Changing Perspective - Finding The Truth

I feel like I have much on my mind to say/talk about.   I have been processing many things over the past few days.  I was challenged recently to look at things in life differently.
I have been thinking of Carlos' question, "How Do We Think When We Don’t Know What To Do?"   From what Carlos has taught me, is that I need to ask the right questions...
The question that I have been challenged with the past few days is one of  Perspective.  This could mean "What am I focused on?" " How am I looking at things?" 
When faced with this question,"How do I win the Natural North American Championships against these formidable competitors?", Carlos had to step back and look at everything from a different perspective.  Instead of focusing on his opponents strengths he instead starting looking at their weaknesses. 
His Perspective changed!! 
So this is what I have been working on these past few days.  My perspective has been one of only seeing what was wrong and painful in my life right now and it put me in a state of depression.  How do we make sense of things in life that are hard and painful?  We have to change our perspective.  We have to look at each thing that we perceive as hard and painful, one at a time.  We can not look at it all, all at once, because then we become so overwhelmed that we are put into a state of inaction.  When I can change my perspective I can then find "the Truth of the matter".  In essence, Changing Perspective is Looking for The Truth.  And with the Truth, there really is only ONE perspective.  But now that I can see "The Truth of the matter" I can now reframe my thoughts and not become so overwhelmed by what is around me or my circumstances and can walk in that Truth.(and the truth is, our circumstances are only temporary)  But this is not a given...we have to keep that new perspective in the forefront of our thoughts..and we do this by Renewing our minds daily.  We Renew our minds by what we put in our minds and choosing to overcome the lies by filling our minds with The Truth...our new Perspective...our Affirmations.
The truth is, you can overcome your "opponents" weaknesses by making it your strength.  The opposite of weakness is strength.  The opposite of depression is Joy.
The Truth for me is in my "weakness" I can become strong  and that Joy can become my strength.
Carlos has shown us what changing our perspective can do for not only our physiques, but for our mindset and beliefs.  If I can change my perspective of what to focus on in my training to build up physical strengths, I can also change my perspective of my mindset and become strong in mind and spirit...the Truth is....I CAN Become a Champion!  I AM a Champion!

So today my sister, who is home for Christmas from Albuquerque, came over and we did our first workout together.  It was good!  (mom came, too, but she only watched..and helped keep  track of rep counts.)  We did Muscle program C.  She had been working out at her home but stopped the past week or so during her college final exams...so she might be a little bit sore in a day or two!  She will come back on Wednesday for Muscle program A.
She said to me that in the last week or so she had not been wanting to workout but in coming here today working out with me she was "excited" and wanted to work out!  It was for me a point of accountability...and support.  Which is really what I provide here...as I look at it the same way.  When I don't show up at home, it is in a way, not showing up with you all.
P.S> pics will come later.

Focus, Focus, Focus!

Focus!  Isn't that what it is all about?  How many times do I have to be reminded of this?  It doesn't matter what it is you are trying to do, whether it be transforming your body, your mind or your life, it takes focus!  If your focus is not on the task at hand more than likely you won't get that task done.  That is where I am at with certain areas of my life. 
One thing I am finally glad about is that I am focused on my health and staying on my program and eating good clean foods.  I am not overeating and I am conscious about what I am eating. 
This past year has not been good as far as certain things go, yet I am getting stronger through it all...although sometimes it doesn't appear that way.   What has been my focus through out this past year?  Only I can answer that honestly.  I can admit that it hasn't been all good.  Actually, many times all I could see was all the bad that was happening and that was a time of deep depression.  It has been, at times, a struggle to fight out of this depression.  I am not afraid to admit that I still am working on this.  Many times I have just not wanted to even post.  But as I am getting more focus even on my physique goals that it does give me one more victory each day to celebrate that I have made progress in one area of my life.  I am one step closer to the Greatness God has planned for me. 
But when you have many things that can pull you in so many directions, which one do you focus on?  You can't possibly focus on all of them at once, it's impossible. 
Focus:  the concentration of attention or energy on something.
You can only focus on one thing at a time.  So we have to choose what will be a valid focus for any given time frame.
I think we tend to focus on things that we are emotional drawn to or stir us emotionally.  Isn't that why so many fitness professionals suggest our reasons why for a physique transformation have an emotional trigger or we won't follow through with our physique goals?  And isn't that why
we tend to be "emotional eaters?"  Our emotions seem to direct where our focus is.  So how do we decide which thing to focus on at any given time?  We tend to focus on what we believe is the most important.  But there are many hours in a day, so we can potentially focus on many different things in one day...just not all at the same time. 
So today, for about an hour, I focused on my cardio, doing HIIT and abs.  I felt the burn..all around.  I think the Glute DOMS is starting to fade...after three days!  Today I am "Feeling" thinner...at least in the tummy...still waiting for the butt and hips to feel thinner! 
So this week I am going to focus on my focus!  I must focus on those things that will move me forward with my goals and in life issues.  I will focus on what I CAN do and not on what I have no control over.  I can focus on my thought life.  I can focus on my spiritual life.  I can focus on my dreams and goals.  Each one having its own time of focus. 
As a man thinks, so is he.
Because I have The Power within me to do more than I could ever ask or imagine.  If I ask for Focus, I can have focus because of that Power within me that gives me strength to do that which I set out to do each day.
Every day my daily actions take me where I want to go.
I am destined for Greatness.

I Choose!

I choose Excellence!
I choose Greatness!
I choose Strength!
I choose Power!
I choose Daily Actions that will get me closer to my goal.
I choose to Just Believe for Today.

I am still feeling the Glute DOMS* from Saturday's workout!  LOVE IT!


I see some changes.

I choose my daily affirmation:
I am Destined for Greatness.
I have The Power within me to do more than I could ever ask or imagine.  Every Day my daily actions take me where I want to go.
*DOMS= delayed onset muscle soreness

DOMS*

Today is a day of Glute DOMS!!  I did lunges in my workout yesterday and I woke up this morning with Glute DOMS!  It has been difficult to sit  all day!  I haven't felt this in a long time!  I love it!!
I was going to do comparison pics today, but it just didn't happen.  I took today(Sunday) as a rest day.  I will for sure do pics tomorrow(Monday) as we have a snow day so I don't have any excuses.
I continue to make progress with daily actions.

I must reaffirm daily:  I am destined for Greatness.  I have the Power within me to do more than I could ever ask or imagine.  Every day my daily actions take me where I want to go.


* DOMS: delayed onset muscle soreness

Muscle Mission: Day 6 Daily Actions

Didn't blog or workout yesterday(Friday) as I went to an ornament exchange for the women's group at church.  It was fun and good food, too.(chicken with waxed beans and mashed potatoes and a salad)
Today(Saturday) I did make up the missed workout from yesterday.  It does feel good to be lifting once again.  My food is on target.
Not much else to say, I guess.  I am just focusing on the daily actions.
It's what we do everyday that counts, not just once in a while.

Here's today's pic:



Maybe tomorrow I'll do week one comparison pics.  I am just glad I am finally moving in the right direction and am feeling the muscles!

Just Believe for Today

Just Believe for Today

By Suzette

I am finally in a groove.  One Day At A Time.  Today was another victory.  I celebrate today.  It hasn't been perfect as far as life is concerned but I did the daily actions that I need to do to take my body where I want it to go.  I must say that I am experiencing some "nice" DOMS!  It's not horrible, but enough to feel.  

Today was cardio day.  I did the P90x cardio.  My fitness level has obviously declined, but I am moving in the right direction!  I will progress forward!
Every day I have to believe that TODAY I can and will make the right choices.  Today I have to believe I am moving forward. Today I have to believe that I am destined for Greatness.  Today I have to believe that I have the Power within me to do more than I could ever ask or imagine.  I have to believe that today my daily actins are taking me where I want to go.



Day 4 December 9, 2010

Muscle Mission: Day 2 Grandma's Wisdom

Grandma's Wisdom

Today's post isn't so much about physical transformation but more about love and life.  Love and Forgiveness is the essence of life!  When you love, you forgive.  When you forgive, you love.



I have the most beautiful Grandma in the world!  At least I think so!!  My grandma turned 90  this year September.  My grandpa passed away the day before my birthday 5 years ago.  They were married over 60 years!
I got to spend a few hours today talking with my Grandma talking about love and life.  As a child of divorced parents and have seen family members and friends go through divorce or separation and even having issues within my own marriage, I asked my grandma about being married for so long and about love.  My grandma cries just as much today and misses my grandpa just as much today as the day he passed away.  She still weeps for him because she misses him so.
I asked her, "How do you stay married so long, Grandma?"
Her answer, "A little bit of give and take."
"What does that mean, Grandma?"
"When you love each other, you don't yell at each other.  Don't hold a grudge.
When you argue or hurt each others feelings, forgive, as soon as you can, because you just don't know when you will lose that other person."
Grandma misses Grandpa so much.
Something else Grandma shared today, was the importance of touch.  A hug is healing.  It is a touch of caring.  It is Love.  A hug is healing because it is Love.  We all need hugs.  She relates a story from a Doctor visit she had recently.  After a regular check up Grandma hugs her Doctor and tells him those very words, "A hug is healing."  He replies, "I know."
Thank you Grandma, for being there for me today, for sharing your wisdom with this wee little child.  Thank you for your hug today.  Not only am I helping you to heal, but you are helping me.
As I see it, God has more work for Grandma to do before she goes to be with the love of her life.



Today was HIIT Cardio.  Elliptical.
Food was ok today.  When I was at my grandma's I did have a few chocolate chip cookies(which my mom made)
Today's pic.


Affirmation statement:
I am Destined for Greatness.
I have the Power within me to do more than I could ever ask or imagine.
Every day my daily actions take me where I want to go.

Muscle Mission: Day 1 The Warrior Suz: Woman on a Mission

Today was Day 1 of a new mission for me.  The previous few weeks I had been doing a baseline program to get my body back into weight lifting.  I had been off for about a month or so dealing with life.  I am now geared up and ready to make a "comeback" of sorts.  I will be using a program developed by the 1985 Undefeated Natural World Bodybuilding Champion, Carlos DeJesus (also look at his blog)and a physique transformation "specialist", Adam Waters.  RTP Muscle
This is a new blog for me.  Starting fresh and anew.  Prior to this one, I had been documenting my journey from the near beginnings of my weight loss, actually from the point of already losing about 45 lbs. from a different blog.  But my old blog got deleted.  So I have decided to venture out and start fresh.  New blog name.  New title.  New feel.  New goals.  New inspiration.  It is my goal to be able to share with you some of those past victories and triumphs as well as some of the trials and struggles.  But looking forward I want to share with you as I document my next mission in my journey to health and wellness as I achieve some physique goals.
It is also the purpose of this blog to be another form of added accountability for me to push towards those physique goals.  It is with this accountability that one is pushed to keep pressing on even when I don't feel like it..because I have you here to "check up" on me to make sure I am doing what I say I will do.
As part of this blog you will see me posting accountability pictures documenting my physique journey.  These "before" pics are not always pleasant, but serve as a starting point.  My starting point for today is much better than it was 4 years ago on September 19, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 6, 2010
Today's "Before" pic

September 19, 2006
239 lbs. / 35+bodyfat%

There will surely be ups and of course downs..as that just is the way life is.  We encounter trials that will help us to grow as human beings and as spiritual beings.


I hope to inspire.  I hope to motivate.  I hope to encourage.  Please don't be shy and leave me a comment.