Big plans for 2016

Inspiration after Thanksgiving, and while enduring Shark Week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

"They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

My name is Sari, I am 28 years old, I live in Salt Lake City but am originally from Eugene, Oregon. 

I am a Hoop Dancer. Before I started to lose weight I was at 285/290 pounds. Without trying, or realizing it just picking up a hula hoop, and teaching myself to use it I was able to drop down to 230. Unfortunately due to a car-accident I put on twenty pounds, because of a back injury that left me relatively sedentary (muscle spasms in the back are the worst!). 

My doctors told me I wasn't allowed to hula hoop. On top of that I had three incredibly important and wonderful people that were close to me pass away all in a two year span of time (my biological father, his wonderful wife-- my step-mom, and my grandpa). I have been struggling with depression do to this on and off again. But, I really think that the loss of their lives lead to my coming to Jesus moment (if you will) about my weight. I am petrified of losing my life due to obese-related health issues.

At the end of April of this year I picked up my hoop again (just in time for the following attached feature of my hooping story to run on Hooping.org), against my doctors' wishes I slowly but surely started to hoop again-- doing NOTHING on the body. I worked on all off the body tricks, and trusted that my Sense Memory would remind/teach the rest of my muscles how to do this again.

When my grandpa passed away (as I mentioned) the day after my birthday it really woke me up, and I knew it was time to step-up-the-pace. My grandpa was healthy the entire time I knew him-- he had incredible will-power, something as an obese person I felt like I did not have. I stepped on the scale at the beginning of June saw that I was 250 (even with bringing hula hooping back into my life for the last month prior), and I knew that change needed to be immediate.

I've been working on getting healthy ever since. So, at 250 pounds, and at 28 years old I started for the very first time in my life to really *try*. I am currently at 215. 

If you're curious about my Hoop Journey, or would like to see some before and after pictures here is the link to my story:

http://www.hooping.org/2012/04/sari-mah-inside-the-hoop/#more-21277

August Goals

Tomorrow is my next weight in. I have had some ups and downs the past 9 weeks in trying to lose twenty pounds. I really hope tomorrow that scales reads 230. Twenty pounds down from my starting weight. If not, then there is always next week. :)

In the meantime, In honor of soon approaching my first goal and in honor of yesterday's sabbat, Lammas, I've been thinking of my monthly goals and I decided to jot August's goals down here:

To compete aganst an earlier version of myself.

To give it my best every day in the gym.

To enjoy the things I already have.

To overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions and develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.

To start giving new ideas and dreams a chance.


In the meantime, I have a picture of myself at 250, and I am super excited to take a picture of myself at 230. The best thing about this journey has been enjoying my accomplishments. And, here's hoping to even more things to be proud of accomplishing in this next month.

I am going to go to Smith's for a small walk and for my after work out food. I'm so grateful for a beautiful, SLC, summer day.

Love and Light,
Sari

We Didn't Start the Fire

I really want to get back in the habit of blogging more often. I miss it-- I don't care if I'm writing about the boys, nutrition, hooping, cooking, or whatever it is that is on my mind, all I care about is doing it. I miss being able to write freely. I miss my PostSecret attitude and love for the written word. Anyways, MyFitnessPal is going really well. I actually love it, but I felt VERY discouraged this last week with my period starting. I gained three pounds, and I feel disgusting, and I haven't worked out efficiently in quite a number of days. I am really looking forward to pulling my shit together this week, and having a great weigh in next Wednesday. Wish me luck!

http://www.hooping.org/2012/04/sari-mah-inside-the-hoop/#more-21277

Ticker

Created by MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods

http://www.hooping.org/2012/04/sari-mah-inside-the-hoop/#more-21277

Meet Me Halfway

A clip from my practice at Gibson Park today with my little niece. I would have got a few more tricks in there, but little ZZ was ready to go home after a few hours of playing, feeding ducks, and watching Auntie dance.

If anyone is interested in impromptu hoop jams I'll be in Great Falls, MT until the end of the month. My hoop is my instrument-- let's jam!

Say Yeah! - Practice Update 6/15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCcB7DrTsfg

The Big Dig Scholarship

“A new cycle begins this day. A new cycle begins every day. Indeed, every moment. So if you recognize anything on this day, recognize what it symbolizes: The miracle of the endlessly continuing Cycle of Life.” –Tarapin

If I was going to go out to my backyard and bury something that would end financial worries for a generation 200 years into the future, then I would place the most precious item I own into the ground. In unearthing my time capsule my great-great-great-grandchild(ren) may be perplexed by my decision, however, hopefully it would become clear that in this idem carries all of my hopes and dreams for my future and perhaps theirs as well.

The item I would bury is my very first adult-sized hula hoop.

Hula hooping (and hoop dancing) is not just an activity for children on a playground. The hobby can be seen in a variety of events including; music festivals, parks, dance recitals and fitness centers. The fun and relatively easy physical activity of hooping comes with many health benefits through a variety of exercises, tricks and dance-moves, including; core-strengthening and a cardiovascular workout. These “workouts” enhance stamina and motor skills as well as strengthen the posture points in your back, legs, arms and hips.

Hoop dance makes for amazing connections within the community. It elicits smiles from strangers in a synchronistic full circle connection. It is a beautiful artistic dance that allows one to tap into the rhythm of the soul. By moving in alignment with the hoop, one stretches and tones every muscle and joint in the body, it brings circulation and energy to the internal organs, balances the nervous systems and improves absorption of nutrients.

I first stepped into the sacred circle in 2009, when I received my first hoop for Christmas. It was purchased at a local shop called Sweet Potato Pie in my hometown; Eugene, Oregon. It cost $45.
  

Hula hoops range from plastic (commonly seen in children toys), aluminum (circus tools), PVC pipes (homemade hobby hoops), and even hoops made for LED/light performance and fire dancing (there is even the Cyr Wheel). There are many online shops, holiday markets, Saturday Markets, department stores and people who sell hula hoops (you can even make your own!)—and, with so many different places to buy hoops and so many different kinds of hoops it is an affordable hobby (prices range from $5 to $300) for anybody and a potential avenue for financial gain.

The reason I feel my first hula hoop will have value two hundred years into the future is because of the hula hoops rich historical value. The history of the hula hoop dates back to the Greek and the Egyptians Civilizations in 3,000 B.C., some American Indians, such as the Lakota Indians, evolved the hoop dance and even used hoops for target practice. And, there are many similarities in movements when it comes to Hoop dance and the Hula dances of Hawaii. With Egyptian, Native American and Hawaiian origins, hula hooping is both culturally and physically stimulating.

Moreover, hoop dance is my tool for alchemy, transformation of self-acceptance, and it helps me find my joy of just being. It is my current goal to earn my livelihood through hula hooping and hoop dance.

I am currently studying at Salt Lake Community College in the hopes to transfer to the University of Utah so I can receive my bachelors in Health Promotion and Education. I want to perform and teach others about the joy I feel in my body when I pick up my hula hoop. I know that my passion matched with the solid foundation I am building through retaining my upper education I can reach my goals of becoming a Hula Hoop Dance Instructor. And, in that knowledge, I want future generations to have the same opportunities as me, that is why I would bury my beginners’ hoop.

The Hula Hoop: an amazing tool and toy-- a gift that generations to come are sure to enjoy as well.