SCW Kickoff Tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will be participating in Yoga Fundamentals I by Lawrence Biscontini.

Why would a bodybuilder be interested in Yoga? Strength without flexibility isn't functional and I want to promote well rounded life long fitness.  Bonus: Increased flexibility and range of motion can lead to increased strength performance, a tight shortened muscle has no where to go.

I am thinking long term. I have dabbled in a little bit of everything in the fitness industry, and I have always been able to appreciate a great yoga class. I have often participated in auditions and evaluations of Yoga instructors, but could only approach it from the "teaching" aspect. When the time comes that I am responsible for hiring a Yoga instructor, I need to be able to evaluate whether the moves they are doing are safe and appropriate for clients. If I am managing a facility and a Yoga instructor is not available, I want to be able to step in and lead a basic class.  I feel in the fitness industry it is important to be a jack of all trades, and having the opportunity to learn so many different components of fitness is why I love this industry.

Got my mat, attire, and manual, let's get flexible!

Health and Happiness,

L

12 Weeks!

April 7th was my 2nd competition. It went great I placed 2nd in Open Women's bodybuilding!

I spoke with the judges and they told me to work on developing my back, my quads, and eat a whole lot of protein.

So for the past 13 weeks that's what I did. I went heavy in the gym, ate more protein than ever with the help of my coach Adele of @amorfitnut.  So now we are 12 weeks out from my next competition!

Sunday was my last cheat meal. I had a craving for fried buffalo chicken tofu from whole foods and mac and cheese, so I hit the buffet! I got the tofu, curried beef, mac and cheese, collards, squash, and pound cake. Whole foods makes the best pound cake! Nothing better than to read the ingredients list on a dessert and recognize all of them.

Oh yes, and a glass or 2 of Savida Sangria, I tasted this for the 1st time at the Friends of Dogwood Pavillion at the Dogwood Festival.  I have been hooked ever since.

Monday was the 1st day of the meal plan.  It actually has been a really great start so far. I was eating clean during the week and only engaging in cheat meals on the weekends. So getting back on the meal plan was not as huge a leap as last competition.

There are a few new items on the list.  Including Egg Beaters egg whites.  I usually just buy the bulk eggs at Kroger, but it does seem wasteful to toss out so many egg yolks.  So when I purchased what I though were just eggwhites I was surprised to see a list of at least 5 other ingredients including Xanthium Gum.  All I wanted were egg whites! Went back to the store today and got the 100% Egg Whites.

Other than that lil hiccup pretty much the usual as far as meal plan and grocery list.  Oh oh and I get grapefruit this year! 

This week at the SCW conference will be the real test of my will power.  I will be in workshops all weekend long, thankfully I have my 6-Pack system to keep me on track.

Really looking forward to the conference.  This will be my 3rd year attending, 2nd year as a staff assitant.    SCW is a great way to get ideas for fitness classes and training techniques and an incredible chance to meet other fitness professionals from the south east. Also, super affordable way to get your CEU's for most fitness agencies.

My husband plans to kidnap my laptop during the convention. But, I will have my Windows Phone for twitter updates throughout the conference. Be on the lookout for twitter updates!

Time to prep some food and hangout with the husband.

Health and Happiness,

L

Week In Review: June 25 - July 1st

Last week was really busy.  Got through my last week of mass building, Mon, Wed, and Friday. Time to start the leaning out process after the Peachtree. Here are the highlights of the week:

Crossfit Tuesday we completed a couplet of 110 Split Jerks and 55 Toes to Bar.

I completed my 1st Split Jerk

Crossfit Thursday it was hooooot, the last thing I thought we'd be doing was running, which of course we did, we completed "Griff" in 100 degree weather, please believe I was seriously hydrated, proof by all the sweat that dripped in my eyes. I really need to start wearing a sweat band.

                                                                       "Griff"
                                         800 M fwd, 400 M back, 800 M fwd, 400 M back

Crossfit Saturday was all about team work.  I teamed up with my lil sister to complete 200M run, 25 wall balls, 25 kettlebell swings, 25 box jumps, and 25 ball slams. 1st time doing ball slams, love them!

Sunday was a Flirty Girl Fitness Mixer with Jenn Hall at Street Dance Studio in Roswell was a great experience, glad I made the trip up.  It has been about 6 months since I taught a FGF class. So the mixer was a great way to get back into the groove of things.  Spent the 1st hour and a half going over 2 newer formats for bootybeat: Freestyle and Mash Up. Then talked about upcoming Flirty events. Then the next hour we prepped and shot a promo video for Ultimate Flirty Girl Jenn. I will definately post an update when the video is posted.

Here are some of the cool pieces of swag I picked up at the event this weekend (FGF water bottle and key chain):

So that wraps up June, Lots of big things happening in July:
2nd - @GNCLivewell @Fitluential #CFGtix at 9PM
3rd - AHA CPR/First Aid Instructor Certification
4th - Peachtree Road Race
7th - NPC Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini Show at GWCC
13th - 15th Crossfit Games on crossfitgames.com and ESPN3
21st - Amor Fitness and Nutrition at SNBF show
27th - Aug 12th Olympics on NBC

Happy July!

Health and Happiness
-L-