Lindsay's Ramblings

2011 was an exciting year for my training. This was the year of CrossFit! I really had so much fun doing CrossFit. It made me see what "fitness" is really about-that it's so much more than just looking good. It opened up my eyes to the world outside of "bodybuilding" by showing me how much more is out there...I will forever be thankful for that. :) It was exciting to learn so many new things to add to my training-kettlebells, double unders, handstand pushups, deadlifts, front squats, Olympic lifts, push presses, rope climbs, muscle ups. I did none of these things before CrossFit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3aJcH3qn58 It was good for me to have a change of pace from the same old things I had been doing for years.I was challenged in ways I've never been before, but I loved it!  I will be sure to incorporate all of the new things I've learned into my workout program for the rest of my life, if I'm able. Some of the things I want to focus o...

"Perhaps the biggest resolution at New Year’s is to get fit — start exercising, start eating right, and all that jazz. But resolutions never last. As you might already know, I’m not a fan of resolutions. Instead of creating a list of resolutions this year, create a new habit. Habits last, and they lead to long-term fitness (and more). They require more patience, but they are worth the wait." - Leo Babauta I agree! I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions, because guess what? They don't last. I think creating "habits" is a MUCH better idea. If you need a new year to start on a goal, to me that means you're not going to stick with it. Because if you were really committed to making a change, you wouldn't need a "new year" to do it. You would start whenever, RIGHT away! A new year won't do anything special for you. It's just another day; another month. Most people's resolutions are probably the same ones they...

With the New Year quickly approaching, many women will be joining a gym next week to "get back in shape", or to start a fitness program for the first time ever. I know that the gym can be intimidating. With all the guys hogging the free weights section, no wonder most women just jump on the elliptical for 30 minutes-it's the easiest option! But ladies- don't let your fear of the weight room stop you from finding out just what strength training can do for you. Have you ever seen a fit, muscular woman on the elliptical at the gym? I can't say that I've seen many, and I've worked and been to lots of gyms. What I have noticed is that all the women doing their endless cardio on the ellipticals or treadmills are either skinny fat, or just plain fat... or just really skinny. It's very rare that you will find a toned and fit, athletic looking woman on the elliptical. Those are the women you see in the weight room. Hmmm...what does that tell you?...

Oh, I miss Christmas already. Sigh.The lights, the tree, the music....it's so sad that it's all over. Darn post-holiday blues! :(  Now I'm just ready for summer to be here. Welp, I "survived" the holidays without gaining a single pound. Not one measly pound . Not even after 2 days over the weekend of not so healthy eating and indulging in whatever the heck I wanted! Goes to show that when you've got a lot of muscle, you train heavy and with intensity consistently , and you eat healthy at 40 out of 42 meals in a week..."falling off" your diet for a day or two does not have such a disastrous effect. Muscle is the ultimate fat burner!! I'm going to have to get on a higher calorie diet plan since what I've been doing is not working. I thought that just adding carbs back in would make me gain some weight, but I need more I guess. Maybe adding in that second cheat meal midweek will help-I hope!!! I gotta get get fat, dang it! ;) Check o...

Just another rant. ;) I find it amusing when people say things to me like, "You must never eat!" It's actually a comment I get quite frequently, and it's pretty annoying. Really, I don't eat? Please. If I didn't eat, I'd look like a skeleton-skin and bones. I'd be anorexic. I would NOT have muscle. People's ignorance about nutrition amazes me sometimes. Or maybe people just say things like that to make themselves feel better. By telling themselves the reason I look the way I do is because I don't eat, it justifies to themselves why they don't look the way they want to...because they love to eat, right? They don't want to starve themselves. Well, let me tell you one thing-I am definitely NOT starving.  People have no idea just how MUCH I have to eat to look the way I do. And the thing is, if you're eating the right things you CAN eat a lot, because healthy food has a lot less calories than the junk most people eat. NOT ea...

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I'm kind of sad that it's over...I'm always so excited for it, then it comes, and I'm left feeling a little disappointed and sad. Oh well. Overall, it was a good Christmas-I'm thankful that I at least got to see my brother and sister. Sooo of course I ate like crazy over the weekend. I had ham, biscuits, potato salad, cheese dip, and lots of desserts! Yummmmyyyy. I can't wait to see what the scale says today! I'm probably one of the only people hoping my weight is up! ;) Here are some pics with the family:

I believe in Jesus Christ and in the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem. I believe in the one whose spirit glorified a little town; and whose spirit still brings music to persons all over the world, in towns both large and small . I believe in the one for whom the crowded inn could find no room, and I confess that my heart still sometimes wants to exclude Christ from my life today. I believe in the one who the rulers of the earth ignored and the proud could never understand; whose life was among common people, whose welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.   I believe in the one who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible: I believe in the one whose cradle was a mother's arms, whose modest home in Nazareth had love for its only wealth, who looked at persons and made them see what God's love saw in them, who by love brought sinners back to purity, and lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God. I confess my ever-lasting need of God: The need...

I'm in a much better mood today! Sorry to be such a downer lately... But the normal Lindsay is back! :) Sooo....I thought I'd give an update on how the whole gaining weight thing is going. Well, so far-not so good! It's been 3 weeks, and my weight has been hovering between 120-121. I was 118 a couple of months ago....so I guess that's improvement since then.  If I could gain just 2 more measly pounds, I'd be happy!!!! Maybe I just have to give it a little more time. I still feel really lean(actually a little leaner, what?!), and I can still see some abs....which probably means I need to step it up. I gotta eat even more. After the holidays, I'm going to add in a second cheat meal mid-week. I may also have to add in more carbs...maybe add them to dinner, since right now I still just do protein and broccoli or cauliflower at dinner.   A slight part of me is still scared to gain fat.... I have to get over that fear if I want to g...

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood today, but I have to admit that sometimes I get so tired of "fitness".....if that makes sense. Does anyone else ever get that way? It's very rare for me, but it happens, and today is one of those days. I get tired of reading fitness blogs and people I follow on facebook...everyone all having their own opinions, what's good for you, what's not... I just get sick of hearing it sometimes. I don't eat perfect, never will. I don't eat all organic, I don't eat vegetables with every meal, I eat grains...and I don't really care. All I know is I don't eat junk food, sweets, fast foods, or a lot of processed foods on a regular basis. I feel good, I look good, and I do the best I can to be healthy. And, it's Christmas time, so if I wanna have a cookie or a treat or two(or five) or a big non-healthy Christmas meal, I'm going to...and it's okay...and I won't get fat or ruin my physique...or die. Sorr...

9:00   Chocolate pb protein oats, coffee 11:30 PWO-Orange creamsicle shake(this is sooooo delicious!)-vanilla whey, almond milk, gatorade powder 1:30   Qdoba-naked burrito w/ no rice, pinto beans, double chicken, salsa and cheese 4:00    Apple, crockpot chicken, 1 tbsp almond butter 7:00  3 whole eggs, 1 cup broccoli, cupcake 10:00 2 tbsp peanut butter, protein shake Yes, you  read that right-I had a cupcake :)

So I was feeling down on myself the past few days about how I look....and then today I just thought to myself, "You need to take your own advice!" I'm always saying to believe in yourself. That is the first step towards getting the body you want, or anything in life-you have to truly BELIEVE that you can achieve it. If you don't, you'll never get it . So my pity party is over. No more doubting myself. If I'm negative and I think that I can't grow, then I won't. This is a journey that I'm on. I have come a long way, but it's far from over.  I will constantly strive to be better, no matter what it takes. I have a vision of how I want to look, and I won't stop until I get there .

I celebrated my 27th birthday over the weekend! I had a few slices of this: Cookie cakes have always been my fave! My husband got me the perfect card: So is everyone finished with their Christmas shopping? If not- you are crazy. You have all year! :) Mine was done a long time ago. I'm actually kind of sad that Christmas is only a few days away. I wish it could last longer! And it looks like no snow is in the forecast. Too bad. :(

Just to show the difference between being flexed and not flexed. On the left, I look like a skinny twig who's never lifted a weight a day in her life. Ga-ROSS. On the left, flexed obviously, I look like I have a decent amount of muscle. My goal is to look like I have a lot of muscle when I'm relaxed! You know you love my socks. ;)

I'm usually the positive and uplifting one...but... last night I had a little pity party for myself. Actually, I had a slight meltdown. Okay, so I know it was partly due to the fact that I am a little extra emotional right now with that lovely time of the month being right around the corner...but still. Well, it all started with me having my husband take some progress pictures of me.  Now, usually when I take pictures like that I will flex and pose so that I make myself look better than I actually do. ;) But this time I wanted some pictures of me just standing there relaxed in my shorts and sports bra. Talk about unflattering . Gross. So I was looking through the pictures last night and was just completely disgusted with how I looked. I went to Matt and said, "I'm skinny fat!" (I know I have muscle, but looking skinny fat is my worst fear-being soft and scrawny with no muscle.)Of course, he laughed, and didn't realize that I was completely serious. So t...

"To get something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done." -Craig Ballantyne So I've had heard people say things like, "I just can't lose weight",  and, "I've tried everything ", or, "I try to watch what I eat, but I'm  just not getting results"! It's like, really? You've tried everything ? Yeah...probably NOT . And you watch what you eat? What does that even mean? You can't lose weight? Um, yes you can . Have you ever really gotten your nutrition under control? Have you ever really pushed yourself in your workouts? Have you ever lifted heavy weights? Have you been consistent ? Upon closer inspection, I find that most people have only done the things that they WANT to do to lose weight. I find that when I take a look at what they're eating, it's not that great, even though they would say they "eat good". I find that they haven't been doing the rig...

I'll be posting my workouts here starting next week! http://lindsaystraininglog.blogspot.com/

I'm slowly reverting back to my bodybuilding ways.... I've started taking creatine again. I'm also having gatorade powder in my post workout protein shake for the fast digesting sugar instead of fruit. I'm going to go through one more cycle of Wendler, and then I'm thinking about trying a more traditional upper/lower strength training plan. I realize that I am just getting way to caught up in numbers and percentages with my training now. I just need to relax and remember that I'm doing this because I LOVE it and because it makes me feel good. Lifting weights for me has always been fun, but lately I've started to get down on myself when I have a weak day, or if my weights aren't progressing on a certain lift, and it was never like that with my bodybuilding routine. I didn't freak out about setting PRs and all that all the time. It just makes me stress too much about my training, and that's just stupid. Of course I want to get stronger, but...

Haven't done this in a while! :) -I'm loving the weather today. The sun is out and it's suppposed to be 65 degrees! It's going to feel like summertime after the cold weekend we had! -My birthday is in 5 days! I can't believe I'll be 27 years old. I seriously don't feel like I should be 27! -I can't wait for Christmas. I hope it snows! I'm such a kid. -My weight is still not up....but I feel like my stomach is fatter...but I always feel like my stomach is fat, so what's new? -Pretty disappointed that my strength has been going down lately. :( Boo. -Still trying to figure out what I want to do next for my training plan. Go back to bodybuilding or stay focused on the strength/powerlifting stuff? I think I need someone to just tell me what to do! I'm tired of thinking about it. -I just want to GROW . Why is it so freakin' hard? -I miss peanut butter and jelly sandwiches....(now that's random!) -Today's weather is m...

I sort of feel like a hyprocrite. I'm always talking about being the healthiest you can be...Well, I have to admit that I do something that I know is not good for my health, and that is using the tanning bed. I know it can cause skin cancer and that it leads to ugly, wrinkly skin when you're older....but I just can't stop! I guess I can kind of relate to people who eat unhealthy food even though they know it's bad for them, but they just love it so much that they can't give it up. I mean, I just love being tan. I have always been a sun worshipper, and I started going to the tanning bed my senior year of highschool. During the summer, I just lay out in the sun, but in the winter I go to the tanning bed once a week or every 2 weeks. I am just not one of those people who looks good without a tan. I look like I'm sickly ill and on my deathbed when I'm pale! It is NOT a good look for me! Spray tans are just WAY too expensive. I'm not going to sp...

I just have to say that  I just freakin' LOVE lifting. Have I ever mentioned that before? ;) Call me crazy, I don't care, but going to the gym to lift is the highlight of my day. There's just something about going to the gym, loading those plates onto the bar, pushing that heavy weight, seeing and feeling your muscles working that you've trained so hard for....It just gets me pumped for rest of my day! Lifting heavy, being strong, and having muscle to show for it gives me confidence and makes me feel SO good that I just can't keep it to myself!!! I get up every day with purpose and drive and motivation. I love seeing what I can do, and I love conquering the weights(well, most of the time)!  It is such a passion and fire within me, and I want all women have this feeling that I have! That is one of the main reasons why I have this blog. Maybe I am a crazy person, maybe I am obsessed, maybe this passion will fade on...

This weekend's cheat meal consisted of dinner at Buckhead, and then some of these yummy things for dessert afterwards(courtesy of Nestle Tollhouse): The rest of my so very exciting weekend consisted of kicking my husband's butt at Mario Kart(although he would say otherwise) and watching one of the best Christmas movies ever-Elf! We also took our annual family Christmas photo. We used the self timer on my camera, and I just have to say that my dog is so awesome that he sits there and actually looks right at the camera. He is so dang cute(and my husband's not bad either)! ;) And..... in other exciting news, I had my husband take my measurements and my bodyfat this weekend. After 2 weeks of tracking my food intake, making sure to get over 2000 calories every day, and eliminating my low carb days, I am up 2 1/2lbs, and my bodyfat was 12.5% (which I am sure is NOT entirely accurate), which is the exact same as it was back in March. And yesterday as I was going th...

Saw this today and thought I'd share. :) The only 11 things you need to know & do: 1. Love –> Spread It 2. Your Mind –> Discipline It 3. Confidence –> Build It 4. A Challenge –> Transcend It 5. Your Dream –> Go For It 6. Fear –> Overcome It 7. Exercise –> Just Do It 8. A Lesson –> Learn It 9. Success –> Enjoy It 10. Worrying –> Stop It 11. Today –> Live It

I know so many people who are always so negative and down on themselves. Don't let yourself be one of those people! You'll never achieve anything if you don't have the right mindset and are constantly bashing yourself. "I'm too old", "I could never do that", "I'll never look like that", "I'm not strong enough", "I just don't have time", "What's the point?" Don't let your life be controlled by negative thoughts like these!! Get excited about your life and what your future has to offer! Don't set limitations for yourself, and don't be controlled by your fears. If you want something, go for it.   STOP doubting yourself .  Set a goal, have a plan and commit to it. You may fail at some things, but that doesn't mean you give up!   I'm not just saying this to anyone who's reading this blog, I'm writing these things for MYSELF as well. I will admit that I am...

I don't really do the whole "New Year's resolution" thing because I don't need a new year to get back on track because I STAY on track ALL YEAR.  However, as I've mentioned before, I do like to constantly challenge myself and stay motivated with my training by setting goals. I accomplished most of my goals for 2011, but it is neverending! Here are my training goals for 2012: -Gain muscle(I want to gain 5-7lbs) -Strict muscle up on rings -Muscle up on a straight bar -Bench 150lbs -Multiple 1 arm pushups -210lb squat(I have been stuck at 205 for the last year!) -250lb deadlift -Handstand walk -Bodyweight overhead squat(120lb) -Splits(yes, still haven't gotten these yet-need to spend more time on my stretching!) I just wanted to say that I am  so thankful for discovering CrossFit. It really has changed the way I view my training, and fitness in general. It has taught me to constantly challenge myself, and  I have lea...

What I ate: Breakfast: The ususal- Syntha-6 protein+oats+pb+coffee Post Workout: Smoothie with 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup frozen fruit, whey protein, milk Lunch : Chili made with 92% and 96% lean beef(mixed), no salt added diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili beans, 1 rice cake with almond butter Lunch 2 : 1 can of tuna with mayo + handful of baby carrots Dinner: 2 eggs, 2 whites scrambled with salsa and 1 turkey sausage patty, 1 cup of broccoli Bedtime snack: 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter Today's workout: Squat cleans and power cleans Deadlifts- 3 sets, working up to 200lbs x3 RDLs-110lbs x10 reps, 3 sets, supersetted with weighted situps x10 reps (on decline bench) Conditioning: 10 kettlebell swings, 15 double unders-5 rounds

Okay, so schizophrenic Lindsay is back at it again. I can't make up my mind about what I want! I don't know when I got so confused about my training! I guess because I'm such a perfectionist and I want to make sure I am on the PERFECT plan(if there even IS one!). As I stated in a previous post, I've decided to put on some weight this winter in order to build muscle, which means that I have to figure out the best program for me to ensure maximum muscle gain.  BUT-I don't want to stop doing CrossFit stuff because I love it so much, and I don't want to lose my conditioning after I worked so hard all this year to get better at it!  :(  I've been doing the Wendler powerlifting program for the past couple months, but don't really know if I'm getting stronger from it....or if it will help me to gain the most muscle possible.  I really like it a lot so far, though, and I don't like to flip flop back and forth between different programs, so I...

Good quote from CrossFit Faith today: “Here we are on earth, with only a few more decades to live, and we lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year’s time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody.  No, let us devote our life to worth-while actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings. For ‘life is too short to be little.’” (Andre Maurois)

Ever since I started seriously training when I was 18, I wanted to be muscular like the models in Oxygen magazine. I've gained a lot over the 8 years that I've been seriously training -but I want MORE ! I want my arms and delts to look like Erin's(on the right-and I admit, I am completely obsessed with her)! I won't give up on that dream! I WILL look like that some day. Think it, believe it, do it, achieve it! :) So....in order to achieve this goal,  I have to eat more . It's that simple. I have to consume more calories than my body needs to maintain. I will have to gain some fat. I will have to track my food for a little while, which I absolutely HATE doing. But sometimes you gotta do things you hate in order to reach a goal. Yes, I may look a little "puffy" for a while and lose my abs-but- it is just temporary . I'm not going to eat like crap or anything, I just need to get a few hundred extra calories a day and be consistent with that. ...

"Weight training is art: your body is your medium, the steel is your tool, and you are the artist. Visualize your work like a painter visualizes the composition, balance, and flow of the finished painting - before putting a brush to the canvas. You are the artist!! Paint with purpose. " -Erin Stern

Everyone has experienced hard times in their life. Some, more than others. But no matter what you have been through, there comes a time when you have to move on from your past and decide to make the best of your future.   You can’t just wallow in your misery and feel sorry for yourself and all the bad things that have happened to you in your life. Instead, think of them as opportunities for growth and change. How can your experiences make you a better person? How can they make you stronger? How can they help you to help others by what you’ve gone through?     There are things in my life that I wish had not happened; things that I wish were different, but I choose not to dwell on those things. Don’t live in the past. You can’t change what has happened to you, but you can change your attitude and your outlook about them, and the choices you make from here on out. Don’t hold on to bitterness and anger because it will only make you miserable.   Alw...

I am so blessed and filled with so much joy every day. I have more than I could ever ask for-namely, my wonderful husband and a job that I love. I always try to focus on the positive and be grateful for everything that I have and not dwell on the negative things in my life. But even though I push it away most of the time, there are times when I think about certain things that make me sad. Last night I heard the song, "My Grown Up Christmas List", and it got me thinking about some of those things. :( I started thinking about how much fun my brother and sister and I had growing up; how much laughter there was...and now...we rarely see each other and that happiness we had together is gone. I miss it. But ever since my dad passed away, my family hasn't been the same. Everything went downhill. I haven't seen my brother's joyful smile in years....and the goofy, funny sister I once had seems to have disappeared. Instead, joy has been replaced with depressio...

http://scottabel.blogspot.com/2011/11/tis-season.html I found this on facebook and just HAD to share. I completely agree with this! I have never been one to put my  "diet" over everything else in life. Yes, I eat healthy most of the time and yes, I have goals to achieve, but I believe there are times to celebrate and enjoy good food and NOT FEEL GUILTY about it. I didn't eat that great last week with Thanksgiving and the in-laws being in town, but I didn't sweat it. You know why? Because I don't eat like that ALL the time. It actually feels good sometimes to relax and not worry about eating so perfect 24/7. Tis the holiday season But all up in your head “How to stick to your diet” Fills you with dread There will be parties and gatherings Festivities and such Temptations too many And pressures too much And websites and media Their articles abound -               ...