L@UR@

I’m uploading a video to youtube as I write this. It’s actually a tour of my kitchen. Get excited! Yes, I am a Nutrition Guru. Nutrition has become so much of a passion, it’s almost an obsession at this point. So, from time to time I get little messages here and there asking me what’s on my grocery list. Well–now you’ll have a video of my entire kitchen. Ask & you shall receive, people!

So, I have decided that one of my New Year’s resolutions, amongst many others, is going to be becoming more dedicated to this community. I get on here, look at a few things and hop off, but seriously- if I spent as much time on this site as I do on facebook, I’d get a lot better progress LMAO…which reminds me:

Laura Andrews

Create Your Badge 

Also, if you’ve checked up on my page at all, you’d know I’m looking for a new workout partner in the Fort Hood area. C’mon ppl! Help a sistah out.

Other than that, hit me up with any hellos, hiyas, and howareyas

xoxo,
Laura

I started my Veteran’s Day off with a 3 mile run and arms workout.

This is my 3rd Veteran’s Day in the Military, but my 1st AS a veteran. I must say, it means something completely different to me now than it did then. It has become one moving holiday for me.

It is sad that this Veteran’s Day, the American Flag is being flown at half-staff. Please remember why that is and keep all of us here at Fort Hood–the families, friends, loved ones, and fellow soldiers–in your thoughts.

<3,
Laura

I’ve never been this unmotivated before. I was peeling hard-boiled eggs last night, and they weren’t peeling right…the egg kept coming off in chunks, and I got so upset for some reason. I just tossed the egg in the trash and was like, "I quit. This is insane. Let’s go to McDonald’s." (I didn’t go to McDonald’s…I actually don’t even know where one is, since I haven’t eating mickey D’s since before I went to Iraq, which was last May.) But it was a PERFECT example of how I’ve been feeling lately. I just don’t have that same drive in the gym I had before. I think it may be due to stress and an ever-changing sleep schedule, but here it is 3:40 am, I’m awake, I have PT at 6:30. Usually I wake up at 4am, get a little breakfast in me (6 egg whites and some oatmeal), and **BOOM** I’m hell on wheels and out the door, but lately I’ve had trouble sleeping, I’ve been distracted at the gym. I don’t know what’s up with me. I know I’m an inspiration and motivator to a lot of people in the Company. They expect me to come in energetic and balls to the wall. It’s getting hard to do that.

 If you’re IN the killeen area, please hit me up! I could really use a workout partner

Thx,

L@UR@

Today marks day 1 of a new diet & workout plan constructed by noneother than the beautiful Lejla Citro (http://www.lejlacitro.com). We’ve had some long discussions surrounding what I want, my food requirements, my strong points, my weak points, etc. I’ve got to somehow keep a log of this, and to be quite honest–writing on paper does NOT work. The list of vitamins/supplements is long and the meal plan is strict, but I’m pumped to test it out. My goal is to compete in the March 2010 time frame, so I’m “testing” a 12 week pre-contest prep. to make sure there’s nothing I need/want to tweek before the real one. I hope you’re all having a fantastic day & if you can–go check out October’s issue of SELF mag. (If not, I’m gonna post scanned copies. I know a lot of you are in Iraq.)

 Stay awesome <3,

L@UR@

So, I started my morning out with 3/4 c. 100% liquid eggwhites, 1/2 c. diced zucchini, 1/2 c. yellow squash omelet & 2 slickes of 100% stone ground whole wheat bread (plain…:(). I’m back, and I’m getting everything ready for a great 1st week. I’m going to go get a large white tea & relax during my manicure/pedicure in about an hour & then this evening–ABS…they’re gonna hate me, but they need it. If you’re in the Fort Hood area, I’ll be at Abrams gym this evening (probably around 1700).

Also, on October 17th, I’ll be at the Central Texas Showdown in Temple. I’m not competing–just checking out the local competition. Military gets in for the whole day (Finals & Expo) for $30. Send me a private message if you wanna go.

 Off to relax,

Laura

So, in about 7 days I’m going to be on a (appx.) 18-hour flight. I got to thinking about airplane food and started FLIPPING out. haha

Don’t worry. I’ve got it under control. I went to our Shoppette and bought a few items (operative word there would be "items," not "few" haha):

1. Ziploc Baggies
2. Mixed Nuts
3. 15 different kinds of protein bars (all around 250 cal, 2-5g sugar, and 30g protein)
4. Nitro-Tech individually packaged protein shake meal replacements
5. Lipton sugar-free drink mixes
6. Raisins
7. Oatmeal (plain packets)

I separated ONLY the almonds from the mixed nuts can & threw the rest away.

Now, I can "stick to" my diet (ok…sorta) and NOT eat airplane food!

Thanks, J-Dub for the Ziploc baggie (and thieving from the DFAC) idea.

Hopefully Customs will let me get all this through. Haha

xoxo,

L@UR@

First of all, let me say that my Back & Shoulders workout yesterday was awesome:

* Cable Pull Downs: 3×10 w/40 lbs, then bumped up to 60 lbs for a dropset, ending w/30 lbs.

* Cable Row: 5×8 50 lbs.

* Rear Flyes: 4×10 (someone came and hovered over the machine, so I said screw the 5th set…annoying, right?) w/ 19(?) lbs.

*Shoulder Press: 4×10 w/10 lbs (I don’t know why I have such a hard time with weight on this exercise…but 2 weeks ago, I was only using 5 lbs…so I guess any improvement is worth it.)

* Lat Raises: 3×12 w/ 22 lbs

* T-Bar Row: 3×10 w/25 lbs, and then a dropset starting at 50 lbs, descending to 25 by the last rep

* Bent Over BB Row: 3×12 w/50 lbs.

* Upright Row: 3×8 w/45 lb. plate (I like the plate vs. the bbell. It keeps my form in check and you can take a plate ANYWHERE in the gym.)

* Shrugs: 5×10 w/ 50 lbs.

Then, I got on the Treadmill: 5 minute 6.0 jog, 5-25 minutes: 60 sec sprint @ 8.5, 60 sec recovery 3.5 (10 sprints), 25-30 minutes: Run @ 7.0, 30-35 minutes: Cool-Down.

It went well, and after that, I did some quick (but good) abs: decline sit-ups w/ a dime plate: 3 sets of 10 (and of course 3 sets of 10 to the right, 10 to the left). Then, 25 hanging knee raises. I was spent!! It was great!

I did get some semi-unfortunate news that my flight is being bumped back a little. Oh well. Yeah, I was irritated and annoyed at 1st, but there’s nothing I can do to change that, so why let it get to me? I’ve been here 14 months; I can wait another 12 days to go home. Patience, grasshopper–patience!!

I hope you’re all having fantastic workouts and kick@$$ training. Hit me up with some killer ab workouts. You know that’s my main FOCUS right now.

Legs today. Woohoo!

<3,

L@UR@

Hey guys! 

Yesterday was a perfect example of 2 things–one positive, one negative.

I always tell ppl (unless it’s their rest day or there’s an injury), "even if you don’t feel like going to the gym–you’re tired, just don’t feel like it, whatever the case–go anyway. Tell yourself, ‘I’m just gonna do 10-15 min. on the Elliptical or something.’ You never know. Once you get that blood pumping, you may just wanna put a heavier workout in."

Well, yesterday, I was WORN the hell out. I was exhausted from work. I’d sweat my @$$ off all day and just wasn’t motivated. I went anyway. It worked–I got the blood moving and stayed for almost 2 hours w/30 minutes of Cardio and a Killer Abs workout to failure.

The problem though (the other thing yesterday was a GREAT example of) is that I don’t even remember everything I did. Haha. I was so zoned out…so focused on the crunch, pump, and muscle failure that I didn’t write anything down, and I came back feeling like I was just all over the place. Moral: go, but don’t go without a plan.

Today I’m getting my plan ready WAY ahead of time since I have some time away from work.

Training Insane–on the Insane Train,

L@UR@

Fridays are supposed to be my rest day, but I just have absolutely ZERO respect for my planned rest days. Don’t get me wrong–I have total respect for days when I’m throwing up, migraine…"just can’t" day-off types of days.

So I went anyway–Abs Abs Abs…I am going to get that 6-pack. I am.

The Gym is my drug…

~*~L@UR@~*~

P.S. Funny Story–I always take Vanilla Protein powder to the Chow hall to mix in w/my Oatmeal in the mornings. Well, this morning I decided I wanted to take Strawberry instead of Vanilla. No big deal–right? haha. Silly me–I forgot that it turns HOT effin’ PINK. I had hot pink Oatmeal at the Chow Hall. Yes, people looked at me like I was IN-friggin-SANE.

WARNING: I’m probably going to ramble.

First off, I’m sleep deprived. Last night, right as I was going to bed, knock knock knock– "I’m going to need you to go move some trucks at (insert insanely late-night time here)," and then work call is at 0430 hrs. 4:30 AM? Are you friggin’ kidding me? It’s funny because the most annoying/frustrating part is that I know my muscles need recovery. Funny, right? Most people would just be upset that they’re missing out on sleep. I, however, am upset (mainly) that my body is missing out on some cruicial recovery time.

So, here I am–5 am–at work, but with only 14 days left here in Iraq, who cares?!

My morning meals are going to have to be more spaced out than usual in order to evenly carry me to lunch-time.  

Meal #1: 4am: I did some serious lip-pouting and pleading w/the staff at the coffee shop to blend some ice together for me so that I could add 2 scoops of Vanilla Protein to it. I got it! (I’m a chick in Iraq. If we really want something, we can usually get it. I don’t abuse it! I just want a protein shake, dog-gone-it!!)

Meal #2: 7:30am: I don’t even know yet. I’ll probably have some cucumber slices and egg whites–maybe some yogurt. That’s all I have in the fridge at work. Therefore, those are my only options.

Meal#3: 11am: Salad–most definitely salad because I just got the Dining Facility’s menu in my e-mail, and there is absolutely NADA being served today that is worth a $h!t. I’m thinking Greek Salad (effin’ yummmm)

Meal #4: 2pm: Raw Yellow & Red Peppers & Carrot Stix

Meal#5: 5pm: My Vegetable & Cheese "Quesadilla" Dinner: It’s a whole wheat tortilla, mixed veggies, and 1/2 oz cheese hot pressed into a purdy darn good meal.

Meal #6: 8pm: Hard-boiled Egg whites

** So that’s my plan for right now.**

Today, it’s going to be a ROUGH Gym session because I’ve pulled the 1st all-nighter I’ve pulled since College. Whew-eeee, I’m tired!

But, I guess it’s what makes the difference between a "normal" person and a Competitor–I’m gonna push through it. I know I’ll start getting a lot more energy once I get there and the blood gets pumping through my veins.

All the best everyone,

L@UR@