Birthday Abs Pic:)

Thank You!!
To my Family, Friends & Clients...who made my birthday weekend so memorable for me!
What an amazing feeling to be so appreciated, loved and cared about! Thank you to Each of you who made the past few days soo special for me!
You all spoiled me rotten too:)
(*pictures from the weekend will be posted to my members journal today.)

My b-day on Sunday...20 Weeks out...

20 Weeks out- Week #1 of dieting...

20 Weeks out- Week #1 of Dieting....

The Journey Has Begun....
Contest prep. dieting - 20 weeks out -began Monday along with contest prep. cardio before dawn. My lifting schedule remains the same for now.
I am looking forward to my big weekend...
My 31st Birthday Party Weekend!!!
A lot of fun planned for Saturday and Sunday and a few unknowns as well..always leave room for spontaneous ideas;)
Of course I will be meeting with 'Team Abrams" Saturday morning first, to give them all their warm-up suits for the competition in May...should provide some inspiration for the week for all of them!
Sunday, Feb. 26th...the big 31..I'm lovin' every minute of it:))
Jen;)

21 Weeks out...
My contest prep diet begins next week!!

The Power To Make A Difference In People's Lives....
I received the excerp below from one of my clients today. I am training her for competition, also part of "Team Abrams" for the May 6th show in Belvedere, IL. www.kevinnoble.com
Her very meaningful message reminds me just how passionate I am about my work..
and how important it is!!! Making a difference....

"I have to say thanks again for all you do Jen.. I don't know what it is or how you do it but I truly feel like a winner each and every time I leave you and our training session.
You impart something on people that is so powerful. It's like a good drug or a great book that leaves you feeling wonderful inside and just about the time it starts to wear off,
its time to see you again to get your mental cup refilled."

Written by: Kim B. of "Team Abrams 2006"

Quotes For Today...
"The wisest men follow their own direction."
— Euripides

"The heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight.
But they, while their companions slept,
were toiling upward in the night. "

- Thomas S. Monson

Valentine's Day Love;

A Kiss From "Sissy"!!

Valentine's Day Chocolate!

Beautiful Valentine's:))

Today's Health News:

FDA offers guidance on whole-grain food - Sally Squires, Washington Post Thursday, February 16, 2006
Washington -- (Article posted in my members journal.)

Team Abrams Update: (in my members journal)...
Quotes For Today...
"Some men see things the way they are and ask,
"Why?"
I dream things that never were, and ask
"Why not?"
- George Bernard Shaw


"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."
- John Lubbock

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."
- Proverbs

"Level with your child by being honest.
Nobody spots a phony quicker than a child."
- Mary MacCracken

A Note From IFBB Pro-
Betty Pariso;
"To all the IFBB FBB:
Finally some good news...I have been working hard trying to increase the Qualifying spots for the Olympia.
As you know we have so few opportunities to Qualify with the lack of shows.
We all need to thank Jim Manion and Tony Blinn (IFBB legal advisor) for thier ability to make changes and support the Pro FBB.
As an example, at this years Ms. Interantionl if the top 5 are already Qualified, we will possible be picking up 6,7,& 8 spots to Qualify for the Ms Olympia.
At the Smaller shows we also will be picking up additional spots if some are already Qualified.
We are still working out a few details, but will have the official letter ASAP.
For the IFBB to make these changes for us is a BIG DEAL !!!
Please get the word out and feel free to post on your site and other BB boards.

Your Rep hard at Work,
Betty Pariso"

Team Abrams Update...
A new Team member soon to be added...
she will be competing in Ottawa with Jennie;

Where are we...
7 weeks out for Jennie,- Ottawa, IL -April 1st,
12 weeks out for Kim, John, Jennie and Edith (Team Abrams)- Belvedere, IL- May 6th,
22 weeks out for me...New York- July 13-17 th (dates my husband and I will be in N.Y.)

Jennie looks great! She is extremely motivated other than getting my cold this week which was a slight trip up..next week I'm sure will make up for it. like I said before...she has perfect symmetry and could go as far as she wants in figure or bbing.Her husband has begun training himself due to her contagious enthusiasm. Chris is even doing some training with her and going home to cook din-din while she and I train together 2 nights a week.Wow..with help like that how can she fail:)This is the girl I can see a lot of my spirit within.

Kim looks the best I have ever seen her, in the 2 years I have known her. She has REALLY changed her structure and there is no doubt when she trains, the girl is a competitive bodybuilder...we did shoulders & calves on Thursday and I was very impressed. She will surpass the look she had on stage the first time twice over...all while balancing a long term relationship, career, and assisting with raising her partner's 2 children. She is the one I have to remind to smile..she's getting really good at it though..I think she is finally seeing what I see in her:))

John came to me with an open mind and the willingness to do whatever it was going to take..to get him into the best shape of his life. Each passing week that he looses 2 lbs from his 250 lb. plus frame, his confidence and belief that he really will make that stage, grows! At 40 years old..I think he is an incredible example of health and fitness having no age! His wife and children are to be complimented as well for their support! He has shared with me first hand how his wife is cooking all his contest prep. meals for him since he is a very busy attorney. What incredible friendship, love and support!

Edith...the petite, driven lady that is determined to make it in the fitness industry. Still in pursuit of a bit more muscle on her frame, I know she is a bit discouraged. Building muscle while dieting down is very difficult to do. Usually only those who build rather easily are able to do so...or those who are not natural.I know she has the heart and drive to go where she wants..I also know she will need an off season to focus on gaining a bit of muscle to be where her heart wants. Edith spent a lot of her off season last year recovering from knee surgery so I say..what an incredible place to be now after all that she want through. baby steps..one foot in front of the other..time has a way of making things happen when you stay on course.I can't wait to see her in both suits..She is going to be beautiful:)))

As For me... You have to read my "Members Journal":))
..all proceeds from my site go to my competition expences!

This was the very touching comment Kim made after reading
what I wrote about her;
"You truly are the best Jennifer Abrams and you bring out the best in so many. I can't wait for our Team to stand on the stage and make you proud. You give me confidence in myself where I've had none, that is something only someone with a God given gift can do and I thank Him for bring you to me, I don't think it was an accident. Thank you now for all you've given thus far and what is yet to come."
Kim. B.

My Little Man..already such a gentleman...
He cleaned the snow off my car for me this morning..he was just soo adorable I had to snap a picture..or two:)

A Letter My Mom Wrote...
To the "Lite 93.9 FM radio" this week...explaining why my grandparents deserve the delivery of the "Biggest" floral bouquet ever!
I sure hope they are picked..they are soo deserving of special treatment!!

"I listen to Melissa every morning on my way to work on the "Lite". As soon as I heard about the bouquet the only people that I could think of were my parents. My mom and Dad are 85 and 86 and this April they will be married 66 years. They are the most loving couple that I have ever known. My mom has a bad back (Osteoporosis) and recently (2 weeks ago) she fell while getting out of bed and injured her tailbone. They live in a tri- level home with stairs going up to the main level and stairs going up to the bedrooms. For the past 2 weeks my mom has had to stay upstairs as she is unable to do the stairs. My father shops and prepares meals and takes meals upstairs to her. It is very sweet to see how he cares for her and how she adores him. My mother is very vivacious in her heart and she appreciates anything that anyone does for her. The two of them are such an example of what love is and how people should treat each other as marriage partners.
Everytime I go there I am amazed at how they care for each other after almost 66 years of marriage together. They complete each other. Our family is so lucky to have them. There are 5 children including myself,14 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and 1 more great grandchild due in August. I would love to see the joy in my mother and fathers' faces if they were to receive the flowers.They both loved to garden together when they were younger and both love flowers. They never expect anything and never ask for help as they are both very independent people. Of course the family helps them and visits them often and it is a joy to do things for them because they never expect it or demand anything."

Written by my Mom..Cindy Reilly:)

Cheers...
to being better than last year...

A bunch of backstage pics from Jr. Nationals last year in my members journal.

Great News For Women's Bodybuilding...
The Ms. Olympia competition will be on the main stage this year.

Super Bowl Sunday...
Way to go Steelers!

A Little of My Own...
The silence...
The stillness of night...
Echos of the voices and waves of the day's people, places and things...
The whirlwind of messy faces, sticky hands...
Runny noses, broken crayons...
Pizza left behind the couch...
The humming continues, only shadows remain...
Put the pieces back together and leave others for a fresh day...
My self-inflicted beaten body...
The spirit that dwells within...
Left with only tears of exhaustion from the tramendous efforts bestowed apon...
A mortal frame redefined...
Two echoeing voices calling out...
The body controlled by a driven mind...
Driven by what..
Driven by passion..desire...strength...weakness...artistry...inspiration...
The music sooths me, takes me to a place within...
Reconnects me with who I am...
Replenishing my spirit..my soul...
So when the light touches the earth...
The glass, will be full for all to drink, once again....
The silence...
The music...

By: Jennifer L. Abrams

Christmas 2005...
One of my members updates this week;
(I remember like it was yesturday when I held Alyssa apon my lap at 2 years old...)

* My Leg Workout Tonight -posted to my members journal...
The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks, and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears, and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.
You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter), and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you; and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK (They are entitled to their own views and opinions). And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself; and in the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval.
You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you; and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own, and to take care of yourself; and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers ... and you begin to accept people as they are, and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties; and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, and how much you should weigh; what you should wear and where you should shop, and what you should drive; how and where you should live, and what you should do for a living; who you should sleep with, who you should marry, and what you should expect of a marriage; the importance of having and raising children, or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with; and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing; and you stop manoeuvring through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world ... and that you can't teach a pig to sing.
You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility, and the importance of setting boundaries, and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry, and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving, and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name.
You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love...and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms ... just to make you happy.
And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely. And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10, and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up." You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK.... and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want...and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect; and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch ... and in the process you internalise the meaning of self-respect.
And you learn that your body really is your temple, and you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest.
And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn, that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve ... and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for, and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help.
You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time. FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it, and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms.
And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve; and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers.
It's just life happening.
And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you, and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to building bridges instead of walls.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself; and you to make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever, settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand; you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
--Anonymous