What's Your {HOT HOBBY} - Scrapbooking, Photography...what about FITNESS? // Loving Life (Vol. 2)

"Anyone Can Give Up!"

5.20.11

Most people have something that they like to do for fun that doesn't have anything to do with their regular "life routine." Maybe you have a passion for MUSIC, DANCE, HUNTING, ART, SHOPPING, BLOGGING, FASHION, SPORTS, COOKING, READING, KNITTING... the list could go on and on!

Some of you might have read a recent Fizzy Blog post called "My {TRANSFORMATION}Story." I wrote about my life challenges with chronic pain, weight loss and gluten intolerance. Earlier this year I decided to enter my very first Figure and Fitness Competition as something fun to do while I also worked hard on my Fizzy Glassware orders. Art and painting have always been my number one passion, but choreography and dance have been another huge love of mine. Now that I paint full-time for my career it has been so much fun to channel my creativity somewhere else to keep life vibrant and energizing.

I entered the Mr. and Ms. Natural Minnesota Competition on May 20. I competed in Figure Beginner Short and also Xtreme Fit. This was my very first competition and I truly had no idea what to expect! I went into the training, dieting and competition day with an optimistic attitude and I know that is why it turned out to be the best thing I've ever done.

My Xtreme Fit Routine was to Britney Spears' song, "Toy Soldier." So I went for an army-themed look and gave my choreography a military twist. I decided to order a custom dog tag necklace from an Etsy Seller to add to my costume. I wanted the necklace to also be a keepsake to remember my first show, so I researched some fitness quotes and found "ANYONE CAN GIVE UP!" I felt like this was a perfect mantra to live by since this had been one of the hardest things I had ever attempted to do. I love wearing the necklace post-competition and thought it would be the best theme for my Fitness Blog.

The night was full of anticipation, nerves, sticky-tanned skin, costume changes, pumping up my muscles and not forgetting to smile. I couldn't be happier having found my new fun HOT HOBBY! Read more about my experience and what I call the "Best Night of my Life!" (blog post from Fitness Blog).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best Benefit:

Seeing where I could take my body physically

and learning how to COOK more!

Best Investment:

30-minute personal training sessions

2 to 3 times a week with Al Norby.

New Guilty Pleasure:

A SHELLAC manicure at Salon Intrigue with Lisa

Hardest Hurdle:

Having allergic reactions to certain foods

even ones that are already gluten free.

Favorite Find:

BeautiControl Skin Care products.

Best Moment:

Seeing my "family of friends" during intermission

and then hearing my number called for the

Overall Figure Beginner Title.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out these fun ETSY items that I

ordered to use the day of my competition!

(This very first item came all the

way from a designer in Israel!)

FITNESS ROUTINE TOP 

Butterfly Workout Bra by Underneath
$35.00

CUSTOM "DOG TAG" NECKLACE

Medium Mini Dog Tag Necklace by wsayle
$36.00

BUSINESS CARD DESIGN

Business Cards (for my Trainer) by Deidamiah
$10.80

ARMY HAT

Distressed Army Green Military Hat by IcyHats
$5.99

"LOVE YOUR JOURNEY" NECKLACE

Necklace that my girlfriend, Monica, gave me as a gift!
by sweetsimple
$20.00

FIGURE POSING SUIT

Figure Posing Suit by saleyla
$190.00

Special Mentions to my Trainers,
Fitness Instructors and Coaches!

al norby
curt dahlen
aaron callister
lenore theobald
katie haggerty
nick bez

Thank you for taking the time to
read about my NEW HOBBY!
I hope it has inspired you to take the time to find
your special hobby or get a little more FIT!

My {TRANSFORMATION} Story - How To Get LEAN Before Your Big Day // Loving Life (Vol. 1)

Even Marilyn Monroe had the right idea!

It's obvious that exercise and weight

training have been around for awhile.

So why is it such a new

concept for some people?

My Transformation Story: 

Age 22 (2004) - 140+ lbs

Growing up I was a fairly active kid, dancing throughout my teenage years and into college. Specifically "working out" was something very foreign to me by the time I hit my early 20s. My body had a different metabolism and the weight started to climb right on. By the age of 23, I weighed in close to 145 lbs at only 5'1".

Age 25 (2007) - 122 lbs

I asked my friend who knew his way around the gym for some help. I started to lift weights regularly with him and found a fun cardio "dance class" to keep my body moving. I also started to eat a better diet with more protein and less junk. Within a year or two, I was able to slowly shed roughly 20 lbs. off of my very short frame. I had never felt better and I started to look much younger as I got older into my twenties. I used the photo on the right as a head shot for an NBA Timberwolves Dance Team Audition and it also marked my newfound healthy body.

Fast forward a couple of years. I was currently working full-time when I had an onset of chronic, widespread pain and fatigue. I was so crippled by this disorder that I had to quit my job and couldn't really move myself at all. Over the next 2 years, I struggled with fibromyalgia and was forced to get my Fizzy Glassware business up and running because I couldn't hold a job.

While I was busy painting away, I wasn't working out because of my constant pain, and the weight quickly returned. By last summer, I was back at 135 pounds and it took a photo of me with my friends at my birthday lunch (below) to realize that my body fat had gotten out of control once again.

NEW BEFORE PHOTO - Last Summer

Age 28 (May 2010) - 135 lbs and 24% Body Fat

I knew I had to change some things quick! I really focused on eating better with more fruits and vegetables. This started to give me more energy and my pain began to let up a little. I was slowly able to be more active as well. By last fall, I had a new major onset of pain and made a discovery. GLUTEN had been attacking my body. I have been gluten-free since Thanksgiving and my pain... ALL of my chronic pain/fatigue has vanished from my body. Yes, the diet can be hard, but I feel like I got my life back! After seeing the changes in my physical health, once I took gluten out of my diet, I decided to take on a new life challenge. Enter my first FIGURE/FITNESS COMPETITION! So about 12 weeks ago I began a specific diet of protein while I rotated my carb intake along with working out five to six days a week.

NEW AFTER PHOTO - Fitness Training

Age 29 (2011) 110 lbs and 10% Body Fat

Meet My Personal Trainer:
AL NORBY

The biggest support I've had through this journey has been my consistent weight training sessions with my personal trainer. Al Norby has kept me motivated, encouraged and challenged throughout this whole adventure. He also kept things interesting with quick and intense sessions that were only 30 minutes long! If you are looking to achieve some personal goals for yourself, I STRONGLY recommend investing in a personal trainer who will show up when you don't feel like doing the work. Al trains at a Snap Fitness Club in Minnetonka, Minn. It is one of the largest Snap Fitness clubs in the Twin Cities and has access to excellent cardio and free weights, cables and other fitness equipment.

"Specializing in motivation, accountability and expert strategies, my passion is simply seeing clients ENJOY success." - Al Norby

If you are a BRIDE and GROOM looking to shed some of those extra pounds before your big day, check out Al's blog post, "His and Her Fitness Tips For Wedding Day Ready". He gives basic steps in very simple terms to give you the focus you need to make those changes happen. His latest post is about "Why People Avoid The Gym", the pictures are worth the read!

If you are located in the Twin Cities area and would like to see what type of program Al would suggest for you, simply request a FREE CONSULT. The results are totally worth the investment ... they were for me!

For more about Al Norby (Personal Trainer) visit alnorbytrainer.blogspot.com

Look Good While You Sweat!

Etsy Finds by the FizzyArtist

Sheer Bliss Yoga Tunic by LycheeGrove
$32.00

My Pretty Pretty Peacock Cropped Pants
by nicandthenewfie
$22.00

Felt Applicae Pillow 14 x 18 by alexandraferguson
$89.00