Category Archives: inspiration

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

BETTER THAN YESTERDAY

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Sometimes I get impatient, well a lot of times I am impatient. If you were to ask my husband what is my worst flaw he would tell you I am too impatient. It is no different in regards to fitness and weight loss. I do love the journey as well as the destination, and I am so happy where I am. I do have that little devil sitting on my shoulder telling me I should have come farther by now, and I need to work harder. Yes, I need to work even harder but I should be proud of where I am and where I am going. I am far removed from where I was. I can be my own worst critic, and self bashing is a slippery slope and I will nip this negative banter in the bud. I am in a much better place than I was yesterday, and definitely in comparison to there I was when I began this in July 2013. I will be grateful and not impatient.

So from now on I am just going to focus on my clean eating, my fitness and flexibility. I will be starting my fitness bucket list as well and I am working on my book drive for children which is my next ten pound milestone charity. All of this and work too.

Yesterday my workout with Mike my trainer went smooth. I ate enough and my energy was high. I was timid about running again, I admit I have slacked off on running and I have been walking instead but once I got going it was not so bad. I am grateful to him and he has helped me tremendously, he is good at what he does and I owe him a lot. We are going to video tape me doing my burpees in a week or two. I have improved considerably.

Coffee is my morning elixir on days like these. We are supposed to be getting a rain storm, so I may be spending more time indoors at the gym instead of my outdoor workouts. Mixing it up is always a good thing and California desperately needs rain even though I miss the sun when it happens. I have become a true Californian.

Off for now
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

TUESDAY WORKOUT

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Good morning to all. It is Tuesday and I am up early having my coffee and protein bar and banana. I told my trainer Mike I would eat more, so today before I leave I will eat some Greek yogurt or a few egg whites. I am a work in progress. I know sometimes during the day I do not eat enough, and there have been times I have showed up to my workouts and really struggled. Water and food, it is a no brainer. I bought some mini cans of tuna packed in water, those should help me when I need protein on the go.

Tonight is my workout with Mike, he is back in town and that means back to the grind for me. Last week on Thursday I went with my friend Francie to Equinox for a gym version of ballet and a stretch class. I tried to hide in the class, but the teacher would have none of it. During turns he called me up front and said out loud that I have done this before. To me that was the proof I needed that my years of training were not in vain. I have not lost it, so I will be taking a studio class in the near future, I was just getting my toes wet so to speak. 

I have to step it up a few paces, so I will give myself by the end of March to really progress even farther. I have done well but I can do so much better. I am grateful to Mike for his support, expertise and patience. I feel like the last eight months have been a warm up and now I can really excel. I know he feels I can do more, and I will.

Not sure how I feel about  taking vitamins. I was sick all day yesterday. I went walking for one hour and my stomach was doing somersaults.  Does anyone else get nauseous from taking vitamins? It is not worth the awful feeling, and it really slowed me down. 

Wishing you a beautiful day full of wellness, health, and happiness.
Love and light,
Namaste’
Rose






MANIFESTING CREATIVE ENERGY

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Good evening to all. I have to admit I have spring or summer fever. I know it is still winter and most of the country is digging out from the snow and cold, but the sun was shining to bright today it gave me spring and summer fever. You know that feeling you get when everything begins anew. I tend to get inspired a lot and this evening was no exception, The sunsets here are so beautiful, as beautiful as the sunshine at it’s brightest. California days and nights tend to bring out my creative flow.

When I was out for my walk/run I stopped at the art store and picked up some pencils. I used to draw a lot up until my 30’s and I wondered if I can still do it. You are never to old to revisit the passions of yesterday and to create new ones. I believe living for passion is a youth elixir that makes life so fulfilling and keeps you young and vital. You can never have enough passions in life.

I know one of the first things I am going to attempt to draw. I saw a tree the other day, it was completely barren except for one last bloom, clinging on despite the windy day.That bloom to me is a metaphor for life. We all have another bloom left in us, another chance to blossom. No matter how barren things may appear, there is always hope if we cling on to the promise of tomorrow and another chance to begin anew. 

Dinner was simple and healthy tonight, since I was in summer mode I made the most delicious vegetarian burgers, healthy style. If I did not know any better I would have believed it is almost the 4th of July. 

I am going to continue this inspiration as my Monday approaches and my busy week of work and workouts. I feel that this project has in some way brought me back to life, and I feel like I can do anything I set my heart and mind to. I am so inspired and grateful for each and every chance I get to begin anew; to be healthy, lose weight and and return to my former fit self.  To sow my creative oats and to help those in need. I could not ask for more. Love and light to all.
Namaste’
Rose


I MAY BEND BUT I WILL NOT BREAK

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Good Morning to all. It is Thursday and I am back to my routine since being out of town, even though my routine for today is a little different since my trainer Mike is out of town. I believe he will be back next Tuesday. My friend Francie invited me to join her at Equinox in Beverly Hills for a ballet class, followed by a stretch class after work and I accepted. She feels this will be a good prerequisite before I join Align Ballet Method. I happen to have shoes, I think they may be too big but they will totally work for this class. I am looking forward to it immensely, getting my ballet toes wet so to speak. I am still doing my burpees and my to do list from Mike. I may bend but I will not break.

Coffee now, darn cats have been so wild since we were away, and they woke me up about three times last night.  Work has been hectic so now I have to bring my clothes with me so I make it to my classes and training sessions on time. I have to overcome the skipping meals issue, it is my biggest challenge now.

Wishing you sunshine and smiles today.
Love and Light.
Namaste’
Rose

BACK TO THE GRIND TOMORROW

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Good Morning to all. I am on a weekend away with my sweet husband James. We are in La Jolla CA and we went to Ocean beach CA. Now we are heading up the coast to Encinitas CA. I am off my routine but I will be back to the grind tomorrow. We love to do weekend away every month or so, and every time we go away we plan our next adventure when we get home.

Here is a few pics of me to update my weight loss. I finally hit the 35 pound mark so I am officially half way to my goal and I feel great. The journey continues though, and I am determined to become stronger and tackle all of my fitness goals and aspirations. I am so grateful for the support I have, and on a weekend away I am full of love of life, people, animals, and nature.

Off for now. 
Namaste’
Happy Monday
Rose

VALENTINE’S VISIT TO ALEXANDRIA HOUSE

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The three layer cake for Valentine’s Day
Cookies and Red Velvet Mini Indulgences from Seasons 52
Sweets for the sweet residents at Alexandria House

Mini Indulgences from Seasons 52

Spreading Valentine’s Cheer

Janet number one posing with a mini indulgence, she and Janet 2 as they call each other cooked an amazing dinner for everyone.

The cake was a hit, I was good and did not have any.

Clean up time is all about family teamwork



Good evening to all on this Thursday evening. Last night my friend and co-worker Meagan and I delivered sweets for Valentine’s Day to Alexandria house, a transitional home for women and children in Los Angeles CA.  We stayed for dinner and spent time with the ladies who run the house and the families who live there. It was lovely experience and I am happy I was able to make time to visit. Before dinner everyone gathers and holds hands in prayer and then everyone introduces themselves. Afterwards the children sit at the table and the Mother’s serve them dinner, then everyone else eats. It is a beautiful craftsman home, who amazing woodwork and a beautiful fireplace. It feels like home, and it reminds me of my own childhood home. It is a special place full of hope, happiness and love, a magical place.

We brought a three layer cake, cookies and Seasons 52 donated their award winning mini indulgences, I am so grateful to them for their support and generosity. Dinner was homemade enchiladas, salad, corn bread and kool-aid. I have to admit I was so excited for the kool-aid, one of my favorite childhood indulgences. It was a great experience to stay for dinner, and we also stayed to help clean and chat with the ladies who live at Alexandria House. I truly am humbled to be able to visit and give a little of myself, after all this is their home. I plan on returning in the near future. I am brainstorming, maybe a book drive for the kids who live there and for all of the other children Alexandria House helps. A big thanks to Meagan for joining me on my quest to give back a little.

Tonight was my workout with my trainer Mike at the park. I was rushed for time today and I did not eat enough so my energy was a little lacking but I kept up pretty well. We are really upping the intensity and I am so happy about that. I am really getting stronger and improving. I am only on my way up, I will not slow down or stop. I may struggle but I will not falter. I am determined and enjoying every minute of movement. Tonight I am doing my 25 burpees, I challenged myself to do 25 extra burpees a day along with everything else I am doing.

This weekend I am getting away, woo hoo. James and I are going to La Jolla CA and we are staying right on the water. I am so stoked to use an old California term. I love weekends away, California is the perfect place to get away on little adventures and explore. 

Off for now, I need to eat a salad and then do my burpees and stretching before bed. Wishing you a beautiful evening and sweet dreams.
Namaste’
Rose