Knowledge is Power

I truly understand how knowledge is power, now.
This weekend was full of knowledge & it's power.

Friday
I was so amazed at how much Danny knows. I thought I had known how to eat the right way but after meeting Danny she taught me more. i thought, "Oh good now I'm so smart; I know the best way to eat." Then come Friday when she changed around my meal program once again... a little more protein here, no fat there, less protein here, no carbs there, more carbs here... I stared in awe. I couldn't believe how she just knew where to make changes! I would have no idea how changing those items would effect me. It's so awesome. She really knows her stuff!!! Thanks Danny!!!
Oh I also did pictures & measurements on Friday. Finally, places that weren't losing inches finally are. Very exciting! i will have to post my pictures and info tomorrow.
I also went to dinner with my husband. A last cheat meal (I know I said I wasn't going to have any more but...) before i really hit the meal program harder this month. It was a true love affair with my food. hehe

Saturday
I did my 1hr weights with cardio exercises in between. I also got to get back on the stairmaster even though it was only 12min. it still felt good.
My cousin came down and between her and I we chased our 7 kids in the pool. :oD It was fun though not as much of a workout as I had wished.
Then that night we got to meet our cousin, which we didn't know existed until a couple months ago! Knowledge of our family is more power to us!

Sunday
I didn't feel good. Saturday was my first day of my new meal program as well as not enough sleep the night before must have done me in! I didn't even make it thru church. I came home and slept for 4+hrs! it felt so good.

Monday
A fun day of swimming and a little shopping with my husband! Lots of fun!

Tuesday
Today has been great. Food was mostly good. I did slip up a couple of times.
workout
77min cardio treadmill. Upped the speeds. 15% incline 3.3mph for 2-3min down to 0% 4mph for 5+mins etc
Chest press w/ shoulder taps
Shoulder press w/ push ups
Leg press w/ wall balls
calf press w/ wall sits & med ball

Got some weeds pulled and house cleaned. It was a good day.


**I can't believe that we are down to counting days instead of weeks** Woohoo!
Power to ALL my MM peeps!!!! Love ya ALL

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  By mikecalhoun on June 04, 2011 12:42pm

  good workouts, nice to keep changing your meal plan, good to hear losing fat and inches in all the rite places
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  By thall24 on June 01, 2011 7:26am

  Looks like a solid week to me!!
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  By Christina B. on June 01, 2011 4:58am

  Looks like things area falling into place for you!!! Of course, keep us posted on how the new meal plan goes and get those new pics up!!!
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  By Kim Stumpf on May 31, 2011 9:19pm

  I saw this & laughed, because the first thing that came to mind was the Schoolhouse Rock theme song! Knowledge is definitely power!! Isn't it great to have someone on your side to help add to that power?! Keep up the amazing work (& energy :) )

The Max Muscle Difference

I have periodically missed my MM supplements throughout the challenge (as I'm sure many of us have due to late nights, vacation and running out :o), etc..) and I have noticed the difference.

When I miss them, I'm obviously okay but when I take them I really notice the difference. I feel thinner, less water weight, more energy (especially with the LiquidCarn).

I'm almost out of my Omega 3 and am wanting to try a new supp. Any ideas?



Feel the Max Muscle Difference and visit a Max Muscle store today! :oD

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  By Ben D on May 31, 2011 8:33pm

  Are you using Max EFA? Another to look at is Olio. My local MM carries it.
  
  Have you tried Carlson's fish oil? It's a liquid, but lemon flavored, and I'm now just drinking it straight from the bottle. The texture is oil, but the flavore really is lemon. I heard MM came out with their version, but I haven't tried it yet.
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  By Steve Leon on May 31, 2011 6:43am

  I look forward to the first of the month and my "grocery" shoppin' at MM. Hate when the month is longer than my supply of any of my MM arsenal!
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  By mikecalhoun on May 31, 2011 6:36am

  i take quadra cuts, on top of liquicarn, and dfine8, it is awesome, and i feel the same way too, its great
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  By Christina B. on May 31, 2011 4:58am

  I feel the same as you!!!!! I'm taking the Max EFA's, just started about 2 weeks ago. I'm please except the fact that I can't get my husband to take them since they are so big!!! He's a little girl when it comes to swallowing pills!!!

Back at It

After reading everyone's posts I am now going to post mine. You guys are doing soo great! I am so proud of everyone. Learning and growing and helping each other.
I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS MAX MUSCLE FAMILY!

Nothing too interesting, I have struggled the last couple of days with being so tired. Tuesday I was only able to get 20min in before I collapsed. And I DONT give in. Yesterday was better but only trained with Danny and got 35min of great cardio in.
Today was much better. Though I'm still tired I was able to workout to the fullest.
Chest 50 15 w/ 10 quick inclined pushups 30 inverted shoulder taps x3
Triceps 70lbs x3 w/ 1min plank (plank only once)
Calves 170lb 25 w/ 15 frog jumpes x3
Quads 180lb 30 w/ 10 burpees x3
Flys 10lb 15x2
58min elliptical level 25

I am so hungry today. Hoping it's my metabolizm speeding up.
Looking forward to tomorrow. Doing early pic and weigh in. Also I meet with Danny for the last time for 3weeks!!! Ahhh!!! She will be gone and then me. Scary being this close to the end but it will be all good. :oD

I was scared before but I'm now looking forward to the kids being out of school. Workouts will be fun.

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  By mikecalhoun on June 04, 2011 12:50pm

  the more veggies the better, keep that fire going, don't let it go out!!!
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  By Sandy Kaunisto on May 30, 2011 6:50pm

  really eat more veggies and protein
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  By Christina B. on May 27, 2011 2:50pm

  If you're super hungry, your metabo is increasing and it's time to eat more!!!!! You need the fuel to get throught the workouts and burn off that darn fat!!!!
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  By Donna Jones on May 27, 2011 11:14am

  i had beent struggling with feeling tired and sluggish for the two weeks....not liking it much at all because it is not like me. cannot wait to see your pic! go rachel go :)
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  By Erin Keith on May 27, 2011 7:56am

  That does suck losing your trainer this close to the end! Find a friend to workout with...that should help!
  Hugs, Clarity & Strength...Erin
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  By KarlCobra on May 27, 2011 1:25am

  Good workout!
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  By Tanya on May 26, 2011 10:47pm

  knowing danny she has taught you all you need to keep the trainging going. include the kids in your exercises...its amazing how much they love doing them with mommy! :)
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  By Zayda on May 26, 2011 8:50pm

  I was looking at your photos. You have come a loooooong way! You are doing great. I too am nervous about the end, but it's all so worth it when I look back! You are doing great! =)
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  By Sanjana on May 26, 2011 7:39pm

  Keep going hard, I know you can do it!!
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  By JR Rodrigues on May 26, 2011 7:31pm

  Stay Focus ,,,,,,Stay Strong !
  You got this Rachel...:)

Birthdays & Other Outings/Events

What do you do when you celebrate events by going out to eat?

It has been a challenge the last month, & especially week, with 3 birthdays & a cub scout celebration. All of which we went to dinner.
It has actually been not too bad.

Went to Krispy Kremes for a breakfast and took my fruit protein shake, almonds and rice cakes.
2 Mexican restaurants. Ordered soup as soon as I got there. That way I felt like I got to eat something while everyone else ate chips. Then ordered things like fajitas or chicken & veggies. Forgot to ask them not to cook things in oil but over all not too bad.

You CAN go out to eat and enjoy life and friends and family while still eating good and sticking to what you want to do.

Notes: *Don't tell the waiter "no chips because you can't have them". They need no explanation. Just say "no thank you". That way you subconsciously don't tell yourself what you are missing or what you can't have.
*Order something you can have while others eat what you shouldn't have. ie soup, salad, soy beans, things low in calories because you still have your meal coming.
*Pick the healthiest looking thing on the menu. & then ALWAYS ask questions.
*Change what you need to about the items. You do not have to order it the way it says. No cheese, steamed veggies w/o butter topped on them, no dressing, extra cilantro, extra pico... WHATEVER you need to do to make it perfect.
A good waiter should not mind. And a good chef is there to please. YOU are paying for what you get. You might as well get what you want.

Today was a good workout with Danny. Weigh in was not down because I had soup yesterday as well as a carb day.
*Did a flight of stairs down & back up carrying two 9lb kettle bells. At the top did 15 squats where I touch the ground and raise hands in the air. Down & up, 14 squats....1. Man that was hard today.
*Squats with bosu ball
*Plank and jumped feet over a bar 20x 3
*Hold dumbell at waist, pull elbows back to bring dumbell up 15+ followed by,
Alternating hammer curls 15+ followed by,
Regular bicep curls 15+
x2
Cardio 35min treadmill 4mph then 15% incline at 3mph. Now I need to do an hour of something else... Hmm I hope I get it in after reading posts :oD

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  By mikecalhoun on June 04, 2011 1:09pm

  nice job!!! as long as the soup is not creambased you will be fine
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  By Ben D on May 27, 2011 9:36am

  Nice work. I tend to exhaust the wait staff with my questions, and then usually end up with a salad with some sort of protein on it. I did have a great revelation the other day. There's a new burger place in town, called The Habit, that has a great grilled chicken salad (under 200 calories) with 12 calorie non-fat dressing. The best part is you can add albacore (a steak, not chunks) for a couple of $. If you can get past everyone eating fries around you, it was great. But really - more of a pleasant surprise than anything else
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  By Christina B. on May 26, 2011 9:17am

  You did fantastic!!! And I never thought about soup rather than chips & salsa!!! I will certainly be trying that!!!!
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  By KarlCobra on May 26, 2011 1:22am

  Great notes!
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  By Erin Keith on May 25, 2011 8:35pm

  Thanks for the journal! The tips are great!
  Hugs, Clarity & Strength....Erin

Training with Kids

I must be on a roll yesterday & today... My mind is running. There are so many different thoughts I might just make them into different posts so I know where I put them... for later.

My youngest was home sick Monday & Tues. He feels fine we just aren't sure if he was contagious or not. Nasty cough, sneezing, running nose.... So what about my workouts?
Of course my littlest would come along for the ride.
Monday, Danny wanted to meet at the park since it's both closer to our houses than the rehab place she trains at. Our (rather my) workout:

*Run up and back down a small hill carrying two bags with 15lb weights in each bag.
At the bottom of the hill do 15 push ups
Up & back. 14 push ups. Up & back. 13.....down to 1.
I was proud of myself because I did the rounds of 15, 14, & most of 13 all on my toes.
*step ups on a rock with raising arms. 15 one leg, 15 other leg, 14 one, 14 other....1
*20 jump overs on a rock x3
*pullups on the back of the bleachers
*I think there was more but don't remember right now.

After I needed to decide what I was going to do for cardio since we couldn't go to the gym. We found the largest steepest hill at the park (they have some big ones) then ran up and down it. It sure got my heart rate up. It got up to 182!!! That is probably the highest it has ever gotten. We had so much fun racing each other.

After 15min he was getting tired and wanted to go play on the toys. He had been a great sport and it was now his turn. I told him one more and then we would go.... Of course on the last one some ladies (who had been walking around the park with their strollers and who had seen us training earlier) decided to come try what i was doing. Oh boy! Now how could I quit just as they got there? Would they think I didn't like them coming? Would they be offended? Would they think I was lazy? How could I quit? So I kept going!!!! I got my second wind and felt great! I went another 15+ min. They finally quit and I was able to stop without feeling guilty :oD. I also felt great encouraging them too! I told them it does get easier and to keep doing it. I sure hope they do.

Of course later that day, when my mom and I workout, we did it again for 55min. Only this time I made us do the push ups like that morning..... My latts are still sore today (I guess it's from the push ups?). My husband said "it wasn't like you did 400 push ups". We figured it out.. 240. Not quite but still a lot.

Then again Tuesday we both went to the park and had fun working out together. It will be a new experience to have all the kids outta school in a couple of weeks. I don't want to make them go to the gym EVERYday so we will have to find some more fun things to do together. I think I'm going to make me some more swords!!! :oD So excited.

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  By mikecalhoun on June 04, 2011 6:00pm

  nice job on the workout!! even better getting other people involved
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  By Ben D on May 27, 2011 9:32am

  Training at the park, and on the monkey bars, is one of my favorite "off day" routines. My son plays lacrosse against the wall while I do my stuff. I get some pretty weird looks from the moms with little kids, but Oh well, such is life
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  By Christina B. on May 26, 2011 5:51pm

  Hope the kiddo is doing okay. NICE workout!!!!!! You gotta be feeling the results of that one!!!
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  By KarlCobra on May 26, 2011 1:23am

  Sounds like fun!
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  By MelH on May 25, 2011 7:00pm

  Look at you go girl! I'm impressed!