http://www.reneeprimeau.wordpress.com

It's fun and I'm finding it let's you express yourself a lot more, too. So i'll be adding it as the new blog link.......right........now.....

http://reneeprimeau.wordpress.com

Once I figure more things out, it will most likely be the blog linked from the site and used instead of this one. Any hints/tips on wordpress are greatly appreciated!

Have a great day!

Everything has gone so well that we'll be continuing on into the summer months. Anyone is welcome to join in! The first session will be on Tuesday, July 14th at 7:30PM. This will be a 6 week program held once a week. The cost is $50. If you bring two friends with you, the cost is only $25 for you and if you bring 3 friends, it's free for you.

If you would like more information (location, etc) feel free to send me an e-mail:

renee@reneeprimeau.com

Have a great day!

Renee

Today some excellent news was verified. I will now be representing the newest line from eSource Nutrition (Healthy Body Services or HBS), Kleissinger Labs (KLABS). You may be familiar with HBS from it's popular line; Allmax Nutrition. With the great products already being offered by KLABS, it looks like it could end up being just as coveted as Allmax.

This is sort of a bittersweet change since I've been representing PVL (Fitfoods Ltd.) since I began competing. I have loved working demos, being a representative and have been proud to wear Stephanie's Finally Fit Team PVL jacket. Working demos and events has been one of the things that has helped me meet so many great people and new friends in the industry. My coach, Stephanie Worsfold, is the PVL sales rep for Southwestern Ontario. This made the decision even more tough.

I've never had to make a decision like this, but I do realize that with the opportunities being presented and the chance to grow with a fantastic new company, this is the right choice.

I am thankful to have Steph in my corner and am very glad she also believes this is the best choice for me at this point in time.

I will inform you of the products being used, personally. I don't see the point in uselss plugs and "empty recomendations" and would not suggest or represent something that I do not believe in. Know that any KLABS products, and any other products that are mentioned are because I do actually use them myself and/or believe they may be safe for and beneficial to a particular issue or desired result. If there are athletes who represent products they don't actually use or believe in, that's fine if they are okay with that, but please know that, personally, I am not.

This has ended up being a bit more emotional than I intended lol. I guess I'm finding it necessary to make everything clear.

Check out the web site that has just been launched today:

http://kleissinger.com

It's nothing to be too concerned with and running for long distances isn't the most productive way to train for my particular goals anyway. This is just another reminder not to train this way, especially not on hard pavement and, perhaps, a gateway to fixing an imbalance.

I spent it nursing a pretty sweet hangover. Sounds fun, eh? (had to throw at least one eh in there). This does not happen often. For the past few years I've drank about 2 or 3 times a year, usually on special occasions (birthdays, christmas, etc). It's incredible how difficult it is to recover from nights like this, now and how little alcohol it takes to have this effect. I slept for four hours during the day yesterday then again from 9:30PM last night -7:45AM this morning. I am still not 100% but a lot better than yesterday! A last minute decision to go to a cottage for some Canada Day celebrating sounded like an awesome little pattern break to me.

I have a rather structured regimen and although I love living this way, there's a need to break through it once in a while. Wake times are the same each day, meals are usually at the same time, work is at the same time at the gym until 2, work from home is until 5 or 6, back to the gym to train at the same time,etc. Everything needed to maintain this lifestyle is also very conveniently located, which makes a set pattern even easier to adopt. I am very grateful for this, but do think sticking to a set in stone regimen with the same locations/things/times for too long may not be the best for overall wellbeing. It's also important to not become so set in stone with a routine that change becomes difficult or seems like a "hassle." There was a feeling of needing to break out of the pattern for a bit, so this is what is being done. Training is still being maintained but this week has been used to train at different times, work has been done from different locations when possible and more time is spent with family and friends. However, that one night of drinking is enough for me for a while! All gatherings really don't have to be centered around food and drink, they can and really should be about spending time with each other. Maintaining this outlook, even if food/drink that are not part of the plan are there, makes it possible to choose not to focus on these things while taking part in more get togethers and avoiding feeling secluded, even when following a strict plan (like contest prep).

It can be easy to get lost in work and patterns when you really love it. Certain personalities may also find it a lot easier to get lost in things. It's important to not neglect the other great parts of life and to keep things fresh. Go and have fun, within reason. Mix things up; do something fun with friends/family, relax outside, take a different route home, switch up your training from time to time, workout at a different gym for a day. If you're a "pattern" person, break out of that comfort zone for even just a little while.

This may seem like a weird concept to some, to be so regimented, but I do believe a lot of fitness enthusiasts (competitors especially) find comfort in structure and can quite easily adopt "set in stone," schedules. Developing patterns are amazing for making lifestyle changes and goal reaching, but once you've adopted a healthy lifestyle and find the strength to reach your goals, It's important to continue loving life and the things you're doing and to not just go through the motions with a routine that may become overly repetitive.

"Countless, unseen details are often the only difference between mediocre and magnificent"

The reason this show is being looked at as a possibility instead of waiting until the spring (which was the original plan) is because there have been some really fun opportunities presented, should the choice be made to be contest lean and participate in a show around this time. This is exciting, but my health comes first. If I feel ready to begin prepping in August for November 27th, then it's a go :)

Don't feel like you have to participate in shows before you feel ready. Look at your health, finances and life situations. If you're not 100% health wise, if it doesn't make sense financially or if life situations are requiring a lot of your time and energy, decide if this is worth it for you right now. If you've seriously considered competing or have competed before, you know how much of a commitment it is. Look at all factors before making your decision.The shows will still be there when you are ready. 

This has changed the direction in training. The next phase was to incorporate more circuits and to begin "cutting down" on bodyfat. Instead, I'll maintain some circuits but also keep in heavier shoulder and back movements.

I've got such a good feeling about everything right now. I'm not too sure why, it's just a feeling :)