If you've been keeping up with my blog, you know that yesterday...not a love day. I ended the day with French Fries. Looks like perfection might come a day late. However, rather than throwing in the towel, as I have been wont to do in the past, I recognized it for what it was. Just a bump in the road. And I didn't let guilt take away the enjoyment I got from those fries.
But...
Today is a new day with a new perspective. A fresh start. As I pushed myself through my workout this morning, I thought about the process of getting in shape or making any lifestyle change for that matter and it occurred to me that the feelings that have been coming up for me in the past week are a lot like what Elisabeth Kubler-Ross coined as the stages of grief in her 1969 book: On Death and Dying.
She wrote that when faced with difficult news like terminal illness - we go through different stages in reaction to that news. Now I am in no way trying to down play sickness and death by comparing it to an exercise and diet program, but I have found a number of similarities.
The stages are as follows: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.
I'm not angry or depressed about the challenge that I have chosen to undertake for the sake of my health and waistline, but I can definitely tell you that there have been days where I have been in denial. I've thought things like, I didn't really sign up for all this, did I? or TA can't seriously expect me to survive on eating just that, can she? or How many reps am I supposed to do? Where the heck does she think the average person is going to find time to get all that done?
And I know that I have done some serious bargaining! For example after getting sick on the weekend with a migraine there was no way I was going to be able to jump around, so I reasoned that I could just do more the next day. I'd also added a little extra food to the daily plate to keep my blood sugar levels normal. There was some wheeling and dealing on my part to shift some things around on the menu because there was no way I was going to eat egg plant and cheese.
And yes, alright I'll admit there have been moments where I was a little angry with her for putting this book together in the first place, or angry with myself for deciding to do all this. What am I crazy? Trying to get in shape at my age? Idiot. Yep, definite anger issues.
Realizing this, I'm not terribly thrilled about the potential for depression, but I am really looking forward to acceptance, that serene peace that comes with surrender. I only hope it comes before day 30.
Oh, and for the record, it felt like those fries were still sitting in my stomach while I was on the mat this morning. That will teach me. They seemed far less appealing this morning than they did last night and I may think twice before indulging again anytime soon.
If you're on your own path, recognize the bumps in the road for what they are, pick yourself up and carry on in spite of the denial, anger or depression. You've chosen to make those changes in your life for a reason, hold on to that when things get hard. I'm only a week in, but I'm convinced it will be worth it.
Cheers,
Shan
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
6
Love day.
My sister and her husband have a code phrase for when they are getting along or when they might be skating on thin ice. If it's the former, then it's a LOVE DAY.
Today...is not a love day.
I was so exhausted I could barely climb out of bed this morning and faced with the mountain of writing ahead of me, I could hardly imagine working out. To make matters worse, breakfast consisted of a grapefruit. In my book, the only thing worse than fruit...is grapefruit. But I forced it down.
Got through a quarter of the work load that needed my attention and decided that if I didn't try to sneak a workout in, I'd miss it all together. I was working on the theory that exercise gives you energy and today, I needed energy.
I started out with cardio, feeling that perhaps if my muscles were a little warmer, then the restructuring mat work wouldn't prove to be as arduous. WRONG. On every level, so wrong. I was so tired from dancing around and getting my groove on that I could barely lift a finger much less a whole leg.
But better some than none, so I chose to modify, lowered my reps, put my head down, did it and checked it off my 'to do' list. Argh, it's not supposed to be this way, is it?
I think that this might just be the point where the novelty has worn off and the reality of the hard work has kicked in. It's why people work out in groups or at the gym or with a personal trainer. I get it now. So is there anybody out there?
On the up side (because there's always an upside, unless there isn't) I can look in the mirror and actually see the difference the 30 Day Method has created in my body in only six days. While it's a far cry from perfect, hopefully it will be enough to carry me through the less-than-love days like today.
My sister and her husband have a code phrase for when they are getting along or when they might be skating on thin ice. If it's the former, then it's a LOVE DAY.
Today...is not a love day.
I was so exhausted I could barely climb out of bed this morning and faced with the mountain of writing ahead of me, I could hardly imagine working out. To make matters worse, breakfast consisted of a grapefruit. In my book, the only thing worse than fruit...is grapefruit. But I forced it down.
Got through a quarter of the work load that needed my attention and decided that if I didn't try to sneak a workout in, I'd miss it all together. I was working on the theory that exercise gives you energy and today, I needed energy.
I started out with cardio, feeling that perhaps if my muscles were a little warmer, then the restructuring mat work wouldn't prove to be as arduous. WRONG. On every level, so wrong. I was so tired from dancing around and getting my groove on that I could barely lift a finger much less a whole leg.
But better some than none, so I chose to modify, lowered my reps, put my head down, did it and checked it off my 'to do' list. Argh, it's not supposed to be this way, is it?
I think that this might just be the point where the novelty has worn off and the reality of the hard work has kicked in. It's why people work out in groups or at the gym or with a personal trainer. I get it now. So is there anybody out there?
On the up side (because there's always an upside, unless there isn't) I can look in the mirror and actually see the difference the 30 Day Method has created in my body in only six days. While it's a far cry from perfect, hopefully it will be enough to carry me through the less-than-love days like today.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
5
Is Hungry the new Black?
We all have issues and it's much easier to go through life just pretending that they don't exist. Usually those issues involve doing things in excess, avoiding things we don't like to do, closing ourselves off to other people or new experiences, or habitually practicing negative thinking to name just a few.
We make up excuses for why things aren't the way we want them to be, or why we gave up on something that initially we really seemed to want.
A long time ago I read a question in a book that I've long forgotten the title of, but the question was: If you had to choose between two sweaters, would you choose the one that was too tight in the body, with sleeves that were way too long and itched every time it came in contact with your skin?
Or...
Would you choose the sweater that was soft and warm to the touch and fit like a glove? It's not a trick question. You should choose the sweater that fits. So why is it that we cling to things in our lives that resemble the ill-fitting sweater? Can we ignore that it doesn't fit forever?
I woke up really hungry this morning. So hungry that even the darned fruit started to seem appealing - and when I bit into that first chunk of melon - it actually tasted good. I'm 5 days in and famished but it's a different shade of hungry than it was on day one. It's feeling less foreign, somehow less objectionable. Could it be that I've been over-feeding myself?
I work part time in a bookstore and I'll often work nights. As a general rule, regardless of what my level of hungry is, I'll have a snack when I get home around 10pm. Since being on the Method, that's not been an option and I've noticed how much lighter I feel in the morning. Yes hungry, but lighter.
Could it be that the reason I've grown the muffin top since I've climbed up the ladder of my 30's towards 40 is not my slagging metabolism or even the foods that I choose to eat, but rather the sheer quantity of food I consume without even stopping to check if I'm actually hungry?
It's no surprise that many of us are emotional eaters and creatures of habit. We learn to do something and then continue to do it without a second thought, but perhaps my relationship to food has become the itchy sweater. Perhaps this feeling of hunger will continue to shift and change and become something else...
Food has always been a divine source of pleasure for me, something to turn to in times of celebration or somewhere to find comfort when things are difficult, but maybe I am learning that I don't 'need' it in that way as much as I've always just assumed that I did. Because when I look a little closer, food, all varieties of it can be simply a source of nourishment and that simplicity just might be a better fit.
We all have issues and it's much easier to go through life just pretending that they don't exist. Usually those issues involve doing things in excess, avoiding things we don't like to do, closing ourselves off to other people or new experiences, or habitually practicing negative thinking to name just a few.
We make up excuses for why things aren't the way we want them to be, or why we gave up on something that initially we really seemed to want.
A long time ago I read a question in a book that I've long forgotten the title of, but the question was: If you had to choose between two sweaters, would you choose the one that was too tight in the body, with sleeves that were way too long and itched every time it came in contact with your skin?
Or...
Would you choose the sweater that was soft and warm to the touch and fit like a glove? It's not a trick question. You should choose the sweater that fits. So why is it that we cling to things in our lives that resemble the ill-fitting sweater? Can we ignore that it doesn't fit forever?
I woke up really hungry this morning. So hungry that even the darned fruit started to seem appealing - and when I bit into that first chunk of melon - it actually tasted good. I'm 5 days in and famished but it's a different shade of hungry than it was on day one. It's feeling less foreign, somehow less objectionable. Could it be that I've been over-feeding myself?
I work part time in a bookstore and I'll often work nights. As a general rule, regardless of what my level of hungry is, I'll have a snack when I get home around 10pm. Since being on the Method, that's not been an option and I've noticed how much lighter I feel in the morning. Yes hungry, but lighter.
Could it be that the reason I've grown the muffin top since I've climbed up the ladder of my 30's towards 40 is not my slagging metabolism or even the foods that I choose to eat, but rather the sheer quantity of food I consume without even stopping to check if I'm actually hungry?
It's no surprise that many of us are emotional eaters and creatures of habit. We learn to do something and then continue to do it without a second thought, but perhaps my relationship to food has become the itchy sweater. Perhaps this feeling of hunger will continue to shift and change and become something else...
Food has always been a divine source of pleasure for me, something to turn to in times of celebration or somewhere to find comfort when things are difficult, but maybe I am learning that I don't 'need' it in that way as much as I've always just assumed that I did. Because when I look a little closer, food, all varieties of it can be simply a source of nourishment and that simplicity just might be a better fit.
Monday, September 27, 2010
4
My paternal grandfather, who died before I was born, used to tell my mother that she had to suffer to be beautiful. (My mom is beautiful by the way.) Did she believe him? I don't actually know, I'll have to ask her. Either way, she repeated the saying to me as I grew up, and I grew up through the 80's where the catch phrase of the day was 'no pain, no gain'. Are those not the same beliefs cloaked in different guises?
I've said it earlier, change is painful, but does it have to be? Is it necessary that we suffer or hurt to become something better? I can't imagine it feels good for the furry caterpillar to melt down into some kind of cosmic soup before he manifests into the magnificent butterfly, and yet I resist the 'assumed discomfort'.
Through the late 90's and the earlier part of this decade, our infamous experts began claiming that maybe we shouldn't push ourselves so hard. All of that running and jumping might not be good for our joints, just take the stairs, park at the far end of the parking lot... Where did that get us? To an all time high in the national obesity rate. Yikes. Maybe we've got to do more than take the stairs.
Trainers like Jillian Michaels have gone back to old school training, jumping jacks, push ups and squats. She yells at us like we're maggots. That's not very nice. If I am going to have to feel some pain while I work out, must I be shouted at too?
I worked my work out this morning. I'm up to 25 reps of each exercise in the program and it KILLS - kills I tell you - but Tracy very gently and warmly acknowledges this pain and says 'you can do it' and to my surprise - I did it. By the time I got to the cardio portion, my legs, abs and arms were jello - but to get up and dance around and to really get my sweat on pushed me through the pain to that place that runners talk about where my little endorphins kicked in. I actually had a good time. Don't get me wrong it still bloody hurt.
I can assure you that I earned my egg white mushroom wrap this morning!
I think the point that's gotten missed in all of this is that there isn't only suffering. If you can manage to keep up and get to the other side, there's a little bit of bliss. I have a silly smile on my face that's been there all morning. It looks pretty good with the new-found blush in my cheeks.
It hurts in a different way, a new way, and it's good.
I've said it earlier, change is painful, but does it have to be? Is it necessary that we suffer or hurt to become something better? I can't imagine it feels good for the furry caterpillar to melt down into some kind of cosmic soup before he manifests into the magnificent butterfly, and yet I resist the 'assumed discomfort'.
Through the late 90's and the earlier part of this decade, our infamous experts began claiming that maybe we shouldn't push ourselves so hard. All of that running and jumping might not be good for our joints, just take the stairs, park at the far end of the parking lot... Where did that get us? To an all time high in the national obesity rate. Yikes. Maybe we've got to do more than take the stairs.
Trainers like Jillian Michaels have gone back to old school training, jumping jacks, push ups and squats. She yells at us like we're maggots. That's not very nice. If I am going to have to feel some pain while I work out, must I be shouted at too?
I worked my work out this morning. I'm up to 25 reps of each exercise in the program and it KILLS - kills I tell you - but Tracy very gently and warmly acknowledges this pain and says 'you can do it' and to my surprise - I did it. By the time I got to the cardio portion, my legs, abs and arms were jello - but to get up and dance around and to really get my sweat on pushed me through the pain to that place that runners talk about where my little endorphins kicked in. I actually had a good time. Don't get me wrong it still bloody hurt.
I can assure you that I earned my egg white mushroom wrap this morning!
I think the point that's gotten missed in all of this is that there isn't only suffering. If you can manage to keep up and get to the other side, there's a little bit of bliss. I have a silly smile on my face that's been there all morning. It looks pretty good with the new-found blush in my cheeks.
It hurts in a different way, a new way, and it's good.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
3
Who knows best? In the west we often rely on health care professionals or "experts" to tell us what is best for us. We have a pain, they give us a pill, we pop it and go home, but what is actually causing the dis-ease?
In the particular situation that I've found myself in recently, I wanted to trust the professional, in this case, the personal trainer to tell me what I should be eating. Yesterday could have been a one off, sure. But when today rolled around and I still felt light headed I knew something had to be done when I was faced with another fruit bowl for breakfast.
I had to decide for myself what was best, because who knows my body better than me? I also have to give Tracy some credit and assume that if a client of hers were suffering from low blood sugar on a particular diet she'd designed, she would re-engineer it to suit the person better. That's the nature of the "personal" in personal trainer. One size does not necessarily fit all.
It was with that in mind that I took matters into my own hands, scoured that menu for something that would suit what I needed in that moment and I personalized it. It was a success. I ate, I felt well and got on with my day.
For the duration of day three, I followed her menu plan and it was delicious. If you could see me I'd ask you if I looked thinner, because I feel thinner. And have you ever just put a mushroom on a baking pan and baked it for five minutes, then sprinkled it with some lemon and cracked pepper? If you haven't, I'd strongly recommend it. It brings out the natural flavors and juices of the mushroom and it tastes divine.
I can barely walk from the exercise routine and it's hurting in all the right places! Will keep on keeping on.
Cheers,
Shan
In the particular situation that I've found myself in recently, I wanted to trust the professional, in this case, the personal trainer to tell me what I should be eating. Yesterday could have been a one off, sure. But when today rolled around and I still felt light headed I knew something had to be done when I was faced with another fruit bowl for breakfast.
I had to decide for myself what was best, because who knows my body better than me? I also have to give Tracy some credit and assume that if a client of hers were suffering from low blood sugar on a particular diet she'd designed, she would re-engineer it to suit the person better. That's the nature of the "personal" in personal trainer. One size does not necessarily fit all.
It was with that in mind that I took matters into my own hands, scoured that menu for something that would suit what I needed in that moment and I personalized it. It was a success. I ate, I felt well and got on with my day.
For the duration of day three, I followed her menu plan and it was delicious. If you could see me I'd ask you if I looked thinner, because I feel thinner. And have you ever just put a mushroom on a baking pan and baked it for five minutes, then sprinkled it with some lemon and cracked pepper? If you haven't, I'd strongly recommend it. It brings out the natural flavors and juices of the mushroom and it tastes divine.
I can barely walk from the exercise routine and it's hurting in all the right places! Will keep on keeping on.
Cheers,
Shan
Saturday, September 25, 2010
2
I've heard that when people run marathons they can sometimes hit a wall. Meaning that for one reason or another, their mind or their body or both just cannot seem to go on. It's said that if they can push through it they will get to other side, almost by force of will and make it to the end.
I've heard this and imagined that the wall would likely come up somewhere after the halfway point or with 2 miles to go. It's likely different for everyone, but I wouldn't expect this to happen after the first mile, would you?
Tackling the 30 Day Method feels a little bit like a marathon and I fear I may be under-prepared. Today is day 2 and I woke up with a headache that felt worse than any hangover. It got me wondering, why does the stuff that's supposed to be good for you always seem to be accompanied by so much discomfort?
My breakfast consisted quite literally of a couple of oranges and a grapefruit. It was a first for me. I've never eaten a grapefruit before and let me tell you it is one piece of fruit that is not aptly named. I'm not a fan of the whole citrus family to begin with, but when you cut up and put three pieces into a bowl, it looks like enough to feed an entire family.
But...I told myself, I've invited her in so I am going to trust her. (by her I mean Tracy Anderson, who's program I am undertaking and writing about in this blog for those of you just catching up). So, with the determination of a marathon runner, I silently endured bite after bite until 35 minutes later, I'd gotten to the end. Hey, at least that empty stomach pain was taken care of. The headache, not so much.
I toddled off to work and by the time lunch rolled around I was pretty excited to tuck into my soup du jour and I was not disappointed. Again, it was another first, it had sweet potatoe in it and I've never actually made it through a whole one. It's a month of firsts and it's pretty exciting, I would have likely never tried these things otherwise. I can say, once the program is over, I may never go back to them either, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
What happened next, no one could have predicted. My headache suddenly swelled as my blood pressure dropped and I found myself feeling desperately ill. I will not regale you with the gruesome details, but needless to say, I managed to drive myself home with a few pit stops along the way and crawled straight into bed. Hmm, I thought, could it be the diet? Or had I just hit the wall?
Everything in me wanted to shout yes and to quit and to sink my teeth into a brownie, or even a piece of bread, but I didn't. I slept it off. I woke up feeling much worse for wear, but able to keep a glass of water down. I ventured to the kitchen and took my prescribed snack and am starting to feel a bit more human. I'll have my somewhat depressingly meager dinner and start all over again tomorrow.
Unfortunately the headache is demanding that I refrain from jumping around so today's workout is off the table, but I will not quit. Okay, so I hit my wall a little early, so what? I still have a choice. Sure I can quit, but I actually believe the things Tracy writes about in her book. I'm not careless, so I'll take care of myself and hopefully tomorrow, I'll be a little less toxic and good as new.
I've heard this and imagined that the wall would likely come up somewhere after the halfway point or with 2 miles to go. It's likely different for everyone, but I wouldn't expect this to happen after the first mile, would you?
Tackling the 30 Day Method feels a little bit like a marathon and I fear I may be under-prepared. Today is day 2 and I woke up with a headache that felt worse than any hangover. It got me wondering, why does the stuff that's supposed to be good for you always seem to be accompanied by so much discomfort?
My breakfast consisted quite literally of a couple of oranges and a grapefruit. It was a first for me. I've never eaten a grapefruit before and let me tell you it is one piece of fruit that is not aptly named. I'm not a fan of the whole citrus family to begin with, but when you cut up and put three pieces into a bowl, it looks like enough to feed an entire family.
But...I told myself, I've invited her in so I am going to trust her. (by her I mean Tracy Anderson, who's program I am undertaking and writing about in this blog for those of you just catching up). So, with the determination of a marathon runner, I silently endured bite after bite until 35 minutes later, I'd gotten to the end. Hey, at least that empty stomach pain was taken care of. The headache, not so much.
I toddled off to work and by the time lunch rolled around I was pretty excited to tuck into my soup du jour and I was not disappointed. Again, it was another first, it had sweet potatoe in it and I've never actually made it through a whole one. It's a month of firsts and it's pretty exciting, I would have likely never tried these things otherwise. I can say, once the program is over, I may never go back to them either, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
What happened next, no one could have predicted. My headache suddenly swelled as my blood pressure dropped and I found myself feeling desperately ill. I will not regale you with the gruesome details, but needless to say, I managed to drive myself home with a few pit stops along the way and crawled straight into bed. Hmm, I thought, could it be the diet? Or had I just hit the wall?
Everything in me wanted to shout yes and to quit and to sink my teeth into a brownie, or even a piece of bread, but I didn't. I slept it off. I woke up feeling much worse for wear, but able to keep a glass of water down. I ventured to the kitchen and took my prescribed snack and am starting to feel a bit more human. I'll have my somewhat depressingly meager dinner and start all over again tomorrow.
Unfortunately the headache is demanding that I refrain from jumping around so today's workout is off the table, but I will not quit. Okay, so I hit my wall a little early, so what? I still have a choice. Sure I can quit, but I actually believe the things Tracy writes about in her book. I'm not careless, so I'll take care of myself and hopefully tomorrow, I'll be a little less toxic and good as new.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thirty Day Road. One
I have never willingly surrendered to anyone. Some might call me strong willed or stubborn, others may choose a more colorful term, but I come by it honestly. Both my mother and my grandmothers had minds of their own and the will to back it up in spades.
As I read through Tracy Anderson's new book last night to prepare me for my official "Day One" of the 30 Day Method, I cringed when I came across the heading My Way or the Highway. Are you kidding me?
"If you are reading this book, you've already invited me in. Now you need to trust me." What, is she a vampire? Damn Tracy. Every control and issue oriented button I have has been pushed, but I suspend my disbelief and keep reading. She's promising to change my physique only if I promise to follow her program to the letter. I have to ask myself, isn't that what I signed up for? Isn't that why I started this blog in the first place? To make a difference in me and to change the way I think and behave when it comes to my health?
Huston, we have a problem.
I am a vegetarian. Tracy offers a vegetarian meal plan. Fantastic! Who does that? Love her, but here's the thing, I'm very nearly a vegan I don't like fruit and I'm super fussy where vegetables are concerned. I'm serious! I will eat eggs but only if I've met the chickens, and thankfully the lovely free range chickens at a neighborhood farm are well fed and loved so I feel good about their eggs. But I don't do dairy unless it's mixed up with some kind of chocolate. Egg plant? Ewe, no way. So what's a girl to do when faced with a dinner made up of egg plant and cheese disguised as lasagna? Gross I don't even like the regular kind with noodles. I am in real trouble.
If I were in New York, perhaps I might be lucky enough to actually have Tracy as my trainer and I'd beg or bully her until she gave in and permitted me to have something else. As it is, all we've got's the printed word people, so I am going to simply pick something else off the dinner menu and have that. Do your best and forget the rest, right? It's all still part of the program, just maybe not in the suggested order. Is that cheating, do you think?
As for the work out, she did not disappoint. In the first 10 day segment, there are a couple of familiar moves (if you know the Method) and some tough new ones. I am pacing myself, remember said neck injury from a while back?, so I did 20 reps of each move and it was work. Nine days to work up to 40 and I'm confident it will be doable, not easy, but not impossible.
Now I will admit, I was hoping for Dancing for Dummies when it came to the cardio segment of the workout, but no such luck. I did enjoy the dancing, even first thing in the morning, who knew? I confess it took me back, back to a time when MTV first became a station and actually played music videos. Trying to follow along with Tracy made me feel like I was trying to dance along with my favorite music video - I felt like a kid again so it's working already. Perhaps at the end of the 30 days, I'll have my kid-like waistline again too. She does make assurances that with practice, we will get good at it. Okay, Tracy, that I'll just have to take your word for. At least we don't have to debone a duck or kill a live lobster like Julie Powell did. Sad, but I'm taking some real comfort in that.
Overall, I feel like I am off to a bit of a shaky start with my mind kicking up all kinds of fuss and resistance and if you've read any of my sister's comments, well, you might guess it runs in the family. But I am going to take it one day at a time. I didn't fall out of shape in a day so I mustn't expect to reach perfection in a day either.
To anyone else who's decided to start a journey of their own, I wish you the best. Feel free to check in, add your comments, boost morale or commiserate, we can do it!
Cheers,
Shan
As I read through Tracy Anderson's new book last night to prepare me for my official "Day One" of the 30 Day Method, I cringed when I came across the heading My Way or the Highway. Are you kidding me?
"If you are reading this book, you've already invited me in. Now you need to trust me." What, is she a vampire? Damn Tracy. Every control and issue oriented button I have has been pushed, but I suspend my disbelief and keep reading. She's promising to change my physique only if I promise to follow her program to the letter. I have to ask myself, isn't that what I signed up for? Isn't that why I started this blog in the first place? To make a difference in me and to change the way I think and behave when it comes to my health?
Huston, we have a problem.
I am a vegetarian. Tracy offers a vegetarian meal plan. Fantastic! Who does that? Love her, but here's the thing, I'm very nearly a vegan I don't like fruit and I'm super fussy where vegetables are concerned. I'm serious! I will eat eggs but only if I've met the chickens, and thankfully the lovely free range chickens at a neighborhood farm are well fed and loved so I feel good about their eggs. But I don't do dairy unless it's mixed up with some kind of chocolate. Egg plant? Ewe, no way. So what's a girl to do when faced with a dinner made up of egg plant and cheese disguised as lasagna? Gross I don't even like the regular kind with noodles. I am in real trouble.
If I were in New York, perhaps I might be lucky enough to actually have Tracy as my trainer and I'd beg or bully her until she gave in and permitted me to have something else. As it is, all we've got's the printed word people, so I am going to simply pick something else off the dinner menu and have that. Do your best and forget the rest, right? It's all still part of the program, just maybe not in the suggested order. Is that cheating, do you think?
As for the work out, she did not disappoint. In the first 10 day segment, there are a couple of familiar moves (if you know the Method) and some tough new ones. I am pacing myself, remember said neck injury from a while back?, so I did 20 reps of each move and it was work. Nine days to work up to 40 and I'm confident it will be doable, not easy, but not impossible.
Now I will admit, I was hoping for Dancing for Dummies when it came to the cardio segment of the workout, but no such luck. I did enjoy the dancing, even first thing in the morning, who knew? I confess it took me back, back to a time when MTV first became a station and actually played music videos. Trying to follow along with Tracy made me feel like I was trying to dance along with my favorite music video - I felt like a kid again so it's working already. Perhaps at the end of the 30 days, I'll have my kid-like waistline again too. She does make assurances that with practice, we will get good at it. Okay, Tracy, that I'll just have to take your word for. At least we don't have to debone a duck or kill a live lobster like Julie Powell did. Sad, but I'm taking some real comfort in that.
Overall, I feel like I am off to a bit of a shaky start with my mind kicking up all kinds of fuss and resistance and if you've read any of my sister's comments, well, you might guess it runs in the family. But I am going to take it one day at a time. I didn't fall out of shape in a day so I mustn't expect to reach perfection in a day either.
To anyone else who's decided to start a journey of their own, I wish you the best. Feel free to check in, add your comments, boost morale or commiserate, we can do it!
Cheers,
Shan
Thursday, September 23, 2010
I'm any woman.
It's a miracle. All kidding aside, I broke down and ordered Tracy's book online yesterday because it had yet to hit the store shelves two days after its release date and guess what? It arrived today! Before lunch!
I ripped open the package and the first words written on the back cover are "Truly a miracle" quoting Gweneth Paltrow as she talks about the degree to which she's been able to change her body with Tracy's help.
Shakira is quoted as saying, "I believe that Tracy can transform any woman."
Well folks, I'm any woman, so let's see what happens... No excuses, let the challenge begin.
I ripped open the package and the first words written on the back cover are "Truly a miracle" quoting Gweneth Paltrow as she talks about the degree to which she's been able to change her body with Tracy's help.
Shakira is quoted as saying, "I believe that Tracy can transform any woman."
Well folks, I'm any woman, so let's see what happens... No excuses, let the challenge begin.
Method to the Madness.
What's behind the Method and why am I such a fan? The techniques that Tracy employs are different from most conventional forms of exercise, but they aren't new. They have a foundation in dance.
There is a reason that ballet dancers are shaped like perfectly cut diamonds, it's because they are using not only the larger more dominant muscles in the body, the ones targeted by lunges and squats, or curls and presses, but they incorporate all the tiny muscles underneath, those muscles that Tracy refers to as the accessory muscles.
She has taken many of those rotations that are repeated at the barre in the ballet studio and turned them into super-effective moves that the less-than-freakishly-flexible individuals like you and me can do in the comfort of our own homes.
I think another element of why her method is successful lies in the actual cardio routines that she includes in the program. These are not standard dance moves that are repeated over and over as in most exercise dance videos, nor are they the hideously complex routines you might be forced to try and replicate if you were to join the national ballet. So for those of us with two left feet, we actually stand a chance of not only learning the steps, but actually feel like we're dancing by the end of it.
But herein lies the dichotomy. (the "experts" are divided on this so I want to stress that this is only my opinion) The best time to get your work out in, is first thing in the morning because that ensures you'll get it in before the distractions and responsibilities of the day have an opportunity to take over. But if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that I am not a morning person. The last thing I want to do when I finally drag myself out of bed is shake my thing on the dance floor.
I've had less resistance to rolling out of the bed and onto the yoga mat, because let's face it, you can start off horizontally in yoga, in fact it's pretty much a requirement. I can even convince myself to get up and do Tracy's muscular restructuring work first thing because she's gentle and it doesn't require me to wake up all at once, but dancing? Come on people! Forget about it.
So my question is, how am I going to commit to dancing everyday? How do you fit it into your daily routine and make it work if you're not an early riser? I'll let you know when I figure it out, sometime later this afternoon.
There is a reason that ballet dancers are shaped like perfectly cut diamonds, it's because they are using not only the larger more dominant muscles in the body, the ones targeted by lunges and squats, or curls and presses, but they incorporate all the tiny muscles underneath, those muscles that Tracy refers to as the accessory muscles.
She has taken many of those rotations that are repeated at the barre in the ballet studio and turned them into super-effective moves that the less-than-freakishly-flexible individuals like you and me can do in the comfort of our own homes.
I think another element of why her method is successful lies in the actual cardio routines that she includes in the program. These are not standard dance moves that are repeated over and over as in most exercise dance videos, nor are they the hideously complex routines you might be forced to try and replicate if you were to join the national ballet. So for those of us with two left feet, we actually stand a chance of not only learning the steps, but actually feel like we're dancing by the end of it.
But herein lies the dichotomy. (the "experts" are divided on this so I want to stress that this is only my opinion) The best time to get your work out in, is first thing in the morning because that ensures you'll get it in before the distractions and responsibilities of the day have an opportunity to take over. But if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that I am not a morning person. The last thing I want to do when I finally drag myself out of bed is shake my thing on the dance floor.
I've had less resistance to rolling out of the bed and onto the yoga mat, because let's face it, you can start off horizontally in yoga, in fact it's pretty much a requirement. I can even convince myself to get up and do Tracy's muscular restructuring work first thing because she's gentle and it doesn't require me to wake up all at once, but dancing? Come on people! Forget about it.
So my question is, how am I going to commit to dancing everyday? How do you fit it into your daily routine and make it work if you're not an early riser? I'll let you know when I figure it out, sometime later this afternoon.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
False Start
Happy first day of autumn.
Had hoped to kick off the first day of the 30 Day Method challenge today however, the book has yet to arrive on the local book store shelf. After some debate, I have chosen to order it online and it's not expected to arrive until September 28th.
All is not lost, our girl Tracy posts all kinds of things her website:
http://tracyandersonmethod.com/
So there is access to other resources, if we're creative.
I have no idea what the diet will be like for that 30 days, but in the mean time I can work out with her Mat DVD and make smart choices about what to eat, which for starters will mean getting off the sugar. Kicking a sugar addiction is harder for me than quitting smoking, I've attempted both and have only been successful at the latter. Yet I hold faith that nothing is impossible, it's all just a matter of perspective.
So to anyone who wants to start a journey of their own, be it with the Tracy Anderson Method, another fitness or health program, or something else they'd like to achieve, start today. It's a new season and it's full of promise.
We'll take it one day at a time and before we know it, we'll have 30 days under our belts and who knows, maybe we'll have formed a good habit or two. Now don't waste any more time, wriggle into those skinny jeans and get on with it.
Had hoped to kick off the first day of the 30 Day Method challenge today however, the book has yet to arrive on the local book store shelf. After some debate, I have chosen to order it online and it's not expected to arrive until September 28th.
All is not lost, our girl Tracy posts all kinds of things her website:
http://tracyandersonmethod.com/
So there is access to other resources, if we're creative.
I have no idea what the diet will be like for that 30 days, but in the mean time I can work out with her Mat DVD and make smart choices about what to eat, which for starters will mean getting off the sugar. Kicking a sugar addiction is harder for me than quitting smoking, I've attempted both and have only been successful at the latter. Yet I hold faith that nothing is impossible, it's all just a matter of perspective.
So to anyone who wants to start a journey of their own, be it with the Tracy Anderson Method, another fitness or health program, or something else they'd like to achieve, start today. It's a new season and it's full of promise.
We'll take it one day at a time and before we know it, we'll have 30 days under our belts and who knows, maybe we'll have formed a good habit or two. Now don't waste any more time, wriggle into those skinny jeans and get on with it.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Fine Balance.
I'm reading a wonderful book called Living a Charmed Life that's comprised of a series of essays offering insight into how to turn your ordinary life into an extraordinary life by seeking out the everyday magic and simply acknowledging it.
Its author, Victoria Moran says that when we get tired, or hurt or down on ourselves, we develop what she calls "mental myopia." We become short-sighted. When we feel rotten, the only thing that matters in that moment is making the discomfort go away with some distraction or other. What that distraction will cost us later - whether in discomfort, self-loathing, or interest charges - is the furthest thing from our minds.
I'm at an age where I definitely feel that it's time to learn how to genuinely care for myself, "body, mind and bank account", but can I really change the way I think?
Ms. Moran says we have an inner chaperone who is ready and willing to step in and tell us where our "peak experience" stops and "where downhill from here" begins. (Let's hope I'm not too far down the slope to turn back.) This involves changing the thought of moderation as deprivation as I've posted previously, to what? How do we change the way we experience the world?
By setting goals and working our way gently toward achieving them. If we want to be fit and trim, we've got to put in that hour-a-day workout, and we've got to do it today, not some hypothetical tomorrow that may never come. We can always diet tomorrow, but then today we'll always carry that extra five or ten pounds. It's no different with writing, if I expect a finished script, I've got to approach it one page at a time and write something everyday. Why do I find this so hard to do when it comes to food?
We may want to eat that sweet treat, but until we want to get into our skinny jeans more, the treat will continue to hold sway. We've got to find our way to the place where saying no to something which doesn't fit into our end goal feels more like saying yes to our ultimate desire.
While I believe that Tracy Anderson can provide us with the tools, she doesn't hold the key. We do and we're the only ones who can use it to unlock our own potential, today not some hypothetical tomorrow.
Happy last day of summer.
Shan
Its author, Victoria Moran says that when we get tired, or hurt or down on ourselves, we develop what she calls "mental myopia." We become short-sighted. When we feel rotten, the only thing that matters in that moment is making the discomfort go away with some distraction or other. What that distraction will cost us later - whether in discomfort, self-loathing, or interest charges - is the furthest thing from our minds.
I'm at an age where I definitely feel that it's time to learn how to genuinely care for myself, "body, mind and bank account", but can I really change the way I think?
Ms. Moran says we have an inner chaperone who is ready and willing to step in and tell us where our "peak experience" stops and "where downhill from here" begins. (Let's hope I'm not too far down the slope to turn back.) This involves changing the thought of moderation as deprivation as I've posted previously, to what? How do we change the way we experience the world?
By setting goals and working our way gently toward achieving them. If we want to be fit and trim, we've got to put in that hour-a-day workout, and we've got to do it today, not some hypothetical tomorrow that may never come. We can always diet tomorrow, but then today we'll always carry that extra five or ten pounds. It's no different with writing, if I expect a finished script, I've got to approach it one page at a time and write something everyday. Why do I find this so hard to do when it comes to food?
We may want to eat that sweet treat, but until we want to get into our skinny jeans more, the treat will continue to hold sway. We've got to find our way to the place where saying no to something which doesn't fit into our end goal feels more like saying yes to our ultimate desire.
While I believe that Tracy Anderson can provide us with the tools, she doesn't hold the key. We do and we're the only ones who can use it to unlock our own potential, today not some hypothetical tomorrow.
Happy last day of summer.
Shan
Monday, September 20, 2010
Measure for Measure
I woke this morning to discover that not only had the alarm not gone off, but that I was nursing a sugar hangover. Why do I always do this to myself? Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Technically, that is the definition of insanity and it's got to stop.
Today is September 20th, the day the "30 day Method" should be on the bookstore shelves, but I do live on an island, so it may not arrive exactly as scheduled. Here's the thing, Wednesday September 22nd is the autumn solstice or first day of fall. I love marking the change of seasons and I adore the fall, so have decided to kick off DAY ONE of the 30 Day Method on the 22nd regardless of whether or not the book comes in time.
And I'm optimistic but I'm not foolhardy, (plus I'm on a budget), so here's the plan. Rather than going out to to buy that perfect new outfit that I might fit into 30 days from now, I'll go to the closet and pick out my skinny jeans, or that LBD (little black dress) and try it or them on in front of the mirror. I urge anyone else tempted to jump on the 30 day challenge with me to do this too.
That article of clothing will become the measuring stick. There will be no tape measure, no scale, no before and after photos, there will only be that feeling. You know the one, the feeling of accomplishment, of success or completion. There will be no failure here, but we can really only know where we're going if we know where we've come from. So put that brownie down, step away from the French fries and wriggle into those teeny jeans, then prepare for transformation.
We've got two more days and then...it's on!
Today is September 20th, the day the "30 day Method" should be on the bookstore shelves, but I do live on an island, so it may not arrive exactly as scheduled. Here's the thing, Wednesday September 22nd is the autumn solstice or first day of fall. I love marking the change of seasons and I adore the fall, so have decided to kick off DAY ONE of the 30 Day Method on the 22nd regardless of whether or not the book comes in time.
And I'm optimistic but I'm not foolhardy, (plus I'm on a budget), so here's the plan. Rather than going out to to buy that perfect new outfit that I might fit into 30 days from now, I'll go to the closet and pick out my skinny jeans, or that LBD (little black dress) and try it or them on in front of the mirror. I urge anyone else tempted to jump on the 30 day challenge with me to do this too.
That article of clothing will become the measuring stick. There will be no tape measure, no scale, no before and after photos, there will only be that feeling. You know the one, the feeling of accomplishment, of success or completion. There will be no failure here, but we can really only know where we're going if we know where we've come from. So put that brownie down, step away from the French fries and wriggle into those teeny jeans, then prepare for transformation.
We've got two more days and then...it's on!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Weekend Humor
Happy Sunday.
Here is a quick link to a funny video that someone named Jenny posted on utube. I did warn you that if you want to work out with Tracy, you've got to have a sense of humor. Here's why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQJhDkHB2WQ
Maybe being just a little nutty is a prerequisite.
As we enjoy the last day of freedom before we hit the road to perfection, lets follow Jenny's example and try not to take ourselves too seriously.
Cheers,
Shan
Here is a quick link to a funny video that someone named Jenny posted on utube. I did warn you that if you want to work out with Tracy, you've got to have a sense of humor. Here's why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQJhDkHB2WQ
Maybe being just a little nutty is a prerequisite.
As we enjoy the last day of freedom before we hit the road to perfection, lets follow Jenny's example and try not to take ourselves too seriously.
Cheers,
Shan
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Pre-Tox
What is it about that period of time just before you embark on a new "program", those days or moments before you decide to go on a diet or do a detox that make some of us want to pig out? I'm talking cookies, nachos, French fries, cocktails; pick your poison, we rush to the super market or bar and get our fill and then some.
It's a period of time that I've come to refer to as the pre-tox.
How is it that I've come to associate moderation with deprivation? Is it because I grew up with a mom who loved food? The thought of a diet to her meant starving herself and back then, maybe that's what a diet was. These days you can't pass a book stand or magazine rack that isn't touting the latest and greatest cure for those unwanted pounds, but isn't a diet, any diet, by definition asking you to give up something? Is it possible for me to come to think of this as giving up those extra squishy bits around my waist?
As I wait for Tracy's book to arrive, I can't help but wonder if I'll survive on the foods and portions she'll be asking us to eat. And more importantly, if I do survive the 30 days, what will happen after? Will perfection be temporary? Isn't everything?
It brings me some comfort to know that I still have a few cookies left and there's a Sunday between me and the impending arrival of the "program" so I can nip into Starbucks for one last soy mocha. Oh how I'll miss my mochas, not to mention the feast that is Thanksgiving dinner and what the heck was I thinking deciding to do this with Halloween on the way? Temporary insanity?
Maybe there's a way to forget what I am surrendering and simply just surrender.
Cheers
Shan
It's a period of time that I've come to refer to as the pre-tox.
How is it that I've come to associate moderation with deprivation? Is it because I grew up with a mom who loved food? The thought of a diet to her meant starving herself and back then, maybe that's what a diet was. These days you can't pass a book stand or magazine rack that isn't touting the latest and greatest cure for those unwanted pounds, but isn't a diet, any diet, by definition asking you to give up something? Is it possible for me to come to think of this as giving up those extra squishy bits around my waist?
As I wait for Tracy's book to arrive, I can't help but wonder if I'll survive on the foods and portions she'll be asking us to eat. And more importantly, if I do survive the 30 days, what will happen after? Will perfection be temporary? Isn't everything?
It brings me some comfort to know that I still have a few cookies left and there's a Sunday between me and the impending arrival of the "program" so I can nip into Starbucks for one last soy mocha. Oh how I'll miss my mochas, not to mention the feast that is Thanksgiving dinner and what the heck was I thinking deciding to do this with Halloween on the way? Temporary insanity?
Maybe there's a way to forget what I am surrendering and simply just surrender.
Cheers
Shan
Thursday, September 16, 2010
If not now...
If not now...when?
I recently read a brief interview with Jennifer Grey, star of Dirty Dancing and upcoming contestant for Dancing with the Stars.
When speaking about her former co-star Patrick Swayze and his battle with cancer, she asked that very question; "If not now...when? When are you supposed to reclaim the joy that you had as a young person?"
It stuck a powerful chord within me. Joy is subjective and it doesn't necessarily come from outside of ourselves, but are there things we could be doing to bring more joy into our lives?
I suppose staring down the barrel toward 40 has made me look at life in a somewhat different way. 2010 has been a particularly difficult year for many, myself included. I've had a couple of projects fall through, or get pushed, and the projects that did get funded had their budgets trimmed. It's not the year of the artist. But I don't want to wallow in negativity or beat the drum of what isn't working. Instead, I want to find something that is working or going well and whistle that tune for a little while.
This is where fitness has a role to play. Body image drives most marketing here in North America and many of us have body issues, founded in reality or not, there they are. Maybe by now, we know enough to realize that many of the images we're bombarded with have been retouched so we don't expect absolute perfection when it comes to our own physiques, but wouldn't it be nice to rock that six-pack just once in our lives?
As a screenwriter, I should consider myself one of the lucky ones. I've sold more scripts than not and have made a meager living in development, but as you can imagine, selling a piece isn't the end of the journey. I've spent the last half dozen years in rewrites on various projects, constantly being told over and over, what's not working. It's the nature of the business, but you can sometimes find yourself thinking, am I any good at all?
It's no different with fitness. If you don't find something you love and do it religiously, you'll find yourself failing time and time again and wondering if you'll ever have that body. It's a bit like chasing the dragon I suppose, but I think it just might be slightly less impossible. Aren't you curious to find out?
Tracy does suggest working out with her four to six days a week. Now you may say to yourself, hell, if I did any sort of exercise for an hour a day four to six days a week, I'm practically guaranteed results. Maybe, but not necessarily the results you want, as I illustrated in an earlier post about my kettle bell workout. (I got stronger, but bigger, not smaller).
We're told that diet plays a vital role and this is where I trip up every time. So I have vowed to try Tracy's diet program; in her new book she provides a 30 day meal plan. (Dear Lord I hope she doesn't expect me to make friends with fruit!) Maybe her plan is to simply starve us to death. I read a blog posting by someone who'd gone to a third world country and he dropped a ton of weight during his time there. To his disappointment he wrote that he didn't discover the washboard abs beneath the fat, instead all he found were ribs. I hope that's not the case here.
But if I ever stand a chance of getting that teeny tiny waist, I'd better get to work, because if not now...then when?
Cheers
Shan
P.S. I understand that people are having a difficult time posting comments. I have looked into the help center to find out why and have yet to find a solution. I'll keep looking. Please keep coming back.
I recently read a brief interview with Jennifer Grey, star of Dirty Dancing and upcoming contestant for Dancing with the Stars.
When speaking about her former co-star Patrick Swayze and his battle with cancer, she asked that very question; "If not now...when? When are you supposed to reclaim the joy that you had as a young person?"
It stuck a powerful chord within me. Joy is subjective and it doesn't necessarily come from outside of ourselves, but are there things we could be doing to bring more joy into our lives?
I suppose staring down the barrel toward 40 has made me look at life in a somewhat different way. 2010 has been a particularly difficult year for many, myself included. I've had a couple of projects fall through, or get pushed, and the projects that did get funded had their budgets trimmed. It's not the year of the artist. But I don't want to wallow in negativity or beat the drum of what isn't working. Instead, I want to find something that is working or going well and whistle that tune for a little while.
This is where fitness has a role to play. Body image drives most marketing here in North America and many of us have body issues, founded in reality or not, there they are. Maybe by now, we know enough to realize that many of the images we're bombarded with have been retouched so we don't expect absolute perfection when it comes to our own physiques, but wouldn't it be nice to rock that six-pack just once in our lives?
As a screenwriter, I should consider myself one of the lucky ones. I've sold more scripts than not and have made a meager living in development, but as you can imagine, selling a piece isn't the end of the journey. I've spent the last half dozen years in rewrites on various projects, constantly being told over and over, what's not working. It's the nature of the business, but you can sometimes find yourself thinking, am I any good at all?
It's no different with fitness. If you don't find something you love and do it religiously, you'll find yourself failing time and time again and wondering if you'll ever have that body. It's a bit like chasing the dragon I suppose, but I think it just might be slightly less impossible. Aren't you curious to find out?
Tracy does suggest working out with her four to six days a week. Now you may say to yourself, hell, if I did any sort of exercise for an hour a day four to six days a week, I'm practically guaranteed results. Maybe, but not necessarily the results you want, as I illustrated in an earlier post about my kettle bell workout. (I got stronger, but bigger, not smaller).
We're told that diet plays a vital role and this is where I trip up every time. So I have vowed to try Tracy's diet program; in her new book she provides a 30 day meal plan. (Dear Lord I hope she doesn't expect me to make friends with fruit!) Maybe her plan is to simply starve us to death. I read a blog posting by someone who'd gone to a third world country and he dropped a ton of weight during his time there. To his disappointment he wrote that he didn't discover the washboard abs beneath the fat, instead all he found were ribs. I hope that's not the case here.
But if I ever stand a chance of getting that teeny tiny waist, I'd better get to work, because if not now...then when?
Cheers
Shan
P.S. I understand that people are having a difficult time posting comments. I have looked into the help center to find out why and have yet to find a solution. I'll keep looking. Please keep coming back.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Countdown is on!
Here we are, the 15th of September, just five days before Tracy's 30 Day Method hits the shelves in bookstores across this great nation of ours.
Yikes, five days.
It's Wednesday and I've only managed to squeak in one workout and not even a full one at that. Thank goodness I've got my four-legged person trainer Rama to drag my sorry butt out of bed each day and goad me on to the path less traveled and fill my lungs with fresh air.
In the spirit of the countdown, I picked up a dozen cookies to savor as I contemplate what must be sacrificed to "achieve perfection" in the coming month.
Do you think that a butt that's been around for nearly 40 years even has a remote chance at perfection?
My gorgeous 19-year-old niece was here for a visit this summer and she's at the age when perfection is a reality. It doesn't take too much work and with a little effort you're there. Anyone remember those days?
Take heart, because I don't think that's necessarily who Tracy is targeting with her method. Not that she excludes them, but her roster of personal clients reads like a who's who of middle-aged Hollywood babes. Please no one be aghast and say "Gweneth is only 37, that's hardly middle aged." C'mon ladies, how many of us really expect to live past 80? Even if you make 90, that still lands middle age squarely around 45.
Taking Courtney Cox, Madonna, and Shakira as evidence, I say we stand a better chance of achieving our fitness goals with Tracy than without her. Besides, isn't it just assumed that dancers have the best bodies? Who knows, at the end of the 30 days, I just might like my new body better than chocolate, but in the mean time, I'm going to grab another cookie and wait!
Cheers.
Yikes, five days.
In the spirit of the countdown, I picked up a dozen cookies to savor as I contemplate what must be sacrificed to "achieve perfection" in the coming month.
Do you think that a butt that's been around for nearly 40 years even has a remote chance at perfection?
My gorgeous 19-year-old niece was here for a visit this summer and she's at the age when perfection is a reality. It doesn't take too much work and with a little effort you're there. Anyone remember those days?
Take heart, because I don't think that's necessarily who Tracy is targeting with her method. Not that she excludes them, but her roster of personal clients reads like a who's who of middle-aged Hollywood babes. Please no one be aghast and say "Gweneth is only 37, that's hardly middle aged." C'mon ladies, how many of us really expect to live past 80? Even if you make 90, that still lands middle age squarely around 45.
Taking Courtney Cox, Madonna, and Shakira as evidence, I say we stand a better chance of achieving our fitness goals with Tracy than without her. Besides, isn't it just assumed that dancers have the best bodies? Who knows, at the end of the 30 days, I just might like my new body better than chocolate, but in the mean time, I'm going to grab another cookie and wait!
Cheers.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Lowdown.
I want to be perfectly honest here, there are more noble endeavors that I could potentially be tackling with a blog. Pick a disaster or crisis, there are many - the floods in Pakistan, the recovering country of Haiti, women's issues in the Middle East, but that isn't what this is about.
No one is going to be saved by this blog, no disease cured, no hunger fed, no money raised, but that doesn't make it pointless.
Julie Powell decided to write a blog and in the end, she claimed that Julia Child saved her. Simply by cooking and writing about it.
Gretchen Rubin wasn't able to pick up and go off to India to find herself, I don't even think she wanted to. She wanted to determine if she could find happiness in her own kitchen so she tested out a few theories and made a few of her own and wrote about it in what became known as The Happiness Project.
I suppose in a way, Mastering the Method is my happiness project, so thanks for the inspiration Gretchen.
Over the past two or three years, since leaving the city, I've found the transition to be a difficult one. Friends are hard to come by in a small town and I'm one who takes comfort in food.
With my friends thousands of miles away and my yoga out of the question... you can do the math - I was kind of starting to come apart at the seams a little bit.
It might sound sad, but I feel like I can count on Tracy Anderson. Her mat workout is fantastic. The music is so mellow and she doesn't talk you to death. The repetitive movements hurt like hell, but in the sort of way that make you laugh, like smacking your funny bone. Plus, there are a few segments where you actually get to work from the mat. It's not yoga, but it feels almost as good.
The countdown is on until her book is released. Not sure how I'll be able to part with my beloved chocolate, but if there is anyone out there who has a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.
In the meantime, if no one is reading that's okay too - because for me, the reason I'm doing this is to be held personally accountable for my own health and happiness. Without it, I'll be no good to anyone.
Cheers
Shan
No one is going to be saved by this blog, no disease cured, no hunger fed, no money raised, but that doesn't make it pointless.
Julie Powell decided to write a blog and in the end, she claimed that Julia Child saved her. Simply by cooking and writing about it.
Gretchen Rubin wasn't able to pick up and go off to India to find herself, I don't even think she wanted to. She wanted to determine if she could find happiness in her own kitchen so she tested out a few theories and made a few of her own and wrote about it in what became known as The Happiness Project.
I suppose in a way, Mastering the Method is my happiness project, so thanks for the inspiration Gretchen.
Over the past two or three years, since leaving the city, I've found the transition to be a difficult one. Friends are hard to come by in a small town and I'm one who takes comfort in food.
With my friends thousands of miles away and my yoga out of the question... you can do the math - I was kind of starting to come apart at the seams a little bit.
It might sound sad, but I feel like I can count on Tracy Anderson. Her mat workout is fantastic. The music is so mellow and she doesn't talk you to death. The repetitive movements hurt like hell, but in the sort of way that make you laugh, like smacking your funny bone. Plus, there are a few segments where you actually get to work from the mat. It's not yoga, but it feels almost as good.
The countdown is on until her book is released. Not sure how I'll be able to part with my beloved chocolate, but if there is anyone out there who has a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.
In the meantime, if no one is reading that's okay too - because for me, the reason I'm doing this is to be held personally accountable for my own health and happiness. Without it, I'll be no good to anyone.
Cheers
Shan
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Challenge.
Hey there,
It's September 11th, so I want to take a moment to simply acknowledge everyone who was touched by the tragedy of that day. I think anyone with a television remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing. It's beautiful to see the progress they are making at Ground Zero and to witness the remarkable strength of the human spirit.
So this is my first blog post. As stated in my profile, I'm not a fitness expert of any kind. I'm also not affiliated with Tracy Anderson in any way, but this blog is going to be dedicated to mastering the Tracy Anderson Method, or at the very least, trying to make it a regular habit.
I was an avid practitioner of yoga asanas, but when a neck injury left me unable to practice, I had to come up with other ways of maintaining my fitness and my weight.
I'm pushing the heck out of my thirties and anyone who's over 35 knows that our metabolisms don't stay the same forever and we need to make a bigger effort. Yuck!
I've tried a number of other fitness trends, but nothing seemed to work, so each time I went back to yoga and each time I ended up immobilized all over again. Something had to give.
Then I found the Tracy Anderson method on U-tube.
I worked out with her a little bit and I really liked her. She's fun and upbeat and she doesn't yell at you like some other celebrity trainers. I actually liked spending time working out, so I went to her website and ordered a few of her videos.
She kicked my butt and the extra ten pounds I'd been carrying started to melt away. Not to mention that trying to keep up with her crazy moves and wacky dance routines adds a whole new level of humor to working out. (Unless you're a natural born dancer, I'd recommend you have a sense of humor when attempting her workouts.)
BUT...
The weight's not entirely gone. The last five pounds are hanging on for dear life. It's my own fault. I've never been one to diet. I'm addicted, no, obsessed with the sweet stuff. It's gotten to the point that the only reason I eat a meal is so I can have dessert afterward. I mean it, I have brownies with my granola in the morning!
I'm taking heart thought because experts say that September is the time we should be thinking about embracing healthier eating and lifestyles, not January. After all, it is back to school, back to our routines after a summer of hanging around in the hammock or lying on the beach.
With that in mind and news of a new book by Tracy set to be released on September 20th, I decided I'd take the challenge of trying to get my rotten sweet-tooth and somewhat relaxed exercise habits and dance them into shape.
Her book is called TRACY ANDERSON'S 30 DAY METHOD, The Weight-loss Kick-start that Makes Perfection Possible.
Sounds reasonable enough, 30 days, how hard can it be, right?
OMG, have you seen any of the diets she's put out there for Gweneth Paltrow? I have a sinking feeling that the diet program included in the book is going to involve kale juice. Lord help me. Can I add cocoa to that, do you think?
Anyway, stay tuned, a road without Rocky Road is sure to get bumpy, but it may be good for a laugh along the way.
Again, the book will be released on the 20th so I'll keep you posted on what we're in for.
Cheers
Shan
It's September 11th, so I want to take a moment to simply acknowledge everyone who was touched by the tragedy of that day. I think anyone with a television remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing. It's beautiful to see the progress they are making at Ground Zero and to witness the remarkable strength of the human spirit.
So this is my first blog post. As stated in my profile, I'm not a fitness expert of any kind. I'm also not affiliated with Tracy Anderson in any way, but this blog is going to be dedicated to mastering the Tracy Anderson Method, or at the very least, trying to make it a regular habit.
I was an avid practitioner of yoga asanas, but when a neck injury left me unable to practice, I had to come up with other ways of maintaining my fitness and my weight.
I'm pushing the heck out of my thirties and anyone who's over 35 knows that our metabolisms don't stay the same forever and we need to make a bigger effort. Yuck!
I've tried a number of other fitness trends, but nothing seemed to work, so each time I went back to yoga and each time I ended up immobilized all over again. Something had to give.
Then I found the Tracy Anderson method on U-tube.
I worked out with her a little bit and I really liked her. She's fun and upbeat and she doesn't yell at you like some other celebrity trainers. I actually liked spending time working out, so I went to her website and ordered a few of her videos.
She kicked my butt and the extra ten pounds I'd been carrying started to melt away. Not to mention that trying to keep up with her crazy moves and wacky dance routines adds a whole new level of humor to working out. (Unless you're a natural born dancer, I'd recommend you have a sense of humor when attempting her workouts.)
BUT...
The weight's not entirely gone. The last five pounds are hanging on for dear life. It's my own fault. I've never been one to diet. I'm addicted, no, obsessed with the sweet stuff. It's gotten to the point that the only reason I eat a meal is so I can have dessert afterward. I mean it, I have brownies with my granola in the morning!
I'm taking heart thought because experts say that September is the time we should be thinking about embracing healthier eating and lifestyles, not January. After all, it is back to school, back to our routines after a summer of hanging around in the hammock or lying on the beach.
With that in mind and news of a new book by Tracy set to be released on September 20th, I decided I'd take the challenge of trying to get my rotten sweet-tooth and somewhat relaxed exercise habits and dance them into shape.
Her book is called TRACY ANDERSON'S 30 DAY METHOD, The Weight-loss Kick-start that Makes Perfection Possible.
Sounds reasonable enough, 30 days, how hard can it be, right?
OMG, have you seen any of the diets she's put out there for Gweneth Paltrow? I have a sinking feeling that the diet program included in the book is going to involve kale juice. Lord help me. Can I add cocoa to that, do you think?
Anyway, stay tuned, a road without Rocky Road is sure to get bumpy, but it may be good for a laugh along the way.
Again, the book will be released on the 20th so I'll keep you posted on what we're in for.
Cheers
Shan
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