Learning to be a Crockpot in a Microwave World

I have always been one that is going NON-stop!  I have been a mom since I was 17 and as the years have gone on I've always ran, ran, ran constantly.  So much that when I do have "down time" (which believe you me, it's RARE!) I don't know what to do with myself.
This isn't always a good thing.  Because I'm constantly on the go I'm also a "Go-Getter" type of person.  If I commit to something, I will do and do one heck of a job to the best of my ability.  I take on one too many tasks because as I see it, "if I don't step up and do it, who will?"

Well, this unfortunately has run into my Jazzercise Journey.  Since I started thinking about becoming an instructor I wanted to focus more, learn the moves better, take more classes to build my endurance.  Then when I passed the screening, I wanted to get right onto the training and so on.

Recently talking with my main mentor and some other instructors it's been suggested that I take it slow and learn the best to my ability before going to the workshop routine.  With everything else going on in my life (which I've been too busy to even blog about that) they suggested that I take it slow.
My first reaction was, "yeah right!  I started this and damn it, I'm finishing it.  On the date I was originally planned for!  Even if it kills me!"
Then I thought about it.  Talked to Jose about it.  Thought about it.  Talked to a few other instructors about it.  Thought about it.
Honestly, at first I felt like a failure.  Like I'm not good enough or that I don't have what it takes.  But as I thought about it and learned that I really needed to pray about it, God gave me revelation through it.

1) I need to stop putting labels on myself!
Just because I may not be able to do what I'm expected to do to become an instructor RIGHT NOW, doesn't mean that I'm a failure!  It means that I need practice.  That I need to learn more.  That I need to perfect the knowledge that I currently have before pouring into others.
2) It's OKAY!
I will get there and it's okay if it's not tomorrow.  As you know, I've lost some weight.  It didn't happen over night and I also didn't gain it over night.  I have been doing Jazzercise for almost 2 years, that's it!  I can't become an instructor in 3 months and it's OKAY!
3) Slow down!
Our society is such a microwave society.  Everything has to be done ASAP.  We want to know something, we google it.  We want to go somewhere, we map it.  We want to eat something, we heat it up or drive through a Drive Thru and pick it up.  Then eat it in our vehicle!  Everything we do has to be done instantaneously.  It's not how God intended us to be.  Things take time!  Your brain and body are primary examples of that.  We send our kids to school for 13 years and then to college for at least another 4 just to have a career.  We can't expect to learn everything over night.  Noah didn't build the ark over night, it took some time!

Where I'm at right now is in a learning process.  This is a Journey, right!?!
Journey translated means: going from one place to another, usually of some distance.
Now unless I'm on a jet plane with a ticket in hand, I don't think I'll be getting there anytime soon!  So in the mean time, I might as well enjoy the trip...RIGHT!?!?
I need to slow down and let the process take it's time like a wonderful roast in a crockpot!

On another note...I was working out to my training DVD on Wednesday and Adriana was home with me.  She was on the couch with my phone recording me, without me knowing!  I was kind of irritated at first that she recorded me but after watching it I was actually glad.  I was able to really see myself.  Let me tell ya....there was NOTHING purty about them videos!  HAHAHAHAHA  Mama's got some work to do!
But I'm doing it and my family is AMAZINGLY encouraging!  There is a song, All Around The World by Paulina Rubio.  I swear to you, it's going to kill me!!!!!!!!!!!
ANYWAYS....I would keep stopping during the song and Adriana would tell me, "Come on Ma, you can do it!  Don't think about it, just do it.  Practice makes perfect."
Ant and Jose have been encouraging me also.  It truly puts tears in my eyes!

So this Saturday is my very first District Practice.  It is on Movement Technique.  I am TERRIFIED!  I've been warned that I am going to have my butt handed to me!  I am trying to stay focused and strong but all I can think about is, "I'm not going to make it!  I'm going to be like the BL contestants and faint.  Why am I doing this?"
I know it's all negative thoughts and I know I shouldn't be thinking like this but I am.  I need to learn to focus and know that, this is going to be a lot of hard work.  But I CAN do it and I WILL get through it!  There is a reason why I'm on this journey and I'm birthing something great!  One thing about birth, there is NO backing out or stopping!
So until I'm done...I will continue!

I'll try to update Sunday or Monday how it goes.  Until then know...YOU TOO can do whatever you are facing!

Huge Hugs and Love!

Spotlight on progress

If these pictures aren't testimonies to what hard work, determination and Jazzercise does for you then I don't know what is.
I am beyond proud of my Sissy By Law and her journey. She has done amazing! No surgery, no shakes, no pills, no easy way of doing it.
Hard work, depriving yourself, working your butt off, keeping focussed, forgiving yourself and pushing forward is what has gotten us both where we are.
I wouldn't want to be on this journey with anybody else. Love you my Sissy By Law & I'm UBBER proud of you!!!!

How are you recovering?

Are you properly recovering after you workout?
Ideally, you should try to eat within 60 minutes of the end of your workout and make sure you include some high-quality protein and complex carbohydrate.

Here is some great information:
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/food-rebuild-muscle-after-exercise-3987.html

I always have something different and include fruit with my protein. Recently I found Fage Greek Yogurt. One cup contains 130 cal and 23 grams of protein, without all the added sugar other yogurts have in theirs. I add my own FRESH fruit to my yogurt to get the best benefit from it.
Here is today's mix. 1/2 cup Fage with 12 raspberries and a squeeze of lemon. Yumm!

Chasing The High

Have you heard that quote, "She's chasing the high."
It's typically used with drug addicts or alcoholics.  But I have officially claimed it!
NO, I'm not doing drugs.
NO, I'm not drinking.
BUT, what I am doing is chasing my food addiction high.
Jose and I took the kids to the drive in Tuesday night.  Before we left I stopped at the Dollar Tree and bought candy, a lot of candy!  I bought Ant, Dom and Dee's requested candy along with the candy that I thought Jose and I would want to munch on.  On our way out to the drive in we stopped at Little Ceasars to buy some $5 pizza's with what else...Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce!  Makes my mouth drool just thinking of it!

We got to the drive in and got situated.  I fed all the munchkins so that I can sit and enjoy my hot pizza with my garlic butter dipping sauce.  OH YEAH...I was one happy Mama!!!  Until piece number three.  I felt horrible!  I wanted to vomit and get it out of my belly.  But I knew that would bring other issues and I really didn't want to vomit all that yummy goodness I just devoured.  So I drank 2 bottles of water.  After all, it would flush it down to where I could next have some CANDYYYYYY!
OH YEAH, first it was a Red Vine, then I opened the box of Sugar Babies for Jose and had to have a handful.  Then the Chewy Sweet Tart Minis I bought Anthony...Hey, they were tiny and I needed a tart after the sweets.  Then my box...Whoppers!  I had a few OK, I had about 6!
I was chasing that high!  I wanted something but nothing was getting it.  Out of all of the junk I ate, nothing got me to where I wanted to be.  I could have kept going but my body was screaming at me from the inside out!  It was horrible.  I felt lousy for the rest of the night, even after about 6 bottles of water.  The next day I woke up with my sciatica flared up and my sinus inflamed.  I couldn't work out, and still haven't this week.  So I knew I had to do something right.  I pounded the water all day on Wednesday and ate tons of veggies and fruits trying to flush my body of all the toxins.
Yes, TOXINS!  Our bodies weren't made for all of the processed food we give it.  The fattening foods we put into it.  The grease we expect it to digest.  Like I've said before, I don't deprive my body but it all has to be done in moderation, not gorge!

So what could I have done better?
1) Pack & Prepare- apples with almond butter, grapes, grape tomatoes, raisins dipped in yogurt and frozen, popcorn with no butter.

2) Pre-thought MY dinner- I could have made a salad and taken that with me.  Or even cut up veggies that I could have eaten BEFORE the pizza.  Then I would only have needed to eat 1 piece, opposed to the 3 I ate.  It would have even benefited my family to have a salad or veggies before dinner.

3) Not buying as much candy- I still have 4 boxes of candy in my pantry.  I didn't need to buy all of that candy.  My kids nor Jose eat it.  It'll sit in there for a while until I throw it out.  Actually , Jose did finish off the sugar babies last night and I think Adi ate some red vines.  But I didn't need to buy all that candy.

There is SO much that goes into this whole learning to live better.  I have to remember to think before I act, just like in any other area of my life.
Just like the quote says below, "Old habits die hard.  But the good news is, they do die." ~JM

It's Officially Official!!!!!

I knew I nailed it on Saturday but I got my confirmation email today!!!!
I'm so excited. I can't believe this is truly happening, it is a little surreal. Now for the real work to begin.
Here it is...

Huge food accomplishment

This Friday and Saturday, Jose and I went out of town to celebrate our 17 year wedding anniversary!!!  It was SO nice, just to get away.
We went to dinner Friday night.  We stopped at Chili's on our way out to our first destination.  Typically I will order anything with pasta, cream, fried, fatty, you get the picture.  Well, browsing the menu I saw a new Mango Salsa Salmon (I think that's what it was).  I told Jose, I think I was going to get that.  He wanted the same thing, which is typical when it comes to seafood.  He always chooses it over anything else (except steak).  I was kind of sad for a minute that I wasn't getting pasta or something more fattening.  After all, I was on my anniversary celebration weekend.  I should be going all out, right!?!?!
WRONG!  I need to be making more conscious decisions at all times no matter where I'm at or what I'm doing!
Saturday we woke up late and took our time getting ready and heading out for the day.  I know now I should have packed some food for me to eat.  I actually knew when I was packing that I should have but just didn't...live and learn.  It wasn't until 1pm that we left the hotel and I hadn't eaten since the night before.  Hungry was an understatement at that point.  We knew there was a Starbucks next door to the hotel and we also knew that was going to be our first stop.  We needed some coffee!!!  Jose ordered his coffee and a piece of berry cake thing.  I actually stood there and observed the calorie content of each thing.  Asked the barista if they had nutritional facts on a few of my choices and what they were made of. Unfortunately he wasn't too helpful and they didn't have the info in store.  But I made the best choice I could at the moment.  I was pretty proud of myself that I stopped and took the time to make an "educated" decision.  I got my muffin and coffee and off we went.
We planned on going to lunch and knew we wanted sushi!  So off on the hunt we went.  We finally found a WONDERFUL little gem tucked away by an Albertsons and a bakery and another Mexican food place.  Went in and looked at the menu.  Unfortunately they didn't have an all you can special but they did have bentos!  There was an older gentleman sitting next to us that gave us a yummy bento tip and so we ordered it along with a sushi roll.  Jose and I ended up splitting a salmon and shrimp sushi roll and a bento box consisting of prime rib teriyaki, tempura, sashimi, a super yummy salad and a few mixed veggies.
We literally split it all and I was surprisingly full and content.  We used to go to sushi places and I can't even tell you how many rolls we would I would put down in a single sitting!  
Later that night we ended up at Downtown Disney and I KNEW we were going to be eating at The Jazz Kitchen I actually made reservations the night before we couldn't keep because Jose was late getting home.  Anyway, I SO wanted the Blackened Chicken Carbonarra!!!  I kept drooling over it and mentally finding excuses as to why I should eat that dish.  It's had to impress my pallet and I KNEW this dish would have done it!  I talked with the waitress and she agreed, if I wanted to be 'WOW-ED' this was the dish.  Well I also told her I needed to be a "good girl" and eat something with a lower calorie content.  She suggested the Pecan Crusted Salmon, which I looked at but then thought...NAAAAHHHH.
Well, I ordered it and it was divine !!  I was SO happy I went with the salmon.  Not only because it tasted AMAZING but the calorie count had to have been at least a few hundred calories less than the other choice and the salmon is so much better for you.  We did order the banana's foster and I did have a Jorge's Land Mine (Moonshine grain whisky, rum, vodka, gin, midori, sweet and sour).  But over all, it was about the choices I was making.  Being conscious of what I was choosing and making the right choices.  

Jazzercise update: I have been working out this week.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  But I've been trying to focus on my arms like Tana showed me.  Being aware of my moves, exaggerating certain moves and being BIGGER...HAHAHAHA
I went up on the stage and did one of my favorite songs right now.  The instructor and I BOTH forgot the routine...HAHAHAHA It was hilarious!  Thank God Rebecca was in the back guiding us because we were both lost.  It is SO hard for me to start on my left side!  I sweat like a crazed lunatic and I just think it's hilarious!  People looking at me makes me feel so off, I really don't like it but I know I will get through all of this.  It hasn't really kicked in yet, nerves wise, that Saturday is the day.  I'm grateful for that because I'm getting sleep.  

Oh, I almost forgot!  I have been wanting to get my nose pierced again for a while but don't want to just go do it.  Jose and I were going to go get piercings for our anniversary but never did.  So I told Jose that if I pass this Saturday I want to go get my nose done.  We will see, but I really want to get it done.  It'll be a significance of a milestone.  Then once I become an instructor I want to get a tattoo.  Not sure what yet but I know it will come to me.  So, make sure you look for a picture...it'll indicate if I passed or not.

Until later....be conscious!!!

I'm baaack!

I had to take a hiatus from blogging. I seem to get excited over things and then over focus on the one thing and not on others.
Well, I am learning balance! We will see how long it lasts. Hopefully a long time, I need to stay focused.

Anywho, I have a Jazzercise update!
I have my Movement Screening in ONE WEEK!!!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
I'm so nervous! I want to do good, I want to pass and I want to start moving forward to become an instructor. The feed back from my peers is SO AWESOME! I've had people approach me and encourage me and cheer me on. It means SO much to me!
Today I met with Tana. I think it went well. I seem to have short limbs (not new news to me) and so I need to learn to really exaggerate my movements, especially in my arms. I've been told I need to up my intensity, which I'm really trying to do. There are times during my workout I want to drop down to lower intensity or slow down. But I'm not allowing myself. I literally talk to myself and have to stay on track. I'm feeling it and I'm feeling it get easier. Now I have to work on my arms and certain movements to make sure I'm learning right. Tana went over notes with me and showed me some things. I'm really getting excited!!!
Jose has been getting side jobs and my parties have doubled what I've been doing. So the money is coming in. It's amazing how its all working out! It all seemed like it wasn't going to happen but I now see the light.
I'm super excited! I plan on keeping up on here more. I'll try to post before next Saturday but if not, I'll post after to keep all of my followers, cheerleaders and fans up to date on my journey!

Oh I almost forgot. Delayna snapped a pic of Tana and I working. I'm up on stage. Thought I'd share.