"The definition of Goddess is a woman that is in the process of learning to know, accept and love herself on all levels; Mind, Body and Spirit. A woman who, because she focuses on personal growth and self awareness, experiences a life increasingly filled with peace, love, joy, passion and fun. A woman that understands that she has an unlimited capacity to make her life anything she wants. A woman who is inspired to give to those around her out of her sense of gratitude and abundance."
Hooping Journey: Friday, January 25, 2013 1 week, 4.64 miles hula hooping.
I feel like I need to apologize-- I've been without a computer for some time, and blogging just wasn't in the cards for me because of that. Thanks to my Marc (my sweet mister), I now have an awesome laptop. He also spoiled me rotten and put a few of my favorite things on here; Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek The Next Generation, Friends, Roseanne, and Sex and the City. I know, I'm a nerd...
Anyways, now that I have a computer again, I am hoping to start updating more often.
So, I wanted to post about my goals for the month of January-- I've been on track, and I know the month is almost over, but I wanna share what I've been working on.
For the month of January I had the following GOALS: *100oz of water a day
*Start C25K *100 miles in January *No Fast Food *PlankADay *30 minutes of Hoop Dance a week *1 Activity from Workout Trainer a week
I've done a pretty good job tracking my progress of these goals:
First full week of January 2013
Ending my last week in January 2013 strong!
I'm already working on next month's goals, and thinking what I would like to do. All I know is this month I really focused on getting miles in, and in February I am going to focus on hula hooping (while continuing my work with C25K). I think on January 30th when my month is winding down, I am gonna start a 30 Day Hooping Challenge (as everyone is finishing their challenge from this month now).
I am super excited to reach my goals at the end of this month, and I am really excited for next month, and all the challenge's it holds.
The other night while I was traveling home via the train I was stuck with quite the wait, which wasn't a problem, because I had my Polypro. While I breathed in the frigid SLC night air, I could feel electricity circulating throughout my body as I found my flow.
When I was aboard the red-line train a man who had been watching me paid me a compliment followed up by him telling me he was born in Astoria and spent most of his life in Portland, and after assuming he asked me where was from. He told me that he could tell that I wasn't from Utah, because I clearly had that Oregon Spirit.
It was nice to be reminded of this.
Anyways, I completed my entry for the Curvy Hoopers Video Challenge 2012 on hooping.org. I felt very proud of myself just for completing the challenge (and being one of the first three videos uploaded too!).
Before I posted my video I thought I wouldn't be able to watch any of the other entries-- to my surprise I haven't been able to really watch my video objectively since I posted it, however I keep circulating through these amazing Hoopers contribution to the Challenge and I can't help be in awe.
There are so many BEAUTIFUL entries.
I had so many great song suggestions, and my original idea I still think is/was killer. I thought it would be really cute if I re-enacted the music video Y Control by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs-- with less gore, more hula hoops, and it would be the perfect way to include our three little hoopers at home.
I had been practicing a few new tricks, I was going to have Jess help film, I was going to dress the kids accordingly, costume myself, edit and polish the shit out of said video-- I was really gaining confidence over executing this plan until Sunday the 25th rolled around.
I was at home when I stumbled across one of my first hooping videos I had ever made (here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhTxh58MCFs)-- I became very emotional after watching this video. When it dawned on me that I needed to focus on something more personal for my entry.
I decided that less editing would be better. So, I made a little intro. After I made my video introduction I had to pick out music to go with it-- I ended up picking out a song that my mom has framed in her home "Life Uncommon" by Jewel. After picking out the song, I put said song on my iPod, and I went out to my front and my back yard and tried to just hoop though the song. Aside from having several technical difficulties (my iPod holder kept falling off, SEVERAL times during filming) I just did what I do normally in my yard.
I meditated on Alex and Ryan, and I put my heart out on my sleeve. I still can't help feeling nervous and scared about my decision to make my video-- I prayed really hard and decided that I rather put myself out there on a limb and take my chances, because I really feel that one can feel the honest, sincere feeling behind my video. And, all I can really do is pray that my video is received in the spirit in which it was made.
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:
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.
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!
