Vision Quest II The Journey Continues....

New Blog is Live

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:58:00 +0000

Hi guys,
Long time, no write. Vision Quest III is complete and now we're onto Vision Quest IV...

You can find it HERE.

Love,
~C.

Great thread on Personal Training Certifications.

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:03:00 +0000

Hi guys,

I was lurking on one of my favorite fitness forums and came across this thread (click on title to view) on reputable personal training certifications. I am glad I made the trip out of state to get mine instead of taking an open book/ online test!

Hopefully if all the planets line up, I will be able to put my knowledge, experience, and reputable NASM certification to work soon.

Stay tuned to all of you local Rapid City-ians who may stumble upon this blog.

Cheers!
~C.

Siouxcountry radio

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Hey guys... if you happen to get a chance...you can listen to me on Siouxcountry radio Friday night. Holy crap did my heart just do a flip even typing that.

Just go to Siouxcountry.com and click on the button that says, "Sioux Country Radio"....

If I am slurring my words it's because I'm drunk.lol

Cheers!
~C.

Oxygen March Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Iknow it's only the middle of January, but word on the street is that Oxygen Magazine subscribers are getting their March issues in the mail...like now.
Anyway.. this would be a boring post except for the fact that I heard I was in it.

So... anxiously awaiting the arrival of March Oxygen magizen to the stands.

That's all for today.
~C.

A FREEBIE!!! Merry Christmas!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:17:00 +0000

Hey guys... There are a few of you that didn't subscribe to VQIII yet... I really still do care about you all especially if you take the time and effort to still visit this dead blog. So just for your thoughts... I want to give back to you by sharing an exerpt from a recent post on VQIII. (Mom said I should post it everywhere).

What I am trying to tell you by really NOT telling you is that it basically has NOTHING to do with diet or training... YOU can get a diet or training information anywhere...anywhere and everywhere. It's mostly good info.... some of it is bunk due to marketing.. like anything that promises "quick" weight loss or a "magic" pill, etc.

What it has to do with is your character, your values, your integrity.

Imagine that you are a team of one. Now imagine that you are your own coach. Anybody knows the best coaches are the hardest coaches. The coaches that don't put up with bullshit and DEMAND his or her players to bring 110% EVERY time... not just come game time... but in practice as well. Some people say that practice makes perfect. No... really its more like perfect makes perfect. How do you make perfect?.... Did any of you watch that movie "Miracle" about the US Olympic Hockey team from 1984 was it? What did the coach say, "again", "again", "again." That coach didn't make those players great.. he DEMANDED that those players brought EVERYTHING they had and played at their FULL potential.

Most of you don't have a coach barking orders at you... you have to be your own coach.. you have to kick your own ass... you have to demand more from yourself...

When I wrestled in highschool I really thought my coach was an asshole. I mean I still think he is but he was a good coach. He got thrown out of almost every match for arguing with the ref.. His practices were brutal.. I mean brutal... You think 45 minutes on the Stairmaster is hell? Try two and half hours after a full day of school every day in a heated room, working so hard that routinely people would run outside to vomit. YOU cannot be afraid to push yourself.... pushing yourself is what will make you great. It is what will make you better than the competition....

If any one of you says you want to compete but you don't care about winning... that is a slap in the face to the competition... What if I was on the wrestling team and wrestled at my weight class (125) and said, I didn't care if I won or lost. Yeah... I lost every match.. but I brought everything I had... and I cared if I won or lost. I didn't go out there and roll over and play dead... (although it may have appeared that way).

You have to have the courage to not care what other people think about what you are doing... more than likely they never had the balls to go after what they wanted out of life and watching you do it is a reminder of their failures... people want to keep you down...so they can stay in their comfort zone... Don't let anyone or anything keep you down.... no words, no labels, no limiting beliefs. If you have a fire in your belly that wants to express itself... I believe that PASSION is God... I believe that is how he expresses himself through every one of us...

You have to discipline yourself... If you say you are going to do something... YOU DO IT... I know I have dropped the ball on a few things.. that's human.. but overall if I say I am going to do something I WILL DO IT. People can count on me... I am dependable... You need to be able to be accountable to yourself... have some integrity... have some courage... PUT up and keep on putting up.

Yeah you don't have to do anything... just like I didn't have to join the wrestling team in high school.... but I signed up and I showed up and I put up... I sucked... but I gave it my all.. That is heart. That is what you need to be successful in anything. YOU persist EVEN when it's tough... Imagine you ARE the whole team... You are the coach and you are the athlete!!!! Be a good coach to yourself... Don't put up with bullshit and demand that you bring 110% to everything. Do your homework as your own coach... STUDY the opponents... STUDY yourself... SEE where your weaknesses are... CORRECT your weaknesses when possible and COMPENSATE when correction is NOT possible...

SHOW UP...BE PROUD...YOUR REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE... You are building character everytime you practice a habit of excellence... if you let yourself get in the habit of laziness.. of only bringing 50% day in and day out... don't be suprised when you only get half way (50%) to your goal... that is how you trained.. that is what you will get.

Get in the habit of brining at least 110% every day.... day in and day out... don't be surprised if you exceed your goals everytime... you have earned it!!!! Don't be envious or jealous of those who did... they've earned it!! CONGRATULATE THEM!!! Their success should not have a bearing on your success... You are on your own path. Learn from them... they have what you want... be very observant at every contest.. every match..

Learn winning strategies and APPLY what you have learned... someone may already know more than you because they have been at it longer, you have to want it more.... You have to be willing to DO what they won't do....

Be a champion... set the example... be the leader...
Do the hard stuff.. OVERCOME your challenges... no matter what it takes... no matter how much time and effort it takes... Put in the work, the effort and the reward will be endless.

That has been my secret strategy in the past... it all comes down to making the choice... again and again...

~C.

Kelly Olexa's Testimonial... (I am holding her at gunpoint just out of the shot)

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:05:00 +0000

Look EVERBODY... Jess is on my blog!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:39:00 +0000

Accidental Testimonial

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Hey guys... just got an accidental testimonial from Lisa T. (LAT Girl) She just left this comment on Vision Quest III...

Ok everyone I have to say Cynthia is just about the cooliest, nicest person ever and I am so lucky to have met her in person in 2007. Cynthia just has that thing which really can't be put into words, you know when you meet someone and you just know that they are destined for great things! Her positive energy could light up the sky which is why I for one support her efforts and subscribe to her blog. If more women stuck together we could conquer the World.

Thank you so much C. for the props on my competition. You have inspired me to be better and not settle for just ok on stage!

I am sure I can speak for the others who subscribe to your blog when I state you make us proud to be on your Team! The Olympia Dream is great but it is your character, passion and energy that you put out into the Universe that makes us wants to follow along!

Lisa T.

November 19, 2008 6:44 AM

Another GREAT testimonial... Thanks Stef!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Testimonial

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Hi guys... I am getting some great feedback from my subscribers: I will be posting some of it this week... so stay tuned.

Here is a testimonial I received yesterday:

It’s difficult for me to find the words to express how much reading Visionquester’s blog has changed my life and the way I think - and it has only been a short period of time. The way she writes, her thoughts and how she expresses herself makes me truly believe in who I am; for the first time in a long time. Her posts and even the comments she leaves in response to others never fail to inspire and uplift me. Often times I find myself nodding along to her words or vlogs – I have never met Cynthia before and yet I feel as though she knows me…like she understands exactly how I think and what makes me tick. I have read libraries full of books telling me how to stop emotional eating, how to think more positively, what to eat, what not to eat, and how to achieve my goals and yet I have never been as motivated by that literature as much as I have from reading Visionquester’s blog. Not only is her blog knowledgeable, it’s also very amusing and quite entertaining. She writes and talks in such a way that is both informative and humorous, but one thing I love best about Cynthia is that she is so real. There’s no b.s. with her – she says exactly what she’s thinking and tells it like it is. Yet she does it in a way that’s tactful and honest and I so appreciate that. Already I have learned so much from her blog. Not just about fitness but in how I think and feel. At first I didn’t think it was worth paying the fee to look at the blog and I couldn’t understand why she would charge. I went back and forth quite a bit about whether or not it would be worth paying for it, but let me tell you – since I did pay there is not a doubt in my mind that I made the right decision. It is worth every single penny!!! I wasn’t even really sure what the money was for, but since joining the blog I’ve learned a bit more about Cynthia’s goal to make it to the Olympia and let me tell you – she is going to win. As you get to know more about her you’ll learn about her determination, persistence, and fight to get to this competition, and now I want to help her in any way that I possibly can. Cynthia can help anyone realize that they can do whatever they set their minds to. I figured I’d spent plenty of money on self-help books before and more often than not they are written by doctors or psychologists. Visionquester’s blog is real – she’s like the rat in the lab…she’s run the race and knows from experience exactly what the journey entails.

~Hayley Cepeda

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:11:00 +0000

Ok.. so many of you subscribed!!! Thank you sooo much.. I really appreciate you helping to reach my dream of making it to the Olympia!!!

I just entered the Bodybuilding.com Spokesmodel contest... I uploaded a few new pics to my Bodyspace and a kickass video that I am not going to lie.. took me 11 hours to produce!!! Yikes! Actually it took me about a year for the footage and 11 hours for the uploads and edits.

Please take a look at the video... and if you like it.. please click on the banner once each day and Vote for me... look for "VISIONQUESTER" as the picture will change daily. This IS an outstanding opportunity that I would LOVE to have... Thanks so much for everyone's support I appreciate it sooo much. Oh..yeah... that's me up there... that's who you are looking for!

Vision Quest III... Journey to the Olympia

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:12:00 +0000

Vision Quest III... Journey to the Olympia is getting juicy guys. I had a major breakthrough and would love to share. I hope you all check the info over to the side there about how to access my new blog.

I look forward to having a great time this year... and just when things couldn't get any better... I am betting they will... No, I take that back.. I BELIEVE they will...God willing of course.

Love,
~C.

P.S. my glutes are still screaming from last week's workout!!! Holy crap.

Lisa T.

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:10:00 +0000

I am going to the gym to work glutes, Lisa T. and I am thinking of you! I am doing these butt bridge thingy's with a weight place on my pelvis. You know the one where it looks like you are humping the sky? Yeah I am going to get my ass all warmed up with that one in order to get my "mind into my muscle" not to be confused with "head up my ass."

I am going to get really lean next year and then "bam" there it is!

Just thought I would let you know... :) Also... I just wanted to publicly let you know that I think you have amazing potential to pack on the meat in all the right places in order to get to National's if you so desire. No prob.

Just make sure you eat crap religiously right after you work out in addition to some quick protein.

~C.

Reastablishing relationship

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:13:00 +0000

I am reastablishing my healthy relationship with food. I feel positive about this. I am basically taking the same exact steps that I did last year. It worked like a charm... I screwed it all up when I panicked after the show and thought I should somehow try to control what I ate by forming a diet to stick to. I hate that term "sticking" to a diet. It's so ugly. Yuck. Anyway... thanks again to God I am finding my way forward. I am reastablishing my healthy relationship with food. Putting food in it's place... you know basically using it for it's intended purpose such as for nourishment, vitality, health, hunger, and pure pleasure. I am going away from using it to fill time, comfort anxieties, reward good behavior, and finally the biggie... I am going away from using food as a compulsive behavior to ease an obsession. Yikes... sounds like I am a little loopy. Perhaps I am... but the important thing is to know that I am committed to my objective. My objective is to reastablish my healthy relationship with food...which is by the way an essential step toward reaching my ultimate goal...my main desire of competing at the Olympia in 2009! Cool.

PS. I haven't even started working on the layout of VQ III yet... I am still dejunking the basement. I want to be ready to accept whatever the Universe wants to give me and I certainly can't do that with a junky basement.

Eating what I want and the joys of off season

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Holy crap what a great week.. I managed to dejunkify the upper level of my home taking a huge bag of stuff to a local charity. Hired a service to come in and clean once a week...yeah! Going to continue clearing out sh*t that I have been holding onto for whatever reason... I am working out... gaining strength. I have gained a good 10 pounds so far and am absolutely freaking fine with it.

I love being cut up and veiny but that has it's place... and it's place is on the stage. There is no stage in my immediate future. In fact I am anticipating 8 months before I step on another one. Originally I was toying with the idea of doing an early Spring show, but I don't want to subject my family to my precontest ways. Meaning... I am not here.

So, I have 8 months to create a Pro-level physique... not only Pro level, but a top 3 pro level physique. I have said it before and I will say it again... the body is amazing and will respond to whatever stressors you place upon it. I have my sights set high this time. I may fall flat on my face... I may not. It's all God willing. If I don't meet my goal this year... then there will always be another year, another time for me. I am patient.

So for now.. I am focusing on the domestic arts and transforming my physique. No biggie... not much to report.

~C.

Said I would be back...

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:53:00 +0000

Said I would be back 01 October... So I am a day late. Whatevah...

Anyway... here's the dillio. I am readjusting to a normal human's schedule: Sleep at night/awake during the day. I am sure there is a word for it but I am too tired to think of it.

My first order of business is to re-do my website and publish the new blog.. Vision Quest III... road to the Olympia. Yeah.. I've been posting in it all along, but want to make it available when it looks all pretty and stuff.

A word on rebound: I hope some of this helps you guys. I realized that rebound is not inevitible. It is definitely a real phenomenon, but it is driven by choice. Choice to revisit your old lifestyle... choice to relax... choice to eat pizza and doughnuts. (oh sorry...I am getting personal now) So it is your mind that triggers rebound. Your thoughts are responsible... you CHOOSE rebound.

Now the physical side effects of choosing to be lax after a show has consequences associated with it. You gain fat. Fat is heavy. Everyone says muscle weighs more than fat, but I say that the muscle is alive. It is useful...it helps you get around... it doesn't feel heavy. It makes you feel lighter when going up and down stairs and running a 5k. Excess fat however, is not useful...it is heavy.. it makes you feel as if you are walking though quicksand. It makes everything harder to do...even walking. The physical consequences of choosing to be lax after a show has very real negative physical effects on your body. It may mimick depression, but it isn't. It's just wanting to sit down or lay down instead of lugging around an extra 10 pounds of fat.

I remember in my final weeks of contest prep, I donned my weighted vest and went for hill walk with 20 extra pounds inside the pockets. It was uncomfortable to say the least. So in comparison, 10 extra pounds isn't that bad, but the comfort level is similar. Heavy feet.

Anyway... you live and learn. I am not depressed, but am really physically taxed by the same things I did before the show... like jogging 3 miles with the dog. This may seem like depression, (lost interest in things I used to like to do) but I assure you it isn't. It is simply more physically demanding.

Was the pizza and doughnuts worth the extra baggage... hells yeah! So I deal and get on with my Vision Quest to the Olympia chalking this up as just one of the minor challenges I will face along the way.

Love,
~C.

HOLY CRAP I'M IN IRONMAN!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:15:00 +0000

Hey... I just found ME in Ironman magazine... November issue... on stands now.....page 249. I have been told that I resemble a Jamaican bobsledder! lol

~C.

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:07:00 +0000

Where is she now?

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Hi guys,

A few of you have wondere where exactly I have been lately. Well I'll tell ya. I basically stepped off the plane and got to work. I am on my 9th day straight followed by one day off then another string of 8 to 10 days in a row.

Ya see what happened is:

I was in Vegas when I got a broken up call on my cell phone from my boss. Just so happened it was a few hours before I took the stage for prejudging on that Friday evening. He was telling me that the Department of Defense job that my current position was changing into was closing that evening at that I would have to have my Resume' and DD214 (proof of military service)submitted in order to get the job.

Just so happened that I didn't have the form or my laptop with me, and certainly didn't have any time alotted to do what was required.

So come October 1st.... I am out of a job.

Like my mom says... I am "making hay while the sun shines." I am working as many hours as they will let me while opportunity exists.

So please check back to www.CynthiaHerndon.com on October 1st and thereafter. I plan to dedicate a good chunk of my time to updating the site and all things fitness. I'll also have Vision Quest III... Journey to the Olympia available to whoever wants to follow along.

So don't worry about me and don't bother checking back until October.

Thanks guys,
Love Ya.... ~C.

11:50 a.m.

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:48:00 +0000

It was Monday September 08, 2008 at precisely 11:50 a.m. when I realized all that I have been given. I came out of shock long just long enough to cry a bucket of tears. I still can't believe the magnitude of this. In the whole scope of my life... this is really big. Thank you all.

~C.

Hard Fitness pics!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Hard Fitness pics!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Vision Quest II... The End.

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:10:00 +0000

Hey guys... that Cynthia Henderson girl that got her Pro card is cute... she kind of looks like me don't ya think?

Anyway...it's been a great time. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. I appreciate it immensely.

About the dedication previously mentioned... I have been holding out for just the right time to dedicate a show to my son, Caleb. I just want you to know that if you can dream it, you can do it. No matter what. No matter what. I love you. This trophy is for you.

And the IFBB Pro Figure competitor lived happily ever after.
Vision Quest II.... The End.

~C.

Wow!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:26:00 +0000

What an amazing day!!! I am up at 2:00 a.m. to get a head start on my 9:00 a.m. showing. I accidently hit the music button on my alarm clock and this awesome song started playing. That's exactly how I feel today... "life is short but sweet for certain.... let's celebrate!"

Holy crap...I did it again. I feel like I already won... whatever happens after this point is gravy. If I don't get called out...well then I'll just have to deal with it. But there ain't nothing stopping me from getting my hopes up. Yeah... I am getting my hopes WAY up. I love today... I love today. Today is the day I have been working my tail off for. I am going to enjoy it no matter what. No matter what.

I love you guys... If all goes well I have a special dedication for this show. If not: well then you'll just have to wait for a different show, a different time.

Today could be my day, but it could be someone else's day. You never know, you never know. Either way it's a day to celebrate... because someone is going to have the day of their life... and if I don't have the day of my life, well then I am going to make it a point to have the time of my life anyway. There.

So anyway... guys take a minute and listen to this awesome song I woke up to: Two-Step by Dave Matthews Band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUEV45KNcXw

Love,
~C.

Going well

noreply@blogger.com (Visionquester) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:49:00 +0000

Everything is going well... physique is shaping up.. I have the most fat of any of the competitors I have seen so far. My triceps and lower back have some fat on them.
I don't mind though... just makes it easier to transition to "off season."

I got my nails done... she did a wonderful job. They actually fit my fingers this time.

I got lost coming back from the Puma store. I guess I get turned around once I am in a store and then end up walking the wrong way when I come out. So anyway I got my cardio in for the night... I am guessing around 6 to 8 miles in total.

I ended in Washington Square Park. I stayed in a hotel near there a few summers ago so I was at least lost in a familiar place.

I really enjoy New York... there are tons of people that look like me. When I am in South Dakota I am literally the ONLY one with this big hair. Every third girl practically has hair like me. I could see myself living here....shopping is great too...

Thank you so much again for the well wishes .... I appreciate it immensely.

~C.

PS. I am NOT affiliated with Dreambodies whatsoever.