New Gym Membership!

I did it! I bought a gym membership *with* childcare. The childcare was the big selling point for me. I either workout with my toddler (and sometimes older kids), or I have to dance around my husbands schedule. My husband is my #1 supporter!! He is so encouraging and accommodating when ever possible, but THIS gives me assurance that I can workout when I want, uninterrupted.

PROS... I get a one-on-one with a trainer once, for free, a free body fat scan ($15 USD after my first free scan, as wanted), a free equipment use tour, and a ton of free classes. More PROS... a dry sauna and a steam room!! They also have a pool and neat outdoor equipment.

CONS... no StairMaster!!! But, I can still visit the gyms on base when Chris can watch our kids, and I plan too. I cannot help it, I love that machine!! It gets me drenched in sweat and when I get bored or tired I switch up my steps from side to side, backwards, kickbacks, etc. So many good options.

It's also nice having my youngest in the same building. I was having to use a drop-in, pay-by-the-hour daycare prior. My new gym is cheaper if you factor in the free childcare. YAY!!

~Lila

When on Vacation...

During May 1^st through May 9^th, I will be hosting my dad! We live in Jacksonville, NC and he lives in Tacoma, WA. I will not be sticking to my current gym schedule do to hosting. However, I do have a plan. For those 9 days I will be doing an at home workout DVD program that is a similar difficulty level as my gym workouts. I can do them at home in the morning hours before anyone else is up and about. That way I get to keep my progress going, and still spend as much time with my dad. Win, win! I WILL miss my gym time. I love the feeling of a good gym workout. I love having the mirrors there to see my form and I love my mid-day me time. I also love using the StairMaster for my cardio days. But a little change will be OK too!

Another vacation I will have to plan for is a road trip to a lake house family reunion in July. My husband’s grandparents are hosting and I have never been to their family property. It is in Star Lake, NY. I need to get creative with how to meal prep there and how to stay active. I’ll keep you posted on what I do to plan for the trip!

~Lila

Update & Check In

Hello lovelies! I hope you had a wonderful week! Mine was productive, challenging and eye-opening. I got in the gym and tried new lifting workouts. That was a success in itself. I have ALWAYS been intimidated by lifting around people who look like they lift. It’s a challenge to get vulnerable and try something publicly for the first time, but I did it!

One tip is to ask for help when you need it. Remind yourself that you will have a window of learning and it is OK to be a beginner. It is better to ask for help and do something correctly, then to suffer silently and worst-case scenario, injure yourself. Be smart about it. I had to ask how to lock and unlock the Smith Machine. I asked a guy next to me who was on a rep rest. He was happy to help and it only took a few seconds. Now, I know what to do next time. Yay!

Another way I ask for help is with childcare. IT IS OK TO TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR KIDS AS A MOM AND DO NON-MOM THINGS. In fact, it refreshes me and makes me a happier person and a happier mom. My husband has been watching our kids so that I can go to the gym alone on the weekends and sometimes in the evenings. It’s been so nice to focus on my work out without any interruptions. It’s a game changer.

Typically, I have been one of the only females in the gym, but today, there were a lot of ladies at the gym, and many were in GREAT shape!! Holy glutes and tiny waists. I was surprised how much of a blow it took to my ego. I am all about girl power and encouraging everyone, but I am also guilty of harshly comparing myself to other women. This is common, but NOT healthy.

We are all on a journey to fitness and many have been on their journeys for years, even decades! Also, everyone has a unique body and we carry body fat and muscle in difference places. Different is not bad.

I am focusing on keeping up a fitness routine and making good choices in the kitchen. There is no secret recipe or magic button. You have to put in the work, learn, and repeat. It’s a process. You can’t just want it bad enough, you have to work for it. I am trying NOT to compare my chapter 1 to someone’s chapter 50, but it is HARD!

~Lila

First BIKINI Pics!

These are photos from this afternoon. I am 5'6", and 138 pounds (morning weigh in). I am NOT trained on proper bikini poses, so please understand that these are in no way my interpretation of poses. I am very excited to learn posing, but today, my goal was to simply get on a bikini and take photos of my starting point. I was barefoot in some photos, and I have kitten heels on in others. 5" clear shoes are on my wish list! 

Wesley, my toddler, decided he wanted in on the action, so he joined me for the last photos. I love that he did that! My children are and always will be my greatest accomplishments. 

~Lila

***My bikini is 238 04 7007 BLUE/AF700 Xhilaration, from Target in size Medium top and size Medium bottom. It was purchased in spring, 2019.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!! This is my place to document my progress as an amateur, first time, bikini competitor. I am brand new to everything bodybuilding. So, you will see me get WAY out of my comfort zone while I learn tips and tricks and train. You’ll see me in the gym lifting along side people who look a lot more skilled and confident, you’ll hear me talk about how I push through insecurities and just go for it! We will also talk nutrition, recovery and balancing a life outside prep. 

We all start as ammeters. In fact, ever pro was once a beginner! I have come to realize I have noting to lose except time, so here I go. No more waiting for the perfect day. Here I go!

~Lila