Thank You, Kim Dolan Leto!

If you are just joining me from my Inspirational Mom post from Kim Dolan Leto (my secret crush and inspiration), THANK YOU!!  I have revamped my blog into a new, shiny website.  Join me in all my craziness and banter over here.

Fit Mom Diary.net

Feel free to peruse my previous posts on here (soon to be transferred to the new site!), but be forewarned, you may need a tissue and a change of underpants...

Its time to UPGRADE

The looooong awaited day has arrived... here is my **NEW** and improved website...  all further blog posts, rants, videos and all-around awesomeness will be found here.  Come join me.  Lets get this rollin'!

Fit Mom Diary.net

Leadership Training

Many of you are aware that I am in the midst of completing my M.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotions through California University.  But what all of you are unaware of is the incredible challenge I have been up against.  I say that not implying that I am by any means accomplishing something great or doing something out of the ordinary.  Many people have their Master's degrees.  Many people achieve far more than I can fathom.

What has challenged and inspired me REPEATEDLY is one course in particular I am trudging my way through.  This course has nothing - and I literally mean NOTHING to do with exercise science, health promotions, fitness, nutrition, or anything of the like.  It is solely about LIFE.

Welcome to Leadership Training.

You are about to embark on the single greatest journey inside yourself that will force you to face the mirror and ask yourself some difficult questions.  Asking is the easy part.  The response is what can bring an individual to their knees.

What do you want out of life?
What kind of person are you?
What kind of person do you want to be?
How do others perceive you?
What can you give to others?
How are you weak?
How are you strong?
How can you become better?
How can you lead?
What is your plan to become a leader?

All of these questions (and so many more) have been the source of deep, soul-probing contemplation for me.  It is pure, virtual awesomeness.  I love this class.  I LOVE this class.  It is exactly what I need, when I need it.  I have developed some strong opinions and ideas about who I am, where I am going, and what I want to achieve.  Not in the sense that, "I am your LEADER, follow me!" But in an authentic, genuine, true-to-myself way of "Who do I really want to become and how will I get there?"  This is not about making millions.  This is about achieving the purpose of my life and helping it to coincide with the purpose of others - helping them, helping YOU, find that.  I want to encourage, empower, and aide.  Plain and simple.  I am not the example, but rather one, small, minuscule person among 6,000,000,000 who is working to do/be/think/act/lead/love better.

To coincide with this mission, I am sharing some little nuggets of great value that have inspired me to work on this journey.  Enjoy them, use them, impart them.

Leading with Lollipops

This video is a short, 6 minute clip that reminds us of the extraordinary, and all-to-often oblivious, power and influence we can have on others.

VIA Character Strengths Profile 

This site will walk you through a survey of yourself, prompting you to answer scenario questions regarding who you are and how you act.  In the end, you will be given a list of your top 20 character traits.  It is rather enlightening.  I viewed myself differently prior to this, but knowing what my #1 is helps me to make decisions differently now.  You will be asked to sign up for free to take the survey.  It is worth it!  If you happen to take the survey, I would LOVE to hear what your #1 traits are!  I will post my in the comments below and feel free to follow. FYI:  I have not since received any spam email of any type.

TED: Ideas worth spreading

If you have not yet discovered TED, I strongly encourage you to.
**WARNING: You will be challenged and potentially FORCED to evolve and become a better version of yourself.**

Coming Soon!

Though I SUCK sometimes, the reason for my absence is really for your own good.  I am in the midst of building a KILLER website that will beat this one to a bloody pulp, scream and spit in its face, then leave it for dead...

Wow.

Ok.

Not really.  Apparently I need to go lift some weights.

Stay tuned...

www.fitmomdiary.net

It.will.be.awesome.

Knowledge is POWER

and so is trust.  This whole process of becoming better requires a certain amount of investment in yourself.  You HAVE to take ownership of what you've done.  You also have to invest in learning about your body.  By learning about your body, awareness is heightened and connections are made.  I eat when I am stressed.  I don't poop for days on end when all my food comes out of a box or a drive-thru bag.  I actually like brussell sprouts.  There are many epiphanies that can occur along the way.  It is vitally important to your success to LEARN.  At some point, one has to take stock in actually learning about this whole lifestyle - meaning HOW to exercise, WHAT to eat, WHEN to supplement, etc.  For many, this is the most intimidating portion of the journey.  Where the hell do I begin?

I felt that same way.  But, being a student of life, my response to everything is RESEARCH (as I have stated before).  When I started, this was my initial response.  Though it does imply a certain amount a "go-getter"-ness, knowledge does not always bring about action.  Action does.

I began with Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer on Bodybuilding.com.  I wasn't ready to commit to an actual trainer, so I had to start somewhere.  This gave me the very BASICS of changing my lifestyle to be more in alignment with what I wanted.  The BASICS.  It was a good foundation for me because I learned the simple task of eating 6x per day, what constitutes "clean" food, how to lift heavy, and when/why to supplement.  It was basically my elementary phase of my transformation. 

In 12 months, I was able to change from this:

      

170 lbs. and 30% fat to 138 lbs. and 18% fat - in 12 months.  That is 32 lbs and 12% fat... in one year.  It was nothing remarkable, just application of some very BASIC, rather simple principles.  I point this out because it is not rocket science.  I just took what I learned and did it.

But then... I wanted MORE.  I wanted to see what my body was capable of achieving.  I wanted to see if there was a six-pack hiding under my baby-shell (you know, that lil' pocket around my belly button).  I wanted to know what MUSCLES looked like on me.  I knew to get to this next level, it would require more - so much more than I was capable of doing on my own.  I needed help - as much as I could get.

I found these guys...

 

and I knew it was a match made in hell heaven...

I watched what they were able to do for my friend, Teri, a mom of two who had also struggled with weight and was now on her journey to become a figure competitor.  I anxiously waited week after week to see what was happening to her body, her mind, and her spirit.  I sat in front of my computer and witnessed a new woman emerge.  I became jealous.  I wanted that same feeling, that same challenge, that same fire.  So I did it.  I put myself out there and scheduled a consultation.

Within :30 seconds, I knew it was right.  As a non-bullshitter, I got exactly what I needed - NO BULLSHIT.  This was not about impressing others with brute strength (though Jon obviously has it), a vast knowledge of exercise physiology (again, credentials to back it up), or a suave ability to woo others with kind words, compliments, and uplifting inspiration (Shawna, yes! But Jon...)

I was intimidated as hell, out of my comfort zone and challenged in a way I never expected to overcome.  In the 16 short weeks I worked with them, I lost 9% body fat and 14 lbs.  Compare that to the work I had done on my own and WOW!  You can see how POWERFUL knowledge really is!  They were the experts I needed to take my body to the next level.

I still train with Jon and Shawna every week.  I need them.  I need their expertise to help me train harder, more efficiently and effectively.  I need their knowledge of food and how to balance it all.  Jon (with all his patience) taught me how to lift.  From a classically trained dancer to a figure competitor is a dramatic shift in thinking and moving.  Heavy lifting is not slow, controlled and graceful (at least not MY version of it).  Its gritty, and loud and requires a remarkable amount of cursing.  You shouldn't look like a lady in the gym, you gotta look like a BOSS.  He helped me find my BOSS.

Because of them, I now have a much deeper understanding of the body, MY body, muscles, food, and all the details that go into this.  They LIVE this every damn day.  They LOVE this.  Not to mention, they are two of the most remarkable, dedicated, encouraging, hard-working, invested, and REAL people I know.  There are no egg shells to dance on, no excuses, no sympathy.  Do it or don't.  Its really that simple.  They call me out on my mistakes, but help me move forward.  THEY are what made the biggest difference in my transformation.  They created the road map for the second half of my journey and walked with me each step of the way.  They helped me focus on the goal and find a way {the RIGHT way} to get there.

I get excited to see them each week because I know I will walk away better.  I may have torn up muscles, feel exhausted, have cursed so much my grandmother's ears are ringing, and downed 1/2 a gallon of water, but it is one of the BEST hours of my week.

Wherever you are at, if you aren't able to get to where you need on your own, I HIGHLY recommend using a coach to lead you there.  The knowledge they bring can make a WORLD of difference and make the road you travel a little shorter (though equally difficult, if not more!).  Just remember, you are paying them to kick your ass, so don't complain when its sore.

If you are brave lucky enough to live in the Treasure Valley and want to work with the Big Jon family, check them out!  They are AMAZING!!!! You can see all the hard work they've done with their clients over the years, see their own evolution and find the inspiration you need to take the next step.  Good luck.  Your body will hate thank you for it.

www.bigjonb.com

No Way!

Here it is... my FIRST EVER FEATURE!!!  I can't believe it.  Read it, and let me know what you think!!!

Some People Will Never Get It

I was at the gym this morning, sporting my *NEW* H.I.T. Supplements tank and ready to KILL my shoulders with a heavy workout.  It started out great, aside from the fact the guy next to me on the treadmill kept looking at me.  He looked familiar, so I assumed maybe he was trying to figure out how he knew me.  I remembered him.  He was the guy who was giving advice to some teenage boys a few weeks back about how they should be lifting one way or another.  These same boys have been coming day in and day out as long as I have, learning their bodies, building their strength, and always prepared with a plan.  The boys have their sh!t together.  He was there (first time I had ever seen him), telling them why they should/shouldn't do certain things.  His qualification: he knows the owners.  Yep.  That gives you automatic street cred.  "Knowing a guy" is the only requirement I have for calling someone an expert. {said NO ONE, EVER!}

Oh yes, I remember him.

I head on over to the empty squat rack, next to the other empty squat rack that has a bench inside it.  Time for clean and presses.  I get things all adjusted how I like and the staff trainer comes behind me, looking over my shoulder like he needs something.  I take Kid Rock out of my ears and ask, "Did you need something?"  He replies "no", but just stands there, still looking.

"Am I in your way?" a bit confused by his delay...

"Yeah, I needed to use that."

I stand there, with my highly-intelligent "Parker" look {mouth half-open, tongue slightly out, furrowed brow}.  Its a look of deep discernment.  I am trying to figure some major shit out.

Or in this case, I am wonder why the F this guy needs THIS SQUAT RACK when there is another, completely empty one 2 feet to the side of me. Yes, that one has a bench, but move the damn bench.  You are getting PAID right now.  And how about the simple playground rule my 3 year old understands: I WAS HERE FIRST!

After my moment of silence, I ask, "So you need me to move?"
"Yeah, I need to use this." as he points to the top bar of the squat rack (which is a virtual replica of the one next to me... the empty one...)
"OooooKaaaaayyy." as I put my headphones back in.

I grab my stuff to move.

He doesn't even come over to help me move the bench.

I wanted to put it in his squat rack, but I didn't.  I just moved it to the side, SO BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THAT I WAS IRRITATED BEYOND ALL GET OUT.  But its fine.  Fuel for my fire.

Kid Rock, you're fired.  I needed some heavier sh!t to get me going.  Rob Zombie, Powerman 5000, Staind.  Yes, friends.  Let your death metal serenade my muscles into tearing apart.  I need this, now!

After building up to a 95# clean and press (my previous best), again the trainer {Lets call him Joe Toolshed} stops me as his client keeps working.

"So you do competitions?" he asks in a skeptical way. (in the middle of my HEAVIEST shoulder set)
"Yeah, I do!" honored that he would look at me and think that.
"So... What do you do it for?"
"What?" confused by what he was implying.
"Like, what do you get for it? Is there like a big prize?"
"No." my patience and enthusiasm to talk to him is quickly fading. "That's not why people do it." I know my face and body language are incredibly apparent at this point, but he still continues.
"Well, why do you do it then?" He doesn't get it.
I pause for a moment, unsure of whether to go deep and talk about the power and determination I have developed, to go sarcastic and ask him how many other moms with three kids look this way, or just leave it alone. I go with the latter.
"There's no big prize, if that's what you mean. People don't do this to get rich. It's just a big piece of metal if you win. It's not worth anything."
"Then why do YOU do it?" even more confused. He's persistent, I'll give him that. 

I literally cannot explain this to anyone in a way that they will get it. If it has to be explained, that implies a disconnect with my motivation and their understanding. It is so much more than words can express; some get it and others do not. I don't do this for a prize, an award, or a big payday. I do it for ME regardless of the winnings. I am competitive, driven, and strive for greatness - my own vision of that. The presence or absence of an award does not, in anyway, give more or less value to this journey I am on. Yes, I am working toward a Pro card, though that will not be my "payday" either. I want to work hard to achieve a level of fitness I admire - one I set for myself. Always pushing for more, working harder, building my strength. If anyone has/had the preconceived notion that bodybuilding athletes do this for the glory, let me dispel that now. If we have to explain it, I'm sorry, but you'll never really get it.

It was an interesting conversation, regardless, and I found it rather poignant Limp Biskit was playing on my headphones as I returned to my set. My last set: 8 clean and presses with 115#.

Just one of those days...

Oh, and...

** I am officially 12 weeks out from my next competition!!**