Check point...

This morning, I had to check myself. I was at the gym, in the middle of my shoulder workout and had this somewhat random thought. I thought about the last time I had spent quality time with God, reading His Word. Ok, last time was last Tuesday.

Then I thought about the last time I had spent quality time at the gym. Well, that happened yesterday and like I said earlier, I was in the middle of a workout right then! I quickly reviewed and counted the hours that I had spent training or in the gym over the past week. Total count was about 8 hours. Then I counted up my time reading God's Word for the past week. Total was a big fat zero.

I put so much time, money, effort and sweat into training for my shows because I want to give my best, do well and win. I will lose sleep, deny myself sugar, cut out dairy, the list is endless...all to transform my physical body and bring my best to this competition. I truly believe that I couldn't do any of this without strength, determination and hope that I attribute to my faith in Jesus. My faith in Jesus is very real BUT in this moment, I realized my relationship with Him is slacking! My habits also make me question my priorites. I SAY that it's God first, Husband/family second and work/training third. What my life shows is that TRAINING is first, Husbankd/family/God somewhere in second. This was my check point...

My relationship with God must come first. He is the One who has given me my body, all of my fitness opportunities and the favor to be doing well! I treat my workouts like appointments that cannot be missed but have not done the same for my time with Him. While I say that I am strengthened, refreshed and inspired by Jesus in my life, how can I be experiencing that the way HE meant it to be if I am not connecting with Him in a meaningful way?

I am making a new commitment TODAY to connect with God DAILY by reading His word and talking to Him! Matter of fact, I am going to commit to this time with God expecting Him to strengthen me and encourage me in ways that I can't even describe. That's the amazing thing that I have learned about God...He blesses you in ways you never imagined when you are obedient to Him. So, instead of making another excuse of why I am too busy, too tired or whatever it is, I will say "ok" and keep my time with Him.

You know, that "random thought" I had at the gym this morning wasn't so random at all. It was Jesus ever so gently reminding me that I'm missing my time with Him and He is missing His time with me :)

Leg Day I LOVE!!!!!

I switched up my Leg Day lift this morning and am so glad I did! I wrote a new routine last night and anticipated a challenging, interval workout that would burn my Glutes, Hams and Quads. Within the first 5 minutes, I felt the challenge and the burn followed soon after :) I absolutely LOVED this interval workout!!!! Try it if you are looking for a challenge or just a different way to lift legs...

Giant Set: Repeat 3 x
Barbell Straight Leg Deadlifts- 15 reps
Good Mornings- 12-15 reps
Alternating Split Squat Jumps- 20 total
REST about 1 min between sets

Super Set: Repeat 3 x
Step Up/Lunge Back using bench (step up on bench with R leg, L knee comes up, L leg step to the ground, R leg lunges back)- 15 reps each side
Jump Squats- 20 reps
REST 30-60 seconds between sets

Single Leg Squat @ Squat Machine- 15 reps each side, Repeat 3 x
REST 30-45 sec between sets

Super Set: Repeat 3 x
Wide Squat with Dumbbell or Kettle Bell swing- 15 reps
Squat Jumps on to Low Bench (start in a Squat very close to bench. Jump up onto bench and land in a Squat, hold for a sec and then step down)- 15 reps
REST 30-60 seconds between sets

Super Set: Repeat 3 x
Seated or Lying Leg Curl- 15 reps
Curtsy Lunge- 15 reps on R, 15 reps on L
REST 30-60 seconds between sets

I hope you have as much fun with this one as I did!!! Gets your heart rate up and keeps you moving and burning :)

In Health,

Jada

More Favorite Meals- Tilapia Tacos!!

There are so many foods that I leave behind when I begin preparation for a contest. This is one of my most favorite meals that I can even eat during show prep!! I love that it has so much favor and is so satisfying without the extra fat or salt :)

Tilapia Tacos

What you need (for 1 serving, if you are serving more, just multiply by the amount of people you have):
- 2 corn tortillas (look for no more than 2 grams of fat, 0 mg sodium and no preservatives)
- juice of 1/4 lime
- 1 tsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tsp chopped red onion
- 4-5 oz broiled tilapia seasoned with garlic powder, cumin, and paprika (add red chili flakes if you like a little heat)
- low sodium salsa verde
- low sodium hot sauce (if you want, Trader Joe's has a GREAT 0mg sodium hot sauce)

What you do:
Broil your seasoned tilapia. Should take 10-15 minutes for completely thawed fish. While fish is cooking, chop your red onion and cilantro. Then, cut your lime into quarters. Get your salsa verde and hot sauce out if you want it. Heat your tortillas over the stove (don't use any oil, just get them warm) and put them on your plate. Break the fish into chunks and put half on each tortilla. Squeeze lime juice over fish and tortilla, add onion and cilantro also. Take a teaspoon of salsa verde and put one teaspoon on each taco. Add hot sauce if you want. ENJOY!!!!!!

In Health,

Jada

5 weeks out...

Here we go again. The familiar smell of tilapia, garlic and asparagus fills my house. My alarm buzzes loudly at 4:45am every morning signaling that it's time for the gym. My protein smoothie tastes more and more like a real milkshake everyday since it's the only sweet thing I get to eat. AH yes, competition season has officially started!

Although many aspects of the training and diet are similar to last year, my goals and expectations are drastically different. Last year, I was figuring out what this competition stuff was all about. This year, I am coming to win it all. My goal is to earn Professional status at the Nationals competition in Las Vegas in July, but the journey to the prize starts now. The first step is my first competition of the year, Muscle Contest Los Angeles, in March.

I am currently 5 weeks away from the Muscle Contest. It's a given that there will be lots of hard work, sweat and pain as I continue to transform my body in the weeks to come. More importantly, I am thinking like a winner. I realize my thoughts are powerful and have a profound impact on my actions. With each lift and each cardio session, I am visualizing myself in the best shape I have ever been, my smile radiating confidence and genuine passion for fitness, my eyes piercing through and connecting with each person in the audience. I see myself walking with the attitude of a winner, giving off an energy that causes you to stop and want to watch. Then, I see myself winning.

I am so excited about this year and all that is to come. Follow me on this journey to earn my IFBB Bikini Pro Card in 2011...

In Health,

Jada

5 minute fitness...

Life is all about seasons. You have that season where you and your friends are kids together with nothing to do but have fun LOL Next comes puberty and high school, then freedom, college and new careers. After that, there are a few waves of weddings and then, the waves of babies start coming!!

I am in that time of life where it seems like everyone around me is pregnant with baby #1 or baby #2! Most of my friends with children have 1 or 2 little ones under the age of 5. They are always talking about time being so tight and how it's hard enough to get sleep or one on one time with their husbands in this season of their life. With all these things to handle, some of my friends feel it's almost impossible to get to the gym or get any workout in at all. We all know that in each season, there are new challenges that require new adjustments to be made in order to keep health a priority. At this very special season when children are young and very dependant, I want to encourage all my moms to find time to take care of YOU! All the mommies around me inspired me to set up a series of 5 minute workouts that they can do at home or at the gym. These "5 Minute Fit" segments can be done alone in a time crunch or pieced together for a longer workout. A few of the workouts require 5-15 lbs dumbbells, depending on your fitness level. You can also use resistance bands if you want! If you are unsure of how to do an exercise or can't picture it in your head, search the name in your favorite internet search engine (I love google) or try looking it up on youtube!

Here are the workouts…choose one or two of these to try today!!

5 minute Fit LEGS-
Alternating Reverse Lunges- 20 reps
Wide Body weight Squats- 25 reps
Alternating Lateral (side) Lunges- 20 reps
Jump Squats (feet shoulder width apart)- 15 reps
Repeat 3x

5 minute Fit BICEPS and SHOULDERS-
Dumbbell Bicep Curls- 15 reps
Dumbbell Overhead Shoulder Press- 15 reps
Dumbbell Hammer Curls- 15 reps
Dumbbell Front Raises (shoulder)- 15 reps
Dumbbell Bicep Curls- 15 reps
Dumbbell Lateral Raises (shoulder)- 15 reps
Dumbbell Hammer Curls- 15 reps
Bent Over Dumbbell Flyes (shoulder)- 15 reps
Repeat 2x

5 minute Fit TRICEPS-
Overhead Elbow Extension holding Dumbbell- 15 to 18 reps
Single Arm Tricep Kickbacks- 15 per side
Bench Dips or Dips off of a chair- 18 to 20 reps
(rest 30)
Repeat 3x

5 min Fit ABS AND BACK-
Bent-over Dumbbell Row (back)- 18 reps
Wide Dumbbell Row (back)- 18 reps
Superman (Hip Hyper extension, laying on stomach, raise hands and feet off ground, tighten lower back muscles and hold for 10 sec, then release)- 3 reps
Plank- Hold for 30 seconds
Crunches- 25 reps
Bicycle Crunches- 15 each side
Reverse Crunches for Lower Abs (lay on back, hands under butt or at your sides, legs up in the air. To do the exercise, push your heels to the sky and bring your pelvis and lower back up off the floor while contracting your abdominals. Return lower back slowly to the floor. Repeat.)- 15 reps
Repeat 2x

5 minute Fit CARDIO
**This is a plyometric cardio workout! That means a lot of jumping and high intensity movements. If you prefer less jumping or are not able to do some of the high impact movements, try power walking around your neighborhood for 30 minutes, run/walk intervals for 25 minutes or stepping stairs at a park or stadium for 20 minutes.
Jumping Jacks- 30 sec.
High Knee Run in Place- 30 sec.
Jump Squats (start in a squat, reach down and touch the ground, explode and jump up with hand towards the sky, land and repeat)- 30 sec.
Side to Side Leaps- 30 sec.
Quick Feet run in place (feet shoulder width apart, run in place as fast as you can, feet do not come to far off the ground)- 30 sec.
Repeat 2x


5 minutes is all you need to get started! No excuses...

In Health,

Jada