Mike’s list

why i love my man…he even makes me smile when hes not around April

 

Flaunt it Friday

Don’t call it a comeback…i’ve been here for years!  I’ve just been hiding under a “protective” layer   Okay, these are extremely bad pictures but my obliques are starting to rock again.

  

I often get asked how much I work my abs.  I only do abs once a week.  That and calves I never have to “strive” for.  Good eats and cardio for me   Plus I used to do pilates back in the day???

.

What’s your favorite ab exercise?  Decline sit ups are mine!

 

TRICK OR TREAT

Today it’s a TREAT!  The first 2 people to purchase something from my Opensky shop will receive 50% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE! as long as it doesn’t exceed $100.  Here are some products you will find there:

Exercise Rubberlutionary

Nuttzo Peanut Free

CaliBowls

So hurry up and take advantage of the excellent offer!  All you need to do is put in code theweigh50pct above the estimated total.

 

You Gotta Know When To Hold Em

Know when to fold em…I folded them last night.  I started my workout with a 10 minute warmup, got through about 3 intervals and KNEW something wasn’t right.  I ended up just lifting and then walking afterwards.  I got light headed and my legs were shaky.  It was odd.

1 min	6
30 secs	7
1 min	6
30 secs	4
1 min	6.5
30 secs	7.5
1 min	6
30 secs	4
1 min	6
30 secs	8
1 min	6
30 secs	4

I did a 3 min variety interval workout this morning.  After a 10 min warmup and cool down at 5.5 I did the above hodge podge.  It was about 5.5 miles and 60 mins long.  I’m going for a 6 mph warmup and cool down next time and see if I can made it 6 miles

.

Thank you for the emails and comments about me being an inspiration to you   It really made my day.  I’m glad so many can relate to me.  I’m real and for some it just takes really hard work and a stricter diet.

.

My after work workout went better but I was still a little weak and worn down.  I guess that will happen when you’re doing about 9-10 miles a day.  I’ve been trying to take the weekends off.  I think my body is trying to get through a plateau.  I MUST keep going to break it!!!!!!!

.

Did you know?   Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.  I have not tried this, but will!

 

Sharing the love

Get it here FREE!

 

 

 

Eats for the day

• 1/4 cup of oats
• 6 egg whites
• cinnamon poured out of the BIG hole.  Why even make the little sprinkle side?
• 1 whole egg
• 1 t of udo’s oil
• Nutra Fiber to make me poo

.

• 1 scoop of whey protein w/ 1/4 tsp baking powder made into a cake
• sometimes I eat 4 egg whites here
• possibly some unsalted pistachios since i’m not competing anymore

.

• chicken
• salad
• almond oil
• coconut vinegar or balsamic glaze mmm…

.

• another protein cake(these are convienent for work)

.

• turkey meatloaf with tomato paste!
• asparagus

.

• protein ice cream
• maybe a spoonful of ANPB or ANAB since i’m not competing anymore

.

It’s good to feel like you’ve eaten ice cream right before bed.  Also looking at this I guess the little things add up to make me fluffier.  I think keeping the workouts and cardio like i’m doing will help me to get leaner.  I did 60 mins of cardio this morning and tonight will be a FAST full body workout with rockin interval runs/sprint totalling 45 mins of cardio all together.  This is NOT 45 minutes all out sprints.  It’s with a 10 minute jog warmup and cool down as well.

I’ll give you an example of a high carb day soon……….

.

I drink 1.5 to 2 gallons of water a day.  That’s on top of 5 pots of coffee…I kid, sort of.  I snort glutamine like it’s going out of style and if you name a supplement i’ve probably taken it.  I am seriously addicted to tomato paste.

Do you have a  nickname?  I also go by Red, AJ, Ape, Kid(Mike), Sir(Mike) or Rachel.  My dad calls me Rapril.  He gets me and my sister mixed up I guess

 

Welcome to the Family

Mike carved his FIRST pumpkin ever.  Yes, he’s 34 and this is his first one.  It’ s on the right.  I guess I should put it on the left since he’s left handed?

I love Boomer’s little head staring out the window.

.

We also bought new trees!  Remember when Old Shady bit the dust?  I knew I wanted a red head tree.  We also got one to block the neighbors window so they don’t feel us looking at them all the time.  Each year we’ve decided to add some trees.  I LOVE them!

Can I just say that trees are expensive!  I feel much better about these purchases than spending money on competition fees right now. 

.

It’s been a great Sunday.  The weather is awesome and Mike’s friends are over playing cornhole(the game).  Boomer and I went for a nice walk this morning and I did some shoulders, back and leg workouts.  I’m calling it a day now.  I’ve got to get outside and see what these boys are up to.  2 of his friends are in from Austin Texas.

.

Do you and your old friends still hang out?  I’ve only got one good old friends i’m still in touch with.  I’ve spoke of her before.  Amy, the one that brings out the 10 year old in me all over again.  That’s how him and his friends are.  Do  boys really grow up?  One is a president of a research and development team for a HUGE company.  If his co-workers only knew how silly he really is.

 

Charlie bit me…

and it really hurt! Don’t give your dog a treat in the dark.

 

Flaunt it Friday

Here you go…what you’ve been waiting for   This took 8-10 weeks.  I still don’t weigh like I have in the past.  That can be good or bad.  For me it’s both.

Before:

 

After:



I feel SO  much better.  I may be leaner now that a week has gone by?

How did I do it?

ELIMINATED DAIRY *GASP*  My body did NOT like it this time around.  No more cottage cheese or yogurt.  I instantly lost some bloat once these were gone.

Upped the cardio.  Cardio is bad…blah blah blah.  Yep, i’d say that too if I were in my 20′s.  Just like some can get away with more carbs than others, cardio is the same.  For me I don’t eat alot of carbs and I do alot of cardio.  Good thing I LOVE cardio!

No more nut butters.  I just couldn’t be trusted with them.  They are back now   I haven’t gorged down an entire jar either…go me!  I just purchased Nuttzo and can’t wait to try it!

.

I got this from Lori.  What body part are you loving right now?  For me it’s my butt.  It’s lifting and is round.

 

Yum :)

How pumpkin pie is Made

 

More Cookies!

I made more cookies this week.  The other cookies in the Oxygen magazine.  These get 4 thumbs and 4 paws up.  Boomer and Mike loved them.  This was also a great time to use the almond butter I was sent by Kettle Brand.

• 1 cup of almond butter
• 3/4 cup of sucanat OR light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3 oz of 70% or higher chocolate broken up

Mix together and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  I used Hershey’s semi sweet chips for Mike’s and carob chips for mine and Boomer’s cookies.

Mmmmm….tasty tasty.

 

Did I really?

Did I really just make caramel Cheetos?

Yes I did!  I really think this pitch in thing is becoming a weekly chore.  I love to make things so I don’t mind.

Did I really car dance to You Can’t Touch This on the way to work?

Yes I did!

Did I really watch Mr. Rogers Neighborhood doing my cardio this morning?

Yes I did!

What did you really do today?

 

p.s.  Mike said the Cheetos ARE AMAZING!!!!!

 

65 min cardio workout

This is what I did while watching Three’s Company this morning.

Min	Speed
1	5.5
2	5.5
3	5.5
4	5.5
5	5.5
6	5.5
7	5.5
8	5.5
9	5.5
10	4
11	6
12	6
13	6
14	6
15	4
16	6.5
17	6.5
18	6.5
19	4
20	7
21	7
22	4
23	7.5
24	4
25	7.5
26	4
27	7
28	7
29	4
30	6.5
31	6.5
32	6.5
33	4
34	6
35	6
36	6
37	6
38	4
39	6
40	6
41	6
42	6
43	4
44	6.5
45	6.5
46	6.5
47	4
48	7
49	7
50	4
51	7.5
52	4
53	6
54	6
55	6
56	6
57	6
58	5.5
59	5.5
60	5.5
61	5.5
62	5.5
63	4
64	4
65	3.5

 

Peanut Butter Cookies

I made these from the Oxygen magazine recipe the other day.  They are awesome!  Serving is 2 and believe me…they fill you up.

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

 

• 1 ½ cups ANPB crunchy
• 1 ½ scoops of chocolate protein powder
• 1 egg
• ½ cup of sucanat
• ½ cup almond flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix together.  Roll into 16-20 balls.  Bake for 12 mins.

 



 

Flaunt it Friday

A Ginger without freckles is like leopard without spots.  It’s taken me years to love them but I do now.  They keep me young looking   Can you believe I can spot a new one when it appears?

Do you have freckles?  Do you like them? 

 

 

Cost of competing

Check the link below first!

.

I forgot to mention in my finding time post that after my second workout I take another shower   I just hate when people say “I don’t have  time”.  Just admit you don’t want to make time.  That’s really all it is.  I’m not talking a 2 hour time frame like some idiots HA! 

.

I had a conversation with Angela today.  I think we are both on the same page.  Since starting my new job in July I don’t aquire any vacation for 6 months.  I could take a day off but it would have to be without pay.  Since we are traveling to KY we must have that day off for travel and to get tanned.  I talked with Mike as well.  First he was shocked at the cost it takes.  We have our money seperate so he never really asked   I don’t feel bad about this decision.  I feel better than I have in months.  I’m getting leaner everyday and it’s awesome!

NPC Card – $90

Show Fee – $65

Hotel Fee – $115

Tan – $115

Gas – $60 (unless you’re flying)

Trainer – $300 (12 weeks)

Suit – sponsored by JodiLane.com

Day off w/o pay – $200

Jewelry – $50 est.

So no more depressing news.  I guess I should tell my trainer too

.

What’s Next?

NOTHING is changing!  I was up this morning for a 5.2 mile run, after work I did my weight and another 4.5 miles!  I feel great!  One Pro to all of this is I will STAY lean without the dehyrdration and pigging out afterwards.

What do you think of the competition cost?  Your NPC card is good for THAT year only.  Meaning I would spend $90 to compete once.

 

Try It On Us

Try It On Us.

 

Finding Time

Time??

 

4:31a – wake up

Cardio for 60-70 mins

5:45a – shower

6:00a – eat

6:20a – get ready for work

7:00a-4:00p work

4:30p – weights + cardio

6:30p – make dinner for Mike and I, also make something for the weekly pitch ins..tonight is ooey gooey butter cakes

7:00p – read blogs, blog, sit with Mike

9:00p – bedtime

 

The Deadline

I woke up this morning starving.  I can’t tell you the last time that has happened.  So what did I do?  Hopped on the treadmill of course for 63 minutes.  I loved Paulines’s post yesterday.  She admits she HAS to do lots of cardio to get lean.  We are all different.  There is a difference between being fit and being lean.  When I was in my early twenties and getting married all I had to do was 3 miles of cardio every other day and I was not even lifting heavy then.  I ate fish stick sandwiches and hamburger helper and got down to 115.  It’s MUCH harder to do that now.  As mentioned before I’ve NEVER been one to eat WHATEVER I wanted in life and stay thin.  In 2007 when I first decided to compete I had no clue what would happen to my body.  Everything worked like a well oiled machine.  My body didn’t know what was going on but responded very well.  I love my trainer because every prep has been different.  It keeps it exciting and I learn so much about my body.

Don’t Just Talk About It, Be About It!

 .

He was pleased with my pictures and I actually get more carbs!!  That typically doesn’t happen with  my type of body.  I actually like eating lower carb because I feel better on it.  I never eat bread or pasta anyway but love my oats :D  I would eat bread if Julian Bakery didn’t charge an arm and leg for shipping.

I’m feeling good right now about the show.  Angela and I will decide if we are going to for sure do it this weekend.  I’m not doing it without her   Some people may not understand that.  I’m not in this to win the overall, get a pro card or become a model.  I can’t compete with girls who have fake boobs and get diet pills prescribed from their doctors.  I’m in this for the friendships I have made.  It’s fun to meet up with a buddy from out of state, get naked, roll in tanner and wear no deodorant.  No really, tanning is the absolute WORST part of it!  I will NOT miss that one bit.  That or the ridiculous amount of money it costs

.

Now i’m off to make dinner.  What are you having tonight? Fish and veggies for me.  Possibly a 1 minute muffin as well.  I’ll use black and red pepper instead of making it sweet and leave out the coconut oil. 

 

Running Makes Me Happy

I never in my life thought I would say that.  It truly does.  I’m not fast but I manage.  The fact that i’ve had both of my legs crushed is a testament that anyone can do it.  I adore this necklace.

If you want one you can find it HERE. 

Product Details

 

You can’t help but smile.

This sterling silver washer has been hand-stamped, distressed, brushed, and polished.

Choose from our selection of hand-made, vintage-inspired beads: antique pearl ~ turquoise ~ black ~ brown.

 .

What makes you happy?