What I've been doing recently, besides not posting. . .

Dead Hang Chin-ups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



This may just be my proudest accomplishment to date :D :D

If you've been following this blog since the beginning you might remember this has been a goal of mine for a year!  And I was really, reeaalllyyy losing hope that it would ever happen.

Here is a post from April of me struggling to get one chin-up from a bent arm position and that was after 5 months of working with resistance bands and negative pull-ups, it definitely wasn't looking good for me.

  The two things that really moved my progress along were:
     1) I started a structured lifting program, Jamie Eason's LiveFit to be precise (which I will most definitely be writing more about, it is love!)
    2) I added a few sets of static holds at the top (for as long as I could hold it) at the end of most of my workouts.

Finally becoming a triathlete on September 25th (after my first tri in August was cancelled)

I think this pic makes it clear the bike is not my strong leg :)

and placing in the top 5 women:

Leaderboard WOMEN:

Kelly Pickard	41:15
Christie O'Hara	43:37
Louise Grausso	43:54
Katie McGrath	44:18 ~Me
Erin Garland	45:31

   Race breakdown:

Distance	Short
Clock Time	44:18
Overall Place	28 / 268
Swim	7:54
Swimp	69
T1	1:36
T1P	19
Bike	17:47
Bikep	100
T2	1:01
T2P	42
Run	16:03
Runp	4

    The run was a 4k and definitely my saving grace, I ran at just about a 20 flat 5k pace and loved every second of it.  I was thrilled about this since my running training during August was minimal due to a knee pain/ injury (backing off a bit made it go away :)  and then starting Jamie's program I was supposed to lay off cardio (I just greatly cut back) for the first 4 weeks (to promote muscle growth).

Chipping away at Sub-20

  

   Coming off my triathlon race I decided I needed to enter some 5ks STAT bc that Sub-20 was mine for the taking, right?  I mean I ran 4 min per k pace after swimming and biking, I should be able to hold on for one more kilometer at that pace sans swim/bike, yes?  Easier said then done :/

BUTTTT I did inch just a little bit closer.

    In my October 8th race, I shaved 7 seconds of my PR with a 20:18 and 1st place female :D  

  I thought for sure I would break 20 this past Sunday, but the feels like 20° and windy weather through me for a loop.  Final time: 20:52

   I've got a few more races planned for the upcoming weekends and most likely 2 races during the Thanksgiving holiday.  I'm not giving up on this one!!

Being a Rockstar trainer :D

   Anyone who is/has been in the personal training field most likely knows that starting out is tough, starting out in any new career is a challenge as you gain your experience and learn new things everyday. Despite being challenging sometimes and majorly time consuming, I still love it and know with 100% confidence that it is what I want to be doing.  

Plus I get to work in this kick ass studio:

I've started working on a nutrition cert too, but haven't been finding a lot of time to dedicate towards studying so it's a little slow going right now.  

Kicking my own booty in the weight room

  As mentioned briefly above I've started lifting and I'm loving every second of it :D  My workouts are the highlight of my day. Squats, Bench, Deadlifts (Single Leg deadlifts: OMG OWW, in a really good way!), Curls, Rows; I love 'em all. 

   Along with the lifting (and in conjunction with Jamie Eason's Trainer) I'm following a super clean, high protein, 6 meals a day diet plan and seeing amazing results.  I've dropped a few %'s off my bodyfat and I've become so immersed in it that I've even been contemplating competing (bikini class).

  Okay I feel like I was a bit braggy in this post, but truly I am just amazed at how far I have come in the past year.  I definitely think starting this blog a little over a year ago (I missed my 1 year blogiversary booo :( ) got the ball rolling for me to finally go after and achieve some of my long standing goals.

  Tell me about a goal you've recently achieved and whether/how blogging helped you to reach it  :)

Tips For Buying Lingerie As A Present

Lingerie is one of the most special and intimate gifts a partner can buy for their loved one. It’s a perfect gift for your wife, girlfriend or significant other, but it’s essential you get it right. Buying any old thing without even considering the size or style is a massive faux pas.

If you get it right, it will be romantic and shows that you really care and understand about her. It shows that you’ve put in time and effort to really think about getting a perfect gift. However if you get it wrong, you could end up sleeping on the sofa, at best. Follow these tips and you’ll be getting her a wonderful well thought out gift that she’ll love.

Do your research

Don’t guess her size or the style that she likes and don’t ask someone that doesn’t know her for advice. The only person that knows what will fit and looks best is your partner, so listen, take notes and ask questions. If you want to be more subtle, then don’t come out and ask straight away, “what bra size are you?”

Here’s a tip. When she’s away, just have a look at what size underwear she has and make a note of it. If there are different sizes, then pick the newest underwear she has, this will be her most current size. Also have a look at the different colours and styles that she likes. Whether it’s pinks or reds or whether she has a particular cut or fabric she prefers – it’s good to know.

Lingerie is for her, not you

One of the most common mistakes when buying lingerie is that someone may buy something they want to see their partner wearing. Avoid the slutty and skimpy stuff that you see those glamour models wearing, because if you do buy her some gratuitous underwear, you’ll be sending her the wrong message.

Stick to laces or silks and, as mentioned, have an idea of the style she likes. So this means working out the bra cuts, whether that’s full cup, half cup or a camisole. As for knickers, does she like French knickers or thongs? Remember it’s what she wants, what she’s comfortable wearing and what makes her feel special.

The price is right

Don’t get put off the price tag either. Lingerie is expensive and if you’ve found the right size and the right style, then just go for it. Buying good quality lingerie comes at a price, but she will tell the difference. For starters it will last longer, which means you’ll get to see her in it more than once. Also the quality of the fabric will be another tell-tale sign, if it’s good quality underwear, then she will feel better wearing it.

This doesn’t necessarily mean going out and buying the most expensive thing you can get your hands on. Just because you’ve gone into a lingerie store and bought the most expensive thing in the shop doesn’t mean that you’ve given the choice of lingerie any thought. Think about her lifestyle and her tastes, and then buy accordingly.

Go to her favourite designer / store

Don’t just turn up to any lingerie store in your local shopping centre. Take time to find out who her favourite designers are and where she likes to buy her best underwear. If you’ve just bought some mass produced underwear, there’s no guarantee she will like it, and besides most people would probably have the same lingerie if it’s that easy to pick up.

If you don’t know her favourite designer or store, then take some time to look up lingerie boutiques or specialist lingerie providers online. You’ll get the benefit of better customer service from experienced store workers, and there will be a better selection of brands to choose from too.

By: Vincent A Rogers

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Vincent Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for many UK businesses. He recommends Fred and Ginger for Bridal Underwear.



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What Turns A Woman Off From A Man She Barely Knows?

Most women can agree on common qualities in men that turns them off before they really even get to know them. They are simply one of those things that most women agree upon. Do you posses them? Here’s a list of the top qualities that turn a woman off from a man – sometimes before she even talks to him.

1. The Wandering Eye

A woman who is interested in you is watching you, even if it’s from the corner of her eye. She’s watching how you act and move and, maybe even more importantly, where you eyes wander. If you are checking out every single woman who walks into the place then you may be losing potential dates that you didn’t even know that you had!


A wandering eye will tell her that you are not ready to be in any kind of relationship. Most women are looking for some sort of relationship or at the very least focused interest from a man. They are not looking for a man who will be checking out every single other woman who walks by. It may not be the truth about you but it’s still how she will associate you with the wandering eye.

2. A Seemingly Non-Interest in Her

If she notices that you don’t look her way or don’t really show some interest in her when you are talking to her then she will instantly get turned off by you. She doesn’t want a man who has no interest in her or looks as if she is boring him to death. And if she feels that she doesn’t even have the appearance to catch his eye then she's really not going to give it a try with him.

If you see a girl who you like then make sure you shoot her at least one glance that says I notice you. And if you are in a conversation with a girl then make sure that you pay attention to her and what she is saying to you. This will let her know that you are interested and give her the green light to go ahead.

3. You Are Obviously Arrogant

I actually see this behavior a lot more than I think most people would believe. I think that guys think they are displaying self-confidence. And don’t get me wrong, you want to display a sense of self-confidence, but if you are openly arrogant about yourself then you will cross a line into a territory where most women will not venture.

You can portray arrogance by giving her or other people dirty looks. You can also do this by talking about other people as if they are not as good as you. This is a really unattractive trait to a woman who might be interested in you, and she will instantly be turned off when she see’s or hears your arrogant side.

4. You Are Gross

I actually think this should have been first now that I really think about it. This is something that makes women not just turned off by a guy but physically sick to be around a guy.

For example, there is a guy that attends a coffee shop I go to regularly. He is constantly coughing and hacking. He also spends a lot of time farting, burping, picking his nose, and pulling the underwear out of his ass. He is disgusting. And he’s single. In fact, I’m pretty sure he still lives with his mother.

If you display even one-tenth of what this guy displays you will still be gross. Even crotch scratching may be viewed as gross depending on what sound goes with it. Make sure you avoid doing anything that is gross to a woman if you are single and looking, and in public.

By: Bellaisa Filippis

Article Directory: www.articledashboard.com

Bellaisa is the owner of pleasure her tonight a website with relationship advice for men on dating, sex, and relationship issues. Learn how to pleasure her and become a man that every woman wants.



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It's Been a Summer

Hi Guys!

    I had a feeling I wasn't gonna be able to keep up with blogging during the summer and I was 100% right.  And it's really hard to get back to it once you've got a stockpile of things you want to write about and no idea where to start :/

  My summer was amazing, crazy, exciting, scary, exhausting, FUN, and a major period of growth all mixed into one :D

    Gosh there is so much to say, where to start!?!?

   I'm gonna start with the fact that I WAS supposed to be a triathlete by now, but unfortunately my debut triathlon that I built up for months was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene.  I was definitely disappointed by this but immediately signed up for another Tri which is now a week away!  I'm really easing into the sport as this triathlon next weekend is a Super Sprint; 400 meter swim, 10k bike, 4k run.  Cake.

Speaking of Irene, here are some pics of what our beach looked like after:

Flooded tunnel

Mi Hermana

Y Hermano

This tunnel is usually about 12 feet high

  We spent the next few days of work reconstructing the beach, I donned my work (rain) boots and gloves and did some heavy lifting.  We actually had the place looking pretty close to normal in 2 days.  

I also took the opportunity to Hurricane Party:

While wearing my son's rain jacket.  Definitely a night I will not forget :D

   I planned to write a lot more, but it's getting late and I've got to be up early on a Saturday morning for my new job.

  I got a personal training job!  

        So Sooooo excited!!!  I don't actually have any clients yet, I just started on Tuesday, but I have loved every second of every one of the 26 hours I've worked so far. The gym is brand new (it's a big chain gym, but it's thier new updated version, only the 2nd one ever opened!) and has EVERYTHING (TRX, Kettlebells, Plyo Boxs, . . .) I could ask for.  

   

   I have so much more to say and I plan to post again tomorrow and hopefully get back to posting regularly from here on out.  I am working mayyjor hours at the gym especially this week as it just opened (this evening at 5 pm!), but I'm gonna find some time.

I miss you all!! I need to catch up on everyone!

Are We Sexually Compatible?

It is pretty normal for every couple to face with this situation in which one of them has a higher sex drive. The one with the higher sex drive may not necessarily be the guy. What can cause the differences in sex drive? How to cope with this discrepancy in sexual desire? Read on!



What can cause the difference in sex drive?



(1) Relationship problems



This happens as a result of differences on matters such as who should contribute more for household expenses and who should pay for which item, child rearing and relationship with in-laws. When couples cannot resolve conflicts over these matters, one of them will bear a grudge against the other one. This bottled up anger can cause the aggrieved side to lose sexual interest on his/her partner. This can also lead to him/her using the withholding of sex as a weapon to punish his/her partner.





(2) Insufficient knowledge about sex



If one or both of you are raised in societies where there is no sex education or where sex is a taboo and being looked negatively as something dirty or immoral, this can prevent you from looking for ways to enrich and spice up your sex life. You or your spouse may think that sex is just meant only for procreation and cannot see any relationship between sex and pleasure.



(3) Psychological issues



Stress over work or child rearing, performance anxiety, lack of sexual confidence, past histories of sexual abuse, physical or mental ailments, drug abuse, medication (drugs such as those for hypertension can hurt sexual desire) can leave either one of you to lose interest in sex.



(4) Differences in the way you and your spouse look at sex



You and your partner may have different baseline sex drives and/or may prioritize sex differently. This may not be any serious relationship problems, only mere differences in the way how each side thinks about sex.



(5) Not enough passion



Absence makes the heart grows fonder. Not enough space for each other, with both sides sticking to each other like a piece of chewing gum can be stifling and hurt passion in the long run. The pressures and expectations we put on our intimate relationships may kill the passion in lovemaking.



How to cope with discrepancies in sexual desire?



(1) Avoiding blaming your partner



It is always very easy to blame others when problems crop up. This can only cause the other side to get defensive and discourage your spouse from working together with you to come up with solutions. Even if you feel most of the problems lie with your partner, it is better to find out what the causes are or how they arise.



(2) Talking to your partner



When relationship problems crop up, it is best to find the space and time to talk to your partner. If you do not talk to your partner, you will not be able to discover the roots of the problems and he/she may not be aware of the existence of problems or your concerns. Before you talk to your spouse, make sure you think before you talk, avoid putting the blame on him/her, begin your statements with “I” such as, “I think…..” or “I am concern about ……..” and always remember to listen. However if the situation deteriorates to the point where both of you cannot talk to each other without ending up in arguments, you will have to find a counselor or therapist.



(3) Working towards a compromise



It is very unrealistic to expect everything to go according to the ways you want. A relationship is a series of constant adjusting to each other and involving lots of give and take. Finding sexual compromise is much easier when you lay down all your sexual options on the table for both sides to review over them in the process of working through the differences in sexual desire.



By: Ng Eng Hou



Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com






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Russian girls play soccer in bikini.

Girls soccer players of the club "Russian woman" entered the field in a bikini. Thus, members of the most titled club in the country decided not only to break the stereotype of women's soccer as a faint, non entertaining sport, but also increase its popularity among men.



To burst to victory in the swimsuit is probably not very comfortable, so at the near Moscow club's stadium girls have created the appearance of the game, posing for photographers. According to the executive director of "Russian woman" Svetlana Zhuravleva, the women's soccer lacks proper attention of the sports officials and government programs to support the sport. Incidentally, this is not the first action of the odious club: last year, "Russian woman" participated in the photoshoot in the guise of glamorous young women and angels.




















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4 Of The Best Gift Ideas For A Dressy Young Girl

Do you have a little sister, daughter or niece whose big day is coming up? Is she very modish? Is she like other children who are very much into fashion? If you are seeking the absolute gift for a fashionable young girl, here are a couple of ideas:

A Nice Pair Of Shoes
Children love shoes. The best shoes for young girls are ballerina flats, sandals, patent leather shoes and pink shoes with bows and rhinestones. If you are purchasing a pair of shoes for a young girl, you must know her shoe size and her favorite color. These information can help you find the right choices. After purchasing the shoes, you may want to include a nice pair of socks to match the shoes. White is the most popular and it complements well with various shoe styles. Also, understand the store's policy as to replacement and returning of the items. So that if the shoes doesn't fit, you can just return with your young girl and have her fit the shoes in the store.

Garments
Clothes are definitive gifts for chic young girls. Today, the assortment of garments for young girls are extensive. So many choices as well - from summer apparel to everyday dresses. Again, be certain that you know the girl's favorite color. Also, know what size she fits in. Is she small, medium or large? If you can bring an old getup that still fits her the next time you shop, you can use the dress as a guide.

Moreover, understanding the girl's personality will save time in looking for attire. Most girls love floral dresses, pullovers and hoodies. If you can ask her to point out the clothes that she likes in online magazines, then better. By looking at her choices, you will know if she likes skirts, denims or shorts. Another tip is to ask her about her favorite shows and characters. Knowing her most wanted cartoon character or tv personality may be of great help. Like most American girls, there are girls who are big fans of Miley Cyrus. There are several jackets, shirts and denims with Miley Cyrus prints on them. You can even personalize your gift and find a Hannah Montana jacket or you can buy her the same jacket that Hannah is wearing on her shows.

Frills
Frills are huge deals with girls. They love to brag their multicolored ornaments and cute charm bracelets to their friends. Another accessory that girls are very attracted to are bags. Tote bags are very in today. They come in a wide array of styles and colors. The most common colors are pink, purple and amber.

Hair Pieces
Hair pieces are very modish especially for young girls. They come in all sorts of styles and hues. The most popular hair accessories are head bands and clips. Hair bows and ribbons are also very chic. Even celebrities wear them. Remember that media has a big influence with the way people dress. And we see on tv that even celebrities love to wear these multicolored hair accessories. If you are clueless about the latest in hair accessories get idea from the stars and celebs and definitely you'll find the absolute piece for your darling little girl.

Giving gifts shows how much you care for a person. It is not just the object but the care and love that you invest in just to find the absolute gift. If you are seeking a good gift to give to a classy girl and you are still clueless, consider the things above and you will never go wrong.

By: Daryl B. Chapman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.comhttp://www.blogger.com/imhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifg/blank.gif

Find great deals on children's clothing like boys ties and girls fancy party dresses by clicking on the links. Learn how to gain discounts and discounted items when you visit the website today!



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