TGIF

GymDiva - one of Trace and Cam's girls that competed at the NPC Junior Nationals two weeks ago.

TGIF. I'm supposed to be going to the Oregon State BB show tomorrow with a couple of girls, but both kids are sick. Their throats are covered with red spots. Apparently there's a virus going around. I BETTER NOT GET IT!
Getting ready to go pick up my pretty boy, Dave. I can't wait to see his haircut. Hope the other cats don't make fun of him too much.

THURSDAY JUNE 28
This was not a very hardcore leg day. My left ankle has been swollen for several weeks now. It hasn't been hurting at all, but I think sitting for so long at my desk yesterday didn't help matters. My whole left lower leg was SWOLLEN yesterday. I basically had one right ankle and one left Cankle. Instead of going heavy, just did very slow and controlled on all reps.
Leg Ext
80x10
80x10
80x10
80x12

Seated Leg Curls
80x10
80x10
80x10
80x13

Toe Press on Seated Leg Press Machine
160x10
160x10
160x10
160x12

Leg Press
270x10
270x10
270x10
270x22

Bicep Machine Curls
65x7
65x7
65x6
65x6

FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2007

HS Shoulder Press LT: 110/14RP TT: 110/23RP (I did this before chest today, tho)
Side Raises LT: 20/16 TT: 20/16ss

HS Incline Chest Press LT: 100/16 TT: 110/3, 100/3, 100/2 60/13, 60/8RP Different machine this time and I really had a time finding the right weight to start with.

Tricep Pressdown straight Bar (outside station) LT: n/a TT: 50/25RP and then 30/20, 30/20 and then 30/20 with rope

Close Grip Pullodowns LT: 105/16 TT: 105/18RP

Life Fitness Low Row LT: 130/4, 100/9 TT: 130/5, 100/10ss

Abs ~ crunches 5 sets of 20

CARDIO:
Treadclimber x15mins
Snowshoe Elliptical x15mins

Thursday Already?

Check out the kids. Mai can be found in her goggles most days...just waiting for our Sunriver vacation to get here - only another week!! I can't wait!
I can't believe the week is almost gone. It's been a bit emotional for me - some disappoinments and just being busy. First, Steve had promised me we would be going to Vegas to see Trace compete the last weekend in July. Then a couple weeks ago he said this was too much money, too many vacations so close together and that I could still go, but I have to figure out how to pay for it on my own. Huh? What...does he want me to go out and get a second job or something? Is he going to watch the kids by himself while I'm out slinging drinks? I think not. So I decided to do what I could and had a garage sale - Hey, I woke up Saturday and realized the neighbors had signs up and the street was swarming with garage salers, so I pulled all my junk out of the garage and made about $100. I put a couple things that didn't sell on Craigslist and actually got a call on an old HP 12C calculator and some guy came by the house yesterday and gave me another $45 - so, I didn't do too bad. Not enough to pay for Vegas, though. My 14 y/o cat has had some pretty weepy looking eyes for a couple days so I take him to the vet yesterday and end up $230 less rich to find out he has herpes in his eyes. PLUS...she said the matting on his stomach is soooo bad that he's going to start getting abscesses. My cat is SO MEAN that it is really hard for me to keep him cleaned up and not get attacked. He's fluffy and loves to roll in the dirt and I'm sure he has a whole ecosystem within his fur. So back to the vet tomorrow for a shaving and since he's such a nasty bastard they have to put him out for it. $219-$249 they predict. He better live to be 20 after this...so..No Vegas.

I'm feeling poor and overwhelmed with how much it's going to cost to compete. Maybe I should get a second job somehow - or become better at grocery shopping the sales - or something...there has GOT to be a way.

On the other hand, life is good in that I am very excited to be working with Cam and Trace. They are going to prep me, work me hard in the off season between Oct and March and then prep me for the second show next June. If I can't get to where I want to be with the expertise of 2 NPC judges/competitors in my corner, then I should just give up now. I need them on my side. Steve told me that he is tired of all this. He's tired of me talking about it and being interested in the sport and never getting on stage. He doesn't want to hear ANYTHING from me on this front. I feel very alone. I understand that I've proved to more than a few people that I am having some trouble getting up on stage, but he is supposed to be the one person I can talk to about anything, who cares, who I can turn to when I need support, who will get excited with me and I feel like he has completely shut me off from that.

Here is some footage of Tracy - 30 days out from Vegas...STUD!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saApyZhvWpo

and curling some 30 pounders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcJf1DN_cMY

Cable Rope Rows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD2NzkWhJDA

Melissa and Kristin

This is her in the off-season. She's a really cute girl. I found some other GREAT pics of her - hard worker! What Kris? you don't have a pair of those shoes? I can totally picture you wearing those to class. Naughty teacher and all...haha.

Today was cardio only~
20mins Cybex Elliptical
10mins intervals on Stepmill
15mins Treadclimber
15mins Snowshoe Elliptical.
Abs ~ crunches: 6 sets of 20

LEGS TO DIE FOR

I just stole this off someone else's blog and made it my new screen saver. Lookin' good!!! HOT!

I also follow another blog periodically and she posted a before pic that just blew my mind. Here's the link http://journeytonovicefigure.blogspot.com/ . If you go to the bottom of this most recent post you'll see her before pics...then scroll down to her May 29th post for a recent comp prep pic.

I'm just waking up and will hit the gym shortly. Update to be added later.

A.M. WORKOUT SWEATALICIOUS 25MINS ON TREADCLIMBER AND 25MINS ON SNOWSHOE ELLIPTICAL.

P.M. WORKOUT
Leg Press regular stance
360x12
360x12
360x21 My leggies were a'shakin'
Legs close together 180x10, followed by Toe Press 180x10 (3 sets of this - no rest)

Lex Ext
85x7
85x8
85x9

Stationary Lunges 20x10x2

Seated Leg Curls
100x7
90x8
90x8drop set 70x10drop set 50x13

Bicep Curl Machine
70x10
70x6
70x5drop set 50x10drop set 40x11

Misc Calves

10 mins treadclimber

Wednesday June 20

WEDNESDAY JUNE 20, 2007

Precor Chest Press LT: 110/12, 120/7 TT: 120/18RP

Incline Shoulder Press LT: 80/21 TT: 90/12RP
Side Raises LT: 20/15 TT: 20/16ss

LifeFitness Tricep Ext LT: 70/16 TT: 70/17RP

HS Pulldowns LT: 110/18 TT: 120/21RP

HS Low Rows LT: n/a TT: 110/6, 90/12ss

Abs 100 crunches
20 mins treadclimber
20 mins snowshoe elliptical

Mish Mash Leg Day

Had a good Father's Day - which surprised me because Steve and I were fighting mightely Saturday night and then I had a dream I was yelling "I HATE YOU" at the top of my lungs over and over again. Sheesh...then Sunday night I dreamed I murdered my mom something like 5 or 6 times and in the end I got it with a hack saw to my neck???????????????? What the heck is going on in my subconscious?
Anyhoo...picnic with Steve's family on Sunday. The dads all had close their eyes and put on a baseball cap with an emblem or saying on it and try to figure out what it was by asking the other men 20 questions. Pretty fun and silly.

Today was mishmash of legs. Tracy no-showed, but I think Summer vacation started for her kids and they are probably at the cabin and I just forgot. I did a bunch of different light weight/moderate high rep exercises. I've been without my blood pressure meds for a couple days and was pretty miserable yesterday. I need to PICK UP MY MEDS at the pharmacy!!

I've been trying to like broccoli. I want to like broccoli...so I've started eating 3 raw flowerettes before each meal - like maybe 4 out of 6 meals per day. It's been going good so far and I don't want to gag anymore :o)

I'm doing a bible study with some friends called "It's Not About Me" by Max Lucado. I came across the following three nuggets for thought about Seeking the Giver...or His gifts? Big stuff for me to consider....

"It is a serious evil to have more regard for God's blessings than for God himself." - John of the Cross

"The reason why we have no ease of heart or soul [is because] we are seeking our rest in trivial things which cannot satisfy, and not seeking to know God, almighty, all-wise, all-good...We shall never cease wanting and longing until we possess him in fullness and joy. Then we shall have no further wants." - Julian of Norwich

"God waits to be wanted, but he must be wanted for himself, not for some lesser good he may provide". - Ken Boa

"God's primary agenda for our lives is not our wholeness, but his glory. He's not the divine therapist...True spirituality is about far more than simply getting fixed; it is about living in such a fashion that those around us are drawn to take God more seriously." - Dwight Edwards

Getting where I want to be:
In His peaceful presence,
Julie

Friday June 15th

I'm soooooo tired. Up at 4:30 and mama's not smart taking two hungry and tired kids to the library on so little sleep herself. It was ridiculous - two looooong trips to the bathroom, one skinned knee, three fights, various screaming incidents and about 25 grumpy library patrons ( or if you want to look at the glass 1/2 full...25 HAPPY library patrons ONCE WE LEFT).
BUT...I did come home with a knitting movie. How exciting do you think it will be? I can't wait ;-)
I thought I made the greatest buy at the dollar store. A 10 pack of plastic practice golf balls for a buck...so I bought two packs. They're like $3.50 at the regular store. So I get home and toss all 20 into the backyard and pull out the clubs and I broke them all - one broken ball per swing. Apparently they are one time use only golf balls....grrrrrr.

Just ate the last poo bar. I'm hoping they couldn't go bad because I just realized I made them 2 weeks ago. I DID just cook them too long, I think - next time, no more than 14 minutes and then toss them in the fridge.
FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2007

HS Seated Chest Press LT: n/a TT: 90/2, 80/6, 80/2RP then 50 for 9 more reps.
Stretch ~ 60 seconds

HS Shoulder Press LT: 100/17 TT: 110/14RP
Side Raises LT: 20/14 TT: 20/15ss
Setretch ~ 90 seconds

Tricep Cable Pushdowns LT: n/a TT: 100/14, 110/11RP
Stretch ~ 45 seconds

Wide Grip Pull Downs LT: 105/12 TT: 105/17RP

Close Grip Cable Low Rows LT: 120/4, 90/9 TT: 120/5, 90/12ss

Abs ~ 4 sets of 15 crunches
Misc calves
25 mins showshoe elliptical

Leg Day

I found these two pics: the one in
the black swimsuit is from the end of my first BFL challenge in 2003. The one in shorts is from last Fall. In the second pic, I'm not carb depleted/loaded so it's hard to completely compare, but I think if I had been, I would pretty much see the exact same legs. I'm going to take a new one in the next couple weeks to compare. I'm afraid that not much has been gained size wise in all this time. I really need to get serious if I'm going to take this serious...know what I mean? For some reason, I cannot get the "bug" of competing to go away. No matter what I try to do to make it leave me alone, it always works it's way back into my brain. Am I doomed forever to be a wannabe or will I actually get it done? grrrrr...

WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 2007

Seated Calf Raises LT: 70/6, 45/4ss TT: 70/8, 50/3ss

Seated Hamstring Curls LT: 90/26 TT: 100/28,115/6RP

Abductors: LT: 150/30 TT: 160/24RP

Hack Squats LT: n/a TT: 160/8, 120/25ss (I've felt like I've hurt my right quad in the last couple weeks...I mean, I HAVE hurt it, I'm just not sure how and it's not so bad that I feel I shouldn't work out - just don't feel like I can give my all on squats and leg press)

Stationary Lunges 15#DBs 2 sets of 10 - shaking too bad, had to stop before I got to last set

Bicep Curl Machine LT: 60/18 TT: 65/19RP

Some extra calf work because I didn't feel good about my DC set...wrong shoes and I kept slipping bad. Also did extra work on right calf since it is measuring about 3/4" diff than the left.

15 minutes on elliptical HARD

Tuesday June 12

MONDAY JUNE 11, 2007
Cardio only ~ 25mins Treadclimber, 10mins Stepmill, 15mins snowshoe elliptical.

TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2007

BB Incline BP
85x12
85x11
85x7
Pushups to failure

Upright Rows
40x16 followed by 5#DB side raises to failure
40x16 followed by 5#DB side raises to failure
40x12 followed by 5#DB side raises to failure

Tricep Rope Pushdowns
70x19 plus pulses to failure
70x12
70x9
40x30 of pulses to failure

Abs - Ball Crunches 3 sets of 12
30 minutes on Treadclimber

Pretty mellow weekend. We finally got the swingset up that the neighbors handed down to us. The kids are thrilled with it! Last night was Ladies Golf and my MIL went with me. My right elbow has been KILLING me since I started golfing. I've had tendonitis in it for about 3 years now but it's been in hiding for some time - man, I hate this! Right knee is bugging me, too. Right below my left ankle has been hurting since Friday - must have been too much cardio last week. Feeling rather rickety today. Good workout with Tracy today, though.

I made Skwigg's gourmet nutrition "poo bars" http://skwigg.tripod.com/blog/index.blog?end=1153723553 last week and was soooo excited to try them. First bite - bla, yuck, man...why did I waste so much money on this recipe. Didn't finish it. Second day, tried another one because I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE THAT MUCH MONEY>>>>THEY WILL BE EATEN!! This time not so bad. By the third one, I'm starting to like them. I'll probably make them again. I think 1) I cooked them too long and 2) I let the dry ends throw me off...the rest of the bar is rather good.

Friday June 8, 2007

Tracy ~ 7 1/2 weeks out. She's going to ROCK!

So JNo, I lied ~ I went to the gym today. The kids were driving me soooo UP A WALL that I decided I couldn't take it anymore and maybe I should just let the Kids Club have some of their craziness for awhile.

FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2007

HS Incline Chest Press LT: 90/13RP TT: 100/16RP HAHA! TAKE THAT YOU PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, YOU! Apparently an irritated mama does good on lifting days.
Stretch ~ 20#dbs for 50seconds

Incline Shoulder Press Machine LT: 70/22 TT: 80/21RP
Side Raises LT: 17.5/16, TT: 20/14ss
Stretch ~ 60seconds

Overhead Rope Tri Kickouts LT: n/a TT: 90/23RP
Stretch ~ 15#db for 45seconds

Close Grip Pulldowns LT: n/a TT: 105/16RP

Extra Wide Pulley Low Rows LT: n/a TT: 105/5, 90/8ss

ABS ~ 100 crunches
20 minutes on snowshoe elliptical

Baby Nathan

This is Baby Nathan - I guess we should drop the "baby" part and just call him Nate now. He's so big! What a cutie pie. He'll have a new brother on July 5th. He looks JUST like my little bro when he was a kid.

Got my hair done today so I have an excuse for the dumb blonde things I do. It was fun to sit under the dryer and read THREE crap-filled magazines. US or some such rag. Now I've had my fill until next time.

Legs tonight. I didn't even keep track of reps/sets after about the first exercise. Didn't feel like writing it all down, so just went until I couldn't walk anymore...ah...but I could still walk because I managed another 10 minutes of incline walking before I collapsed. And now it's not even 9pm and I can barely keep my eyes (yawn) open. Time. for. bed.

Wednesday June 6th

I'm beat! Mom and Dad got rained out camping so they surprised us with an overnight visit. We stayed up late and so I blew off a.m. gym time. We lazed around all morning and then my MIL called to see if we were going to the children's parade, so we headed down for that and the kids had a blast and it was fun for them to have both their grandmas there with them. We hit the gym this evening for cardio ~ 25mins elliptical, 20 mins treadclimber, 15 mins bike. My body is sooooo tired.
I set up a new blog for Melissa and I to discuss the Power of A Praying Parent. I'll share the blog address if anyone else is interested. I also set up our It's Not about Me blog, so I need everyone to e-mail me so I have your e-mail address so I can set you up to post. I'm not sure if this is going to work as smoothly as posting threads on Study Buddies, so if it's not working out feel free to tell me so we can move it to over to the Mommies board.

Off to read...

Getting where I want to be:
In His peaceful presence,
Julie

Tuesday June 5

I have never ever seen this exercise before. Pretty interesting, huh? Bet I would get some looks at the gym doing this one.
I did try a new move at the gym today. Tracy said let's do deadlifts, so I'm thinking this is just what I need~ bending over in these too short for this type of exercise shorts and grunting up 100+ pounds of weight. Instead she grabs two 12 pound dbs and encourages me to lift one leg straight behind me and bend at the waist to do a one legged balancing "deadlift". Hm...other than my balance SUCKING, I'm not sure I'll be feeling this exercise tomorrow. She assured me I will. It was a pretty light leg day so I'll probably do DC legs on another day this week. We ended with a 30 minute trek on the snowshoe elliptical. I warned her if you get caught going too slow on this machine it will pause you out - she paused out 3 times on the big hills and I'm happy to say I paused out ZERO times. I'm sure this will never happen to her again as she is a true workout stud and will not let that thing beat her down ever again.

PM workout ~
Precor Chest Press LT: n/a TT: 110/12, 120/7RP

HS Shoulder Press LT: 90/20 TT: 100/17RP

Side Raises LT: 15/22 TT: 17.5/16SS

Life Fitness Tri Ext LT: 65/21RP TT: 70/16RP

Life Fitness Bi Curl LT: 55/22 TT: 60/18RP

StarTrac Lat Pull Downs LT: n/a TT: 105/18RP

Life Fitness Low Row LT: n/a TT: 130/4 (too heavy), 100/9SS

30 minutes on Elliptical

Onto the study. Since Helen can't access MSN during the day, it made up my mind to just open up a new blog for us all to post to. Anyone have a catchy name for it or should I just keep it simple?

It's Not About Me

Looks like we've decided on Lucado for the study - so everyone go ahead and order "It's Not About Me". I've already got the study guide so I can post the questions - you just need to get the book. Let's get going on it!
Melissa- I've started on the first chapter of the Praying Parent and will post the study questions this week to get started. I'm very excited about this one, too.

What a lazy weekend. Steve went dirt bike riding on Saturday so the kids and I just lounged around in the back yard all day reading and slip n sliding and getting a little tan. Steve came home with a bouquet of the prettiest pale pink tulips . Sunday night my MIL and FIL took me to the driving range and FIL just sat behind me the whole time giving me pointers on my swing. It was awesome. I think that I would have done a little better if I hadn't been so anxious about being watched so closely...by him and Gloria...but it was still worth it to have his input.

I bought the most lovely red suede fitness journal last night. Mai helped me cut and tape tons of fitness pics into it for inspiration. I'm telling you, I get so light headed every time I step into an office supply store or bookstore. If I ever needed to find a job, maybe that's where I should start looking. I mean how many people can get that excited over books and supplies? OH! AND I got a 20 pack of new colored pens. YIPPEE! See? I'm hopeless.

Hitting the gym this a.m. with Tracy for legs and cardio. Guess I should sign off and get some work done before the kiddos wake up. Everyone let me know when you've got your book.

To the Church Ladies

Thanks Cheryl, Kristin, Helen and Melissa for your replies :o)
Anyone else lurking who is interested?
I want to add one more study to the list:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781591450429&z=y#CRV

Helen, thanks for your response on A Woman After God's Own Heart. Your feelings are shared by me. My mind really kept going back to that particular choice yesterday - that maybe it wasn't the right choice for everyone right now. I know that if I had picked it up 6 months ago I would have probably not been very receptive to it. I do have the study book for it, though, so maybe in the future if it doesn't work out this time. It REALLY does have some things that are hard as a modern woman to wrap my mind around...but, I guess the bible doesn't get "modernized: it is was it is. THAT is something that I'm trying to keep in mind.

Give some more input girls and we'll get going!!!

Melissa - how far into Praying Parent are you? How fast do you want to read it? I went ahead and bought the study guide, too - so if you don't have it, I'll happily post the chapters out of the workbook.

What does everyone think...should be do this on the Study Buddies board or in a group study blog?

Bible Study ??

I mentioned I wanted to start a new on-line bible study. If anyone is interested, these are a couple that I'm considering. I'm also up for suggestions. Melissa is reading The Power of the Praying Parent, which I'm considering joining in with her in addition to this bible study. So here are my choices:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=38937&event=CF#curr (in particular "Tune In") http://www.amazon.com/Woman-After-Gods-Own-Heart%C2%AE/dp/0736918833/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/102-7541313-2593768

This 2nd one requires two books...although I could probably just purchase the study book myself and post the questions for all.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=838358&event=1025SBF|3333|71457#curr

Anyone else?