Sweet Victory

Last Thursday marked my final class for which I successfully completed the Green Yogi challenge. Although it continues on until February 8th, I have finished (early)! These past three weeks tested me mentally and physically. On the first day of the challenge I set my intentions for focus and strength. Since then, my mental focus has rewarded my physical strength.

The first of the month I also started a cleanse to begin the fresh New Year. I utilized my focus from the yoga challenge to continue cleansing for the rest of the month. It has been 28 days of no refined sugar, dairy, processed foods, or alcohol with only two more days to go!

This challenge has created a new lifestyle for me.

Don’t get me wrong; I have certainly wanted a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate during this time and have every intention of rewarding myself with nothing less this weekend! However, I can fully appreciate the value of these “treats” knowing they were deserved. Friday, I will have a Margarita in hand to celebrate my victorious year thus far :)

If I have learned one thing from this challenge, it is the power of our will.

“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment; full effort is full victory.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Over Fear

I have finally settled into a routine with my life in Manhattan Beach. My previous inability to consistently write, blog, and share was due to my struggle figuring out what is was I wanted to do with my life. This uncertainty, I realized, was fear.

Sharing with people who asked what I was doing these days that I had graduated, realized my passion for healthy living, and was writing a book sounded great; but the reality of having to fulfill them terrified me. What if I failed? What if the career I had chosen didn’t work out? So many doubts overcrowded my head. I had to take a deep breath, pause, and face my fears. Nothing would come from my negative thoughts; I had to take positive actions…

This week I began my classes for the Institution for Integrative Nutrition, a holistic wellness program teaching me how to share my passion for healthy living so I can help people in their lives. I jumped right in! All the lectures I listened to and materials I read reassured that I had made the right decision. By enrolling in the institution, I had overcome my fears.

Fear is a controlling, overwhelming, emotion. You have to consciously reevaluate the origin of your fear. Admitting your fears is the first step to overcome them. Being honest with yourself is tough, especially when having to let go of your ego. No one is perfect. Change takes time (it took me 3 months to figure my sh*t out). The result however, is a fresh start; embracing joy in your life!

A New Year

On the last day in December I concluded I wanted a fresh start to 2012, and thought what better way than a cleanse!?

After a few glasses of champagne, and the ball dropped, I passed out...

I woke up Sunday afternoon and relaxed, taking in my last "veg" before the new year shape-up. Out were my old habits of drinking then wasting the following day. In was my new discipline for healthy eating and living.

The following days I prepared for the cleanse. My mom and I planned to do a modified version of the Master Cleanse (using raw sugar cane juice instead of maple syrup) for 3 or 4 days, eating only dark leafy greens for dinner.

I spent the first three days fasting, drinking only the elixir. The fourth day I added dark vegetables with my drink. Pegs and I concluded how great we were feeling, and encouraged each other to stick with the cleanse for a few more days.

After a week on the cleanse, Pegs and I had decided to keep up this no-alcohol, no-sugar, no-dairy, no-processed foods "diet." Our bodies felt so good, we didn't want to stop!

Pegs had decided she would do the cleanse for 21 days. In order to stay true to this diet, we first added whole grains (quiona, millet, or brown rice); then two day later added small portions of protein (like salmon). I decided to take it one step further...

I signed up for a 30 day yoga challenge at the Green Yogi. It starts on the 10th and ends February 8th. I am going to try to stick with this lifestyle until then! We shall see :)