First of all, I’m not very organized. I even had the date wrong. It is a whole week earlier than I thought. Gheesh!
But, you know what? I am really proud of myself.
I started small and worked at it piece by piece and now I am five weeks out and I really think I am going to make it.
I had such a powerful week last week. I ran my first 5k without walking and swam just under a mile without stopping. It was such a huge confidence boost for me that I laid down the money for the rest of the equipment I needed.
My bike arrived yesterday (I had to order it as every REI in the area was out of my bike in my size – of course) and I felt like a little kid on Christmas walking out of there with my new bike, my helmet under my arm and a bag full of biking goodies. I swear the smile on my face must have been a mile wide. Some young cute guy even commented on how nice my bike was as I was walking it to my car. Hee Hee!
I even splurged on a swim suit and a brand new nuu-muu.
In buying all this gear I have been surprised at how girly I am. Anyone who knows me knows that girly is not a word that describes me. Even my daughter told me the helmet with the flowers on it was too girly for me — she later changed her mind and we agreed that it was the cutest one and in the bag it went. I also got a purple bell and will be completing my tri in a bubbly dress. Wow, how far I have come.
My biggest surprise is how much I am enjoying it all. I look forward to going out for a run and can’t wait to jump in the pool. I am making progress and reaching my goals. Two days ago I only had a few minutes so squeezed in a short jog to the park and back. I was barely winded and when I mapped it on google maps it was two miles. Two miles. I couldn’t believe it. a few months ago I couldn’t run a few hundred yards without keeling over. And last night I took my new bike out for a spin and went 8 miles without even blinking.
I can do this. I have been procrastinating and giving myself outs and making excuses for months because I was terrified of failing at this and now I know I can do this.
“We believe in strong girls and women. We believe in real people, real bodies and real friends. We believe in trying really hard. We believe that moments of truth can be extended to lifetimes of truth. We believe in having fun along the way. We believe that you can too.” – Nuu-Muu’s Girl Power Philosophy
Thanks for the inspiration ladies!
Joel Marion's Xtreme Fat Loss Diet
Well I am having a hard time figuring out if I chose the best or worst time to take this on. Right now, life is simply lobbing me one stressful event after another. The timing has definitely not been ideal for extreme weight loss, but it has been primed for personal growth and that sometimes is even more important.The last several days my son has been very sick and Monday we spent the good part of the day and all evening in the ER. He is getting better and is going to be just fine, but the stress has been profound. Believe me, the last thing I want is excuses for why I can’t succeed at this.
This is what I struggle with time and time again. Life gets in the way, the stress gets to me and then I eat to make myself feel better and then I feel guilty and crappy about myself so I give up.
This cycle, I only lost half a pound. I have hit my mark in that 163 pounds is this sticking point for me. I have not been below it since my son was born three years ago. I try and I try and I get to 163 and it just won’t budge. Well, here we are again after a stressful and disappointing week and I have to say I am not surprised. I am trying very hard to look past that number and not feel defeated.
But a couple of really good things have come out of this cycle and right now I am celebrating the littlest of victories. I am still here. I haven’t given up, I haven’t blown my diet. I am sticking to the plan, despite all the obstacles. I will finish what I started and push past my fears.
I also started exercising again. There are still many things that I can’t do with my thumb as it is, but I went for a run and biked as well. I also tried out some of the bodyweight exercise routines, which I totally love. There were several of the exercises that I couldn’t do as I am unable to put my full weight on that hand, but I either modified, substituted or skipped the moves I couldn’t do and kept going. Tonight I am going back to swim classes for the first time since the accident.
The biggie though has been gaining some control back over the food. The fast days have been so pinnacle in this. Yes, I get hungry but I embrace that and I have control of whether I eat or not. And that gives me more control over the rest of the days when I have to choose what I will eat, whether I will stick to the plan or give into the little gremlins in my head.
Through all the last few weeks of craziness with family in and out of the house and two major medical events, I have stuck to the plan as much as I could. There have been moments of weakness and moments of circumstance, but I didn’t let them affect my resolve. I just kept going. This may not seem like much to you, but for me it is a pretty big deal.
I have two more cycles to go and I hope that I can get it together enough to lose a little weight in the process. But even if I don’t, I have gained a lot from this and I will be completing the program again in July before my husband and I take a trip to Sonoma. So, I will have another chance to make it happen for me.
I have updated the Xtreme Fat Loss page with the latest. Not much to look at though…
Don’t let my lack of success deter you from this program. My results have nothing to do with the program. I have no doubt that it works and that you could achieve significant results.
Learn More at the Xtreme Fat Loss Diet Website
Don’t let your fears or reservations stop you in achieving your goals. When we fall all there is to do is to get up and keep going.
The Layout
This card uses the Page and Knight of each suit, the Fool 0 and the World X
Shuffle the cards, concentrating on the question. When you feel the cards are done, deal them out one at a time until you turn over the Fool or the World then stop.
The Question: What message will I receive?
The Spread
- Page Swords
- Knight Swords
- XXI World
The Answer
A clear and definitive message is being sent right now that will renew your enthusiasm and motivation.
Wow, that would be nice!
The Cards
Page of Swords
My Take*: Young woman, strong eyes, fancy hat. armored yet beautiful, hard yet refined.
The Card: Curious and fervently seeking knowledge yet scattered and unfocused. An idea in its infancy. Focus your energy on gaining knowledge about the situation through messages containing information.
Knight of Swords
My Take*: The knights horse is a pegasus taking flight. This is echoed through the wings on his helmet. This card is swift and a little reckless.
The Card: The winged horse represents the flight of the mind and the potential of the minds capabilities. Intensely focused on the goal, so much so that tolerance and patience go out the window. This is a card of action. Patience and determined focus are needed for success.
XXI World
My Take: The coming together of all the elements to bring about the conclusion of something. The culmination of lessons learned leading to a new cycle.
The Card: The end and the beginning. We see things as they are. Enlightenment. Transformation. Wholeness. Being aware of your limitations.
Analysis
This book
I do find these cards very interesting though. If you look at them as a classic three card spread with past present and future represented then they are very encouraging. I have always know there was great potential for me, but have never been able to focus enough to fully explore it. I have been scattered and distracted.
All the work I have been doing has seemed to come together around this ability to focus and the meaning behind why I can’t and what I can do to reprogram my way of thinking about my goals and success and/or failure. The combination of my work at therapy and the upcoming Forum Advanced Course give me ample opportunity to improve this situation dramatically.
The goal is wholeness and transformation. The presence of the World card leads me to believe that this goal is a real possibility.
* When I am first learning a card, the my take section is only based on what I can see in the card and not based in any foundation or previous knowledge. Do not use these descriptions as being anywhere near the truth.
this morning to reread some of the nutritional stuff as I have been concentrating on my mental health and identifying and eradicating my emotional blockage. I was looking through the monthly plans and nutritional information and realized that I am already doing everything in month 3, just naturally without thinking about it. How cool is that?
Unfortunately, I am still giving into the still too frequent junk food cravings and not being as active as I should. I find that when I am busy and overwhelmed, instead of turning to exercise as a stress release and break from it all, I look at it like the worst possible thing ever. Rather silly, really. But, I am not beating myself up over it. This just gives me tangible goals for this next month.
This month I will begin using the craving killing visualization. Couple of interesting things about this…
I have been searching through the book for weeks looking for the section on the craving killing visualization and could not find it for the life of me. I swear I flipped through every page. Then this morning I opened the book directly to that page. There is was, right in front of me. I love that kind of thing. I guess I am ready to take this step now.
I also think that it is interesting that this is the same visualization that Paul McKenna
Another thing to concentrate on this month are adding in activity several times a week. I have many opportunities for this, it isn’t a matter or not having enough time, I just need to do it. I will start adding being physically active to my evening visualizations and using the idea of making the better choice. When the choice arises simply say yes to a stress relieving, personal time, break from the family, feeling great activity and no to sitting around wishing I was doing something else.
And lastely, this month I need to start adding a morning smart session. I think this will be really calming and helpful for me, starting my day with a more positive and centered attitude and a focus on what I want to accomplish during the day.
If things keep going the way they are with my business, I am definitely going to need this increased focus and productivity, never mind someone to help clean my house and possibly even watch my kids a couple mornings a week. All I have to say is be careful what you manifest for yourself, you just quite possibly might get it. A little overwhelming, yet really really exciting.
Karli gets up 15 to 20 minutes earlier than me with the kids so this gives me plenty of time to lay in bed and wake up a little and then do 10 minutes of SMART mode visualizations. I know, isn’t he great?
On the emotional front, I have taken a big step that I am really excited about. I have signed up for the Landmark Forum seminar. This is a three and a half day very intensive look at yourself. A good friend of ours just did it and he said that it was really life changing for him. Karli also signed up to take it the month after I do.
I really think this is one of those right things at the right moments for us. We have been through so much over the last year. We as individuals and our relationship could really use a serious retuning. I have been talking for months about needing to get away for a few days and just be with myself, but haven’t gotten around to it. This is the perfect compromise, three and half full days (a total of 40 hours) with myself, if not by myself. And I get to sleep in my own bed and kiss my kids each morning.
Can you tell I am excited about this?
Overall, a good month despite the fact that I still don’t think I have lost more than a few pounds (no weighing until October). No worries, all in the right time.
Get The Gabriel Method Book Now!
There is definitely something to be said for the peaceful, all consuming loudness of being alone with my mp3 player. It’s almost as good as the silence below the bath water. Very restorative and the sweat and chemical release is great too.
I am also counting and logging my daily food and exercise, but I will cover all that in another post.
For me, saying things out loud helps me to keep myself accountable. With that, here is my exercise routine.
Finding the right environment
The first thing I did was change what gym I went to, or really changed gyms so that I would start going. My old gym was one of those neighborhood jobbies and although the equipment was really nice and it was never busy, it also wasn’t very inspiring and they didn’t offer any classes.
I was also paying an extreme amount for two yoga classes a week at an Iyengar studio near my house. Although I really enjoyed these classes, I just wasn’t sure that Iyengar was the style of yoga I wanted to pursue long term. Also, although challenging I didn’t feel like it was really contributing to my weight loss, which at some point just needed to take priority.
So, I joined a gym very close to my house (one of the major chains) that offered yoga and other classes included in the price. In the end we are paying a little more for the gym but a lot less for yoga and in this economy and with my weight loss goals for the year, I think this is the best fit.
I do miss taking yoga classes at a studio. It is a totally different experience and much more serious and I fully plan on finding a studio to join after I have reached my weight loss goals that is more aligned with the style of yoga I would like to pursue going forward.
Vinyasa Yoga Classes
I attend 2 Vinyasa power yoga classes a week and would like to add in one more on Sunday mornings, but realistically this will most likely be an on and off thing as weekends are really family time and that needs to take priority. But, if we are just sitting around doing nothing on a Sunday morning, then I will try to hit this class once in a while.
I have done a bunch of research about how many calories are burned during a vinyasa yoga class. I found varying numbers from 300 to 500 calories and hour. It would be significantly more if this were a hot class, but alas it is not. The class I take is 90 minutes and so I usually log 500 calories for the class.
Cardio
My cardio machine of choice is the treadmill, but I would really like to add in some biking as well. Maybe even a spinning class one morning a week if I can ever get Ian to stay in the child care room there.
Anyway, I have been good about getting two additional hour long cardio workouts per week, but this really needs to be three. Maybe as the weather gets nicer, I can take this one outside – A long walk with the dog or a heavy duty landscaping work day or a bike ride on the Burke.
I do interval workouts alternating between running, walking, hills and sprints. An hour gets me about 450 calories, but this should increase as my abilities increase and I can up the intensity.
10 minute mini workouts
My next step is to add a quick 10 minute mini workout at some point each day. This is an opportunity for me to target a certain area or get in an extra strength builder or do some of the yoga poses that I no longer get to do taking an all levels gym based yoga class (mostly inversions).
Some of my options for this are….
Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer
Bosu Ball Daily Dose – I really like the Bosu ball and am looking for more ways to use it. The Daily Dose is a set of three exercises repeated in circuit and can be modified to increase or decrease the intensity. It’s pretty fun and a good workout.
Core Workout - I really like the Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer
Quick Yoga Series – I am really missing head stand (Salamba Sirsasana), shoulder stand (Salamba Sarvangasana) and plow pose (halasana). These were some of my favorites, but in the gym class environment it just isn’t possible to do these poses, so I am going to try and incorporate them often, hopefully daily at some point.
Just a note, my old yoga instructor said that it is very important to do shoulder stand after you have done headstand – something about balancing things out and such. They go hand in hand I guess.
Combining these with a forward bend, a mild back bend and a twist would make a lovely little restorative sequence.
So to get down and dirty with my year long resolutions, by the end of the year I would like to be consistently taking 2 yoga classes a week and a spinning class. Ian starts preschool in the fall so that will open up a morning a week to take a spinning class. I would also like to be doing 2 additional cardio workouts and 5 mini workouts a week.
With all that said, I also want to keep in mind this years overall goal of not getting overwhelmed by the enormity of the task at hand. I will push myself strongly, but also be forgiving. If I get overwhelmed or start feeling bad about my results or not going to the gym some night, I will give it up and that just simply can not happen. So as I have been telling myself over and over and over and over again lately “remain calm and think positively” and hopefully I will learn that it is ok to give myself a break sometimes.
For this first Cups reading we will use the I-X of Cups and return to numerology to select the card. I will be using my first name and “adding up” the letters in my name to determine what card represents how I am doing in my personal relationships.
Karin
11+1+18+9+14 = 53 = 5 + 3 = 8
VIII Cups
The Answer
You tend to get involved in structured, open-ended relationships. You like a structured framework around your relationship, allowing you to speak your mind. Your best friends will be like thinkers and people who you feel you can share all your secrets.
Sidenote: Your future involves making a departure of some sort. You will travel to see someone at a distance.
The Card
*My take: A figure climbs a set of pillars resembling stairs. Eight cups are laid out on the floor below. The “stairs” seem to be leading to the moon. The sky is dark and starry. You are departing, leaving on a journey, whether physical, psychological or emotional. The cups, representing the people in your life are waiting at home, supportive and grounding.
The card: Following a new path always requires abandoning something. The eight cups represent that that you are abandoning, whether it be a project, relationship or situation. The moon represents an intuitive leap. The man is nude, indicating a primal connection to his intuition. Basically this means that your current path has come to it’s logical conclusion and now it is time to look to the moon (your intuition) for you new path.
Reading Analysis
Well, my life now is revolving around my new path and trusting my intuition to lead me to it, so this card makes sense, but what it has to do with the current state of my personal relationships, I’m not sure. I have a feeling that the path that is coming to an end has to do with me only taking care of my kids. Maybe by taking this new path, I am leaving behind some of the focus on everyone else around me and turning some of the focus on myself. I can’t help but feel a little guilty about this. This new path will definitely be a departure from my current existence. In the answer it discusses what I seek out in friendship and that is generally a correct assessment.
* Please remember that I am learning and so the “My take” sections are my impressions after looking at the card. These will change and come together with the real meanings as we go. My goal is to come to a general meaning that resonates with me and coordinates with the card’s meaning.
The Layout
The Celtic cross layout is one of the most classic and popular layouts. It generally give you a good overview of the past, present, future and how you can expect things to go.
Here is the general layout
3 10
5 1 6 9
2 8
4 7
Shuffle the wands and the major arcana cards separately while asking your question.
Deal the top two major arcana cards into positions one and two. These two cards are a cover and cross duo (this is really hard to represent without creating a separate image), but use your imagination.
Deal the top four wands into positions 3 thru 6.
Shuffle the remaining cards together, again asking your question, until the cards are finished and then deal the top four cards into positions 7 thru 10.
Here is some detail about what each position means.
1. Covers You – The current situation
2. Crosses You – The challenge you will need to confront and overcome
3. Above You – The best you can hope for, given the current conditions
4. Below You – The past foundation that needs to be considered
5. Behind You – Something that just happened the is influencing the situation
6. Before You – Something that is just about to happen that is influencing the situation
7. Who You Are
8. Who they want you to be – represents all the people around you and what they want for you.
9. What You Want
10. What you get – The end result, the answer.
The Question: What can I expect from my career this year?
The Spread
1. Covers You – IV Emperor
2. Crosses You – XI Justice
3. Above You – III Wands
4. Below You – X Wands
5. Behind You – IV Wands
6. Before You – VIII Wands
7. Who You Are – V Wands
8. Who They Want You to Be – II Priestess
9. What You Want – VII Chariot
10. What You Get – VI Wands
The Answer
Right now you are dealing with strong personalities, high expectations and power plays. Be strong and resolved. You need to make your own decisions. Your challenge is to set the right priorities and then go for it.
Success lies in joint undertakings. You must overcome past defeats and get out from under the things that burden you. Just recently, you cemented a deal. Just coming up, you are tying up loose ends.
You are the one on the front lines, you have good skills. Others want you to give input and read their minds. You want to be recognized. You have the opportunity for career advancement.
The Cards
IV Emperor – Covers You (the current situation)
My take: Order, ruling over things. Things are laid out before you in a straightforward manner.
The card: Fathering, law and order, social responsibility, power and structure. You have great power, use it carefully and thoughtfully. Be careful not to misuse it as you may be seen as tyrannical.
XI Justice – Crosses You (the challenge you must face and overcome)
My take: The scales are balanced. The skies are dark, she is blinded and armored. Whatever is in the scales shines brightly. You may not see what you are seeking, but all is as it should be?
The card: Fairness, being too judgmental, fighting for those less fortunate. The blindness indicates an unbiased approach to situation.
III Wands – Above You (the most you can hope for if circumstances don’t change)
My take: A man sits waiting on a rock as a ship sails in through the sky. The man is naked and vulnerable, yet surrounded by three rods, protectively. Something speeds toward you. You have the strength to handle it, but you must be patient.
The card: Waiting for signs of success and a return of your investment of energy. Beware not to become to wrapped up in initial success. There is still much work to do. The man is naked to show the purity of his intentions. You have chosen the path and set the wheels in motion and now must wait to see what happens next.
X Wands – Below You (past foundation)
My take: A naked man is crouched, 10 rods hovering above him. Very strong force of power. A triangle is at the top of the card, shining light down . His head is bowed as if in prayer or submission. Surrendering to situation, knowing you have done what you can and now it must play out on it’s own.
The card: The man is weighed down by the obstacles, problems and crumbling of his idea. This plan may have run it’s course and it is now time to look forward to new ideas. Beware of becoming a slave to your own ambition.
IV Wands – Behind You (just happened)
My take: The door is ajar, seen through the woods. Four towering wands surround the door. A fiercely bright light is just beyond the door. It’s so close you can taste it. You have all the strength you need, just reach our and take what’s yours.
The card: Stability, solid foundation. All plans and good ideas must eventually be acted upon or they just disappear. It is time to take action.
VIII Wands – Before You (coming soon)
My take: Eight wands fly through the air along with 8 doves. Things are in motion. Spirits are high and all is flowing well.
The card: High energy. Everything is clicking in high gear. You are inspired and can see your path clearly.
V Wands – Who you are
My take: Battle, Men with wands fight, stand guarded and ready against attack. You are armed and ready for the battle ahead.
The Card: There are several possible meanings to this card depending on the context. Most obvious is that there is a battle. Others include that the group is armed and ready to fight together, or they are ready to work creatively together. Each man is isolated from the rest of the group, indicating that the group is either fighting or working together from their own isolation.
II Priestess – What you are to others.
My take: She is mystical, psychic. She looks for higher meaning in things and finds comfort in the mystery of life.
The Card: The ability to tap into the subconscious and yet stay grounded in the present. It’s a delicate balance. A withdraw from the norm of the day to day.
VIII Chariot – What You Want
My take: This is a swift moving card. There is a man in a chariot with two white steeds and they are riding a wave. There is a huge steel contraption in the background reminiscent of an oil rig. This grounds the card and takes away some of the otherworldly qualities. I feels of being swept forward and taken for a ride. But, you must make sure to remain grounded in real and secure things.
The Card: Confidence, willpower, pride, arrogance, youthful energy, anger, insecurity. The path has been contemplated and chosen and now it is time to set forth. The road is not set in stone and you must keep your eye on the ball and not be distracted by the emotional forces acting here. With the right focus and dedication, you have the willpower, energy and confidence to fully succeed. The oil rig represents the beginnings of creating our mental framework, of pulling up ideas and thoughts from our subconscious and beginning to turn those into tangible attainable products of the real world.
VI Wands – What You Get – Then end result or answer
My take: A man stands on a balcony, 5 wands holding him up, his arms held up in victory, a bright light shining from the top of the remaining wand, which he holds firmly. This is reminiscent or roman times. This man looks like a leader and definitely a victor.
The card: Victory, plain and simple. A moment of elation and enjoyment of your accomplishment is in order. Just be aware that this feeling is temporary and the wheel of fortune will soon begin to move again.
Reading Analysis
Well, it seems like things are going to start moving and that success is definately possible and even probable. There is a group aspect to what I will be doing, but maybe not directly. It indicates that the decision has been made and now it is time to move on it. This still confuses me as I don’t know what decision has been made. A couple of things have happened over the last week or so. A friend of mine mentioned a part time web gig for a friend of hers that does cranial sacrum work and then I got this sinus infection (ouch and sucky) and did a bunch of research on holistic ways of approaching sinus infections, and from several other directions I am getting bombarded by the alternative medicine thing. I have a horticulture degree and herbology and holistic medicine have always been great interests of mine. It is worth looking into and exploring, but I can hardly say that I know for sure about that. If I know anything for sure, it is that I would really like to be a yoga instructor and that I don’t want to do the web thing forever. With the yoga thing, i am a good year away from even having that discussion with my instructor so I can’t see that this is it. The only thing I can think of is that the events of the last week or so have put something I’m not quite aware of into motion. I’m going with that.