~Karma Schopp~ Personal Trainer Athlete, Writer

Thanks so much C for your response and for the compliment. I really do need to appreciate my accomplishments more - especially the ones the rest of the world may not be able to see. Those are just as important, if not more so, than the tangible goals everyone else can acknowledge.

The change of scenery is awesome! I really like it. The past week or so has been a bit upside down with the holidays and not being in a regular routine. However, we've managed to stick to a pretty good gym schedule. I'm really looking forward to getting back to the same old stuff. My mind and body crave fitness and clean eating. I learned that in a huge way over the holidays! Some of the so called "treats" didn't even really taste as good as I once remembered. I'm very happy about that!

James got me a bike for Christmas and I took it out for a spin yesterday and today. It's a ton of fun and so refreshing! I was talking with a Fitness Model friend of mine today and I was telling her how great it is to discover new ways of enjoying fitness - without having it centered around a competition or a photo shoot. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own little world....we forget all of the other wonderful things out there waiting for us to experience.

My deadline for the Transformation Challenge is Thursday January 6th. For me...that immediate short term goal is a great incentive to start off the New Year fit, lean, healthy and happy!

It's been almost a week since my last post. It kind of seems like the week flew by and stood still all at once.

I went to a Boot Camp Class on Tuesday.  It wasn't exactly the greatest experience.  I was really looking forward to it - figured it would be a good chance to do something different, maybe meet some new people and learn some new moves that I could use for my own Personal Training clients. Turns out the instructor decided to use me as some sort of example - embarrassing me (and herself) in front of the class.  After correcting me several times on various exercises she had the class doing, she announced that she is highly certified in a number of areas. Apparently tact and client relationships were not one of those 'areas" she specialized in.  I was kind of down in the dumps for the rest of that day.  But, felt better the next day and kept on trucking.

I have to admit, I haven't lost very much weight during this Transformation Challenge.  And it kind of discourages me a little.  I know that I'm solely responsible for my own success. The one thing I am happy about though is I'm a lot less likely now to go to food for comfort.  The healthy eating habits continue.  For that I am thankful!

Soon I have to write a follow up article to the first WBFF Fit & Firm one that I did about the Transformation Challenge.  Knowing that I have to post Progress Pics for the world to see (outside of the Challenge forums) is helping me narrow my focus. A few times this past week, I did 2 workouts a day and it felt pretty good.  I did them because I wanted to and not out of pressure.  So, I actually ended up enjoying them!  I'm going to continue doing that this coming week...incorporating a couple more double workouts.

Have a wonderful week fellow Challengers!

I’m back!  Mom and Dad came for their visit.  Now, they’re gone and I’m back to routine and getting organized.  It feelsgreat!

The one thing I’m feeling a bit blah about is my results/progress so far.  I didn’t gain any weight over theThanksgiving weekend or my parents’ visit. But I do feel like I’m behind the 8 ball.

I was hoping to be about 5lbs less than what I’m currently weighing.  Doesn’t sound like a whole lot.  However, I know how much leaner I can look.  And reaching a goal feels pretty darn awesome.  Not being where I want to be physically is a motivational kick in the pants to do something different to make the changes necessary to get to the first finish line I set out for myself.

Internally,I feel good.  I’ve created and am maintaining good, healthy habits.  That part I’m proud about.  There’s been several ups and downs with competition dieting and the struggles with hormonal issues. To find some sense of balance or harmony is definite progress.

For this coming week, I’m going to start going to the gym in the morning to do cardio.  I’ve decided to go to a different gym to do cardio.  Then in the evenings when James wants to workout, go to the usual gym.  This way, I figure the change of scenery will help fight boredom as well as give me the opportunity to possibly meet some new people. Also starting this week, I will get back to tracking all of my food intake.  I like numbers and seeing where I am...so a food journal helps me big time.

Hope the rest of my fellow Challengers are kicking butt with their own goals.  Have a wicked week!

What a whirlwind that past week has been! Was sick one day and couldn’t do much.  Then it was running around trying to get everything together to go away for the weekend. Then the weekend!  What a blast it was.  I had the best time at the Marine Corps Ball.  Yes, I drank (for the first time in almost 2 years) and ate whatever was offered.  I actually did decent with my eating.  Could have been better....could have been awhole lot worse!

As much fun as the weekend was, I’m grateful the new week is here.  Back on track with a regular routine oftraining and eating clean.  You truly are what you eat.  Eat junk and you feel like junk!  Eat clean and you feel clean. 

Last week,with the exception of the weekend, my eating schedule was pretty good.  Training....not so much.  It was that time of the month and it drained every ounce of energy I had.  There was even one day where I was either laid out on the couch or on the bathroom floor.

This week, I feel like I need to play catch up. Although last week I stayed on track with my meal plan – I physically wasn’t where I wanted to be.  And this weekend, James and I pick my parents up from the airport for their 10 day visit to Southern California.  Thankfully my parents have the same values and lifestyle as me....so I know there won’t be excessive indulgences.  But, I’m such a creature of habit.  My daily routine is what gives methe structure and accountability I need throughout the day. I guess I’ll have to find creative ways to get my exercise and hopefully have my parents join in with us.  By the time they head back home, there will be just over a month left in the Challenge.  That means I need to reassess where I’m at and what I need to do to get to/exceed my goals.

That’s about all for now.  Time to get back at ‘er!

Keep being awesome, too

Overall, it was a decent week. Nothing worth writing home about...but still I didn't bomb. So, I'm happy about that. My weight is down almost another pound - which is good. And when I asked James if he's noticed any changes in my body, his response was (keep in mind he's brutally honest and I love him for it), " Yeah, that cottage cheese sh*t is disappearing on the sides of your legs and your hamstrings." I laughed...it's cool to know he sees progress as well.

For the most part, I'm staying within the calorie budget I've set for myself. I just know there are times when I could make better choices. Trying not to beat myself up about it....just learn and move on.

Workouts were good. I curled 30lbs dumbbells this week...that was the first time in as long as I can remember that I've done that. It was a nice little ego boost.

I guess the thing I struggle with the most is wondering if I will ever feel "normal." My hormones seem to have gotten better in the past 6 months...and I'm grateful for that. But, I still can't remember things for the life of me, get some dizzy spells, anxiety, night sweats and have trouble sleeping when PMSing. It's frustrating because I feel like I'm treating myself a lot better than I used to...so how long will it be before my body finally balances out? I know it could be a whole lot worse...and it has been. Great strides have been made.

That's about all to report for now.

Hope you all have a Happy, Healthy Halloween Weekend!

I forgot to post yesterday's workout. So, here it is followed by today's workout.

Wednesday December 16, 2009:

Shoulders:

3 sets of each

- db shoulder press x 20 reps

- front raise x 15 reps

- lat raises x 15 reps

- bent over rear delts x 15 reps

I did abs at home in the morning as well

Thursday December 17, 2009:

Cardio:

30 mins on Treadmill

- intervals changing inclines and fast walks and sprinting

Abs at home in the morning.

The momentum is building and I look forward to hitting the gym tomorrow :-)

What a difference a day makes! 

Today was so much better than yesterday.  I scaled my calories back a bit.  And, was also able to get both my Chest workout in as well as my cardio.

Chest workout:

Incline db press - 3 sets x 15 reps

Flat db press - 3 sets x 12 reps

db Flys - 3 sets x 12 reps

Cable Cross Overs - 3 sets x 12 reps

Cardio was 40 minutes long and consisted of full body circuit training.