Another week of 5x at the gym; Tina was right things are getting easier. Except that's it's a double edged sword because the better I do the more she adds to my workout routine.... The lunges are now accompanied by 10# weights and I'm nowing doing "ball wall squats" with a large exercise ball pressed up against the wall. Boy I really know where my quad muscles are located. This coming week I start a pilates class on Monday and Wednesday with another trainer at the gym, Rosa. It will be Mondays 3 - 4:30 and Weds 12 - 1:00 - all intended to build core muscles in the abdomen. You mean I really have an abdomen underneath the rolls?
The diet is progressing; I don't notice any cravings for sugary foods but do still hunger for salt and crunchy food, ie: popcorn and chips. Being a popcorn fanatic, movies aren't worth it without a bowl of the salt and fat, it's hard to limit myself to only 2 cups of the lowfat microwave stuff. It's almost easier to have none at all. It's also a challenge to eat so many times a day - I feel like I'm constantly eating, preparing or storing food and yet I do know that it's much healthier and easier on the digestive system to have frequent small meals rather than 3 large ones - especially as the day goes on.
With all this work I have noticed that I've already gone down almost one whole size as I had to return something to TJ Maxx on Thursday during a trip to Santa Fe. I tried on some summer shorts/skirts and they fit in the smaller size! My weight hasn't changed even one ounce but Tina assures me that muscle weighs more than fat - a fact I'm well aware of from my days as a Curves owner - so it's not discouraging. It's more important to me how my clothes fit and how I generally feel.
The liquid herbal supplements are becoming easier to get down; the gag reflex has relaxed somewhat - not that I'm ready to take on anything else.
The tarot class progresses; each week we explore the history and symbolism of 4 new cards - this week it was the Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers and the The High Priestess. The instructor assigns movies, books and meditation for homework each week - surely enough to keep us busy. It's amazing to me to get a glimpse of the historical symbolism in the cards - much like art history and to learn about cultural beliefs stemming from B.C. up through the Medieval Ages. It puts modern Christianity and Judaism in a different perspective when you know more of the history of the "original movers and shakers". The Cathars, The Knights Templar, the Crusdades, The Gnostic Bible, Hermetism, Greek Mythology - to name but a few.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
First week
So I did make it to the gym five times last week; a combo of cardio, strength training with the weight machines and free weights and swimming. Tina, my personal trainer, led me thru 2 sessions of upper and body strength training - the day after I could really tell - my muscles were really sore.... Let's just say stairs and changing levels of any kind were a challenge. She assures me that that will only be temporary and that my muscles will adjust - at least until she adds up the reps to 3 sets of 12's rather than 2 sets....
I've can't remember ever being so preoccupied with my body as I have over the last week - between eating 5 - 6 small meals/day, drinking at least 8 glasses of water, taking tinctures to support my liver, pancreas, thyroid, etc., fiber tablets 6x/day, detox with foot patches and herbs - it feels like a full time job. Hopefully my body is eliminating toxins and building my immune system. Oh by the way at the "heart party" last Monday I tested out at a chronological age of 35 which I thought was pretty good considering I'm 56! I did start on the L Arginine though to assist with lower my cholesterol and they retest for free in a month to check on progress.
I have still managed to get some writing done and my two classes have started up again to give me focus. Nothing like having a deadline looming to get you motivated.
I'm still trying to safeguard Mon, Tues and Weds as writing days, so far so good.
I also started a new class on Saturday morning on the history and uses of the Tarot taught by Taroist, Jan Walker, with over 30 years of experience and research in the Tarot. It's definitely a college level class because I walk away after two hours with over 6 pages of notes.... Learning about the archetypes and their history is fascinating; each week she assigns homework as well so this should be really helpful for my intuitive readings.
So only one more week of a cleanse, thank goodness. After that my naturopath recommends that you really only need it once or twice a year. Barbara Tracy, the naturopath, explained a very plausible reason for my recent pancreatitis. She said that because I've had my gallbladder removed my liver and pancreas have been working overtime to digest what I eat and she says it was probably only a matter of time before either my liver or pancreas became annoyed at the overwork. So she's prescribed some digestive enzymes to aid with the process - probably something I'll have to be aware of for the future. I am really pleased that she is the first doctor that has come up with a reasonable explanation because the hospital docs weren't able to....
I've can't remember ever being so preoccupied with my body as I have over the last week - between eating 5 - 6 small meals/day, drinking at least 8 glasses of water, taking tinctures to support my liver, pancreas, thyroid, etc., fiber tablets 6x/day, detox with foot patches and herbs - it feels like a full time job. Hopefully my body is eliminating toxins and building my immune system. Oh by the way at the "heart party" last Monday I tested out at a chronological age of 35 which I thought was pretty good considering I'm 56! I did start on the L Arginine though to assist with lower my cholesterol and they retest for free in a month to check on progress.
I have still managed to get some writing done and my two classes have started up again to give me focus. Nothing like having a deadline looming to get you motivated.
I'm still trying to safeguard Mon, Tues and Weds as writing days, so far so good.
I also started a new class on Saturday morning on the history and uses of the Tarot taught by Taroist, Jan Walker, with over 30 years of experience and research in the Tarot. It's definitely a college level class because I walk away after two hours with over 6 pages of notes.... Learning about the archetypes and their history is fascinating; each week she assigns homework as well so this should be really helpful for my intuitive readings.
So only one more week of a cleanse, thank goodness. After that my naturopath recommends that you really only need it once or twice a year. Barbara Tracy, the naturopath, explained a very plausible reason for my recent pancreatitis. She said that because I've had my gallbladder removed my liver and pancreas have been working overtime to digest what I eat and she says it was probably only a matter of time before either my liver or pancreas became annoyed at the overwork. So she's prescribed some digestive enzymes to aid with the process - probably something I'll have to be aware of for the future. I am really pleased that she is the first doctor that has come up with a reasonable explanation because the hospital docs weren't able to....
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Starting with a Cleanse
My friend, Andy Mason, from Pittsfield, Kansas lost well over a 100 #'s last year using the Isagenic program, daily exercising and emotional release work.... He inspired me by writing a weekly blog, "Unzipping Your Fat Suit" about his efforts and successes. I have decided to follow his example and keep a written public record of experiences along the same vein.
As is true for alot of us I have started the new year affirming my desire to release more weight, improve my health, lower my cholesterol & blood sugar and get fit. So to assist and support me I have taken advantage of a special offer by one of the personal trainers at the gym where I work and have contracted for 8 sessions with her to get me started on my workout routine. Additionally she is a distributor for Synergy, Intl., (Ron Williams, award winning weight lifter and nutritionist)and I have decided to try one of their products, Argi-9, which is a natural derivative of arginine - an all natural supplement which helps lower cholesterol. Tomorrow there is a "Healthy Heart" party at the gym where for $30 they test your heart functioning and determine the developmental age of your heart. I hope it's at least within the decade of my chronological age or younger....
And yesterday at Cid's, the natural health food store in town, I bought an organic total body cleanse (sans the flu), detox patches for my feet (several people I know swear by them)and stocked up on brown rice, veggies, flax seed, ezekial bread, and organic fruit. I traded a session with a medical intuitive early in the week and basically, without getting too personal, she told me that a cleanse and healing diet would definitely be in my best interest. I naively thought that not eating much for 3 weeks and having the typical symptoms of the flu would have definitely cleansed me.... She educated me about the fact that that was only a "superficial" cleanse and did not get at the deeper level of toxins and the crud that builds up in all our intestines over the years - especially if we have ingested more than our fair share or refined carbohydrates. Who me?
Of course they all tell me to stop drinking coffee; start drinking green tea instead - and eat complex carbs (think whole grain), organic fruits and vegetables and essential fatty acids as well as filtered clean water. I plan to ease myself into this; doing it all at once would be a sure fire way to give up within 3 days. So I plan to approach the changes in a series of steps:
Step 1: workout at the gym 5x/week; alternating upper and lower body resistance training and incorporating cardio exercise via the treadmill/elliptical
Step 2: Eliminating refined carbs from my diet
Step 3: By then I should be prepared to do the total body cleanse
So now that means I'm off to the gym for my 30 min session of cardio....
As is true for alot of us I have started the new year affirming my desire to release more weight, improve my health, lower my cholesterol & blood sugar and get fit. So to assist and support me I have taken advantage of a special offer by one of the personal trainers at the gym where I work and have contracted for 8 sessions with her to get me started on my workout routine. Additionally she is a distributor for Synergy, Intl., (Ron Williams, award winning weight lifter and nutritionist)and I have decided to try one of their products, Argi-9, which is a natural derivative of arginine - an all natural supplement which helps lower cholesterol. Tomorrow there is a "Healthy Heart" party at the gym where for $30 they test your heart functioning and determine the developmental age of your heart. I hope it's at least within the decade of my chronological age or younger....
And yesterday at Cid's, the natural health food store in town, I bought an organic total body cleanse (sans the flu), detox patches for my feet (several people I know swear by them)and stocked up on brown rice, veggies, flax seed, ezekial bread, and organic fruit. I traded a session with a medical intuitive early in the week and basically, without getting too personal, she told me that a cleanse and healing diet would definitely be in my best interest. I naively thought that not eating much for 3 weeks and having the typical symptoms of the flu would have definitely cleansed me.... She educated me about the fact that that was only a "superficial" cleanse and did not get at the deeper level of toxins and the crud that builds up in all our intestines over the years - especially if we have ingested more than our fair share or refined carbohydrates. Who me?
Of course they all tell me to stop drinking coffee; start drinking green tea instead - and eat complex carbs (think whole grain), organic fruits and vegetables and essential fatty acids as well as filtered clean water. I plan to ease myself into this; doing it all at once would be a sure fire way to give up within 3 days. So I plan to approach the changes in a series of steps:
Step 1: workout at the gym 5x/week; alternating upper and lower body resistance training and incorporating cardio exercise via the treadmill/elliptical
Step 2: Eliminating refined carbs from my diet
Step 3: By then I should be prepared to do the total body cleanse
So now that means I'm off to the gym for my 30 min session of cardio....
A Taoseno New Year
The day before New Year's Eve I treated myself to a much needed massage after my three week experience with the stomach flu/pancreatitis. Christina inquired about my NY's eve plans; in my trance I mentioned that I didn't have any yet and automatically/politely asked her about hers. She shared that she was going to a Dance celebration at the Taos Dance Academy which would include a free-form 5rhythyms dance (ala Gabrielle Roth), meditation, intentions, a manifestation ritual and a gong recital. Count me in. She said that it was from 7 pm - midnight and that the doors would close at 7:15pm so as to build the energy in the group and maintain the cohesion of people attending. So, not having been out and about for several weeks, I decided that this would be my debut back into the world and an inspiring way to usher in 2009.
Visuddha is the dance instructor and her website is: www.movedandbemoved.com - she leads weekly women's and mixed dance groups using the 5 rhythyms method. Almost 40 people participated; we started the evening by being smudged with wet sage, removed our shoes, took in our mats and journals and started in circle, holding hands and affirming our intentions for 2009. We ceremonially released anything from 2008 which no longer served us and welcomed our heart's desires for the new year. Excellent health is certainly on the top of my list; dear to my heart following the recent three week ordeal.
At the end of the evening, after sweating, praying, meditating and drawing we curled up on our mats and sleeping bags and listen to Visuddha beat the gongs in different patterns and hear her friend Elizabeth chant in acapella in accompaniement. A magical evening; I had no trouble falling asleep after arriving back at my earthship at 12:15.
Visuddha is the dance instructor and her website is: www.movedandbemoved.com - she leads weekly women's and mixed dance groups using the 5 rhythyms method. Almost 40 people participated; we started the evening by being smudged with wet sage, removed our shoes, took in our mats and journals and started in circle, holding hands and affirming our intentions for 2009. We ceremonially released anything from 2008 which no longer served us and welcomed our heart's desires for the new year. Excellent health is certainly on the top of my list; dear to my heart following the recent three week ordeal.
At the end of the evening, after sweating, praying, meditating and drawing we curled up on our mats and sleeping bags and listen to Visuddha beat the gongs in different patterns and hear her friend Elizabeth chant in acapella in accompaniement. A magical evening; I had no trouble falling asleep after arriving back at my earthship at 12:15.
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