Tuesday, April 30, 2013

180 in 180 Day 4

Hey Ya'll,
In the spirit of full disclosure I'm going to come clean about my day. I'm not proud of it, but I am sort of proud of how I'm ending it. My food choices at work were less than stellar, I was "self medicating" with food because I still don't feel well and I was sleepy. I'm actively working to spin these habits around in my 180 days. For breakfast I ate popcorn, not really a poor choice per say (not buttered so low cal) but then when lunch came around I opted for a chocolate shake and french fries instead of the salad that I packed for myself today. But halfway through the shake my body started telling how bad of an idea it was and I couldn't finish it....The fries on the other hand are a different story. Then my office mate brought cinnamon rolls, took one out of the box warmed it up on a plate and handed it to me before I could even object. Sabotage all around I say. I ate a few thank you bites and then took the cinnamon roll home with me since it was the end of the day and let my husband and kiddo split it while they waited for dinner to be ready. Dinner was vegetarian for me with a kale stuffed baked potato. (yea, today was a potato day for some reason) While dinner was on the grill I took the time to wash all of the dishes that managed to pile up in the sink all by themselves. I walked the dog for a little over a mile, came back home just as dinner was ready and sat at the table with my family like a normal evening meal should be, but rarely is for us.
So, all in all I'm actually okay with the way my day is closing out. Did I mention that I'm using a standing desk in my main cube twice a week? Well I am, and apparently it burns like a billion extra calories an hour. That's an exaggeration, but it does burn somewhere around 350 extra calories per hour for me. So that makes me feel kind of like a super hero and just a tiny bit less guilty about eating an order of french fries for my lunch instead of my salad. But you know what? Now that I'm writing that statement, I think feeling guilty is detrimental to what I am trying to accomplish here. It is okay to be right where I am right now. And my journey has not stopped so why harbor guilt about something as simple literally a single meal? I release that and breathe life into my journey and shine light on my path. This turn around will happen for me one day at a time. I have some reading to do (part of the the journey, read more watch less television) and then my bedtime asanas. It's been real and I'm so glad you're choosing to journey along with me. Try this, forgive yourself today for something that you have been "punishing" yourself for and let it go. Speak your truth and breath joy into your environment, allow the burden to be lifted from our shoulders so that you can move along your path with your back straight and your head raised. Sending love and light your way.
Peace and Namaste Ya'll 

Monday, April 29, 2013

180 in 180 Day 3


Hey Ya'll,
So Monday has come and gone. To avoid putting negativity out in my world I'm a just going to say that I am glad to have been given another day and that much more grateful to have survived to see the end of the day. I'm ready for bed but there are still so many things that need to be done before I can allow myself to call it a night... A mother's work is never done *le sigh. LOL Oh well.

I found an interesting site for freelance writers that I plan on checking out in greater deal later on. Hopefully it produces some profitable results for me. Until then I must continue to be productive with the work I do have and write just for fun. Life could be worse.....life Has been worse and I am so glad that it no longer is. While working today I was listening to my course modules for IIN and it occurred to me that I focus so much on what I have yet to accomplish sometimes that I forget to celebrate that fact that I made it this far in life. So even though my allergies have been giving me the absolute blues over the last 2 days I went to yoga looking in hopes of getting enough of a boost to last me until bedtime. So far it has worked I only need to survive one more blog post, putting away the leftovers, folding a load of laundry, and letting the dog out before bed. some of those things can, and will, be done at the same time; multi-tasking a mother's best friend. I did not manage to get in a mile today, BUT my yoga class was an hour long and I still have 6 days left to manage 5 miles. It shall be done.
My meals today were not completely clean, but there were gluten free. Woo Hoo Yay Me! Seriously breaking my gluten addiction is a big ordeal. For breakfast I had a couple of hard boiled eggs with steamed greens and tomatoes. I didn't take a picture of it because, well frankly because it was ugly. But it tasted great. Here's lunch and dinner though:
Sesame Ginger Rice  Salad
Brown rice, carrot, cucumber, green onion, tomato, sesame ginger dressing
Served on top of salad greens
Roasted cabbage, Tomatoes, and Herbs de Provence Halibut with Broccoli Rice Casserole
 





















As you can see a lot of rice was had today (no I did not eat that entire container of Brown Rice salad) But what I'm most proud of is having greens in all three meals today. I didn't feel the need to eat myself senseless at any point today. Though that may have a lot to do with the fact that I can barely breath and the joy of eating is lessened quite a bit when you can't smell. I guess allergies are good for something every now and then? Well as usual thank ya'll for stopping by, maybe leave me a comment and let me know what you are working on adding in or crowding out of your life. Off to finish my day before calling it a night. 
Peace and Namaste Ya'll

Sunday, April 28, 2013

180 in 180 Day 2

Hey ya'll,
So today was Day 2 and it was mostly spent prepping for the upcoming week and doing a few chores around the house. My meals today were still not all that awesome, I started out well again but being unprepared for lunch got me.
For breakfast what I really wanted was a buttery flakey cinnamon roll and pan sausage. But instead I made brown rice into cinnamon maple loveliness with pan sausage from a local farm, scrambled eggs and the sweetest grapefruit ever. Not too shabby for a lazy Sunday.
But after a trip to the pharmacy and more meal prep time ahead of me I was sucked in to eating grilled chicken from KFC with mashed potatoes and gravy.

I haven't eaten dinner yet but it's getting late so simplicity is the name of the game. Maybe peanut butter and apple on rice cakes? Either way I'm watching  a movie with the hubby, doing my bedtime asana and hitting the hay in hopes of seeing another day. Sorry for the short post today but you'll hear from me again tomorrow.
Peace & Namaste Ya'll


Saturday, April 27, 2013

180 in 180 Day 1

Hey Ya'll,
So today marks the official start of my 180 degrees in 180 days mission. Today had a few rocky points in it because I was pretty much unprepared and having to gather myself. I went grocery shopping, which is my absolute favorite household chore but I have had little to no time to get any adequate shopping done in the last 2 weeks. I literally shuddered at that thought when I realized exactly how long it had been since I last purchased a full fridge worth of real food.
My morning started with a fruit & greens smoothie and a bag of popped chips (Yea....)
My lunch consisted of leftover pizza (yea... yet another awesome choice)
My dinner was a salad with tuna and I finished off my kid's plain potato chips from her sandwich (don't judge, that stopped me from seeking out a brownie or cookie and I'm trying to crowd out the gluten and sugar)
So food wise, not the most awesome day for me today, too many processed foods. BUT tomorrow I do all the menu prep and planning for the week and that will help things move significantly smoother.

Physically is walked another mile today (which makes 4 miles so far for this week) Only 1 more to go. I also did some dancing with some people that I love to celebrate new members of our organization being introduced. It's nearly bedtime for me....Who am i kidding it was bedtime 30 minutes ago. So I'm going to complete my bedtime yoga asana to wind down for the night and completely crash.

All in all today wasn't too much of a bust. I left the house to hangout with people I haven't seen in awhile, I got some exercise, only one meal was full of gluten, and I even had a little time to myself. Tomorrow's mission is to meal prep for the upcoming week, walk another mile, talk to my mother, and research career change options for myself. Changing my career is going to be the biggest milestone in this journey and I look forward to newness and flexibility opening up in my life. Well that's all for Day 1 folks, talk to you tomorrow.
Peace & Namaste Ya'll


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I wonder how long it would take?

Hey Ya'll,
I've been thinking (and sometimes that can be dangerous LOL) but this time I've been thinking about making the most of...well, of Everything. This year has brought about a number of media sensationalized tragedies and the exposure that these events were given have me feeling extremely mortal. It's easy to say tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, when the kids are out of the house, when I get a new job (etc. Etc.) as a way of postponing the things that need to happen to allow room for the things we Want to happen. So I've been wondering how long would it take for one person to really dig deep and take what they want out of life? I guess it really all depends on what exactly it is that the person is gunning for in their life, huh?
I know for sure that I want to do a full 180 degree turn about in my life. The way I eat (actually my overall relationship with food), my self-care habits, my career, my exercise regimen, my housekeeping habits, even my lovemaking habits with my husband. I want everything to be cleaner, more deliberate, more reliable, more enjoyable, and amazingly fun. I've spent so much of my life waiting until conditions were just right for the next level to be okay to reach for, but why? Maybe it's because I tend to feel as though I am not worthy of my next level's desires until I've mastered the few things that I'm supposed to be able to achieve at the level that I'm currently at (weight loss, housekeeping, studying, top notch work at work, etc.) So now I find myself wondering how long would it take for me to do a complete overhaul of my life, 6 months, 12 months 18 months? I am wondering if I can make a near 180 degree turn about in 180 days. New habits, new goals, new ideas, new career path, new sex life, new clothes, all ingrained in my life by the end of 180 days.I wonder if as I put myself through my health coaching program and document daily what I've accomplished if I can really melt away the most undesirable parts of my life? I'm willing to take on this experiment and tap into my nerd girl side to test my hypothesis. Saturday April 27, 2013 thru October Thursday October 24, 2013 will be the 180 days that I use to see just how much change can occur in that proposed time. So this means that you will need to hear from me more regularly than you currently do, daily rather weekly, hopefully you don't get tired of me. :-)
If anyone else out there decides to experiment on yourself let me know and let's share focal points. Here are mine:
To clean up my food habits - both how I purchase it and how I eat it (crowd out gluten & sugar)
To regulate my exercise regimen - build the yoga practice that I have been nursing back into existence. Walk at least 5 miles a week.
To choose the direction that my career will flow in for the next 5-10 years. - pick a lane and fly out of the one that I am currently in.
Have fun - To meet with my friend(s) and allow myself the chance to have mindless fun at least once every 3 or 4 weeks.
Make love a priority - Stop allowing life to suck the life out of me by the time it's "bed" time.
Do a little everyday - Let go of the idea that I have to have the time/desire/energy to clean the whole house in a single day. Try out other plans of attack to see what Really works for me. (maybe one room a day?)
Try out more of my ideas - Stop allowing good ideas to fall by the waist side, nurture them and see what really does work.
I think that these are reasonable changes to expect to happen in 180 days. They will all require daily participation and focus. These points will also have an enormous effect on my life once they are a way of life for me. I'm excited, let's see what happens and how close to 180 I get in 180.
Peace and Namaste Ya'll
  

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

San Francisco..Ding Ding!

Hey Ya'll,
So I am back in Texas, fresh faced and full of West coast seafood. Yay me! I visited and toured more places than ever during this trip. So much so that I managed to strain a muscle in my left calf. But I toughed it out to still be able to enjoy the whole trip. Chinatown, the Ferry Market Building, the Ferry Market Farmer's Market, Pier 39 and the Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, the Castro and Filmore districts, Japantown, and finally 4 beautiful wineries in Napa Valley. Are you a wee bit jealous yet? I'm kidding, I don't want to invoke jealous or envy in anyone, but if I can inspire someone to get up, get out, and see something new and lovely then that would be beautiful. Today's post will have my favorite photos of my trip rather than too many written words. So her we go:
CUESA The Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building Pier 1

Beautiful abundance everywhere

Filmore was beautiful...for a couple of blocks at least

Restored home in the Filmore district

The Aquarium was smaller than anticipated,  but still a lovely stop

The sea lion friends were very entertaining as always

One of my most favorite people to be around  and I got to vacation with her!

The Boudin sourdough factory

The Franciscan was absolutely worth the money

Cheese, Cheese, Glorious Cheese at V. Sattui

V. Sattui 2012 Sauvignon Blanc so nice I brought home a bottle

My favorite of the 4 wineries that we visited in Napa valley

These were just a few of my most favorite moments on my long weekend. I plan to make sure that it's not too long before another "New Sites" posting. Live Love and Experience EVERYTHING!! 2013 and the age of 30 starts the life I want to live. 
Peace and Namaste Ya'll

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I'm Going Going Back Back to Cali Cali!!

Hey Ya'll,
Guess what everyone, I'm turning the big 3-0 next weekend. Gasp! Shock! Horror! Not really, I'm very different from my peers (particularly the women) who are devastated by every birthday after their 29th. Personally I welcome each year with open arms and a broad smile because I am grateful to be given the chance to have made it through another year. Now that we are in a different position in our lives and have more means about us I intend to stop "making it through" another year and really, truly live every year that I am blessed with exactly the way I want to. Which shouldn't be too difficult because I don't want much in all honesty. I want to see the world, speak languages other than English, eat amazing food, practice yoga, and love my family and friends with every breath in my body. I believe that can be achieved each and every year until my time to leave this plane comes. And that sounds like a beautiful way to grow old.

So to kick off my quest in truly living each year given to me with gratitude and joy I will be going back to one of my most favorite places with one of my most favorite people this weekend. My Line-Sister and I are both celebrating our 30th birthdays touring the wine country of northern California!! Yay!! I am so excited I can barely contain myself, for me THIS is the epitome of Zen_Tasting. Cool breezes, wonderful food, learning new things about food and wine, practicing yoga in the early morning before touring the old Ghirardelli chocolate factory, eating salt water taffy while walking along the Fisherman's Wharf, and going to bed after drinking craft beer and playing pop culture trivia. That is the life I intend to sell myself as often as possible from now on and it is worth so much more that the vanity associated with aging.

If your birthday is approaching what do you have planned? How do you view aging? What idea makes aging less traumatizing? Find your Zen and roll with it because there is no stopping time; only enjoying it.
Peace and Namaste Ya'll

Friday, April 5, 2013

So Close I Can Taste It

Have you ever felt as if you knew exactly what you needed (to do or obtain) in order to allow the dominoes to all fall into place in your life? That if just one major "Primary Food" would shift in your life toward the right direction everything else would correct itself. I have that feeling often, but I now have the feeling that I will need to endure some discomfort and maybe even be a little "bad" in terms of what is expected of me at this stage of my life. You know, the whole wife, mother, sister, daughter thing. This year I made a goal board for myself and the biggest part of the board was to do things for me, things that make me happy or will place me in a space to advance my life in a way that will impact my eternity.

At one point I began to view my course work with IIN as just a way to see inside myself and heal. And I do absolutely still view this program as my personal healing platform, but what is different is I am viewing myself as my very first client. Which plants the seed of thought that there will be other clients to follow. Until the concept of group coaching was brought into the the coursework I was apprehensive about even considering myself a health coach. Now that I see a way of coaching that better suits my style, the concept does not produce such anxiety for me. Because I am nearly finished with the program I now have access to pretty much all documents and coaching tools. So unlike 6 months ago I am now equipped to really test my coaching skills out on the most difficult client ever... Me

Starting this Sunday I will begin a 6-month program on myself and hope to achieve some life altering goals. Both in my Primary Food (the food that nourishes my soul) and my Secondary Food (the food that nourishes my body). I fully intend for this year to be different from years past. I intend to live the life that I know is deep within me and in doing so I will be able to share my beliefs with credibility. I only hope to bring awareness to my community and to "Be the change that I want to see in the world". Which domino of your life needs to be re-positioned first to get the line falling into place?
Peace & Namaste Ya'll