Monthly Archives: January 2014

HITTING MY GOALS

Opening up my back with yoga and workouts


Sometimes progress is slow, and then all of a sudden there it is. My dance instructor back in college would yell every time I would hit a turn on point. I would double or triple pirouette and she would get right in my face and say “there it is. ” Of course it took a lot of hard work to get there, but when I did it felt like a surprise gift. 

All of a sudden I feel like someone is yelling at me, “there it is.” I am hitting my goals like I used to hit my turns, and it is definitely a surprise gift. My workouts with my personal trainer Mike are evolving, and he has figured out ways to help me loosen up my quads. It is this issue that keeps me from being able to get into dancers pose or mermaids pose in yoga and I have been frustrated. I want to get there, but I have struggled with it. I think I am on my way, and I am grateful for his expertise and time.We are now working out Tuesday’s and Thursdays. I am going to hit those poses like I used to hit my turns.

My Body is my temple, and I will never let it go to garbage again.

NOW


THEN


10 WAYS TO FIND YOUR ZEN

Stop and smell the flowers



1. Go to bed early and wake early every day. I learned this lesson in NYC. Burning the candle at both ends just snuffs out all of your energy and leaves no time to cultivate a happy life. Make sure you have enough time in the morning for breakfast and coffee, and wind down time at night. I look forward to my daily routine. I make the time to begin my day and time to reflect on it as the sun sets. If you work a job with odd hours, try to find your routine on your own time.

2. Take some time to be outdoors daily if you live in a mild climate. Breathing in fresh air and feeling a warm breeze does amazing things for your psyche. If you live in a cool climate and cannot handle the cold, find a zen place like an indoor heated pool or a sauna. When the weather warms, walk in the rain and soak in the splendor of the sun.

3. Use water as therapy. Buy a home water fountain with running water or youtube the sounds of the ocean. Live near water?  All the better. Get to the beach and just listen to the soothing sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. Do not take Mother Nature for granted. I like to call her Mother Nurture because getting out in nature nurtures the soul.

4. Surround yourself with positive people who make your spirit soar. Your friends should be your biggest cheerleaders and you theirs. Trust me on this one, I have the most inspirational friends. 

5. Find your passions and don’t be afraid to chase them down. Reinvent your visions and rediscover yourself. Believe in you, never know who you may become. Do not define yourself by a number. I have decided to live with no fear and feel ageless.

6. Routines are important when setting goals,  but when a special occasion occurs do not be afraid to be spontaneous. 

7. If something is making you unhappy, do not complain, change. Do not be afraid to take that leap of faith, you will always land on your feet. The universe has your back.

8. Do something altruistic. Giving back to others fires off neurons in the brain that helps alleviate stress symptoms. It is good for others and good for you. Everyone wins when you lend a helping hand to those who need it most.

9. If you do not exercise regularly and feel you do not have the time to begin, try walking 15 minutes a day. It is good for your mind and body and you may find you crave more movement.

10. Is life feeling predictable and boring? What did you love in school the most? Field Trips!! Take an adult field trip. Take a day trip to a nearby city or go visit a museum or two. Get creative, the things you can do are endless. Fun is just as important as work.

I HAVE CONFIDENCE

It is Tuesday morning, and I tonight I work out with my trainer Mike. We have been working out since late July 2013 and I am really seeing results now. Yoga, walking, some running and workouts with Mike have made a big difference in my changes. My diet has been over hauled as well. I no longer diet for a few days and then undo all of my hard work going out to dinner. I am consistent, and I will not give in or up. My confidence is soaring.

I feel amazing and very youthful, and I am grateful my confidence has returned. My Poetry Book is finally in the works and I feel this is the right time and place to do it. It is amazing how confidence affects other arenas of your life. 

So I am losing weight, returning to my former fit shape when I danced and giving back to others. I am getting so much more out of this than I anticipated. My life is changing for the better and I am so grateful for it all.

So, to quote the film The Sound Of Music and Julie Andrews singing

What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what’s the matter with me?

I’ve always longed for adventure
To do the things I’ve never dared
And here I’m facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children
What’s so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don’t I just know I’ll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I’m worthy
And while I show them 
I’ll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I’ll do better than my best
I have confidence they’ll put me to the test
But I’ll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They’ll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn’t lie in numbers
Strength doesn’t lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up — Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!


Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rogers



GOOD MORNING MONDAY

Flowers make me smile.



Good Morning to all on this Monday morning. I am happy the weather is going to go up to the 80’s tomorrow. I work out outside and it is nice when I do not need a jacket. I am a little sleepy today, but my week will start strong. Today I will get a workout in on my own. On Tuesday’s and Thursdays I will be working out with my trainer Mike and maybe Iyengar yoga after. I have a few personal errands I need to do today to get ready for my big weekend coming up.

Coffee now, I am sleepier than usual. I am so happy this week I lost 4 pounds, and I can really start to see my body returning slowly but surely to my once smaller self. It is an amazing feeling. I am now 175 lbs. I was 207 a year ago, and 197 when I started My Change For A Ten last late July. I have a work out shirt I bought that never felt like it fit right, and now it is perfect and hot pink.

Wishing everyone a Happy Monday. Love and light.
Namaste’
Rose

SATURDAY WEIGH IN

This is where I go walking/running on my own.



Good Morning and happy weekend to all. I am in great spirits, I had two amazing workouts this week with my trainer Mike and I am back on track. This coming week will be a full week of workouts with Mike twice a week, plus workouts on my own and lots of yoga. I am slowly but surely getting back to my Monday-Friday routine.  Mike and I may change it to three days a week eventually but for now this works. I am sore this morning, and I  also worked six days so I decided to to stay in this morning and not attend a class at Slimmons. It is my one day to sleep in since I am going hiking Sunday Morning with a friend here in Hollywood. I just needed a day to sleep in til 10 am and hang out with my hubby and the kitties. I will attend another Saturday class in two weeks, since I will be in Santa Barbara next weekend which means updated photos. 

Today is my first weigh in on Weight Watchers online and I lost 4 lbs. I am so excited, I am now at my lowest weight since I began late July 2013, I now weigh 175 pounds. I am going to be getting my measurements done soon, and I regret skipping it in the beginning but I can still track my inches lost from this point on.

Today I am going to go walking and running and spend the day with James. I am working on my poetry book and just laying low and enjoying the simple moments of life. I often am told I am so spirited, I would like to give that credit to my amazing Mother Shirley. She is still I fireball and I adore that about her.

Happy Weekend,
Namaste’
Rose

BRAINSTORMING

Last time I was on a dance team in 2005-2009



Good Morning. I am up with the sun and contemplating my fitness bucket list, which one can I tackle soon? It is going to take a lot of thought. In the meantime everyday fitness is rolling, and I had a long walk with some running last night. I also did a lot of leg lifts at the park. Tonight I work out with my trainer Mike, and it should take me a week or two to really feel strong again. I learned something over my Christmas Holiday, do not stop resistance training. I was actually having some aches and pains, and then we worked out and they all subsided.

One of the items on my fitness bucket list is to audition with the LA Sparks over 40 dance team. I am on the lookout for dance auditions. It was something I wanted to do but I did not have the guts to do it, so I skipped it. Thank goodness I did not do that with the Richard Simmons video. Saturday is class and then we are all going out to lunch for Gerry’s 92nd Birthday. She is such an inspiration, she works out daily and never stops.

Off for more coffee. I am also brainstorming for a new title for my poetry collection. My original title was too long. I am thinking maybe Lapses in Time, or Winter Solace since I was born on the winter solstice. This is the hardest part.

Wising you love and light.
Namaste’
Rose

BACK AT IT

Running path in Beverly Hills



Good morning to all.  I am a little tired but I feel great. I am happy to be back to my workouts with my trainer Mike on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Yesterdays workout was a quick recap to get be back in the swing of things so to speak. Mike is a wonderful trainer and he is now building a following. I will have photos of our training sessions in the future. The park was cool but I was still able to work out without a jacket. I forget how spoiled we are here in Southern California. It makes getting fit much easier. 

This morning I woke up, and made sure I did some stretches before my morning coffee. I have worked hard the first five months in 2013 and I am proud of that, but I am ready to step it up a notch or two.

Tonight I am going to go running and walking and maybe take a yoga class. I will see how much time I have, but I am getting back to my yoga 3-5 times a week. I love the holidays but I can say I am happy we are back to our routine. Routine and consistency are what I need to be successful. My plan is in the process for 2014.

Off to have a bit of coffee. My weigh in is Saturday and I am excited. So much work to be done and I love challenges.
Oh, and I have a Facebook page that links this blog. Please like if you are so inclined.
https://www.facebook.com/MyChangeForATen
Happy Day
Namaste’
Rose

TUESDAY THURSDAY WORKOUTS

I will bend but I will not break.


Good morning to all. I am looking forward to working out with my trainer and friend Mike again later today.  It has been about 3 weeks or since we have worked out because of the holidays. We are now going to work out Tuesdays and Thursdays. I of course will be doing cardio and yoga on the other days and one Richard Simmons class a week. I also want to start a ballet class soon, I need to look at Align Ballet Method’s schedule.


I am on my fourth day of Weight Watchers Online and I am loving the control I feel. I also love that all the points are calculated online. I cannot tell you the freedom I feel doing this program, all the obsessive thoughts about food are out the window. Now I am eating healthy but not overly strict. I had reached a plateau so this is perfect to jump start my weight loss again. I can do no wrong, or that is how I feel today.

Much love and light and lots of warmth to much of the country. Remember to breathe in positive feelings and love, and breathe out all of the remainder toxic emotions. Then you can manifest your destiny from thoughts into actions. We are human, so sometimes we just need to slow down a moment and catch our breathe.

Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

WEIGHT WATCHERS ONLINE



Today was day two of Weight Watchers, and I love it. I am still eating healthy but I feel in control and less obsessive when I track my points. I do Weight Watchers online, and I also keep a written journal. I can look up healthy recipes and stay on track. I believe this is just what I needed to sustain my weight loss and get to my goal.

This is a busy week. I am working out with Mike on Tuesdays and Thursdays for now. I am doing yoga on my other days and getting some additional cardio by walking and running. My 5k is around the corner and I need to get busy. I may even do an Iyengar class on Tuesdays and Thursdays after my workouts.

It was a long day, so this is a short yet sweet post. I have a lot to do, planning the next charities and the weight loss and fitness part my journey. I also have to decide which item of my fitness bucket list I should tackle this month. This means I must get some sleep, so bed by nine for me tonight. I find I cannot function with less than eight hours. The last week my sleep pattern was  completely off, so I plan to start this week off with some beauty slumber.

Wishing you love and light.
Namaste’

DIETING, REINVENTING MY VISION



I have done well, and I am proud but my husband and I were discussing that I am not even half way there. How do I sustain the momentum to get to where I am going. I still would like to lose 40 lbs more. Food has been a struggle and I feel like I am playing a tug of war with my thoughts about dieting. I decided to nip this feeling in the bud, reinvent my vision and start to do Weight Watchers online. I can attend occasional meetings, track my points and weigh myself in the privacy of my own home. My weigh in is now Saturday mornings, I think the perfect time to weigh in. Today my scale was not cooperating so I decided to be safe and add four pounds to my weight of 177, just in case I have put on a bit of water weight. So I tracked my starting weight at 181 lbs. I would rather error on the high side and work my way back down. During the holidays I did not watch my sodium, so that is why I feel I may have gained a bit of water weight.

I am motivated, it is a new year and I have brand new momentum. Reinventing my vision to get to where I want to go is necessary to keep it fresh and keep up the pace. I also love if I feel I need extra support I can attend a meeting. So my next charity will be in roughly 14 pounds or around 168 pounds.  That is my first goal. If I get the scale working today I may update this, if not I will go with the higher number I posted and purchase a new scale. I just felt the need to get this documented now.

Quick update, scale is working and my weight is 179. I gained two pounds only, and this is after two cups of coffee, 16 oz of water and breakfast. I am on track pretty much. So thrilled.

Wishing everyone a fresh new beginning as the 2014 begins. 
Namaste’
Rose Bruno Bailey