Thursday, July 31, 2014

Beating My Emotions

Here I am again, in a spot I said I wouldn't let myself get in, and yet I'm there.  The past couple of months have been so emotionally challenging for me.  So many different factors from my Grandma passing, a lifelong relationship basically shattering and not knowing how to move forward, my best friend is moving out of state, struggles for my husband that I can't help him with.

Have I let it affect me?  I sure have.  Yesterday was my breaking point.  My mom is always my savior, that poor woman, hearing my silly sob stories.  I know in all actuality that they aren't silly, but man I'm looking for a break.  She was so supportive yesterday and reminding me of what is truly important.  Have I been regular at the gym yet?  Nope.  Why not?  I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm angry, I've lost sight of my own personal goals among the mess that is all around me.

Time to readjust.  I CAN'T fix everything going on in my life, I just have to figure out how to move forward and find ME again.  So I picked up Bella yesterday and we stopped at the cemetery to visit my Grandma and Grandpa.  Bella was so sweet and sat with me for a while before she wanted to walk around a little bit, but told me to stay so I could talk to Grandma and Grandpa in private.  It helped, it helped me so much, to remind myself of all they had gone through in their lives.  Now they are resting forever in heaven.

We have ONE life, that's it, one shot to accomplish what we want, to enjoy ourselves, to just be.

Today I feel refreshed.  Are there still issues?  Of course and who knows how long they will last or when the next one pops up.  It is up to me how I choose to act and how I choose to let my emotions affect me.

My gym life has been minimal, I'm so sad to say that, I've only been going about 2 times a week.  I do know that it is something I love and it is like therapy for me.  I've missed my therapy and clearly I need it.  

9 months until my next big goal.  It is time to get back to work, back to who I am and hopefully next time I won't falter quite so much.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Neon Sport Volt & Kinetic Review

I was so excited to try out the Neon Sport pre-workout and BCAA supplements.

First up the pre-workout, Volt, I had the watermelon flavor.  The best part about the Volt was the flavor, it truly tasted like a delicious watermelon.  However I didn't get my usual "kick" I like to get from a pre-workout, it did nothing for me.  I really was disappointed and had hoped to have a great workout with it, but that just didn't happen.

I tried the Kinetic for my two hours of sand volleyball, then I also tried it during a weight training session.  The Kinetic has an energy blend in it so I was really expecting a boost from it.  During volleyball it did nothing for me, I had the Berry Lemonade flavor, which was amazing.  During my weight training session again, it just didn't do it for me.

All in all the flavor was the best part of both supplements.  I truly wish they had done more for me, but I will be sticking with my usual for my pre-workout and BCAA's.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Pre-Workout Review

I love me some good pre-workout, amps me up for my workouts and helps me have that little extra push to get through the extra tough ones.

There are so many different kinds out there and it can be so overwhelming.  I basically go with what Kyle thinks would be best.  We also like to stick to brands we know and trust.

First up is N.O.-Xplode by BSN.  I have tried the blue raspberry and fruit punch flavors.  I prefer the blue raspberry, nice and tangy!  When you mix this up you do NOT want to do it with a shaker, the lid can pop off, not that I would know that from personal experience ;)  This stuff kicks in right away for me, I get tingly all over and am ready to work out and I get really vascular!  Sometimes it is a bit much for me, but I do like this product.  




Second we have Assault by MusclePharm.  First off Muscle Pharm is one of my favorite brands.  I have never tried a product of theirs that I didn't like and they have a great reputation.  I have tried the grape and fruit punch flavors, grape is my favorite it is super yummy.  You need to mix this one up really well otherwise it can kind of chunk up and believe me choking down chunks of it is not very appetizing.  The tingle I get from the Assault is not as intense as the N.O.-Xplode, I get the same good kick through my workout, the vascular effect is not as noticeable with this product.


For the final pre-workout we have Pump Igniter by Top Secret Nutrition.  I first decided to try out this brand for their protein (which is amazing) thanks to a gal I am friends with on bb.com, Kristine Loock, she is one of their sponsored athletes.  The Pump Igniter happens to come in my FAVORITE flavor of all time, cherry limeade :)  The flavor is phenomenal, the intensity is right in the middle of the intensity I would get from the N.O.-Xplode and the Assault.  I didn't notice any increase to my vascularity but I do feel like it helped push me more through my workout.


In the end I have to say that I LOVE each of these pre-workout products, I will change up what I use every couple of weeks and continue to purchase each of them.  They each give me something a little different which makes me feel like I just can't choose a favorite.

Regardless of what you like to use I really do feel that using these products helps me get through my heavy lifting and pushes me past my limits.  I can really tell a huge difference when I workout without taking one of these!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Protein Review

We received a bunch of samples at the May competition and I am finally trying some of them out.  I will be reviewing them all.

Personally I'm pretty picky with my protein.  I like to be able to mix it up with some water in my shaker and be good to go.  Sometimes I mix other stuff in there like Orange Gaterade (that with vanilla protein is amazing, got that idea from my awesome nephew Zach), I also bake with my vanilla protein.  Chocolate protein I normally don't mix with anything, I just enjoy the chocolate flavor (most of the time).

When it comes to the Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex the protein/carb/fat ratio are AMAZING.  One scoop gives you 30g protein, 3g carbs and .5g fat.  In my cutting phase this ratio is ideal.  It mixed really well in my shaker, no chunks at all!  The flavor I had was the rich chocolate milk and it was tasty!  It settled well in my tummy, no issues at all.

I did use a little too much water, you'd think I could pay attention long enough for just 5 ounces of water.  Instead I used 10 ounces, could I have poured out 5 ounces?  Sure could have, if only my brain would think of such a thing BEFORE I add the protein :)  Still had a nice chocolate flavor, I just know it would have been even better with less water.  This mixed with some almond milk would be so awesome.  I just like to try anything new out with water so I can really know how the flavor is.

Come January this protein will be on my radar during any sales, great product!


Monday, July 7, 2014

The "Dreaded" Scale

Friday I started my new lifting routine, we've got a new plan in place, for these first four-six weeks anyway depending on the changes we see.  I lift chest, back and shoulders, it was intense, lots of compound lifting engaging way more muscle groups than my chest, back and shoulders.  I woke up Saturday morning crazy sore!

I got to lift with David, it was great being back in the gym together.  I've been so "blah" for a few weeks now, I'm really, really trying to dig myself out of this funk, but I'm not gonna lie, it's been really hard.  I have goals, huge goals, gotta get back at it!!!!

I am enjoying the extra time I am getting with Bella and Kyle though.  I love my evenings that consist of dance classes, yard work, photo editing, cooking, playing games just enjoying life at the moment.  

But the nagging voice in the back of my mind is getting louder and louder.  I was so happy to see the awesome pump I got on Friday and the muscle size, it really is true that you won't lose all that muscle quickly :)

This post competition phase has been so different than the first one.  The post competition blues knocked me out last time, it was so, so hard for me.  Somehow it was completely different this time around, thankfully.  But I went from one extreme to the other, gotta find that middle ground after the next one.

I had not stepped on a scale yet, I've been honestly terrified.  What have I let myself get up to???  I would think that often.  Then I would tell myself, WHO CARES what the scale says!!!  My clothes fit, sure my boobs fit back into my bigger bras, they always come back first.  Sure I've gained some body fat back, that is completely normal.  

After the last competition I gained about 23 pounds, that got to me, it really did.  David weighed himself after we worked out on Friday and I finally gave in, I just had to know.  One, it kept bothering me to really not know and two I need to know so I can make sure I am eating enough calories.

Since the competition I've gained............................



12 pounds!!!!!!


I was so, so happy :)  That is a more normal gain than the 23 pounds was last time.  My goal is to kind of maintain, although I won't be completely focusing on the scale, just weighing in every few weeks to make sure I am keeping my calories where they need to be.

I did a lot of food prep yesterday, grilled some barbecue chicken breasts, made steamed broccoli, a chicken breast stir fry, baked sweet potatoes.  The rest of my food for the week is fresh and just needs chopped up, nutrition really is just as important as the weight training.  Thankfully I've stayed fairly on point with my nutrition, clearly that has helped me.

I will say though after two days of not the best eating and then getting back on track, man can my body feel the difference!  My tummy is happier, I have more energy and feel happier.

There is always a lot of tug of war with me when it comes to food, I feel like I'm getting better at winning that war and as time goes on it will continue to get easier.