"WHEN WHAT YOU WANT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP, YOU WILL SUCCEED"! ~ Michele Jamison
Paula Sands Live after Winning the MaxFormation 2009:





January 3rd, 2009....the beginning of the journey:
I WILL WIN THIS CHALLENGE!!!!

My whole purpose for my intense dedication to the MaxFormation Challenge is to change lives. And that begins with my own!!!

I've been doin' this wrong for over 20 years. Off and On Workin' Out, but NEVER did the Nutrition change.

OH MY GOODNESS....THAT'S THE TICKET!!! In one week's time of making a lifestyle change in my nutrition, I am a new person!!! I can only imagine what's ahead. I love the phrase "don't waste your workouts"....I've sure done enough years of that. I've been in and out of Gyms across the country, an avid Biker (if I could get my mountain bikes back to the mountains it would be wonderful!), running, lifting, aerobics, etc. I've been doin' all of this, as I said, for over 20 years. Never could lose body fat. I went through a nasty divorce in 2000 ~ was working out 6 days a week doin' Step Aerobics, eating pretzels, drinking 3 Grande Mocha's a day and started smoking again (i had quit for over 13 years). I lost 60 pounds in 4 months. I looked good, felt like a new person in more ways than one, but continuing that pattern for the next 4 years, really took a toll on me. I've had been through so much trauma and I would work out at the gym to have an hour not to have to think about anything but workin' out. Biking would give me 4-5 hours of mental bliss. Anyway, 30lbs crept back on and I quit smoking and got serious about my workouts. That was August 2008 and I still couldn't get past where I was at. Enter a Max Muscle Magazine at the gym.

I read about Dawn Thomas and I was hooked. She and I could be incredible friends. She's so right on about not listening to the people who tell you the negative things. Things like just yesterday as I asked the nutritional content in the item I was ordering and the girl said "New Year's Resolution"? And I said, "Lifestyle Change". She then proceeded to tell me that I was already skinny and didn't need to worry about it. Now I know that's an innocent comment, but the problem was that I've spent over 20 years allowing comments like that to change my direction plus having a spouse constantly sabotaging me. The mental and verbal abuse I went through for many years did one good thing...It made me a fighter!

There are people all around us that are hurting, and "hurting people, hurt people". They can sabotage you with the things they say to make themselves feel better. I figured out that i was a victim of "Approval Addiction". Or should I say I am a survivor of "Approval Addiction"? Yes! It's like i've taught my girls to change the words you affirm....."we are not victims of domestic violence, we are survivors of domestic violence". Words can either hurt....or heal and build. I chose to avoid sitting in a corner to cower, and instead stand up with power.

I'm so excited to change lives with MaxMuscle....What an awesome door has opened! Dawn Thomas....I hope to meet you someday! We are on the same page. I've now adopted the statement, "It's 80% Nutrition"....Here I go!.......Back with more later.

My Transformation Blog:

6/30/09: FINAL PICS…..Max Muscle Promo!!!!!
Last Friday, 6/26/09, was my final follow-up for the MaxFormation. It was my dream to go out with ONE MORE milestone and it came…..12% Body Fat! OMG!!! I never saw that comin’, 148lbs., 4lbs. of Lean Mass gained, over 30lbs. of Fat Lost and 26.50lbs. gone on the scale…..I am completely humbled.
For those of you that opted to do Body Building Final Photos, I applaud you. They are beautiful and you all are amazing. Incredible transformations….don’t you just feel OUTSTANDING? And many of you are fulfilling your dreams of competing in Body Building shows….again, I applaud you and look forward to hearing all your success stories. WOW! Give it all you got!!!
For me, I have a dream to be a personal trainer and enrich men’s and women’s lives through online and in-home personal training and fitness boot camps. I am SOOOOO EXCITED TO facilitate Bridal Boot Camps too….I can’t stand it!! I have partnered with my personal trainer, Mike Kratzberg, with www.beginagainfitforlife.com to pursue that dream. I am truly blessed…..
I am also anxious to speak, teach and P.R. work for QC Max Muscle plus excited to continue building my portfolio for a fitness modeling career that I’ve been dreamin’ about forever.
I am so proud to represent QC Max Muscle, in Bettendorf, IA….the #1 Max Muscle Franchise in the country….thunderous applause for Scott and Karen Herkes for that awesome achievement. WE ARE THE HEARTLAND!...and are breaking new ground here in the Midwest…..The sky’s the limit!!!
My final pics are posted. I have a dream to be the newest face of Max Muscle and I visualized from the beginning, photos representing that in front of my QC Max Muscle…..With my dream of the true American muscle machine….jeep!! There’s only one jeep and there’s only one Max Muscle. The two have gone together in my head from day one…..so I am extremely grateful for Kratz shooting his yellow 4 door jeep wrangler with me. My dream is a 2 door Yellow Rubicon 4x4…..hhhhmmmmm, the law of attraction collided!!!!
Maybe someday I’ll tell you all the story of the irony in timing with my change from Silver to Yellow….it’s only for those that believe…..!

6/28/09: ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS.......The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it...
Just remember, that once a flower blooms, it still needs water and sun to keep it from wilting. The work isn't over when the color comes out. Write It Down!!! If you want success, yo have to write your goal down. In order to write it down, it means you have to have a goal in the first place. And I believe in "GOT-TO-HAVE-IT-GOALS"!!!
Secondly, there is a power in writing your goal down. It brings it into reality. Once you write it down, you are more likely to achieve it. And, if you have visuals up all over your house and car to help you stay on track....oh boy.....watch out!!

What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than the goal you achieve.....
So the real goal is to let the goal make you a better person....

The Power of Change is exciting! You have a great future ahead of you.....you cannot change your destination over night, but you can change your direction overnight!

Start by changing your direction. You are where you are, but you don't have to stay there. Choose where you want to go and then build out your plan for getting there.....that is where goals come in.

CHAMPIONS do not "become" champions in the ring. They are merely "recognized" in the ring. Their "becoming" happens in their daily routine.......YOU ARE A CHAMPION!! :)

6/25/09: BE UNSTOPPABLE........As I learn to move beyond the scars, I remember success comes when you develop yourself beyond where you currently are....

The only way things are going to change for you is when you change.

What are you going to change that will in turn change your life? If you keep on living like the way you are now, you will continue to produce the same life that you already have. That's the way it works.

You were created to change somebody - every person you meet today is trying to change their life in some way. They desire excellence. They want their health to improve....you may not be sent to everyone, but you are definitely sent to someone.

You may not be qualified to help every person you meet, but somebody needs something you possess.

You can only give what you already have...
If you are unhealthy, you cannot give good health to someone.....
If you are angry, you cannot give happiness.....
If you are full of hate you cannot give love......

I knew all of these all too well and for way too long....

You get what you give and give what you get!

There are four kinds of people in your life: those who add, subtract, divide or multiply. Every relationship will affect you - good or bad. Those who do not increase you inevitably will decrease you. WAKE UP CALL!! Each relationship nurtures a strength or a weakness within you.

To be UNSTOPPABLE - you have to take a good look at who you are hanging around because they are holding you back....
TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!....surround yourself with people that ADD to your life and get rid of or really limit the amount of time you spend with the people that subtract, divide or multiply your life.

Do that and you will begin the best journey of your life and I'll look forward to seeing you in the Winner's Circle!! GO GET IT!

6/23/09: THE HIGHER YOU CLIMB, THE CLEARER THE VIEW........
the closer we get to the end of the MaxFormation, it feels more to me like, the closer i get to the beginning of the rest of my life......

Have you ever been hiking or mountain climbing and as you get higher & higher, you can see farther & farther. The view gets clearer as you climb. (aaaggghhhh, memories of my climb on Mt. Rainier, Seattle, WA)

Chasing a goal is the same way....the harder you work to achieve it, the closer you get to victory, the clearer the view of the big picture.

I spent years "painting the picture" for others to chase their goals and the MaxFormation was my turn to "paint my own picture".

It's not the end-all-be-all of winning the prize.....more importantly it's who you become in the process. What you think the view from the top of that mountain looks like is completely unexpecting once you arrive. Along the way, you begin to see other mountains you want to climb and you welcome the challenge with open arms of gratitude.

My reach far exceeds my grasp...how about you?

Ya know, i heard it said once, "It is not a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream". I've also heard it said that people go to their grave with only 10% of their talent used....hhhmmmm, well, i want 100% of mine UNLEASHED!!!!

You were not created to just survive or endure or get through or simply manage your life. You are meant for something much greater!! You already have everything you need to be enormously successful. The only thing that holds you back is....YOU! Not your spouse or your friends or your location or your kids or your job.
Just You.

A year from now, you could be eating the same garbage, sporadically working out, drinking away a couple hundred dollars worth every weekend, complaining about how miserable you are and nothing has changed. OR, you could take action.....right now.

Which is truly more frightening - today's action, or next year's vision?

So you get to choose. Will you choose what you want right now? Or what you want most?
There will always be a reason not to change your lifestyle for a more fit healthier you....change it anyway!
You can choose to give power to your circumstance or you can choose to be successful in spite of them.
The choice is truly yours....choose well.

Remember, "The Higher You Climb, The Clearer The View".....REACH HIGH!!

6/14/09: DON'T DOUBT IN THE DARK, WHAT YOU LEARN IN THE LIGHT......it's during the dark times we find out who we are and who we are becoming. It's during the dark times our strength and belief in what we want is tested.
In the light, we are able to share & give to others....in the light we learn what the results are from being tested in the dark.
For many years, I was a high achiever in Mary Kay Cosmetics as a Sales Director. Winning cars, trips, diamonds and making a lot of money and when it all went away I valued the one thing that could not have a price tag attached to it.....my self-confidence! When I joined that company in 1992, I couldn't speak to one person. By the end of my career in 2008, I had become a motivational speaker & teacher to hundreds upon hundreds in many venues across the country. That's priceless to me...touching lives with something you greatly believe in, is so fulfilling.
I've spent all my life in the beauty industry from years of modeling both photography & runway, to the most recent endeavor as the Executive Director of a preliminary beauty pageant to Miss America. And now all of that, it seems, has been preparing me for my greatest adventure. My heart's desire for over 20 years. The Fitness Industry!
I believe I was built to Encourage. I believe I was built to Support. I believe I was built to Teach Others To Grow. I believe I was built to Help You Find The Best In You!!! Max Muscle took me to a new level. A new level of thinking. A new level of believing.......


6/7/09: BRING ME TO LIFE!! This song from Evanescence is very special to me......in 2003, as my daughters and i were clinging to each other to climb out of the abuse, i would play this song over and over.....it gave me strength to endure it all but after great loss and many years of sadness....in December 2008, I found myself attracted to the title of the 2009 MaxFormation Challenge "Bring Yourself To Life".

It wasn't until this past week as a big "heart" challenge threw me for a loop and made me step up to the plate and fight for what i want....and once again, (ironically? nope), it entered my life as this song started playing on my Pandora playlist. And I remember.....
I remember that I am strong!! I remember that I am worthy. I remember that I deserve more!!
I remember that I have no fear!!!

I've talked about the "Law Of Attraction"....I don't believe in coincidence or irony. And I'm not superstitious. I believe it's the Law Of Attraction. I believe we can all get "sucked in" to negative thinking. You have to catch it and stop it. No matter how good I think I am at being positive (and i'm really solid on this in my professional life), it seems like there's always one area of my life that likes to hang on to fear, doubt and negative thinking. That's when you need someone you can count on to keep you "in check". Kratz "calls me on it" all the time.....damn it! :)
It is then, that you re-discover gratitude. Being grateful for those people in your life that keep you on that straight and narrow path to finish the race. Grateful for the challenges as they are experiences that make you grow. Grateful for everything you have and grateful for the opportunity to fight for more!......Grateful for courage, happiness, harmony, balance, wisdom and love.

Friday's QC Max Follow-up: NAILED IT!!!! 2 more lbs. gone.....down to 14% BODY FAT!!! I'VE CUT MY BODY FAT IN HALF!! OMG! I've lost almost 30lbs of fat!!! Still gaining muscle and I've lost 25lbs. on the scale.......SIGH!!!!! I'm losing about 2lbs AND 1% of body fat each week....HOLY COW!!
Every week is a VICTORY! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!

I will remember and I share this thought with you...."What You Think About, You Bring About"!!
BRING YOURSELF TO LIFE!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!


6/3/09: PEOPLE UP FRONT, GET CHEWED UP MORE!......Many years ago, when I started winning cars in Mary Kay, someone told me that. I said......what does that mean? They proceeded to tell me that people achieving their goals will be criticized even more. People will try to sabotage your success beyond what you can possibly think of. You have to be so grounded in your goal….put the blinders on like a race horse, have tunnel vision and not allow an ounce of negativity to be allowed!!

I knew that the last month of the MaxFormation would be the most challenging. I knew it going in. The end is always the hardest before you nail the goal!!
I knew going in that there would be more potential sabotage in June than ever before. You think you are prepared, but there are always surprises. I just keep telling myself…...When what you want is more important than what you are willing to give up, you will succeed.......so I stay focused. I made my plan in the beginning and I will work it through to the end.

......Plan My Work And Work My Plan.....cause I know deep in my heart that anything worth having is worth working for.
Fear and Belief cannot occupy the same space in your head at the same time. You have to make a choice. I choose to believe. Believe in the Victory!!!
I think of it like climbing a mountain….the peak is the steepest before you get to the top and those that couldn’t make it as far as you, are the critics on the sidelines. So, I remember a valuable piece of information from a book I read…….Don’t give a critic the time of day......
Push through to the end, YOU CAN DO IT!!! Cross that finish line with me…….Those that truly love you, will be there in the end……

5/30/09: DON'T LET ANYONE TALK YOU OUT OF YOUR VISION!!! I spent far too many years allowing others to talk me out of my vision. Now, i have a choice to focus on the fact that i've let many years go by and allowed others to create my future or I can focus on the positive. I choose to embrace the fact that I would not be the person i am today with out the experience. I believe in dreamin' big dreams. Big dreams attract big people.....ya know it doesn't take any more energy to create a big dream than it does to create a little one?.....and one of the few differences between the superachievers and the rest of the world is that the superachievers simply dream bigger.
Placing your attention on what you've done wrong in the past with your nutrition & fitness is futile. You cannot change what's already been done. You can, however, change tomorrow's results by starting today. But to do so, you will have to dig deep and strengthen your belief in yourself. Remove the words "maybe", "might", "hope", "try", "can't", and replace them with "I Can", "I Will", "I Must"! There cannot be any HOPE you do it, you just do it! There cannot be any MAYBE i'll stay focused, you must stay focused. There cannot be any I'll TRY, you will make it happen. Stop wavering on your goal. Make a decision. Make a choice. This journey of Transformation is on so many levels. Not only do you change on a physical level, you change on an emotional level and an inner game is played that can test you to the core, but I have to say, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS PRICELESS!!! Here's a powerful secret for change: "What you hear, you forget; what you see, you remember; what you do, you understand." Now Step Up To The Plate! YOU ARE A WINNER! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!! :) :) :)

5/26/09: CLARITY! I talked about clarity in my latest milestone. The higher I climb, the clearer the view! Memorial Day was the first time i have run outside since last fall. I used to have to push through some discomfort in my chest like congestion. On Memorial Day, I ran a mile and wasn't even winded. It seriously threw me for a loop. I made myself stop to do the Plyometrics Exercises, that Mike showed me, on a bench alongside the Mississippi River near where I live. Then ran the mile back, and once again, i was not even winded. My cardiovascular system has truly changed. And that is a gift for which I am very grateful for. Got some work done in the afternoon and went to buy a heart monitor before my evening workout. I LOVE MY HEART MONITOR!!! Gang, ya gotta know what "zone" you are workin' in!! WOW! I keep getting asked "What's your next goal". I guess people that know me, know that I already started setting the next goals in January after entering the MaxFormation, and as this journey has unfolded, so have the goals: Personal Trainer Certification, Fitness Modeling, Figure Competitions......aaagggghhh Clarity! Ladies and Gentlemen, Don't worry about the how. Figure out "the what" and "the how" will work itself out! So, ask yourself......"WHAT do you want"? Now Believe in yourself and grab onto that "got-to-have-it-goal"!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!

5/19/09: "IF YOU DON'T DISCIPLINE YOURSELF, SOMEONE ELSE WILL DISCIPLINE YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE"!.....This week has been a wonderful reminder of that. I am driven, disciplined, determined, dedicated, dreaming.....2009 GRAND CHAMPION!!! Pictures were taken on May 16 (in my gallery) by my Personal Trainer, Mike Kratzberg, and when he sent them to me......i bawled my eyes out.....i was speechless. I still do not see in the mirror what the photograph displays. For anyone that might read this, I want to give you a very good piece of advice. Create a Photo Journal. It is incredibly motivating. The photos don't lie. You can't play a head game with a photo. I was simply blown away. Go through my photo gallery here on Max and check out the same pics from April 3rd, only 6 weeks ago! You will see what I'm talkin about.....And I've got 6 weeks left in this MaxFormation.....OH BOY!! WHAT'S COMIN? I can't wait to find out.....I have the best formula, and yes, it takes a formula....FIRST, it's YOU! WHAT DO YOU WANT? You have to figure that out......SECOND, GET OBSESSED!!! It's got to be a GOT-TO-HAVE-IT-GOAL!!! Not an ounce of negativity can be allowed....no blamin', no complainin' and no justifyin'! (I've got to get a muscle shirt that says that! hahaha) THIRD, MAX NUTRITION PROGRAM, SUPPLEMENTS AND A CERTIFIED NUTRITION SPECIALIST! a must! To make a transformation, you have to trust your Nutrition Specialist. And that he or she is going to guide and direct you to the goal.
A guy stopped me in the gym tonight and made some very nice comments about me and then said, "ya know the hardest thing for me?" and he pinched his waist. I said, "that's nutrition", he looked at me like a deer in the headlights and then said, "that's no cardio", to which I said, "honey it's 80% nutrition first, then cardio", he walked out talkin' to me more and was heading home to open a can of tuna! ha! awesome!! I keep getting told I am an inspiraton. What an honor, to be an example for others to follow. My body building trainer, Rocky LeMarr, put it very well the other day...."you'll never know how many generations you are going to affect". WOW!.........FOURTH, YOUR TEAM! Who are you surrounding yourself with? Are they in alignment with your goals? Yes, there are people in my life that are trying to sabotage me. More than anyone could possibly imagine. So, I simply limit the amount of time I spend with them. This life is about choices and I choose who I hang with, Mike Kratzberg, Rocky LeMarr & Scott Herkes......I carry a quote with me every day from the last Rocky Movie (i have them all and still watch them when they come on Spike TV, oh brother!) "It ain't about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep movin' forward. How much you can take and keep movin' forward, that's how winnin' is done!"......i just got goose bumps typing that! "IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER!"

5/10/09: A VALUABLE LESSON.....I don't like wasting people's time and I try with every ounce of myself to be a woman of my word. So, when I go to the gym this past Friday night with a chest muscle still giving me problems from last Tuesday's hard core chest workout, and I try to work through the pain, I am forced to learn a valuable lesson. My body-building trainer, Rocky and my personal trainer, Mike, together stop me from continuing my workout and proceed to explain that I need to rest. NOW THAT IS HARDER FOR ME THAN ANYTHING ELSE. First of all, I have to mentally deal with the feeling of failure (which i get my butt kicked by Mike for even using that word :), and i quickly get over it by morning to put in some cardio, but more importantly i take great pride in being extremely grateful to those people that take the time out to help me, so when I can't perform, I feel like i've wasted their time. That bothers me more than anything. Having taken off 2 days, i now understand and value the lesson....Mike, you were right, I feel better and am ready to KICK IT!......Tear down, rest, grow.....Sweat, Burn, CRAVE MORE!!!!!

5/7/09: GRATEFUL......oh, how humbling. When Scott, at QC Max Muscle, told me he was going to put me in the e-news, i seriously thought i would be this little side piece. Well, I wasn't expecting to be the "Feature". So when he told me how many people it would go out to, i was humbled. My before and "in progress" pics out there in the internet world forever. Clarity is a wonderful thing. I soon felt a strong sense of joy as I read the beautiful article he wrote about me and the MaxFormation Challenge. I was overcome with excitement just thinking about how many people this might inspire. Within 24 hours, I had people coming up to me at the gym and saying I saw you, keep up the great work. WOW!!! You have no idea who is watching you, inspired by you, motivated to try a little harder....THAT is what this is all about. Giving others hope. I spent years motivating women as a Mary Kay Sales Director to set goals, believe in themselves, step out of your comfort zone and MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! I was taught, "Plan Your Work, and Work Your Plan"! When I walked into QC Max Muscle in Bettendorf, IA and told Scott, "I Will Win The MaxFormation Challenge" he didn't know how serious I was. It has been such a blast to watch his belief in me...grow. Thank you Scott and Karen! To get up everyday and welcome the day with enthusiasm is a beautiful way to live. No more anger. No more sadness. No more pain. :) New paths are opening and it's amazing how much I can help people to THINK BIGGER!!!

5/4/09: THE LAW OF ATTRACTION! So, I want to share a story with you today. I strongly believe in the Law of Attraction. There are condo's on the other side of the fence in my back yard with parking for visitors. At the midway point of this contest about 4 weeks ago, someone parked a silver, jeep rubicon at the end of those parking spaces right outside my bedroom window and it has not moved. Now why is this a big deal? Well, 4 weeks ago, at the midway point, i was being challenged with self-esteem issues. If you've read any of my milestones or blogs here, you know i am a big one for telling everyone this is a "head game". I too, get hit with the "head" stuff. But I choose to only surround myself with the people that believe in me and will talk me thru it. Anyway, that jeep has been my dream for over 25 years, and it has been my goal to have it when I WIN The MaxFormation and cover it in Max Muscle promo!!!! You can see a pic of that in my slide show on this profile page. Now the irony is, that jeep could have been yellow, red, black, pick another color......but it's silver, just like my goal. And it hasn't moved....and I believe in the law of attraction so i believe 100% it was placed there to remind me, morning and night, to stay the course....through any and all "head" games. I am a tough girl.....suffering through any pain to get the job done......and am once again thankful to share with whoever will read this that I am so grateful for this journey.....What's been put in front of you to lead you to victory? don't miss it.....embrace it!! YOU ARE A WINNER!

4/18/09: HARD, HEAVY AND WITH INTENSITY!!!! That's been this week's weight-training "mojo". I love lifting and I love my cardio and I can't imagine not doing 2-a-days! I have simply fallen in love with the fitness industry deeper than I thought was ever possible.....My New Motto: SWEAT, BURN, CRAVE MORE!!! I have a serious addiction now to fitness....and I LOVE IT!!!!
I had an awesome follow-up at QC MAX on Friday....Scott, you keep me so energized! I love walkin in the store on Friday mornings to see you smile and ask me "how are you feeling?"...cause for over 14 weeks now, i've been able to say AWESOME!!!!! Only 5lbs from the scale goal, 5% body fat left to reach the body fat goal, 3lbs. of lean muscle mass to go to hit that goal, and we have 10 weeks left!!! I say 10 weeks left, but I had already set goals beyond the end of the MaxFormation. I strongly believe you have to have goals beyond the initial goal set, otherwise you go into idle and I simply don't have time for that. Things are REALLY changing (shredding) big time this week. This really tests your "head".....Remember this, "you become like the 5 people you hang around most". So I hang with WINNERS!!!

4/13/09: "I'M TEARING MY DREAMS OPEN"!!!! I went to my first Body Building Show over the weekend and was completely overwhelmed when the first round of girls walked out. Those bikini's are tiny!!!! It took me all of Sunday with some hard and heavy on road and off road biking to clear my head and feel like I CAN do that next year. My Body Builder Trainer took (1) 1st place and (2) 3rd place trophies home. CONGRATS ROCK!!! (remember, he is 60 years old and AMAZING!) My personal trainer stayed with me through the entire thing and kept me grounded. I'm so grateful. Thank you Mike!
We have entered week 14 and my nutrition plan is still completely in tact. Not once have I even considered cheating. I decided on January 1, 2009, I was "in it to win it"!!!! My Supplements are:
Triple Whey Protein - chocolate
Omega 3 fish Oil caps
ThermXX
CLA
Full Blown Extreme - Berry Blast
Vit-Acell liquid vitamins
I've gone through 1 canister of liquid egg whites. liked it but haven't NEEDED it, so it's on hold for now.
I keep things REALLY simple. I have a theory,,,"if it's not broke, don't fix it". I don't need to try other flavors of these items, just get in the zone, put the blinders on and make it happen. My results are On-Target, so we stay the course. Attitude is everything........

4/1/09: My girl's smiles in the pic at the Nickelback concert on this page make me cry. They are EVERYTHING to me. They are why I breathe every day! No matter what, my daily goal is to teach them to never give up! They are priceless to me. Here's a new quote that I have adopted, "Nothing Tastes As Good As Being Fit Feels"! I LOVE THAT! So true, I will dedicate the rest of my life to fitness and nutrition. If you are still skeptical of the Max products for whatever reason, do yourself a favor and take a chance....you'll never look back too! :)

3/31/09: I've added another trainer to the mix and he's simply amazing.....more on him later! :) Another girl has joined us with our body builder trainer and I love watching the growth in her. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. There are now 3 girls working with him. It's amazing. The other 2 girls are 10 and 20 years younger than me and I just love helping build their self-esteem and self-confidence. It is my heart's desire to see them stick with it and succeed. I feel like I live at the gym and I have to say....I LOVE IT!!! I am having such a great time pushing myself beyond my limits. It's the most awesome feeling! I surround myself with the people that believe in me and my goal to be the 2009 MaxFormation Grand Champion! They truly know it's not an "if" with me, it's a DONE DEAL!!! I've embedded it into everyone's brain....:)

3/20/09: Went to see my favorite band, Nickelback on March 15 and Chad Kroeger and I missed each other by 3 feet. I won't go into the whole story (you can read it on Facebook under Michele Jamison) but I have this gut instinct I can't put my finger on that he and I are supposed to meet. It's the strangest feeling I've never experienced before. We were so close all day long as I was conducting a Pageant that I am the Executive Director of at the same venue all day. On a fitness & nutrition note, it is the most awesome feeling to have my clothes fitting so good. (or in some cases way too big!). Your self-esteem changes, your self-confidence changes and when you get all that in check, you can be such a blessing to other people. Can't put a price tag on giving to others! :)

3/11/09: IT'S SHREDDIN' TIME!!! Last Friday, changed my nutrition with Scott at MM. Reduced it by 200 calories. Took off about 2 weeks of 2-a-days for work purpose. Will kick it bac in next week....man I can't wait. I really love my 2-a-day workouts. As soon as it gets warm enough, I'm on my bike!!! We added in some Thermogenics....WOO HOO!!! LOVE IT!!! Within 48 hours I am renewed!

2/22/09: I have continued to amaze myself as I overcome the sabotaging comments of those around me. I truly see and hear what it was that was stopping me from achieving my fitness goals with unrelenting determination. I now work out 5 days a week, twice a day with a 6-7 hour recovery time in between. I never thought that was possible. And with great anticipation EVERY TIME! The transformation I am experiencing is on so many levels and I value it beyond what I ever expected.

2/17/09: Getting stronger and stronger. Protein, protein, protein. Who would have thought I could love it so much after being one of those women who thought you had to starve to succeed. And with very little, if any protein in my diet. I'm already so very grateful for the knowledge I have gained from the "MaxForm Your Life" book, my nutrition expert, Scott Herkes from QC Max Muscle and all the fab product info sheets. I'm a sponge! It's simply priceless to me. I love talking about it whether people are receptive or not, I am already transformed. Thank YOU!

2/13/09: I've added the 2 things I would die for....My Girls! Ashley & Holly. We are all survivors of Domestic Violence. I am the "fighter" I am today, because of them. The burden I carry everyday is to be an good example to them. To be passionate and committed. To be women of their word. To love unconditionally. To always strive for more and better yourself.
I'm so proud to call them my daughters. And they are so supportive of me and this challenge. There is no greater love.