Extreme Fitness
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**Italianangel** · September 29th, 2009, 08:27 AM

Well, its done.
I hooked up with Fitness Factory, have my plan and am ready to rock!
Working on my sponsor seeking plans and it began with Amy from Posingwear.com sponsoring my suit for 2011. YAY!!!

I have chosen my music, theme, costume idea is in mind, have my choreographer and he is on board, he is doing my music for a lighter fee than I normally have to pay so things look on schedule.

I have an appt with an osteopath late this month and have been okay, off the osteo drug now since Aug, I need to do more research and such before I commit to more drugs-especially an illegal one which I am self prescribing. I take too many meds already now just for asthma, bronchitis and allergies and these drugs are destroying my bones so I cannot just sit on it either nor can I stop my meds. But am on it!

I am also on my 'support system' or lack there of! I have things in play for that too, to eliminate any possible future crap. DH will be forced to deal with some counseling which he is fine with, he knows he is a jerk when it comes to awareness and needs to fix it or he will lose me. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is in his near future as a start! I have set my expectations clearly or it done. Neither of us want to waste 19 yrs.

I wanted to begin my journal on a positive note, lets look at my progress from the beginning of my journey toward ifbb pro status, which began late in my career!
I started to go for this goal as of Spring 06.
I did the first of many shows which tier me up toward my goal, Nov. 07, red bikini.
then I did Nationals the next year, Green Bikini, then the last pic of me last month at Nationals.

Now onward, and forward!

**Insex** · September 30th, 2009, 10:16 PM

You've had an awesome run at your fitness goals these past few years, Linda. Take care of your body and look after your health first. The last thing I want to see is you suffering from all the medications your taking. I hope things at your home come together and become peaceful again. Rest up now, I'll be cheering you on in 2011.

**6-Pak Girl** · October 3rd, 2009, 10:29 PM

Yay, Linda! I love your take charge attitude. I can't wait to come along with you on your 2011 journey. I hope the osteopath has good things to say.

**Italianangel** · October 5th, 2009, 06:30 PM

Hey guys, love you~!!!!

Training is kicking my butt but yet much more forgiving than what I would have done for myself, and less humdrum, a new eye means a fresh workout for me.
I actually did overdo a few days using weights on exercises I was not required to and did not realize......still feeling out the new program and diet but getting it to meld with my life and schedule pretty good.
I love my job and my clients, things at home are good, stagnant on the awareness thing, been busy so getting that going will take me time cuz it is calls, inquiries etc etc and I have time for this, no rush.

My moms bf is back, but he is a terd so I think it causes her drink sometimes too......but I have not had to deal with her drama, sadly though, she is very alone and I avoid her for days.....but hey, she chose booze over me......oh well, its hers to deal with, I am at peace with these things I cannot control.......

I eat steak and eggs every morning.......hahahah, well small amts of eggs and tenderloin, a bit of oats.....my menu is repetative daily, I usualy give my clients more variety but I guess for my needs, this looks about right although it seems so far out to be eating, training and doing so much cardio but it won't kill me, I sit about 10%bf right now, only gained a few percent, still tight and lean....full 6 pack, very lil fat under the belly button, and with this program I will be ready to photo shoot all year!!!!! So I may set up a bunch for my site, just awaiting the web guy to update it properly and then we will get things going agian, it has not had any updated photos in a year..............but I have the subscription down anyway so noone can really signup right now.

am seeking sponsors for next year to take me to contest, and pretty much getting all my ducks in order, many are already there........whoohoo!! I have such good duckies!!!

I want to do some regular video now too, watching GGs stuff really motivated me although I don't know I will have time or software to make it all fancy like she does with music etc etc.....but I have been asking her questions and learning.

My hair is growing fast, almost at my shoulders again.......and I need to get a tan! I have never in my whole life been SOOOOOO white. I am italian, its tragic, I don't look good white, I look good tanned! My body also seems to like the tanning, maybe not the skin - no complaints yet ......but I don't tan as much as I used to and I used to do it outside, I am thinking of doing a light tan session per month just so I don't feel do 'dead' looking. I am in the gym, half naked and my clients look so much darker so I look like PASTE!

hmm, what else......dogs are good. Nothing much else to update I suppose.

I never did get my new truck, the mom inlaw actually gave us her car....is a 99 chrysler cirrus....nice light greenish but works for now........wtf right? then we have my lil shitbox, actually its been a great car, it was like new just aged, when I got it, its an 82 honda civic and was almost mint, old owners never drove it. I bought it 2 years ago with 70 thou click on it only..............insane. so it has some life so I will hold off on a new truck or whatever for a spell........maybe ford will finally come out with a new bronco.....we sold ours for parts etc and it sucked selling it, but would have been a huge investment and it was a pig on gas but the best vehicle ever and it paid for itself with our loads we brought home, or took to the dump or whatever.....I wish ford would come out with a new fuel efficient bronco, I remember the 2000 prototype, so nice.....but it never came out.

Guess that's it for now!
Linda

**Italianangel** · October 5th, 2009, 06:39 PM

oh yeah, I forgot-

I am looking forward to thanksgiving, my first turkey since 1993..........and being I was pretty much veg since 1984.......I never cooked this type of meal nor did I eat much turkey......so we are thinking of going this route of 'turkey on the go'......I await the cost but its for 4, its at one of the highest end hotel restaurants and we can take it home, prob a few hundred bucks but its good for me and him for Sunday and Monday Thanksgiving dinners and I can eat turkey instead of chicken when back on my diet. And by the end of those 2 days we will have finished up the good stuff, yams, mashed, stuffing........and if my mom ends up alone, her bf is a terd......then I have food for her too and our tenant but our plan is more so for intimate dinners between me and dh for 2 nights. – normally you would eat with family and but because of her drinking , I hate eating special dinners with her now....she insists on drinking and its all so tense and I just hate it so , tough for her, it’s her choice right??? Booze or family dinner but booze free.............if she would only have a glass or 2 it would be fine but she would binge after we leave then fall and bleed and drama......ER........I just refuse to be part of that cycle anymore. Plus if we want a drink we dont in front of her so this way we can have some wine, I never drink so it will be nice with dinner.
2 good cheat days for the month. I may only do Sunday and Monday the 11th adn 12th for cheat then wait til halloween to cheat that day, so maybe only 3 this month instead of 4.
AAAAnyway -
Its a nice hotel but I want to be at home, so turkey to go is good.......but if you check out the site pics of the restaurant, you see its nice fine dining.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts this is our menu for turkey day, so we get all that for 4.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts - Luxury Hotels and Resorts – this has some pics.

Linda

**lizzyb** · October 6th, 2009, 03:14 PM

Hey that 'turkey on the go' sounds pretty cool......I think eating there would be great too!! You could book a room for the night/week-end (maybe too late now though)...check in, have your eats in style and then go soak it all up in your room apres eats! Would guarantee you guys some peace no matter what, and some much needed away time for the both of you too....just thinking out loud here...(I know, YOU want to be home, I'm merely projecting here, lol!!)

Sounds like everything is in it's place for the moment flowing in momentum.

**Italianangel** · October 6th, 2009, 04:04 PM

well you know, my kids and all, I like to be home at night with my dogs and lie around, but for this I wanna share a bit of turkey with them and have gthem part of the family meal......just us 4, 2 humans and 2 dogs.

**Italianangel** · October 11th, 2009, 10:16 AM

Training goes well, diet goes well, even almost getting a full 2 gallon water in per day which has had amazing effects on my health........tweaky back but tolerable.
it has healed a bit from that drug, it actually reversed a bit of damage and rebuilt the area a bit. at the least I know I can do some cycles of this to help rebuild it as it degenerates over time, which it will not just due to the nature of the disease but also because of the constant use of the cortocosteroids.

I am about 16% according to my umbilicus accumeasurement, 120-124lb is my bounce of weight and I feel good, I look pre season, not off season...........I like that. Well actually for a natural show I am closer to on season look.....the look for my goal card is actually pretty extreme hence taking to me to new heights.

Training under an hour for weights then under an hour for cardio 1, and my night cardio is only 3 days per week for 30 mins but not super passive mind you and I am pushing myself on everything but not weight wise....just endurance wise even muscle endurance wise.

Yesterday I got super pissed off............I went to pick up my 45s for a set of chest press and could not get them f#@$^%ers in the air!!!!!!!!!!! I swore a blue streak and hate that I am not able to. I was able to at one point lift 52.5 lb DBs for my presses..........but this is something I can achieve again......its not back related. I just will possibley never hit my 205 for squat and deads again, the 2 plate per side lifts........but with the training I am on, weights can be heavier on some but most reps for 15 or more are light or body weight.......I did 400 mt climbers one day!!!!!! I just hope I don't get stringy looking!

Well today is a cheat so I start my day with a coffee - and tons of cream!!!!!!!!!!!!
Picked up some organic Italian wine to try with dinner, a white............but next time we go to the BIG liquor store where they have everything............I wanted a non suflite organic wine from bc or italy or france.......but incase I don't like it, we have sake which I know I like and regardless how well it fits into the menu, I can use it before or after dinner and the wine can be demoted for cooking if it sucks!
Next year though, I want to try cooking some of the Thanksgiving meals/treats/sides I saw on martha sterwarts site. its nice with the pics to see how it looks and she has uber choices.......

Next week I may go watch a local novice show as a few ladies and a trainer from the gym are going to be there as well as a lady I had helped out a bit......we will see how I feel.

I have also been prompted to look ahead at my business, been in talks with my rmt and acu/yogi and for years we have been saying, 'we need to open a clinic together' and well, the time is coming with changes in all our lives leading and pointing us in this direction! We want to keep on the market we all attract and its a wellness/holistic/spiritual types we attract and I can do my competitive training for myself and for competitor clients, like a competitor training clinic too! I am so excited. I have known my mt since 2000, I know her integrity so its a safe and right...feeling, the venture is clear, I can see and taste the end result! Of course this is talking and early planning stages, this would all occur around 2012 for actually opening etc.
Unfortunately I have been burned by too many fitness professionals to trust anyone in MY field...........sadly. If I ever do get a trainer under me there will have to be some ultimate trust there........and years of knowing the person.

THANKS GG FOR THE AWESOME AVY!!!!!!!!!
this year I am also giong to be setting up more shoots for my site, and get memberships up and running again, and will set up shoots with local babes too...........so gg, when you come out here, we have to shoot!

**lizzyb** · October 14th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Wow, sounds like you've got some really interesting ventures coming your way!! How cool is that! Can't wait to see the new site too!!
400 mtn climbers??? Woman, you are a machine!

**Italianangel** · October 16th, 2009, 12:35 PM

Wed afternoon my voice changed a bit and I was feeling like I was coming down with something.
I took yesterday off diet and training and today too, did some fresh juiced orange/pineapple, chicken soup and did most of my diet diet and my appetite is fine but also had a few cookies or decaf coffee with cream....or handfuls of nuts which are no on diet.

Well the dr did not have me come in just incase and told me not to go to ER unless breathing issues arrive. He called me and asked questions and to be safe he got me on tamiflu just incase I do have swine but to me I feel like I have a mild cold. So he diagnosed me over phone and did it to be safe, but nothing to say for sure I have it - no tests and my symptoms are far off....so this is more about being safe I guess.

I don’t feel bad, but I am concerned in one way about taking this stuff, never took it and don’t want to make myself weak especially if I don’t have swine or flu and am taking this for nothing then does that make me weaker to fight flu bug later???

On the other hand what if I need it? Usually when I am sick I cannot breath, my breathing is fine, no aches, no coughing no more than my norm......so he also said to stay away from others til symptoms are gone and the ones I do have are hoarse voice, my throat does not even hurt really, stuffy head but not super runny nose. I slept alot but not tired although I did sleep so I guess my body is fighting and I did get sweats.....not chills really but hot flashes............I don’t know.
So to be safe I am going to stay in and lets hope I am back to normal by Monday. I guess I will take this stuff and hope for the best, the sides were minimal but strong if you get them and some are scary......but I am a high risk person for death if I get swine.....according to the info/stats that is......I honestly feel like I have a mild cold.

Either way I did not want to take any chances and possibly get my clients sick so I canceled my last 2 days and will keep them posted on Mondays outlook.

happy to hear of anyone who used tamiflu? If it worked and if it screwed them up for future immunity, any sides etc etc? Also, anyone here have swine and get mild cold symptoms only, like me? I am not convinced I have it.

Linda

**A1food4U** · October 16th, 2009, 01:34 PM

Sorry to hear your under the weather again.. Nothing to add about the tamiflu but hope you kick it fast.

**bouncer** · October 16th, 2009, 11:25 PM

Right now, every time anybody gets anything, they are justifiably worried about H1N1. Don't forget there are dozens of other bugs out there too. Get better fast Linda!

ceasar · October 17th, 2009, 01:08 AM

Linda just do your best in competition

**lizzyb** · October 17th, 2009, 05:31 PM

Dunno know much about it, but do take care of yourself. We've all had some sort of sniffle, cough and fever this fall and have just followed usual common sense......we quarantined ourselves as necessary and I kept an eye on the kids for any worsening symptoms.....everyone was fine. The meds are a judgement call only you can make, do what feels right to you.
Get well soon!!

**6-Pak Girl** · November 1st, 2009, 09:00 PM

Hey Linda,

How're you feeling, girl? I'm glad you're taking it easy even though it doesn't sound like the piggy flu. Since you're high risk, you gotta be extra careful. I've never heard anything bad about Tamiflu

**Italianangel** · November 11th, 2009, 06:31 PM

the flu thing if it was that, I was not tested and they did not want me in just incase......was a breeze and easier than the normal flus but it seems those who are normally high risk are doing fine with it while healthy ones die...........its a flip flu.
I did drag on congested for a month with slow to clear but otherwise I had a great month training, diet was great and 2 weeks in there were off between halloween, me being sick and a few cheat days so out of 6 weeks I finaly finished a 4 week program...........got to narrow that down \better but being off season and with next year off, I am not sweating it.

Its that time of yea where you organize, or at least I am.
I need someone to do my online marketing so I am looking at that, to do my banner and link exchanges, product placements etc.

My webguy has a bunch of stuff to finish which will update the sites and I need to get back into modeling and shoots..........took last year off of all that since my site was down for subscription anyway.

I am craving my art again but again, organization holds me back - the room where it all is needs organizing and clean up and am behind on that due to my other half being injured now for months from a work accident..........so its on hold for now.

Still have not set up any initial meetings with the 2 ladies I am working toward opening a clinic with......although again being ahead on that makes it okay.......it pays to be ahead, gives you room for slack and unexpected stuff.

I have been enjoying many of my latest clients, such inspirational people with amazing energy which helps keep me healthy and grateful in my outlook. reminds me not all humans suck.....hahahaha.

So tell me, why do poeple with umbrellas walk under the friggen awnings???? then those of us with no cover have to walk in the rain around them?????? When i have a hat or umbrella i walk in the rain, leave the cover for those not so well prepared.......geeeeez!~

**lizzyb** · November 12th, 2009, 01:55 PM

Yeah, what's up with that, lol?! These are the same idiots who will walk right past you when your arms are full and don't even offer to help open a door. Instead they give you that stupid little smile as they watch you struggling to juggle opening the door and maintaining a grip on all of your parcels......

He he, obviously I have a bit of an attitude when it comes to stuff like that

**gYmgIrL** · November 14th, 2009, 06:51 PM

yeah I've noticed that, and they always 'forget' they have an umbrella which means accidentally hitting you in the face with it. Sheesh

Its nice that you have such lovely clients to restore your faith in humanity! Its ok! You gotta take the bad people because they remind us to appreciate those good ones

**Italianangel** · December 8th, 2009, 07:57 PM

I have had a few things throw me off track feeding into some laziness……missed 2 weeks between Oct and Nov program bringing it to become my Dec Program…..and have had a hd go kaput and I lost 9 mths of data I was ‘going to’ back up……mentally paralyzed me and left me so unmotivated. End of year too, feeling a bit burned out.

I did 4 days of my new program, not properly either and then this hard drive issue so been off a few days again and eating badly so I gained 2-3 lbs, not a huge issue but in the mind of a recovered anorexic its enough to scare you back to regular training and eating right…..at least the days around the holiday. results come fast and easy for me most times but its still work and its below zero and I just want to hibernate right now.

its a good thing I love my job……personal training and my clients rock but I also have some art and my book writing dying to be attended to which I have been ignoring - knowing when I begin I go till I finish and go hard so…………can anyone say ‘balance’????

I need to keep saying this to myself and not overdrive myself which is my tendency.

Gotta keep telling myself to chill…….

Linda Cusmano Out for Blood ~ Fitness 2011