mariah Carey’s "Hero"….. that’s a gospel strong enough that God should have spoken himself (or herself, or itself… however you want to personify or explain it)

 In love and good health

Josephine D

http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/site/?p=969

I guess I was in IronMan again  WOOHOO  thanks Ian Sitren

As a personal trainer, I’ve witnessed first hand the irony of our society and how we seem to idolize fit people, placing beautiful people on pedestals and worshiping those who fit the ideal image.  But unknowingly sabotage any efforts of those close to us from making any attempt to be that ideal.  Or worse yet, ostracize them because of jealousy or inability to accept even their change.

I remember a few years back, I was chatting with a fellow Ms. Bikini America competitor. She was seemingly unhappy in general, despite her beautiful smile and sparkling blue eyes. She related to me about her "fight" to stay in shape when others around her were trying to bring her down. She mentioned that her husband would often embarass her in front of family & friends when she refused to take part in unhealthy eating, criticizing her then try to force pizza and beer on her.

 I felt her frustration in equal parts as a fitness model working in the food & beverage service industry.  I can’t tell you how many times people would walk by me in the casino employee dining room (EDR) and make some sort of comment on how I was eating healthy when I’m already in thin… it almost seeemed like they were offended that me and my grilled chicken breast salad with no dressing. My first figure student dealt with the same issue, but ended up giving in. Nothing I could do to encourage an 5′7′’ 100 lbs to eat healthy when everyone around her was dowing chicken wings and washing it down with beer.   Oh, did I mention I worked at the Hooters Casino in Las Vegas at the time? The irony of that shittpitt was that while they encouraged girls to eat healthy, (and they did weigh-ins too) they also offered a rich array of fried foods in the EDR from 75/25 hamburgers with white buns and slabs of mayo, true Hooters chicken wings and french fries… oh yeah, grilled chicken made to order but it takes 10 minutes after you’ve waited in line 15 minutes to finally put your order in (5 minutes to eat then you’re expected on the casino floor working).  Don’t get me wrong… the burgers were to die for ! ! And with fries… too bad there were no chili & cheese for the fries or chocolate shakes !

 (EARTH TO JOSEPHINE…and no, I’m not dieting)

The funny thing I’ve noticed about so many people with unhealthy lifestyles is that it’s the very people closest to them that have the most impact. If it’s one thing I know, a dieter’s spouse is their biggest deal make and deal breaker ! Second, the rest of their family, then friends then co-workers.  Nobody can relate to a average American dieter like the bodybuilders & competitors.  Its sad that we have to literally cut ourselves off from the world, ignore friends, avoid places and all that, for the sake of removing all potential diet wreckers.  No wonder why bodybuilders aren’t liked or at least seem stuck up ! I too know this. Just last month my friend and photographer Alex kept texting me to go get some drinks… at Buffalo Wild Wings. His attempt to guilt me "oh, cummon. One wing won’t hurt !" Now imagine this every day with a different friend putting the pressure on you !

 Friends, as much as I love them ( and I know they mean no harm )  KILL MY DIET ! ! !  But lucky for me, my friends understand me and my goals in life and they resepct me… that’s because I tell them ! !  I can see most dieters (being unhappy with themselves, eager to be accepted and be happy) giving into the pressures of friends and not having a thick enough spine to ask them to back off !

Now for the haters… these are the ones close to you that feel threatened by your attempt to better yourself (they are either not comfortable with change, or they subconsciously fear you being better than them). I have heard about horror stories of women succeeding in their weightloss goals only to be met with jealousy, hatred, gossip and intimidation at the workplace, by the very female coworkers once close to them (and often, verbally supportive).  Who in their right mind could work in an environment like that? But this is all to often a reality for many people, women as well as men.

What can you do? Well, the only thing you can honestly do is be strong.  It’s honesty easier to change one person (you) than change the hundreds you come in contact with on a daily basis.  And I truly don’t feel "ignoring" them helps.   Nothing beats a quick slip of the lip ("fu*ck off") or an honest heart to heart chat with those unintentionally trying to sabotage you… or if all else fails, removing yourself from that environment. 
 

It’s official…. I’m crossing over into NPC in 200 thanks to the addition of the NPC Bikini Category. I must say that going figure would be more challenging for me, so I decided to compete in Bikini while I take the year to "try" to build up some more muscle to compete in figure for 2010. Who knows, maybe I’ll decide I’m ready and do a figure show next year for the helluvit.

But definitely look for me in the NPC spotlight in 2009… starting with the Max Muscle Naturals !

I am so  happy to announce that I somehow placed 5th in the Ms. Bikini America Classics competition, November 22, 2008 here in my hometown of Las Vegas, NV

This came as a surprise to me because I honestly felt i was not in my best shape. After having major shoulder surgery in June, I could not train any upper body until September, and I already had stopped training in March ! And to top it all off, I’m a hard (fat) loser and only running allows me to lose fat at the rate of most other competitors.  I was only able to start running 3 weeks out from the competition .

So I guess you can say that I am 110% pleased with the results, since I honestly felt like a fatty onstage

I am happy to post that I was informed I was chosen as the August BodySpace Member of the month.  Last week I shot with Ian Striden/Second Focus Photography for Bodyspace.com feature in IronMan Magazine August issue (on newsstands July 08).  I am so excited ! 

Do you have your own opinion on this product?  I just blew through my 3rd bottle and have decided to incorporate it into my competition diet to replace the fruits I won’t be eating.  My normal diet incorporates ALOT of fruit. At 4g of natural sugars per ounce (it’s recommended 2-4 oz/day), I think it wouldn’t hurt.

www.monavie.com

The day you quit blaming everything else & start to realize that you are ‘all that’ (cos God created you in his image)  is the day you will start to live again & take control of your life.

 Its not your right to look down upon, to de-value or abhor a creature of God (duh.. you).  So believe you are worth it…. *uck what everyone else thinks and don’t let others bring you down or hold you back (Its so much easier for others to hold you back rather than bettering themselves to rise above you).  Be stong! 

In the end, YOU are responsible for your own happiness & soul

Lemme know your issues…. I’ve been studying up on this condition (my condition) for quite a while now.