Tag Archives: challenges.

WEIGH IN, PLATEAU? STRUGGLING

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Photo Linda Monteleone’
My Mood this morning
My optimism is shrouded in a veil of grey
Just for today
I am Human
Afterall



Good morning to all, I am so happy it is Friday. I woke up, brewed my coffee and got on the scale with high hopes. I feel lighter, but that damn scale said I stayed the same. Still holding at 20 pounds. I am so frustrated I could scream, but instead I will try to address the issue and forge forward. I need to make it to the New Year with a few more pounds off. I am not splurging at all.  Come to think of it, I noticed the last few days I am not eating that much. I bet I am hovering at about 1,000 calories a day, not good. I always forget eating too little will stall your weight loss. I am reconsidering splurging on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I may start a food journal again and track my points, it helps me to make sure I am eating enough.

Eating too much, eating too little, dieting feels like a science experiment and I am the lab rat. I am grateful for how far I have come, I am 30 lbs lighter than I was at this time last year but I want to go all the way, and I am so competitive with myself and lately I feel like I am letting me down. Or that is how I feel at this particular moment. This fleeting feeling will pass, and I will take this as a challenge to work harder. I am buying a pedometer with a heart monitor so I can track how far I run and walk and get my heart rate up. Also, I am going to go to the gym and have my fat and measurements done. I will post those as soon as I have the chance to check. I have to hang in there, and work even harder.  I will work out like a fiend tonight. I wish my glands did not feel swollen.

Ok , so a second cup of coffee is needed. I am hoping it is a short shift so I can run before the sun goes down, today the high is going to be only 64. 
I feel like crying or screaming just a little.
Breathe in, breathe out.
I need to meditate.
Namaste’
Rose


HANGING IN THERE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

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Yesterday I went to buy tuna and some healthy vegetables at Trader Joe’s and everything there is decked out for Christmas. The temptations are endless. I am splurging at Christmas but it is not easy. The holidays are such a weak spot, but I am staying strong and not giving in. They have these delicious Christmas cookies I want to buy, and I am hoping they are not sold out right before Christmas because I am holding off. Bring on the New Year and a drop in the scale.

Tuesday I did my workout with my friend and trainer Mike, and today I am feeling the after affects.  I am so sore. It is good though, I know I need to be a little sore, and move new muscles. It was a great workout, challenging. I got a little cocky on one of the exercises and Mike could see it was just to easy and he nipped my cockiness in the bud by making it harder on a higher bench. There I was, awkward moves and all. I always say you can be humbled in a second, and in my case it was through exercise. Mike is leaving to visit family until after the New Year so I need to be up on my workouts, and make sure I do what he has taught me so I do not get soft. Motivation, and the holidays but I will hang in there and make it happen, with maybe a cookie or two.

I have not posted in two days, my allergies are bothering me and I slept in too late. This weekend I will do a post about my 20 lb charity. I am really excited.

Off for now, I am in dire need of coffee today. Love and light to all.
Namaste’
Rose

HUMP DAY

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Happy Wednesday, it is hump day. I always laugh at that reference but I am happy it is here. I work today, and then a run/walk and a night class of yoga. I am trying to get back on track with everything since the holiday weekend, and another is approaching us fast. My diet will be clean until Christmas.I am also looking into holistic ways to supplement vitamins. I have been slightly run down.

I have my twenty pound goal almost set, I am just waiting on a confirmation from the charity. I have learned it is not an easy task to get involved sometimes, it could take weeks. Plus I have been without a phone for some time which does not make things easier. Mine broke and I decided to not worry about an extra bill, and live old school. My friends and family have not liked this choice. I am happy to say I am researching which new smart phone will be best for me and my blogging. I will make a choice most likely in the New Year.

A few days ago I was inspired to add fire dancing to my fitness bucket’s long list of things I would like to accomplish. I was having a discussion with Mike my trainer and friend and he made a suggestion that I accomplish one before adding another, so I have decided to do one a month starting in the New Year. Some are easy, others will be difficult but the point of a bucket list is to have the experience and adventure and then cross them off. You are then left with the memories and the fulfillment of the moments. 

Off for now. The days are starting to really get cooler, for California standards. Last night I went for a walk/run after 7pm and it actually was cool but it felt refreshing. Happy Hump Day to all.

Namaste’
Rose

LIVING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

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I have been pondering my former lifestyle of being a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for almost ten years in the 90’s, and then for over two years since I moved to Los Angeles. I started eating meat again exactly one year ago and to be honest I have been in denial about it. I have lost weight, and eating protein and less carbohydrates may have helped me to do so. With that said, as my weight drops I am tinkering with the idea that I will return to being a vegetarian in 2014.

To live your authentic self, it sometimes is difficult to follow a path even though you know it is the right way. You get lost, you stumble and you find yourself on the wrong side of the tracks so to speak. You deviate from your beliefs, and as in my case you choose not to think about it. That is how I feel about eating meat. I by no means wish to come across preachy here, or to pass judgement on anyone or myself for that matter. I just feel like I have strayed from my authentic self and I need to be true to everything I am about. Eating meat for me makes me feel like a hypocrite, and that is the last thing I want to be. I need to breathe, forgive myself and turn around and head back in the direction that fits my spirit.

I am going to make it a New Year’s Resolution, to return to my former vegetarian lifestyle. To try again to make it work and continue to lose weight will not be easy, it will be a process, everything is but it will be worth it to me. I will start slow, and not be hard on myself if I slip up. I will also have to plan and make sure my protein is not lacking. Just another challenge in my quest to be a better version of myself. I am always up new challenges.

Happy Weekend to all and to all a goodnight.
Namaste’
Rose

TUESDAY WEIGH IN 9-3-2013

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Good Morning and Happy Tuesday to all. I weighed in and I stayed the same. Still at 188 pounds. No worries, I know I have this and next week I will hit my ten pound milestone. Once I do it will be three weeks later when I join the Monday Night Mission to feed the homeless in skid row here in LA. I did everything this week right so I’m not concerned I stayed the same. I look smaller and I only have time to make my goals a reality.

Tonight is my workout with Mike my trainer and friend. Every week it is a little different, he mixes it up and I really get so much from the workouts. I’m very grateful to him for his time and expertise.  I think we may be video taping beginning burpees for Melissa Bender Fitness.

This post is short and sweet. The cat chewed the charger to the laptop so I’m forced to post from a Mobile for now. It will be a few days until I’m back online with a computer but I’m making it happen any way I can.
Wishing you a beautiful day.
Namaste’ love and light
Rose

STAYING STRONG ON HOLIDAY WEEKEND

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Happy Sunday to all. It is the Labor Day weekend and I must say this is my first food challenge but I am sticking to plan and staying strong. It is not easy though, everyone is having summer food and treats but I am on a mission and I cannot falter. I am also finding time for my workouts and yoga in between the fun. Today I went to a morning yoga class with Nicole before my husband and I head out on a day trip. Yoga was fantastic and I am so happy I squeezed it in. We  now are going to just hit the road and see where it takes us. I love road trips, the freedom of the open highway and the unknown when you are just spontaneous and drive to wherever the freeway takes you.

Signing off for now. I will stay strong when we stop for a bite to eat. It is not easy but so worth it. I wish everyone a wonderful Sunday and Labor Day Weekend.
Namaste’
Love and light
Rose


YOGA CHALLENGED ME

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Yesterday’s class was a major challenge. For some reason I struggled at yoga, and I was weaker than usual. All of a sudden I became a little dizzy and I almost got sick in class. The good news is I took a moment to collect myself, drank some water and I finished the class. It was very hot, and I probably did not eat enough. I have never got sick from not eating enough, but I guess it could happen and it did happen to me. Lesson learned, I need to eat more frequently.

I am happy I did not leave and that I stayed. I was not as balanced as usual, but everyone has off days. I showed up and I persevered so that is all that matters. I also think my allergies have been bothering me. My breathing feels a little shallow and my eyes feel so heavy.

This journey is every day, and some days will be a breeze and others a challenge. We are only as good as we feel, and sometimes our mind is more powerful than our body and it sees us through the rough patches. Sometimes we must listen to the signs our body is telling us; to eat more, to rest more. I showed up, I stayed, but I did listen to my body in class and I did not push it too far. I am strong and flexible and I can bend to whatever challenges comes my way, like the willowy trees I see daily doing their own yoga poses for centuries before our time. 

Today is a fresh day, and every sunrise is a chance to begin anew. I bought a shaker for protein shakes to drink at work since I do not have time to eat. That should help me with my issue of not eating during the day. It is a subtle change but one which will help me sustain the larger changes and goals I am seeking.

Wishing everyone a beautiful day.
Namaste’
Rose



THURSDAY REST DAY

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Rascal

Spanky

These innocent little beauties have taken hostage of my nights. Rascal every night around three am wakes me up unplugging the air conditioner and now he has moved on to the alarm clock. Spanky likes to chew on my hair or bite my toes when I am sleeping. A few days of this and I feel so groggy and incoherent, that coffee is not just something I love to drink for the taste but a necessity. My husband is not a morning person, and he wakes up tired always. I on the other hand, If I do not get enough sleep I usually still wake up on the right side of the bed. The fact I am not so cheery this morning means it is finally catching up to me. With all the exercise I have been doing, the cats interrupting my sleep is making me feel completely fatigued. Plus I did not feel well yesterday, and it took all of my energy not to let it show to anyone I interacted with. I hope I was not rude to anyone, I doubt it I am never rude but if I was I apologize. I never get outwardly crabby but I can sometimes get quiet and of course people are usually shocked when that happens. It usually means I do not feel well, or I am in a very reflective mood. I will not elaborate why I did not feel well, but let’s just say I hope I do not gain any weight on Tuesday. 🙂

Of course on days like that, all I want to do is be with my friends and family back east. My wonderful friend Larry was one of those people. I would call and he would be there, we both lived in Astoria and worked in Manhattan.  I met him in Pittsburgh in 1999 and he moved to Los Angeles. I moved to Connecticut. He moved to Boston, and then NYC and finally I moved to NYC too. He one of the most fun people I have ever met and  he still has a way to make me laugh even across the miles. There are so many people I miss, but I a blessed to have wonderful friends here in California too. If I never would have moved here, I never would have met anyone of them, so I have no regrets and I love Los Angeles as much as NYC just for different reasons. 

Larry and Rose December 21st 2009 in Manhattan


I took my rest day Thursday since I was not my usual 100% and since Richard Simmons is traveling and out of town. I am so bummed out about this, I have grown accustomed to his high energy inspiration. It will be a couple weeks before he returns, so that means more treadmill and yoga and maybe a Zumba class to throw in for good measure. I will not slow down at all, one rest day is all I need. Today I am back in full force after work even though I still do not feel completely well. Nothing that time and a little extra weekend sleep cannot cure.

Wishing everyone a big Thank God It Is Friday. Much love and light to all. 
Namaste’
Rose

STAYING THE COURSE

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Last night we went to an early dinner and I am so proud that I stayed on track. I even got my hour long speed walk done between dinner and our movie. That meant no time for a shower or time to change for the movie, I am dedicated!  At the movie I drank bottled water, and did not succumb to the buttery popcorn that seems to make a movie all the more fun. It was a scary film too, and the popcorn would have been a delicious distraction but I did not give in.


I started thinking about days off from exercise. I need to ask Melissa or Mike this as soon as I can. Do I need a day off from my hour long speed walking? Are rest days only for hard core working out and not for cardio? Today is Sunday and it would be my rest day if I decided to do so, but I feel I need to keep the momentum going so I will do my  speed walk sometime this afternoon.

Tomorrow is weigh in, after work. I wish I could weigh in before work since I hate eating before weigh in. I admit on Mondays I fall into my bad little habits before weigh in. This is going to take dedication on a daily basis, and that means not allowing myself to give in to distractions and temptations. So far I am winning the battle, but I need to take it one step at a time. There is no room for impatience on my program. I will choose to take a deep breath and go the distance.

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