"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up."
~ Author Unknown

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A picture from today at the gym...Back day! 3 sets of Seated Rows. I finished my last two sets with 140 lbs. handles all the way to my rib cage. Wow-I shocked myself! 3 sets of 90 lb. Hammer Strength Lat Pull downs (you are facing away from the machine). Then 3 sets of One Arm Rows 35lb to 40 lb dumbell...controlled movement...ALWAYS:) 20 minutes of cardio and out of the gym in a little over an hour;)
I took the first set of photos for my posing client Nicole today. She is 14 weeks out from competition and has UNBELIEVABLE genetics for bodybuilding. I am stunned she only began lifting two years ago! Just wait...she will appear in my members section under "Steps To Success-Client Progress" in a few weeks. (Steps To Success is the name of my personal training business). Nicole definitely has what it takes...and she is a mother of two girls...4 1/2 and 1 years old. I am anxious to see her on stage for her first competition:)
I am up late getting everything sent to Fitsights for the members area. I hope you all check it out...there is A LOT of time that goes into putting it together. I can't wait to see the finished product!
Have a great Weekend!
Jen:)

August Is Almost Here? When did that happen? The summer has gone by so fast! We still have to get the kids to the zoo and I promised my daughter we could camp out in the backyard:) So I guess I have to get on that:) Less than a month until both Alyssa and Michael start school. Alyssa starts kindergarten and Michael starts EMT school the same night. Busy-busy!
So what do you all think of my new home page?? Thank you Noel, you did a great job and put up with all my ideas:)
My members area should be up and running very soon. A few weeks I believe. I am working with a new client on posing and choreography. This will be her first competition ever...mother of two! She looks great and with her ok I will be adding her to my members section in my "Steps To Success- client progress" area....you will see when it's up and running:)
I have to say a great big "HI THERE" to grandpa!!! Who I hear reads my journals every day, you are awesome! We had a little visit at grandma and grandpa's house on Tuesday....they just LOVE to see their grandchildren!
My quads are sore from Tuesday's workout. 240 lbs. on leg press, 200 on Hack squats and Super set alternating Leg Extensions to help my right leg to catch up to my left. My rt. ankle problems from my ankle surgery in 2002 hinders my right leg...quad and calf.
I was called down to the nursery two times for the baby...diaper day that's for sure!
Today I'm training chest and doing a bit of cardio.
I have to send a HUGE HUG out to my brother-in law Lucas! He just finished taking the BAR exam yesterday!!! It was TWO 6 1/2 hour days of test taking! We have all watched him study his butt off for the past 2 months after finishing law school...study classes 7 days a week on top of studying at night. If anyone has a chance of passing the BAR on the first try it's Lucas!
Have a great day everyone,
Jen:)

A photo from my "Orange Gallery" soon to be open in my members area.
Thanks to Fitsights!! 

Portrait of Mom 

Our Baby Boy! 

Orange 

Back preview 

Hope you all had a great weekend! Here's a  few preview pics from my members area which is soon to arrive! I trained bi's and tri's yesterday after training my clients in the morning. The weather was great this weekend. The air conditioning got a break...it really felt like fall:) 
     Keep training and stay focused:) 
     To all of you out there dieting for competition. 
     Jen:)

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES:



"Most people never run far enough on their first wind 

to find out if they've got a second. Give your dreams

all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy 

that comes out of you."



~ William James 



"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon,

 but that we wait so long to begin it." 



~ Author Unknown



My Baby Boy is 10 months old today!!!

Wow he's growing so fast:)

I'm very proud of this one! 

One for Alyssa..Cheese:) 

Well Here I Am...9 1/2 months Post Pregnancy & 9 1/2 months Pre contest!
Pretty neat how that worked out ha:) I fulfilled my dream of having a second child and now it is time to fulfill another...Winning my open overall at two local shows in Illinois and making it into the top 5 at Jr. Nationals! I know, I know..One thing at a time.
Here are some pics of where I am at weighing 170 lbs. 9 1/2 months out...Still nursing the baby.
I will soon be adding a members section to my site so my members will be able to watch me transition from month to month and week to week.
Thank you ALL for your wonderfully supportive e-mails...I read and respond to them all!
Jen;)

Baby Bath Time! 

9 1/2 months Post Pregnancy & Pre Contest 

9 1/2 months...Post Pregnancy & Pre Contest 

Jr. Nationals 2002 

Here's some ab motivation for ya! For me too:)) 

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand -- and melting like a snowflake." ~
 
Marie Beyon Ray
 
Wake up sleepy heads:) For all you tired ones out there...it's Monday!
I finally figured out how to post photos to my journal...check them out below!
My leg workouts last week were brutal, I was super sore! My run on Saturday with a client (see pic below), and the 30 minutes of rotating stairs I did on Sunday relieved all the lactic acid though so I feel great today:) Bicep and tricep training today then out to the pool with the kids. it's going to rain all week so today's the day for the pool.
We had a nice weekend..two parties on Saturday and a side job for my hubby on Sunday while I took the kids swimming with the home owners and their kids. I know, not fair for my hubby, but I brought him lunch:) and some supplies he needed.
Time to get the kids dressed and ready to go...have a great day!!!
Jen:)

"You go girl:)" 

My client Terese swinging a hard right:) after our run on Saturday morning. Watch out Rocky! 

Cooling off in the river with Alyssa!
 
Look at what I finally figured out how to do!!! I am so impressed, I finally did it! My husband will be so proud of me:) I hope you all enjoy these! The first pic is from the water fights last weekend. The second is the cover shot for my site.
 

The "Cover Shot" for my website! 

Today was Quads and Back for me. My squat day as well. A warm up and three sets of 10 with 205.  Then on to smith lunges and leg extensions. Lat pulls with 100 (perfect form:) and Bent over Rows for back. I was toast by that point so I finished out with 20 minutes on the bike.
I had a nice time at the river/park with my family this afternoon too. Beautiful there...I love to swing with the baby on my lap and sing him songs as he rests his head on my chest and sucks his little thumb. As pure as life gets!
My husband fought his first fire tonight!!! How exciting! I couldn't wait to hear all about it. As expected it was very exciting! Great job guys!!! Cheers to the Fire Department!
It was refreshing to see the glow in his eyes when he got home covered in ash from cleaning the equipment off.
I will be promoting the INSTONE product line beginning next month at two GNC locations in the Chicagoland area. I am excited about the opportunity to work in the supplement realm of the industry. INTAKE PERFORMANCE and INTAKE LEAN are the two protein shakes they carry that are available exclusively at GNC.
I am also looking into expanding my site to include a members area for all of you out there who are interested in my contest prep. For next year and a bunch of new photos. We'll see...if you have any suggestions feel free to e-mail them to me, jenniferlynnabrams@yahoo.com
I need some ZZZZ's:) Night-nite...
Jen

TODAY'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE: (Happy Wednesday Everyone!)

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be. For I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness, or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.
We carry the seeds of the one or the other about with
us in our minds wherever we go."

~ Martha Washington

16 new photos added to my yahoo fan group (accessible from my links page). A bunch from my photo shoot with FBBWorld last month and some from our fun family weekend!
I trained bi's and tri's and did 25 minutes of cardio yesterday. Today is chest and hamstrings. I am pleased with my progress. I can see the body composition difference from even a month ago when I had my two photo shoots, and I'm even still nursing. Check out the photo from the river with my daughter, thanks for taking that when I wasn't looking Kelly:) it gives me a good idea where I am at.
My beautiful baby boy is 9 1/2 months old already!! I want to stop time as he is an angel!! The best baby, along with Alyssa, I have ever seen!! I have NO problems what so ever with him. Alyssa plays with him like I have never seen a child do at her age. He interacts and laughs, follows her around and even instigates play with her. He even rolls a ball back and forth on the floor with my husband.
I have never been so content and at peace with my life as I am now! I have everything I want and need. What better way to return to competition...with fulfillment like that...
I am ready!!!

Training update...Thursday I trained shoulders and calves and yesterday was back and quads. It's been a great training week for me. My weights are moving up and I am watching my structure change week by week. I am planning to continue nursing the baby through Oct./Nov than begin my contest preparations for next year. As of now, financial means allowing, I am planning to compete in April and May at two Regional competitions in Illinois and then compete at the Jr. Nationals in June. If I can somehow muster up the money I will also give the Team Universe a shot in August. If I can't get the money together I will have to wait another year for Team Universe:(
My plan is to compete at the top of the light-heavy class and come in at 138 but more defined in my lower body and a bit more size in my upper body. I will also be doing a photo shoot with Women's Physique World and two other photographers I have yet to work with.
A lot of work ahead:) but I am anxious and ready for it after my two year break with the pregnancy and nursing.
Nationals this year should be interesting with the addition of the light-heavy class. I am interested to see how things turn out...we will see!
I am off to a great annual picnic for my dad's family... the REILLY FAMILY PICNIC! Swimming, a water balloon toss, egg toss, games for all the kids, great food and fun in the sun. Tonight my husband and the rest of the fire dept will be putting on a fire works display.
Tomorrow is the fire dept. water fights down by the river and Michael will be competing against all the other departments in the area. It should be a lot of fun, can't wait to see him in his uniform for the first time, WHOOO;) He's such a good looking man! I sure am a lucky girl!
Have a great weekend!
Jen:)

A quick update tonight...I have lots to do around the house. (Make use of my time while the baby is sleeping and Alyssa watches a movie:)
I trained Chest and Triceps plus 30 minutes of cardio yesterday and Hamstrings and Biceps plus 20 minutes of cardio today. I am weighing between 168-170 right now and I seem to look leaner by the week. I have really given in to training heavy and it's paying off. I have hit the point with my legs again when I have to hold back to keep myself proportional. I am only doing squats once a month now and various other exercises for my legs on my leg days.
We had a great 4th of July weekend! I posted more photos to my yahoo group (accessible from my Links page, from the summer.
Time to get to work...my hamstrings, chest and arms are only going to give me a few more hours before I need to relax and eat again:)
Jen:)

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy and safe 4th of July!!!!! I will be busy most of the weekend and hopefully we will have some great family fun, if the weather holds up:) 4th of July is a special time of year in our family!
All the best! Have fun!
"Love what you do, Do what you love!"
Most importantly....
GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!!!!!

Another really nice fan letter I received,

"I don't have a fitness question. I just had to write and tell you the picture of you kissing your daughter that is posted on Andy's Muscle Goddesses website is absolutely priceless! Your daughter is cute and you look so joyful and proud. Thanks for sharing it."

You're welcome! Everything I do means so much more with my children to share it with. My daughter has been an angel in my life..in more ways than one:) Sometimes I think I learn just as much from her as she learns from me.
Have a great one everybody!