Loving the Before Picture

I am learning that in order to make a real, lasting, positive difference it is so important to learn to love the "before picture". In the past when I have lost weight, the more I lose the more I start to hate the person that I was when I was bigger. I get disgusted when I see old pictures or videos and think--that isn't even me anymore. But, I think the real key is accepting and loving the girl in the before picture and knowing that she is me, just a less healthy version who needs a lot of love and support. And that is what I am giving myself right now!! It is an enlightening journey...(will post my before picture when I get is scanned in)

Re-visiting Yoga:Ashtanga

In college my best friend and I started doing yoga--not just any yoga, but "Power Yoga" or "Ashtanga" as the Yogi's call it. We did a show called Inhale on Oxygen. Last night I dug out the old video tape of the show and am now able to recall why I once was addicted to yoga. What an awesome feeling. Is fun to expore/re-explore ways to get moving again. The key will be discipline and consistency...

What is Power Yoga? (about.com)
Power yoga is a general term used in the West to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. Most power yoga is closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice. The term "power yoga" came into common usage in the mid 1990s, when several yoga teachers were looking for a way to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to western students. Unlike Ashtanga, power yoga does not follow a set series of poses. Therefore, any power yoga class can vary widely from the next. What they have in common is an emphasis on strength and flexibility. The advent of power yoga heralded yoga's current popularity, as people began to see yoga as a way to work out. Power yoga brought yoga into the gyms of America.

A Pretty Face

For a long time now I have known I have had this condition--I call it "Body-less Head Syndrome". If anyone else has ever had it than you know it feels a whole lot like you are head that is missing a body. I have more body awareness now than I used to, but at times it feels like I am completely detached from the neck down. When you are big, you spend a lot of time trying to cover, hide, camouflage and do pretty much anything you need to do to draw attention away from your body. People have told me my whole life, "You have such a pretty face!"--which seems like a compliment--if I was just a head!! Now that I am moving my body more, acknowledging it and taking care of it, I feel like my head is becoming re-attached to it. Interestingly the only other thing that has ever helped me feel more body awareness is singing. Go figure--I became a vocalist!! The whole experience of a sound coming from somewhere within, combined with the physical properties of singing--breathing, vibration and resonance throughout the body is one of the things that helps me to connect my head, body and soul.

2 miles

Am now doing 1 mile in AM & 1 mile in PM. What a feeling!!

Who would've thought?

Yesterday and this morning I got up and jogged 1 mile!! I never, ever thought I would be able to do that. Wow. What a good feeling :)

Happy Birthday!!

Happy birthday to Jeremy!!
I am so blessed to get to spend my life with someone so wonderful. When I decided to start this weight loss program I fully expected that Jeremy would be supportive as usual. And he was, of course. What I did not expect was that he decided to do this with me. It has made such a difference for both of us. Love you, Jer!!

Updated Playlist

New songs for exercise this week:

I'm Not My Hair- India.Arie
There's Hope- India.Arie
Step One Two- Kaskade
4 AM- Kaskade
Move for Me- Kaskade

I especially love India.Arie's lyrics--so inspiring. A friend of mine was talking about her music this week and reminded me how much I like her music/lyrics:

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations (no)
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am the soul that lives within

-and-

There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that

Why not?

George Bernard Shaw:
You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"

Lovin' Camryn!

Camryn Manheim: Weight Loss and Diet
“I’ve lost a significant amount of weight, many sizes. It feels great, but I felt great before,” says Camryn Manheim, who in 1998 dedicated her Emmy award for The Practice “to all the fat girls.”

Once 225 lbs., she credits her son Milo, age 6, for the gradual slim-down. “We ride bikes, play a lot of sports.

[He] has become my exercise.” As for diet, says Manheim, 46, “it was really a change in lifestyle, wanting to have healthy food in the house so my son learned how to eat well.

It was a decision I made to give my son a better head start than I had.” Although she thrills at no longer needing a plus-size shop — “I can go into Old Navy and buy things!”— she also isn’t evangelizing her weight loss. “I’m still a major proponent of accepting yourself as you are.” [via]

Reference:http://ifitandhealthy.com/camryn-manheim-weight-loss-and-diet/

Just love her attitude!

Transformation...

The other night my husband said something that has really stayed with me for the past few days about our new healthier lifestyle...He was talking about how we are experiencing a transformation of our whole lives--physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. He is so right.




Merriam Webster On-Line Dictionary

transform:
1 a: to change in composition or structure b: to change the outward form or appearance of c: to change in character or condition

What an incredible feeling!

Black Dress

Here's something really positive! I am in a concert tonight for a choral group that I sing with, and we have to wear floor length black dresses. I thought for sure I would need to go buy a new dress, but I tried on a dress that I wore 3-4 years ago and it fits again!! A few months ago I tried it and it looked awful. Now it is a little loose! That feels really good and saves $$$.

(The dress in the picture is definitely not my dress, though!)

Playlist

I have been downloading all kinds of songs to my ipod to keep me motivated when I am on the treadmill. As a music therapist, of course, I believe that music can be used to motivate us to do almost anything. Here are a few of my favorites that I've been using this week:

Workout Playlist

1. 4 Minutes-Madonna & Justin Timberlake

2. Mercy-Duffy

3. Break the Ice-Britney Spears

4. Don't Stop the Music-Rihanna

5. Beat It Fall-Out Boy

6. Just Fine-Mary J. Blige

7. You Shook Me All Night Long-ACDC

What music do you use? Any suggestions? Post in the comments section!!

Thoughts...

So yesterday was a little disappointing...staying the same on the scales is a little bit of a let down, but I am trying not to let it discourage me. Here are some "yellow" moments that helped me to put things in perspective:

*When I put on my guitar to play during my sessions, I thought my strap was broken, because the guitar felt too low--it turns out that my strap is actually getting too big b/c I am getting smaller! How cool.

*Also, last night while I was on the treadmill I had no prior intention of doing this, but once I moving and listening to my ipod I felt inspired to run!! I ran for a few minutes and then walked, and ran for a few minutes and walked, etc. Might not seem like a big deal, but honestly, the last time I ran was in 7th grade when we had to run a mile in phys. ed. I haven't ran since. It actually felt really good. The interesting thing is that lately I have been having dreams at night that I am running really fast and it feels really good. Tis' the season for new beginnings!!

My Weightloss "Journey"

I'm going to start blogging about the weight loss plan that I am on right now. 3 weeks ago I started a medically supervised weightloss program and I am feeling really great. I have lost 17 lbs. total, and althought this is just the beginning, I have already gained many other really positive life changes! Hope you enjoy reading!!