tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44423131864666615232024-02-18T19:47:56.345-08:00Prissy FitFitness, it's a big part of my life. It's something I love, that makes me proud of the person I've become. I feel more like a woman and love building my curves. Makes me feel that much more feminine, confident and prissy when I'm all dolled up. I often struggle with finding the balance between being "everyday fit" and "competition fit". I decided I needed to start blogging about the things I love, and the things I hate.Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-14310770804055696602015-05-19T11:41:00.002-07:002015-05-19T11:41:58.239-07:00Why I Wear Lipstick at the Gym<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUIhEnFuHrYEwZMPNQdFGl1VDh9fyoFBsXkCCK3va3gBYzUSTE02O3hxcMOzFyKPmZliaPCRWYYKdQkexdR0fX_4LvUIT4QgFs0pUDd_q8isGRUO6ZXpUSFMTWSveGTqxFvyhK_8WmEs/s1600/lipstick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUIhEnFuHrYEwZMPNQdFGl1VDh9fyoFBsXkCCK3va3gBYzUSTE02O3hxcMOzFyKPmZliaPCRWYYKdQkexdR0fX_4LvUIT4QgFs0pUDd_q8isGRUO6ZXpUSFMTWSveGTqxFvyhK_8WmEs/s320/lipstick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know one of the annoying things about being a woman? Hormonal fluctuations. We’re a constant roller coaster of estrogen with water retention, bloating, cramps, and like 2 weeks out of the month of looking in the mirror and thinking “Damn! I look good!” Then with the fluctuations we have days that we just don’t like or recognize our reflections. So maybe we bundle up to hide our bodies even though they are still incredibly beautiful, the hormone goggles just don’t let us see that.<br /><br />And then we muster up the strength and willpower to take our fatigued bloated crampy bodies to the gym. And no one gives us a tiara and chocolate just for showing up. Seriously WTF? Not feeling physically the greatest, mentally the greatest, we still show up and begrudgingly get the job done and leave feeling an odd mixture of a little proud that we showed up and a little disappointed that we just could not push ourselves a little harder.<br /><br />That’s a mental block. I don’t feel good, I don’t feel I look good, I don’t feel like my workout will be good. Confidence – lost.<br /><br />But those 2 weeks of normal energy, no bloating or cramps, not feeling like a water balloon – we walk in the gym and OWN SH*T! We have the “can do” attitude and we kick our own asses. We reach for heavier weights, we trust our bodies and our abilities. But why? It’s the confidence we feel. That inner “good” feeling of being comfortable with how we look and we let that feeling drive us.<br /><br /> And on those not-so-hot days, I MAKE myself find that “feel good” attitude. When I show up to the gym with my custom Nikes matching my capris, my capris matching my tank top, my tank top matching my head band, my hair in a “I just threw my hair up in a messy bun to make it look cutely effortless even though it took me 10 frickin minutes to get it just right” polished off with lipstick and mascara – know that I’m there to do some WORK! I’ll take the time to look good, so that I feel good, I feel confident and I’ll be STRONG. My pink-pouted self will grunt through my sweaty workout, wipe down the equipment, rerack my weights (and yours you lazy bum) and will walk out of the gym knowing that I gave it everything I had – breathing hard through my perfectly painted lips.</span>Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-75523222905662311522015-03-27T14:28:00.000-07:002015-03-27T14:28:25.916-07:00An Uncomfortable Reality<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>A lot of people don’t understand the crazy
emotional struggle involved in binge eating and food addiction. And yes - they’re very real. It’s not about hunger or cravings, it’s about
a complete and utter loss of power. It’s
an abusive relationship with food. With binge eating being something I struggled
with personally for a few years, as well as being something I have helped
numerous clients deal with – I felt compelled to write a little something. Especially after speaking with a client today
and hearing some of the words she used. I felt it in my very soul and felt I
need to give people an uncomfortable window into that reality. So here goes…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxliuBH8BbM/VRXKka_XxlI/AAAAAAAAAcE/_VFICyD60CE/s1600/fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxliuBH8BbM/VRXKka_XxlI/AAAAAAAAAcE/_VFICyD60CE/s1600/fixed.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You took
control over me. I rolled over and LET you have your way with me. You didn’t take power from me, I opened my
damn hands and gave it to you on a silver platter. I let you dominate, humiliate, obliterate my
entire being.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And then
rest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And then for
a few hours more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So how was
it that you are the one with all the power - the power that I gave you - and
all I’m left with is guilt? And today I’ll
continue verbally bashing myself, and tomorrow will be more of the same. I’ll hide myself from the world, embarrassed to
even see the light of day. I’ll stare
myself down in the mirror and over-analyze every little piece of me. And I’ll hate it all. And I'll find a way to punish myself for letting it happen when I swore it would end after the last time. And the worst part is, that guilt that I feel
now only guarantees that all this WILL happen again. I haven’t learned how to hold my head high,
to stand up, take back my integrity, and make sure you never overpower me
again. Maybe I don’t want to learn that.
I guess I oddly take comfort in being your
victim, and that’s why the help I am offered falls on deaf ears. I can’t see myself ever getting better, and
on some level I suppose I don’t feel I deserve to be better. I don’t
want to face the reality of what my relationship with you really is. Toxic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And all you
are – is food.<o:p></o:p></div>
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-88574826436612404462014-11-21T20:52:00.004-08:002014-11-24T16:13:16.244-08:00Chica Surf Adventures - Sometimes You SHOULD Believe the Hype!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvvh_a5AVAIV0o-rGE3gHIux_gm2ouslOcRJXfpjDIeUvrrLFolpoS_bg44hWYHBuMsm-WIi6YdbhI89zy_ubNDmlIhG6-Zy2YgXilZeF2e_gBv3OgyQh0_4iaZAUXSleRN2FBDhNjTY/s1600/chicasurf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvvh_a5AVAIV0o-rGE3gHIux_gm2ouslOcRJXfpjDIeUvrrLFolpoS_bg44hWYHBuMsm-WIi6YdbhI89zy_ubNDmlIhG6-Zy2YgXilZeF2e_gBv3OgyQh0_4iaZAUXSleRN2FBDhNjTY/s1600/chicasurf.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Teresa, Costa Rica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Have you ever been the last of your friends to see a popular
movie? They tell you how great it is and
it’s the funniest movie they’ve ever seen?
That happened to me with “There’s Something About Mary.” Had the film all hyped up in my head, finally
saw it and thought, “That’s it? What in
the actual f**k WAS that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
My experience with Chica Surf Adventures… was NOTHING like that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtU3rSQMctbUKsd4nhlqMDQ2U1S9Zv9ewgoGiqqd9RvRWr4VVF-fh6Iy2LSmRLT5-c_qIDxGZuD-j6fT4aRaLvx5m71Lca7PjC_CVLiZMzDI8-vXE5UOhunDh-7eKVvHVNwXYHV4vWMY/s1600/chicasurf-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtU3rSQMctbUKsd4nhlqMDQ2U1S9Zv9ewgoGiqqd9RvRWr4VVF-fh6Iy2LSmRLT5-c_qIDxGZuD-j6fT4aRaLvx5m71Lca7PjC_CVLiZMzDI8-vXE5UOhunDh-7eKVvHVNwXYHV4vWMY/s1600/chicasurf-46.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first wave of the trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
After reading about all the trip had to offer I had it so hyped up in
my head that I believed there was no way it was possibly going to be as amazing
as what I dreamed up in my mind.
Wrong. So very wrong. It was everything I dreamed of and more. And I KNOW that sounds ridiculously cheesy
and cliché but dammit I can feel my heart smiling even as I write this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcvbG53fEnXcJuE11dlxcW_PwCFgynFZiT9fL7-HDfu7dsqNxJgfbtkJKm0xMeK07frXeGqN2DperV9BD2y0ts2_VKgHXSBdFSiD8_-ivRW5UNGp8hbcTJtXR9C8cNCvHm8EIxh5lrpk/s1600/zipview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcvbG53fEnXcJuE11dlxcW_PwCFgynFZiT9fL7-HDfu7dsqNxJgfbtkJKm0xMeK07frXeGqN2DperV9BD2y0ts2_VKgHXSBdFSiD8_-ivRW5UNGp8hbcTJtXR9C8cNCvHm8EIxh5lrpk/s1600/zipview.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from a zip lining platform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_eWQ3a6SdUb020xEnxzLOQUgPBk9R6JeD7EMpSSO41FlWqX6yCPTqapXJtBOlEfiluGjn-0OKuJZ8XpWErpK8bh4jx5EMSNPXPi3NQy4ErS7lHtQy2m7bMxBFapsFV_aEzCruJwDB0s/s1600/amanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_eWQ3a6SdUb020xEnxzLOQUgPBk9R6JeD7EMpSSO41FlWqX6yCPTqapXJtBOlEfiluGjn-0OKuJZ8XpWErpK8bh4jx5EMSNPXPi3NQy4ErS7lHtQy2m7bMxBFapsFV_aEzCruJwDB0s/s1600/amanda.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda and I - see what I mean about her smile?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now I've surfed before, gentle waves in Hawaii and around Huntington
Beach, CA area. Very limited experience,
so booking a trip to Costa Rica to spend a week honing my surfing skills with
other women sounded like a safe and supportive way to practice. Now toss in some zip lining, horseback
riding, stand up paddle boarding, sunset infinity pools, reggae dance parties, yoga,
and garnish with tropical beach massage and you have yourself one hell of a
tasty dish! Now try doing that with
complete strangers. Bonds are
immediately formed and completely unbreakable.
From the very second of meeting Amanda (owner of <a href="http://www.chicasurfadventures.com/">Chica Surf Adventures</a>)
and seeing her intoxicatingly warm and genuine smile, I knew we were all in for
a real treat.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Surfing is a WORKOUT. Trust me,
I’m a doctor. Okay, not really. But I am a <a href="http://www.teamatrain.com/" target="_blank">nutrition and fitness consultant</a>. I consider myself a fairly
well-conditioned athlete - growing up as a gymnast and acrobat, now an avid
weight lifter and yogi, frequent hiker, occasional kayaker and biker, and
always looking for more ways to get out of the gym and play. Surfing in stronger currents was certainly a
fun new way to challenge myself and just the new workout I’ve been searching
for. The shoulder and back strength to paddle out, the chest and arm strength
to pop up, the leg and core strength to balance on the board. Hooray for a full body workout! And just when you think you can’t give any
more, you have an encouraging surf instructor (mine was Jonathan) right there
encouraging you, slapping you a high five, and helping you find the strength to
hop on for one more wave. After 2 hours
of that sort of workout, your whole body is taxed, your mind is clear, your
heart is happy, and your stomach is HUNGRY!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUq4aLKI-L4iR0S3b8DgrUmDPAGLsJVinMr999bHV5MmHVBJgoInRTQA1Qpm40nM78iqoZcMVYwVhrr7r6AAW67NHVDrU_xGzq4Osge8nu-u2Oqs75rgvvFZ3RYriCRmqRjSsj_yti_k/s1600/chicasurfb-76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUq4aLKI-L4iR0S3b8DgrUmDPAGLsJVinMr999bHV5MmHVBJgoInRTQA1Qpm40nM78iqoZcMVYwVhrr7r6AAW67NHVDrU_xGzq4Osge8nu-u2Oqs75rgvvFZ3RYriCRmqRjSsj_yti_k/s1600/chicasurfb-76.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My instructor Jonathan and I. Muy guapo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cVB3ewq_Ez8Q05UUG197djI9xJmVnffUHgLlKlEkOG3cM0etL-herxZV6vQy_U1tPC3Se6eyLc2rV_USDXC8gPdqkkK8XCShfSv-hbFoFZLMWsHazGIA8d88yZIf66oTknzcKIJCbAE/s1600/shrimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cVB3ewq_Ez8Q05UUG197djI9xJmVnffUHgLlKlEkOG3cM0etL-herxZV6vQy_U1tPC3Se6eyLc2rV_USDXC8gPdqkkK8XCShfSv-hbFoFZLMWsHazGIA8d88yZIf66oTknzcKIJCbAE/s1600/shrimp.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp and coconut rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Which brings us to food.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the food in Costa Rica was beyond amazing. The staff at the <a href="http://www.funkymonkeylodge.com/" target="_blank">Funky Monkey Lodge</a> never
failed to impress me. From the banana
pancakes over breakfast, to sushi night, to pizza night, to the vegetarian
lasagna, and of course let’s not forget about the pineapple flambé for dessert! I found all the produce to be much more
flavorful there than here in California, which says a lot because living in San
Diego we get fresh produce year round.
But the bananas were sweeter and not even remotely mealy, the avocados
had an absolutely indescribable creaminess to them. Every plate was full of color, a treat for
the eyes and the tongue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs5oLFVLd5Z0ikWoB5Z2mSKIHziKAnI6GY1BP5dTeelgxaZeZMnKLvJ6fwVPfHDO-OyS1FW4b90vSlFcxm6kDFpSZ3DYGOyaVevpsBJkzsExXeU16zoWQGrXZ0e6aldN2bVozWNz8_3M/s1600/hammock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs5oLFVLd5Z0ikWoB5Z2mSKIHziKAnI6GY1BP5dTeelgxaZeZMnKLvJ6fwVPfHDO-OyS1FW4b90vSlFcxm6kDFpSZ3DYGOyaVevpsBJkzsExXeU16zoWQGrXZ0e6aldN2bVozWNz8_3M/s1600/hammock.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our patio - I napped in that hammock a lot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzMPHB5fkZ1mwvR-js0-qdKs5ZOY8ul7Ce2jFCg5BDPfTXVV7Z_PWByhAFXIqvY286QGdyKiRXdjOqzs03ki1mWX7_KbiCeo75NEurptooBSJWXC6tCWgZ91DqeQb05eQT8OLDc8-N_Y/s1600/chicasurfb-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzMPHB5fkZ1mwvR-js0-qdKs5ZOY8ul7Ce2jFCg5BDPfTXVV7Z_PWByhAFXIqvY286QGdyKiRXdjOqzs03ki1mWX7_KbiCeo75NEurptooBSJWXC6tCWgZ91DqeQb05eQT8OLDc8-N_Y/s1600/chicasurfb-15.jpg" height="213" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My soul sisters forever <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I mentally prepared myself for the breath-taking views, the flavorful
food, the friendly locals, being serenaded to sleep by monkeys, the warm sun,
the gentle rain. What I did not prepare myself
for was the bonds formed with the other ladies on the trip. Coming from all walks of life, about a 15
year age span between all of us, different areas across the country as well as
Canada, from scientists to personal trainers.
Each of these ladies truly touched my heart and I will never be the same
because of them. I keep referring to
this trip as “the trip of a lifetime” but I know those words can’t possibly be
true since I’m already planning on making the journey again next year. <a href="http://www.chicasurfadventures.com/" target="_blank">Chica Surf Adventures</a> made me feel like a
strong, capable, beautiful woman, ready to take on the world where ever the gentle
waves take me. Now THAT is the best
souvenir you could possibly hope for.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You can also check out Chica Surf Adventures on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChicaSurfAdventures">Facebook here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">or on the web at <a href="http://www.chicasurfadventures.com/">www.chicasurfadventures.com</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-35860924218796989082013-10-31T14:40:00.000-07:002013-10-31T14:43:41.437-07:00Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me?!?! - The Blog for New Competitors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91_gFrnFS98/UnLN__vjQpI/AAAAAAAAASU/kpxUzEBL5yc/s1600/whyface.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91_gFrnFS98/UnLN__vjQpI/AAAAAAAAASU/kpxUzEBL5yc/s320/whyface.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Competing in Bikini was one of the biggest adrenaline rushes I've experience. Each and every time. The thrill and excitement never lessened from show to show. But you already know that. Every competitor is happy to tell you the incredible high they feel on show days. But then there are many other aspects that people tend not to discuss openly. I run a group on Facebook with one of my dear friends for new competitors where we discuss these sorts of things frequently. But for those of you who do not have that sort of support group, I present to you the "Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me" blog comprised of very common forms of that question.<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME I WOULD BE DEPRESSED AFTER MY SHOW?</b></u><br />
I call this the bride syndrome. We've all seen brides depressed after their wedding day. Is it because they married the wrong man? Of course not. It's because they've spent day after day, month after month preparing and planning for one single day. And it's an amazing day that is gone in the blink of an eye. Competing brings about the same emotions! You spend 12+ weeks focusing on one single goal, every meal, every workout, every gram of perfectly portioned chicken, for one day that is over in the blink of an eye. Post show depression is normal, and temporary. Try setting other fun goals for after your competition like a color run, or surfing lessons, or that big long hike you've been waiting to try.<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME I'D BE TANNING NAKED IN A ROOM WITH OTHER PEOPLE?</b></u><br />
If you were shy about being naked around other people - kiss that goodbye. The professionals who spray tan people for shows have a lot of bodies to blast with the horrendous smelling oompa loompa paint so they need to get people in and out of their tents as quick as possible. That means you're moving from the tanning tent to the drying tent quickly - naked as the day you were born - in front of other people. The tanning people are professional who see this every week, the other competitors see this every show. No one is oggling your goodies just like you're too uncomfortable to sneak a peek at their junk. So just relax and focus on not freezing while standing wet and naked in front of a fan. I usually close my eyes and visualize my posing.<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME I'D NEVER LOOK AT FOOD THE SAME?</b></u><br />
By the time of your show you can perfectly eyeball your portions of food before weighing them. Chances are you're going to see a plate of food after the show and secretly be calculating the macros in your head. Or you're going to stand in Starbucks to order your grande iced coffee and shoot the barista an evil eye when she asks if you want it sweetened, and secretly judge the other people in line because OH MY GOD don't they know how many calories and grams of sugar are in that caramel frappuccino... ooooooooooh look at the whipped cream on it, that looks amazing... who is the culinary genius who created these things anyway? And those little frosted cake pops? Yes, I'd like to have 3 of those. This is a very typical thought process. You go from judging other peoples food choices to fantasizing about them. Cakes and cookies and Nutella become stuff dreams are made of and nearly impossible to resist, when you enjoyed them before but could turn one down if you weren't really craving it. <br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THAT MY BOOBS ARE GOING TO SHRINK?</b></u><br />
Unless you are a genetic freak of a lady, your boobs are going to deflate. You thought going through puberty at 13 was hard? Try going through it backwards as an adult. Yes - its hard. You breasts are going to shrink, and yes they will fill back out when you gain weight after your show.<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME MY ABS ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR?</b></u><br />
"I'm going to spend the next 12 weeks working hard towards my stage body, there's no way I'll stray from that after I earn it!" Nope, not how it works. Not only is it not healthy to stay that lean all the time, but mentally it's challenging. You thought it was hard to stick to your diet for 12 weeks leading up to the show, well the truth is the weeks after the show are even tougher. You SHOULD reverse diet out of your competition prep, meaning you slowly add in more calories and slowly back off cardio. That takes WAY more self-discipline than it did to diet down for the show. So yes, your abs will slowly fade. Sometimes completely, sometimes just a softer defined look. But you're not going to be stage shredded every day of your life. But practicing as much self control after they show is important to avoid a big rebound (significant weight gain post-contest from over-eating.)<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DON'T PEOPLE SUPPORT ME?</b></u><br />
Yes, you're working hard. Yes, you're dedicated. Yes, you're doing something that other people wouldn't ever consider attempting. No, that doesn't mean everyone is going to support you. Why? It's not because you have "haters" or because people are jealous of you. It's simply because your goal is something they don't understand. You're choosing to be tired and grumpy and hungry to stand on stage half naked. Definitely not a goal for everyone. So be prepared not only for some people not supporting your goal, but for some rude comments. Try working in silence. You're going to be tempted to post progress pics every week because your transformation is very exciting! But the more you refrain from that, the less of an opportunity you give others to criticize your goals. Try searching for competitor groups on Facebook for support. These are people who WILL understand your goals, and understand your insecure days too!<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHY DO I ALWAYS FEEL FAT NOW?</b></u><br />
This is one of the biggest and longest lasting side affects of competing. Once upon a time you were a girl perfectly happy to be a size 5, not ripped or shredded. Soft body that you proudly strutted around with in a little bikini or a flirty dress and never gave a second thought as to whether someone was staring at your stomach or analyzing your thighs. Fast-forward to 3 months post-comp. Let's say you return to that exact same condition. But now all you see is fat, you feel fat, you can't stop staring at you fading abs and poking at the soft spots. The exact same body that you were once perfect comfortable in is one that you now find disgusting. This mentality does not happen for everyone, but it is very common! You just have to remind yourself just because your body isn't stage ready, doesn't mean it is incapable of amazing things and still is something that is to be loved, cherished, and appreciated.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b> WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME I'D DEVELOP AN EATING DISORDER?</b></u><br />
This is probably the scariest one. For girls who thought they nipped an eating disorder in the bud, competing often makes it resurface. For girls who never had an eating disorder before, some will actual acquire one. BEFORE you start training to compete it is VERY important that you have a good relationship with food, realistic expectations of what your body can accomplish, and make your health of utmost importance throughout your training.Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-45496455906950611662013-09-17T12:52:00.000-07:002013-09-17T12:52:09.499-07:00Confessions of an Ex-Bikini Girl: A Giant Public Apology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv4heWs0dnsNlsSEAwYQmg-hmDUZltvZ-1gb_H7il9empY2nb5OsmPQkHxecnshqj_WcpCIWtBW1g9cCgABIYkqASHrje6_uNwI_0vZPCpc3TqfY9RGzYwEVj60Mvivp7V0RJC4HkysE/s1600/no.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv4heWs0dnsNlsSEAwYQmg-hmDUZltvZ-1gb_H7il9empY2nb5OsmPQkHxecnshqj_WcpCIWtBW1g9cCgABIYkqASHrje6_uNwI_0vZPCpc3TqfY9RGzYwEVj60Mvivp7V0RJC4HkysE/s320/no.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Really Robin? REALLY? No</i></span></div>
<br />
Let's play Jeopardy:<br />
<br />
"People like to see my progress pics. It motivates them."<br />
"I just post ab pics to show people that they can do it too."<br />
"It's not a booty shot, I'm showing everyone how hard I work on my glutes."<br />
<br />
<b>What are things I tell myself when I'm lying?</b> Ding ding ding!<br />
<br />
Yeah, I was THAT girl. Picking up my shirt, slight head tilt to the right, ab shot in the bathroom mirror. And post - "Abs are made in the kitchen. Keep that diet tight!" Timer cam pic of my ass in a bikini - no wait I don't like the lighting. Retake. No I liked my pose better the first time. Retake. And post - "So proud of my glute progress. Squats baby!"<br />
<br />
Chances are if you're reading this blog, you have at least one friend on Facebook who does what I used to do. Hell, maybe you ARE that person. So let me explain for you the mentality behind these pics.<br />
<br />
Competing as a physique athlete is a giant mind-f*ck. Your life revolves around how you look. That was my life for 4 years. So as for the "progress pics" - they are posted from a place of needing validation. Although I'd never admit it then (nor will the girls who do it now) I NEEDED to see people liking my picture. I NEEDED to read the comments telling me I looked great, telling me I was motivating (which I wasn't), telling me they wish they could look like that, telling me I was pretty, telling me the wanted to be just... like... me! And I'm happy they're not. That is not a good person to be. I'd tell myself I posted those pics to motivate others or to "hold myself accountable." But looking back now, I know that's a load of crap. I wasn't posting those pics to motivate other people, I posted those pics because the comments/likes/shares motivated me! They fueled the ginormous ego-beast inside me. I wanted to hear from other people how awesome I was. And that's... well... sad, pathetic, childish.<br />
<br />
These "progress pics" weren't motivating. They were a GIANT neon sign to the world screaming, "I'm insecure. Like my ab pic! LIKE IT!!!! LIKE MY ABS! LIKE ME!!!!" And yes - it makes me a little sick to my stomach now that I was that girl. That I advertised my insecurities. I wore them like a badge of freaking honor - Lieutenant Robin von Insecurity, reporting for duty SIR!<br />
<br />
So to all of you who I annoyed the living crap out of with my "progress pics" - I present to you on a silver platter a giant heart-felt apology. I'm sorry. I was a chick-douche. Douchette?<br />
<br />
During my last prep I did not post one single progress pic. I knew it was going to be my last competition ever, and this time I wanted to do it with a little dignity, a little pride, and an ounce of maturity.<br />
<br />
And now that I'm coaching competition girls and nutrition clients, I STILL don't post ab/booty shots to try and round up more clients. How my abs or butt look on any given day has nothing to do with where I've come from, what I know, and how my clients respond. I'm a well educated woman, my clients speak for themselves and THEY are my best advertisements, not myself. I'd like to think my clients, prospective clients, and society in general will respect me more if I carry myself as a strong knowledgeable woman than as an insecure girl. And well - I would add "professional" to the strong knowledgeable part - but I think I talk about poop too much for that. Hey, still gotta be me, right? Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-15721484109361231762013-09-01T13:00:00.001-07:002013-09-01T13:00:30.304-07:00A Letter to Myself - Half a Lifetime Ago<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOPC4BlAHNl7sg3VW9YIKZJqTOSz5Src4EIdHM37BIUTKIvqGOaQ8X4F6DQpRyn_F-LwpCpM_fvbByCWuCbofJTMBMoJnHFlPtJYJo8A9I_zIhhG7IXKcJno8DAHJn0UYFL9Ayb9gM4I/s1600/smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOPC4BlAHNl7sg3VW9YIKZJqTOSz5Src4EIdHM37BIUTKIvqGOaQ8X4F6DQpRyn_F-LwpCpM_fvbByCWuCbofJTMBMoJnHFlPtJYJo8A9I_zIhhG7IXKcJno8DAHJn0UYFL9Ayb9gM4I/s320/smile.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Me at 17</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear 17 Year Old Robin,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re graduating high school this year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you believe it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This senior year you’ve just started to
embark upon is going to be one of the most memorable years of your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know your high school experience up until
this point hasn’t been the greatest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Teenagers can be cruel to kids who actually like learning, who don’t
know how to dress “cool”, are socially awkward, and aren’t the “prettiest peach
in the forest” – you’ll find out what that means when you’re 33.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like all things in life – it doesn’t last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
College is going to have more highs and lows than you can
possibly imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continuing to compete
in sports acrobatics for your first 2 years is going to give you more
confidence and discipline than you can comprehend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when you quit, you are going to feel
LOST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re going to join a sorority which will
bring you some of the most amazing friends – and will also show you the kind of
woman you don’t want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But unfortunately
you’re going to have to become that woman first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like all things in life – it doesn’t
last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re going to continue to fall into the deep depression
that has been setting in since you were in 10<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that depression is going to grow and
manifest in you – exponentially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re
going to turn to alcohol to deal with it, and sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are going to HATE yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re going to hate yourself so much that
one day you’re going to learn the horrendous buzzing in your ears that results
from chasing a bottle of Advil with a bottle of NyQuil and vodka.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like all things in life – it doesn’t
last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re going to graduate with a degree in math – whoda thunk?
You’re going to be a teacher and learn how truly patient and strong teachers
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you’re not going to share those
gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you’ll move on, to another job
that you don’t love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like all things
in life – it doesn’t last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re going to start competing in fitness competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, on stage in a bikini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that little wall-flower you were through
high school?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She takes a flying leap out
of her shell – more like a swan dive into an empty pool. You’ll obsess over how
you look, over what other people think of you, over every little fat cell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll spend 4 years of your life dieting and
gaining, dieting and gaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll stare
at yourself in the mirror no less than 20 times every... single… DAY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very thing you started to build
confidence will completely destroy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re going to deal with feeling ugly, and fat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like all things in life – it doesn’t
last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re going to enter a relationship with the most amazing
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, remember him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day He’s going to knock on the door of
your heart, and you’ll finally invite Him in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s going to show you that your fitness career was never about you, it
was about everyone else BUT you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You met
some of the most incredible people. You found friendship, you found lovers, you
found people who had a place in your heart before you even met them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You found that you have a gift for helping people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That love of learning that you were once
ashamed of will prove to be one of the things you value most about
yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That love will help you change
the lives of others, give them their health back, find a confidence in
themselves that they’ve never seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And every night before bed, you’re going to pray that this is one thing
in life that does last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So 17 Year Old Robin, you have a crazy, beautiful, tragic,
exciting, scary, depressing, joyful life ahead of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this feeling you have now of being scared
where life is going to take you… like all things in life – it doesn’t last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
XOXO,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost 34 Year Old Robin</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--></div>
<br /></div>
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-42459735851709430162013-06-06T12:39:00.000-07:002013-06-06T12:39:34.562-07:0025 Things You Didn't Know About Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU6rzT0gWLNmX1T9qyJtjRbIeXFezJyrvI-CS0s6GiZhPwnzco0d6h8Jrwl5tea5mVMMBhyphenhyphen7WRlX8QWbKd4P5X77HIXT4MQkEeXCii_EVzD0TsGMSOgvQxJqH61h0tvIz7of8JRKyxPE/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU6rzT0gWLNmX1T9qyJtjRbIeXFezJyrvI-CS0s6GiZhPwnzco0d6h8Jrwl5tea5mVMMBhyphenhyphen7WRlX8QWbKd4P5X77HIXT4MQkEeXCii_EVzD0TsGMSOgvQxJqH61h0tvIz7of8JRKyxPE/s320/me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My friend Kari just posted her "<a href="http://www.figuregirlworld.com/2013/06/things-you-didnt-know-about-me.html" target="_blank">Things You Didn't Know About Me</a>" blog and challenged people to do the same. So here's mine!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
1. When I do something wrong, I lecture myself using my full name. "Robin Jean Romero - don't ever do that again!"<br />
2. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 18.<br />
3. I'm allergic to bee stings.<br />
4. I learned that by stepping on one.<br />
5. My favorite thing to do growing up was baking cookies with my mom.<br />
6. I got my first kiss in a movie theater watching "Nightmare Before Christmas"<br />
7. I hate bacon.<br />
8. I have dreams that I'm diagnosed with cancer and happy about it because my sister had cancer when she was 16 and I was jealous of the attention she got.<br />
9. I should probably see a therapist about that.<br />
10. My biggest fears are enclosed spaces and the Blue Man Group.<br />
11. I can see peoples auras.<br />
12. I will gladly pay $25 to valet my car if it means avoiding parallel parking.<br />
13. I got a C in my first quarter of calculus and cried.<br />
14. I'm a horrible liar, so I don't it.<br />
15. When I was in kindergarten my dad told me every time I got sick, he'd get another grey hair. I believed him and cried every single time I got sick until about the 4th grade when I figured out that wasn't true.<br />
16. I fall asleep on airplanes before they take off.<br />
17. I won a "Macarena" dance contest at yearbook camp the summer before my senior year of high school.<br />
18. One of the most frustrating things I've ever tried to learn was how to juggle. My hand-eye coordination sucks balls.<br />
19. I've never been in love.<br />
20. I've always wanted to take fencing classes, inspired by the sword play in "The Princess Bride"<br />
21. I quote lines from "Wayne's World" more than any other movie.<br />
22. I think I did of hypothermia in a past life, I get panic attacks when I'm really cold.<br />
23. My mom taught me how to crochet when I was really young. I used to make clothes for my cabbage patch kids without a pattern.<br />
24. In elementary school I got excellent grades in everything except penmanship.<br />
25. My boobs turned 2 years old today.Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-61851380983835203922013-05-19T21:04:00.000-07:002013-05-19T21:04:46.946-07:00The Final Countdown - Peak Week Exhaustion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9wIwD2pRRQU/UZmdHliC-dI/AAAAAAAAAQo/FinpHUYFhZ0/s1600/finish-line-theatrics-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9wIwD2pRRQU/UZmdHliC-dI/AAAAAAAAAQo/FinpHUYFhZ0/s320/finish-line-theatrics-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Seems like everyone I know is gearing up to get on the competition stage soon and show off the results of months of strict dieting and training. Enter: peak week. The week before the show that may or may not involve dietary, water, and training changes. Regardless if you deplete and load, or just stay the course, people are typically very tired, grumpy, angry, irritable, and completely EXHAUSTED. <br />
<br />
People as me why? "Why am I so tired?" "Is it normal to feel this exhausted?" "Shouldn't I be more excited?" "Why am I so weak?"<br />
<br />
It's simple. Your mind is done. It's a few steps ahead of you. I relate this to marathon runners crossing the finish line. If you've ever watched the finish line of a marathon, you'll see these runners in perfect stride for miles and miles. And then they can see the finish line, and that beautiful stride gets broken. The powerful legs turn to jello and get shaky. JUST from seeing the finish line. Their mind says "There it is! We are SO done!" Nope, still have some distance to run. So the body starts trying to relax and recover before the race is even complete.<br />
<br />
That is what peak weak is. In your mind, you can see the stage. You see the finish line. Your mind says "Score! At this time next week we're done with this diet, lets start recovering now!" Nope, still have a week to get through despite your body's insistence that you're done and ready to relax.<br />
<br />
So yes, it is normal to feel like complete and utter roadkill during peak week. And ummmm... if you're getting ready to compete for the first time, I'm just kidding. It's all sunshine and daisies and shitting rainbows. :-D<br />
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-11043295170268907202013-01-10T11:48:00.000-08:002013-01-10T11:48:11.678-08:00So You Train Your Body - Do You Train Your Brain?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ke-meHm7Das/UO8RFPz-dsI/AAAAAAAAAQA/fH7g65D8tEI/s1600/brain-lifting-weights.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ke-meHm7Das/UO8RFPz-dsI/AAAAAAAAAQA/fH7g65D8tEI/s320/brain-lifting-weights.jpeg" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />
We lift, we press, we pull, we sprint, we climb, we sweat, we TRAIN HARD! We sculpt strong well defined bodies, but how many of us remember to train our brain?<br />
<br />
Now I'm not talking about doing endless amounts of sudoku puzzles, studying vector calculus, and trying to solve the Kobayashi Maru. (Oh shit! Did she just make a Star Trek reference?) I'm talking about training your brain to benefit your fitness endeavors.<br />
<br />
<b><u>HUNGRY? THIRSTY? BORED? CRAVING?</u></b> <br />
<br />
One of the biggest struggles physique athletes face is getting a grip on their diet. There are a ton of ways to diet your body down to compete or for shoots, are to just plain look good. Finding the diet that works for you is step one, actually sticking to it is step two. If you've never attempted a competition diet, let me tell you it.is.HARD! Mentally. You're denying your body of natural urges, not always eating when you're hungry, not succumbing to cravings. One thing you mentally have to train your brain is to know the differences between hungry, thirsty, bored, and craving. Easiest way I've found of doing this, is simply to wait! Drop whatever you're doing, drink some water and distract yourself for 5 minutes. After that time is up, are you still hungry? Usually not, just bored or craving. If those 5 minutes are up and you are still legitimately hungry, reach for some veggies! I like to opt for cucumbers because their high water content keeps my belly full. If you're craving, it's definitely more difficult. For me, I try to distract myself as much as possible. Watching a movie or tv allows your mind too much room to wander back to food, so try calling a friend, reading a book, playing a game. I like to text the guy I have a ridiculous school girl crush on, because he usually tells me he's craving baked goods too, and that we don't need them, and then he'll change the subject so that we're not talking about food. Works every time!<br />
<br />
<u><b>POST CHEAT PUNISHMENT</b></u><br />
<br />
You messed up on your diet, you ate a cookie... or 12. You meant to grab 2 almonds and ate 2 handfuls. Just one little bitty spoonful of <a href="http://www.nuts-n-more.com/products-page/butters/chocolate-almond-butter/" target="_blank">Nuts-N-More chocolate almond butter</a> turned into eating the entire jar. (Yes, these are all things I've done.) So go to the gym and hop on the stair monster for an hour and burn off those extra calories, right? <br />
<br />
-Knock knock.<br />
-Who's there?<br />
-You... and you are SO WRONG!<br />
<br />
Why are you so unbelievably wrong? Punishment cardio is training your mind to think you can delete a mistake with extra cardio. It's telling yourself "Oh I can eat whatever I want because I can just un-eat it with extra cardio." You're training your brain to do it again! So what should you do? NOTHING. You messed up. Oops. Move on. Feel the guilt for a bit, let it remind you that you don't want to do that again. And then just move on. One mistake isn't going to throw you off. Several mistakes will! So don't train your brain to think those mistakes are okay, train yourself to not make them again!<br />
<br />
<u><b>KNOW WHY YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU DO</b></u><br />
<br />
Do what your trainer tells you to do and ignore the unsolicited advice of others. You'll hear that from a lot of people. But do you ever bother to take the time to find out WHY your trainer makes you do what you do? Why do you have to drink so much water? Why aren't you eating fat pre and post workout? What are those delicious BCAA's doing? Why is that <a href="http://619muscle.com/store/product.php?id_product=95" target="_blank">619 Muscle protein</a> such an awesome option for post workout protein? Why does my muscle recover so much quicker when I eat <a href="http://www.nutrasource.com/4319-Glutamine-Micros-Chewies-21-servings-Betancourt-Nutrition.aspx" target="_blank">Betancourt Nutrition's Glutamine Chewies</a>? Train your brain! Learn the answers to these questions. Consistency is the main key to progress, and when we know why we're supposed to do certain things, that consistency becomes so much easier!<br />
<br />
So take the time to train your brain, it will only make your body better!Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-83524773729494225262012-12-27T11:27:00.005-08:002012-12-27T11:31:29.627-08:00My Favorite Things of 2012I frequently get asked what products I use and love, both for health/nutrition, and just life in general. So I thought I'd wrap up my blog for the year with a list of my favorite things!<br />
<br />
<u><b>PROTEIN</b></u>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://619muscle.com/store/product.php?id_product=95" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tQKbdGAE4E/UNyWI9-TdLI/AAAAAAAAAMY/Lg6-5z6Gaj0/s200/balbertson619whey.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Oh hai Brad Albertson</i></div>
This is probably the question I get asked most frequently. 619 Muscle Foundations protein is my favorite. Yes, I am sponsored by them but I chose my sponsors based on products I use and believe in! So what do I love about this one? It's clean. 118 calories, 26 g protein, 0 g carbs, 1 g fat, sweetened with stevia, loaded with BCAA's and glutamine. I absolutely love it! The peanut butter flavor is my fav! <br />
<br />
<u><b>PRE-WORKOUT</b></u>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nutrasource.com/5419-D-Stunner-Blue-Raspberry-9-2-oz-Betancourt-Nutrition.aspx" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOckigbUxIE/UNyWgW1qrMI/AAAAAAAAAMk/LDJmmqRrkvo/s200/dstunner.png" width="126" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This stuff will blow your MIND!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
D-Stunner by Betancourt Nutrition is something that I've recently been introduced to and HOLY COW! It was love at first try! This pre-workout is not the cracked energy jittery type that makes you feel like Beavis when he turns into the Great Cornholio. And no jitters means no crash! Just a nice bump in strength, power and breathing. That's right, it helps you breathe better! There is a bronchostimulator in this product to help improve your breathing during exertion!<i> </i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>GRIPS</b></u>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://store.versagripps.com/cart/category/1973/FIT_Series_colors_available/1/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a10owAnXL14/UNyYS7o5XuI/AAAAAAAAAM0/T8TgxwUNB0Q/s1600/versagripps.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Yes... my grips are pink and black like everything else I own</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I REFUSED to leave the Olympia Expo this year until I bought Versa Gripps because I didn't want to have to pay shipping online. Well in the midst of all the excitement I completely forgot to go shopping - how incredibly unlike me! In the last 15 minutes of the expo I frantically ran over to the Versa Gripps booth to snag my pink and black FIT model grips. I absolutely love the control and improved grip I have when training with these. The FIT series is designed for my girly smaller hands and freakishly small wrists. I lost these for 2 days and was devastated. They enhance my workouts SO much!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>SPORTS BRA:</b></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bodyrocksport.com/shop/item/the-robin-bra/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS29-Y8WYAatEeWWn6K09Fyj_YNNF79JKRvapyk3W4yI-Y6kM4FVaPjNZr1k-x1fLl2YVFkgLyM-4rdUaQgy609OV6UPgNZcY-ZTYwdo1_lMeNEa7r9zim8nVQb0ZqLiLBgFrYDz_Djro/s320/bodyrock.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Robin Bra - named after ME! Not kidding!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am absolutely in LOVE with BodyRock Sport! Kelly has designed some amazing bras that are not only the most comfortable and supportive out of all the gazillion sports bras I've owned, but they're fun and fashionable! This year I was beyond flattered that she whipped up the fun green one pictured above and named it after me! These bras are great because they even have hidden pockets to store a key or iPod AND it has a light layer of padding so that the whole gym doesn't know when you're cold. Bonus!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>GYM BAG</b></u>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fitmarkbags.com/fitness-bags/sports-backpacks/peacoat-class-backpack" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q111xf-AfnU/UNya8s2qgfI/AAAAAAAAANQ/yR8Ls0JXUGU/s320/PeacoatClass_stuffed1-580x580.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Nice bag!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I don't travel lightly, that includes when I go to the gym. I am an OCD organizational freak. Enter: The Peacoat Class bag by Fitmark. It's like a dream come true, in a super high quality back pack. Shoes go in the bottom, insulated compartment for your water bottle, padded back pocket for a laptop, anti microbial bag for your funky sweaty clothes. SO FABULOUS!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>BLOG THAT ISN'T MINE</b></u>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.figuregirlworld.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjZ59QMFmo4/UNyb2dQaclI/AAAAAAAAANg/sIMBEiGi8HY/s1600/kari.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>So badass!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, I read other people's blogs. This gorgeous lady is Kari Keenan<i> </i>- a figure competitor determined to earn her IFBB pro card. She's hard-working, smart, sweet, a great writer, and she sends me pictures of cats. Duh, of course I love her! Her blog covers so many great topics from training, to dealing with the emotional hardships of prep.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>IPHONE APP FOR THE GYM</b></u>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.secondsapp.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oa-OzPiS9es/UNyfjinGI9I/AAAAAAAAAOY/dTue29Y607s/s200/iPhone-horizontal.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Did I mention I hate interval training?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I hate doing intervals. Like really, A LOT! They kick my ass and make me pray for death, but it's a very highly effective way of training, thus I do it. I found this app and its AMAZING! Again it appeals to the organizational freak in me because you can color code the warmup, highs, lows, and cool down periods. You pick the length for each period, number of intervals and BAM you're on your way. It takes all of a minute to set up. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>RANDOM GIRLY CRAP</b></u>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.garnierusa.com/_en/_us/our_products/product.aspx?tpcode=OUR_PRODUCTS^PRD_SKINCARE^SKIN_RENEW^SKIN_RENEW_DISCOVER^SKIN_RENEW_RTN1&prdcode=P19001&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=garnier%20bb%20cream&utm_content=Brand&utm_campaign=Skincare&gclid=CM6M75Omu7QCFQmCQgodPjIAOw" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7Lm7bkmHO4/UNyeu9c3JYI/AAAAAAAAAOM/vV7UrxIo3F0/s200/garnier-bb-cream.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Game changer!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have horrible skin. HORRIBLE! Total combination skin, acne prone, just disgusting. This stuff changed it A LOT! Much more even skin tone, faded old acne scars, just youthful glowy skin!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>FAVORITE PERSON ON THE PLANET</b></u>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici_pV98JxI4ChxBYSzqbAgc0XtT6ENAmylu-HAru2MMtQ0tF0EyUfNqbK0j-QtvN9kcdJ2uDZd3oPwrs1rdL7AINiPiLyv6pmQvoTCy0b1lAbx1QkYSuBBAQNOH1DXSo1gemzz17Q3YU/s1600/ALI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici_pV98JxI4ChxBYSzqbAgc0XtT6ENAmylu-HAru2MMtQ0tF0EyUfNqbK0j-QtvN9kcdJ2uDZd3oPwrs1rdL7AINiPiLyv6pmQvoTCy0b1lAbx1QkYSuBBAQNOH1DXSo1gemzz17Q3YU/s200/ALI.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Alison Burgess</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lc7BkjwGdjk/UNydT2eVMVI/AAAAAAAAAN8/XamTZfdf4Fk/s1600/ANNIE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lc7BkjwGdjk/UNydT2eVMVI/AAAAAAAAAN8/XamTZfdf4Fk/s200/ANNIE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Annie Parker</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Okay so it's a tie. But they're both blond fit girls with names that begin with "A" so I figure I can post them both. Shuddup, it totally makes sense. Miss Alison Burgess and I met about a year and a half ago competing but developed a great friendship this year. She's my go-to gal for advice about basically everything under the sun. She always says things that makes my mind go in directions I've never contemplated so I can honestly say I really am a better person for knowing her. And also, she sends me pictures of cats.<i> </i>And then there's my little pocket sized friend Annie Parker. We have one of those friendships that consists of finishing each others sentences, laughing at things that no one else understands, and even started a business together!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So that's it folks! My favorites of 2012! Wishing you all the best in the new year! xoxo</div>
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-50268475333222394392012-12-13T12:44:00.001-08:002012-12-13T12:44:38.057-08:00Screw Being an Adult- Train Like a KID!: The Key to Fitness Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErdK6cTO1g8/UMo4fzmhyuI/AAAAAAAAAMA/5HMml-BxkJg/s1600/Baby+Squat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErdK6cTO1g8/UMo4fzmhyuI/AAAAAAAAAMA/5HMml-BxkJg/s320/Baby+Squat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm a big kid at heart. I am still intrigued by the magic of Disneyland. I make wishes on shooting stars and dandelions. I hate doing chores. I love watching cartoons. I have aspirations of one day opening an indoor tree climbing gym. I think boys are icky - well okay maybe not that part.<br />
<br />
Do you remember being a little kid? Did you ever run so fast you thought your legs were going to fall off? Or feel like an Olympic gymnast swinging on the monkey bars? Remember when PE was your favorite time of day because you'd get to be active? When did all that exercise become a chore? The point is, we were active in our childhood because we made it fun! We ran around because we chose to, not because we felt like we had to! Make your workouts fun again. BE A KID AGAIN! Involve your friends and family! Seriously, try playing "Duck Duck Goose" as an adult. It's exhausting. Sit down, get up, SPRINT, sit back down. Interval workout baby!<br />
<br />
How many of you have ever tried to have a conversation with a 3-year-old? I'm sure lots of you have, which means you are well aware that the favorite word of every 3-year-old is "Why?" So what happened to that? When did we feel like we know so much that we stopped asking "Why?" Surely we're not so arrogant as to think we know it all. When you're working towards your fitness goals - whether they be to build muscle, burn fat, run faster, run further, lift heavier, live longer - don't forget to seek the answer to WHY you're doing the things that you do. Why should you lift in that repetition range? Why should you be eating those sorts of foods at those specific times? Why do you have to drink so much damn water? If you know the answers to these, good job little slugger!<br />
<br />
Let's play $10,000 Pyramid. Goldfish crackers... plastic bag full of cheerios... peanut butter and celery... granola bars... THINGS THAT YOU SNACK ON! Ding ding ding! Winner. We ate more frequently as kids. We snacked! Common meal plan as adults: coffee for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, mid-afternoon latte, dinner, DONE. Bad idea. 3 planned meals a day all involving protein, carbs, and healthy fats, with 3 snacks a day, MUCH better idea. Eat like a kid, small frequent meals! <br />
<br />
You know what else we did better as kids than we do as adults? Rest. We took naps, we went to bed at a consistent time. We slept in without guilt. So do it! SLEEP! Sure you may have to sit down and manage your schedule a bit, but you need sleep. And I know some of you are saying "I'll sleep when I'm dead." Well cool, if that's your attitude that whole "dead" part is going to come MUCH sooner than you think. 8 hours of sleep per night gives you 16 quality hours of day. 5 hours of sleep gives you 19 ass-dragging coffee-chugging fatigued-body hours of the day. Not really a great trade-off!<br />
<br />
So my advice to you - be a kid. Train like a kid - make it fun! Think like a kid - ask why! Eat like a kid - small frequent meals! Rest like a kid - ni-night!<br />
<br />
<br />
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-27292576864471432932012-09-12T16:42:00.000-07:002012-09-12T16:42:34.936-07:00Trapped: What Metabolic Damage Feels Like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mN-y-v7hL5E/UFETzFP012I/AAAAAAAAAKg/VeAgqhIcfbU/s1600/trapped-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mN-y-v7hL5E/UFETzFP012I/AAAAAAAAAKg/VeAgqhIcfbU/s320/trapped-woman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That's me. Trapped. Former me inside the soft squishy shell that is my current self. I live in a world where I am surrounded by people who are the epitome of fit. Who judge other people who don't fit their ideals of what "fitness" looks like. Who think it's perfectly acceptable to call other people chubby. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And so I'm stuck. There's the girl I remember 20 lbs ago who was very proud of the physique she worked so hard to get. And she's stuck inside me just begging and screaming to get out of this body that is keeping her trapped. This isn't a body that came from mindless eating and laziness. It came from being too concerned with the fit body I sought comfort in. 10 months of dieting... TOO LONG! Regardless of changes to my diet, lowering calories, more cardio, my body stopped responding. And then started to gain weight. And then would.not.STOP!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So how did that happen? I've heard of metabolic damage before. I've heard of countless competitors eating nothing but tilapia and asparagus and doing cardio twice a day - an hour in the morning and an hour at night. I was SO FAR away from that. My meals were balanced, I ate more carbs than most girls my size, and more variety. Cardio? Usually 4-5 days a week, maybe 30-40 minutes. Nothing too extraneous. So did I think I was putting myself at risk for metabolic damage? Not really. I've heard of girls achieving that state after prolonged dieting, but I didn't FEEL like I was doing anything remotely extreme enough to reach that state. So I just kept going. BIG MISTAKE. My body basically started to think I was living on a deserted island where food is scarce and I needed to hunt for what little game there is on my island. So it slowed my metabolism down to protect islander Robin from diminishing away. So no more cardio for me (woohoo) so that my body doesn't think I need to save my energy for hunting. And I slowly have to eat more food, so that my body thinks Islander Robin's food supply is becoming more plentiful.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
With
my current diet, most people would lose weight following the same diet
without even exercising. Me? Lifting 5 days a week, still gaining body
fat. So I just keep going until my body gets used to this caloric level
and stops storing everything as fat, and then add in another 50
calories a day. And then repeat until I can get my body used to an
extra 350 calories a day than it's getting now. And in that process,
I'll gain more body fat. And people will continue to judge me. They'll
continue to look at me without even bothering to mask their expression
of "What the HELL happened to you?" And I'll continue to tell them that
I'm bulking for bikini, because that's just makes me laugh every time. <br />
<br />
I feel okay about my current body. I'm learning to accept it. My ass and boobs are GLORIOUSLY round when I have extra weight on. And I like the softness to my face better as opposed to how sharp my features get when I'm lean. I don't feel insecure about myself until I hit the gym because frankly that's the only time that people stare. To a passerby on the street, I look average - huge thanks to the obesity epidemic in America. Not big, not skinny, too much body fat to see any muscle definition. Just a soft curvy girl. In the gym however, I'm "chubby". <br />
<br />
I have at the very least 8 weeks of continued caloric increase before I can start trying to get my body fat down again. I think it will take longer than that for my body to adjust. This is a much slower process than I ever imagined. But I owe it to myself to take the time and get there. Then it's time to cut SLOWLY down to a good maintenance weight for me - which is about 12 lbs less than my current state. If I can do that comfortably, then I can start cutting for competitions and photo shoots again. This is a very long road ahead of me... maybe I should buy more shoes!<br />
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-90296818258143784102012-08-21T10:01:00.001-07:002012-08-23T11:01:11.617-07:00The Fitness Elite: Did You Miss Share Day in Kindergarden?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05UjQp_dO4E/UDO5U8deEVI/AAAAAAAAAKM/lw8K3CD8phE/s1600/27-selfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05UjQp_dO4E/UDO5U8deEVI/AAAAAAAAAKM/lw8K3CD8phE/s320/27-selfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"That's my treadmill."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Some slutwhorebag parked in my spot."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"He's on my bench and doing chest presses with bad form. I'm training for a show so he should move and let the real athletes use the equipment."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"She had the nerve to ask me what my diet is like. Doesn't she know I pay good money for that?"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"He's taking up my space to do a bunch of curls. I bet he's never even done a squat."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"She's fat, why is she even in the gym?"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
SO F*CKING WHAT?!?!?! WHEN EXACTLY DID FITNESS BECOME JUST FOR THE FITNESS ELITE????</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am so tired of the elitist attitude I've seen/heard in the gym as well as bragged about on social media. People are actually proud of the snobby attitude they've developed. Really? We all had to start somewhere. We were all a little lost, a little overwhelmed, a little intimidated at first. We weren't born knowing proper form. The knowledge of nutrition we learn in school growing up is minimal... <span style="color: red;">you know in environment that now considers pizza a vegetable..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; text-align: left;">
because it has tomato sauce in it...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;">even though tomatoes are actually fruit..</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What was I talking about? Oh yeah! <b><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">Sharing. </span></b> The gym is not YOURS. The space is not yours. The weights are not yours. That treadmill or stair master is not yours - even if you may use the same one 29 days out of the month if someone else gets on that damn machine at your usual time it doesn't make them a bad person. If someone isn't in great shape why do you question why they're at the gym? They're there TRYING to make themselves better! Why not walk by and say hi? Tell them you've noticed they've been working hard. MAKE THEIR EXPERIENCE MORE COMFORTABLE AND INVITING! Keep them coming back! Make a difference!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm not talking about the people who come there and sit on equipment just to talk on their phone or check out people. I'm talk about the people who are there legitimately trying. Bad form and all. They are TRYING. They deserve to be there. They have a right to be there. The gym is just as much theirs as it is yours.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
People like they way you look, they come up and ask what your diet is like... and your response is to tell them you paid a lot of money for it. TRUE STORY. Yes you did. And most coaches make you sign a non-disclosure agreement as they should. No, you don't need to tell them your exact diet - it was custom made for you and likely wouldn't suit their specific needs anyway. But what you can do, is give them general knowledge! "I eat a lot of lean meats, veggies, complex carbs, healthy fats like almonds and avocado. Muscle Egg egg whites are ALWAYS stalked in my fridge! After I work out I have a 619 Muscle protein shake. Try the peanut butter, it's great!" See? Didn't give away my plan, gave them some tips. Gave them HOPE!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm a firm believer that knowledge isn't yours to keep, it's yours to share.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So help someone. Make a difference. Give some tips and pointers. <u><b><span style="color: magenta;">LEARN TO SHARE</span></b></u>!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-49754020474534859732012-08-17T10:30:00.001-07:002012-08-17T14:56:29.847-07:00The Cool Kids Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZYUS4z7XtE/UC5ze7nSurI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/b6j_Ol2z0EI/s1600/school-lunch-330-school-lun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZYUS4z7XtE/UC5ze7nSurI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/b6j_Ol2z0EI/s320/school-lunch-330-school-lun.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Do you remember what your school cafeteria looked like? The tables all neatly arranged. Those little food trays? The almost too shiny freshly mopped floors that REEK of ammonia? And of course, the segregation. Every school cafeteria has a "cool kids table". The kids who dress nicer than everyone else, who seemingly always have something interesting and fun going on in their life, who can make your day by asking you to borrow a pencil because OH MY GOD that means they know you exist! That table is the topic of conversation, everyone dreams of getting invited to sit there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And then there are kids like me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The little nerd girl sitting alone silently picking at her sandwich, occupying the last 6 inches of bench, rarely even looking up from the table.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
That concept DOES NOT GO AWAY. You'll see that in offices, and for me - in the fitness world. In the southern California competition circuit, there is a very obvious cool kids table. They're at every show either competing or watching one of the other "cool kids" dominate their height class, who do not accept anything other than first place as being a success. They're the ones who pop up in just about every picture taken at shows, who have the largest cheering section of friends - and even people who have never even met them but have looked up to them for years, are constantly asked to shoot with the top photographers, who have a ton of sponsors, who have amazing parties to celebrate their victories. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And then there are competitors like me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I show up to the competition, excited if I even place (which I haven't). My success is just even being able to get up on stage. I get excited if absolutely anyone is clapping for me. I have one sponsor who are some of the most AMAZING and supportive people you'll ever meet. After the show, I go home, alone, and shower and sleep. And then I always seem to get a message on Facebook the next day, from some girl who competed in her first show - thanking me for making her feel more comfortable and less out of place. And saying she looks forward to competing at another show with me in the future because I helped her have a fun and amazing experience. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And then I realize how much I don't want to sit at the cool kids table. I'm fine sitting at the end of the nerd table - because I'll always move over and let you sit next to me.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-13308165792732484302012-08-12T09:50:00.002-07:002012-08-12T09:50:27.738-07:00I am HUNGRY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4dAvlIH-7Oc/UCfetkGVdoI/AAAAAAAAAJk/xzkex36UP2A/s1600/hungry.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4dAvlIH-7Oc/UCfetkGVdoI/AAAAAAAAAJk/xzkex36UP2A/s320/hungry.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I am HUNGRY! <br /> <br /> You know that all consuming feeling? You try to distract your mind, but it just gravitates back to one though? You want it more than anything, more than the air you breathe? The kind of hungry that courses through your body, you can feel it in your bones, in your eyelashes, in your soul? <br /> <br /> I am HUNGRY! <br /> <br /> But not for food, I hunger for the stage. I hunger for the tired body, for the smelly spray tan, for the drag queen makeup, for the bikini that costs more than my car payment, for the bright lights, for the hundreds of pairs of eyes analyzing every inch of my body. I hunger for the adrenaline rush of stepping on that stage and strutting the body I spent years sculpting and months revealing.<br /> <br /> I will make it happen.<br /> <br /> I will stay HUNGRY!<br />Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-29890073453908989502012-08-07T11:26:00.000-07:002012-08-07T11:26:34.042-07:00The Little Engine That Could - Choo Choo MF'ers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPM-0Ix7Eoo/UCFaz-uJuBI/AAAAAAAAAJU/srDmr3hWc6M/s1600/little-engine-that-could.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPM-0Ix7Eoo/UCFaz-uJuBI/AAAAAAAAAJU/srDmr3hWc6M/s320/little-engine-that-could.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am a gluten intolerant metabolically damaged sufferer of IBS with adrenal fatigue syndrome and a thyroid problem.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Okay, not really. But if I listened to the advice and diagnoses of everyone around me, that would be my current state. Yes, my progress is lacking, and by lacking I mean has come to a complete halt. MANY people in my situation would have thrown in the towel WEEKS ago. Not me. I just harness my inner "Little Engine That Could" and keep on chugging along. CHOO MF-ING CHOO! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So how am I overcoming all this? I talked to my amazing coach, Pete Ciccone of 619 Muscle. This is the whole point of having a coach. Having one voice to listen to, one plan to follow, one mind that is staying a step ahead of you and figuring out the best way to help you progress as an athlete. There is so much clutter between what you read and what you hear and unsolicited advice that people will toss your way because everyone wants to believe they know best. Anyway, Pete asked how I was feeling and I believe my direct quote was <b>"I'm tired, hungry, sore, grumpy, angry, I hate everything and everyone and I want to die."</b> And no, that is not me being over-dramatic. That is exactly how I have been feeling for the past 2 weeks. Anyone who knows me is aware that those are very un-Robinlike characteristics. So he re-evaluated my diet and training program and decided I need to eat more. HALLELUJER! Bring on the apples, grapefruit, pineapple and almond butter! Throwing a little extra coal in this engine and this "Little Engine That Could" will be the "Little Engine That Did"!</div>Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-56605097607423389782012-08-02T12:27:00.002-07:002012-08-02T12:27:57.095-07:00Something is Wrong, But Nothing is Wrong, But Something is Wrong, But Nothing is Wrong?!?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LT3jfjQnP0/UBrUNcoFbGI/AAAAAAAAAJE/mqjE3yn3zis/s1600/Tear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LT3jfjQnP0/UBrUNcoFbGI/AAAAAAAAAJE/mqjE3yn3zis/s320/Tear.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b>I feel like crying. I want to cry. I have an OVERWHELMING URGE to cry. About absolutely nothing. There is nothing bothering me right now, nothing is making me sad or upset. I just can't shake the feeling that I am going to start crying at any second. But nothing is wrong.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b>But something has to be wrong. 10 minutes ago I noticed that my jaw was completely clenched. Like I'm stressed out beyond belief, on the verge of pulling my hair out. But nothing is wrong.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b>But something has to be wrong. My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest. Like I am anxious or nervously panicking. But NOTHING IS WRONG!!!</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b>And no, it's not PMS.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue;">This is one of the unpleasant aspects of changing up your diet. It can throw your hormones out of whack. So what do I do in this situation? I just keep going throughout my day, remembering that nothing is wrong until I can get home, put on an emotional movie, and just cry. "The Blind Side", I'll be seeing you later! <3</b>Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-12147138154088336962012-07-11T12:07:00.002-07:002012-07-11T12:07:52.979-07:00How to Support a Dieter - For Dummies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jHGB1HAclg/T_3PAGDV88I/AAAAAAAAAIE/gYGN14uPJdM/s1600/diet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jHGB1HAclg/T_3PAGDV88I/AAAAAAAAAIE/gYGN14uPJdM/s320/diet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Your friend, your spouse, your roommate, your co-worker, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your son or daughter, your mother or father, your sister or brother... SOMEONE around you is dieting. So how the heck do you deal with them? Here are a few simple rules to follow to be supportive.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">1. STOP TELLING THEM WHAT YOU ATE!</b> The dieter in your life is restricting their food to things that will nourish their body and help them reach their goal. That does not mean that they stop getting tempted by pizza or cookies or ice cream. And that CERTAINLY does not mean that they want to hear about it. I often find myself in the situation of saying something like "Wow, I've been craving pizza for 3 days now!"<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY SAY</u>: "Dude, I had this pizza yesterday from this place in Little Italy! It was to die for! Perfect soft crust and the cheese was super fresh and melted to perfection. You've got to try it!" <br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD SAY</u>: "Wow, good job at sticking to your plan. That's great will power. Hey did you see Magic Mike yet?" Don't make them miss the food they want even more! They're resisting temptation, it's not an easy thing to do. Change the subject! Help them take their mind off the thing they're craving!<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">2. STOP TELLING THEM THEY'VE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT!</b><span style="color: red;"> </span> Your idea of how the dieter in your life should look may not be the same as the picture they have in mind. It is THEIR goal, not yours. <br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY SAY</u>: "You're too skinny now! Eat a cheeseburger!"<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD SAY</u>: "You're making great progress! How far are you from your goal?" Acknowledge their progress in a positive way!<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">3. STOP CRITIQUING THEIR FOOD CHOICES! </b>When someone is on a diet and is trying to keep their food choices as healthy, lean, and low calorie as possible, they're going to get creative with some of the concoctions they come up with. Just because you would not eat it, there's no reason to let them know that.<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY SAY:</u> "That looks gross! You're really going to eat that?!?!"<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD SAY</u>: NOT A DAMN WORD! I'm quite sure you wouldn't like them telling you that your food is fattening and how many calories and grams of fat it has. So don't critique their food either. When people seem me walking around the office with a big bowl of egg whites with mustard and cayenne pepper on it, I have been told "That looks horrible" on more than one occasion. Yeah... I like it and I still have to eat it, but it's a HELL of a lot less appetizing when someone else expresses how unapproving they are of my meal choice.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">4. STOP TEMPTING THEM!</b><span style="color: red;"> </span>This is the one that bugs me the most. It's almost like people make it a game to try and break me. You wouldn't hold a beer under a recovering alcoholic's nose, so don't hold a cookie under mine! <br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY SAY</u>: "Just have one cookie, it's not going to kill you. I won't tell anyone."<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD SAY:</u> "I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy one some other day." Just because no one saw you eat the cookie doesn't mean you didn't consume the calories. Remember, the strictness of one's diet doesn't last forever. People eventually allow themselves the chance to enjoy treats and the foods they love. Eating off plan makes you overcome with guilt, enjoying a treat when it's part of your plan makes it much more enjoyable.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">5. STOP TELLING THEM HOW THEY'VE CHANGED!</b> They are STILL the same person, they have just decided to pursue a healthier, longer life.<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY SAY</u>: "You're not fun anymore! Just come out and have a drink!"<br />
<u>WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD SAY</u>: "Let's make plans to hang out. How does Sunday sound?" Trust me, they still like you. They still want to be a part of your life just as much as you want to be a part of theirs. And that might mean they're not going bar hopping with you or out to dinner on any given night. But don't cut them out of your life, they'll make time for you. There are PLENTY of activities you can do that do not involve food or drinking.<br />
<br />
I hope this has helped you find ways to deal with and support the dieter in your life. Always exercise precaution, changes to your diet more often than not affect your mood. Your dieter is likely to be more sensitive than usual. Be kind, be supportive and encouraging, and be yourself!Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-86446475413610552292012-06-12T13:24:00.002-07:002012-06-12T13:24:38.573-07:00EASY WAY TO DROP 5 LBS IN ONE WEEK!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBXsMtF-JcTSXtxaaTsokVqc8SoMDv-8Q42fQUzpbmOTYebGwDJPGS4vOI_0mFjVE2kb_MhP4hFYBmrBIBC0N6ykfbd8ioPXpqh2f3fGG3s6FPkC79MjQMix4C8sblpitlEVEfRCh2N8/s1600/meathead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBXsMtF-JcTSXtxaaTsokVqc8SoMDv-8Q42fQUzpbmOTYebGwDJPGS4vOI_0mFjVE2kb_MhP4hFYBmrBIBC0N6ykfbd8ioPXpqh2f3fGG3s6FPkC79MjQMix4C8sblpitlEVEfRCh2N8/s320/meathead.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've been doing a lot of reading, research, and some personal experimenting. I've found something that helped me drop 5 lbs in one week! Me! With only 4 workouts, no cardio and no changes to my diet! Bubbies Kosher Dill Pickles! Just by eating a Bubbies kosher dill with breakfast and one before bed my body has kicked into metabolic overdrive! How you ask? The particular way these pickles are brined gives them an ideal water to sodium ratio and since they are also loaded with fiber this combination acts as a catalyst to draw water into your muscles thus activating your muscle fibers from the start of the day so that they burn more calories though out the day even while you're sedentary! The dill has trace amounts of capsaicin which is a natural metabolic booster. Eating one before bed time has the same affect so that you're burning more calories in your sleep! This is amazing!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Okay, so how many of you are frantically searching for places that sell Bubbies Kosher Dill Pickles, and how many of you are currently Googling to see if pickles have any of those properties? Point being, I just made all that crap up. Until about 10 minutes ago I never even knew of Bubbie's brand of pickles. Any meathead with a computer can give dieting and training advice and PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW IT! Do not under any circumstance take dieting and training advice you find at face value without doing a little research first! Check their sources of information, are any medical journals or studies cited? Did it come from a .com or .net domain as opposed to a .org or .gov (which TEND to carry a little more credibility, but not always.) Did they give a name brand product or a type of product? If they're constantly name dropping one brand, most likely they're getting kick backs from that company. There is a lot of false information floating around out on them there interwebs. Do yer research buckaroos!</div>
<br />
<br />Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-74249619346356879822012-06-10T11:58:00.000-07:002012-06-10T11:58:02.571-07:00In the Begninning...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOSG8DS7aNFkIVVsOOTCmbuo4splTlVqQs4LkR6XAHv3JLMsbmXEetOYM0oSq0Rx-dH37m_TBwr1XLgy54cHfMhjEvMB0o66sO7Urybho5TZWnkmc3wKlyQuZtahKjpd_coqnAcSP6U0/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOSG8DS7aNFkIVVsOOTCmbuo4splTlVqQs4LkR6XAHv3JLMsbmXEetOYM0oSq0Rx-dH37m_TBwr1XLgy54cHfMhjEvMB0o66sO7Urybho5TZWnkmc3wKlyQuZtahKjpd_coqnAcSP6U0/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Every journey begins with a first step...<br />
<br />
So where did my journey begin? I was one of those kids who ran before I walked, I needed to climb on everything, I was a master of bed jumping, and I never once touched the lava (aka the carpet) when jumping from the couch to the coffee table to the rocking chair in the living room. And guess what? My sister was the same way. Guess how annoying that was for my parents? Yup, throw the kiddies in gymnastics and tire them out. Plus we TOTALLY wanted to be like Mary Lou Retton after watching her in the 1984 Olympics. I was 4 years old then and I STILL remember watching her vaulting to victory. So that was the very beginning.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 26 years later...<br />
<br />
30 years old, office job, normal gym-goer. Retired gymnast and acrobat. What's a girl to do? I thought turning 30 should be memorialized with something epic. Marathon! No wait, I hate running. Bikini competition? Sure, perfect! I love working out! Wait? What do you mean I have to diet? Ummm so switching to Splenda when baking cupcakes counts as dieting right? NO?!?! Okay fine, I can diet for 12 weeks. That's such a small fraction of time in the grand scheme of my life! And besides, this is just a one time thing.<br />
<br />
And of course being Robin, nothing EVER goes as planned. My one time check off my bucket list changed my life. I fell in LOVE with the fitness industry. I've tried going back to a "normal" life and I realized fitness is my new "normal". And yes friends and family tell me I'm obsessed, even lost some friends because of it. But I really can't think of anything I'd rather be obsessed with! I had a few years of my life where I was completely miserable and self medicated with a lot of alcohol. I think this is a way better choice! I like being able to constantly set new goals and blow them out of the water. I like knowing that I'm strong. I like knowing that I'm turning 33 in a few months and people still think I'm in my early 20's because I take good care of myself. I like constantly pursuing knowledge of health, and I like knowing that I love and respect myself enough to still have the occasional donut or cupcake or ice cream because I will ALWAYS have a sweet tooth and I'm okay with that. ;-)Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-42747377379495947472012-05-25T09:03:00.002-07:002014-04-21T14:32:28.577-07:00GUEST POST: Socializing on a Diet 101 by Janessa <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6QHJORVjhw/T7-tNvHyY5I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/iL9MpdmM5eU/s1600/janessa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6QHJORVjhw/T7-tNvHyY5I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/iL9MpdmM5eU/s320/janessa.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being on a diet is hard, but maintaining an active social
life on a diet can be torture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether
you are preparing for a competition, wedding or just trying to get in shape;
social situations present obstacles standing in the way of your goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are like me, you like to spend time
with friends going to sporting events, concerts, wine tasting festivals. . .
you name it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the problem when sticking
to a low calorie diet or a restrictive diet, as was my case, enjoying these
events can be difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of our favorite activities in our 20’s and 30’s usually
involve eating and drinking alcoholic beverages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the six weeks I was on a restricted
diet, I definitely struggled when in social situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most effective ways I found to
make sure I didn’t drink was to volunteer to be designated driver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a sure fire trick when going to
concerts or bars, to make sure I didn’t slip up and drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just make sure your girls are kicking down
some gas money!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I wanted to have a
drink, I would often have a glass of soda water with lime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can ask the bartender to put it in a
regular drink glass so it takes some of the pressure off from your friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will look like you’re enjoying a cocktail
and you won’t have to field all the “why aren’t you drinking?” questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There were two other big benefits to not drinking that I
always kept in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was that I
always felt AMAZING the morning after a night out because I never had a
hangover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hangovers were definitely NOT
something I missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second thing
that was a hidden benefit to not drinking was the tremendous amount of money I
saved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially at ball games and concerts
were drinks are so expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avoiding
alcohol was definitely good to both my waistline and my pocket book! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without a doubt the hardest part about being on a restrictive
diet was not avoiding alcohol, but rather sticking to the plan and not
cheating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be really difficult
when your friends are enjoying all kinds of delicious and forbidden treats
around you, and you are ‘enjoying’ what one might call rabbit food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be so easy to just steal a nibble here
and bite there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often once we start on
that train, it’s difficult to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
we figure we have already blown our diet for the day, might as well go for the
gusto and start again tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
just plain dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can quote a bunch of
popular pins circulating Pinterest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
Facebook right now like, “ Nothing tastes as good as fit feels” but a picture
of a toned fitness model covered with spray on sweat isn’t going to inspire me
when I am staring down a plate of onion rings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I had to come up with some techniques or tricks that helped me stick
to my plan and succeed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#1 You’ve got to plan ahead.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to eat at home before I
went out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I knew I had already eaten
my calories for that particular day or evening, I was less tempted to eat
anything extra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also tracked
EVERYTHING I put in my mouth. . . umm, blushing. Well, everything I ate
anyways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Insert “that’s what she said”
joke here)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prefer My Fitness Pal which
you can access online at myfitnesspal.com or as an app on your smart
phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By knowing exactly how many
calories I was taking in, it made it easier for me to avoid overeating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often plan my whole day early on in the
morning leaving room to make changes throughout the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tracking
your calories online or on your phone makes sticking to your plan so much
easier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#2 You can call me “Have
chicken breast, will travel.”</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As often as possible
I tried to pack my meals and take them with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I was going away for a period of time, I would bring a bunch of
groceries with me in a cooler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it was
just a day excursion I would pack my pre-cooked meals and snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When attending family events, barbecues and
outdoor adventures you can bring your food uncooked so you can throw it on the
barbecue with everyone else’s food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the most important things I found was to try and be like everyone else as
much as possible. If you don’t feel like you’re missing something, it’s a lot
easier to stay on track.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#3 Surround yourself
with supportive people!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> While every one of my friends supports my goals, they are not always the
best influences when it comes to sticking to a strict program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surrounding yourself with people who have
similar goals or understand your dietary needs (and don’t mind sticking to it
themselves for a little while) can be very helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the movies with my girlfriend who
had been on the same diet and she brought me fresh strawberries for a
snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People like that, really help you
stick to your plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#4 Always have a few
tricks up your sleeve, or in your bag.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always carried
various flavors of gum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you felt the
need to munch, pop a piece of sugar free gum in your mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mint is best because the mint flavor tends to
eliminate that hunger feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re
at home (or in public like a few people I know) you can brush your teeth when
the urge to eat hits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A clean minty
fresh mouth will make you less likely to munch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sort of on the same lines, I found that a cup
of black coffee was really satisfying when I felt the need to snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coffee is a strong flavor and I found that
once I was drinking coffee, I didn’t really want any other “flavor.” (For
example: Hot Coffee + Nachos= not the business)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hot beverages feel satisfying and again the flavors sort of quelled any
cravings I had. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So there you have it, my tips and
tricks for maintaining a social life without abandoning your diet plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it can be hard but you don’t have to
give up hanging out with friends or doing fun things just to meet your health
and fitness goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is possible to
maintain both you just have to have a little willpower!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-4250665475743996442012-05-24T11:59:00.003-07:002012-05-24T11:59:57.472-07:00Too boob, or not to boob...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9wH3thu8zaynbrQN3dV4Dn319Q2UWtBTSZTxJ-41Gg8YriZ52OErHzcCTAoxQxrRr-OMkXaKYMDvUgYAqJB3MufnBMH4ygCuumYeQp_YuTjXGXXN8vpZERW_zPA9tOKfIaOHGmvkh9w/s1600/boobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9wH3thu8zaynbrQN3dV4Dn319Q2UWtBTSZTxJ-41Gg8YriZ52OErHzcCTAoxQxrRr-OMkXaKYMDvUgYAqJB3MufnBMH4ygCuumYeQp_YuTjXGXXN8vpZERW_zPA9tOKfIaOHGmvkh9w/s320/boobs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Let's talk about BOOBS! Seriously. It's a hot topic in the fitness community. I GUARANTEE you that if you get 10 female competitors in a room within 2 minutes the topic of breast implants will come up. I get asked A LOT of questions about implants, so I figured I might as well address the common questions all at once. Here we go...<br />
<br />
<u><b>DO IMPLANTS AFFECT YOUR PLACING?</b></u><br />
Honestly, it depends on a few different things. In figure and bikini, judges still want you to look stereotypically feminine. If you've leaned out to the point of losing all the soft curves that typically define your outward appearance as a "woman" (i.e. hips, butt, breasts, become straight in the waist) than yes, breast implants would work well to your advantage to soften up your look. However, if you retain more of a curvy hour-glass shape (wider hips, round glutes, tapered waist) you still have a feminine shape and implants wouldn't matter as much.<br />
<br />
<u><b>SHOULD I GO UNDER OR OVER THE MUSCLE?</b></u><br />
That is completely a personal choice. Going under the muscle provides a much softer and natural look when you're lean, though the pain and recovery time is significantly increased than should you opt to go over the muscle. So weigh your options, softer more natural look with increased pain and longer recovery? Less pain, quicker recovery, less natural look. I feel it important to note that whether you go under or over the muscle will not affect your readings on mammograms. Your doctor will still be able to take clear and accurate mammograms if you have implants once you reach that age, regardless of implant placement.<br />
<br />
<u><b>HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE I CAN WORK OUT AGAIN?</b></u><br />
There is no set time for this, it is purely on a case by case basis that will be discussed with your doctor. The healthier your body is before your surgery and during your recovery, the quicker you'll be back in the gym. In the weeks before your surgery, load up on vitamin enriched fruits and veggies, keep your water intake high, keep your cardio up so that your heart is nice and healthy and most importantly your circulation is increased. Your nutrition is just as important after your surgery so that your tissues are getting the proper fuel they need to recover and repair. <br />
<br />
Other factors that affect recover are the size of the implant, the placement of the implant (under or over the muscle), your body's natural ability to recover, how prone you are to swelling and bruising, and your own natural pain tolerance.<br />
<br />
For me personally, I was cleared to resume cardio and light weights after one week. I wasn't comfortable moving my arms a whole lot after the first week so I did cardio on a stationary bike, and then gradually resumed my weight training program the following week. My doctor (the FABULOUS Dr. Alexander of Alexander Cosmetic Surgery in La Jolla, CA) has worked on several gals in the fitness world and informed me that we tend to have a SIGNIFICANTLY less recovery period than average girls since generally speaking our nutrition and overall health is more optimal.<br />
<br />
<u><b>WHERE SHOULD MY INCISION GO?</b></u><br />
The incision site does not affect your recovery time. The implant can be placed through an incision in the armpit, under the breast fold, or through an incision around the nipple. In the event that the implants need to be removed, replaced, or upgraded, a nipple incision is the only one that can be re-opened. Opting for one of the other locations would result in having more than one scar.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b>WHAT SIZE SHOULD I GET</b></u>?<br />
That is completely up to you and you alone! DO NOT let other people, including your doctor, into choosing a size that you don't want! Many doctors will try and talk you into going for a bigger size than you want because it is quite common for girls to wish they would have gone bigger after their surgery. Chose a size that you will be comfortable with.<br />
<br />
<u><b>SILICONE? SALINE? HOW DO I CHOSE?</b></u><br />
There are 3 factors that affect this: 1) safety, 2) feel, 3) price. <u><b> </b></u>In the event that something happens to your implants, saline can be safely absorbed by the body. However silicone can be poisonous to some people. It is unlikely that your implant will rupture, but there is still some risk. Silicone (especially the new cohesive gels) have a more realistic look and feel to them over saline implants. And lastly, silicone implants are more expensive than saline.<br />
<br />
So there is a handful (pun intended) of information for the fit gal looking for breast implants. If you have any further questions, feel free to post them in the comments and I'll do my best to address them. If you don't feel comfortable asking them in an open forum, you can email me at robinromerofitgirl@yahoo.com.Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-32769780945368972632012-05-16T09:25:00.000-07:002012-05-16T09:25:15.895-07:00Just a quickie...<br />
<br />
The shock of being off-season is finally subsiding. I'm getting used to knowing that there isn't a show or a photo shoot in my near future that I'm working towards. Right now it is literally all about ME. It's up to me to push harder on the tough days. It's up to me to control what I am and what I am not putting into my mouth. I had a week of just utter fatassery and the bloat from that is starting to subside as well. Definitely put on some weight, mostly in my ass which I FOR SURE am not complaining about! This is a time to enjoy some extra calories, some heavy lifting, and some growing muscles! The motivation will strictly come from within.<br />
<br />
Speaking of motivation... I realized that I have some friends who have some accomplished some INCREDIBLE feats that I think will be great motivators for a lot of other people so I've approached some people about doing a guest blog post for me. Really excited for them to share their stories with you all!<br />
<br />
If you have a weight loss, muscle building, marathon running, triathalon crushing feat of badassery that you think people would like to hear, please send me and email at RobinRomeroFitGirl@yahoo.com. I'd love to share your story!Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-36679830397870199112012-05-07T10:05:00.001-07:002012-05-07T10:07:27.104-07:00I Broke Up With My Boyfriend... Sort Of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAJpdgjasb8Pi6TRtVzVMllJ6IRuMYJgFS-bv1z39nFenz6GpYfuen4FrGwaDHBh3rs5WA_crgdsWbaoZO0LT86rgsgJtsiclpa1an1E-QddXNgSL-vg2k1MdooHOQIQ2wMAm-b_NPwk/s1600/broken_heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAJpdgjasb8Pi6TRtVzVMllJ6IRuMYJgFS-bv1z39nFenz6GpYfuen4FrGwaDHBh3rs5WA_crgdsWbaoZO0LT86rgsgJtsiclpa1an1E-QddXNgSL-vg2k1MdooHOQIQ2wMAm-b_NPwk/s320/broken_heart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Heartbreak, it's not just for couples. This weekend I made one of the most difficult decisions I've been faced with in a long time. I opted not to compete for the remainder of the year... just 24 days out from my next competition. So close, yet so far away. A lot of people have been asking how I feel about withdrawing from the
competitions. My response is "I feel heart broken." You know that
feeling when you break up with someone? Like you're sad and depressed
but you know it was the right decision even though it hurts? That's how I feel. I've been getting over it all weekend and then realized I needed to cancel my hotel room for the Memorial Day show at Muscle Beach, and I started crying all over again. Like finding your ex-boyfriend's hat in your car a week after breaking up with him.<br />
<br />
So why did I withdraw from my shows? Reason being, I simply can't afford it. I won't get into all the details but I've been financially struggling since I moved to southern California and it's all starting to catch up to me now. Not competing in these shows saves me in the neighborhood of $700. Now keep in mind I already have my suit, shoes and NPC card. Yes, competing is THAT expensive.<br />
<br />
I have had NUMEROUS people offer to cover expense for me. WOW! Completely overwhelming, that not one or 2 or 3 people offered, but many more! However I politely declined their offers. This is MY responsibility. Although I have invested an extraordinary amount of time and effort into training for these shows, they are just 2 locals shows that I would not have done well at. I have been in contest prep since July 5th of last year, and my body has reached exhaustion. Despite how strict my diet and training program has been getting, there is no way my physique would have reached the point of being a contender for placing at these shows. I would have been competing merely for the experience, so I would not have felt right allowing other people to help me out financially.<br />
<br />
The hardest part was telling my coach. He has invested so
much time and effort and energy in helping me achieve my dreams. I was
honestly afraid to read his response. But he told him he did the right
thing, and strongly thought that I needed to go off-season now. Okay,
nerves calmed. He was VERY supportive of my decision, and maybe even
proud of me. Then I had to tell my sponsors. More nerves. Oh crap.
They're going to be pissed. Nope! More support and love and
encouragement. Whew! Although I still have the looming thought that
there are MANY people out there thinking "I knew she couldn't do it."
And unfortunately I KNOW that thought is correct. There are a handful
of people out there with a holier-than-thou complex when it comes to
training. And since I don't train "their" way, I'm just setting myself
up for failure. I'll let them bask in the glory of my withdrawal if it
makes them feel like a better stronger person. I don't choose to rain on other people's parades.<br />
<br />
I, for the first time in 10 months, am "off season". That doesn't mean I'm living off pizza and beer and donuts (mmmmmmmm... forbidden donut), I still have a very structured diet and training program to follow. Slowly my coach will be adding in more calories and removing cardio to give my body time to adjust. Then it's time to start building.<br />
<br />
So onward and upward. Time to repair my mind, my body, and my broken heart.<br />
<br />Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4442313186466661523.post-74114119061689737652012-04-30T11:27:00.002-07:002012-04-30T11:27:44.706-07:00Body Image - Change Your Glasses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3UPCGg-K_FzE9_vOJ0zHw9LooU9AVl_nhZAEX35MUeDc16hFFkiM2xjaZRHYqlbHKVyzdJWW7CiO9GTM72AYN_Wni7E-770ZtPVWdyg2agQvVykXoj1kugIpWVP4ehTx9aCaUte5htA/s1600/gucci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3UPCGg-K_FzE9_vOJ0zHw9LooU9AVl_nhZAEX35MUeDc16hFFkiM2xjaZRHYqlbHKVyzdJWW7CiO9GTM72AYN_Wni7E-770ZtPVWdyg2agQvVykXoj1kugIpWVP4ehTx9aCaUte5htA/s320/gucci.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
This is a picture of me by the fabulous photographer Scott Allison of http://scottallisonphotography.com/<br />
<br />
I have to say, I'm pretty darn proud of this picture. I'll never be a girl with skinny legs, I'm not genetically programmed for that. There's a good deal of meat there from years of gymnastics and acrobatics, and my legs are where I store my fat, and I'm okay with that. Those legs pack a lot of power. In short, I love the way I look in the is picture. <br />
<br />
Fast-forward to the next day. <br />
<br />
I spend a bulk of the day crying over how I looked. Why? Because I shifted my focus from my photo shoot to my competitions in 4 and 6 weeks. And in the world of the bikini division of body building competitions, this body is fat. At my last competition I received a lot of criticism for not being lean enough and it was suggested that I drop another 5 lbs of fat before I step on stage again. That equates to me needing to lose 8 lbs from this picture and that is a lot for someone my size. Especially to do in 3 weeks before depleting. Panic set it, and I felt fat.<br />
<br />
I cried.<br />
<br />
A lot. <br />
<br />
FOR HOURS. <br />
<br />
When just the day before, I was pool side in front of no less than 20 people in this itty bitty custom made bikini feeling confident and secure and so very comfortable in my own skin.<br />
<br />
I feel like I own a few different pairs of glasses. One for my normal every day self, a slightly different pair for photo shoots, and an incredibly harsh pair for competitions. My personal goal is to be able to forget the image when I'm wearing "competition glasses" the second they come off my face and remember the pride and satisfaction I feel when I'm wearing "every day glasses". This is my third year competing, and I'm still amazed at how much this sport messes with your mind. Robin Romerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082634658777680193noreply@blogger.com0