As my metabolism started to slow down in my mid-twenties, and I started focusing on establishing my career, as well as taking on a few personal changes in my life, the last thing on my list was taking care of myself. As my life was progressing professionally, my body was racking up extra pounds. My 5′3″ petite frame started seeing numbers on the scale that had never been seen before.

I ate to deal with stress. I ate to deal with my personal and relationship problems. I ate to deal with the stress of gaining extra weight. I was in a vicious cycle that started with the thought of tomorrow I will change.. tomorrow I will start a healthy diet. Unfortunately, tomorrow always came and went, and the weight continued to creep on.

Over the last 3 years, I yo-yo dieted my way through several fad diets. I had gone organic and alkalized my body, had lived on lemon juice concoctions, zoned-out my body, took a trip through the South Beach diet, and joined an expensive gym to motivate myself towards health. All of my attempts towards a healthier weight made me yo-yo up and down the same 10 lbs. I kept setting goals such as “by the time I reach 25 years old, I will reach my goal weight”, but every year would pass, and before I knew it, I had reached the landmark 30 years old, and was at the highest weight of my life.

Celebrating my landmark birthday was bittersweet as I realized that while I was focusing on my professional life, I hadn’t included myself as part of my “to-do list”. I imagined what the next 10 years could bring, and frankly, the thought of carrying the extra weight and diminishing self-confidence frightened me. That’s when I made a decision to put myself on my priority list.

I started with working out in the mornings before work. My goal was to hit the gym 4-5 times a week, eat right, and not stop regardless of whether or not I saw results. The first couple of months were trying times as I struggled to wake-up at 5AM in order to get my workouts in and get to work on time.  At first, I put a lot of effort into the eating right/going to the gym routine and wasn’t seeing a bunch of changes; however, I had made a commitment to myself to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Unfortunately, I am one of those people that loses weight and inches very slowly; but luckily, I hadn’t focused on goals (i.e., hitting an ideal weight) - instead, I focused on the journey. My healthier lifestyle included cardio/weights 4-5 times a week, as well as maintaing a reasonable calorie budget and logging consumed foods in a food diary (utilizing the iPhone application: Lose it!). Although I didn’t notice any visible results within the first 1-2 months of my healthier lifestyle, I started immediately feeling differences in my energy level, and ability to focus. The time to complete tasks at work were sometimes cut in half, because I had much more energy, and was mentally sharper and clearer.

Getting “Trained”

After two months into my journey my clothes started feeling looser, and I hit my first fitness plateau – a goal that I had decided beforehand would be rewarded with personal training sessions. I had worked out with trainers before, but this time, I was going to do it right, and only select the best fitfor me. There was one trainer that stood out from the rest. Every morning I would see him work out his clients to the max, and he would keep them motivated and on track with his own high energy level. I knew immediately he would be a good fit in that he had the energy and drive to push me forward. From observation alone, he was the real deal. Standing at 6′6″ and a solid muscular build, he was not only someone I could look up to (literally), but respect for his own commitment to walking the walk in regards to health and fitness. In addition to my own observations, I asked other members and club employees who they recommended, and time and time again they recommended my future trainer. 

By the time my personal trainer conducted my initial health assessment and weighed me, I was 10 lbs. lighter than my starter weight. I informed my trainer that weight loss wasn’t my focus – that living a healthy lifestyle was my mission, and that a trimmer body was a side effect of lifestyle changes I wanted to adopt. He supported my mission, and helped me find strength I didn’t know I was capable of achieving.

Almost 30 lbs. lighter

I am now entering the 7 month mark of my journey, and am almost 30 lbs lighter than I was at the beginning of my journey. Although, I am excited and energized by my new lifestyle, the thing I am proud of the most is that I made (and continue to make) myself a priority. Along my journey I shrunk physically, but I grew spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.  There were a few surprises along my journey as well. For instance, although I previously prioritized my career over my health and well-being, as I transitioned to making myself #1 priority, ironically, I received more accolades for my work, and was recently recognized with an innovation award.

Continuing Forward

At this point in my journey, I am more then 50% away from my body’s ideal weight. A couple of weeks ago I had my last training session, but I still have to find ways to continue forward in my efforts in living a healthy lifestyle. The biggest lesson I have learned is that when I focus on the number I see on the scale, I start to stumble and feel weakened and overwhelmed by the trek ahead. When I stop, take a deep breathe, and remind myself that I am not trying to achieve a weight goal, rather, I am living and dedicated to a healthier lifestyle, I feel that I have more freedom and time to achieve things I never thought possible. The idea of becoming a runner, an athlete, and yoga master feels like a possibility that I can achieve within this lifetime, versus a goal that may or may not be reached.

The reward is in the journey, and the accomplishments are the things you pick up along the way. I am now commited to feel my best, and the rest, including a slimmer body and more positive self-image is a part (but not the point) of the journey.  Making myselft a part of my priority list,  ultimately, was the best thing I could do to improve my well-being and life.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernest Henley

Fall has always been my favorite season. Growing up, Fall symbolized new beginnings because it was when school started – which brought about a new year, new possibilities and dreams.

Today, Fall still has that same funny effect of me. As the leaves turn colors and start to fall from the trees, I am filled with that sense of wonder and hope of what is possible. This Fall I was reminded of Love and it’s many wonders.

Please feel free to check out our October posts on Love:

Towards the Possibility of Love (A Modern Love Story) is a love story written by yours truly. It is a tale of letting go in order to pave the way for everlasting love. It is a love story within a love story that ends with a message of hope and inspiration.

Also featured on our blog is the poem  Unending Love by Rabindranath Tagore,an Indian poet from the turn of the 19th century. The poem is said to have been Audrey Hepburn’s all-time favorite poem. Being a huge AH fan, and of course, of love, it was simply too irresistible to miss posting.

Here’s to inspiration, hope, new possibilities, and Love!

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it’s age-old pain,
It’s ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:
You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers, shared in the same
Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell-
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man’s days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours –
And the songs of every poet past and forever.

Rabindranath Tagore and his wife Mrinalini Devi-1883

Turning 30

I wanted to take a few moments and share my latest personal bit of enlightenment.

Yesterday I turned 30. My over-achiever goal was to “take care” of so many things by the time I turned 30. I was supposed to have everything figured out – from personal finances, how to start our business, have a successful relationship leading to lifelong partnership, figure out the secret to eating everything I want and not gain weight, figure out how to look young forever, and have everything I’ve always dreamed. I suppose I wasn’t very realistic, but every year for the last few years, I have written a laundry list of things that I wanted to accomplish leading up to the big 30.

The day before the big day I was in panic, taking stock of my life and wondering if I was a failure for not accomplishing all my goals. Then, something told me to stop and BREATHE. The next moment I recalled conversations with my dad as a little girl, and how he would always tell me that he didn’t accomplish his dreams, and that it was now “my time” (to accomplish his dreams of wealth, etc.).  Realizing that my dad was telling me all this when he was in his early 30’s, I wondered for a moment if I had already missed my chance.

Breathe…

And then it occurred to me that it’s never too late. I recalled a quote from a book I read once. The gist of the quote was that denying our dreams was denying our life mission we were given. Similarly, another favorite quote was also a point of inspiration: If you can imagine it you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it (William A. Ward).

Another breathe…and another revelation. Not only is it NOT too late, but my life and inspiration doesn’t come from lists of goals that takes years to accomplish (and providing myself impossible deadlines). Therefore, I decided that instead of another laundry list of life improvements, my goal wasn’t to be perfect. Rather, my goal was to be. Be comfortable with my current career path, be comfortable at my current weight, be comfortable at the progress towards all my goals, be comfortable with going about the world without Mr. Right (although I’ll keep a door open for him), and finally, be comfortable at my age and all that I have accomplished.

Taking stock of my life, I am grateful. Grateful for the wonderful friends and family I have in my life. Grateful that there are no fair-weather people in my life. Grateful for my overall health. Grateful for what I have accomplished in my career and in academia. Grateful for my sanity (despite my quirks). Grateful for the support and love I am surrounded with, and grateful for my life’s mission and dreams.

A wise elderly gentleman (ok, he’s neighbor) told me that the next 30 years are going to go quickly. I believe him, but I also know that it is important that as I walk towards the direction of my dreams that I also stop and breathe, and look back at my progress and revel in gratefulness for who I am, where I am going, and how far I’ve come.

May we all go confidently in the direction of our dreams..

Love,
Amber

P.S. I have been blessed with many gifts, and my “gift” back are some inspiring quotes that I love:

“Expect your every need to be met, expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level, expect to grow spiritually” - Caddy, Eileen

“Magic has often been thought of us the art of making dreams come true; the art of realizing visions. Yet before we can bring birth to the vision we have to see it.” – Starhawk

“Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Your words are the greatest power you have. The words you choose and the use establish the life you experience.” – Croquette,Sonia

“Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities” - Ebaugh, Sue

“Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” - Bernhardt, Sarah

“The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.”
- Fosdick, Harry Emerson

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Thoreau, Henry David

‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Roosevelt, Eleanor

We updated our blog with a fresher look. Stay tuned for new blogs on life enhancing tips and tools!

Does it work?

We tried it and noticed a change in water taste and one of us experienced an unexpected health benefit: no more menstral cramps! The increased oxygenation of the blood helps prevent clumping of blood cells, therefore it made sense that could be a good outcome of using this product. Also, we used the stirwand on our cat who was looking a little scrawny and old. After 3 weeks on the stirwand she started to gain back her weight and her fur coat looked much healthier and kept.  In addition, studies show that increased pH and higher oxygenation levels is not conducive to cancer cells.

There are several different types of stirwands. One stirwand is for energy, another for athletes, one for love energy, meditation, etc. We have tried all of the stirwands and prefer the yellow (energy), the purple zen wand for relaxation and meditation, and the 24-hr all occassion basic stirwand. If you are going to make an $80 investment in one of these long-lasting stirwands we highly suggest the 24-hour stirwand. It’s well worth it!

Click here to purchase

The amazing thing is that NONE of started taking it to lose weight/inches. We started consuming the Green TeaHP  product because of the increased energy it gave us, and the health benefits (it contains a lot of ingredients that are rich in antioxidants including: noni juice, açaí, and pomegranate). 

Green TeaHP also contains a high doseage of EGCG, also known as Epigallocatechin 3-gallate, has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, and heart disease. 

In addition, a review done by the Department of Human Nutrition and Health in Basel, Switzerland of various EGCG studies says that EGCG has been demonstrated to reduce fat mass, body weight, fat absorption, cholesterol, glucose, insulin, as well as increase thermogenesis, which is the process by which the body generates heat to “burn” calories. It even noted that one study showed that long-term (at least 10 years) consumption of tea resulted in a lower percentage of total body fat, smaller waist circumference and decreased waist-to-hip ratio.

Regular green tea has small amounts of EGCG, however, in order to get the same effects found in the studies (often using higher doseages of EGCG), you would have to drink several cups of green tea a day. The advantage of Green TeaHP is that it has less caffinine (the equivalent of a cup of hot chocolate), but the equivalent of 50 cups of green tea in EGCG and anti-oxidants in one serving.

Due to all the health benefits, taste, and the energy Green TeaHP provides, we are going to continue to consume it past the date of this article.

For more information on this product, click here

To purchase: click here

FYI… Lori’s favorite flavor is orange, and my favorite flavor is mocha.  

This inspirational book reads like a Chicken Soup for the Soul type of book full of stories to inspire. Auriela McCarthy, who also has an online radio show (see: http://www.webtalkradio.net/content/view/227/30/), witnessed transformation occuring in people once they were told inspirational stories that connected with whatever personal trauma they were experiencing. Although she claims that this is not a “how to” book, her book has something to inspire anyone. Power of the Possible is based on true stories, of people that have healed emotionally and physically by changing their beliefs. Many have benefitted from hearing their stories.

If you would like a sample, you can review 2 chapters of Auriela’s book by signing up for her newsletter at her website: http://www.aurielamccarthy.com/Welcome.html

Buy the book from Amazon.com: