I am a SUPER FREAK!

One of my "jobs" as a sponsored athlete is to try and test out new products for you.  I adore doing this whole trial & error bit to see what works with my body the best.  Cue "Super Freak" by PHARMAFREAK.  Soon to be on the shelves at Muscles By Meyers, this powerful pre-workout is packed with stims & is one sure fire way to get your going at the gym.

The fruit punch flavour was quite tasty as compared to some (think Fruit Punch Kool-aid).  I was also very surprised at how well it mixed (no big clumps at the bottom of my shaker cup).  Because we had just come from visiting Meyers, I actually took my pre-workout at the gym.  A good 10 minutes later, I started to feel the effects of SUPERFREAK.  With my heart racing, I was ready for an impeccable & insane LEG DAY. After only finishing off my first set of super wide squats (my fav), I was already sweating up a storm (cue moins shirt LOL).   Now let's rate this sucker:

Taste: 10
Focus/Concentration: 10
Price: Unknown as it's not on Muscles by Meyers shelves yet

I have to say this pre-workout is equivalent to Purus Labs Muscle Marinade (one of my fav pre-workouts). On a taste level, it is truly amazing.   I loved how well it mixed; ensuring I NEVER waste product.  My concentration & intensity was remarkable, which I believe is necessary (especially now since my workouts are even more intense then ever before). 


But overall, GREAT product!!!  


Keep checking www.musclesbymeyers.com/ for its availability.  A must-try!!! 


That is all.  Goodnight y'all :D

Progression...ALWAYS!

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

26 weeks out and here is one of the many progression pictures towards my journey to the CBBF World Qualifiers in April 2012.  My muscles bellies are rounder - could be the creatine had I have been taking, but so far it's doing it's job.  So let's start listing the changes that have happened since my last progression pics:

1.  My outer bicep muscles are starting to show higher peaks than ever before, which I am so thrilled about.

2.  Sam has recently pointed out that my rear is more round than it was say 3 months ago.  I have definitely worked hard for my once pancake/flat derriere.  :D

3. My midsection is FINALLY getting the definition that I so longed for in the past.  Sexy lines here I come.

4.  My serratus muscles are coming forth - something I have been working on for sometime now.  I've been seeing a lot more bikini competitors with heavily defined ones.  Mind you, I do not want to look too hard, so that will get me steering away from Bikini and more so towards Figure.

Once I start depleting again, the fat I had gained off-season & those many "treat nights" will just melt off this body of mine.  I am so ready for what the coming months have in store for me.  If I am seeing results now, just you wait a couple months from now....or even say a month from now.

Always growing....always changing for the better...always progressing.   Mission Sexy Bikini is underway.  No more time for talk...more DO!!!!

New Beginnings

Let me just first start off by saying I have a NEW BABY NIECE. 

Kiana Ariel
Born at St. Boniface General Hospital

October 17 at 2am

7 lbs - 8oz.  

She is too cute for words.  I just cannot wait to play with her.  I am just so excited.  Words cannot express it.  Congrats to my sister Mabelyn & Patrick for bringing us this tiny miracle.

When I held her for the first time, my first thought was "please god, do not let me to drop her."  It's quite scary how fragile they are after birth.  She got a LOT of hair...kind of like me.  I hope to get a chance to visit the hospital with my boyfriend Sam once more before they bring her home.  That's when the fun really begins.  Time to get a transit pass to visit on a regular.  Fun times lay ahead.  
   
It's amazing - the miracle of life that is.  Everything is fresh and brand-new.  No corruption of what's "really" out there in the world.

This actually strings right along what I have been meaning to blog about.  I recently met up with an friend, whom I had not spoken to in a year or so.  The reason for the fall-out is personal, therefore I will not go into detail.  I have know this friend for more than a decade and over the time span of our friendship, he gradually changed for the worse; losing his grounded personality along the way.  Only thinking about money, power, status and being "Top Dog".  I expressed to him (when we were friends) that ALL OF THAT is not the meaning of life.  One has to be happy.  To be loved and to express your love for others is key.  He never heard me up until now.

We did the whole small talk at first but then dug into the real pressing matter..."why he wanted to meet in the first place".  He said he had come to the realization about what it was I was trying to relay to him years ago.  He claimed his re-building of friendships and any one who had helped him get to where he is today; that he should not hold grudges or shun them out.  He had also mentioned some things in conversation, which were quite flattering (abt a job interview question)...again in which I will not discuss further but know it was quite heart warming.

Although, I felt blessed to hear his new revelations, there were some points where the "old" shone through.  Actions speak louder than word after all.  Is it possible for someone to completely change?  Start fresh again after so much hurt and pain?

At the end of it, I told him to not be a stranger and we went our separate ways.  I suppose time will have to tell in this situation.  Anyone can change.  It's just a matter of how BAD you want to change.

Being happy is the key to life.  Do not let anyone else tell you otherwise. <3

Pump...Pump...Pump It Up!!!

I sent in my grant for permission to compete at the 2012 CBBF World Qualifier & this was the response I received:

Hi Kimberly,
MABBA executives all agree that you will represent Manitoba well at the 2012 CBBF World Qualifiers.
This email is our official "yes" for you to compete.
Good luck with your training!
Sincerely,
Carrie Carriere
Tom Heffner
MABBA Executives

As soon as I finished reading it, I screamed, started jumping up & down for a good 5 minutes...hugging Sam with a ear-to-ear massive smile on my face.  I was speechless.  I guess the letter I wrote was very convincing.  I am so blessed.  Thank you so much for this AMAZING opportunity to compete with competitors not only in Winnipeg, but ALL ACROSS CANADA.  Even people who have made a name for themselves in the industry will be on the big stage and I get to grace the stage alongside them.  Wow!

So with that, I now have a "real" goal date set in my calendar.  Leading up to this letter, I was training for the MABBA Provincials June 2012, but now the new deadline is April 2012.  2 more months of carbing up and building, before depleting and a ketosis nutritional plan are set (YAH *sarcasm).

The title of this blog correlates to the song I am currently listening to and what I need to be doing for the next couple of months...PUMP IT UP, eat clean, get plenty of rest.  Build, build, build!!  

"Do your thing let me do my thing." - Joe Budden's "Pump It Up"

6 months of going hard...even more so than ever before.  Let's GO!  April 6th, Are you ready for me?     

Monday Morning Blues

I know most people dread Mondays, but for me it's a promise of a new day (Paula Abdul :D).  Its a chance to start off fresh, make a change for the better.   Just outside that doorstep is a world full of opportunities just waiting to be taken.

I started my day off with the BEST and MOST IMPORTANT meal of the day with my regular oats, cinnamon, apples (you can add fresh blueberries or even strawberries), Walden Farms 'Apple Butter' mixture (just delicious) & Cookies & Cream ISO100 Protein Shake by Dymatize.

NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST.  There is a reason why they call it breakfast.  Let's break down the word - "Break" & "Fast".  You are essentially "breaking" the "fast" for those 6-8 hours of sleep you are getting with the meal.  You never want to wait too long to have it.  Otherwise, when you FINALLY do feed your body with food, that food will get absorbed and some of it stored as fat.  Not a good thing, especially if your goal is fat loss/weight loss.  Think of breakfast as a good thing, as it will actually help you in the long run.

I hate it when people tell me they skip breakfast or they wait a couple hours after to eat.  How is your body going to change if you are not willing to make the small changes?  Yes eating less than your caloric intake of the day will help you loss weight but is damaging your body at the same time.  YOU NEED to make sure you are not starving yourself.  Afterall, those carbs...those proteins...those fats are the nutritional building blocks of how your body composition actually turns out.  Make a change this week.  

EAT BREAKFAST!

Dear Junk Food...

Dear Junk Food:

I just first want to say not only are you amazing but my mouth & tongue thank you from the bottom of my heart.  We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, hot summer days, and cold winter nights together.  You have been there for me through rough patches like break-ups, family issues, friend fall outs and fights with boyfriends.  There were also times when I'd be bored and you would be there to pick me up, even if it was just for a short period of time.  You always knew how to satisfy me and put a huge smile on my face.  I just always thought that you would never ever let me down.

UNTIL....

You made me overweight, depressed, sad about my body image, tired, lazy, and not confident. You made me fill big on the outside and small on the inside.  You made me unhealthy and as much as I didn't want to admit it, you were the one reason why I was unhappy for so long.  With that being said, it is with the greatest sadness that we need to break up.  Please do not fret.  I will not be gone forever.  Just know that right now in my life, there isn't a place for you.  I have goals that cannot be reached if I have you lingering around.  Please understand.  

Sincerely,

Kimmy Ho :(

Holy Goaly!

It's time to sit down and really think about my goals. After all, I find it most helpful when you actually write them out so you are visually reminded each time you read them.

It's funny I am writing this 6-7 months before potentially competing again (if granted permission to be in the Naturals). Looking through my older entries, I did an entry 6 months before the MABBA Novice show. What a coincidence. Goals are in the air and need to be set.

So without further ado, let's begin!

No More Junk - no more indulgent eats & treats, which most will say is the most difficult part. Stick to the nutritional plan as written. No excuses.

Work That Heart - 2 cardio sessions a day (morning/post weight resistance workout).

Home Improvement - 2 leg days a week, as well as 2 core/oblique days, as these 2 areas require the most improvement. My shoulders need to come out more. As of right now, my triceps are as big as my shoulders. Not a good thing. I will come into this competition in the best shape of my life.

H2O Yo! - Need to up my water intake because as of now I do not drink as much as I should.

Catch Some ZzZzZ's - The boyfriend can attest to this. I definitely do not get enough sleep on some days, especially the weekends. Goodbye to party-party each weekend...well not completely...just coming home at a decent hour will do the trick.

Big Dreams! - The 5 goals listed are the smaller short term goals. My dream is to make a name for myself in the fitness industry. To be in magazines, now that would be the cherry on top.

Lately, I've been thinking about going to a contest preparation business in Winnipeg. But really, what do they have to offer? Right now, I do my own nutrition and train myself...making my own workout program. Right there, I can save hundreds of dollars, which can be put towards my suit, tan, hair, makeup and anything that will help myself prep for the day. I would lose that satisfaction of doing it "on my own" like I did at Novice. With that note, when someone asks me "who trains you?". My answer will be me, myself and I.

To compete and walk on the big stage again would be a dream. Sure, I'd love to win again but just being with my fellow competitors and knowing I brought the best body forward would be an amazing feeling . I just cannot wait.

Counting down the days...

Turbofire or TurboSweat

After hearing rave reviews from more than one person, I had finally decided on doing the TurboFire workout DVD's.  I immediately chose to do one of the harder routines considering my (what I would like to think) advanced athlete capabilities.  Since today was a day off from the gym, I thought I'd suck it up and make it a bit challenge today.  It's always good to challenge yourself so you never get bored.  

The steps/moves look quite easy but looks can also be deceiving.  Once you start her routine, your heart rate immediately skyrockets.  The music is upbeat.  The instructors' attitude is great with her constantly delivering a motivational message in between sets of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I have to admit.  There were times when I felt like I wanted to give up but she convinced me to not.  "It's all up in here." - as she points to her head.  Mind over body, as I like to tell my #TeamSexy Girls.        

I rate this workout DVD a 9 out of 10

Music: Great
Delivery:  Motivational
Actual Workout: Effective
Sweat Factor: 10

Go check it out if you haven't already.  Until next time, HIIT it baby.

-kimmy-

It's colder...it must be August (Updates)

Gym Playlist

Decided to share what I think is my golden playlist (current one-I change it all the time).  Yes I am fully aware that some of these songs are not your typical gym songs, but I like them and thats what matters.  ENJOY or NOT!!!!

-kimmy-

Sadness turned Happiness...eventually

Lately, I've been noticing a lot of heartbreak/breakups in my circle of friends. It just saddens me to see the pain in their eyes. Constantly bombarded with lines from friends like "You are strong. You can get through this."...when really...for them...it's the hardest thing they are going through at this point in their lives. I know because I've been there.

This blog was and still is my sole outlet for expressing my thoughts and feelings, especially in times of despair. Sure, it's easy for me to say "get over it." but at the same time...as the infamous quote goes "Time heals all wounds."

My thoughts/suggestions/advice for my friends with broken hearts: Don't sit around in your dark room all day long curled up in your bed listening to sad love songs. Keep yourself active/busy, therefore keeping your mind busy. The gym is your best friend. The reason why? When u workout, your body releases a hormone, which in turn makes you happy (endorphins). Optimize this feeling.


With time, you will see how strong you REALLY are.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Another One Bites The Dust

So this is my month numero 2 for prepping for next year's MABBA Provincial Competition.

So far so good.  I have seen many improvements over the past month in my body (legs, glutes, mid-section - which are my weaker points).  My upper body still needs some more mass to it.  With that, I am consuming more carbs than before.  It nice to have carbs again.  I have tons of energy and my muscles look fuller.

Another motivational force for me is that its that time of year again...BIKINI/BEACH TIME!  Everyone wants to look fabulous and with many events coming around the corner (this month or next), I gotta look my best.  I also have a new obsession.  I have to confess I am SO ADDICTED to buying BIKINI'S.  In the last 2 weeks, I have bought 4 bikini's.  I am finding it hard to close my drawer I use to store them in.  It bad because everytime I go to the beach now, I see other girls in their bikini's and I say to myself "Kim, you need to find one just like that.  It would probably look fantastic on you."  SO awful.  So the addiction continues.  It probably will today too since my bud Charmaine and I are going shopping for her birthday dress at the MALL (dun...dun...dunnnn - scary music).

Charmaine also mentioned there is going to be a fashion show coming up in August and the promoter is looking for models to be featured in it.  She asked me if I wanted in.  I obviously said "YES"!  It would be great exposure for sure...plus we get to be all dolled up...probably meet new people too.  So yet another motivational force to keep this fitness dream alive.

YOU CAN DO THIS.  EASY.  NO PROBLEM.  - My mantra..now and always!

-kim-