One of the hardest things I have ever done in my life...

The past 6 months have been the hardest of my life and I brought it on myself...

In December I committed to doing 2 Bodybuilding shows this season and I started school back in January pursuing my Doctorate in Functional Medicine. First show of the season May 11 in Tunica, MS, Battle on the Bluff. Placed 3rd in Masters Bikini. Then on the drive home after letting go of my prep coach, hired another and decided to move to Figure division for the June 15th Battle on the Gulf Coast.

Finished 1st Semester just a week shy of the first show, I made the Dean's List! I had 5 weeks to learn Figure Posing and get shredded to compete in a brand new division. I also started my second semester 2 days before deciding to compete in Figure Division.

Jason in the meantime got his real estate license and we both were balancing personal training clients and our other businesses.

Needless to say, LIFE WAS INSANE! My days start at 2:45am, my life consisted of multiple workouts throughout the day including a couple of cardio sessions, weight lifting, and meal prep all while being in a calorie deficit. I had nothing left in the tank by the end of the day and literally hibernated inside our house just keeping my nose to the grind trying to comprehend medical terminology with a foggy brain. Just looking back, I am cringing. My fun factor was at all-time "0" and our marriage took the back burner including other relationships with family and friends.

I am one of the most self-motivated people I know, but there were days in the last 2-3 weeks I could have just cried my eyes out. Still holding Dean's list... not sure what I have learned in the past 6 weeks but I committed and saw it through. By far the hardest thing I have ever done!

I made it to June 15, completely spent and exhausted. It was a great day, placed in 3 divisions (2nd Novice, 4th True Novice, & 5th Open). I think there was a point I was like, "why am I torturing myself like this." The self-accomplishment at the end was completely worth it.

This was just a reminder to myself, you can do anything if you put your mind to it! Be Selfish, Push Yourself, Discipline, Determination, and SET YOUR GOALS HIGH!

My Rock! 

Took home some hardware! 

1 week later and I am just now settling into some normality. Life is still crazy, Jason is now in real estate school but we have had some date nights since the show.
I am one of the biggest nerds you will meet and I really want to enjoy being in school and this journey. After much discussion, I am not putting a time limit on myself when I intend to step back on the stage. We want to enjoy "us" and life on our boat living at the beach, I want to focus on building Life Wellness Forever and helping my clients transform their lives, and I want to give school 100% and graduate with honors. I'm going to train hard in the gym over the next year or so and add 3lbs of lean muscle and plan to do my next show in 2021 after my graduation trip to Dubai. I have also decided to be my own prep coach this next go around. I will be bringing my best package yet at the age of 43 in Figure Division. I am thrilled for the friends I have made along the way and look forward to seeing you all again on stage.

Enjoying boat life here in Orange Beach. 

Back deck cocktails at sunset.

I plan on posting more, doing videos, cooking demonstrations, and more! I hope you will follow along with me as I continue to transform my body and help others along the way.

Currently, I am in the best shape of my life, I will be doing personal check-in's every Saturday. I am at 7.2% Bodyfat and feeling stronger than ever.

Top- June 15 8.3% Bodyfat
Bottom June 22 7.2% Bodyfat

Be on the lookout for the launch of Buy the Coast Properties/Roberts Brothers with Jason Ross, so excited and proud for his new career real estate!

Thank you to everyone for all the best wishes and following along in my journey of passion! Stay tuned, lots more to come! 

Lots of hugs and love

XOXO,

Cindy Lane Ross

Life is short, walk around in confidence.

Grateful to live in a place where the Blue Angels fly at sunset. 

A little less than 4 weeks away from stepping on stage and finishing up school this week with for the semester.

Yep, feeling the contest prep! 

I had two thesis papers to write, feeling accomplished after scoring a 100 on the first one turned in this week.

Phytoestrogens Help Women Balance Hormones Naturally
This topic sparked my interest because I have been doing hormone balancing for more than 10 years now and it's made a huge difference in my life. Most men and women aren't even aware there is a hormone issue. As we age we think the weight gain, the lack of energy, the lack of libido, and the onset of autoimmune issues just are normality.

This isn't the case, why not feel like you are in your 20's again! Through nutrition, fitness, and bioidenticals, you can feel your best.

Have you had a saliva test?
Test your hormones now- this panel checks cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol.
https://www.lifewellnessforever.com/online-store/zrt-5-panel-hormone-imbalance-saliva-test-kit

Check-in was Saturday

Top picture 4 weeks out from Battle on the Beach 2018

Bottom picture 4 weeks out Battle on the Bluff 2019

If you are in the area and want to come out to the show, here's the schedule:

May 11, 2019- Tunica, MS Battle on the Bluff NPC

June 15, 2019- Biloxi, MS Battle on the Gulf Coast NPC

Oct. 19, 2019- Gulf Shores, AL Battle on the Beach OCB

Orange Beach, Alabama

Really thrilled the temperatures are getting warming and excited for the summer!

A couple of things I am loving this week- switching some of my coffee addiction over to Matcha. Would love to hear your thoughts on Matcha, do you drink it? Do you love it? Check out my blog on www.lifewellnessforever.com on the health benefits of Matcha.

https://www.lifewellnessforever.com/life-wellness-forever-blog/2019/4/16/health-benefits-of-matcha

Cheers to a great week and as always thanks for following along.

Work hard and stay strong.
Love & Hugs,
Cindy Lane Ross

This picture is a great reminder... Anything is possible.

Life is short, walk around in confidence. 

It’s Never too Late to be Great- How I Rose Above Auto-Immune Disease to Compete in My First Contest

Thank you Beverly for the feature in your publication-
From No Nonsense Magazine- Vol 23 #1

I hope to inspire everyone to live to their fullest and happiest potential. I tell people of all ages, —“It’s never too late to be great.” You can rediscover yourself at any time. We all have setbacks in life, but you just
have to pick yourself up and start believing that you can begin to live your best life now. Since I learned to control my disease with nutrition, exercise, and proper supplementation, at the age of 41, I have never
felt stronger and more alive. Bodybuilding has reshaped my body and improved my quality of life. I recently met my 16-year-old self again at the age of 40 and even though the journey has had a lot of bumps and bruises, I’m still here, and I’m smiling because I am alive and looking forward to the sunrise of each new day.

This past week just staying focused on school, contest prep, and balancing work. 

Finished up Eating Between the Lines- Definitely should check it out, will open up to your eyes on how you grocery shop and what to look for. 

5 Week Check-In

Top 5 weeks out from Battle on the Beach 2018
Bottom 5 weeks out from Battle on the Bluff 2019

When I started on this journey about a year ago, I just trusted the process. I left the cardio room and hit the weights. I began eating more calories per day than I used to consume in a week.

Here are the results after 1 year of weight training...

To all the women who are scared to lift weights, it's the only way to achieve your fitness goals. 

Thankful every day for a great workout partner!

Check out my latest blog on Life Wellness Forever

I loved this and thought I would share!

Have a great week and thanks for following along my journey! 

Hugs & Love,

XOXO

Cindy Lane Ross

Thunder Thighs!

Hi guys...

Well, I am dedicating this blog to all the women who have thunder thighs...
I have battled my legs my entire life and after a year of heavy weight training and lots of stair climbing, I am happy to say, I am proud to have "In Shape" Thunder Thighs. Ladies, it's time to work!

I spent countless hours running for years trying to get the cellulite off my thighs and it never worked. It didn't matter how thin I became, I could still see dimples. 👎

Don't be afraid of the weights as I once was! I have always been scared to grow my legs because I was teased throughout my life for having "Thunder Thighs".

7 Weeks from Battle on the Bluff and I'm still feeling great. 40 min of stair climbing a day plus weight training and I'm netting around 800 calories a day after my workouts.

Afternoon Cardio Session

Who is else is thrilled Summer is approaching, I could spend every minute of every day outside.
Really looking forward to enjoying the season here in Orange Beach.

I'm getting questions daily about supplements, nutrition, and my workouts.
I promise to start working on more videos time permitting to start helping you towards your fitness goals. If you have a question, send it my way and I will do my best to address it.

Follow me on IG @cindylaneross for more videos!

A great quote I came across during my podcast hour at the gym
"It's better to be pulled by your dreams, rather than pushed by your problems."

A very interesting book I am reading this week- Eating Between the Lines

I hope everyone has a great week and as always I greatly appreciate your following along in my journey!

7 Week Check-In!

Top-7 Weeks 2018
Bottom- 7 Weeks 2019

XOXO
Hugs & Love,
Cindy Lane Ross

Kindle Version available for a limited time $5.99

8 Weeks Out until show time and a recap of a busy week :)

Hi guys,

I hope everyone had a splendid Monday!

Just my update for the week...

So far breezing through contest prep, love the structure and happy to be back in the grind! 

Cutting calories, upping cardio, and workouts are still strong.

One of my favorite quotes of the week!

Afternoon cardio session

Fun St. Paddy's Day with one of my besties! Gene Seymore, the door guy at Choppers!
There is a new sheriff in town 😂

I wrapped up my first thesis paper of the semester, Zac Brown Band concert, celebrated St. Paddy's Day and we got our yearly physical this past week. 

I don't know why I am always a nervous wreck getting a physical, everything came back great and I would have to say I am the healthiest I have ever been. I took myself off of Humeria a little over a year ago and decided to see if I could manage my Rheumatoid Arthritis with diet and exercise. 

16 months later my joints feel great, managing the pounds, lifting heavy ass weights, and not looking back! 

Thanks, Fran, this has become my favorite shoulder exercise! 

I feel so blessed to be studying my passion and sharing what I learn with my clients, definitely exciting times and looking forward to how many people I can help with balancing hormones and combating auto-immune diseases. 

My thesis paper is on Phytoestrogen Foods Help Menopausal Women Naturally Balance Hormones. 

Check out my site on this topic- https://www.lifewellnessforever.com/phytoestrogens

I'm also gearing up to launch Life Wellness Forever's podcast in the coming months- topics will vary on nutrition, fitness, hormone balancing, fad diets, autoimmune diseases, chronic illnesses and more! If there is something you would love to learn more about, I would love to know!

Top 8 Weeks out 2018
Bottom 8 Weeks out 2019 and the suit fits! 

Here is my 8-week check-in. Huge difference in the backside from last season, Thanks Christian Simmons for the great coaching! 

I also purchased a new suit from Muscle Dazzle for the 2019 Season, can't wait to see it! 

Here's a sneak preview...