Had a ball!

Today was the last day of my own little Ball Boot Camp - eight levels - four weeks - one ball --

I didn't truly have a ball doing it, (that just seemed like a good title) but I didn't despise it either.  I survived. That in itself is a victory. I'm proud at having seen it through to the end.

It was super tough physically, yet mentally easier than getting through those initial three levels on the actual 30 Day Method Boot Camp all those months ago. Easier I think, because as much as I may have disliked a level, knowing that I was only stuck there for three sessions made it much less painful. Whew - but speaking of pain, some weeks I had aches all over that just never went away. It's not like when you start a new level, feel really sore and then adjust to it by the 5th or 6th day - this was a new level every three days -- so you can imagine. My knees took a real beating. I do believe it may have been worse on them had I been on Continuity 1.3 for three looooooong months. That's a long time to workout on your knees at any age, never mind at 40 after years of wear and tear.


Can't say for sure yet how it's affected me overall in terms of inches or pounds lost - will weigh-in and measure up tomorrow - but I do see much more definition in my abs than I did a month ago. Clean eating goes such a long way, doesn't it? Not to mention all of the extra standing ab work I've been packing in each day. I can't seem to get enough, it's to the point where I am starting to make up my own standing ab routines. It's fun.

I should also mention that while it's no secret that I've always had an aversion to Dance Cardio - I've been making the effort to do it for the past two months.

However,  I've also incorporated a run with my boys twice a week. I don't look quite this good...

... But I feel that good on the inside. There's something special about strapping on your sneaks and hitting the trail with your two besties - especially this time of year when the whole world seems to be blossoming around me. Plus because I don't like to sweat and would prefer to sit on my butt eating bon bons and cheese doodles, it's nice to have someone there to motivate me to get going.


I understand that running is a no no in TAM-Land, that the above photo is for a film and that GP doesn't actually "run", but guess what? Suddenly, I do -- and I'm loving it. And what the hell, I'd do pretty much anything to get outta doing dance cardio six bloody days a week!


Next week feels super exciting, like a new chapter and I cannot wait! Not only does it kick off the month of May, but it also marks the official start of my Second Year on Continuity! Here comes the chair!! Yeah!


I've already stolen a peek at what's ahead and I'll tell you this much, in year two - right outta the gate we're in ankle and arm weights and the leg segment goes from six moves of 20 to eight moves of 30 - are we ready for that? OMG! That's 240 rotations on each leg for a total of 480 leg rotations in such a teeny tiny concentrated period of time. I could be in need of a walker by Wednesday! Can't wait to try it out and tell you all about it.


Here's to a fresh start for all of us! Hope you're having a great weekend.
Shan

 

Ye Ole Bandwagon

I don't consider myself particularly trendy or cool (unless nerds are in and no one told me), that may be in part because I don't tend to follow the trends. Being broke for such an extended period of time (starving artist, former yoga teacher, not rich) when I make a clothing purchase, I try to choose the most classic piece I can find. Don't get me wrong, I'm not running around in pearls, that's not what I mean by classic. I'll pick the black turtle neck or simple cardigan over the sherbert colored skinny jeans that are everywhere right now. I do this because I need to choose things that will last not only year to year, but things that will transition well from season to season. Economically it's a no-brainer.

It's no secret though that I am influenced by the people around me. If I am working with an especially brilliant story editor or I meet a writer whose work just rocks my world, I become enamored and like a little kid, want to be just like them. It's clearly in my profile - I love Cher, and Sherman Alexie, and I can't get enough of President Obama! Ugh, love that guy! Check him out, have you seen this photo? That would definitely be my face if I got to see him in person.

And let me say one more thing about your president before I carry on, dude was always cool. How many of you have seen this one?

I think he was just born oozing cool.


I become enchanted with random activities too - I've said it before -- when I meet people who surf, snowboard, ride horses, sky dive, juggle lit sticks of dynamite -- I feel like I need to learn to do all that stuff too for some reason.

Maybe I'm so spongy and want to soak everything in and master it (Mastering the Method isn't just called that because my last name is Masters I'll have you know) because I'm a writer and it's great to have all this stuff to pull from when drawing a new character. But where this can work against me is diet and fitness if start jumping from one trend to the next. Who's with me?

How many times have we heard of the latest miracle diet, workout, detox, program that will completely transform us...we rush right out to jump on the bandwagon... we rave about it to whomever will listen... only to find that it's too complicated for our lifestyle, too limiting to have a life, includes foods we'd never ever eat and we wind up right back where we started from. 

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Just me?

In fairness, there is something to be said for this. I had tried nearly every single workout available on the market before I stumbled across TAM, so maybe it's true, you do have to kiss a lotta frogs before you find your prince so-to-speak.

In any case, my latest escapade has been down the rabbit hole of a particular -- I won't say diet book because it isn't a diet per se -- more of a nutrition program. All week long I've been squirming in my seat dying to tell you all about it, tout the most in-depth scientifically backed method of eating that was going to revolutionize all of our worlds and make us skinny well into our nineties. But I have been holding off for several reasons. First because I wanted to finish the book before I started raving about it, second because I want to put it into practice to see how I feel, third because I knew this crazy thing about my bandwagon jumping ways and eating, and lastly because my plan all along has been to compare this to another book that's been recommended that I have not yet read. Hurry up Amazon, damn you!

I do plan to reveal and review both titles once I've put together some coherent thoughts, but what startled me most about this process of slowing myself down, was that at the start of the book I was all "yeah yeah yeah I'm gonna change my ways and be super slim forever effortlessly", and now by the end of the book I'm like "um, maybe baby steps would be the better approach." This might not actually be the ideal be-all and end-all of eating... for me.

So instead of regaling you today with tips and tricks on how you too can get great results with hardly any effort on your part, I'll say this: let's not be too quick to jump on ye ole bandwagon and step back to look at the bigger picture, take into account the whole of who we are, what we like and don't like, and create a lifestyle that we can truly live. One that belongs to us.

Perhaps I'd do better to simply opt for the same rules in eating that I do when clothes shopping - choose classic. In my grandmother's day -- whole foods were in fashion -- not processed, sugary, fast foods -- she rarely ate sweets, loved her veggies. Maybe the secret to weight management doesn't lie on the next bandwagon, but rather has been in our grandmother's pantries all along.

Happy Friday!
Shan

Cravings.

Don't know what it is with my and the fourth day of the week. Because Tracy's Dynamic Eating Plan is divided into Nutrient Boost Weeks and Body Reset Weeks, every week feels like a new start. In Some respects I respond really well to this because I don't feel like I am on a long stretch of diet road with no end in sight. Especially now that Sundays are my special cheat day. But on day four without fail I want to snack, pick, graze, gorge, chew, munch, and savor all the stuff I am working to weed out of my day to day menu.

I spent some time this afternoon scanning the web for ways to combat cravings (precious time I should spend writing I don't mind telling you) and I didn't come up with anything satisfactory.

All the writers, nutritionists and various experts agree that our cravings can have both physiological and psychological roots. There may be an imbalance in the body that sparks a cry out for a particular nutrient that we might be lacking, or we're craving something specific for an emotional reason. We all have our comfort foods. At this point I'll be honest and say I don't really care so much why I am having these pesky cravings, I just want them to stop.

The solutions I found say everything from don't diet period, to distract yourself from the craving until it passes, to just have the thing you want so you don't wind up binging later. How do we wade through such conflicting advice? Pick the one that suits us in the moment? I've tried the 10 deep breaths. I've chewed nearly half a pack of gum, I even took a walk. I can reason with myself, reminding myself that this is not punishment, I am eating healthy to reach a goal, I'm doing this for my own good... but I still want chocolate and not the "dark good for you" kind either -- I want the cheap nasty stuff like M&M's and Kitkat, or one of those Klondike bars. Mmmm. In the face of a Cornetto, my carrot sticks don't stand a chance. Still I know that I can have any and all of that if I so choose... On SUNDAY. Not today.

The sun has come out and when my boys (man and dog) return from work, the three of us will go out for a run around Lost Lagoon. I'll stretch my limbs, fill my lungs, and feel the rhythm of my feet on the earth like a heartbeat. Hopefully that will drown out the voice of the cravings, if only temporarily.

Hope you're not coping with cravings, but rather are finding this week effortless and breezy.

Love
Shan

C1.3 Level 8

Well my darlings, level 8 of Continuity 1.3 has managed to do what no other level thus far has done -- reach a new level of hell! Yep, and it's inspired a new name for our beloved fitness guru - our Muffin Top Slayer, our glorious Spare Tire Slasher can now be officially known as ... wait for it...

The Love-hander Lacerater! 

This level is no joke. In two days half an inch has been whittled off my love handle area, I can feel a total difference at the back part, you know the bit that rolls over the top of your jeans if they're too tight? And nearly a quarter of an inch off my waist. 

At the top of the level she says:"Level 8 is going to be a challenge for all body types..." and I was like yeah whatever, she says that about every level 8. Listen to me, I've been doing this for so long I'm all - every level 8. La tee da! Seriously, it's a miserable level and I couldn't be happier that it's over after today. That said, let's give it some credit because it is a great level, miserable -- but great.

The arm section is really good, it's very arm-centric as opposed to many of the recent levels that have focused on the shoulder. This one targets the biceps and triceps. Not sure if it's the same with all centrics or just Abcentric, but it's good. Getting into the abs, she does use the ball again here but it's between the knees or feet and there are quite a few pike moves so the whole abdomen is being worked. I really feel it.

The leg sequence is complicated - in a good way once you figure it all out -- but she saves the absolute hardest move for last and it's a bloody killer for my neck. Oddly though it doesn't bring on the same sweat that level 7 did and it just isn't as doable as that level. It's tough. It's Tracy in fine form. Again, much of these leg moves can be done without the ball and in fact some of them I was forced to do without the ball because there was so much falling off the ball involved that it was more like a Three Stooges rehearsal -- short two Stooges -- than a workout, if that tells you anything. Overall I found it grueling but am pleased with what it appears to be doing. Some of the credit must be given to my diet too so let's talk about that.

Our Dynamic Dining. How's everyone doing out there? Haven't heard much from any of you lately on how you're coping - whether it's your first time on the plan or your second go around. Is it feeling more manageable? Are there any challenges cropping up that you weren't aware of the first time around or on another program? Any new tips or tricks you'd like to share? Are you feeling summer wardrobe ready? Or far from it?

I am handling this week's Body Reset much better than the first Body Reset week before last. I've cut out the takeaway (I know, seems like a no-brainer right?) and have stayed away from carbs. Still, I'm not following it to a tee but I feel lighter.

I also wanted to share my cheat day experience with you. One of my concerns with a cheat day is that once you spend a day indulging and eating whatever you want, it can be difficult to get back on the wagon. In the past this has definitely been the case for me. I'd also been cautioned to perhaps hold off on the cheat day until I've reached my goal before incorporating it back into my regular plan. On the flip side I had been encouraged to have a cheat day as it can trick the body into burning more fat. I believe they do this with the Biggest Loser contestants.

So on Sunday, my cheat day, I found myself standing at a crossroads. To cheat or not to cheat? I was struck with a profound realization that I had all the control on this day - food did not control me. A cheat day was not a license to binge, but rather a day to enjoy, in moderation, the things that I may have been craving throughout the week. I had never had this much clarity before. When it came time to give in to cravings I had been more like a shark in bloody water - it was a frenzy.

Armed with a new perspective, I decided to go ahead and allow it, but I kept track of my calories as I'd been doing all week. There was no judgement, no severe limitation but I wrote it down to see where it lead me. Sure, I was over my caloric limit for a normal day but because I was a little more responsible with my choices, it didn't wipe out all of my efforts from the previous week and on Monday I fell right back in line. So for now, it stays. 


Hope you're all managing and feeling a little lighter yourselves. If for any reason you're not, you've had one too many trips to the cheese plate or you've eaten a cookie or five - don't stress about it. 

One thing that I've learned from starting Meta and reaching my goal weight, only to have it slip away, it's this -- you can always start again. You can get to where you want to be even if it's for the first time ever. It is possible. 

You are not the only one to have lost and gained weight and there are ways to lose it again and really keep it off. Don't lose heart, just begin again - don't wait for Monday or the first of the month - there will never be a time that's perfect.

What's important to understand is that life is filled with holidays, birthdays (it's my Dad's birthday today - Happy Birthday Papa!!), catered lunches, last minute takeaway - we need to make the choice to wipe the slate clean and get healthy. The healthier we are the more birthdays and holidays there will be to celebrate.


So wipe that slate clean and start again. Be gentle and kind with yourself and know that you can do it and you're not doing it alone.

Big hugs!!
Shan

 

Another POV

In a screenplay there is a lot of shorthand - POV is shorthand for Point Of View and today that's what I want to share.

I was raised Catholic (more or less) I say more or less because we didn't go to church much, weren't particularly religious, but I was sent to a strict Catholic school. This is actually relevant to health and fitness I swear it.

Religion is a dicey subject but it's great for the example I am trying to explain. It is not my intention to dis anyone or any faith. I think they each have their place and purpose and they give people something beyond this world to believe it and that's good. But what I experienced was an environment of very little tolerance, a place where thinking for myself wasn't encouraged. So once free, I began to look elsewhere.

No secret that I heart yoga, but it was a real challenge the first time I found myself in the middle of an ashram in Satsang where there were pictures up of many different Hindu Gods and everyone was chanting in a language I didn't understand. There was also a picture of Jesus there. I looked at it and silently apologized to him for being "unfaithful". Through the study of Vedanta I learned that the paths are many but the god is one. In other words, it doesn't matter what you believe, no one in wrong, just be good to one another. Since then my faith has evolved quite simply into the Religion of Love.

The big lesson here is that there is no one single point of view that is going to be right or resonate with everyone. Just as the Method might not be the best form of fitness for everyone and there is no single diet that works for everybody - but if you explore and open yourself up, you just might find the thing that works for you.

The Tracy Anderson Method brought me and the brilliant and beautiful Janice together and we have since cultivated a long distance friendship. She's in the UK while I am in Canada. Ain't technology grand? Janice and I started off together but her path took a different turn, yet there we both found ourselves once again facing each other at the crossroads, both 40 and wondering if this weight loss thing was gonna be a struggle from here on in. I really want to share with you Janice's revelations and you can read about them here. Plus you'll see a really great photo of her bum before and after. She really is 40, hard to believe. There's hope for us yet, ladies!! Thanks for letting me share this J. Love ya sister.

Also, am currently reading a fantastic book that was recommended by another lovely reader and will be letting you know how that turns out very soon. I'm sure it too will have an impact on how I view my health and weight loss journey.

Hugs,
Shan

Continuity 1.3 Level 7 - It Rocks!

Guess I kinda gave it away in the title there a little bit. Level 7 is awesome. Now before you go getting all: "see the ball's not so bad" I'll ask you to zip it, a'ight! The floor section for abs uses the ball almost the whole way through - maybe even all the way through, but it doesn't feel clunky or weird, it serves to push you a little deeper into each movement -- so it's good. I'm feeling it.

On the other hand, this leg series doesn't use the ball for all of the moves - nah nah ner nah nah! In fact, all the moves but two (in my humble opinion) can actually be done as effectively without the ball. It just made me feel even more strongly that I don't need to use a ball to get in a good workout. It's as if in this level, Tracy has gone back to very slow, very precise moves using the utmost control and finishing off each rep with that fully extended ta da moment before repeating it. For the first time ever, not only did I sweat, but it was quite literally dripping off of me. I'm not a sweater - for me -- the fairy dust is hard to come by. Totally fine, not a huge fan of sweating, but in level 7 it's impossible not to. If the expression "sweat is your fat crying" is true, mine was literally having a meltdown!

Please don't mistake this to mean that I'll be spending ten days here. Au contraire mon amis. I am only too happy to move on through the final week and levels eight and nine to be done with this ball -- if not forever at least for the time being. It's been a challenge but touch wood, I've not missed a workout and I'm getting through it according to my little boot campy plan. Mwah ha ha! I love it when a plan comes togethah!!! (mighta gotten a little too much sun today)

As for Nutrient Boost week this week, I am happy to report that it's been a resounding success! Argh, don't you hate it when it takes so much determination and sacrifice to get something that you really want? I'd much rather it just came easy, why do we have to work for everything? Ewe, what horrible thing does that say about me? I'd rather not know. In any case, the dreaded PMS gain is gone and I am officially (if only by the skin of my teeth) out of the 120s and moving back in the right direction. Whew! And from all of the feedback I've gleaned from you over the past week or so I feel like I am more or less back in the driver's seat and I don't see any reason why I shouldn't continue moving in this direction until I hit my goals.

One of my favorite people on the planet, the uber-talented, generous, and beautiful Janice from the UK has written a post that I am dying to share with you - Dying I tell you! But I am awaiting her permission to do so. In it, she outlines her journey toward this very destination of finding a better way and making weight maintenance a lifestyle. Her tips and plan are enlightening and I thought many of you would enjoy them. So stay tuned for that.

In the mean time ladies, I am heeding your advice - I've picked up The Beauty Detox Solution, I've ordered Dr. Junger's book Clean and I am seriously considering holding off on my cheat days until I've reached my goal, but because I have all my chockie delights from England waiting for me - I will go ahead with my cheat day tomorrow as planned and see how I feel on Monday. 

Hope you're enjoying a great weekend lovies!!
Shan

Ask and it is given.

I'm not sure if this expression comes from a prayer or if a brilliant writer created it, I wish I knew so I could give the proper credit, but "Ask and it is given" is one of those universal truths, especially when it comes to needing help. I needed help. I asked -- and you appeared.

I cannot speak for everyone, nor do I try. I can't even claim to be a great writer, I'm just a girl in the middle (or who knows I could be nearer the end) of her life, wading through this weird transition in a world that puts a huge emphasis on youth and beauty. And as I navigate my way, so many of you seem to relate. I am not alone. You are not alone. It doesn't seem to matter if you're 19 or 67, we all seem to hit some of the same road blocks. When I put stuff out here, a lot more stuff comes back to me, both through your comments and your private emails to me and I see that some of us are suffering at the same time, while others can offer solutions.

So a few days ago, I poured my little heart out with my frustrations of being more or less back in Boot Camp and continuing to gain weight. 

I want to share my deductions from your thoughts and feelings combined with my own. This doesn't make for fact. It's merely conclusions I'm drawing based on my own experiences and how you're all relating back to me, okay? Does that even make sense? Anyway --

The Tracy Anderson Method - Metamorphosis is a brilliant program. It's life altering and it delivers on a promise that I personally have seen no other program do and believe me I've tried nearly all of them. The initial 90 day commitment asked of us by Tracy is intense. Now I have seen one or two reviews on YouTube of people raving against the program. For some, it feels wrong, it's too restricted, they aren't getting enough instruction - perfectly fine. No single program can fit everyone's needs. But for me personally and very many others who have stuck with those 90 days (within reason - it's no secret I've manipulated the crap out of it to make it work for me in my own way) we've seen results.

There is a flip side to this however. Many of us come to the program with excess weight because we don't know how to eat. We've either been yo-yo dieters our whole life, or in our younger days we could eat without consequence, and some of us even have had more serious eating issues - so at the root of all of it is nutrition. So for that 90 days we see results, we get results and life is good. But Tracy makes it clear that this is not for life - it's a program with a beginning, a middle and an end. So where does that leave those of us (read the vast majority) who got into this boat because we still haven't learned how to eat? For the past 6 weeks I've been working out fiendishly. I hate to say she told me so, but my sister predicted this. She said once you get back to your old eating habits, you'll gain the weight back. I thought, there's no way I'm going back...

You know I went back. 

But I am all about the third option. If you have a choice between what's behind door number one and what's behind door number two, but you don't like the look of what's behind either of them, I'm the first to start scouting for another door, hell I'll take a window! So what's the third option? (oh girls I just got that feeling that this is going to be a long post today, go get your cuppa tea or coffee)

Metamorphosis works because it reshapes your muscles by working them out differently, it has hard-ass cardio to help burn fat, and because it restricts your calorie intake significantly. Tracy says and I quote: "When you first begin cardio you're not good enough at it to burn off even one pound, so the nutrition will get off all of the weight that you're coming to the program with." The diet gets the weight off - all diets get the weight off if you can have willpower enough to follow them - the question then becomes how to keep it off. And isn't that the million dollar question? The diet industry thinks so.

What I am going to suggest is not radical, it's not new - hell it's in the shamandments so I even knew it before I knew it, you know? But it is going to be for many of us (and by many of us I mean me!) a jagged pill to swallow. We have to change our approach to eating. Yeah right! That's like saying I'm depressed and someone coming up to you and saying "Don't be." So not helpful! But I believe in the collective mind, the collective consciousness and these little insights that come, don't always strike like a bolt of lightning, sometimes they trickle in slowly, one comment or observation at a time and then the light comes on.

Get to the damned point woman!!! Okay okay, getting there.

I've always known that I needed to limit my carb intake. For me, carbs trigger sugar cravings - see look over there to the right - shamandment. On the weekend, it wasn't my idea to try and do a food journal. Been there, done that, never kept up with it. My beloved, 'he who shall not be named' decided it should be done, for him, not for me. Now those of you who've been following for a while have seen the single photo I posted of him on here - not much has changed. He's tall, he builds muscle easily, and does not have a weight issue - so I was like WTF!? He was curious. He downloaded an app. After twenty minutes on it, he gave up, it was too much work, god I love that man! But he made a discovery, something I'd always known but he found fascinating:

Him: Fruits and vegetables are carbohydrates. 

Me: Yes my love, what did you think they were?

Him: Never thought about it, I just considered carbs to be things like bread and pasta.

Me: Hmm.

It planted a seed, but I moved on.

I started my food journal, much to my chagrin, because I was curious to see just how many calories I was taking in on my nutrient boost and because I wanted to be sure I was getting enough. But how do we know how much is really enough and how much is too much? Because you know if you get too many, you'll gain, but if you get too little, you'll also gain (eventually).

Another seed planted.

I wrote my last post and many of you responded. Some of you have found a way to maintain your weight. And I want to say bless each and every one of you and your little cotton socks!!! Because of you, I can see that there might actually be a way for me and for the rest of us that are struggling to do that too. It's not easy, it will take discipline, but it might be something that we can all live with. And by live with I mean that we won't have to keep coming back to the Dynamic Eating plan because lets face it ladies, the Dynamic Eating plan is nothing more than just another diet!

I'll preface this by saying that I am sticking with the Dynamic Eating plan until the end of May as planned. I want to get the excess weight off and I know the plan along with the Method works for me. I'm so there - regardless of the weight I gained last week, I'm sticking it out! But I am in no mood to go through all of this only to wind up right back where I am now in another year. 

So here's part two -  The Maintenance Plan.


This is in no way a prescription. I am not a doctor or nutritionist. This is me, putting together a plan for myself based on bits and pieces that I have gathered from all of you and from knowing what I can and cannot do with food. So, por favor, bear all of that in mind first.


1) Calories. LB shared this little gem with me, please go back and read her comment. Bottom line whether they want to admit it or not, every diet comes down to how much fuel you put in the tank. What I didn't realize - and maybe those of you that watch the Biggest Loser already know this - was that the smaller you are.... the less calories you need. The older you are... the less calories you need. See the trend? Teeny tiny old ladies barely need to eat! (kidding, mostly)

LB gave me this link for the healthy weight forum and it has a tool to tell you how many calories you require to not only lose weight each week, but how many you need once you're at that goal weight. 


Now I know that some of you may be saying "So what? this ain't new." I get that. But what I found shocking was how many more calories I'd been getting than what I needed. No freakin' wonder I was gaining.


But I don't want to be on a diet for the rest of my life and neither do you. I don't want to count calories for the rest of my life, and I am assuming that neither do you. So what to do? Not all calories are created equal.  

2) Carbohydrates. Those oft misunderstood food molecules that get blamed for muffin tops and saddle bags, bat wings and bellies. Again this is not new, but it's sorta new to me. The brilliant and beautiful Marie has been doing Meta for about 7 months now and she's one of the few who have not experienced a back lash. She lost the weight and is now doing the illusive and nearly impossible - she's keeping it off. Is Marie constantly pureeing sweet potatoes? No. Does she work out like a mad demon, yes! So what's the difference between Marie and the rest of us that are getting in our workouts six days a week? The way she eats.

Marie learned that carbs (the kind that my beloved thought of as carbs - pasta, bread, cake etc.) are not our friends. She maintains a diet of primarily lean protein and veggies and lots of greens. She mentioned that there was a post on Goop about keeping weight off after 40. I haven't read it, but it claims the same. The number of calories in a piece of fish compared to a bowl of ravioli is mental. So by making the shift to that style of eating, she's still able to have the occasional bit of dark chocolate or the odd treat and not gain back the weight. It's not quite as simple for a vegetarian. Most of our protein sources are made up of carbohydrates - like quinoa and brown rice, or lentils and beans -- or they have a high fat content like nuts - but I still think her way of eating can work for us too. Which brings me to the next point.


3) Budget and balance. 

I've been learning to budget my finances. I know if I want something, I can no longer just put it on my card, I've got to have the money to pay for it and sometimes this means saving. In a world where we thrive on instant gratification that can suck. But it's a choice I've made and I'm am happier for it in the long run. Turns out the same damned rule applies to food.


I don't want to live in a world without cupcakes. Sorry. You might not want to live in a world without cheese, or ice cream, or hamburgers. If we look at our weight like a bank account, we simply cannot afford to eat those things everyday, we've got to save up for them. But hear me when I say, that does not mean we can't have them and I think this is what Tracy means when she says: "Don't worry, there are French fries in your future."


But what can be done if you don't know how to live in moderation. Like me - I'm a total crack-head when it comes to sugar. I've heard this from some of you too. Cannot have the stuff around, but do not want to live in a world of all or nothing. To us I say this - for the moment - until we get to our goals - perhaps being strict is a must. I can't do it any other way. But again, I'll ask you to look for the third option.


There is a world champion martial arts master named Benny "The Jet" Urquidez. I like him. He's one of my peeps and he's kind of unusual. Benny's thing is that he needs to be lean and mean, but he doesn't want to live in a world without cupcakes either. (I don't know if his thing is cupcakes but you know what I mean) He has a cheat day. One day a week, he gets to have whatever he wants. I've implemented this into my Dynamic Dining experience this time around. Sunday is my rest day and my cheat day. Love Sunday!

And here's proof that it might already be working. My fantastic and awesome (and I mean that with all my heart) Mother-in-Law always sends care packages from England and this Easter was no exception. She sent a whole host of Cadbury chocolate delights. But they only arrived yesterday. Damn! Right in the middle of Nutrient Boost week! Last year, oh who am I kidding two weeks ago, I might have torn into it and sabotaged my whole week. Didn't I just do that very thing on Easter? Yes! But yesterday I did not. I told myself that I could wait until Sunday and make myself sick on the whole lot if I wanted to. But I was not to open them until then. They're hidden. Untouched. Fingers crossed I last until Sunday.

So here's the plan. I'll stick with my Dynamic Eating with one cheat day allowed a week until I reach my goal weight again.

After that, I will continue to:
1) do my best to stay within my allotted calorie allowance
2) stick to the healthy carbs found in fruit and veggies and stay away from the bad stuff as much as I can through the week, but I'll
3) budget and by doing so I'll be able to afford my cheat day wherein all the French fries, Pizza, Indian food, cup cakes and chocolate can reside.

It's not fool proof, only a fool would think so. But it's livable. It's possible. 

My girl Janice asked a really good question - "Have our lives been enriched by being so determined to stick to a plan, forever focusing on what we put in our mouths, wanting that perfect body?"


Pretty loaded isn't it? Reading some of my recent posts and many of your comments back, we're not exactly in our happy places. There has to be a balance. I can tell you I was pretty damned happy when I reached a place where I felt really comfy and good in my own skin and nothing beats that feeling. However, if I have to kill myself to get there and stay there, that sort of defeats the purpose.


Knowing just what I need to make my body operate has opened my eyes to the excess that I've been consuming, but eating less doesn't have to mean going without. I have faith that my three steps will help guide me back to my happy place without too much suffering.


On a final note I look at it like this. There are all kinds of writers in the world. For poets and screenwriters there is sort of a formula we've got to stick to. In other words if you're writing a sonnet or a haiku you have rules to stick with, same with a screenplay - learn those rules - and then pour all of your creativity into that pre-set framework and it becomes a beautiful piece of art that people can understand, be touched by and relate to.


Is our healthy body not the same? Once we learn and understand the framework from which to operate within, can we not then pour all of our favorite foods and dishes into that and still come out with the beautiful healthy bodies we crave?


Only you know your answer to that. Thanks for reading and for sharing. One thing's for sure, my life is definitely enriched for having you in it.


Have a great weekend.
Shan

To Post or Not to Post --

Growing up, my mother taught me that if you have nothing nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything at all. Did you learn that too? My best friend and I used to joke that sometimes we had to bite our tongues so often they'd bleed. Well that's been the case for the past two days. Do I really want to post if it's not a love day? Oh what the hell? When have I ever done anything my mother told me to do? Sorry mama, love you.

I've always been clear that my mandate here is utter honesty, the unvarnished truth about trying to get fit after forty as I see it. Well dammit, the past few days it would appear as though my rose-colored glasses have cracked. It's become evident that I am now a statistic. I'm finding it harder and harder to shed excess weight, I'm suddenly a friggin' yo-yo dieter, and I am continuing to lose and gain the same two or three pounds over and over while I hover ever away from the "goal weight" that I so desire to have reading back at me from my bathroom scale.

Stepping on the scale is no small to-do either, in fact it's become quite the ordeal. I'll wake up first thing on weigh-in day, go to the toilet then give it a shot. If I don't like the result, I'll start removing articles of clothing, and there have been days recently when even the hair band has had to come off. If that's still no good, I might wait two or three minutes to see if I can pee a bit more and then I'll try again. It's a ridiculous comedy sketch wherein I'll vow to eat less that day, workout more that week! It's got to be the cheese! I love cheese so much. Argh. 

Needless to say -- Boot camp -- she ain't goin' so well. My weigh-in sucked, I gained nearly three pounds, guess I hadn't been eating as moderately as I'd imagined, (cheese is not on the menu, Shan!) and all I can say for this ball workout is -- thank God, it'll be over in two more weeks! I'm into day two of the 2nd Nutrient Boost week and I've pulled up my socks and delegated a brand new pocket sized notebook for the task of keeping track of what I'm really eating so hopefully I'll stick a bit closer to the program and see some results this week. But quel drag! If this is what the rest of my 40s and beyond are going to look like, then I don't want to play. I'd rather eat cookies and live in my jammies thank you very much.*
*that could partly be the PMS talking

I wonder...

Curiouser and Curiouser...

How's your week been this week, ladies? Are you feeling lighter? More in control? Or are you feeling like a back-slider and that all this diet nonsense is of little use? I'm of both camps this week. I haven't been tracking the diet to the letter but I have been acutely aware that this is not a free-for-all, in other words I've been consuming carbs and I haven't felt famished, but I've been watching portions and snacks. Don't want to have to do the extra cardio you know? Actually I should confess that I have been a little lax on the cardio this week.

Tomorrow is my cheat day, but rather than planning and scheming about all the 'bad' stuff I plan to consume, I feel rather blah about it. I'm looking forward to a fried breakfast, but that's about it. Perhaps, this is what maintenance feels like. There is some semblance of control but it's not so restricted that I feel frenzied when it comes time to loosen the reigns. I'm not sure about it all yet, but what I do know is that it feels vastly different than the first time I went through this. That said, I'm not getting the super fast results either. Not sure if I've lost any weight all this week, will know for sure when I step on the scale tomorrow.

One thing I have noticed is that for the first time in well over 15 months, my thighs have gained some size. I really thought it was my imagination or that perhaps I'd just gained everywhere - but nope - my overall measurements have remained unchanged since January - except for my thighs and my waist. 

Recently, the abcentric workouts have had a lot of plank-type or one knee down balance moves with several variations on side lunges or side kicks or hydrant moves. All of these types of exercises engage the obliques and the inner and outer thighs as well as the hamstrings so it could just be that I am gaining some muscle in these areas without having quite gotten rid of the layer of adipose tissue (a nice way of saying fat) through stricter eating or more cardio - not to mention that much of my cardio has been done using the rebounder workout which has a lot of thigh engaging moves so...


I for one am very anxious to blast through this bloody ball routine and get into some standing routines using the chair.


I'm not the only one who's become aware of this phenomenon. Tricia has commented on much of the same, so has V. Wondering if anyone else out there has noticed some subtle changes in your physique for better or for worse and how you're feeling. I honestly think it's a phase. Seeing the levels flip by so quickly I can see real similarities and themes and perhaps we're targeting certain groups of muscles momentarily before moving on. Who knows. But it sure is curious.


Tomorrow, along with being a cheat day, it is also my day off. However... where we now live, we're very near our city's sea wall. Everyday we walk our dog on the wall along the side of the ocean and as the weather warms up I'm seeing more and more joggers. Many of them really seem to be enjoying themselves out there and 'he who shall not be named' and I have been joking about feeling left out. Both of us gave up running a few years back because of various injuries and whatnot, but we've decided that tomorrow's walk is going to include a little jog around Lost Lagoon.

Lost Lagoon - Isn't it pretty?

Perhaps my cardio is about to take off in a whole new direction. Either that, or the run will just about kill me and you'll never hear me complain about dancing in my living room again!


Enjoy the weekend. Am actually looking forward to kicking off the next Nutrient Boost week on Monday! Who's with me? Anyone? Anyone?


Cheers,
Shan

 

The Amazing 11 Minute Workout!

Hey guys!!

Guess what? Tracy has come out with an amazing 11 minute workout!! It comes without legs... What?

Here's the thing (and I couldn't help but be just a tiny bit happy) I popped in my Abcentric 1.3.2 DVD yesterday to preview level 5. 

I was watching when suddenly Tracy finished her abs on the floor and the "Metamorphosis by Tracy" popped up. I thought -- damn, musta hit the computer keys and stopped it by accident. Nope, sorry ladies, the workout ends at 11 minutes. I guess they forgot to put the legs in. Guess that means I don't have to do any legs for the next three days. No ball for three days. Oh darn! ha ha ha. 

No!! It means I have to repeat those dreaded one-arm balancing on the bleeding pink ball leg moves for another freakin' three days - didn't I say it would be a bitchfest if I had to do it for longer than three days?! (anyone who doesn't know, I am flying through level 1.3 doing each workout for three days then moving on because the ball and I have had a disagreement)

Just wanted to give you the heads up, if you're doing Abcentric, have a peak at your C1.3.2 DVD to be sure all three workouts are full length. 

It's no biggie really, I called Customer Service and the lovely Sara was very sweet and nice and promised to send out a replacement straight away. I'm sure that this issue has likely been corrected in the DVD's that are going out now, but since I've had mine for a while I may have been missed when they first shipped them out.

Sorry about the title, made you look though, didn't it?
Hugs.
Shan

Eye of The Beholder

What is beautiful? Across our globe it's described differently in almost every culture, but there is a common thread. It seems universally, our value as women has been based largely upon our appearance. Why do you think the cosmetics and diet industries are thriving in a time when most companies are barely surviving a recession?

We're made to believe that as we age, we've got to work hard to fight against the currents of time, the ravages of gravity, but isn't there still beauty to be found in aging? I am going to take the optimistic road and say yes, there is. 

Many of us here go to great lengths to take care of ourselves. I'm proud of us, I have a great deal of respect for us -- and for Tracy for creating her Method for us to use at home. We all have our own reasons for doing this, but I would hope that good health tops the list. Okay -- yes -- getting into our skinny jeans is right near the top too. But I've read the comments on the forum, I read the headlines, I see a lot of smart, funny and beautiful women beating themselves up, or worse, being picked on by the media for not being perfect.

More often than not, it feels like the media will build a female celebrity up only to later knock her down as if it were some sort of sick sport, but one such celebrity isn't taking it sitting down. She's someone I've always admired, from the moment she stepped out from the shadow of her super famous mother and sister. Ashley Judd is who I'm talking about. She's a talented actor, activist and author. And now she's putting those talents to good use and speaking out against the damning media. You go girl!

 

I came across an article written by Sofi Papamarko and rather than only provide the link to the story, I have copied it here for you to read because I think it's that fiery that I want you all to read it.

Ashley Judd is so much more than just a pretty face.

She recently wrote an essay expressing her outrage about the public criticism and speculation on her "puffy face" -- was it plastic surgery or weight gain the conversation went. Her slamming essay has now gone viral, sparking energetic dialogue both on and offline about rampant and superficial critiques of those in the public eye, and on the female body in general.

Judd writes that women are much more than the sum of their body parts:

The Conversation about women's bodies exists largely outside of us, while it is also directed at (and marketed to) us, and used to define and control us. The Conversation about women happens everywhere, publicly and privately. We are described and detailed, our faces and bodies analyzed and picked apart, our worth ascertained and ascribed based on the reduction of personhood to simple physical objectification. Our voices, our personhood, our potential, and our accomplishments are regularly minimized and muted.

Ryan Porter, entertainment editor at FLARE, calls Judd's essay a necessary balance to the overwhelming attention women's appearances are given.

"Even the silliest criticisms -- wrinkly armpits come to mind -- have a weird way of spawning unlikely complexes," says Porter. "Every once in a while we need someone  like Ashley Judd or Jennifer Love Hewitt or Christina Aguilera to remind us what real priorities are."

Such statements bring to mind Tina Fey's powerful and damning observations about how women — especially older women -- are treated and valued in the entertainment industry.

I know older men in comedy who can barely feed and clean themselves and they still work. The women though, they're all crazy. I have a suspicion - and hear me out, because this is a rough one - that the definition of crazy in show business is a woman who keeps talking even after no one wants to fuck her anymore.

Point blank: If you're no longer physically desirable, chances are that you're no longer worthy of society's time or attention.

Celebrities are damned if the do, damned if they don't.  If they opt for plastic surgery in order to maintain a semblance of their youthful appearance, late-night talk show hosts make jokes. But if they allow themselves to age naturally, they have "let themselves go."

"A lot of the cultural messages we're inundated with tell us that women are sexual objects -- and by extension, devoid of personality/intellect," says Colleen Westendorf, communications coordinator at Slutwalk Toronto. "If valued otherwise, as politicians or as public intellectuals, they're often de-sexualized or criticized for not being feminine or beautiful enough."

Westendorf explains: "How many times have we heard fiercely intelligent and powerful women like Hillary Clinton or Condoleezza Rice be the subject of commentary that slams them for not being attractive or for being too 'mannish?'"

And what is it, exactly, that makes a woman desirable? There's but a small window of time when a woman is considered universally alluring — and once that clock runs out, they become fodder for criticism and even cruel taunts.

In the words of Judd, "there is no winning here as women."
 
For us here in this community, there is a tremendous amount of love and support, we're all doing this for our own reasons. Together we can create change and write our own definition of beauty. Let's make gaining strength, confidence, and balance in our lives the priority over what society thinks we should be going after. We're all beautiful in our own way and we should be allowed to be us -- to be ourselves -- without judgement.

Cheers,
Shan

Don't Try This At Home!

Most of you reading have either attempted the Tracy Anderson Method, are regular practitioners of the Method, or maybe you've heard about it and you're curious to find out more. The man in the above photo is from Cirque du Soleil, but he could just as likely be an Ad for what's ahead in Tracy's Continuity levels! (I'm kidding... mostly)

Seriously, I have days where I think that the little white DVD case with the pink border should come with a simple warning that reads: "Proceed at your own risk, fool."

All you gorgeous regulars out there know that I'm attempting a homemade boot camp of sorts using Continuity 1.3. For those of you that may be new or are just dropping in, the Cliff Notes version is this. 

In C1.3, all nine levels incorporate the use of a 6 inch ball in the leg portions of each segment. I managed to begrudgingly complete level one, but quickly learned that I don't like working with the ball, so rather than skip the section all together (don't want to miss out on anything, you know.) I am doing an abbreviated boot camp version wherein I am attempting to do each level for three days thereby completing 8 levels in four weeks. Whew! And as the title of this post reads, I'd strongly suggest that you do not try this at home.

Don't get me wrong. It's not going badly, in fact I am quite enjoying it (mostly I'm enjoying the fact that in less than a month it will all be behind me.) The bummer of it is that within three days, I can never quite seem to "get" the arms and abs down, so I am flailing around constantly. At least by the time you get to day 8 or 9 you can sort of look like you might know what you're doing, but when you've got three days... well... not so much. In terms of the leg portion, during levels two and three, I was able to pick up on a few tricks to make balancing on this little pink ball possible. While never easy, I found it manageable, doable. Enter level four. (Insert scary haunted house music of your choice here!)

For crying out loud Tracy, even the super talented folks from Cirque du Soleil get a bloody block to balance on when they're only using one arm! If you don't believe me, Tink, please refer to the above photo. 

Wow wow wow. She has moves in level 4 that have you on one knee and one hand. The other leg is your working leg which swings out to the side then straight out to the back, while the free hand rests on your hip. The thing is... the hand that's holding your face off the ground, you know... the one you count on to keep you from kissing the floor -- hard? That hand -- it's balancing on the little pink ball and this time, there is no inverted knee on the stabilizing leg to save you. It would be comical if it weren't so painful. Actually that's not true. It really is funny. In fact, maybe that's the point. Laughter works your abs and this is not a conventional workout after all so it's possible. At one point I figured it was better to at least work through the move without the ball, so my leg and butt could get their daily beating, but omigod, even that was nearly impossible. They say your balance is one of the first things to go as you get older, but this is ridiculous.

What can say, I confess, I am kind of loving the challenge. Don't get me wrong ladies, I mean if I had another nine days to contend with this level, it would be an absolute bitch-fest. But knowing that I have today and tomorrow and then I move on... I feel sort of bullet-proof. I'm like... yeah, Trace - work me out girl! Bring it! 

Ooooooooooh, I am so gonna regret that. I just know it. I can already feel my neck and shoulders, inner thighs and butt, crying for mercy.

Lordissa, while I know that the chair that awaits in Continuity 2.0 is not going to be a picnic, I'm hoping that the likelihood of doing a face-plant will lessen. Until then, I'll try not to break my nose--cheekbone--wrist--neck--ass. Can you break your ass? Hey, I'm convinced that I pulled fat (instead of muscle) during the first levels of Meta. On TAM Continuity, I'd say anything's possible!

Cheers,
Shan

So....?

It's Monday. Generally I don't like to post on Monday's, but today I'll make the exception because I am dying to find out how everyone managed with their Dynamic Dining over the Easter/Passover weekend? And... Quite honestly, I have a few slip-ups to confess. 

Let's keep it on the bright side though, shall we? After all it is still technically Easter weekend (at least in Canada). My Nutrient Boost week started out fabulously. Lots of energy, enthusiasm and things just seemed to fall into place. I had four great days on the plan. So let's not discount that. Four good solid days! Then on Thursday... things kinda went to hell in an Easter Basket.

A friend, whom I'd not seen in months invited me for brunch. How could I say no? It had been ages and really wanted to catch up. I made healthy and low fat choices and on any other day, I'd have felt great about it. However... it wasn't anything like the Nutrient Boost foods I'd been eating all week and it seemed to unhinge something inside of me and for the remainder of the week, I went off the rails a little bit. Sticking on the bright side, I managed all portions of everything for the remaining three days, but added other foods into each days meals. Foods like sushi. While nothing consumed was particularly bad, it wasn't part of the program. So I messed up a little bit.

Traveling into Easter Sunday with that feeling of having failed myself, I gave into the temptation for chocolate and even had a few potato chips, but I stopped myself before going bonkers. The thing is, had I chosen to wait and start the program after Easter, I know I would have done a lot worse and maybe even come away from the weekend with a few additional pounds. I would have consumed a huge Easter meal rather than a salad and a slice of veggie pizza. Oh yeah, did I not mention that besides sushi there was other takeaway involved? Whoops, yep there was.

That said, I was able to stop myself before it became a full-scale binge. Victory!

Today kicks off body reset week and I am back on track. I braved the scale and shockingly, managed to lose a pound, so all in all, not a bad week apart from being filled with mental torment over the desire to stick strictly to the plan and the seeming inability to do so. 

I do consider the week a success however because as sucky as I sometimes felt, I never beat myself up. I made sure that before I indulged, I was aware of what I was doing and I enjoyed it in the extreme. It was never unconscious or out of habit. It was a choice in each and every case. 

Having fared better this holiday weekend than I have on any in recent memory, I have a slight amendment to the plan. This week... Monday to Saturday is my Body Reset week, but Sunday is going to be a free day. Knowing that I have one cheat day a week available to me, may help me be better throughout the week. A reader named Toffler reminded me of this on an older post, and she might be right. I'm thinking of it like a food allowance. Once a week, in my case Sunday, I am allowing myself to have whatever I want within reason. So if during the week, I was craving a slice of pizza or a fried breakfast, Sunday I can have it. I am hoping that having that one day off won't poison the rest of the week by leaking over into Monday's menu, but rather will help me to stay the course through the week, knowing Sunday awaits.

Am I inviting disaster? Am I fooling myself into thinking I can have some modicum of control? What do you think?


How did you manage the holiday? Are there little things that you do to help you stick with a healthy plan? Those of you who have been successfully managing your weight loss, what's been key for you? Do you stick diligently to a strict meal plan? Do you allow for indulgences on occasion? How are you making it work?

In the mean time, this week's got a lot of extra cardio in store... my food transaction fees have got to be paid. Oh why oh why did I ever think that was a good idea?!



Cheers.
Shan
 

Quick Tip and a Brilliant Idea!!

Hey hey Method Maniacs,

How's everybody managing out there? Now that the weather is warming up, the sun is peaking out and the days are getting longer, don't know about you, but I'm finding it easier to get that daily workout in. Yes, my sweethearts, it is indeed a love day. Maybe I just needed to clear all that processed and sugary crap outta the old blood stream and now everything's starting to look better. The other thing I have noticed after just four days of clean eating, my muscles are feeling less stiff and I have far fewer aches and pains. Almost starting to feel young again, hooray!

So two things today... first being a quick tip for using your pink ball. Whether you're there yet or not, this will come in handy. There are several moves in Continuity 1.3 where Tracy will have you balance with both hands on the ball, one knee to the ground while you work the opposite leg. This can be tricky. In one case, she even had her wrists facing out with her fingers laced across the ball. I know, right? I was really struggling to balance and kept falling over when I decided to stop the DVD and have a closer look. The trick to keeping your balance here is to invert your supporting knee slightly with the shin and foot turned out nearly to a 45 degree angle. So your knee is near the center of the mat, while your foot falls just near the edge of the mat. Hopefully you'll read that and it will make sense. It creates a wider base for you to stabilize from.

Second, is the brilliant idea... Now I know that sticking to a strick-ish eating plan is hard hard hard. Especially this time of year for all of us chocoholics with all of that delectable Easter chocolate and candy on every shelf tempting us. It's tough to find incentives to constantly carry us through when our will power starts to wain. Oh but girlie girls listen up... I read this article today about personal finance and it kinda blew me away... shhh... it's relevant.

The woman who wrote the article was attempting to go ten days without spending a cent. Not dissimilar to those of us trying to go seven days without solid food, right? One of the ways in which she suggested that you save money was by adding a little incentive, but not in the way you might think. Her suggestion was to add a transaction fee to every purchase you make, so that each time you make a purchase, whatever fee you decide on, hers was $2.00, goes into your savings. In otherwords, if you make three unnecessary or frivolous purchases that week, you'd add $6.00 to your savings. That extra trip to the coffee shop or lunch counter could really start to cost you. You can read the whole article here.

It sparked an AHA!! moment for me and an idea was born. 

What if we too created transaction fees for when we slipped up? Say for every extra cup of coffee, cookie sneaked in after dinner, bite off your kids' plate, handful of chips or what-have-you, you had to add an extra five minutes of cardio or an extra five reps to each leg move on your following day's workout...

An extra coffee at lunch added to that after dinner treat could wind up meaning an extra ten minutes of cardio the next day. For someone like me, that would definitely give me pause to consider if I really wanted that "whatever it is I'm not supposed to be having."

Again, just another way to reframe the situation to make things work in your favor. What would your transaction fee be?

Cheers.
Shan

Part Two - Not as I do.

As mentioned, I've written two posts today because I wanted to cover off both how we're all doing on our reboot of the Dynamic Eating Plan and what I've decided to do about this Pink Ball that we're currently working with in Continuity. So here's...


Part Two -

You know that expression: Do as I say, not as I do? I am going to rely pretty heavily upon that for this next post. In fact I'd even take it one step further and say don't even do as I say. It's part of my profile, I've written it time and again, it's almost become a mantra - I am not an expert. Nothing qualifies me to write about the Method or about any form of fitness or diet. I simply share my opinions and hope that by doing so, I can make things easier for someone, or that someone else out there can relate. All of this started because I was turning forty and kinda going through a midlife crisis of sorts. I was getting heavy and uncomfortable in my own body, I was injured and unable to continue my yoga practice and I was (and still am) searching for the answers to life's big questions. Sometimes I'm even still looking for the questions.

Last week I threw out a mayday and many of you responded.

I wanted to know what to do about the Pink Ball that's been introduced as part of the muscular structure work in Continuity. By what to do, I mean how should I proceed when it makes me cringe to my core to have to use it. You all had a lot to say on the subject and if you want to read the many insightful and heartfelt comments - check em out here. 

I suffered through level 1 of Continuity 1.3 and finished with that level on Thursday. I spent Friday and Saturday doing my beloved Mat DVD and thinking, weighing the options, and carefully considering everything that all of you had to say about the subject. Sunday was a rest day and it's when I came up with my plan.

During the course of my participation with Continuity, I've had a few setbacks, which has, in effect, put me way behind where I should be had I been more diligent. This has turned into an advantage however, because it gave me an opportunity to review several upcoming levels for Continuity to know what's in store.

On level 1.3 each and every sequence relies heavily on the ball, which means that it is featured during the leg portion of the workout. I've made it through the first level but there are 8 more to go. That's 80 days not including rest days which would put me near the beginning of July before I would be free of this dreaded phase. Knowing myself the way I do (I should hope I know myself by now, at least a little bit) I would get so fed up with it, that I would likely grow to hate it and eventually walk away from it. I don't want to do that.

Because on the other hand, I believe in Tracy. I have faith in the Method and for the most part, really enjoy it. It's challenging and different and it suits me. She said, as have a few of you, that I would grow to love cardio. That hasn't happened. But -- I don't hate it as much as before. It's taken a tremendously long time to get to that place, and while traveling there, I've always had the mat work to keep me going. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have that. How would I work out? How would I keep in shape? I can't imagine my life without it. That's for real. I love this workout... until now... until the ball. I'm sorry but I just can't be doing two things I don't like. 

But to skip over 8 sequences??? That's too much. The frugalista in me won't let me. I paid for those workouts, I am going to bloody well do them dammit! Those workouts still have great arms and abs in them. But trying to improvise doing them all without the ball for over three months? Not an option, at least not for me. That's not how the program was designed either, so you can see the dilemma. 


Still, If I have to keep this up for the next three months, I'll quit. If I skip over them, I'll feel resentment, like I was somehow ripped off or ripped myself off by not doing them. If I adapt them without a ball it stands to reason that I'll be missing the point of that whole three month section. What to do? What to do?


I wondered if there was yet another option. One we'd not considered. And I think there is. I wondered if there might be a way to do those levels with the ball as they are laid out, but not have to suffer for three months. And there is. Why not truncate them? Who says I have to do each one for ten days? Okay, yes, Tracy does but let's put that aside for the time being. I played around with the math a little bit looking at my tolerance levels and what's beyond them, what would be reasonable and so forth...


This is what I came up with.


Based on a six-day workout week, if I do each level for three days, I can tackle two sequences a week. With 8 levels on the horizon, that's four weeks. I could potentially be through this virtual hell in a month, people! I did boot camp. Twice in fact. And that was a month. I could do this. I could actually pull this off. But first I needed to see what was beyond 1.3. Because if it's more ball work... I'd be in big trouble.


I am thrilled to report that in 2.0 - while the ball is around - it's not the feature - the chair is. And I happen to really like the chair, you wanna know why? Because many of the moves involving the chair are standing moves! Like the Mat video and Perfect Design Series - I love standing leg work. Love it!! There's my carrot dangling at the end of the stick. 

So, I started yesterday, Monday April 2nd. (since I began the Dynamic Eating Plan just the day before - it plays out very much like my own unique version of a Boot Camp)


If I can get through this month, not miss a single workout, in May I'll be into a whole new set of workouts, much more similar to the original Method workouts. Halleluiah and can I get an AMEN?! Amen! 


Framing April like its own boot camp feels doable to me. I realize that this isn't what most of you might do, some of you are probably shaking your heads at me right now, Tracy especially, but... this I can pull off.


It's going to be harder than anything I have done thus far on the Method. Those of us who practice the Method are well aware that the first three days on any new level are the hardest, so I am fully aware that I am going to be in for a world of pain over the next four weeks. But consider this...


The Method works because it keeps changing, never giving the muscles a chance to adapt and get lazy or to be overworked and bulk. Tricia and V were talking about the different centrics and how they've both tried a few - well V has done them all - and how one centric would work really well for them for a bit, then something would happen and their progress would stop, for example on one level they both felt their butts lifting and lower abs flattening, but then their thighs got a little bulkier - so I started to wonder about the actual workouts in Tracy's studios. Surely when you go to a class, they aren't broken into four centrics. You go, you work out, sweat your butt off, cry uncle from all the killer and bizarre moves, then come back the next day and it's different again. It changes all the time, not just every ten days, doesn't it?


So what if doing the workout for three days and then moving on replicates that studio experience even more? We're about to find out I guess. 


My girl Marta made a really good point, if we were to go back to any level of Meta and do it, do you really think that your muscles would be complacent because you'd already done it ten times, 9 months ago? Hardly. It would feel challenging all over again. The point is to continually change up the workout to challenge your body. Who knows, I might love this so much I'll continue to change up my workouts every three days. I like the idea of doing two sequences a week. Of course until it was time to go back to level three of Meta - the Muffin Top Slayer - or having to do these 1.3 Continuity workouts again.


Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is an experiment and I am the guinea pig. Tracy used herself and her friends and clients to experiment upon when she was developing the Method - so I am following her in spirit. It feels - for me - like the right thing to do at this point in time.


But like I said, better to do neither what I say, nor what I do and stick to following the Master Trainer Tracy, she's the one with the years of experience and expertise backing her up and she hasn't let us down thus far. I'll keep you posted.


As an aside, since I am going to be whipping through them, it won't give me the time to master each one like you can do when you have ten days with it. So in order to get to know the moves, every Sunday and every Wednesday, I'll watch the next level, and write out a comprehensive description of the moves in my own words to be sure I know what I am doing before I jump in. Hopefully this will go a long way to help prevent injury as well. I did that this week and doing the workout, I felt comfortable in each move. Fingers crossed. And once again, thanks for weighing in on the subject, I feel like I would not have been able to get to this choice without you.


Cheers.
Shan

Part One - The Hunger Games.

Hey guys. 

It's a two-part post today. Have had a lot to consider over the weekend and there's much I want to share. Since many of you have had a direct influence on that thought process on the one topic and some of you are getting involved in the other, I have decided to split them up. So here's...

Part One - 

Went to the movies last night and saw the film The Hunger Games. This is not a movie review, but I will say that I really enjoyed it, disturbing as it was. It was thought provoking, it was well done and especially well acted by the young Jennifer Lawrence. In any event, as I sat in the cinema and my tummy began to growl, I considered what an apt title The Hunger Games was for the Dynamic Eating Plan that we're all re-embarking upon this week.

Let me be frank, I was a bit concerned about going down this road again. I had tried it about a month ago and it lasted for a day before I threw in the towel with a 'bleck' not more pureed parsnips!

However, after spending the month of March working my butt off on the mat and doing cardio - yes hard as that is to believe, I did the bleedin' cardio (it's a Shamandment after all) and seeing that the scale had not budged a pound except when it was moving in the wrong direction -- was motivation enough to give this another shot. Plus, the timing just felt right. April is a fresh month, a clean slate month, and when I threw the idea out there, many of you felt the same.

So here we are, three days in and how are you feeling? Andi and Tricia have been at it a while and both had good things to say. It's not been easy for them, but like Tricia said, it feels good to regain control and they both say that the bloat is gone. Love that! Jah said that she was doing okay two days in after having a bit of a pre-tox day before she began, and my girl, Little Miss Martie is doing her thing - browner, leaner, greener -  and feeling good too. So there is plenty of support for all of us at every stage and on every plan. You don't have to do the Dynamic Eating Plan to clean your diet up in preparation for the warm summer months, it's just what I feel comfortable doing.

And somehow, I've come to this in a different state of mind. Would you be surprised if I told you it was a love week?

I don't feel dread and I'm certainly not feeling overwhelmed. Marta had commented in an email that it might be more difficult this time around because it doesn't have that "new car" smell. I totally agree, it's harder because we don't have the novelty of it all on our side. When it's fresh and brand new, you can ride the enthusiasm wave. You remember that feeling when you got your shiny white Meta box in the mail, don't you? When you come to something the second time around, it can be tough because you know what hard work is in store. 

What I hadn't anticipated was the fact that we have the knowledge that it works on our side. Last time we jumped in blindly, hoping it would do something. After having done it and reached our goals, we know it's possible and like they say: Knowledge is power.

So why am I not feeling overwhelmed? I mean when you look at that menu for the Nutrient Boost week with all the chopping, steaming, juicing and pureeing there is to do, you feel like there is no getting out of the kitchen. Last time, I tried to make all of my food for several days at a time -- this meant one long day in the kitchen and that can be a drag when you're busy. 

I'm not overwhelmed because I am choosing to do things a little differently this time.

I'm mixing it up and not being so strict with myself, I'm being nicer for a change. I know what's on the menu and at any given time if you were to prepare one of those items, it generally doesn't take more than ten minutes. So I've been going with the flow. I decided, the night before this all started to make my apple sauce in advance, but that's it. If you think about it, how long does it take to peel an orange and a few kiwis and throw them into the chopper - not long at all. It's a quick and easy snack or breakfast. Since getting 'he who shall not be named' into juicing in January, he was happy to whip up two cups of juice for us on Sunday. (Isn't he great? I know, right?) So that's helpful.

And at dinner, instead of gazpacho, I've been throwing together a fresh crunchy salad with the ingredients - again super easy. 

This time around everything is fresh, I make it as I crave it, I have variety since I am using the Performance Cleanse, and there isn't anything on the menu that I don't like. For those moments when I feel hungry and nothing is ready, a tall glass of sparkling water tides me over until the sweet potatoes are steamed or the Edamame beans or cooked. I feel happy to be doing it. Weird, I know. There isn't that feeling of deprivation that I had when I tried to do it recently.

Part of the problem with the last time I tried it and failed, was that because I'd made so much in advance, it was all right there and waiting... ... but I felt like I had all this cold baby food in the fridge and none of it seemed appetizing. Hey listen, the first time I did this, I needed that. I had it all to hand and I could grab for anything I needed quickly so it left very little room for cheating. It didn't feel right for me to do it that way this week.

Instead, it's all fresh, it's a real mix of pureed food and solids, sweet and savory, it's good. I'm actually enjoying it. No one is more surprised than me.

The first time I did this I had one cheat - that was the Berry Greens Powder rather than the fresh juice, this time it's the pudding that I am cheating on. Not sure why, but the idea of Choco-chestnut pudding is making me me gag, but I do like pudding so I've picked up little pudding cups. It's maybe not as healthy, but it feels like a treat, it's portion controlled, and it's not fattening so it doesn't ruin what I am trying to do overall.

I am curious to hear what tools you're using to make it easier, to make it fun, or to give it a bit of variety and just to get you through it this time around, or if it's your first crack at it, how are you surviving?

I have no doubt that in the coming weeks, it's going to be a challenge. I'll want bread or pizza, but I'll cross or burn those bridges as I get to them. At the moment I feel for the most part pretty satisfied instead of feeling like I am playing A Hunger Game.

Stay tuned for Part Two - the Pink Ball Dilemma.
Cheers,
Shan