01.31.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 8:36 am by Nicole
This week has been busy, but when I think about what I have accomplished, it isn’t much. We have been working new hours at the hospital (until 4:30) so we don’t get home until 5pm and by the time I get a workout in, it is time for the couch and some rest watching TV. I have also been occupied with creating meal plans (and cooking them) for a new goal of mine, a fitness competition.
Personally, I need a goal, something to strive towards, and a reward in the end. I debated with many different things to do and I thought a fitness/figure competition would be the best for me, my schedule and habits. I love being in the gym, training with weights, not afraid of getting “big” and eating well.
So, my goal date is MAY 10th, 2008. (Or July 12 if that doesn’t work out 
) Mark it on your calendars!! It is a FAME Fitness competition in Toronto. These competitions are alot like gymnastics competitions!
Both require:
An enormous amout of preperation and presentation practice
- making, memorizing and perfecting a routine
- making my body look good in a seriously high cut bikini
- purchasing fitness costume and show suit
- feeding body properly with good foods and at the right times of day
- learning to walk in 5′ heels (and looking normal)
So, now everyone knows my plan and can support me in my journey.
Wish me luck!
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.
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01.30.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 2:09 pm by Nicole
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01.28.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 12:24 pm by Nicole
* Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
* Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
* Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
* When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’
* Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
* Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
* Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer . They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
* Dream more while you are awake.
* Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
* Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
* Try to make at least three people smile each day.
* Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
* Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
* Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
* Smile and laugh more . It will keep the energy vampires away.
* Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
* Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
* No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
* What other people think of you is none of your business.
* Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful
* Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
* No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
* Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
* Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
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01.22.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 9:07 am by Nicole
This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular
workout routine.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of
personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in
great shape since being a high school cheerleader 43 years ago,
I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer
named Brad, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor
and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My daughter seemed
pleased with my enthusiasm to get started. The club encouraged
me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it
was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Brad waiting
for me. He is something of a Greek god – with blond hair, dancing eyes
and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Brad gave me a tour and showed
me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted
his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Brad was
encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching
from holding it in the whole time he was around.
This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the
door. Brad made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the
air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the
treadmill, but I made the full mile. Brad’s rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I
feel GREAT-!! It’s a whole new life for me.
WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush
on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have
a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn’t try to steer
or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Brad was impatient
with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice
is a little too perky for early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets
this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the
treadmill, so Brad put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone
invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators?
Brad told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some
other shit too.
THURSDAY: Brad was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed
and his thin cruel lips pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn’t help being
a half an hour late – it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Brad took me to work out with dumbbells. When he wasn’t looking, I
ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me.
Then as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine — which I sank.
FRIDAY: I hate that Brad more than any human being has ever hated
another human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic,
anorexic little #@*. If there was a part of my body I could move without
unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Brad wanted me to work on my
triceps. I don’t have any triceps! And if you don’t want dents in the floor,
don’t hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a
sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition
teacher.
SATURDAY: Brad left a message on my answering machine in his grating,
shrilly voice wondering why I didn’t show up today. Just hearing him
made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked
the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven
straight hours of the Weather Channel.
SUNDAY: I’m having the Church van pick me up for services today so I
can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next
year my daughter will choose a gift for me that is fun – like a root canal
or a hysterectomy. I still say if God wanted me to bend over, he would
have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
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01.16.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 9:05 am by Nicole
“I’m a firm believer in luck, and I’ve found the harder I work, the luckier I get.”
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01.09.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 12:42 pm by Nicole
“I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.”
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01.07.08
Posted in Diary Entries at 2:10 pm by Nicole
Jan 1 – 08
- Drove to airport after Sonia & Darren’s NYE party, no sleep all day/night, 3.5hr drive to Buffalo in a snowstorm, behind a line of snowplows going 30km, went to 5 places to find a bathroom, all closed!
- Buffalo to Philadelphia airport, wandered with Simon Grumpypants
- Cab to Golden Nugget $30
- Carson Street Café for dinner, wandered strip, played slots
Jan 2 – 08
- Fremont Buffet $6.99 for breakfast (was there 30 min before it opened!)
- Went to Beef Jerky store – holy jerky
- Cab to Harrah’s, Checked in at 11
- Went to Fashion Show mall, had lunch – Nicole got lost waiting at wrong Macy’s location. (45min)
- Met Cathy & Luis at Venis aka. Venitian
- Met Sonia, Darren, Lori & Roman at California pizza Kitchen in Mirage
- Isla for dinner (Mexican food)
Jan 3 – 08
- Met everyone for Denny’s breakfast, slow food
- Walked down MGM side of strip. Stopped at Mile Mall, M&Ms, Adidas etc, Saw Steve B, played slots at MGM, Rain Forest Café for lunch.
- All went to fancy Onda Ristorante & Wine Lounge for dinner before their cirque show (LOVE – we should have went)
- Simon didn’t feel well so he went to bed, Nicole met ladies at midnight @ Mirage. We went to Kahunaville then Revolution. OK time, not a dance club, just stood and sipped our $14 drinks. Home @ 3am
Jan 4 – 08
- Up early, Simon played LIR with Darren at Mirage, won $1000 with 4×3s **Always play extra $1
- Went to Caribe Café with Sonia and Darren
- Walked Caesars side of Strip, went to Caesars mall, and played slots & Keno @ Caesars
- Lori changed hotels as planned from TI to Mirage
- CPK for lunch w/ Sonia & Darren
- Lori & Roman to show, Cathy and Luis home
- Sonia, Darren and us went to Cravings buffet for dinner
- Went to TI to play slots (NO Whammys!) bed at 2am
Jan 5 – 08
- All to Caribe Café @ Mirage for free breakfast (with comps)
- All day play on $20
- Went to Reward Centre – got 2 free breakfasts and 2 free buffets
- Sonia & Nicole to Fashion show mall, Simon packed us up
- Check out at 12, sent bags to storage
- Back to Mirage, slots
- Said goodbye to gang at 3pm 
….we stayed and played, visited Palazzo, Wynn and napped in Convention centre
- Simon watched football, Nicole wandered town
- Free Cravings (aka Crammings) buffet for dinner
- Hung out at hotel until 9pm, picked up luggage, cab to airport ($15)
- US Airways flight delayed 1 hour, rescheduled to another flight – 1 less transfer AND first class. Slept ENTIRE way home.
- Stopped in Charlotte, NC – Breakfast at Chili’s
- Arrived in Buffalo 12 hours later, drove home (Total Trip = 14 hrs)
Notes:
- Sonia fell outside mall
- Nicole fell into Mirage flowers
- Bring baby powder
- Bring runners to exercise
- Redbull and vodka fun
- @ Starbucks, Medium = Large
Next Time…
- Stay @ Mirage or TI
- $100 / day
- Wake up early for cheap tables
- Max lines, min $ to play all day
- 1000 points = 4 free meals
- Check on comp amounts
- Charge food to room, comp @ end
- Don’t eat so much!
- Don’t bring kids
- Don’t need fancy shoes
- Drink tip = $1
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