Looking to 2014

2013 is almost over and now is the time to look forward to 2014.  This year I am going to try something new.  I am going to try to work as hard as possible on me and my life.  That might sound preposterous.  I mean really who doesn’t try their best at least some of the time?  The answer is me.

I actually have stopped using programs because I saw progress.  Progress scares the HELL out of me.  I know I need it.  I know I am worth it.  Progress is just scary!

This year I am going to face my biggest fear and see how much progress I can make in one year.   I am going to follow plans set down by other people, as to not burn out, and blog it all here.  Ready or not, here comes 2014!

Programs to start with:

Setting my goals and following through:

Chalene Johnson 30-day challenge http://www.30daypush.com/

I am going to be doing this program on repeat, every single month.  It takes at most about 15 minutes a day. (cost: Free)

Clean and organized house:

Flylady Baby Steps and Beyond http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

This is an ongoing program that starts with very doable steps and builds on them gradually so that you, your house, and your family are organized and able to handle what life throws at them.  Yes, I previously used this program, saw results and stopped.  Not going to stop this time. (cost: Free)

Eat healthier:

Betty Rocker’s Body Fuel System http://fuel.thebettyrocker.com/

This is an eBook in PDF format that has four weeks of menus, recipes, grocery lists, and detailed prep.  It also includes chapters on why you should eat this way.  The recipes include; turkey meatballs, French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, fish, shrimp, roasted vegetables, and much more.  Everything is laid out for you.  (cost: $47)

Workout Consistently:

Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer  http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html

For this program I am going to use mostly just the workouts.  My meals are already planned out above and not having to make up a grocery list is one less thing to do.  This is a 3 month plan after that I will switch to a different plan as to not get bored.  I will chose it base on where my fitness level is at the time.  It will more than likely also be from Bodybuilding.com.  (cost: free) *starting 1/6/2013

Practice dance daily for 30 minutes or more:

There are many ways I could have worded this goal.  Let’s face it.  I have a lot on my plate already with the programs above.  Stipulating that I make progress on a move or what exactly I do would be too much.  As I have loads of DVD’s and choreography that I can work with, I will let this be a bit more organic.  I might even be able to get some review of my DVD collection out!

Lastly, I will blog daily.  It might not be much.  It might be just one sentence or one word.  But there will be something daily.

There you have it.  My big scary 2014 New Year’s Resolution List.  Nothing on this list is not doable, but it is scary to me.  I may need my hand held.  I may need a kick in my pants.  I will do my best to make it all happen.

Today's Inspiration

Shushanna is a great individual I have become acquainted with on Bhuz.com.  I love the skill and showmanship she shows here.  Even though it is a big stage and the audience is not near her she gives enough attention to them that I bet it felt a lot more intimate than it was.  Her opening veil work while wearing zills is something I need to work up to.

Today's Inspiration

Beautiful arms and flow.  I will definitely want to watch this again when I am working on a drum solo to see the different accents that they used. 

Low Points and Working through Them

I have definitely hit a low point.  The bad thing about low points, at least for me, is that they tend to lead to actions that cause more low points.  I have been eating way too much and hardly working out.  This leads to me feeling just that much more depressed and also bloated.

The only way I know how to kick myself out of this is to literally kick myself out of it.  As such, I plan to have my workout clothes ready before I go to bed and go for a walk with my dog right after my first alarm goes off in the morning.  We will see how this goes as that dreaded alarm goes off at 4:30am.  YUCK!!  But it has been unseasonably warm here in Kansas and neither me nor my dog are used to the heat yet so this is the best time for any outside activity.

I got strawberries at the store today so I am planning to make these strawberry protein pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.  Cassey's recipes are always so good!  I can hardly wait.  That should get me up for the walk. lol  Then I will just try to focus on eating well the rest of the day.  Each day is a new chance to make your life better, I plan to make the most of that.

Huggs!!

Today's Inspiration

A great performance by Rachel Brice showing great muscle control as well as the great Rachel style. 

Today's Inspiration

Funny at how we baulk at certain costuming that was prevalent so long ago as being scandalous.  What would truly make this scandalous now when it wasn't then?

Today's Inspiration

Besides just great dancing, I love the spunk she shows and her costume.  I have some pearls in my costume supplies that have been waiting for a design.  I think I have found it here.

The Joys of Dancing in the Heat

So tonight my trouped performed at an award ceremony for the middle schoolers that helped out with our military salute number at the last studio show.  The auditorium was supposed to have the a/c on.  It is also not typical for Kansas to be in the 90's in May.  Add the a/c not on to the temperature outside being above 90 and you get a hot stage.  Add stage lights and our makeup melted off.  Other than the heat and cutting down our performance due to the heat, it was a blast.  The kids loved that their ROTC teacher was also a belly dancer and that the troupe came out to perform just for them.  Best audience EVER!!!

While I said my makeup melted off, not all of it did.  For my lips I used NYX lip jumbo pencil and it did not budge a smidge.  My eyeshadow didn't budge either using NYX's HD eye base and eye shadows from the Crimson Amulet collection.

Today's Inspiration

Soheir Zaki performance from the 1970's shows classic bellydance.

Burning Can Be Good

   Today I was running a little ragged after yesterday's activities.  It used to be that this would cause me to take it easy and do nothing.  Instead I pushed myself.  I helped my mom load up her truck with downed branches between my split shifts.  After the work day was done I used Rachel Brice's Practice Companion DVD.  I did the 30 minute session.  This is where the burn comes in.

    Tribal Fusion: Yoga, Isolations and Drills - A Practice Companion is a great DVD if you have not come across it yet.  The only thing I wish is that a DVD exactly like this would come out for classical Egyptian as well.  It is broken down into time increments that you can chose from; 15, 30, and 45 minutes.  There is also a play all feature, but I don't know the run time on that or how it differs from the 45 minute practice. 

    After a yoga warm up, Rachel started in on the drills and isolations.  Since they are all done without level changes or foot movement, my thighs started to notice.  Not just notice, they started to BURN!!  I actually had so stop some of the drills because my thighs needed a break.  I guess we know where my weakness is now.  It was also not that bad in the calorie burning arena for me as well.  According to my heart rate monitor, I burned 249 calories during this session.  All in all, it will be in my regular rotation at 30 minutes till my thighs get up to par.  Then I'll try taking it up to the longer practice.

Today's Inspiration

Today I was picking mostly white costumes for some odd reason.  Not only was this a great dance piece showing pauses and musicality but her white costume was not shocking in it's sheerness.  I also love how the skirt moved.  I found two videos with the same costume.  I really love her musicality and that costume!

Today's Inspiration

Fahtiem used simple but effective veil moves. She shows that it does not have to be difficult to be exciting and captivating.

Starting Over for the Hundreth Time

I find that I restart more often than not. While most people might see this as a bad thing, I note that at least I restart. This restart is inspired by a phrase that Cassey Ho of blogilates came up with, "Train insane or stay the same." While she is in much better shape than me, she is a source of inspiration as she is constantly pushing herself to be more healthy. The basics of my plan is simplicity.

       Nutrition is said to be at least 80% of results. For my nutrition plan I will be following a clean eating plan of 6 "meals." Three meals will include protein, carbs, and fat. Protein and carbs will make up the remaining three meals. Fruits and vegetables are carbs. I will aim for 3 servings of fruits and 5 servings of vegetables. Most foods will be whole foods, as close to their natural state as possible. This will cut back on the prep time for meals as well as cut back on unnecessary calories. I will try to limit my grains to whole grains. For protein sources I will use mostly chicken, nuts or fish. The exception will be my morning shake that has protein powder, Greek yogurt and peanut butter in it.

       Training is the next 10% of the equation. For month one through five I will be using Shape's Bikini Body Countdown workout. Each month they come out with a different workout that is slightly harder than the month before. This will be my strength training. For my cardio training I will be alternating HIIT and moderate cardio aiming for 30-60 minutes a day. Mainly walking and running for this. I will also be continuing my yoga and bellydance classes on top of that. Also on top of that is any house or yard work. Staying moving even when I am not "working out" is part of the goal.

        Today I didn't eat so hot but it was much better than I normally do on the weekend, so I will take it as a win. I started out the day with my breakfast shake and a glass of water. For lunch though I had Taco Shop's enchilada dinner which had two enchiladas and beans all with cheese and cheese sauce on them. For dinner I did about the same, a small hamburger, side salad and jello from Spangles. I would have been fine there if I skipped the ice cream sundae, but at least I got a small one. I did my strength and HIIT workouts but only did one round of each. I give myself one week and then I am bumping it up to two rounds for each. It will be really hard for me but anything worth having is hard to get.

Starting point for this time:

Starting Point

Today I start a journey to become a better dancer. That may sound like a petty goal to some, but it is a motivation that will help me along the steps that I have to do to become better. I know that to become a better dancer I have to remove other obstacles in my way. So that you understand the journey, I will tell you about the beginning.

I am a bellydancer. I would rank my current level as beginner-intermediate. The things that are standing in my way of becoming better are; my weight, lack of practice space at home, and confidence.

My weight is an issue because I am 100lbs. over weight. As a result, I have less endurance than I would need to make it through a full set. Also, moves don't ever look sharp. I know that I don't want to ever become too skinny. That would lead to my shimmies being nonexistent. I want only useful junk in my trunk! lol

Lack of practice space at home will limit anyone wanting to make true progress with their dance. Daily studio time is not always available and practicing skills and routines daily is what makes them look flawless and effortless. My lack is just due to the clutter that is in my house.

My confidence is truly just plain not there. Now, that is not to say that I can't fake it. Faking it will only get you so far though. That internal self-doubt will show through to the trained eye. If the stress on the performer is really bad, it would not even take that.

So those are going to be my four main topics of writing about; dance, weight loss, cleaning, confidence. I will try to do two blogs a day. One with that days topic. One with that day's progress report.