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

7 Weeks Until My First Competition

7 Weeks Until My First Competition!

Acai Berry Fashion Leggings

www.acaiberryfashion.com Use Discount Code (Cindy20) for 20% OFF your next purchase.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

I really love learning more about myself every day. When I decided to embark on this journey back in June, I never knew I could meet my 16-year-old self again.

I was this determined, young, and talented tennis player on a mission. My life revolved around my goals and nothing stopped me. I would out train and outplay everyone. After my career came to an end because of Rheumatoid Arthritis I lost a part of me. Fast forward 21 years working out this morning, and reflecting back on the past 7 weeks, I realized I have met my 16-year-old self at the age of 40. The feeling of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone feels incredible.

I'm 7 weeks out and really excited for the outcome of this journey. My family and friends have been so supportive... check out this meal Greg made me last Sunday night. A dinner party at his house and he measured my food and cooked plain jane which is totally not in his vocabulary. It was outstanding as usual.

1 cup of asparagus and 4oz of Cod :)

This past week challenged me in the beginning, fewer carbs and fats left me zapped on Monday, my body adjusted and I felt stronger than ever at the end of the week. I have now graduated to the bottom row on dumbbells :)

Meal prepping has definitely gotten easier and I have grown accustomed to taking my food everywhere with me now. I'm in love with these meal containers, makes the process so easy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074J6XBNX/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?

ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also felt I got some balance back this week, trying to simplify the prep so I have more time to spend with the people I love. 

Caught a beautiful sunset with Jason Thursday evening :)

Saturday afternoon with friends in Orange Beach, AL

I got a cheat meal this week, definitely had anxiety leading up to it but my body felt awesome refueling with carbs. I bought Pamela's Pancake mix and the goal was 100-125 grams of carbs. So bright and early yesterday morning I was flipping pancakes. Haven't made pancakes in 10+ years, I topped them with Walden's Sugar-Free syrup and strawberries... they were out of this world, or maybe I was just hungry and my taste buds went crazy.

Really great workout this morning after refueling.

Shoulders, Glutes, & Abs #sundayfunday

A quote that I am loving this week. Transparency has been my goal on this journey since the beginning. Live in front of others as you do behind closed doors.

Check-in time with the "Coach", Christian Simmons... huge difference in my abs and quads from last week. Thanks always for the guidance! #7weeksout

Top-8 Weeks out
Bottom- 7 Weeks out

Left-Cabo 5 weeks ago Right-Yesterday

Loving my hat from Barbells & Ponytails, adorable! #barbellsandponytails

I can't stress how happy I am in life after making myself a priority. You live once and you deserve the world. Fall in love with yourself daily!

Thank you for following along this journey with me and I can't wait to share my progress next week. 

#cindylaneross #orangebeachfitness #ilivehappy #makeyourselfapriority

XOXO,

Cindy Lane Ross

Paid partnership:

www.cindylaneross.com

www.girlbebrave.com

www.orangebeachfitness.com

www.acaiberryfashion.com

This is why I began a new season in my life...

A New Season...

I started this transformational journey back in February 2018 after packing on a very unhealthy 40lbs due to inconsistent eating, workouts, and a lot of stress.

It happens...life!
2017 was packed full of 18hour work days, building a house, and 7 months of traveling the world.

Coming home in March of this year from a 3 1/2 week long trip down to the Polynesian Islands I knew I had to make a change. Weighing just shy of 170lbs and a couple of high blood pressure readings, I decided this is not how I wanted to start my 40's.

I first started with reducing my calories and slowly increasing my workouts when time allowed, the first couple of weeks dropping 5-7lbs. I definitely started feeling better but it wasn't until April 30 is when my life really changed. I had a good friend that told me I needed to get my shit together, which was hard to hear. She will never know how grateful I am for those words.

Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to realize you need to fix you. I had a lot of self-discovery over the past few months and realizing how much I needed to work on personal Cindy, the side of me in which I had never really touched since I was playing professional tennis back in my teens. April 30 is when I had to face myself for the first time and it wasn't pretty, but the date will forever be my personal anniversary.

I needed consistency and discipline in my life and I didn't even know it. I started reading every self-care book I could get my hands on and every day I took time for myself which is something I have neglected for as long as I can remember. I'm a firm believer you can't fix the problem until you acknowledge you have one.

Through the years with work, I have neglected so many things in my life... most of all being present.
Friendships, family, being a team player in my marriage and most importantly taking time for myself. By mid-May, I had dropped 30+ pounds and I was feeling so much better.

I wake up each day put make-up on and dress for the occasion even if it's just downstairs in my office. I realized very fast the discipline was good for my mental state, helps to stay focused. I knew the kind of person I had been through the years and I was on a mission to change not just for others but more importantly for myself. I knew I wanted to be a stand-up person, someone you can trust and respect and somehow along the way I lost that.

My days of tennis, all the training I did back then... the motto I lived by was if I did everything in my power to prepare, no matter what happened during the match I would have no regrets. This is the same motto I'm living my life by each and every day.

I realized in early June I haven't set personal goals for myself since before I was married almost 20 years ago and something I have always wanted to do but I never could fully commit to was a bodybuilding show. I started lifting weights at 11 years old and fell in love with how strong I felt.

Weightlifting got interrupted just like most everything else in my life because of my diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I haven't really lifted weights for 15+ years. I'm thankful for the day in May when my husband asked me if I wanted to train legs with him at the gym. It was a good day, one that lit me on fire again. Sometimes we lose the fire in our bellies and we need a goal to get up and grind.

I started to really love what I was seeing in the mirror, a shape that I desired but couldn't acquire with my cardio workouts and calorie deficient meal plans. Consistency is key! Early June I knew I needed a goal and I knew I wanted to compete. I signed up for the OCB Natural Bodybuilding Show-Bikini division here in Gulf Shores. On July 19 I made it Facebook official and announced it to everyone.

I'm doing this... not just a one and done thing, but a lifetime commitment to myself. I finally feel like, after the heartbreak of losing tennis due to illness, I found my jam again. We all need to find our jam, something that lights you on fire and you are willing to change for.

I hired a coach, my good friend Christian Simmons. Being a personal trainer I have always specialized in helping people lose weight and having a better quality of life. The timing and meal plan to pack on muscle are out of my comfort zone, so I hired the best. I am trusting the process and it was scary as hell at first, going from 1000-1200 calories to 5-6 meals packed full of protein, carbs, and fat. I am beyond excited for the OCB Battle on the Beach show Oct. 20, more so just to prove to myself anything is possible and people can change.

Since embarking on this journey, I realized so many things about myself and what I am capable of;
First of all drinking black coffee :) I sure did love creamer in my coffee, Second being able to stop drinking every day... living at the beach is sheer willpower, and the list goes on. The baseline is, I needed to clean my shit up on every level of my life.

Every day I find small things to celebrate, today was a big one for me. 7 1/2 years ago I had a surgery to fuse my right wrist due to deterioration from having this disease.

Never in a million years did I think I would ever be able to lift weights again. Boy, was I wrong! With the help of bi-weekly injections of Humeria and eating a Gluten/Dairy/Gluten Free diet for 10 years, it has helped me reduce the inflammation and pain in my joints and overall achieved a better quality of life.

Today I impressed myself with these elevated tricep dips and I wish my good friend who performed the surgery was around for me to say "Thanks from the bottom of my heart!" Love you always, Dr. Frederick Meyer.

I hope you will follow along with me on this journey... A big shout out to my husband, Jason Ross, and my big brother, Chance Lane for your continued support!

Cheers to a new season.

 #followyourfire #ilivehappy #idolife #strongissexy #bodiesbycindy #orangebeachfitness #girlbebrave

www.cindylaneross.com
www.girlbebrave.com
www.orangebeachfitness.com

xoxo,
Cindy Lane Ross