Background Cheesin'!

Click on the link below to see me in the background cheesin' like a maniac! BTW this girl placed top 5! She looked really good, and really knew how to pose and work it!

Steve Rose | Stephanie Nardoni

Crunch Time!

Hey, my lil' sexies!
Ok, so I'm down to the wire!...

The Northern is this Saturday! eeek! I am so excited, and nervous, and scared, and happy, and sad, and blah blah blah blah blah...


I caught the stomach flu on Friday, so.... not great. I knew I was feeling rough on Thursday night, so I decided to take a rest day, trying to listen to my body and do the right thing. Next thing I know, I am waking up Friday morning at 2am dry heaving...I haven't been laid out like that in a while, folks. Before today, I hadn't left my bed for more than 5 minutes since Friday, with the exception of my dr. appt. Fri. afternoon.

So now it is Sunday evening, and I haven't worked out since Wednesday!!!... not to mention, my nutrition is sorely lacking. When I started to feel like I could eat again, the only thing that didn't make me feel nauseous was the SMALL box of chocolates I got for V-Day... I'm not worried though!

I have all my food in order and ready to go... I have my workouts planned for the week, including some lunchtime cardio sessions, and most importantly my spirits are high, and my attitude is top notch!

I got my suit and shoes this week, and thank goodness... they both fit! I know one of these days my procrastination is going to bite me in the a**, but I sure am glad this wasn't it.

Everything seems to be falling into place. Now I just have to make sure I handle this week the best I possibly can, so my body looks choice on Sat. morning!

I know I have been getting a TON of messages about different things yall are wanting me to blog about, and I haven't forgotten you, I swear! I will definitely get around to all of the topics I have promised to address, AFTER the show is over... (although, I think there is another one in 3 weeks I'll probably sign up for too. I'll keep you posted on that.) On that note, if you haven't already, please feel free to send me a personal message if there is anything you want me to blog about, or maybe something you find helpful that you think my little sexies can benefit from, or anything at all really!

Thanks so much for all the support... Get crazy with me this week!
Let's be our best, give our all, and leave our thighs begging for mercy!... Who's with me?!

Who doesn't like a Quickie...

So, this is more of a preview post I think... I started a new job this week, and I'll be giving a run-down of how I pulled off a successful week of dieting, workouts, work, motherhood, laundry doer, chef, house cleaner, grocery shopper, and wife... I even showered. So,...that should be stupid long.

For now, I just have a few thoughts before I sleep for the first time this week... ;)
I just had a cheat meal. I am pretty sure you're still supposed to be able to breathe without popping ribs after you've eaten, so I may have overdone it, but I think I needed it.

There is something very weird going on with my body, and I can't wait to get to Joe's Swing This Kettlebell studio on Sunday and try to figure it out!... You hear that, Joe? Get ready...

Here is what is going on...

I kept the same diet as always except I added the 1/4 oatmeal to meal 1, as discussed, I felt super strong after about a week of that. Then about half way through this week, my body just started feeling strange. I can't really explain it. Energy and strength levels were ok, but I just felt kinda... deflated? I don't really know how to explain it. I felt like my muscles deflated, and my belly felt kind of bloated...So when I got home Wednesday, I weighed myself and I'm creepin' down closer to 105. oops! I tried moving my meals around to different parts of the day, but didn't make a difference. So, today I added another 1/4 cup of oats to my meals, and I think that helped a little bit, but then I just had my cheat meal, so it's hard to tell how I feel now...

Perhaps some pinches are in order? If this is just fat loss, then ok!, but if I'm losing muscle mass, I'm gonna be hot...

I had no idea it could get this complicated! To all of those who support me with your wisdom and understanding of food, I officially swear to you that I will hire a nutritionist next time!
Could I have over trained?? I took today as a rest day because my body feels wrecked... Maybe I should take tomorrow too, and just go hard on Sunday?

Do the decisions ever end??... Check back in to see how I feel!

My World is Spinning Into Control

Ok, so I have been up to a lot of sneaky things lately! A few months ago I announced I'd be competing at the Northern in the bikini division... So I guess it hasn't been so much sneaky, as it has been just a little under the radar..

I have to admit, I wasn't 100% sure I'd follow through so I haven't been blogging about it. Pretty ridiculi.. (my plural for ridiculous..just go with it)
Anywho, I've been eating clean like a champ, doing cardio 6 days a week, kettlebell weight training 4 days a week, and the roids are really starting to kick in... jk...about that last part... the roids part... that was a joke.

I always complained that I'd be in amazing shape if it weren't for the part about eating healthy and exercising. I finally have it all under control, and it all started with the food.

Those who know me already know I have a scandalous history with food. I meant well, but I just couldn't be monogamous with clean sustenance...Pizza (all curves and no breaks), cheese conies (that promised "just the tip"), and chocolate cakes (sexily clad in chocolate drizzle and topped with whip cream, if I were feelin' kinky) were always my gigilos.

So why did this happen to me? How could a good girl like me get caught up in so many illicit trysts?...Because I was HUNGRY, and it was EASY, and I didn't MAKE the TIME to LEARN a better way. Now, that's not to say I'm not still learning... I have SOO much to learn. But I have learned enough to know that I wasn't eating as much or as often as I should. I know that leafy greens are GREAT for me, and fill me up. I learned that when I give my tongue a break from tasting all of the over-processed garbage in the middle aisles at the grocery, I can actually TASTE how amazing the food is that nature gives me...

I have learned a lot more than this, but this is how I got through the first few weeks! I knew if I didn't let myself starve, I'd be less likely to fall into the sweet sweet temptations of my former inamoratos.

So, I started eating 5 times a day. Now this takes a lot of preparation and hard work, so I don't get fancy with it. I weigh and measure everything ahead of time, and keep it all in a drawer in the fridge so when it's time to eat I just grab it!

Mostly my foods are just eggs, lean meats, leafy greens (brussel sprouts, spinach, kale, asparagus, broccoli), protein powder, some oatmeal, sweet potatoes and an assortment of berries on occasion. I don't marinate my meat, or cook my broccoli, or even scramble my eggs... I just cook the meat, heat the broccoli for like 30 sec, so it's not so cold, and I boil the eggs. I go through about 54 eggs a week. I find they are the easiest thing to shovel into my mouth in a hurry, and they're pre-measured and SUPER cheap.

Now, I don't want to bore with the nitty gritty... the system has a little more depth than I am giving away here The point is: weighing, measuring, eating greens, and eating more often have given me control over my body... over my life really.

Now, there are some tired excuses out there..I know this because I have exhausted every last one of them.

Examples:
I don't have time for all that food...- You make time. All of this food can be made ahead of time.. I boil 18 eggs at a time. I prepare 1lb of lean meat at a time, I cook all the broccoli and asparagus at the same time and put it in a giant container, and just dip into it as necessary. You do the prep work 1 day a week! Then you just throw the meals together! I'm not saying it's as easy as pouring a bowl of cereal or going through the drive through... you have to actually WANT to be healthy. It is going to take SOME effort. Although, there is a growing population of people who believe in eating everything raw, if you want to go that route.. you could save yourself weeks of your life otherwise spent in the kitchen... Not my style.

I would have to cook separate meals for me and my kids-- This is the amazing part about all of this! Your children SHOULD be eating this stuff too! I can share any of the stuff on my plate with L-Dog... and often do. Now, I realize those with older children may have a harder time because they might have already acquired bad eating habits... I don't have the answer to that, and I'm not going to pretend I do. My soap box only stands as tall as my knowledge extends... bark up someone else's tree for that info. I do believe it's never too late, though! I mean, I am 24... that's not old, but habits can change.

I do feel good knowing that while Leo is learning to eat and feed himself, he is simultaneously watching me eat, and learning what a good meal is. He is learning to eat and ENJOY foods that leave him with energy and a sense of well-being instead of making him want to find the nearest sofa and crash into a crusty pile of day-old drool.

I am really just droning on-and-on-and-on-and-on.. and on.. I am getting bored typing this, so I am positive you're bored reading it, if you've even made it this far.

I have a lot to say, I took too long of a break from blogging. So you'll pay for my neglect through the next several posts..

Like so many dramatic episodes of Full House that came before it...We will just leave this one TO BE CONTINUED...

Floor is open for discussion.

Just a Little Rant from a Self-Proclaimed Feminist..

Ok, so this is not what you think... I was reading a book review on a site I go to to find new books to read, (My old method of going to the library, sitting on the floor in the aisle, and reading random pages from the middle of the book for hours at a time to figure out if I think it's something I would like... isn't conducive to my lifestyle anymore.) when I came across a book review about Twilight.

Now, think what you may about Twilight.. that's not what this is about...

I read several reviews, some of them loved it, some of them hated it... but one of the reviews really sucked! Some of the review was pointed and objective, and I could see where she was coming from... until I laid my tired eyes on this little ditty of an excerpt:

"This is such a profoundly antifeminist novel. And it's funny, because I think Meyer has no idea that it's antifeminist. I mean, she has a female heroine! A heroine who reads Austen and writes essays about misogyny in Shakespeare! Surely she's kicking butt for all womankind. Um... no. She cooks, she cleans, she looks after the man in her life! She needs male characters to protect her from the big, bad, scary world! She falls headfirst into a disturbingly dysfunctional relationship with a man 90 years her senior without the slightest amount of worry!"

Ok,... I know this girl...because I used to BE her! I get it, cooking, cleaning, looking after the man in her life... these are all female roles, traditionally speaking, of course. And, once upon a time, I would have been right there with her.. I mean, being a feminist means you don't cook, clean, or take care of anyone!... right? Traditional roles are for weak people who can't make up their own minds, right? Strong independent women don't need anyone, right?!!!?

So disillusioned... It is concerning that this not-so-new wave of misunderstood feminism is perpetuated in women today. Feminism is so much bigger than this. True feminism isn't just about females at all... it's about a more gender-equal society for everyone! Gender roles are nothing more than a social construct.

So the heroine in the story fills a portion of, what we consider, traditionally female roles... that part is undeniable, but to say this is antifeminist.. is actually an antifeminist statement in itself. Stay with me...

Feminism is about breaking free from the social constructs that, previously, held women AND men in their respective "places." (I'm going to break off from involving men for the rest of this rant, because I think you get the point.) I think any true open-minded feminist would agree, this is the goal of the feminist movement.

So, if the goal is to break down social constructs that have confined women throughout history, then wouldn't the obvious solution be to simply not honor social constructs?

I have always been hard-headed, hard working, and independent. All my life, and all through college, I was obsessed with graduating college, getting a corner office, and having dozens of minions to do my bidding.

I wanted these things, not because I truly wanted them, but because I bought into the falsity that this is what would make me a strong woman. Who sold me this treacherous idea of strength?... the feminists. Not true feminists, women who took one idea from the feminist movement, and turned it into an additional form of oppression. These women have created a whole new social construct for women to fall subject to if they wish to be viewed as strong and independent.

So... thanks? If I honor social constructs, which I do not, I can't claim "feminism," because then I am a man-hating bitch who can't cook or clean,... and I can't cook, clean, or take care of my man, because then I am a weak antifeminist woman incapable of independent thought.

Isn't that the opposite of the desired result?

And, since when is it antifeminist to accept help when you're in need? I call that resourceful..
Is it "antifeminist" to fall in love, with wreckless abandon, with a super hot, mature, well-read, worldly being with an impressively eclectic taste in music?... I think it's just nature at its finest. A passionate biological reaction to sex appeal that we, as a species, happen to enjoy as a whole.
Is it "antifeminist" to have a relationship with someone older than you?... or is that just another socially constructed brick we'd like to stack on top of the wall of shit that keeps us from living life the way we choose... or the way we would choose, if not for being pulled in a confounding mass of directions.

Come on ladies!... get your head out of your vagina. Why are we creating (or re-creating) a society in which women have to constantly defend their lifestyle choices??

The most depraved part of this whole antifeminist-feminist movement, is that women are no longer fighting for equality with men... we are at battle with each other. We shouldn't have to defend our lifestyle choices... least of all to other women. Support each other, and put an end to this self-righteous glorified form of same-sex bullying we are mistaking for feminism.

It doesn't have to be obvious!

 

I don't like taking Leo for walks or jogs during the day now that it is so hot and humid. We, of course, do all of those things at night, but we are an active pair, and we are always looking for ways to spend our day!

I got this bike for my birthday!... thanks to my loving husband, who knows me too well.. We love going for rides, even on the hot ones! This way we get some wind blowing through our hair, and the hot doesn't seem to swallow us. Leo looooves it. He sits back there and kicks his feet and laughs, (I don't know what he is laughing at), and when we go down hills, he grabs onto the tail of my shirt and holds on for dear life!

This doesn't feel like exercise!.... but it is! This bike has no gears, so it's all-leg powered.. or should I say, thigh and butt powered!..Cause' those are the parts that burn like hot asphalt.. and when I go up hills and stand up on the pedals, I can feel that same sweet burn in my abs...

Riding a bike seemed like second nature when I was a kid, but I had to literally relearn how to activate the necessary muscles to power this thing! I was so shocked... I am pleased to have found one more way I can exercise and spend time with my guys... and for me, the best exercises are the ones I can enjoy and even make memories from. I'll gladly drown in these memories someday....

To The Moon, Mom!

 

I am so happy I make an effort to stay in shape... I can't imagine missing this just because I lack the energy or agility. Some people really don't get to experience things like this with their babies/children... I don't want to take it for granted, even if I can't imagine it any other way.

There's Something Wrong With This Wagon...

There must be something wrong with this dam*ed wagon, cause' I keep falling off! I swear, sometimes you fall off the wagon, and get right back on, and then sometimes you fall off the wagon, and it just rolls right over your fat a**...

How do I know I fell off? Well, it happens to be easy to tell.

Long story Long: I had to TEMPORARILY cut out the personal training sessions (I'll be back soon, Joe), and that's where the trouble began... I had my workouts on Mondays. It was a great way to start my week off on the right foot, and I always knew that no matter what happened the rest of the week, I at least got my butt kicked one day. On the other days, I would go to Body Shape and rock out, or I would do HIIT at my house, and things were hangin' nicely, if you know what I mean... not too shabby, ... didn't mind the mirror at all... back that thang up... hey baby, how you doin...

And if you know me at all, you know what I am about to tell you is kind of a big deal.... I bought daisy dukes. I mean.... full blown.. shorts. Now, this is where I don't know what to say! I have no idea what happened! I feel like I am in a parallel universe and someone stole my body, ate a bunch of nasty sh**, and then gave it back to me... and now I am here like.. ewww I don't want this. Take it back...

It's funny the little half-truths you tell yourself though isn't it?... like oh, I am just retaining water, or it's just been a while since I used the restroom, or the sun must just be shining at a weird angle... or my personal fav, I just didn't NOTICE my thighs rubbing together before because it wasn't as humid as it is now... Well honey, the sun can't put moon craters on your thighs, and your thighs don't know it's humid, and if you're retaining THAT much water... all over your body,.. you might wanna hook up to a shop vac.

It was a sad day when I put the daisy dukes back in the drawer and opted for a more reasonably-lengthed pair of DIY jorts, and told myself it was because this is how mothers should dress... I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT!

I am not saying I am going to sashay around town with all my goodies on display, but I am a young, vibrant, awesome woman,... who happens to also be a mother, and that's how I am going to dress... any way I dam* well please... until Leo gets old enough to be embarrassed.

So, I am taking my shame, and my mom jorts, and climbing back up on the wagon... Joe... I'll be crawling back soon.. I need you to nail my jorts to the bed of this illusory wagon.

Can I get a HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA??!!... ANYBODY??... ok.

Barney

 
I found this old picture of me and my cat Barney and thought I'd share it with the universe.
I got Barney when I was 6, and he was attacked by a pack of jack russel terriers when I was 20. I had him for 14 years! Fourteen wonderful years! RIP, Barney!

A little cloudy outside

Well, it is a little cloudy outside today, which makes it perfect for a bike ride!... maybe we will even get stuck out in the rain! I have been taking Leo out to play in the rain. It's very funny because he doesn't know where the water is coming from... he holds out his little nugget fingers and just stares while the water hits them, and then looks at me for affirmation.. too adorable.

Today is a busy one for us here at the Massie house.. I have a chiropractor appointment, we're going to shampoo the carpet downstairs, do laundry, and some cleaning... then LEG WORKOUT tonight at Body Shape!

I have learned some pretty great leg workouts, but I'm sure there are lots more out there to learn! (ANY IDEAS WELCOME.. AS ALWAYS) Body Shape got a new toy! I don't know what it's called.. It is a platform... you can use it for several things, but I use it to jump up on!... So I am always excited for leg day!

Well..we're gonna get to it now!... Talk at ya later!