This blog will cover all city and statewide bodybuilding competitions and the out-of-state guest posers. Weight-loss success stories from local people, features/bios on bodybuilding, fitness and figure competitors, coverage of fad diets. Nutritious recipes and reviews on local gyms and health food stores. I would also like to cover Adult/Childhood Obesity in America and specifically,Alaska. Weight-lifting techniques/safety as well as the benefits for women. This is just a general idea, as the blog will be constantly evolving.
I competed in my first bodybuilding competition as a senior at East High in 2000 and after winning the overall title, bodybuilding and fitness became my passion. I've been a NASM certified personal trainer since 2004 and I love helping people achieve their goals with fitness and proper nutrition. My overall bodybuilding titles include: Ms. Anchorage 2006 and The Anchorage Crystal Cup 2007. I have lived in Anchorage since 1988.
Setting goals to maintain the new you! - 9/5/2008 11:16 am
The Mind Muscle Connection is key - 8/27/2008 3:22 pm
The price of Obesity - 8/27/2008 11:11 am
Hiking Mt. Marathon - 8/25/2008 6:10 pm
Why most people will never see their abs.... - 8/18/2008 11:02 am
12 weeks of Perseverance and life changing results - 8/15/2008 3:49 pm
When you booze, you lose more than snooze - 8/4/2008 5:25 pm
Don't skip meals, grab a shake. - 8/4/2008 12:44 pm
P.E. Phone Home - 8/1/2008 9:25 pm
SCUBA Diving - 7/22/2008 7:14 pm
Body Mind Mastery - 7/22/2008 6:27 pm
Camaraderie makes exercise more fun - 7/19/2008 3:33 pm
Upcoming Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Competitions - 7/17/2008 9:19 am
Hyponatremia - 7/8/2008 1:09 pm
Why Competitive Bodybuilding is not mainstream - 7/8/2008 10:52 am
Unorthodox Training Methods that work! - 7/5/2008 7:29 pm
Self-Myofascial Release: a different kind of flexiblity training - 6/30/2008 1:08 pm
Are you headed in the right direction? - 6/23/2008 12:58 pm
Create a healthy lifestyle for your kids! - 6/23/2008 9:24 am
The chain reaction of a weak grip - 6/20/2008 4:19 pm
Back to Basics with the Pull-up - 6/19/2008 12:09 pm
Ladies are you lifting? - 6/11/2008 3:58 pm
Posted: June 2, 2008 - 1:54 pm
If you ever kept a diary as a kid; jotting down your current crush, best friend and future dreams, you understand the significance of writing everything down for memory's sake. Somehow the simple concept of recording your life in a notebook seems to put everything into perspective and allows you to reflect back on things to see where you've been and more efficiently plan where you are going in life.
Keep a diet and workout journal
I began keeping a workout journal before the October 2006 Anchorage Bodybuilding Competition. I had never really kept one before and had never recorded my food intake- ever. I have since kept a regular journal where I record all sets, reps and exercises as well as the time of day I work out. I keep a separate journal where I record everything I eat every single day. At first this was tedious and annoying, but after 5 months, it would be strange if I didn't record everything. It's become a habit.
In turn, I have learned a lot about my needs in terms of calorie, carbohydrate and protein consumption in order to lose or maintain my body fat levels. Recording everything has also enabled me to learn more about the foods I eat and memorize the nutrition content of each. I suggest my clients do this even though I get some eye rolling once in awhile, it helps keep you organized and in control of your diet and exercise habits.
July 21, 2008 - 9:28am | crbypass
Sure, when you're learning, it makes sense. But once you know what you're doing it's kind of weird and unhealthy to have to write down every bite of food you take. If you know the right things to eat but still feel compelled to write it all down, I think that's got to be indicative of some sort of compulsive mental disorder.
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July 22, 2008 - 4:26pm | teri_what
...instead of criticizing someone else's way of doing things- which has obviously brought them great success, you can offer some of your own helpful advice on the topic of weight-loss and attaining short and long-term goals.
This would be a lot more productive than relating journaling to having a "mental illness." So please share the things that work for you and perhaps in that, you will help others see a different perspective. Thanks.
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July 22, 2008 - 10:29am | bodybuilder
We are all continuing to learn every day
I've competed in 6 shows in 8 years and I'm not done learning. In fact, I don't think I've even scratched the surface yet, which is why I keep a training journal as well as a food journal. This is just what works for me in keeping my exercise and nutrition in perspective and organized.
Many professional athletes keep training journals, and many do not. There's no right way, it's what works for the individual. Clearly you do not need to keep a journal of any kind and that's great, because that's what works for you.
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1 June 6, 2008 - 1:07pm | crbypass
Isn't that kind of, er, obsessive? Normal, fit people who eat well don't have to track every gram of food intake.
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June 7, 2008 - 7:46pm | pumpiron
"One person's obsession.......is another person's way of life"
Journals are a way of following one's life in general. Some start journaling in grade school where they track friendships and important dates. Others enjoy keeping travel, sleep/dream journals, and in fact, scrapbooking, baby books and even blogging are a type of journaling. Perhaps 80% of the overweight population is not "obsessive" enough about their weight as they are these topics.
Keeping a food journal consisting of what you eat and further breaking it down to the amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein and the time of day you eat will let you record exactly what you are putting in your mouth.
As far as the exercise journal goes, it is a way of tracking your progress by reviewing exercises, sets and reps to further push yourself or know when to back off and give yourself a rest. It is simply a guide.
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June 7, 2008 - 7:05pm | teri_what
It helps to see where you have been, so if you lose motivation along the way you can use your journal to review your progress and remind yourself of your goals. If weight-loss were easy, everyone would have a six-pack. The fact is that it's not and keeping a journal teaches you a different kind of discipline.
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June 7, 2008 - 5:27pm | bodybuilder
"Obsessed is what the lazy call the dedicated."
I don't look at recording your food intake as being obsessive, rather I look at it as being a useful tool of reference in my daily life. Any competitor, bodybuilding or otherwise will benefit greatly from seeing the work they have done and the energy they have consumed on paper.
It keeps you accountable and motivated. Getting to know the foods you eat by checking labels and serving sizes also teaches you about the good and bad things you put into your body- so in that way I view recording things as my education, as tedious as it can be.
It's definitely not for everyone, but if you are trying to make positive changes in your life, keeping a journal is a worthy endeavor- don't knock it til' you try it. Oh, and bodybuilders are anything but "normal."
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July 21, 2008 - 9:26am | crbypass
Oh, I see. If I don't track every gram of food that passes my lips, I'm "lazy".
Sorry, I don't have time to run for my food journal every hour - I'm more interested in actually DOING things.
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2 June 7, 2008 - 4:44pm | pixel_babee
Good Tool to use
I wouldn't really call it obsessive obviously it's not for everyone. People that are trying to get into shape and or lose weight this is actually a very useful tool. It helps you track what you have done so if you start to plateau or need to make changes you know what you have already tried. I do this because I compete and it helps me track what I've done so I can refer to it for future reference.
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