Happy Halloween!!!
Halloween Pictures and Pumpkin Festival Pics
Posted to Members Only Journal:)

Pictures of "Cheer Bear" Alyssa and "Super Mom" Jen in
Members Journal:) "Super Baby" Wade was too hot in his cute costume:)

I Finished The Kids' Costumes!!!
What a day...tonight was one of those nights as a mother, when you want to throw yourself on the floor and cry just like one of kids:) I was relieved when the baby went to bed tonight..he was so tired since he missed his second nap-
Alyssa had gymnastics tonight.
My training is going fantastic! Even though I have been doing all upper body training for the last 3 weeks because of my knee injury (all the messy details are in my members journal:), I am remaining quite lean and vascular. I am determined to start my dieting process way ahead of the game this year in the attempt to take my composition to the next level for me. I have made improvements where they were needed and I think it will show. Dieting down to single digits is always the determining factor for me... my body loves to hang out at 20-22% off season. God just ment for me to be curvy I suppose:) So if I begin my dieting process under 18% I will be ahead!
Well time to ice my knee a bit more. I am super tired and didn't get to a lot of the house stuff today with my clients and gymnastics and finishing the kids costumes...so once again I am thankful for the easy going husband I have who doesn't mind if things don't get done. Afterall...we have the essentials in the house right ;))) Those of you who are close to our family know what that means.
Night-nite:) Happy Friday Everyone!!
Jen:)

Update For Family & Friends...
My Members' Journal has all my bodybuilding related "info" in my entry today so I thought I would give the family scoop here:)
BABY WADE IS WALKING!!!!
And he's soo cute! I am one of the room mom's for Alyssa's class so I am helping with the parade and party tomorrow at her school. Wade will be in the backpack so I have my hands free to help.
Wait until you hear about my costume work I have to complete tonight...
Alyssa wanted to be a Carebear but they only make costumes for babies so I am taking her unicorn costume from last year and combining it with a $10 baby costume I found at Walmart to attempt to make my daughter a Carebear. I just couldn't break her heart and tell her she couldn't be one:)
Wade is getting a "mommy made" special this year as well...he's going to be
Super baby and I'm going to be Super mom. I figure my husband always likes to wear his superman hat so even if he doesn't realize it...he will be in costume too with his son;))
There are lots of family pictures in my gallery update this week from a wedding we attended a few weeks ago. My sister's best friend was married and she was absolutely beautiful..as she always is!
Got to run...I have clients.
Jen:)

Quote For The Day...

The secret to success in life is for every man and woman

to be ready when his opportunity comes.



~~ Benjamin Disraeli

Carmella - 10 Days New!
I met little Carmella last night for the first time. My friend Dana, of more than 14 years, and her husband Joe were just adorable to watch and photograph! i have attached a few pictures for all of you with their permission.
Welcome to the world little one!
Jen;)

Carmella...10 Days new:)

Dana & Joe...the proud new parents!

This is my favorite!!

Dana's smile says it all!

Daddy and his little girl:)

Such a precious little girl!

There is nothing like the feeling of a newborn on your chest:)

Support Our Troops!..Freedom Isn't Free...

"I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops !"

Quotes For Today:
( For My client & friend Nicole...you are almost there!!!)

"I'm overwhelmed by the strength of my body and the power of my mind.
For one moment,
just one second,
I feel immortal."
- Diana Nyad, long-distance swimmer

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you cannot do."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

"Today is not the day you quit. Nor is it the day you cry. Today you know that you have all the passion and wisdom to find that quiet center of solace, serenity and strength necessary to create and sustain an authentic life."
-Sarah Ban Breathnach

I received some wonderful news...My friend of more than 14 years became a mommy on Saturday afternoon! I posted a few pictures from her baby shower a few weeks ago if you look back in my journal. Everyone is doing well but anyone who has traveled the path of motherhood knows how those first few days and weeks are....Dana I love you and I am always just a phone call away!

I am anxious to see all of them next week. A home cooked meal from a friend is always the best gift after having a baby:) I found the most beautiful card for her that hopefully will send her a hug in the mail before I can get there:)

Congratulations Dana & Joe on the birth of your daughter!!! Your lives will never be the same;))

Quote For today...

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs
and returns home to find it."
— George Moore

Good Afternoon! Just wanted to let you all know there has been a new Q & A added to my "Ask the trainer" page. http://www.jenniferabrams.net/ask_the_trainer.html
Remember when you access the page you need to scroll down just a bit.
Hope you all have a great day! I am feeling much better today, my cold is fading away thank goodness!
Jen:)

Quote For the Day:
"Pessimists calculate the odds. Optimists believe they can overcome them."

I am an optimist! Are You??
Something to think about.
Jen;)

Expanding My Business To Include Coaching/ On-line & Phone...
I have decided to expand my personal training business officially to include on-line and phone coaching. The following exerp is from part of an e-mail I sent to one of my clients today that I thought would be helpful to alot of you out there. I have cut out bits and pieces to maintain her privacy.
Jen:)

"Never underestimate the power of your mind and emotions!
I think what you lack in your "training" and in your "life" is balence...
The balence I speak of is in reguards to your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. I think you often become so results and goal oriented that it is easy to miss this important and neccesary element to your health and wellbeing. I do personally understand how you can get wrapped up in your goals and results because slowing down and taking time for my own balence has been something I have had to learn as well:)"

" Your homework assignment for yourself is to find something that gives you peace, relaxation and calmness and do it every week. This may be a chair massage, taking a walk to a favorite lake and justing "watching" the world for a half hour. This could be going to the pool and just "sitting" in the whirl pool and having "quiet time". This may be waking up in the morning or in the evening before bed and finding some place in your house that you can sit and quieting visualize yourself in a healthy, strong, beautiful way. Yoga is also a great option."
"You know yourself best and the option that best suits you will come to you.
You need to make time for the inner you, because just taking care of the outer you ...isn't enough. Your body is telling you this every time you loose your momentumn.
Every person has their own way of getting to the finish line..so to speak. Not everyone's path is the same and therefore you can not take a "plan" from a book and apply it to everyone and expect the same results...every human being needs something a little different. You have the answer within you and time will reveal it to you."
"Take a look at what you have scheduled every week..what is the one thing that you can do without that will benefit the rest of your training...that's the thing you can take out and replace with some "You" time. Like I said before, do not underestimate the power of your mind and emotions!"

"I have faith in you and what you are capable of..you just need to take care of ALL of you inorder to tap your potential and capacity!"
Jen:)

"Rainy Night" Members Gallery Preview Pic..Gallery Updated This Week

Back and Calves...
It was Back and Calf training for me after work today. I had a few clients at Good Shepard and was able to get some sprinting in as well before going to an in-home apt. Then off to the gym for a quick back and calf workout. I am coming down with a cold:( I could feel it coming on this afternoon but now it's setting in. I've done my extra Vitamin C, Echinasia and Multivitamin to help me fight it off so we'll see if it works again for me. I usually have great luck with that along with lots of fluids and extra rest:) I knew we would all get sick after that cold, rainy trip to the pumpkin patch on Friday:)
I posted some really cute pictures of Alyssa and I to my members journal from her field trip on Friday. I also wrote about the great time I had at Club Industry on Saturday..I even ran into Sarah Dunlap! She came around the corner as I was waiting for the bus to take me to Union Station and asked for directions to Club Industry..then we both looked at eachother and started laughing..small world...it was great to see her:)
I have posted a few pictures from my members gallery "Back Training" from today. Last weekend's "Wedding" gallery as well as 'Rainy Night " gallery should all be updated this week to the members area.
Have a great night everyone...tomorrow is the start of a brand new week...
Anything Is Possible!!
Jen;)

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Pumpkin Farm and Club Industry recap/ pics posted to my Members Journal.
Jen;)

An Amazing picture I was sent today...Life is soo incredible!!!

Well tomorrow is Friday and for most that means the beginning of some relaxation...for me it means "kick it into high gear":) Alyssa and I are going to the Pumpkin farm with her kindergarten class tomorrow and then I have an in-home client. Saturday I will be attending Club Industry at McCormic place in Chicago for two Continuing Ed. classes (Personal Training/Business related) and check out all the new Fitness "gagets:)" that are out there..fun-fun..I just love these things!
Sunday I have 5 personal training apt's so I won't be home until late afternoon...then we'll see what I'm up for...probably big hugs and kisses from my little ones and hubby;)
So what am I doing now at 10 pm. at night..icing my knee with a bag of frozen broccoli and getting ready to call a new client who needs a motivational coach for embarking on her very first triathalon...I'm her Girl:))
So I leave you with an amazing photo that was sent to me today along with a member's preview shot.
Have a great Weekend Everybody!!!
Jen

Wade advertising for the Ergo Suppliment line;))) So cute!

Beautiful Photography...
One of my members who has a photography hobby sent me some of his beautiful fall photographs...they are great! Check them out below:)
Thanks Evan!!!

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CONGRATS TO LAURA!!!
Hello, hello...I have posted this weekend's recap in my members journal and the "Wedding" gallery and "Bench America" gallery will both appear in my member's update this week with a possible additional gallery. I must thank all of you for your e-mails and letters. I have been recieving a lot of training and diet questions lately...nice to hear from all of you. Someone from the navy e-mailed me today and I have posted my response into my "Ask The Trainer" page. It should be updated in the next day or two, so check it out. A great big congrats goes out to Laura Valeria who finished the Chicago Marathon on Sunday with a time of 4 hrs., 30 min., and 36 sec.!!! WOW awesome!! That's like keeping a 10 minute mile pace for 26 straight miles!! My hat comes off to you and all the other incredible athletes/ individuals who achomplished that great challenge..you should be proud!
I leave you with a few words to encourage...
"It is not how big, small, short, tall, or old you actually are that matters,
what matters... it is how big, tall and/or young you feel.
Perception takes the place of reality more often than we think.
Remember...your feelings about yourself are seen by others even if you think they are not
so stand proud of who you are and for what you are about.
Appreciate yourself...and so will others!"
Jen;)

I just love fall...Alyssa and Wade loving it too!

Alyssa playing with the leaves:)

Wade learning to drive the "big rig".

Taking the kids to the Fire Station for Open House

Our fall picture at my mom and dad's house:)

Time away from the kids...thanks Paula and Gary!

Members Preview

The start of my routine...

Rear double bicep pose from my routine

Nicole and I ...Front Lat spread

Nicole and I... side chest

My new friend and I

The Wedding and Bench America were great! I will post more details in the next few days:)
Jen

I would like to commend Laura Valeria and Mrs. Phillip Zinn on running in the Chicago Marathon tomorrow!!!
WoW..how incredible you both are...I would NEVER attempt such an event!
26 miles...I cannot even begin to imagine.
I wish you both well and hope you fullfill your own personal goals for this race.
Jen:)

First off I'd like to wish a Happy Belated Birthday to Kim!
I hope you had a great day celebrating!
Yesterday was a rough day but Wade made me feel a lot better when we went to the park while Alyssa finished her second hour of gymnastics.
His smile is contagious:)
Then last night my client Nicole treated me to a body wrap at a salon as a "thank you" gift. WOW it was awesome! I wrote all about it in my members journal.
Enjoy the pics...I will have an entire gallery from my performance this weekend as well as video in my members area.
my sister's best friend is getting married on Friday so I should have a few fun pics from the wedding as well.
Jen:)

Coming down the slide all by himself:)

Playing at the park with Wade:)

I need this today!!!
Quote For The Day:
"God always gives us strength enough,
and sense enough, for everything He wants us to do."
~~John Ruskin

If you knew today were your last...what would you do for today? Write me and tell me about it and I'll post everyone's responces..it will be fun!
DON'T FORGET....
If you haven't registered to vote, tomorrow is the last day to be able to vote in this year's presidential election.
I am off to run errands and get my workout in (Biceps & Triceps), then do some grocery shopping. my routine is finished for this weekend but I am having trouble doing a voice over at the beginning of the song...I need to find someone who can help me with it.

Last night before bed I was feeling a bit emotional from a conversation I had with our neighbor yesterday afternoon. He told me about an accident he was involved in and how it brought faith into his life. The piece I am performing at Bench America has something to do with this topic and has had my emotions on my shirt sleeve for some time now.
Anyways, as I walked down the hall and stepped into my son's room I leaned over his crib and touched his snuggled little body feeling the rise and fall of his chest as he slept. With tears in my eyes I said a little prayer for the privilage of having my son in my life! Then I walked the stairs to my daughters room...snuggled up next to her as she slept and did the same.
My life would NOT be the same without them!
Have a great day,
Jen:)

Something In The Mail For Members Only In October...
Just to say "thank you" to all of you who have lended a helping hand by joining my members area, there will be a surprise in the mail for you this month sometime...so don't forget to check your mail box:)

The little things add up to be big things...
Small acts of kindness have a way of growing exponentially...
Jen;)
and........
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULA!:)
Big Huggs For You!!!
We Love You!

A Small Piece of the Incredibly Supportive Letter I Recieved From One of My Members, Gerhard, from Germany....
"In addition to all your bodybuilding experiences I really, really enjoy and I am somehow very touched by everything you put in your diaries regarding your family, your kids - you seen to be so much at ease with yourself and confident regaring the way you live - probably this is your biggest achievement of all!! Your client Nicole really shows how much it pays to work out together with you - she looks great as well!! Amazing calves, of course, but the rest of the body/ physique is great as well!!....But what can you expect from soemone who gets coached by you?? :-) When is her show - will you help her there as well? Just let her know that I will cheer for her from this side of the Atlantic - and next year, when it is your turn to hit the stage, you will hear all the way to the US without me even using a megaphone!!"