NATIONAL POETRY DAY

Good Morning to all. Today in the UK is National Poetry Day, and since I am a poet I decided to include a poem in my daily post. Writing helps me channel my thoughts and get through the challenges and transitions in life, as well as working out. Life is hills and valleys, at one moment you are king of the hill the next moment you find yourself stranded at the bottom without a safety net. It is how you channel your thoughts that makes all of the difference.

What do you do to keep the calm amongst the chaos? With my move I am working out daily doing Melissa Bender Fitness first month of her three month series of the Bikini competition workout and daily trips to the gym. I also love to work out in nature. Movement has helped me keep my sanity as we transition from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I would love to hear your thoughts, how you channel your anxieties and worries. Nature always has a way of bringing us back to earth. 

Love and Light to all.
Namaste'
Rose

NATURAL THERAPY

The azure sky above tints my reality

with a little glow of heaven,  

An existence formally tainted

within the eclipse of my soul.

Depleted unfulfilled and lost

within a colorless endless Monday;

searching for a free haven,

a place where weariness

drifts away in the haze;

illuminating the shadows.

Clouds take on a new shape,

artistry and the allure of the earth,

nature and spirit are entwined in bliss.

Fluttering in the mist of the rain,

water blesses me to begin anew;

I become the willow in the wisp,

communing with the celestial one.

Climb trees, reach high, embrace;

mother earth and all she stands for.

The scent of damp cedar,

captures my senses and I am aware;

there is more to myself than me.

Honeysuckle tickles, provokes, lingers;

teases my greedy nostrils

with the promise of the coming dawn,

and all the abandon that she offers.

The endless monotony of Mondays,

are replaced with the beauty of a blue beyond.

Slow down, breathe, take time,

be serene, own your peace.

The wonder of a midsummer delight

replaces the constant inner struggle,

when an individual steps outside

their vanity, their Jones' mentality.

Looks at their former world

from a different vantage point.

Grasps what is truly valuable,

We are all one with the earth

and the earth is one with us.

Rose Bruno Bailey

 

 

 

 

 

 

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...

Melissa Bender Fitness: My First Bikini Competition Prep: Month 1 Workouts...

If you  look up, clouds will guide your way

Good morning to all. Here is the complete list of Month one, which I am following. I am on day five of Month one. I need this now more than ever, the moving stress level is through the roof. The relocation red tape is unreal, and there is always a chance that we could stay in LA, so back to being in limbo. We wait, and I workout to keep my sanity and push harder than ever. Whether here in LA or in San Francisco I am taking my project and my fitness goals to another level.


In the meantime work calls after my second cup of coffee. Cue breathing.

Namaste'

Rose



Melissa Bender Fitness: My First Bikini Competition Prep: Month 1 Workouts...: This is Month 1 of the workouts that I have done to prep for my bikini competition. This is the order I completed the workouts in...

NAVIGATING A MOVE

As soon as we find a place, San Francisco will be my next home

Finding an apartment from afar is challenging, and I swore to myself through this crazy move I would keep up my workouts and push harder than ever. I have stuck to that vow, and I feel amazing. I slacked off for a few weeks from the stress of waiting to find out if we were moving or not, I have never liked being in limbo. When we moved cross country from NYC to LA it was a smoother transition. James was hired rather quickly, and we moved in three weeks. This time it is such a dragged out process, it almost makes you wonder if it will happen. Even though they wanted him in San Francisco by October 6th, we are hoping for the third week of the month. Too much to do too soon.

I am blogging more about what I am doing to get to the next half of my goals. The first year is done and behind me. I have lost 45 lbs, changed my body and I have helped numerous charities and did a few interesting items off my bucket list. 

Now I am beginning anew, another 40 lbs to go, and as soon as I deliver my books before the move to Reading to Kids I will be working on my next ten lb charity. I will of course wait til I get to San Francisco to pick and announce it. I am also going to take "new" before photos soon. Lots of things to do in San Francisco to add to my bucket list too. One of the first things I want to do is to walk the pedestrian path of the Golden Gate Bridge.
On Mondays I will post my weekly workout plan and anything else I am doing to get to my goals, and each day I will make a little post for that day. I am trying to eat more, and eat as clean as possible. Tons of water helps too.

Today is a day three and a day off from Melissa Bender's bikini fitness competition workouts for month one so I am just going to do cardio and yoga.  I downloaded new music to get me going.

Being in a new city is going to challenge me. I have to find my gym, and learn my way around. I am nervous but excited. I have a friend there who goes to the same gym I do, and she wants to work out together. I also have a few other friends there, who have reached out and have been very supportive and welcoming which I need now. It is a lonely feeling to pick up and move.

Off for today, a lot on my mind and I am just trying to let it all be.
Namaste'
Rose

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

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

BETTER THAN YESTERDAY

Sometimes I get impatient, well a lot of times I am impatient. If you were to ask my husband what is my worst flaw he would tell you I am too impatient. It is no different in regards to fitness and weight loss. I do love the journey as well as the destination, and I am so happy where I am. I do have that little devil sitting on my shoulder telling me I should have come farther by now, and I need to work harder. Yes, I need to work even harder but I should be proud of where I am and where I am going. I am far removed from where I was. I can be my own worst critic, and self bashing is a slippery slope and I will nip this negative banter in the bud. I am in a much better place than I was yesterday, and definitely in comparison to there I was when I began this in July 2013. I will be grateful and not impatient.

So from now on I am just going to focus on my clean eating, my fitness and flexibility. I will be starting my fitness bucket list as well and I am working on my book drive for children which is my next ten pound milestone charity. All of this and work too.

Yesterday my workout with Mike my trainer went smooth. I ate enough and my energy was high. I was timid about running again, I admit I have slacked off on running and I have been walking instead but once I got going it was not so bad. I am grateful to him and he has helped me tremendously, he is good at what he does and I owe him a lot. We are going to video tape me doing my burpees in a week or two. I have improved considerably.

Coffee is my morning elixir on days like these. We are supposed to be getting a rain storm, so I may be spending more time indoors at the gym instead of my outdoor workouts. Mixing it up is always a good thing and California desperately needs rain even though I miss the sun when it happens. I have become a true Californian.

Off for now
Love and Light
Namaste'
Rose

MANIFESTING CREATIVE ENERGY

Good evening to all. I have to admit I have spring or summer fever. I know it is still winter and most of the country is digging out from the snow and cold, but the sun was shining to bright today it gave me spring and summer fever. You know that feeling you get when everything begins anew. I tend to get inspired a lot and this evening was no exception, The sunsets here are so beautiful, as beautiful as the sunshine at it's brightest. California days and nights tend to bring out my creative flow.

When I was out for my walk/run I stopped at the art store and picked up some pencils. I used to draw a lot up until my 30's and I wondered if I can still do it. You are never to old to revisit the passions of yesterday and to create new ones. I believe living for passion is a youth elixir that makes life so fulfilling and keeps you young and vital. You can never have enough passions in life.

I know one of the first things I am going to attempt to draw. I saw a tree the other day, it was completely barren except for one last bloom, clinging on despite the windy day.That bloom to me is a metaphor for life. We all have another bloom left in us, another chance to blossom. No matter how barren things may appear, there is always hope if we cling on to the promise of tomorrow and another chance to begin anew. 

Dinner was simple and healthy tonight, since I was in summer mode I made the most delicious vegetarian burgers, healthy style. If I did not know any better I would have believed it is almost the 4th of July. 

I am going to continue this inspiration as my Monday approaches and my busy week of work and workouts. I feel that this project has in some way brought me back to life, and I feel like I can do anything I set my heart and mind to. I am so inspired and grateful for each and every chance I get to begin anew; to be healthy, lose weight and and return to my former fit self.  To sow my creative oats and to help those in need. I could not ask for more. Love and light to all.
Namaste'
Rose

WORKOUTS MAKE ME FAMISHED

My workouts with Mike my trainer at the park were on back to back days, Wednesday and Thursday. They are really evolving and I am so thankful to him and happy for my progress so far. I have noticed my appetite seems increased, and I have been eating too little. I tried to eat a little more today and I felt super strong during my workout. I am also trying to make an effort to get in enough calcium. I am a work in progress as far as my eating habits are concerned. I tend not to eat enough when I feel rushed. I am trying to stop that and make sure I fuel before I work out and hydrate with water and coconut water.

The park tonight was kind of quiet, except for a lot of dogs. I fall in love with the dogs there, they run up to greet us and make it difficult to work. Today we met Mrs Jones and a large poodle named Beatrice. I swear West Hollywood is animal heaven.

I am wiped out so this is a short post, when I am tired I cannot think straight.It will be an early night for me. I need a good nights sleep. Working out makes me hungry and tired.

Wishing you love and light.

Namaste'

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

SCALE GAMES

Good Morning and a Happy Friday to all. I am really looking forward to the weekend. I love having weekends off, in NYC I worked all hours and the weekend and it made it difficult to be healthy. I do  not think I could do all I am doing if I had to do that again.

Yesterday was my workout with Mike. The weather is getting cooler and my joints have been feeling a bit stiff. The park was cold but as soon as we got moving the temperature felt comfortable to me. We moved at a much swifter pace, and we did some burpees again for the first time in forever. I can see we are picking up the pace now, which is a good thing. After the first five months I think it is time to really push it, now I am able and much stronger to do so. He even said I am much stronger and I can also feel my running is developing. I seem to have more of a confident stride in my run. Mike and I may work out more than once a week after the New Year, which will definitely help me get to my goals.

So I know I am days early but I stepped on the scale and I am happy to say the 2lb water weight gain is gone and I am holding steady at 177lbs. I am still at 20lbs. I am back to watching my sodium and I did not give in to my husband James and his pecan pie. It was hard but I did it.

Off to work and then a run later. It is chilly here for west coast standards. It takes a bit of time to get used to. Coffee and my breakfast and work. The day flies.
Namaste'
Love and Light to all
Rose

WAIITING ON WEIGHT UPDATE

Good Morning to all. I just woke up and went to do my Tuesday routine and weight myself on my scale and it is broken. Never in my life have I been so disappointed in the fact that I cannot weigh myself. So now, light breakfast and I am contemplating if I will weigh myself tomorrow with a new scale, or wait one week and skip the scale all together this week. I will probably look for a scale at CVS tonight.

Last night a co-worker and friend Casey asked if I would like to go hiking in Griffith Park after work, so I skipped my yoga plans and went hiking. We went until it poured rain, and we got soaked but we got a good hour hike in. The view was incredible and I want to go hiking more. It is good to mix up your activity now and then. Before she took me for sushi, and it is new for me since I just quit being a vegetarian. I liked it though, and I loved the green tea. I am not usually a fan of Asian food but I really did enjoy it and it was super healthy.

She snapped a few full length photos of me. These are me still at 180 since I do not know how much I weigh today. For the record that is my weight so far until I get on a scale. Look at the definition in my arms. You can see I am working out. At the bottom I am posting one of my before photos to compare.

Off for my day, more hard work to do and a scale to buy.
Namaste' Love and Light
Rose

Before photo below

Before photo above

TUESDAY WEIGH IN 9-3-2013

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

CORE OF THE MATTER

Good morning Wednesday. I am up extra early today, savoring a few precious moments of sunrise, solitude, and silence and trying to gather my thoughts over a delicious cup of coffee. I greet my day with a heart filled with gratitude for everyone that has graced me with their positive presence. I am grateful for this beautiful planet we reside in and of course for my beloved cats and this cup of coffee. I am grateful for the sheer blessing of being alive, tired yet so alive.

I am really getting much stronger and more balanced in my workouts with Mike my trainer and friend. Yesterday he stepped it up a few notches, He said he has been too easy on me and it was time to make things more difficult, and he and guaranteed I would be sore today. I woke up sore of course, but it is that job well done type of soreness that comes with accomplishment. 

We jogged a lot, or for me it was a lot. The hardest part is my breathing, and some of that may be due to allergies. Nothing that the neti pot cannot cure. I actually did more than I thought I could, and I will continue to improve on the jogging part of the workouts. I will do some jogging this week when I do my walking.  I have also been googling breathing techniques. I will get this. He plans on us jogging longer distances. Nest week we are going to video tape me doing simple beginner burpees for Melissa @ Melissa Bender Fitness so she can post them on her blog. We figured out a way for me to do them using the bench as a prop so I can ease into them without straining my knees. 

My core is pretty darn strong. I was a dancer and of course your "center" as we called it in dance is the most important part. You have to constantly pull up, suck in, relax your shoulders and do not arch the back with your hips tucked in. I still walk like this to this day, head high. I guess some habits stick over time and this particular dance habit is really helping me with my core. The core matters!  My sit ups are getting so much more fluid, I was really proud yesterday. My hard work is starting to really pay off and I feel so motivated to continue. I am very grateful to Mike, he teaches as well as instructs and I can feel my body changing. I am so much stronger than I was over six weeks ago. 

When I got home I did some yoga poses to stretch, but of course doing yoga poses at home with cats is a challenge. They are mesmerized by the mat, and attack your feet as you are doing downward dog. Tonight is yoga with Nicole. I will be sure to drink enough water and eat enough so I do not get lightheaded or sick like I almost did last Wednesday. I still need to get to YogaWorks and use my month unlimited Groupon, it doesn't expire and works from the first day you use it. I will begin there either this week or the next. I am really enjoying the process as well as the results, and that is what keeps me going each and every single day. This is my lifestyle and I absolutely love it.

Wishing you a Happy Wednesday
Love and Light
Namaste'
Rose

MONDAY GRATITUDE

Happy Monday to all.  I am on my first cup of coffee and smiling already, coffee and the fact that I wake up each and every morning is enough to make me smile. I am alive and able to drink this hot creamy cup of perfection, so I greet Monday morning with a big thank you.  I prefer to savor the little things in life as well as the grand.  I have chosen to make my life a happy adventure, full of creative endeavors. Yes, it is Monday morning but I am up early and ready to embrace my day with an open mind and heart. I am creating the life that I wish to have.

Tomorrow is my weigh in and my weekly workout with Mike. We are going to videotape me performing burpees either this week or the next. Melissa at Melissa Bender Fitness is going to post the video, with future videos of me improving on the move. We all know I need to improve on the move, since I feel so awkward doing them. She is such an amazing motivator. I am so grateful for her help and for Mike's help. Mike really is a one of a kind trainer and I am so lucky to have his help.  I feel incredibly blessed to have such positive people in my corner. I could not go it alone, no one can. 

I have been working hard on my My Change For A Ten project and I am just around the corner from volunteering with my first charity The Monday Night Mission. My plan is as soon as I reach my first ten pound loss, I will give my place of employment heads up two weeks in advance so they can order the food that they are donating to the Monday Night Mission on my behalf. Then we are going to join the lovely people at the Monday Night Mission to help feed the residents at skid row. So the actual date of my first charity volunteer work with be a few weeks after I reach my first ten pound goal. Mike is going with me, and any other friends are welcome as well, I think Francie may join us. The more to help the merrier. Compassion for others is contagious.

I wish you a sunshiny day full of everything your heart desires. Yes, that may be a tall order for a Monday morning but greatness has to begin somewhere. Just order yourself a tall latte' to inspire caffeinated creativity, after all a little coffee always helps.  Think it, believe it, and make it happen. 
Namaste'
Love and Light to all
Rose

TUESDAY WEIGH IN

I love being a woman. With that said there are some things that I do not love about being a woman, and one is wicked monthly water weight. You can do everything right and the scale will go up from time to time. You have no control over it, it is what it is.

Today I woke up feeling great but I knew deep inside I probably did not lose this week. I did everything as according to plan. I ate clean and I worked out six days of the week.  The scale did not budge, I stayed exactly the same as last week. I weigh 190 pounds. It was not my fault, it was the fault of my gender. 

Time to take a deep breathe and move on. I did not gain, I did not lose. I know I am losing inches and I am progressing so no worries. I am changing my body, my mind, and my life. Next week is another chance to lose and get closer to my My Change For A Ten first charity. In the meantime, more workouts, yoga and eating healthy. 

Tonight is my workout with Mike. I am assuming it will be a little more challenging since I am progressing and growing stronger. He is a very good trainer. He works you and pushes you without being aggressive or pushing you to the point of an injury. He respects your level of fitness and is understanding and motivational. That is probably a hard thing to find in a trainer so I am blessed. 

Happy Tuesday to all.
Love and Light
Rose

THE SECRET IS OUT

Happy Weekend to all. Yesterday I decided to try on some cute summer dresses that I have never worn, since they have never fit. They fit now and look great, but not for long since soon they will be too big for me. The secret is out, no crash diets for me, eating clean and healthy with moderation and exercise six days a week actually works. Did you hear that? Shocker, hard work pays off and it is fun too.  This should not be a surprise to me or anyone. I exercised like crazy when I danced, but somewhere in the chaos of moving around in the last few years I had stopped taking good care of myself. That will never happen again, I believe our bodies are our temples and I will not trash my temple any longer. My husband commented last night after my workout he has not seen me have such quick results in years, and how I look great. I feel healthier and stronger too with much more stamina. I am really looking forward to assisting with the first charity the Monday Night Mission, I am getting close to the first ten pound goal. My self esteem has returned and I get to do what I love to do, help others. It is such a win win for me. 

Today I will work out later, an hour on the treadmill and some other moves I have learned plus free weights. Yesterday when I did an hour speed walking on the treadmill, I actually jogged some of the time, and it made me feel so proud. Tomorrow same workout plus morning Yoga Flow with Nicole at Pink Iron. I tried to sleep in a little today and now I am meeting my friend Francie from the Richard Simmons video for a little Birthday Brunch before she leaves town to visit with family. We had plans to take Richard Simmons' Saturday morning class but he is out of town for the next week, so no Richard Simmons for over one week.  Later my husband and I will go to the beach to walk and see the sunset, nothing like walking in the water in Malibu for some extra exercise on top of my workouts. Activity is the best natural high. I believe getting outdoors in beauty breathing in fresh air is mandatory for a healthy mind and body.

I feel very lucky to have such help with this endeavor, and to live in such a place with natural beauty to do it in.  I could not go it alone and I am learning so much about the body and achieving peace of mind in the process. So this morning I am radiating gratitude for my blessings. Life is truly beautiful.
Wishing you a sunshiny Saturday,
Namaste'
Rose

GETTING STRONGER BY THE DAY

On Tuesday's I weigh in, and I work out with Mike my trainer and friend. I lost two more pounds this week bringing my total to 190 LBS. This made me so happy, I have been really working hard and sticking to everything I say I will do, and to see the scale go down seven pounds is such a wonderful reward. I know I have a long way to go but to know this is all working motivates me even more. I am almost to the ten pound mark, and a few weeks after I lose the first ten is when I will be volunteering with The Monday Night Mission. Of course all the time I will be working on my twenty pound loss, this is a lifestyle change and I choose to make being healthy and fit a part of my life.

My workout with Mike at the park was wonderful, I can see and feel I am stronger than I was when we began a little over a month ago. Some of the exercises are not as awkward as they once were, and my strength and balance are improving.  I can feel my once dancer's flexibility coming back, which made me elated. He truly is a great trainer/teacher and I am grateful to him for the time he puts in. I know I am a work in progress but it is all starting to feel quite natural to me. Tuesdays are the day I measure my true progress.

We did something I would have never dreamed of doing, he brought boxing gloves and I practiced punching the targets he wore on this hands and  then he had me alternate arms and do all these boxing moves. It was fun, of course I hit like a girl but I got better and I will get better. I do have this competitive side with myself and I do not give up. We plan on doing it again, it was fun and I can totally feel the effects on my body this morning. I am sore but it a good way. The jogging felt easier for me, especially when I discovered to try to stay on the heals of my feet and not on the ball of my feet. I tend to naturally do everything on my toes.  

Today after work is my one hour walk and my yoga practice. I love the way yoga makes me feel, totally zen inside and out. If I could find a way to practice five days a week I would, it truly makes me feel peaceful inside. I wish all of you love and light and a beautiful Wednesday. full of peace and joy.
Namaste'
Rose

WEIGH IN TUESDAY

Left to right....Rose, Santa who I just worshiped, and sister Gina

It is Tuesday August 13, 2013 and before I get to my weigh in I would like to wish my big sister Gina a very Happy Happy Birthday. Just a shout out across the miles, and some nostalgic family photos. I miss my family, but I send them love and light back east. I hope to see them soon. 

I weighed in this morning. I have decided I would weigh in at home on Tuesday Mornings and follow Weight Watchers on my own and online. I prefer to weigh in at home to get the most accurate read, and that gives me more time to workout. 

I lost two more pounds, bringing my weight to.....drum roll.....190 LBS. That makes my total weight loss since I started My Change For A Ten to seven pounds. I am almost at my first milestone of ten pounds. As soon as I lose my first ten pounds, it will be a few weeks before I do my first charity which is The Monday Night Mission. I need to give my work  a few weeks notice so they can have the food ready. I also want to make sure I am past the ten pound mark since sometimes there are those weeks when we gain a few. I want to have the first ten pounds lost for good so I can focus on the charities and then getting to the twenty pound mark.

Today is my weekly Tuesday workout with Mike. I always look forward to it, it is hard but I can see it works and of course I am so grateful that he gives his time to help me. I am also handing him my food journal, that really helped me stay on track. I promised I would have more information about him and his  personal trainer services in the future and I will. He is a wonderful trainer and friend. I was saying just yesterday. You can never have enough friends. I love the quote from the film It's A Wonderful Life... "No man is a failure who has friends."  It is such an inspiring film about appreciating your life, a must see.

Off for the day. Happy Birthday Gina, and I wish everyone else a beautiful day today. You woke up, you are breathing, now anything is possible as long as you have that opportunity to make it so. Every day is a Birthday if you look at it that way. 

Namaste' 

Love and Light

Rose

left to right Niece Nerissa, Uncle Edward, Gina, me, Sister Dona and sister Frankie

Me on the bottom, My Aunt Elaine in center, left to right from top, Dona, Frankie, My lovely Mother, and Gina

Left to right me and Gina

The girls, all of them. Left to right Niece Calli, me, Gina, Niece Nerissa, Frankie, Dona, and babies Satya and Clara