Santosha!

All great things begin with a single step. 

I stepped on that damned thing today.  It was exactly as I expected.  I am up 6 1/2 pounds since 5/21.  Yuck.  However, on the bright side, I know that is less than what it was a week ago.  I can at least fit back into my jeans. 

So, I figure it this way.  I can take that off over the next 3 weeks at an easy pace of 2 lbs per week... just in time for my trip to Utah with the girls!  The good news is that there will most likely be lots of weight LOST on this trip.  7 of us, Trish, myself and 5 of our clients, are headed to Ivins, UT to the Biggest Loser's Fitness Ridge for one week of the biggest loser experience!  Yippee!  Can't wait.

A couple things I was thinking about lately. 

#1:
A good friend of mine repeated a line to me from one of the latest 'Losing it with Jillian' episodes.  Jillian says, "Why do we continue to fail when success is an option?"  Read it again.  And again.  The key word in that sentence is 'Why?'  

We all must figure out our 'why', with whatever it relates to.  Here in this context, it relates to the issues I have with self esteem, body image, self worth.  I happen to know a lot of my 'whys', and yet I still allow myself to consider most of my 'weight-related stumbling blocks' as failures.  I am speaking theoretically here.  Not really giving or asking for answers... just planting the thought in all of our heads.  Whatever IT is in our lives that we continue to let ourselves fail at... 'WHY'?  What do we fear?  What are we afraid of?  Sometimes I think that I have spent so many years of my life focused on getting to a healthy weight (whether it was 5 pounds away or 50 from it)... that I might not know what to do with myself if I ever got there. 

#2:
My wonderful yoga instructor, Kelsey, whom I adore and admire tremendously, shared a yoga niyama during our session yesterday that I have been living and breathing for the past 24 hours.... SANTOSHA...which means, contentment.  To be content with what I already have.  To have gratitude for what already exists in my life and not to focus on what I think I want or need.  The fact of the matter is, I already have everything that I need. 

We could all use a little more Santosha in our lives, right?  So, I invite you to use your next 24 hours to focus on santosha in your own life.  It's already there.  When you start to focus on your life this way you will soon discover that every moment has a gift in it that you might not have seen without contentment.

Enjoy your day, my friends,
Traci

Here we go again...

So, I have to confess... I have been avoiding my own blog!  Yep.  I suck.  Actually I probably don't suck, I am probably just human, but I am not the kind of person that wants to make any excuses.

The fact is that I have been afraid to get on that damn scale since I returned from Europe.  That was over 2 weeks ago.  So, lo and behold, because I have given in to my fear, I am probably WAY worse off than I was 2 weeks ago.

It is like the party that doesn't want to end.  The problem is, as my wise-graciously-older Auntie says, "The more you play, the more you pay."  So, here I am paying up.  Tomorrow, I will step on that damn scale and accept my consequence.  Some of you are probably thinking, ' ok, wait, stop, you are being way too dramatic and over-reactive'.  Maybe.  But, I am pretty sure I am not alone in the way that I have been feeling lately.  Let's face it... leading a completely healthy lifestyle in this country is not made very easy with all of the temptations we have around us.  And, haven't we all at some point felt like Eve in the Garden of Eden with not just one apple tree but a fricking ORCHARD of them!!!  When I am living in my own little controlled bubble, I am on point.  Take me out of my routine and I have to kick in the will power BIG TIME to control temptation toward something I love... FOOD!  These are the only times that it FEELS like 'willpower'.  Normally, it is just the way I live my life.  And, trust me, if it wasn't that way, I would be upwards of 350.  That I am sure of.  I have an obsessive-compulsive personality, and I don't know about you, but I would much rather be OC about exercising and eating healthy than the opposite.

Anyway, welcome to my journey, take 2.  What is wrong with this picture?  Nothing really.  Isn't it, after all, a lifelong journey?  We all fall down... many times throughout life.  We must choose to get back up.

“Our Greatest Glory is not in Falling but in Rising Every Time We Fall” ~Confucius

Until Later...
Trace

Way Too Long...

Hey there friends!

I have been back from Italy and Cruise for a week and a half.  Trying to find some courage to get back on here.  Pretty disappointed with myself as of late.  Completely fell off the wagon.  Afraid to get on the scale.  Trying really hard to get back into my awesome routine!  Anyway, just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten about you.  I know that you look forward to reading my inspirational posts and recipes, etc.  Just feeling a little slumpy.  Hoping that I can pull myself out of it...

Until later,
Traci