Mastering Body: My Return to Bikram Yoga

To be perfectly honest, exercising and eating right has been a serious struggle this week.  I know all the reasons I have to take good care of myself (long, healthy life with my future husband, being healthy for my future children, fitting into my wedding dress, etc), but I just can’t seem to muster up the energy to make it to the gym or make healthy food choices.

This struggle resulted in no trips to the gym Tuesday and Wednesday and a series of text messages with the Pilot discussing motivation and energy.  But then, Thursday rolled around and it was my day off.  I decided if I can’t make time to work out on my day off, I’ll never find time to do it when I’m busy.  So, I got my butt to the gym and completed a simple speedwork run (5x400).  It’s only been 3 days, but I’m hoping that was the run that got me back on track.

Yesterday, the struggle returned.  I’ve been away from Bikram Yoga for exactly a month now (for financial reasons) and finally thought I could afford to return, which was my intention for yesterday’s workout.  However, about an hour before class I found myself in an emotional down place and considered skipping yoga class (and thus a workout) for a glass of wine.  Then, I recalled Caitlin’s recent post about healthy coping skills and realized 90 minutes of yoga would be the ultimate mood booster.  Of course I was right.  I had great first class back and was able to concentrate only on yoga for those 90 minutes (what was bothering me prior to class wasn’t thought about once).

And today again, I had no desire to go to the gym after a horrible night’s sleep and an early wake-up call for work.  So I compromised with myself, just make it to the gym and do another simple run.  I complete 2.16 miles (the number seems random I know, but it was selected for a purpose) and then went home to complete 8 sun salutations.  Now, I’m barely tired anymore.

As for my diet, I’ve laid out one simple goal inspired by one of Tina’s recent blog posts.  Make sure to include protein with every meal.  I’m hopeful that consuming more protein will improve my overall energy level.

Cheers to blogging 3 times this week, as outlined by my new years resolutions!

Mastering Mind: Coffee Catch-up

That beautiful girl standing beside me in this incredibly dated (November 2008) picture is one of my bridesmaids.  Liss and I met in our first year of grad school and have seen each other through several life-altering situations.  Liss has been a supporter of my relationship with the Pilot from day one and I could literally hear her smiling through the phone when I told her we were engaged.  Those, among many others, are the reasons why I asked her to be part of the bridal party.

Liss is currently living in California with her fiancé, Benny-Boo, while he completes his PsyD internship (thank you Argosy University for bring us all together).  However, this week she is in town for some wedding planning and internship interviewing of her own and we were able to carve out a 90 minute chat at Starbucks yesterday.

Conversations with Liss yesterday, some serious and some silly, were a great way for me to master mind this week.  Creativity crept in when talking about wedding colors or strategic budget ideas.  Active listening skills were activated when talking about the stress included in wedding planning and our memory was engaged when we started to recall what we were like 4.5 years ago when we first met and how much we’ve changed.

I encourage everyone to call a friend and practice the mindful art of listening.  Then challenge that friend to do the same for you (I know you’ll want to talk as well).

Mastering Mind, Body & Spirit in 2011

In case you haven’t heard I’m engaged and getting married this year!!

That being said, I think this year offers a wonderful opportunity to continue my quest to master my mind, body and spirit.

Resolutions for 2011

Master my mind by:

• Studying for, taking and passing my licensing exam
• Meditating and journaling more regularly
• Attempting to blog 3 times a week
• Enjoying the experience of being engaged

Master my body by:

• Continuing the fitness and eating regimen that has already helped me drop one dress size
• Completing a 30 day challenge (30 day shred, anyone?)
• Running my 2nd half marathon
• Attempting new recipes more often

Master my spirit by:

• Attending church weekly
• Meeting with a Priest to complete the pre-marriage requirements outlined by the church
• Getting married in a Catholic Church

2010 was an amazing year (graduating, getting a job, moving in with the Pilot and getting engaged), so I am a little sad to see it go, but also very excited to see what 2011 will bring.

Happy New Year!

I might be eating pizza

But I can.  Today I went to Bikram Yoga and worked my ass off for 90 minutes.  Blood, sweat, tears and contorting my body into positions I never knew possible, certainly deserves a celebratory pizza.

Also;  I’ve lost 15 pounds since August 10, 2010.  At one point the pounds lost was actually 19.  No matter the number, the most important and wonderful thing is, that I fit my body into a size 8 dress for White House/Black Market!

The combination of Bikram yoga, running, weights, and Weight Watchers has really helped me to build self confidence and a positive body image.

And just an fyi, the pizza is thin crust and frozen, so I am completely in control of how many calories I am taking in.

Graduation then and now

Undergrad graduation August 2006

Grad school graduation November 2010

Jojo and the Pilot make plans for the future

No.  I am NOT engaged.  I am certainly NOT married. 

But after two years of dating (remember this Friday night or our first summer together?) the Pilot and I moved in together!!

I have claimed to hate the 4th of July, but that sentiment is gradually changing.  This year especially, because that was the weekend I moved into my boyfriend's apartment permanently. 

He said it best, we were celebrating my independence that weekend.  I had my masters degree.  I had my adult, real world job.  I was living with my boyfriend (independent from the help of my parents).  Mostly it was exciting to celebrate the progression of our relationship and the healthy approach we have taken with every step of the relationship.

It wasn't all rainbows and butterflies that weekend.  In fact, it was quite overwhelming with many tears.  But now I can look back on it with a smile and say all my worries were for nothing because I've never been happier.

Even though I'm learning it takes a lot of hard work, motivation and discipline to run a household, stay on top of the laundry, get the dishes washed and occasionally cook.

I'm working on it though.  Because these plans with the Pilot have afforded me the opportunity to live my life the way I always wanted too.

Will I have a career or am I doomed to forever be a student?

So where was I?  Oh yes!  Making a plan of attack for May.  This plan looked something like this:

1. Talk to seminar Professor
2. E-mail psychoanalytic mentor
3. Meet with Comps grader
4. Read Nancy McWilliams
5. Read more Nancy McWilliams
6. Read a third Nancy McWilliams book
7. Organize all class notes that could be of possible interest while taking the exam

Implementing this plan took me from March until the day I picked up the exam in May.  I had two weeks to write my exam, which was picked up on a Monday.  By Friday of the first week I had six pages of nonsense written (I still thank my ENC1101 teacher and Anne Lamott for this writing approach).  I woke up on the first Saturday morning, looked at the Pilot and said, "I'm redoing it.  I'm squeezing the client into the theory, instead of the using the theory to describe the client."

I re-wrote that part and completed subsequent parts all by the close of the first week.  This meant I had a whole week to edit, add and refine my work.  I passed the first draft off to my mom and the Pilot who both edited it and asked many questions to help me clarify my writing.  I woke up at some other point that week and decided to rework one more aspect of the paper and then was completely confident in what I had written and only needed to edit and pay attention to page limits.  I finished it at 7:30 pm the night before it was due, printed it the following morning and turned it in, among much panic.  Remember, if I didn't pass the test this time around I would not be graduating on my projected graduation date.

Additional pressure about graduating on time was coming from other places; my practicum site.  Back in March (the same week I found out I hadn't passed the exam the first time) I was interviewing potential interns for next year.  After all the interviews had been conducted, my supervisors took me out for a dinner meeting to discuss my thoughts, their thoughts and hopefully land on a decision.  We all agreed within the first 5 minutes of the meeting who we would like to offer the position too (although she ended up declining, having taken a position elsewhere); which left a lot of time to chat about other stuff.  My supervisors had a hidden agenda all along; THEY OFFERED ME A JOB!!!  So passing the test in May, not only meant that I would graduate on time, it also meant that I would employed upon graduation.

On June 18, 2010 I returned to school to pick up my exam results.  The Pilot was unable to accompany me there this time, but requested I call him as soon as I got the envelope so he could be on the phone with me when I opened it.  I called (3 times before he answered), opened the exam, and read aloud, "Congratulations, you have passed!"  I was jumping up and down in a dark, abandoned classroom as I continued to read further comments that included this gem; "You met or exceeded our expectations on every critical domain."  I hung up with the Pilot, called my parents and then my supervisor.

Ten days later, I had finished my required 750 hours of intern work and walked into the Lighthouse as an employee!  My graduation ceremony is in November, but I am officially practicing therapy with an MACL!