Making My Dreams Come True

Here We Go!!!!

2011-08-16T07:50:00.001-07:00

Just over a year ago, I had my sights set on a figure competition. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball (or Six). My life spiraled out of control when my daughter divorced in September of 2010. She lost everything. she became homeless, lost her job, her auto insurance lapsed and she racked up several tickets which led to her license being suspended and citations for driving on a suspended license...court dates and lots of legal trouble ensued. Then her car was repossessed (again)...it has been a mess. And you could not imagine the unbelievable stress this has caused me. I have gone through all my savings to help her. On top of it, I believe I am going through menopause. I had spiraled into a deep depression and have been riding the emotional roller coaster for nearly a year. The mood swings started a couple of years ago, actually. I have gained a LOT of weight and am so ashamed of my body right now. My daughter (and my two precious little grandchildren) are now living with me but things have calmed down somewhat and I am at a place where I can reclaim my life and my fitness. I am not making excuses but sometimes a person can just take so much. When your life is crashing all around you, it is almost impossible to focus on your health and fitness, let alone your job and daily routine. It is difficult enough when things are all sunshine and rainbows and life is going good. One thing about this last year is I have deepened my walk with my Lord and Savior...learned to depend more on him because I was lost and helpless, barely hanging on...often drowning my suffering in alcohol and food. I believe we have made it through the deepest part of this valley. We're no where close to the mountain top but I believe we are headed in the right direction. The first thing I have to do is get my mind right and this menopause/hormone thing is wreaking havoc on my brain and energy levels. I am taking supplements to help with that. I discovered this "Nerve Tonic" I found at Wal Mart and it seems to help a great deal.

The good news:

My left shoulder has improved now as well so I am hoping I can lift now. I'd say it is around 80% good. My plantar fasciitis is still acting up but it is also better so I have cautiously started walking. I am growing my photography business so I can retire from the day job and work out of my own studio in my latter years.

I still have dreams of going to the stage...it is going to take a while to get all this weight off so I am in diet mode. Hopefully I can compete next year.

My NEW Journey

2011-06-21T08:39:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it...it's been almost a year since I have posted...lost my mojo...gained weight and spiraled down into a deep depression because of "circumstances". It is amazing how others can impact your life in such a negative way....energy-draining, life-sucking, joy-killing, dream-stealing, free-loading people. It's not like I can just turn my back and walk away because the stress that, if left to run rampant and kill me, comes from family matters. IF I want to live and IF I want a quality of life or ANY sort of a future, I will stop allowing it to persist. I am angry that my life has been put on hold and MY dreams have been sidelined because this person is immature and irresponsible and will NOT take action to help herself. So...I'm done. I am done enabling. This person needs to get her lazy a$$ out of the bed, not sleep until noon, get a job and stop draining everyone else's wallet, take care of her kids and get her own place to live.

My first step in resolving this is to get back to where I was on my fitness journey and build some strength and gain some energy. Renew and pursue MY dreams. I can NO longer carry this person's burdens. After 2-3 or maybe 4 years of the "crap", this person has not changed their ways. Their life is still the same and I bet it will continue to be this way with or without my help. This person has cost me $1,000's!!! This person has stolen and lied to me over and over again. This person has caused me so much stress and anguish to the detriment of my health. I am hurt, confused and disappointed, where I am supposed to be proud of my daughter. How could she do the things she has done without any guilt or shame? How could she take advantage of her family, even steal from them, and not blink an eye? Is this really the kind of person I raised? I KNOW I did a better parenting job than that. This person needs to get their own act together. This person...is my 26 year old daughter.

So...here I am climbing my way out of HER hell hole...the pit I have allowed myself to get sucked into. So, I am putting this all behind and starting over. I cannot be a part of this anymore if I want a life. I cannot allow myself to be consumed with my daughter's drama. I have hope and now it's time to get back on track. The only way to do this is to not help any more and focus on my own needs for a change.

THIS is my NEW journey.

Week 1: Journey to the stage...17 weeks

2010-07-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

I have decided to compete in this year's Kentucky Muscle...it is a huge and competitive show...a daunting task to say the least. Not sure my confidence is where it needs to be to pull it off but I have had this dream for a while.

Work Woes

2010-04-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

I'm done with the physical therapy. It helped a little. I have been unhappy with work lately. Sure puts a damper on things. My happiness meter is creeping down low. Good thing I am working on my photography business and career. I am determined more than ever to be successful at it. I am sick of my job but I cannot afford to leave it. What a quagmire. I am trying to focus on my fitness. It is hard when you are down about things. I will need to fix this somehow and soon.

Physical Therapy

2010-02-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

My orthopod ordered 6 weeks of physical therapy for my elbows and shoulder. The SupraSpinatus tendon is the culprit in the shoulder...the xrays show a definite cloud of calcifications. I have to wear these tennis elbow splints for the "bilateral epicondylitis" and no upper body weightlifting although I am doing the prescribed stretches and band exercises. That said, I have no excuse to NOT do my lower body workouts and cardio. So why can't I get my butt in gear. I have been super busy and tired. I started incorporating some of the fighter diet principles into my eating...more veggies, basically, and carb cycling. I bought a Bullet Express so now I am able to juice...yay!!! I am hoping that will rev up my energy systems. I also need to find the time to "stop and be still"...to destress and quiet my mind. I have been reading my one year Bible. I am only 3 days behind now. And, I am going to HAVE to get moving more...every day...back to an hour a day cardio (at leas at 4 times a week) and walking the dogs. It's been soooooo cold lately.

Less than 30 weeks out

2010-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

I am heading to the stage on August 14th, 2010...in figure...which is just about 29 1/2 weeks away....yikes!!! Pinch me...I am going to compete in the Tennessee State Bodybuilding and Figure championships less than a month before I turn 50 years young!!! My game face is ON...I have started back in the gym. My ortho doctor gave me the green light. I just can't do lateral raises which are the movements that hurt so bad and aggravate the rotator cuff. He said the tissues around the scapula were really tight (back muscles too). I start a physical therapy regimen next thursday for the rotator cuff and the elbows. Still, I can work out so I have no excuse now NOT to get in the gym and bust my hiney. Gotta get lots of good cardio in. Gotta eat clean!!! Need to stay away from junk food and alcohol and get my rear end in gear. Focus, focus, focus...

Welcome To 2010

2010-01-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

It has a ring to it...I am in a really good place mentally right now and am ready to rock it all the way to the stage. I have had a really rough time with DD the latter part of 2009 which left me broke and depressed. In spite of all the trouble, I am not going to wallow in the mire and let that control me and my destiny. It is what it is...it is in the past and I am on a mission to make my dreams come true.

2009-11-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving. I have had a bad time with allergies, sinuses and my tendonitis. What CAN I do to make this go away? I haven't felt really good all year. I have felt like "ACK"...lethargic and unmotivated. I think it all goes back to ONE thing...when my ex-boss pulled her little nervous breakdown/alcoholic medical leave act and dumped all of her duties onto my lap. I have not gotten a salary increase, I am still doing all her work plus mine even though she returned after 3 months. She makes $1,000.00 more a month than I do. So, I have been royally PI$$ED off about the whole thing. To top it off, she is negative, narcissitci, controlling and difficult to work with. You have to try and make "R" happy or she will pout and complain. You have to walk on egg shells so you please "R"...everything revolves around "R" and I am sick to death of it. Her actions changed the whole dynamic of our workplace and has caused my morale to plummet. I used to love, love, love my job and now she has ruined it for me. So, now comes a time in life to make some decisions. I have decided to start a photography business in 2010. I need extra income and I need a back up plan to this job because as long as I continue to feel slighted and taken advantage of, I see myself moving on from this job within a few years. I have worked hard this year at letting this bitterness and anger go but I admit I still have some of that negative energy around me that I HAVE to get rid of. This has taken over me all year and I have to focus on what is really important for 2010. And, that is my desire to compete in figure and my need to get my photography business off the ground. I will be setting up my goals, nutrition plan and fitness program. As far as the tendonitis, I cannot stay away from working out any more. I will have to do my cardio and strength train other body parts and for the shoulder and elbows, I will have to life VERY light and do lots of reps. The plantar fasciitis seems to be ok for now. I will take it easy on calf raises...maybe just stick to calf presses. I feel pretty good today in spite of my sinuses and pain. I am ready to start exercising again. Starting TODAY!!! I will walk the dogs when I get home and do 20 minutes of extra cardio (I need to stratch, too). I also have to practice my trumpet and work on my website so I can publish it at the beginning of the year. I'm not sure I will fit it all in.

Saturday...

2009-10-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the weather is changing. It has been beautiful here in Nashville with temperatures in the 70's. There's a little chill in the air this morning but the sun is shining. I'm still trying to wake up. Not feeling so great this morning. I'm discouraged that my tendonitis is not better. My shoulder and arm, both elbows are still very painful It severely limits my upper body strength training. Oh well, I guess I will just have to lift 5 lb. dumbbells and rely mostly on my diet. I still have not started on my program...tic toc, tic toc. I have to get it in gear this week. I need to find some way to create more time (and energy) in my day.

The Busy Woman’s All-In-One Workout

2009-09-29T09:45:00.001-07:00

The Busy Woman’s All-In-One Workout

Warm-up: 5 minutes, light to moderate intensity on a cardio machine of your choice. Or, you can do jumping jacks or jump rope for 2-3 minutes.

Perform the following exercises back-to-back. Rest for 2-3 minutes at the end of the circuit, then repeat (total of 3 sets).

Dumbbell Squat to Press – Hold a light to moderate weight dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward at shoulder height. Stand with toes pointing forward and feet slightly wider than shoulder width. Perform a squat, and as you stand back up, press the weights overhead as in a shoulder press. The finishing position will be standing upright with arms fully extended overhead, in line with your ears, palms forward. Repeat for 12-15 repetitions.
Pushup – Do these on your knees if your elbow does not exceed 90 degrees at the bottom of the movement. Place hands on floor slightly outside shoulder width, fingers straight forward. Keep your core tight and your body in a straight line. Exhale as you push up and inhale as you descend. Control your body to the floor as you bend your elbows by our sides. Push your body back up as a single unit. Repeat for 10-15 repetitions.
Squat Hops – Stand with toes pointing forward and feet slightly wider than shoulder width. Perform a squat and let arms swing back behind you. Reverse the motion with your arms, and as they swing past your sides extend them up overhead and reach for the ceiling. As you begin to reach, forcibly reverse the squat and jump into the air. Land softly on the balls of your feet with soft knees and reverse the motion. Repeat for 15-20 repetitions.
Dumbbell Bent-Over Row – Hold a moderate weight dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing inward (thumbs forward). While keeping the natural curve in your back, slightly bend knees and bend forward at the hips until your shoulders are slightly higher than your hips. Pull the weights up and in at your sides, initiating with your elbows. Keep elbows tucked at your sides and squeeze shoulder blades together at the top of the movement. Repeat for 12-15 repetitions.
Walking Lunges – Hold light to moderate dumbbells at your sides, or you can do this with bodyweight only. With feet together and facing forward, take a big step forward and control your body weight as you bend both knees and descend toward the floor. Keep torso upright and look straight ahead. Before the back knee hits the ground, push up off the heel of the front foot and toe of the back foot. Bring back leg forward in a large stepping motion and descend again. Repeat for a total of 12-15 repetitions on each side.

Try this workout two times per week with at least a day’s rest in between workouts.

So Let the Games Begin

2009-09-28T09:02:00.001-07:00

I have had my break and now it is time to get back on program if I am going to compete next year. I still have a long way to go but I have time. I killed myself trying to get ready this year and it is just too much to handle, especially for this middle aged body. My body had retaliated with its various ills and tendonosis. My tennis elbow has also returned. I must treat my body well and condition is the "smart" way. So moderation it is....even cardio will need to be mostly steady state and a manageable bit of HIIT albeit a LOT of it. I WILL make it to the stage IF I stay the course.

I heard this quote today:

"Most aging is just the dry rot we program into our cells through sedentary living, junk food and stress."

True that!!!

Help I've Fallen (off the band wagon that is)

2009-09-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

O.k., o.k., the party is over...now that my garage sale is over I need to focus on what I need to do to get back on track with my fitness program. I guess the biggest thing I hate to do is exercise. There's never enough time in the day it seems like. My allergies have been awful the last month or so. I'm so stressed from work and tired all the time and I have tendonitis and arthritis in my shoulders, arms, knees...and foot. Plus I just don't like cardio. Now, those are my excuses. I have to create a new mindset and generate positive thoughts about my fitness program:

I was doing really well. I have a goal to compete and know what I have to do to get there. I have enough time to do this in moderation and not kill myself. I should take anti-inflammatory meds to help with the pain. I really do love to lift weights even though I'm not fond of cardio. I don't have to run to get good cardio in. I can undo bad habits and replace them with good. I'll feel better if I exercise regularly and eat the right foods. I don't want next year to be the same as this year (and last and the year before).

Focus, Focus, Focus...

I should start doing my video blogging again.

Back Again

2009-08-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I have not blogged here in a while. I was super busy trying to get my workouts and cardio in every day. I was working with a trainer so I was uber commited. I need a break from it. It is wearing me out. So, I need to find balance. I have also been trying to keep up with my forums and my journals and work and home, going to church, taking care of grandkids and my doggies, etc....oh, AND yardwork....geez...not enough time (or energy) to do it all. Actually, my energy levels have improved for which I am grateful. And, I am getting back into my photography. This is taking a lot more research and learning than I thought. I will hit the gym again in September. I have lost some weight and will continue my journey toward the stage next year. I will make my dreams come true. One thing I would really like to work on and that is getting up early in the morning. This is a very difficult feat for someone who is NOT a morning person. I will get my 8 hours of sleep, though so I need to be in bed by 9pm every night to do this. Maybe the change in daylight savings time this fall will help reset my clock.

My Spark Page

2009-04-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

I think I will start blogging over on Spark People. Here's my Spark Page:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=missdonnalee

New Program

2009-03-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

I just started a new program with Michelle Anderson from MichellFit.com. The diet is really sound and focuses on clean, nutritious foods without eliminating food groups. Organic where possible and a variety of foods and recipes. My workout consists of a circuit where I go through the exercises once with 2 minutes of intense cardio in between set groups and then repeat. Then I do 20 minutes of HIIT and 10 minutes of steady state. I was pretty wiped out today after the circuit and did not make it through the cardio. Already starting off on the wrong foot. I fully intended on getting it done tonight but I had to pick some things up from the grocery store for my diet and the time got away from me. I WILL make up my cardio tomorrow. So, lots of cardio on tap for tomorrow. I also need to walk the dogs since the temperature here is going to be in the 70's. I am so ready for warmer weather. It has been a cold, brutal winter. It was beautiful today and I was off work (taking a much needed and deserved break). I also did not get all my food and calories in. I'm not even hungry. I am logging my food in to Spark People and will keep a training journal as well (probably hand written). Hopefully, I will do a better job at keeping up with this blog and making some video blogs along the way. It feels good to have everything mapped out. Michelle is really good and I'm looking forward to working with her. I need to take some measurements and before photos (yuck). Did I mention I gained all my weight back? I was so p.o.'d about that. But, it won't do me any good to get hung up on that. I can only move forward and I will make some good progress with Michelle's help. That's about it.

I'm baaaaaaaack...GAME ON!!!

2009-03-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

A new start for me. When I started full force at the beginning of 2009, something went awry and I got sick. It felt like the adrenal fatigue was coming back.

So, I just got a new gym membership at Hermitage Fitness and I'm back at it. I will incorporate more cardio this time around...at home on non-strength training days and some in the gym when I work out. I will not be able to lift heavy because I am still healing from plantar fasciitis and left rotator cuff tendonitis. I need to lift enough to hang on to the muscle I already have. The main focus is fat loss. I plan on having only one cheat meal a week, on Sundays, after church.

My plan is to lose 20 lbs. in the next twelve weeks starting today...which means I am really going to have to step it up. I have to take this more seriously and quit lolly-gagging around. I can do this. Michelle Anderson is going to coach me...and turn me into a figure competitor....Yes, ME!!!

Oh, I really like this quote on my sister's facebook page:

"Lord, fill me with Yourself. Be in me as oxygen is in my blood, as sound is in my ear, as light is in my eye. Lord, fill me with the life that is You. - Edward D. Hughes

I thought it was absolutely beautiful.

PORTION CONTROL AND GOOD FOOD CHOICES

2009-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

300 CALORIE BREAKFASTS:

350 CALORIE LUNCHES:

400 CALORIE DINNERS:

Ack...stinkin' thinkin'

2009-01-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

It's not a pity party. I'm just blasè, in a funk, whatever you want to call it. I was doing fine until I came down with a bug the first week back on my program and it has spiraled downward since. Then I stepped on the scale and that really got me. I'm NOT very happy to say the least. I will get over it I suppose and move on. And work another year for nothing...just to gain it all back next Christmas. My whole attitude is like: WTH??? All that hard work down the tubes. I'm always going to be fat.

RANT ALERT

2009-01-13T15:37:00.001-08:00

I could just scream. I am not a very happy camper. In about a month and a half, I reversed a whole years worth of work. I have gained back ALL my weight and then some. WTH??? How can that happen in such a short period of time? No, I didn't plan, pack or count calories but did I really eat that much? I thought I made good choices most of the time. And, I thought I would live just a little. You know, stop and smell the roses. Give me a break. Am I going to go through the rest of my life without an ice cream cone or a glass of cold wine? That's just wrong on so many levels. I wanted to heal up my battle wounds, rest up after months and months of grueling labor. Geez. I'm so disgusted. I HATE being this big. You know, it's like "what's the point?". It's a never ending battle. I will ALWAYS be on a diet. That's why it's a stinking lifestyle. You can't NOT workout and you can't NOT eat like a bird or you'll get fat.

There, I'm done. Now that the rant is over, I guess I'll eat meal #4: salad and baked Talapia. Oh, and I did my LBWO and cardio this morning. I'm back at it again. Whether I like it or not, I'm back to the grind. Back on the wagon. Back in the saddle. Back to making my dreams come true. I WILL achieve my goals. ***SIGH***

Time To Get Tough

2009-01-07T08:30:00.001-08:00

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" (Rocky Balboa)

This week's workouts have been tough. I have had to put a lot of effort into them. I am so weak and tired. I feel like I'm lugging around a two ton bag of lard around. I guess that is what a month and a half of slacking will do for you. I am sore all over so I'm glad today is a cardio only day. So far, I am on track. I am following my workout program and diet to a "T". I am using Spark People to track my diet. I used to use Fitday but I like how the SparkPeople nutrition tracker divides the meals up. And, you can import foods from others when you can't find something in the database.

Welcome 2009!!!

2009-01-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

My Fitness Plan:

Sunday: REST

Monday: Glutes, Biceps and Abs (home)
AM SS Cardio (20-30 min.)

Glutes:
DB Squats
DB Lunges
DB Stiffleg Deadlifts
DB Bench Step Ups
Lying Glute Kickbacks (donkey kicks)
Butt Raises on the ball or Butt Lifts on the floor

Biceps:
DB Concentration Curls
Slow DB Hammer Curls
Alternating DB Curls

Abs:
Crunches
Reverse Crunches
Oblique Crunches

Tuesday: Chest, Shoulders and Triceps (gym)
HIIT Cardio (20-30 min. after workout)

Chest:
Chest Press Machine
Barbell Bench Press
Smith Machine Pushups
Cable Machine Flyes

Shoulders:
Overhead Press Machine
Lateral Raise Machine
Cable Machine Reverse Flyes

Triceps:
Assisted Tricep Dips (Gravitron)
Cable Rope Pulldowns
Cable Overhead Pullovers

Wednesday: Stretching/Breathing Session (home)
AM SS Cardio (20-30 min.)

Thursday: Back, Hamstrings, Abs (gym)
HIIT Cardio (20-30 miin. after workout)

Back:
Lat Pulldown Machine
Isolated Lat Pulldowns
Seated Row Machine

Hamstrings:
Seated Leg Curl Machine
Lying Leg Curl Machine
Cable Deadlifts

Abs:
Ab Machine Crunches
Ab Machine Oblique Crunches
Hanging Leg Raises

Friday: Shoulders, Stretching/Breathing Session (home)
AM SS Cardio

Shoulders:
DB Front Raises
DB Lateral Raises
DB Rear Raises
DB Front Upright Rows

Saturday: Quadriceps, Calves, Back (gym)
Makeup Cardio Session after workout, if needed

Quads:
Leg Extension Machine
Squat Machine
DB Lunges

Calves:
Smith Machine Standing Calf Raises
Leg Press Machine Calf Presses

Back:
Assisted PullUp Machine (Gravitron)
One Arm DB Rows
Low Back Extensions