8 weeks post-op!

Finally! I am back to me...well, the improved me!

Hit up Steve's yoga flow class tonight, got my ass kicked, and sweated my heart out!

Steve says "Are you fully functioning?" ....no sir I am not, I can't lay on my stomach but I sure as hell rock the warrior series!  It was my first flow in over 2 months, and it was a whopping 25 degrees outside, so you can only imagine how the hot room felt!

Starting class with a few sun salutations, no big deal, a couple modified flows (which I kind of have to stay in chutarunga because I can't let my stomach hit the floor) which in all honesty, is a little tougher than my usual practice! Well I'll tell you, we didn't stop for that whole hour, and it felt so great to be back in the hot room with my yogi-buds, with Steve's Neil Young playlist, and his ever so torturous flows! I skipped the 3 spine strengthening poses, and camel, but other than that, I felt like I completely nailed it! Extended side angle was fabulous and felt amazing! ahhhhhh- you see, this is why I love yoga!  I still can't twist on my left side, but I can on my right, not sure what's up with that, but I'll take it!  I was so used to going every day, and now it's down to like 3 times a week, but every time I do find my mat, I am reminded why I need to find my mat more often, especially now that I am stronger. Although...I'm kinda liking the laid back Jenny, I imagine she'll still find her mat more often than not!

I did my first workout class on Saturday, ran hills, did burpees, held some planks, and felt stronger than ever! I figured I wouldn't be walking straight on Sunday, so I hit up the late afternoon yoga class to stretch it out. Good call, I'd say!

On Thursday, May 9, It'll be 8 weeks from the day I had my surgery.. fair game!

A friend from NB asked for a pic of me to see the difference, most times I don't notice the difference, or I forget about it, but then when I was sending her this selfie, I was completely taken back!

 

The only thing I wish, is that I had taken a before picture. But I was so GD nervous the morning of my surgery that I couldn't imagine taking a photo of myself. So many ppl told me to take a before pic, but part of me didn't want to, because I didn't want to remember it... I like to think that part of me is in the past and it's staying there! I am loving the person I am becoming, so much less negativity, so much more confidence, and I feel like I am becoming a stronger person, mind and body! The last 8 weeks have been so up and down and around, that I have so much gratitude for what my body has been through and is able to put up with. Amazing what our bodies can do when push comes to shove!

 

Now, I am back to working out, losing weight, and feeling great... cheers to the rest of 2013!

 

JG OUT!

Playing Catch Up!

My goodness, I have been so busy this past week, I haven't had a chance to update on my progress on
the FMD!

Phase 2 was hard, no doubt about it - I was so effing excited for toast on Friday morning, that I could hardly sleep...part of me wanted to wake up really early and eat breakfast! haha! no jokes!

I weighed in on day 5, right after phase 2, and I was down almost 6 lbs! I'll take it! And decided phase 2 was completely worth it! I just don't eat a lot of meat, so this was hard for me to choke down so much protein, but day 2 was much easier and I had it planned out much better, so I'm assuming week 2, phase 2 will be much easier! I got everything prepped and ready to go!

 

 

Day 5, was easy-peasy and went great! I was a huge fan of phase 3, but by the end of it, I realized phase 1 is by far my fave! Also, I will confess, I had dinner plans with my family on Saturday night at the Culinary Institute of Canada, it was so delicious, I drank some wine, stayed basically on plan, and ended the night with cheesecake. Oh well! Life happens! I took it in stride, also I knew that my official 28 days weren't starting until this Monday, and last week was my practice week. Sunday, Day 7, I ate some frozen yogurt at a family dinner. OH well! I also biked 15k, and walked for an hour, but I know, I still had some dairy. Anyways...once again, moving forward! I was still down 3 pounds from day 1 on the start of week 2, so I am A-ok with that!


Here's a hint of what dinner at the Culinary is like: (and you'll understand why I cheated!)

 < cheesecake!

 

Got to love fine dining :)

Week 2, day 1 - went great!
I found the new love of my life, frozen mangoes AND frozen sweet cherries! Finally!! I love cherries, but getting them bagged, pitted, and frozen is new to our little Island! so pumped!

Tomorrow starts Week 2, Phase 2... ughk! Only 2 days...bring it FMD! I got this! Because I know in 2 days...it's all good again! And I have my chicken cooked, boiled egg whites ready for snack, and my tempting fruits either already eaten OR frozen! This will be much easier than last week, I am looking forward to it!


JG OUT!

Grow your Yoga!

Well, well, well...they weren't kidding! Phase 2 sucks!! I want a carb!! Crazy, how the mind works!

Anyways, it's day 4, so for today and yesterday every meal and snack is protein and veggies, usually I don't mind that, but I find having protein for snack too, is hard. Normally I would have yogurt or cottage cheese, something of the dairy sorts, not on this plan! So yes, it's a bit of a challenge. I didn't really prepare myself this week, so next week will be better and I will make my meals ahead of time. I didn't think I'd be so busy this week. Although, I do find day 2 of phase 2, much easier than yesterday! And all I can think about is toast for breakfast tomorrow! yay!!!!

It's 11:50am and I already have about 100oz of water into me, that should rid the bloat! one would hope!!

I weighed in at a pound down today, but I feel like a bloated whale, I think maybe I had too much salt yesterday, I had deli meats and some taco seasoning, maybe that did it? who knows! but I'll take a pound down considering how I feel. I'm hoping for a lower number tomorrow!

Last night at our yoga studio was the kick off to the "Grow Your Yoga" campaign. We had a live music class with music by Tim Chaisson! I love his voice, and his music, so throw that in to my love for yoga, and wow! I had an unbelievable class - Two of my favorite things, along with practicing beside great friends in the hot room, made for a super open heart warming class! I can't even explain it. I do know, I had to do everything in my power not to sing along and bust out some dance moves during the standing series! That would have been quite the sight!

Gotta jet!
JG OUT!

I forgot...I hate dieting!

So! I am trying really hard not to think of this as a diet. Because, really, it's not, it's just a way to get my ass in gear and eating a balanced meal, instead of not eating or rushing and having something that isn't going to fuel my body...like a salad, with no protein, or too much cheese. I frigging love dairy... however, for 28 days I am not going to!

I also was supposed to give up coffee, I didn't have any yesterday, by about 6pm I wanted to hurt people... I wasn't sick, I didn't have a headache, I was just craving the sweet smell of fresh brewed coffee. I occupied myself and drank some David's Tea, caffeine free of course! Today...I made a morning coffee...I couldn't help it. But now, I have a headache... hmmm...catch 22? Maybe I'm just tired, lack of sleep last night and busy mornings make for a tired Jenny! So! epic fail on no coffee, but cutting down to one a day is a good start. I gave up coffee before, for 3 weeks, I didn't see much of a difference, so I will stick with that ;) Hayley says coffee is okay, as long as it is after breakfast!

Phase 1 is weird for me, high carbs and fruits. I don't usually eat that much starch in a day, or atleast I haven't in a while! scarry! But...I liked it! Even though, I find I am constantly hungry, but perhaps that is because I am in the "diet" mentality... ooohh, how the mind works!

My bf and I share desserts once in a while, like once a week, and it's always so yummy and because it's with him, I consider it guilt-free ;) It's usually just a cookie or a brownie, something sweet from the market, or his mom's homemade cookies, which by the way, are a little piece of Heaven on Earth!
Last night, he had cookies...not fair! I felt bad, and couldn't really turn it down, mainly because they are so damn delicious, and he's so darn cute, so they kind of go hand in hand! So, I had half...believe me, I wanted it all...BUT, I know deep down there will be another cookie in my life and really, it's not a big deal. and Yay for me to only have a couple bites!

So, today is day 2...so far so good! I am actually looking forward to lunch! Probably because I'm starving......... haha!!

JG OUT!

Back on track with The Fast Metabolism Diet

If you haven't read Haylie Pomroy's book, The Fast Metabolism Diet, you should! Even if you have no intentions on following it, or starting a new eating plan, it is still completely worth the read!

I need to get back on track, I've been feeling great, weather is starting to warm up, and the odd treat is becoming the weekly treat. So here is my 28 kickstart. My girlfriend is doing it with me. So, it will be fun to see how our results differ, she is much smaller than me, but we both live a pretty active lifestyle and are looking forward to this 28 day challenge!

Basically, Haylie says you can kickstart your metabolism, and keep it running, by following her plan.
Day 1 and 2 (phase 1) is basically a low-fat high carbohydrate meal plan
Day 3 and 4 (phase 2) is lean meats and veggies, no carbs, no fruits.
Day 4,5 and 6 (phase 3) is all of the above, plus adding in healthy fats!

Painless, yes. BUT, no coffee (unless you really need it). However, I decided to give it my all and give up the caffeine as well. Hey, go big or go home!

I'd like to drop 14lbs in the next 4 weeks. That is my goal. People are saying it works, so we'll see!

I plan on updating daily......or knowing me, every couple of days ;) and keeping you all posted on how this plan is working for me! Maybe, it'll give others the incentive to give it a try too!

JG OUT!

bye-bye belly - hello Jenny!

I am going to give this blogging world a try...yet, again!

As many of you who know me, I am an exercise fanatic, health freak, and lover of vegan desserts, Moksha yoga, and many other amazing things! However, 6 weeks ago, March 14 to the exact, I had an abdominal plasty. According to my Dr.; after losing 100lbs there was no way to lose my "pooch" because it was excess skin that exercise and healthy eating wouldn't be able to tighten up. A applied for such an operation, in hopes that this would completely change my life had my application been accepted and BAM! I was right.... clearly it was a much longer process(I'm just not getting into that right now) but wow, what a change. I had to give up exercising for a while, I had to learn to listen to my body, I had to REST? wtf? Jenny doesn't rest, nor does she know how! Well, I had no choice. I rested, and thank goodness I did, because now I feel stronger than ever ...not to mention, smaller! I spent my days watching Sex and the City (boy, those girls had A LOT of sex! You don't realize it until you watch every episode...in a row), meditating, and *gasp* relaxing! It felt nice for a change, not to be rushing my life away, running to and from gyms, stressing myself out, trying to eat healthy...on the run. Yeah, those 2 things just don't go together. However, here I am 6, almost 7 weeks later, not full healed, but every day gets easier and easier, and I am finally back to yoga! My goodness, How I missed my yoga!!

I finally closed the chapter of my life that included so many negative thoughts, and so much self-hate, I mean, I'm not perfect, and my body is still not as small as hopefully someday it will get, but I found a new love for myself. The fact that I have overcome and let go of all of the past years of hatred and negativity, the fact that I went "under the knife" for 3 hours and came back out smiling (probably because of high doses of Morphine) the fact that I was strong, and I am strong, and I am healing. I had so much support from my family, and my friends, and absolute strangers by times, it was insane. The gratitude I felt during the first couple weeks of my recovery, is completely unexplainable. I still feel such gratitude. In all honesty, I am saying Good Riddance to my past, and for the first time in my life, I am finally moving on. And let me tell you, it feels amazing! It's almost like I went to sleep and woke up with a whole new fresh start. Like a fresh page of loose-leaf, and I can begin my story, instead of continuing on!

So here's to my new beginning! Welcome to the world, the less-obsessed Jenny! She's going to rock this world upside down!

JG OUT!

Looks like we're gonna be snowed in...

And she returns!

It's been a while since I posted... but my life threw me a couple curveballs and sometimes it's just difficult to get out of your own way and find the time to sit down and write. I certainly wanted to, I just couldn't bring myself to doing it.

It's time again!

January 2013 was full of resolutions and ideas, ohhhh the ideas.... February 2013 is full of wondering what exactly those resolutions were and ideas that still have been given the proper attention.

I also gave up Largo, which means I went from working out 3 times a day, to mostly 1 hot yoga practice daily, or sometimes I would do a drop in turbo class or a drop in largo class, but I was no longer a member. I needed the break, my body needed the break, my head needed the break. But, I didn't feel like myself, I thought I would enjoy it - instead I felt very lazy and extremely useless when I wasn't intensely working out. I even tried a few mornings with Jillian Michaels, but it is just not the same! Needless to say, I am back to being a Largo member as of Saturday, and already I feel skinnier! Funny how the mind works.

My yoga practice has been stellar lately! loving it! Yesterday we did a partner yoga workshop with Christian and Steve, Ashley was my partner. We had so much fun! It was like 2.5 hours of playing in the hot room with your best friend! An absolute blast!

 

 

Sunday, Feb 17 - I started my morning with Yin and Airlie, then I went to Steve's noon-time Flow - and then the workshop at 3... My heart was so open and my head was so clear, I haven't felt that way in so long, I felt like me again, like everything was going to be okay, like I really don't have to spend so many hours of my day worrying.

I am going for a fairly big operation March 14, It's an abdomanaplasty (aka tummy tuck) funded by the government due to my extreme weight loss! extreme? I don't think so, but my belly states otherwise!

I'm not sure if this operation is huge because it's going to change my body and have me on a lengthy recovery, or because everything I hate about my body is going to be gone! The one thing that holds me back, that makes me feel insecure, that sometimes makes me break down in tears, that keeps me from mirrors, that makes me scream and go into fits of rage, that one thing - will be gone! Not going to lie, it scares the absolute shit out of me, I was never one for change, but I do know that deep down inside I love myself, and I love what my body helps me do - especially after all of the abuse and stress I put it through - it has never once given up on me - and I like to think this surgery is just going to better it and it might help my mind catch up to my body (which is probably the only thing I haven't been able to do yet)

I am just starting to tell people about this upcoming transformation, and I wish I had of done it sooner, because instead of feeling ashamed that I have to get this done, I feel proud that all of my hard work is paying off, and I can't believe the support I have been getting from my friends and the people around me and it is making me so much more positive towards this, instead of afraid.

I told myself I would lose 30lbs by this surgery, I had 3 months to do it... I have not lost 30 lbs, I have not even lost 3 lbs, what I have lost - is many things I enjoyed, instead I spent most mornings weighing myself and getting even angrier, and I lost $80.00 that I paid my dietitian to gain 6lbs... muscle or not - it's not what I need right now. I was so stressed out and angry that I forgot about all the positive things in life and I forgot all of my previous accomplishments, instead I was focusing on the fact that I can't! I had coffee with my friend Saturday morning, and again - everything made sense! I don't know why I wait so long to have a conversation with her because I know I need it, but I am glad we did. I have a month until my surgery, and I am going to focus on loving myself, embracing my yoga practice, working my ass off at Largo, and becoming stronger to recover from the operation, and of course - smiling! Because really? Who wants a non-smiling Jenny ...I'm pretty sure that must have been awful for those around me, although I do put on a pretty good front ;)

One question I got on Saturday... "why do you want to lose 30 lbs"?  I didn't even have an answer, other than I don't really feel my number is worthy of this surgery, which is just silly, because yes it is! And why after all these years am I still so focused on a number? Those who love me, aren't calling me by a number, they don't refer to me as a number, why do I do it myself?  If anyone can answer these questions, feel free to do so ;)

I'm so sick of guilt, and torturing myself, but I am the only one who can put an end to it. And, it started yesterday, and already I feel much better! It's going to be a long process, and it's not going to be easy, but I realized this weekend that I have a wicked support system and I have lots of people who see me much differently than I see myself - and eventually I hope to see what they see!

Well... that's it for today. I have so much to reflect, share, and write write write! And that I shall!

Hope you'll join me for the ride! I promise it will provide some fabulous recipes and cute photos!!

JG OUT!