Tag Archives: back in shape

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
 

Motivation Monday

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weekthree3

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

 

 

TRAINING SCHEDULE WEEK ONE

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melrosenicole

Good Day to all. I am so sore from my first two days of training with Melissa Bender Fitness. You can find her workouts at www.benderfitness.com. I have so much going on, but I realized I have goals and I need to get there. So I decided to tailor her workout schedule to my schedule, and this is week one. Here is today’s breakdown of my Wednesday workout. I have lost 8 lbs in the last four weeks and I am definitely on the road to goal. As soon as I get to 165 lbs I am picking a new charity and plan to get to 155. I am not slowing down no matter what comes my way. Here is my workout I am doing today. I am also running and walking for cardio. I have a 5K in September and I plan another run over the Golden Gate Bridge here in San Francisco.

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I am breaking her schedule down, so this will look a little different since I am tailoring the first month of the 12 week program for my Monday-Friday Schedule with days off falling on the weekend. I am currently on day three and I am so sore. I am about to do my workout as soon as I have a little coffee to get going. My day off will be Saturday and that is perfect because James and I are spending the day in the city. We are having Brunch on Hornblower’s Cruise in San Francisco. It should be an amazing experience and perfect timing with my day off. 

I hope you are chasing your goals and that you know how fabulous you are.

Love and Light

Namaste’

Rose

My First Bikini Competition Prep: Month 1 Workouts

This is my week one August 3-9th.

Day 1: Monday Full Body Fitness Makeover done

Day 2: TuesdayFull Body Shaping Home Workout done

Day 3: Wedensday Fit Test and Fitness Transformation Workout 1 today

Day 4:Thursday  Lower Body Fat Blaster

Day 5: FridayTummy Toning Fat Burn

Day 6: Saturday OFF

Day 7: Fitness Transformation: Workout 2 and Booty Bump Workout

 

CHANGE ATTITUDE, CHANGE DIRECTION

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Good Morning and a Happy Wednesday to all. I am fighting a headache that started last night, I think it may be allergy related because I have a lot of pressure in my eyes. It made for challenging yoga practice but I made it through. I try not to ever take medications but I may break down today and take some ibuprofen. I also allowed myself to get dehydrated before class, a big no no.

The Helipad class on the top of the hotel was cancelled. I was so disappointed. I really was looking forward to that experience. It may be rescheduled one more time before the season ends, so I am not sure I will be able to make it this season. I decided to turn my attitude around and myself in the direction of Yogaworks in West Hollywood and take a Vinyasa class instead. One thing I am learning, you can find your peaceful place and zen wherever you are. It is a state of mind. If something does not work out, just turn it around and make 
something new work out instead. You have reign over your thoughts, and they are more powerful than you think.  My disappointment was there, but I decided to let it go and move forward in the direction of my usual yoga class. There was no way I would throw in the towel and head home with a bad attitude dragging behind me. Bad attitudes only weigh you down.

Today is my  weekly workout with my friend and trainer Mike. I hope this headache goes away so I can be at my best. I do not and will not slow down. I think practicing yoga three to five days a week will help me progress in my workouts with Mike, working out with Mike will help me in my yoga practice. I am only getting stronger.

Wishing everyone a beautiful day. To quote my adorable Mother, I am closing now. That is how she lets you know she is signing off the computer. Too cute for words.

Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

CRAWLING IN THE DIRT

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Yesterday was my first workout with my friend/trainer Mike. He was so kind to offer to help me on my quest to be a better version of myself and help others in the process. I will have more information about him at later dates including photos. Let’s just say I am lucky to have supportive people like Mike in my corner as I continue on the path of fitness and weight loss. I am very grateful for that.

We arrived at this lovely little park with machines, a little path and a grassy area. We started with burpees, and I struggled I cannot lie. I actually ran a little, did some speed walking, did all the machines etc and I crawled in the dirt. Did you hear that correctly? This bona fine east coast girlie girl whose sister claims she brought a curling iron camping years ago crawled in the dirt. You know what? It may have felt a little awkward, a little hard to do but it was kind of like being a kid again. You know when you were a kid you were not afraid to get your hands dirty, and by the end of the day all other parts of you were dirty too. When I arrived home I had grass in my hair, and I felt like a kid again. This journey is going to also be an adventure, so why not approach working out like playtime when you were a kid. After all, in some ways I really am a kid at heart.

We continued on with the workout, and it was a bit of a struggle for me to keep up, to catch my breath etc. I am out of shape but that is changing now. I did my best and I will continue to improve as I venture forward. Now when I reflect on the exercises I cannot decipher if they were super difficult or just felt awkward and funny to do. I expected to feel somewhat intimidated working out with a trainer but Mike is so nice that I  felt relaxed. He is nice but not soft and he gets it done. I respect his manner of training very much. He even plans to do my measurements soon, ( more numbers), and a full body assessment including checking my oxygen levels. How cool is that? 

So I crawled in the dirt, and did my stretches in the grass sans mat and loved every minute of it. I am going to do the workout again this week on my own. I probably for now will work out with Mike on Tuesdays schedules permitting but will perform his workout two times a week to start on my own.  It was fun and I can see how it makes you stronger and fit. Luckily I am not too sore as I wake up this morning.  I never expected to feel so liberated with everything I am trying and doing to make My Change for a Ten a success. I am feeling grateful, inspired, liberated and extremely motivated. 
Namaste’
Rose

BEGINNING WEIGH IN WEIGHT WATCHERS

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Yesterday in my blog post I talked about our digits. Those sly little numbers that seem to be our identities. Our we robots or humans? We are identified by our social security numbers, pin numbers, credit scores, weight, age, and our measurements. Ah, the nuances of numbers. It is enough to make a mathematically challenged gals head spin. I am Rose, and I am not a number.

Ok, Enough griping about numbers. I am coming clean with mine, and it is not the easiest challenge. I have accepted the fact that my weight is a high number, but accepting it and admitting it to the world does not mean I have decided to stay in the position of being overweight. Quite the contrary, I have accepted that I am overweight and  choose to lose weight for good to be a healthier, happier version of who I am today.

So yesterday I made my trek to Weight Watchers. The leader Susie recognized me from before. Yes, I had been there before and did not follow through, remember I am a procrastinator and tend to not always follow through when it comes to losing weight. But that has changed as I embark on this journey to lose weight and sponsor a charity with each ten pound loss. To lose weight the correct way, no quick fix scheme. And yes, I am doing it for me too.

Susie is quite adorable, and inspirational. We had a long chat and if time allows I am going to try to make her meetings. She told me stories about the seventies and Weight Watchers. She is very helpful and I felt empowered by her positive energy. I like Weight Watchers because it works for me. I keep a food journal, and eat my healthy meals and track my 26 daily points. It is a reminder to not skip meals, and to pace your points though the day. It works when you stick with it, combined with fitness and working out. 

Here is the beginning weight of my journey, 210 pounds. I do cringe when I look at it, and people always say I do not look it but the scale does not lie. I am coming out today, my name is Rose and I weight 210 pounds, but not for long.

Off to work then work out with my friend Mike who is a trainer. He is kind enough to help me begin my journey.  I will have more information about him and what type of workout I am doing with him as I continue on. More photos to follow. I decided this journey is to be a fun adventure, and so far I am loving every minute of it. I am transitioning, and enjoying the process as well as the final results.

Namaste’ Happy Tuesday
Make today a remarkable day
Rose


MONDAY MONDAY

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Monday has come again, like it does week after week. As I wake up, I ponder Monday, a not so popular day and word.  I really do not mind you at all, without Monday there would be no Friday to look forward to. So I awaken to coffee and water, and a healthy breakfast to get my day going.  I wish a sincere Happy Monday to all, as I continue on my journey of getting fit, losing weight, and sponsoring a charity with each ten pounds I lose. Yes, it is Monday, but it is ok.

So now another unpopular word. Weight. I have finally posted before photos and if I do say so myself I took more than I would have thought I would. I have lived through the dreaded full body photo.  Now comes the business of posting my beginning weight. It is not such an easy thing to put all of  your digits out into the world. Your age? 46  I have come clean there. Your weight? Ok, so tonight after work I am weighing in at Weight Watchers so my weight will be here tomorrow morning. No more hiding, no silk screens here. I will post my beginning weight each week after weigh in with more photos.

So Monday, and weight. I am facing my  fears and challenges head on and they are not as frightening as one may seem. I can do this, and I feel exuberant as I make my way through my Beautiful Monday. After all,Monday it is just a few days off from Friday.
Namaste’
Rose


RICHARD SIMMONS VIDEO

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With Richard Simmons the icon

Gigi is a long time member and about 90.

Susan, me and Joanne. 

Dancer Kelli
With Ruth

Francie,our similarities  in our paths were uncanny 

Yesterday I was in a Richard Simmons Video shoot, and it really was a ton of fun. Years ago I used to do his Sweating to the Oldies tapes with my sister, and it was so much fun and he really got you moving and totally enthusiastic. This was much of the same. The minute I headed for the doors at Slimmons Studio in Beverly Hills, Richard was arriving as well. He walked up to me, kissed both my cheeks and welcomed me. Oh, and when I told him I was a poet, he asked if I make money being a poet. He is almost like that one Sweet old Aunt everyone has that will ask you anything without censorship; but you overlook it because they are so sweet. Everyone has someone like that in their life or knows someone who does. Richard is all Richard Simmons, and he is everything and more of what you expect, most of all totally lovable and surprisingly tends to have a little bit of a potty mouth. I totally loved that about him. He was inspiring, motivating, and extremely high energy. We all wish we can have that type of energy and enthusiasm, especially at our advancing years. He definitely is a role model and I am completely in awe and definitely inspired as I make my way through this journey. 

We spent the day doing several takes of the dance sequence. It was hot, and humid, but totally fun. This was for his new music video Hair Do, which he wrote, sang, and produced. We danced for about four hours, and finally wrapped it up. It was definitely a fun workout, and the dance was very similar to what he does in his exercise videos. Nothing like dancing to get your heart pumping.

The crew was also phenomenal, and I met some really wonderful people. I made a few new friends, met some of the dancers and well as some of the ladies who have been coming to Richard Simmons Slimmons classes for years. People of all ages, and sizes. There is no type in a Richard Simmons video. The met a girl named Francie and we hit it off immediately. We had some much in common it was frightening. So afterwards we went to West Hollywood to get a bite to eat and I think we may have talked each others ears off for three hours. I love meeting new people and making new friends. It was a perfect experience to kick off my new health quest to get to my first ten pounds, so I can assist my first charity. How am I this morning? Completely inspired. I wish everyone a day filled with inspiration, love, light, and good health.
Namaste’
Rose


ABOUT MY CHANGE FOR A TEN

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Changing the world 10 pounds at a time: this is the story of a procrastinating philanthropists journey to lose weight and change the world. This is my story.

Time is a subject as a poet I write about often, the lack of it and how to find more of it. With that said, I am a self professed procrastinator and it is probably my Achilles heal when it comes to getting a project done on time. I was a dancer most of my life and I have wanted for the longest time to take some classes again to appease the hole in my heart that was left since I quit dancing a few years ago. Since then my weight has gone up and down and I have not been as consistent as I should with working out and staying in shape. One thing I noticed about myself though, when I do a project that involves helping others or animals I do not procrastinate at all, because it is not about me but about helping the underdog, the less fortunate. I love to get involved and I have done some good in the recent years but I have had that nagging feeling that I can definitely do more, and give more of myself. 

I started Weight Watchers about a month ago, and I have done pretty well so far. I have dropped ten pounds. I know myself though, something will distract me and I will regress. Now that I am a bit older all I have to do is slack off just a bit to gain weight. It is hard work and I have not been putting in the dedication and time that is needed for me to get to where I want to be, to be in the best shape of my life. I have decided that will no longer be the case. I recently was reminded about how fleeting life can be and time is not always a given for all, and I do not wish to have regrets in my life. I also want to be as strong and healthy as I can be for the rest of my gifted days. I want to be here to make a difference.

A light bulb went off in my head. What if I was to make a challenge to myself, and every ten pounds sponsor a charity or an organization? I would have to be successful, because my success would be making a difference not only in my own life but in the lives of others. I would blog about my journey and at the same time raise awareness for the organizations I have chosen to assist. This would mean putting my successes and struggles out for the world to see, but since it for the good of something bigger than myself that concept is not as frightening as it seems. I have taken the E out of the word EGO and decided to GO after my dreams, GO make a difference in the the lives of others. I decided to just GO for it.

So here I find myself on this new path to find myself and change myself for the better by helping others. I have already contacted my first two charities and they are on board with my new project and thankful that I have chosen to give some of myself to help their wonderful causes. I have only at this moment chosen the first two organizations but there will be more to come after I get to twenty pounds.

My first organization is The Monday Night Mission, the selfless angels that feed and lend a kind smile to the residents of skid row. They are my ten pound goal.https://www.facebook.com/mondaynightmission?fref=ts

I will write more about the wonderful organizations in a future post and how I plan to help them as I reach each ten pound goal.  I am really excited to get started on my new path of self discovery and giving back to society. I will also make a future post on how I plan to get to where I want to be, who will be helping me get there and inspiring me to continue. No man is an island, I am not in this alone and I am very lucky to have supportive friends who want to help me fulfill my goals. I will include before photos and a document of my starting weight.  This blog is by no means instructional, it is just a document of my journey to be a better person by giving back and changing myself for the better in the process. This is My Change for a Ten. Making a difference, ten pounds at a time.
Namaste’
Rose Bruno Bailey