Success is a journey!

2-13-11
It's been a bumpy ride the past few weeks. I became very sick the week before the Big Blizzard therefore I missed about a week and half of workouts. I was very depressed during this time feeling so powerless over the virus that took over my body. But luckily I became more focused and eager to continue towards my goal. I always remember Bob Harper's mantra - BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. TRUST THE PROCESS. CHANGE FOREVER. This has been a difficult and very challenging ride so far and I need to stay focused and believe in myself. I'm starting to appreciate my body more. I've really taken it for granted in the past. It's amazing what our bodies do for us everyday. They help us live. We owe it to ourselves to take care of them so they can continue to take care of us. Yes - we all want to look fabulous on the outside, but it's so important to nurture our insides. We want to be on this earth as long as we possibly can, right?

For my fellow BABs - Here are 12 Traits of Champion Bodybuilders by Tom Venuto. Let's keep these in mind as we continue through this challenge.

The 12 Traits of Champions:

(1) Champions are positive thinkers; they believe in themselves.

Undoubtedly the most important quality that all champions share is an unwavering belief that they will succeed. Champions always look for the good in every situation. No matter what obstacles they encounter, they always continue to think positive. Without confidence, faith in your abilities, and positive mental attitude, you’ve defeated yourself before you ever step onstage.

(2) Champions visualize their successes.

Champions understand the importance of positive mental imagery or visualization. Champion bodybuilders visualize exactly how they want their bodies to look, they see themselves standing onstage accepting the first place trophy, and they mentally rehearse every workout in vivid detail. They do this over and over in their minds hundreds or even thousands of times before it becomes physical reality.

(3) Champions surround themselves with positive people and avoid negative influences.

Champions keep themselves in a "positive shell" and do not associate with negative people, places, or things. Arnold Schwarzenegger put it this way: "I have nothing to do with negative relationships. I stay away from negative influences. I have no time for negative thinkers and pessimists. Such people will suck you dry until you have become as pessimistic as they are. Then you’ll have not just one but two losers."

(4) Champions are goal setters.

Champions realize that if they don’t know where they’re going, that is exactly where they’ll end up; nowhere! Champions consistently set long and short-term goals. From day to day workout goals to long term career objectives, champions have written out specific, measurable goals with a deadline.

(5) Champions have a burning desire to succeed.

Champions not only have goals, but they ardently desire them. Robert Collier, summed up the idea of desire beautifully in his 1926 self-help classic Secret of the Ages." He said, "Very few people know how to desire with sufficient intensity. They do not know what it is to feel and manifest that intense, eager, longing, craving, insistent, demanding, ravenous desire which is akin to the persistent, insistent, ardent, overwhelming desire of the drowning man for a breath of air, or a desert-lost man for a drink of water, or the famished man for bread and meat." Champions have burning desire. They want it and they want it badly.

(6) Champions are disciplined and consistent.

Champions live and breathe the bodybuilding lifestyle all year round. They are committed and disciplined in training and dietary practices. They know that in bodybuilding there is no off-season and success does not come overnight. Champions never miss a scheduled workout and never miss a meal. Champion bodybuilders are probably the most dedicated athletes in any sport.

(7) Champions are persistent

Champions never, ever quit. Thomas Edison was the epitome of persistence: He conducted 10,000 experiments before finally finding a filament that would burn in the electric light bulb. Champion bodybuilders approach their vocation with the same diligence of an Edison. They know that if they persist long enough, eventually they must succeed.

(8) Champions learn from their failures

Champions don't view losses as failures, they see them as learning experiences. When asked how it felt to fail 10,000 times, Thomas Edison replied, " I didn’t fail, I learned 9,999 ways that wouldn’t work." Champions know that they haven’t failed until they quit; but once they quit, then they have failed. A champion finds a lesson in every apparent loss and finds ways to grow from it.

(9) Champions have incredible powers of focus and concentration

Champions set goals and then maintain a laser-like focus on them. They have the ability to always keep the long term objective in their sights while focusing 100% on what they are doing at the moment. If you watch a champion train you will notice that they are completely oblivious to their surroundings. 100% of their focus and concentration is on what they are doing. They almost appear to have slipped into a hypnosis-like trance. This peak physiological and psychological state has often been referred to as being in "the zone" or being in "flow." Champions can access this state instantly at will. When it comes time to train they turn everything else off and zero in on what they are doing.

(10) Champions have a deep love and boundless enthusiasm for the sport.

To a loser, training and dieting is work and drudgery. To a champion, training and dieting are a love, a joy, and a passion. Champions are enthusiastic about what they do; they can’t wait to train each day. Motivational speaker Tom Hopkins once said, "Work is anything you’re doing when you’d rather be doing something else." Champions are doing what they love, so to them it’s not work at all, its fun!

(11) Champions strive for constant and never ending improvement

Champions are never satisfied with the status quo; they never rest on their laurels. Champions aim for small improvements every day in every way. Champions are open-minded and are always looking for a better way to do things. Although champions are always striving for more, they also realize that success is a journey, so they enjoy each moment and savor every step along the way.

(12) Champions are hard workers; they are willing to go the extra mile

Positive thinking, goal setting, visualization, desire, persistence, and enthusiasm are vital, but without action and hard work, these traits are all worthless. Edison said, "Success is 98% perspiration and 2% inspiration." Champions are hard workers. Champions take consistent action and they are willing to do the things that the losers are not. Champions make themselves go to the gym when they don’t feel like going. Champions stay on the bike another 15 minutes, even when they are exhausted. Champions do 5 extra reps after the losers have stopped. Champions are steadfast with their diets when the failures break down and cheat. Champions have the willingness to train through the pain barrier while the failures quit when it starts to hurt. In short, champions go the extra mile.

BABs - Vicki, Elena, Karlisa, Monique, Robin - you are all champions in my eyes. I see the determination and hard work you put forth. This in turn encourages me to do my best. I know this hard for us all both mentally and physically, but let's take time to look around and enjoy every moment of this journey. A few years from now, it will be a very fond memory!!!!

Dre - Thank you so much for your time and effort in helping us achieve our goal. You are leading us to be the very best we can be – CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!

See you soon,
Bea

Baptism by....

Hi all!!
My name is Robin and I am new to D3 and to the BABS family. AND this is my first blog! :-)
I said 2011 was about change for me and I'm off to an unbelievable start! I am not new to working out, and I've even had personal trainers before - however I'm already convinced that before now I've wasted a ton of time and money. They say if you don't like something, change it - and what I didn't like was the excuses I was always making for the mediocre goals that I set for myself. So this is an extreme goal, but an attainable one. Once I complete this one, next on my list will be my PhD (but I digress).
I have enjoyed all of my D3 classes so far, I don't really have a favorite - but almost every class I've taken really pushed me to my limits. I knew from the first class - I had come to the right place!
Since I am just joining BABS, with only a little less than 13 weeks before the show - I had no choice but to do as V suggested and get my mind right and get in! I've learned that the right mind set means everything, and I just had to make up my mind. And that is truly what has happened. The diet, the daily exercise, the PT... is all SO far and beyond hard, difficult, challenging, etc. - but I want it SO bad, there is no way I'm going to blow this opportunity! But when I tell you that during my first PT session yesterday I cried real tears...that is no exaggeration!
Then to hear Dre say, "You thought this was hard? This was nothing...I'mma f*ck y'all up!" only inspired more tears. But honestly speaking, Dre's no nonsense approach to working out and love for extreme consequences, is just the push I need to make this dream a reality.
I also want to send a special thank you to the entire BABS family, thanks so much for the encouragement, support and motivation. I'm so glad you all welcomed me into your group, I will not disappoint you!
Robin

Diva Krystle VN Client Plan Blog 1

Happy Thursday!!! I made it through my first week of the nutrition program. I must admit, it was tough for me. I’ve been accustomed to simply eating when I felt hungry. This bad habit caused me to periodically grab something quick at the nearest fast food restaurant. I know that is terrible but I would try to incorporate some type of fruit or salad with the meal. I figured I would just burn it off when I got to D3, especially since I would eat 1-2 big meals a day. Wrong! For the past few months, I’ve been complaining how I just can’t seem to get past this road block in my weight lost journey. After attending the seminar, I realized I have been BS’ing with my diet and decided to sign up for the nutrition program. My challenge with the first week was actually eating six meals a day. I felt like I was eating too much. There were times I felt extremely hungry and others where I was not hungry at all between meals. But I persevered through the week. One thing I will say, this program has definitely made me more aware of my meal choices. The detailed meal plans and journaling really helped me. I was able to mix up meals so I wouldn’t get bored and fall off track. I will keep you all posted on my progress.

Hope everyone is having a good week! :)

OMGoodness!!!!

Sorry, I have been MIA, its not that i forget to blog, I always think of blogging. It's just that I recently have not had the strength to do it, I feel like Dre has broken my arms. I also, feel like this is a part-time job, thats going to turn into a full one pretty soon. But like i mentioned before, I signed up for it and i know the BABs feel the same. Hey, we are in it to the end. I love my BABs, thank you for encouraging me at all times. Chingona Bea, Killa K and Cheerleader
Vicki.

I also want to welcome our two new members Robin and Monique

elena

Happy Monday!

Hey everyone!

I hope you all are doing well. I'm going to try and keep this one short and sweet. Time is really flying and it's hard to believe that we've started our 10th week of training. 13 more to go I think and at this rate it's going to zip right by! We're really stepping our game up and the new regimen is just downright hard! No other word for it.

I know I've said it a thousand times but it means a lot to have a group that's supportive to one another. That storm traffic on Friday made me 45 minutes late for a session with the girls but they were STILL there when I got there and we all stayed there together til I was done. Even if it meant they did some exercises over or ran for a little longer. Isn't that something? We really hold each other down (and up) and it means a lot when you're doing something like this.

I met some of my girlfriends for breakfast over the weekend. It was great to see them since it'd been a while. It also felt good that they'd noticed changes in me. (I don't really see all that much different, you know). But they were really interested in "how I did it" and we got to talking about the BAB crew. And while I wouldn't encourage anyone to do what we're doing unless your heart is just really in it, I did realize that these changes really do come down to nutrition and accountability. For me, that's really what's made this work! And so I'd really encourage anyone of you who are serious about making changes in your body and finally being ready to OWN your inner BAB (we're ALL BABs:-), please please PLEASE take Dre up on her nutrition seminars!!! Please please PLEASE take her up on giving you an accountability partner!!!! She's not making this shit up as she goes along. Believe me. It's not even about "IT WORKS!"...It just IS! Learning the importance of how to eat has been life-changing and having Elena, Bea and V and YOU with me provides some extra accountability. Of course, in the long run, it's all on me but as we all get started making these changes, having someone there with you helps. It really does!!

Oh well...so much for keeping it short and sweet! But I hope all you beautiful folks give this food for thought;-)

Let's be our best!!
K.

OMG!!!

Guess who made the list for Top number of Classes for Jan 2011? ME!!! OMG how unbelievable is that. If my girl Josey hadnt texted me I swear I wouldnt even have paid much attention to the list as I have have always assumed I was never going to make that list. For real!! I am serious when I say it is a struggle for me to make it 2 or 3 times a week, as excercise is just not my thing!! I had to read the list 3xs to make sure I read my name right. This is with me being out of the country all together for the first week of January and then going out of town for a couple of days, the second week of January! yay!! I did 6 days in a row AND I made the list for most classes in the month..I am sooo proud of myself!! Whoop Whoop!!

Diva Mechell - VN Plan Client Blog 2

Hi All,

On week 3 of my lifestyle change, and I have to say week 2 was somewhat difficult( okay it was hard) as Dre said it would be. But in week 2 I made a discovery, I am rediscovering my palette again, I am tasting the realness of how food should taste, not coated with extreme grease, sugar, and salt. I have to say it's refreshing to have a piece of tilapia only seasoned with salt and pepper, not coated in a batter,(the fish was soooo good it melted in my mouth) with a side of organic brown rice, not greasy fries loaded with mild sauce. This is now one of Taylor's highly requested meals.

Anyhow, I am excited to continue this journey and lifestyle change, I am excited about the new discoveries, and enjoying the taste of real foods and how they make my body feel. I am also excited about getting my hotness back, I used to be a "Hottie", I am excited about rediscovering my curves, my butt, and my flat stomach.

Thank you all again for the constant encouragement it helps so much as I continue to become a healthier "Hottie". :)

Until the next blog, have an awesome week D3 Family!

Diva "Hottie" Mechell