More Yoga Ramblings! ~Yes again!

This is a few weeks in a row..... Today yoga as usual was an amazing experience. I can't say positive, but eye opening. Today we did an energy releasing move, I can't remember the name, However, I am just going to call it, Opening the Flood Gates! Teach came in today and I would have thought that she has been a fly on my wall, reading my email and my mind. (Haven't I said this before) She said that sometimes we just have to be with whatever it is we are feeling, we don't always practice yoga to feel good. Really?!?! ;) I managed to get through class and actually did feel pretty focused. Then, after class she gave us an article you can read here. This really hit home with me, because what I am experiencing right now in my life(and have for many many years). Then I got home and started reading Pema Chodron's article, my first instinct was to flee.. find something anything to make me feel better. However, as I read the article Pema wrote of allowing yourself to 'be' with whatever it is you are at the moment, so you see, I didn't dial up the nearest shopping website, or hit the kitchen or anything else. I sat in quite and allowed myself to feel the rush coming from the flood gates. Humm.. this I must say is much different than anything I have ever done before. My first instinct is to find something to avoid this 'uncomfortable hurt' and move on. For today, I just allowed it to be. I didn't fight it. I felt it (as Pema said 'feel the itch') it was not easy, it didn't feel good, but amazingly enough, I made it through, and I have lost nothing that I thought I would except a bit of the 'weight' (not on the scale I am sorry to say) I have been carrying for many, many years! I have had a realization that I don't 'need' anyone else to find peace with this sitituation, I just need to be with it, make it my friend instead of fighting it. Today I am merging with 'the flood gates' and perhaps I have reached a turning point. No dwelling, just being, me!

Trekking!

What in the world is Trekking?! Trekking is a true interval class.(straight out of the mouth of the instructor) In trekking class, we utilize the equipment in the fitness center (in my case at my local YMCA) Spin Bikes, Recumbent Bikes, ARC trainers, Elliptical trainers, rowers, steppers etc... some days we pick a piece of equipment, some days we rotate equipment. We always start class by meeting on the track, usually just walking or slow jog, then a quick warm-up with the group and then into the fitness center we go. The best part is that not only do we exercise our bodies, we exercise our minds. The instructor brings us on a journey... Today we traveled across the US, a few weeks ago we went to college, and before that to the Kentucky derby. The addition of the trek, makes the time go fast, and makes it more interesting. For example we may be exercising on a RPE (rating of perceived exertion, on a scale of 1-10) of 6. Then we increase speed and ramp for a designated time period. Usually the instructor is reading the facts or asking triva type questions about the topic of the trek, then we return to recovery for a few minutes until the next interval. Today was a bit different, we were in teams rotating equipment, if it was our turn and we got the question right, the other teams had to speed up or increase their ramp. If we got it wrong we had to speed up. This made it fun and challenging in a new way. I was also dripping by the time I finished. Today we were answering questions from Brain Quest, for 7-12 yr olds. I learned a few things, knew a few things and came to the conclusion: 'I am not smarter than a 5th grader.' At least I got a good workout!

Calories in vs. Calories Out

I just can't seem to stop thinking about weightloss today. While at the gym during Trekking class some of us were talking about weightloss, why and how it happens. Also, why it doesn't happen, when I do everything I should. This has been a common theme amongst women(and even some men, though less rarely) as long as I can remember. Then I really started thinking about: Calories in vs Calories out- This rings true most of the time. If you create a deficit of calories you will lose weight. (I hear you, why am I NOT losing weight) Lets consider the possibilities, each person is an individual, out bodies each work a little different, so if Liz lost weight doing something doesn't mean you will. *Are you exercising? Could you possibly be building muscle, replacing fat? Have you taken measurements, there are other ways to tell, do you feel better and have more energy? *Are you really being 100% honest with yourself with what you are eating? Did you know that each bite you eat while cooking, the handful of little fishes you eat when you give your kids a snack, the two bites you eat off the kids plate that they didn't eat, they all count (meaning they have calories). Put that stuff in the compost and feed your garden instead of your hips. And birthday cake, so sorry but it has calories, not to mention that it is depleting of nutrients. I challenge you to be REALLY honest about what goes into your mouth. *I was born with a slow metabolism! Well do something about it. Eat healthy WHOLE foods, leave the boxes and bags at the store. Walk whenever you can, exercise, park further away from the store, take the stairs, take your bike, get off the couch! Only you can control your metabolism. Feed your body natural foods, the foods that it can digest! This will help really! Genetics is only a small part of how things inside your body really are. So lets go to it! *Muscle Weighs More than Fat: Ugh! This statement makes me cringe! A pound is a pound. Period! I have seen this printed in books by highly respected people in the field of nutrition, and even one of my favorite trainers said it(sigh). The truth is, muscle is more dense, therefore, a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. Which one do you want? It takes energy (calories) for muscles to work. Fat, well it doesn't burn up any energy it only drains it out of you, Building calorie burning muscle is important to weight loss, and maintenance. So get out those weights no excuses. Your body needs water, so drink it! Not soda, not coffee, or kool-aid or whatever else you may have, Our bodies need clean water. I am not telling you to only drink water, just drink enough of it to keep yourself hydrated on top of whatever it may be. Being only slightly hydrated can slow your metabolism down immensely. With this statement I will finish up for today. Weightloss is hard, I know I have been there,(you can read a little more about my weightloss here.) So please never give up and always believe in yourself that you are capable of doing anything you want. Maybe not in your own time, but if you plan and persevere you will find success.

Good Juice Recipe

Orange Zinger 1 orange peeled and quartered 3 carrots scrubbed 1 1/2 in piece of ginger root 1 apple juice and whisk, serves 1 From The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker and Susan Eagles

More Ramblings after Yoga Class

Don't you just love it when you go somewhere with one intention and then get something competely unexpected out of it? Have no idea what I am talking about? I just love Tuesday's. I have Zumba which I love and then after, I have yoga class. My Yoga instructor, brings so much more to class then just teaching asanas(poses), this is why I love it so much. I can and do yoga at home when time allows; however, my instructor always has something more profound to say... today it was letting go of being 'in control of the universe' her words may have been slightly different, the meaning the same to me. This has rang so true... first my daughter broke her arm on a trip two weekends ago, I have been extremely busy with school and there have been interesting developments in family as well. So once again, I have been practicing the art of letting go and letting the universe do it's job. I rolled out my mat for yoga, and my head was reeling. I was excited about getting my grades from my first assignments for school(I got 100%, sorry I had to add that in), family things, school projects, and my poor little brain just wouldn't stop thinking of everything all at once. I really couldn't imagine how in the world I was ever going to make it through that class. Then Yoga class began. My instructor started with the class and talked to us, about not ruling the universe. (this has been VERY apparant to me in the past two weeks) How do I just come to grip with the fact that I have already been experiencing this feeling of I have no control. So she told us that we were going to be focusing on forward and backward bends(I love the term used in the East, heart openers) It never ceases to amaze me just how focused I was able to become. My mind stopped for 45 min. I was able to turn inward without thinking about everything I had to do, dishes, kids, scouts, school work, doctor's appointments you know the drill, it felt so good to take that time to slow down. It felt so good to just stop and breathe deep and energize myself for another round of life. I love how I feel when the class is over, and I roll up my mat and can feel the difference in how relaxed my muscles are, and how the concentration on my breathing has brought me new vitality. I realize that everyone has their own 'yoga'. I would like to encourage everyone to pursue thier own 'yoga.'.. slow down, enjoy what life has to offer. Give purpose to why you work so hard and do so much.

Volunteers....

Thank you so much to all of you that volunteered to help with my study. I am no longer accepting any more volunteers, I have a great selection of people! I will be sending out the details by email this afternoon! I look forward to working with all of you!

She Got It!!

Well here it is.... Ariana got her Hot Pink cast! This photo makes her arm look huge! The cast is also waterproof! She is very excited about that. Unfortunately, insurance doesn't cover that, but we gladly paid the extra to make bathing especially easy. Covering up her temporary cast with plastic to bathe her was really hard! She will also be able to swim in clear water. no lakes. You can see the tip of her little brothers head as he really loves to be in every photo I take!

Ariana is doing pretty well. She had a hard time with itching earlier though. It really bothered her to feel so itchy and not be able to scratch it.

I also wanted to say that I sure appreciate all the support that everyone has shown. It sure has made it easier for Ariana. Thanks so much!