Time to look ahead...

Hi BYBYE friends!

It's time to take a look at the future of BYBYE.  I am super enthusuatic to keep it going!  I want everyone to weigh-in on the future of the program though.  If you're having positive results from the time spent together then let's keep it going.  However, if you feel you've learned a lot and would like to return to your regular In Balance schedule then that's great too.

Here's another thought:  I can meet anyone who wants to walk for a full hour walk from 6-7 am then teach a full hour Pilates lesson from 7-8.  I will teach the 7-8am class in 2 parts so walkers will have the option of taking only 30 minutes of the class.

Everyone have a great weekend and we'll definitely meet Monday as we have been!

-Carrie

Weekends are a challenge!

Hey Ladies! Yep, It is after midnight & I am looking at the BLOG! I am feeling a bit stuck today. I pulled out a book tonight by Judith Beck. She doesn't sound like the most fun person, but she knows what she is talking about when it comes to the psychological aspects of eating & weight. I am writing in hopes that it will sink into my main frame! She suggests waiting two weeks before jumping into a new "diet" and instead use the first two weeks to build skills. She says that with any weight loss approach that it isn't so much the food plan, but having essential techniques. Her approach isn't about endorsing a particular diet but she recommends choosing a healthy plan. Her big things are (1) planning meals, (2) keeping a food log, (3) exercise, (4) not taking on too much at one time, (5) building skills one at a time and implementing change gradually. Day one she recommends recording the advantages of losing weight/being in shape. She suggests using index cards that contain important written messages to help counter sabatoging thoughts. Beck says to read this card every day. She calls the index cards 'Advantages Response Cards.'
Would anyone like to join me on task one between now and our class on Wednesday?
Happy 4th!

Walkin the talk...trying to anyway

So today I went to my first hot yoga class in over a year. I was nervous just because I wasn't sure how well Id do (even though there is no good or bad). I just know that Im not as strong or flexible as I use to be and I didn't know how that would effect me in class. Well, there was only three of us in the class; two ladies who were friends and then me. After our first round of OHM chanting we were to go right into a down dog...Oh Jebus it was tough. Have I told you gals that I have the tightest hammies in the land? After what seemed like forever we went into plank then chaturanga (which is like lowering yourself down to the ground) then up dog and back to down dog..over and over we did this...then onto some just standing postures then back to the nice little down dog, plank, chaturanga, updog series. After about 30 minutes my sweat is literally pouring into my eyes making them burn so I take my sweaty arm to wipe my eye and thats when I notice it....my arm pit deodorant balls! Talk about being self conscious after that! Ive been doing warrior one, two and three with my hands in the air -totally care free. Not now. If there were more people in the class I could work my way down to childs pose and use my towel to take care of the deo balls, but it would have been wicked obvious if I did it. So there I am in the middle of a very challenging yoga class not thinking about anything but how embarrassed I am about my deo balls. On top of that I kept finding myself thinking negative thoughts about myself, or imagining my teacher saying negative things about me in his head (because it was a level 2-3 class and it was basically like I was a beginner). During Savasana (where you lay down and rest at the end of class) I just started laughing to myself and thinking about what an experience that past hour has been, and I was thinking about that one post I wrote about how to not judge yourself based on what others are doing. Not quite sure I was walking my talk, but like I said in that original post-its hard to do! Im going to go back to that same yoga class, same teacher next Saturday...Im sure it'll just get progressively better:)

-This photo was taken after the class. It was a sun design made out of caution tape.

Happy July!

Hello beautiful ladies,

Well I have returned from the left coast where the weather was spectacular. I am happy to report that I exercised almost everyday I was there. The morning temperatures were in the lovely 60's and I power walked (or is it transformer walked?) a route along both the Pacific and the Coronado Bay. The last morning I strayed from the paved route to this sandy path among the dunes and found myself surrounded by gigantic hares--the size of small dogs with cartoon-like ears! When I realized their ears poked out above the brush I saw that there were dozens and dozens of them all around me. I admit that I may have done a bit of running that morning! They were spooky!

My daughter has now left for camp until August 3 and I am intent upon breaking out of my usual routines, so I have my own little 31 day+ challenge to do some new and healthy things. I hope to spend some additional time taking care of me without the worry of compromising family time!! I am hoping to take advantage of the gym at work before heading home and do some evening walks on the beach with the hubby among other things. Wish me luck!!

I am looking forward to seeing you all next week! I am assuming that since Monday is a holiday our fist meeting will be Wednesday.

Be your best you!!

Laura

Water. How is everyone doing with that ?

You're PERFECT!

Fact about Nicole: Im a yoga fan. There was a time when I would do hot yoga 3-4 times a week and every so often I would get discouraged because I wasn't making as much progress as I wanted, wasn't as flexible as the old lady next to me, wasn't as strong as the youngin in front of me, and then one day my instructor said, 'Wherever you are in your practice today, is right where you're suppose to be'. She also went on to say to not pay attention to your neighbor, look inside and be present.

Here are two sentences I got from a yoga studio that I thought we could all put to use; with our walking, pilates, anything.

-"The only thing you need to do today is be you, however you walked in the door today, and that is perfect. Whatever you have in your practice today is perfect.”

-"Yoga is about being okay with where we are, right now, whether we've done it once or a thousand times. It's not about judging our performance. It is about learning how to be present in the moment."

I don't think you have to be a yogi to relate to these. I hope they resonate with you as they did with me. I feel like Im constantly coming back to this idea of being happy or content with my actions and not comparing myself to other people (its hard tho). I think that as long as we are doing the best we can, no one can ask for anything more.

-----------------------------

Today as I was on my way to In Balance I thought of this video I watched a while ago, and thought that you all would appreciate and might be motivated by it (as I was). Plus, don't you think the father in the video looks like my Irish client Brian?

Read this first then watch the video:

A son asked his father, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?" The father who despite having a heart condition, said, "Yes". They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and s...on went on to join other marathons, the father always saying, "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let us join the Ironman together; to which his father said, "Yes", too. For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race consists of three endurance events of a 2.4 miles (3.86 kilometers) ocean swim followed by a 112 miles (180.2 kilometers) bike ride and ending with a 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9JALyXc6I&feature=related

(you'll have to copy and paste that link, I don't know how to add this video straight to the blog, sorry )

New Posts!

Hopefully you all got the email that you can now post on the blog.  All you have to do is set up your account and post away!  My time with all of you is so special and I am so grateful for it.  Send happy thoughts my way.  I'm having to put on my big girl britches and deal with some bothersome issues today.  Yucky!!!!  Your positive energy will go a long way!  Thanks ladies!

Sia- I hope shoe shopping goes well.  I can't wait to see your new sneakers!

Smoooch!

Carrie