I'm a Savage Girl!

After months and months of trying to make this decision, I finally joined Cathy Savage Fitness on December 3, 2010. I am really proud of myself for taking my journey to the next level and making the commitment to become a Savage Girl. Cathy and her staff have already given me so many incredible gifts in my first month of being a member. I am enrolled in camp the last weekend in January as well and I am really working hard at getting prepared physically and mentally for that experience.

I've also been thinking really hard about resolutions, not just the "lose weight, get in better shape, etc." ones; but, the how do I become a better human being resolution. I have been feeling like there is a void in my life as of late, and this is during a time in which I have so many positives. I'm not 100% certain what that void is; but, I think a big part of it is allowing myself to be less than "perfect," and realizing the importance of mistakes and failures for personal growth. I am going to work beyond hard in 2011; but, I am going to allow myself to take some risks, some less calculated than others. I am going to push myself to be as genuine as I possibly can, even when it's uncomfortable. 2011 is going to be a huge year for me for SO many reasons, I am getting married, competing in figure, turning 30 and starting to plan for having babies...so many amazing things on the horizon!

I work out...

Our romantical engagement photo shoot. I couldn't help myself...hehe.

Forever & Always, No Matter What!

In the midst of all the stress and craziness that goes along with preparing to compete and train for a contest, our loved ones often get taken for granted. There is so much pressure and constant anxiety for competitors, especially rookies like myself, and I know for certain that my significant other really had to take on the burden of putting up with my mood swings and emotional breakdowns. Despite this, he was the one that came running down the hall to hug me after I came off the stage. He was the one taking the photos and the videos (simultaneously), trying so hard to chronicle my experience for me and make me see how beautiful I was up there...He was there to make me protein shakes when I was too tired to do it myself and rub my feet when I was falling asleep on the couch at 8:30 pm after my second workout of the day. He didn't complain and he didn't ask anything of me other than to just follow my heart...I am one of the luckiest ladies on the planet because my man is there for me no matter what. He is truly the most wonderful human being I know.

On top of all of this, on Saturday, we planned a romantic morning in Ogunquit, Maine. We walked on Marginal Way, one of our favorite places, and went downtown to have breakfast together. As we walked back, we stopped at our favorite spot, a special little cove at the base of some large rocks. We like to comb the rock piles in search of heart shaped rocks. It's a tradition we started when we were first dating. Our garden and our home has many of these rocks adorning them. In the midst of our search, Ben got down on one knee and pulled out an amazing ring and asked me to marry him. It was amazingly romantic and brought us both to tears. We are so thrilled and looking forward to being husband and wife and spending the rest of our lives together.

This moment reminded me to take time to step away from the intensity of the training and constant obsessing over my diet to enjoy what's right in front of me, true happiness and so much to be thankful for.

"Forever and Always, No Matter What" <3

important lesson...

Good Eats

The beauty of clean eating is that you get to enjoy healthy food that is not only good for you; but, really does taste great. You stop craving the junk because it makes you feel bad when you eat it. Here are a few fab meals from the weekend. Gotta love the Magic Bullet and it's ability to make some ice and powder into a delicious protein shake!