This weekend we celebrated my birthday at mom and dad's house. We spent some time buzzing around Traverse City and Charlevoix all day Saturday. Despite the lower temperature this weekend, the sun was shining and there was, blessedly, no rain or snow! My birthday dinner was complete with shishkabobs, which I could make custom to fit my diet, and a sugar-free lemon cake made by yours truly! Mom found the recipe for me so we could still have a cake on my birthday...so sweet:) I wanted to make it because I love baking, and everyone was so gracious when they tasted the not-so flavorful, definitely lacking-in-sweetness, very plain spongey 'cake'! I thought it was an amazing treat, so I scarfed down my piece, while everyone else got out the syrup and strawberry jam! It was a new recipe to begin with, so I will try it again after my show...it could use a lot more lemon, a bit more sugar!, and of course, some sort of topping or frosting to really make it yummy. It worked for me though, considering what I can allow myself to have at this point....
For myself and for anyone else who is interested, I had Isaac take some progress photos to show the changes I've made and how far I've come from being twelve weeks out, to now 5 weeks out, from my figure show. Essentially I haven't lost much, if any, weight, but clothes do fit differently, and my body is just 'harder'. The goal is not to be skinnier, or weigh less, but instead to have a very minimal body fat percentage, and really toned/defined muscles. Wow, does it take time! These pictures mark the beginning and the halfway point in my training.
So in case all five of you are interested, here's the scoop on what I've been up to. Aside from job-hopping, and deciding I would truly love to finally do something with my design degree, I've taken on a new challenge. It's called 'Figure'. Think body-building, but on a lesser scale. It's fully natural and I won't look, well, scary! I learned about the sport, if you will, a few years ago, and since then have learned of several people I know doing it. Isaac thought it would be perfect for me. We started going to a gym a couple of months ago, mainly for Isaac to strength/endurance train for racing, and discovered that several members, along with the owners, also do body-building, power-lifting, fitness, figure and bikini shows. So finally about 6 weeks ago, I decided I would go for it! Since that day, my schedule has been overhauled into strictly regimented meals and workouts. I took on a trainer, who mapped out a very specific diet and workout plan. I eat five or six times a day, and hit the gym 5 days a week to do weight training, 3 of which are also cardio. It's definitely been a bit overwhelming at times, but already very rewarding! The diet is tweaked specifically to lean out my body (lower body fat percentage), and encourage muscle growth. Sticking to the diet has been the most difficult part!
I'm a really good eater. My mom, dad, and husband all know this to be true. I can hardly stand life without pasta, bread, milk, cereal, chocolate, cheese…cheese with pasta… Even the idea of having a banana is extremely appealing at this point! Now just to clear it up, I do eat, and I do eat very clean & healthy. This has nothing to do with starvation or deprivation or anything of the sort. My trainer sort of weaned me off of my normal everyday diet at first, and my choices included things like whole grain bread with natural peanut butter, all kinds of lean meat, several types of fruit, whole grain cereal with soy milk, nuts, and hummus (yum!) All things I love! Inevitably though, the diet must change as I go. My meals now consist of egg whites, whole oats (oatmeal), and unsweetened applesauce with cinnamon for two, then white meat (chicken, tuna, or fish) with romaine salad and sometimes steamed broccoli for three. I also do one scoop of whey protein a day. As my event approaches, more things will change, and this will allow me to lean out gradually. Yes, of course, it is tough to watch people around me eating pizza and ice cream! However, I have a specific goal to reach, and achieving goals always requires some sacrifice. Twelve weeks is the time frame in which I will have taken on this challenge, which is relatively short, considering any other three months would seem to fly by without much notice. It's only when there is a struggle of sorts that time seems to drag its heels.
The date of my Figure Show is April 24th (mom's birthday! - which means we'll have a big double celebration after and we can both enjoy whatever food we'd like!), and it is in Flint, Michigan. Admission is $25/person. I am super excited about having something just for me, to set goals, and strive to be better at every day. I've really missed having that, so this could be my new thing!
The racing world is so unpredictable. That, combined with the thrilling speeds, is precisely why my husband loves it so much. This past season has proved to be just that; fast one day and slow the next, smooth handling the first lap and evil around lap 200, in the running for a championship one minute and the next your chances are kaput. In the seven or so years that Isaac has been officially racing snowmobiles, he has grown in so many ways. His knowledge, courage, strength, endurance, patience, humility, and hunger to learn and strive for perfection…all are extremely greater in his character than even those few short years ago. Isaac displays such a great attitude when it comes to his successes and even his failures. Both of which he endured throughout the 2010 season.
Isaac decided last fall to put together what they call a "champ" sled. Pretty much it means even crazier, faster, and more modified (not stock) than even the typical mod race sleds. He and his dad spent hours during the week building his beloved Arctic Cat breed sled, making deals for used parts, applying the painting and graphics themselves, and altogether doing everything they could to make an awesome, yet somewhat inexpensive, speed machine. Spending time in the shop is something he really enjoys, so it was good for him.
I was thoroughly impressed and a little surprised at how well that piece of equipment did when put to the test in a race. He entered two classes, one in which he dominated completely and the other he was able to, most every time, fight his way to the front by the end of the short 5-10 lap sprint. Each weekend he took home the checkered in all the finals, until the last weekend at Lincoln. When all was going so well, the worst thing that could happen did…the motor died. But…..even after having blown the motor on the last lap of the last final that would wrap up his total wins, giving him second after being in the lead, and then literally grabbing a completely different sled for his back-to-back race and driving it like a madman to get even fourth, he earned himself two overall points' championships based on the averages. He totally earned them!
The enduro being what he loves the most, has also always been the most unpredictable. Our first time out in Caro, Michigan was awesome. Isaac drove 300 laps and placed 2nd, which was such a great start to the season! The following weekend was the Soo I-500 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It turned out very well, with Isaac and his co-driver, Gordie, finishing 7th, finishing being the first major feat! That is another story entirely. We left Drummond Island two weekends later, after the motor went kaput halfway into the race, so that was very disappointing. Finally, at Lincoln, most everyone's favorite track, the sled was still not cooperating, so Isaac picked up a ride with a different team for the day. He rode harder than ever, on a sled he'd never ridden before, and helped that team to a 5th place finish. Both drivers had the fastest laps of the day!
To wrap it up, Isaac's quest for a Pro-Enduro championship with #33 Skid Row Racing has yet again evaded him. However, he had a blast this season (he always does!) doing what he loves, and there is always next year. I see him as the best, and believe he can be the best, so hopefully soon the rest of the world will know he is the best!
Thanks to Dave, Michelle, Rusty, Lance and the rest of the Skid Row crew, and also to all our friends and family who came to watch and support Ike. Especially Ted, Shane, and of course Andrew for always playing a huge part. Check out our website www.wolfgangmotorsports.com, where I put all the updates and sponsor recognition and such, and I'm always working to make it better! We even have fun apparel with our logo which is not displayed yet, but will be soon. Keep checking back for the upcoming Sprint Car racing!!!
