Listen to…

• your intuitions
• what your body is telling you
• your significant other
• your parents
• someone older and wiser than you
• someone younger and more naive than you
• your heart
• your emotions
• your doctor’s orders
• animal sounds
• nature
• music of all kinds
• someone’s sad story
• someone’s happy story

We have all begun to underestimate what ‘listening’ really is. It’s not even about having all the answers, but it’s allowing someone or something to just BE. It’s allowing someone to get their emotions off their chest, it’s allowing someone to spill his or her guts and not be interrupted. Take time today to truly listen to someone – and not just “listening” to them while thinking about what you’re going to cook for dinner, but 100% pure un-divided attention. Who knows, you may hear something that you needed to hear.

Basking in the sun, dancing the night away, meeting new people, laughing, eating, spending lots of money, shopping, no checking of emails, drinking margaritas & frozen daquris (& not caring about the calorie count) = my trip to the Keys.

Now, it’s back to the “real world” – where basking in the sun is only done on weekends, dancing the night away & shopping is a rariety and emails are checked every five minutes. However, I am so lucky to be doing something that I love to do. So I guess that’s the key to being happy… when you go away to a place like the Keys, and you aren’t dreading the arrival back to your “real” life because frankly, it’s not so bad afterall.

My 7-day Full Body Detox:

Rules:

• Foods allowed: Veggies, Fruits (except bananas), Rice cakes (only 3-5 per day), organic oatmeal in the mornings
• Beverages allowed: Green tea (decaf), water, 1 coffee (decaf)
• At least 60 minutes of exercise each day
• At least 20 minutes of meditation/yoga/pilates each day
• No negative energy
• At least 8 hours of sleep each night
• No fast food, perservatives, processed foods, etc
• No alcohol, no caffeine
• Day 6 and 7 – allowed to have broiled fish at lunch time

Day 5, Friday, July 17th: (4 pounds down since beginning)

7:30am: Woke up, was pretty energetic

10:00am: After running errands in the morning, I went into the office.

12:00pm: Had very little time to think because there’s so much going on today, but managed to step out and grab a decaf tea.

1:30pm: Had 3 rice cakes.

2:00pm: Stepped outside to get some UV Rays

3:45pm: Organic spring mix with diced tomatoes and other veggies.

5:00pm: Had 3 clients

6:00pm: Grabbed some fresh fruit to munch on while driving home.

7:40pm: Ran more errands, grabbed a salad for dinner

10:30pm: Went out downtown for a girlfriend/client’s birthday for an hour or so – came home and wasn’t feeling that great.

1:30am: Ended up taking some drowsy meds to knock out the head cold I was having.

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY:

I didn’t have an appetite, and once I began to eat something, I got full very fast. However, I knew I needed to eat for energy and nutrients, so I was beginning to get a little frustrated. The day was so busy in the office that I even forgot to eat a couple of times, so I’d end up feeling very light-headed and then would have to munch on something to regain strength. Not really craving any food persay, but definitely a latte or something with sugar.

My 7-day Full Body Detox:

Rules:

• Foods allowed: Veggies, Fruits (except bananas), Rice cakes (only 3-5 per day), organic oatmeal in the mornings
• Beverages allowed: Green tea (decaf), water, 1 coffee (decaf)
• At least 60 minutes of exercise each day
• At least 20 minutes of meditation/yoga/pilates each day
• No negative energy
• At least 8 hours of sleep each night
• No fast food, perservatives, processed foods, etc
• No alcohol, no caffeine
• Day 6 and 7 – allowed to have broiled fish at lunch time

Day 4, Thursday July 16th: (3 pounds down since beginning)

8:00am: Woke up, felt much bettter than the other morning

9:30am: Went into work, grabbed a decaf tea

10:00am: Ate organic oatmeal along with some fruit

12:30pm: Got a mixed salad with veggies, have a loss of appetite – not really hungry, but very thirsty.

5:00pm: Headed out from work

6:30pm: Grabbed a lite salad, then got ready for a networking meeting

7:30pm: Went to the networking event with Working Women of Tampa Bay and managed to stay away from food and wine. Only had water!

8:45pm: Grabbed a stirfry meal with only veggies.

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY:

I was a little more tired than usual – to be quite honest. I think the day before left me exhausted. However, complexion in my face has gotten significantly better. I also have better focus! It’s working so far!

My 7-day Full Body Detox:

Rules:

• Foods allowed: Veggies, Fruits (except bananas), Rice cakes (only 3-5 per day), organic oatmeal in the mornings
• Beverages allowed: Green tea (decaf), water, 1 coffee (decaf)
• At least 60 minutes of exercise each day
• At least 20 minutes of meditation/yoga/pilates each day
• No negative energy
• At least 8 hours of sleep each night
• No fast food, perservatives, processed foods, etc
• No alcohol, no caffeine

 Day 3, Wednesday July 15th: (3 pounds down since beginning)

8:30am: Woke up and was very tired

10:30am: Drove to the office, picked up a small decaf black coffee – drank a a couple of sips, but honestly wasn’t delightful.

11:30am: Had organic oatmeal – was delicious, and finally “woke me up”

12:45pm: Had 1 rice cake – geeze, these things are messy!

1:20pm: Made a hot tea, sipped on it lightly, much more appetizing.

2:00pm: Stepped outside to get some UV Rays

3:45pm: Organic spring mix with diced tomatoes and other veggies. Definitely impressed with Organic Girl.

5:00pm: Client # 1 (Ate 1 rice cake prior)

5:45pm: Ate some fresh fruit to keep my energy up

6:00pm: Small group (3 clients)

7:15pm: Outdoor Bootcamp group – still feeling energized (much better than yesterday’s workout)

8:30pm: Small group (3 clients)

9:30pm: Ate a quick organic salad

10:40pm: Went to see a movie, sucked down water, and had a handful of popcorn (yikes!)

1:00am: Was in bed and passed right out!

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY:

For the most part, the day was a good one. I had energy and I enjoyed working out and training my clients. I felt like my energy came from within, as opposed to being just a caffeine rush. I did get a couple of headaches throughout the day, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of the weather (sinuses) or if it was because I had been off caffeine for so long. On to day 4!

My 7-day Full Body Detox:

Rules:

• Foods allowed: Veggies, Fruits (except bananas), Rice cakes (only 3-5 per day), organic oatmeal in the mornings
• Beverages allowed: Green tea (decaf), water
• At least 60 minutes of exercise each day
• At least 20 minutes of meditation/yoga/pilates each day
• No negative energy
• At least 8 hours of sleep each night
• No fast food, perservatives, processed foods, etc
• No alcohol, no caffeine

 Day 2, Tuesday July 14th: (2 pounds down)

6:15am: Was wide awake – that hasn’t happened for a while. Felt somewhat energetic and ready for the day.

6:45am: Did some basic Pilates moves in my bedroom, then showered.

7:30am: Made some organic oatmeal – tasted great and felt even MORE energized.

8:30am: Got dressed, relaxed, then headed to the office. On the way, had 1 rice cake (mainly to get rid of the toothpaste taste in my mouth)

9:00am: Fixed my first natural tea of the day.

11:10am: Organic spring mix salad, with diced tomatoes and other veggies. Absolutely delicious.

11:30am: Ran errands. Started to crave a coffee, but energized without it.

1:45pm: Pulled out some fruit (blueberries, pineapples, strawberries) and started to have some

2:15pm: Ate 1 rice cake. Talked to my mom on the phone for 10 minutes while she tried to convince me that 1 tall decaf latte from SBux will not break my detox.

2:45pm: Starting to feel a bit tired, and grumpy – so reheated some tea to calm down. I also went into the back room (where I have some workout equipment) and stretched out. MUCH better!

5:00pm: Ate 1 more rice cake.

6:00pm: Went to the gym, completed the following: Biceps & Back; 15 minutes on Stair Stepper, then 10 minutes on Elliptical. Was extremely worn out by the time I got to the Elliptical. I felt exhausted and just needed a pick-me-up fast.

7:30pm: Picked up a  green tea on my way to train a client.

8:00-8:45pm: Trained my client

9:00pm: Had a stir-fry of just vegetables for my late night dinner. The mixed veggies was a delicious way to end the day.

9:30pm+: Managed to have no wine, no tortilla chips, zippo while watching the All Star game

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY:

Overall, the day went OK – I ended up extremely exhausted at the gym which definitely upset me because I did not get in as much cardio as I had hoped. I literally could have fallen asleep on the machine. However, I do FEEL better, I feel refreshed and more focused. Skipping out on the wine and “munchies” was not as hard as I had thought. But thankfully, I was so full from the veggies that I didn’t crave anything else.

Most of our lives are a series of images; they pass us like towns on a highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens, and we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever.

OPERATION: Bikini Bod

KEY WEST GIRLS TRIP:  July 23rd-July 26th

FT. MYERS BEACH WKND: August 2nd-Augst 5th

07.08.2009, 07.09.2009, 07.10.2009, 07.12.2009 –

Workout Routine: Cardio Interval with Overall Body Workout

Cardio consisted of:

• Minimal runs
• Sprints
• Jump Rope
• Squat Jumps

Overall Body Workout:

• Tricep kickbacks in pike position
• Tri Lunges
• Split Squat drills
• Jabs/Hooks/Uppercuts
• Planks with hip dips
• Side planks with torso twists (side pillars)
• Toe Reaches (alternating)
• Tricep dips with feet completely elevated
• Push ups with medicine ball
• Oblique Twists (torso twists) with dumbbell
• Lower back extensions

Best song of the workout:  Techno mixes

Hardest part of the workout: Finding energy after a solid day of work — felt fatigued, so it was harder to iniate a good workout.

Tip for you: Get plenty of rest & try to remember why you enjoy working out so much. When you’re tired, an array of excuses seems to fill our minds, but getting past that is key!

My 7-day Full Body Detox:

Rules:

• Foods allowed: Veggies, Fruits (except bananas), Rice cakes (only 3-5 per day), organic oatmeal in the mornings
• Beverages allowed: Green tea (decaf), water
• At least 60 minutes of exercise each day
• At least 20 minutes of meditation/yoga/pilates each day
• No negative energy
• At least 8 hours of sleep each night
• No fast food, perservatives, processed foods, etc
• No alcohol, no caffeine

Day 1, Monday July 13th:

7:00am: Woke up – ready to take on the day, then realized that TOM decided to visit, what a great way to start my detox!

9:00am: Craved my Starbucks latte, but knew I really enjoy green tea more

9:45am: Drove to grocery store next to work, and picked up lots of veggies and fruit to have at work (no excuses!) Ate 2 rice cakes.

11:15am: Water running through me like crazy. Grumpy co-worker already trying to test my nerves (ok, so we know it is Monday, but get over it!), but I’m not giving into his negative energy!

11:55am: Onto my 2^nd green tea, this time with mixed berries! Yum! However, had a small headache for 10 minutes, and it finally went away! *crossing fingers on that being the only coffee withdrawl that I go through!*

12:10pm: Grabbing lunch: Organic spring salad with diced tomatoes and other veggies included

1:00pm: Feeling absolutely great after lunch – the veggies were so fresh & I can’t wait to snack on some fruit later on.

1:20pm: Felt real chilly – so stepped outside for some UV Rays for about 5 minutes. I love the sunshine.

2:50pm: Pulled out a fruit cup with blueberries and pineapples. Honestly, probably soon to say this, but the food tastes so amazing – I may have gotten lucky with freshness, but I literally savoured the fruit.

3:30pm: Heated up another glass of green tea – begin to plan for my clients tonight. I have a girl’s group of 6, then a Cardio Kickboxing class afterwards. The real test is to see if I’m fatigued after 2 intense workout sessions. Come on natural energy… give it all you got!

4:30pm: Ran home to change, starting to feel a little weak!

5:55pm: First group of clients arrive… feeling drained but OK – worked them out pretty darn hard!

6:50pm: Start with next client — actually worked out with her and knew right away the effect of no carbs/protein had — I was exhausted immediately

8:30pm: Grabbed a rice cake on drive home because I felt light-headed, boo this, where is my natural energy??!!

8:50pm: Grabbed a garden spring salad with lots of veggies, much needed! A great re-fuel prior to bedtime.

9:20pm: About to grab a shower and lay down and read… will definitely be getting my 8 hours of sleep tonight, I feel like I could pass out right now!

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY:

So it started off great, but once the day kept going and I started training and working out myself, I felt the effects hardcore. As I drove home, I CRAVED coffee, mainly that vanilla smell/taste, but I was able to quickly disregard that craving. Once I was home, I was able to grab my final meal of the night & I was re-fueled. Now I’m off to read a book and relax before eventually passing out. Will let you all know how my sleep is! Goodnight.

Detox (verb): to eliminate, get rid of and/or cleanse from toxins

Our bodies have a built-in detoxification and cleansing system, a natural function of eliminating toxins through certain organs, the kidney, liver, intestines, lymph and blood. For many of us though our bodies are battling to eliminate the toxins as fast as we ingest them.

Our bodies become congested with toxic substances either through a short term over-exposure, bad lifestyle, diet, or excessive use of alcohol and drugs.

Detoxification refers to programs or steps taken to cleanse and purify. Of course we immediately think of the body, diets, colon cleanse and liver. Maybe alcohol and drug detox too. But if you think about it, every aspect of your life could benefit from getting rid or toxins. How about your primary relationships like with your significant other, your children, your parents. Ever think about cleaning up your attitude? Do your have an attitude that is lashing out at the world and attracting back more negativity to your life?

Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, “it’s critical to detox,” says Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., the author of Detoxification (Healthy Healing Publications). Page recommends detoxing for symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, sluggish elimination, irritated skin, allergies or low-grade infections; bags under the eyes; a distended stomach even if the rest of your body is thin; menstrual difficulties; or mental confusion.

Where to begin?

1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods.

2. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.

3. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.

4. Drink at least 2 quarts of water daily.

5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.

6. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.

7. Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.

8. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.

9. Dry-brush your skin or try detoxifying patches or detox foot spas / foot baths to remove toxins through your pores. Special brushes are available at natural products stores.

10. What is the most important way to detoxify? Exercise! Yoga or jump-roping are good. One hour every day.