sparkie 
"FOUR weeks left in my transformation challenge..I WILL be transformation of the week!!"
|
|
Archive for the 'Training' Category
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
Can’t believe it, but it will be soon 2 years since I met(and fell in love with) ..weights!! My aniversary coming up, I thought I would do something special, so instead of signing up to do a comp, I booked a photo shoot and began the ‘cutting’ process 6 weeks ago. 4 more to go, and I’ll submit my photos to the transformation of the week. It’s really unreal how a little dumbell and teeny scoop of milkshake can transform your mind, body and soul, isn’t it??
Why am I asking you, you already KNOW, that’s why you’re here!! Thanks to my amazing supporting friends on here and some determination, I’m doing great(melting actually) and just can’t wait to see the before and after results side by side!
please stay tuned!!!!!!
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Friday, August 1st, 2008
So this old man who comes to the gym every morning and loves to flirt and chit-chat rubs his hands on me the other day. I complained to management and just ignored him whenever I saw him, but let me tell you I was on my guard.
Then, yesterday, he walks by me, looks me up and down and wispers: mmmm lookin good…! Later, I see him copping a feel on this woman while she’s on the stairmaster. "you don’t have to put up with this!" I tell her. She tells me that it’s the 2nd time he feels her up and she’s had it. I again complained to management. Nothing. So, I walk up to him, low-carb RAGE and all, and told him that then next time he lays his dirty old pervert hands on a woman here, I’m calling the cops and they’ll take you away. See you in 3 months! He looked at me like I’m seriously nuts and deranged.
Men from this generation (50s) believe that if you’re a woman(especially in revealing clothing), well I can touch you, why not, I’m a man! Gross! I’ll tell you what bothers me the most about this; management at the gym has yet to offer him a warning. That is so macho. I would love to be part of a gym that both celebrates the beauty and strength of a female BB, but also stands behind them when they are assaulted.
Men, Women….what do you think????
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Friday, June 20th, 2008
Step one was to get me out of that aerobic room and into the iron “other side” of the gym. Done.
Step two was to stop having my 2-3 huge-carb and huge-cal meals with nothing at all in between. Done.
Step 3: Consistency, Consistency, Consistency. Done
Now I’ve lost a lot of the fat and most of the cellulite(yes!) and build quality muscle. I’ve found that in the last few months, I’ve gotten larger. (bulkier) So I’ve increased cardio and reduced the amount of weight I lift(slower, more controlled reps, less rest) It sure isn’t easy! Oh, and I do this while maintaining a good diet, which can be hard when you do all this cardio(6Xwk)
Have you cut/slimmed down and most importantly MAINTAINED IT?? I’ll take ALL the advice you can give me that has worked for you. (PLEASE!!!!!)
The quest for the teeny bikini continues!!!
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Monday, February 18th, 2008
I was a victim of horrible crimes many years ago. After 4 long, painful years of the not-so-great Canadian justice system, I can finally close this chapter and proudly say that the criminal is locked up, and boy does justice taste sweet. This is not a blog to solicit pity in any way.
I’m just hoping to maybe give some hope or courage to victims out there, that there IS justice, you just have to STAND UP AND FIGHT.
Also, I need to tell you the importance of bodybuilding in this process. You have no idea of the not only physical, but mental empowering that bb brings you. I mean, if you can be strict and disciplined with diet, training, supplements, you can go to the gym and lift HEAVY METAL right over your head!, than facing a bully becomes just a little easier.
hope to give you some hope, strength, courage
lift hard, be strong!!(and don’t ever let ANYONE TELL YOU “YOU CAN’T…)
be well
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Wednesday, December 19th, 2007
Last night I watch the finale of this show. (I don’t usually watch) Am I the only one who became SO affected by this?? Well, I cried my eyes out. I became very emotional at seing these people who were literally DEAD MEN WALKING and who now actually were given a 2nd chance at life and look so healthy and happy. Most lost 100-200lbs!! With all the negativity in the world and in the media, seing positive success stories like these inspired and touched me so much. Think of them next time you don’t want to train or you have 10lbs to lose, most of them could barely WALK when they started…Wow!! Now, gotta go buy some kleenex!!
Were you moved by this?
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
Just love it when this happens! Makes my bb challenge just a little easier!!
1. Every machine I jump on is free just when I need it.
2. An incredible song comes on my mp3 just when I thought I had no more energy left in me to push
3. Albacore tuna on sale!!
4. My BF surprises me at gym when I wasn’t expecting it.
5. Successfully mixed and drank shake, while driving, WITHOUT any spills!
6. Fitting into an outfit I was gonna write off, only to discover that it now looks GREAT!
7. Made it through a cocktail party without cheating on diet
8. Received amazing positive comments from my friends on bb!!
What are some of YOUR favorite(bb) things??
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Monday, November 12th, 2007
It’s not always easy and many people will ask me how I stay dedicated to the training and the diet when I have sooooo many reasons to give myself a pass. Well, that’s EXACTLY why I do it. I have no choice. Yes, it’s very hard, but I have yet not found ONE SINGLE better stress reliever. Drugs: not my thing; junk food: tastes great, but leaves you feeling yuk and alcohol: don’t get me started.
Last Friday night, I was driving back from a 3 hour work-trip after being away on and off for the last few weeks. I was tired, hungry, and had to work the next day(yep, Saturday!), and I knew I wouldn’t make it to the gym before 10pm, which meant going to sleep past 12. My phone rings, a friend of mine’s 15 year old daughter PASSED AWAY tragically. I was devastated.
I came home, brought my luggage up and sat on my bed and held my face with my hands. “I CAN’T do this- Not tonight” And if there was a night I could have allowed myself to do it, that would have been it. …But I didn’t. It was very hard to haul myself to the gym, train hard, come home at midnight and have tuna and unpack my suitcase to be ready for work in the morning.
I have to say, I felt much better for doing it. Yes, I could have used this excuse to not train+diet, but where do you draw the line of what’s an acceptable excuse?? Plus, the benefits of standing up when you wanna just quit are HUGE.
The funeral is Wednesday and will be very tough. I will make sure to have good workouts-diet this week. Need the strength!!
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
Getting ready for another work trip. Will be gone about a week. I’ve already done all the necessary: found a gym nearby the hotel(It’s a Golds, yeah!!), packed all my shakes in pre-package servings(Ziploc snack bags are great), packaged oatmeal, pb(travels great), tuna pouches are amazing. My work agenda is pretty much set and my colleagues do REALLY ENJOY those free meals, if you wanna call them free. The restaurant ones are always a challenge. A few of our meals will be had at a president’s home, so that is even more of a challenge(kind of hard to mix your protein shake at the buffet table..!) The best thing that I can do is these situations is come as prepared as can be. Since some of the restaurant work meals are already set, I can go online check out the menus(and call ahead to make sure they handle special requests of course!), always have meals-to-go in my purse, and of course, bring enough workout wear for each day I’ll be there(heck, I may bring a few extra in case I get the urge to go more than once/day). Hopefully, I’ve given a few of you business travellers some tips and if you have any to share with me, please do so(I leave in 2 days) One thing I just won’t do is to say:”oh, just this once.., I really have no choice…”, because just this once X 100 equals disaster. Oh, and for sure, I need some good reading material (fitness mag)for the plane!!(10 hour travel!!)
happy travels
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Monday, September 17th, 2007
I can’t beleive that it’s been one year already since I saw the light(!) and started bodybuilding. After so many years of running, cardio, and eating what I THOUGHT was a healthy diet, I figured that is how far my body will go. I sure wasn’t going to starve it , and there was NO WAY I could spend any more time in the gym(10-20hrs a week!).
Bodybuilding defintely changed my life(body and spirit) I feel great +young, but also find that the discipline and dedication help me in my professional and personal life. You are more patient and much more tolerant.
My biggest challenges are to haul myself in the gym after a 14hour day+homework with my son, etc, fatigue sets in, sometimes, you just wanna say:ok, I won’t go to the gym JUST THIS ONCE.(But I never did) Also, I get invited to many black tie galas and events where I have to attend as part of my job, and turning down a free $500 plate to go eat PB and a shake in the bathroom sometimes can break your heart!(but you have to do it) My trainer always says: if someone offered you cocaine, would you take it, just because it’s free?
Finally, travelling, which I do a lot for work can be a real challenge. It requires a HUGE amount of planning(hotel gym is to standards, if not, have to find one, where are the grocery stores, is there a mini-fridge, etc) Also, those “free” work suppers in fancy restaurants can be tricky…
Well, I’ve managed to find a solution to these problems, which lead me to this success so far(and I’m just beginning!). THANK YOU so much for supporting me, sending me words of wisdom and encouragement, and more. You’re a BIG KEY to my success!
It’s really not easy and so challenging, but I can’t think of anything more rewarding. You are all here because you also have seen the light about bodybuilding. WOW and I feel SOOO proud to consider myself a bodybuilder!!!
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
well, it’s almost one year since I started BB and I’ll be taking my pics soon. I can’t believe that I’ve actually transformed like that. I had so many challenges where most people would have quit, but I actually hung in there. I’m not actually planning to compete right now, but I’m treating my body as if I am so that I can have the best 1YR transformation that I possibly can. I will actually get on a scale, which I haven’t done in so long. My diet is strict and workout routine intense. I’m doing HIIT cardio 6X a week. If anybody has any advice, I will gladly take it. Please check me out in 3 weeks!!
Post by:
sparkie
Posted in Training
|
View all comments | Leave Comment