Photo Shopping

Had fun today shopping for photo shoot clothes. Not sure what I'm going to wear, but i bought them all. hehe
Had a great workout again. Looking forward to doing spin again tomorrow.
good Night to all... I get to sleep in in the morning!!!

• 
  

  By Ben D on June 10, 2011 10:59pm

  I was wondering what to take my pics in - guess new clothes are in order as well. Doesn't shopping for smaller sizes beat the crap outta going the other way???
• 
  

  By Karen Van Dehy on June 10, 2011 6:05pm

  Sleeping in is so nice to do sometimes. Did you wear any of the new clothes today?
• 
  

  By Donna Jones on June 10, 2011 9:29am

  wasn't that fun???? i love doing that :)
• 
  

  By KarlCobra on June 10, 2011 8:41am

  Not sure myself!
• 
  

  By Jasmin Ford aka Transcendtoo on June 10, 2011 6:46am

  woo hoo! I say wear the ones you will wear again! Lots of color popping and show off your cute figure :) Am I right?!
• 
  

  By Katie Sutherlin on June 10, 2011 5:18am

  I'm going to stay in my box and wear the clothes I have been taking my pics in except for this last time. Unfortunately I can still fit into them. You look super Rachel, can't wait to see the new clothes. Take pics in all of them.
• 
  

  By Jasmin Ford aka Transcendtoo on June 10, 2011 6:48am

  Katie, definitely do something fun to celebrate the close of the contest. You have struggled, but a reward will keep you going and celebrate where you are now and where you are going... just like Naseem said in her journal yesterday (which by the way is something I will continue to read over and over)
• 
  

  By Christina B. on June 10, 2011 4:51am

  That's funny!!! I was out yesterday looking for "workout" type clothes to take some of my final pics with!!!
• 
  

  By mikecalhoun on June 10, 2011 4:06am

  woooohoooo! sleeping in, thats great!! its always nice to sleep in! you will look good no matter what cothes you wear Rachel! your getting it done!

She's Baaack!

I got done with reading everyones journals last night and my husband made me go to bed before I remembered that I hadn't journaled my own yet. Well, my husband was right, I DID need to go to bed (Yes Dear you are right again hehe) so I am writing today.

Yesterday was great because Danny was back (canceled last trip) and got a week pass to my gym. WE got to workout, not just ME. I also got to try some new machines that I haven't had the guts to try yet. I had so much fun, acting like goofballs at times. The 'big' guys were staring at us and saying "you two are having too much fun". So true.
Whether they recognized her, thought she looked good or just because she was new. Others were staring at us (ie. Danny) when we walked in. I must confess, I may have been a little prideful, thinking "Yup, she's not only my trainer but I claim her as my friend!" It was funny.

Looking forward to weighing soon (don't know when though). I sure hope this new program has been working for me. Going to start another on Sunday, just in time for pictures. Will be interesting.

FYI: I will be MIA for the next week (Sat-Sat). We are going camping in the middle of no where. I don't think we will have service otherwise I would tether my phone to my computer (we will see). Just know that I will be working my butt off in the 50degree weather. I just have to look at the cold weather as speeding up my metabolism. :oD

Everyone is doing awesome. Let's "blow'em outta the water" the last couple weeks!

PS. A friend just posted on a FB pic. "there is still hope out there"; when it dawned on me and I wrote.... "YES there is more than hope out there... there is reality!!!!!!" We are all making our REALITY! So exciting!

• 
  

  By Christina B. on June 10, 2011 5:21am

  Great FB comment!!! That and YOU are awesome!!
• 
  

  By Erin Keith on June 09, 2011 1:04pm

  Have a great trip!
  Hugs, Clarity & Strength...Erin
• 
  

  By KarlCobra on June 09, 2011 10:59am

  Great job!
• 
  

  By mikecalhoun on June 09, 2011 9:00am

  yes we are and its a great reality!! have fun on your trip, running hills is a good workout too!!

Groups & Stars

So yesterday was my day off. Not just from the gym but Max posts and everything. A day of rest is so nice...
Well this weekend was rough, emotionally. I started to write on Saturday but got to worked up over it that I didn't post it. Now (thanks to K-Lo's out in the openness & Christina B feeling the same as me :oD) I think I will because maybe it will help someone else....
(sorry long again. But hey that's me?)

Saturday
I'm feeling a little down today. I don't know why. I am reminded of when I was younger.... I have always wanted to be part of the in/cool crowd. I was always friends with them but never felt like I was truely "part" of their group. They had more history, which is understandable, but some of them didn't and I still considered them "part of the group".

I had a really hard time after I got married (being the first to be married) because I put on the weight so fast. [16lbs in 1 1/2 wks. 50lbs in 3month, etc] So hard. Never wanted to be a wife who, once married & has her man, lets her self go, by siting at home eating bonbons and watching soaps.... but due to effects of a needed medication and adjusting to married life, it looked like I had done just that. I felt mortified. Every time, I saw members of the cool group I would leave the room crying. I looked to them wanting to be one of them and now felt judged. Not necessarily by them but mostly by myself because I felt so outta control. I grew up eating very healthy & being very active, what was wrong with me now? No matter what I seemed to do nothing helped to get it back off or even slow the pounds down.

It took months & months for me to confront my fears and talk to two of the main girls. I told them how much I looked up to them; how embarrassed I was and how I felt this was out of my control (though looking back I can see how I could have changed some things... Married food is not the best). And in a small way I may have felt I let them down (though I don't know how)... They were the best, as always. They loved me and told me how they really never thought that. It was nice to get it out in the open and know they still cared. I felt I could move on.

However, not having a group still haunts me today. I make great friends with everyone, by choice. I am not one to have a clique. I want to be friends with everyone, but still find it hard that I really don't have "a group" that I hang out with all the time. My friends are awesome don't get me wrong!! i LOVE them!! They invite me to come out with them and I have a blast but I never quite feel like I fit in their groups. It's lonely. [ While I reread this, I realize that I guess in some way it's an oxy-moron statement that I want to be part of a group but friends with everyone, huh?)

I guess this kinda goes along with why I have such a hard time not having siblings. I am alone. Yes I have my husband and yes I have my kids but it's not the same as someone who has known you your whole life. Who is there when you need to vent about parents, spouses, friends. Who not only you can go to advice for but comes to you for advice. Who you can laugh with about the funny & stupid things you did as a kids. Yes you may have fights and not get along but there's still just something there. I have my parents, who I am very close to but what happens when they are gone? I feel I will be alone.

I guess I feel that now in some ways. I feel like I am friends with so many of you but still haven't found a "group". So many of you have really connected with each other; have made HUGE transformations; and are major inspirations to others. I can't help but want that. I know I may be over analyzing and looking beyond the mark but...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today
Okay now that I'm over my venting from Saturday. I feel ok. I am who I am. I don't have to be part of a group. I am myself! :oD I my not have transformed as fast as others or as fast as I would have liked but I am completely perfect with that.

I was glad to read other's post and find I'm not alone in the stressing over stars! STUPID STARS! I have ONLY liked that voting started because out of asking people to vote I have learned that I have inspired a couple people here. I was shocked but ecstatic. If I could help but one person feel better physically and/or emotionally, this has ALL been worth the struggles and disappointments through this challenge. That is all I want is to help others attain their goals and feel the way I do.... Screw the stupid stars, they don't matter, what we have all attained does!

And as always NEVER GIVE UP!

Workout today:
20min stairmaster fat burner level 5 Woohoo I could get back on!
30min treadmill
1hr push weights & abs
Heading back in 1/2hr for another 45-60min cardio with my mom.

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY! Push yourself and do an extra 10min of something :oD Max it out!

• 
  

  By KateE on June 07, 2011 7:34pm

  Thanks for writing this down for me. I also have great kids and a WONDERFUL hubby, but do not have close friends nearby. Over the past few months you've become my Journal Buddy and I appreciate it...I'll take you any day of the week in my clique. :) xoxo
• 
  

  By mikecalhoun on June 07, 2011 5:07pm

  hey Rachel, sometimes people feel that way, and other people don't, well for me, it was and has been very similar to you, but i do have siblings, but i get to see them once a year if im lucky. You have dona a tremdous job and you have inspired me to work harder, like i have always said, im catching up to all of you, i maybe slower but im getting there!!! you will too, keep your head up and keep reaching for the real stars, you are one of them!!!
• 
  

  By Christina B. on June 07, 2011 5:17am

  Oh, Rachel, if you knew how similar our lives are, you'd probably be supprised!!! I appreciate your writing this journal and I know it felt good to just write it out!!!
• 
  

  By Ben D on June 06, 2011 10:07pm

  You are right - we shouldn't measure ourselves based on stars (this one hit pretty close to home for me) - thanks for posting it
• 
  

  By Erin Keith on June 06, 2011 7:09pm

  What stars???? I have no idea what you are talking about. LOL Darn little yellow things! :P You have done awesome so keep your head up!
  Hugs, Clarity & Strength...Erin
• 
  

  By Donna Jones on June 06, 2011 1:38pm

  Wow, I will be sending you a message later tonight....I am glad you are feeling better and today your outlook is totally different and on target than how you were feeling on Saturday. Lets chat later :)
• 
  

  By Katie Sutherlin on June 06, 2011 1:20pm

  You are going to be ok.....you are a super person and you are right, who cares about the stars or this competition. This is who we are and you have come along way. Be proud of your accomplishments.

Ipad Apps?

Anyone know of a great weight-training tracker or workout journal app for the ipad?

• 
  

  By mikecalhoun on June 03, 2011 3:10pm

  also duke diet and nutrition
• 
  

  By KarlCobra on June 03, 2011 2:47pm

  Don't have an IPAD
• 
  

  By thall24 on June 03, 2011 1:56pm

  www.livestong.com....tracks EVERYTHING. food, workouts, etc. I swear by this app. I used it from day 1 and it is one of the major reasons I dumped 40lbs in 5 months.
• 
  

  By Brittany Ash on June 03, 2011 1:41pm

  I use BodyBook!

Had to talk myself OUT of going to the gym!!!

Another awesome day so far!
Did the recumbent bike again. Man I get sweaty, but my knees take a beating. I had to ice them already today.

Cardio:
1hr on the bike two hills level 12.
Heading back for another 40-60min cardio with my mom.
Pull weights:
deltoid raise, abductor, adductor, rows, pull downs, bis, glutes & hamstrings, and that crazy ab workout I just learned.

I actually had to talk myself OUT of staying at the gym!!!!! Crazy cool! I could have still done more. I had 1/2hr I could have done some more cardio but I have learned (well still learning) that I can't run myself into the ground. I have a family I have to take care of. If I push too hard and get worn out it sets me back a few days, I still have a life and responsibilities.
I am an all or nothing type. I have to hit everything hard or not at all. My husband tries to curb me back and to work into things but it's so hard for me. Another thing that I am still learning. Slowly but surely. I don't know if i will ever completely back off but it's getting better.... [I know my husband is reading this and thinking, "oh great!." haha "Love ya Dear! You married me :oD"]

Well, I better finish reading everyone's journals and then head back to the gym. Have a aww-inspiring day! Push it to the MAX! & HAVE FUN!

• 
  

  By Sandy Kaunisto on June 03, 2011 5:23pm

  Yea U!! Have you tried Hiit on the bike?
• 
  

  By mikecalhoun on June 03, 2011 3:15pm

  wow had to talk yourself out of staying?? even lite cardio or weights??
• 
  

  By Ben D on June 03, 2011 2:50pm

  You read that again, right??? Had to talk yourself OUT of staying at the gym. Think about the power in that statement. You've come a really long way.
• 
  

  By KarlCobra on June 03, 2011 2:48pm

  Agree with Christina
• 
  

  By Christina B. on June 03, 2011 1:12pm

  I can tell you fro experiece, don't wear yourself out with this. Maintain moderation. It's really easy to get too caught up, then revolt. That's why I ended up 20lbs back up and ended up here. Although, I'm glad I ended up here!!