Monthly Archives: March 2014

MONDAY

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I am in love with this tree



When I woke up today it was still a bit dark, and that made me feel groggier than usual. It is day 10 of the Melissa Bender Fitness 30 day challenge to exercise every day of the month, and I have done so each and every day. I think I can shake off this sleepiness and tackle my work and workout today. I am remembering to eat more, and I believe this will all help me attain my goals.

Yesterday I walked four miles, and I did yoga and worked on my hip openers and quad stretches. I also worked on my push ups. My husband James commented how dedicated I have been for these last nine months, and how impressed he is.  I can now do Dancer’s Pose but I need a lot of work with it, but I can do it. This summer I am going to commemorate my journey with my wonderful friend Xiomara who happens to be a talented photographer, we are going to take yoga photos all around Los Angeles. I am not ready for this yet, but it is on my bucket list.

Happy Monday to all
Rose

I wrote this on a winter day in NYC waiting for the train, back in 2009.
Wishing you love and light that warms all of your seasons

MONDAY

It’s another monotonous morning,

birds are chirping, but spring

has hardly paid a call or visit.

I drink my hot coffee, gripping

the cup like it holds liquid gold.

Fatigue sets in, mentally, physically;

a rat races inside my head.

I am emotionally, physically

drained from running mundane

marathons to empty destinations.

I imagine a kiss, a zealous kiss

that would bring summer

to my wintry body and soul.

Instead I sip, caffeinated tepid cafe;

and long for lips that scald,

daydreaming of a moment

that could warm all of my seasons. 

(c) Rose Bruno Bailey




CHEAT DAY

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I had a pizza cheat day, and it was awesome. We went to Bruno’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Santa Monica. I feel if I do have a cheat day it needs to be somewhere that feels unique. I come alive when I am near water, always have. The pizza was simply delicious.

After nine months I have this, I trust myself to deviate just a little and get right back on program. I did not go overboard and I ate until I was full. After I walked for over six miles, and did a work out when I returned home. I made sure to drink tons of water, and it was just one cheat meal and not a cheat day.

I am still doing the 30 day challenge. Today is day nine and I am heading out in a bit for some cardio. I am really working on my push ups and my burpees, and I am almost in full dancers pose. These milestones mean as much to me as seeing a decline on the scale.

I am almost 169, such a great feeling since I was once pushing 210. I feel amazing in mind and body and I feel like I can take on the whole universe.

Love and Light to all.
Namaste and Happy Sunday
Rose

WEIGH IN SATURDAY

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I lost two more pounds. I am now 171. I am knocking on the 160’s and so excited. I do not know when I weighed in the 160’s last, probably 2005. Focusing on my fitness but the scale does make me smile from time to time. 

Tonight I am having a little pizza, I have decided to have one small and controlled cheat meal a week. I am so diligent, and I think I need to lighten up just a bit. I am still doing the 30 day challenge, today is day 8 of  Melissa Bender Fitness 30 Day Challenge. I am exercising every single day of the month. No rest days.  I am really working on my push ups and my burpees to improve. I am getting stronger and loving the ride. I am so grateful for the support network I have. I could not go at it alone, no one can. No man is an island.

I cannot hide my enthusiasm for life and living. Hope you have a wonderful Saturday full of bright sunshine and lots of smiles.
Namaste’
Rose


Beginner Burpees

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Done for today

















Burpees are very hard for me because of knee issues and in the beginning I could not do them at all. I have improved and I am doing them, although I am slow and I do not get too low in my push up. My trainer Mike and I are working on them, and I am getting stronger. Practice will make perfect and I will conquer the dreaded burpee. I practice daily and my push ups are getting better as well. 


This is me now, and in the future we will make more videos to compare as I get stronger at my burpees. I am always better version of myself than I was yesterday. I am never giving up, it just gets better each day as long as I continue to try.


Namaste’

Rose

MARCH MOTIVATION

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I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.



Good Morning to all. Today is Thursday, and day six on Melissa Bender Fitness 30 day Challenge to exercise for every day out of the month. I am on it, no skipping. My ankle feels a bit tender, but a brace is helping me stabilize it. I am so grateful to Melissa. Not only is she an amazing best friend, but one on my main inspirations in life. I am so proud of her.

Tonight is my workout with my trainer Mike. I am trying to go further in my yoga and in my strength. I am focusing on the fitness and not the scale, but I have to admit I cannot wait until I get in the 160’s. I am so so close. I have signed up for my first 5k, Run Seal Beach and I am signing up for Aerial classes at the Cirque School in Hollywood. I am knocking two things off my fitness bucket list. Life is an adventure and I am in competition with myself. 

Thursday my trainer Mike and I did a video of me doing burpees, and we are doing a redo tonight and I am going to post it. It is not instructional, merely me doing burpees to show my improvement in a month or so. They are not great, but in the beginning I could not do them at all. I wish I had video of that, or maybe not. Funny how you can really look like you have lost weight in still photos but video, that is another beast. I am doing it though, I promised no fear.

I am busy coming up. I am volunteering next week with Two Hands, Two Cans, and working on my book drive. Training, yoga, and James and I are heading to Arizona at the end of the month. This Month is already moving too quickly for my liking.  I am excited to see one of my dear friends Ally and to see Phoenix for the first time. 

Off for now, I need to give these Siamese cats a little attention. They make it so difficult to leave. Love and Light.
Namaste’
Rose





OFFICIALLY AN OUTDOOR GIRL

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Good Morning to all. I am up and raring to go. Today is day 5 of Melissa Bender Fitness challenge to work out for all 30 days of the month. It is keeping me pumped and motivated. After work I will be at it, no rest for the weary. My ankle only seems to bother me when I am barefoot, so I am watching it and wearing a ankle brace for support. Reminding myself to eat enough, and keeping up with my daily doses of inspiration and motivation. I am half way to my goal and loving my new lifestyle.

Yesterday was my Tuesday workout with Mike my trainer. It was a great one, he used these long ropes and those are not easy to maneuver but I do everything no matter how awkward I may appear. 
As I improve things get harder, a higher step up, more lunges etc. We did a burpee video but I fell so we are doing it again tomorrow. I know I am not perfect but I can do better than that. It was an awesome workout and I am constantly grateful to Mike for his time, expertise, and patience with me. My body and mind are evolving, and I could not be happier.

There were dogs everywhere and of course they interrupted us and came over to say hello and give me lots of kisses. Nothing like getting your endorphins up through exercise and then laughing hysterically at a pack of dogs wanting you to play with them instead of working out. I almost died when I decided I could burpee in the grass without the mat and my hand was christened by one of the precious pups in the form of something that did not smell like dirt. I could not stop  laughing, and I told Mike I am now officially an outdoor girl. If you go back to my first post back in July when we worked out for the first time I was appalled he wanted me to”get dirty” and crawl in the dirt. Now I am laughing and totally at ease with the outdoors, the dirt, and well the dooggy doo doo I washed off and was no worse for wear. I was old recently by my husbands friend who has lived on both coasts that I am as Californian as the sun. This east coast girl has traded her steel skyscrapers for towering trees reaching for the sun.

I am in love with life, and the older I get the more I feel this connection. It can be overwhelming at times to feel everything but I am happy because this is where my creativity comes from, this is where my number one muse lives.  My enthusiasm is overflowing, and I am forever grateful. Wishing you love and light.
Namaste’
Rose

TUESDAY WORKOUT AND DAY 4

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Inspired by the beauty of timeless trees



Good Morning to all. I am up and tired, My Siamese cats were in rare form last night. Nothing that a little caffeine cannot fix. It is day 4 of the Melissa Bender Fitness 30 day challenge, to exercise for all thirty days. I have been doing her workout videos along with everything else I am doing, I wanted to raise the bar so to speak and this should really help me gain strength. I already feel like it is working, to be stronger in my workouts with my Trainer Mike and to improve in all of the exercises we do. I mentally feel the results.

Tonight after work I workout with Mike, and I believe we are videotaping me doing burpees today or Thursday. I am not instructing, only showing where I am now. We will do more videos in the future to show my progress. My burpees have improved since the beginning, but I do have a ways to go. I am so up for the challenge.

Today I faced a few morning challenges, and this is how I met them head on.

Woke up tired, friend bought me a muffin. I only ate a quarter of it. No deprivation but portion control.
My ankle feels a tiny bit strained. I am wearing an ankle brace and listening to my body as I work out.
I am tired, the cats were playing all night. I am having some coffee and mentally telling myself I am awake and raring to go.

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday. 
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose


DAY THREE 30 DAY CHALLENGE

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Sweaty after cardio and I did day two. On track with my goals. 

Good morning to all. I am  little off kilter, I woke up and thought it was Sunday and not Monday. Thank goodness for an alarm clock.

Off to work, then I am doing day three of the Thirty Day Challenge from Melissa Bender Fitness. I am stepping up my game. 30 days of exercise, every day.

Have a wonderful Monday and chase down your dreams the way you would chase a lover. Love your life, and make it happen.

Namaste’

Rose

Melissa Bender Fitness: 30 Day Challenge: Day 3: 20 Minute Arms & Abs HIIT…: Hi Everyone! Welcome to day 3 of the New 30 Day Challenge ! Today’s workout is focused on strengthening and toning your abs a…

DAY TWO THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE

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Melissa suggested I take after workout photos. James took this yesterday after day one of 30 day challenge.



Happy Sunday to all. It is day two of the Melissa Bender Fitness 30 day challenge that I am taking part of. On days I do not work out with my trainer Mike I am doing her amazing videos, and I will exercise for all 30 days of this month. I felt it was time to take it up a notch, and not get too comfortable. She is not only a fitness dynamo but my best friend and I owe her so much. I will be checking in daily at https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBenderFitness?ref=br_tf

Here is the link to day two of her 30 day challenge. I am so in.
http://www.benderfitness.com/2014/03/30-day-challenge-day-2-cardio-hiit-15.html

So today I am going to go on a long walk, stretch and do this video. If it rains more I will be doing the treadmill and of course my burpees. Mike and I are making a video of me doing burpees this week. I have improved but still have a long way to perfection but I will do them and post the video to show progress. No embarrassment or fear.

I am collecting books for my book Drive for Reading to Kids. I will do a long post about them and the wonderful impact they have on the community here in Los Angeles. I am about 6 pounds from my next 10 pound milestone. 

Off for now. Happy Sunday to all.