The Universe works in mysterious ways

My gym recently started doing 6am classes, 3 mornings a week. Well, good for them but damn this girl loves her sleep AND I don't start work until noon so it seemed like a super silly idea to get up at 5:30 and workout.... BUT! everybody's talkin about this class and blah blah blah, I thought I'd give 'er a whirl. So yesterday, up at 5:30, coffee in hand, off to the gym I go for one hour of intense kickboxing cardio! What a way to start my day, such a relief to know I have already burnt about 400 calories BEFORE breakfast AND that I don't have to wait around and go to the 5:30pm class...this is brilliant! By about 2pm I was a borderline zombie, but that'll pass. So, this morning I set my alarm, thought heck - might as well try this again, and then it went off....oooh no! Nope, I need a couple more minutes, set it for about 3 minutes ahead, jumped back into bed and BAM! it goes off again, Nope, I'm not going, I will sleep in until 8 or so and go for a run or something... Then I was checking facebook and this shows up on my newsfeed...

And it got me thinking, if I want to lose this weight, if I want to change my body, I have never had a slim figure or I have never been 175lbs...well, maybe in grade 5, haha - but who'd remember that? not I! So, If I want to change my body and take it somewhere it has never been... I need to do something I've never done.... Like for example: my cardio workouts at 6am instead of in the evening.

Well, Thank you universe for getting my ass out of bed and to the gym, because now I feel great! hmmm...what's for breakfast?! Later gators!

JG OUT!

Dream on

Abraham Lincoln says
The best way to predict your future is to CREATE IT

And so I am going to try just that....

 

 

 

Or I am going to secretely hope and wish and pray AND repeat night after night..... sshhh!!!!


Lord Shiva says something along the lines that change is in comparrison to death, which is so true, and explains why many of us actually fear change, whether we know it or not. I spent more time listening and breathing today than I did on the physical aspect of my practice, and I will tell you, I was completely exhausted by the end of it, mental practice is much more demanding sometimes than a physical, or it is for me atleast. So I often wonder, if reaching my goal weight, would be such a change in my life for so many reasons, that deep down I actually fear it...sounds silly, but fuck I have thought of this before and after Airlies speal on demons, and death and destruction...I now fear she is right and I need to look fear in the eye and give it a huge FUCK YOU!

Think about it, reaching my goal weight means everything I have been striving for would have been met, no more fight, no more battle, no more obsession....then what...

'Cause baby it's raining on Monday...It's pouring like crazy...

Here's a low-down on my summer....

calories in VS calories out.... calories schmalories!

One might say, I'm very strict with "dieting" ....this summer I decided I would enjoy the odd glass of wine, eat a couple restaurants here and there, whatever, in return I vowed to work-out 3 times a day...which meant Largo/kickboxing every day but Sunday, Hot Yoga, Running, Walking, Biking, Kayaking, whatever it took...I made sure to work my little butt off....however it counter-acted and just wore me out and actually put some pounds on me. I also hang close with my nutritionist, which helps but I'm always so confused, My advice from June to now was ...
Exercise more, eat more, eat less, exercise less, don't eat this, eat more of that, less fat, more carbohydrates, less protien, more protien, drinks shakes 3 times a day, don't drink shakes and ........you get my point! MASS EFFING CONFUSION and yet no further ahead....my nutritionist basically calls me a freak of nature, we can not figure out for the life of us why this weight won't come off, considering how frigging hard I work! Anyhoo, needless to say I got frustrated and decided to go back to the basics, calories in, calories out. I track my calories burned by wearing a heart-rate moniter and I limit my net-calories to 1200 cals a day and I track everything from a baby carrot to a tsp of hummus...I was shocked to see that on some days I burn almost 1400 calories, holy sweet jumpings - that deserves a pizza doesn't it? hahaha! JK - relax! I'm in week 3, meh, it seems to be working a little, but it's really not as easy as calories in calories out....I can tell you that. I eat healthy, so don't ever think I'm stuffing back 250 calories of chocolate and sugar, it's usually kale and egg whites or silver hills sprouted grains bread. Ughk! KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON!
I bring this up, because I just finished my kickboxing class, and the whole time I was absolutely enraged that everyone around me is getting smaller or progressing in their weight-loss goals and then there is me who doesn't change at all, I swear the ppl in my apartment building see me coming/going with my gym bag and think to themselves "what does this girl do at the gym? eat a GD sandwich?" ...one would think!! After being jealous of those around me, I realized jealousy works the opposite of how we want it to, and that I need to just keep trying harder and hoping my body will soon decide to work with me instead of against me. That being said, I am waiting to hear from a plastic surgeon about having the excess skin on my stomach removed, I am waiting for governemt approval and should know by the end of September, since my consultation was the first of August, I am hoping and praying x 1000!!! This would change my life and help me with these body-image issues, I just know it, plus he told me, the only way I am going to rid this, is through surgery, so obviousally I am going to keep working out but how discouraging is it to know that the main thing I hate about my body cannot actually change without an operation.
******So, for you believers out there, I am throwing this out to the universe and if all of you could hope and wish and send positive vibes my way - please do so! I will be forever grateful!******

BRB I'm going to yoga!

Lately, I can't help but think, everytime I am in the my first backward bend, that the cue our teachers have been using lately remind me of jr. high.... the cue being "lift your heart to sky, don't use your lower back, pull your elbows together".... it never fails, every single time, I think how every boy from gr.7 to gr. 9 used to say it to all the girls "I bet you can't touch your elbows behind your back..." That's a safe bet my friend, however, you will get a good glimpse of our puffed out chest as we try! hahaha...ahh the simplicity of it all.

Speaking of simplicity... a hot room, rain pouring outside, a beautiful sunset, and 30+ yogis laying on their mats... pure bliss! Finally a full room, and with the guidance of Brendan, I couldn't help but come out of that studio feeling grateful and almost disappointed about how I let myself get so angry earlier on in my day. I do the best I can do, and that is all I can do right now.

I was talking to my friend, and he said "I should really try getting into yoga again, more so for my mind than anything..." I replied with a long speel about how finding Moskha has completely changed my life for the better, and that it ranges from a physical practice to an emotional practice to being mindful in my day to day life ... then I sent the message, and laughed out loud and couldn't help but think "shit yogis say" ....One thing I never once imagined myself to be... a yogi. And let me tell you, I fucking love every GD second of it!

JG OUT

Pumpkin Fever

 

 

I think pumpkin fever is catching on, I woke up this morning and came out to the kitchen to see my roomie baking...with pumpkin! She was making some of those spiced muffins I made last week.

How delightful :)

 

 

 

 

As for my Pumpkin Challenge, I madeVegan  Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites, and it was so friggin' good that it was unsafe to have in the arms-length!

 

 

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bites :)

Makes 12-16 Bites

Filling Ingredients:

• 3/4 Cup Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 Cup Cashew Butter
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 Tsp Ginger
• 1/8 Tsp Cloves
• 3 Packets Stevia
• 2 Tbsp Agave (Honey, Maple Syrup or Stevia to make this no-sugar) - I used Stevia!
• Dash of Salt

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Shredded Coconut ( I used unsweetened)
• 1 1/4 Cup Pecans + Extra for Topping
• 1 Cup Pitted Dates
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1. Using your small food processor bowl and blade blend all pie filling ingredients until smooth and set aside.
2. Using your large food processor bowl and blade process all crust ingredients until dough like consistency with visible chunks of nut (setting aside extra pecans for topping).
3. Grease an 8×8 baking pan or glass dish with a healthy oil.
4. Press crust mixture evenly into baking dish.
5. Top with pie filling using a spoon or spatula to make sure the filling is evenly distributed over the crust.
6. Add extra pecans over the top.
7. Cover with saran wrap and freeze overnight.
8. When you’re ready to serve remove from the freezer, cut into squares and serve immediately.

Holy moly these were good! It is definitely one of my new fave's!!


Onto the rest of my day.....

 

 

Sunday, September 30, CIBC's Run for the Cure! This is my first year taking part in the run, I've supported the cause but I've never actually rain it myself. I joined my friend Ashlee's team Island Recruiting, got my attire on, and ran my heart out in the pouring rain! It was cold, it was windy, and boy oh boy - it poured! But yet, I didn't feel it at all, It was so amazing to be running and seeing so many people together for one cause, and to see so much support in one community. Ahh-Mazing!

 

 

 

 

I got some sweet new kicks too! The newest loves of my life :) They were squishy and soaked about 15 minutes into my run, I'm sure it'll be a couple days before I can wear them again, but in the mean time, I'll sit and admire these beauts!

 

 

The fear of Natarajasana

Dancers Pose aka Natarajasana used to be my all time favorite pose, then I became not really liking it but doing it anyways, then I used to stand in Tadasana and breathe while others did their pose, I just became annoyed with such a pose. But, yesterday in Hot Hatha, not to mention, I wore shorts for my first time to yoga (wtf) and went to the front row in front of the mirrors...scary! SCARY! You have no idea! Class gets started and our focus-pose is Natarajasana....ahhhhhh!!! We did about 45 minutes of hip openers to prepare us for this pose, then we did it, and it felt so good, but NEXT, we were to balance on a block and do the pose. Well! holy! Not only are you about 2-4 inches (depending on your block) taller...you`re balancing on it and going into your deepest depth, unbelievable! How this looked, how this felt... amazing! I am so thankful I took my fear of the mirror and stepped right into it, because I couldn`t have imagined missing seeing this pose in it`s fullest extent. UNREAL!

So, next up, 75 minutes of Yin, oooh sure why not, its raining, I have a change of clothes, alright....

75 minutes of hip openers, well ok not all hip openers but it sure as hell felt like it. My hips were so friggin open that at one point, I burst out laughing and had to hide my face in my knee. They say hip openers bring out emotion, and usually when it does, it means you are letting something go, so something like that makes me happy. However, I`ve always had tears or anger and hatred but today, I had laughter...I felt like that was a huge breakthrough for me, obviousally embarassing, but hey - I covered it up! I wish I could have just broken into hysterics, would have made for an interesting yoga yin class in a silent room! haha!

I was high as a kite after those 2 classes, I was home by 730 and couldn`t even calm myself down til nearly 130am. So much love and gratitude.

I vow to not talk negatively to myself and I vow to think positive thoughts from here on out, even if my shorts look too short, or the mirror is too close, or my belly is too fat, or..or ..or...or...or..or.... DONE!

Time for bed! night all.

JG OUT!

Summer faded into the fall...

Well...here is the kind of person I am...
(As per my last blog posts, in May, during the 7 week pillars of Moksha challenge)
I gave up dairy for 7 days...and managed to consume more dairy products in those 7 days than I did all year.  And...blog for the entire 7 weeks, then we mutually decided to give up the internet, therefore I could not keep up with my blog - yup that's the kind of person I am! I laugh, and move on.

But! A few months ago I went to get my tea leaves read, at the end of it all, she told me to "write, journal, blog...do whatever you need to do to send yourself to the universe because your writing will get you somewhere someday" hmmm...really? Ive been journalling since I was ten, I guess it's time to throw myself out to the universe! If that wasn't enough, I went to get my Tarot Cards read earlie this week and she was insanely accurate and full of amazing information, borderline shocking! Anyhoo, once again this lady says "you need to write, you are a wonderful writer, and your writing is going to help people, you need to blog and let the universe know who you are...eventually you're writing will be a book" umm... wtf? 2 for 2! I should probably listen to these ladies. Its not like they know each other and talked about mutual things they should tell Jenny!

So, just like anything, starting fresh January 1st, starting fresh for spring, or most of all, fading out of the summer and starting fresh into the Fall...well, here I am. Fresh Start, New Perspective, and lots of blogging to do!

Ironically enough, that evening a good friend of mine called me to see if I could help her come up with some healthy snacks and meal ideas because she just doesn't know how, or what she should be looking for in the grocery story. I offered to take her grocery shopping, and that we did, we hit Sobeys, Superstore, and the Bulk Barn...she had tonnes of questions and even a few texts when she got home, but she found lots of healthy ideas, many new products she never knew of and lots of healthier alternatives to her "go to foods". I was so happy to help! I then recieved a text this evening stating "I love this...and I love this...and I really love this and those! and I love you right now!! Thank you!" aww! It feels so good to know I can take a little of my knowledge and help someone live a much healthier lifestyle! So, maybe my writing will help someone? Who knows!

Once again, I'm in a world of stuck/plateaus/and all of the above! I am reaching my goal once and for all, and I am going to work damn hard to get to it! Tarot Card reader says I should have it met in 8 months...so April. But I won't focus on that, I'll just take it day by day and hope my body starts to respond. I am going to take up running this winter - that should be interesting, and you, my friends, are here to hold me to it!

I have so much to say.......eeek! But I got days and days of blogging ahead of me! so Good night all!

JG OUT

Do one thing a day that scares you

I have a lululemon bag that is always hanging off my chair, or on my closet door, etc and I'm always reading over and over and over again their mantras and the one that stands out to me the most is "Do one thing a day that scares you" -sounds silly - yes. but for someone like me - it makes complete sense and I really do try to take this into my everyday life, whether it be something small or something quite significant. 

I've been on a bit of a hiatus, and I apologize for the lack of posts, but it was ahhhh mazing! and
completely worth every second and dollar (or...dollars) that was spent in the beautiful city of New York!

As for doing one thing a day that scares me, I completely accomplished that, hands down!

Thursday - Taking a NYC cab from the airport to where I was staying - I still can't believe I made it out of that cab alive! haha... I was sliding on the leather, and believe you me, I was holding on to the seat handles for dear life, and I think at one point I was trying to find my ouija breath!

Friday - Touring the streets of NYC all by my lonesome AND taking subways! Clearly I survived, or I wouldn't be typing this right now but for a little Island girl - huge accomplishment! well done, Jenny!

 I fell in love with the city, when I walked out of my room onto the street and landed upon one of these:

A fresh fruit stand on borderline every corner! Beauty! I grabbed myself some fruit, grabbed a coffee and walked around with my camera as any tourist might do! I was literally bouncing down 10th and 6th ave - that is where Moksha Yoga NYC is located - I was pumped to be trying a class there - they were so friendly, their studio rocked, and I had a wicked 75 minute class with Jess!  Get This - The cork floor changes color (light pinkish) when you sweat on it - odd...I had to stop and take a second, I thought perhaps I was dying? Nope - just some random coolness they have as part of their studio! So all around my mat was a frame of pink spots and puddles! too funny!

Saturday - Bikram Yoga. WOW! 90 minutes in a super hot room lined with carpet - CARPET!?! Holy anxiety attack - ughk I get a strange feeling just typing that! I was thinking wow - how do you disinfect carpet on a daily basis? and I'm pretty sure the carpet holds in heat - could have been my anxiety talking! Clock on the wall, you can talk during class, not one downward dog in site, really great practice though- I definitely enjoyed it, I don't think it'd be something I would do daily, but it was fun to venture out! About 10 minutes in, I wanted to run out of the doors screaming - BUT I kept it together and completed the class!

Major Difference: You do every pose pose, even their form of pranayama breathing - which to me is a choking hazard, haha, seriousally, I'll show you if you ask!
So once I got through a pose, which is held for 60 seconds, you take a breath, and go into it a second time but to your full extension for a total of 30 seconds. I'd say Bikram is more of a mind game, because it's like phewf! I made it through...stand in tadasana, and BAM! fuck - I have to do that again - are you kidding?! and so there you go, doing it all over again, even camel!

Oh yeah! and at the first of class - the instructor comes in, introduces herself, and then gets the class to introduce ourselves one by one - a little frightening, but also a neat thing to do, then you don't feel like your stuck in a desperately hot room with a bunch of strangers! Now, you're stuck in a hot room with a bunch of strangers who know your name, so that when you get called out for doing fabulous or for doing a moksha pose  (hmm...wonder who that was?) - those strangers know exactly who the instructor is talking to! 

Sunday - I ordered what I wanted a restaurant *gasp*! I'm that person who goes out to eat ALL the time with friends, family, social gatherings, etc... BUT always, no matter what the situation, orders a salad. Don't get me wrong, I love salad, but sometimes I just want to order nachoes, or a wrap and fries or something - but nope - salad! Sunday - I went to brunch, which consisted of ceasars, eggs, sourdough toast, and a salad (instead of homefries) but still - kudos to me! I did it! And I enjoyed every last bit of it! If you could only imagine half of the battles I have with myself - you'd likely check me in to recieve your free toaster! Yup - this girls on a day pass ;) haha!


And there you have it, now I am back to reality,  with the quietness of Prince Edward Island and the desire to be back in NYC.