Congrats and a Cheat Sheet.

It's New Year's Eve - last day of the year.

I hadn't planned on posting today as I've got a full plate but I could not let the day pass without sending out a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our girl NB (Notebook of Trivialities) she's buff, she's beautiful, and she's an official graduate of BAU - that's Bad Add University also known as Metamorphosis! Way to go baby girl, so so proud of you. Hope you enjoyed those waffles!! (I also managed to complete level 3 of C2 by the skin of my teeth. Phew)

Also - for anyone who's interested in doing the Juice Cleanse to start the new year, I thought I'd post my little cheat sheets.

I combed through the book - 3-Day Cleanse which is the book I'm following and have chosen the fruit and green juice recipes that I'd like to try, put them together in a sample menu along with a shopping list.


They're attached, so you should be able to drag them to your desktop and print (but I sort of suck at this so it may not work in that case...) email me and I'll send them to you. As an aside - the recipes as written are DOUBLED. So each one will make two 16 ounce juices since 'he who shall not be named' is doing this with me. If you're doing this on your own, cut them in half. I've also opted to do the Foundation Cleanse which consists of three Green Juices a day along with two fruit juices and one nut milk. For an easier cleanse, you can choose to do the Renovation Cleanse which is only two greens and three fruit juices with 1 nut milk.

Remember to drink plenty of fluids during the cleanse - nothing carbonated, no caffeine or dairy - lots of water and green or herbal teas. And if you can, start your day with warm water with freshly squeezed lemon in it. Check out either The Blue Print Cleanse or Joe Cross's Fat Sick and Nearly Dead - Reboot site for more detailed info on Juicing.


Happy New Year lovelies. All the best.
Shan

Resolution Revolution!

I've been thinking about this post all week. I've been thinking about you and me, everything we've been through together and on our own, our victories and losses, not just on the mat but in our lives. We've gone deep, we've turned over rocks and looked into our dark spaces, we've cleared out the cobwebs in corners we've not ventured into for a very long time and we've managed to come out the other side. Whether we've fallen off the wagon once or a hundred times, if you're reading this, you're still here.

I for one quite like resolutions, but I don't just save them for this time of year. I relish the challenge and must constantly dangle that proverbial carrot in front of me at various times throughout the year. But getting ready to wipe the slate and start fresh always gets me thinking and feeling. 

For the past three years or so, I have re-committed to some of the same resolutions as the year prior because I've felt like I didn't quite hit the mark or had more work to do. But this year I realized that these resolutions are the stuff of a life time. Things like; choose love instead of fear, live joyfully, be grateful, inspire hope, don't feed my pain body (that one's an Ekhart Tolle thing and not within the scope of this particular post but warrants a discussion at some future date). So this year, along with those same goals I felt that I wanted to actually 'do' something. Something more than the regular eat healthier (argh, still working on that one), work out, save money etc. I wanted to make some kind of difference. I'm under no illusions that I can change the world, but there's nothing that says I can't change my world just a little bit.

2011 has been a pretty good year. I've had Tracy Anderson, her Method, my Mat and all of You guiding me through it. But it's also been a year of loss. In my family alone, my husband lost an Uncle and a Grandfather, my Parents lost a best friend of more than 40 years, I mean I can't remember a time when the man was not in their lives and consequently a part of mine, my girlfriend lost her father, a former private yoga student of mine passed suddenly and unexpectedly, and I know that some of you have lost loved ones too, we've even mourned the loss of our pets. It's like my husband said last night over dinner - "You don't know how long you've got."

Just this morning I read a post by writer Tracy Jackson as she was discussing the loss of her best friend (my writing guru) Blake Snyder. She said: "Life is short, sometimes shorter than you think, so live each day to the fullest (sometimes that might include pasta or brownies people, so enjoy them). Live, work, accomplish, make it count, love your friends and believe in something outside of yourself."

That resonated with me on a very deep level, especially the part about making it count. What we do in this world, it should count for something. I am here to tell you that you count, you matter to me. The fact that I am here able to bear witness to your journeys and that you've accompanied me along mine means more than you will ever know. I get sad sometimes, I wouldn't say that I suffer from depression, but I have less than happy days and being here, doing this has added so much light and I am eternally grateful for that opportunity. So I guess my first resolution is to Thank You. I resolve to let you know and gently remind you that I am grateful for you. I'm grateful for the other bloggers that I've come to know as a result of this page, you all inspire, move, and touch me daily.

My awareness of the world has grown because of this experience and that awareness has led me to my big resolution for 2012.

Apart from being a yogi vegetarian TAM fanatic, I am also a lover of products. I could spend hours in the Pharmacy (Shoppers, Walgreens, London Drugs, Boots) looking at all the potions and lotions and creams and magical elixirs that they have on offer. And this year thanks to my girl Andi, I discovered the Mecca for cosmetics... Sephora. Heaven. Wow, have I had fun in there. But I have also learned that many of these products which I have come to love and rely on in my everyday beauty routine, come with a very high price tag and I am not talking about what they retail for (although that can be pretty high too.) 

No sadly, they come at the cost of the suffering of little animals. I'm not going to go into all the sordid details of what companies feed lipstick to bunnies and who tortures puppies, but now knowing what I do, I no longer want to carry on using these products. And lemme tell you, I cried over that one because I love love love L'Oreal. It's not illegal to test on animals and I know that many life-saving drugs and things have come about because of this practice. I don't want to preach or make anyone give up their favorite toothpaste - what I do want to do is to change my own world by eliminating these companies and their products from my life. One small step at a time. As things run out, I resolve to replace them with things that are cruelty free.

Sounds hard, you say. That's going to be expensive, you say. Not really. At first I was a little overwhelmed and didn't know where to start, so again I turned to my cosmetic Guru Andi and she sent me to PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Here you can search by product or download lists of who does and doesn't test on animals. 

That's all very good and well, you might be thinking, but where the heck am I gonna find all these obscure brands? Many of them are not as obscure as you might think and in fact you can pick them up at your local Health Food place or Whole Foods Market but I wanted more choice. (Product Junkie remember?) So I visited Alicia Silverstone's blog where I found.... The Vegan Beauty Market. It's an online shop that caters to all of your cosmetic and beauty needs, all vegan and all cruelty free. I've just placed my first order! I'm so excited. But listen, one thing that was holding me back was that I didn't want to have to buy make-up from a health food store that looked like it belonged more on a clown than on my face and I still wanted to enjoy my "Pharmacy Visits" so guess what? Guess what? Guess what? GUESS WHAT? Revlon does NOT test on animals! Weeeeeeeee! You might actually be surprised at some of the companies who don't and you'll be really shocked by some who do... like AVEENO. (all natural my ass!)

I love animals. My cat, whom I still miss everyday and my Dog...

Isn't he so handsome? I got him and my cat from the pound.

... have brought so much love and happiness into my life. So my resolution this year is to prevent any harm coming to any animal through my actions - either directly or indirectly (through food, products, etc). If you love animals too, why not try dropping meat from the menu once a week, or provide a forever home to an animal from a shelter, or just switch out your dish washing liquid for one that's cruelty free? It's easy and it will make a difference if enough of us do it. We can create a Resolution Revolution.

And I also want to know what you're plans are for the new year? Keeping up with the Method will be among them I hope.

As I close, I want to leave you with a final thought for 2011. I'm paraphrasing American Buddhist Nun, Pema Chodron here when I say, Let your new year not be about throwing yourself away in an attempt to become something better, let it be about befriending who you already are.

I already love you as you are, and you've seen more than enough of my crap to know I'm far from perfect and you keep coming back, so we must be okay.
Big big hugs and all the best for a happy and healthy New Year.
Shan

 

Music!

Day one of my prep for the cleanse - and I have failed miserably. Ha ha, no surprise there but in the words of my beloved, "We don't know how much time we've actually got - so enjoy the time we have." Here here! I did really well throughout the day, but after hours spent in front of the computer forcing the magic, ahem, I mean writing brilliant thoughts, we decided that a meal out was in order and we stumbled across this quaint little Italian joint where we were invited in by the owner for a home-cooked three course Italian Meal complete with red wine and Tiramisu. How the hell do you say no to that? Sometimes I really do feel like the universe is just working against me. It was divine.

Better luck tomorrow. Jah, I'll get there someday sister. Nuff said, let's talk about something else. Wanna talk about how much I love cardio? I'd never be able to fake my way through that post, but what I can talk about is something that might help us, (and by us I mean me) get through it, because let's face it, we could all use a little inspiration now and then when it comes to cardio, huh? I know that I need all the help I can get. (In every aspect at the moment it seems, jeez) So when Chris got in touch with me (Chris writes for the likes of Shape Magazine - wow, how cool is that?!) and wanted to know if I thought you'd be interested in knowing where you could go to find the best music mixes to work out to I was like - um yeah, hook a girl up!


So here's the link to Chris's website Run Hundred and below you'll find the Top Ten List from the readers that were polled about their favorite workout tunes. The list even includes the beat count. Click on a song to give it a listen, or download, or find a perfect mix for whatever workout you're tackling - again all from RunHundred.Com.

Tim Berg - Seek Bromance (Avicii Vocal Edit) - 127 BPM
Katy Perry - The One That Got Away - 135 BPM

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat (Maan Studio Remix) - 126 BPM
Flo Rida - Good Feeling - 129 BPM

Wolfgang Gartner & Will.I.Am - Forever - 128 BPM
Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight (Goldstein Remix) - 118 BPM
Taio Cruz & Flo Rida - Hangover - 129 BPM
Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull & The WAV.s - I Like How It Feels - 129 BPM
Kaskade & Skrillex - Lick It - 128 BPM
Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) - 117 BPM


Thanks again, Chris and have fun getting your groove on, or your bounce if you're using a rebounder. Also, I know that it's New Years Weekend and you're all probably still in holiday mode - but do check back for the biggie - NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS! Eeeeeeeee!

Cheers
Shan 

D191 - Juice Cleanse Prep.

The last days of 2011 are counting down and many of you may not even read this until we are firmly entrenched in the New Year, however I would be remiss if I did not touch on a few things regarding the impending Juice Cleanse (first time ever for me and I am giddy with excitement! Eeeeee) and of course my confessions (been a while since I've had an outright public confession).


While I'm on target for meeting my goal of starting a new level of Continuity on a whole new disk day one of 2012, it's not been easy getting here. Confession time. Best to just get it outta the way right up front and centre. My eating has gone to hell in a candy bag. Since I weighed in and realized that I'd put on nine pounds (in total, not in addition to the 4 I gained way back when) I have sort of treated it like a hall pass - I could just come and go as I pleased, eating what I liked. It came on in stages, first with the parents and inlaws visiting, then with the move and being over-stimulated by all the fabulous take-away places in my new neighborhood (add to that being deprived of good restaurant food for the better part of four years living in MFN {that's the middle of effing nowhere loosely translated}, then being catered to during the initial stages of my internship - think brownies and cheese cake delivered to our meeting room everyday at 2pm, followed by the holidays - Did I even stand a chance? It's me we're talking about here remember? The girl who, before Tracy Anderson, took her morning granola with a brownie chaser and never even touched fruit. I think a little slack is in order. I mean I'm hoping you'll cut me some because ....

Somebody cue the Whitney Houston music please!! ... I'm every woman. I read your comments, I'm living it, I know how hard sticking to a good diet and getting regular exercise is.

And in the spirit of being honest, lemme tell you something. I've really enjoyed loosening my belt to some degree. It's been quite liberating but not without its consequences. I put on my skinny jeans to walk the dog this morning and girls, I could barely get them done up. My muffin top has morphed into one of those Costco muffins. Have you seen those things? They're huge! If it wasn't so shameful, I'd have taken a photo to show you - you would not believe it. In addition to that, being on the mat has been excruciating. I mean to tell you I am in pain. I feel like my limbs are made out of cement. There is no flexibility, every movement takes all the energy I've got which is none because I am totally sluggish from this crap diet I've been on. You know, once you start eating right and feeling good, it's easy to forget that eating garbage really makes you feel like garbage. I've got arthritis in my hands and wrists and it's acute right now because of my poor food choices. So being on all fours or in planks is pure torture. I've been a bad bad girl. Don't get me wrong - having been practicing the Method, starting with Boot Camp nearly a year ago - I have been 'trying' to be good for so long - I've really had fun with letting it all go, but it's not fun anymore. Now everything just hurts.


Good news is - the buck stops here because apparently one cannot simply throw the brakes on and dive into juicing. Apparently one must prepare. Who knew?


As posted recently, the lovely Julie did The Three Day Cleanse based on the Blue Print Cleanse and she really made me want to do it too. It's how I am going to start the new year. But... here's what's really cool. My newest favorite Reader Susan got in touch and said she wanted to offer some support. And guess who Susan is friends with? Mr. Juicy himself... Joe Cross. Any idea who he is?


Dude is a juicing-life-saving-weight-losing-health-re-gaining-rock-star!!! that's who he is. Seriously, Joe made a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead about his journey from the hell his life was in fat-guy mode through sixty days on nothing but juice to the absolute picture of health. Susan offered among other things to send me a copy of the film. I'd heard of this film because my girl Sandy recently did a juice cleanse inspired by said film. Like I could wait for the film to get here in the post... during the holidays... while everything is super busy...


I got me a copy of that film and my beloved and I sat down to watch. I knew I'd be into it, I was already sold on the idea of doing this. What I didn't anticipate was how much 'he who shall not be named' got inspired. Joe Cross is just that kinda guy, he makes you want to give juice a try. Now, not only has my husbie agreed to participate in my little juicing experiment, he's already had the juicer out and has been making us juice. Mental! So... all aboard, here we go. (um, can I just say that I am constantly surprised at how super-cool and uber-awesome you readers of this wee blog are, I can hardly even believe it sometimes)


I'm sorry I had no idea this was gonna be such a long post, but I did warn you yesterday that I had a lot to write about this week so bear with me, kay?


I want to first share a quote by a client of the Blue Print people - she had this to say of her juicing experience: The increased clarity was gradual, from day to day, so I didn't really notice the change as acutely as I did as soon as I began to eat solid food again. That was like getting knocked off a tall fence; I literally felt my consciousness drop a few notches. Nevertheless, now being completely devoid of toxins, I was leagues ahead of my peer group. I know I can use this knowledge of cleansing whenever I need a higher level of awareness. This program is so much more than merely a weight-loss or detox tool. It really is a way to get to your higher consciousness in the same way meditation does, but the effort is easier and the effect lasts much longer.


With all of the writing I have ahead of me, that higher awareness and mental clarity is sure to come in handy. But you know how when you first get into Meta and you start the diet and workout, Tracy says you may feel like you've got the flu for a few days? Turns out it's because the toxins are leaving your body so quickly, you feel sick. That can happen on a juice cleanse too, unless you prep for it. This means - no PRE-TOX before the detox. That's a giant no no. Gulp.


Now, the program that I'll follow, from the book The 3-Day Cleanse, allows for three stages of cleansing. There's even a quiz to help you find out which one to do. The first one - the easiest of the three is the Renovation Cleanse. This is for people who have never really eaten healthy, it's considered the gateway cleanse. It has more calories, it tastes nice, it's easier to stick to.


The second one is the Foundation Cleanse, this is for active types who workout and try to eat healthy but don't always do as well as they should.


The third - the Holy Grail of Cleanses is the Excavation Cleanse and it's the most intense. This is for the saints of healthy eating and fitness. This is not for me. I've opted for #2. It's doable but no walk in the park. 

Here's what they say about length - a 3-day cleanse helps your body clear out the dregs, stuff that's been hanging out there for a while. A 5-day cleanse begins the rebuilding and healing process, while a ten-day cleanse may provide protection against long-term, chronic disease. Ten days is what Joe suggests to start with, but he says even one day is an accomplishment. I've opted for five says since 3 doesn't feel like enough, but I'll be traveling on the 8th of January, so ten is not an option at the moment.

Here's the part you need to know - again sorry it's taken so long to get here. In the days leading up to the cleanse - you need to prep your digestive system to survive on liquid alone because if you go from stuffing yourself, especially with animal products, your system produces enzymes that are ready to churn through a big steak and when it's hit with juice, the enzymes have no work to do and it makes you feel sick (remember that flu-like feeling on TAM?)


Things you can do to make it easier on yourself are to go vegetarian for three days prior if you're not already a veg. So no meat. If you must, you can have fish, but they don't really recommend it on the day before. Get off the dairy and fatty stuff. Stick to really clean eating. There is a program with recipes outlined in the book if you want more detail, otherwise - sticking to a Tracy-friendly menu will do the trick. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, raw foods, and they also really recommend upping your fluid intake - no not your Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, drink more water, and get off the sugar. That needs repeating for me to get it, no sugar in the three days leading up to the cleanse - so I'll be eating my last cookies and chocolates today. It also means no coffee. Boo I have to give up my mochas? Yessirree.


Here it is in a nutshell, before you cleanse:
1) wean yourself off the caffeine
2) cut out salt
3) give up the sugar
4) go green (be a vegetarian for a few days)
5) up your fluid intake
6) cut out dairy
7) and eat very lightly the day before (think Tracy's nutrient boost)

Since I have put on a few extra pounds, I plan to take before and after shots for comparison. Having been pretty diligent about keeping up with my muscular structure, I am curious to see if I've got a few abs under all that insulation I've been growing.

And still to come this week - as if you haven't had enough of me already, we'll make some resolutions, we'll talk music, and of course keeping up with our TAM commitments and all the challenges and triumphs that includes.


Big hugs,
Shan

D190, C2, L3

Happy holidays - hope you're all enjoying some good times with friends, family, loved ones, ones you only see this time of year, kids, pets, other peoples' kids and pets - whatevah! Hope it's all good.

So much to write about this week. The upcoming cleanse and the prep that's going to go into that, new music and where to go to find it, our resolutions for the new year, and of course all of our I mean my confessions. If I were a pooch, I would have been seriously 'bad-dogged' for my dietary behavior as of late!

But just had to check in and see how we're all doing to get through our respective Meta and Continuity levels before the year's end? I'm okay - got my workout in today and even squeezed one in on Christmas day - wow right? - so four days left in the year and four more workouts on C2 level 3 for me. No room for slacking. Hope you're all gonna make it too. We can do it!


Big hugs,
Shan

Merry Christmas!!

Eeeeee, I am so happy that I have Jackie Genius (JAH) talking me through getting pics off that damned iphone that is supposed to make life easier. Actually, after she talked me through it, it was super easy. Oh the agony it is to be me in this technological age. Thanks Jah.

In any case, I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Oh yeah, I said it, I used the C-word and I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone who celebrates Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or the Solstice. I hope you all have a very merry holiday whatever you may be celebrating. 

And I have a special someone here who wanted to wish you happy holidays too. 

Here he is...

He can be whatever you want him to be depending on what you're celebrating. 

Is he an Elf? 
Santa's little Helper?
The Ghost of Christmas Present?
An actual present?
The tree, perhaps?

However you see him, you have to agree that he's the best dog ever in the world. Ooops, sorry best boy dog ever in the world. he he he.

Love you all and looking forward to many more good times together.

Warmly,
Shan and my boy Rama.

tick tick

Okay - I literally have to fly out the door but wanted to really quickly touch base and say we've got nine days left in 2010 (not counting today) so you gotta ask yourself: "How do I wanna go out this year?" You still have time, you can close this chapter with class, with grace, with peace and love or you can still carry around all that crappy, not to mention heavy, baggage from previous years - like maybe feeling like you're not good enough, or you can't finish anything, or closing yet another year with unfinished goals and unfulfilled desires. DO NOT DESPAIR!! There's still time. So what's it gonna be?

You just know that next week I am gonna be bringing up the whole New Year's Resolution thing so... go on... take a look and see. Was there something that you resolved to change at the beginning of this year that you still have time to tackle in these next nine days? Something that you can tick off the list?

Tell you what I got. Nine days and seven more workouts on level 3 C2. I'm going for it! Who's with me?

xoxo
Shan 

C2 - L3 - The Home Stretch

Okay so we're not really in the home stretch, but fake it till you make it right? It's mental for most of us this time of year as we rush around purchasing and prepping gifts, planning holiday meals, decorating the house, not to mention family, work, and school stuff too. It's a miracle that most of us can fit a workout in.

And it will take a Christmas miracle for me to get through level 3 of Continuity 2 by the end of the year. But you protest - it's only ten workouts, there are 12 days left in the year. To which I vehemently argue - 12 mighty packed days! So yes, I am behind. But I did get through level 2, I finally gave it up and did the last workout with a heavy heart. It was so sad to say good-bye to what became a dear friend. However, after taking my weight and measurements... I was quite happy to bid it a fond farewell and get on with level 3. As an aside, I'm not loving it as much as the last level because I am not feeling it in my abs quite so much - it's pretty butt-centric with lots of attitudes at different angles and the actual ab-routine is a little bit fussy involving hand-weights, but it's okay, there's always a new level ten (or 12 or 14) days down the road.

I have managed, as mentioned in the last post, to put on nine pounds and feel too snug in pretty much all but my sweatpants (which don't really fly this time of year) and I've gained back three and a half inches overall. Not a millimeter of that on my thighs, may I add. How bout that? Totally abcentric, me.

So I have the workings of a plan in place. Drum roll please. Or not. Whatevah. Allow me to back-pedal will you? Do any of you read the totally awesome blog The Daily Julie? (don't worry, I'll post a link and you'll be hooked) She writes about fashion and fitness and life all with an air of optimism and fun. Okay maybe that's not how she'd describe her blog but she always lifts me up and keeps in informed. Love her.


Mademoiselle Julie did a Juice Cleanse and after reading about it (a month or so ago) it got me thinking. I don't think I can possibly face another sweet potato puree. I've even kind of gone off Veggie Chili for the time being. It doesn't help that I've backslid into dairy and have been mowing my way through loaves of bread and bricks of cheese - Hellooooooo - 9 pounds, 3 1/2 inches and ahem... no cardio. Quiet Jah, some of us girls just don't like it and by some of us I mean Moi!


Now during the past 10 months, ack, can you even believe we've been at this for that long?! Shocking, right? For the past 10 months I have learned that if I go mostly vegan (I love my free range eggs and if the chickens are happy, what's not to enjoy?) and lay off the sweets, I can get away with mat work five or six days a week and very little cardio to maintain a shape and weight that I'm really happy with. The problem as of late is NO CARDIO at all and eating like a girl who is well on her way to being buried in a piano box. Not cool. Not cool at all. Not for the environment, not cool for my inner plumbing (bread and cheese do tend to plug a kid up) and not cool for my skinny jeans. They are feeling quite neglected and quite frankly (if I'm being honest, and frequently I am) my beloved - he who shall not be named - is really sick of seeing me in my fleecy penguin covered PJ's.


So long story short, in an effort to get back to my "fighting weight", rather that try again for the millionth time (I said I was mostly honest, sometimes I tend to exaggerate) to do one of Tracy's nutrient boost weeks or yoyo on again, off again with her Dynamic eating plan, I would try to play a new game. 


You can add that drum roll now. I am going to kick off my New Year with the Blue Print Cleanse. Now for those lucky ducks who live in New York, you can have the juices prescribed on this cleanse delivered to your door. For those poor schmucks like me who live waaaaaay far away from New York, there's a book called The 3-Day Cleanse that walks you through doing this on your own. And because the Jule-miester did such an excellent job of blogging about her experience with it - I am going to send you to Julie to read about it. 


In an ideal world we wouldn't have to read a book and mess up the kitchen, we'd all have the time and money to head down to the desert in Southern California to detox for a week at We Care Spa, but for those of us that do live in a less than ideal world, this really does appear to be the next best thing. Why not home-spa it for a week? I say hellz ya.


So this then is the plan. I hope with all my heart and mighty determination that I can tackle level 3 by the end of the month. Then I'll start the new year clean, not only with a yummy juicy cleanse, but with a whole new DVD from the Tracinator, Level 4 of C2. I'm looking forward to a fresh start to round out my year on the Method - so I can at least go out with my best foot forward. But since it is the week before Christmas, let's not be too fussy or get too caught up in being perfect and just enjoy the season and all it has to offer.


Cheers.
Shan

D177 - C2 - L2

Hi Hi -
I've missed you all - been stupid busy recently.
Honestly I have one more day of Level 2 and I am saving it because I don't want this level to end. BB tells me that level 3 was good and she's loving level 4 but I don't know.... I'm attached.

In any case - I'm in some real trouble. Check this out. You know how sometimes when someone close to you gets a stomach ache or head-ache, you can feel ill too? They call it sympathy pain. (reading the comments recently - sounds like we've all got sympathy flu... but I digress)

Closer to the point, sometimes when a woman is pregnant her partner  will put on a few pounds and they call it "sympathy weight". Um so yeah, that's what I'm going with. My teacher is pregnant so I have naturally gained sympathy weight. What do you think? I don't give a rat's ass if Stacey and Maria haven't gained an ounce. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you're new - Stacey and Maria are Tracy's right hand gals and will be filming her workouts for her while she is growing a baby.

So here's the scoop. Nine pounds and an inch and a half around my waist. That's what all the takeaway and skipped workouts during my move to Vancouver - in addition to a really crazy couple of weeks on a catered menu have done to me. I am going to be really honest with you. As you know I hate cardio so that's the first thing that went. Haven't danced to a beat in weeks, maybe even a month I don't even know. My mat workouts are down to 4 times a week and I have been eating eating eating - lots of food and the wrong things. But it's been kinda fun.

All my pants are too tight. I actually look pregnant, I could give Tracy a run for her money at the moment, since I am after all, abcentric. If this really were a climb up Everest as I have mused in the past, I was near the the top, or could at least see it, but have now fallen back down to base camp.

Let me spell this out. In total on the program I lost 19 pounds. I have gained back 9. Do the math. I have a gut and the muffin top is back with a vengeance. Here's the really curious part though. I am not stressed about it. Yes, I admit that I am uncomfortable in my skin - Tracy promises to pull the skin back to the muscle and that really happens on the Method - so now I feel a little like I am wearing a suit that's a size too small. But it's okay. I have the tools to fix this and what the heck - it's ten days to Christmas. I am going to enjoy it. Santa's pudgy and look how merry he is. Why not me too?

I just found out that I'll be getting some money to write and now instead of two scripts needing to be delivered by March - I have four - but two are due at the end of January. OMG!!! It's good and it's bad. It's good because I will be writing full time again (I'll still be broke but writing), but the schedules are so insanely tight that other things may have to be sacrificed. I am literally six and a half-weeks away from achieving my one year goal of getting into and staying in shape - but if I gain everything I lost and lose everything I've gained it won't count will it? It's going to be a tight rope to walk without a net. 

Stick around, it could be good for a laugh.
Cheers,
Shan

C2-L2-Day ???

Hey Chicas,
This is just a quickie to let you know I've been here, reading your awesome comments, juggling a lot of balls and making a slow recovery from this flu. Thanks ever so much for your warm wishes of wellness. Since I've been away, I've eaten way too much - love those hotel catered meetings and working lunches on someone else's dime, but it's gonna be time to pay the piper soon.

The only thing I have managed to really hold on to is my love of Continuity 2 Level 2. If this was a sucky level, I can promise you I'd have ditched the whole thing entirely. You know what that means... no cardio, but I've only missed about three mat workouts in the past week - so I did better than I'd thought I would. Small victories, remember? That's the bonus of the Method, if you work to make it part of the routine it actually becomes part of the routine.

More soon, I swear. Oh and just to give you an added visual - this level is giving me some great definition in my abs. Unfortunately, my diet has been so rich and excessive that I have layer of fat over top - but it's actually quite funny. It's like I have shapely fat.

The good news is, even if this is happening to you too (holiday season and all that) it should be pretty easy to drop that extra layer with a small bit of focus and dedication when things settle down. 


And last thing, someone had asked if we're still taking measurements in continuity. I have been after every level and my measurements have not changed. This is good and bad - it means that in spite of my binging and skipping cardio etc I haven't gained spacially (although it might be a different story this time around, I mean how many times can I really get lucky?) But it also means that I still haven't shed that last inch off my waist that I'd like to see gone. My weight on the other hand has fluctuated by about 5 pounds which Tracy says is the norm, so there ya go. Normal.
xo
Shan
 

D165 - C2 - L2

Day two of my re-captivity. I've been taken hostage once again by that rotten, good-for-nothing, low-down, scoundrel of a flu. So I am writing to you from the confines of my sick bed. You'll forgive me if I go astray, at times sound erratic, or completely delusional as I am hopped up on cold and flu medication, okay? Oh yeah, and can you be kind enough to overlook the typos? Thanks.

I had a first yesterday - I like to savor those because as we grow older, firsts seem to happen less and less and one starts to think about the end times when lying flat on one's back  - or in this case propped up by a bunch of pillows. But I digress.

My new boss sent me home from work and canceled my shift for today. I have never had a boss do that. He actually showed real concern, not only for me and my recovery, but for the rest of that staff. He didn't want the whole crew to come down with this bug. How great is he? The man used to be a nurse. 


In any case, since I cannot physically perform my workout today I have the time to tell you all about it. I have two days of this level under my belt so I know for sure that my love of this new level was not a one-off or my virus talking. I really do love it.


Those of you who have a history with Tracy beyond Metamorphosis will be familiar with her Mat DVD. This is Tracy Anderson at her finest. This workout is a piece of art - from the music to the stylings of each movement to her description of the moves - it just makes you want to wake up day after day and get in front of your TV. It is, of course what led me to her Perfect Design Series, her book and you know the rest. 


All through Meta I have been performing the Abcentric workout. I stuck with that into Continuity. If you've explored the blog at all, you may have seen some photos wherein I sing Tracy's praises for reshaping my butt too. I'll be frank. Even if you choose a specific centric - meaning something other than Omni - Tracy still targets your whole body. I entered into this contract with her with the hopes she would flatten my belly, tuck in my ponch, shave off my love handles and finally give me a waist. What I hadn't counted on was that I'd also end up with muscle definition in my arms, shapely legs and an actual butt (I normally have what's called a bannock butt in my community - also know as a pancake butt) I've gone astray here a 'lil bit haven't I? Sorry bout that.


What I am getting at is that while up to this point I have held Tracy's Mat DVD in highest esteem as my all-time fave workout ever in the world - I think it may have just met its match. There may be some competition here with Abcentric Level 2 of Continuity 2! Yep - you read it here first. I think Tracy Anderson has just invented my new favorite workout.


Lemme tell you. It's moving art - not in the same way that a dance is, but pretty damned close. I would go so far as to say that if you're on the fence about Metamorphosis or not sure if you should do Continuity or might not feel committed enough to carry on - whatever - spend the money - take the leap ....


Just so you can get here. Yes I am medicated, but even before I got sick I knew this was something special. At the start of this level, Tracy says:

At this level I am going to really be focusing on your specific body type and really get at the areas of your body where you're most susceptible to gain weight and store fat.

Really focus in hitting all of your angles, watch my angles and engage your entire body, exaggerating the movements as you complete level two of this series.

And she starts this process as soon as we're warming up. She has us on our knees, with our toes turned out and the knees inverted as we move. The arm moves incorporate a lot of new positions and angles that twist and turn and include the torso - the core is really being worked during the arm series. And the ab session? It's the best I've seen her come up with. It's a few minutes longer and it really targets the whole core.


But it was the leg segment with which I became the most enamored. Some previous levels I've loved because they were easier for me or didn't require as much. Not this level. This level calls for everything you've got. The shocking thing is that it didn't make me want to vomit. (Although admittedly there has been some of that, it's more flu related than method induced I promise.)


During the later stages of Meta - levels 7 through 9 - somewhere in there, there was a move that had us start on all fours, then had us flip over into a reverse one-armed table top and had us kick one leg in the air - so essentially you wind up in a balanced table position on one arm and the opposite foot. She has this move here in this level, but she's choreographed it more specifically and has added a weight. I know that sounds scary. It does. But at the point in the workout that it arises it is timed perfectly, you're ready for it. I said in my last post that my body was made for this workout and I wasn't kidding. There is so much movement and flow in this session that my heart was pounding and my breathing - while not labored - it was intense. But here's the beauty. The breath became mandatory. As each move swings, twists and sways into the next, the breath becomes incorporated. And do you know what other form of movement does this? Yes, it's Yoga.


My breath began to flow through the entire practice so that by the last segment when balanced on the tips of my fingers on one hand and the knee of one leg - with the opposite weighted arm and leg bending and flowing in opposite directions in the air - the use of the breath allowed me to close my eyes and sail through the movements seamlessly - almost in a dream-like state. All the while the sweat was just pouring. (Yes I have a fever - but still) Nothing before Yoga has taken me here. Now Tracy's done it. It's a beautiful practice and I cannot wait for you all to get here. Those who've gone before me - all I can say is I hope there is more to come.


So on that note - I must tell you that I will be away from here for a while. The whole of this month is madness - but I'll likely not have time to really check in or touch base until the 10th or 11th. That doesn't mean that I won't be here in spirit - working just as hard as all of you. But, there may be days where I just won't be able to get my workout in and might perhaps fall behind. So what I am about to share is mostly a pep talk for me - but I thought you might get something out of it as well.


I have a calendar by Dr. Wayne Dyer that's called Living the Wisdom of the Tao in which each month he takes a verse from the Toa Te Ching and puts it into terms that you and I can understand. December's verse is # 49.


The sage has no fixed mind; he is aware of the needs of others. Those who are good he treats with goodness. Those who are bad he also treats with goodness because the nature of his being is good.


Dr. Dyer explains that "this verse encourages us to change the way we view virtually everyone. To replace our idea of criticizing them with an acknowledgment of us without criticism."

"He asks us to avoid taking one position and sticking to it no matter what the circumstances are. And to remember to include yourself when dispensing kindness and nonjudgment." 


The reason I wanted to share this is because one of my personal Shamandments is to not be a hateful meanie to myself. This includes being hard on myself for eating the wrong thing or missing a workout. Both are likely to happen over this next week while I am at workshops, in meetings and while slogging through writing assignments. I am in this Continuing Metamorphosis for the long haul - as are you. So a week or two of not being "perfect" is not going to derail anyone so long as we remember to pick up and carry on once the chaos is over.

And finally, I wanted to share this video with you. It's not only my fave new song, but this kid dancing a yoga practice is - well - I only wish I could do half of what he's capable of and perhaps after a few years on the method, it'll be possible.

Much love,
Shan