Full of it...

My life is FULL.

Full of goals when I find myself exhausted from a day of accomplishing the things I needed to get done.

Full of health when I feel like a zombie from only 5 or 6 hours of sleep so that I can rise for my 5am workouts.

Full of awesome people when there are family events, get-togethers with friends, or kids' games that I carve out time in my calendar to attend.

Full of patience when my mind is restless, but I keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Full of love when I am sick... because I can rely on someone to help me get rest and proper nutrition.

Full of good food choices when I feel like I'm gaining weight on some weeks.

Full of blessings when I am trying to see the glass half full and notice it IS half full.

Full of His grace and mercy because I am alive.

A Full Heart

So much changing. I want to capture it all in a few paragraphs, but I can't; that's going to be a lot of paragraphs. So instead, let me list the top 10 blessings so far.

1. I'm getting married in less than 5 months to the person whom my soul loves. He is honestly (if I can be unbiased), truly one of the most amazing individuals I have ever met.
2. Referring to #1: I'm going to have the people we love so dearly under the same roof on that day. How awesome is that?!
3. My future step kids are beautiful human beings.
4. I actually really like hanging out with my in-laws (parents, sister, the kids, the dogs, etc.).
5. Work is changing so much - we've been bought for $1.1B.  Stay tuned...
6. My parents and future parents-in-law are alive and well, and look forward to the wedding.
7. I love it when both C and N are in our bedroom and just lounging - even if their eyes are glued on that darn phone ;)
8. It makes my heart happy when the kids ask me to make certain dishes.
9. I love home and everything about it.
10. "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans". 

I'm baaack... only for a minute

Yeah, I know, it's been awhile...

Been busy being happy, and trying to live in the present. In the two minutes I have before I go back to cuddling with the love of my life, here's a copy and paste of advice I gave to someone too near and dear to me who was feeling down. Who knows, it may be of help to the one reader I have now lol.


Hey my dear.. I've been thinking about how and what to say to you all night, only because I know the EXACT feeling you have. So as I thought about it, I decided to just type to you what I tried on myself, and I've come this far, so I guess something is working LOL. 

1. This will not be the last time you will feel that way. When you think you've got shit figured out or when you think you've achieved happiness/victory/etc., you'll somehow be reduced back to the detached and fragmented feeling at some point in time again.

2. Know that this is all too normal. You're not alone. Nothing is wrong with you.

3. Don't try to figure out they WHY. LIVE IN THE PRESENT. Let the feelings flow, then DROP IT. If you don't drop it, then you're not living in the present because you're probably too busy analyzing about it or worrying about the future because of it. Stop. Life is truly short and if we're not guaranteed tomorrow, then why waste time not enjoying the present? You may never have another one like it.

4. Have a razor sharp focus on the present. Whatever you're doing at the moment (school, gym, work, eating, cooking, cleaning, a new goal, etc.), put your attention to that and only that. Do the best you can and give it your best. Because you're not in charge of your future. Your future is already determined by God. He wants you to live the best life you can NOW and your blessings will unfold one by one in His time - so worrying about the future now doesn't really get you closer to it or give you a better one. Let the universe work it's time. I"ll tag you on one of Din's IG post that I think you should read over and over again until it's settled with you. I sometimes read it twice in a row until I've gotten it in my head.

5. Besides, everything you're doing now is for your future. We don't always have to understand it, but that's not really our job - to understand. Just be kind always, do your best, and love everything with all that you are.

6. Family is everything, second to God. That's why you miss me/us/NYC :)  And that's a good thing because we miss you. And like I said, everything you are doing now will get you closer to reuniting with us. Focus on what its in front of you now and you'll see just how time flies and you'll be done w/ school and on to the next chapter in your life.

7. Get back into the things that make you happy. Especially the gym. Especially the gym. Work out and know that you've come a long way from your skinny days LOL. Appreciate the progress and continue because you never know who is looking at you as their motivation and inspiration. Being and staying active makes you a healthy person. healthy people are more driven, focused, are better leaders (I learned this at NYU), and to state the obvious: Health is wealth.

8. Feel free to vent / confess to the people you trust. You're human and we don't expect you to be 100% all the time. I'm here for you even when I'm 204895729 miles away.

9. Read a book called "The Peaceful Warrior" when you can.

Another one?

So will I do another show?   I don't know. Let's see how I do off season. I finally got around to washing my competition suit, so that's the first step. Actually, no, the first step is thinking about another show. So now I've thought about another show and washed my suit. That's it for now.

In 3rd Place, Number 329...

It's still a little surreal for me: I placed 3rd in the NPC Easterns USA Championship Open Bikini Class C.

I was thinking the odds were against me considering Open Class C are some of the average height women, and women who have several competitions already under their belt. This is my first one.

I thought to myself, "Just have fun with it, Jam".  Little did I know I would be nervous as I stepped center stage with these bright lights on you and 6 or 7 serious-faced judges staring at you. I almost toppled over at one point so I rushed through a pose, practically skipping it althogether. My smiles were shakey because I was that nervous. Also, when I made first call outs, I didn't know until the lady on stage working the show had to tell me to step on the line. When I was told to move so that judges can do their comparisons, I again didn't move until I was told by the lady. Thank goodness for this lady and I swear I have the brains to follow instructions.. just not while I'm in a daze and the mic is slightly muffled.

I've been asked, "What's next?".
Answer:  To have this really awesome blessing settle in, celebrate my birthday in a few days, and prepare for the holidays and other celebrations with family and friends. I answered the one question that got me started with this competition: "Can I do it?".   I sure did. God is so good.

Some more pictures on my IG (@jfrondos) and FB accounts.


A motivational message from me:
Don't Quit.  Keep driving towards you goals - family, career, education, fitness, etc. Whatever if is, don't stop, take it (literally) one day/challenge at a time, be grateful, and keep doing non-average things. Someone said happiness doesn't come in the things you acquire, but in the physical/mental challenges you face, accept, and conquer. All things are possible through Him. Learn from the struggle and know it's worth it. Keep a razor sharp focus in the present because you know greater things will come. They always do.

NPC: Learning Experience

What I've learned from this whole NPC/prep experience:

I learned I'm mentally stronger than I thought I was - my work ethic and discipline can't ever be questioned. I learned what my mind/body loves, hates, needs, tolerates. 

• Love that God gave me this opportunity, both the chaos and the rewards
• Love that I am one determined mothafu--
• Love that we can conquer anything as long as we take it one step at a time. Literally. 
• Love that everything is good again after a good weight training session - it's the solution to my exhaustion and bad moods. Plus, I love what comes with it: strength, the muscles, the "cuts"
• Love how I look in leggings and sports bra - no shirt necessary. 
• Hate cardio that lasts more than 20 mins and is steady state. 
• Hate peak week.
• Need a support system; need my JVA.
• Need (clean) carbs several times a week for brain food. I don't look / crave for it often off prep mode, but I noticed my brain and body function A LOT different without even just a little carbs. 
• Tolerate 6am workouts because at the end of an exhaustive work day, I get to go straight home or hang out if I want to.

 

 

 

Philippians 4:6-9

Attended Mass a few weeks ago. Haven't in a looooong time. Needed to read this:


Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Secrets

The little things I did during prep that I didn't tell you, until now (fully aware my coach could read this, yikes):


I have eaten 3 (or was it 4?) quest bars in one sitting. Let's blame it on a mental/emotional melt down that led to no self-control.

I have online shopped to kill food cravings. Killing my wallet wasn't the smartest alternative.

I would savor my flavored tums/sugar-free throat drops because it was the closest thing to sweets (if I was craving sweets). Or I chewed flavored gum like crazy because it was the closest thing to a sweet treat I could have when I craved it.

I would go to the "good-bad" aisles at Target (cookies, chips, candies, etc) and look at the items I couldn't have at the moment. Just look. No touch.