Another Day Granted

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This blog is about weight loss/fitness/philanthropy but it is also about living your best life. For me that always starts with my connection to mind and body, spirit and soul. Sometimes we hear news that makes us question the reason for it all. Last night I heard that my dear friend Cisco lost someone close to him, and my meditations and prayers are with him and her family today as they all go forward on his Friday. Loss brings on another layer of life, it shakes us up at the core of our humanity and it is something none of us can run or hide from. It shifts the ordinary day and all of a sudden we find that we are in a place of mourning and question asking. I do not think we will ever have all of the answers to the bevy of questions about life and death, and why someone so young who has so much to give has been taken from us. 

I woke up a bit earlier than usual today,drinking my melancholy cup of coffee; thinking about life, my friends and family, my goals and dreams for my today and tomorrows. The news of loss always makes me do a self check. Have I told my friends and family what they really mean to me? Does everyone know how much I love them and how special and truly unique they are? Do they all know what extraordinary gifts they have to give to the universe? Do I try to live each and every day like it is such an amazing privilege to be breathing? I would like to say yes to all of those things, but I am human and that means I am flawed. I will say this, I do try to communicate my feelings to those I love and I do try to live each and every day like it is an utter blessing to be alive. I try to always be of service to others, but I have only begun to scratch the surface. I always assume I will have more time. Time, we are on a limited time budget. Time to make the most of all of my time. 

My friend Ally and I had a conversation a few days ago, about being open of heart and telling friends how much we love them. She questioned if that was ok to do, and she asked if some people might find it to be too much to show such sentiments openly. My answer was if they do not like it, then too bad. Always be authentic and true to yourself, and quite frankly life is damn short!!  So my advice to  myself, to her and to you is to tell people today how you feel, because tomorrow is never promised, just ask Cisco. Do not wait to spend that time budget, blow the bank today. Oh, and if have not heard it yet, love and light to you. 

Namaste’

Happy Friday

Rose

 

 

IN FLIGHT

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When I lived in Connecticut I had a manager where I worked, he told me I was a butterfly and I needed to slow down and stay put. It is obvious that I have not headed that advice because since then I have done anything but slow down. I have lived in so many interesting places, never slowing down. NYC, LA, now the San Francisco Bay Area. These places have shaped me, my writing, and my whole world. Of course it is my partner in life and husband James who has made all of this possible, that never goes unnoticed.

I have been so  overwhelmed with a lot of things in my life, good things but even so a bit overwhelmed. I have slacked off on my daily posts on this blog and that is going to change right this minute. My book Camellia in Snow is in the process of being completed thanks to FinnLady Press back east, and there are details that have been a little all consuming. Now I am going to make the time for both my loves, my blog and my book. They are not one in the same but in a way they are, they are the essence of my being. Without this blog and my weight loss my confidence would have never returned. I had the chance to have my poetry book published back in 2010 and I passed because of my move to Los Angeles. I had a second chance in 2013 and I passed again when I saw my photo from the open mic. I just had lost all confidence and I needed to find myself again. 

Here I find myself, in 2015 and 50 lbs lighter with a lot of help from my friends and mentors in life. My friends are my teachers and I am eternally grateful.  I am a former dancer who hated running, and now I absolutely love it. I am a fitness buff and ambassador to Melissa Bender Fitness and clean eater. I love my blog which combines weight loss/fitness with philanthropy and I am looking into ways to make it grow and do a lot more good in the communities I live in, now and moving forward. I am planning all kinds of fitness milestones like surfing and running the Golden Gate Bridge, this time four or five times. All of this with my first poetry book coming out in a few months, along with book events to do locally and in LA and back in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. I still also play waitress in the evenings. Yes, I have been busy but I would not have it any other way. My motto is you can do anything at any age as long as you believe. All you need is a strong desire and belief in yourself, and maybe a little morning coffee. You deserve everything you dream of and more. Namaste’ Love and Light to all. 

Rose

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BACK TO THE GRIND

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That moment when you begin to feel like yourself after being sick for a few weeks is priceless. All of a sudden it is like the clouds cracked open and revealed the sunshiny sky. I was so sick, and it took me a good two weeks to feel like me again. I am prone to upper respiratory infections but I have not had one since 2010. I was worried for some time about a lump in my neck, and I was freaking out about the possibility of the worst case scenario. I am happy to report now that I am no longer sick the lump has disappeared. That makes you realize how lucky you are to have your health. The whole time I lived in LA I was healthy and not sick once. It is a bit cooler in Northern California and the cool weather got me this time. I refuse to take my health or life for granted and from this moment on I am living my best life ever, chasing my goals and my happiness.

In the interim of being sick I took the downtime to finish some details of my poetry book that will be out come August. I had a photo shoot for my book jacket cover, not good timing since I was pale and not feeling or looking my best but I had to have it done and I believe I got my shot. Now it is back to blogging, my fitness and charitable goals ( I will mention those in upcoming posts) and of course my running schedule and Melissa Bender Fitness Training. I weighed myself and I am still holding steady at 165. I am debating whether or not to go to Weight Watchers to help me get the next ten to twenty pounds off.

Today besides getting a run in, I am running some needed errands. I am also breaking down this week and getting new running shoes which are long overdue. I will blog about the process of finding the right fit for my feet and  my running style. I am also purchasing a new phone which means I will finally have an instragram. Time to break the bank and get the tools that are needed to move forward.

Off for now, lots of exciting things to come but daily goals help reach long-term goals. I am happy to be breathing and have this moment to say I am totally and utterly alive. Never give up. As long as you are awake anything is possible. Go get it!!!4e94db01d94c2fbcccb16181fcc6b203

Namaste’

Love and Light

 

Chicken soup for my sick soul

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Just as you are going merrily on your way, focusing on goals and your plans something always happens to derail you a little. For me my computer just stopped working.A blogger without a computer, I don’t think so.  We went to see if it was beyond repair and walked out with a new computer, albeit one I need to learn to navigate all over again.

Computer issue solved. Then I got really sick. Monday it was so bad I had to finally go to Urgent Care. I am here resting, not working out or running, just trying to get some sleep which is the one thing it is impossible to do with a nagging nightly cough. Meds, rest, fluids and repeat. That is my agenda for now.

My weight is up from my 165 to 168. Still keeping my weight off but fluctuating once a month. I plan to break my plateau when I am all healed. Perhaps joining Weight Watchers again to really help me get the scale moving again.
In the meantime, chicken soup for my sick soul.
Here is a recipe for my Trader Joe’s Semi Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup:
Chicken Soup Rose Bailey
Two cartons chicken broth
One package just chicken
Five carrots sliced
One package Mirepoix mix ( two cups chopped carrots, celery, and onions)
Six cloves of garlic
Four tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt, pepper
Cooked noodles to add after
Saute Mirepoix mix in olive oil for four minutes or until clear, add garlic gloves and continue to saute’
Add sliced carrots, chicken, and mix for one to two minutes
add chicken broth and simmer for thirty minutes
Add cooked noodles of your choice
I recommend using low sodium chicken broth if possible.
This is a quick way to have almost homemade soup, when you are sick you want the real deal but do not have the energy to cook. This totally made me feel better. My friend calls it Jewish Penicillin.
Whatever you call it, it works.

NEW TRAINING SCHEDULE

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Melissa from BenderFitness completed  a half marathon with her husband Jesse. I am so proud of them both and wish them congrats on the amazing accomplishment of running in The Pittsburgh Marathon.Such inspiration.

I am beginning a more specialized running format. I still need to get a fitbit or pedometer and new running shoes but for now I am just going by time and what I know the distance to be. Melissa @BenderFitness composed this schedule for me. I have already been running three times per week but starting on May 11th 2015 I am going to document my training starting with this training schedule below. I hope to eventually run in a half marathon. I am meeting one of my new running friends for coffee and inspiration soon. I am not competing with anyone but me, building my base.

If you have not guessed it already, my first fitness goal will have everything to do with running. I will be writing about the specifics of what I plan to do in a future post when I compose my top ten list of goals to accomplish. Why do I run?  I run because I never thought I could run without stopping or walking. Now I am hooked on my runner’s high.
Here is my running training schedule from Melissa Bender Fitness
 http://www.benderfitness.com/2015/05/5k-training-for-new-runners.html

PART 1:

Run 3X Per Week for 2 Weeks

Goal: Run 3.1 Miles or 30 Minutes continuously at a comfortable pace.

Types of Runs:

1. Slow Easy Run: Run Continuously without Walking. Don’t worry about pace.

PART 2:

Run 3-4X Per Week for 4 Weeks

Goal: Improve consistency and pacing.

Types of Runs:

1. Two to three Easy paced runs at a comfortable pace: 3.1 miles or 30 minutes.

2. One to two runs at a slightly faster pace. Moderate Pace: You should be pushing and breathing heavier, but able to talk if needed. Use a stopwatch, phone running app or GPS watch during runs. Complete the same run you do on your Easy days, but focus on doing it a little bit faster. Don’t go to fast, you still want to complete the run without stopping to walk.

PART 3:

Run 3-5X Per Week

Goal: Improve Speed, Consistency and Endurance.

1. Two to three Easy paced runs at a comfortable pace: 3.1 miles or 30 minutes.

2. One Moderate Pace Run per Week.

3. One to Two Speed Workouts. Select 1-2 of the workouts below and incorporate them into your week).

  • 5 Minutes Easy/5 Minutes Hard:

-5 Minute Warm-up, Run 5 Minutes at Easy Training Pace, Transition into 5 Minutes Hard (Faster than your Moderate Training Pace), 5 Minutes Easy, Complete with 5 Minute Cool Down. Total Workout Time: 25 Minutes.

  • In-Run Sprints:

During your run incorporate 20-Seconds Hard Sprinting followed by 40 seconds at normal running pace. Repeat this 4-6 times during a normal 30-minute run. Start the sprints at the 10 or 15 minute running mark.

  • Run 25-30 Minutes at your normal pace. Complete the run with four to six 20-second sprints. In between sprints walk back to your starting point.
I am going to be doing the Bikini Prep workouts at least 3 times a week with some yoga a few times a week. I am going to be keeping a journal of my progress. I am on day two.
I looked down and saw a ladybug. A sign of good things to come. What are you doing to make your dreams a reality? Does it help to have a good support system?


​Get it!!

Namaste’

A new direction for my blog (somewhat)

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I have been under the weather, but back to the grind soon. I am taking my blog and charities away from the scale for now. After losing 50 lbs I have been stuck, and it is time to move away from staring at the numbers and instead make my dreams come true.  I plan to focus on my fitness goals/fitness milestones and do one charity every time I accomplish my goals. Making a list of ten, since this is my change for a ten. When I accomplish my first list of ten, I will write another new list. My plan is to change my life, and make changes to help others along my journey. Time to step it up.

Eventually I would love to challenge others to do the same in their own communities, whether you want to do as I did, and sponsor a charity with  each ten pound weight loss or help charities with each goal you accomplish. I feel doing this helps yourself as you help others, and it is the best type of rewarding feeling you can get from your accomplishments. A total win win.

Take the E out of Ego and just Go!! Go after your dreams, go help those who need it most, just go. Go get it!!!

I am working on my first list of ten. I have come up with the first two items on my list and I will post about them in a future post. Meanwhile I am on the mend here, but still utterly inspired to shoot for the moon and the stars. I feel like this project/blog is getting a brand new beginning.

My first charity on my list of ten is Project Cuddle. I wrote about them when I began this project in 2013 but I never was able to bring my goal for them to fruition. Now is the perfect time.

Here is the link to what I wrote about project cuddle back in 2013. My plan was to have a baby shower and donate all of the gifts, I never had the space. I realized I have the perfect space for a party for the babies. I contacted Project Cuddle and I have received their blessing. I will be posting what fitness milestone I plan to accomplish before I have my baby shower for Project Cuddle.

Love and light to all. Stay inspired.

Namaste’

Don’t bully your body

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I started practicing yoga back in 2011, and I was still overweight at that time. I am a former dancer and I believe I was a yogi in soul and heart before I ever stepped on a mat, just like I was a poet before I ever penned my first poem. Some gifts are just part of your spirit, it just takes time for your body and mind to play catch up.

I was walking down the street at that time, and ran into a friend of mine, who was with a friend of hers. Her friend was a stranger to me, and when I mentioned I practiced yoga she shot out, you do yoga?

That hurt me deeply. I believe yoga is for everyone, whether you are overweight or in the best shape of your life. I did not understand the comment because to me yoga was about the mind and body connection, not who looks the best in their lululemons. Yes, I was over 210 lbs, but who was this person to question my passion for yoga.

Flash forward to present day, after my fifty pound weight loss. I sent my photo to a magazine calling for meditation photos in nature and I was really hoping this photo would be picked. It was not picked, and that opened the flood gates of not feeling good enough, or that my body did not fit the norm of what a yogi looks like. It brought back that comment from 2011.

I love this photo because I was simply stretching my back on this beautiful uprooted tree, and Melissa Bender from Benderfitness snapped it without me knowing. What I really love about this photo is it is me in my element. I love trees and water, and I was perfectly at home stretching and finding my serenity on that pillar of wisdom with the bay as my backdrop.

Even though I lost 50 lbs,  I am far considering myself an after, I am more like a work in progress. I have so many fitness goals/fitness milestones to accomplish and I wish to be stronger and in the best shape of my life. With that I also would love to believe my view of my own body has improved and that I no longer bully my body. I am human, and far from flawless and sometimes I do succumb even after my weight loss to feeling like I am not good enough or I do not fit in the circles of yoga and fitness.  I felt like I was rejected and started to really bullying my own body. I let a moment of rejection take away the beauty and stillness that was meditating on that exquisite fallen tree.

I realized I was negating all of my hard work and sacrifice and not showing gratitude to my healthy body. I went back to that photo, regained my composure and realized what such a moment in nature felt like to me.

I am grounded and centered, and when my zen is uprooted, I connect back with the earth below my feet and find my balance once again. I am a work in progress.

I am a work in progress,
Do not let any rejection reflect back to you in a negative way. You are beautiful, you are uniquely you. Perfect in every sense. Just like the tree, we come in all shapes and sizes, and we should own our diversity instead of trying to conform to be what everyone else is. 
 
Love and light to all
Namaste’
Rose Bruno Bailey Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

How To Make Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

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When I think of soups, I think of healthy comfort food. I love all kinds of healthy soups and  I used to make soups all the time when we lived in West Hollywood.
They are healthy, easy, and there are usually plenty of leftovers for the next day. I like to cook, but with my busy lifestyle I like to cook things that do not keep me in the kitchen for long.
My husband requested Split Pea soup this week, and if I do say so myself this soup was my best ever. When I make my Split Pea Soup I always choose to make it vegetarian style. The garlic and vegetables give it enough flavor, and I never puree it.
My husband ate so much of this soup there was hardly any left over for the next day. I serve it with a lovely romaine salad with lots of colorful vegetables. If you choose to indulge a little, warm a crusty whole grain loaf in the oven. Healthy and so satisfying. Does healthy eating get much better than this?
I cheated and bought my vegetables pre-cut. I am all about convenience. More time for me to go running.
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Ingredients for Split Pea Soup
1 bag dried green split peas
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
I used to containers of mirepoix mix, or a generous 2 cups of celery, carrots, and onion
7 cloves of garlic chopped
2 cartons of low sodium or regular vegetable broth
half bag of shredded carrots
salt, pepper, basil
This is so easy
In a large pot warm 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
add mixture of celery, carrots, and onions
cook until translucent
add chopped garlic
season with a generous amount of pepper and basil, and a couple shakes of salt
add bag of green split peas
half bag of chopped carrots
2 cartons of vegetable broth
Bring to a boil on high uncovered, and then lower temperature to simmer, and cook for one hour covered, stirring frequently. Enjoy and try to save extra for the next day.
Such a simple soup yet a soup that truly warms your soul.
Now I want to make it again.
Love and Light
Rose Bruno Bailey Climb That Wall

What do you do when you hit a wall?

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You climb over it. Right? Right.

I have been pondering obstacles as of late. I sponsor a charity with every ten pounds I lose, and I have lost 50 lbs and helped numerous charities. But I have not lost a pound since October. I seem to have hit the worst plateau and it is very frustrating. It is not like all of a sudden I am sitting on the couch eating bon bons. Quite the contrary I have been working just as hard as I did to lose that 50 lbs. I am running more than ever before, training for a few 5Ks to begin. If you saw my post yesterday, I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge — and back. I’m running and working. I have just hit that wall.
What’s a blogger to do when the theme of her weight loss/charity blog is losing weight and the weight loss has stalled?  I was thinking of changing things up for my change for a ten. Maybe sponsoring a charity with every fitness goal I achieve, or running miles for charity or maybe combining the two ideas and eventually when I start to lose weight again going back to the original format. I can do my change for a 10K so to speak.
In the meantime, I am loving running. I ran with music for the first time since I started running again. I run without stopping for about one hour three times a week to begin. I am running about 3 miles each time and I am working on running farther and training for a few upcoming races. 5K’s to begin but eventually I want to tackle a half marathon. BenderFitness said she wants to help me get there and I know with her help and belief I can go farther, after all she taught me to run slow so I can keep going and it has made me a runner. At first I am taking baby steps with my running progress. One foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking out the door, one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be running across the floor.
One foot at a time. I am open to suggestions for helping charities.
Love and light to all
Namaste’

Runner’s High on 4/20 day

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It has been about four weeks since I started running seriously. I admit it took me this long to fall in love with running. I am finally there, and thanks to BenderFitness I am officially a runner. Melissa taught me how to run to maintain my pace and achieve distance without stopping or walking.

Yesterday I achieved a fitness milestone, running over the Golden Gate Bridge and back again. It is a total of 3.4 miles. It was the most euphoric feeling and I am so happy to have shared the moment with one of my dear friends Kristina who visited over the weekend from NYC.

Kristina is running a half marathon in Brooklyn NYC in October and that has inspired me to do a half marathon in November instead of the 10k. I know I will really have to train and Melissa Bender and I are in the works coming up with a training program to get me there.

The sky’s the limit. It was national 420 day and I earned my runner’s high and crossed an item off my fitness bucket list. It was the most amazing moment and next I plan to run over it four times and do a few 5K’s as I train for the bigger races. I am so in love with running and cannot believe it took me this long to get there. Better late than never.

Namaste’

Love and light

Rose

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