What can you expect from the Tracy Anderson Method?

What can you expect from the Tracy Anderson Method? It's a great question, one that is not answered simply. Many of you newly embarking upon your Metamorphosis may be wondering about the strict dynamic eating plan, or you may be wondering if your shins will ever stop hurting from dance cardio (don't worry, they will) or if you can even keep up with working out six days a week? (You can by the way, you need only adjust your mindset.)

Those of you further along may have your own answers to the above question. In fact just last week a few of you were commenting on how you expected to have to struggle to get into your jeans, you expected to have to hide your body when participating in photos, or you expect you're going to need a larger size in the fitting room when in fact what you really need is one size smaller. You realized that dressing is no longer a struggle and you can stand front and center in any photo!

But the question I'm posing goes even deeper than that. What can you expect from the Tracy Anderson Method? If you apply a little bit of dedication and a whole lot of sweat, you can expect a pretty profound change, not only in your jean size but in your life as a whole. 

Some of you have reported feeling stronger both on and off the mat. You feel more beautiful. Others of you realize that you are capable. I mean come on... once you master a one armed plank with one foot off the ground, then flip around into a table top position all without falling flat on your face, you start to realize that you might no longer be that geeky kid who never got picked for the team. 

You realize your own strength.

What I didn't expect from the Tracy Anderson Method was that my worlds were about to collide.

Last week I had the great good fortune to work on the live event show... The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. 

This was taken during Rehearsals.

We were going through many of the same motions that I imagined the folks getting ready for the Academy Awards were going through, only on a smaller scale. It was cool.

I was even more blessed to be working in the story department. I was able to sit in on round-tables and read-throughs of the script, I was in the theater for rehearsals and was back stage reading the teleprompter, cheering on the talent as the show went live and was being taped for television. The days were long, generally 17 hours not including travel to and from the theater. Sleep was hard to come by. But the rush of being there, watching it all come together was so worth it. 

But this is where it gets interesting. 

When it came time to make changes to the script, we were down in the basement of the theater in our production office. Just down the hall from us were the rehearsal rooms. One such room was where the dancers went to practice. 

I was curious. I couldn't help myself, I wondered what they were up to in there. Before the Method, I never would have given it a second thought. I am all about the words, all about the story. Dance? Sure, it's great... for someone else. Yet each time I walked past the open door, gaped at the wide open space, I felt this odd yearning to go in. So strange.

Then on one particularly long night, it was about 10 pm, all of the actors and performers had long since gone, we knew we had at least another 4 hours of work ahead of us. My boss suggested we take ten. Hmm, what could I do in ten minutes? Catering had left for the day so the kitchen was closed. Hmm. I don't smoke and besides it was raining. Hmm. My mind kept traveling back to the rehearsal room. The room with the gleaming wood floor, the wall of mirrors, the ballet bar, the piano...

Before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of that mirror, feeling (I imagined) what Tracy must feel every day. I stretched out like a cat and started to move. Within moments I was working those standing abs, rocking an arm workout, I even threw in a modified sun salutation for good measure and old time's sake. I was in my element and it was an element that hadn't previously belonged to me. Before the Method, I wouldn't have dared step into the hallowed halls of the dancers, would have been mortified to see myself in front of all those mirrors, much less do some sort of dance moves and with the doors open I don't mind telling you! It felt normal, natural, it felt good.

Once my ten minutes were up, I floated back along the hall to my office, back to my desk. I sat up a little taller, had a little bit more energy and I felt new. Not a feeling you get very often at 40, am I right?

The next day at lunch... (being vegetarian, the chef made a separate meal for me each day)... I was given a plate with grilled tofu and roasted vegetables. Guess what one of the veggies were? Roasted parsnip. If Tracy wasn't already on my mind, one bite of that and I was straight back into Nutrient Boost week and it felt comforting, like home.

So while I wasn't able to work out for the six days I was on the show, I understood that I longed to, that I missed it. It has become part of my DNA.  I didn't expect that.

As well, in the past when being on set, I'd always over-eaten, taken one too many cookies, or had a serving that was just a little more than I needed, but last week it was the opposite. I wanted to eat healthily.

Since the chef was cooking separate meals for me, I was able to avoid the buffet line altogether, he created automatic portion control because he took pride in the presentation of the food. I even managed to lose a pound. Running around to deliver new scripts with last minute urgency probably didn't hurt either.

If you manage to find yourself charmed enough to be going through Metamorphosis, or well into your Continuity, something you never expected just might happen to you. This Method... these tools of good heath... may potentially sneak in and become a way of life. In fact, do it long enough and you can expect it.

It's great to be back.
xo
Shan

The Week Ahead.

So much I am dying to share with you lovelies, but I am so behind I haven't even had time to respond to comments.

I want to tell you all about the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, even have a few sneak peaks at the stage as it was being built and during rehearsals... I couldn't help but think about the Academy folks doing some similar things getting ready for the Oscars.

While I was slaving away (17 hour days I don't mind telling you) my Rebounder DVD showed up... so you can expect a review. Eeeeee. So very exciting. Tracy looks fit and fab in it and she doesn't disappoint with her wacky tie-died trousers. That girl!

Plus an update on the ongoing diet drama - it's actually got a bit of a happy ending.

Lemme just catch up on a few workouts, some sleep, a couple of story meetings and deadlines, then we can powwow over a hot cuppa and dish about all of it, shall we?

Love ya.
Shan

OSCAR NIGHT!!

Lights! Camera! Action!!

Tonight's the big one. It's Oscar Night my pretties. For an insignificant little scribe like myself, it's the big dream, the be all and end all of what I do. The dream I have carried for as long as I can remember. I am not ashamed to admit that I have practiced my speech many many times and will continue to do so until the I reach that stage or reach my end, which ever comes first.

A great writer and mentor of mine once said: "The world wants good stories. It's your job to come up with them."

My job, my privilege. 

Lots to share. Let's catch up next week, shall we? 'Till then... enjoy the show!
xo
Shan

Going Dark.

Are you familiar with the expression "going dark"? Or maybe I don't quite have it right. In any case what I am referring to is when a theatrical run comes to an end, the theatre goes dark. Or if the performers get a day off, the theatre is dark that day.

What I am trying to say is that next week, my blog is going dark. Just for the week.

It's good news and it's bad news. The good news is that the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards Show is here in Vancouver this year. (it's like the Oscars for Indians) And I got a job on the show. The bad news is that our days run from 7am to 10 or 11pm and later as the week wears on. 

So... while "yeah, I'm working on the show!", it's also... "bummer, I have no time to work out or write or sleep."

In the meantime, my neck, while still stiff and sore, is mobile again so I am back to working out (it's modified in some respects but it still counts) and I've graduated to the next level.

Eeeeeeeeee. Continuity 2, Level 8!! Tracy does preface the workout saying that level 8 is the hardest level of this particular 30 day segment, for every body type. How about that? And she is not wrong. I will say this for it, while it is absolutely killer, it's such a refreshing workout.

I can't speak to any other level, but for Abcentric, this level is startlingly less dominated by planks! There is a God after all, I knew it! And you know how Tracy is always reminding us that with her Method, she works to exhaust the larger muscle groups first so she can then get to the accessory muscles and activate them? She goes all out on level 8.

There isn't anything terribly new or exciting about the arms or abs. They take up a third of the workout, they're hard, you work. But when she gets into legs is when things get good. We begin with a standing move which I was thrilled to see. I love the standing leg sequence from her Mat workout, so was really jazzed to begin vertically. The thrill wore off rather quickly when the pain kicked in.

She has you plunge into a deep second position plie, then you push off your right leg, to come standing on your left while the right swings across your body in an attitude - like a million times! Whew.

Many of the moves are wide swinging movements - like going from a runner's squat up into downward dog with your leg straight up behind you, or rocking over your head into a plow then rolling up onto your butt to end in a V with one leg straight and the other bent into the chest. She has you moving all over the mat, working in every conceivable direction and it's exhausting for all the muscle groups, every last damned muscle in your body! It's no joke. I love it.

Sadly I'll only just be getting into it when I'll be interrupted and have to stop. I'm sorry but there's no way I'm getting home from the theatre at midnight and doing a workout - and there's no way I can get up at 4am to do it. I'll be up at 5:30 each day as it is and have I mentioned that I am not a morning person. Sooooo not a morning person. So, I'll be "going dark" next week too.

In other news, I stepped on the scale today - and there was movement... 

Sadly it was in the wrong direction. Let's just say that now I have an even ten pounds to drop. And after a week of catered food, no workouts and very little sleep, I can't imagine things are going to look any better next week.

I'll just have to work that much harder to turn things around in March!
Onwards and upwards, right?

Until then, keep in touch and take care of one another.
Big hugs and great weekend.
Shan 

Happy Happy - Joy Joy

This is so random and yet connected. I spotted a headline today that read "Torontonian dances for Ellen" - I was so supposed to be writing, but how can you not click on that?

So I checked it out and here's the abridged version of what I discovered. Apparently Ellen DeGeneres put out a call to her viewers to video tape (do the kids still say video tape even though everything is digital these days? anyway...) to 'record' themselves dancing behind someone. The catch? That someone can't know you're doing it. So that's exactly what Toronto Journalist, Phil Villeneuve did. 

I watched Phil's video and it made me so happy to see how much fun he was having dancing around in all these whacked-out locations and it got me thinking that he should really be on Team Tracy. Do dance cardio - feel joyful.

Check him out! Ooooooh, and you might want to turn the volume down if you're at work! If you're at home then crank it up and dance along.

Perhaps next time I'm slogging through my dance cardio, I'll think of Phil and maybe, just maybe, I'll be a little lighter on my feet and in my heart.
 
Cheers,
Shan

Rediscover the Love

Happy Valentine's Y'all! Today's post is about love, but not the romantic kind. If you've read anything here recently, you know that 2012 hasn't been easy so far. Seems I'm not the only one who's been struggling with maintenance, with balance, and schedules or just generating the desire to keep going. It's a process.

In recent weeks, I'd finally given up my resistance to cardio. I just gave into it and started doing it. By losing that reluctance, it's become so much easier. I know that it's a shamandment - Just do the bleedin' cardio already, but I hadn't really gotten it until now.

This idea of dropping our resistance is of course nothing new, it's born out of Yogic and Buddhist philosophies, but actively choosing to apply it to my health is new for me.

So many of you have shared your painful stories of sugar addictions or difficult eating habits or not knowing how to stop. I get it, I seem to continually find myself in the same cycle of clean eating, moderate eating, bad eating, full-on binges on crap then back to clean eating again. I know that I am addicted to sugar in the same way I had once been addicted to nicotine and in order to let go of one addiction I simply picked up another. Perhaps not the healthiest approach but sugar was the lesser of two evils. Now it's time to make another substitution.

Before that though, I needed to recognize this dangerous eating cycle and actively work on letting go of my need to binge. It's a habit to which there can be no substitution, it simply must be tackled head on. I fully understand that it's a choice that I must make daily with intention. 

In order to do that I took a look at the type of eater I am - you can read that post here - and work from that foundation. So being a three squares a day girl, I have chosen to cut out snacking. But, one thing I know for sure, is that after dinner, I desperately crave something sweet. I can work with that, I simply need to insert a healthy substitution.

So this weekend I took a trip to Wholefoods. I went in search of healthy chocolate. I was looking for a minimum of 70% cocoa, I wanted organic, and a list of ingredients I could pronounce. I made a deal with myself that if I am going to indulge the sweet tooth, I would do it in a moderate and healthy way. A tall order for me, but not impossible. Again, many of you had already come to my aid. You'd listed your favorite brands since a lot of you are already onto this. (I'm the remedial student in this group evidently)

While on my hunt, I discovered Green & Black's organic. Oh yeah, all you UK girls are smiling in agreement aren't you? Of course, because you're the ones who recommended it. Delighted, I bought a bar. I was able to break it in half and eat it over two days. Eeeeeeee! Progress. It's all very exciting. 

Yesterday, I made the trek back to get a couple of more bars. Dangerous territory, I understand. But better to be well supplied with the good stuff than to run out and grab the bad stuff from the local market.

When I arrived at Wholefoods, my timing could not have been worse. The line ran clear through to the back of the shop. Ugh. But I'd gone all that way for this one specific thing. I stood in line (the bars are at the cash point) for 20 minutes and when I got to the spot where the bars were - they were SOLD OUT! What? Was everyone suddenly onto the same plan as me? I was not going to give up that easily, this was my life-line we were talking about here. 

I did some digging around the shelf and found an unopened box of mini-bars. That is not what I wanted... or was it? I weighed my options, gave it serious consideration and discovered that omigod, this had to be divine intervention. (I can be dramatic, I know) I could limit my intake of chocolate to a single tiny bar a day. Less temptation since on the bigger bar, once the foil packaging is ripped open, it's harder to say no to, but if a little bar isn't even open...

And along that same line of thinking, once the mini bar is finished it's finished. So I decided to get enough for the week. And just look at how cute they are and they weigh in at less than 200 calories. Win win.
 
Admittedly, it's only been a day, but it's working like a charm. Plus, I'd forgotten how much I really love good quality dark chocolate. It's worth the few extra pennies.

Wait, there's more good news. It's Valentine's today so you just knew it had to be a love day, right? Haven't had one of those around here in a long time, I'd say we're due!

My neck had been really bothering me and was not responding to the usual treatments (no more Witch Doctor so...) and it grew into a massive headache. Something had to be done. The only way I was going to get relief was to increase the circulation to the area, but the only way to do that was to get the muscle to stop the spasm and relax. It's a catch 22. I thought, screw it, I am already in so much pain, how much worse is it going to get? I pulled out my rebounder and I dug out my Metamorphosis DVD's. Yeah, that's right. I went back to the beginning and put in the Meta cardio - I hit play with Tracy's voice and the music and got on my rebounder. 


She told me how difficult it was going to be at first, but that I just had to dig deep and change my mindset. Wasn't that what I'd just been thinking about with food? She told me to push myself, to remember why I was doing this. She reminded me to have fun and before I knew it, she was saying how great it was to dance with me and that she'd see me tomorrow! Wow, I'd made it to the end without watching the clock? Sweet!


I climbed down from my rebounder feeling pretty darn pleased with myself and the Badass Workout Guru. Yeah I still had a headache, yeah my neck still hurt, but I could feel it loosening up. The pain was bearable and I'd gotten my workout in! Fantastic! Not only that, later the same afternoon, I could turn my head slightly. Yes, my mobility is coming back.


Doing that original dance cardio in a modified way brought me back to why I started all of this in the first place. I remembered why I love Tracy Anderson so much. Why I love the Method so much. But more than anything, it gave me the hope and the reassurance that not only could I keep doing this, but that I would once again be successful.


I rediscovered my love for the program. I don't feel frenzied or panicked or depressed anymore. I feel stable and centered. I feel calm and kind of oddly happy. Perhaps grateful is a better word.

In any case I'm back in the game. Three squares and a small bar of superior dark chocolate, modified mat work and gentle cardio - I'm well on my way to recovery and I've not only got Tracy to thank for it, I've got all of you. Thanks guys, you've been extremely helpful and I'm grateful for your support and sharing spirit.


I am feeling the love.
Again, Happy Valentine's Y'all!
xo
Shan

Inspiration.

It's the weekend, a time when I just want to kick back and chill. 

My neck is still wounded and he who shall not be named ordered Indian last night. Yummee! I ate up every last bite and today I'm bloated, pouty, and miserable. Boohoo! I feel like I have a takeaway hangover. Can that even happen?

Being all abcentric and such, every single ounce goes to my spare tire. Eating takeaway accentuates that because of the high sodium.

I don't want to allow myself to continually behave this way over and over, but I am certainly not going to beat myself up over it either. It's done. Besides, I love Indian food. 

However, today is a clean slate.

I'm choosing to take this opportunity to say that I enjoyed the meal. But, I am also acutely aware of the not so subtle side effects of that meal and be grateful to them for the reminder that I am trying to "do something here!" Trying to be my personal best.


For some reason lately this has become increasingly difficult. I don't know if it's because my schedule has been so demanding, or if I have the winter blues or I'm just burnt out or what... Whatever it is, it's time to pull up my boot straps, stop being so soft and do what needs to be done. It's not like I don't know what that is for crying out loud.

It's times like these that it's critical to look for sources of inspiration. I find it can be helpful to look to someone who has gone before you and is successful, not only in achieving her personal best, but in maintaining it. Check out the washboard on Miss Thang here.

I think Gwen is so cool, she's got her own unique style and shape and that girl owns it. She says that she works damned hard to look that good too. She works out everyday and has a personal trainer. 

What's the moral of the story? If Gwen can do it, why can't I?

There is no good reason why I can't work out every day with my personal trainer, Tracy. (Once my neck is better) And you can too.

Thanks for the inspiration Gwen.
xo
Shan

Pushing The Limits.

Hi everybody - I want to preface this post with a warning - it could be a long one.

So I threw out some pretty big questions on the last post and you guys rallied around with loads of great tips, solutions and information. The best thing about your response was that many of you who are finding success are doing some similar things. How great is that? It means that there's hope for the rest of us.

Allow me to stray for just a little bit.

Here's my thing, I will take pretty much any situation I am in and do my best to make it work. Years spent by the side of my beloved yoga teacher taught me that I must adapt, adjust, accommodate. That's yoga. As a writer, you might assume that I am a quiet bookish sort of girl. While that is true, I tend to be a loner, love to read and one of my favorite things about writing is that I can work from home in my jammies. 

But - I have been known to push things from time to time. I've done the usual sort of dare-devilly things like bungee jumping and rock climbing and ab-sailing, I tried surfing (but being that I can't breathe water... it didn't work out too well for me) Even in my very stable yoga practice, I was there working on head-stands without hands. Maybe that's another reason I write - so I can put my characters in all these mental situations that I no longer have the stamina for. In any case, the physical is not the only realm I'll push it in. I test the limits on all sorts of things like my husband's patience for example, but where this trait has failed me most has been with my diet.

You see, as mentioned, I read and when I read diet books I try to take what I can from them and make them work for me. What that's looked like in the past has been something like - if I'm told I should be eating six small meals a day, I'll start off doing that but by the end of the week I find myself eating six regular meals a day. No good. Same goes I've realized with Bethenny's book - she says: taste everything but eat nothing. Hmm. Seems I may have "forgotten" about the eat nothing part because I've been tasting everything and then some.


Having gained this nine pounds and feeling a little stuck with it, I was beginning to feel a real sense of hopelessness. But then I read your comments and what most of you were saying is that if you want to eat - if you want to even indulge from time to time - you do - but ONLY if you've done your cardio and some of you, Tracy included, will even do extra cardio.


Now I've only just recently accepted that, like it or not, I've got to do the cardio so I've been doing it. I've given up my attachment to my dislike of cardio, I let that go and just got on with it. That's been working. Yeah!! Small victory. Still, I was only doing 20 minutes. Reading your comments I decided that I was going to have to up my game. If adding an additional 20 minutes meant that I could have my cake and literally eat it too, 20 minutes would be a small sacrifice. So I got busy and made myself a 45 minute play list of all my favorite toe-tapping tunes and I got to it. Knowing why I was doing it made the time fly by. Tracy was finished and saying good work and I was still going. It was quite a thrill, it was exhilarating actually. When I was finished, I felt quite chuffed. (that's UK speak for pleased). In fact, just the other day I'd been thinking about how good I'd been feeling since adding in the cardio. I was thinking maybe this isn't so bad. Maybe I could grow to like this. Maybe I could do a little yoga, you know to stretch out...

I just had to push it, didn't I. I'd done my mat work with my ankle weights and everything, then I'd done 40 minutes of cardio with a 5 minute cool down and I was in the zone, I was feeling so good, I dragged the mat back out and eased myself into a very gentle yoga practice. Old school-like, no headstands or hand stands, no jump throughs, none of that. Just slow and steady, meditative sun salutations, forward bend, spinal twist - you know just the classics. And it felt good, I was home. It almost made me cry from having missed it so much. It was bliss.

I slept through the night - the whole night. When my eyes popped open I was awake. I got up, turned my head and WHAM - my neck was immobilized. This happened yesterday and I was gutted. Couldn't turn my head, I could forget about doing any sort of practice. I spent the day wearing a heating pad and popping Advil. It's more of the same today. What a colossal drag.

Will I never learn my limits and what is beyond them? Is this destined to happen again and again, every six months or so? I'll start to feel confident and whole then I'll attempt my practice and be immobilized? I don't know. I refuse to give up on yoga entirely. I do a few very simple stretches at the end of every Mat workout, but never a real practice. Each time I've tried the same thing has happened. I don't even want to delve into what emotional thing is causing this or whatever - all I'll say on the subject is that my feelings are really hurt because it feels like a horribly mean joke. Eventually, I'll get over it, what choice do I have?


At the moment, I simply want to get feeling well enough to do the Method and my cardio and stick to that and be grateful for it. Period.


That said, while I am going through the usual modalities of healing, it's also a good time to consider all you've said about your diets and eating habits. Many of you, like me are sugar junkies. Who knew so many of us carried this addiction? Wow, it's staggering isn't it? I'll tell you up front that I don't have the answers. What I do have, is a plan. (ha, don't I always? I may fail but it ain't for lack of trying)


I am going to ask those of you with addictions of your own to look at the following questions and answer them for yourselves. You should know that all of this has come from you the readers and all of your resources and experiences so I'm hopeful that this can genuinely help the rest of us find some sort of balance.


Okay - one of the first things you might want to ask yourself is; What kind of eater are you? (thanks for this reminder Tricia) 

In Tracy's book on page 183 she lists three types.

The nibbler - those who don't care if they ever sit down to a meal. A handful of this and that every now and then and they are happy. The nibbler would rather nibble all day instead of loading up at mealtimes.


The Grazer - not quite a nibbler, not quite someone who needs three squares, grazers enjoy several light meals throughout the day (you might do well on the six small meals program)


The Three Squares - Even if these folks give up the mashed potatoes and gravy, these guys are happiest sitting down to breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday with a full range of tastes and textures.


So that's first. Doesn't matter (for the moment) what you're eating. Good or bad, just look at your upbringing, your current habits, what makes you most satisfied? Then adapt that to healthy foods. We can all do that right? Easy.

I grew up in the prairies in a very meat and potatoes kind of family. We had breakfast before school, a solid lunch - usually soup and sandwiches - then a dinner that generally consisted of meat, potatoes and a vegetable. So I know that I am best suited to this routine. It worked really well for me on the Nutrient Boost weeks - where I would puree all the different foods, and then I would combine them and serve them up over three meals in the day. 

Next, what's your vice? Your bad habit? Are you a cheese and crackers kid? Do you dive for the dessert table? Are you constantly snacking and picking when you're not even hungry? I know lots of moms out there tell me they clean off their kids' plates.


If you can figure out your vice and find a way to factor it into your life in a healthy way, that's a great place to start. Then you're not fighting your natural instincts so much, right?

Know you're gonna eat off the kids' plate? Then why not only ever allow yourself to do it at one meal a day. Say dinner's the worst, you know you're not going to get away with not picking off their plates at dinner. Fine, we can work with that. Serve yourself a plate of food that's a little less than usual, then pick off the kids.


Love your cheese and crackers - why not make them into a meal if you're a three squares girl. You can have a nice salad at lunch, just skip the croutons and have the cheese and crackers on the side?


If like me, you're a sweets fiend, we have a couple of courses of action to take. If chocolate is your thing, choose the best and highest quality product you can find. Everyone has a favorite brand - I happen to like Lindt. So I'll need to make the switch to dark. Both Tricia and Marie say they go for 70% cocoa or higher. That's rich. The other tip I found really helpful came from my girl Rachel. She's a dark choccie girl too, she says she'll buy herself a bar and make it last all week. If it doesn't last too bad, there is no more. That's incentive to make it last and to not over-indulge, right?

Portion it out! This goes for whatever your vice. Like potato chips? Never never never buy the family bag, only let yourself get the small bag and why not share it?


Choose what you're going to have. If you actively allow yourself to have something treat-ish, it's no longer forbidden, you don't feel deprived and you are able plan for it.

Also consider when you are most susceptible to the craving. When is your toughest time? When do you usually cave? Mid-afternoon? After dinner? Before bed? If you know when your cravings are strongest, rather than fight that losing battle why not give in to it then, but only then? 


So here are the changes I am going to make on my personal restructured plan.


I am going back to my three squares. Forget nibbling and grazing and six little meals. And I am going to keep these meals healthy (as healthy as possible - sometimes it's he who shall not be named's turn to cook and he likes a toasted cheese sandwich with fries - gotta pick your battles people)


So no more mid-afternoon snacks of junk. 


I am going to try something else that, to me, is revolutionary. I am going to have my mochas. I won't quit it and rather than limit my number of cups to one, I'll have two or three (that's sounds so bad doesn't it, no wonder I've gained nine pounds sheesh) but I am cutting my cup size in half! It's brilliant. So brilliant I feel like I came up with it all by myself. Of course I didn't, it's all part of the portion control thing - but you know, whatever - small victories and such.


And I am going to allow my vice of sweets and I have considered when I want that treat the most. It's usually right after my evening meal - ergo - that is when it will be allowed. Hopefully that will get me through the day knowing that I can have something later. And I will make it dark chocolate.


Not sure I am up to getting a whole bar and portioning it out just yet, since I've done that in the past and just ended up eating a giant chocolate bar every single day for two weeks. Yeah, took me a little longer to figure out that one wasn't working. Hello?! Nine pounds over here!


I know it isn't fool proof and lord knows I am a fool, but it's a start and while I am in recovery, I need to have something to hold on to until I can get back on the mat. Drat, just when I was starting to get into cardio too.


Hope this helps. I know your comments were extremely helpful to me.
Cheers
Shan

One down...

I have the extreme good fortune to be working with a Story Editor who is the best in her business. I mean to tell you that she is some sort of freaky creative genius. And how lucky am I that she's guiding me through the development of my show? 

It got me thinking about just how fortunate I am in general. I think about all of you. Each time one of you writes a comment, I think that's interesting or insightful or what a great question, but sometimes you share a little bit more of yourselves. You'll drop an email and tell me who you are and every time - I am not kidding - every time I go... you're that awesome and you're reading my blog??! Wow.

There have been some struggles for me with food and sticking to the workouts. But again, when I consider the person that I have chosen to guide me through this particular maze, Tracy Anderson, I feel so incredibly blessed. I mean listen, in real life there is no way that I could spend an hour daily with this spectacular trainer, yet because of her program I'm able to every single day. So it begs the question... why do I shrug it off or try to get out of cardio? If I were paying the big bucks and she were in the room with me, of course I'd push myself and do everything she said. (I do have an annoying need to please, I hate that) Anyway, in that light, I'd be working much harder. So to think of it like actually having Tracy as a trainer inspires me to get back to work. That's really helpful.

What is it that gets you on the mat everyday? I know some of you do it just because you know it works and has to be done, but there must be some inspiration behind it, no? For many of us, our willpower just craps out. It's a muscle and if over-used will eventually need a rest so we can't rely on that alone. 

I also find that gratitude works well too. Being grateful for the ability to move my body. Grateful that the Method has helped my neck to recover. Grateful that I am 40 and not in the worst shape of my life. Sometimes it's as tiny as being grateful that I can be on the mat and away from the computer. Just finding any reason to be glad to do the work is really a big help.


Where I find I am seriously failing is in my relationship to food. I do not want this to sound ridiculous or sound like I am trivializing anyone with an addiction, but I really feel like I have an addiction to sugar. If I cut it off cold turkey - the first few days just kill me but after I make it through those, I am okay for a while. I can almost convince myself that I don't need it. But if I slip and have a piece of cake, an oat fudge bar from Starbucks (my fave) or a bar of chocolate it's as if the flood gates are opened and it's all I think about. Sounds like an addiction, doesn't it? So I am working on that.

Leah wrote this incredible post on her blog BBQ Tofu that's had me thinking all weekend long. She presented the theory that if you stop yourself long enough to ask the question "will eating this or not working out solve the problem", that nine times out of ten you'll have to answer 'no'. (Sorry Leah, I am paraphrasing.)


It all comes back to that age-old practice of being present. Be in the moment. Be mindful. "Watch what you eat" takes on a whole new meaning in that light, doesn't it?


When I was pretending to be Judy Bloom and I wrote "Are you there, God?" I really meant that. I do want a new relationship to food and I think the answers are inside Bethenny Frankel's book. She has rules. They help. If I can just stay present enough to ask the question, I might be able to build that relationship.


Amy suggested looking at yourself as a child and doing for her what you may not be able to do for your grown-up self. That's a great suggestion. Tricia, what would you do? Jah, how do you handle managing your diet? Is there anyone else out there who truly has had an addiction issue with sugar or food in general, and have finally found a way to manage it? What have you done?


I get that moderation is key. I understand it. But where some things are concerned I just don't seem to be able to manage it. I can have just one glass of wine because wine is not my vice. There might be an alcoholic out there who can't have the wine but may be able to have just one cookie. I don't know. 

What I do need to know is how to be able to get to a place of moderation once and for all. No more binging. No more pretox. Is that even possible? I am so tired of being super healthy for a month or three (meta) then going back to my wicked evil ways. I want that balance that has thus far eluded me.


I understand that I need to do my cardio, I have come to peace with that thanks to Marie and a few other's great tips and encouragement. But food is a whole 'nother ball game. 


It's become about more than a 25 inch waist. Sure I want that, but what I want is peace in my head where food is concerned. I just don't want to think about it. I want it to be a pleasure, I want it to be the thing that fuels me on and off the mat, but mostly I want to stop obsessing about it.

One down, one to go.

Cheers.
Shan

On the Rebound.

Eeeeeee!!! Exciting news! Just got word from the good folks at Tracy Anderson that my next set of DVD's has been shipped and guess what's coming with that shipment?!

The Rebounder Cardio! 

I actually cannot wait for it and you can bet the second I tear it open and give it a go, I'll have a review for you. How can it be anything but great?

I so hope I don't eat those words.
Have a great weekend.
Shan

Community

Somehow or other I seemed to have missed all of the comments written after my Year Two post. Playing catch up on everything else has me running and sadly quite distracted.


I wanted to write to say thank you.

Thanks so much for your amazing participation, for maintaining this commitment to a healthier life, a better life for yourselves and for the people that love you.

I know that there is no way I could keep it up without you. 

It's funny - I came across an old vision board the other day - not a real cork board and stick pins one, but an electronic Oprah-esque one and on it I'd posted all these photos of people doing yoga and above them the word Community.

I guess I was really missing teaching yoga and practicing in a room with others when I'd made it. My neck was injured and all I wanted to do was to return to my practice.

It was funny to me because here I am, years later with a new practice and a more beautiful community than I could have ever imagined. I am incredibly grateful for that. I know that I can be flippant and crass, I joke around and have a self-deprecating sense of humor, but at the heart of it all I really am just a girl searching for the best life possible. And you're all helping to create that.

Together, we seem to be able to do stuff that alone, just might not be possible. It damned sure wouldn't be as fun.

xo
Shan

One foot in front of the other, right?

Dear God...
It's me, Shannon.
Please teach me how to eat!?
xo


Seriously, I woke up this morning with that thought in mind. 

When I came onto my blog I found a comment posted by the incredible Natalia, and decided that maybe it was time I started eating like a grown up. Like the kind of adult who has a child and cares about what goes into that child's mouth and do the same for myself!

Here's whather comment contained.

4-Day Nutrient Boost

POSTED BY: TRACY ANDERSON

You may have recently seen my video with wine expert David Sokolin about how to really savor a glass of wine.

You should also know that it is definitely no coincidence that 2 of the world’s blue zones (regions where people in the population live active lives past the age of 100 years) have a diet that includes regularly drinking wine. This is because of there are high levels of resvertrol found in red wines which are common in the Mediterranean diet.

Resveratrol, which is a nutrient found in the skin of grapes, contains restorative properties and high levels of antioxidants. I put together a 4-day nutrient boost that is best complement by resveratrol and allows you to enjoy a glass of red wine each evening. All of the foods below contain foods that are high in antioxidants, have restorative properties that can trigger weight loss, and most importantly, go best with a glass of red wine!

I don’t want to call this nutrient boost a “cleanse,” but it will definitely make your entire body feel refreshed and remove toxins from your system. To explore some great red wine options, please visit www.sokolin.com.

Day 1

BREAKFAST

Cinnamon tea with cloves ( I like the Tazo and Yogi brands)

Oatmeal
• 1 cup oats, organic is preferred
• ½ cup apricots, chopped

LUNCH

Green Juice
• 1 apple
• 1 cup of kale, spinach, parsley
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Juice all of the ingredients together and enjoy within 15 minutes of juicing so that you can receive the maximum amount of nutrients.

Red Cabbage Salad
• 1 cup red cabbage
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

DINNER

1 salmon filet

1 cup Brussels sprouts, steamed

You can grill the salmon using no more than 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and you may not add any oil or salt.

Day 2

BREAKFAST

Cinnamon tea with cloves

Fruit Salad
• ½ cup blueberries
• ½ cup strawberries
• ½ cup pomegranate

LUNCH

Green Juice

Pinto Bean Salad
• 1 cup pinto beans
• 2 artichoke hearts
• ½ cup tomato, sliced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

DINNER

Edamame Salad
• 1 cup edamame, cooked
• ½ cup barley, cooked
• ½ cup tomatoes, roasted
• ½ cup raw spinach
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Day 3

BREAKFAST

Cinnamon tea with cloves

Fruit Salad
• 1 cup pineapple
• ½ cup orange slices

LUNCH

Green juice

Basil Salad
• 1 cup basil
• ½ cup red cabbage
• ¼ cup dill weed
• ¼ cup parsley

DINNER

Artichoke Salad
• 3 artichokes hearts
• 1 cup Black beans
• 1 cup tomatoes, chopped
• ½ avocado, diced

Day 4

BREAKFAST

Cinnamon tea with cloves

Oatmeal
• 1 cup of oats
• ½ cup pumpkin (canned pumpkin is fine, you can find it in the baking section of your grocery store)

LUNCH

Green Juice

Peanut Butter and Apple Slices
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 1 apple, sliced

DINNER

1 salmon filet, grilled
•¼ cup of parsley, chopped
•1 tablespoon lemon juice

I hope you enjoy this 4-day boost as much as I do and will be able to see the amazing healing properties of resveratrol! Also, if you would like to enjoy a reservatrol drink without the alcohol, I recommend trying Preventiv. For more information, visit preventivwater.com.


How's that for prayers answered? I'm obviously not going to start eating fish, and I suck at following a diet, but I think that this can be a useful guideline. Thanks Nat!


xo
Shan

Groundhog Day for Realz.

So officially it's February 2nd which is Groundhog Day, but if you're familiar with the Bill Murray film of the same name, then you know what you're in for with this post; it ain't about the Rodent or his shadow.

The premise of the film is that the protagonist (Murray) is doomed to repeat the same day over and over again until he gets it right and becomes a better person. Quite fitting don't you think? Here we are destined to do this fitness regime over and over again until we get it right. I mean check out Miss Thang's abs to the right there - don't know about you, but I want those.

The good news is that we actually get the do over. Imagine if we only had one chance and if we failed we were stuck in our fat suits? Eek. We should consider ourselves lucky.

So we're back, a year later starting at the beginning. But we're wiser this time, people. We have more tools, there are more of us doing it together and we have our fearless leader, the little badass Tracy. Oh thank God she came out with this series of workouts and a plan to whip us into shape. We know it can be done. I'm not on Facebook, but I have heard that there are some pretty amazing looking women on there who have worked the program and are now reaping the rewards - ie prancing around in their skinnies. Even many of you here are doing the same. So we have the proof.

I was one of you once, but I let my bad habits get the better of me. What I want to know is why is it so much more fun gaining the weight than it is losing it, hmm? Can somebody tell me?

I mean come on - when gaining the weight, there are cocktails and cookies and lounging by the pool. When losing it you get herbal tea and salads and you have to do laps in the pool. Seems totally unfair. When are those damned scientists going to come up with chocolate flavored broccoli?! 


Never mind. So we've all agreed (or most of us have) that we're going to push it a little further this year. Not only are we going to make it to our goal weights (gentle reminder, the real number not the dream number) but we're going to maintain it for at least six months. This time it's not just the getting there. It's also about seeing what we can do to stay there.


My girl Janice was teasing me saying that she's already at my goal weight and that the race is on. I have to hurry up and catch her. All I can say to that is...


oh yeah? oh yeah? oh yeah? 

well... okay then. Shan, step away from the cheese cake. Gee thanks J, you're no fun at all. Maybe there will be something to this "one day a week cheat day" or perhaps we'll all learn to "just have a bite" of the cake then run off to brush our teeth. I don't know how's it's going to be done, all I know is that the starter pistol's gone off and we're in the race. 

Should probably mention that this is going to be a marathon and not a sprint so pace yourselves, ladies. We're in it for the long haul. Happy Groundhog Day!


xo
Shan

YEAR TWO. We'll try again.

Last night felt like so many things were coming to a close. Endings make me sad, even when they're happy. I'm a Cancer, we tend to hold onto things. So I drank a lovely glass of red. I chased that down with a good night's sleep and I woke to a brand spanking new day. I flipped the calendar onto a shiny new month, drew back the shades and found the sun. Yes, even the sun was shining on the dreary Northwest Coast. 

I love me a clean slate.


I've tried to be faithful to the practice of the Tracy Anderson Method for a year now, but every now and then, I've had to manipulate it, beyond all recognition at times, to make it my own. And today was no exception. I did something on the Method that I've never done before. I skipped a level. Yep, I sure did. Eeeeee. I feel giddy just writing it. I jumped right on over Continuity 2 Level 6 and went straight into Level 7 this morning, ankle weights and all!


I was feeling all grumpy and bummed out yesterday. I slogged through my workout, took a shower and sat down to view the next level, to sort of psyche myself up for what was to become the start of my second year on the program. And bugger me if it didn't make me feel even more depressed! I don't like to be a bitchy little girl, but sometimes I can be and last night I was. I hated everything about the workout (without having done it of course!!) I was sick of the same old outfit that I'd been looking at for a whole month because let's face it, it took me a month to cover two levels. (fickle I know, I'm the first to admit it, so step off) It just appeared to be a hangover from the previous level and if I was going to have to screw up every last ounce of self-discipline to keep going, I knew I wasn't going to be able to do it with that workout. Sorry Trace. Love you. Don't be mad, 'kay?


With wine in hand I pulled out a sparkly new disk, still sealed in plastic, cut it open and popped it in for a screening. And after watching for a few moments, I knew level 7 was it! It's is a funny level. Not sure what was going on in the studio, but for the first half of the workout, Tracy's wearing the top from the previous level with the leggings from Cardio 3 and they clearly do not match. And for the second half of the workout, she's got on the outfit from C2 bonus arms! Now you're talking. I loved it. It made it feel - I dunno - somehow grittier, less polished and more down to earth. Old school. Yeah, I could start a new year on old school. And did I mention the ankle weights?


Months ago I'd learned that there were going to be ankle weights in Continuity and I was like - no thanks, you can keep your stinkin' ankle weights, I'll carry on the way I am. 

Ha I'm such a little sheep, total follower, nine PM last night and I'm out wandering the streets in the rain looking for ankle weights. So glad we moved to the city. I couldn't find a pair of ankle weights that fit, so I got myself a pair of wrist weights. They do the trick even if they do look a little silly.

Yeah, those are thumb thingies. 
But when it came time to use them, it was like a whole new ball game, ladies. My balance was off, the movements were slower and of course more difficult. I did a few face plants and almost broke a finger (so not within the scope of today's post) but it was nice to try something 'new', to have that sense of challenge again.


Now I'm not saying I've gone through some sort of transformation or had any kind of an epiphany, I had chocolate at lunch for crying out loud, but I am saying I'm willing to give it another go. I had that chocolate because my lunch consisted of a salad with a couple of boiled eggs. I am gonna try to be good.


My girl Natalia extended her hand and basically said get yourself up, dust yourself off, nine pounds is nothing and you know what's got to be done to lose it so let's do this thang! So... we're doing it. For how long? Lord only knows, but we're not throwing in the towel yet.


How 'bout this. Why don't we all try to get to our goal weights (the real ones not the dream numbers in our heads) and once there work really hard to stay there for at least six months.


Whoa. That's not gonna be easy, but I think if we can find a way to do that, then this really will be a lifestyle and we'll be in, we'll be golden, we'll be headed for the cover of Shape Magazine. Whoops - there I go slipping back into my fake reality again. Pft. Writers. Such imaginations.


Cheers.
Shan