Dana Lynn

ok… this weekend… was NOT cool! I TOLD Rowdell that we needed to go easy on my calves the first day back and did he listen.. NO!! I TOLD him it would ruin my weekend if I couldn’t walk.. and guess what! IT RUINED MY HOLIDAY WEEKEND!! We trained Thursday night and by Sunday morning my calves were in such bad shape that I literally couldn’t walk. I tried to do some cardio to loosen them up and that was pure hell. However I did finish it.. SOMEHOW… dont ask me how! I whimpered the entire time. I was on the verge of tears everytime I tried to take a step. I had an entire fun day planned with my girlfriends down the Jersey shore and it was ruined. I couldn’t go anywhere except my bed where I sat with heating pads on my calves ALL DAY!!! WHAT A MESS!!!
He’s gonna hear it from me on Thursday night!!

So its Tuesday and its back to the work week. I just got home and played outside with my doggies for a while. They are loving the big property they have to run around on. They dont have to wear leases but Turbo, my bigger dog is very loyal and smart. He sticks by me when we are outside and comes when I call. My little guy, Swayze, is a bit “slow” sometimes OR at least he acts that way. I think its a trick. He is actually manipulating ME!! He wanders away into the yard so I can’t find him. I start to freak out and then the ONLY way he’ll come back to me is if I say, “SWAYZE, WANT A TREAT??” Then like a bullet, he comes racing back for his treat. He does it EVERYTIME and he’s killing me! He’s a smart pup. He knows how to get what he wants!!

Living back here in NJ is like living in a Ranger Rick magazine. Everyday I see more animals. Chipmunks running everywhere, tons of deer, a red fox, an Egret on the pond, turtles, frogs, tons of different birds… I even saw a goose sitting on top of the tennis court lights the other day!!
I’m thinking about going over to this new gym they just opened by me and joining. I might do that tonight after dinner. Training with one person at a personal training place is a great thing to be able to do but it doesn’t really get me out there to meet some other people who are into working out. I think I need to go to a gym a few nights a week to make some workout buddies. It always nice to be friendly with people who are into the same types of things you are.
Have a great evening.
DL

I made it through the leg workout… yep, I didn’t die but I sure did work hard for my first day back to legs in a while. Rowdell and I agreed not to build or put size on my quads and just mainly work on tightening my glutes and hamstrings up. However I do want to build my calves. I love great calves and I realize that the only way to build up my calves, since they aren’t genetically big calves, is to train low reps and heavy weight on them. For years I did higher reps with calves and made little progress so now thats how I’m going to train them. We used about 450 lbs on the leg press and tore my calves up! He tried to get 20 reps out of me and by 12 or 13 I wanted to SCREAM…. actually, I think I was screaming. But he pushed me to 20 reps and I wanted to kill him. Then we added more weight and finished off with a set of 10 good ones. I have been taking of my shoes to train calves. I feel like I have more control without my shoes getting in the way. I can focus on staying on the balls of my feet and really getting a full stretch at the bottom.
So…. last night and today I’m really packing in the glutamine. I really want to be able to walk this weekend. I also did my cardio this morning so that should help and I’ll stretch a lot.

The other day I decided to go visit one of my favorite spots in NJ. Its a place I used to work when I was in high school called, MUSCLE MAKER GRILL. Its awesome!! Its owned by two brothers who are into working out and its right next to a gym. All the food is GREAT and you can eat there if your competing or just a person who likes to workout and eat healthy. Anyway, the owner Rod was happy to see me and i brought menus back to my office. We are going to start ordering lunch from there. Everyone was so excited to have a new place to order from…. thats actually GOOD and HEALTHY! Check out the menu… its so YUMMY!!! If your ever in NJ, give it shot! www.musclemakergrill.com

ok, I’m done with my morning eggwhite sandwich so its time to get ready for work.
Have a GREAT day!!
DL

Its Thursday night and I’m about to leave to go train legs with Rowdell. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m nervous. Not so much for the workout, although it will be HARD but I’m afraid of the fact that I wont be able to walk correctly for a week. I’m still SO sore from Monday night’s workout. My shoulders, chest, abs and triceps are aching like crazy. It hurts to hold my arms up to wash my hair. So now that I have torn down my upper body I guess its time for legs… let the fun begin…

Good morning. I just finished cardio and I’m just eating my morning eggwhite sandwich. Its my favorite thing. I can eat eggwhite sandwiches till the cow come home. Anytime, any meal… bring on the sandwiches! It always has ketchup too. Yum!!

So last night was my first night back to training with Rowdell. It felt good to be lifting again. I’m only weight training twice a week now. One day upper body and one day lower. I don’t want to build anymore muscle and if I train hard those sessions, once a week is fine. We hit chest, shoulders and biceps pretty hard. I’m so sore today. I actually started feeling sore last night. I was tired and wiped out that I was in bed by 9:30 and slept like a baby.

Oh, I’m down 2.6 lbs from last week! yeah!! The cardio, diet and lifting are going to kick my butt back into awesome shape before I know it.

Well, time to get ready for work. I’m contacting a women who owns a product like already to see if she has any interest in teaming up with my on the product ideas I have. So we’ll see what happens…. then I can finally reveal when I have up my sleeve!

Oh! Here’s a little something I heard yesterday from a weight watchers person and really like… its spells out SUCCESS (which is what we all want when we’re training to reach goals, right??)

Special things occur when
U decide you
Can make changes and overcome
Challenges
Enjoy every step of your journey
Summer, spring, winter or fall
Strive to be an “After”

and I’m going to add… and STAY an AFTER!!

Have a great day!
DL

What a rainy cold day here in Jersey. Its my first weekend since starting at my new job and I really needed that extra sleep this morning. I did however do my 45 min of cardio when I woke up just like during the week. I just did it a few hours later. I will say that it has been a little tough being cooped up inside because of the rain. I tend to float near the kitchen and snack. Right now its starting to thunder and the dogs are going nuts. They haven’t done this in a LONG time since we didn’t really have thunder storms in LA. My mom’s house is all glass in the back with a massive, massive property that goes on for a while and its really dark outside. My friends used to always tell me that it looks like the house from the movie SCREAM…. I hear noises right now and the dogs are barking but I CANT SEE A DAMN THING sooooo… I’m kinda FREAKED OUT RIGHT NOW!!!
Anyway, I have a baby shower for a good friend of mine (from middle school!) in the morning.
Here are some pictures from my first week of work. Do I look like a professional business woman?

Good morning!! Its 7am and I’m just drinking my coffee before I jump on cardio. I’ve been doing my cardio everyday before work and I love it. I have been doing a split- 20 min elliptical and 20- min HIIT on the treadmill. I don’t have to be to work until 9:30 so it works out well to get in a really great cardio workout and some abs. Monday I start training again. I can’t wait! Thats the final piece to my perfect puzzle now.
I spoke to a good friend of mine from high school yesterday. He and I were both on the tennis team so we decided to start playing tennis again together. I’m really excited. My car arrived last night so now I have my rackets. I think I’m going to play some golf this summer too.
As you can see, things are going really well. I feel really, really good with the new life I have chosen. The structure is just what I needed!
Ok, time for cardio….
DL

WOW, I’m TIRED!! My brain is fried. Work is awesome. I love it. There is so much to learn and sometimes it seems overwhelming but I think its actually fun and challenging. The day flies by because there is so much to do and learn. I’m so tired tonight. I woke up early both days now and did my cardio first thing. I think thats the way to do it because after work I just want to come home and rest my body and mind. I actually wouldn’t mind working out later at night but right after work I need to take a breather.
Anyway, this new life fits me so well. I feel great!! Its exactly what I’ve been missing from life.
The weather is AMAZING here. Its so so awesome. I have to sit outside this evening and enjoy it a bit. Maybe I’ll swing in the hammock and read

DL

Its Sunday and there is so much to do today to get ready for my first week of work. I just finished my first morning of cardio and I’m feeling good. After I did 30 min on the elliptical I went outside and ran up and down a long field in our back yard with Turbo throwing a tennis ball. Every morning I am going to do my cardio and then run with Turbo. It will help him burn off some energy and also help me get a little sprinting in.

Now I’m eating my breakfast. I’m back to my oatmeal and eggwhite pancake. Yesterday I went clothes shopping for work with my mom and although we did find some nice clothes to get me started, I didn’t get too much. I was SO depressed in the dressing room. I have really chunked up again and I’m DONE with being heavy! DONE DONE DONE!!! It was so depressing seeing my body in the mirror. Well, this is the start of my new life on the east coast as well as a fresh start to my fitness. Structure is going to make this all happen. I have my new schedule all worked out in my head and all I have to do is execute it. Infact, I’m going to do one better… my mom is giving me an organizer she has from her banking people so I’m going to use my planner and start to write out all my goals, work wise and fitness wise everyday! I am also going to start to log ALL my food everyday. Thats going to be key. Most of the dress pants I bought we size 6 or 8’s. The sizes were snug. I haven’t been on the scale but there really is no need to. I KNOW what I want to LOOK like and FEEL like and I’m not going to start in on the whole scale B.S.

Today I’m going to finish up unpacking and get all set for work! I have to run to the store to buy some gallons of water and eggwhites and fruit, ect. to take to work. I also want to go check out that new gym and I have to get my nails and toes done at 3:30. Wow, so much to do!

Oh, and don’t think I’m a bad daughter. I know its mother’s day but my mom told me she doesn’t care. I treat her like its mother’s day anyway so she says she doesn’t need a hallmark day to remind her.

Have a wonderful Sunday!
DL

Hell from New Jersey! Well, the day finally came and went! Holy cow, I can’t believe I’m back. I got here late last night and was greeted by my awesome little brother. The dogs did well on the flight considering they were drugged up. My bigger crazier one didn’t even make a peep the entire flight. It was… WONDERFUL! It was actually the little guy who wasn’t too happy for a while. Mom and I were sneaky and pulled Swayze out of his bag to stop barking and covered him on the seat with my juicy hooded sweatshirt. So he slept on my lap for a while. When the flight attendant came around my mom would hold up her book to cover the big lump on my lap.

The weather is great and my mother yard and property is blooming and beautiful as always. I woke up the morning around 8am which felt rough because it felt like 5am for me, Cali time, but I have to get used to the time change quickly since I start work Monday morning.

Today I’m off to go shopping for some work clothes with mom…. if she would even finish getting ready! She has been taking so long because she was outside weeding and once that woman starts weeding its REALLY, REALLY hard to stop the weeding madness!

My goodbye’s yesterday were tough. I cried a lot. I tried to tell myself not to but I couldn’t help it. Once it came time to say goodbye the water works started. I cried again last night when I got into bed. It felt weird to not be in L.A.

Alright, off to go shopping. Monday morning starts it all… work… as well as my morning cardio and back to training! I’ll also go check out my new gym and join. I CANT WAIT!!!

Bye for now.. from Jersey!
DL

The sun is setting and its almost another day closer to my move. I am excited but its been one of the most emotionally exhausting months of my life. I’m leaving behind a person who I love so much. The thought of it kills me and my heart is aching. I know there is no other choice so I’m trying my best to get through these days enjoying every single moment I can with him.

My mother arrives tomorrow and we’ll get a lot of important things done together. We are always so productive when she’s here. I know she’ll notice that I plumped up a bit this past month but its been sadness that’s kept me from my normal routines. That will change once I start my new life.

This weekend I’m going to go shopping for some new work clothing and then I’ll be reporting to work Monday morning. Wow, life’s changing. Chapters are closing and new ones are starting. I’m excited to see what my future holds but for right now I’m still sad to leave a person I love so dearly…

Its funny… in life people don’t usually capture pictures when they are sad. Almost every picture in my photo album is when people are smiling but thats just a fraction of my life…. so here’s a slice of real life… when smiling isn’t what you feel like doing…