Tag Archives: California

GOLDEN GATE GOALS

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Good Monday Morning to all. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I had an awe-inspiring Saturday with my husband James and friends on a boat cruise in San Francisco. It really was a special moment and it truly showcased what a stunning city San Francisco is. I am blessed to have the opportunity to live in such amazing cities and I am forever grateful. I try to schedule my fun days on days I take off from working out, since it just makes sense. I love making new friends, and meeting new people.

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I am so determined, even with the struggles and challenges that come my way. My husband and I have decided we are going to really live and we definitely have in the past, but from now on nothing will get in our way as long as we have our health. I am definitely much healthier and stronger than I was when I began in 2013, and I am far from done. Now it is time to lose my remaining weight, get much more fit and strong and tackle my fitness bucket list. I have also contacted a charity I am interested in, and I am planning a run over the Golden Gate Bridge to raise funds for an animal rescue locally. If I do not hear back I will contact another rescue, time is of the essence because they may be another transition in the near future. I got this though, and I am not stopping. The Golden Gate Bridge is iconic, and I can say I drove over it, walked it twice, ran it twice, and now I went under it in a boat. I am so grateful for the places I have lived, and the amazing souls I encounter and make the journey such an adventure.

Here is week two of Melissa Bender Fitness Bikini Competition workouts, a 12 week program. I am on week two, and I am tailoring the workouts for my schedule so it may look a little different here than on her site. Tomorrow is week five of my Weight Watchers Online experience and I am also loving that as well. I weigh in tomorrow. So far I have lost an additional 8 lbs since beginning Weight Watchers Online. Taking photos on special occasions is so much more fun when you feel good about yourself, no longer do I avoid the camera like I did in the beginning of 2013.

Here is my schedule for the week. Namaste’ and go get it!!

Monday Day 8 Quick Fit Full Body Workout

Tuesday Day 9: 30 Minutes Cardio (run)

Wednesday Day 10: Abs On Fire Workout

Thursday Day 11: HIIT 15 Minute Home Fat Burning Cardio, 2 Mile Run

Friday Day 12: Fitness Transformation: Workout 3

Saturday Day 13:  DAY OFF

Sunday Day 14: 30 Minutes Cardio (run)

Where are you from?

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As I  embark on transitioning this journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco I wonder, where are you from? 

I was born in Chicago IL , raised in Cleveland OH. I have lived in Pittsburgh PA, Farmington CT. NYC, LA, and now heading to San Francisco CA. I would not change a moment, I have met so many amazing souls along my way that I call dear friends. These people I have met along my way have shaped who I have become, and I am constantly evolving.

Where is home for you and does your city offer a lot of tools to make your fitness goals a reality?
Happy Tuesday to everyone, near and far on this beautiful globe of ours.Today is day ten of the first three months of Melissa Bender’s Bikini Competition series. I got this.

Me with my first NYC friend and soul sister for life
Up the street from my current West Hollywood home
May 2014



Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

IN A GOLDEN STATE

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I love California, and I love the lifestyle that comes with being a Californian. Recently my husband James had a few interviews with a company in NYC, and it was looking like a quick move was in our future. A move very similar to the one we made almost four years ago when we packed our bags and got on a plane with our two beloved cats and made the 3,000 mile journey from NYC to California. It was such an adventure for me since it was my first time in the golden state ever. We moved in three weeks, and when I look back I cannot believe we attempted such an endeavor and pulled it off  so seamlessly.

The company he interviewed with sent him an email and told him they were pursuing someone local, and we are both extremely relieved. I have so many plans for California, and those plans would have been lost in the smoke of the jet stream of the plane taking us back to the big apple. To say I am not ready is an understatement. My husband’s friend told me I am as California as the sun.

I have decided now that a move is behind us, to focus on writing and conquering a new fitness/adventure bucket list. I am evolving and a lot of things on my former fitness bucket list are still things I wish to do, but a lot of them are ongoing which would take more funds, or they are in other states.

Here is my list and I hope to start marking off items very soon. 

FITNESS BUCKET LIST/ ADVENTURE LIST
This list will always be evolving, and it is a little different from my fitness challenges and milestone list. These are the big accomplishments and adventures I wish to make happen.

1. Trapeze Classes at Trapeze school in Santa Monica.
2. Learn to surf
3.Paddle boarding
4.Go Kayaking
5.Snorkel ( I did this in Hawaii, would like to do so in California too).
6. Scuba Dive
7.Swim with dolphins
8.Heli Pad Yoga
9.Nature bike ride, no cars
10.Mud run
11.Hike to the Hollywood Sign
12.Rock Climbing
13.get my group exercise certifications
14. get yoga certified
15.30 day yoga challenge
16. Be featured in a magazine, as a before and after 
17.Aerial Yoga
18.Dance classes, ballet, ballroom, hula, belly dance, flamenco, you name it when I have the funds I will do it. 
19.Fire Groove classes
20.Learn Martial arts
21.Horse back riding
22. Go camping, for real
23.Go Kite boarding
24.Zip line
25. indoor skydive
26.Trampoline class
27. white water rafting
28.Whale watching
29.Maybe, maybe do a fitness competition
30.lose all my weight
31.Learn to ice skate


 I am not sure I am brave enough to bungee jump or sky dive, but never say never.


Also, when I visit Pittsburgh I want to work out with my best friend Melissa Bender@ Melissabenderfitness.

Do yoga with my good friend Tracy Gittens in San Diego at her studio Galazy lifestyle and fitness.

PEACEFUL EASY FEELING

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Sometimes you hear a phrase in a particular setting that can have relevance in life. I work out with my trainer Mike and he taught me to breath into it when I am stretching. It is similar to what Nicole my wonderful yoga teacher taught me about the difference between pain and sensation. I think the phrase “Breath Into It” can have an impact in all arenas of life. Having a bad day? Slow down, breath into it, catch yourself before you fall. It can make all the difference in the world when you get out of your body and into your heart. I would say get into your head but unfortunately sometimes our minds move all too quickly and it may be hard to breath when your thoughts are racing. Find your heart center, and breath into it. Everything is will be fine if you just breath.

I am excited beyond measure, James and I are attending The Eagles concert tonight at the re-opening of the Forum Theater in Los Angeles. ironically enough this concert will leave me breathless, but in a good kind of way. I am moved easily and the Eagles are such an Iconic Band. They traveled to Joshua Tree State Park in California to get inspiration, and their cover photo of one of their albums was shot there. If you listen to the lyrics of Peaceful Easy Feeling you can get a sense that the inspiration came from that moment in the desert. I cannot wait for tonight. Hotel California here we come.

                                                     Peaceful Easy Feeling”

I like the way your sparkling earrings lay,
Against your skin, it’s so brown.
And I wanna sleep with you in the desert tonight
With a billion stars all around.

‘Cause I got a peaceful easy feeling,
And I know you won’t let me down
’cause I’m already standing on the ground.

And I found out a long time ago
What a woman can do to your soul.
Oh, but she can’t take you anyway,
You don’t already know how to go.

And I got a peaceful easy feeling,
And I know you won’t let me down
’cause I’m already standing on the ground.

I get this feeling I may know you as a lover and a friend.
But this voice keeps whispering in my other ear,
Tells me I may never see you again.

’cause I get a peaceful easy feeling
And I know you won’t let me down
’cause I’m already standing…
I’m already standing…
Yes, I’m already standing on the ground
Oh, oh
                                                                  The Eagles



WEIGHT UPDATE 10-15-2013

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Right now, this is home and I love it dearly


Good Morning and Happy Tuesday to all. Today is weigh in day, and I stayed the exact same 180 pounds. I am happy with it, 17 pounds since July when I started this at 197 pounds and I have never had a week of gaining. Staying the same is a tad bit disappointing, because we all like to see the scale go down, but I know I am making progress. In January I was 207 so where I am now makes me happy, but I will not be lingering at 180 for long. I am determined and I will continue and try even harder with my workouts. 

Tonight I am taking a yoga class at Yogaworks, I am probably either taking the Iyengar class or the Vinyasa class. I still have time to decide. I work, and I will make sure I get to eat something healthy in between. My husband will be at the Dodgers game tonight so I am on my own with food.

I wrote so many of my poems here at Bryant Park in Manhattan
The RFK Bridge and a view of Manhattan from Astoria Park



James and I have discussed moving back to NYC eventually. We love California and we are having a love affair with this state, but every love affair with time must end and it is time for us to be closer to family. Now, this can happen in a year or two or in a month so I have decided to prepare myself if we had to move suddenly. I want to be able to continue on with this project even if I have to deal with a crazy cross country move. In NYC there are so many opportunities. There is New York Cares, an amazing organization that places you in diverse volunteer opportunities. One week you can visit senior citizens and the next you are doing something completely different. There all also so many dance classes for adults. Broadway Dance Center is one of them, and there are tons of Ballroom Dance Studios. Dancesport is really popular. My Yogaworks membership would transfer so I am set there. Like I said, this may not happen but I will be ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple when it does although I am not ready to kiss goodbye my Mighty Pacific just yet. The love affair continues for now.

I wish everyone a beautiful Tuesday full of sunshine and smiles.
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

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My wonderful friend back east messaged me recently, she was listening to the late great Mama Cass singing the song Dream a Little Dream of Me; she thought of me since it is one of my favorite songs to sing. I played it and sang along, the melody takes you to a far off place where everything you visualize is possible. I love The Mama’s and the Papa’s and I am now “California Dreaming.”

Following the path of love and light.

That made me start thinking about our dreams; the dreams we have for our future, the visions we have as we sleep. After all this blog is about achieving personal goals of fitness and making a difference in society, basically making these elusive dreams a reality.  Have you ever had an idea in a dream, and woke up and made the midnight imagination come to fruition? I did that just recently with an idea I had in a dream. Dreams sometimes hold clues and messages, the key is to be able to retain the information and decipher the code. Listening and hearing is always important in life, whether asleep or awake. You just have to be aware and follow the messages that are sent from your slumber.

I listen always, and I have become very intuitive of late, it is actually uncanny how in tune I have been recently. I think this project is making me more aware of everything around me. I love the meditation portion of my yoga classes. I am finding peace in mind and changing my form for the better, and making a difference with each new charity I volunteer with. Next week is the Monday Night Mission. I am really looking forward to my first ten pound milestone, and marking it by helping feed the residents of Skid Row. Talk about taking the E out of Ego. This will be a humbling experience and I welcome that. After my first time volunteering with The Monday Night Mission I hope to return at least once a month and be a regular volunteer. Love and light from my dreamy California home to yours. 
No one can sing this song like Mama Cass, enjoy!!
Namaste’
Rose