MONDAY 9-29-2014

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

Check in Day Seven....Melissa Bender Fitness: Tummy Toning Fat Burn

The first year is behind me,  45 lbs are lost....onward and upward to the next forty and all of my fitness goals.

Checking in on my routine. Day seven of Month one is today, and yes I workout on a Saturday. Today I am going to the gym to do the treadmill as well as day seven. I am also doing home yoga until I move to San Francisco and when I get situated in will be back in the studio. I am doing all three months of Melissa Bender's Bikini Competition prep, the workouts she did to compete in a bikini competition. She has and always will be so inspiring to me, and I am always so grateful to her for being such an amazing  best friend as well as role model to many. 

Much love and light to all and a big thanks to Melissa Bender for helping me during this transition period. 

Namaste'

Rose



Melissa Bender Fitness: Tummy Toning Fat Burn: *Workout Video and Breakdown Below Hi Everyone! Who is up for some tummy time? Everyone wants a strong core, and sexy abs. This w...

ONE YEAR LATER

Here is a photo of me at the Richard Simmons Video Shoot on July 8th 2013 and a recent of of me. Update I now weigh 167 lbs one year later. I was 210 lbs last summer. I started writing on this blog July 6th 2013 but did not get into the full swing of diet and workouts until July 17th 2013, which was my first workout with Mike my trainer. One year later, 42 lbs lost and lots of new friends gained. I continue on my journey, loving the wild ride. Where will it take me? I do not know.

Happy Monday, back to work.
Love and Light
Namaste'
Rose

WEIGH IN SATURDAY

I lost two more pounds. I am now 171. I am knocking on the 160's and so excited. I do not know when I weighed in the 160's last, probably 2005. Focusing on my fitness but the scale does make me smile from time to time. 

Tonight I am having a little pizza, I have decided to have one small and controlled cheat meal a week. I am so diligent, and I think I need to lighten up just a bit. I am still doing the 30 day challenge, today is day 8 of  Melissa Bender Fitness 30 Day Challenge. I am exercising every single day of the month. No rest days.  I am really working on my push ups and my burpees to improve. I am getting stronger and loving the ride. I am so grateful for the support network I have. I could not go at it alone, no one can. No man is an island.

I cannot hide my enthusiasm for life and living. Hope you have a wonderful Saturday full of bright sunshine and lots of smiles.
Namaste'
Rose

BACK TO THE GRIND TOMORROW

Good Morning to all. I am on a weekend away with my sweet husband James. We are in La Jolla CA and we went to Ocean beach CA. Now we are heading up the coast to Encinitas CA. I am off my routine but I will be back to the grind tomorrow. We love to do weekend away every month or so, and every time we go away we plan our next adventure when we get home.

Here is a few pics of me to update my weight loss. I finally hit the 35 pound mark so I am officially half way to my goal and I feel great. The journey continues though, and I am determined to become stronger and tackle all of my fitness goals and aspirations. I am so grateful for the support I have, and on a weekend away I am full of love of life, people, animals, and nature.

Off for now. 
Namaste'
Happy Monday
Rose

GOOD MORNING MONDAY

Flowers make me smile.

Good Morning to all on this Monday morning. I am happy the weather is going to go up to the 80's tomorrow. I work out outside and it is nice when I do not need a jacket. I am a little sleepy today, but my week will start strong. Today I will get a workout in on my own. On Tuesday's and Thursdays I will be working out with my trainer Mike and maybe Iyengar yoga after. I have a few personal errands I need to do today to get ready for my big weekend coming up.

Coffee now, I am sleepier than usual. I am so happy this week I lost 4 pounds, and I can really start to see my body returning slowly but surely to my once smaller self. It is an amazing feeling. I am now 175 lbs. I was 207 a year ago, and 197 when I started My Change For A Ten last late July. I have a work out shirt I bought that never felt like it fit right, and now it is perfect and hot pink.

Wishing everyone a Happy Monday. Love and light.
Namaste'
Rose

SATURDAY WEIGH IN

This is where I go walking/running on my own.

Good Morning and happy weekend to all. I am in great spirits, I had two amazing workouts this week with my trainer Mike and I am back on track. This coming week will be a full week of workouts with Mike twice a week, plus workouts on my own and lots of yoga. I am slowly but surely getting back to my Monday-Friday routine.  Mike and I may change it to three days a week eventually but for now this works. I am sore this morning, and I  also worked six days so I decided to to stay in this morning and not attend a class at Slimmons. It is my one day to sleep in since I am going hiking Sunday Morning with a friend here in Hollywood. I just needed a day to sleep in til 10 am and hang out with my hubby and the kitties. I will attend another Saturday class in two weeks, since I will be in Santa Barbara next weekend which means updated photos. 

Today is my first weigh in on Weight Watchers online and I lost 4 lbs. I am so excited, I am now at my lowest weight since I began late July 2013, I now weigh 175 pounds. I am going to be getting my measurements done soon, and I regret skipping it in the beginning but I can still track my inches lost from this point on.

Today I am going to go walking and running and spend the day with James. I am working on my poetry book and just laying low and enjoying the simple moments of life. I often am told I am so spirited, I would like to give that credit to my amazing Mother Shirley. She is still I fireball and I adore that about her.

Happy Weekend,
Namaste'
Rose

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW PART TWO

I am a poet and a writer, and I love to blog. I had started two previous blogs before but I seemed to lack a direction or theme. At the same time I was unhappy with my weight, and I questioned why I lacked commitment with losing weight. I lost and gained the same ten pounds over and over. When I do something for charity I follow through. I needed to give myself the same care and respect that I gave to others, I needed to learn to follow through and make a promise to myself. 

In beginning of the summer 2013 it was time to begin anew. The year had a rocky start and I was ready to pick up the pieces. I had an idea and it was like I was hit by a virtual lightning bolt, what if  I sponsored a charity with every ten pounds I lost. I could blog about my experiences of weight loss and fitness and also blog about the charities. I could make a difference in my life as well as the life of others. It would be about making a difference in the world with the added bonus of losing weight and finally getting healthy. I loved my idea and was excited to share it with others and get started. I decided to name my blog MY CHANGE FOR A TEN. I set up a Facebook page so I could link my blog, 

The minute I started to tell people they were incredibly supportive and motivating. My best friend Melissa Bender from Melissa Bender Fitness has been my number one cheerleader and inspiration all along. She loved the idea. 

The first week of my blog I was in a Richard Simmons video. I started to attend his classes and now I am a member at Slimmons Studio in Beverly Hills. Richard Simmons is a fireball of inspiration and fun and I am honored to know him. I have made many dear friends from my experiences of the video and Slimmons classes. 

I used to do his dvd's and tapes, and I was in his video.

New bestie Francie, day of video shoot

I started to tell people at work, and I met a new yet unlikely friend named Mike. He knows how grateful I am to him for the training, support and friendship.
Mike and I worked together at Seasons 52, but I did not know him personally.  He was a bartender and worked nights, and I worked days. One afternoon he was working a lunch and I happen to mention my new idea.  He offered to train me and help if he could with my charities. It seemed that everything was coming together at the exact time and place. There was no way I could fail, I was extremely motivated and inspired and thankful for the support coming my way.

I started to take Yoga classes with Nicole at Pink Iron, and I join Yogaworks West Hollywood. I worked out with my new inspiring friend and trainer Mike once a week, went to yoga 3-5 times a week. I speed walked, and I even began running and now I am training for a 5k. I cleaned up my diet and my attitude and I was able to lose that 10 lbs plus 20 lbs more since July. I have fed the Homeless at Skid Row, and I planned a toy drive for Alexandria House, a transitional home for women and children. I did all this with the support and help of amazing friends, mentors, and the management and staff at Seasons 52. I could not have done any of these things alone, and I am full of gratitude and love for all those who have helped and inspired me. I have made so many new beloved friends.  My husband James has been my biggest fan all along, and I thank him for believing in me always. I am a better version of 
myself now. James and I stole another get away in Palms Springs. We definitely decided life is too short not to live. As the New Year approaches, I am so grateful for all of the people in my 
life.

Yogi and teacher Nicole

Mike looks on making sandwiches

With Mike, Maria, Courtney, Danny and The selfless souls of The Monday Night Mission

My friend Meagan, Judy and Carlita

With the young residents of Alexandria House. Thank you to Judy Vaughan for all that you do.

This Birthday on December 21st was an amazing day. I decided to always chase my dreams and take the time to make a difference by giving back to others. I have decided no number will ever define me. Not my age, weight, or size. I attended Richard Simmons holiday bash class in the morning. Later that evening we had dinner at the Hollywood landmark Musso and Frank's and we took a ton of photos. My husband lost 16 lbs and I am down 30, so we were excited to finally take some new photos together and feel good in the process.  Musso and Frank's was on our LA bucket list. We were not only celebrating my Birthday and the holidays, but life and all of its endless possibilities.

Richard, me and my wonderful friend Dawn

My girls Susan and Joanne

Best Birthday experience ever

Jamesy and me

In July when I began this project I promised if I would follow through with everything I say I plan to do. I have kept that commitment and more. 2013 started off with a sad start, but I did not wallow in my woes. It may have taken me six months to pick up the pieces and follow through with my goals, but better late than never. I have only just begun, I am not even half way done. Bring on the beauty and possibilities 2014. My dreams precede my steps, but I need both to get me to where I am going and I am not looking back. 

Namaste'
Love and Light
Happy Happy 2014
Rose

INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/11/05/oldest-female-runner-in-nyc-marathon-reportedly-dies-one-day-after-race/
Good evening to all.
I love it when I find inspiration in unusual places. Today I spoke to the bus driver on the way home, and it was one of the best conversations I have had with someone in a long time.He was originally from D.C. and has fallen in love with California. He told me he believes I am now a California girl. I have assimilated to life here on the sunny side of the country. I am even planning to do a 5k in March with two of my wonderful managers from Seasons 52. That means I need to take my running serious from here on out.

Then my husband told me a story, such an inspirational story that truly makes me believe in destiny and fate. A woman had a dream of running in the NYC Marathon, and she made her dream come true at the age of 86. The next day she passed away, she did what she was meant to do the last day of her blessed life.

I love stories of people making dreams reality. Just what I need as I shake off this head cold and work even harder in the direction of my dreams. Today the lovely young lady that works at CVS told me she just lost nine pounds, and that I inspired her to begin her own weight loss journey. We are all here for each other, making our dreams come true looking for inspiration, and sharing the inspiration we gain with others as we go along our way.


Off for now, I wish everyone love and light and sweet dreams.
Namaste'
Rose

TUESDAY WEIGHT UPDATE 10-1-2013

Good morning to all on this first day of October. I woke up and got on the scale first thing, and I am happy to say I now weight 182 lbs. I have lost another 2.5 and I am so excited. That brings my total weight loss to 15 lbs since I started this project. In actuality I weigh 25 pounds less than I did last January, but for the sake of My Change For A Ten I am down 15 lbs since mid July.

I am thrilled, and I will definitely keep going. I have decided to make Project Cuddle my thirty pound goal, because having a virtual baby shower is going to take a little more time than I have anticipated, and I want to do it right. I am probably going to do it outdoors at a park so I can invite more people than my apartment can hold. So Project Cuddle is my thirty pound goal, and now I am on the lookout for a charity for the twenty pound mark. I need to brainstorm.

My ten pound goal charity is next Monday, I am assisting The Monday Night Mission in their efforts to feed the homeless and hungry residents of skid row. I know I am five pounds past my ten pound goal, but this one took planning as well, plus I wanted to get well past the ten pound mark to make sure it is official, as a woman I was worried I would announce my ten pound loss, and then gain water weight the next week. I have now cinched it since I am at fifteen pounds. I am going to write two complete posts, all about the Monday Night Mission, and another about Seasons 52 and their role in my efforts to help feed the homeless. 

Today I am working, and after I am working out with my friend and trainer Mike. I am so appreciative of him, his friendship, and his expertise and time. I was so sore last week after our workout, and I know tonight will be much of the same but I can take it. A few weeks ago he suggested a do something called a Mud Run, and I kind of smirked at the idea. Yesterday I was talking to my two managers at Seasons 52, Chef Jessica who has ordered the food for The Monday Night Mission, and my manager Laura. They did a Mud Run once and loved it, and they have offered to do it with me if I decide to do one. They said it was a riot so I am contemplating looking into this new challenge, albeit a dirty one. 

I am off for now, coffee and I must get moving. My two Siamese cats are so cute now, they make me want to stay home with them and just be lazy. One is burrowed under the blankets, and the other loves to sleep in his cat bed. Wishing you a beautiful first day of October. Love and light to all.
Namaste'
Rose

TUESDAY WEIGHT UPDATE 9-17-2013

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday. Tonight I am attending the yoga class on the Helipad at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City with the whole city as my backdrop. I am really excited to do yoga in the sky and I will try to get photos. Such an amazing opportunity to do yoga with such a spectacular view.

I weighed myself this morning and I am happy to say this week I lost three pounds. My weight is now 184 pounds. I am really excited to see such a drop in my weight. I know all successes are not determined by weight, but it is nice to see the scale go down. My total weight loss is now 13 pounds since I started this project and 23 pounds since the beginning of the year. I have made my first ten pound goal and I will assist my first charity in two weeks.

We are joining the Monday Night Mission on September 30th. I have told the management where I work and they are ordering food. How amazing is that. I plan on bringing supplies to make sandwiches as well.  I look forward to giving back to those who need it most. I know this will be an emotional experience, and I hope to try to go back and help at least once or twice a month after the first time.

I am off for now. I wish everyone a beautiful Tuesday full of love and light.

Namaste'

Rose

I LOST MY FIRST TEN

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday. I am up early, I have to leave an hour earlier today for a meeting at work. It is weigh in, and I can say with a sigh I lost another pound. I made the ten pound mark, my first milestone. My weight as of today is now 187 lbs. I will set the date later this week to go to help The Monday Night Mission. 

I am so excited, I know the weight loss seems slow but in November 2012 I was 207 lbs, and when I started my My Changed For A Ten I was 197 lbs, so to see myself getting smaller and seeing the scale reflect my hard work is so amazing to me, no matter how slow it is. I will take slow over never any day.

Today is Yoga and walking, my ankle is on the mend but I have been babying it. Tomorrow after work I am working out with my trainer and friend Mike. I have not worked out with him in two weeks so it is going to be hard but it totally is helping me change my form. 
Off for today, with a satisfied smile that I lost my first ten pounds.
Love and light.
I wish you all a beautiful day.
Namaste'
Rose

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE AND GRATITUDE

Good Morning Sunshine. Well, it is a little overcast with the marine layer, but I have to admit I do not mind it. The sun always shines here, it just sometimes takes a little more time to come out. Everyone needs to oversleep every now and then, especially if you expend energy like the powerful sun above. Energy, we are all energy based and I believe positive energy is contagious. We humans, not unlike the sun can harness this electric energy to make something great happen in our lives as well as the lives of others. We are all connected, the sun, moon, stars, and each and every living creature in the vast universe. I am very grateful for the support I have in my quest and in my life, that gratitude never escapes me.

I am very proud to say I lost one pound this week, bringing my total so far to the five pound mark. My weight now is 192 lbs. I can really tell a difference in my clothes and in my face. My face is the first place weight loss shows. I also have been getting some very encouraging comments around my neighborhood. The lovely staff at the pet store asked what I am doing that is different. Apparently everything I am working on is working. No magic pill or juice fast, or crash diet like I have succumbed to in the past.  I am eating clean and healthy and working out.  I also have to remind myself even though for the sake of this project I am down five pounds, but at the start of 2013 I weighed 207 lbs. So I kept off that first initial ten pound loss and now I am down five for My Change For A Ten.  

Today I work, and tonight I work out with my friend and trainer Mike. He has been extremely helpful and supportive and I am so thankful for that, as well as the extra push to do more. He is an excellent trainer and lovely friend to have in my corner, and  he is also completely down to earth. I could never work out with those types who are not down to earth, and you know they are out there. I will master the burpees, someday in the near future.  As soon as Mike has his  fitness blog up and running I will share more about him.

My ankle feels great.  I still need to get an ankle brace like Richard Simmons suggested. I have a feeling if I show up to class on Thursday without one he may give me hell. My husband James was saying how cool it is that I know Richard Simmons, since I grew up with him and my sister and I did his Sweating To The Oldies DVD's that my Mother owned. To also be in his video was truly an honor since I think he does so much good to help obese people. It is an honor just to know him and I am so thankful for the opportunity to take his classes weekly. 

Fitness gurus, it seems my list of  inspirational friends in fitness is growing. My wonderful friends Nadia and Tracy just opened up a studio in San Diego and I will share links in the near future. They offer yoga and fitness, with aerial yoga. 

My best friend of course is at the top of the list. She has been such a best friend, inspiration and support system for over ten years. Across the miles she is always right beside me cheering me on, as I have always been for her. Check out her amazing fitness videos and blog. She is the exact reason I am a poet and that I write. I am eternally grateful for her and even though we are far in miles, we are so connected in the heart.
http://www.benderfitness.com/

A little Tuesday sunshine and  gratitude to begin my day. I am a very gushy girl and I have never believed in holding back with friends and family. I am that person that will tell you thank you or I love you a thousand times. My sisters find it annoying but too bad, I would rather share how I feel and be an open book than have regrets as the sun sets nightly.  Coulda, shoulda, woulda, is not in my vernacular.

Happy Tuesday, woo hoo I love five pounds.
Namaste' 
Love and Light
Rose

SELF LOVE LESSONS

Happy Sunday to all. I woke up slightly sore yet totally inspired from The Richard Simmons class. He has taught people for decades to love yourself, every single ounce of yourself. I am motivated as I make my way documenting my quest to lose weight for good and make a difference in the lives of others by sponsoring a charity with every ten pounds I lose. At the age of 46 I plan to be fit and fearless.  Combining my love for others and learning to love myself is the best thing I have done in forever. I live my life with such a love and acceptance for all people and animals but I have not given myself the same respect. Loving all of myself is the hardest part, but I am making long strides on the path to self acceptance. I have followed Mr Simmons for years, I did my Mother's videos with my sister but somewhere his beautiful message of loving yourself alluded me until now. It took having the opportunity to dance with him in his music video and taking his extremely energetic class for the message to finally make an impact on my opinion of myself. 

There are many things I have personally put off because I felt I was not thin enough to do them. What is really an eye opener for me is I followed this self destructive pattern when I was fit and thin. The first step is to love your body as is. My body is my temple and I  am accepting it and loving it and all of its flaws. This is a first for me. I am so motivated with the process of my new transformation, the ups and downs. I am changing my mind as well as my body. Someone this week asked me if posting my before photos was liberating and I shrugged at him and said no. I felt embarrassed and ashamed. I have completely changed my outlook since my Richard Simmons experience. I do feel completely liberated and inspired.  I  really am taking the E out of EGO and I truly enjoying the beginning of my personal journey. No fear, no more. Fear is my second Achilles heal behind procrastination but that has completely changed this week. 

I have always felt such a gratitude for life, love, and living. This week I add true self love to my life filled with such beautiful abundance. Love yourself as you love all creatures of the universe. After all, you are a spectacular creature yourself. You are human. Thank you Richard Simmons for inspiring me and the masses for decades. 
Namaste' love and light.
Rose

BEFORE PHOTOS

Today was fantastic, and I am so tired. I am uploading the photos from the Richard Simmons Video Shoot and I will post tomorrow all about it including the photos. It was a complete blast, I met some fantastic people and of course Mr Simmons himself, and I also met my twin. More on that later too.  I have my weight loss work cut out for me, but after today I am even more motivated. The energy today was unreal. I am completely inspired. 

Until then here are two of my full body before photos. Now sleep is calling me, I will tell all about my adventure raising the roof with Mr. Simmons tomorrow. Now I am just a little brain dead. 
Namaste'
Rose

ABOUT MY CHANGE FOR A TEN

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