February 21-05

Treat day - oh do I feel it!  hehe...my tummy is pregnant or at least feels so full - but really I haven't eaten that much just the choices are affecting me!  All good and well - lots of carbs for training Monday!  Pinches still coming down but weight is not moving, it's actually going up.  Nice!  Anyhow, Nater and I aren't too worried or else I wouldn't be getting a treat day today.  Alls well in that category as I wait for my burger at the Burger Inn time before the Sunday movie.  Life is grand.

All my training was so intense in the past two weeks that the most recent Wednesday during training I just wanted to cry because of exhaustion. Nathan left this Thursday for a holiday prior to his diet down so we trained 4 times for three weeks plus the past two weeks have added Die Lean cardio training, increased my cardio intensity and times and decreased my calories for the week.  So, all in all, I am needing my sleep at night and my glutamine.  Had to get back to regular massage also this past week with Carl McDonald as I am so tense and tired that it was affecting my weight training poorly. so, now I will try to make it into massage/shiatsu at least once/week if not twice!

Contact a DJ for cutting my BB music and as soon as this is forwarded to me I am getting together with Mike Porter to choreograph the routine....very excited to have the opportunity to work hand in hand in BB with Mr. Canada, Mike Porter.  He seems excited too - he is also coming to watch the Airdrie show so this gives him the chance to see it in audience view.  Haven't gotten music for Figure yet but am working on that and looking into going to LA for choreography by my friend Tony G.  This would be amazing for me to do but I am just going to be patient as I would be so disappointed if it doesn't work out.

Last weigh-in I was 164lbs!  My friend asked me how much I was weighing and I told him....and he looks at me and goes 'Holy Cow!' and I said yea literally and he was so embarrassed - we just laughed, but poor guy didn't mean that negatively!  I knew what he meant but had to harass him.

Not too much to report on so keep training hard and bringing in the questions.....check out one of the four profiles on me at www.bodybuilding.com and soon to be a guest model on www.fitnessmodelsmagazine.com

We can achieve nothing without paying the price!

Bren

February 6, 2005

12 weeks!  Fat pinches came down significantly but the weight stayed…last treat day off until weight starts to move.  Works out well as today is Super Bowl and we are off to a friends’ house for the game, half time, social and yummies. For the first time since I started competing from 2000, I have to meet a weight class.  In WNSO the Bodybuilding weight class are middle 116-130lbs and heavy weight is over 130lbs.  In Anaheim, with Nate, I was 136lbs and still had fat…..so 130 should be easily do able. This is our goal weight to make. 

As of Monday I am up to 50 minutes of cardio 6x/week.  Today I receive my diet changes and whether or not I start training my Die Leans.  These are a love hate relationship….hurt like heck but work so good!  Rip up the ole body and burn that un-wanted fat while holding mass.

Found out my photo shoot in San Fran is a go ahead.  I leave Calgary April 14-18.  It will be great and tons of fun as I love to shoot and SF city.  Haven’t been there since ’98 - I think.  Then I am doing a shoot with Paul McGrath.  He is a model, actor and photographer here in Calgary with great work and amazing eyes for different natural photography.  I met with him Friday – great man.  In time, you can check out his site www.pmphotography.com He shoots casual and tries not to pose and shoot –he likes the natural ways a person acts, moves and looks. 

I was hired to work at a booth during the Arnold Classic but unfortunately that has fallen through.  Needless to say I am extremely bummer and do hope they ask again next year (as the say they will). 

Until next week:

There is no failure except in no longer trying – Elbert Hubbard

~Bren

Sunday, January 30, 2005

13 weeks and counting!  This week went so fast and now I am in disbelief on how close the show is getting!  I am very excited to say the least. 

Team Die Lean had a dinner out on Thursday so more of us can get to know each other better.  Great idea and tons of fun!  We have a very relaxed and friendly group so you can’t tell who is a novice, pro or nothing!  Nice!  Everyone is excited for the year…and to diet!

Anyhow, so far so good!  Nate is neither worried nor concerned about anything and so I still get a treat day!  So, this means my fat came down which is fun because my weight is up three pounds.  Life as a fitness girl—all good!  Every week Nate has been changing my diet this time and this week there is going to be a drastic change in calorie cycling on one of the days.  He is hoping to drop 5 pounds this week?!  Friday will tell that story!  As of Monday I am on 45 minutes of cardio 6 days a week, Sunday’s off still and till the end.  I really like that break day…keeps me going stronger!  We are training with weights together 3x/week and no Die Leans yet just the steady cardio.  I am sure Die Leans are coming very soon and this…I can wait for!!  Last week in training we increased the speed intensity up with less rest-talk about burn baby.  Nate told a girl that is shadowing us that when Brenda is nibbling her nails and not talking…you know she is in pain!  Legs-don’t legs always cause pain?  Gotta love it when you get to pull a 130 pound girl around the gym behind you with a tube around your waist and her sliding around with shoes on!  Oh, did I mention that it was between each set of weighted leg exercises…these legs better be cut up there in April.  Great news came my way this past week…..my favorite lady and inspiration is coming to watch both of my shows this year.  My Mom had a bug put in her ear, by me, about coming to my first Figure and Bodybuilding show in Airdrie and yeaaaaa she is booking her tickets any day!  I am so happy for this…she has been there since I was 8 in gymnastics.

Currently, I am waiting to hear back from Protein Factory to see if the Arnold sold them a booth as they have over sold and have some companies on stand-by.  Not so happy about this but what can you do?  Daryl Gazey phoned and asked if I would do an instructional posing video for WNSO along side R. Kennedy but, we are in a stage of training right now that we can’t be playing with diet, water not cardio.  So needless to say I am not traveling to Toronto next weekend.

I am helping out at the Monica Brant seminar here in Calgary March weekend at Balance and am excited for this as it gives a great chance to help our fellow new comers in the sport and get to know one another much better.  For more info contact Lynda at Balance Fitness balancefitness@shaw.ca Lynda is in preparation for this event so anyone able to join would be more then welcome.

Team Die Lean is having our first fundraiser too march 18 at the Roadhouse.  Lots of give a ways and fun and auctioning of us girls!  Contact models@dielean.com for info, tickets or to donate for the auction.

Training and diet are what you make them!  Train hard and diet with power.

All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts. – James Allen

Sunday, January 23

Treat day!  14 weeks out from my first Figure and Bodybulding show so we get a treat Sunday - only cause we had good enough fat testing pinches on Friday with Nathan.  In Nathan's books, we have to earn these treat days!  I agree and think it is going to be interesting.  In the past 5 years of competing, I have never had the opportunity to treat while dieting down.  So, I am to say the least, a little nervous, but excited and definitely curious.  Some diet techs swear by treating at given times others don't agree at all.  Time and the next 14 weeks will tell how it works for this body!  Mentally, it is easier but to me - harder too!  All week you are tentatively planning for Sunday off or at least wondering 'if' you are going to get that day off.  Friday was okay but Saturday drove me nuts.  After I knew I got Sunday off I just wanted to start the treat day early.  Kinda weird and different, but honestly I think as the weeks go on and I am used to this new style it won't be that way anymore.  As the day comes it is fun and a nice change but really the food is not as good with my working body as the healthy 'diet' food.  Surprise surprise!!

Check out my photos as Dave Ford www.davefordphotography.com www.albertabodybuilding.com has helped me to update my photos from 3 out of 4 of the photo shoots I had the pleasure of doing while in Anaheim, California in November for the World's.  Just two days ago I received 3 discs of another shoot from there so check it out!  Also, please take time to thank Dave and check out his sites!  Dave is a great friend and wonderful photographer with his wife, Elena doing the make-up and helping with posing for photo shoots!  Great combo.

This weekend was the PHAT Camp with Jen Hendershott presented by Jen Stell.  I didn't have the chance to join the camp but did get the opportunity to see the beautiful ladies out on Saturday night at the after party at the Roadhouse.  Joining me was Deb Leung (IFBB Figure Pro), Leah Berti (WNSO Figure/Fitness Model Pro), Lisa (fellow beautiful Figure competitor) and Rachel (Leah's supportive girlfriend).  The camp girls looked great and very excited.  Jen said the camp went well and was happy with the turn out.  There was even 2 pregnant ladies there participating!  How wonderful to see the ladies continuing on with training while pregnant.  Good for them.  Stay tuned to Oxygen Mag for a story on the camp!

Next is Deb Leung's fitness info camp February 19 at Destination Perfection.  This 3 hour course is by our own local Figure Pro!  Please check it out as Deb has 5 years of competing and performing under her belt.  Also, Deb is featured in 'Avenue Magazine' this month!  She looks amazing and sexy as ever! For more info go to www.debleung.com.

A big huge excited and well deserved congrats goes out to my good, long time best bud Annette Milbers www.annettemilbers.com for getting a well deserved call from Fitness icon photographer Robert Kennedy of Oxygen Magazine!  Yes, he himself called the local babe for scheduling a photo shoot while at FAME this June!!  How great and huge is that-good for you Annette.  Please email her and give her your cheers!

Well, it is treat day and time to run and have a nice Sunday breakfast with 3 of my favorite girls - the Milbers!!  Enjoy surfing and keep up the push through your journey of life!

Man is not made for defeat!

Luv B

Sunday, January 16

Happy New Year to all!  It is 2005 and a whole new year ahead to make it what we want.  Get those bones out and about and your muscles ready to lift and pull and wake up.  Time to live life and have some memories.

Holidays are over now for awhile...my niece and I just got back from Jamaica!  It was so amazing, fun and what an experience.  The locals were so friendly and open to us in their country.  No fears while there at all, we were warned about being there on our own and all that jazz so the first day we were a bit jumpy and aware but the next day....all let loose and enjoyed the real Jamaica.  The locals are very caring and concerned that we are enjoying our holiday in Jamaica.  We would walk by some person and they would say "welcome to Jamaica, are you doing ok?  No Problem and if there is a problem-still no problem"  They showed us around and we tasted fruit off the trees and smelled spices straight from the branches. We had personal tours of local bars, concerts, homes, church, galleries, bakeries, seamstress, homelands, firewater, falls, everything yet not enough of Jamaica!  It was great.  We befriended locals and they offer so much but one we hung out with and he took us home to mom for Sunday lunch (5 course amazing meal) and a home made wine with a coconut their friend picked off a tree and carved in front of us for some heart water (coconut water). he also introduced us to local hang outs...bars, Jerk shops and outdoor Reggae concerts.  So much to tell and see and enjoy, but it is over and duty called us back to reality and Canada!  No more heaven for awhile.

15 weeks out from my first Figure and (if Nathan has his way) Bodybuilding show in Airdrie April 30.  I am so excited to see what our off season training brought us and a full diet season and training with Nathan, www.dielean.com.  I train with Nathan one on one Monday, Wednesday and Friday and pinch test and weigh-in every Friday.  The first pinch test of the count down is always nice and something to look forward to!  Not!  Anyhow, that is done and now is down time!  Show those muscles girls and boys.  Let's see what we all got!  It's fun and what I look forward to.  Especially when you have great people around you to make it better and more enjoyable.  My diet is 'easy' and has a lot of variety and amount of food.  I am not hungry nor grumpy or lethargic-all good in nutrition counting!

In my sights so far are:  Arnold Classic booth work for Protein Factory in Columbus, Ohio March 4-6. Photos shoots with Carla Viberg by David Ford and one in San Francisco with Carl.  Another shoot with Cameo Intimates (the custom lingerie company that sponsors me) www.cameo-intimates.com sometime in February.

Keep your eyes open and online for Seminars:  Phat Camp with Jen Hendershott this weekend and one in February with Deb Leung!  Great pros to chat it up with and tons to learn from their experiences and years of being onstage and through contest prep!

Train from the heart and do it for yourself!

Bren

Sunday, December 12

Christmas is in the air and really really close to actually being here!  I have three people still to buy for.  Two I know what I am getting them and one....ideas!  Another exciting piece of info is that we are very close to having longer days again-in about 1.5 weeks!  That's great;  as a co-worker, friend and I were driving home Saturday, it was only 5:00 and it seemed like it was 9:00pm.  So dark so early.

My niece and I are planning a holiday to Jamaica or DR.  We are so excited and just need to go to a beach and rest, relax and enjoy each other as she moved back to BC and I miss her tons.  That is our after Christmas plans!  The day after I return - it's diet time for my first Figure show in WNSO in Airdrie Saturday, April 30!

On that note.....Anaheim, California was so much fun, great weather, beautiful, exposure and all that jazz.  I only know how I placed in the Bikini America as they never posted the Fitness Model.  Bikini I got 16th.  Annette, my best bud, though did amazing!!! She is so beautiful and so HOT on stage!  Annette got top ten in Bikini and 2nd - did you hear that right!!  2nd in the Fitness Model America!  Great Scott that rocked.  It was so amazing and fun screaming for her and Canada while watching with her boyfriend and best bud!  During the weekend we had a surprise visit from Annette's boyfriend and best bud/coach/photographer.  They showed up at our hotel door and bam!  Annette screamed - I looked and wondered what the heck as I layed there texting (bugging I am sure) Nathan in my boy shorts and tiny tank!  Nice - welcome men to our room of stink from tanning product, makeup and ....mess mess mess.  It was a wonderful surprise.  They took us to Disneyland and dinners and drinks and did a photoshoot and had so much more fun cause of them and their love!  We got to catch up with old friends and met tons of new ones.  I was able to do 4 photoshoots on the Sunday we were there and so far 2 want to reshoot again.  That was great and what I really love to do.  The shooting  was different then I have done in the past.  It was pose pose pose shoot shoot shoot and just keep moving and posing and they shoot and shoot.  Really fun though!  I could do this full time for sure!  Check out on my 'New' site for upcoming photos and links to the photographers I had the pleasure of working with.  All four were new for me.  Thanks to my sponsors for helping me achieve my goal of attending the World's and encouraging me the whole time.  Huge thanks to Dave Ford www.davidfordphotography.com for updating and re-creating my website!  Another monster thanks goes to Nathan Harewood www.dielean.com for developing my comp discs and sending me 36 while I was in California for all the photographers and contacts there.  I phoned him last minute and literally needed it as soon as he could get them to me and being the guy he is had 36 bought, copied and shipped to me in Cali for the next day!  These comp cards are the way to go.  I got a copy of a sample from a good friend Kevin Wever of Florida www.modelfitness.com back in Toronto at FAME and Nathan learned the system and created my comp discs.  These are little mini-discs, that I have a professional athlete business card attached to it, are full of info on me for potential sponsors, photographers, magazines, etc. that you will meet at your show.  You hand them one of these discs and they have photos, specs, links and everything you want on you in one handy discs.  If you want to advertise and get known in the industry contact me a few months before your show and I will get you on the route to having personal comp discs created for you.  It's worth the time and money!

So, after Christmas it's holiday time on the beach and then time to count down to SHOW TIME!  Let's see what happens cause Figure Girls - here I come!

Train hard, eat to lift and smile at everyone!

Love B

November 06 

David Ford, www.davidfordphotography.com and his team are great!!  Today we shot in 3 locations and all of them were fun in their own way.  First we started at my house with lattes and muffins, well they did, and I got the plain coffee with Splenda, and then ventured off to Aspen Meadows for a lingerie shoot at my amazing client/friend/second Mom’s house.  Interesting as it was, shooting this type of shoot there, we all had a fine time and my friend got to experience a whole new me.  She had fun and really enjoyed watching the whole process and learning about make-up from Elena, the make-up artist.  After shooting at this location for 2 hours we drove on down to Precision Frameworx.  Here, thanks to my good friend Dave E, we had an opportunity to shoot with custom choppers that are feature regularly in the Bike Magazines.  To me, this was the most fun.  Brent, the owner was so great, friendly, and casual and open to our being there.  We even had Dave E. welding in the back ground for a new effect.  Some of the sparks were just a flying so Elena and Kim backed up to get away and I just started to laugh.  They are backing up and I was closer then them to start with-standing there shooting this shot in front of these bikes and sparks.  Too funny!  We laughed about it when they realized what they did.  After shooting with the HOT bikes we journeyed on to Archer Strength-did 3 outfits here and called it a day.  There are some fun ones here too.  One had my Team Die Lean black toque on with a wet tank, one play boy tank outfit and another with a shiny chrome tank and chrome dumb bells.  Special thanks go out first to Dave and Elena for the day of shooting in Calgary.  Also, to Melissa Bats for the outfits.  She lent me many great suits to wear for the shoot as well as a couple to take to Anaheim in two weeks!  Wow, how nice is that.  Thanks to www.cameo-intimates.com for the custom lingerie that I wore at the first location.  These can be seen soon on their site.  Thanks to Dave E. for the hook up with Precision Frameworx and to Precision Frameworx www.precisionframeworx.com for the use of their bikes, welding and shop.  Kim, my niece for helping with the outfits, hair and dogs!  Mere for her home and Archer Strength and Conditioning for the gym and equipment www.archertraining.com. 

So, today makes me 2 weeks out from competing in Miss Bikini Universe and tomorrow is Fitness Model America www.fitnessamerica.com  I feel really good going into this show.  Bloated now that Nathan Harewood www.dielean.com has changed my diet to less complex carbs and to more starchy, but that’s all good and working to get the look we want. Every week I am still loosing weight and pinches.  The protein is still the same and my BBQ sauce and spices/molly mcbutter have all been cut in half.  As of Sunday, tomorrow, I have to delete the aspartame ie/ gum and pop.  I don’t do much pop as I get tons of liquids with my 5 liters of water/day but the gum is my love.  I love to chew and chew I do.  I chew kinda like a horse, really trying to get that flavor out I guess!  Wednesday is 1 week from flying out and that means another diet change.  This is when the veggies come out, all spices and the complex carbs changes from post workout to morning meal.  Cardio will change too I am sure but time will tell that tale.  Workouts are going well, I do need to get my head wrapped around the tired body and just push it mentally.  Don’t get me wrong, the workouts are awesome but I know inside I can push that much harder. So that is what is going to happen in the 5 workouts I have left prior to the flight on Wednesday, November 18.  Well, it is actually only 4 workouts because the 5^th one is a costume run through with Nathan and lots of posing to perfect the look and achieve the physique posing we want.  This is so fun.  It is a second job, but one I love. 

Stacy Boyer, Team Die Lean fellow competitor is in Tampa as I type, competing in the Nova.  She texted me and said the bikini went great 4^th place and today was the obstacle round 4^th and fitness round 6^th giving her 6^th overall.  So awesome Stacy - good for you. So, I send her my cheers and love.  I guess this was a dream of hers to compete in this level of competition in Nova for many years now-good on you Stacy!  She is a lucky girl; there were a team of about ten that went from Canada to cheer her on.  Now that’s team spirit. 

Also in store is a photo shoot with Tony Mascardelli next week. This shoot is warrior theme that he shoots and than draws the picture.  This process takes him 6-8 months to finish one drawing.  I checked his work on www.webstergalleries.com in the artists section under pencil and pastels.  If you want to check out his current work, which is amazing drawings go to this site and section and click on his name.  Wow, it is absolutely cool to see ballerinas dancing looking as a photo but in pencil.  Then a photo shoot for Precision Frameworx for there 16 month calendar and then another for Cameo Intimates for their new line of custom lingerie. 

Time is flying by so keep posted and check back for regular updates on fellow competitors and my upcoming World’s in California! 

Till than, train like you want to be remembered!  Die Lean 

~ Bren

October 25 

Sweet thangs are happenin!!  I am now 3 weeks and 2 days away from flying to Anaheim, California!  I love it.  We are so close now.  Last week when I was 4 weeks that was like ‘still a bit of a way away’, now – holy dina…..3 weeks.  3 weeks is nothing.  It is so close I can smell the Protan!  I have never been so excited nor anxious for a show before.  I think it is a combination of a few things: 1-my diet rocks 2-my training is done for me and is developing a physique I like best 3-no fitness routine to train 4-it’s World’s 5-Disneyland 6-life is just grand!  Honestly, this show is feeling really positive.  No mood swings yet or low energy days.  I don’t feel sad inside and I am leaning up with abs four weeks out.  For me abs do not come through so easily unless I take away my brain.  I am flying high in my mind.  This week I lose my high calorie days and am on a two day calorie cycle with a four day split than a three day split.  Next week the BBQ sauce goes.  Then, wow, then it is time to drop additives and start to get ready to shine, tan and fly out.  Well, I guess somewhere in there I need to talk and meet up with Tara Grant for my suits.  Fast and steady. 

This weekend we went to Edmonton for the Muscle Beach show and work for BioX.  The show was fine but Aldi, Adina and Teri were great!!  These three were so fun to watch and be excited for.  Aldi was great onstage during his routine with energy that showed Friday night when we met up with them and even better energy for his dance show.  He was so fun to watch and had the crowd cheering and loving it.  Adina was beaming with her eyes the whole time-she looked so comfortable and at ease.  Teri had a stage presence people can enjoy and a routine that was bubbling!  They were definitely fun.  Aldi is already talking about Alberta’s – he has the competition bug!

Photo shoot in a week and a half at two locations:  Elegant home and Precision Frameworks.  Too cool, Precision Frameworks also asked if I would be in their calendar they are doing up and already have sold 20 thousand copies themselves.  So I am looking farther into that.  Very exciting to think about though.

Eat sleep and train then get your butt on stage!

Bren

October 16

Five weeks to Show Time and everything is coming in harder, bigger and leaner then it was at FAME '04 in May.  I am so excited and anxious for this show and really wish it was this weekend but at the same time need the next 5 weeks to continue to lean up.  Abs are showing and veins are bubbling.  Nathan www.dielean.com knows we are going in stronger then ever with a new full look that is much more symmetrical.  We have pulled up the deltoids - yah, hammies, back, quads and ..... as all girls (guys) want and love the butto!!  Nice butts are a must and flat butts are a no go.  So this year, for the first time, I am not training like a bodybuilder.  Nathan kills me during training with tons of plyos, intervals, sweat, higher reps and he makes me just go and go.  As much as I "HATE" it during the workout when I can't breath and I am dripping sweat the after affects and results make it all worth the sweat and tears!  For the first time I see a different body that I don't recognize but am definitely liking and enjoying every change.  This show is gonna be huge.  The event is four days and there is two categories for both Annette and I to compete in.  A really cool part is the street party in Disneyland.  How often do you get to compete in California and then have a street party with tons of models and athletes in the streets of Disneyland.  Wild!  It is also going to include a Pool Party that every person there is going to be hot, lean and beautiful.  A photographers dream!  So, diet-diet is great.  I can't believe how 'Easy' it is.  I am on a four day calorie cycle that has carbs, protein and even EFA's.  We dropped the EFA's but I started to feel sad inside so they are back in on a daily basis.  Everyday I have complex carbs and tons of regulated fibrous carbs with protein.  Eating 6-8 times was hard to get used to as I was onto 6 times but like the 8 meals which is never allowing my insulin to drop and crash which I can have a huge problem with.  My personality is still in tact and I have tons of energy and vibrates as long as I get my sleep, massage therapy, chiropractor and take some RnR.  To make the long path short-train hard, die lean and go for gold cause second place is the first loser and third....who!?  Just do it, let it happen and have fun with it along the road.

Photo shoot coming up with the famous David Ford.  We are doing a custom lingerie shoot at a brand new European home in Aspen Meadows, a custom Chopper shoot at Precision and training shots at the New Archer Strength and Conditioning near Chinook Mall.  All good and all great exciting new things to look forward to.

Congrats to fellow competitor and girlfriend, Debbie Leung www.debleung.com  for her first Pro Figure show at the GNC in the States.  She looked amazing as always.

Kevin Weiss www.bodyperformance.net competes in four weeks in Las Vegas at his first bodybuilding Pro show.  Best wishes.  Last conversation we had he was five weeks out, two pounds off what he was at the qualifier and is going to just walk right in with no problems!  Oh how much I wish I could go and watch but it is a week prior to my show so this is not even an option.

Keep posted for updates and journals and see how the prep is coming along.  New photos after the new shoot.

Big Thanks to Nathan for setting up, developing, creating and putting time and effort into making me Comp Cards on Mini Discs to take with me to Anaheim, California to give to magazines and photographers!  How nice is that!

Well time to Feed the Machine!  Remember to eat, sleep, train, repeat and then prepare to compete and have a blast.  The journey is the fun part.  Take it seriously, but don't over load on it.

Bren