I am NOT organic.

So, I am trudging along on this dairy free, gluten free, and most recently, soy free journey.
I am learning a lot.  One of the most glaring things I have noticed is that I am not the typical customer for the stores that I have begun shopping in.

David's Natural Market has become my "go to' shop.
It is convenient, and for ME, at least, has the best selection of the items I am looking for.
The thing is, David's, much like  MOM's and Trader Joe's, and all the others, is a primarily organic market.
That is fabulous and well and good. 
However, I do not shop there for organic foods. I shop for dairy, gluten and soy free foods.
If they happen to be organic, woo hoo!
If not, whatever.

So, what I am learning is that I must never, ever, no matter how tempted I am, make small talk w/ the cashier.  One false move and it comes out that I eat foods that are NOT organic and I might be shunned.
I simply cannot afford for this to happen.
Gluten/dairy free food is NOT cheap and I do not have the funds to be forced to order them via mail order.

Look, I get it. Organic is awesome. It's great. Seriously, I mean that.
But you are talking to a girl who also believes in Western Medicine.
So, it goes to stand that the 'organic' folk would still see me as a hypocrite if I eat stuff that hasn't been sprayed with stuff, but I put pills in my body that are man made.
But here's the thing - those man made pills have helped me manage chronic pain for almost 20 years that no amount of physical therapy or other therapy for that matter has.
So, again, I don't knock the 'other ways' but I am sorta fond of my way.

If going down this gluten/dairy/soy and whatever else I discover my body  revolts against, road I just HAPPEN to add more organic stuff into my life, I will happily accept it.
However, that is not MY goal. 
MY goal is to get my bowels to stop having conversations with me at inappropriate times.
MY goal is to keep the amount of gas that my body expels to at least less than that which my car uses per mile.
Simple goals, but important (to me) ones.

I am a lot of things. Brutally honest. Sorta funny.  Incredibly short. 
However, organic....organic is NOT one of them.

The beginning of a new (gluten and dairy free) journey for me!

So, after years and years of just accepting that I produce more natural gas than Russia and having bowels that often times feel like a baby kicking after eating 'offending' foods, I recently made the decision to explore the cause further.
I had gone to my then PCP years ago and she did a test for Celiac that was negative, and promptly wrote me off.
I see a new PCP now and I brought the subject up with him.  I dunno, but something about telling a male doctor that the reason you are there is because you could kill a small country with the fumes you emit after certain meals is just not something that I enjoyed or was looking forward to, but it had to be done.
He ran more blood work and again, everything came back negative. However, knowing that I clearly was not imagining things he referred me to a GI doctor.
She reviewed my bloodwork and listened as I told her my symptoms and explained that I had been logging my reactions to different foods and tried to find a pattern, but wasn't able to. It seemed EVERYTHING met with resistance.
She determined I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) that is triggered by gluten and dairy.

I have heard SO much about gluten free diets.  I know several people who do have Celiac Disease and have NO choice but to go GF. However, it seems like it has almost become a bit of the "cool" thing to do.
I have a love of the carbs and enjoy my beer, so I was never really interested in jumping on the band wagon just to do it.

Well, I have spent this past week asking my friends who are already GF and DF a MILLION questions (some asked more than once :), and in the "gluten free" and "dairy free" sections of every local grocery and organic market within a 15 mile radius.
I have learned a LOT.  I have learned the difference between dairy free and lactose free and why you might be 1 but not the other (when in doubt, choose dairy free, because that also means it's lactose free, whereas, lactose free does NOT mean it's dairy free.  Or at least, that's what I THINK I have learned this week :)
I have learned that my favorite beer is NOT gluten free and that I will be exploring the world of hard ciders because I am NOT a wine girl.
I have learned that So Delicious brand dairy free Mocha Fudge frozen dessert (because it's not really ice cream) is YUMMY.

I have learned that clearly gluten and dairy have never really liked me and that I was trying to force a relationship where there was never going to be a happy future together.
I am already feeling better. It's not a complete turnaround or anything, but I can definitely see improvement.
This is good, because this is NOT a diet that you need to do just to be 'cool'.  It's NOT cheap and it does not mean you will become thin or lose weight. You can still consume just as many calories AND eat as many unhealthy options as you do with gluten or dairy. 

For me though, it's an investment in myself and my health. 
At the risk of boring anyone I am going to continue to share what I learn.
I hope that someone finds it helpful, if not, at least, entertaining.

They like me! They really like me! (I think?)

So, I am sitting here all dressed and ready to head to teach Zumba class in 20 minutes.
I am curious as to whether or not many people will show up since the weather is dark and gloomy.
It's been raining all day.

Weather plays a HUGE role in the attendance of my classes.  It's a delicate balance.
If it's too cold, they don't come.
If it's too sunny and nice out, they don't come.
If it's dark and gloomy, they don't come.
It almost has to be the "perfect storm" of a day to be the perfect day to get a good size class.

I get it though.
Who wants to leave the warmth of their house when it's cold and possibly snowing out?
Who wants to be cooped up inside when it's delightful and sunny outside and you could be enjoying it?
Who wants to get wet from the rain when they could stay?

There are so many reasons NOT to come to my (or any other instructors) classes that when a student DOES come, I am still, to this day, always sort of surprised and incredibly humbled.
With SO many other choices, they chose to come spend time with ME.
Whooda thunkit?

While I realize it might not be MY personal wit or amazing personality and incredible teaching skills that they are coming for, but rather, the opportunity to move, shake, sweat and burn off some calories.
Mine might just be the most convenient option.
However, they DID come to MY class and so I am elated!

Each time I come home from teaching, my husband says "How was class?"
I usually reply "Great!  "insert number of students here"  came!.
He always laughs and says "Will you ever stop being surprised that you had people show up?
I always say "Probably not."

I teach because I love it and it makes me happy.
If I ended up in the room by myself with nothing but the music to keep me company, I would still dance.
However, when that first, then 2nd, and each one following arrives to the class and I realize that I am not alone, I think to myself....

They like me. They might really like me :) And that is great, because I really like them all too.

Rockin' Savasana

My reaction at my 1st class :)

Many of my friends already know this story, but I will share it again for those of you who might not.
Up until late 2010 I had never seen or taken a Yoga class.
ME take Yoga?  Oh, hell no.  I am high energy, fully caffeinated and didn't see the point in spending an hour standing on one leg or laying on my back "being still."
That is, until I started teaching Zumba fitness :)

I was on the hunt for space to rent to teach classes. I had called karate studios, dance studios, etc. and had the brilliant idea to call a local Yoga studio because it was super close to my house and I thought "why not?".
I called and spoke to the studio owner who invited me to come look at the space, which I did.
Well, then it happened.  She invited me to stay for a class as her guest.
OMG.  What do I do?
I mean, I am potentially going to enter into a business arrangement w/ this person. It would be rude to decline, right?
So, I took a deep breath, kissed goodbye an hour of my life and stayed.

One of the best hours of my life!
I began teaching Zumba at the studio shortly after (well, 2 months after that meeting because I kept getting cold feet and saying I wasn't ready until the studio owner (who has grown to be an amazing friend and one of my biggest supporters) said "Newsflash. You will NEVER be ready.  Just do it.".
Since that time I have been taking Yoga classes regularly (and most recently Pilates, oh my!) at the studio.
It's part of own personal workout.

Yoga is probably one of the most difficult and challenging things I have ever done.
It started with trying to take myself to a calmer, slower place for an hour.  That was the biggest hurdle for me.
Then it was accepting that I might fall over a bit (okay, I always fall over a bit :) when I do my tree pose, but that it's not how well I do it, but that I tried it and did it that counts.
Lastly, it was the discovery that, for me, at least, Yoga is about strengthening my core. Not my midsection, but the core of ME.  Learning to listen to my thoughts and my body and trust in them.
Yoga is about becoming stronger. Again, not just in body, but in spirit.

My practice has exposed me to different instructors with very different styles. I have been pushed beyond my personal comfort zone and I have succeeded in things I never thought I could.  This is because while I "saw" my limitations, they did not.  They saw my capabilities.

Rockin' Savasana (hard)!

I dig tree pose.  I still think I look a bit like a weeping willow, but it's getting better.
I am still light years away from even coming close to crow pose.
However, after a rough start (again, stillness is NOT my forte), I can honestly say I am now rockin' Savasana.

Perceived Beauty

I just watched a video clip from the Dove soap campaign about "real beauty."
It truly touched me.


Dove Real Beauty Sketches

We are always telling each other (females, at least) how beautiful each other is (well, our FRIENDS, at least...cuz let's face it; women are a bit catty and can say some horrible things to those we are not close to or friends with.
However, no matter how many times someone might tell you that you are beautiful, how many of us really believe it?  "Oh, he's my husband. He has to say that."    "She's my best friend. It's her job to tell me I look good."
You get what I mean.

You think  your butt's too big.  The woman behind you in line at the grocery store wishes she filled her jeans out like you do.
You think your breasts are too small.  The lady trying on bathing suits in the dressing room next to you wishes she didn't have to wear a 1 piece because hers fall out of her bikini top.
You think your chin is pointed.  But someone else would be happy to just have one.
And the cycle continues for them.....

I don't just say it, I truly believe it though.
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.
If you usually wear make up, but you are running late so you forget to put it on, that is the day I am almost certain to say "you look really nice today" and you will think I am kidding or something.
But, for me, natural beauty is the ultimate.

I have small boobs.
I am super short.
I have so many freckles on my arms you could play connect the dots.
I am so pasty white that I glow in the dark.

However......
I can wear tops that others cannot (and go without a bra if I really want to! LOL)
I can duck underneath things easily and blend in/hide when necessary.
I like freckles.
I serve as a beacon in the night for those who are lost....

See?
It's all in how you look at it.
The point is - you need to look at yourself with a softer view and less criticism.
It's not easy. I know this.  But it IS possible.
Cuz, you ARE beautiful.

Where's My Wagon?????

It's been a while, and I kind of fell off of it, but damn it! I am getting back on. You would think that, considering I make a living (albeit a very small portion of it) teaching and preaching health and physical fitness that I would be better about taking my own advice.

Truth is, I try to, but sometimes life gets in the way. But, as I always tell everyone else, that is NOT an excuse. I have never gone totally off track. I have just veered a little left of center, so to speak. I mean, I teach class 3x a week, so I am getting SOME cardio in. I do go to the gym, so I am "workin' on my fitness". I am mindful of what I eat, so my diet is not totally deplorable.

But, if you do it all half-assed, problem is, yours (ass) can turn into a bit more than 1/2! I'm not there yet though, and I am determined NOT to reach that destination. Truth is, life DOES get in the way, but that's the thing. It's how you look at it. Life doesn't have to "get in the way" of you doing what you know is best for you. It might create challenges and obstacles, but isn't that what it's about? I mean, if every time we have something get us off track we use it as a reason not to move forward, well, we would all be standing in the same spot as we were yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.....

So, get on a different track. Go in the opposite direction than you planned, but so long as you are MOVING toward your goal; even if you take the LONG way, you are moving. Get your wagon and jump back in! We can take turns pulling each other. That's some good exercise anway :)

Happy Healthy New Year!

2011 was an amazing year for me.
My Zumba fitness instructor "career" started to slowly take off and now, I am teaching 8x a week.
I have continued to run my quarterly fitness challenge, and each time, I have met more amazing and truly inspiring people.

Today, as I sit in a quiet house while my hubby and son are doing their own thing, I am reminded of 2 things:
1: I almost never have a quiet house :)
2: I have been blessed with friends and family that bring me so much joy and contentment I cannot even put it into words.

My fitness journey continues, every day.
However, each day, I meet someone new who not only becomes a part of MY journey, but allows me to the privilege of becoming a part of theirs.

Don't make a resolution to do more, be healthier, or more active this year.
Make a lifelong commitment to treat yourself the way you deserve, EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR.
You deserve to be as happy, healthy, and active as your mind and heart has always wanted to be.
You deserve to finally make YOU your 1st priority.

Here's to a healthy, happy and prosperous new year and a fantastic, new and improved YOU :)