If You Build It...

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Do you remember that quote from The Field of Dreams --> "if you build it, they will come"? This was the quote going through my head yesterday afternoon as I tried to annihilate my shoulders in the hopes that next competition season, my Dwight Howard boulder shoulders will arrive :)

photo credit

Muscle and Fitness was gracious enough to send me one of their November sample boxes and you guys, I swear the boxes & samples just keep getting better and better! If you are unfamiliar with the monthly supplement program they currently offer, here is a quick overview of the program --> You may sign up to receive 5-7 samples of different products each month. The cost of the membership is $15 a month or $11.25 with an annual membership. Shipping is free and members receive $15 off any $75+ order from the Muscle & Fitness store when they join. If this sounds like something you might be interested, you can find additional information about the program at the Muscle & Fitness Store.

Some of the samples included in this month's box include:

Universal Atomic 7- Grape Splash 

VPX Carbonx- Chocolate

Muscle Pharm Assault- Watermelon 

Baddass Nutrition - Pre & Post Workout Drink

For my "Buildin' Boulders" workout, I decided that I would start with my sample of Universal Shock Therapy - Grape Ape. I am going to be honest here, I did not like the taste of this product at all. It was very hard for me to stomach and the smell was a bit strange. It did mix well with cold water and there were few granules left at the bottom of my container after pouring the contents of the packet into water. Even though it was very difficult for me to drink all of the mixture (I don't like to eat or drink things that smell funny), I did finish it all and started my workout a little less than 30 minutes later.

The product description states "Shock Therapy harnesses the power of the NO boosters, muscle volumizers, energy substrates, antioxidants and nootropics and fuses them into a single cutting-edge supplement" so I expected big things from this supplement. I was slightly disappointed when I didn't feel a significant surge of energy, focus, or power at any point after I had taken it. Now, that is not to say that I did not have an incredible workout....cuz I did! Below is the shoulder workout that I threw together with the help of The Boss #2 - try it out and let us know what you think!

I've sampled some of the other supplements provided this month's box since trying the Shock Therapy sample. I will share my thoughts on the different products and the workouts I did in an upcoming post! I do want to say that this is what I love about the monthly supplement sample box program - the fact that you can try products before fully "committing" to them. Some of the samples I received were awesome and when I need to restock my supply, they will definitely be on my "Add to the Rotation" list. Other samples, like the Universal Shock Therapy, weren't quite for me and I was able to determine that before spending my money on something I probably wouldn't use again. Just something to keep in mind if you're considering signing up for the program!

Disclaimer:

I received these products free of charge and was given no compensation for this review.

All opinions expressed are my own.

Playlist Thursday: High School Jams

Playlist Thursday is this great weekly posting that Pavement Runner features on his blog on...you guessed it...Thursdays! Each week, he features a theme and shares one song that is something old, another that is something current, and one that is something to consider. I find myself heading over to Pavement Runner each Thursday to see what songs are going to be featured and felt brave enough to participate again, after a short hiatus, this week!

I also like to live vicariously through him in terms of the running and miles this man logs. He is the definition of "beast mode" and "Fitfluential"!! Don't believe me?!?! The man just completed a 50 mile run in some serious conditions (rain, mud, etc)...anyway....you have to head over to his blog...not only for the music but his posts about running, training, and the beautiful First Lady! :)

This week's theme is "High School Jams" and while high school was not the best time in my life, some of the music I still love to this day was discovered during this turbulent time :) Here are some of the songs that add some flava' while taking me back into time!



Something Old

Artist: Jon B.

Title: Are You Still Down?

Side note: I spent many hours daydreaming about this white boy who sang like an angel and was gangsta' enough to have 'Pac on his song  *sigh*

Quotable: "Yeah, I can see that you want me. By the way that you smile. R u still down for me?"

Something Current

Artist: The Fugees

Song: Killing Me Softly

Side Note: My friend Tiffany introduced me to The Fugees one morning while we were waiting for the bus to take us to school. Tiffany was C-O-O-L....her clothes, her makeup, her attitude...and I knew when she told me this group was the best group out there, she knew what she was talking about.

Additional side note: Our classmates would ask Tiffany and I to sing this song in our Journalism class. I'm not gonna lie, our harmony was the sh!t :)

Quotable: "I heard he sang a good song. I heard he had a style. And so I came to see him and listen for a while."

Something to Consider

Artist: Angie Martinez, Lil Kim, Da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliott

Song: Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)

Side note:  I love this song!! No beef, no catfights, no one giving each other the stank eye! See ladies, you can be awesome in your own element while joining forces with other equally awesome women on projects!

Quotable: "Aiyyo Kim, heheh, ya kno' what I'm sayin? I ain't even gon' leave without sayin sumthin' on this track.You ain't gonna use me to just be singin' hooks. What I look like? Patti LaBelle or somebody?"

*please note there is profanity in this video*

If you want to see playlists from other bloggers, head over to the Playlist Thursday Catalogue page!

New Release Tuesday

I'm not really sure how I feel about the video but really, who cares? I'm not watching the video when I'm doing my fast walk run to this song. I'm enjoying having this as a part of cardio playlist and think you might as well!

Oh...before we go...I may or may not have but the leather bustier Florence is wearing in the video on my Christmas list....just sayin'.... :)

December, Where Did You Come From!?!

Can someone please explain to me how the month of December arrived so quickly?!? I could have sworn that it was just May and I was bawling like a baby at The Princess' 5th grade promotion!! C-R-A-Z-Y!

It's full blown "off-season" or "improvement season" up in here! With that in mind and to keep me on track, I thought I would share my goals for the month of December with you. Nothing like accountability to keep you on the straight & narrow :)

1) Drink at least a gallon of water daily

2) Take my vitamins!

3) Log 6-10 miles from running each week

4) Weight training at least 3 times a week

5) Be in bed by 9:00 pm at the latest during the week

6) Eat the food I take to work and stop eating out!

"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. 

Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be;

your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at least unveil."

*James Allen*

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

It looks like I'm going to finally do it.

I'm going to put my suit up for sale.

Insert major sad face here.

It has to be done for several reasons but I don't wanna do it! I know I'm not going to wear it to another competition but ugh....

I have no choice but to man up and do it....so here it goes....

This vibrant blue lycra Tamee Marie suit will fit a height range of 5'4" - 5'8" (possibly taller), weight 135-155ish. Cups are sized to fit A to a full C. Bottoms are small/medium. Suit is in great condition and ready to be worn at your next competition! I'm asking $625 obo - shipping is on me :)

Please email me if you're interested or if you have any additional questions.

I want this beauty to go to a good home so if you or another competitor you know is interested in purchasing it, contact me.

Now excuse me while I go look at the suit and cry silently about our impending separation ;)

New Release Tuesday

This song isn't a new release, in fact, I believe I've already featured it on my blog. But it just makes me happy every time I hear it so I'm reintroducing it to you :)

Enjoy!!!

The Crazy Fam Bam Grows!!

Hello...hello....hello....is anybody out there?? *taps the mic*

I know! It's been forever and a day since I've updated this thing but I promise I have a good reason for being absent.

Yes, that's me. Yes, I'm crying.

My baby sister had her baby! Jaxon Liam joined our crazy fam bam on Friday, November 23 at 7:30 pm. My sister was a trooper, let me tell you! She had been in labor for most of the day and had pushed like champion for 2 hours before Jaxon decided to grace us with his presence.

The Princess and her new cousin

Other really awesome things that have happened while I've been away include....

Gelson's!!!

From this guy -->

My baby bro!

That's right! My brother came home for short visit and he came bearing gifts....gifts from Gelson's!! It is a really good thing there isn't a Gelson's here because I would be there err day and would be as big as a house!

One last awesome thing I have to share before I go is the pictures from my photo shoot with Ana from Urban Chick Foto. I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot with Ana the weekend I was in Mesa for my competition. I don't have a lot of experience doing photo shoots so I'm always nervous and awkward but Ana is so calming & reassuring. I tell her and everyone else that her camera has magical powers! If you're interested in seeing some of the images she captured during our time together, you can see them in her blog post "Tenecia - NPC Figure Competitor".

I haven't forgotten that I owe you guys a show recap...plus I need to update you on my training and goals for 2013...I promise to do that soon...I need more hours in my day! :)