Hey Everyone! I hope you are having a great week so far. I don't have much time- getting ready for a trip- SXSW is this weekend - actually the festival is like 3 weeks long I think but I am only attending the Interactive portion. I fear how little sleep I will be getting. I digress. You all know I talked about that earlier this week- there are like a billion networking parties at this event and I am excited to attend as many as I can but no way in heck I can drink every day! I hear all these people talking about how they do that and have a hangover every day.....I can't do it. #1- I want to attend every single amazing session possible and I don't want to be in pain, #2 - calories. Hello. #3- need to be full of energy to fit in workouts while I am there- I cannot fail again like I did in Columbus. No excuses. #4- to drink more than like one night would just so dehydrate me and make me tired, I would end up catching a cold. I know my metabolism. I'm old. I need rest. So, perhaps I'll be the only one drinking a lot of water but I'm not heading down there to miss sessions, be hungover, tired, angry and gain 5 lbs. I'm up for the challenge. PRAY FOR ME.

Also- please pray for my brother in law. His mom died yesterday evening, she was only 64 years old. She was such a great mom, and we just loved her. My heart breaks for my sister and my brother in law.....they just lost the grandma like 2 months ago. Sigh. 

I must run - have to pack today, pick up dry cleaning, make sure I have everything I need for the trip, coordinate with my house-sitter blah blah blah. I did have a great workout this morning. It proved my point again that I simply can't eat in the morning before cardio. I tried to do Insanity and got 2/3 of the way through the warmup and was way too crampy to continue. Bollocks!! So....I made up my own Lower Body Circuit (I'm so in the circuit mode right now):

• Circuit One: Run up/down stairs 2x, 15 swings with 20lb kettlebell, lunge kicks on the bosu ball followed by one legged squats on the bosu ball, high step ups, val-band side kicks then back kicks, then val-slide reverse lunges, then no-weight squats. I did this circuit 2x through. First time with some weights, second time with none.
• Circuit Two: Run up/down stairs 2x, 15 swings with 20lb kettlebell, 15 front kicks each leg, 15 high step ups, val-slide side lunges, dead lifts on the bosu. I only did this circuit once because I was fatigued totally.
• BURNED 500 CALORIES total in about 50 minutes. 

Not sure if I am more tired/cramping up/fatigued this week because of the time "off" last week (4 days) or because it is Aunt Flo's visit.....but it is noticeable. When I feel like I don't have the strength to continue, I don't push myself. I'm happy with a 500 calorie sweatfest.

What do you GALS think- when it is TTOM, are you more fatigued, are your workouts more difficult? Do you go easier during that week?? I know Michelle Berger talks a lot about hormonal timing in her book. I need to re-read that. 

That's Ronnie Coleman. I'm not lying to you people - I think his shoulder span is as wide as I am tall. No joke. That said, very nice man. ;-)

I am so sorry for not vlogging/blogging while I am in Columbus, it has been non-stop. I arrived on Wednesday in the afternoon. I had dinner then a meeting later on that evening. Thursday I had a meeting around 1pm and that morning was so crazed with phone calls and such, I didn't even eat lunch until around 3pm! Naughty.  Then we had a casual dinner event and I crashed. Got up early yesterday to head over to the convention center- OMG, in my whole life I have never ever EVER seen a convention as packed as this one. EVER! 180,000 people are here in Columbus. The amount of businesses represented here at the show- unreal. And it IS weird to walk around- you see all these bodybuilders and figure competitors and fighters and uber-fit people, but they are all here because this is their business. It just seems to funny- you don't see people in suits or the khakis/golf shirt like other conventions but there is an outrageous amount of product represented here. I was walking around with my jaw dropping the whole time, for myriad reasons. And- note to self,  walking that convention floor for hours in my 4 inch heels = pain.

So then after the convention floor time, we came back to the hotel to get ready for a private reception with Arnold to benefit his after-school program for kids. Wow. He really is an amazing speaker and so very passionate about this program and helping kids. I realized how much bigger this whole sports festival is, how brilliant Arnold is for tying that into this after-school program for kids, and how all of that is tied into the first lady's initiative on obesity in our country. 

After that reception, we headed to a late dinner. I was pretty good- had a small filet and some broccoli but I did have some fried calamari. I was soooo full. We finished there around 9pm and I came back to the hotel for BED! I'm lame. I don't like going out late and partying like everyone else does. I need sleep. So, this morning I have to head down to this chiropractic seminar, where Arnold is doing a private speaking/teaching thing. Then, very cool,  I get to have my picture taken with him. I'm not much for trying to have my picture taken with celebrities but whatevah!!! I'll post it here if I don't think I look too fat. 

I learned a ton about chiropractic too while I am here. The gentleman I'm meeting with about helping to promote The Arnold Sports Classic heads up the international group for chiropractic- what a bunch of very passionate about health guys. And Arnold apparently is a very big fan of chiropractic. I had my first adjustment while I was here. Whoa. Intense. 

All that said, it has been non-stop running around this trip. I am angry that I haven't squeezed in my workouts either. I have a lot to make up for next week.

Also at the reception last night- was very cool to meet two gals that were on American Gladiators. Of course we ended up talking about working out and diet and such. Amazing. 

I'm late.  Gotta run, just wanted to do a quick post and let you know I am here!! I'll be BACK!!!

SWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!! 

Great Balls of Fire! It's a Blog post AND not one but TWO vlogs!! Holy Cow! I shot a vlog right when I got home from Church/Eyebrows/Nails- then I got changed to do some kick butt cardio, and based on that situation, I shot vlog #2. I'm all about giving as much of myself to you as I can people. 

And I hope you do the same when it's my birthday ON APRIL 2ND **cough cough** I'm just sayin.

WHAT?

So, I will post vlog #2 post workout style shortly. In the mean time, I am in my kitchen cooking all kinds of seafood; salmon burgers and tilapia and then some chicken too. I'm silly that way. 

Also- I found a crapload of new fabulous blogs this weekend. I added them to my LINK LOVE page, both under Healthy Eating and Getting Buff. Check them out!! ;-) 

I am so excited for THE ARNOLD this week! Gonna meet the man himself! WOOT! ;-)

And here is my post workout sweat analysis:

Question of the Day: shock me, all you lurkers that never comment. Introduce yourself. Don't be scared. ;-)

I love the quads on this woman. My legs are coming along nicely, I have to say. I dream of the day I can say I've achieved the bodyfat percentage I want. Sigh. ;-)

Anyway, I don't have much time, but today was GREAT! Insanely packed and insanely busy but AMEN! So good. WOOT! I started getting to tight on time but was determined to not slack, so I did my kickboxing DVD for cardio to balance out all the HIIT I did earlier. Tomorrow's workout will be a full body workout plus cardio. Psyched for that. 

I had something tonight for dinner that I haven't in ages. No big deal but it's yummy and gluten-free. Brown rice with organic marinara sauce from Trader Joes. NOM NOM. I was rushed, and now I am off, but it was yummy!! 

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What is a weird healthy meal or snack that you love? 

Who is going to the Arnold??