Today was "arm blasting 101" for Jake. Jake is my occasional workout partner when Mark or Russ is gone. It was kinda humerous this morning when he could not pick up his arms to wipe the sweat from his brow. He told Mark that he could have been bigger had he been working out with us the past three years.

I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when I can help bring out the best in someone. I especially enjoy it in the gym. In fact, to see them go to their limit inspires me all the more. It is facinating to see my passion overflow. I sense that they are thinking, "this girl believes in me. She thinks I can lift this weight." There are so many people out there who need a little spark of hope. All you have to say to them is, "YOU have what it takes!" "Get after it!"

Our job is to bring out the best in people. Ask yourself: Who can I encourage today? Who can I build up? Who can I serve? You have something to offer that nobody else can give—Your Blessing! Dare to reach out and show them you believe in them.

I am two days into my diet. Yesterday, I thought it was going to be a lot of food to consume. I was packing it all up in my lunch bag and could not help but to get a little anxious as to what was ahead of me........16 weeks of pure enjoyment...........120 days of eating the same foods over and over again! Yum! Today, I was hoping for an extra meal to bless me, but no dice.......The Lord knows I only get so much to grow on........the rest is up to me.

My workouts have been awesome. I am really having fun in the gym. It seems that Mark or Russ and I always seem to pick up a stray partner here and there. They try to hang with the big dawgs, but it does not last long! The other day, Mark and I kept challenging each other with shrugs. We got up to 475 before saying "uncle" for that round. Next time, it is 500 lbs!

I think it is finally spring around Des Moines. This next weekend I am going to an FCA banquet with some friends, and the weekend after that, I am heading to KC to watch Mark's wife, Melissa, strut her stuff on the figure stage. She is looking pretty spectacular this year. She got a little inspiration at a pro training camp a few weeks ago. She is ON!

Well, if I am going to get up at 4 am tomorrow, I better get my food packed and hit the sack. Check back later with everyone!

Dr. J

On the inside of you, you have the blood of a winner. On the inside of you, there are seeds of greatness!

Each one of us, no matter whatever comes our way, must realize the sun is always shining. You just have to get above those dark clouds. You have to get to a higher perspective. Sometimes it will be kinda cloudy. WE may wonder when it is going to change. But, no matter how dark and gloomy it may seem, you need to release those burdans. Believe and trust God no matter where you are. Learn not to be upset when things do not go your way. Ask God to take your burdans. Stay in an attitude of faith. Remember, it is in the tough times that God grows our character. We don't grow nearly as much when times are easy. We don't like feeling uncomfortable, but you need to recognize you are where you are for a reason. You may not like it, but if you keep the attitude, you will come out of it with greater things. God is using things you are going through to prepare you for bigger and better things. God is trying to do a work in you. Quit fighting what is not going YOUR way. Let God deal with it.

You cannot control things that are impossible to control, no matter how hard you try or how much responsibility you assume for doing so. You cannot control the past; You cannot control the things that occur by chance; You cannot control the actions, reactions, or incompentencies of all the people around you. You and your goals, however, are best served when you focus on your thoughts. Your thoughts are within your control. Your thoughts direct your focus, confidence, and performance. Think you are about to fail, and you will! Think about errors, and they are yours. Think about your strengths and passions, and you WILL feel strong. Think that you can, and you will.

My dad came in last night for a visit. He comes every 6 months for his routine heart check-up. He has been doing well. I always get a kick out of his reactions when he sees me. Last night it went something like this.........."You are bulking up, eh?" Ha, that is a nice way of him asking me if I am putting on a few pounds! Then he continues by saying.........."That is good, you start your diet this weekend!" Hmmm, I think he should have ended with the first comment! This is my dad's way of saying all is good. He is a funny guy and we get along so well. I gave him a lot of crap for his comments though. Later that night, he showed me a few of his "poses" such as most muscular, and side tricep. Of course he is looking fantastic. He is 71 AND buff, but I had to tell him his pecs looked kinda pee wee. He said, "HUH!" Yea, I got him!

So, it has been a great week for me. Work is good. I got off early last night to spend some time with my dad, but I work this weekend. No problem there either. I really don't mind working walk-in clinic. It goes super fast!

NO snow this week. I think it is truly spring coming our way. Enjoy the weekend.

dr j

Hello, and good evening everyone. It has been an exciting day! It is the second day of spring and God lathered us with a snowstorm last night and early this moring. Fortunately, I have my big girl rig and I blasted through it like I would anything else in life.
This brings me to my topic for today..........inspiration for life. As you all remember, I have become an avid reader as of late. I am currently reading a book by Wayne Dyer, entitled Inspiration........Your Ultimate Calling. It was given to me by a friend. A "friend". I almost find it hard to believe that this person and I could ever be friends. I hurt him, he hurt me. However over the past year, we have been connected in such a way that forgiveness has engulfed us. No words have actually been spoken to that extent, but it is a given in our freindship today. We now have something so much more powerful in common--God! Without knowing it, he has inspired me to be a better friend, to live more God-like, and ultimately to live my life more full of inspiration. I have been learning to live life more joyfully, peacefully, and more lovingly. These are the simple keys to life.
As simple as it may sound, living simplistically has it challenges. This is why life is a journey. It is not, however, a journey to get to the end result. We shouldn't treat life like a goal, or a means to an end. We need to live life fully, finding joy in the things we have passion for and uncluttering our lives of the things that give us no inspiration. As Socrates so intuitively stated, "I have lived long enough to learn how much there is I can really do without.....He is nearest to God who needs the fewest things!"

Hello everyone.........I am back! I have received a lot of emails in the past three months regarding my forum page. Unfortunately, I have had some technical difficulties, but I am hoping this new blog page is the way to go.

Since I have been gone, I have added a couple new galleries so go check them out. I will be starting my contest prep next week and will keep you all updated in that regards. My contest date is July 15th in NYC for the Team Universe.

Let's get it started. I have God's favor today...........do you? Ask for it!!!!!!!!!

Dr J