Why is it so sad??? Holiday post #1

Tis the season! The season to over indulge in just about every thing. Food, drinks more food and for some lots more drinks. Party after party after family get together. Oh the joys! Right? Now don't get me wrong this Iron Chick has Irish coursing through her blood so for those that know me, well lets just say you know me! However, for those that don't their first reaction is "oh it must suck for you during the holidays".  Really?? Why??  Why does my life have to suck because I choose not to overly stuff my face with everything under the sun or for visual purposes EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE? One report I read said that during Thanksgiving meal alone Americans consumed some 6,000 calories! That is just in ONE meal! What is it about the holidays that throws portion size out the window and turns us into gluttons? Goals can be kept and met during the holidays. You can have a good time! Here are a few tips to get you started off right for December.

1. Get at least a 30 min workout in.
~If you can't get to the gym you can walk or even use things around your house to get a creative workout in
2. Don't skip meals
~ Stay consistent, eat breakfast and don't go more than 3.5 hours before you eat again
3. And drink lots of water throughout the day!

More holiday tips and workout will come in the month of December to help keep you active and healthy this holiday season!

xoxo
IC

Arm day!

Woohooo!! So after some much needed rest to get over a virus day two back in the gym for arms was a success! 85 lbs straight bar curls for reps wasn't bad nor was the 225 lbs on the seated dip machine for 3 sets of 20. Although on the last set of the seated dips E almost flew off the seat as the skinny kid in front of started what I can only describe as River Dancing.... really??? And he was looking at us like we were freaks?! LOL Come to think of it my arms were bigger than his legs so we probably did look like freaks to him! 

Biceps have always been a challenge for me. I'd go as far as to say my weakest body part. Because of my neck surgery and all of the soft tissue damage in my neck, I get a lot of numbness in my arm and most of the time can't really feel my bicep engage. My point in all of this is the same as what I always say.... your circumstances don't define you. I have to work hard every time I go in the gym. Push myself to give one more rep when it hurts and I don't want to. Anyone can stop in the middle and only give half of what they set out to do. Anyone can go to the gym and never pick up a heavier weight because they are afraid.  If in my head when I pick up the weights I think ok I'll do 8 reps on this set. As I'm working I think to myself what is the first place girl giving.... and then I give 8 more or 10 more or go until I cant physically give any more!! And in my head if I'm going for the 30 lbs DB and they aren't there well then you know my rule.... YOU GO UP!!! After all thats how I got these..........

Thanks to my coach, training partner, best friend and husband Big E who pushes me and supports me every day both in and out of the gym. You have taught me so much and you are a big part of this photo!  xoxo

If in your head you say "you can't" then you have already lost........ 

IC  

My every day......

So to know me, to really know me you need a little back ground on me. When I wake up I know that on that day and everyday after for the rest of my life I will have to take meds. For those that don't know...three years ago while standing in my bathroom looking at myself in the mirror I realized a rather large lump which later would be diagnosed as Hurthle Cell Carcinoma. This was the beginning of my journey to my 2nd and 3rd place win at the 2011 Contra Costa. I am by no means telling you this to feel sorry for me, I am telling you this to shed some light on my attitude and drive. Also because of the attitude and drive I saw on the Mr. O stage last night. For starters, Branch Warren in the audience talking about being back in the gym after just one week following re attachment surgery of his quad... he said and I quote "I have to get back up on that stage". Then to see Frank McGrath.... the scare down his chest says it all. There are no words for that one and Jay with an injured bicep.....all three still focused and driven toward a goal. But those guys aren't really who this post is about..... while yes I am inspired by them this next person inspires me even more and is someone I feel deserves a shout out because of all of her hard work and dedication toward her goal. She is someone I am proud to call a friend and is a cancer surviver.... Kerry Keen Monaghan this post is for you girl!

Your spirit and drive is refreshing. Keep doing your thing because you were meant to do great things. This post is also for everyone that thinks it cant be done.... I am, she is and they are doing it every day! Your circumstances don't hold you back. So be EXTREME like Kerry, Be Built like Me, and be dedicated to be the best you can be!!!!!

xoxo

IC

The importance of fashion choice while doing cardio...........

So this is a light hearted funny post..... It goes out to the individuals I like to call the 1 milers as in 1 mile per hour crew. Sorry I know I know we all have to start somewhere with our cardio journey but I just don't see the point in doing it if you don't want to sweat!! I hear it time and time again... "we need more fans", "can I have all 20 of the fans on full blast over my head?", "if I go any faster I'll get over heated" COME ON PEOPLE...... Really?? At this point I would publicly like to state for the record that I am in fact NOT a runner :) My moto... I Only Run When Chased! However, I am not part of the 1 milers club. Me and my non running self will tear somethings up on the dreaded Stepmill and let me tell you that sweat does in fact happen and happens a lot. Which brings me to my point... After an intense 50 min on the stepmill I realized just how epic a failure my fashion choice was for the day.........

I think I'm just gonna leave you all with this one........ LMAO or should I say SMAO!
xoxo

How I roll.....

Iron Chick.... IC or The R which ever it is you choose to say at the end of the day it all means the same. It's me, it's who I am and yes it's How I Roll! For me, and please note that I say for "me" because this is in fact a blog post about ME. I am in NO way cutting down anyone for their training style :) People ask me all the time..."Do you do a ton of cardio?" Do you do a lot of plyo?" Ummmm let me see, for those that know me my moto is I only run when chased and plyos??? I'd pee my pants jumping around like a cricket. So what do I do exactly... I lift and I mean it and this is how I roll in the gym..... let me introduce you to the peeps I so affectionately call "The Crew" (the women on the treadmill not part of the crew) 

To the left we have my boy Matt aka The Lifesaver, next we have Nick aka Big Country, making his appearance on the leg press my one and only Big E aka Uppercase and standing over him (yelling) the one the only Ivan The Stud. I of course am taking the picture. This right here is what makes me happy, it is what I live for, breathe for and yes even lose sleep for. I lift hard, I life heavy and I leave it all in the gym. When I have nothing left to give I push harder. I am a bottom row DB girl and I love it. I have blisters on my hands and sweat on my shirt. I don't come to talk I come to work. I am motivated by them... how much they lift and their dedication in doing it. I am after all very competitive and If they are doing it fuck if I'm going to let a guy show me up!! (this is of course within reason) That is how I push myself to be better than I thought I could be. Because if you ask yourself "who am I?" If the answer isn't "Im a champion" you're doing it all wrong regardless of your training style... 

IC 

Inspiration.....

This is one of the pictures that sparked it all..... Until this point, in my head I was training for my Figure Pro card. Then off of an airplane from the Bronx she came. My inspiration.... Kat! Well and the simple fact that the first words out of her mouth were woooowa (interpret that however you want)..... and like that the game changed. If you are lost at this point let me fill you in.... the short version. Life, kids, cancer and the Contra Costa where I placed 2nd in Figure. This qualified me for a National show which if you know me ummmm yeah I wasn't going to stop until I got my pro card. That fact, the pro card is still the goal and believe me you I will not stop until it is mine! However, it will not be in Figure. Welcome to my journey to the Womens Physique division. (google it if you are still lost :)) So today is day 1 of that journey and I will be bringing you along for the ride if you choose to follow. I am crazy passionate about what I do, it is my life, it is my dream.  I don't care for the negative crap people say because it doesn't matter. You have a choice to be inspired by something, someone, by YOU! 

xoxo ~IC