Long time no see....

Its been a bit since my last entry here and I have been overwhelmed by inquiries recently about my current progress on my goals.  What goals you ask?  Well, as I am certain most questions are pertaining to my recent weight loss and fitness progress, I feel I really cannot properly answer those questions without getting to the 'heart' of the matter, and I mean that in the most romantic sense of the word.


Window of Bishops Castle in Colorado

There are so many layers to what has been key for me, that I think it only fair to share them especially for those who feel perpetually 'stuck' in a state of dissatisfaction, or unrest about any part of themselves.

We are two parts, us human beings.  One part spiritual and One part animal, these two powerful parts of what makes us human are very regularly at odds with one another.  Instinct is something our physical sense uses for survival and does not concern itself with much other than just that, survival.  It does not take into consideration the state or consequences of that survival, it does not care, instict has one job: Keep Yourself Alive.  Our Spiritual makeup is a lot less tangible and something of much debate and interpretation.  Our Soul, Psyche, Id, or States of Conciousness have much more complex influence over us.  This driving force really seems to have Ninja-like abilities to move us and flex us in so many directions without giving itself away as easily as Instict does.  Instict is powerful and hard to resist, however it is also much more easy to identify when we feel its pull.  Why do I mention this, because I feel that the closer we align our two halves, the easier it is to attain balance.  Once we find some balance, some calm within ourselves it is so much easier for us to really Listen to our true needs.  Wants and Needs are very different, if you are nurturing your Healthy Needs you will find that attaining any and all of your goals will start to feel effortless.  So let's see if I can break this down in a more tangable way.

Cleanse

Detoxification & Colon Cleansing :  I chose Dr. Natura's 30 day cleanse kit, I purchased 3 for the discount and did with friends.  This is a highly rated system that does not call for restricted diet during, however encourages eating alkaline foods that will assist in gaining the best benefits.  I will spare you the gory details and say simply that I was extremely satisfied with the results and the gentle, herbal ingredients as well as the limited interference with my daily lifestyle.

Purge : Get rid of the negative in your life.  It may be people, habits, clutter, compulsions, you will know it when you are looking for it.  If there is something habitually nagging at you that you are always trying to change or alter that ultimately makes you frown when you walk by it or think about it, get it out of your space.  I recently purged my house of things I really didn't know why I was holding onto them, clothes, gifts I didn't like but 'couldn't throw away', housewares I had outgrown, furniture I never liked, things I thought I would one day find a use for but never did.  Its empowering and gives you an immediate sense of accomplishment.... donate it to a good cause if its tangable.  Set boundaries with people or habits in your life that are toxic, that seem to always 'bring you down', only you know what boundary will stop you from being pulled in a negative direction.

Breathe

Yoga is the greatest thing I have personally found that feeds both the body and soul.  A good yoga studio will balance both and should last a minimum of an hour to 90 minutes.  The meditation piece is just as, if not more important than the physical positions.  I have done 'watered down' yoga in gyms for a while now, and until a recent trip to Colorado I did not ever experience the real power of Yoga and its pure wonderful goodness.  I was able to gain a clear head while also accomplishing Urdhva Dhanurasana or Wheel which was a first for me and has given me the guts to go for broke in each and every class thereafter.

Breathing while doing any sort of physical workout is key, I've found after understanding and implementing allowing real oxygen to fill my diaphram (thanks Lithe!), I am gaining more stamina during cardio workouts like Cycle Classes and Running.  I'm going a further distance with better results. 

Taking 5 deep, long breaths when faced with adversity, or emotional conflict has proven an effective way to keep a level head during hard times.  Ask yourself the next time you feel an uprising within such as anger, dissapointment, insult or any real negativity that tries to take over your mood:  Would I rather spend the next 5-10 minutes quietly breathing in mild meditation or the next hour or more completely upset or fighting about something?  I would say when posed that way, the answer is simple.

Listen

Once you find your 'calm' its so much easier to hear the music in your heart that is clearly what you want and what you need.  I don't think about how many calories I'm allowed to have anymore, or punish myself or enjoying something yummy ... I simply listen for what I truly want and my desire to be healthy and happy with my mind and body trump any and all unhealthy obsessing about how much chocolate I can eat or if I'm eating the 'socially correct' health food.  I listen to my own sense when reading about nutrition or recipes or workouts.  The motive is what I think is most important.  As long as I'm working out because I truly like what I'm doing and want to do it, not because I want to trim inches from my hips, I feel waves of pride and success when I'm going strong and can't wait to see what I'm capable of next time.  I've noticed that with fewer workouts, and almost zero calorie calculations recently I've not only lost weight and inches, I'm finally seeing it in all the right places.

I have been able to hear the desire of my heart and my body.  I've learned that I actually prefer to eat less meat if I really take the time to ponder what I want instead of what I should (as dictated by diet books) consume.  I treat myself and I also listen to how my body feels after each day and assess whether or not I gave my body what it needed that day.  If I gave it something not so great, or a little too much, I adjust the next day in a very natural way.  If I did a rigorous cardio routine, I anticpate the following day I will need to eat something more substantial, so I will eat very light the day before.  I also realized that I really only need to eat twice per day.  This isn't every day, and some days I may only eat once late morning and have a light snack instead of dinner .... it isn't a magic calculation, its just me really listening to if I am actually hungry instead of assuming I must be because 'its lunch time'.  I never workout if I truly do not want to, and I dedicate high energy days to meaningful workouts.  I also have been able to cease and desist all manners of 'beating myself up' for indulging in something I enjoy or listening to my body when its really tired.

Create



Painting I'm currently working on

You don't have to be Monet or Martha to fully partake in this category.  If there is something you love that brings you a real sense of happiness and enjoyment, chances are its something that holds little or no 'practical' value.  In life, these wonderful bits of bliss are usually put on the backburner.  We tell ourselves we are too busy, and there is so much to do, or we will definitely do that when we get some time off and before we know it, those things that should be what makes life ours become retirement plans.  Paint a picture, draw a cartoon, make a fantastic feast, plant a garden, decorate your bedroom, build something out of wood, make a scrapbook or a photo slideshow .... Do something because you love it, not because it has to turn out a certain way or to impress anyone,  it doesn't even matter if you're any good at it.  If its something you truly love to do, you should and it could be alone or with a loved one or your kids, purity takes many forms, but its rarely on a list of chores or scheduled in a calendar.  I spent more than a few recent nights up all hours painting, and not necessarily painting anything specific, I bought myself a beautiful journal to keep by my bed and when I have a lovely thought that can't seem to fit into a blog I write it down and savor the moment and where the thought came from.  I love creating simple, clean healthy meals for my friends and family with spring coming steadfast I invision many lovely evenings coming out on the patio sharing laughs and good wine and feeding the mouths and souls of the people I love.  I've also been starting my garden from seeds this year and its going well.  For the first time I am lovingly tending plants because I enjoy it and want to be able to bring my own harvest to my table.  I'm not trying to 'squeeze in' plants because its the chic thing to do.  Plants are very sensitive, so when you are being disingenuous they know it and won't bloom for you.

Play

Music, Sports, Games, Outside.  Get out there and do something, let loose, sing songs at the top of your lungs no matter who's listening.  Pick up a tambourine if you can't play guitar, run walk or skip down the street.  Get the air in your lungs and the sun on your face and just let go with wild abandon whenver you possibly can!

Feed

Your Mind.  Your Body.  Your Soul.  
Read : I have been devouring books on everything and anything that interests me.  From Dickens to the Dalai Lama I cannot get enough.  I'm not looking for distraction, I want to be fully engrossed in subjects I feel I can grow in and I'm all over the place with my interests.  I know the Kindle is big these days, but I have to admit, in that regard I'm old fashioned and I want the hardcover.  I want the smell of the pages and the art of the printshop, the craft of the binding.  For me, its all part of the experience and I don't want to cheapen it.
Eat : Give your body what it needs, pure nutrition.  Give it crisp, satisfying vegetables.  Give it the sweet energizing jewels of nature that are your favorite fruits.  Give it unadulterated whenever possible, and simple selections as frequently as you can.  Give it water.  Give it comfort when needed, a hot cup of tea or soup, a sweet bite of dark chocolate.
Pray:  Give your soul a rest from the every day.  Meditate daily if you can.  Turn off your television and enjoy the peace of a treasured spot, your back yard, your bedroom, a hot bath.  Pray from your soul for the good and healthy things that can be found all over this life and they will come to you.  If you are dedicating your entire self to seeking good in prayer, it is guaranteed to come to you.

Fast

Awareness and being able to listen to your needs will allow you to recognize and avoid excess.  Excess weighs us down both physically and emotionally.  It is good for both body and soul to fast when needed.  Fasting comes in a variety of options.  Through fasting, or giving up something, you give yourself the chance to explore if you are relying on that thing in an unhealthy way.  Fasting also cleanses the body and clears the mind, it will assist you with Listening and Cleansing.  Do so with caution and focus and find out what areas in your life may need more balance.

Forgive

  Ourselves and Others.  We have all been taught from early on that forgiveness is a key part of our way to happiness and spiritual enlightenment.  Until we forgive others we allow them control over our state of mind, when we do, we free ourselves from the entanglement of whatever the transgression.  More importantly, and less openly discussed when growing up is Forgiveness of Self.  We punish ourselves for all sorts of things and we do it with such ease that it just feels like we are being prudent or keeping ourselves in check.  We are all humans, we are all equals regardless of what we have done or failed to do in our lives.  If we believe that statement then the idea of Forgiveness of both ourselves and those around us is just a logical and more importantly, loving way to live out our days on this earth. When we punish ourselves for 'failures' we send a message to our core that we are 'bad' or of lesser worth.  This type of thinking will push a person to continue in more negative actions creating greater 'failures' which in turn will grease the wheel of a terrible cycle that does not end.  It only ends with forgiveness.

Measure

Take inventory regularly.  Goals are not bad things if their motives are pure.  Weigh yourself both emotionally and physically and ask yourself if you are satisfied with the current measurement.  Do so by listening, and with forgiveness in your heart.  Look at any room for growth or improvement as a positive.  Do not beat yourself up for where you are at in your journey.  It wouldn't be a journey if we didn't travel the path, without a journey we would not be human at all.  Take Measure with Self Love.



I hope this finds you at a place where it is helpful to you.  I leave you now with a simple and satisfying recipe that my Mother and I enjoyed together while Forgiving, Creating, and Feeding healthy needs.

A perfect Friday evening

Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients
2 Cups Organic Whole Grain Orzo Pasta
2 Cups Kalamata Olives, Pitted or mix with Green Olives, Pitted (1 Cup Each)
2 Cups Organic Baby Spinach
1 Cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 tsp each Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley
1 Lemon
1 Cup Feta Cheese
Pepper to taste
Capers optional

Store bought Stuffed Grape Leaves go wonderfully with this meal also.

Orzo is a wonderfully fun and quick cooking pasta that goes great with just about anything, I love using it for Greek Dishes especially.  Orzo and Ouzo I always say, not really ... but maybe I should!

Directions
Boil 3-4 Cups water in a large heavy saucepan, preferably one you can fit a steamer above.  Cook Orzo according to directions (add to boiling water for approximately 8-10 minutes). 
While cooking Orzo, place steamer attachment above and place Sun Dried Tomatoes and stuffed grape leaves and steam for last 5 minutes of cooking.

Meanwhile, place Olives, Feta, Olive Oil, Herbs and squeeze half of Lemon into bowl.  Add a pinch of pepper and toss together.

 Remove Stuffed Grape Leaves from steamer.  Dry Sun Dried Tomatoes, and drain your Orzo.  Toss everything except for Grape Leaves together, add spinach while still hot and let wilt.

Allow to sit at room temperature or place in refrigerator until slightly cooled.  This dish is best served at room temperature for dinner and is also very good if chilled in the refrigerator and served as a light lunch or at a picnic.

On that note, I feel that I must be involved in a picnic soon, its a sign of spring and sounds like a wonderful way to spend the next upcoming mild day.  I hope you enjoyed, as for me I can honestly say its been a Long Time No See and I'm happy to be back!

Ascending Bishop's Castle