Mix-It-Up Mondays

Helllloooo World!!!

So, last month most of you guys attempted Meatless Mondays and there was lots of upset carnivores but you made it thru!  I'm so grateful for the support from you guys!  There were wrestlers, fans, friends and family that participated and seriously you all made an impact.  I hope lots of you will choose to keep incorporating the Meatless Monday to help the animals, the earth and your own little universe.

Now, on to this month.  I'm hoping to get Mix-It-Up Mondays going.  I'm challenging you to detox from sugar for the day.  The only sugars allowed are all natural (i.e. fruits, honey or agave).  For some of you this will be more difficult than it sounds.  This takes away processed foods, refined sugar and lots of juices unless they are homemade.  You'd be surprised how dependent some of us are on sugar and after the weekends (which is when everyone has the most fun) your body will welcome the break.

Refined sugar can be sneaky.  Lots of people are unsure of what it actually is.  It's actually made from sucrose which is extracted from raw sugar cane or sugar beets.  It's also known as granulated white sugar, brown sugar, fructose, sucrose, dextrose, malt syrup, and high fructose corn syrup.  On an average most Americans consume about 355 calories from sugar each day!  It's usually recommended that the average person only consume half of that if a male and a little less than half for females. 

With this over consumption of sugar we're looking at health issues ranging from obesity, tooth decay, hypoglycemia, diabetes and vitamin and mineral depletion.  With that being said, let's make a change!  Let's embrace a sugar detox once a week.  And if you're feeling frisky let's have both Meatless Monday and Mix-It-Up Monday! 

Thanks for the support and can't wait to hear how well everyone does!
XO

Why "Meatless Monday"

So most of you know this month's challenge from me to you is to give "Meatless Monday" a try.  I promise it's not because I love the catchy phrase, which of course I do!  It's because if we start on a Monday, the beginning of the week, hopefully the healthy trend will carry through the week.  Not necessarily the meatless part but conquering the challenge of controlling your eating habit you can keep it rolling!  With that being said, let's take a look at the environmental and health impact of participating in "Meatless Monday". 

Environmental

We'll be cutting down our carbon footprint in so many ways! Think of the land and natural resources used for the livestock and housing the livestock.  The gas used to transport animals and the product. Studies show that 1,800-2,500 gallons of water go into the production of 1 pound of meat. This is just one example!  Not to mention you can help prevent animal cruelty.  How many of you change the channel, get misty eyed or turn away during the ASPCA commericals?  This is another way to help! 

Health

The vegetarian diet has numerous effects on your health.  Starting with reducing your risk for cancer, heart disease and diabetes to name a few.  Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet will help increase fiber and other nutrients in your body which help with fat loss, boost energy levels and living longer. 

Now I know the meat industry isn't going to cut down their production or the demand is going to disappear but just 1 day per week will actually make an impact!  And making  better decisions when choosing your meats throughout the rest of the week will help too.  So let's give this a try!

-Look for locally raise, grass-fed, free-range organic meats and poultry. 
-Leave the small things out (i.e. bacon bits)
-Buy sustainable fish. (not from anywhere that might overfish)
-Organic eggs, milk and cheeses
-Add more veggies in your meals

2013>2012

Hey everyone!

So this year has been amazing for myself and so many people in my life.  I'm so grateful for the past year and the amazing experiences/people that have come into my life.  I'm not going to list everything because it'll take up the majority of this blog and I will for sure forget someone or something.  LOL.  But, one thing I'm totally going to share is I had the opportunity to go home and be with family and friends who are just like my family.  It was amazing to get grounded again and reconnect with all of them.  The tricky part was saying goodbye again.  Goodness!  It was so tough!  But it was tough for a great reason. I have so much love that surrounds me. It's such a blessing!  Now we're back in Tampa and I'm ready to get this new year underway! I've have got a list of goals to get started on and getting this blog up to date is one of them!  LOL!  I would love feedback from everyone if they have some subjects they would like me touch upon please send an email here and let me know. 

Also, I would love to be your New Year's Resolution!  If you'd like to be a part of my team (Roxx Stars) send an email.

Thanks everyone! 
Hugs!

It's happening!!!

By it's I mean absolutely everything.  In 2 days I'll be shooting with Domenic Trapassi www.facebook.com/domenic.trapassi and I'm beyond excited about it!!  New photos are always exciting for me and you guys!!  LOL!  I finally got all my ideas together today.  Thankfully!  (silly diet brain)

In 4 days I'll be stepping onstage with The WBFF www.wbffshows.com for Kevin Topka's www.newenglandfitnessweekend.com .  This is something I started training for back in June after their June 2nd show.  I've put everything I have into this one.  I always thought I worked hard before but somehow I managed to work harder.  My ladies at Braintree Get In Shape where I used to work as their trainer know I was getting up at 330 am to get my morning cardio in.  Doing doubles but for my own training and for their training.  Finding ways to take a nap in between the shifts.  Eating a whole different way and somehow a whole new drive came from it.  My body is completely different from what I had brought to the stage back in June and I couldn't be happier!  If anything I know I'm bringing the best me I can possibly bring.  I can't do anymore than that.

In 4 days it'll also be the last weekend I have living here in New England.  Talk about emotional roller coaster!  My mom, brother and sister-in-law are coming to spend the weekend in Providence with me and I am so incredibly grateful!  They'll be coming to the show and yelling their faces off (or better be yelling their faces off!)  Also, a large group of my ladies from Get In Shape are going to be attending and seriously ladies you've made me the happiest girl ever!  I'm hoping we can get a group shot of us together so you can't forget me : ) 

In 1 week I will be heading to where my heart is.  I'm finally reuniting with my little family down in Tampa and creating a whole new life.  I can't wait to be with them!  We drove Max, Jake and Rocky down to our home at the end of August and I've only had the time to visit him once for 1 day while we've been apart.  It is going to be amazing!!!  I've missed them so much!  But the packing is a little difficult.  It's not like I can drive back and get anything I forget LOL!  And diet brain again destroys lots of my momentum. 

So, by everything I do mean everything.  LOL!  This whole week/weekend is going to be mind blowing.  I'm going to meeting some of you ladies for the first time even though we know each other on facebook.  I'm going to be with some of my old friends that I have known for years and from other aspects of my crazy little life.  I'm going to be surrounded by so much love from friends and family that are coming to show support.  I'm going to enjoy every single second of all this.  Embrace each and every emotion.  Take loads of photos, so ladies/gents get ready!  Take it all in and be grateful for this amazing life I have created and love each and every person that has changed my life for the better. 

Love you all and see you Saturday!!

Cookbook!!!

Hey fellow foodies!!

Send me an email and I'll get all the info to you for my Nutrition Notebook!  Full of vegan, vegetarian and canivor recipes, food journal, tips and more. 

wrestlingroxx@gmail.com - orders only please : )

Hardcopies only- $25.00 + shipping and handling

Unfortunately, the bonus features can not be ebooks : ( 

Thanks for the support!

Hugs!
-Nikki :)

3 1/2 weeks, 2 1/2 weeks & 4 weeks but who's counting??

Today is 3 1/2 weeks until www.newenglandfitnessweekend.com .  That means 2 1/2 more weeks of work and 4 weeks until I leave New England for my new home in Tampa.  I'm so excited, sad and nervous for the amazing change that's about to happen.  Life is such a great adventure and I'm pumped to go along for the ride.

Prepping for this show has been completely different and I've had a different mindset through it all.  These next couple of weeks are going to be the toughest.  Not just with training but spending time with the amazing people in my life.  I'm surrounded by the most loving and encouraging people and I'm totally grateful for you all.  I could never survive these last couple weeks without Max if I didn't have you guys to lift me up when I'm sad or kick me in the butt when I wanna be lazy.  Thank you sooo much!

Along with the prep for this show I've had the honor of connecting with so many new people who are inspiring me to work harder than ever and I can't wait to meet you all at this show!  We are totally going to rock the stage, weekend and even the building!!  Providence, RI isn't going to be the same after we're done!

With all that being said let's kick it into high gear and kill these next couple weeks.  If you're already in high gear let's get to turbo!  We're in the home stretch of reaching our goal and we'll miss all this prep when we're done.  Enjoy every minute (even of cardio), every bite of food (even if you're chicken'd or tofu'd in my case out), every appointment for the beautification of you (even if it's a million dollars) and be proud of the end product that graces the stage.  Here's to us!!!!

You can check out my bio here for the New England Fitness Weekend here:
http://www.newenglandfitnessweekend.com/contestant-bios/nicole-raczynski/

This is why.....

So, it seems I haven't posted in a while.  LOL!  The last time I posted I was getting ready for my first time competing with the WBFF.  Well, that was such an amazing experience that I'm getting ready to compete with them again!  This time is a little different than last.  I wasn't very happy with my placing at last show and it had nothing to do with the judges, politics, or any of the basic stuff people complain about when they're unhappy.  It was on me.  I had started a new job, though that's no excuse, trying to figure out my schedule and training (and trying not to overtrain) was a huge challenge.  After that show I used my disappointment as fuel to dust myself off and just go at it harder than before.  I started back at the gym the Monday after the show and decided I was going to kill it.  During that week I decided I was going to compete again with the WBFF on November 3rd in Providence, RI.  That was it.  I felt I needed to redeem myself.

I had the crazy thought I was going to try and train myself but that ended up not being the case.  Unfortunately, we tend to be our worst critics and strive for perfection.  No matter how many people tell you you look great you still can find something that's wrong.  So, after a month or so I started talking with people and heard amazing things about www.HitchFit.com from Coryn Martin who is a WBFF Pro (http://www.facebook.com/#!/CorynEliseCC) and my friend Crista who is a part of my www.facebook.com/destinedtobedivas. I contacted Diana and Micah and found out they have a vegetarian program.  How amazing!  So, I signed up and I couldn't be happier with the program.  It's completely different and I've seen some amazing results!  Hopefully, they will be here in Boston for the show and I'll have the chance to meet them : )

Now while all of this was happening my boyfriend got an opportunity of a lifetime!  He was called by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to be a professional wrestler.  It's literally his dream job!  Well, for any of us wrestlers it's our dream job.  LOL.  It's truly a blessing and an amazing experience.  Only problem being we need to relocate to Tampa, FL.  This is amazing in every way except I had my goal set to compete on November 3rd and I'm determined to improve from my last showing.  My boyfriend, being the amazing man he is, decided I was staying here in Boston and reaching my goal.

With that being said, at this current moment my cat, my dog, my furniture, and my BOYFRIEND are now in Tampa.  We moved them across the country the last week of August.  I'm currently living at his parents house (who I refer to as the roommates) and getting ready to visit Tampa for the weekend.  (So freakin excited!!) This visit marks our half way point until I move and leave New England for good.  My flight is booked for November 6th to move permanently to Florida. 

At this moment in time this show now means so much more than just redeeming myself.  It'll be the last weekend I'll be living in New England.  The last competition I'll be doing in New England.  And the last competition my family will be local enough to come and cheer my on.  They have made plans to come and stay the weekend with me and I'm so incredibly happy.  My boss and clients will be attending and I'll be with some of my best friends and some new friends that I've made just by prepping for this show.  So, if you are in New England and would like to see entertain (unfortunately not in a ring this time lol) in the area come to this show.  www.newenglandfitnessweekend.com .  I would love to enjoy the day with everyone! 

Now you know why when my alarm goes off each morning at 3:55 am I get right up and go to the gym.  Why I prep my food and never think of a relax meal.  Why it's so important that I don't skip my workouts.  I have so much to look forward to and no time to waste.  No regrets to be had.  I want to be up on that stage looking my absolute best and know no matter what I gave this contest prep everything I have.