Its been a week and a half of dieting – not just watch what you eat dieting so its okay if I have a chocolate today or maybe some pasta because I went to the gym – I’m talking HARDCORE dieting. Like carbohydrates and I are those friendly neighbors that you see once or twice a day. However, I honestly don’t really mind. Just like not seeing those neighbors so often, you get used to it and when the rest of your meals are right – I honestly don’t miss them.

What I have learned though – planning is ESSENTIAL. I mean I know I need to plan my meals, but I’m talking – REAL important. Example – I didn’t have enough meat cooked the other day – I came home from the gym and wanted to make my own pasta sauce. It took took long, I got hungrier, more frustrated and broke down into tears due to the lack of food and nutrients in my body. After some oatmeal and a protein shake I was absolutely fine. But I’ve kept in mind that I need to make sure in ADVANCE of being hungry – on the verge of starving – it is imperative to have food ready – in order to avoid a breakdown.

It is also at those moments of hunger that the potato chips or chocolates or the dip seem to talk to me. They really do. They seem to stare at me as I walk around the kitchen getting the vegetables from the refrigerator or as I cook my chicken on the stove top. Its like they are testing me – they want to see just how serious I am about this whole dieting thing. I’m serious – they know it now – lol – I haven’t taken the bait! WOOHOO!!

Honestly, the most exhilarating moment was when I was at a friends house last week. I sat a foot away from a fresh plate of funfetti cupcakes (my absolute favorite).  I was there for at least an hour and was offered the cupcakes more than once – however, I refused. I honestly had no desire for them. I had just eaten and was full – plus peanut butter is my dessert now – haha – its such a sweet tasty treat. I have a feeling that after this me and peanut butter might not get along so well – haha.

I guess I have been blabbing for a while now and really have led to no explanation as to what is going on. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook – you may know already – but to my awesome readers – here is the news – I have decided to take my commitment to fitness and my body one level further – I have decided to compete – for the first time – in a Bikini Competition (like figure competitions of the wonderful Monica Brant – but on a different scale). The look for a bikini competition is softer when compared to a figure competition – which is the appeal to me.

The first question that I’m sure pops into your mind is – WHY? Well – the physiques of women like Monica Brant, Jamie Eason, Stacey Oster-Thompson and Ava Cowan have ALWAYS been something I LOVE and have aspired to be. (Well – back in the day I wanted to look like Britney Spears, but we all grow up a bit – hehe).  I’ve worked out thinking that I would be able to get there, but honestly, never fully committing. Since I never fully committed I never REALLY got the body I wanted.

So, I decided its time. No more dilly-dallying – its time to make it happen. What’s the point in waiting. I may love the experience, I may hate the experience, but at the end of this journey I look forward to the memories I have of the whole experience.

It is on here that you can follow my journey to my FIRST bikini competition. Watch as I figure out what I’m doing – how to eat, what to WEAR (oh goodness no clue!), how to walk in those clear high heels (this could be hysterical), and the emotional rollercoaster that preparing for anything you want in life brings. I look forward to sharing this adventure with you – as maybe I can inspire you to go after your goals.

This is it for today – I’m typing this as I lie in bed…it was a tough day of training….I’m pooped…
Goodnight

Melissa )

I’ve been reading a lot of magazines, newspapers, and message boards – there is so much cool information out there – about EVERYTHING!  Here is a list of the six most recent random health facts that I found and think you need to know too!

- Its been proven that physical activity can decrease your risk of cancer.  Sitting still and not moving increases  the levels of estrogen (increase the risk of breast cancer) and insulin cells (unhealthy and healthy cells) that circulate around your body to mulitply faster. Time to get moving!

- Carbs are not the answer to a satisfied stomach.  Studies have shown that people whose carb intake was 55% of their daily calories were less satisfied and full when compared to those whose carb intake was only 43% of their total daily caloric intake. Next time your hungry, instead of grabbing a bag of potato chips, grab some healthy whole grains or veggies, to help keep your tummy happy.

- A smile a day keeps the stress away. Smiling really is the best medicine. Not only will smiling help you reduce stress by helping to change your mood, but a recent study has found that when you have a smile and a positive attitude may help you live longer.  People who smile are better able to handle stress, and are better equiped to deal with the negative facts of life.

- Caffeine has become the most popular drug in the world.  People who consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day are increasing their risk of high blood pressure, insomnia, and stomach irritation.  If you need to have caffeine to keep you going through the day, try to keep your intake minimal and in the morning.

- Eating smaller meals, 6-8 meals per day, controls your blood sugar levels by spreading your calorie intake throughout the day.  Eating smaller meals keeps your metabolism working continuously throughout the day, burning fat even as you sit at your desk. (Most importantly, it keeps you feeling full, which helps you avoid the mid-afternoon binges).

-The hip bone’s connected to the…well, we’re not talking about the hip bone here. But there are two systems in your body that are very connected – your digestive system and immune system.  What happens in your digestive system can affect whether or not you get sick. So in order to avoid getting sick this winter, make sure your diet is full of probiotics (found in low fat yogurt) and quercetin (found in broccoli and apples). 

You want to lose weight and get a flat stomach, but you’re not sure what to do to get there.  You’ve read magazine article after magazine article and tried every diet, without success. You’ve tried the low-carb diet, [singlepic=28,300,220,,right] to only binge on a bag of potato chips two weeks later. You’ve tried going to the gym and spent hours on the treadmill, seeing some results, but then life gets crazy and you never go back.

But you still want to lose weight and get a flat stomach – what can you do that will work?

Here are five quick tips to help you get on the road to a flat stomach:

1)  Make the commitment – nothing will work until you make the commitment to yourself to lose weight and get a flat stomach. Write down your goals – what you want to achieve and by when – then put it in a place where you can see them daily. Reminding yourself daily of your goals will keep you focused and make sure that everything you do will help you lose weight.

2)  Lift Weights – No, lifting weights will NOT make you look like a man.  Lifting weights will build muscle on your body and help you get a flat stomach. The more muscle you have on your body the more fat you will burn for longer periods of time after your workout. Try this leg workout for a start.

3)  Do Cardio – Spending hours on the treadmill walking at a slow pace is not an effective way to lose weight. To lose weight and get a flat stomach you need to use high intensity interval training. This type of cardio will increase your heart rate quickly and help you burn fat for up to 48 hours after your workout.

4)  Eat More Often – Eating smaller meals more often will help to increase your metabolism. Decreasing the time between meals will allow your body to stop storing fat. Instead your body will continue to burn fat throughout the day, allowing you to lose weight and get a flat stomach.  Making sure that these meals are healthy options is also an important part of the weight loss process.
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5)  Drink Water – Water has tons of benefits. It is a great alternative to other sugar-filled drinks.  Drinking water throughout the day will also help to keep you full – making sure that you eat when you are hungry not just because you are bored or think you need to eat.

So make this time different.  Make the commitment to yourself to lose weight and get a flat stomach.  Use this five tips to help get you there.