Tag Archives: motivation

PUMPKIN SEASON

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Today is the first day of October, and you know what that means. Autumn, the smell of leaves cascading to the ground, the warm fuzzy feeling you have when you taste something pumpkin flavored. Who doesn’t love a pumpkin spice latte? 

To me Autumn conjures up emotions of brand new beginnings.   Unfortunately a lot of the delicious seasonal treats are a bit high in calories, so what do you do to indulge in something pumpkin yet sticking to your program and goals? 

Yesterday I combined  nonfat plain Greek yogurt with canned pumpkin. The pumpkin has one ingredient, pumpkin. I used a little Stevia and some cinnamon and all of a sudden I had a delicious and creamy Autumn treat that was so good for me too. 


I would love to know what swaps you have come up with, to give yourself the same decadent feeling but without the guilt. What are you doing to stick to your goals?  I have a motto, We can never give up, but we can never go at it alone; we are all in this together.  
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose


MONDAY 9-29-2014

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Good morning to all and a very Happy Monday. yesterday I switched my rest day of today and took it yesterday instead. So tonight I am doing Melissa Bender’s Day 8 Fitness Transformation workout #2 in the first month of the three month series that she did to prep for her bikini competition. Here is a picture of me last December and now. I took a picture in the same wrap dress, but I pulled it much tighter to fit. I am going to lose another 40 lbs, but definitely 20 lbs. I now weigh 164 and I feel far from done yet proud at how far I have come. I use the sit down test. If I sit down and I feel like my belly spills out a little, I am not fit yet. On my way, but not there.


Melissa does some exercises in plank that requires you jump. I modify such exercises since I have a toe injury. I can plank, but not jump in plank on my toe. I make it through the routine and the rounds, I just adjust what she does to my own personal needs. I am finally seeing a Dr next week.

Moving is crazy, in weeks I will be in San Francisco. Working out has helped me keep my sanity. I am so excited to begin anew in another city. I love LA, and I absolutely adore the community of West Hollywood. Today was the day four years ago we moved from NYC to LA so this is all very bitter sweet for us. I must not compare though, I will embrace the city by the bay and all of the brand new opportunities. I am going to take this project to a new level.

Off for now. Love and light to all and a big thank you to my best friend Melissa Bender. She has been an amazing friend and we have not lived in the same city since 2005 when I left Pittsburgh PA for CT. She has taught me true friends are just a mere heartbeat away. A shout out to all of my loved ones near and far. I am all about the love.

Namaste’
Love and light
Rose




ALMOST ONE YEAR GRATITUDE ( introducing my trainer for one year Mike)

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It is Friday the 13th, and I cannot believe it is June already. In one month it will be the one year anniversary of this project and blog. I feel I have accomplished so much, and I have come so far but I did not do this alone. I am very grateful to the wonderful new friends and all the support I have as I continue on my journey. It may have almost been a year, but for me it has only just begun.



I began this thinking I would speed walk, diet, and then return to dance classes and at the same time assisting various charities. I never dreamed of the things my body could do, or would do, or would even endeavor to do.  I never knew what this body of mine was capable of. I am now 40 lbs down, but I have gained fitness knowledge, strength, and endurance. I did a 10K,A Richard Simmons Video, and I am conquering my fitness/adventure bucket list. I can plank for 3 minutes, do burpees and push- ups and more. I feel ageless, invincible, fit, strong, and free. I am reaching for the clouds.

I have to give a huge thank you to my friend and Trainer Mike who has taught me so much about fitness, and guided my way. He is more like a teacher and a coach than a trainer to me, and I am so thankful for this last year of working out with him, and more to come. He is one of my fitness inspirations, he is doing a triathlon in Malibu in September. At first he asked me to do it as well, it is amazing when you have someone training you that totally believes in your ability to conquer even the biggest goals. We work out twice a week at the park,  I call it Mobile Meditation because you work out side by side with the trees, the clouds overhead, and a refreshing breeze that makes it all worth while. There are dogs everywhere and I admit to giving in to the cute canine distractions as I plank and a cute dog licks my face. I have taken many breaks because of the friendly dogs.

Now the workouts are getting harder, and Mike is pushing me. He knows how to strike the best balance between pushing someone and holding back so they do not get injured. It is an honor to have him in my corner as I continue on my journey. Anyone who trains with Mike is very lucky. His expertise, kindness, and motivation have truly helped me to get to where I am today. 
The journey continues, the destination a little elusive but I am chasing down my dreams and never too proud to say thank you to those who have guided my steps.

MIke, trainer and friend

TRX using a tree

Just a sampling of equipment I have to conquer

Mrs Jones, a local favorite and friend of ours at the park

One regret is I never took the time to do my measurements and fat caliber, and the gym does it for free. Better late than never, I am going to get it done asap and go from there. I know I have lost inches, and since I want to lose 40 more lbs it is definitely not to late to have this done.

Off for my day. I am doing my book drive and tomorrow taking a few hours of my time to go read to the children at a local elementary school for Reading To Kids. Life is beautiful, embrace it. There is inspiration everywhere, you just have to open your eyes and look.
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose


EVOLUTION OF MY PROGRESS

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Weigh in Saturday, and I am holding steady at 169 lbs, and I the first 40 lbs seems to have been much easier than the second 40 lbs. 135 seems so far at the moment, but I am happy with the results so far. I said this before and I will say it again, I am now focusing on my fitness goals and I refuse to be stressed out from the scale. I have made tremendous strides and I will continue to do so, so what if I am in a silly plateau. 

Today I am going to go to the gym and see if I can have my measurements done. I wish I would have done this in the beginning, I know I have shrunk in inches. I am even much smaller than I was in April and I am only a few pounds less.

Off for my day, Love and light. Here is some photos charting my progress from when I began my journey last July.
Love and Light
Rose

2013 The photo that started it all with tears and realization I was 210 lbs


The beginning July 2013 kicked off with a bang doing s Richard Simmons Video


August 2013 back at Richard Simmons

October  2013 at the Hollywood Sign hiking

November 2013 yoga with Nicole at Pink Iron


December 2013 At Slimmons with Susan and Joanne on my bday
January 2014 Santa Barbara CA
February 2014 La Jolla CA

                   

March 2014 Hair do
April 2014 In Beverly Hills



May 2014 first new bathing suit in forever

May 2014


May 2014
May 2014 In Vegas


FLYER FOR BOOK DRIVE FOR KIDS

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This is the lovely flyer my friend made for my book drive for Reading to Kids. I am so excited to start collecting books, books the children earn through reading clubs. I love books, all books. 

I believe a book can take a child and transport them to a place where dreams come true, when they are unable to travel beyond the four walls of their own dwellings.

Off to have coffee and do a little poetry writing, work out later. No rest for me. 
Happy Sunday to all, much love and light.
Namaste’
Rose


BOOK DRIVE FOR READING TO KIDS

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Good Morning to all. Since I am finally closer to my ten pound goal, and 40 pound total goal I am starting the leg work on my book drive for Reading to Kids. My wonderful friend and soul sister Xiomara made me this beautiful flier. I am so blessed to know her.



Tonight my trainer Mike and I work out, and I am ready to keep up the faster pace. I went running and walking yesterday and forgot water and that was a major mistake. It is hot now, and dehydration kicks in fast.

Off for my day, love and light to all.
Namaste’
Rose

LOST A POUND

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Weigh in Saturday is here, and I lost one pound. I ate more chicken and eggs for dinner this week, and upped my cardio since I purchased new shoes. With my toe injury I was forced to buy new shoes and work shoes and it makes all of the difference in my workout performance. 

This week Mike and I did a whole cardio workout together, and we would stop and do burpees, plank, and squats. It was a challenge but with the shoes I held my own. We had a race to see who could hold a plank the longest, at three minutes I gave in. My toe was bothering me and I dropped. Now it is on, I am going to beat him at planking. The workout was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing more challenging workouts like that in the future. He said we have just begun, and I agree. The first year is just getting me fit enough to hold my own, now it is time to take it to new levels. I am ageless, fearless, and sometimes I actually feel weightless. 

I feel great and I am pondering the next items on my fitness bucket list and my fitness goals as well. It is a lot easier now with the shoes. I never realized how shoes make a difference in your sports performance. I am still buddy taping my toe and I may still go see a Dr. to make sure everything is ok, but I think I just have a bruised metatarsal. It hurts on the ball of my foot and my second toe joint. Taping relieves the pressure. Downloading music for further inspiration for my running.


Happy Saturday to all. Love and Light.
Rose


HAPPY WEDNESDAY

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Happy Wednesday to all. I just read a quote from Dr Wayne Dyer, “One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” I totally agree. I believe you can manifest the mood and direction of your day. I try to live by this and begin my day on a bright note. I have many reasons to be happy, and one of them is the opportunity to change my form, change my attitude, and change my life. I am honored I can assist charities along my journey. It is taking me forever to break my plateau but my book drive is still on for Reading to Kids when I finally lose another ten pounds. It will happen, and I am in a positive frame of mind. The little things, like my ThinkThin bar and coffee make me smile.

Yesterday was my first workout with my Trainer Mike in a week. I took off a few days of exercise to recuperate my muscles after my accidental 10K. I was sore and needed to rest, plus I was out of town. My workouts with Mike are awesome but always challenging, and yesterday I felt a little fatigued from lack of sleep and of course taking time off made everything seem more difficult. We did some new things, I lifted a sand bag and that was not easy. Running is on hold for a few weeks until my slight injuries heal, we do not want to take any chances. My girl push ups are great now, and I am also getting better at squats and the TRX exercises. I am definitely much stronger than I was late July of 2013. I am incredibly proud of myself, and thankful to Mike. I also have a lot of work to go, and I am far from done. I have a lot of fitness milestones to accomplish and my fitness bucket list to do. For the month of April I did the accidental 10K, so now I need to pick something for May. 

Off to get ready for work, than another workout with Mike later this evening. I will be sore tomorrow, it has not caught up to me yet. Love and Light to all. Think beautiful thoughts and have a beautiful day and do not forget to smile at a stranger today.

Namaste’
Rose

WEIGH IN SATURDAY

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Today is weigh in Saturday, and I did a gluten free experiment all week. I swear I feel less bloated and my face looks less puffy. I lost one pound, and I am completely happy about that. That brings my weight to, drum roll please, 170 lbs. I am so close to the 160’s.
I am loving this ride, and I am making it happen. I worked out every day of this month but one, and I am reaching fitness milestones and well as scale wins. My girl push ups are so easy now and the boy push ups are coming along too. 



My charity I am working on is a book drive for children for an organization called Reading To Kids. I will write more about them soon, and include links. I am still a few pounds away but I have started the ground work to this ten pound charity project. I am collecting books to donate and I also plan to volunteer and read to the children. I believe children, especially under privileged children can learn that there is adventure and beauty outside of the four walls they reside in. Books take you far away when you are unable to do so physically, and will inspire when you are old enough to adventure out on your own. The best education and escape can be found in a great book. 


I am off for now, it is the weekend and it is going to be 80 today.  I was supposed to volunteer with Two Hands, To Cans this morning but my co-worker who I was going to ride with had to work this morning, and it is farther than I thought it distance. This is not one of my chosen weight loss charities, just another chance to give back and help the community. I am trying not only to help my chosen charities, but give a little of myself through extra volunteer work here and there.  Two Hands, To Cans has opportunities for volunteering  weekly so I will have another chance to assist their wonderful organization.

I have not driven in years because of fear, and maybe, just maybe, once I tackle all of my other goals I may have to get over that and drive again. It is in my thoughts and one day I might just go for it and leave my fears in the dust. After all I  have decided to be fearless, so this I will have to work on in the not so distant future. 
Fear is the antithesis of everything I stand for.

Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

PACKING A PINK PUNCH

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Good Morning to all and a very Happy Friday. Today my friend and I at work bring in little surprises to kick off the weekend. We call it Surprise Friday. He usually brings me in something a little decadent and I portion it out over the weekend and share it with James. Tomorrow is weigh in and I am in my sixth day of my gluten free experiment and I will see how it reflects on the scale Saturday morning. I met someone at Trader Joe’s last night, and he was explaining to me all about gluten free and the many products that are now available. It was inspiring to listen to him and learn. I got the best compliment from one of the regular staff, he said I look like I am glowing. It is nice to get progress compliments, it keeps me going.

Yesterday was my Thursday workout with Mike my trainer. It really packed a punch and was a lot of fun. We did a circuit. First I had to use these long ropes and work my arms, and then we did some boxing, and then planking and push ups and then I had to run and do it over again in a fast manner. The boxing took a little instruction, and I now have my own pink boxing gloves. I kind of hit like a girl, but my kick packs more of a punch. It was fun, and it is interesting how it reminds me of choreography although it is a lot harder and more awkward to master. We are going to be boxing every other week I think, and you can feel the full body workout this gives, plus you can beat out your frustrations and worries on the punching bag. 

Working out in the park is like childhood play in a way, there are dogs everywhere and of course they love to come up and visit us. This little white one is such a lover, he kisses me on the face every week. His owner told us he is to be in a movie soon. I adore animals so I am right in my element. We were working out and the funniest thing happened out of the blue. Mike tells me he tore his pants from behind, and not a little tear but all the way down. It was hysterical and he mentioned he thought he was getting a bit of a draft back there. He ran to his car and changed and was no worse for wear, and he was not embarrassed in the least. It reminded me of a lesson in life my sister Dona told me. There is no embarrassment unless you let yourself feel embarrassed. I have worked out that one for years.  

Now every time I fall flat on my face in public I stand up, shake myself off and walk in a confident manner with no thought of what people think. We have control over our emotions, negative and positive. I have had some major embarrassing moments in my life. I went on a date with this guy once. He picked me up in his brand new Mercedes. He took me to the state fair and fed me cotton candy and we rode all of the rides. On the way home you can imagine how cotton candy and twirly rides affected me. I got sick all over his brand new car. Oh, he never called again. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful Friday, full of lots of surprises and no embarrassment. 
Love and Light to all
Namaste’
Rose