Where is my blanket?

Hello again and happy June. I know everyone has been anxiously awaiting my monthly blog on the topic of wellness. I am extremely excited about this one – which is … drum roll please…….SLEEP. I have always loved to do it and find as I get older, it does not love me like I love it. My relationship with sleep has been complicated over the years but I am optimistic that we will be back to where we used to be… at least I hope 😊. Just to refresh everyone’s memory (including my own), I started writing about my journey to health and wellness that I embarked on over a year ago and am still uncovering each and every day. I thought discussing components of that lead us down the healthy path made a ton of sense. So… I have explored eating (always a fan favorite and very confusing), exercise, relationships with others and the last being a sense of purpose. With summer upon us nothing is a better follow-up than snoozy time which is more of a palatable goal to improve.

When I was young, I had no problem sleeping and looked forward to my bedtime. Oh, those days when nothing was significant enough on my mind that I could just succumb to rest. I remember saying, I wish I could be a professional sleeper. Had I chosen that path as a career, I would have been fired and unemployed at about 35 years of age. I long for the days of being a blank slate again, shallow, not a deep thinker to enjoy REM (rapid eye movement) – ha-ha. As I have become a serial pod cast/audio book listener I am noticing sleep is having its moment. Research has been conducted in this area and there is a strong link between good sleep improving our brain performance, mood, and health. It recharges our cognitive abilities and alertness. And it really makes sense, we are like electronic devices and the OG needs to be recharged. Our battery life is limited and a daily plug in is required.

Several years back, my good friend Laura introduced me to the Oura Ring. She is always an early adopter and keeps me informed on the “must” have technology. I had not heard of it but her endorsement was good enough for me. I quickly bought the ring and membership (it is not cheap as I find with my dear friend’s recommendations usually – she has expensive taste). It is a band you wear on your first finger otherwise known as your “forefinger” (had to look that up). It has a bunch of sensors in it and has a vast number of capabilities to measure variables of sleep. I also learned just recently that Oura employees can monitor other things too. There was some functionality that was not working on my ring and when I sent in a complaint, they fired back that my hands are colder than normal and I should consider wearing gloves (not a practical solution for me especially in the summer 😊). You know what they say – cold hands, warm heart, ok maybe that is not a thing but it is hard to be told you have frosty appendages . Anyways, back to the storyline, Oura has gamified sleep and simplified it by breaking it down into categories such as readiness, sleep, activity, and resilience. A future feature being introduced is cardio health/ age (coming soon – although I had a sneak peek and I am -1 year from my actual age.) My heart is pumping like a 57 year old – not totally inspiring but everything is an opportunity 😊.

Every morning, I wake up and quickly look at my scores – similar to anticipation of the new Connections hint. I wait as the screen calculates my data to inform me on sleep quality– I mean you would think I could figure out based on how I feel but noooo…. I must let an app tell me – kind of lame. I instantly scroll through the results like total sleep, efficiency, REM, and breathing regularity. The last one I especially pay attention to as I have caught myself in an open mouth snore that sounds a little like sleep apnea – yikes. It is a horrifying revelation and knocks me down to the reality that I am an old person. Breathing regularity is my biggest opportunity to improve and I am committed to moving out of the good category to optimal. I hope this is feasible in the near future. Now in regard to the readiness category, I typically have higher scores as it reflects your resting heart rate and recovery from the proceeding day. However, if I choose to exercise or do other naughty things close to bedtime the night before – it messes up my next day score. I have weighed my options and actions knowing that my ratings will plummet. This is a real Sophie’s choice (not really ) – pay now or pay later as they say. I am little embarrassed by this but need to be honest with my people.

In the quest to improve my sleep, I have incorporated day naps which was something in the past that I would NEVER do. I was actually very judgy of people who did. I have completely changed my tune and I love them now. I take a 30 minute nap with my favorite side kick pug, Ella, a few times a week. I especially like using the Calm app and tune into the take a nap series. I am instantly whisked away by the soothing voice of the narrator to different settings like enjoying a siesta in Mexico, refreshing nap on the couch or painting with Bob Ross. It starts out with a relaxing opener; nature sounds and then finally being awoken by birds chirping – it is really nice. It is just the right amount of time and I can honestly say I am recharged and ready to go. It also registers on my Oura Ring and improves my sleep score which is an added bonus and keeps me in the game (my competitive side coming out😊).

For all the positives I have mentioned previously, there are negative aspects you need to be cautious of with the Oura Community. I was in a meeting with a group of colleagues who also wear the ring. I was not feeling all that great as I did not sleep well the night before. I was asked in the meeting what my sleep score was. When I mentioned 70 which is low for me, I received an unsympathetic response and an obvious eye roll. I WAS A VICTIM OF SLEEP SHAMING and it did not feel fabulous. Well, I guess there is always a downside to joining the Oura cult. Overall, it is fun seeing others wearing the ring and sharing their experiences too.

Well back to the big wrap-up. I have been working hard to improve the quality of my sleep which has been a bit of a yoyo ride. I have been making progress doing the generic advice given. That is powering down devices about an hour before bed, writing to-do lists so you do not worry about things during the night, eliminating food close to bedtime that gives me indigestion (that is tomato products or anything heavy). Also, I have been using nice lotion, making sure my bed is made well, temperature is cool and it is dark in the room and I have I have a humidifier with aromatherapy. As I lay out this ritual, it is quite involved – did not consciously realize how much work it takes to set the stage – but worth it. A good night’s sleep helps me think and operate better. I am sharper, more efficient with workouts and daily tasks. I am. re focused, strategic, feel younger and vibrant. For so many years, sleep was considered for the weak and functioning on minimal sleep was a badge of honor. Let me just say, it is so out of style and not good for your health, performance, your family, or employer. Making sleep a priority helps you excel at what you do, just ask Arianna Huffington, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Albert Einstein (kind of dead). I strive to be part of this crew mentioned. Ok. time for me to power down and get ready for bed – sweet dreams to everyone 😊. P.S. – not a paid sponsor for Oura or Calm – but open to it if offered 😊

Purpose – My Isabelle

One contributing factor to longevity is having a purpose and being able to articulate it as a guiding principle as you live your life. So, as I think about my own health and wellness, I can honestly say I was put on this earth to raise and guide my daughter Isabelle. According to many ancient cultures such as Native Americans, Africans and Tibetans – souls choose their parents and families much before their conception happens on earth. It brings me comfort and I hope it is true. I would like to dedicate this blog to my beautiful Isabelle who will be graduating from Michigan State University on Saturday.

Isabelle was born in April 2002 via C-section and because I was so sick from the anesthesia, I was conscious just long enough to know she was healthy, had all her fingers and toes and no port wine stains (an irrational fear given to me by my co-worker Sandy). There are pictures from her birthday showing Robin and family members holding Isabelle with loving pride and I was nowhere to be found – ha-ha. When I awoke the next day, she was brought to me and the nurses shared with glee that Isabelle was the first baby they saw who drank 2 ounces of formula. Not shocking to me knowing our family history and love for food – she was definitely our kid.

Isabelle was a sweet natured baby who was frequently passed around for cuddling in the family and it made me very happy that there was a lot of love around her. My first few years were a blur as she was a really bad sleeper and would wake up constantly in the night wanting her milky milk (which was that gross soy formula that smelled awful). As I went to work feeling like a zombie, she would hang out with her dad and they became besties. He was a stay at home dad, taking her to all those classes and activities that suburban parents must mandatorily do. Everyone would comment – well we know who her daddy is – since she was the mini version of him. I felt like a surrogate but honestly, she was so darn cute, I was glad that she resembled Robin.

I had an established career that was involved so most of my time with Isabelle was relegated to the weekends. We would go to the zoo every Saturday and had our routine, the outdoor play area, an animal or two, a snack and then a train ride to the front of the zoo. Isabelle was into American Girl, we would play with her dolls, and I would make up voices including relevant dialogue and she would set up scenes and situations to keep it original and fun. I spent a lot of time rocking her to sleep or sitting in her room waiting for her to eventually drift off (which seemed like eternity). I had to figure out how to get out of the chair and walk across the floor without any squeaks or noises that would wake her up. I was convinced I acquired skills to slither out of any situation unheard or noticed from my advanced silent escape methods.

Isabelle and her dad spent most of their time together bonding over geography and world events. They would play with the globe and at an early age, Isabelle loved learning about different people and cultures. She had an odd obsession with North Korea and water buoys while other kids played soccer. Robin and Isabelle enjoyed history, politics, Legos, Thomas the Train, video games and wrestling – everything I did not like. Although I felt left out at times, I was really grateful of their relationship and closeness. Little did I know that the universe had a bigger plan and it was by design that Robin was meant to be the primary parent at the beginning of her life.

Robin volunteered at Isabelle’s school and guided her through those years. He taught her to drive and how to improve her basketball game. He would be the one to comfort her when she was having a tough day and to drop her off when she went to summer camp. He was also the one who received a call from camp in the middle of night just because she felt she needed to speak with him. That would be the last conversation she had with her dad. I remember Robin telling me they spoke and had a really nice discussion and I was jealous.

We always try to protect our kids and want them to have the perfect life. I think as a parent, you want them to have it better than you did. I unfortunately could not safe guard her from the most profound loss of our lives. But as I look at it now with less trauma, I think this was our path. I was supposed to step in more and we were meant to grow closer. I would not have wished in a million years and would have done anything to prevent this situation but it has truly been a blessing in a weird way for me at least.

Isabelle and I had to get to know each other and my parenting style was much different than her father’s. She was so like him and we had only a few similarities – it was odd. But as the years went on, we have grown together and enjoy a very tight relationship that I cherish. I have learned so much from Isabelle and I hope she feels the same. We had to exercise a lot of resilience, patience and listening to get aligned. Times were not always easy but necessary to develop the bond that we share today.

I am beyond proud of Isabelle. She has always been an excellent student and not once have I needed to get involved to monitor or motivate her to do her work. She is a top student, having been on the deans list every semester at MSU – James Madison College. She is also involved in student organizations and activities from JMC Senate to a founding member of the MSU Weightlifting Club. She has a love for techno music and mixing tunes in a creative way. Often on weekends, she will be dj’ing for a party or off to a concert.

She is ambitious too and passionate about policies that benefit all cultures and those who have been the underserved. She has already traveled the world from trips in the US to Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Oman, Dubai, and another country that I cannot remember the name. She has studied and taken the time to learn about history, people, and language. She has interned with the State Department and will be heading out to Azerbaijan this summer. She has built an impressive resume at a young age. In addition, she has been resourceful and helping me keep the college expenses affordable by receiving multiple scholarships and awards. She was asked by MSU to represent students at a donor’s engagement for alumni in Arizona. I am sure I have missed many things; the bottom line is this gal has made the most of her college experience. Considering that she lost a full year from Covid and being delayed getting on campus.

Isabelle and I have a mutual love for spas and vacationing together. Some of my fondest memories are of us lounging at the pool, having deep conversations, or working out together. We both enjoy early dining otherwise known as “linner.” (lunch and dinner) and going to bed early. WE enjoy baking – like perfecting the chocolate chip cookie or cinnamon bun. We also made the most of Covid and being in lockdown, setting up a gym and exercising together following Beach Body on demand classes.

All those accomplishments and interests are great but the area where I am most proud is that she is a very grounded and an empathetic person. She is an attentive friend and girlfriend. She goes out of her way to be there for the people in her life she cares about. Isabelle is humble and doesn’t need to be showy or brag – she is very real. She is emotionally intelligent and is able to make sound decisions weighing the short and long term impact. On a lighter side, she calls me every day wanting to see her puppy – Ella. I find myself succumb to facetime sessions where the camera is focused on Ella as Isabelle barks out orders to me – scratch her tush, play with her ears …. I feel like I am on that Fans Only page or something. Also, Isabelle likes to go to the beat of her own drum. She has never been interested in fads, following others … she tends to be more a trend spotter – which I think is super cool and love the confidence she exudes.

Anyways as we come to graduation on Saturday, I am really excited about her next phase and the new experiences and people in her life. I feel it in my bones that Isabelle is going to have some sort of positive effects on the world as she sees that people have more in common than differences. I hope she is the glue that helps us elevate peace and enjoyable lives for everyone. I am excited to visit her be it in Washington DC or some obscure country she finds herself in. I wonder what her future holds and how I may help her navigate those waters. I am just bursting at the seams of all the potential she possesses – the world is her oyster. Not really sure what that means but I believe it means she has the world by the balls.

So back to purpose and health as I started this blog. I have had meaningful experiences, accomplishments, love, and losses along the way. However, my greatest purpose and fuel comes from my daughter. Being able to ride side saddle and see how her life enfolds with mommy guardrails fills my cup. It gives me a reason to be hopeful, grateful, and engaged for the future. Thank you to my beautiful Isabelle that provides me meaning and joy each and everyday. Wishing you only the best – may all your dreams come true. Love you to the moon and back. I know I speak for you dad too who is always with us protecting and guiding you – just in a different room.

My Peeps

I have been thinking about people in my life recently and how they enable my wellness journey. According to Google (do you like my referencing methodology??), healthy relationships sow the seeds of well-being. They strengthen your immune system, allow you to live longer, and make you more resilient to stress. Well-being strengthens our relationships. Those who feel healthy, happy, and content in their lives make better friends, coworkers, lovers, and life partners. This definition is spot on and I recognize the power of the community is critical for our existence.

I guess my curiosity about relationships for this post started several weeks ago when Isabelle (my daughter) returned to Michigan State University after having a great spring break. It occurred to me that she would be graduating in less than two months and starting her next phase – which I call adulting (a technical term of course😊). I have not been the kind of mom that wished she stayed young forever… it has been fun watching her get her sea legs and be ready to conquer the world. But yet, I was getting faklempted (Yiddish word for choked up, emotional) as I realized we would both be entering a new chapter of life. She, most likely landing in DC, starting her career and then me … WELL NOT SURE YET and I had not given it much thought until now (yikes). A small panic crept in… as I do not have another kid to obsess over to divert this feeling. This is when having only one child is less than ideal… maybe I can adopt quickly(just kidding – that ship sailed)???However, the whole point of this paragraph, I am admitting, I put a few too many eggs in the MOTHER basket (which I swore to myself I would never do) …and now I need to branch out to reignite some of my relationships to fill an imminent void. 🕳️

For those that know me, I have always been an introvert and am very satisfied and content just staying home with Ella, my pug (she just gets me – we complete each other – ha). I have also felt fortunate that I have acquired an eclectic group of friends that are scattered across our great nation. Thank goodness for technology these days so when I am feeling lonely, I can just text, jump on Facetime which works out perfectly. I do have a few friends that live close to me but due to my social laziness, the opportunity to see anyone face to face is rare.

One thing I have noticed about relationships is that I am very much a situational girl. I mean, not all friendships serve the same purpose. I was not overtly conscious of the unique filing system I have created over the last decade. Basically, I bucket my friends/family in several categories to meet my varying personal needs. And as I have gotten into energy healing, I recognize now that my organization methods align with the chakra system (energy force) to satisfy when I have deficiencies in certain areas. As a quick tutorial, we have seven main chakras (spinning energy centers/wheels) located in our bodies running from the tailbone up through the top of the head. The lower chakras represent the experience on earth in in our human bodies and then as energy moves up the spine to our eyes and top of the head – it signifies our connection with spirituality. So, after that not so in depth overview of the chakras, here is my secret filing cabinet that becomes a source of direction for me in a time of need as I decide who would be the perfect friend to call.

Root/Core ❤️ – This chakra represents safety and stability. When I am feeling shaky in this area, I turn to those who have known me for a long time. These are friendships where we can be completely open and honest with no repercussions. We focus our discussion on the good old days and they are the best for affirmations that everything is going to be ok.
Sacral/ Pleasure 🧡 – This energy zone is about sensuality and creativity. When I need a little more of that, I am quick to hook up with this crew, the ones that want to go out a whoop it up. You want to rock it out – give these folks a call. Yah baby – let’s party.
Solar Plexus/ Confidence 💛 – Our energy wheel is about personal power. When I am feeling depleted, I turn to this friend group to build me up. These are my pals who have worked with me, know my capabilities and the business world. They direct me to plan, move forward and stop whining.
Heart/Love 💚 – This chakra is about self-love and cannot be handled by just anyone. This need is reserved for my boyfriend and family who exude love, compassion, and empathy. These are the folks that you want to spend time with when you f-cked up and need to feel worthy again.
Throat/Truth 💙 – This area focuses on communication and speaking the truth. When you want to have an honest conversation and get in tune with your center. I have a few friends that are bold and can give it to me straight. Not for the feign of hearts that is for sure.
Third Eye/Crown 💜 – Last but not least, these chakras are attuned with source, spirits, and the universe. I am happy to report that I also have spiritual friends and we can spend hours together tinkering with meditations, journey and exploring our life purpose. We talk about fairies, spirit animals and guides to manifest our desires.

Now, I must be careful with the mix of my chakra friends because pairing them up could lead to catastrophe (not really – just trying to add drama). G-d forbid, if I mix my Sacral/Pleasure group with my Throat/Truth friends, there could be a buzz kill moment. Say we are all out being silly and then out of nowhere, my Throat friend drops a reality bomb during the most inopportune moment, wrecking a lighthearted night. In another situation, turning to my Third Eye/Spiritual gals to solve a Root/Safety issue could also lead to frustration. If my car breaks down, I need immediate practical help AND not healing (ha-ha just kidding). Let’s just say, the mix matters such as a cocktail or a finely tuned recipe. Just to be clear, I love my friends – I was just trying to be semi funny cause this post seemed a little too serious. 😊

And then I would be remiss without mentioning Ella, my pug, who has her very own category. Let’s just say she is my bestie. Yes, I am the crazy chick carrying my dog around the neighborhood on a daily basis. But quite honestly these are my favorite times of all. Ella grounds me and also taps me into the universe. She really enhances my life and provides me unconditional love (although … if I was honest her love is conditional, because she can play me for a cookie and a treat like no one else business). Smart and adorable … a winning combination.🐾

Ok, here is the big wrap-up. As human beings, we are wired to be part of a village. Wellness really involves more than diet, exercise but who you spend your time with … your community. Life is a balancing act that we never quite get perfect. I do know that relationships matter on this journey – you can’t do it alone! And because of all the wonderful people in my life, I feel supported, loved and damn grateful. May I also add that all my friends have an enthusiastic sense of humor and will be curious what category they land in, which I will never reveal!!! It’s all good – peace and love to all!! ✌️& 💕

celyFIT Mafiosa

I have a confession; I am part of the mafia… but not the bad kind where I shake people down for money… it is MORE of a healthy gang, led by our spirited fitness leader Cely. As I have been on the quest for wellness, a big part of my success has involved celyFIT studio where I have danced, lifted weights, stretched, Pilates and the occasional (as in very infrequent) yoga. A big component of staying in balance is exercise and as most of us know, motivation to get in the car and actually make it to a class tends to be the biggest struggle. 🚙However, I am so grateful that I have found this place as I look forward to giving it my all each time through shaking, shimming and hip thrusts. There is a bit of magic here that I have not experienced before and I have been a member of many many exercise clubs and feel confident on this matter. So let me pull back the curtain and share with you the power of celyFIT… and the best part of all is… you too can join if you are in the Metro Detroit area and want to experience it yourself (YES that was a shameless plug – celyfit.com – West Bloomfield, MI – Orchard Lake/Maple – now I am done 😊)

I have always liked music and dance. In the 80’s and 90’s I was very into the aerobic scene and the high spirit associated with this era. I loved leotards, leg warmers and all the bright colors that accompanied the vibe.🌈 Although I could not rock the obscenely high leg and tush exposure, I did my best to subtly put my own twist on that style. However, the aerobic fad changes as most do and it was hard to find a nice replacement in the 21^st century (I guess Jazzercise was around – but seemed geared for a more senior crowd – just did not have enough punch for me). So, to my delight, I saw a Group-On to try out Zumba about five years ago, and I eagerly went for my first class. I remember being greeted by Cely who had an essence about her that was infectious and welcoming. I was confident that I would be decent since I had a long history of aerobics as stated above. The music started, Cely guided the class, counting in a hybrid of Portuguese/English and I did not understand a word she said but I got the general gist (still have that problem today). It was an hour of tremendous energy, samba-like dance moves to cool songs generally sung in another language and I would pick up a word here and there that sounded like English like Zumba, bitch, f-er etc.… 🙊 Needless to say, I sucked bad, guzzled a whole bottle of water, burnt 600+ calories and was absolutely hooked. I had come to realize that Cely had a long standing crew of students who had been with her for years so it was reassuring with a little time and practice… I too would fit in and I did and do now. Although I cannot quite get the moves to look like Cely, my head rolling and hip-hop stances sometimes look like I am stroking out and 911 should be called. 🚑 Yet… the beauty is that I see new people start with the same fear as I had, stepping into a well-choreographed machine, and watching them get better each day, feel more self-assured … like a baby bird getting its confidence to fly.

Although the classes are fun and you always walk away invigorated, the fairy dust of this place is the people and sense of belonging that is created in this environment.🧚 We have all types of folks – it is truly a melting pot of… young, old (I may be pushing this end ☹), one guy🕺, various backgrounds, ethnicities, fitness levels and it just works as everyone is part of a team. In this day and age with all the conflict in the world, it is unique to step into a space where everyone feels like they can be themselves and it is encouraged. All the instructors are part of this family atmosphere and bring their own personalities and spin to the classes, which mixes things up and keeps it spicy.

Ok… back to me, one of the uncomfortable truths about losing weight and wellness is that… 75% is what you put in your mouth.🤬 For a long time, I thought if I just worked out like a maniac, I could maintain a steady weight and it is just not effective (I hate this reality – but I have to be honest). However, exercise is the joy that is brought to you as it affects the chemistry in your body. It releases endorphins, makes you happy, determined and promotes a sense of strength. Exercise helps me solve problems and be more creative… my best ideas have come when I am out on a run … it is my fuel. I will also say, since I have lost weight – it is so doable now. I have more bounce, stamina, feel younger and yes … even a side plank is achievable by me (never could do that before). The thing is having an extra 75 pounds strapped on my back (that is the equivalent to a small annoying person🎒) really built up my endurance and made it more enjoyable as the weight dropped off. Now when I take a walk, I can easily carry my 20 pound pug around as a companion without a thought.

I guess my point to all of this is that exercise was key for my motivation and continues to keep me sane and balanced. I feel indebted to the celyFIT team who always makes me feel part of this community, encouraged, and praised me along this journey. I found a little bit of heaven, through curiosity and a coupon. I also know that there are no coincidences, and it was meant to be part of my story as it enfolds. I hope everyone can find a place as I have, to help you live your joy, become stronger and believe anything is possible… Thank you to my Mafiosa crew 😎and I will end with the only God Father Quote I remember – I thought I was out and they pull me back in. I hope that I was able to get you motivated to jump back into your workout routine and experience the power of movement as it makes a big difference.💯

Refresh and Renew

In my quest for wellness, I decided to take my favorite girl, Isabelle, for a long overdue vacation to Miraval Resort in Austin, Texas over the holiday break. One area where we are in total alignment is spa-ING and relaxation and so we were all in to spend some time together and refresh for 2024. Nothing helps you more than when you are in a self-contained area promoting healthy eating, exercise, learning and of course endless time getting decadent services such as sound-bowl massage or hot oil treatments – slather me up and bring it on – woo hoo!! Miraval really encourages guests to unplug and set an intention for the time spent on the property. Isabelle claimed relaxation as her goal, while I wanted to manifest 2024 and my next steps in this wellness journey.

The weather was sunny and maybe 60 degrees, I decided this would be a perfect time to write the blog in front of the serenity pool … sounds so peaceful right? Of course, as I began to get into the zone, there was a lady talking way too loud for a very long time – I mean come on??? 🤨 I contemplated giving a dirty look or yelling something her way … then realized that would be very anti chill so I put in my ear buds and continued on…. Anyways, back to our planned week, we were able to arrange a schedule ahead of time and I wanted to mix it up with a bunch of unique experiences that we would not have typically done at home. We found ourselves running from class to class (ok… maybe walking to each session including a pit stop to the café to get a funky tea, turmeric shot or yummy date/coconut ball snack – a real pick me up). ⚡️Throughout the week, Isabelle and I went to Pilates, yoga, ran hills and drills, cardio drumming, belly dancing, samba, crystal meditation, stretch and seminars around living a balanced life, spirituality, tarot cards and yada yada yada. The days would cap off with treatments like facials, massages, reflexology, ayurveda wraps, hot tub, and saunas… pure heaven ( a girl could get used to this type of life really quick😊)

As fun as all these classes were, the most meaningful experience included Isabelle and I taking a nighttime reconnection hike with Sunshine from the Karankawa Kadla Clan. Her people are indigenous to this land and she weaved the strong relationship between all living beings within nature. They believe that trees, plants, rocks, birds and even the moon are people. We all have connections to the land and that there is no death as we conventionally think of it, but transitions. A tree goes through different stages as do people and then our bodies return to earth and serve a purpose for the greater good– such as providing nutrients to other life forms. The earth is sacred and there is an ecosystem that sends support and sustenance to these beings to ensure the collective thrives. We are all energy and connect through touch and words which includes nature. It was fascinating as she shared that everything has an intention such as coral rocks serving as a water filtration system or how when her people feel a little sick, they will bury their feet in the earth and that the ecosystem will send healing through the network of moss, fauna, roots, and limbs. Her clan believes if you take something from nature, you must give something in return. They donate their hair as it is helpful for animals and birds to make nests. Generally, the theme was greater community and balance – everything is linked. It was a beautiful revelation on how important our understanding and respect for the earth should be and integrating it into our daily lives to sustain wellness.

We took a spiritual class where the emphasis was once again that we are energy and part of a bigger whole. The sun is our collective spirit, each soul is a ray of light (a small unique portion or thumbprint in the universe). The teacher spoke about evolving from our small self – which is “ego” that directs us to micro and tactical thinking (such as daily activities and issues) to… expanding to the higher self and consciousness or bigger picture focus. The cliff note version of this message is … What really brings us joy and contentment lean more towards elevated attention on humanity and the universe and not that irresistible Gucci purse or polarizing politics. So true – I must say!!! 🪐

Walking away from this retreat brought me clarity on my 2024 path of wellness and the themes I needed to pursue which came through loud and clear. I would say if I was to put it into a word… it would be TRANSITION (not the death one as Sunshine described as that ends my mission and this blog… ha-ha) rather a continued pursuit of awakening and growth. Although I have transformed my shell (body), it is time to follow the path of expansion of my soul (the inside) and how I contribute to the broader realm and frequency to find healing, comfort, and learning… What a great “aha” to realize amidst a bonding moment with Isabelle in a beautiful place. 2024 is looking good already…. 🥳

The Secret Sauce

I really appreciate the nice response I received to my first blog post. I was nervous to expose myself and talk about this personal topic. Weird… since I have previously shared with the world my bout with cancer and my innermost feelings when my husband died. What can I say, I am strange! Well moving on, health and wellness should theoretically be easy to manage – just eat high quality whole food, move daily and be mindful in heart, body, and soul. However, there is so much information and opinions that contradict one another. When you think you are on the right track, a new study is published warning of imminent danger if you continue with your adjusted lifestyle. It can make you crazy, want to throw in the towel and hightail it to your local Krispy Kreme establishment STAT.

As I shared in the last blog, I started my weight loss journey on January 28, 2023. I had been thinking about doing it so many times and now I was finally ready. I needed to do something drastic to get things moving. I was in such denial and shame that I could not even get on the scale to know my starting point. It took me about 4 months before I could face the music. Now you may ask, how do you know how much you actually lost? The answer, I conservatively reversed engineered the average weight loss and time on the program.😊 Funny, I was never great at math in school but I have acquired statistician skills when it comes to probability of volume of pounds off my body.

So now I come to the title of this post, The Secret Sauce… what did I do to achieve my results? First of all, many people just assumed I was on Ozempic or a weight loss drug… which I was not. I recognize this is a great tool but I avoid taking unnecessary medicine. However, I do like their commercials and find the tune catchy, O..o… o … Ozempic, and get a lot of pleasure singing on repeat, especially to annoy friends and family. I actually followed the program called Optavia. It involves portion control food (fuelings) and one lean and green meal daily. I am not an enthusiastic fan of eating from a packet and generally am opposed to processed food. When I raised this concern with my doctor, she said that being obese is more dangerous than anything else. As I write these words, I am kind of embarrassed about my healthier than though stance when I clearly was not taking care of myself. Needless to say, although this approach is a bit controversial, the core science and supplemental tools provided to us are excellent.

The philosophy of Dr. Anderson, the creator of this eating regime, is that the typical western diet consists of foods that raise your blood glucose (sugar) which elevates insulin. As insulin rises, blood sugar falls below normal and sets off the brain to send messages to your body causing cravings. You reach for unhealthy options such as sweets, salty food and never feel full. You basically embark on a roller coaster of bad eating. There is a larger explanation of what else happens with your body. Let’s just say, I was on that scary ride of binge eating and had not gotten off in over a decade resulting in packing on the pounds.

The plan is structured for participants to eat smaller meals every three hours stabilizing blood sugar and insulin. And I must say there is something to this concept, it really works as I am eating less and feeling more satiated. I always thought I had a self-control problem which brought me a lot of embarrassment when in fact it had more to do with a chemical response from the food I chose to eat and how my body tried to stabilize.

Now in the spirit of being transparent, Optavia gets negative reviews because it promotes limited calories during the weight loss phase which is considered not sustainable long-term. Also, Optavia relies on coaches to sell and guide participants and lets just say some are better than others (my coach Sherri – also big sister in the sorority was awesome and adjusted to my needs). However, there are great resources included, helping you understand science, your body and making healthy habit changes. Most people never read these two very large books (I did). There is a lot of time and effort spent on aligning mindset for behavior modification. It is too bad, as there is really useful information and nicely organized material to help people through a long-term shift. Ok, enough of the preaching – people asked so I am telling them… By the way, I am not a coach or involved in earning any money to promote this program. I am only sharing my experiences and observations .

On the downside, the food packets were rough on my stomach (I will not go into great detail on this one), but I still have PTSD from vegetarian chili and the pancakes. To solve this problem, I transitioned to real food mimicking the fueling protocol from a nutritional standpoint as I still have about 10 pounds to go (which by the way are coming off slower now – like ounce by ounce). I eat 5 fueling equating to 120 calories each – consisting of higher protein, lower carbs/sugars. I then eat a big salad (low glycemic index) with protein for dinner and lots of water. Once I lose the rest – there is a transition plan to incorporate more calories and foods to stabilize – which I have not started yet – stay tune to a February launch. AND THAT FOLKS IS…. The Secret Sauce.

In addition to my new eating lifestyle, I have continued to exercise which includes walking/jogging, Zumba (shout out to Cely) and long strolls around the subdivision carrying my 20 pound pug, Ella. In 2024, I am going to focus on lifting weights, building core strength and balance as these activities are important and I need to improve on them.

So here is the big wrap-up – I have lost over 75 pounds and did not use Ozempic, but fondly sing the tune. I feel better, not dominated with thoughts of food, mostly feeling satisfied, nervous not to fall off the wagon and have more pep in my step. I recognize wellness constitutes more than weight loss and I will explore all aspects but you asked and therefore I am sharing … how I did it. Not glamorous, a bit boring as it always goes back to calories in and out. One thing I can say, this program yielded results and I am all about that …. Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season. I am off to unplug with Isabelle and slide into the New Year – refreshed and relax. Peace to all!

Let The Journey Begin

In the past when I have blogged, it was always driven by a major event (generally bad) where I used the power of a keyboard to work through my struggles and simultaneously entertain. I can’t tell you how cathartic it was for me to get my feelings down on paper and then interject humor when I thought I was taking myself way too seriously. Well enough with that…. This time I want to go through the journey to wellness with you. I guess there are a few reasons to do this:

I don’t want to be a depressing widow who once had cancer (can’t get away with more than 2 sad blogs).😊
Learning about nutrition, wellness, health, and spirituality are not easy topics to navigate.
2024 is the year of accountability and I guess if I write about it – I can’t have any SAY-DO gaps.

So let me go back to 2023 and get you up to speed. Last January, something snapped and I realized I needed to get a handle on my weight. I was sick of being heavy, always hungry, and not conquering one of the biggest failures in life. I had reverted to stretchy clothes, for sure knew my bloodwork would be awful and ignored the scale. I always had a batch of chocolate chip cookies in the freezer (I make damn good treats 🍪) and I was out of control to say the least. Also,, if I am going to be honest too, one of my best friends had started a weight loss program a few weeks before and in real camaraderie or girl jealousy, I jumped on to the bandwagon. AKA …I did not want to be left behind…not an inspirational moment but the truth! 👀

Fast forward to this December, I have lost almost 75 pounds with another 10 to go. I feel great and wondered why I sabotaged myself these many years.🤔 However, with all the good, there are new bi -products and issues I am dealing with like hair thinning, accusations of being an almond mom (gotta love Isabelle), digestive stuff (not pleasant but probably a funny future post) and wondering why my fingers are still kind of beefy.🖐️

Well … all jokes aside, 2024 and beyond will be starting the hard part which is maintaining/achieving health and wellness. What got me here is not going to keep me here. I am exploring optimal eating habits (plant based), exercise, emotional, spiritual and community alignment. Things are confusing – nutrition alone is a sh-t show trying to understand what the heck to do. 💩👯

One other thing, I recognize there are significant events happening in this world that matter more than me keeping a few pounds off in a healthy way. I have hesitated to start the blog for a few months now due to the circumstances of humanity. However, it’s a Saturday night and had nothing better to do and thought how can I pick up our energy and frequency a bit? Why not, make one or two people laugh (probably the readership of my blog community) and explore the trite things in life especially when the state of affairs are heavy right now. I guess it is my way of justifying how shallow I am or to control the things I can control. 🥸

So, let’s head into the big wrap-up… I am looking forward to sharing my innermost thoughts with you over the course of the next year as I try to achieve optimal health and wellness 💪while not taking life too seriously. Also, I heard typing burns about 50 calories an hour.. but who is counting… (ME 😊)

And … still love my emojis – apologies ahead of time. 😬