I knew today felt different!

Today was a good day to begin the transformation process that I am about to embark on. I have been interested in health and fitness for a couple of years now, studying what works best, what doesn't work, and how it all fits together. Well, my studying has payed off, and I believe that I am ready to put it all together and see what I can do with it. I have wanted to compete in a figure competition ever since a friend of mine, Dorian Vandergriff, competed a few years back. I wanted to participate in one of these competitions as soon as she told me about it. I had the desire, but knew nothing about how to get there. I had the mentality for years that I just need to run and run and run somemore in order to achieve the body of my dreams. Boy, was I mistaken! I am going to shock some people when I say that running actually is not even necessary to achieve a rock solid body! It definitely doesn't hurt either. I enjoy running, so I still run a long distance every once in a while, but only because I want to, not because I feel like that is what's gonna get me in prime shape. So, I am in all the way this time. I am going to compete in a figure competition this year. Date pending, but sometime in the fall I assume. It is going to be an exciting, thrilling, challenging feat to accomplish. But I am so excited about it! My friend, Kimberly, will be right along my side for the whole trip. And I guarantee by the end of the journey, she'll be ready for competition too.

The main reason I am blogging this journey is to show how a regular girl, with a regular life can achieve something as unattainable(or so it seems) a dream body. Without taking steroids, or starving yourself, or running a billion miles a day, or taking weird weight loss supplement that form jelly like substances in your stomach! That all is hog wash!!! I will prove it to you!

For the next 30 days I will be eating fresh fruit, vegetables, quality grains, nuts, seeds, eggs, some meats (either salmon or venison), and legumes. I will be avoiding all wheat, dairy, caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. This will be a good jump start for really rejuvenating my body with excellent nutrients, and eliminating any inflamatory foods that will hinder fat loss. I will go more in depth with the nutrition part of this journey at a later time. But for now, you'll know that at least 30 days will be extremely monitored food intake.

I have decided to do a 6-week program of resistance workouts that was created by John Romaniello. You can check it out at www.RomanFitnessSystems.com.

I got up this morning, had a 30oz glass of water, then went back to the battle station. That is where I trade stocks...intra-day trading. From about 7:30-9:00 I traded. It was an inside day in the markets after a huge up day on Friday. So, I made a couple good plays, and a couple NOT so good plays. But I was hungry so I went in and had a smoothie with frozen blueberries, raspberries, a banana, almond butter, flax seed oil, and spinach. Don't worry, you can't taste the spinach! It's just a great way to add a green to your meal without having to chew it. YUMMY!!! Then I realized I needed to do some shopping for the house I am remodeling. So I got dressed, and went shopping for granite. Didn't find it at the first stop. So I went to the gym and did my intense resistance workout followed by a quick 8 minute sprint interval on the treadmill, then an 18 minute steep 18 grade incline walk at 3mph. My knees were really hurting, so I couldn't do as much sprinting as I had intended. By the way, I can't stand gym I go to...especially the ones with college boys in em. I much prefer outdoor workouts, but the weather still isn't fit for that yet...SOON please! I got there and there were only a handful of people there, so I was excited thinking I wouldn't have to hassle around the crowd. But I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up because inevitably there's always got to be some dude who wants to come in and star lifting way too heavy and has to grunt and groan and still can't get it lifted. Then wants to walk so close to me I have to dodge him so he won't run right over me. Not to mention the worst B.O. I've ever smelled. Despite all of that, it was really good to be pumpin the iron. My post workout meal was a cup or so of brown rice with steamed broccoli, carrots, and cabbage. Then had a handful of grapes, a some honeydew and cantaloupe. I also went shopping for all my little people. I am not a mom, but all of my friends are, so I just decided it is close to Easter and I would get a couple cute little handsome suits for my boys. Then my mom came and met me to go shop for more granite. We may have decided on some. Then I had a volleyball game to play. It's a women's league that is really fun. I am playing with a couple high school team mates, and a couple other girls that are great. Our team should be called "The Moms +1" because six besides me on the team all have kids! But we won...actually we are UNDEFEATED! So, it capped off a fun, eventful day. Before my game, I had about 10 almonds, and after the game, I had another 5 almonds with an orage. When I got home I ate a bunch of raw veggies, (spinach, cucumbers, broccoli), with some bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, raw sunflower seeds, red onions, and some pickled okra.

Oh, and I am really missing my doggie Snicker Doodle Bob. She is visiting my brother right now (who is actually her rightful owner) but I've pretty much taken her over. She is my "let's go" partner. She goes on my morning jogs or walks with me! And she sleeps with me. So it's been a bit lonely without her.

Goodnight. Oh yeah...and another crucial part of this process is drinking LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER and SLEEP!!!!