Best Version of Myself

What an awesome concept! To be the best me that I can be - now that is refreshing to me.

I heard this at the "Meditation Weekend" I attended at the Chopra Center in Carlsbad last weekend. And, it really resonated with me. Be the best that I can be - not the best that someone else can be. Celebrate your uniqueness. Embrace who you are - not who someone else is or who someone wants you to be. This is what this means to me. The weekend was awesome - filled with meditation, personal mantras, insightful talks, and renewal - healthy food and yoga. I also won a contest there for a $500 voucher to take another seminar. So, most likely you will be hearing more about this in the future. I am contemplating taking their Perfect Health Teacher Training program to augment my Holistic Health Coach Certification, so I can better help others get healthy.

I realized I never reported the final results of my week at the Biggest Loser Resort. I ended up losing 7.5 pounds that week, and then another 3.5 pounds since then. So, that 11 pounds total. Yippeee! I have been exercising 4 or 5 times a week since I have been back, and eating well. I am also following the 90/10 rule and allowing myself to have two or three meals with some higher carb/fat foods. YAY! This is really helping me keep on track.

Here are some tips on meditation that might help you get a meditation practice started and some of the benefits:

Why Meditate?

There are many benefits to meditation, though the four main reasons someone would meditate are for emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual development.

The benefits include everything from:

• Stress reduction
• Increasing creativity
• Pain management
• Emotional healing
• Raising consciousness
• Relaxation
• Being closer to God
• Peacefulness
• Increasing energy
• Mental clarity
• Greater self-awareness

It can be very useful to determine why you want to meditate. Choosing a purpose for meditating offers direction when experimenting with new types of meditation, and increases the chances of having a fulfilling and positive experience.

5 simple steps for concentration meditation

1) Pick a focus for concentration
To stay in a meditative state it can help to have a mental device to keep your mind anchored and occupied. I suggest using a mantra or word of some sort. There is a wide range of mantras or sayings that can be used, so make sure it is something you can connect with emotionally.
Types of mantras or focus words could be something from your religious or spiritual tradition, or simply something that brings you comfort. Experiment with different words of phrases, for example, using the word “peace” or “love” or silently reciting a short prayer.

2) Find quiet environment and comfortable position.
Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. As you progress, using the same environment can limit your ability to meditate in other settings, but for a beginner, a quiet environment will help to develop a routine and maintain focus.

Make sure you are physically comfortable. You can lie down or be in a sitting position, though a good starting technique is to sit in a comfortable position. It can be easy to fall asleep while lying down.
The important thing is that you’re comfortable and not distracted and fidgety. Make sure your body is relaxed and you’re free of tension. Stretching can be done before meditation begins to prepare the body.

3) Breathe slowly and naturally
Begin by breathing slowly and naturally through your nose focusing on your breathe. Gradually begin incorporating your focus word as you exhale, or repeat a longer mantra along with inhalation and exhalation.
The breathe can also be used as a focus of concentration separate from a mantra, though, a mantra or word can help to maintain concentration and avoid the wandering mind. It also offers an emotional connection to the experience and a way to enhance spiritual development if that is a goal.

4) Don’t worry about how you’re doing

This is one of the most important points to emphasize. Meditation can be a difficult practice to establish because of the perception that there’s a right and wrong way to do it. The intention to meditate is the most important aspect of the practice and keeping an open-mind to the process makes it more enjoyable and fruitful.

This is part of learning mindfulness, as thoughts come and go we are able to continue meditating without becoming mentally and emotionally attached or frustrated. Don’t worry if you’re doing it right, just know it will become more natural as time progresses.

5) Continue for 10-20 minutes
In general, to gain the benefits of mediation it’s important to meditate for at least 10 minutes or so. It depends on the reason you are meditating, but often for any health or relaxation benefits the body needs to time to adjust.

Though, don’t push yourself and try to meditate longer than feels natural or comfortable. If you’re having a tough time, you can always stop and try again later. Forcing mediation to happen will make the practice more difficult and less enjoyable. If you’re falling asleep you can use shorter breathes to stay more alert.

After 10-20 minutes remain seated for a few minutes and recall and reflect on your meditation experience. 

How do you feel different? What images or thoughts were going through your head?
It can be helpful to have a journal or something to write about your experience to help with recall.
Take a few moments to stretch and balance your energy.

Last Chance Workout and a tear

Today is my last day at the Biggest Loser Resort. Tomorrow morning I will have my final fitness assessment, which will tell me how many inches and pounds I have released during my stay. I have benefited so much more than just the pounds I have shed. I heard a couple of things while I was here that really made me think. One girl said that someone told her that when it gets tough "to do it for those that can't" that struck a cord with me because I can move, I can exercise I am healthy unlike so many people in the world. So, now when it gets tough I will remember that. Another nugget I got was that when you get a little off track to get back on track and not beat yourself up about it. Sione, a trainer here and former contestant on the Biggest Loser, said to think of the sport of baseball and how the best hitters only hit 30 or 40 percent of the time, and they are the best in their sport. So, just keep at it, and keep treating yourself with respect and integrity!

After a hike on the beach this morning then we had the Last Chance Workout, which was a circuit style workout outside on a field and included things like hill running, plank, frog jumps, several barbell arm exercises, kettlebell, medicine ball throw with squats, with intermittent laps around the field. I have to say that because I got a giant blister on the bottom of my foot I wasn't able to do a couple of the stations, but I still got a great burn and workout.

Then I treated myself to a much needed massage. Boy, could I feel that I had really been working my muscules this week during the massage. Ouchy, but good!

 I happy to be going home, but at the same time I am a little sad that I am not staying. I met many very nice and supportive people here, and many who have achieved life changing results both physically and mentally. I know I still have a ways to go on my journey, but I'm going to do it. For sure you can't say that I don't keep on trying! Right?

And, one day soon I plan to reach my goal and then help others to meet theirs.

Charmlee Wilderness Park

Today we hiked at Charmlee Wilderness Park and the joke is that it isn't charming. So, you know what that means! Actually it was really a beautiful hike throught some meadows and up to to peaks that overlooked the ocean - way, way up high- with some hills that were like steps. But, all in all it was a pretty nice hike. Of course it was still hard and I was a super sweaty Betty. So, I made it through another day. Tomorrow we have one last hike and a Last Chance Workout, that scares me espeically since Sione, one of the contestants on the Biggest Loser, is rumored to be teaching the class. But, then after that this girl is getting a massage. YAY! More tomorrow - this girl is going to relax for a bit now.Charmlee Wilderness Park

A rattle snake, a big red ball and a strawberry

That is what day four at the Biggest Loser Resort included for me. We went on a hike today, like every morning here at the resort, and I was just not having it. I was hurting, I couldn't breath and I was just not wanting to be on the hike. I ended up at the back of the group feeling awful and huffing and puffing my way to the top of a spectacular summit with a beautiful view of the ocean overlooking Malibu. By that time I was feeling better because the rest of the hike was mostly down hill. Then while walking along the trail I heard some behind be scream and run up towards me. They had seen a rattle snake, which means I walked right by it and didn't even see it. Yikkeeess! Today was by far the hardest hike so far for me, they say the get easier - but not today for me.

Then we had stretch class, lunch, pool class (sounds easy but it isn't the kind of swimming I usually do when I lounge around in a pool), and a class called Ball Works - this is where the big red ball comes in. We were throwing the big balls back and forth with our partners when out of nowhere another twosome's ball comes flying at me landing right on my thumb. Needless to say it is now black and blue. Darn Big Red Ball!!! I am hoping for a miraculous recovery tomorrow. Then we had a class called Treading - OMG - five minutes as fast as you can go, then a five minute recovery a lower level, then the same for four minutes, then three, then two and finally for one minute as fast and hard as you can go. Glad that is over with!

For dinner the big prize was two chocolate covered strawberries. Nummy! That made all the trials and tribulations of my day all worth it! Now on to get some rest for the hike tomorrow morning.

2nd day at Biggest Loser Resort

Today I went on a beautiful hike on Zuma beach. Yes. That sounds wonderful and fun, and it was fun and wonderful, but it was also very difficult.Walking on sand for a a mile or so, not so easy and then hiking up hill in sand and down some very steep stairs, again not so easy. Then the rest of the day consisted of a stretch class using a foam roller, if you have ever used on of those you know that can be very intense. A Total Toning class, sounds easy, but those weights get heavy after about 70 reps. or more, then the pool class, which was refreshing and fun - I have decided once again that I do like swimming. The last class was the Cardio Circuit Class - up eight levels on the treadmill, then a sprint, then down eight levels, repeat and then two more sprints. So, needless to say I am pooped.

Being here again, and listening to a speaker we had today - Dakota Meyer, a Marine that won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism in the war in Afganastan, really made me realize that I need to fullfil my purspose in life. Life is to short and unpredicatable to not live every day to the fullest and do all the things that you desire. Right?

Also, while driving in the van back from the hike this morning it occured to me had I stayed with my exercise and eating plan, I would have been at my goal weight now, and not here again at the Biggest Loser Resort. Not that this isn't a great experience. I'd would just like to be here at my goal weight! If I had kept with it I would be helping others to reach their goals, as I had reached my goal.Well, now this time that IS what I am going to do. I am going to get to my ideal/goal weight and I am going to then help others to do the same. With my Holistic Health Coach certification, and my ISSA personal training certification (which I am working on right now) I should have the knowledge to help others. And, of course, with all of the personal knowledge I will have from doing it myself. I can't wait to get on to living my purpose - helping others to Belive.Eat.Move and live the life they desire.

Biggest Loser Resort - one more week!

Okay, here I am again at the Biggest Loser Resort! I am all checked in and I had my dinner of a chicken tamale with back beans, which was actually really good. Now on to get a good nights rest so I can make it through the two hour hike and five classes tomorrow. It is weird because I know what to expect and after a year of health coaching studies I am really ready for tomorrow. A little anxious, but ready..... I will posting during my journey with my insights and thoughts so stay tuned.