Day 6

Its a great feeling when you continue a good habit! its like the victory of the vulnerable self against more powerful enemies aka sleep, laziness, fatigue, blah, blah.

I did get up at 6am again today...yahooooo! did all of my three circuits. Guess i never really talked about the circuits. Its the 3-2-1 system - 3 mins of Strength, 2 mins of hard core cardio and 1 min abs. There is no rest, absolutely none, between the circuits. So you just have to keep going. I do sneak in some water, otherwise i feel like i am going to die. But it does get done and once its done, it feels good baby! i did meditate for a little while. it was a little hard to concentrate today but meditation also means a no judgement state. Its ok to think, its more important to let go of it.

Did not get the green juice today, instead i opted for a hot cuppa chai with the hubby while staring out the window at the lake...ahha...these moments are to die for, or to live for!

What did i learn today: i will go with something that Jillian Michaels says in the DVD. Transformation is not a future event. Its a present activity. And all you have to do is to bring the best of yourself in any activity, give it all that you can.

Will just leave it at that....see you guys tomorrow.

Day 5

wow its already Day 5! much better i say and what great learnings from the day as well. I got up half hour early and that made all the difference. its crazy how very small changes can have profound effect on the overall quality of life. i got up at 6 and worked out my 3 circuits of HIIT and then made my green juice for the day.

The day was super crazy and stressful in a weird way but it helped me to know that i had worked out already. otherwise i would stress myself out more by reminding myself. the way my days are going, i think its best for me to finish up working out early in the morning, before the crazy world hits you. you also have a stream of fresh energy in the morning that pushes us to whatever it is we want to...something that severely lacks in the evening, especially during the cruel winters.

Do i see any changes? I don't know what it is but i see my acne receding. which is great because i had started feeling pretty awful about it. i think its the green juice. it could also be the good hormones from the work out. Whatever it is, its good!

Anything i learnt today? Yeah, the significance of small changes. We all can exercise. All of us. But we complain about time. If we can just resolve to sleep half hour early and get up the same way, we can include an effective workout in that time. And imagine what goodness it can bring. But we don't do that. We complain. its always easier to complain than get up half hour early from slumber. its easier when we can push the accountability for our failures to take care of our healths to someone or something else like time or work. It feels good when its not us. But it is us. Everything is us. The buck stops here. Lets own up now!

Day 3 and 4

ok...it seems like the Gods are trying me!! its tough to stick to a challenge people...its tough. 

Day 3 was actually not bad. started my day out with a green juice. What do i put in juice you ask...there is Kale, celery and carrot sticks, blueberries and bananna. i usually put half a banana, because its packed with high fat and although its good for you, i try to cut it into halves. the husband has started getting a glass of my green juice goodness as well! thats what so good about cleansing programs, it rubs off everyone in the family.  I visited the St. Peter's church on the way to work and meditated there for about 10 minutes. I love that place, the silence there is so addictive that i keep going back. 
i am supposed to start working for a new client and thus i wanted to get a few things in order, so rushed back home in the evening, got the stuff done which included a manicure. Worked on only two circuits of the three from the JM program but something is good than nothing. in addition, i managed to grill some salmon too. 
All in all, day 3 was productive but it felt like i had to try too hard. You know what i mean, it was like there was no rhythm to it. 

Day 4 was a shitshow. Started consulting work for a very high profile client and thus needed to commit the whole day and parts of the evening to work. I did start out the day with 10 minutes of some quite meditation. And i was very eager to insert my work out that time as well, but convinced myself that evening is a better time! Of course I got back home at about 7 and all i needed was a cup of hot tea and some comfort snacks(these just kill my programs!) but my body needed it, well it was almost that my soul needed it and i did give in. I didnt want to not work out. So, it was almost 8 and my got myself out of the couch. I did 30 sit ups, a 60 seconds plank hold, 30 squats and 30 tricep rolls. Did i feel like i did enough....No but it was something.

life does get in your way when you resolve to do something but its only when you challenge life and show em that you are serious, it starts to step out of the way...
This week has not been very encouraging, with my periods making me overall pretty tired, the new client and the frigid weather outside. There is just no respite. But i have to keep going, keep going i will do. 

Day 2

Day 2 was a wash out! Yes, its the classical resistance phenomenon that happens when you resolve to do something. I got my periods and hence ensued the cramps that left me debilitated. There was definitely an eagerness to still do some exercise but i just couldn't. After a day full of remorse and guilt,  i finally accepted the situation during my meditation. I also went to my spiritual awareness class to continue my kindergarten in spiritual studies and yes I still got my green juice for today:)...so I am proud of that!

That's life you know...you take what you get and you accept when things don't go your way. We don't give ourselves enough credit for so many things. For example, today was focused on my misfortune and not the two other commitments that i did keep. But now there is awareness, so I am pardoned:)

How do i feel today: I definitely feel better than I felt in the last month. There is a feeling of cleanse inside and a sort of a chutzpah that comes from good input of fuel into the system. Its like the body and soul is smiling back at me and saying...you are doing good. I am feeling good.

That's a good feeling!

Here's to the next 29 days...

Peace. 

Day 1

There are two things I am extremely passionate about - writing and holistic living..well, there are three actually...spending time with my husband, but that's for some other time!

Why am I here: I wanted to present myself with a challenge of pursuing my loves for 30 days. You know how we know whats the right thing to do - exercise regularly, eat more greens, cut down on sugar, meditate, smile more, let go...but there is something thrilling about not doing the right thing. The thrilling part is laziness. Its always easier not to exercise, and the other blah blahs.
I have been no different. I have blamed everything from travelling for work, to moving two apartments, to busy lifestyles, to watching Hose of Cards to not living my best life. And although I am firm believer in living in the NOW, which comes with the disclaimer of acceptance of whatever you are doing at that moment, I am not falling for it. For far too long, I have dreamt of a ripped body. Yes, I love my body and I am extremely grateful that I have been gifted a healthy, functional instrument. But I believe that I sometimes just let it go and this time, I need to prove it to myself.

What am I going to do: For the next thirty days, I am going to exercise everyday, cut down on processed sugar to one tsp a day(for my chai!), meditate for at least 15 minutes, and have one green juice a day. Too much? We'll see. More importantly, I am going to write about it. Not only the changes in my body, my skin and hair but changes mentally. Because what is success but mental peace. This is not for others, as it is for my own monologue.

What results am I looking for: I am looking for definition...in my abs, thighs and most importantly, my arms. My arms have been the one thing that I want to see ripped. at least once in my life. And my skin. I believe my skin is a direct reflection of the imbalance in my life. Its angry and its showing.

What tools am I using: I am starting off today with Jillians Michaels, 30 day shred. Its a 30 minute high intensity interval training program. Yes, I feel like dying when i do it but i feel great when its done. And I have found it effective in the past...just that I never stuck to it.
 My new training shoes. I just spent a bomb on my shoes that I believe(or I would like to) will energize my workouts.
Nutribullet: A Nutribullet a day, keeps the blues away!! It has bought a revolution in our lives and I would like to use it as an aid in my transformation.

My starting out stats: Here's how i look right now
Weight: 117.7lb
Fat%: 23%

So there I go...hope you join in my journey!