A Little Bit of This, That and Inspiration

It's a cold and stormy day here in Ottawa. Looking out my office window and onto the street all I can see is white, white and more white. We've already received about 10 cm of snow and we are expecting another 20 cm throughout the day. Winter is finally here!



I opted not to go to Yoga today because of the road conditions. However, my friend and I decided to go to the gym instead as the gym is very close. Wow, somethings surely have changed with me. LOL In the past, I would of taken this opportunity to hibernate. The excuse would have been a piece of cake, pardon the pun. "Everyone is home, and the roads are bad"...easy. I will take this victory in my new attitude, even though I loathe working-out. I love what it does to my entire being.



On another note, loved watching The Biggest Loser season finale last night. I was so happy to see Rebecca take the at home prize, and elated for Danny winning it all! Rudy did Rebecca a favour when he back stabbed her and sent her home, feeling she was his strongest competition for the title. Everyone (even I) underestimated Danny. I mean, we were all so focused on Rudy's incredible numbers on the scale, Tracey's whining and Liz's southern accent that we all but forgot about the underdog! Highlights last night were Abby who looked amazing as well as Antoine and Julio. Vavoom. Shay's incredible journey thus far brought tears to my eyes. Oh, and Amanda!!! She looked absolutely perfect. Loved her victory at wearing her very first dress since she was a little girl! Love, loved that!



However, what I don't like about this show is how contestants get so ghastly thin for the finale. Rebecca and Tracey most notably in this category. Not that I am not happy for Rebecca taking the victory away from Tracy...that was the best moment after all the cruel things Tracey did to everyone. Nonetheless, there should be rules protecting the contestants from losing too much below their recommended BMI's. Rebecca and Tracey are way to thin in my book. Rebecca has lost all her charm and cute little face...and will someone please tell her that she's a gorgeous brunette, blond just doesn't suit her.



All in all, I was elated with last night's results. The most deserving contestant's won this season as opposed to Helen's win last season. (Still can't get over the fact that she chose to send her own daughter home...so she could stay on the Ranch! Tara deserved to win last season...hands down!) I am most happy to see that Rudy did not win. I believe he played the game the entire time and stayed under the radar. Danny worked hard and kept his integrity at the same time. A well deserved win and inspiration.



Another amazing inspirational story is that of a fellow blogger Joania. Read all about her incredible journey:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/journey+almost/2318975/story.html

That's it, that's all for today.
Be well!

Namaste,
Kimmy

Follow-up to Stepping out of the Box

I hope this finds everyone happy and well on this first day of December. Last month of the year already, time flies.

With all the happenings last week, I forgot to come back and report my 'Stepping out of the Box' experience.

Let me just say it was AWESOME and HOT!

I decided to go to Hot Power Yoga. I was extremely nervous. First of all, I am not very flexible. I do yoga very awkwardly. Not only do I look weird, I feel weird. I am also not coordinated in any way. I am clumsy...clumsy...clumsy. So being graceful, controlled and aesthetic for yoga is never going to happen for me. Nevertheless, I know that Yoga is excellent for total body wellness.

I tried doing it at home, on my own. It's just not the same. Plus, with three kids in the house and a very busy household...never any peace.

So, after much passive aggressiveness, protestation, and refutal, I decided to take the plunge. I believe it was Bob Harper who said that in order for one to change their habits, you must step out of the box. Get out of the everyday comfort zone and do something you've always wanted to do. In order to reach your goals, you must find that courage and determination to get you there.

I always aspired to be one of those fit girls. Ya, know the type. She wears all Lulu lemon clothes, and they fit her body magically. She makes the work-out gear look like formal wear the way it shapes her body. Her hair is perfectly brushed in a beautiful ponytail. Her work-out gear is neat, organized and matches. Just the way she sits on the mat, in peace...you know she's good. She's a Yoga Sensei. Her body moves effortlessly from pose to pose. She looks model perfect in every pose, smiling throughout the entire session. Anyhow, I always wished to emulate such a type when "I would be thin and fit myself'.

So thus I decided, "why wait until I'm thinner and fit"? Yoga will help me reach those goals.
I took that leap of faith, and did it. Yes, I was nervous and awkward...But, I finished. What a feeling! I cannot tell you how glorious it felt when we we were all done, and I hadn't fallen on my butt or made some burst out laughing at my attempts. I may not have looked all picture perfect (aside from maybe corpse pose!), but I did feel so free and loose afterwards. Oh! and staying at the VERY back of the class helps too! :>

I have to agree with Bob. Stepping out of the box is essential to reaching those goals. Proving to ourselves that we can do it; today. Sure being in the box makes us feel safe and secure. It gives us the excuse 'not to do it'. The box keeps us stuck. It keeps us stagnate, and holds us back from moving forth on our journey. Taking the courage and determination to make that first step gives us the power back. It shows us that we are strong, and we can do this. It opens the door to so many other experiences that await us....one step at a time.

I may not be perfectly yogalicious...but I am working on it!

Namaste,
Kimmy

Thank God It's Friday Update

Oprah!!!! Is ending her show?! Holy! I have basically a year and a half to get on there. Otherwise, my psychics' prediction won't come true!? (Sounds ludicrous, I know...but more than one person has told me this...so one can dream, eh?!) I'm not worried though. Apparently, Oprah is ending her show, to start up some stuff on her OWN network. Ah...we'll leave it with the Universe and see what happens.


Speaking of the Universe and freaky stuff. It has been a year to date since I last worked out with my ex-trainer Lene at Goodlife. So this week last year was the last I trained with her, when I found out I had a hernia. The other day, I went to the gym and noticed Lene's photo off the 'trainer wall'.

Lene has recently quit Goodlife and started working at a private gym, here in my neighbourhood (fancy that!). I contacted her and discovered that she is giving exercise classes at the private gym.

I'm in! The time, the day, the location and the price is perfect. The creepy thing is....we will continue our journey working together: one year to the date where we left off! Plus, I am at the exact weight I was a year ago. Most notably, I'm in a much better place emotionally and mentally than last year at this time. Life can be beautifully strange

I'm hoping this will shake things up for me. My weight is really stuck. I'm trying hard not to get discouraged. Furthermore, I'm working out extra hard in order to budge the scale before I get depressed and disheartened. I've added this core exercise class, and the Hot Power Yoga on Wednesday's to shake my body up. I've also added five minutes to my cardio. Tony and I have also taken a few walks at night. There's nothing else I can do...but work hard and wait for my body to let go of that fat!

I received an email from my friend yesterday regarding a recent post I made: "I'm heading to Hot Power Yoga....wish me luck...the chubby, uncoordinated, inflexible girl is doing something she would only do as a skinny girl! "

" Kimmy if you speak that way about yourself, the universe is listening...and you will always be the 'chubby, undoordinated, inflexible girl'. You of all people should know this?! I don't need to preach to you about this, as you are the one who taught it to me. However, like any good teacher...you need a gentle reminder too. Change your thoughts, change your journey and change your life!"

She is right! The mind is a powerful tool, and the Universe is always listening. So I leave you on this great Friday, wishing you all a wonderful week-end. This healthy, beautiful, fit girl has got to go work-out! ;>

Kimmy

Stepping out of the Box

I've had time to reflect and think. I've gotten a few answers to my trainer's questions.

Reflecting, and getting stronger is really part of this journey too. Trying to balance parenting, a relationship, housework, school work and life is all part of it. Waiting for a better day to work-out, eat better is not going to happen. Learning to balance everything is key. I know I've said this before; however it is the key.

I also know that in order to have success, I must act like I am successful already. In other words, saying to myself; 'oh, when I am thin...I will run a 5k, I will go to yoga etc...' Kim! It's not going to happen if I don't do it now. Now is the time...Again, athletes think and act like athletes long before they reach their goals. Business people dress for success long before they reach the top. I clued in that us on a healthier lifestyle journey must do the same.

What does that mean for me? First of all, no more binging! On Sunday, I had an opportunity to binge (as Sunday is usually my day of rest, and treat). However, this Sunday I did a 45 minute (hard) cardio session. If I wanted to treat myself that night....working-out was a must. It completely worked in my favour.

1. I didn't eat as much
2. I made wiser 'treat' choices

In addition, I have come to realize that in order to be successful in this healthier lifestyle journey. You must do it for yourself. I realized that when I had reached my goal weight both times in the past, I did it for others. Eventually, piled the weight back on.

The first time as a teenager. My mother had promised me an entire new wardrobe if I could lose weight. I lost 80 lbs and won a prestigious award through TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly). I was the talk of my town. Everyone was so proud of me. Nonetheless, my Mom never came through on her promise. As you can imagine being a teenager, it's all about the clothes. Finally, for the first time in my life I could wear clothes that not only looked good, but fit good. I remember floating in my clothes. I ended up getting an after school job making pizza's for $ 4.00 an hour, saved and saved and bought some clothes. The biggest disappointment was the fact that I knew my mother had the money.

The second weight loss story, I've told many times on this blog. I lost over one hundred pounds, looked my best ever, only to have my hubby have an affair on me. The biggest betrayal of my life. To add fuel to the fire, the girl was not even good looking, or a 'good' person. However, my marriage is stronger than ever...and I look at this time as a blessing. We both learned valuable lessons from this time. My only one left: I can be healthy and fit and my hubby will still love me!

Anyhow, all this to babble about finding my truths. I've been watching allot of 'weight loss' programs these days. It was something Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser) said that really struck a nerve with me. He said something along the lines that if you want to really conquer your weight loss goals (because according to Dr. Oz only 5 % of those who attempt a weight loss journey actually succeed), you MUST STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. YOU MUST STEP OUT OF THE BOX.

That is a biggie for me! I know I have to do it. Tomorrow...I am stepping out of my box. I am going to attend a Hot Power Yoga. Now for me that is HUGE! First of all, I'm the most inflexible human on earth. Secondly, balance and coordination are not my strong suit. Lastly, I am still big. Walking into a class full of 'Yoga lites' is not something I look forward too. One must do, what one must do. Attempting to do Yoga at home, is not working for me. So I must step out of the box.

Stepping out of the Box means living my truth!