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: Check out my blog post: A Place of Desert…(almost) 4years 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.
My good, good work friend and fellow Connecticut blogger, Jamie Taylor (jamieeverafter dot com) inspired me to write this blog today when she recently posted about the things she was not willing to give up in the year 2019. I “liked” her Instagram post because this kind of thinking is the polar opposite of what you expect to hear from anyone in the early days of a New Year.
At any rate, it got me thinking about my own will not give up list for 2019 so here is that list (in no particular order):
Coffee
I cannot leave the house without my coffee – nothing fancy, just a dark roast, completely black with natural sugar does the trick – I tried leaving the house without coffee once and it wasn’t pretty – I seriously thought I was coming down with something (smile).
Edge Strong workouts
I cannot imagine doing what I do for a living without the benefits of a good workout each weekday morning. It is not only a stress reliever but it also keeps me physically fit: Check out my blog post: LJ: Stronger than before…
Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter, Yelp, you name it – I’m on it and loving every minute of it. Check out my blog post: R U Social?
Pampering (hair/feet/nails)
It’s no secret that I have a weekly standing hair appointment at the salon every Saturday morning so getting my nails and/or feet done on a monthly basis is par for the course: Check out my blog post: Put your slippers on…
Wine
I make my living as a TV/Digital/Social Media Account Executive in a highly competitive, pressure-cooker work environment. I do this all on 100 percent commission so a nice glass (or two) of red wine is more than welcome on the weekends – Check out my blog post: 10 things I cannot live without today
Movies
As I’ve posted about before in TVFL, Growing up Hollis my mother Jean would take her 7 children to the movies on Saturdays armed with candy and snacks: Check out my blog post: MovieBuff To this day watching movies on TV, Mobile tablets or even at the theater is a regular pastime.
Salad (with protein)
I absolutely loooooove salad any time of the year – not just the Summertime and I pile my salad with some or all of the following ingredients: romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, fresh veggies, mixed nuts, cheddar cheese, hard boiled eggs, sesame seeds, chick peas, grilled chicken, homemade croutons and low fat dressing. The low fat dressing is a semi-joke considering what goes into building my salads. Check out my blog post: New Haven, CT Fall(ish) eats!
Golf
I finally learned how to play Golf last Summer at Lyman Orchards Golf Center in Golf Fore Women 101 and I must say I’m truly looking forward to the Summer again so I can hit the links with my newfound lady golf friends! Check out my blog post: Ready Fore Golf
Beauty Sleep
Over the years I have alternatively read or heard that a good night’s sleep is overrated and you really don’t need that much rest for your body to function at its best. I disagree. When I get at least 7 hours of sleep at night I tend to be more mentally alert and better able to handle multiple tasks at hand the following day. Check out my blog post: What it means to be a woman of a certain age…
So that’s my list for 2019, how does your list compare?
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 Broadcast 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).
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).
As I mentioned before in Check out my blog post: 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.
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 mind…
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.
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).
Here’s the room where all the magic happens…
If interested, you may register online at yourcommunityyoga.com or call them at (203) 287-2277. Drop-Ins, however, are always welcome.
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