Tag Archives: losing weight slow

NEW YEAR, NEW ME

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Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?

Frida Kahlo

 

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Happy New Year to all. If you have been following me in the last six months I have been in a crisis, and I let that crisis get in the way of all of my goals. I gained about 15 lbs in two months just by not working out and eating unhealthy. It was a lesson learned, and now I am back on track with a vengeance. I will no longer have crisis complaints, instead I am going to look at my crisis as a challenge. I am working a lot more hours to make more money, but I am now finding time for my workouts and healthy eating.

When I am on my half hour work break I choose to go power walking and run stairs instead of sitting around. I am packing healthy meals and snacks, and I am totally back to clean eating. My Benderfitness workouts will be timed in the morning before I get ready for work. On my first day back I aimed for over 25,000 steps and I made my goal. I also signed up for a diet bet hosted by Melissa Bender Fitness. I win money if I can lose 4% of my body weight by the end of January. I got this, no more crying in my coffee.

I have decided this will be the best year ever, and I am tackling a lot of different goals and resolutions which I will write about in future posts. This week is a full week of work and workouts, plus I am volunteering Wednesday at the Second City Harvest in San Jose, and I am delivering more donations my co-workers kindly donated for the less fortunate. No matter how bad things get, there is a way out back into the light. Helping others is a way to see the bigger picture of life. I like to step outside of my own little world and see what is happening in the universe around me. It is humbling and enlightening. New Year, New Attitude. Everything is a blessing, and I am going forward with gratitude and a good mood. My feet feel like wings when I am flying high on Endorphins.You can fly too. 

Happy New Beginnings to all.

Love and Light,

Namaste’

Rose

 

A quick primer on what I eat

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Good morning to all, it is coffee time and then running and a workout before work. A quick post before I make it happen on this sunny October Tuesday. I weighed in today, still stuck in the mid 160’s but to me maintaining is better than ever gaining. I will be consistent and break my plateau and get to goal. I am focusing on fitness and health first.

It was suggested to me to do a post about what I eat daily, and Sunday through Thursday I pretty much eat the same each day.

Monday was a good day, I did not skip any meals and I made sure to eat something at work. I do not really believe in rules, since I think it makes your mind a little crazy when you tell yourself you cannot have a particular food. With that said, I do eat clean and try to do the 80/20 rule. Most of my diet is clean, and then and now I sneak in a little treat. What is life without the finer things? Oh and coffee, coffee is a non negotiable every morning after my 16 oz of water and banana. 

What I eat Sunday Through Thursday pretty much is the same, Friday night and Saturday I still eat healthy but I have a little more variety.

Breakfast daily

16 Oz water and then water every hour

coffee with sugar and non dairy cream, and a little inspirational reading before my workout

banana or two, and a ThinkThin bar, peanut butter or Brownie Crunch

After workout and running my Lunch

1 cup cottage cheese or greek yogurt, or two eggs

fruits, and veggies

1 slice Food for Life Ezekiel tst

On commute I either eat a few almonds, a kind bar, or pick up a kale smoothie with fruits and veggies and almond milk

Dinner at work

Chicken breast, veggies, and one sweet potato

Late night snack

dole chocolate covered bananas, 4 to a pack. Or fresh fruit. Sometimes I dip an apple in caramel sauce, just a little.

This is pretty much how I eat daily, with Saturdays as my day off I deviate a little. Friday nights I will eat something like a Homemade soup or Chicken Chili.

 

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Like I said on weekend I may deviate a little and have a little San Francisco sourdough bread if we are out to dinner, or a little pizza or whatever we are eating. I try to also eat healthy when dining out. Last week on Saturday we went to the famous Sutro’s Cliff House restaurant and I had the vegan plate to stay in balance, with a little bread and butter. I was there for the view.

This was grains and mushrooms with a sweet potato cake and kale. I did have some bread with it, and a bit of butter,

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That is pretty much how I roll on days I workout and work. It is easy to stick to my regimen on those days. Saturdays are the most challenging for me. I have tried cutting out carbs completely but it made me cranky. Off to run and workout. Have a sunshiny day and never give up.

Namaste’ love and light. 

Rose

 

NEW MONDAY

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Sometimes it is so easy to get side tracked, everything just seems to pile up and there is little time to do what you want to do because of adult responsibilities and pressures.The good news is my Mother is home and on medication and feeling well. I made my best time at my 5k and now I am looking for a 10k to do before the year ends.

I am wearing so many hats of late; wife, waitress, author, weight loss/philanthropic blogger, fitness enthusiast, yogi, not to mention I am a poet and writer and I prefer to have some alone time to get out of my body and into my head to translate my thoughts into words. My book is getting great reviews and it is low on stock at Bookshop Santa Cruz, so I am incredibly grateful. There is a lot more work to do on the book front, (marketing wise) but I am taking it one day at a time. I will be heading back to Santa Cruz soon, and soon to LA as well. 

Yoga and working out gets me out of my head and into my body, and my writing takes me deep within. When I have to work extra hours waiting tables, it takes me to a place of chaos and stress. Do not get me wrong, I am appreciative of the ability to make some extra cash since we live in the most expensive city in the states, but to say I am burned out it is an understatement. I do not get home usually until 11 pm and i have felt physically exhausted. I had a mini meltdown last Thursday and I ate a bowl of pasta Alfredo. My first pasta in one year. I deviated from my workout routine and I was beginning to feel out of control. I spoke to Melissa from Melissa Bender Fitness and she suggested I just pick up where I left off.

It took that phone call and  a beautiful day in the city along the coast with my husband James and our dear friends Sara and Tor to help me regain my balance. When I am in nature and with amazing souls, I find my zen and my meditation place.  I also realized no matter how late I get home, I need to be in bed within the hour. It has made all the difference and today on this brand new Monday Morning I begin anew. 

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I went to bed I believe before one am, and I woke up by ten am. I am now writing and having my coffee and ThinkThin bar and soon I will do my workout. I have plenty of time before work and I feel like this week I may regain my center. I have chosen to really focus on the fitness after my first over 50 lb weight loss, since my weight has been forever stuck in the 160’s. I recently found out all the female members of my immediate family are on medication for thyroid issues, so that is something to explore in the future. As soon as the chaos and money issues quiet down and I am able to slow down I will be deciding on my next charities.  In the meantime, eat healthy, workout, work, do yoga, run off the stress and repeat. One day at a time is not a cliche’ it is the best way to get through any difficult situation. Keep going and never give up!! 

Namaste’ love and light

This week I am repeating week five.

So here is week 1 Month 2 of BenderFitness Bikini Prep Workouts

 
 
Tuesday Day 2: Bikini Ready Tummy Workout and Body Definition Workout (Body Definition Workout was done interval style, 2X through. The breakdown is listed in the information above the Bikini Ready Tummy Workout). 
 
Wednesday Day  3: Strong and Toned Lower Body: Legs, Thighs, and Butt and 30 minute run on the treadmill. Day off from work
 
Thursday Day 4: Ab Exposure Workout
 

BACK TO THE GRIND

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Good Morning to all. Labor day is behind us and now it is time to get back to work. I have a lot of  exciting things going on and I will post all about them in tomorrow’s post. Today it is all about the work, the workout, and back to the grind. I have Melissa Bender Fitness schedule, this is week 1 of Month 2. I am doing great but I admit I am a little more fatigued as of late, because of later nights than usual. I am trying to get to bed at a more reasonable time so I can have the energy to do the best workouts possible. A little coffee helps too. I hope you are crushing your own personal goals. Make sure you find time to stretch and do a yoga flow to recover and soothe your mind and body. I downloaded some amazing Hawaiian music to do sun salutations to. Here is a photo update. On far Left is the beginning photo in 2013, and in the middle is me 5 weeks ago, and the far right is me now. I am still stocky but you can see I am much more lean and fit than I once was. I actually had someone tell me not to lose my body, that made me feel amazing. Oh, and someone told me I looked like Shania Twain and Sandra Bullock, which to me translates to my face is skinny lol. 11947697_1005430582835741_1320152200900790489_nNamaste’

Love and Light

Rose

So here is week 1 Month 2 of BenderFitness Bikini Prep Workouts

 
Tuesday Day 1: Body Definition Workout
 
Wednesday Day 2: Bikini Ready Tummy Workout and Body Definition Workout (Body Definition Workout was done interval style, 2X through. The breakdown is listed in the information above the Bikini Ready Tummy Workout). 
 
Thursday Day 3: Strong and Toned Lower Body: Legs, Thighs, and Butt and 30 minute run on the treadmill. Day off from work
 
Friday Day 4: Ab Exposure Workout
Saturday Day 7: Off Saturday Day off from work
 

SPILLED COFFEE

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Don’t cry over spilled milk, or in my case spilled coffee. I woke up, late as usual as on par for my life these days. I decided before my workout to blog in bed.  I thought drinking coffee in bed was a grand idea until I spilled it all over myself and my blanket. It seems to be indicative of my murky mood. The last few months have been a little chaotic, a lot of good and some not so good. I will not get into the details of the not good part, but I will say I have my health, and those I love do as well so it is nothing that cannot be figured out. Crisis can come on in all ways, it can burn you like hot coffee if you let it. Or you can stand up, wash it off and get on with your life and your dreams. That hot coffee is not going to ruin your day, nor should a minor life crisis singe your dreams and goals. Make a wish, and it will come true if you believe. 

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I promised myself I would move forward each day, taking one moment at a time. Coming from an impatient person as myself that is probably the most difficult task. I want everything now, and I tend to get a little cranky when things move too slow for my liking. I understand that is a flaw in my personality and I am constantly trying to evolve and become a better version of myself. I have stuck to my workout schedule even when things became difficult. Last week my body was slower than usual. My injured toe seemed to be hurting more than usual, and doing some of the exercises proved difficult. I took my rest day Saturday and now I feel better. I understand my toe will probably eventually need surgery, but I am just trying for now to keep moving forward and keep on the road to goal. 

With that said, I have decided to repeat last weeks schedule. Here it is, and this week I am feeling better physically and I hope I come out of this repeat week stronger. That is the goal anyway, To be stronger, more fit, healthier and to be leaner as I achieve my goals. Thank you to Melissa Bender Fitness for amazing workouts and helping me motivate and stay on the right track. The photo above shows my progress. Far left 2013, middle four weeks ago to date, and far right is current. I am making progress, I just have to be patient with myself and trust in the universe that everything will be fine. Love and light to all.

 

Happy Monday

Rose

Melissa Bender Fitness Week Four Bikini Prep Workout (repeat)

Monday: 15 Minute Home Workout

Tuesday: 3 mile run

Wednesday: 10 Minute Fat Burn

Thursday: Flab-U-Less Arms and Abs, 30 Minutes Cardio

Friday:Fitness Transformation: Workout 5, 30 Minutes Cardio

Saturday: Off 

Sunday: Mix It Up Workout, 30 Minutes Cardio

 

Motivation Monday

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Good Morning to all. It is another Monday. I am on the brink of some amazing things happening and I feel like I am about to take flight. Some big changes may be happening as well.  My book will be out soon and I will do a whole separate blog post to announce it. With the book release comes events to be planned, and contacting the independent book stores that agreed to carry my book. I have a small but wonderful  small  east coast press publishing my book and most of the marketing is on me. One of my poems in the book has a line, “change comes on slow than rolls you over.” That statement could not be more true for this moment and time, and I am just trying to focus on my daily goals as I wait impatiently for the change to happen. I will come out better on the other side if I continue to focus on my daily and weekly goals. Large goals cannot be obtained without the daily little goals you set for yourself.

 Robert Frost once said, “The best way out is through” 

So here I am, week three of my Melissa Bender Fitness Bikini Prep workouts and challenge. It is Monday and I am motivated. I am taking it day by day, and week by week. I had a cheat day over the weekend and I realized there was a reason why I rarely had cheat days. They just do not make me feel good. I would rather use a few of my extra points and count in a mini treat than have a day that makes me feel ill and cheats my goals. That is just me. I hope you are chasing down your goals and living in the moment.

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Here is the breakdown of my weeks schedule of workouts, again tailored for my Monday-Friday Schedule. You can find these workouts a www.benderfitness.com and I am on week three, month one of the 12 weeks. My weight is still stuck in the 160’s but I will get to the 150’s as I focus on fitness, strength and health; and I plan to share a home yoga schedule soon. Happy Monday to all and remember to love the body you are in as you focus on the body you want. You only get one so love it as you love others and it will love you back. 

Namaste’

Rose

 

Day 15: Monday Full Body Home Workout, 30 Minute Cardio

Day 16: Tuesday Home Workout For a Tight Body

Day 17: Wednesday  Improve Your Rear View Workout 30 Minutes Cardio

Day 18: Thursday Fitness Transformation: Workout 4, 30 Minutes Cardio

Day 19: Friday 30 Minutes Cardio

Day 23: Saturday Off

Day 22:Sunday  Full Body Shaping Home Workout

 

 

WEIGH IN TUESDAY

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Good day to all. I am on my week four of weightwatchersonline and I lost another pound, total of 8 lbs in one month. I love doing the points system, it takes the fear and guilt out of food and the ww app is a life saver for me. I have said it before, with a history of eating disorders this app helps me to regulate my food and not skip meals altogether. I actually eat more when I do weight watchers. It is amazing and I plan to continue it to my weight loss goal of  around 135 lbs. I am currently 168 lbs. I was over 210 at one point and I am just 3 lbs from what was my lowest weight before my crazy move. I got this and I look forward to becoming strong and fit to tackle my fitness bucket list. I welcome phase two of my journey.

Today is day two for month one of my Melissa Bender Workouts, I am doing the 12 week Bikini Prep workouts, tailored on my timing. I am doing them on my patio, since I hate working out indoors. I am lucky to live in California where the climate allows me to workout outside practically always. I love the breeze as I workout. I learn the exercises ahead of time by watching the video a few times. Then I have photos of the break downs, and I work along to music. I admit I am sore today, but that makes me very happy. It is the best kind of sore. I also have an old injury on my right foot so I am extra careful, and today I am wearing a brace for extra support. When I run I go at a comfortable pace for me, and I just keep going. I am all about the distance and not about speed.

I feel amazing today, and no matter what comes my way I feel like I can move forward with my goals. One day at a time.

Much love and Light

Namaste’

Rose

WEIGH IN SATURDAY

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At The Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas



Hello to all on this last day of May, 2014. I was away in Vegas last weekend, and this week I really watched my diet since I had a pizza splurge with real NYC pizza at Grimaldi’s Pizza in Las Vegas. I am happy to say I only gained one pound. My trainer Mike and I have definitely decided to work on my fitness goals first and not dwell on the numbers quite as much, but I still have to watch and monitor it. I am doing the book drive as I type, and I have collected one bag of books so far for kids.

I admit this week to feeling a bit stuck. My friend reminded me not to lose focus, and her advice hit me like a ton of bricks. I am so motivated and inspired with my goals and my project, but some other things have been weighing on me. I am going to move forward and look for ways to make changes where they are needed.

Off for my weekend, this post is short and sweet today. Wishing everyone a beautiful day.
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

WEDNESDAY WORKOUT

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Me last summer and now.



I had my Wednesday workout with my trainer Mike before I escape to Vegas for a long holiday weekend with James.  I am getting really good at my push-ups and I am very proud at how far I have come. I will go much farther too, the skies the limit. I am really working on my fitness goals. My workouts are really changing my body, much more so than if I would have gone at it alone. I am very grateful for the help and expertise of Mike, he is a great teacher. 

I downloaded some music for my cardio, some fast 70’s and 80’s music to really get me moving.
Here are some of my new songs.

Wild Wild Life, Talking Heads
Turning Japanese The Vapors
Paradise by the Dashboard Light Meatloaf
Running on Empty Jackson Browne
Let it Ride BTO
Flashdance Irene Cara
Fame Irene Cara
Hollywood Nights Bob Seger
I’m Alive ELO
Shine a Little Love ELO
All Over The World ELO
Sweet Talking Woman ELO
I Got You Split Enz
I Ran Flock A Flock of Seagulls

Off to do some packing. Love and Light to all.
Namaste’
Rose




WEIGH IN SATURDAY

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NEVER ENDING WAR

Trapped in a golden shell,

Zero escape;

Nobody can tell,

My will has been raped.

Never-ending war,

Without a win;

Cuts me to my core,

Again, again.

Another day appears,

One more battle to fight;

Conquering endless fears,

Taking just one bite.

I admit to being a little frustrated that my weight loss has slowed down. I am holding steady at 169. I am focusing on fitness more than the numbers on the scale but I am human and I do get disappointed when I do everything right and the scale does not budge.

Do not get me wrong, I am very pleased with my results and happy where I am at the moment but I really wish I would have done my inches in the beginning. People who I see often in the neighborhood have mentioned my weight loss and asked if I work out so I know it shows in other ways besides the reflection of the scale. I also vowed I was going to focus on my fitness goals and that is true, but I am human and I would like to be successful on the scale as well as off.

Now that my toe is healing and I have new shoes I am going to up my cardio. I have signed up for The Color Run in June with some friends and that gives me something to work towards. I will do some other cardio besides running and walking. I am going to try cycle classes and swimming some laps but the bulk of my cardio will be running and speed walking.

Off for today. It is the weekend and I am hanging with my husband James, and getting a workout in of course. We leave for Las Vegas on Thursday so that will bring those out of town challenges. 

Love and Light to all,
Keep Moving Forward
Rose