I'm Suffering.....

It’s a typical Saturday morning at the Birge house. I wake up with the roosters, prepare our blueberries, oatmeal, and eggs, drink my coffee and study until I hear the words “heeellooo?? Mama hoooomme?”

 I go in to see the CUTEST little two-year-old with his hands up and waiting to snuggle me good morning… (LOVE!). He goes to get his da-da up and we eat our breakfast then get ready for our Saturday morning gym date (*sigh* my favorite!). 

It’s leg day for me… those of you who know me know I have some pretty good shaped legs! BUT (or should I say BUTT) I need to turn my gluteus minimums into a gluteus maximums! This means I have to lift HEAVY and work hard! Building muscle for a girl is NOT an easy task and takes dedication, patience and hard work to accomplish. ESPECIALLY for a girl (that’s me!) that used to think running will burn fat and has the endurance of an Arabian horse!

After getting the little man situated in kids club, I go do my warm up of jump rope, body weight lunges and body weight squats, then head over to the Squat rack knowing what I have worked up too this week…. I am mentally preparing myself to squat 135lbs 6-8 times for 4 sets (after I do a couple warm up sets with lighter weight).

When I get there I see one of my husbands best friend (whose name is also Brad but with 2D's) about to use the squat rack so I put on a cute little smile and use my sweetest voice, “Hi Bradd! Are you using this?” (If you go to the gym and use the squat rack you know it doesn’t matter how cute you are when it comes to a buff man and his squat rack!!)

He looks at me and says, “What’s up Lallenia! Are you just starting your workout?”

“Yes I am.” I respond in that sweet little voice.

“Oh good!” He says with a light in his eyes! Then looks over at my husband, “Hey man, is it cool if I take your wife through one of my workouts?”

My Brad looks at me with a grin, “Hell ya! Sure dude! Go for it!”

I have heard my husband talk about this mans leg workouts before and see the way he walks for days after so I give my Brad the meanest look… because he knows I’m not one to say no to a workout unless I’m injured... Boy do I wish I were injured today!

SO…Here I am dripping sweat (and I don’t usually sweat much) lunging with 40lbs in each hand for 20 steps (yes, with perfect form!) after let me repeat that…AFTER I did 5 sets of leg extensions super set with heavy squats then he had me pyramiding my way up from 180lbs to 360lbs then back down to 180lbs (10 reps each set, total of 8 sets) on the leg press…. I stop 2 lunges before 20…. He looks at me and says, “Pain is weakness leaving the body, but that’s cool go ahead and cheat yourself from getting results I won’t say anything.”

What do I do? Go over pick those dumbbells up and finish that set knowing I still have 3 sets more to go, then one more superset workout with hamstrings. All the sudden after I put the dumbbells down I hear in a disgusted voice “You know… you DON’T HAVE to suffer to get fit!” Says the lady who is sitting on the leg machine with no sight of sweat dripping off her body, has about 40lbs to lose and the machine that she is on is definitely set up wrong for her body. 

If I wasn’t in my zone working hard to reach my goals at the time I may have had some “motivational” words for her. Instead I shook my head and smiled... oh but I will tell you what… I finished those lasts 3 sets of lunges and that hamstring superset feeling stronger and more confident than ever! =) (don't ask me how i will get out of bed in the morning.....)

Moral of this story you are wondering? I’ll tell you. I am not “suffering” because I am dripping sweat, grunting (more like a squealing), lunging weights that weigh more than half my body weight, not eating birthday cake or pizza when I am around it, measuring out my foods, and striving to be in the best shape I can be in. That’s not suffering to me… sorry lady... that’s called motivation, dedication, and a girl who wants to prove to herself she can do it.

Healthy, Fit, FABULOUS!
*Lallenia*

"Don't let anyone influence or make you feel bad when it comes to your life & your choices, they are yours for the taking..." Fitness Model Aundrea Annin


Here is a picture of me after i was just getting out of Physical therapy from my shoulder surgery about 5 months ago, I don't have as much muscle as i want to see.....SO I use it as motivation because I am in the processes of getting my back & shoulders stronger and leaner, also want to see more definition in my abs and grow that Booty!!! ..... I am making my weaknesses my strengths =) 

I KNOW my ABC's... how about YOU??

Hi Hi Hi!!!! yes it has been a while since i have posted....I do not really have much of an excuse but rather an apology! Haha, my problem is i want to post blogs all the time because i feel like there is so much to share that i get overwhelmed and then don't do it.... hmm... sounds like something i need to work on yes? Anyways here is an article (vent) about the food pyramid i wrote for a health class this week,... please give me your thoughts on this topic!!! 

I KNOW MY ABC's..... HOW ABOUT YOU??

 The food pyramid has been taught in schools for almost 15 years now. Yet the Western World is more obese than ever! My guess is this means something is not right about this kind of teaching….. I understand that the western society has been increasingly sedentary since the evolution of video games, big screen TV’s, meaningless reality shows, and computer social life. But let’s be real here… that all reflects back to just plain laziness! There is a major misconception about the food pyramid and exercise. Not many people want to approach that issue because it involves changing their lifestyle.   

 I see from an article on cnn.com that they are changing the food pyramid again, which, in my opinion, is much better than the last one. It still is just general and does not really TEACH people what and why they are eating what they are eating. Don’t you agree that when you know why and how to do something you are more inclined to do it?

“How many carbs do I eat?”

“I feel like when I eat more pastas, cereals, and breads I gain weight faster…. Don’t you?”

“What is a carbohydrate anyways?”

“If I’m supposed to cut back on fat why do all these health nuts (pun intended) tell me to eat more whole eggs and coconut oil??”

“How do I get rid of body fat?”

 These are very commonly asked questions by many people. Yet when they turn to the food pyramid for answers it tells them a general answer that is not necessarily going to help a person reach their health and fitness goals. So then what do they do? Listen to the media, listen to celebrities who are PAYED to promote a product, and pay all this money for pills, powders, shots, and JUNK that is going to leave them out of money, frustrated and possibly hurt their health even more!

 I know this because I have been there done that, tried it all and I see it EVERYDAY! This really frustrates and irritates me to no end! Why in the world does the government invest all this time and money into healthcare instead of health prevention programs? Think about this, if the government were to hire people to work at schools who are very well trained in fitness and nutrition (the ones who practice what they preach not just go buy a certification and go home and eat Cheetos all day). Make it a mandatory program where the students actually have to learn and get graded on assignments (not just play dodge ball or watch a PowerPoint). Don’t you think maybe they will learn something that will stick?

 I know how to spell, add, subtract, cursive writing, my ABC’s, the 50 nifty united states (& 13 original colonies), and so much more because the teachers/government MADE me and HELPED me learn…. Why not teach the children about what to eat and how to eat at a young age? After all this is when a person’s brain is developing and learning. Not only will kids retain this information but it is ESSENTIAL for them at this age to be eating a very healthy diet to help their brain and body develop strong. 

Why not set our society up for success to grow strong and healthy minds and bodies through what we put into our body? I honestly think this would solve SO many health issues! People will be able to enjoy their lives more, have more confidence, and want to work for a government that takes care of them and helps them. Then maybe, just maybe we might be proud to pay our taxes to a government who wants us to succeed and be happy…. But then I guess that would cut back on all the billions of dollars they make off of your prescriptions, doctor visits, medical complications…

 Works Cited

Agriculture, U. S. (n.d.). USDA Choose My Plate. Retrieved from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

Park, M. (n.d.). Plate icon to guide Americans to healthier eating. Retrieved from www.cnn.com: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/02/usda.new.food.plate/index.html