How Time Flies!!!

I cannot believe it has been over a month since I last posted. It really just goes to show you how time really does fly!

So last time I left off, I hadn't yet seen Brody but was on my way just a week later. I absolutely loved my trip out to see him - it was such a relief to get to spend time with him. It's now been a month since I last saw him, and boy is it tough. I will be going another 5 weeks or so before I see him again, and I just don't know if I can do it. What a rough time. I mean, that sounds wrong - of COURSE I can do it, we can do it, it's just a matter of mentally/emotionally breaking down (again) or not! :)

Last week I had a pretty strong break down - just due to some stressors in my life. It is a tough time when your person isn't here to console you, hold you, tell you everything is alright and is going to be just fine. It's hard when we have to do our consoling over the telephone, with no physical contact like an arm around the shoulder or a kiss on the cheek. I know that all of this makes us stronger as a couple, and I am pretty confident that we are one of the few couples that can really make it through times where we are separated by such long distances with such "ease." (Don't know if I would call it ease, but it probably looks easy to the people looking in on us.) He is my light, my soul, my everything. I just love him to pieces.

On a fitness-related note, things have been going pretty well since I got back from NC. I'm getting to the gym almost every day (yay!), and I'm definitely eating a lot better about 90% of the time. Better than 50%, right? I've been psyching myself up for the past week or so to get rockin' and rollin' starting tomorrow on the "hardcore" diet I'll be starting. Clean eating ONLY. The only carbs are in fruits & veggies. 'Cause dammit I've got 5 weeks 'til Brod's home, and I am going to look like a whole new woman! :)

So playing catch up, that's about it. I love you all and promise I won't be such a stranger on here. (It gets crazy what with studying for the LSAT, getting ready for Brod's return, etc.)

Stay focused,
Laura

Future NPC/IFBB Bikini Competitor

Twitter: @bombshell_laura
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurapazo
http://www.laurasbombshellworld.blogspot.com/

Never take the good things for granted...

Don't worry everyone, this isn't going to be a big scary post about how I took something amazing for granted and now it's gone. No, no. And news flash: this blog post is not fitness or nutrition related. Luckily though, this is a pre-emptive wake-up call: I just had the most amazing conversation with my boyfriend. Was it our normal happy-go-lucky chat? No. Did I have to face some truths that have been difficult for me to confront? Yes. And the most important thing about all of this - I realized how much more now I love him than I even knew before. (Has anyone heard the song "Then"? Click here for On The Rocks' amazing version of it...)

I cannot wait to get out to North Carolina next weekend to see him. Having a "Come In to Jesus" chat like we did today really made me realize - I am SO LUCKY to have such an amazing man like him in my life! He challenges me, helps me, supports me, and loves me more than I could have ever thought possible. And not only that, he knows me better than I know myself sometimes. Even though I act like a five year old on occassion, whining about what I want, he is always there to stop me from sabotaging myself. He is the only man I can imagine spending the rest of my life with, and I am so blessed to have met him.

So Mr. Owen, this blog is for you. Thank you for all the amazing and wonderful gifts you have brought into my life, and I hope that I can return the favor.

With all my love,
Your Sweet Pea

An Amazing, Inspirational Person

I just read the most amazing and inspiring blog by a girl named Rachel Mac. She is a bikini competitor and Quest Bar sponsored athlete. And it is pretty uncanny how much her story sounds like mine.

I think that these past few weeks I have been freaking out a little bit about tryouts looming just 4 weeks away. This blog reminded me that this weight loss journey is a process. It is a life-long marathon, not a quick-fix sprint. That has been my problem. I am too preoccupied with this arbitrary deadline that I have set for myself. I am a beautiful girl and need to remember that. I can control how I do my hair, my makeup, my tan, what I wear, etc. I can control what I eat, and how I train my body.

I will NOT freak out because tryouts are in 4 weeks. I will NOT freak out because I want to compete in my first bikini competition next April. I WILL NOT SABOTAGE MYSELF UNWITTINGLY. I will focus on what I can control, each and every day. I will focus on eating the right foods and exercising. Although no matter what happens, I will be at tryouts on August 13th, if I don't make the team - THAT IS OKAY. I will not force myself into an unhealthy lifestyle simply because of an arbitrary deadline. I think the major thing I need to realize is that this isn't a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will have many opportunities over the next few years to make this dream a reality. Like this awesome woman (and coincidence that her name is Laura too? I think not!):
Laura Vikmanis - Oldest NFL Cheerleader

So if you get anything from this post, let it be this: being fit and healthy is a life-long marathon. There are no cheats, no short-cuts, and no gimmicks that will help you get to the end result faster. Just like with Communism (yes, I'm pulling out an analogy from my senior year of high school): you can't skip steps to make it happen faster. When you do, it all crumbles and you're left with a riot (whether from a large group of angry people or your body - a large group of angry cells... yes, I know, INCREDIBLY cheesy).

Thanks for reading everyone! Oh - and catch Rachel's blog (don't forget to read parts 1, 2 AND 3) here:
Rachel Mac's Blog (on Quest Bar)

Stay *focused *positive *motivated!
Laura
Future NPC/IFBB Bikini Competitor
Twitter: @Bombshell_Laura
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurapazo

Committing to a Lifestyle Change

It is so incredibly difficult to commit to a lifestyle change. I think the key is understanding that small set backs are just that - small. Treat them this way and they won't take over. One mistake won't turn into ten and then a whole day and then a whole week. It is one slip up and it's okay to move on.

With only 33 days (as of Monday, July 11) left until tryouts, I'm determined to keep my mind occupied. Whenever I have small slip ups or set backs, it seems to come from boredom. Per IFBB Bikini Pro Alison Rosen's most recent blog on Muscle & Fitness Hers website (link: The Art of Bikram Yoga by Ali Rosen), I have started looking into some Bikram Yoga facilities here in Salt Lake City. I found a studio, Bikram Yoga, in Sugarhouse, and they have an introductory rate of $20 for an unlimited 10-day pass. For $20, I'll be able to get a great idea if this is something I want to pursue! I'll be calling tomorrow to look into this. :) I'm really excited and hopefully this, combined with eating clean, will really help get me motivated for the next 33 days!!!

Any and all positive thoughts my way are much appreciated. It's been a rough journey, and no matter what happens in the next month, I'll be trying out for the Nu Skin Dancers. I WILL follow through!

Lots of love and until next time...

Stay *focused *positive *fit!
Laura Pazourek
Future NPC Bikini Competitor
Facebook: facebook.com/laurapazo
Twitter: @Bombshell_Laura

Changing Mindsets

So, today's entry is about how amazing the universe is at knowing exactly what I need to hear/read, when exactly I need to hear/read it. Uncanny, really.

Coach Shannon Dey writes an article in every issue of "FitnessRx Magazine," one of my top picks for favorite magazines. This month's article? I'll sum up using one phrase she used - get over it and GO! Change your mindset, do whatever it is you have to do, but at the end of the day, suck it up, get over it, and just go do what you have to do! For me, this is a little tougher - I LOVE the gym. If I didn't have a fur-kid at home, or at least if I had a fur-kid that wouldn't terrorize the house if I didn't kennel him, I would probably be there in all of my off hours. But the fact is, I have other commitments I have to take care of. Ultimately though, at the end of the day, hitting the gym is not hard for me because I enjoy it. What's the tough part? THE FOOD.

Nutrition - well, GOOD, HEALTHY nutrition - has never been my strong point. I've never been a terrible eater, but I've never been too too crazy about eating raw/vegan/healthy/organic/etc. Not my style. :) But, as I get older, I realize my body has certain intolerances, and if I want to sculpt the body that I want, I'm going to have to make some changes. There are three major things that hit this list:

1. Gluten-free: I know my body loves living gluten-free. As soon as I eat bread, I puff up like crazy. So if anyone asks, I'm now gluten intolerant. :) (Okay, not really, but if you want your meal to come without bread, saying "I don't want any" is just simply not as effective as "I'm allergic" - they don't touch the latter with a ten foot serving tray...)

2. Dairy-free: This is a tough one, and always has been for me. I've always loved milk, but in the last 5 years or so, whenever I eat dairy, my body has definitely said something to the effect of, "HEY NOW, what's this crap you're feeding me? You want me to try and process this!?" and then it is just bad news bears for everyone, mainly me, as I lay curled up in a ball on the couch/bed/floor - whatever's closest.

3. Sugar-free: I have a horrible sweet tooth. Anyone in my family can tell you that. And when sugar is around, one word comes to mind: BINGE. It's a terrible word, it's a terrible way to live life - I know this! But it is what it is. And that is why I am committing to living a sugarless life. Thank the Lord for Stevia!!!

So starting Friday, July 8th, 2011, I, Laura Pazourek, am committing myself to living a gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free life. There will always be room for exceptions and special occassions, but instead of an "exception" being once a day, it will be more like once a month. But I know that this is going to be the best way for me to stay healthy, happy, and hopefully - SKINNY! :)

Alright, now on to the game plan: today was the first evening of my "loading phase", as part one of the HCG diet. I will spend all day tomorrow loading, and then first thing Friday - it can only get BETTER! I will toss out the crap and trade it in for the good. And through the 4th of August, I will take the next month to commit to this diet. I will follow it 110%. I will NOT CHEAT. I will follow the description to a T. And at the end, I will have no excuses. When August 13th rolls around, I will either have made the cut or I won't - but either way, I'll know I have done everything in my power from this moment forth to make that happen. I. AM. COMMITTED.

I'll leave it on that note. As I continue this journey, I will also continue to post updates and progress along the way. Until then - keep up the hard work and Happy Training everyone!
All my love,
Laura