What is happiness?

What is happiness? This can be a very loaded question. When I think about happiness, I think...what truly makes one happy? Is it money, power, a job, looking a certain way, love? I believe that we all have our own definitions of what makes us happy, however I also know that we also think about what we 'think' will make us happy (a trap that I fall into often).

So many times you hear someone say: Oh, if I can lose 20 pounds, then I'll be happy. Or. If we get married, then everything will be perfect and I'll be happy. Or, if I can just make $30K more than what I'm making now, I won't have to worry so much about making ends meet and I'll be happy. Or if we can have a baby, then life would be complete and we'll be happy. And the list goes on. But the truth is, 9 times out of 10 if you're thinking that if one of these things occurs that you'll instantly no longer be unhappy...you better think again and start looking at the root of your unhappiness. In other words, what's holding you back from being happy.

On the reality show, The Biggest Loser, contestants compete to see who can lose the most weight. And if you've ever watched the show, you know that the contestants' transformations are much more than losing weight and getting healthy. Many, if not all, of them are dealing with demons that they may or may not be consciously aware of at first, but once the realization hits it's time to go to work to remove those demons. Sure, they can take the pounds off, but in order to really transform and heal they need to remove the emotional weight as well.

Going back to my previous post, where I said that I've done a lot of personal inspection into who I am (who I've become), I painfully became aware that for me to be happy then I need to do some cleansing on the inside. Because I'm learning that as the emotional weight (baggage) gets lifted, the happier I become. Now I'm not saying that within a few short weeks that I've found all of the answers and am doing cartwheels because I found my happiness. However, step-by-step I'm finding my inner peace and I know that once I'm able to be rid of the emotional weight that everything else will fall into place. I've put my faith in God that He will guide me throughout this process and won't let me fail.

Where to Begin

I've been away for quite sometime. We all know the cliche, life gets in the way. And yes, life has definitely gotten in the way recently. Over the past several weeks, I've done a tremendous amount of introspection. What triggered this sudden need to take a closer look? A few weeks ago, something rocked me to my core...funny how that works, but that experience is what took me to snap out of my current haze and open my eyes. And to be honest, as much as I didn't want the outcome to be what it is (and don't want it) and as much as I wish I could have realized it sooner to prevent said outcome...I don't think I would have made the realizations I have without it happening. And I know what I'm saying is quite vague, but the experience is not something that I'm ready to openly share just yet (and for those that know me and are aware, I trust that you will respect my privacy).

The funny thing is, that not too long ago I knew that something was wrong. In a conversation with my best friend and love of my life, I said to him that I don't know who I am anymore. We talked about it for a bit and then moved on to the next topic of conversation. And oddly enough, by saying out loud that I didn't know who I was anymore wasn't enough to make me pause and figure out what was going on and what I needed to do to address it. Why? Maybe I was scared, or wasn't ready to truly admit it or know where to start or wasn't ready to face it head on. All I do know is by trying to sweep it under the rug completely blew up in my face.

So what did I do? What am I doing? I started to dive deep into the person I had become...and let me tell you, I didn't like a lot of what I saw. Sure, there's still a lot of good qualities and while no one is perfect, some of my imperfections had taken such a strong-hold over me that it was hard to see the good. Those suffocating imperfections include: stubbornness, pride, selfishness, jealousy and insecurity. Not easy to see or admit either.

How do I fix this? How do I heal? I turned back to my faith. I turned to the One that no matter what I do, no matter how bad it is He will be there to embrace me and give me all of His love, patience, kindness, strength and forgiveness. By placing my faith and trust with God, I know He will help me through. God has a plan for all of us and through this I'm hoping I can understand His plan for me.

More to come, so stay tuned...it's going to be a voyage of discovery.

Week 7 is Off to a Great Start

Let's start off with the fact that it's now Week 7 out of 8! How did that happen?! It has gone by so fast! In almost 2 months time, I have gotten so much stronger, flexible and have done things that I never thought possible! I've started noticing some nice definition in my legs and arms and overall feeling amazing. But my noticing the changes is not as incredible as others noticing. I've had co-workers tell me that I look thinner and then this weekend, Chris said a couple of things that just made me feel beautiful and that all of this has been worth it. We were talking about how the khakis I had on Friday were baggy and he said "Your legs are thinner." He also walked behind me as I was finishing getting ready on Saturday and said "Your butt is getting smaller, you know that right?" Wait, what? I pretty much said that I didn't notice. It made me smile and also blush. It means so much when someone you care about not only notices the positive changes you've made, but also tells how great they think you're doing and how good you look.

So, if you need further proof that this incredible low-impact workout can't deliver results, here are the results I found when I took updated measurements this morning:

Since July 14 (a couple of weeks into the program) - I've lost a little over 3 lbs and 4 inches! I am so thrilled about those 4 inches, because as you know while 1 lb of muscle weighs the same as 1 lb of fat...the difference is that 1 lb of muscle takes up less room than 1 lb of fat! I've learned to not focus so much on what the scale says, but how I feel, how my clothes fit and those important inches gone!

That's enough for today, but there are a couple of other reasons that I'll leave for another post as to why this week have started off on the right foot!

The Power of Positivity

Have you ever noticed that your attitude, thoughts, and emotions reflect very similarly to those around you? For instance, how many times have you seen someone who's always told that they can't do something and constantly get knocked down have a horribly low self-esteem? Or the impact of those that always have a smile on their face or try to see the good in every situation, people tend to gravitate toward them.

Over the last year, I've started examining my relationships and found there are some that are really good and others, not so much. I found that those 'toxic' relationships with all the negativity and drama are not what I want in my life. And by removing those elements, I've become a happier person. And for those that you can't completely remove due to extenuating circumstances, don't get sucked into their negativity...instead try to bring them up to your positive drama-free attitude.

Recently someone I look to for inspiration and keeps me accountable, tagged me in the following post. It truly says it all and I couldn't have said it any better. Thanks Mandy! :-) XOXO

"Surround yourself with people who lift you up, and make you feel loved and inspired.... It's amazing how being with other people who are positive and like-minded really motivate you to keep going, keep on improving yourself, and keep on moving forward toward reaching your goals. When you hang around with "Debbie Downers" it can really have a toll on your frame of mind... Yes, sometimes those people need you in their lives, and yes, there is a time and place for them... but I am talking about 'on a regular basis'... Stick with people who want to be with you; people who inspire you to do more, and people who look for the good in every situation."

Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Remember the old saying "you are what you eat"? It's definitely true, because your body is a reflection of your lifestyle. For the longest time, I never really thought about what I ate, ignorance was bliss. Besides, I wasn't eating McDonald's everyday and thought I was doing okay. But then again I didn't have a desk job, I was outside the majority of my work weeks...haha, see where I'm going with this? Then I settled for the desk job and the activity lessened, my eating habits stayed the same and the pounds started coming on. I blamed it on metabolism, getting old, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Over the past year, I've made some serious changes when it comes to my eating habits. I started taking a real hard look at what I was eating and was surprised by how much CRAP (Carbonated drinks - Refined sugars - Artificial food - Processed food). OMG the amount of processed food that was supposedly 'healthy' that I was consuming was alarming. I would purchase the easy pop in the microwave meals because I didn't have time to cook. Those of you who eat the process food just take a gander at the Nutritional Facts...what got me was the amount of sugar and sodium in some of these meals. Well, no wonder why I'm so bloated. Then I started noticing how I felt when I would eat processed food and junk...yeah, it might have tasted good at the moment, but I was lethargic and just meh all the time.

When I first started clean eating, it was hard. But the reason it was hard was because I was going through withdrawal, craving sugary and salty snacks...fried food, etc. But a few days in and I started noticing differences. I didn't need to snack a lot, because I was giving my body the needed nutrients it needed to be satisfied. The bloat had reduced, I had more energy and just overall felt better. Not to mention I lost about 4 lbs in a week...love seeing those kind of results! I don't eat clean 100% of the time, but try at least 75-80% of the time. I am human and if you know me, you know I'm a self-proclaimed chocoholic. :-)

I'll leave with this, eating healthy doesn't mean boring. I've made some really tasty meals that are really good for you too. And even Chris enjoys them, although he still wants his burger with a fried egg on top when we go out. :-)

Last night's dinner was Chinese Chicken served over brown rice. Super good and super easy!

Adjust the measurements for the number of portions. Below is for 1 serving (300 calories per serving)

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 cup of broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (I left these out....not a fan of the fungus)
• 1/2 cup of snow peas
• 2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
• 2-3 tbsp low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 tsp peanut oil or sesame oil
• 1/2 c quinoa, cooked or brown rice

1. In a large skillet, lightly coat with cooking spray, cook chicken over medium heat until cooked thoroughly, about 7-10 minutes
2. Remove chicken from pan and add broccoli, mushrooms, and snow peas. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 6-8 minutes.
3. Add chicken back to pan with vegetables and season with soy sauce, broth and oil.
4. Serve over quinoa or brown rice

Day 34: Challenge Groups

It's hard to believe that it's been a little over a month since I started this program, but it just goes to show that being in a challenge group really helps to keep me going! This group of women that I'm in this journey with are completely amazing! We post daily, give each other pep talks, keep each other motivated and accountable. If I were doing this alone, I don't know if I would still be keeping up or would have found some excuse to stop (no time, too stressed, missed a workout...oh and another, too tired, etc).

I've been in challenge groups before, however this one is different. We are like a group of Marines and don't leave anyone behind. This week was a key example on how much we care about each other (and most of us have only met through this online group)! You know the saying, when it rains, it pours? Well, that definitely rang true for our group this week. It seemed that week 5 was the week to hit a wall for us as there was a roller coaster of emotions coming from most. However the amazing thing was how we all helped each other get through the week, stay on track, and keep pushing forward. No matter what anyone says in the group, there is no negative remarks made by anyone to another person in the group. It's quite refreshing from posts you see elsewhere within social media, it's nice to see positivity and genuine caring for others. We truly have bonded as friends and consider each other as family.

If you've been struggling to keep up with a fitness program, eating healthy, etc., I highly encourage you to find an accountability partner, coach, or group to help keep you motivated. If you need help or need a coach, just let me know!

Perspective

Between yesterday and today, one theme seemed to ring in my head...perspective. Yesterday I woke up on Day 8, beginning of Week 2 to check on my progress and found that I had gained weight from last week. What, how the hell is that possible? I did the workouts, I ate fairly well, what gives? I started to think about it and instead of the old me saying 'Forget this, this program doesn't work' and give up, I thought about where I might have gone wrong and what I can improve. Yes, I did get all 6 of my workouts in...ok. Did I really do as well with eating...ehhh, no. Remember date night Friday? The glass of wine, oh and the cappuccino and chocolate lava cake for dessert...hmmm, yes that could be. And brunch on Sunday wasn't oatmeal and fruit. Those 3 mimosas and chocolate waffle for dessert didn't help. Now we're getting somewhere...see, perspective. Not to mention that at the beginning of a new habit, workout program the body goes into a bit of shock and it is normal to gain weight at first until the body calms down. Plus I'm retaining a bit of water (yeah, water...keep drinking it no matter how many trips to the bathroom you have to take!).

So, what have I changed this week? For starters, I joined a 5-day clean eating challenge...SCORE, accountability to keep the food in check. I'm on the second day and already feel the difference. I just need to get back into my rhythm, and I'll be set. Just need to stay focused and keep my eye on the prize. As long as I stay consistent, I know I will see results...it just takes time (and let's face it, patience was never my strong suit...but I'm learning).

Today on my way home from work was torrential rain, windshield wipers can't keep up type of downpour. As we're slugging along, I watch a tree fall onto the road...and oh by the way, this happened 2 cars in front of me! It was like watching a movie in slow motion with how this all transpired. The tree fell and miraculously no one was injured! There were no fender benders, we all kind of stopped for a second and went around. The tree did come down on a couple of cars, but luckily everyone was okay. The heavier, thicker part of the trunk missed both cars. I truly believe there were quite a few guardian angels working hard to keep everyone on that interstate safe tonight. After I caught my breath and talked to the State Police dispatch notifying them of a tree blocking 2 lanes, I thought about how much this puts certain things into perspective. The things like stress with work or traffic or something stupid like feeling guilty for wanting to be lazy for a night/day are not the important things in life. Because at the end of the day, what's truly important are loved ones, being happy and healthy, how you lived your life and how your life impacted others. XOXO

Weekend Wrap-Up

I made it through Week 1 and am still excited about working through this program. So many times I have started and stopped and started and stopped for one reason or other (got out of the groove, no motivation, no accountability, etc). Not this time though, going to keep moving through and finish strong!

So what makes this time different? This time I'm doing it for me and not trying to impress other people. In addition, I've found an amazing support system, which makes a world of difference! When you have other like-minded individuals pushing, supporting, motivating and trying to achieve similar goals it makes you not want to give up.

What all went on this weekend? Friday was a rest day and after a long week, a dinner out with my love at one of our favorite Italian restaurants was just what was needed. Yes, I had a glass of wine and dessert, but that's okay not anything to beat myself up about. What I've learned over the past few months is that it's okay to indulge every now and again...as long as I come back to center.

Saturday and Sunday's workouts were a second round of Define Lower and Upper Body. I'm getting better, but still have a way's to go. The fun part of my workouts are my furry obstacle Jasmine, she loves walking under me trying to throw me off balance or make me laugh. The photo below shows her walking under me in Downward Dog.

The best part of Sunday's workout was that Chris joined me for the first time. It's so much more fun working out with someone else and even more amazing when it's your significant other. :-)

So looking forward to Week 2 and becoming more flexible and getting my leg higher and form better with some of the movements, like the Warrior 1 and Warrior 3 poses noted below.

Day 4: Sweat Did Not Disappoint

Sooo...what did Chalene have in store for the Day 4 workout? A little hint...the title of today's workout was Sweat. And that's exactly what I did! Wow, talk about your heart pounding, muscles shaking, strength building, work for it workouts! Within the first few minutes, the sweat started and just kept pouring on throughout the remainder of the workout. Every time we sat back into Child's Pose, I was saying 'Thank You'. I had no idea a low impact workout would kick my butt as much as it does! I just love how I don't have to beat my body up and still get an amazing workout.

So let's talk water, shall we? We all know we're supposed to drink a minimum of 6-8 glasses of water a day or half of your body weight in ounces. So going with the body weight I should be drinking 88 oz of water (176/2 = 88). And today I realized that I am not drinking nearly enough water...I know I wasn't hitting my mark, but didn't realize how negligent I've been. What was my great revelation? On my way home from work today I noticed that my fingers were pruney. Normally not something to worry about after swimming or taking a shower...however in the car, not so much. Fingers, hands, feet or toes being pruney when you haven't been in the water means you are dehydrated. Wake up call and I'm definitely making a more conscious effort in my water consumption.

Just What I Needed Today

First, ugh...FAIL! No post on Day 2...ran out of time with going to the baseball game last night (which got rained out). Karma...hmmm. But that's no excuse, my commitment is not to just get my workout in everyday, eat clean 80%-90% of the time, AND post. This is a No Excuses zone after all. Okay, no regrets, no looking back and moving on. :-)

3 workouts in and I couldn't be happier with this program! My day was crazy as usual, but had a bit of a curveball when I found out that a couple of my team members were leaving. After figuring out a semi-game plan with my manager, I couldn't wait to get home and pop my DVD in. As soon as I started, it felt like the weight of the world was lifted off of my shoulders, instant mood changer. I just started following along and soon all I could think about was 'how long are we holding this' and 'oh hello core, how you doing today?' Not to mention the comedy of errors going on with the fact that my feet started sliding on my yoga mat because they started to sweat! Lol...anyone worried that you won't get that calorie burn because it's LOW impact...let me tell you that you don't have to worry about that!

I may be clumsy, not have all the moves nailed down yet, and may need to do more modifications then I would like...but that's okay! I'm getting it done one day at a time!