Week 1..... Check!

Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life--- Wayne Dyer

Week one done and I feel awesome! This first week I really just focused mostly on re-adjusting to being on a program nutritionally and through exercise.  I completed 5 days of great workouts, needless to say I was pretty sore!  I happen to love when my muscles are sore (maybe not as much as this week ) but it lets me know I did good!  I feel great, actually about 80% better than I did a week ago.  My body is thanking me for  putting only good things back into it again.  The holidays really threw me off balance, but that happens from time to time.  When I allow myself to ingest some of the many toxic foods especially any abundance of sugar I'm quickly reminded why I choose to eat clean the majority of the time!

Loving my Droid phone! Don't you love technology these days and how awesome our telephone capabilities are!  I can use it for my workouts, I have music while lifting and uploaded books I can read while doing cardio.  I'm a big Wayne Dyer fan these days if you couldn't tell by the quotes lol, but I uploaded his book "The Secrets of an Inspirational Life" and started reading it during my cardio.  He is so awesome and enlightening.  

I love where I'm at these days mentally it makes this journey so much more than just a physical one. Choosing to be happy and living for that makes day to day life so rewarding and abundance flowing towards me in so many ways! 

Happiness is a journey not a destination---Souza

Of course there are still some days where I'm thrown off. Yesterday was a good example I found that I wanted to just cry for now apparent reason I wasn't sad just Super emotional! I'm confident it is due to good ole woman hormones, but because I'm in such a good place mentally and have a good coach to go to for counseling I'm able to bring myself around and understand it too shall pass!  Id like to think the next 16 weeks will be as easy as this one, but I know that may not be the case, but then again it may;   If I believe it to be then its on its way! Again, as Dr Dyer would say.   I believe this journey will exhibit great things! I know it, I feel it, I am confidant of it and I'm excited about it!

Until Next time I hope you find many reasons to be happy today, tomorrow and the next!

Below, a recipe from one of my meals this week.

Jalapeno Chicken Meatballs

1/2 lb Ground Chicken

1 chopped fine seeded fresh jalapeno

1/4 onion chopped fine

3-4 Crimini mushrooms chopped fine

1/8 c low sodium soy

1/8-1/4 Regular Oats

1 Egg white

Mix all together and  roll in four meatballs, bake at 400 for about 20-25 minutes! 

Broil some veges to have with it and Enjoy!

Out of our comfort Zone--Stepping on Stage the first time and beyond.

If were are Growing, we are Always going to be out of our Comfort Zone--John Maxwell

I really like this quote! This rings true for me in so many areas of my life, in marriage, in parenting, friendships, and especially in the world of fitness!
I like to call it -Stepping outside of Crystal's Box- the problem is I'm quite comfortable in my box its safe, its understood and I'm just really quite ok there.  I think this is similar on some level for many people. No matter what kind of changes you have to face good or bad, it's scary and uncomfortable--Change is Hard, Stepping outside your comfort zone is Hard!
So here's a little secret about me, maybe not to my closest friends but to the rest.  I'm gregarious,(ok maybe not that part ha ha)  but I really don't like all the attention on me, I'm outgoing, but I have to feel safe on my terms, I'm at times outspoken (again probably no big secret) but I have to feel really confident in what comes out of my mouth or I'm quite the opposite. I am not competitive unless I am truly confident which has not been the case in many areas of my life.
In 2008 when I decided to compete for the first time, I knew I really wanted to do it, I just knew I would really have to step outside the box!!!  Yikes!  I have never in my life been what I felt a competitive individual to be, or put myself in a state of competition that wasn't internal and secret to myself. I don't really know why, all I can attribute it to that I was moved all over the place my whole life and was always just trying to make new friends and fit in; I was never trying to be the best just equal and liked.. I guess when you've been to 18 schools between Kindergarten and 12th grade you just accept change, but I can tell you it never became easy, just understood.
As I became an adult I found I  never wanted to strive to be the best, I just knew I wanted to be the best I could be. This was the hard part because I didn't really understand quite what this meant until honestly these past few years of my life, but as they say,better late than never I guess!
So to put myself on a stage and have a panel of judge's critique me scared the heck out of me and at that time in 2008/9 I was still so impressionable to others opinions.  For many years throughout my teens and early twenties I suffered greatly with my outward identity and took on the extreme behaviors of  binging and purging. It sucks let me tell ya and wrecks total havoc on the body!
But now.... I can not express enough how loving yourself is what allows us, and is necessary for love to come into our lives from all areas. I have come a long way since my teens, and even more so than ever before since my first competition.  Having done three now and on my journey to my fourth I can say I am still the same woman, comfortable in her box, but knowing that when I step outside it I will grow, no matter how tough it is.  I don't have to worry about the judges critiques, or what the stage presents, the opinions of others about my symmetry or my beauty.  I accept its how the game is played but it is not what defines me or the love I have for myself. I will grow from this experience like all those before, but this time it is different, this time its not just about me, its about everyone that loves me just for me in whatever stage or shape I am in; It is for the growth Ill achieve physically, mentally, and above all else spiritually! I still know Ill be scared and nervous like all the times before, but the adrenaline will invigorate me, the fear will pass, and the individual sense of achievement I will feel will remind me of the benefits of Stepping Outside the Box!

Day One: Condom in a Bowl of Water

Today is what I'm considering my first official day of program. I woke up bright and early ( Which I usually do anyway) brewed a pot of coffee, so the hubby could wake up to the wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee.  I drank half a wonderful cup with my favorite "So Delicious" brand coconut creamer and a dash of vanilla and peppermint extract :-) Yummy!  I threw on my gym clothes headed to local gym to do 30 minutes of cardio. I chose the spin bike for 20 minutes then finished up with 10 on the Step mill.  That is a great booty shaping machine!  After, on my way to training two of my morning clients I drank a Isagenix Chocolate shake for post cardio meal.   I returned to the gym to lift after clients to train shoulders, chest, and triceps.  It was a great workout, I took my time but kept the intensity up and the rest to 30seconds between each set.
I ran into a few great friends and chatted a bit, which is always nice.  Sometimes it can be frustrating when people want to come up and talk to you especially when your one a mission to be efficient with your time, but you never no when a moment may present itself where words of wisdom are passed on either to you or from you to them.  I always try to be gracious, yet keep the appearance of doing what I'm supposed to be doing at the gym Exercising and most my friends I run into are often the same way!
After a great lift, I sat in my car listening to my Wayne Dyer CD's and ate my packed lunch of Spinach Salad with Tuna and Cashews! Again Yummy!
Headed to see my Coach to run a few questions by her then home to train another future success story Valerie Prazak ( Here's to you Val you are on the road to awesome things girl!)
I heard the funniest thing on my CD's today courtesy of Dr. Wayne Dyer I have to share....
A 95 year old woman was getting a visit from her priest and when he arrived she graciously asked him, Father can I offer you some tea and cookies upon which he said  "Sure that would be wonderful!" As she was in her kitchen preparing the tray of tea and cookies her priest was looking around her quaint little little space admiring all her charming antiques she had when he happened to notice a bowl of water sitting on her organ. In that bowl was a floating condom. He was a bit thrown off and didn't quite know what to think, when just at that moment the little 95yr old lady comes back into the living room with the treats.  The Father tried to gather himself quickly and proceeded to hold a pleasant conversation.  All the while he couldn't stop thinking about the water bowl with the floating condom in it.  Finally he had to ask her "What is that bowl of water on the organ about?"  She proceeded to declare "Oh that there, well that is a Miracle, that's what that is!"  " A Miracle said the priest, I don't understand."  And the little 95 year old lady said "Well some time ago I was on my regular walk through the neighborhood when I look on the ground and saw this small package.  It said To ensure good health open package keep moist and place on your organ! So I did so and I have felt great ever since!"

The moral of the story here is if you truly believe in something your belief will make it happen!
I loved this, and my journey will be about continuing to believe in myself each and every day I wake up.
If you BELIEVE it, then you will SEE it and be able to ACHIEVE it!
Until next time.  Happy 2012!  Make Miracles Happen!
Crystal