juliet_virgo’s BodyBlog

Today I had another great training session!  I love tracking my workout sessions.  Again today I hit a personal best.  Totally motivating!  It inspires me to work even harder.  I honestly believe that all the German Volume training really helped me to increase my strength.  I trained so hard and heavy, now I find in the gym on my new routine I push myself even harder.  Just think what I could do if I had a training partner……Peace. J~ 

So this morning I was up at 4:45am and doing my 40 minutes of cardio.  I DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE.  At that point I thought to myself, what the heck am I doing, I am not going to compete this fall.  I am tired of getting up early to train, I just want to SLEEP IN!!!  Ok, maybe it was because I just finished 2 1/2 weeks of holidays where I could train at any time of the day.  I was waking up at 8am instead of 5…3 hours is HUGE!  I have only just begun my training, I still have to work up to the 2 hours of cardio per day.  Can I do it this go around?  Aghhhhh what the heck I am doing?  Do I really want to go through this again?  I need to focus right now and get over the whinning!  I am doing this for myself, to prove that I have the determination and focus to stick to the program and not cheat myself.  I need to realize that this was only day 2 back from holidays….get into the groove. Peace. J~

So just finished 2 1/2 weeks holidays out at my RV space and it was pure heaven.  I had great training sessions.  Treadmill access (although the mountains would have given me enough incline walking!) I do like to be on a treadmill, I hate working out in heat, rain, wind……yup, I like the ideal conditions while I train.  So cardio was a breeze.  Weights I take with me everywhere, and you can’t beat working out in the fresh outdoors.  That is my FAVORITE place to train.  My biggest obstacle was eating.  Firstly, I ate only 5 times per day.  Secondly I forgot my scale and I truly need that to weigh my food.  I also missed weighing myself weekly (only 1 time per week) but that really helps me to focus.  So now its back to reality.  I will weigh out all my food this week.  Stick to 6 meals and not 5.  As well, I will weigh myself only this Saturday and not before (even though I am curious).  Then I can compare to my last competition weighins to see if I am close to being on track.  I am not using a nutritionist this go around, so I don’t do body fat testing every 2 weeks.  I am using the same diet etc. but I like to be held accountable and not sure if I am able to do this on my own.  This is week 5 of my diet….lets see how weigh in goes! Peace. J~

This has been a great week thus far.  I have had some fantastic workouts both cardio and  weights while away on holidays.  My eating has gone pretty good for the week.  My cravings have been next to none so it has made being on holidays easier than I anticipated.  I have to head home for 2 days, but will be coming back out with my daugther, my girlfriend (Princesspower14) and her 2 kids for the weekend.  I am looking forward to this because we are both dieting down together, plus she gets to come out and spend some time in a place that I love to be at the most!  Maybe she will buy a lot out here with us…tee hee (master plan).  We will also get to have our cheat night together….can you say pizza!!!  Anyways, things are going well right now.  I am curious to see what I weigh in at on Saturday as I don’t have a scale out here.  My clothes are feeling loose, and my tummy is pretty flat, plus my abs are starting to come out, these are all great signs.  Time to hit the pool, bikini here I come! Peace. J~

Today I am back on track.  Of course I still miss my pup, but I am switching to positive energy and remembering all the amazing times we had together.  On the treadmill this morning for 35 minutes which was great.  I did legs today, some great squating action happening.  I love training outdoors!  On the patio, barbell, dumbells and a bench, what more do you need.  I was in the shade, but already at 10 am it was 22 degrees celcius (about 76 for my american friends). Fabulous training weather.  Not a cloud in the sky to be seen.  Up in the Canadian Rockies, my little slice of heaven.  After training, I took off in my new car and cruised an hour down to the lake.  It ended up about 35 degrees out!!!! (ok that is 102 and remember, high altitude)  Even with 45 sunscreen on I was a bit pink on the face and neck.  I had the need for speed and rocked the car at 176 (kmph)  didn’t see any Mounties out, but slowed down and just cruised.  It was a fabulous day and ended in a fantastic night.  I ate all my meals, had a great time training and playing outdoors.  I am back into the game and loving life to the fullest.  This is what summers are all about.  Too bad its just a little quiet around my place, but I am dealing with it. Peace, train hard! J~

To all my amazing friends on this site I just want to say thank you!  Two simple words, but truly the ones that express my gratitude for the kindness which many friends have sent to me through blogging, pm’s and messages.  Our dog was a huge part of our family, my daughters best friend.  One doesn’t realize till they are no longer there the routine in which they play a major role in  our lives.  This morning as I came back from the gym, I missed him greating me at the hill.  I teared up as I walked down to my trailer.  Our family is a little out of sync right now, struggling to find a new routine.  My daughter has walked all the dogs she can in the rv park.  So great that so many others understand.  I am sure in time we will have a new addition in our family, so many breeds so little time.  I do love my golden retrievers, I just don’t know if I can deal with the heartache as my last 2 have only lasted 8 years.  For now it is time to heal.  I am thankful I have something to focus on with the competition coming up.  I am also thankful for the friends and support network I have on this site and in my personal life.  Thank you again, remember all doggies go to heaven! Peace. J~

I am writing this with tears rolling down my face, missing one of my best friends, my faithful companion, Logan.  This morning I was woken up by my dog crying in pain.  He has been battling bone cancer the past few months and it was now time.  We were looking for a sign from him that he was ready to go.  The last few days all he has wanted to do is run and play and he doesn’t understand why he can’t.  At 5am I fed him and he was fine. At 6am he cried out and couldn’t stand up.  After his pain medicine and helping him up he was ok, but we knew it was time.  Finally he will be able to run again, free of pain, out in the wild grass fields……We love you Logan and you will be greatly missed.  No training today for me.  I feel like sleeping all day and eating tons of carbs…or maybe not eating at all.  Stay true and strong. Peace. J~

This morning I finished off my cardio, quickly did shoulders (yes again outdoors!) and then took off to the stables to go for a ride!  AMAZING!  My daughter (7 years old), my partner, and I went out with 2 guides for an hour long ride.  Last year she had to be ponied up with the lead guide.  This year he asked if she wanted to ride solo….I was suprised!  He said she was strong enough to do it on her own, her horse, a beautiful paint, was just over 15 hands high.  He looked massive with her on his back.  The guide had done some tests with her last year to see if she was strong enough to handle the horse on her own.  This year she was more then ready.  Her legs arent quite long enough for the stirrups and the kids stirrups are too short so he just had her sqeeze with her legs.  I was so proud of her.  Just to prove again that healthy lifestyle allows our young kids to do amazing things.  We went up and down some incredible climbs and she held on with her legs and controlled that horse. One climbe we went up so high you could see the entire valley and townsite below.  I love the Rockies, what an experience. I am so lucky to be healthy along with my daughter and partner.  Fitness is a lifestyle and allows us to have incredible adventures!  Train hard and enjoy life! Peace. J~

At 10 am this morning I was outside on the patio doing my chest routine and as I lay on my bench doing dumbbell presses a huge hawk flew overhead.  There is nothing like being in the Rockies, fresh air, silence (other than my babbling rock in the background) lifting weights on a beautiful clear sky day.  These are the days I live for!  My daughter playing ball on the grass close by.  My dog (yup he is still kickin it!) laying beside me watching me train, lazing around the grass nearby.  My partner training with me, it’s been awhile, so glad he is getting back into it!!!!  This is what life is about, isn’t it?  We work hard so that we can play hard.  We don’t live to work, we work to play harder!  Live life healthy and to the fullest.  Enjoy the little things in life. Treasure your time on earth with your family and friends.  Train hard! Peace. J~

Get up in the morning finish 30 minutes cardio and some ab work.  Get the bench and dumbbells outside on the patio and complete shoulder workout.  By 11 am cardio is done, weights are done, I have eaten 2 meals, drank 1.5 litres of water all out in the beautiful fresh air of the great Canadian Rockies!  What more could one want on the first day of vacation!  Our RV spot is pretty quiet with only 54 units, I think there are only 5 other families out here right now. This morning was so peaceful working out.  My beautiful pup is still kicking it with us, so he lay on the grass watching his crazy owner on the deck lifting weights.  Pretty awesome.  Other visitors to the morning ritual, some humming birds a few squirrels and some other little creatures.  I absolutely love training on holidays, I think I honestly get my best workouts in.  Well, its time for the pool! Peace. J~