Moving is like Interval Training

Moving! The joys and pains. I love unpacking. I love trying to best figure out where things should go. I love seeing what I do and don't need. I love buying new things (when I have to). I love the cleanliness of new houses, especially brand new suites that haven't been lived in yet. I hate the actual moving part. I am good at putting my jeep together like a jigsaw puzzle but it's not fun. I am actually in pain from all the moving and bending and running and lifting. I don't like having to sleep on the floor. I don't like working so hard that I don't want to actually go to work or work out. I don't like knowing how much crap I actually have. I don't like buying new things cuz I don't like spending the money. All in all, this place is going to be great. It's brand new. It has built in appliances including a dishwasher. It has huge closet and storage space. Tons of cupboards and shelving. A fake fireplace thing - generates heat but doesn't actually burn wood. I unpacked my kitchen first. Shocker. Not. It's my favourite part. Then the bathroom stuff. I don't have my big furniture yet so I can't really undo the other stuff until I know where I am going to store it all. Should I put my tv in my room? What should I do with the extra room? Do I bring my couch or do I buy a new one that will better fit in here? Where do I take all the garbage I generated? I do want to buy a desk though! For sure! i have a 1 year old printer that has yet to come out of the box and a ton of office supply things that I would love a place for. I am not in school but to type on my desk on my laptop rather than my bed would be awesome. So purchases: - desk - night stand - couch (don't know yet) Other than that I am set. Ready to live in Ocean park and be closer to work. Ready to be super close to starbucks and other grocery stores. Ready to be super close to the ocean and my favourite set of running stairs! Yay!

26

Greetings! It appears that I haven't updated this thing in a really, really long time. So since Mar 25 I have discontented my contest prep, for many many reasons. Too many to go into right now. Also I don't want to relive the bad couple weeks that was that week and the few following. Since then I have been working like a mad woman, making tons of money and just living life. Need more excitement though! I like being 26. I like going to play basketball outside without a care in the world. I like not feeling intimidated anymore when punks and skateboarders and big groups of people are hanging out where I am playing basketball. I like knowing who I am. I don't care what preppy girls think of me. I am an athlete and bodybuilder. I am confident in this. I am moving back to White Rock in June. My roommate has already moved out. It's fun living alone again. I have this place all cleaned up, organized and I have purged probably half of my stuff to decrease the amount of "stuff" I have. My new place is a ground floor suite in Ocean Park underneath the home of one of my past clients and her 2 sons. The place is newly renovated with a brand new kitchen. There is lots of light. There is a fireplace, an onsite bathroom, a very large bedroom, another spare room/den/extra room, and a good sized living room. I am so pumped to live close to the ocean and my favourite set of stairs! May brings our family trip to Kelowna and the rest of the summer just points to Jon's wedding in August. Can't wait! Later days!

Sitting, Lying, Watching, Resting

Greetings,

Today I sat and slept and sat and rested and . . .

It feels like a waste of a day but my feet love me. My heels love me. My muscles love me.

I love the sun. Today was a great day where I got to rollerblade and run outside! It's been forever since I did that and now I can't wait until summer. Really though I just want to move somewhere warm!

Nothing new to report other than I am slowly coming out of this funk. SLOWLY being the key word. I am heading to Seattle next weekend for a "retreat" with my friend Stephanie. It's gonna be super relaxing and really fun. I can't wait. This week will go slow I am sure. I hope it's sunny so it will make it somewhat enjoyable. Doubt it though.

Yep I was always taught that if you don't have something positive to say, don't say anything at all. So I will leave it at that!

Other than Passion Tour 2012 was soooooo awesome and I've already bought the CD and listened to it a million times!

Later days!

Let the light shine in . . . face it with a grin.

Greetings!

I have been a grump, like a super grump for the last 2 weeks so I am going to take a little time out of my morning to write all the things that I recently have to be thankful for! (and in no particular order)

I am thankful for . . .
1. new cardio buddies - I have made a whole bunch of new friends that are supportive, good listeners, and motivating who enjoy doing cardio with me. Those would be, Michelle, Christa, Stephanie, Amy, Louise, Diana!
2. having time during the day to do things that make me happy - like watching Goofy Movie, sitting and having coffee, eating a hot breakfast
3. meeting with old friends for advice and catch up on their life
4. a loving family that listens to all my griping and still loves me for it
5. advice from my loving family, that I say is bad advice or not applicable, but really take to heart and apply it to my life, because they want what's best for me.
6. a God who never gives up on me, even when it feels like I have given up on Him
7. the friendly, outgoing personality that God has developed in me as I got older. I always thought I was the quiet, behind the scenes type of person, but in the past couple of years I have been transformed into a public speaking, want to be around people all the time, leader person
8. my jeep - I never really think about how much that thing carries me around, and for the gracious parents who bought it for me
9. a healthy knee
10. cheap rent and utilities and a roommate that I get along with
11. sleep
12. the strive for excellence that God has instilled in me, the drive to work hard at everything I do, and the commitment to be the best that I can be
13. a sister who teaches me about hair and makeup (you all know I need all the help that I can get)
14. a good paying job that I usually enjoy
15. clients who give me advice and health tips and teach me things everyday

And the list could go on and on.
I needed to just take a step back from my grumbly attitude and reflect on my blessings. It doesn't really change the struggles that I am going through, but it does give me perspective on my life. None of my trials compare to the trials of the world, but I have gotten so focused on all the crap that I have lost perspective.
So here's to a better day and the inward joy and peace I can find in a Saviour who loves me and wants to hold me.

Really really good week

Greetings!

After the last couple blogs of rants I figured I would let you all know about my amazing week. This past week was super super long, like each day felt like the next day long, BUT it was awesome. I don't remember the beginning of the week, but starting Thursday things were great. First my "grandparent" clients who I watch football with on the weekends and who feed me usually once a week, gave me a big tv that they didn't want. They gave me this huge tv (50 inch?, not a flat screen, but not heavy either) and he helped me move it out to my house. My roommate was home because of sickness so we moved around the furniture and cleaned up a bit so that we could fit it in the perfect spot. I love the new arrangement and feel like my spring cleaning is already done. haha and it's not even spring.

Secondly, we found out on Tuesday that New Balance was beginning their sponsorship/partnership with Steve Nash Sports Clubs and that a couple of the top trainers, sales staff and front desk girls got a free pair of shoes. So on Thursday I went to get fitted for a new pair of shoes and picked a new model that are actually you'll never guess . . . purple. Then since their was another model of shoe that I kind of liked and he wasn't carrying stock of anymore and it was in my size, he gave me another free pair. They are grey and baby blue. Not something I would probably spend money on, but nice to have 2 pairs.

Then, I get back to work and we got paid. Turns out that since our team hit our club goal for January that we got an extra 5% commission on sales, along with our regular 10%, as well as an extra $2/session serviced if over 120. I brought in over 10 grand in January so my commission was pretty substantial. And because of that I also won a bonus for being top 20 in the company and earned an extra 150. My commission check was bigger than my actual pay stub. Pays to be at the gym all day every day.

Lastly, I was getting frustrated because I hadn't lost any weight but then I weighed in at Langley again and turns out I lost 8 lbs in 4 weeks. Right on track. Although now is crunch time. It's 12 weeks until the show so no more cheat meals and very very strict in the food and workout sense. Probably start the zombie mentality again soon too. Sucky.

Friday was good too because I got my Nexus pass so in 2 weeks time I will be paying 40 cents less every gas tank cuz I'll head down there every week.

Saturday was our NASH HOUSE open house where I again brought in a whole bunch of money, got some new clients, did some fun demos, met a lot of people, and helped another trainer win a trip to Vegas which she is taking me on!

Today, Sunday, my friend and I headed to the downtown sports club to workout. It's so awesome. They have stools in the bathroom, a sauna, steam room, couches everywhere, 4 floors of workout equipment, tvs on each cardio, towel service, juice bar, tons and tons of awesome red coloured equipment, a huge personal training area, tons of windows, etc. I could go on and on. Safe to say that we had a good time and felt like rich members to an exclusive club. I might just be going down there a whole lot more than I have before. Then we went to the Fairmont hotel for a breakfast buffet. It was really good. Especially the vanilla waffles and these mini apple cinnamon muffins. Everything else was good too, but those stood out to me. Good cheat meal for the last day. Probs going to have some popcorn right away too as I mindlessly rest by watching the Oscars. God has been so good to me.

Later days!

RANTS!

I don't know how to talk to guys and really how am I supposed to learn? Why should I have to go to bars/party in order to meet people and "get out"? I don't want to do something I don't like or be someone that I am not. But the fact of the matter is that I don't like myself and so how am I supposed to let someone like me?! I am not confident in the way that I talk to people, or confident in my job/position or ability to perform in that job. I am unhappy with the way that I look right now (although that will change in the next 12 weeks). I don't know how to be a girl. I don't know how to be submissive so that a guy leads, to back away to play hard to get, yet still show interest and maintain a conversation. Am I that out of the loop/practice? UGH!

I need the sun. I am not really sick of the rain but I just need sun and heat. I'm back to the move down south thing. UGH!

I heard on the radio the other day that we don't make commitments or appointments because we are too afraid of a possible event/situation that might come up and we would regret making the first commitment and have to miss this new opportunity. So true. I never make a commitment because I know that something better might come up. But then I wait for that thing to come up and when it doesn't, I don't have anything to do and then regret not making the first commitment in the first place. I resolve to say yes to invitations to movies/events and make plans. I just hate getting stuck doing something that I don't really enjoy and am constantly thinking of the possible things that I could be doing instead. UGH!

So this month I am going to:
1. organize a card making class with my friends
2. workout without music so that I can talk to people
3. talk to guys my own age in the gym while working out
4. go out - to a sporting event, a concert, church event
5. do something that scares me - like helping with an INFOFIT class, go dancing

Lastly, my work ethic when it comes to work has gone down the pooper. I work out really hard and dedicate myself to this show but I can't put enough effort into work to be there 40hours a week. I am a good trainer, but I don't feel like a professional. I am though and people view me as one. I have the respect of all the trainers and most of the members of the gym, but I need to feel it myself. UGH!

UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never Surrender

" It bears down on me . . . I can't breathe.
I'm holding on for life, suffocating under the crushing weight. . . Of expectations, my dreams, this potential.
It is my burden, my personal nightmare.
I often think these legs will break, my back will buckle.
But when in doubt, push back. Burn the white flag and trample the olive branch under foot.
When it's time for war, come with wrath and fell determination.
That heat, the pressure . . . It will transform this rough body, harden it.
When things get tough, never give quarter.
Never surrender."

13 weeks out thought process

Unusual Cravings

Greetings!

So yeah . . . lately I have really wanted to go to a country bar and dance all night, travel and just sit around in the hot sun, and wear dresses everyday. Yeah I know, weird and definitely unusual. No reason why, just want some change I guess. Change from what people expect Candice to be like. She body builds, she trains people, wears baggy clothes everyday, and watches sports. Really, my favourite movies are chick flicks, I like wearing my hair down now, and I am an empathetic people pleaser. That's just who I am.

I have been filling my free time with working out, building up work hours and getting to know our new manager and assistant manager, coaching basketball and most recently watching Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy and Smash on the CTV website. Now that football is over I need some shows to look forward to seeing every week.

Basketball is now done. Thank goodness. It was really fun coaching the girls and getting to know them, but the inconveienice of getting to practice twice a week and rushing back to work is something that I will not miss. We ended up winning our last game of the season against the other gr. 7 team from our school in a tournament in which we spilt our grade 7s into two teams. We were down by 2, and there was 1 minute left when we got fouled on a shot and scored 1 point. We then got the ball back and one of our girls who didn't score that much all day, shot and scored! So we won by 1 point! It was so much fun. The girls had a really great day! The grade 6s lost all their games, but they had a fun day away from school and learning the game.

Nothing else to report, although my life has apparently developed into a Pride and Prejudice situation where certain relatives are trying to marry me off and in a hurry I might add. Well just so you know . . . HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Later days!

Welcome, 2012!

Happy New Year!

I wanted New Years Day to be a day full of my favourite things/people and so . . .
1. I slept in
2. I had a great workout at the gym.
3. I got to see my trainer, Mike, and catch up about the holidays.
4. I went rollerblading in shorts around the neighbourhood.
5. I watched football ALL DAY!
6. I sat around colouring pictures, making workouts, drinking espresso, and now writing on my blog.
7. Oh and I finished the series of the OC. What a great series! Well, not really but it's addicting.

I am looking forward to the future year of 2012. 2011 was an interesting year and so anything could happen. Here's a quick recap of 2011 . . .
- I became a personal trainer and started my job at the Steve Nash Sports Club in White Rock
- which means I quit my 1.5 year long job at Starbucks in February
- I decided to start bodybuilding in May and began my 6 month journey
- I moved from my apartment to my coach house in Langley with Elisha in March
- I trained, and trained and trained and trained
- I competed in women's heavyweight bodybuilding at the Sandra Wickham Fall Classic on Nov 12 and finished 5th

Now it's January, a month I really do enjoy and will enjoy even more now because I am going to be so busy at work. New Year's Resolutions baby! Speaking of which, here are some of my GOALS for the New Year . . . (things I have already started on, so they aren't resolutions)
1. Win my show in Kelowna on May 19th
2. move into Morgan Crossing condos right by my work
3. learn more personal training exercises, techniques, equipment/ get more certifications
4. take better care of myself. For example, actually doing my hair once in awhile, not putting it in a messy bun all the time (my hairdresser made me promise:)), brushing teeth/face before bed, and being better prepared for the next day's work
5. do plyo pushups and more than 1 pull-up
6. hang out with people more - increase the socializing

Now these also aren't resolutions because I have plans on how to accomplish each of these in a timely, measurable and tangible and fashion. Other ones that might need to be put on there would include digging into the WORD deeper, praying with fervency, and lastly, perhaps becoming a firefighter.