Yuna - Live Your Life

My Journey To Well Being

I thought sharing my weight loss and healthy lifestyle journey may somehow encourage those who may have struggles in this part of their lives as I have in the past. Not only that, but we all could use a pick me up now and again through others experiences and stories, which I hope this delivers that for you in some way or another.

Growing up I never really was athletic. Being homschooled in rural New Mexico never really rendered to the possibilities of sports or constant physical activities. So, needless to say I've never viewed myself as outgoing in a physical way. I did play outside, hike and that sort of thing, but I guess being 'active' wasn't always something that came easy for me or something that I naturally leaned towards. I didn't really wrestle with my weight up until I was in my early 20's. I think I just liked to eat and eventually as I aged, my metabolism slowed and the weight gradually came on. I was at my heaviest of 160 pounds last summer. I wouldn't have ever considered myself obese, but I was definitely not in a healthy place. I had low energy all the time. I didn't care what I put in my body. It was all about convenience and cheap food that I choose. I just didn't have the drive or the motivation to really care about my well being. Like many, I had tried other diets, Weight Watchers, low carb diets ext.... However, those were only short term diets that never lasted. I think I lost about 20 pounds on Weight Watchers several years back, but the minute I stepped out of line with the program, the weight came back on pretty much right away. So, that was a downer. I think for me what really worked was the combo of both exercise and appropriate eating habits. I really hate calling what I did a diet or a quick fix from being heavier. Rather, it has become a transformative life change from the inside out. Trust me when I say, losing weight didn't happen over night, nor was it a walk in the park. It took more dedication and determination that I even had to make it to where I am today. It really was a change of heart and mindfulness.

It all started for me last summer. June of 2012 to be exact. I don't know if I had an epiphany one morning when I woke up or what. I started noticing many individuals in my life during the time that had this immaculate determination to get healthy. As unnatural as that kind of lifestyle was to me, needless to say, it was contagious. I wanted to change my physical appearance and that became a huge push in the beginning. Then it became more about being mindful in how these new healthy foods and fitness lifestyle made me feel.

My body stopped craving sugar and fatty greasy foods after sometime. I normally focused on eating a lot of hummus, whole wheat flatbreads and all the veggies in the world. I would eat some chicken but stayed away from dark red meats. I turned to boca burgers for my protein. I guess if I had to name this eating habit, it would be called the Mediterranean diet. Where olives, basil, hummus and veggies were on my plate in every meal except breakfast. Breakfast foods became essential to my success of my goals. I would never miss breakfast and would only eat either greek yogurt or fat-free yogurt with a little granola and fresh fruit, and/or multi-grain oatmeal with a little honey for sweetness and fresh fruit, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. I would just cook the oatmeal with water, and no added sugar or cream. I got used to eating it this way and I love it. I still eat my oatmeal like this. Instead of honey, I have switched to agave nectar. Little changes in the way I eat have made all the difference for me. Portions even of this kind of food made a huge difference. Suddenly, the weight started falling off. I found a lot of awesome healthy recipes on Pinterest and also many different substitutes were found for butter, milk products and the like. I replaced butter completely out of my diet and cooked with Olive Oil instead.

But I have realized from diets and trying to lose weight in the past that I could not do this without exercise. So I began to walk about 3-5 miles a day, EVERY DAY. I think in the course of 2 months, I missed like 3-5 days of walking/jogging. It was summer, so it made it a lot easier for me to get out and walk. I was working a lot during the summer too, which made it complicated to find the time, but I was so dedicated to walking that I would get it in my day somehow. I was determined to get at least over 2 miles in a day regardless if I had the energy or not. My motivation turned into increasing my metabolism, which after time my body craved and earned that time to walk/jog. That made it easier as well to find the energy to get out and move. It became just apart of my every day routine and if I didn't get out, something was missing in my day and that alone kept me going! During the summer months I also dedicated to going to yoga at least 3 times a week. I would actually go like 5 times a week because it was my stress reliever and it really helped me increase my focus to lose weight. In September, I joined a local gym. I had a friend who's hobby was lifting weights. Lifting weights was very foreign to me and completely took me out of my comfort zone, but she motivated me to give it a shot and she coached me through it, and she has been my gym buddy ever since. We now have a weekly workout routine that I hardly miss. Its such an important part of my life that I can't go through the week without going to the gym at least 6 times. Mon/Wed/Fri I lift weights, Tues/Thurs/Sat. I focus on cardio. Sunday, I usually take off unless I already had taken a day off during the week then I will switch it out.

When I started this lifestyle, I was 160 pounds as of June 1^st 2012. I now weigh 115 pounds. I am currently in the process of just maintaing my weight and toning my figure. It's been such a great experience for me and I refuse to ever go back to where I was before. That is not an option for me. I've always wanted to be skinny, but to me its more than that now. Its a way of life. A way to live wholeheartedly well in what I consume and how I treat my body. Learning new things about healthy eating and fitness has really broaden my horizons, life and hopefully lends to inspiration for others.

Shelter Me

Shelter Me.

Lyrics by Cate Kanell.

In a dream I am crawling on my knees

All the people surround me

I try so hard to breathe

Suddenly they are turning into trees

The streets become the sea

and it carries me.

I make a wish that the magic in my head

Could flow into my world

Tears turn into pearls and satellites

I'm alright

You shelter me

When nothing's as it seems

You shelter me.

I'm alright

You shelter me

When nothing's as it seems

Miles of smoke screens

You shelter me

My love

You shelter me.

Chromatics - The Page

when the world changes to the place so cold
i wonder if i could be your mirror
these days they say that no man is an island
but when i dream of who we were i slip away

like the pages of the book i'd never get to write
on the eastside of the city
where the ink is running dry
and if you love me like you say
take this book and burn the page
the rain will wash away the ashes
On the eastside of my heart

tomorrow when your eyes are growing old
and your reflection starts to turn so cold
i wonder if i could be your mirror
and together we could crack and break forever

like the pages of the book i'd never get to write
on the eastside of the city
where the ink is running dry
and if you love me like you say
take this book and burn the page
the rain will wash away the ashes
On the eastside of my heart

Marvel

There comes a time in my writing process where I need to distinguish between the searching/seeking part in which to write, and what to record what I have found. In a sense its like switching gears. I wonder why my curiosity never seems to be satisfied with what is given in just one day. Most days are dull with necessity, but I have days like today that the flow of fulfillment and meaning in my life is unending. But, what do I do with all these check marks and absolutes? And though each and every part of what I am finding has meaning and connection, my problem lies with finding ways to articulate it with simple words. When my heart is empty or I feel alone in life, I look for meaning in everything. This isn't necessarily helpful or good, but its what I do in order to cope. When I am searching, I am looking for direction and a path that I can be certain of. When I find meaning behind what is happening in my life, I'm looking for the big picture through the confines of words and their definitions, lyrics of songs, movies, phrases, signs. Anything that seems to literally grab my mind from reality to consider the possibility of what that could mean in my reality. I'm sure if you are a frequent visitor to my blog, you were wondering why I bombard my page with these music videos or songs. Its because I find meaning that is expressed perfectly through the lyrics that can only be explained through them. My meager attempt to explain always fails and disappoints my focus. The thought process becomes intrenched with the deep longing for direction and right perceptions. Many of my experiences in processing information on the (right) or (wrong) scale of things, always leaves a void because of the loud/self-critic lack of approval and acceptance that comes to the forefront of my mind, which in the long run defeats the entire point of writing and processing this information in the first place. Two major thoughts that I have held onto for the past couple of weeks are: I cannot own anybody's problems but my own. And, the past does not own me.  

Identity Thief

The movie Limitless comes to mind. Bradley Cooper, who plays the main character runs across this drug that has the capacity to make him tap into the fabrics of his entire brain at one time. The basis of this movie is seeing what happens when we chase and capture mindful-wealth and material wealth. Thus, the repercussions and consequences of such choices conclude to bad outcomes. I find that this movie has great meaning into my life. One way I can relate to this story is how he struggles with his lack of motivation, inspiration and clarity in his writing career, thus leaving him feeling useless and hitting dead-ends at every turn. When I am writing, I run into these road blocks all the time. If only I could find that ONE thing that would trigger some kind of undisclosed brilliance that is waiting to pour out of me at any given time. Or if I could take a PILL that would fulfill my every need, desire and longing. Though, on this earth, I can't really believe that this is possible. Sure, its possible to find happiness with what we have and where we are, but, as much as I think I'm happy and find fulfillment in what I have or what I am in pursuit of, I have this great void in my soul for something that this world cannot give. I know from a God-knowing perspective, I haven't let God take me for who I am and be my everything. Sometimes I think my past and religious experiences growing up have tainted my perception of who God is in my life, and through this, I've lost my identity. I have forgotten who I am and where I belong. A sense of lost belonging has replaced me. But, I always go back to the reminder that I no longer live in my past, and those times no longer have the power that they once had in my life. Every time I visit there, I forget who God see's when he looks at me. Why do sour memories and recurring emotions penetrate to the surface? Feelings of shame, inadequacy, imperfection, guilt and emptiness seem to crouch on my heart leaving me suffocating and helpless. Is there any way to take back what is mine?

Be Your Sound - Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt

We'll build a fortress
To keep them out
And in a world gone silent
I'll be your sound

Meet me tonight here
I know we're gotta run away
Leaving the old fear
Looking for a new place

I can feel a storm near
The dream won't go away
So meet me tonight dear
And we'll run into a new day

And through it all
I'm on your side now
I'm on your side now

CHORUS:
We'll build a fortress
To keep them out
And in a world gone silent
I'll be your sound
And if they try to hurt you
I'll tear them down
I'm always with you now

Disarm Yourself - Dash Berlin Ft. Emma Hewitt

Disarm yourself
Release the fear
Disarm yourself
And hold me near,
Now...

Give yourself to me
Give yourself to me
Give yourself to me

Disarm yourself
Release the fear
Disarm yourself
And hold me near
Now...

Don't you miss yourself
And all you used to change
it always ends (it always ends)

You keep on running backwards
Keep on chasing your own demons
Slip away to another hour
And let me in...

Disarm yourself
Release the fear
Disarm yourself
And hold me near
Now...
Give yourself to me
Give yourself to me
Give yourself to me

Disarm yourself
Release the fear
Disarm yourself
And hold me near
Now...

OceanLab - Lonely Girl

Clarity - Zedd ft. Foxes (LYRICS)

Dance Our Tears Away - Ft. Kristin Amparo

We can make it through these hard times
Dance our tears away
We can find our way into the light
Dance our tears away

When everything just falls apart
We all stumble in the dark
& you feel out of place
Let's dance our tears away
Dance our tears away
Let's dance our tears away

Woa woa woa
Dance our tears away
woa
So what do you say?
woa
Let's dance our tears away

We can rise when we are beaten down
Dance our tears away
We can turn it all around
Dance our tears away

When everything just falls apart
We all stumble in the dark
& you feel out of place
Let's dance our tears away....................

Let's dance our tears away
woa woa woa
Dance our tears away
woa woa woa
Let's dance our tears away

-ah ah ah ah ah -
-ah ah ah ah ah -
-ah ah ah ah ah -
-ah ah ah ah ah -
-ah ah ah ah ah -
-ah ah ah ah ah -
-ah ah ah ah ah -

Let's dance our tears away
woa woa woa
Dance our tears away
woa woa woa
Let's dance our tears away
oh oh oh away
Dance our tears away
woa
So what do you say?
woa
Let's dance our tears away

Alesso - Years

The sun hits like a bullet of faith

And then suddenly I'm wide awake

Fake bliss, our apologies made

Was an enemy with no escape

My hands were tied

But now they're not

So grab on to desire and run away

These will be the years

These will be the years

Lights will all appear

These will be the years

Years

Spectrum - Ft. Matthew Koma

Superman's King's and Queen's

Into the night
Desperate and broken
The sound of a fight
Father has spoken

Oh

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the children of a lesser God
Between Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell

Into your eyes
Hopeless and taken
We stole our new lives
Through blindness
In defense of our dreams
In defense of our dreams

We were the Kings and Queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the Children of a lesser God
Between Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell

The age of man is over
A darkness comes at dawn
These lessons that we've learned here
Have only just begun

We were the Kings and Queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the Children of a Lesser God
Between Heaven and Hell

We are the Kings
We are the Queens
We are the Kings
We are the Queens