Category Archives: Bouncing about.

9.7

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The results are coming later today on who won the challenge for Skinny Beeyach. But I got weighed this morning, and lost 9.7 pounds since January 1.

To be honest, when I stepped on the scale I was hoping for any change. I was hoping for one or two pounds. Not nearly as staggering as 9.7. And the best part? I haven’t changed anything drastically…I’ve eaten better, eaten less, drank more water, and exercised when I could. I’ve made sure I’ve gotten sleep, and planned outdoor activities on the weekends to get us moving.

I am proud of the changes I made, because I think they can be sustained throughout the year, integrated into my life. I can’t wait to see what these changes bring in the year ahead, but for now, I’m looking forward to yoga tonight, skiing this weekend, and having more energy to do what I love in the coming months.

 

I’ll ride with the tide and go with the flow

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We’ve headed to 2012 with gusto. This year is is full of hope, and I’m attempting to ride the hope train as far as it’ll take me.

Last night, I ran for the first time of the year, working myself back into jogging. I rewarded myself with a fresh smoothie and a big salad dinner, with delicious cheese and salmon. This morning, I got up for yoga, and my yoga said, “Don’t visualize what you don’t want, or what’s wrong with your life. Visualize what you do want.”

Though I’ve said Kundalini yoga isn’t my jam, I must say it’s nice that I’m in a class where my eyes are closed, and my poses are no one’s but my own. It’s also nice sometimes to roll around on the floor and laugh a little. And yes, we definitely rolled around on the floor.

This morning’s yoga was based on the immune system, which is great because I fear I’m getting Jeff’s cold. It was a class in a smaller room, so there was lots of giggling as we all ran into one another and dealt with the tight spaces as best we could.

Tonight I’m headed out for a night on the town with two girls who I went to my study abroad program with. I can’t wait to laugh our heads off, as we always do. Tomorrow, hopefully I’ll be headed to more yoga to keep this year movin’ along.

And, hopefully this weekend I’ll be working on my newly decided goal of the year: run 100 miles in 2012. Last year I ran 54 miles, and I know I have more than that in me. I’m sure my sister runs like 100 miles a month, but for me, this is a goal that is obtainable but still challenging. Wish me luck, friends!

 

shake it out, shake it out.

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Happy 2012! This year’s first week has gone swimmingly, I’m happy to report. First of, we returned from the east on January 1, just in time to celebrate Jeff and my 5 year anniversary. I had Monday off, and so we spent the day relaxing and I started strong with a New Year’s resolution to be healthier. Step one was to relax more, step two was to exercise, and step three is to spend some more time working out.

And so, Monday I headed to yoga at the nearby yoga studio. It was my first experience with Kundalini Yoga, which I must confess I don’t think it quite my yoga. It’s a bit more meditation than I am used to, which does the opposite of relax me and rather stresses me out.

Nonetheless, I have a Groupon, and the Hatha Yoga classes aren’t at the most convenient times. And so, I have continued to go. Anyways, so I go to yoga on Monday during the day, and again on Tuesday morning. I babysat on Tuesday night, so I skipped Wednesday yoga, and opted for a 3 mile walk with Jeff around West Hollywood, the area we want to move, instead.

Thursday morning I was back at the yoga, and this morning I liked the most of all my yoga days at this new studio. Even though what I am about to say is pretty weird, it was actually fun, freeing, and made me giggle.

For the first ten minutes or so of class, our teacher asked us to wave our hands, torsos, and heads, while sitting cross legged on the floor, to music, as fast and as “crazy” as we could. And all I could think the entire time was of the Florence + the Machine song “Shake it Out.”

2011 was a rough year for a lot of reasons, and I think 2012 is going to be the year of shaking it out. As our yoga teacher yelled, “SHAKE IT OUT! SHAKE OUT YOUR ANGER. WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHEN YOU NEED TO STOP, THAT’S WHEN YOU MUST KEEP GOING.” He sounded one part Wonka, one part Billy Blanks, and strangely, one part my mother. You must keep going. You must finish. You must do this.

And so, this year is about standing the test of time. Of getting healthy. Of shaking it out. Of standing up, and breathing. One day at a time. And, my new motto for the year is to do less, better. I heard it from somewhere (I think Real Simple) and it’s stuck. We get ourselves so busy, so tired, and so run down, we miss out on our actual LIVES. And so, this year, I shall do less. better.

After Thursday morning’s session, I rounded the week off with another long walk on Friday, and a day at the beach on Saturday. Today, Jeff and I biked about 16 miles along the LA River. I still haven’t unpacked, and I’m ok with that. There is sand on the floor from the beach, there are some dishes to be done, and Jeff and I are sitting here plotting an eventual trip to Europe. Life, my friends, is grand.

What are your new year’s resolutions? Or is your resolution not to have one? I’d love to hear from you!

baby open up your eyes

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I must say that being “home” has definitely given me a boost that I needed at this time of the year. Although I hadn’t been to my parents house in Illinois yet, I am happy to announce that it definitely already feels just like what Camp Waterloo was.

I’ve been instagraming a lot o my days since it’s easy for me to post photos on the road then upload them, sort through them, edit them, and upload them when I am busy nearly all day every day.

And by busy, I mean watching movies, hanging with the family, and heading to the museum. And eating. Lots and lots of eating.

Here are a few choice instagrams for those of you who don’t follow me, or don’t have facebook, or maybe have just been as busy as me!

My parents’ Christmas tree, which is losing needles but is still beautiful.

Fried shrimp from Christmas eve dinner.

The wrapping paper my mom used for my presents, because she said it reminded her of me (I wonder why? Because I had a bright red coat circa 2005? Sometimes I wonder why SS, K, and the rest of my Boston gang were even FRIENDS with me.)

My family’s new neighborhood! We’ve been taking daily walks around the neighborhood, which has just been a splendid addition to my life.

A photo from the Dr. Seuss exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry! We spent five hours there today, touching all the exhibits, making tornadoes, seeing trains, eating ice cream, and learning about the human body. I think I could spend three days in that museum and still have things to see!

What have you all been doing over your holiday break? I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas and is enjoying some time off with family and friends!