Attitude of Gratitude

I had yet another incredible yoga class on my lunch break today. I think I'm starting to get into a groove with my practice. I'm embracing the struggle, and finding new ways to challenge myself. I'm discovering fun in the familiar and the foreign and I'm improving every day.

Today's Friday, which means my favorite teacher's class! She's just the best. I showed up today and she said "Taylor! Hey, baby doll!" It just makes me feel so happy when she acts like she's glad to see me. She's full of positive energy and her flows kick my butt. Love her!

At the beginning of every class at my studio, the instructor asks you to think of something to focus on during your practice---a dedication, a devotion, someone or something you want to honor. Lately I've been trying to focus on, well, focusing. I often let my mind wander during class, trying to escape the heat and the pain, thinking of what I'm going to do later or mentally singing along with the music. I've been doing much better lately, though, staying tuned in to my body and my practice, conscious on my mat, and today Ali said something that really spoke to me. She offered up her own devotion for us to share, that she is trying to have an "attitude of gratitude".

So this is what I focused on during class today, and this is what I am going to share with you all now.

Today I am grateful for:

*My body. It is perfect in its imperfections. All I am is all I need, I can move and turn and run and bend and I am (mostly) healthy and whole and lucky to be me.
*My happiness. It grows every day and I'm in love with it. I wish I could bottle it.
*My parents. I know that no matter what may happen to me in the future, I will always have their support, generosity and love and I will never truly be alone, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.
*My cat. 'Cause duh.
*My best friends, who are so good to me and who are giving me such an awesome birthday trip next week.
*The fact that I live in Southern California, and it's freaking 80 degrees today and GORGEOUS.
*My boobs. They're nice.

GymPact Potential

So, this whole GymPact thing is really interesting.

I've been intrigued for awhile now by the whole shebang, but two things have been stopping me.

1) The commitment factor. The second there's an element of pressure, I usually crumble. Having to do something is just about the most guaranteed way to make sure I don't do something. So...can I do it?

2) Remember to check in. I have the memory of a stoned goldfish. And I don't usually take my phone up to the studio, and I would have to start since there isn't phone signal in the parking garage.

In case you don't know, GymPact is an app for iPhone and Android where you commit to working out a certain number of times per week, check in at your gym (or yoga studio!), and lose a set number of money if you don't go. And you earn money if you do go, paid for by others who don't. It's a nifty system.

As I said, I'm curious about the whole thing. I'm not quite ready to commit yet, due to the two aforementioned reasons, but maybe soon...

via crunchbase.com

I mean, I can absolutely see myself be thoroughly motivated by something that involves making money.

I do enjoy money.

How To Live Healthy

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA.

ME? Doing a tutorial on how to be healthy? THAT IS HILARIOUS. I know. But see, this tutorial is aspirational, inspirational, motivational. It's what I know I should do. What I'm trying to do. Not what I think I'm a master at. At which I think I'm a master? So don't laugh at me. Only I can laugh at me.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Ha.



How To Live Healthy

1) Develop a routine. I've read that it takes 21 days to make a habit, and habits are what I want. I want exercising and eating right to be my natural behaviors, my default. I want to wake up in the morning and know how my day is going to go: there will be work and exercise and reading and writing, time for myself and time for my friends and family, time for relaxing and time for productivity. I want to live a fulfilling life that makes me happy and whole. Yoga is starting to become a habit again, as are making healthy choices and having good options on hand at work and at home. Ultimately I think it would be so nice to wake up at the same time every morning and start off my day with a routine, a schedule, breakfast and a workout like that's just the way I live. That's what my mommy does.

Maybe not quite Bateman status.

2) Eat things that grow. Plants. Animals. Nuts. Etc. Limit things that have too many unprounouncable ingredients and come in plastic packaging. I need to stop it with the excessive Lean Cuisines and frozen Trader Joe's dinners. It's okay every once in awhile, but they should not be making up the bulk of my diet, and they do. I eat at least a couple LCs for lunch every week 'cause they're so marvelously cheap, and dinners are often out of the freezer too. But if I make recipes and freeze the servings, I can make my own frozen meals. IMAGINE THAT.

Nomnomnomplants.

3) Get moving and have fun. The first time I lost a significant amount of weight when I was eighteen, I didn't exercise at all, and never really felt any different. Again, imagine that. I'm loving yoga again, and I know there are other ways I can burn calories while still enjoying myself. I used to think exercise was punishment for being fat, but I now know this isn't true. It's important to get to the point where physical activity is a gift you give to your body, not something it must endure as punishment for eating. And that old cliche everyone spouts off is true---exercise truly is a guaranteed mood booster. As much as I hate to admit it, my mother is right: I always do feel better after a workout.

This is how I Zumba.

4) Don't be so hard on yourself. I know, I know, I'm not there yet, so this one is particularly hilarious for me to promote. But I do believe I'll never be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle permanently unless I get to the point where I allow myself the freedom to make mistakes and be flexible. If this is really a "lifestyle change" and not a diet, perfection is impossible and I have to learn to go with the flow and know that every choice I make and every action I take is inconsequential in the grand scheme of my life. I need to get over being so damn critical of everything I do and accept that I am human and in the course of my life I will often fuck up. The goal is to always move forward and treat myself with love and kindness.

If I don't love myself first, no one else will. 

5) Take it one day at a time. This is more of the same as above. I'm going to use that phrase "lifestyle change" again, as cliche as it may be, but it's so apt. This is not a race, there is no finish line. There is no need to pile on the pressure and try to make a dozen changes all at once. This is for life, and every day is another chance to get it right. A mistake doesn't ruin my day or my week, one bad meal isn't going to make me fat or ruin my good habits or progress. Each day is a new day to make healthy choices and keep on keeping on.

Swim on!

A little goal setting...for the future.

This weekend's hike, as I said, was strenuous. Tiring. Downright hard, if you will. But incredible.

And it gave me thoughts. It's awesome that I'm getting back into my yoga groove, and it's so good for my mental, physical, and spiritual health. It's something I imagine sticking with for the long haul. But yesterday made me realize that I definitely need to do other physical activities too. I need to push myself out of my comfort zone. There was a bit towards the end of the hike where I just got cranky, when I thought I was almost at the top and I wasn't and I wanted to be done and I wasn't and it was rough.

And, as everybody knows...

And when I got to the top, it was magic.

So,  I want to do more magical things.

I MADE A LIST. I fucking love lists.

In the next year, these are some goals. Goals to push me out of my comfort zone,  to test my limits, to show me I can do things I've never done before, to increase my fitness level, to maybe have a little fun?

1. Hike to the Hollywood sign again, on my own. While we were up there I said to The Married Lady I never felt the need to do it again, now that I'd done it once. But that's not actually true, mostly I was cranky. A of all, we didn't go around to the front, 'cause it had already taken us awhile and she had places to be and I'd driven up to the front before with my cousin so it wasn't necessary, and b of all, I think it would be a good experience to push my way to the top solo, and have to motivate myself. And I could make a playlist!
2. Complete Couch to 5k.
3. Run a 5k.
4. Maybe never run again then?
5. Go to yoga 10 days in a row.
6. Hike the Will Rogers Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.
7. Hike in Malibu.
8. Do 30 Day Shred.
9. Do Ripped in 30.
10. Take a self defense class.

Transformation Tuesday

WW Recap 2/1-2/7: Going Strong

I have caught the momentum train, and I am riding it hard.

That was perhaps a bit awkward.  Let's rephrase and say that I'm doing awesome. I woke up this morning and am down a pound from last week, back into the 150s which is a glorious thing for my mental state. Plus I've eaten well, I've been to yoga, so yays all around! And I've been super productive all week, I'm feeling so good, and I've had vivid, drug fueled dreams of binging which seem to have fulfilled any desire to actually indulge...I'm set.

And so gosh darn pleased with myself.

Goal check in!

1) Get my GHGs every day. (Eh. I got water and fruits/veggies every day, dairy every single day but one, but didn't get my oils more than a few times. I hate wasting points on oils. I find it irritating.)

2) Go to yoga three times. (Yup! Friday, Tuesday, Thursday.)

3) Leave my laptop at home three weeknights. (FOUR. So much productivity and SVU.)

4) Do three things on my birthday list. (SIX MOTHERFUCKER. Cleaned my bathroom, bookcase, desk, sorted clothes to donate, re-arranged my various knickknacks  and found somewhere to volunteer! Not long-term, it's a one shot a few days after my birthday, but still.)

5) Email a friend I haven't talked to in awhile. (Check!)

Goals for next week?

1) Get my GHGs every day. (In case you haven't noticed, Imma gonna spell it out for you, mmmkay? I gotta keep a goal until I actually ace that shit. Mmhmmmm.)

2) Go to yoga three times. 

3) Tech-free two nights, no computer OR television.

4) Make a recipe.

5) Send cards for Valentine's Day.

What if guys and girls swapped roles at the gym?

Heh. I love equal opportunity sexist humor.