Quotes For Today...
"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you,
it will be enough."
— Meister Eckart

"God Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Can Not Change,
Courage To Change The Things I Can,
And The Wisdom To Know the Difference!"

Wishing You All A Safe & Happy New Years Eve!
I have posted a spectacular photo below that my Alyssa took a few days ago!
Jen:)

A Spectacular Sunset!

13.5 Weeks out..How's my week going?....
Well, I took my 5 am. spin class Monday and Wednesday mornings this week and lifted on Monday morning (Great back workout) and Wednesday (super chest workout) late afternoon- after taking Wade to the doctor. Tuesday I had an in-home apt. and Wade wasn't feeling good so I kept him home. by yesterday I knew he needed antibiotics...sure enough he had an ear infection and respiratory cold. I didn't go lift until 4 pm. yesterday so my husband could stay with the kids.
Today...yep I finally got hit after months of fighting off everyone's illnesses...dam! It's just a head cold but I have to work at Outback the next 3 nights at 4 pm- tonight, 3 pm new years Eve and 3 pm New Years Day, then Sunday I have 4 personal training clients to train in the morning.
Am I overwhelmed..not a good enough word! I am holding my conditioning from last week of 160lbs. all the holiday carbs and missing my training due to my little guy on Tuesday and today because of me will keep me at a stand still for this week. I'll get another jump in progress next week. I am extreemly sore from my chest workout yeaterday and my legs were quite sore yesterday from the killer spin class I took at 5 am.
"When life gives you lemons..make lemonade"...anybody thirsty??I've got plenty to share:)
My members update should be up tonight,
Jen:)

"Snow White" Gallery Preview Pic

My little cutie-pies and I... from the Christmas get together with my friend Candi:)

Quote For Today...
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,
confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home,
a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow."
— Melody Beattie

"Snow White" Members Gallery Preview

"Snow White" Members Gallery Preview

Quote For Today...
"Not in rewards, but in the strength to survive
The blessing lies."
— John Townsend Trowbridge,
author and poet

My Day Began at 4:15 am...Spin class at 5 am. home by 6:20 am. so my hubby could go to work..wake and feed the kids, back to the gym by 9:30 am. for my back workout, ( all those carbs from Christmas served me well- 130 lbs on my seated rows today...and I was tired!), then home for Wade to take a nap and off to a Christmas get together with friends;)
Welcome to my world!...and this week is fairly light because Alyssa doesn't have school or gymnastics;)
Here's a picture from this afternoon- Members.. my update this week will include several galleries since this week's was small!
Jen:)

A Visit With Friends!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2004!

Christmas 2004!

Wade stealing my food again:)

Michael's parents and their grandchildren.

Christmas Morning...SANTA CAME!!!

Daddy and the kids.

Michael teasing me!!

My crazy husband..:)

My mom, sister and I....Merry Christmas!

A great big belly laugh:0

The two most beautiful people in the room...my grandparents!

Wade playing the piano;)

Alyssa and my Mom... cute as can be!

Wade loving his new toy!

:)

The Day after Christmas with Michael's family

My little munchkin!

14.5 Weeks Out- 160 lbs-
Here's a few pics from my members update for next week, in my "Journey To The Stage" area;)

Rear Facing Quarter Turn- part of competition manditories

Getting into my side chest pose

The Rear Lat Spread- a manditory pose

Busy & On The Go...
We had a nice weekend...farely relaxing with just a few bumps in the road (but that's to be expected with kids:).
Wade came down with stomach flu Friday night and made a HUGE mess of his crib...that was fun! Poor little guy!! He's doing much better but now his daddy has caught a stream of it. I'm fighting it with every bone in my body..mom's can't get sick..it's a rule!!
We had free movie passes from a gift given to us that we very much enjoyed on Sunday. We took Alyssa to see "The Polar Express". I grew up with that book read to me every year by my mom:) The movie was exceptional...I was moved, touched and inspired...and of course I cried through a lot of it! It's a beautiful story, even if you don't have children...the magic of Christmas & Believing in the unknown is something we all poses. Go see the movie!!
My training is going well and my food cycling is working for me. I have dropped another pound since Friday even with my higher carbs and cheat meals over the weekend. Since I am starting at Outback tonight my calories will have to increase to balance out all the expenditure from running around. I'll be the annoying one in the back of the restaurant who brings a bunch of food with them to work:)
My training schedule, as posted to my members journal for this week, has been going as planned with just one minor time change for cardio on Monday...afternoon instead of morning.
Well, I have to get ready for work...I'm starting to feel drained, as it's a low carb day and Monday I did back and spin class, and today I trained chest and did 25 minutes of intervals on the rotating stairs...got to get my second wind..1-2-3 here we go!
Jen;)
MEMBERS: Posted to my Members Journal today,
"Finding The Power...How I Do IT"...a little insight into what propels me through!

Going To See SANTA CLAUSE !!
*My Training Schedule For Next Week
Posted To My Members Only Journal!

6

5

4

3

2

1

15 Weeks out- 162 lbs. - A moderate carb day

15 Weeks out- 162 lbs.- A moderate carb day

Abs- 15 Weeks out

Quote For Today...
"Things don't fall apart. Things hold. Lines connect in thin ways that last and last and lives become generations made out of pictures and words just kept."
— Lucille Clifton

Merry Christmas 2004!

The Day Wade Was Born!

Time To Buckle Up...For A Long, Hard Winter...
With the winter weather upon us life in the Abrams' house gets tough. My husband's work gets slower and slower (union carpentry) and the bills still keep coming. He is still going to school for the fire dept. and working as a fireman on-call for now part-time which leaves my work options limited with our two children. My in-home personal training slows down due to the holidays and my husband's schedule makes picking up more clients at the Fitness Center impossible for now...so you ask what is the answer...well I am getting a second job in the late evenings/weekends. Going back to the good old Outback Steakhouse...a different location than I used to serve at, but never the less, winter will be long this year!
I am still going to be dieting through all this for next year's competitions and pray that we find a way to afford my dreams. I held a fund-raiser in 2002 when I went to Nationals so I may need to do something of the sort to get on stage this time as well.
Soo..if you could all say a tiny little prayer for me to find the strength...to make my 5 am cardio 2-3 mornings a week, afternoon cardio 3 days a week, lifting 5 days a week, in-home and fitness center appointments 3 days a week, Outback shifts 3-4 nights a week and still be able to take care of my kids and house;) I would be very greatful!!
What does not kill us makes us stronger!
So the bell has rung and it's time for round #1 in this fight:)
All the best,
Jen;)

MY MEMBERS: Another preview pic posted to my members journal tonight for this weeks's update!

Happy Holidays...
To You & Your Loved Ones This Season!

A Preview of my Members Update for this week:)

An Afternoon With The Kids...
My friend Nicole and I took all our kids to an indoor Carosel and gym this afternoon. The kids had a great time!
Here are a few pics of my two little ones...I wasn't sure if Nicole wanted her two girls posted.
Jen;)

5

4

3

2

1

Quote For The Day...
"Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically,
if we are willing to listen to them."

— Shakti Gawain, author and teacher

Body Composition Update...
Wow- here I am 16 weeks out 164 (high carb day)- 162 in am. and 13.7% body fat! I just had a 7 site analysis done this afternoon. ( To give you a reference point I was 13% 5 1/2 weeks out from the 2002 Jr. Nationals where I competed at 8%.) I am feeling awesome today!
I made it through the second week of my low carb cycle and the rest of the weekend is higher carbs...smooth sailing:) I am slowly adding in more cardio but still nothing to complain about.
Last week I had two 1 hour cardio sessions and 3 (20 minute) cardio sessions...all interval training. One of the hours was a 5 am session.
This week I will have 3 1 hour cardio sessions and 2 (20 minutes) sessions...again all intervals- 2 of the one hour sessions are 5 am.
Well, just wanted to drop a note with my progress!
I will have a holiday note posted here this weekend for all of you:)
Time to do some more decorating for Christmas!
Jen :)

"Give To The World The Best You Have
And The Best Will Come Back To You"
- Madelyn Bridges

* My Routine to "God Bless The USA" is now posted in my video section of my members area...with sound!

16.5 weeks out- (A low carb day)

16.5 weeks out

Another Incredible Letter Of Support!
Thank You So Much!!
"Hi Jennifer,
Just wanted to commend you for speaking out about the drug use in the sport. There aren't many natural competitor's, but just know you aren't the only one who is supporting the cause, I'm totally for it!
You said it just like it is! I wanted to send my encouragement for this season. It means alot to others that you are doing it YOUR way! You have a beautiful grace to your physique and you're representing more than being a natural bodybuilder, you're a classy woman as well.

Take care,
Kirsten"

My Post From 12/5... has given me the opportunity to speak with many of you! I thank you for all of your supportive e-mails and your encouragement..it means so much to me to have such possive, supportive fans!

This is part of several e-mails I recieved from a fan...I just loved what he had to say and wanted to share his words and thoughts with all of you!
Jen:)
"Unfortunately we will never know what women could really accomplish in the sport with an even (no drugs) playing field.

Once again keep up the great work. My only suggestion is not look at it as a 'fight' but rather as an opportunity to define what a women can 'really' achieve in the sport without hormonally becoming a man (actually a superman because most FBB's have androgen levels 5-10x over even exceptional males). There are plenty of men and women out there like myself who greatly admire you for what you are doing and no matter what the placings know that you are the real winner on stage."

Best Again

Doug

My 2005 Contest Plans:) & Changes To The IFBB Judging Criteria!
http://www.ftvideo.com/genex_FRONT.htm
Note: scroll to mid-page:)

"21 Days 'till Christmas" Gallery in Members area this week.

17 weeks out!

A picture from this weekend!

Disappointing...I found out last night that yet another female bodybuilder that I "thought" was natural...is not! I suppose I always hope that there is still the higher standard out there, somewhere...and that there are other athletes out there who refuse to leave their health and dignity at the waist side to succumb to the pressure of taking the "easier way" out....or maybe I should say the most popular way!
I know I sound a bit critical and I don't want to single anyone out, everyone needs to live their own life the way they feel fit...but I am struggling to bring a respectable name back to this sport and the steroid use of other athletes is defeating my goal.
So...I suppose I hold my head up and run my own race, so to speak, knowing that when I compete on the national level that I will probably be the only natural bodybuilder left...but that means something to me even if it doesn't to anyone else!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I have a very fun family day planned today.
Jen:)

1 Week down...17 to go! This week's training posted to my members Journal this morning along with my abs...17 weeks out and a few pictures from this morning at 4:15 am. before my cardio:)
Jen:)

What Makes My Profession So Rewarding...
Good Evening! I wanted to share with you a letter I received before Thanksgiving from a client. This client's words make my work sooo rewarding...

"Hi Jennifer!
I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you that I really appreciated the advice you gave me to exercise right and I am even following your recommendations on eating. I have been eating the egg whites and oatmeal almost every morning keeping an eye on protein. I have been eating a salad made with chicken or tuna sandwich or even a protein shake when I don't have time to make lunch. Your advice has inspired me that now I feel in control of my body. It finally clicked in my brain that I was way off whack and am not letting food control me. I deserve to be healthy and want to be around for my daughter and husband. Way too long being overweight has controlled my life in a bad way. I want to feel energized and able to do things and go places that I would feel embarrassed to do before. And by the way, I have lost 8lbs so far! I have a long way to go but I know I will get there. I hope to be able to have a session with you again soon. I am going to tell my husband that I want personal training for my Christmas present. This is what I want the most right now and what I need. Keep up the good work! Your pictures on the website are awesome and you have a wonderful family to boot!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Sandy-"