Exciting things happening on the home front! Just wanted to remind and invite everyone to the Adelphi University Campus on October 3rd. I will be speaking on behalf of my platform "Uplifting Heroes" and representing the organization Soldiers Angels at The University Center Room 213/214. This is an exciting event as not only will I be addressing the university and the students but soon after including the activity of making a poster and writing letters of encouragement to 2 soldiers (One being a K-9 Team and the other a soldier) Come and join the excitement! Below is a definition of what "Uplifting Heroes" is all about. Afterwards get pictures taken along with autographs :) GOOO Panthers!!
Tour of Duty Week 6, Day 4 Finishing my 6th week at bootcamp! yay! I can't believe it, I'm almost done with my Tour of Duty - just 2 more weeks to go and I did it! How I did all this I have no idea because I can remember the first day so clearly as if it was yesterday. I think my watching rocky Balboa really sparked some fire. I have to keep watching motivational movies like that! I've gotten so much better in such a short time frame that it still mind boggles me that it happened so quickly. I'm still not the strongest but I've gained momentum and I do have more strength now then I did before. Today was still pretty intense as there were only 4 of us that came today and we partnered up and did a lot of strength pulling on the monkey bars. My hands felt like they were getting blisters but regardless I still had to finish all the exercises. The only thing is since I'm not very tall I really have to focus and try really hard to JUMP! and reach the bars. Besides that, we also had to do A LOT of star jumps and then we ran around a couple of times with the sands bags which I think weigh at least 50 pounds! (If not, they really sure feel like it) We didn't do the course too much today because it was more about squat thrusts and push ups galore. I think my weakness are my arms and my core but if I could get my arms to have more strength I think I could definitely do the push ups better. Either way I still can't believe I'm almost there! Just 2 more weeks!! OMG!! Excited!! Gonna finish bootcamp with some Rocky Balboa horsepower and Dara Torres speed...I'm gonna be the recruit to reckon with! As I am going to make bootcamp history! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
The greatest oak was once a little seed who held its ground.
~Author Unknown
Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.
~Josh Billings
Thought I'd share my favorite part of Rocky Balboa..it's when he starts training and getting his horsepower! For the rest of us since we can't be in the movies, we can always start at bootcamp! Pure Power Bootcamp!! Grrrr... (Oh yeah, notice his best friend is always by his side too! Dogs are the best! :)
Tour of Duty Week 6, Day 3 Half way through the week, it's already Wednesday and I'm full of adrenaline. My Dara Torres speed is still with me and making some serious "bootycamp" accomplishments. Still keeping up with all the guys in the class and I'm now starting to jump in front and leading the way when we do all the runs. We did more planks today and I felt all the burn on my abs. When I felt like I could no longer hold my arms together all I could think about was how badly I want to fit into my favorite dress again and be back to my size 0/2. I think this is all going to work but the process is sure humbling. I'm defiantly more aware of everything as I look at food now more so as fuel then just "food." I have to get my energy source of somewhere to be able to do all these exercises. I'd like to really one day do the squat thrusts perfectly but after a certain number my legs are just so wobbly and I try hard not to stop otherwise we just end up having to do more. No one is singled out here so basically we're all in this together and if the person next to us doesn't finish the whole platoon is doomed and keeps going until we all do. Besides that we did more bear crawls and thinking myself as a Grizzly Bear helps! As crazy as it sounds, it's actually starting to be fun instead of painful. We did a new exercise today similar to bear crawls but with the tires. At first I didn't think it would be too difficult as it really didn't look hard but soon after hitting the half way mark around the course I started to feel my legs burn. After that, we were holding the tires over our heads and I felt all my soon to be noticed Dara Torres muscles working as hard as they could to keep from dropping the tire. Never in my life did I ever think of a tire as a weight. As a matter of fact, I don't think I'll ever see a tire the same way again. Now that I see them on cars I can't help but think of bootcamp. Almost at the finish line for my Tour of Duty. Almost there....
"I feel like I have so many women who look up to me. I want them to feel proud, and feel like they can do what they set out to do. I would never do anything to disappoint these women."-Dara Torres
Tour of Duty Journal Week 6, Day 2 Today I will start by calling it "Tenacious Tuesday!" Trail blazing by all the guys and I am the Dara Torres of bootcamp! If we had a bootcamp Olympics, today I'd defiantly win the gold as I was on fire! What are Tuesdays at boot camp?? Ab days and today I was a little roadrunner moving as fast as I could with all the ab workouts. We did planks and I was able to hold it for the entire time. I'm also getting better at push ups and all those endless squat thrusts. Besides that, today we were running a lot non-stop. We had a lot of different intervals and then we had to run around the course as if our lives depended on it. A couple of times we had to re-do the exercises because the entire troop didn't make it on time. Soon after we had to do bear crawls and I was a Grizzly Bear, passing by the guys. I'm sooo pumped as I've improved so much and I can easily see myself reaching my goal of getting back to my size 0/2. I can't wait. I'm still not sure how long it's going to take for me to get there but I can't imagine nothing happening if I keep coming. Especially since I've gained some momentum and going full throttle here. Don't get me wrong some of the weights stuff is still difficult as I really don't have much muscle yet, but I have gained endurance which I think will definitely help in keeping me consistent. In the meantime I just have to keep in mind that I am a bootcamp super star and gonna make it to week 8! Yeah a bootcamp superstar! Going for the gold!
"All who have accomplished great things have had great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." -Orison Swett Marden
I think I am finally really "there." I am feeling so adjusted to my wacky 5:30 am schedule. I feel a LOT better then before - more motivated. Not sure if it was my watching the making of Rocky Balboa this weekend but whatever it is, I am not sure what happened but ever since last week my drive has been at "turbo charge" and my metal harness is completely present at what I am doing. I feel more focused, mentally stronger, and by far more ignited to see myself do well. Today didn't feel like your ordinary Monday. Today I felt really ready to push through all the pain and soreness and do well in all the exercises. I'm getting better and better with all the different exercises we are doing and I'm still keeping up with the guys. I'm really proud of myself for that as even though they are all taller then me that doesn't really faze me as some of the strongest things in this planet are not the necessarily the biggest, instead they are the smallest. Kinda sorta, like a Diamond :) And today I definitely felt that way. I think Nicio and Russo are starting to notice me getting better as today I did something that I never in my life would have ever thought of. I was doing weights with the cross bar and then Nicio put two tires on the end and I was still doing well. Afterwards I felt like a Rock Star!!! GRRRR...
Besides that I think I am going to continue with the 6 month maintenance. I am definitely sticking to the 5:30 am class as for the most part it is small and not as overwhelming for me as the other big classes. Besides, I like waking up early, going to bootcamp and then having my breakfast afterwards. Ironically, it's the only time during the day that it is "my time" and I really like it so 5:30 am it is for the next 6 months...
Feelin' good like a woman should! Oh yeah, beat the guys again today! Yup, I think it is safe to say that I really finally, finally adjusted to my schedule. Even though it's still tough I am on a Dara Torres Olympic roll. Yup I'm gonna make it to week 8 and I'm going to be able to climb those walls. I'm not sure I'll be able to do the Intensity wall but I really do think I can climb the three walls before I finish the Tour of Duty. As a matter of fact I know I can because I totally can FEEL it. Everyday that I go in bootcamp, I get pumped because I know little by little I'm getting better and before you know it, I'll be able to fit back into my favorite dress. OMG! I'm trying really hard to be able to climb those walls with out any help but sometimes even though I can feel the motivation within, my arms just can't pull me up just yet. But I feel I'm really close, I'm so close! I think this weekend I'm going to rent Rocky Balboa and watch the movie to get inspired..
"If you think you can or think you can't, you're right." -Henry Ford
I found this "read" in a Men's Fitness magazine and I really liked it. The article is by Richard Machowicz and it's really good as it talks about attaining a warrior mentality which is what I think is next for me. I'm going to turn into the Rocky Balboa/Dara Torres of Pure Power Bootcamp...Grrrr... Yup, but in the meantime I have to figure out how to cultivate and practice all this metal power and see how it works...Anyhow, below is the article....
“Being a warrior is not about the act of fighting, it’s about being so prepared to face a challenge and believing so strongly in a cause that you are fighting for that you refuse to quit.” -Richard Machowicz
There are 2 aspects to training success. The first, and most readily observable, is the physical aspect.
This is the “how to”.
The second aspect is much harder to identify, but there is no denying its existence. This is the mental aspect of training. It includes your reasons for training, your goals, and your attitude toward, and during, your workouts.
This is the “why”, and the “want to”.
The mental aspect can be viewed as the “make or break” factor that can mean success for one trainee, and failure for another, who are both using the exact same training regimen.
The “why” and “want to” are not available in your bookstore. They only come from one place-inside of you.
It stands to reason that somebody who chooses High Intensity Training as their “how to” should also choose a High Intensity mental attitude to go with it, if he wants to get the best possible results.
I call this high intensity mental attitude the warrior mentality.
Having a warrior mentality means viewing your workout as a challenge-not something to be feared, but something to be conquered.
A trainee with a warrior mentality does not take the easy way out by mindlessly going through the motions with a sub-maximal weight, which is tantamount to surrender. He views the workout as a battle to be won, no matter how high the cost of effort and fatigue.
But what if the trainee isn’t naturally warrior-like? Is he just fated to have sub-par workouts, and therefore sub-par results?
Cultivating a warrior mentality is a skill, and like any other skill it can be learned.
The foundation of this mentality is, as Richard Machowicz said, “believing so strongly in a cause that you are fighting for that you refuse to quit.” In the case of your training, the “cause” is your personal reason for training in the first place.
Take some time periodically to review your training goals, and why you are committed to them. What does training mean to you personally? Why is it important to you to include this activity in your life? Why is getting good results meaningful to you? Answering these types of questions will reinforce the commitment in your mind, strengthening your resolve.
The more intensely you care about the outcome of your workout, the more intensely you will train during that workout.
Visualization is another valuable technique for developing a warrior mentality. Take a few minutes before your workout to sit somewhere quiet by yourself, close your eyes, get real relaxed, and see yourself in your mind’s eye tearing through your workout, setting new personal bests on every exercise. Picture how you expect to look and feel, in the most vivid detail you can imagine. Once you open your eyes and enter the gym, strive to recreate your vision.
Listening to music or reading something that you find uplifting and motivating can also help you program yourself for a highly intense workout.
Completing successful workouts will provide you with positive memories that you can access to psyche yourself up for future workouts. As they say, “nothing succeeds like success”.
Take the steps necessary to cultivate and maintain a warrior mentality, and you will consistently win your battles in the gym and ultimately be victorious in your mission to achieve your training goals-and for that matter, any other goals you strive for in life.
Today was really, really good! I've been keeping up with all the guys and I can still do the tire squat! yay! two days in a row... going for gold, going for the gold! I definitely feel soo empowered. I really want to be able to be happy and be the size I should be to be healthier. Fitting into my favorite dress would be really, really nice. I think technically speaking it's possible as I see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I can lift that tire over my head while doing all those squat thrusts, I think I am capable of doing anything I put my mind to. Hopefully next will be those three walls!
"I think I can, I think I can." -The Little Engine that could
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Tour of Duty Journal Week 5, Day 2 I'm still somehow going really strong - Ever since yesterday, I have no idea where all this adrenaline is coming from! Things finally seem to be falling into place. I think I'm going the right direction and I feel like I am getting closer to climbing that wall that I've been rambling about. I definitely have momentum. I feel more driven and I totally want to be better. I can do all the squat thrusts with the tire over my head! yay! Before I couldn't do that. My arms are definalty taking a Rocky Balboa turn and getting stronger. I'm really excited! I can't believe the strength I have gained in such a short time frame. Things are really finally coming together! yay! Bootcamp rules! oh yeah! oh yeah! getting better, oooh yeah! oooh yeah! Just wait for tomarrow! Today was day 2 of beating the guys! Tomarrow I'll be sooo fast they'll think Roadrunner just went by..What's the saying... Boys drool and Girls RULE!!!
So this is a little article I found on achieving your dreams. It's a little bit "Cumbayaish" but actually a pretty good read none the less..
HOW TO PUT AWESOME POWER INTO YOUR LIFE.
Achievers are believers: they believe in themselves and in life.
Achievers are great dreamers (but not "airy-fairey stuff"). What dreams in life would you have, if you knew you could not possibly fail? What particular dream would make you happiest in fulfilling? Firstly, Have total faith: in yourself.
1. Discover the Awesome Power of a Dream.
A vision for the future, that will capture your entire heart and at the deepest level, your spirit and soul. Open your mind up to the awesome power of your creative imagination. Allow yourself the courage and freedom to even fantasise until you get a vision, a dream of what your life could one day stand for.
2. Your dream must be backed by ACTION.
Achievers are dreamers and DOERS. Take small steps and you'll find that one step leads to another, then the next."Rome wasn't built in a day."
3. DEVELOP YOUR DESIRE to see the dream come to fruition.
Work on your motivation daily. Allow your Dream to be at the fore-front of your life, the "core of your being". It will motivate, inspire and energise you by giving you a SENSE OF PURPOSE - essential. Only YOU have the power to kill your dream. Nothing is impossible to the person, whose vision becomes a dream and when that dream is allowed to take control over your life. Like an obsession... but strive
for balance
4. Develop a Success Consciousness, that you will achieve
your dream one day.
It's a positive pattern of thinking, a great attitude/mind-set to have, which will propel you down the road to success.Think abundance and prosperity and not lack.... and you will draw it to yourself from the Universe.
5. Don't surrender to negative assumptions.
Eg."I'm too old, a woman, have no money, no resources,no contacts". Challenge them. Nothing is impossible to theperson who has the desire to succeed. As the proverb says, " where there's a will, there's a way".
6. Have a dynamic positive attitude to life.
CHOOSE it. That things will somehow work out for you. Be flexible in your thinking. Attitude determines your altitude and more than anything else, I believe, is a vitally important ingredient in seeing your dreams come to fruition.
7. Really BELIEVE that things will work out for you.
Believe in yourself with honesty and humility....and not arrogance. It's not being "big-headed" saying things, like "I am unique, somebody special, I KNOW I can (make a difference, some impact in this amazing and beautiful world of ours, etc")! Doing this demands having a healthy self concept (image).
8. PERSIST
Look at all the options and check them each day. Obstacles and pressures shift, like sand-storms. Never ever walk away from problems. Say, "I will until....".
9. Be patient.
Like a good wine, a great dream usually takes many years to mature and then blossom. When nothing
seems to be happening, don't give up hope. Never.
10. Be open and flexible in your strategies to achieve your
goals, your dream(s).
If one road on the path to achieving your dream gets blocked, go round the back way.
11. Review your strategy and progress from time to time.
Evaluate your strategies and tactics. How effectively are you progressing down your chosen path? Are you
getting the results expected and what you desire?If not, try another approach.
12. Listen to others, really listen, instead of thinking
what you are going to say next.
Think how can I best help the next person. As Zig Zigler wisely said, "You get what you want, by helping other people get what they want."
14. Never Give Up on the Core of your Dream. Never!
Ask yourself this vital question: What are the alternatives to NOT dreaming it... and only YOU can kill your grand vision..
Tour of Duty Journal Week 5, Day 1 Today was great! It seems as if I am finally getting adjusted to my schedule and all the workouts. I felt really focused today and really excited mainly because I was thinking of how far I've come. So far in the short time frame that I have been doing all this, technically speaking I can honestly say things have gotten better. That, and I was thinking some more about what I would like to accomplish. I was trying really, really hard and today I actually passed all the guys!! I was on a roll beating all the guys at all the exercises. I have no idea where in the world I got all that strength but I was even doing well on the tire squats! And the bear crawls too! I actually started to do all the sit ups really fast and I must have been doing well because Nicio gave me a new nickname - that being "Progress." I was really excited as that means that I'm doing better and they see that so it's very rewarding. I think I'll definitely be signing up for the 6 month maintenance. Oh! and today I almost, almost climbed that wall I keep talking about. I think maybe by the end of the Tour of Duty I'll be able to climb it. Maybe if I just keep the adrenaline going!
Exciting things happening on the home front! Just wanted to share the news and invite everyone to the Adelphi University Campus on October 3rd. I will be speaking on behalf of my platform "Uplifting Heroes" and the organization Soldiers Angels at The University Center Room 213/214. This is an exciting event as not only will I be addressing the university and the students but soon after including the activity of making a poster and writing letters of encouragement to 2 soldiers (One being a K-9 Team and the other a soldier) Come and join the excitement! Below is a definition of what "Uplifting Heroes" is all about. Afterwards get pictures taken along with autographs :) GOOO Panthers!!
October 3rd
Adelphi University Campus
Location: The University Center, Room 213/214
1 South Avenue
Garden City, New York 11530
Uplifting Heroes
The two main components of Nency's outreach program:
Bringing "Home" To Heroes:
"Focuses on bringing awareness to the many ways the community can support our troops."
Educate community through presentations/handouts of why it is important to support our troops
Inform community on the various organizations that they can join/team up with to support troops
Inspire and encourage community on supporting our troops/K-9 soldier teams through letter writing, sending care packages, visiting Veteran hospitals, sending a birthday cake to a soldier,and many other ways...
Uniting Heroes:
"Focuses on bringing awareness to the human/animal bond of pet companionship for soldiers as well as people"
Educate community through presentations/handouts of why the human animal bond of pet companionship is important for a soldier as well as people.
Bring awareness of compassion for shelter/homeless animals and help them find their veteran pet guardian/ their forever home
Bring awareness to community of supporting troops by becoming a foster pet guardian for a deployed soldier /or one going through hardship so pets do not end up abandoned
