Tag: #EdgeFitnessHamden

My Clean Living Life Part VI

As anyone who regularly reads TVFL knows, this girl has been blogging about taking care of her health and well being for the past several years.  It was precipitated 8 years ago when I was diagnosed with colon cancer:   A Place of Desert…(almost) 4 years cancer free   So it should come as no surprise to anyone that my most shared blog post,   My clean living life…  is up to Part Six.  Namely because health and wellness is something that I (and apparently others in or not in my age group) struggle with.  And I’m not ashamed to write about it.   However, don’t get me wrong, if I could wave a magic wand and become the healthiest girl alive overnight, I would’ve been there done that soooo many years ago (smile).

 

 

As is stands, working out at the Edge Fitness Center 5 mornings a week, eating clean and healthy, getting the proper ZZZs at night and imbibing only on the weekends can get old (smile).

 

 

Especially when you work on 100 percent commission in a pressure-cooker environment each and every weekday…

 

 

But I’m not one to throw a pity party for too long…I like to look on the bright side of life.  For instance, my quest for good health and wellness affords me the following rewards:  a brighter, sunnier disposition, faster metabolism, increased energy and overall improved health.

 

 

Not too shabby huh?!? (smile).

 

 

 

 

10 things I cannot live without today

Here are 10 things that I, as a middle-aged adult, cannot imagine living without today…and these are not in any particular order…

 

I tend to feel better inside and out when I’m eating clean and healthy and getting my proper rest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could not imagine not working out at the gym Monday through Friday  – for my sanity, stress relief and for staying in good physical shape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going out to the movie theater (or to a live performance or play) while enjoying my favorite snack!

 

Love me some sushi (and sashimi) at least once or twice a month!

 

Going away on vacation is a way to decompress as well as broaden my horizons

 

Pampering myself – facial, hair, nails, feet and body massage is a must

 

A good glass (or two) of wine after a long, hard week of work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My life is infinitely better when it’s shared with that special someone…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family and Friends are two of the most valuable pieces of my small world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where I would be today without a good church home?!?  Faith is most definitely “the conviction of things not seen”

 

 

My Clean Living Life – Part V

I can’t believe that I am already into my 7th year of clean eating!   MacMillan Dictionary defines clean eating as “a diet that is based on eating whole foods and avoiding processed and refined foods.”  If you were to tell me even 10 years ago that eating clean would be a way of life for me today I would’ve called you crazy (smile)…

Backstory:  In June of 2011, I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer so (post-surgery and during chemotherapy) I started my journey of clean eating.   I have to admit that it has not always been “easy breezy” and, as a matter of fact, it has sometimes been a real struggle because it takes both time and effort to think and eat clean…

 

 

Also, I work on 100% commission in Media Ad Sales so I am on the road alot – that being said, I sometimes don’t have time to eat a healthy, clean lunch.   The quick and easy option (junk food) is not only plentiful, but very appealing  to the eyes.  From time to time I give into those temptations…

 

 

And I have to admit that oftentimes when I am stressed I tend to go crazy in the “snacky” foods department…

 

 

Plus every now and then (mostly weekends) I’ll have bacon and eggs (not exactly clean eating) but certainly comfort food…

 

 

Late night eating is never a good thing but occasionally  I can’t help myself and I give into those delicious satisfying cravings in the middle of the night…

 

 

Thank God for my daily workout regime at the Edge Fitness Club in Hamden, CT…

 

 

And that (God willing) there’s a tomorrow to start over with to try and eat clean, once again (smile).

 

 

 

LJ: Stronger than before…

I just came back from a week-long vacation in Lewes, Delaware so I haven’t been to the gym in a minute and being the active girl that I am, one of the first places I hit was the Edge Fitness Club in Hamden.

At Edge Fitness Clubs I am a member of Edge Strong which is a “team training” program led by the personal trainers.  Edge Strong consists of 5 different types of hourly workouts guaranteed to get you the results you are looking for:   Foundation, Strength, Burn, Speciality and Exclusive.   I work out religiously Monday through Friday in the Edge Strong “Early Bird” workout classes which begin at either 530am or 6am depending on the week day.   I like working out with a team as it helps to keep me motivated and I also like that the workouts are led by Personal Trainers because these trainers tend to keep you from slacking off or not pushing yourself to your true fitness ability.

As it turns out, it’s Labor Day today and like Memorial Day in Connecticut, which signals the unofficial start of Summer, Labor Day signals the unofficial start of Fall.   By this I mean we still have some days left in the month that will feel like Summer (temperature wise) but the early mornings and late nights will start to get a bit nippy…

At the gym, I like to warm up on the machines before class actually begins:

But after just ONE WEEK OFF FROM THE GYM(!) this is more how I start:

However, there’s still hope as by week’s end, LJ, as I am known in the gym, gets her groove back:

And before you know it, I’m back in gym shape and ready to face the challenges of the day (smile).

Yoga Anyone?

As I mentioned before in Cave Girl, I work Monday through Friday on 100% commission in media ad sales, a super stressful, extremely competitive industry.   Consequently, on the weekends (or even some weeknights) I’m on the look-out for new ways to de-stress.

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Yoga has become a new ‘old way.‘  Full Moon Yoga with Gong Meditation that is.  It’s my new go-to when the gym (Edge Fitness in Hamden) although helpful in terms of working up a sweat, building lean muscle, burning calories and fat, etc. still leaves me with a busy head…

 

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At this point I’m looking more for something that helps me to relax to the point of emptying my mind and filling it with good clear thoughts.

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My solution has become Full Moon Yoga with Gong Meditation.  It’s offered once a month at the Yoga Community Center in Hamden, on the Friday closest to the Full Moon. It’s  held from 7pm to 9pm.  It’s wise not to go on a full stomach and light refreshments are served afterwards.  It costs $22 for one session or $60 for three sessions.  Everything takes place on the second floor in a large yellow walled yoga studio with soft lighting and relaxing music.  Mats, blankets and other yoga equipment are provided if you do not have your own.  Quick tip: don’t forget your water bottle.  Kundalini Yoga is practiced in the first hour and the second hour (while you are now lying on your mat, covered in a blanket with your eyes closed) focuses on deep sound healing and relaxation via Gong Meditation.  This is where you hear an actual gong being struck repeatedly for a good hour.  The gong vibrations (after two or more sessions) will cause you to experience deep relaxation.  The goal of  each of these sessions is to “elevate awareness and rebalance your physical, emotional and spiritual bodies.”  I remember the first or second time I went I felt like I was walking on actual clouds for at least an hour after the session (smile).

If interested, you may register online at yourcommunityyoga.com or call them at (203) 287-2277.  Drop-Ins, however, are always welcome.

Namaste!