NEED MOTIVATION???

Im just like everyone and need motivation to keep training hard and staying in shape! Especially when im prepping for a competition. Even if you arent preparing for a competition, I know you have goals and want to achieve them. Check out this video of Ava Cowan, a new IFBB Figure pro! If you research her story, you will quickly find out that she has had a rough road and has come out on the other side a true winner with a phenomenal physique!
Now, let me get back to working out so i can dream about looking like her! LOL:)
Seriously though, its a great, inspiring video!

http://www.gasparinutrition.com/GaspariChannel/tabid/57/Default.aspx?fn=MINI_SERIES/SPORT_OF_FIGURE/AvaEP1FinalCut.flv

Are you stuck in a holding pattern???

HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL!!!

First, i want to take a moment to wish everyone a happy new year! I wish all of you much love, luck, and success in the new year!

The "new year" is finally here and with that comes many "resolutions" for people....including getting in shape. But what happens come February 14th or so???? The steadfast resolutions are out the window and many fall prey to their old lifestyle and habits saying "Its too hard" or "I dont have the energy" or any one of the LONG list of excuses people make to excuse themselves from the "resolutions". Why is that????

Recently, I started reading some books by Clarence Bass, a well known fitness writer and lifelong fitness enthusiast and bodybuilder. In his book, he talks about the "secret". He states, "It seems that people are always looking for a magic bullet. They love "quick fix" diets. As a result, they resist or ignore the real secret: Severe or unbalanced diets provide temporary results at best In the long run..THEY JUST DONT WORK! ...The way you look and feel your best is by regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet containing enough calories to provide for your energy needs day in and day out." But people REFUSE to believe it can be that easy...

As a flight attendant, i thought about people being stuck in their ways and basically stuck in a "holding pattern."You know, you can see where you came from and you can see your destination but you arent sure how to get there...you just keep going around in circles, going absolutely NOWHERE. You are chasing your tail with no end in sight! I think thats what people have a tendency to do...start a "plan" with a great destination, only to end up right back where they started. It takes work people! You have to educate yourself, exercise yourself, and feed yourself with GOOD nutrition and you have to have a plan! You cant fly a plane without a flight plan and you cant get yourself into shape without one either...or you will be stuck in that "holding pattern" and end up right where you started.

I have to share a funny story with you all....I cook a lot of food on Sundays and then store it in the refrigerator so that I can eat "on the run" during the week. When i cooked the chicken breasts, i cut them all in half so that its easier to measure and my step-sons wont be tempted to eat a WHOLE chicken breast(or 2) in one sitting....as my youngest step-son(who is 16) was preparing his meal, he asked "why did you cut the chicken in half?" I stated so that he would learn to eat smaller portions instead of huge portions. Well, he was a bit dumbfounded and said "but isnt that what NORMAL people eat? 8-10oz of chicken at a time?" I could hardly contain my laughter because he had just proven my point about how the general public is so conditioned to eat HUGE portions and then wonder why they cant lose weight or change the way they look. You have to change the way you eat, think, and act about exercise and food if you ever want to change the way you look. And the change will come slowly, but with dedication, persistence and education on your part, you can do it!

Dont get stuck in that holding pattern anymore!

2010 is a new year, create a NEW YOU!

Good Luck! BE FIT..mind, body and soul!