Mind Games...

I have always been hard on myself. I have, for the most part, felt like I was "average" when it came to certain things. One of these being competing.

I am making the following statement without a shred of cockiness (I am merely stating facts) - I have done very well during my last 3 years on stage. I have won my class twice, one overall win, and seven top five placings. However, I still feel like an underdog. Like I'm not quite at the level I need to be in order to be a contender. Like I'm average. Like I have more weaknesses versus strengths in terms of my physique.

In my "More Than A Month!?!?" post I mentioned that during this off-season, I am working on, not only my physical well-being, but my mental well-being as well. During one of my earlier text exchanges with the Boss Lady, she told me "A healthy mind leads the way". She and I have discussed on numerous occasions how I tend to let my negative, self-deprecating thoughts take over and cloud my vision. The Boss Lady explained to me that in order to be my best self, I had to start working on changing my mindset and clear my head of negative thoughts.


I decided that I wanted to read a book that could help me figure out why I tend to be so critical of myself. Why to I get in my own way when it comes to making goals and pursuing them.

I found this book while searching my library's catalog and at first I was going to pass on it because it was only available in audiobook format. Then I decided that I would check it out and I would listen to it to and from the gym. It turned out to be a great decision.

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One it helped me wake up and get ready for my workout. Two it helped me really think about what was going on in my life, the decisions I've made, the chances I have & haven't taken, etc. I now joke that I worship at the Church of Jen Sincero. She has really changed my life. This book is definitely librarian approved - read/listen to it if you can!!

Awhile back, Tom found this incredible video on youtube and played it for me. I instantly fell in love with it and told him I wanted to figure out a way to put it on my workout playlist. The man worked his magic and converted it, along with a couple of other videos, into mp3 files that I could add to my playlists.

And one of my all-time favorites:

 

One of the men that you hear speaking in the first two videos is Eric Thomas aka ET. The man is incredible. I feel like every time I listen to him, I can conquer the world. I downloaded his app and listen to him constantly.

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He really makes me want to do better - train harder - fight for more - aspire to be greater. His words breathe life into me every time I hear them.

I am learning how important it is to fill my heart and my mind with positive thoughts and people. While it may seem weird to others, this is what is working for me. This is what is helping me realize, like Jen says, that I am the only Tenecia there will ever be....and that I'm kind of a big deal. I get to perceive my reality so why would I choose to perceive myself as anything other than a super huge rock star of a person?

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Getting Things Done...

In my "Final Decision" post, I shared with you some of my last season shit show drama events. I let y'all know that while I had started prepping for a fall show, a decision was made to end my prep and focus on an off-season.

My bedazzled suit and 5 inch clear heels were packed away and my focus shifted from getting show lean to other things.

I am now about three months into "Operation Physique Overhaul" and I have to tell you, off-season is not as horrible & squishy as I thought it would be! :)

My off-season body....

From my coach's Facebook page

At the beginning of my off-season, my coach explained to me what some of my goals were going to be. Some of these goals were about physical improvements like adding width to my back, working on my glute & hamstring tie-in, building my chicken legs (my words...not her's! lol). Others were focused on working on my mindset and helping me stop comparing myself to others & recognize my potential/strengths.

How I felt after my first official workout with my coach -
whose idea was this?!?!

Checkin' on my booty gains.... #cakecakecakecake

Working on improving my physique has been fun, challenging, and at times brutal. I love the workouts that I'm receiving. I love that I can drive up to Phoenix to train in person with my coach (even though I'm pretty sure she's trying to make me throw up, cry, die, or all of the above...lol). The in person training is a great time for me to ask questions, have my form corrected, learn about my body and what things I should be looking for/feeling as I'm doing a particular exercise, and more.

Am I growing??? :)

At the start of all of this, my metabolism was a bit sluggish so my body was not responding to the work I was putting in. I will be honest when I say I was feeling frustration about things not happening the way I felt they should be or as quickly as I wanted to. I was told to be patient and give my body time to get itself back in order. I made a conscious decision to throw out my timetable, focus on working my plan day in & day out, and let my body do the rest. I am very happy to say that I have received very positive feedback from my coach about the progress I'm making (a compliment or two may have been given....score!) - #happymeathead

The Mister caught me taking a selfie :)
Check out my cool lifting belt that he made me for Christmas!!

What I looked like after my first 2 hour spin & battle ropes class!

My daily schedule hasn't changed just because I'm not in contest prep. Most days I wake up between 3:45 - 4:00am and will be in the car heading to the gym no later than 4:15am. I work out until about 6:00 am, head back, put my mom & wife hats, and then head to work. In addition to my weekly lifting & cardio sessions, I have started attending a Saturday morning spin class at my local YMCA! It's from 8:15 am - 10:15 am and we do battle ropes at the end of class! I know the instructor from the library and he had been challenging taunting encouraging me to attend his class for quite some time. When I was told I needed to start spinning, his class was the first one I thought of and now, I can't live without it!

This has been an incredibly interesting time for me - signing with a new coach, officially being in off-season, setting lofty goals for 2015, trying new things, etc. I am thankful that my body continues to put up with my rigorous training and that I have remained healthy & injury-free. I am excited about the journey I am on and what is to come.

2015 is going to be the year of badass - I just know it!

New Release Tuesday

Damn you, Nick Jonas!

Damn you and your delicious vocals,

your mesmerizing beats,

and your drool worthy too young for me body!

DAMN YOU!!!

Playlist of Power

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know that I absolutely L-O-V-E music...especially new music! In 2013, I stumbled upon a new blog (thanks FitFluential!) called Pavement Runner. The writer of this blog would do a weekly post called "Playlist Thursday".

Playlist Thursday would feature a theme (example - Radio Jams) and three songs would be shared. However, there were some rules. The rules were one song had to be "Something Old" (songs that are at least 5 years old), one song had to be "Something Current" (songs that have been released within the past year) and one song had to be "Something to Consider" (this was the wild card category. Could be current, guilty pleasure, underground, really anything). I loved this weekly post and while it's not happening as frequently as it had been, you can still see the various posts by visiting the Music page of the Pavement Runner website!

Since getting an iPhone last April (yes...I took that long to get with times...lol!), I have been listening to the various stations on iTunes Radio which is a great way to discover new songs. I've even created personal radio stations like Iggy Radio, Sam Smith Radio, and Slow Jams Radio and I always love when I hear something that makes me say "OOOOHHHHH!!! What's this?!? I need to add this to my iTunes!".

Anyway, there are a few songs that I just had to have on my Playlist of Power aka my cardio/lifting playlist. They are......

Two songs from Jessie J's new album.

Masterpiece

Burnin' Up featuring 2 Chainz

Bounce by Iggy Azalea

Real Love by Clean Bandit

Centuries by Fall Out Boy

Can't Stop Dancing by Becky G

Flawless Remix - Beyonce feat. Nicki Minaj

Touchin', Lovin' - Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj

I Don't F@&k With You - Big Sean

*lots of profanity in this one so you might want to 

skip it if you have sensitive ears

What songs have you recently added to your cardio/lifting playlist? 

More Than A Month!?!?

My last post was on November 25th!! How did I let so much time go by before doing a post?!? I have no excuses to give...but I do have pictures....so how 'bout I share those in a minute?!?

Life has been good to me. I am a happy healthy girl. I really have no complaints.

I plan to share with you some of the new songs on my Playlist of Power aka my workout playlist. And later in the week, I want to talk about my off-season and how I'm working on, not only my physical, but also my mental well-being.

Until then, here are some pictures to, in a way, update you on what's been going on in my life!

*you can also stay updated with my almost daily shenanigans on Instagram --> MrsFitLibrarian

My friend Savannah and I attended a local powerlifting competition

You can still purchase calendars from Firefighters vs Autisum

Supporting my brother-in-law Josue aka Honey as he rode in the
107 mile El Tour de Tucson

The Mister was home for Thanksgiving! Last Thanksgiving
we spent together was almost 3 years ago!

Pretty sure my niece Nya's leg warmers are the cutest thing ever!

Nya and I enjoying a pedicure during our Girls' Day Out :)

A night out with one of my best friends

Lolo's Chicken & Waffles always makes me do my happy wiggle

You know I love my Peeps <3

Yep. I wore this. To work. On Christmas Eve.

Uncle Tommy & Jaxon having fun on Family Picture Day :)

The Princess is growing up too fast! I can't stand it!