worst...article...ever

ok, so that may be a bit extreme...but this article on what the title leads you to believe is about the Arnold Classic's (AC) strongman competitions is really a random stringing together of paragraphs about divisions within the AC that were clearly not properly researched ahead of time...why Yahoo published this is beyond me...even if I had not had a previous knowledge of what the AC is and all it has to offer I would have read this as a poorly constructed article with lack of focus....and if I'm saying something has a lack of focus then it must be true! ;)




now before I start to tear this apart piece by piece I will make two comments: 1) I am not a journalist nor do I claim to be one...but having knowledge of this wonderfully awesome annual event I have to defend it....2) I do not know the author...could be a great person....probably is! but when you put yourself out there with such an ill written and poorly researched article on a mainstream media product like Yahoo, well, you have to expect some backlash....




below is the article in its entirety:

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10351211

In the past, strongman and bodybuilding was limited to the world of freak shows and other traveling circus vaudeville performances. No longer inclusive only of men, this sport is considered weird due to the limited number of people with the genetics to do it. There is also the fact that these athletes have the ability to make these strange feats look easy. While these performers no longer need to join a team of other oddities to make an income, strange stunts of strength are still prevalent in today's modern strongest person competitions.

Mustering the biggest stones

The World's Strongest Man competitions are a trademarked franchise event from England held each year between New Year's Day and Christmas. During the history of this event, Iceland has had the most champions followed by the United States. In what appears to be a normal contest to see who the strongman finalist is, the events that participants must win are more than a bit unusual. Some of the weird events you can expect to see include fridge and car carrying, truck and airplane pulling, and holding the Husafell Stone.

Naturally, the Husafell Stone has an odd story behind it. Weighing in at 418 pounds, it was designed 200 years ago by a pastor in Iceland. At the time, this reverend was using it to keep his sheep gate secured, it soon became a test of seeing how strong someone was. In the meantime, replicas of the Husafell stone have been cast in order for contestants to practice carrying it.

World's strongest oldest woman

Obviously, the World's Strongest Man is just for men, The Arnold Classic has several competitions for female bodybuilders. However, one out-of-place reality enshrined in this contest is the story of Ernestine Shepherd. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, she is the world's oldest female bodybuilder and a proud Musclemania performer. In addition to working out, she also has her own fitness-based blog radio broadcast.

Who will be the next Terminator?

He may have a strange relationship with voters in California but Arnold Schwartznegger is still loyal to his bodybuilder roots. Each year, the Columbus, Ohio Arnold Sports Expo (Arnold Classic) is one of the premier victories for many sports that do not usually have a large check associated with them. For example, skateboarding and dancesport athletes often do not have enough sponsorship to live year-round without taking a part-time job.

Over the past years, weird strongman sports have been added to the Arnold Classic such as arm wrestling and bodybuilders in bikinis. Plus, the strongman side of this competition has two other events that make it a head-turner. Namely, the manhood stones attempt and the circus dumbbell lift make audience members laugh.

Sports strong sailors play

In the 1980's bodybuilder Sylvester Stallone spotted Mr. T on the weird sports NBC show Games People Play. During the show, Mr. T won the America's Toughest Bouncer competition where he broke down a door, ran around bar stools, and tossed a 120 pound man. Sadly, this weird bodybuilding contest is no longer held. Instead, if you want to visit a strange strongman event, consider the test of strength contests in Poland.

Along with traditional events found at bodybuilding competitions, this Polish event includes anchor lifting and anchor chain pulling. While there is not an exact weight recorded for these items, pictures show that a seven foot iron anchor is speculated to be in the 400 to 1,000 pound range.

Want to be the strongest you can be? Along with lifting weights and attempting weird bodybuilding sports, consider showing off your athletic muscle at the Senior Olympics or a local adult amateur sporting competition.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

So where do I begin....

"No longer inclusive only of men, this sport is considered weird due to the limited number of people with the genetics to do it. There is also the fact that these athletes have the ability to make these strange feats look easy. While these performers no longer need to join a team of other oddities to make an income, strange stunts of strength are still prevalent in today's modern strongest person competitions."

--> the first two sentences alone would then make every sport televised "weird" b/c the athletes make it look easy-but what did that have to do with it no longer being inclusive of just men?

--> strange stunts of strength are in a strong person competition? you don't say!

The World's Strongest Man competitions are a trademarked franchise event from England held each year between New Year's Day and Christmas. During the history of this event, Iceland has had the most champions followed by the United States. In what appears to be a normal contest to see who the strongman finalist is, the events that participants must win are more than a bit unusual. Some of the weird events you can expect to see include fridge and car carrying, truck and airplane pulling, and holding the Husafell Stone.

Naturally, the Husafell Stone has an odd story behind it. Weighing in at 418 pounds, it was designed 200 years ago by a pastor in Iceland. At the time, this reverend was using it to keep his sheep gate secured, it soon became a test of seeing how strong someone was. In the meantime, replicas of the Husafell stone have been cast in order for contestants to practice carrying it.

--> held b/w New Year's Eve and Christmas? so only December 26th-30th are exempt from dates to have the event?

--> the Met-Rx Strongman event is typically held in various countries and can easily be seen on one of the various ESPN networks-did it originate from England? don't know and neither does the author! 

--> so the first paragraph lists it as weird and once a part of the circus, this paragraph starts out calling it normal....well which is it? oh don't worry, it becomes weird again with mentions of car and fridge carrying

--> no disputes on the origin of the Husafell but why mention the evolution of it if you're not going to give examples of it during the actual competitions? a mere mention of it being used for practice and no longer for keeping sheep in a pin isn't exactly cutting it

World's strongest oldest woman

Obviously, the World's Strongest Man is just for men, The Arnold Classic has several competitions for female bodybuilders. However, one out-of-place reality enshrined in this contest is the story of Ernestine Shepherd. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, she is the world's oldest female bodybuilder and a proud Musclemania performer. In addition to working out, she also has her own fitness-based blog radio broadcast.

--> um, what? the first sentence I'm pretty sure is not even correct grammar...did anyone at Yahoo proofread this?

--> World's Strongest Man just for men-thank you Cpt Obvious-did you bother to research to also know there have been World's Strongest Woman events as well? hmmm

--> ok, please, someone, explain to me why Shepherd is even mentioned? first of all, strongman and bodybuilding competitions are two COMPLETELY different entities...so this mention does not even make sense....and I like how she's randomly brought up but not actually discussed...no age mentioned, no plug for the blog radio broadcast (whatever the hell that is)...you as the reader are expected to click on the link in the article to read all that for yourself

--> btw, Musclemania is neither the AC nor World's Strongest Man

Who will be the next Terminator?

He may have a strange relationship with voters in California but Arnold Schwartznegger is still loyal to his bodybuilder roots. Each year, the Columbus, Ohio Arnold Sports Expo (Arnold Classic) is one of the premier victories for many sports that do not usually have a large check associated with them. For example, skateboarding and dancesport athletes often do not have enough sponsorship to live year-round without taking a part-time job.

Over the past years, weird strongman sports have been added to the Arnold Classic such as arm wrestling and bodybuilders in bikinis. Plus, the strongman side of this competition has two other events that make it a head-turner. Namely, the manhood stones attempt and the circus dumbbell lift make audience members laugh.

--> ok, the example of dancers & skateboarders being some who benefit from the AC b/c of the "larger than normal" check for their events is partly correct partly incorrect...newsflash: strength sports athletes and bodybuilders have daytime jobs, too...very VERY few can make a living off the sport alone

--> um, I've been to the AC four times now and I don't remember strongmen competitions to include bodybuilders in bikinis...I believe you're referring to women...in bodybuilding....see previous critiques for what's wrong with this mention

--> makes audiences laugh? are you referring to the joe blows who are invited by REAL strongmen at a supplements booth to attempt a feat of strength in hopes of winning a year's supply of protein powder? that's not a part of an actual competition...that's called a gimmick to get you to the table to see their products

--> this paragraph is just simply terrible with no direction, no research, and no common sense-and just exactly what did ANY of that have to do with Arnold himself?

--> oh and you don't win the Arnold Expo....that is a collection of booths for companies to get their name out there, push their shwag, and allow you an opportunity to meet stars within the sports featured at the AC

--> oh, and manhood stones? and these are what exactly?

Sports strong sailors play

In the 1980's bodybuilder Sylvester Stallone spotted Mr. T on the weird sports NBC show Games People Play. During the show, Mr. T won the America's Toughest Bouncer competition where he broke down a door, ran around bar stools, and tossed a 120 pound man. Sadly, this weird bodybuilding contest is no longer held. Instead, if you want to visit a strange strongman event, consider the test of strength contests in Poland.

Along with traditional events found at bodybuilding competitions, this Polish event includes anchor lifting and anchor chain pulling. While there is not an exact weight recorded for these items, pictures show that a seven foot iron anchor is speculated to be in the 400 to 1,000 pound range.

Want to be the strongest you can be? Along with lifting weights and attempting weird bodybuilding sports, consider showing off your athletic muscle at the Senior Olympics or a local adult amateur sporting competition.

--> again, why is everything weird to this author? did they not have a thesaurus available for other words? unique? unusual? not the normal?

--> there are still bouncer contests, just not on a major network....and apparently the author is "sad" you can't see them anymore...even though it's deemed weird...oh but check out the strength contests in Poland...what contests? the random mention of Poland from 2nd paragraph? oh no wait, that was Iceland...oh you mean the ones held there each year...oh no wait, you said that was England...anyone? Bueller?

--> ok wait, so we're still talking about an unnamed Polish event when the anchor is brought up? does this event have a name? and speculated weight? um, I'm pretty sure you can look up the actual event (if we even knew what it was) and could see how much said anchor weighs...these athletes do have to practice and hone their craft so I'm guessing they're not randomly practicing with an anchor 400lbs or maybe 1000lbs

--> ok, the last sentence is probably the strangest (hey look, another word for weird!) of the whole article...want to be the strongest you can be? WORKOUT! no need to go participate in "weird bodybuilding sports"...and Senior Olympics???? where the hell did this come from? was that an attempt to tie Shepherd back into the article? my guess is that that was not even a thought...just another random mention in an article full of them

I honestly do not even posses the words in my vernacular to properly assess this article...I am very shocked that Yahoo would even allow such tripe to be published....maybe they figured no one would read it? the person in charge of these decisions didn't know anything of any of the sports mentioned to know that this article was laced with inaccuracies? which, even as I type that, I feel would be a total copout b/c just on a writing level this is a horrible article....

Writing is not easy...for some it comes easier than for others...but even if you are fortunate enough to find writing as an easier endeavor than say, physics, you may still have issues from time to time with inspiration, topics, etc....but NO writer (or anyone claiming to be one) would put something like this article out there for all to see, to rip apart, and to ridicule...even brief research on wikipedia alone would have given this author a better article to present to the world...

to compete or not to compete....REDONE!!!!

yes, an article I wrote up a few years ago as a simple how-to guide for anyone considering to enter the world of competing is back....since writing that article two new categories have been added and the one piece round in figure and fitness have been dropped....so like the sport itself the article needed to grow, too....here it is for you to enjoy in it's newest incarnation:

Whether it be bodybuilding, figure, fitness, bikini, or the new women’s physique, you need to take a good, hard look at your inner self as well as the current state of your physique before you begin any prep for this typically 16 week long endeavor.

#1: Who am I competing for?

If the answer to this question is not “me,” then I highly advise you leave the idea of competing behind for now. You should not compete because a significant other or family member thinks you should do it, or because someone in the gym or a friend told you you should. Competing is a very personal decision and it should be something that you look at and say, "I want to do this to challenge myself and see what I'm capable of accomplishing.” If you look at a competition as something you do for someone else, then I say don't even go through the hard work because you won't enjoy it, plain and simple.

#2: Do I have Support?

Competing is a very selfish endeavor. When in prep your world must revolve around you and often times family members and significant others feel neglected and ignored. Gone are the days of sitting around the TV eating popcorn, chips, and candy. Sunday dinners with the family? Forget about it, unless you bring your chicken breast and broccoli to the gathering. If you have kids, prep can be especially challenging with all the snacks and “kid meals” you need to prepare in addition to your own. If your loved ones don't understand what you're going through there will be resistance, tension, guilt, and sometimes anger to deal with that only intensifies as your contest date draws closer. Also be prepared for the kind of people I call “the sabotagers.” There’s always a coworker, family member, or friend who will wave pizza or candy in your face to try and make you break down and eat the food. Some people may do this just to make you laugh and relax. Others are simply jealous of your willpower and resolve and want to see you be human and crack. Don’t! Hold strong and stand your ground. Does this mean you shouldn’t follow through with a show? Absolutely not. But it is a reality many competitors are not prepared for so be ready to deal with possible friction. And who knows, you may actually be pleasantly surprised at the support you receive.

#3: What category should I enter?

If the first and second questions have been answered and you feel like you're ready to go forward then the next decision to be made is what category to enter. Do you go into fitness? Figure? Bikini? Bodybuilding?  Try the newer women’s physique? Open? Novice? Masters? Many questions to answer but all pertinent ones. Do your homework and look into restrictions on categories like age, height, etc, then sit down and really think about your physique and what you have to work with. Are you more of an X shape or a Y shape? Thicker or skinnier? Do research on what is required for the category you've chosen. For example, if you chose fitness, be sure you have your bases covered with the fitness routine: time limit, mandatory moves, proper music, etc. Bodybuilding and now women’s physique have mandatory poses that will be done during pre-judging that need to be practiced daily, and figure, fitness, and bikini require that you walk on stage in heels with mandatory turns and a certain walk. You may think practicing in heels is silly but come competition day you can easily point out who feels comfortable in them and who does not!

#4: When should I compete?

Ok, you have a category (or possibly categories if you're allowed to enter more than one at your chosen show) picked out. Now you need a date. Check out your local NPC website for a list of competition dates to see what's feasible. Be sure to give yourself enough time to diet and never be scared to pick a date in say, January, for a show in November. More time is always a good thing. It's better to be ahead in prep than to be behind and try to crash diet and cardio your way to the end. That method will always show up in your final results and you never want to sacrifice your hard earned physique in order to meet a deadline.

#5: Who should do my prep?

This is possibly the most difficult and most important question to answer. Do your homework. Ask other competitors whose looks you like about their coaches. Visit websites of some of your favorite athletes to see if they do prep for other competitors. Even if you don't see any contest prep information on their site, don't be afraid to email them and ask. Always go with your gut when choosing your prep trainer. If you don’t get a good vibe from someone, thank them for their time and move on. This is your body, your time, your effort, and your money. And if you think you can handle doing your own prep then do it! It’s a rough undertaking but can certainly be done. Just remember that having someone at the very least look at you through your prep is a great idea. I equate it to someone proofreading a paper. An extra set of fresh eyes is always a good idea.

Also consider hiring someone for posing coaching. If you are fortunate enough to have your trainer be there for you in person then they can help you along with the proper posing techniques. If you are utilizing an online trainer then look for someone local who is an experienced competitor to guide you. Also look for possible camps hosted by experienced competitors/coaches. Why put in all the hard work of obtaining a great physique if you don’t also show it off properly once you hit the stage? Competitors can tell you that there was many a time when they saw a great physique ruined by improper posing.

#6: What should I wear?

You have your date set, your prep coach selected, and your category chosen. You are mentally prepared and you have your support in place. So, what do you wear? Like posing, suits can literally make or break a competitor. The wrong cut or the wrong color can all have a profound affect on the look of your physique. Bodybuilders will want to go with a plain, solid colored two piece for pre-judging and then a fully decorated two piece for the night show. Figure, fitness, and women’s physique will need to go with a fully decorated two piece suit. Fitness will also need an outfit for their routine round that is eye catching, easy to move in, and fitting to their theme. Bikini competitors need a cute two piece suit that flatters their curves (but no thongs!). Figure, fitness, and bikini will also need heels. My personal suggestion (one passed along to me from an IFBB pro) are plain, four inch clear heels. I would avoid straps unless you feel uncomfortable without them. Anything flashy can take away from your look because remember that the judges are right at your feet and you do not want to draw their attention away from all your hard work. AVOID PLATFORMS!!! Judges are typically not fond of “stripper heels.”

#7: How will I fund this?

Paired with who will do your prep this question could be the most important to answer before going forward. This is often a big hurdle for those who have limited funds. This is not a cheap sport to compete in, but deciding on a budget from the start helps. Learning ways to skirt costs helps tremendously, so check out sites like ebay, check with fellow competitors, or consignment sites like Diva Exchange for used and new suits. While a pre-made suit may not be the absolute perfect fit, odds are it will be a good one. If you're not comfortable with that idea then shop around for someone to make your suit(s). Again, don't be afraid to ask around to other competitors and don't forget that you can also get plain suits and decorate them yourself with crystals. Sometimes this is cheaper than having someone do it for you. Another idea to cut competition costs is to put some feelers out there for sponsorship. Check locally with tanning salons and supplement stores. Check online for contests. Even if all a company can do is contribute a tub of protein it's something and every little bit will count. Food and supplementation are big expenses to consider. Chicken breasts, eggs, vitamins, and protein powder add up! You also have to budget for your prep coach unless you're lucky enough to have a friend do it or you feel confident enough to do it yourself. Don't forget other important expenses like makeup, tanning supplies, bikini bite, entry fees, NPC card fees, and travel expenses. There are always ways to make the journey more affordable including, but never limited to, finding roommates for shows that require hotel stays, seeing if the hotel offers a special rate for competitors, carpooling, asking a skilled friend for help on hair and makeup, etc. 

While this seems like a daunting list, in the end it is a very doable one. If it weren’t then men and women would not be entering shows every year. Competing is a serious commitment mentally, physically, and financially. Many don't realize how tough it really is until they take on their first prep. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. But it has by far been one of the most rewarding tasks I’ve ever taken on and completed. Just like all things in life, if it is wanted badly enough then the correct sacrifices will be made to make it happen. Listen to those who have gone before you. Often their advice is more valuable than anything you will receive during your prep. And who knows, maybe one day you, too, will find yourself sitting down at a computer to write your own advice article to help out future competitors.

GYMDIVA'S BLOG!: ATL trip, part 1....

GYMDIVA'S BLOG!: ATL trip, part 1....: so on Monday, I took what was my first real vacation in four years....it was short and sweet but EXACTLY what I needed! let's detail from be...

ATL trip, part 1....

so on Monday, I took what was my first real vacation in four years....it was short and sweet but EXACTLY what I needed! let's detail from beginning to end, shall we? :)




we'll start with Friday before I even left....I received an email back about an inquiry I had made on ATL's craigslist about some tickets for Monday night's game between the Giants and the Braves....someone had beaten me to the punch, however, this woman had not heard back from the other interested party....we discussed it and I said I could use paypal right that second and she could overnight them and we'd be good to go! She gave him a little more time, didn't hear from him, and let me know they were mine! WOOHOO! So I send her the money and she sent them immediately via USPS....oh, did I mention the tickets were HERE in NC???? yes, that's right....I found tickets on ATL's craigslist for an at home Braves game vs my Giants....from a woman in NC....where I am....


Only me ladies and gentlemen....




so Monday morning I get up and head to ATL....directions were funny....I-40w to I-85s....take I-85s to GA....how freakin' easy is that! I only had one merge to I-285 and then just one turn off for my friends' complex where I got to stay (more on that later)....so for this poor child in dire need of a gps you could not have asked for better directions!

George was ready to roll!

So I hit the road....no real adventure there...which was a good thing b/c that meant no traffic, no running out of gas, flat tires, or any other car issues....and unlike six years ago when I last drove down to ATL I didn't sneeze the entire trip! so fastforward to getting there....I made pretty decent time....got there, met my "roommates" (see pic below), and finally got to meet Shereen and Corey....I have e-known them for a little while so to actually make it down to GA and meet them was pretty freakin awesome....they were SO VERY KIND as to open their home up to me and allow me to crash with them....

I got there and immediately the dynamics of being married began to unfold before me....hahahahaha....they started to go back and forth about whether the MARTA would be better to take in or chancing traffic was best....so within 15min of me being there we decided to head to the ballpark....sweet! I'm down for leaving early :)

my roomies!

we get into the truck and start to head towards the stadium....we decided to chance the traffic and drive all the way in....guess what? good call! giving that it was a Monday and that we hit the road just before the 5 o'clock mess started we were able to get to parking before most and we even got great parking advice....let me pass it along to you: park near the entrance you came into and walk a little further-that way you're right there at the exit as opposed to being in the back when everyone starts to file out....brilliant! why I've never thought about that for all the events I've attended I do not know but trust me when I say it WILL be implemented the next time I go to see something!

we arrived!

now, I know Shereen and Corey probably thought I had lost my damn mind but at this point I was starting to feel like a 5yr old on Christmas morning....and it would get worse....we're walking towards the stadium, we cross the street, we walk into the gates (not the pearly ones), and this lil cutie greets us saying welcome, have a great time, etc....then I hear as I pass by, go blue devils.....um, I'm sorry WHAT?!? see, I was wearing my I <3 UNC shirt so he got a little shot in on me....I turned around and just pointed my finger at him and said, oooooo no no no no....he just laughed and poor Shereen, she had no idea what just happened....hahahaha....Corey and I were explaining the rivalry to her....he was also talking about her needing to attend a UGA/GT football game, what tailgating was, etc....at this point I won't lie, I wasn't listening to either of them anymore....I was too focused on getting to the field!

we get through the little checkpoint and I see that yes, we were indeed early enough to see batting practice....and it was SF Giants batting practice!!!! fucking sweeeeeeeeeeeet! IMMEDIATE scan of the field like I was a freakin terminator or something looking for the Beard....where is that beard....I mean come on, you could see that thing from space for freaks sake! where is it?????? oh hey look, there's Sergio Romo, Brandon Belt, Tim Lincecum, wow! but I'm not seeing the beard....ok, fear not....he could be in the training room or whatever....in the meantime, OMG I'm in a major league baseball park!!!!!!!!!!!!

SF GIANTS batting practice

I start to see some of the hits coming all the way back and I panic a little bit....seeeee, I don't have the best depth perception (which was why I stopped playing outfield and started pitching-oddly enough that was a better spot for me) so I would see the ball coming towards the outfield and I'd go, oh god oh god, is it going to make it? is it right for me? oh........it didn't even make it to the wall....opps

I take the time to walk around....get better looks at the Giants from all sides of the field....and to see if I spot anyone else....I mean no one in particular....ok yeah, even in font I can't lie....we all know who I was there to see....ok, he's not out here right now....let's tour the stadium....I walk around, enjoy looking at all the people, surprised at just how many Giants fans I saw walking around, have a woohoo to someone who said Go Heels, buy some Chic-Fila waffle fries, and go find my actual seats....it's still early so it's just me sitting by myself (friends went to go grab dinner before the game)....so I'm sitting there going, wow! if he comes out for a save he'll be RIGHT FREAKIN THERE! I mean, check out the below pic! I was pretty much giddy! 

oh and did I mention I downed a sugar free red bull before entering the ballpark? yeah that probably wasn't helping the giddy thing :)

yep, my seats-freakin' sweeeeeet

now, all in all I was actually surprised at the size of the stadium....it felt small to me! I was not expecting that...now part of that could have been b/c it was maybe only 1/3 full....no lie....I know it was Monday but this was a big series for them, Giants are reigning World Series champs, it's a rematch from the playoffs last year, etc....but hey, it worked out since it meant less traffic and people to fight through while walking around....

so we're getting close, my friends join me, and the dugout starts to fill up....we're sitting on the side of the Braves so I can't see in it but I am opposite the away dugout....we know that that means :D now, I did not have binoculars...I had meant to buy some before leaving NC and I totally forgot....but remember what I said: that beard can be seen from outer space...so not only did I see that beard, but I recognized him by booty....oh you read me! I know that cute butt of his anywhere! it's a long tradition passed on to me from my mom ;) so in the pic below I give you my first beard sighting:

you don't even want to know my thoughts....

now, I won't lie, I did that whole speaking as I inhaled thing while saying, ooooohhhhhmmyyyygooodddd....FINALLY! I thought, if I drove down here and he's not with the team I'll be pissed off! but there he was in all his hairy glory....ew, wait, that sounded terrible....anyways, let's just get to the game....they do the national anthem (where I got a shot of him w/o the hat on-yeah I was really paying attention) and then the pitchers head to the bullpen....that's when I discovered my camera had a super zoom feature on it and I got the following shot....and who needed binoculars! I now could just zoom in with the camera like a good little stalker :)

super zoom found!

so for the game itself: well, weather was great! I really could not have asked for much better to be honest....it wasn't too hot and once the sun set it really felt awesome....slight breeze....next to no humidity....which for anyone in the South that is a rare moment at this time of year....the offense/defense goes back and forth....and I'm definitely the only one in my section cheering when the Giants score....hehehehe....sorry! I didn't come to see your precious Braves....matter of fact, fuck yo Braves! ok actually, I take that back....I typically reserve that foulness for the yankees ;)

I did get one shot that I really liked of Bumgarner in mid-pitch....I like him....he's from Hickory, NC....yea mountain boy!

nice action shot

so now, after a solo shot from Cody Ross (I think...he hit one the next night so I may be mixing it up), Giants are up 4-2....and it's the bottom of the 9th...being the good stalker, er fan, that I am I had already been monitoring the bullpen...I had seen Affeldt warming up previously but Lopez came in in the 8th....I wasn't sure who may come in for the 9th b/c I thought it was slightly odd that Wilson had not been used for the previous game but I zoomed in and what do I see? him getting up and taking off his sweatshirt....oh shit! he's warming up! and yes, I documented that....I got him warming up, coming out, and of course, him pitching....

total heaven for me

now....I'm not sure if I can properly type out exactly what happened in the game....I may have to come back and edit it in but I watch as he loads the bases, gets two outs, and then get to that dreaded 3-2-2 count....when he got to that I don't know....I just knew....something didn't seem right with his pitching, even with his tortuous style....and sure enough, I heard the crack of that bat and I didn't even look up....I knew....I look down, curse under my breath, and look up at the scoreboard and see 4-3 (since one run had already scored) turn into 4-4 and then 4-5....game over....

now this is the part where I proceed to lose it....like absolutely, lose my shit....I literally looked up at my friends and yell, we're out of here! and I just storm off up the steps....I came so close to kicking trash cans as I left....VERY close to throwing my phone b/c it just happened to be the object I was holding....I was HOT! I had seen him do this only twice before this season and my reaction was very similar....but this was different....I saw it in person.....fuck me running what was turning into a perfect night was just totally destroyed in one simple swing of a bat....my friends? totally laughing at me-as they should have been! I, um, tend to get wrapped up in my teams....ask anyone who has ever seen me witness a meltdown by the Tar Heels, the Panthers, or in one uncharacteristic game, my App St Mountaineers.....

so after I calmed down and the adrenaline left, I realized my blood sugar was totally gone-opps :D so I get some greek yogurt, eat it, and go to bed....I had to do nothing but laugh at myself for my reaction but what really made me "calm down" was a text from my mom...she said that all during the game they were questioning whether he would even be brought in, whether he'd be taken out once he started struggling, etc....she didn't tell me b/c she didn't want me to be upset about probably not seeing him....awwwwww! my mom is so sweet :) but reading about the back issues and then the elbow inflammation I thought, that actually explains what I saw...his pitching was not what he's normally throwing....he was not the saves leader going into that game on accident....the boy has skill! and guess what? he wasn't there the rest of the series due to being looked at by the doctor in FL....so while the ending was not perfect, it did unfold just right for me to see him in person...which was exactly what I wanted....

oh but there was one perfect ending.......so to speak:

the money shot!

where do you come from?

"When you are tempted to get discouraged, remind yourself that according to God’s word, your future is getting brighter; you are on your way to a new level of glory. You may think you’ve got a long way to go, but you need to look back at how far you’ve already come. You may not be everything you want to be but at least you can thank God that you’re not what you used to be." - Joel Osteen






now as you all know from previous posts, I am very quick to criticize myself for past problems....I constantly kick myself for repeating mistakes, I constantly expect and strive for perfection, and I constantly fail....


gee, imagine that




but when I saw the above quote as posted by Kayde Puckett on her facebook page it did make me stop for a second and take some personal inventory....some of what I'll go over is a repeat from previous blog posts but eh, I know a lot of people only read the new stuff so let's recap like any good soap opera ;)




where did I used to be? well:

• chunky child constantly teased
• chunkier pre-teen constantly teased to the point that middle school is a total blackout in my mind
• fat teen who ballooned upwards of 200lbs at a whoping 5'2"...not teased too much but def was not asked out of even given a 2nd glance
• college: lost weight, still chunky but not as bad as before, fell in love with working out but didn't truly understand this whole nutrition thing; first encounters with bulimia
• transferred, still working out, still not sure of this nutrition thing, discover fat burners (omg good times!), still battling the bulimia, but rediscovering this love of the look of muscle on women-not like that you pervs ;)
• move back to the hometown (ugh), discover bodybuilding forums, meet the worst mistake of my life who in turn introduces me to one of the few highlights of my adult life
• 2008- lose my shit mentally and almost lose my mom
• 2009- blur of bulimia, alcohol, mistake after mistake, various substance abuses
• 2010- same as 09, then an unwanted contact from that greatest mistake BUT silverlining was going back to school over the summer
• 2011- trying a different approach-stopped drinking, no smoking; still have the eating/body issue; still battling some hormonally related issues (which is difficult with no insurance); tried and am in love with yoga; am finally figuring out there is WAY more to life than being at outback for fucking ever

where have you been? my journey is clearly not over, still ongoing, and will be until I draw my last breath....I'm not perfect nor can I be...this is something I still have difficulty dealing with....but it's getting better....

Fear The Pigtails

THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is my new twitter hashtag....make it trend....




ok so that will never trend but hey, you gotta admit, it's catchy! hahaha....what was just a casual conversation with my friend and former Outbacker Antwan turned into a funny moment....see? Brian Wilson is everywhere! he may have the beard but I have the pigtails....


but he does trump me on that spandex tux....still haven't found a shot of that from the back....


and was I the only one who looked past the tux and noticed something else? no, not into his heart and soul or any other sappy bullshit....but rather past it and went, he has no date! I like this.........




ok yeah, must have been just me ;)




now onto things NOT Brian Wilson (wait, there's more?) ah yes....CM PUNK....this ppv tonight is the first time in a long time that I was actually excited about something in WWE....I was pretty amped for HBK/Taker, pt 1, at WM 25, but this trumps even that....and I hope to watch this match and come out as satisfied and exhausted as I did after that match....the fan in me is expecting the most kickass match ever (at least from the Punk perspective)....the realistic fan in me goes, yeah they're going to drop the ball on this....the radio interview David Lagana gave to ESPNRADIO Chicago yesterday was a good one and the sportscaster (Jon Hood) brought up a great point: Chicago could riot if this isn't handled properly....well, WWE is always notorious for getting into the news for all the wrong reasons sooooooo.....




as for me, well, I continue to roll along....top down if I can ;) this past week was a bad one for me but yesterday I woke up and it was like someone had flipped the switch back....don't know why nor do I care...I'm sure it's another act of my forever changing brain chemistry....but the motivation is back....and it's coming from within, not from something artificial....


although there is an interesting outside influence.....

hemp protein, where have you been all my life????

my newfound love: hemp protein




first, why hemp protein? easy: it's a more bang for your buck protein! here's some info on it (courtesy of nutiva.com):

• The hemp seed is the richest known source of polyunsaturated fats, containing a perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 linolenic Acid and Omega-3 linolenic acid. In fact, the hemp seed balance of Omega 3 to 6 fats is the perfect proportions for human dietary needs, making hemp an ideal addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
• The hemp seed is one of the best sources of nutritious plant protein. Hemp is also loaded with all 20 amino acids (including the 9 essential). Plant protein, such as hemp, is vital for vegans and vegetarians, and is also preferred by many world class athletes for its dense nutrition. The protein found in hemp hearts is very digestible, with no known allergies, which makes it an excellent choice for sensitive diets.
• Hemp also contains phytonutrients, which may boost immunity, purify the skin, and strengthen connective tissue. Hemp seeds may help with the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce inflammation, increase healing time, improve circulation, and boost overall immune function and performance. 

I personally use Nutiva's brand of hemp protein powder (found it at Whole Foods). This stuff is so yummy! I was really taken aback by its nutty flavor. I will add it to my regular protein shake to supplement it with more nutritional value. I have not tried any recipes that call for hemp seeds or hemp oil just yet but I'll be sure to blog about it when I do! Hemp is also used to make milk and ice cream for those that are lactose intolerant. 


My current favorite hemp protein mixture is simply half a serving of hemp protein (check labels on whatever brand you get), one scoop of Optimum Nutrition's Natural Whey in chocolate, a little bit of banana sf/ff pudding mix, and 1/2c unswt chocolate almond milk. Blend with ice and YUM!


and for more yummy recipes I highly recommend you try: http://nutiva.com/the-nutiva-kitchen/hemp-recipes/

my favorite #38 article yet....

I do love this article about my current inspiration, obsession, future hubby & he don't know it Brian Wilson ;) it's not just an article about the guy that is known for the beard, the antics, the craziness....it actually gives a glimpse into who he is....but there's also a larger message of this: DO YOUR THING & MAKE NO APOLOGIES! for this I have to thank Elizabeth Merrill of espn.com....he's more than a pretty face to me you know :)




Brian Wilson Article





let me repeat that one statement in caps for anyone who missed it:

DO YOUR THING & MAKE NO APOLOGIES!

did you get it that time?