One Year of Muscle AKA Transformation Tuesday

When I first wanted to compete, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I had no idea how long it really takes to build muscle.  I had no idea how much smaller I'd look after cutting and trying to get shredded.  I had no idea how hard it would be to lose that last stubborn belly fat.  All I knew was that it would be fun (because I like doing hard things) and it would be a lot of work (also fun).  My journey has been fun and it has been hard.  Sometimes really really hard. Sometimes I wanted to quit.  Sometimes I cried.  Sometimes I was a total jerk to my family and friends (I'm sorry family & friends, I love you! You are the best!).  But it all has been worth it.  100%!  

Looking back at my competition pictures from last year I am so proud of how far I have come, and am looking forward to making improvements over the next months until I decided it's time to compete again.  I would like to compete again, but not until next year.  I really enjoy it, but competing takes a lot away from my family and my business and my other hobbies, like blogging.  And I know you miss my posts while I'm prepping for a competition! 

Of course, it would have made too much sense to put all of the before pictures on the same side of each photo.  But ya'll are smart and can clearly tell which photos are from last year and which are from this year!

2016/2015

 2015/2016

 2016/2015

 2015/2016

 2016/2015

 2015/2016

Not too shabby for a forty year old mom of three, huh? 

A day in the life of...

People often ask me how I do it all.  Well, sometimes I don't.  Sometimes there are dirty dishes, and laundry, and general chaos.  Usually, I run around like a bat out of hell trying to get stuff done so that I can get my run in, or get to the gym.  Today, I documented my mania.

6:15am wake up and lay in bed until my alarm beeps at 6:30am

6:30 make breakfast for myself and the kids

7:00 wake girls, get them dressed, fed and ready for school

8:00 get dressed

8:10 take girls to school

8:20 come home and do some crazy fast house cleaning & start a load of laundry from the pile from hell

9:15 drop off Lila's lunch

9:20 Gym

11:00 pick up Clarissa

11:15 make & eat snack #1

11:30 shower

12:15pm eat lunch and pack snack for Clarissa

12:20 run errands- Bank, Costco, Wal Mart

2:30 unload groceries

2:40 eat snack #2

2:50 Pick up Lila from school

3:00 make Lila snack, orchestrate homework, finish putting groceries away, finally switch that load of laundry to drier 

4:30 sit on arse and fool around on the computer

5:25 make dinner, eat dinner, clean up 

7:00 take Kurtis to craft store to buy him origami paper so he can make sweet paper roses for his girlfriend for Valentine's day (what a guy!)

8:00 make snack for girls, help them get ready for bed

8:15 read stories

9:00 snack #3, more computer time 

It is now 9:53 and I have to finish up this computer nonsense so I can finish cleaning the kitchen and change the laundry over & get ready for bed!  So, there you go.  That's how I "do it all."  Not really very impressive, just busy!

Transformation Tuesday! 

9:15 head back to the girl's school because someone forgot her lunch box

9:20 gym time!

135# straight leg dead lifts

20 minutes elliptical

Straight leg dead lifts

Barbell shrugs

Dumbbell bench press

Overhead dumbbell press

Machine biceps curls

Wide grip lat pull down

Overhead rope cable triceps extensions

Donkey calf raises

Hanging leg lifts & oblique twist lifts

Transformation Tuesday

Today I woke up pretty sore from an intense chest day yesterday.  I was planning on just doing a few easy treadmill miles and maybe a couple glute exercises. But, then I remembered that another mom from my girl's school invited me to join her in the Powerflex class at 9am.  Well, who am I to say no to a good workout?  So, I ran two miles on the treadmill, went to class, then ran another two miles.  Class was an ass kicker for sure.  Low weight, high rep, high intensity for an entire hour.  We did (I use the term we loosely, I skipped more than a push up or two) 126 push ups, tricep dips, lunges, etc etc.  It was a fun change, but I prefer to lift heavy and run far!

And, since this is transformation Tuesday and I'm feeling especially proud of the progress I've made in the past few months, here is a jewel of a transformation picture for you.  The left picture was after an entire year of running.  I'd done my first race, a half marathon and had already signed up for my first marathon in the Fall.  On the right, fast forward nearly two years, two marathons, two 50k's and countless other races later.  Let's also not forget all the diet changes and weight lifting!  Go me!  Look, I have a two pack!

2 miles

21:50

10:55 pace

2 miles

21:56

10:58 pace