julia

Hi Ellie!

Thanks! I've always loved pull-ups and chin-ups, even as a kid. So I'll try hard to work on them, especially now that I got one of those door bars. (No more swinging wooden bar Which means no more horny skin on the inside of my hand ) As for my birthday: I made homemade Ravioli with a oyster-mushroom filling, parsley sauce and swiss chard http://a.imageshack.us/img828/6741/4916648067032b4de870387.jpg and cakes were a sheet cake with plums (this recipe:http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/take-it-outside/) http://a.imageshack.us/img178/1434/zwetschkenfleck.jpg and blueberry-orange-bundt cake with chocolate ganache from "The Joy of Vegan Baking" http://a.imageshack.us/img841/4374/4916692071b16220a2c2433.jpg

I miss this forum So I decided to write in my online journal once a week or so. That way I won't feel the pressure that I need to do something every day, but am on this forum nonetheless. Ok, so this week I went on 3 runs. 2 slow ones with my sister, and 1 that was mostly sprints. I've also done pull-ups + push ups on 2 days and crunches on 1 day. It's my birthday today. I'll post some pics of the food later Anyway, why I mention this is because of my super-duper presents: 2 dumbbells, both can be up to 10kg, but I can also put 20kg on one. a proper pull up bar (I'm so happy about that one!!) Oh and a really cool blender that seems to work fine. Well I'm off to cake eating now

Awesome!! Congrats on that.

Mon Aug 16: 5 mins rowing machine, 15 mins stationary bike; looking for a flat in Vienna is so frustrating! Tue Aug 17: decided to stop this log for some time.. I want to do longer bike rides again etc. And with this log it somehow makes me feel as if I had to do something EVERY day. So I'm off for a few days or weeks..

WOW!! Congrats!! That's so awesome!!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4890832751_501106939e.jpg bean salad with pumpkin seeds

Thank you katz!

Good luck! You've been so strong and consistent.. I hope you do make it into the top5!

Thanks Robert!!

vids from Sunday: http://yfrog.com/6efile6648z http://yfrog.com/m9file17100z had to put the camera somewhat besides me instead of right in front of me, so I believe that's why I look so asymmetrical.. http://a.imageshack.us/img153/1007/cimg43691024.jpg http://a.imageshack.us/img801/3933/cimg43721024.jpg

Oh I see.. I didn't know that it could be used against kyphosis! Well in the beginning I didn't find it that comfortable to fall asleep without a pillow, but in the meantime it actually feels weird for me to sleep with a pillow. I just now saw that this thread is about diet/training, sorry for the offtopic! Although sleep is rest and rest is part of training.. So I don't know..

I usually have just a piece of fruit for breakfast as well. If I eat more than that I usually feel hungry all day and overeat on unhealthy stuff :/ And I sleep without a pillow. Some people say it's bad for your neck, but mine hasn't felt better since I've switched to that. Before I often woke up in really uncomfortable positions, but without a pillow it's impossible to get into these positions so I guess that's the trick behind it..

I don't know a thing about figure competing.. But I think, that it's better to show what you got with the kind of nails you prefer, than to glue something onto your hands you don't really want to have. Looking good is very much linked to confidence, I believe. So if you feel the most confident with the natural length of your nails I'd say go for it..

Hey Moo! Do you know that shirt that says "Say moo if you like vegans too"?

Felt like taking a video (or 2) today http://yfrog.com/6efile6648z http://yfrog.com/m9file17100z Yes, the bar I use is very professional ;] But it does it's job, so why not? Mon Aug 9: 30 min run (with 5x 1 min- sprint.. never sprinted before, but it felt really good and I'll definitely try to include it more and more) + 10 min walk afterwards Tue Aug 10: run: 4.1km (a bit up-hill and same amount down-hill) in 22 minutes was sweating like crazy afterwards.. I wanted to walk home instead of running after sprinting up-hill but I just jogged a little slower than usually and kept going Had a glass of homemade almond milk afterwards Really feel my legs now (quads I think).. Want to get more serious about the pull-ups tomorrow.. did just 6 pull ups and 3 chin ups today.. want to start training in sets tomorrow instead of just doing pull ups throughout the day when I feel like it.. AND day 9 of not eating sweets and sticking to 1200 kcals again. start seeing progress again after being a bit unmotivated in the beginning of last week. YES! Wed Aug 11: I definitely feel my legs today! But I think 1 day rest should be alright.. So maybe I'm heading for a run again tomorrow (am really into it now, since trying sprinting intervals 2 days ago).. Today: 8x2 pull ups, 2x10 push ups (I'm so bad at these.. it's ridiculous), will go for some more push ups now, aiming at another 20 Thu Aug 12: rowing machine, 30 minutes 4.1km 200 kcals Fri Aug 13: 30 min run without interval sprints because my sister's been joining me Sat Aug 14: 4th run this week 4.1km 25 minutes (it's been so hot..), 8 pull ups and 4 chin ups after that Sun Aug 15: rest

Sounds like a great experience and a phenomenal result for your first contest!! Congrats!

Yup, photos would be great Good luck!! I sure hope the judges care more about your fitness than how much you spend on clothes and shoes..

Mon Aug 2: back from Germany, ate a lot today but don't feel bad because of it because I didn't eat much the last 2 days.. as for exercising: 15 min jump rope, 100 star crunches, 30 for obliques per side, 30 push ups, 3 times attempting to do pull ups and chin ups Tue Aug 3: horrible stomach ache this afternoon after eating an apple (?), went for a 30 min walk anyways.. felt much better after that, had dinner and got on the stationary bike this evening: 90 mins 30 km 410 kcals Wed Aug 4: 30 min walk, 7 min running stairs, attempting pull-ups/chin-ups several times.. (I feel like I've made some progress on these.. But the fact that the bar I use isn't static but swings doesn't really seem to help..) Thu Aug 5: 2x 30 min walk, 45 min cycling, partially up-hill 12 km 200 kcals (wanted to run km 4 to 8, but it was too hot) But the canceled run could not ruin my motivation because: I could do 2 x 1 pull up without jumping off the ground today!!! (so I could pull myself up from a hanging position.. which was impossible until today ) Fri Aug 6: 10 min jumping rope, 15 push ups, rowing [30 mins 4.4km 220kcals], 15 pushups, did a few pull ups throughout the day (I love that I'm finally able to do them properly) Sat Aug 7: feel weak today, so just 1 hour walking around the city, 30 min walk in the nature, I did some push ups in the morning I'll do some more now, but that's it for today. Sun Aug 8: 23 mins on trampolin, pull-ups and chin-ups throughout the day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhHkUg-QCwk

I received mine today Already read a few pages.. Love it so far!! It definitely shows that there can be a lot more to a bodybuilder than just muscles.. So much compassion and wise thoughts.. Really awesome!!! I feel like this book is not only going to teach me a lot about nutrition and fitness, but also about life. (Like f.ex. to follow one's dreams) Guess I'll finish it in just a few days, and am already looking forward to more books to come. Oh and thanks so much for the card!! It put a huge smile on my face that I'm sure hasn't vanished for the rest of the day Also, the book arrived within less than a month after I ordered it.. Last time I ordered something from the US it took way longer than that, so you really don't have to apologize for the delay! Thanks for writing this book and sharing your thoughts with the world!

A friend was listening to it yesterday, and I just had to listen to it again..

I definitely agree with Richard and John V!! I love to see your pics and especially love to see you so enthusiastic!

5'6'' approx.

Yup, that one's great. I love to listen to "Karma" while rope skipping for some reason