Walking Into Knowingness

In honor of the upcoming new year I have been contemplating my life intention, direction, and challenges/opportunities. This morning I realized I am at a crossroad in my life. It is time to love the person I have been and time to embrace a higher version of myself.

I used a simple method of looking at my complaints and compliments that I expressed about others. In this indirect way I was able to see myself being objective and thorough. I know that I am all that I see in others whether I am complaining or complimenting.

Here is what I found I was complaining about in others. Then I changed their names to "I am..."

• a very sexually attractive person who feels a false sense of reassurance and self worth through displaying self in a sexy/ flirtatious manner.
• experiencing periods of attachment & insecurity
• frozen in fear & not taking action
• not claiming the life I know I deserve (self worth)
• inefficient use of time & talents
• wavering focus & direction
• too stuck in the head that I get locked in intelligence/reason mode that is squeezing the magic out from happening or allowing
• unlimited potential and the world unfolding before me, realizing I could have a commanding presence & really impact lives if I owned it.
• wavering on taking responsibility on where I am at.
• experiencing minor glimpses of lower levels of consciousness, yet highly evolved getting glimpses of a higher truth/ reality.
• understanding freedom & enlightenment
• passionate about growing, sharing and teaching as I learn
• a person with a huge heart
• a person with a desire to make a positive difference in people's lives on a large scale

I then thought about the people in my life that I admire. I took off the names of others and changed it again to "I am...."

• present, conscious, self assured
• understanding & remembering my life direction
• knowing my presence is my gift
• a leader
• serving by holding my level of awareness. In doing so people find clarity in their own lives and raise their own consciousness so that they see solutions & change their own lives.
• the very best thing I can do is maintain this state of knowing consciousness & live in that truth.

This is my direction to master! I am reminded of the last phrase in Mother Teresa's poem "Anyway" where it states:

"In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

I see myself very clearly right now and I am so thankful that through observing and enjoying my interactions with everything around me and that I am able to see the truth in my reality.

The people I am complaining about are opportunities to see if I am really done with that level of life. Have I really let go from the old to walk into new realms? How assured am I?

The people I admire are opportunities to see if I am really standing present and owning it simply, quietly, consciously with a knowing and freedom.

Am I ready to take the torch from my lower self and stand tall with a higher level of living. Can I incorporate it and saturate myself with such a presence that it emanates from every pore & action of my being?

Are you ready to stand in your knowingness or do you need to dabble in the "old familiar". Are you ready to let go to move forward?

What more of a resolution do you need than to walk in your own truth? Enjoy your new year!

#10 Bikini Body Challenge Update 124.5 Weigh In

My Weekly Grocery Shopping Experience

If it wasn't for the IEOPBC I doubt I would be consuming as much organic produce as I do. Even better I get it wholesale. I co-organize this group & I strongly feel that in order to stay on a healthy lifestyle you need to put yourself in situations where you are accountable. In my situation people count on me so I can't exactly let them down. It's a win win situation for me.

This produce is enough to feed myself, Alex & Mehgan who also eat the same foods I prepare.



Groceries
30 red potatoes
3-4 bunches of kale
3-4 heads of red leaf lettuce
3-4 heads of celery
3-4 fennel bulbs
3-4 bunches of carrots
3-4 bunches of golden beets
6+ zucchini
3 bags of mixed peppers
3 bags of spinach PLUS a half case which is 12 bunches
5 lbs of tomatoes ( forgot to video tape them)
12 golden delicious apples
12 persimmons
16 lbs of grapes
40-50 Fuji apples ( I know I said Gala in the video, but I meant to say Fuji)
20 bananas (normally I get about 50, but I had many left over from last week)
12 cloves of garlic ( this will last much longer than this week)
2 pineapples
3 pkgs of sunflower spouts

This total cost was approx: $100 Now tell me where you are going to beat that price?

This week's menu

(some of the ingredients I still had in my fridge from last week)

Breakfast

Green Juice
Romaine (1 head), cucumber (1), spinach (1 head), ginger (thumb sized chunk), apple (2), cilantro ( 1 bunch), parsley (1 bunch), & celery (3-5 stalks). I plan on juicing the greens to the carrot tops and beet tops also.

This is taking up 80% of my daily dietary intake for this week. I am drinking at least 48 oz if not more daily. I just feel like I need more re-mineralization for healing emotionally as well as physically. Juice usually clears my mind and creates a sense of calm and focus. I can totally use more of that these days! If I make too much in one sitting my kids help me drink it. I try to consume it within 15 minutes of juicing.

Green Smoothie
Banana and greens ( this week I have romaine, red leaf, spinach, & kale) I may throw in pears, mango, or pineapple as well, but sometimes it's just leafy greens with banana.

Snacks
Apples, persimmons, bananas, and grapes (my kids like almond butter w/ the apples & bananas) Guacamole or zucchini hummus w/ carrots

Lunches & Dinners
Steamed Red Potatoes & Broccoli (left over from last week)
Massaged greens w/ sprouts, grated beets and zucchini hummus
Warm Veggie Soup- carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, fennel, and garlic

Live Your Life

“Live, so you do not have to look back and say: 'God, how I have wasted my life.' ”
-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Welcome Kevin Talley & Juicing

Here is a quick video of Kevin & I talking about how he has been feeling as a result of cleaning up his diet and experimenting with juicing. Raw food is a new concept to Kevin and I am amazed by his openness and willingness. Since Kevin is very interested in raising consciousness I shared with him some information about the energetic value of food. He was fascinated to learn how diet affects his vibration. I look forward to sharing more videos on his transition and journey.

Living a Transparent Life

Raw Food Goodness w/ Steve & Lori

Meg Making Green Veggie Juice

Here is Alex's favorite snack: green apples with almond butter. He actually made this plate himself. How cute...will he be a future Matthew Kenney in the works? ;)

Green Juice Fasting On The Go

A Visit to Glen Ivy Hot Springs

I have been going to Glen Ivy Hot Springs for almost 10 years and it always seems to bliss me out. I don't know if it is due to the immense amount of detoxification from the sauna, steam room, or mud. Perhaps it's just a good healthy dose of sunshine, water and lush greenery. I almost feel like I have a nature deficiency if I am not around plants.

Anyhow, I have been making it a point to keep myself in a heightened state and to keep allowing my life to unfold in beautiful and magical ways. This is just one of the ways that I enjoy spending my time. I read, I write, I dream, I savor, I celebrate. I just feel fantastic every single time I go here and I ALWAYS meet the coolest people in the mineral bath. The vibes are just rocking. I leave with the softest skin, a golden glow, and an open heart and mind!

Ways to Eat Your Greens

I am always recommending that people consume 2 bunches of leafy greens (about 2 lbs.) a day and the most common responses I receive are, "Why are greens so important?"Followed by, "How do I prepare them?" I decided to prepare a list of ideas and recipes for you to get you started. Once you get the hang of it I am sure you'll be creating awesome recipes yourself.

If you don't know the importance of eating greens I recommend the book Green for Life . I just watched Greens Can Save Your Life and it has so much valuable information. It's incredibly important to vary your greens. Here is a list of common leafy greens that you can use in the following recipes. The cool thing about adding two bunches of leafy greens to your diet is that it gradually squeezes out the "junk" that we shouldn't be eating. Instead of just eliminating foods and wondering what to eat I like to start by ADDING to your current diet and then after fitting in your quota of greens see how much room is left for the other "stuff".

Juices/Liquid

• Wheatgrass Orange Juice
• Green Lemonade or a fast version I use is: 2 T lemon juice, 1 packet of stevia, 2 T of juiced greens & 8 oz water.
• Check out Mehgan chugging down this green drink version with TONS of Vitamineral Green. WOW!
• Kale & jicama juice: juice 1 bunch kale w/ 1 jicama (peeled) This tastes much like an unripe banana. Don't ask how, but it does!
• Green Juice: 1 bunch spinach, 1 head celery, and 1 cucumber ( this is a common juice prepared at Tree of Life)
• RawModel's Spicy Green MSM Tonic

Smoothies

• Chocolate green smoothie ( kale, bananas, ice or water, cacao or carob powder blended in a Vita- Mix)
  
• Here is a video of one of our first green smoothies

Savory Green Energy Soups (Benefits)

• Ann Wigmore's Energy Soup

Salads

• Alexis's Massaged Green Salad ( mash it together with your hands)
  
  1/2 (or more) bunch kale chopped
  1 ripe mango chopped
  1/2 ripe avo chopped
  1 small, ripe lemon juiced
  1 jalapeno diced
  1 green onion chopped
  
• Check out this video w/ my kids preparing a Massaged Greens Salad
• Prepare Zucchini Hummus ( minus lemon, cumin, paprika & added red bell pepper, & cayenne pepper ) and massage it into a green of your choice. I like spinach myself.
• Courtney's Spirulina Salad
  

Snacks

• Shake a bag of lettuce with a squeeze of lemon or lime in a bag and eat them fresh like chips.
• Kale Chips
  

Dessert

• Leija's Chocolate Pudding

If you have a favorite green recipe, don't hesitate to share it in the comments below!

Happy Halloween 2009

Me, April, Amanda

Alex, Me, & Mehgan

Princess Leia Slave Costume

How to Get Out of a Traffic Ticket

This is just another example of how things are going when I am in alignment with higher consciousness. It's a place of trust and listening to that inner voice that guides you in the direction you want to be in.

I have been riding a blissed out state lately. I have made the decision to live in the magic of life and honestly, it is proving it to me. If only everyone remembered this what a wonderful world this would be. However, my world has been rocking out so I know I am making a difference just by changing my own conscious state.

So, when was the last time you worked out your soul? C'mon now, I dare you to give it a shot. Start strengthening your higher self by just remembering who you are and knowing it is all here for you. Let it happen!

So, how do you get out of a traffic ticket: INTEND IT! Ask and it is Given! It's granted as soon as you ask, so just let it play out (aka allow it)!

International Alchemy Conference

To be honest when I received tickets to attend an International Alchemy Conference I didn't really know what to expect. I really didn't even know exactly what "alchemy" meant. However, after seeing that Dr. Masaru Emoto and Don Miguel Ruiz would be speaking I knew it had to be a good thing. Upon arrival to the event someone stopped me and mentioned that I did not "look" like someone who was into alchemy. What does an alchemist look like anyway? Once I walked into the conference everyone looked normal to me & I didn't feel out of place at all.

I was thrilled with the opportunity to hear Dr. Emoto speak. The room was packed, but somehow I was able to get a front row seat. He spoke in Japanese and had a translator, but his jokes and charm were not diluted in the translation. I felt goosebumps throughout his entire speech. According to Dr. Emoto goosebumps are messages from our DNA that deciphers consciousness. I couldn't agree more. I usually know something is powerful by my goosebumps.

I first learned about him from the film "What the Bleep Do We Know" with Hidden Messages in Water. That was so powerful that I did the rice experiment in 2007. I even posted a blog on water earlier this year. I was blown away by the results and have forever been changed. As Dr. Emoto explained, water is consciousness and within it is our message from God.

Dr. Emoto shared his journeys of healing water around the world and found that within a short time after a ceremony a rainbow would appear. Some of them were double rainbows that were not common to the area at all. He explained that a rainbow is a symbol for peace. Suddenly I was taken back to a memory of when I lived on the North Shore of Hawaii. Everyday I would smell a light scent of pineapples and see a rainbow right in my backyard. Most of the time it would be a double rainbow too! What a beautiful thing to experience!


Dr. Emoto shared the Law of Vibration. He demonstrated resonance and how a perfect pyramid magnified and extended the vibration. AMAZING demo! He shared that music is vibration and water loves beautiful vibration. He feels strongly that music is medicine. I couldn't agree more. He expressed that even more important than listening to beautiful music was to sing. Our bodies, like water love music and we can feel the vibration emanating from us. He said the person who invented karaoke should have won a Nobel Prize. I agree! In spirit of that, we sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" paying close attention to the lyrics. The IZ version happens to be one of my most favorite songs ever. I actually felt inspired to sing more knowing that I was healing my body. I am making a point to sing everyday!


We enjoyed his photos of water's response to different environments from placing water on a photo, exposing it to beautiful music and words. Speaking negative words has a negative effect on the water and of course, since our bodies are at least 75% water we must be aware that it also affects our bodies negatively. Positive words create beautiful sound. Dr. Emoto called our bodies "Little Universe".This inspired me to speak more positively. I'd love to only speak eloquently and beautifully especially since I know it not only affects my body, but consciousness itself. Dr Emoto explained that consciousness is information from God and it is locked in our DNA. We can unlock DNA from water. He shared that water is the connection between God and Man.


The most beautiful crystal formations came from the words "Love and Gratitude". He broke down the yin & yang balance of these words:

Love - Gratitude
Fire - Water
Oxygen - Hydrogen
Live - Death
Active energy - H2O- Passive energy

His message was to have love and gratitude with every sip of water we consume. In his ceremonies he says to water, "Water we are sorry. Water we love you. Water we respect you. Water we thank you."

In addition to Dr. Emoto, I enjoyed listening to Don Miguel Ruiz speak. He is the author of Mastery of Love which is one of my top 10 favorite books. I loved bumping into a fellow raw foodist, Courtney Pool who works at Tree of Life. She was beaming with beauty and light. I was thrilled to see many raw foodists & yogis at this event. I was in heaven with the Om Gym. This looks so fun. It is like having yoga poses and various stretches with an assistant to get you deeper into the pose. Range of motion is crucial to our bodies. I find it interesting that the most flexible people tend to have very open minds too. Another mind body connection, eh? An open body = open mind? Hmmm..

10 Steps to Starting an Organic Produce Buying Club

I receive lots of questions on how people can start up their own wholesale organic produce buying club in their area. Even though our area has well over 800 members, this system can work with as little as 10 members. As a raw foodist I can tell you this service is ABSOLUTELY a dream come true to have! I get produce from local farmers and BEFORE it goes to the stores. So it's fresher, cheaper, and more convenient. I have participated in the IEOPBC since 2008 and wouldn't be as successful with the raw food diet if it wasn't for this service.

Here are a couple videos I have made showing what happens at our meetup:
A Quick Tour of the Co-op
Almost ready to Start Distribution
An Example of a Share

Here are 10 Steps on Starting An Organic Produce Buying Club

1. Select Organizers This is a service that does not make a profit. We do this as a community service. An organizers incentive is a complimentary member share and a volunteer share. It really isn't much as far as materialistic benefits, but here is an organizers perspective on Is it Worth it? Here is an example of different organizer roles and duties:

Organizer 1 handles THE BOOKS, maintains receipts, deposits, financial records, licenses, insurance, etc. (we are incorporated as a business who just never profits rather than a non- profit), and tracks members who have paid and how many shares we need to purchase for.

Organizer 2 handles THE WEBSITE updates w/ photos, polls, answers members emails/questions, etc. This person keeps everything up to date online, sends out messages, emails, etc and keeps everyone informed. Posts produce share photos online.

Organizer 3 handles THE PRODUCE by placing the produce order, inspects, and makes sure we are getting what we paid for, and picks it up.

Organizer 4 handles THE SET UP, DISTRIBUTION & CLEAN UP Manages volunteers, distribution & volunteer duties. This person makes sure the place is left looking better than when we arrived and that all materials are put away.

All organizers are present when the meetup takes place to usher shares to members, to accept payment for future shares, write receipts, check names off the list and see that all things run smoothly.

2. Find local farmers who are willing to sell to your group at wholesale. In addition, find a local organic distributor who can sell you produce that local farmers do not carry if there is not enough supply per demand. We place our orders on Thursday mornings to be picked up for that following Saturday. We also accept donated produce from members who have excess from their gardens. Often we receive rosemary, basil, oregano, and mint.

3. Decide how much you are going to spend per basket & set up a payment system. We currently charge $22 for a basket. $20 goes to produce and $2 is for delivery costs or other items like baskets, gloves, brooms, etc. We also charge a $10 annual membership fee that covers our legal fees. We accept cash only or pay pal payments. No checks. We collect cash only payment for the following week(s) at the time of distribution of shares. We do accept pay pal payments until Wednesday evening at 7 PM.

4. Get your delivery system in check. Find out if you are paying to have someone deliver the produce to you or if you are going to pick it up yourself. We currently rent a U-haul trailer and pick up our produce from various local organic farms. Whatever we need to keep the basket balanced we pick up from Better Life Organics in Los Angeles. If you decide to have it delivered hopefully you can receive it just before distribution otherwise you need to plan for refrigeration.

5. Find a location to distribute produce (restaurants w/ outdoor covered patio, parks w/ covered area, etc.). Decide on a time and place that is always the same. We do every Saturday at 10 AM at Farm Artisan Foods. We are consistent in our time and location and that I feel has made this very successful. If you chose a park location be sure that you do not have more than 50 members on site at a time otherwise you are subject to a permit.

6. Get supplies to run the show like baskets (we got ours at a local 99 cent store), brooms, dustpan, gloves, trashcan, rags, cash box, etc. We like members to bring their own ice chest, basket to swap out, or canvas tote. We do reserve some of the produce boxes for people who forgot to bring something to take their produce home in.

7. Set up volunteer opportunities. We allow 10 volunteers to come and help with picking up produce from local farmers and bringing it to our meetup, to help with set up, distribution, and clean up. This process starts at 9 AM with setting up & distributing produce to baskets. From 10- 10:45 members pay for next week(s) share and/or pick up their produce. At 10:45 we begin clean up at 10:45 and finish at 11:00. Volunteer receive a volunteer basket. This is the produce that we are not able to distribute evenly amongst all the members. We also donate a basket to the owners of the restaurant in thanks for allowing us to use their site before the restaurant opens for business.

8. Contact Local Food Banks, storehouses, halfway homes, shelters, etc to donate any extra produce that was not claimed by a member. If produce is not picked up by 10:45 the member forfeits their basket and it is donated to a charity. Sometimes someone who forgot to buy a basket shows up and can buy the persons share and that first member will be refunded their money or it will be used for a future share.

9. Set up an online presence page on meetup to keep all your members informed, connected with other members, to receive reminders and updates.

10. Get license and insurance to be safe. We did not start this way, but after we experienced so much growth we decided it was the best way to go. Even though we never make a profit we are incorporated just in case someone falls ill, slips on the site or for whatever reason we may need this protection. We found that being incorporated was easier to do that establishing ourselves as a non-profit. We do charge a $10 annual membership fee that covers our license, insurance and other legal costs as well as miscellaneous costs.

Once you are up and running you can always contact local papers and get written up like this article. Here is a review by one of our members on Local Harvest. If you haven't already, feel free to check out our website for more info.

Do You Love Your Body?

Isn't funny how quickly things can change when you shift your perspective from "I am not good enough so I MUST lose weight" to "I love myself so much that I want to treat my body with love and respect"? It's an empowering shift moving from a state of forcing your body to be a particular way to allowing your best body to come forth.

I remember losing 10 pounds EFFORTLESSLY in 2007. I didn't stick to any strict menu or have a set workout routine. I just focused on feeling good. I found that I was preoccupied with living and not the number on my scale. I did make it a point to sweat everyday, but that was as simple as cranking up the music and dancing while mopping my floors. Besides that my focus was just to stay happy. It wasn't long and everyone asked me how I went from 118 to 108. I felt sort of guilty because I didn't make that my primary focus. I didn't even try, it was just a by product of feeling good. I have decided to go back to that method after realizing that the egocentric way I have been TRYING this year so far hasn't given me the results I wanted. I remember that quote "Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over, and expecting different results."

I needed to shift into the heart. I have started looking at myself in a loving way. I have been focusing on what I do have and what I am thankful for. I am also paying more attention to what my body is able to do rather than how it looks.

Here are a few things I have been feeling lately:

I am so happy that my body is free of pain.
I am so thankful my body has healed from several injuries.
I am thankful this body has given birth to two amazing children.
I am thankful for my energy, youth, and vitality.
I am grateful that I can pick up sports with ease and participate in all sorts of recreational activities.
I am thankful for my feminine curves.
I am thankful I have found raw foods.
I am thankful I love being healthy.
I am thankful I love yoga and all forms of exercise.

I love my body and look forward to showing it how much I love it through giving it a little daily love and attention. Here is a great quote from my favorite yoga instructor, Bryan Kest "The integrity of the web is dependant on the resiliency of every strand".

Remember to take time to honor your body in more ways than the ones that affect you aesthetically.

Here are 2 other related articles/blog posts about self acceptace and loving your body:
9 Days to Bikini- Ready: Self Acceptance & Loving Your Body is Listening to Your Body

A Special thanks to Lenette Nakauchi who sent two videos that go along with this message:
Abraham on Weight & Abraham on Natural Weight Loss

How to Eat Simple & Healthy

Q: Lori, I'd love to see a sample of your food menu (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for a week! I am really trying to eat raw food but have the hardest time finding new (and somewhat easy) things to make.

A: As the months become colder I find it less appealing to drink cold smoothies. Instead, I find veggie juices easier to drink since they aren't cold. I also do not eat 100% raw in the cooler months, but I am still eating lots of veggies and fruits. Sometimes, it will be as simple to eat just fresh fruit like bananas, steamed veggies or even veggie soup for breakfast. I am also known to drink lots of hot herbal tea throughout the day to stay warm. However, just to give you an idea of what I am eating around this time of year here is a sample for the cooler months. I keep it pretty simple since I don't care to spend my day in the kitchen. Every now & then I get a culinary itch, but for the most part my cooler months are looking like this:

Day 1
1- Coconut water, 4 bananas
2- 2 steamed yams w/ sea salt, cinnamon, & coconut oil
3- 2 apples
4- Homemade Veggie Soup: carrot, celery, onion, tomatoes, potato, Swiss chard, peas, corn, zucchini, etc
5- 2 bananas

Day 2
1- 3 apples + coconut water
2- 3 cups of steamed peas w/ coconut oil & sea salt
3- 3 pears
4- steamed butternut squash w/ coconut oil & sea salt
5 - 2 bananas

Day 3
1- 24 oz veggie juice- celery, spinach, cucumber
2 – steel cut oats w/ cinnamon, dates/honey, sea salt, bit of coconut oil
3- celery, cucumber, red bell pepper, & baby carrots w/ red pepper zucchini hummus
4- trail mix- raisins, walnuts, cranberries, cashews, pistachios, almonds, currants

Day 4
1- 24 oz green smoothie (pineapple, strawberries, kale, banana). Check out this video of our first green smoothie.
2- 2 bananas w/ almond butter, coconut water
3- sautéed kale, mushrooms, onion w/ coconut oil & sea salt
4- steamed spaghetti squash w/ raw marinara

Day 5
1- 24 oz romaine, celery, cucumber juice
2- pineapple chunks, coconut water
3- sauteed kale, Swiss Chard, Collards, & spinach w/ onions, coconut oil & sea salt
4- homemade veggie soup, 2 bananas

I recently bought some black rice to add to soups, or to make w/ peas, carrots, mushrooms, celery & onion. I even thought I would blend the meat of a thai coconut and make a creamy mushroom sauce for a richer meal.

Day 6
24 hour fast
Sometimes I will drink water, herbal tea plain, veggie juice or coconut water, other times I just drink water.

Day 7
1- Fresh fruit like bananas for breakfast (if any)
2- Splurge on a raw restaurant -for example if I go to:
Au Lac-I like the Song Salad & Raw Taco
Juliano's Planet Raw- I have something diferent everytime, last time I had raw lasagna & some pumpkin dessert
I normally won't eat anything for the rest of the day since I feel pretty heavy afterwards.

My Goal
Drink veggie juice everyday

I eat very simply and stick mostly to what is in season. The fruit and veggies vary on the time of year. I know that since I am not eating 100% raw at this time I need to kick the greens and veggie juice into high gear. However, on warmer days I find myself eating 100% raw like veggies w/ zucchini hummus, green smoothies, fresh fruit, trail mix, and simple garden salad w/a diluted guacamole as a dressing.

When I am on the go I pack the following:
zucchini hummus or guacamole w/ veggies (tomatoes, celery, carrots, mushrooms, cucumber, red bell pepper, etc)
Fresh fruit: apples, bananas, pears
Trail mix
Water

How to Break the Pattern of Bad Relationships

Q:
Hey Lori,
I got a chance to check out your website and I really resonated with it since you have been through plenty of bad relationships yourself. I was wondering if you could help me heal from all the baggage it left. I just don't want to be the old me anymore and want to stop living in my story. It seems whenever someone gets close to me it starts getting ugly hence the reason why I have been staying to myself lately, but I do like being social and eventually want a healthy sound relationship. Every time I try it seems like I am stuck talking about my ex's big no no. I don't know how to gain closure over all this mess.

This led me to the raw food lifestyle and have been embracing it well, but then I splurge every now and then and don't like being addicted to cooked foods anymore either. I feel like a complete mess and need to get it all together so I can take my board exam for medical school soon. Yikes!! today I just heard my past reiterated from a male who was trying to get to know me and well it led to an emotionally messy me and then I went back down the spiral not eating well and not being able to sleep. Can you help?

A:
When the going gets tough, you fall off your raw food regimen. This is a situation where you are emotionally shutting out what you are experiencing through food. Raw foods actually clear pathways and what you feel is more intense. When you are raw you are alert and clear headed. Emotional eating tells me you are holding back from healing. Your heart wants to heal, but your head is stuck on the past rather than the vision you hold for yourself. The past has no power so stop giving your power to it.

Talking about your ex's "big no no" tells me that you are BLAMING others and you haven't gotten over it. Take the pain you experienced in relationships and turn it inward so that you could learn to make finer distinctions in your relationships. Take full RESPONSIBILITY for where you are and what happened because YOU allowed it to happen. Nobody can do anything to you, playing the victim role only harms you and does not serve you.

I can tell a lot about a person by what they choose to talk about. If they are complaining to me about someone else I know they are deflecting the energy from their inner core and trying to project it elsewhere. They are looking outside of themselves. What they want is validation. You do not need the world to say, "Oh, look at you...you poor thing. How could anybody do this to you?" That is not what you really want.

If there is anyway I can help you heal from your baggage and gain closure it is to FORGIVE yourself. You are here to grow and learn. We are supposed to make mistakes because with each one we get a bit better. ALLOW yourself to explore and grow. You need to feel your VALUE as a person.

In this life we are faced with reflections of our internal state by our relationships, our finances, our career, our home. How do those look to you? If they look a mess it's probably because you feel a mess internally. Remember that everything in life you are complaining about you are guilty of yourself. When you want to complain go inward and take actions to improve yourself. Start acting like the person you wish to be and soon you will be that person. Treat yourself the way you wished others treated you and soon your self RESPECT will flourish and you will find yourself around others who respect you as well. How do you expect anyone to truly love and respect you if you can't even love, respect, and accept yourself?

You serve no one in beating yourself up. If you want to be loved...love yourself. Do all the things you want someone else to do for you and do them for yourself. Your love will illuminate and you will have that spark within you. Soon you'll be surrounded with people who love you because the outer physical world is just a mere reflection of your internal state. I commend you on your raw food journey! You are on track! Keep eating raw foods as you go through this sticky "mess". Feel it, experience it, grow from it, and move forward into that "new you" you say you want to be.

Recommendations
Book: The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book
Blog Article: You are Worthy of Love

Embracing My Beauty & Sexual Energy

"Our Deepest Fear... is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God/Divine Spirit. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
- Marianne Williamson

My Conscious Growth Workshop Experience

I have been a bit in a stir since returning back home after the Conscious Growth Workshop. This event was truly a life shifting experience. It shed light on things that I didn't even realize were effecting me so deeply. It offered plenty of challenges, actions, and solutions to obstacles I have been facing. It challenged me to step up to the game of life and stop being a coward on things that I know my heart has been calling me to do just because it's safe.

In addition, the energy shift in the group was insane. I started Day 1 feeling a bit shy and out of my element. The exercises were challenging at first, but I gained confidence with each one. I realized how much in my head I have become and it is a nice shift to walk into this world with an open heart and a desire to give and share with others. At the end of Day 3 I was surrounded with love and support. I felt like I made a new family. People really opened up and shared themselves. Barriers and walls came down and people felt safe to be themselves. It was amazing to see the courage and willingness people expressed to grow in a way that brings fulfillment into their lives as well as contribute good to the world.

I am honored to have shared this experience with so many beautiful people and I look forward to seeing the growth that comes from being in alignment with Truth, Love and Power. Here are some of the realizations I had at the workshop and some practical actions I am applying into my life.

Realization 1
I have a limited social life offline.

Inspiration
I want to expand and interact with growth oriented people on a consistent basis.

Action
Attend weekly social gatherings that support conscious growth.

Realization 2
I have given my power away by making excuses for why I am not engaging in a romantic relationship.

Inspiration
To enjoy an intimate physical relationship with a conscious man who challenges me and nurtures me as well.

Action
Accept dating invitations.
Approach men that I am attracted to rather than shy away.

Realization 3
I feel very insecure about my body.

Inspiration
To feel like an empowered goddess and shine in the realization of who I am and the gifts that I have to share with others.

Action
Compliment myself daily in the mirror for what I love rather than where I lack.
Honor my body with daily exercise.
To love foods that love me back (high green raw food diet)!

Realization 4
I waste time and feel scattered.

Inspiration
To make the most of my time, feel effective, & intentional.

Action
Log my time for 24 hours
Do a 30 day trial to wake up by 6 AM & make the first hour of my day the most effective.

Realization 5
I feel comfortable yet complacent in my home life, but I am afraid to move.

Inspiration
To live in a more inspiring environment.

Action
Set the intention and attract a better living environment.

Realization 6
Money does not dictate what my actions are. I refuse to allow the belief that I am limited by money.

Inspiration
I would like to attract financial abundance into my life. Live my life according to my intuition and not by my bank account balance.

Action
Act on financial growth opportunities

Realization 7
I have been shying away from taking the next step with my career.
I fear public speaking.

Inspiration
To feel passionate and make a positive contribution.
To inspire people on a larger scale & do more public speaking on personal empowerment.

Action
Engage in public speaking opportunities.
Share my life publicly and authentically.

I feel a stronger passion to live my truth and a desire with action steps that take me in the direction of my dreams. I encourage you to open yourself up to the life you deserve to live. I will be sharing my experiences along the way. I know that no one is perfect, but it's not about the end result but the journey along the way. It's about becoming more genuine and really connecting with people and taking actions that are worthy of me.

I am inspired to act! ;)

Magic Mountain & Steve Pavlina

While Steve was in So Cal he invited me and my kids to go to Magic Mountain. My kids had never been & I thought it would be fun. The plan was to have Emily (Steve's daughter) with us. Unfortunately she came down with a fever the night before and was unable to go & Erin & Kyle don't particularly like roller coasters.

My kids did OK, but honestly Meg was still pretty freaked out by them. Especially since our first ride was X2. WHOA! That ride really whips ya around! So, I think that it freaked Meg out so much she was leery of all the other rides. I was able to coax her onto a few more rides. She loved all the water rides. I didn't show how soaked I was in the video, but let me tell you I was SOAKED!

We hit up all the rides: X2, Terminator, DeJaVu, Riddler, Batman, Ninja, Tatsu, Jet Stream, Log Jammer, Roaring Rapids, Goliath, Scream, Colossus, Viper, & Revolution.

I had not been to an amusement park in a long time, but I didn't take into consideration my car accident in 2005 where I experienced vertigo. So, unfortunately I did get a little queasy and my head got whacked around a bit. I have been dealing with some nausea and dizziness since the trip so I plan on getting this vertigo treatment. It worked in the past so I am sure it will work.

Unfortunately, we were told that vegan burgers were sold at the amusement park, but that was false. We even searched high and low for fruits and veggies, but only found roasted corn. It's too bad they search you down and won't let you bring in outside food. We ended up eating fries which put my son into french fry coma. He wasn't feeling very good, but it eventually wore off. So, if I go again I am definitely packing my own food. I'll go to my car and eat...that's fine, but Magic Mountain is definitely not raw or vegan friendly.

This weekend I am attending Steve's Conscious Growth Workshop in Las Vegas. I can't wait to report back to you what I experience. I know it will be a blast! So stay tuned for more info!

BTW, I have apologized for being so bratty to Steve..... So Pavlina fans.....don't go after me at the workshop! ;)

Getting a BioPhotonic Scan

I first found out about a biophotonic scan in 2004 at a Spa Convention. I was already working in the health & beauty field, but my diet was not nearly as good as it is now. In 2004, my score was 46,000. I was retested in 2005 and my score improved to 52,000. I was happy to see the increase. However, after listening to Dr. Gabriel Cousens about biophotonic energy in his Rawkathon Interview w/ Kevin Gianni, I knew I could do even better. A live foodist would be in the 80,000 range. I have work to do. ;) Dr. Cousens explained biophotons as sub-atomic particles from which all creation is made. It is our line of communication into the energy field and our luminosity. Here are scores of people and how their diet affected their biophotonic score.

Junk food- 1000 units
Organic Cooked Food- 20,000 units
Newborn Baby- 40,000 units
Live foodist- 83,000 units
Fasting w/ herbs- 118,000 units

Apparently, organic wild crafted foods are 2x higher in biophotonic energy than organic cultivated food, & organic has 5x more biophotonic energy than commercially grown food, and cooked/irradiated food has none.

It is sad to think that most of the world is eating food without any biophotons. It makes sense that our ability to make clear decisions would be affected since the energy field is jumbled and depleted. Think of us operating our life on dial up versus the fastest internet service.

We also want to shine in this world. We aren't much different from the food that we eat. Here you see Kirlian images of food. Imagine a Kirlian image was taken of you. What would it look like?? Would it shine and radiate or would it be dim?

In addition, Dr Gabriel Cousens explained that the higher the biophotons, the better the communication of the cells in the body. Illness occurs when chaos is in the field. We need order and energy to heal and have well being. You find you become more spiritually in tune when the communication field is enhanced. This is probably why I felt so high during my fasts. I also felt such spiritual awakening. Who knew it could be measured in a scientific way?

See where you can get yourself a biophotonic scan with this locator. Prices may vary from complimentary to $20. My session was $10. Hardly anything when you think about the perspective it gives you. Check out my family experience below.

30 Day Fitness Challenge Results Summary

Workout Tally

Week 1

21 miles of walking, 2- 90 min yoga sessions, and 1 circuit training session

Week 2
20 miles- Walk/Run, 2- 90 min Yoga Sessions, 1- pool cardio exercise class, 1- 45 min easy stretch yoga, 96 oz H20 daily!

Week 3
23 mles total run/walk, 1 - 90 min power yoga session, 3 hour acro-yoga workshop, I messed up on water tracking and I ate past 6 most days of the week.

Week 4
Walk- 32 miles WOW! That's 12 miles more than I planned on getting in! I felt that I had to add more walking to make up for the fact that I wasn't running this week. Yoga-3 1/2 hours, H20- 96 0z everyday! I felt best when I had 48 oz before I even had breakfast, maybe that will be a new goal soon. No food past 6 pm every day.

Last 2 Days

Day 29
2 mile walk- I took it easy w/ all the fires that are going on right now, the air is pretty smoky. I still wanted to honor my challenge and did a simple walk. This is the day of the co-op, which means I am up at 5 AM to pick up organic produce for our members,so it's nice to take it easy on Saturdays.
96 oz H20
No food past 6 pm- I was in the mood for something sweet, salty, and fattening. I realize I get like this about once a month for 2-3 days. Ladies, I know you can understand. ;) I would love to go through a cycle and not feel hungrier than normal. In addition, I feel like resting more too. If I give in to cravings it usually takes me a week to recover from the damage. I have to remember it's not worth it. How's that saying go, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips"

Day 30
I hit up Power Yoga again. It felt much easier today, not as intense, but still pretty darn good! I took at little stroll to the trail that overlooks the ocean, then had Juliano's Planet RAW again. I shared a No Chickpea Falafel Burrito & A Bacon Double Western w/ Fries with my yoga buddy. We shared dessert which was a cinnamon roll and again that amazing strawberry parfait! I don't know how the heck these recipes are made, but it would make it very easy for anyone to transition into raw with this menu.
Completed 5 miles of walking
96 oz H20
No food past 6 pm! YAY! This is really becoming easier. It just takes a few days to get the feel for it.

GRAND TOTAL AFTER 30 DAYS
Completed 103 Miles walking or running (53 miles over goal)
Completed 14 hours & 45 min of yoga (2 hours and 45 min over), plus I added in 1 circuit training & pool cardio workout
96 oz H20- I may have missed 1 or 2 days since I forgot to log it a couple times, but besides that I did it. I don't think I need to drink that much water, but it is summer time here and the weather is really hot and dry so I went with it.
No food past 6 pm for 15 days- I completed 10 days



Side Benefits
Low back pain is GONE!!!
I am feeling more muscle tone & less spongy!
I lost 4.75 inches!
I lost 4.5 lbs!
(technically I lost 8 because I weighed in @ 137.6 on Aug 1 & the fit test was done in July)
I gained confidence to keep going!

What's next?
I am going to continue daily exercise. I would love to think that fitness will just naturally always be a part of my daily routine just like brushing my teeth, but honestly I have lapsed so many times in my life that I just don't want to assume that I'll keep going, I have to make it a priority to keep it happening. Someday I dream of it being such a habit that I don't even need to put much effort into making it happen.

A new 30 day challenge: Nutrition & Purification!
Stay tuned for my next post for more details!

30 Days of Fitness- Week 4 Update

Last week I had the goal to refrain from eating past 6 pm. I had a really hard time with it and most of the days I did eat past 6. I decided to ease up on myself and just do whatever felt best. As soon as I let myself "off the hook" I suddenly lost the desire to eat past 6. Go figure! I think it has something to do with the mindset of "I MUST" versus "I CHOOSE". Heck, even I get confused by my mind. I can sympathize with the men on the weird workings of a woman's mind. :)

My Goals
Wk 1: walk 5 miles + 2 90 min yoga sessions
Wk 2: walk 10 miles + 90 min yoga sessions + drink 96 oz H20
Wk 3: walk 15 miles + 2 90 min yoga sessions+ no food past 6 pm
Wk 4: walk 20 miles + 2 90 min yoga sessions + try again on no food past 6 pm

Day 22
Completed a 4 mile walk
No food past 6 pm
96 oz H20

Day 23- Got my A$$ kicked in Power Yoga
2 mile walk
Completed 2 hours of power yoga - holy smokes I was drenched in sweat along w/ my mat & hand towel. I practically looked like I got out of the shower and put on my wet clothes straight out of the washing machine. Although this may sound gross to some of you, it felt like bliss. I was literally stoned on oxygen. I haven't been to my favorite Sunday class in ages and man, I was worked so intensely that I was seriously blissed out. I don't think anything could have upset me. I had no energy for it. Angry or frustrated peeps- give power yoga a shot. It'll take the fight right out of ya! ;)
96 oz H20
No food past 6 pm- I went to Raw by Juliano in Santa Monica. I haven't been in about 6 months. I shared a shake (dunno which one) which was really good, the Ariel salad (made w/ seaweeds and spirulina along w/ other greens (tasted fantastic), spring rolls (a fav of mine), and of course my all time fave: Strawberry Mousse (practically orgasmic!) I always get great raw food there!

Day 24- Feeling a bit sore from yoga
4 mile walk- I haven't been running lately because my knees have been a bit sore.
96 oz H20
No food past 6

Day 25- My friend told me my butt was looking perkier!
6 mile walk
96 oz H20
No food past 6

Day 26- A bit of fat held my appetite today
90 min yoga
4 mile walk
96 oz H20
No food past 6 - I actually ate a bit more fat this day and my last meal was at 1:15 pm. I made these yummy raw vegan "brownie bites" w/ my kids. The base was nut & I think it held my appetite longer. I had about 3 Tablespoons worth. Every now and then a little fat in the diet feels good as long as it's my last meal of the day. Plus I made a pesto (more fat) w/ beet noodles and marinara w/ zucchini noodles & then just mixed them together. Yum! I won't let too much fat be a regular part of my diet, just here and there.

Day 27- My tummy is looking flatter (prob because no food past 6 )
Walk- 6 miles
96 oz H20
No food past 6- I really wanted to eat late because I found that I am sleeping about 2 hours less a night by not consuming food past 6 pm. I just feel light and alert even into the late hours. I found it hard to sleep this night. I never felt like I really slept, just rested. Reminded me of how I felt on extended fasts and I slept very little perhaps 2-3 hours a night.

Day 28- I made it another week! Feeling like a champ right now.
Walk- 6 miles - My knees are still achey, either from adapting to all the walking or the fact that I am walking and was running on concrete.
96 oz H20
No food past 6 pm- Woo hoo! I made it a week without eating past 6. I have to say this does have a profound affect on my appetite, my energy, my metal clarity, and really aids in weight loss. This is definitely something that is crucial in my weight loss journey.

Completed Goals
Walk- 32 miles WOW! That's 12 miles more than I planned on getting in. I felt that I had to add more walking to make up for the fact that I wasn't running this week.
Yoga- 2 1/2 hours in 2 sessions
H20- 96 0z everyday! I felt best when I had 48 oz before I even had breakfast.
No food past 6 pm every day. This really made a difference in my gut health. I felt that this kept my appetite in control. Perhaps it allowed more time for my tummy to shrink. I am known to be able to eat major quantities of food, which is why 80/10/10 seems to work well when I adhere to it.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrom Relief- Self Help

30 Days of Fitness- Week 3 Update

This 30 Day Challenge was to get me to workout everyday for 30 days even if it was just a short walk everyday. I found that each week just inspired me to take one more step and to add another goal. Here is what I have added so far.

Week 1 Goal: walk 5 miles & do 2 90 min yoga sessions
Week 2: same as week 1, plus 5 miles & drink 96 oz H20
Week 3: same as week 2, plus 5 miles & no food past 6pm

Week 3 Goals
15 miles total run/walk
2- 90 min yoga sessions
96 oz H20 daily
No food past 6

Day 15
5 Mile walk/run in 53:50 WOO HOO!
(getting better everytime, but boy does it kick my booty!)
drank 96 oz H20
did not eat after 6- woo hoo!

Day 16
3 hour Acro Yoga Workshop
(SOOOO fun! Met 2 other girls there that live local & are raw foodists!)
drank 96 oz H2O
I ate a bowl of veggie soup around 7:30- oops! So much for no food past 6

Day 17
4 mile easy walk (not timed)
I didn't get all my water in for the day ( I think I had about 50 oz)
I ate past 6 again, darn it! This time it was social eating. I need to keep social activities ACTIVE and not revolving around food. Maybe tea would be a better way to sit and chat. :)

Day 18
5 mile run/walk: 54:35
Ate past six again & didn't drink all my water either

Day 19
90 min power yoga class
96 oz H20
I ate after 6 again. ;( I think this is a reason my weight isn't where I want it to be. I didn't know I ate after 6 so many times in the week.

Day 20
3 mile walk
2 mile run
Forgot to track water intake today
No food past 6 pm! WOO HOO!

Day 21
4 mile walk
Forgot to track water intake again...DOH!
I ate after 6 pm ...a weight gain culprit has been discovered.

Completed
23 mles total run/walk
1 - 90 min power yoga session
3 hour acro-yoga workshop
Messed up on water tracking
I ate past 6 most days of the week so I will be working on that again this week.

I am thrilled I have exercised 21 days consecutively! My cardio is improving faster than I expected. I know I didn't meet the goal of not eating past 6, but that's OK. I'll just be more aware of it this upcoming week. I'll evetually get there. ;)

Financial Slavery & Financial Freedom

Freedom
Being born just an hour from Independence Day, I'd like to think I have a strong drive to live a free life. Going to school we were taught the horrid truth of slavery between nations. I would think to myself, "WOW, I am so glad I didn't have to live through that!" Then the thought years later occurred to me. I AM A SLAVE. I walked into the perfect trap set up by the system that runs our country. There are many forms of slavery and in this situation it is financial slavery.

Here is the Typical Trap
We go to school to get good grades to go to a great college to get a great career. Along the way, we find that we "need" a car and get ourselves a lovely little car payment. Then we get our school loans, but that's OK because we have 5 years before we have to start paying on them and we are sure we'll be rolling in the dough by that time. Some of us even decide that we aren't going to work so we can really focus on school. That's OK because we can just roll those expenses into the school loan. Somewhere along the road we find ourselves in love. We want a big white wedding. Uh oh....the parents aren't fronting the bill? That's OK, we can charge some of the items. Now it's time for a home with a cute little mortgage and how 'bout starting a family in a few years? That'll do the trick. Then how about a few vacations to "get away from it all". Or perhaps we feel so trapped or depressed we end up spending more money just trying to feel good. So, with this typical plan we find ourself with an auto loan, a couple credit cards, a mortgage, some student loans and heaven forbid we have any medical bills. It can take a lifetime to pay it off and ya know, that's exactly what they want you to do. ;)

Debt = Slavery
I was financially dumb. I learned the hard way. I definitely won't put my kids in that state of ignorance. Why is it that personal finance is not mandatory in our public school system? Simply because there is too much money to be made from people who are financially ignorant. It's time to take our finances into our own hands, because credit card debt is another form of slavery. Ignorance is not bliss, never has been, never will be.

My Story With Debt
I have personally experienced financial distress. I started feeling "grown up" with my very first credit card at 18 when I started college. My first year, I received 2 credit cards and a car loan. Over the next few years I had accumulated over 13 credit cards and 2 private loans. At the time I was an exotic dancer and felt that I could pay off each card at any time. Well, not much later I was pregnant and no longer able to continue dancing. So I went from about $13,ooo (over 12 years ago) a month to NOTHING. If I was smart I really could have put that money to good use rather than blowing it on who knows what. I stopped paying on all my credit cards and boy was I in a mess for about 10 years. Now I am out of the bad credit zone, but have accumulated some debt. It's amazing how just a small amount of debt can wear at one. It's like a little itch that you just can't get rid of.

Debt & Spirituality
As Wayne Dyer says,"Debt is decidedly unspiritual" and I couldn't agree more. It blocks the connection to spirit. Perhaps it has something to do with tension and tightening the DNA (as discussed in a previous blog: Science of Miracles) which closes us off to miracles.

Here is a documentary on financial slavery called "Maxed Out". Hope you enjoy it.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6


Part 7


Part 8


Part 9

Now if you are still thinking about credit card debt. Read this article that I just received today.

New Credit Card Laws = Consumers getting screwed (again)!
Americans with the best credit may be hurt the most as the first phase of a credit-card reform bill takes effect tomorrow. Lenders are raising rates across the board, The market has changed so much in the past six months that many consumers shopping around for new cards will have trouble finding a better deal,. You may be better off holding onto your cards until the market settles down.
Rates are about 20 percent higher than in December with the lowest median rate at 11.99% now, compared with 9.99% in December. Another stab in the consumers back is that those who choose to reject a rate increase within 45 days will have two options at the banks discretion -- to pay off the balance in five years, or double the current minimum payment!
Banks have been raising rates on consumers at the same time that their own borrowing costs are decreasing, giving them bigger marginal lending rates and more profits, is all this part of that "spreading the wealth around"?
Credit will continue to be less available, borrowing limits will be lower and consumers will pay more. In addition, there will be more annual fees, higher fees for balance transfers and cash advances, and pared- back rewards programs. They (the credit card companies) are lowering limits and closing accounts to reduce their long-term risks.
Banks have already implemented parts of the credit card law and some of the major lenders have dropped "universal default", the practice of raising interest rates based on a missed payment with another company and have stopped double-cycle billing where lenders calculate finance charges based on more than one billing cycle.
So I guess we all need to keep a weary eye on our statements and perhaps the only way to get even is to stop doing business with those companies that are the worst. Even at the cost of lowering our credit scores!
Sad affair is it not?

A Great Solution by Dave Ramsey

I was directed to Dave Ramsey by my friend, Dhrumil. He has so much information out there about debt and living on cash only! Listen to this great call.


Can You Scream, "I AM DEBT FREE!"?
I can't right now, but I am getting close. I have until January until my car is fully paid off. I have made the commitment that I would keep my car until I could pay cash for a new one. Aside from that I have one credit card with a balance just over $9200. Earlier this year I had 3 credit cards, but this was the highest balance. I also sold my home. My children's father was looking to buy a home and I was looking to sell mine. It just seemed that the timing was right. The cool thing is that my kids get to stay in the same home that they have lived in the past 4 1/2 years. So it was a super simple transition. Little by little I am chipping away at my debt. Pretty soon I will be looking at accumulating wealth through multiple streams of passive income. I'll post more on that another time.

For me this is about getting myself out of all the little traps that I have created and walked into. Whether it is my health, my finances, my relationships, my career or so forth. It's about breaking free and living a life without boundaries and limits. It's about discovering and living true freedom. I think I am done breastfeeding off the system if you know what I mean. ;)

Until then... cheers to all forms of freedom!

30 Days of Fitness- Week 2 Update

Week 2 Workout Wrap Up
I added another goal of consuming 96 oz. of water daily. It's summertime and with all the extra working out I really feel hydration is key. Normally I go for 1/2 my body weight in ounces, but find sometimes I stay out of the fridge more if I am drinking more water. :)

Goal
10 miles of walking/running
2- 90 min yoga sessions
Drink 96 oz water daily (weekly total: 5.25 gallons)

Completed Weekly Total
20 miles- Walk/Run
2- 90 min Yoga Sessions
1- pool cardio exercises,
1- 45 min easy stretch yoga
5.25 gallons of water

Day 8
3 mile walk
96 oz H2O

Day 9
5 mile run/walk in 60:05
96 oz H2O

Day 10
90 min yoga session
3 mile walk/run
96 oz H2O

Day 11
4 mile walk
96 H2O

Day 12
5 mile run/walk: 55:50
96 oz H2O

Day 13
90 min yoga session
96 oz H2O

Day 14
30 min pool workout
45 min easy yoga stretch class

Science of Miracles

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3
ct>
Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

I watched this today and felt compelled to share this with you. I know sometimes we don't feel we have the time to sit and watch something like this, but I encourage you to find the time. It will be well spent.

Yesterday I was given two gifts from friends. One was called a "prayer box" necklace and another was a framed quote saying "All we need is love". The timing couldn't be more perfect to watch this film. I had my children watch it with me because I feel it is important for them to understand their own power in their lives.

For many of my growing up years of my life I felt unempowered. I felt if only circumstances were different then I could have the life I had dreamed of. Why was it I was given the hard knock life and others seems to be living it up? I would have thoughts like, " Oh, if I was just prettier" or "If I had more money", or "If I lived in a better community then I would have more opportunities in life". I felt like the power to live my dreams and life were beyond me and sent like a wish in a prayer.

Now, many years later I have been fortunate enough (or blessed) to stumble upon information that left me feeling empowered. Some of these resources are:
Power vs Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
Being In Balance: 9 Principles for Creating Habits to Match Your Desires
Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires
The Secret
What the Bleep Do We Know!?
The 8th Habit Personal Workbook: Strategies to Take You from Effectiveness to Greatness
The Science of Getting Rich: The Original Guide to Manifesting Wealth Through the Secret Law of Attraction
The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book

I feel like these resources gave me to tools to apply in my life and feel empowered. It has nothing to do with race, gender, age, appearance, money, status, or location. It is all within and that sensation is priceless.

August 2009 Challenge 30 Days of Fitness

Week One Wrap Up

Weekly Goal
5 miles of walking
2- 90 min yoga sessions

Day 1
2 mile walk & circuit training: tricep dips off couch, 3 way partner ab/oblique exercise (where one person lies down & holds onto the ankles and raises up their legs while the standing partner pushes the feet down), modified push ups, & jumping jacks.

Day 2
Easy 6 mile walk over a 2 hour period (chat time)

Day 3
90 minutes of Sunrise Yoga Sweat
4 mile walk in 60 minutes

Day 4
5 mile walk

Day 5
2 mile walk

Day 6
90 minutes of Sunset Yoga

Day 7
2 mile walk

Total Completed
21 miles of walking
2- 90 min yoga sessions
1 circuit training session

How about you? Comment below your workout wrap up!