Embracing My Health

Stop back in, I’m back in the swing starting in 3, 2, 1…

Each week, I help my friend Dana Roc, put together her ezine for Monday morning distribution.  Dana is one of my dearest friends and I am inspired by her.  Her  weekly insight this week really gave me a great reminder that to be one of those individuals who “makes it” - whether it be in my health goals, or my personal and professional life — there’s a price.   Dana’s words echo my Dad who told me for years “Nothing worthwhile comes easy…”

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I am not the first to acknowledge the fact that there are no shortcuts to greatness and I will not be the last. Many before me have discovered for themselves that there is, after all, no easy road to extraordinary accomplishment and no unobstructed path to achieving that desired sense of profound self satisfaction and reward. Many more will inevitably conclude the same, and discover for themselves that -

True greatness will demand much more of you than you might be willing to give.

If the desire of your heart has been to leave behind undeniable evidence that you came and that you played, altering forever what once was, you have no doubt figured out by now that you have to pay the price, crystal clear that if you aspire to get beyond what has become excruciatingly mundane, you will have to wage war against your undercover commitment to keep having more of the same, while you struggle to resist the urge to settle for whatever it is you don’t have to pursue.

It was as clear to me as the nose on my face - I was meant to be an actor. And, as I mapped out exactly how my life would logically unfold from the safety and comfort of my own imagination, I was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would, one day -

“arrive”.

What I would eventually discover is that merely wanting is not nearly enough. I would learn through one agonizing experience after another that ambition hurts sometimes, that rejection can be cruel and that patience rarely, if ever, occurs like a reward.

I wanted to be an actor. I studied it. I lived it. I loved it - until - it demanded of me real sacrifice. At the point where the rubber should have met the road, I rationalized myself right out of the chance to finally play.

Imagine.

I really, really wanted to become an actor but what I had yet to reconcile for myself was the fact that really, really wanting to become is very distinct from being willing to work and reach and grapple and believe when there is absolutely no reason to. Wanting and willing are two entirely different conversations. Wanting talks a good game while willing walks the walk. I could talk the talk with the best of them. But, when it came down to walking the walk, I chose to turn and walk away.

And you?

Are you a talker or a walker? A dreamer or a doer? Have you found deep within yourself the courage to go after what you say you really want - no matter what — for the opportunity to achieve that sense of profound self satisfaction and reward?

Most people will not accept the invitation to go through the fire for what waits on the other side and not everybody will resolve within themselves to do whatever it takes. Many will indeed begin and some will even try hard, but few of us however, will actually achieve greatness because -

True greatness will demand much more than most are willing to give.

Because ambition hurts, because rejection can be cruel, because patience will not provide you comfort, because you have give it everything you’ve got -

the odds are, like me, you’ll choose to walk away.

Once upon a time I did give up and I used to wonder what might have been had I demanded of myself to work and to reach and to grapple and to believe when there was every good reason not to. Now, equipped with what only experience can inflict, I look forward instead to what might one day be, with the full expectation that who I think I am will battle relentlessly each and every day with who I imagine I can still become.

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To learn more about Dana, visit her website, DanaRoc.com and sign up for her weekly ezine.  You’ll be glad you did!

Thanks for the encouragement and support in response to my last post.  Seeing the progress really is a motivator! 

I’ve got a week and a half of holidays ahead and I’m thinking about them this morning.  I don’t want to back track.  I’m feeling two things.  One, I’d like to continue losing weight, or at a minimum stay at my current weight.  And two, I want to feel great.  I don’t want to feel that physical malaise, icks, blahs or that “ooph, I shouldn’t have eaten that” feeling.  

I’m going to have to be flexible since I will be staying with family.  But here’s my first thought.  I think I will buy enough produce when I get into town to make a massive salad to go along with each meal.  That way, I can pile on the raw foods and minimize the amount of cooked and less healthy food choices I’m eating.  Paul & I decided we are going to pack our juicer and blender too — if you can believe that.  ;)  We both love our green lemonade juices first thing in the morning.  And I definitely want to keep my green smoothies going as well.  It’s a little unorthodox to travel with a juicer and blender, sure…  But keeping the high quality nutrition coming our way feels more than worth it.

My question for you today:  Do you have any strategies you are going to be following through Christmas and New Years?  If so, share with us! 

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

This month has sped by.   We’ve had snow, ice, and sunshine.  It’s been a lovely Christmas season - and sharing it with my 4 year old daughter, has been such a gift.

I haven’t been rigid with my eating and my progress, while good, isn’t as far along as it could be.  I had goaled to be at 230.  That was a good goal, provided I had created an effective structure for achieving it.  I didn’t though - and without that, I continued progressing but not as quickly.  That said, I found these two pictures that really help me see how far I have come.

The more I think about it, the more I’m certain that having a structure will bring me the biggest results.  That will be my focus in the coming year… automating everything so that it becomes like breathing to the food that I want to, exercising, and living a fully embraced life. 

So, click more to see the numbers…

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CNN published an article today titled: “Happiness is contagious in social networks.“  Here are a few excerpts:

If you’re feeling great today, you may end up inadvertently spreading the joy to someone you don’t even know.  New research shows that in a social network, happiness spreads among people up to three degrees removed from one another. That means when you feel happy, a friend of a friend of a friend has a slightly higher likelihood of feeling happy too.

Also interesting to me - it appears that if you are healthy and happy, there is a larger chance that your friends will become so too!  That’s exciting… what we do does make a difference for our friends and family.

“Like happiness, both smoking behavior and obesity seem to spread within three degrees of separation in a social network.”

It’s like your mom always said… who your friends are DO matter.  On the road to embracing love, life and your health, it’s good to pick the right friends.  And, remember, who you are matters to your friends too!

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Goji berries, also known as Lycium barbarum, wolfberry, gou qi zi, and ructus lycii, are a unique dried fruit.  If you haven’t tried one, it’s unlike anything you’ve had before.  Packed with healthy nutrition, this is a fruit worth adding into your menu. Here’s why:

• Goji berries contain 18 Amino acids (six times higher than bee pollen), more Beta Carotene than carrots, more Iron than spinach, and 21 Trace Minerals
• Goji berries contain Vitamin B1, B2, B6, and Vitamin E (rarely found in fruits)
• Goji berries contain more protein than whole wheat. They are 13% protein and are a complete protein.
• They contain many complex compounds, phytonutrients, and antioxidants.

Some ideas on how to add these nutritional powerhouses into your menu…

• sprinkle on your cold or hot cereal like you would raisins.
• add into bread or muffin batters
• chop and add to your homemade vinaigrette
• top your salads with a handful
• add into a trail mix or granola recipe
• add 8-10 berries into your hot tea, they will lightly flavor your tea and you can eat the flavorful berries once they’ve plumped up from the soaking in the hot tea
• soak a handful of berries in water first and then add into a smoothie recipe

My question for you: Do you eat Goji berries? If so, what’s your favorite way?

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

This past week was a good one.  I’m feeling more and more of a divide from my prior eating habits and my new ones.  I haven’t completely settled into a new routine, so the time to stick to my healthy changes is every day.  I created pages that I posted in my pantry letting me know how many days to my next goal.  It’s been great having that visual reminder.

So, to the numbers…

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I had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.  We went to a friend’s family Thanksgiving celebration.  We were spoiled rotten with wonderful food, great company and no dishes when we got home!  It doesn’t get much better than that! 

My question for you: How was your holiday?  What are you thankful for?

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Weight: 246
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 37.4

Measurements

Neck: 14.25
Bicep: 14.5  (-.5″)
Forearm: 11 (-.5″)
Chest: 46 (-1″)
Waist: 44
Hips: 48
Thigh: 26
Calf: 18

No weight loss this week, but I’m not surprised.  I am happy to see some body “restructuring” though — with some inches lost around my upper body.  It’s interesting that my size has shrunk in regions.  My waist and hips have lost weight first, and now my upper body is seeing some results.  My neck and limbs have seen the least reduction… I’m guessing that will start to appear as I continue on.  Any loss is exciting though.

Oh, and I have to tell you.  I reconnected with a friend yesterday who I haven’t talked with for 4-5 years.  I found her blog and was so inspired by her.  She has a son, who is only a couple of weeks younger than Amira, who inspired her to transform her life to be the healthiest she can be.  Last I saw her, she was beautiful but carrying some extra pounds.  The new pictures I saw of her - she’s fit, trim and.. a TRIATHELE!  And not just a triathlete - one who wins first prize in her category!  Absolutely inspiring!  She’s definitely inspired me to get my fitness routine into gear!  More on that to come!

My question for you: What motivates and inspires you to be your healthiest?

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

• Breakfast: Juice - red leaf lettuce, green kale, cucumber, celery, apple, and lemon
• Mid-morning: Smoothie - arugula, banana, mango and pear (I won’t use arugula again, a little intense for my tastes)
• Lunch: raw borscht soup with flaxseed crackers  (good soup, but also too intense for me.  The cabbage actually hurt my throat by the time I was done.  I’d try the recipe again, but maybe with something replacing the cabbage)
• Snack: banana
• Dinner: Guacamole salad!  Delicious way to end the day — I love this salad.  (And hey, Catherine, lots of cilantro!  ;))