Looking Back On Life, Achievements, Career... At 31

31 years is a long time, but not really that long, its about perspective. I just realized it is my birthday this week, and I had nothing planned. I have been so busy with life, work, changes, health, that I totally forgot my flipping 31st birthday.

Oh boy! I've crossed over the 30 hill, and I will say this whole "grownup, non-college student, real life, responsibility is all over-rated. Kids don't know how good they have it, despite having their sugar limits controlled, etc. They need to chill out and enjoy life, moments, when they have the time, because as we grow time flies by faster, and we don't pause and enjoy the moments, and life as much. C'est la vie!

31, what have I accomplished? A couple of degrees, this job, and another job... but they don't seem as important to me as other amazing things I have done. I learned to rock climb, I climbed half way up a mountain and then felt pretty sick, so had to come back down, but I tried, I got half way up. Next time it will be all the way! I learnt from this that Climbing isn't about brute force, its all about the mind, overcoming it, coming to terms with it, and using the brain to figure out how.

There was a spontaneous trip. I went to Yosemite, although just for a day, I went there with my sister. It was our first adventure together! This was a place I had heard about, read about, dreamed about since I was a child. Just being present there was awe inspiring. You can read my blog about it here.

Realizations have been arrived at in my 30th year: I'm a pretty badass, hardworking, strong, and passionate person. Somewhere along the way I stopped believing in myself. Maybe the lack of enthusiasm and optimism from jaded seniors rubbed on to me? Maybe it was that the hard times or the reality that a fancy degree does not mean you land your perfect job. In fact it takes a lot of searching to find that. Finally I remembered why Pree is so awesome! I first quit eating meat when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I couldn't deal with the cruelty. I was able to give up caffeine, meat, dairy, alcohol this past year. I did not miss a single Yoga teacher training class, this girl who tries to wiggle out of most commitments, made a commitment that i would keep all my commitments, or be utterly honest about why I was backing out, (even if it was just because I was tired and just needed "me" time).

I am a badass, and always have been. an amazing example is when I was 17: I shaved off my hair (before Britney did)! This was in the 12th grade about Jan or Feb, my senior year, kind of right before the farewell party (kind of like prom). I just didn't want my hair to define me. I was tired of being judged by the way I looked, girls disliked me, guys objectified me... so off the hair came. This experience taught me alot about hair: it grows back, hair on our bodies make so much difference, yet so little. This taught me a lot about people: many people who were my friends, disappeared into the woodwork. I found out who my true friends were, I learned that hair is so easy to have, we hide behind it, it takes so much confidence to be bald. Walking into school was so tough the first day, everyone stared, people asked me dumb questions, like if I had cancer. I told them all to Sod  off. Some people don't care how you look, they love you for you, others are all about judging on outward appearances... hmm! Remind you of the millionaire who dressed up like a bum? So many stories... 

Being bald is tough, carrying yourself with a bald head is tougher than with hair: more reason to be self conscious... or does societal norms make that happen? Days passed by and each day became easier, not because the hair was growing back, but because I learned to carry that head, I knew I was more than just my hair, and looks.

The Olympics, the world cup, yoga, the grand slams of Tennis: I love sports, and have always taken part in sports. A lot of my passions always lay in athletics because it seemed so real to test the human spirit through our bodies, thus mind and soul. Being an athlete takes immense discipline, it has nothing to do with race, genetics, gender... its about your state of mind. I wanted to be a "Yogi", and I am slowly getting there. It's not unattainable. I want to be a runner, I am runner, I might not be Usain Bolt, but I am closer than I was yesterday. It's not about losing weight, its about setting goals, being healthy, and becoming the Pree I want to be. This year I'll be blogging on my journeys through running, hope you'll check in on it! Hope to run a half marathon by September!

Who Moved My Cheese, it was the wake up call, that 'hey changes happen'. However, actual growth is a conscious decision. Of course one could succumb to the societal norms of growth, its the easy way, but every now and then there are those, like me, who chose to grow differently in life. I picked a different path, and I am brave enough to go down it alone, and with loved ones. It takes more conscious of a "I will grow" factor. It's different from going from job to job, it definitely requires getting out of all your comfort zones, making sacrifices... etc. C'est La Vie!

Online dating does work: I met my boyfriend online, it was a long process, we lost touch, and reconnected, met in person. We clicked, and it's been a wonderful 3.5 years getting to know each other. :-) I will say it did take a lot of men who didn't match what I wanted in life before I met Ryan, but I am glad I waited, and tried. In fact I had almost given up hope with the male kind when I met him. I love him deeply, and dearly. We make such a good team - tandem kayaking, biking, hiking, camping, travelling, moving,  gaming, cooking... and most of all just being!

Pursuing Dreams: it can be done, just takes a lot of growth, mental awareness, and mentally, physically being able to digest that "Wow that's a heck of a mountain, but I can climb it. *gulp*" - it's OK to be overwhelmed, scared, but once you take the first step. You know you can do it. I've been writing my first book, half way through I realized how huge this is, how difficult, tiring, and complicated, but at the same time so simple. So its really about building blocks, taking one step at a time. Phewie - Breathe!

I had no idea what my "dreams" / goals were until I created a vision board. First I stuck pictures that I wanted on there, then pictures I liked, and things which I wished I would / could become. A year and a half later, encouraged by a friend, I finished my Yoga Teaching Studies Certificate, I received a raise at work... it was happening just like the stuff I stuck on my vision board. Now looking to further improve, am creating a new vision board.

My spiritual path, learnings, studies, reflections, and teachings have all deepened while on this journey. I have been able to meditate for an hour a more at least once a week, and practice a daily meditation/ yoga practice. Although my daily practice may range from a short 15 minute to an hour, I make sure i touch upon some form of meditation, yoga or Pranayam. My self discipline has increased, and I impress myself with my abilities daily. On weekends I am a little more laid back, or else I would be burnt out.

I think on writing this I reflect on what brings value to me and my life, especially since I panic after crossing 30. I say, measure yourself in experience and growth, and not in "accomplishments". If we live from one goal to the next, we forget to be, and the journey is the important part. So keep sight of your goals, let them free flow, but always remember to be true to yourself, to be present in each moment, and most of all be happy in what you do.

The Thing About Resolutions...

It's 2014! Happy New Year, readers!

Resolutions? Well I have a few, but the thing about resolutions is after the first quarter it disappears! So why do we make them?

The idea of a resolution is to change our habits, to grow, better, and to make this positive change a habit and integrate it into our being. The thing is if we don't see it as a part of us from the beginning, it's never going to work. One has to be mindful, and conscious of this new aspect throughout the year, until it's an old aspect. Right?

Let's take for example losing weight. People work out for the first 3 months, until they lose 10 lbs! They are like Yay! The thing is then they leave it. The thing about weight loss is continuing with an active lifestyle. Plus eating healthy, etc., as I have mentioned in my other blogs. Kind of like weight loss, lets look at giving up a certain behavior pattern, for something better, ie. being more positive, quitting alcohol. These are tough changes, and more psychological than what a "resolution" represents these days. Instead of trying to become more positive, start by saying I am positive person, and follow through with a positive action. While breaking a bad habit, such as quitting drinking, or coffee, is weaning yourself off it, substituting, and disassociating with that thing (in this case alcohol).

So a resolution is in fact a lifestyle change often, right? Unless it's something like, this year I will connect with my high-school friends, or will go on a vacation this year. Sometimes those too include lifestyle changes, making time for new people in your life, or saving up for that vacation.

Here I am able to finally explain my resolutions:
1) to be more present, especially in the presence of loved ones. This means being more conscious of my actions and behavior over all. I do feel meditation can help me. Staying true to myself too.
2) I will, try to be less attached to my cell phone this year. I will try to curb my Nomophobia.
3) Follow through with my book plans, which means less TV, and less Xbox, more focusing on projects.
4) Lose weight. Going to the gym everyday to get either 15-20 minute work out in, or for a whopping two hours. Whatever the duration of the work out, goal is at least 10-14 miles a week.
5) Eating healthy, it starts at home! I'm going to learn to be happy and satisfied, binge-ing on carrots... actually as my personal trainer says, if you want some cake, have it, 1 small piece, just remember to do the work for it.
6) Save more money, spend less!

Those are my small - big goals! What are your "resolutions"?


Breathe!

Being, Being Normal, Being a Woman

Lately, I've been wondering, what would have life been like if I was normal, health wise.
Would my life have been easier if I was a man?
What would life be like if I had NORMAL periods?
What would life be like without Migraines?

What would life be like if I was naturally skinny, and had a naturally high metabolism?
If I had an American name, like Sally, would I be more likely to be hired?
What would life be like without any allergies? No food allergies, pollen allergies or any other allergies?

I am on the search for a natural cure for my endometriosis, fibroids, and other issues. For now I stabilize it with modern medications. Migraines? Unfortunately I need to ride it out, since the medications upset my tummy, and cause ulcers. Not fun. Regarding allergies spring always sucks the life out of me, and I never experienced it till I came to Ohio. Lactose, caffeine, green pepper, pollen, are other allergies I face, which if i didn't have I could enjoy the glory of Starbucks and Keurig, I could eat Mexican and other cuisines without worrying about the ingredients! If I didn't have it in my genes to grow horizontally, then I would love to be a foodie. If I didn't have problems with me periods, then I would do so many things, travel without a care, wear white clothes especially pants, more often... my period holds me back a lot. If I were skinny/ slender / thin then I would buy these amazing dresses I see, and hopefully they would look great!

If I had a name like Sally, well it would be hard for me to be interesting than the majority unless I was a Caucasian/ Anglo-Saxon Sally visiting in India. Otherwise I would have to figure out ways to be interesting. If I was a man, heck I'd join the boys club, pick up random hot girls at bars, who, all look alike- skinny, long straight hair, make-up, high pitched giggle. I'd also go to the gym, and probably get  a lot of raises and work my way to the top, because I'd work hard, charm the ladies, play golf with the guys, and voila!

Is it in my mind? Or is it just that hard to find a job these days NO MATTER who you are, name, race, sex, religion, culture, education, experience? Do they just look at my resume and think- oh no she probably needs a visa... scrap it! Studies say they only look at your resume for 20 seconds or less, maybe I should change my resume and put my experience and education on top and my name at the bottom? I don't know, but I've had trouble in the past while applying to jobs out of 20 applications I'd get only 1-2 interviews max.

Forget the NSA, is it true that HR managers will facebook search you on all social media sites etc. Privacy? What privacy? It's a fact you can't privately live your life in a digital age! Partying? Online social activist? Gay? Forget the job, you're a risk. If you do get hired, there's the office politics, and if you're a woman you better watch out; I've noticed a shortage of woman mentors at places of work. Instead of helping you up, they push you down... Why!? Why do we do this to ourselves?

I think we need to change all this and soon. Yeah, chucking thoughts about my period, migraines etc. out the window... we need to help each other as sisters. Yes we, as the "fairer" sex, have this issue of insecurities, jealousies which drive us to this competitive and ridiculous behavior, but we are in fact feeding the stereotype that women are gossiping b@#$es for lack of better words.

Focusing on changing things in the work place, changing things in our wombs... let us focus on positivity, letting go of resentment, anger, jealousy, and say we can rise up despite all challenges that are placed before us.

I am a woman, a brown woman. I have a long and hard to pronounce name. I am intelligent, and accomplished.

I have painful, long lasting periods. I will do yoga. I will find natural doctors.

I have awful Migraines. I will meditate.

I have weight problems. I will exercise. I will eat healthy.

I will work harder and go above and beyond for that raise.

I will be persistent in pursing my dreams, career, and goal.


I will work harder than the norm.




Breathe

Food Groupies = Foodies

Everyone is now a foodie or not a foodie. Thanks to my boyfriend, I have learned to loathe eating. I eat to survive, I don't live to eat. For some reason we have become a world wide culture that bonds on eating. Nothing wrong with that, food is great, I love all types. I'm also not saying everyone must be a fitness maniac, because there is a fitness wave of fitness crazed people rocking the world, not to mention adrenalin junkies growing, X-treme outdoor sports and of course all these runner running the "warrior dashes", the "spartan races", "tough mudders" etc. You're either in or not. I'm not saying we must all be stick thin like runway models or Kate Moss. I'm calling for an awareness to what we put in out bodies, a growing culture revolving around food, and food activities. I recently read this rather lengthy article about obesity. Obesity, or being heavier has risen not only in the USA but all around the world... EVERYONE is fatter. Genetics? Monsanto? Lifestyle? take your pick. Obesity is as subjective as the psychology of a 16 year old!

Here we are wondering which restaurant to eat at next, what's the must haves at which place. Imagine 1- how many people do not have that luxury 2- do you really need that luxury? Yes, in a way you are helping the economy out, however are you helping your own bank balance? We're all career oriented people, and cooking comes as easy to us as breathing... not really. Cooking is as easy as finishing your summer reading list. With all the distractions, career, family, friends, etc. It's tough to get basic chores done, not use the credit card, not eat out at least 2-3 times a week and not veg out on the couch for an evening. It happens, its the luxury of our busy lifestyles. Watch the show, cause reading the book is so laborious; get take out instead of cooking that elaborate meal for one. How many of us situate ourselves in a major city, because of the diversity... the diversity of food!? Many. I have less options in Suburban/ Rural Ohio, than my counterparts in Cleveland, Chicago or New York. Way less options, but I still have 2 places for sushi, a couple of burger and wings places, an Italian place or three! At least 2-3 breakfast places, 2 cafes, bars galore (warning: they are a bit hillbilly), and I kid you not, but some of the most amazing steak joints are this side of town. Sadly though I do not review these wonderful eateries, but instead I am amazed at my own cooking skills.

I marvel at how I can cook a dinner for 4, for less than the amount I spend when out for a dinner for two. And yes I cook better than most places, also i am more aware and mindful of the ingredients I use, right down to the salt. Do read that article on obesity I posted: The Obesity Era: As the American people got fatter, so did marmosets, vervet monkeys and mice. The problem may be bigger than any of us By David Berreby. It's amazing what not only food, our genetics, environment etc. is doing to our bodies. The most we can do to control it, is control what we put in, how much, and how much output/ energy we burn. Yoga is a great way to keep organs healthy, as healthy you can get them, and eating right! A lot of people can't/won't try or put forth the effort, so at least be aware, and conscious of this.

Suddenly in your 50s you realize you have fat around your organs, fat cells in your liver, (you don't have to be fat outside)... just don't let it get to that! It's almost like being a smoker, or a drinker. You know it's bad for you, but you keep doing it. Obesity, eating, health, is being studied in a major way today, especially since its weighing down on the health care system here and everywhere, pun intended. Is it that hard to be aware, and start doing something about OUR OWN bodies now?

I'm in my early thirties and I realize some damage has definitely been done already, but its not too late for me. I can fix pre-existing conditions, the internet has most of the information I need. I want the bacon, I can eat the bacon, but does my body need it? How will it affect my body? Does it all come down to discipline? Are we the most lax of all generations when it comes to discipline?

Just some things to think about...


Breathe!

Too busy too cook/ read/ work out/ yoga? Meditate = take some time for yourself and do what's good for you, your mind, your all round well-being!

START NOW!

Bits of Wisdom: Accept Yourself

Today my sister sent me a text, and how fitting it was. For the last few days I had been struggling with my self image, body, and needing to love myself... my near and dear ones gave me a few words of comfort, but it did not hit the spot until she sent me this timely text:

"We perceive a very distorted view of ourselves. It's like looking into a cracked glass with many cracked pieces. When we accept that everyone we look up to, envy, love, wish we could be like, etc., are those tiny pieces of cracked mirror reflecting something that exists already in YOU, the Mirror will join the larger whole to uncrack and flatten to show the real you, which is all encompassing, infinite and ultra dynamic" - Piyali Banerjie


I asked her why she texted me this, and this is strangely what I had needed to be reminded of. It's like she read my mind.

She replied:
Hi ded,

I was meditating on the train and suddenly that entire visual and understanding came in…and I found so much peace. and then suddenly I had the urge to text it to you so I did.

love you

 She is wise beyond her years, and our bond runs deep...

Breathe

2 Week Deadline

Dear Me,

It's your birthday in 2 weeks almost, and you're having a big birthday bash! So maybe it would be nice to dress up just a little bit and look good for yourself? So let's work on that gorgeous bod that you haven't been pushing. Sure you have been exercising and are recovering from health issues and injuries, but it's about that time. You've healed, everything is under control, so we can take over this mother-ship once again.

Spring is fast approaching, then summer! It's that time of the year again, the most wonderful time of the year!Nope not Christmas, that's the killer of the fitness plan... I'm talking about warm weather and outdoor activities. We need to get in shape for biking that 30+ miles, camping, rafting, climbing, running, hiking, traveling!

Also let's look good this year, we have a closet full of amazing clothes, and nope we arent buying new clothes to fit the big butt!

Yep am beating you up about this, but if I don't push you? Who will, and even if they do it's not as big of a deal as me telling you. So here's the plan:

Work out in gym at least 3 times a week 1+hour of cardio and then toning on the other days via weights and yoga.
M-yoga
T- cardio
W- Yoga
Th- Cardio
Fr- Cardio
Sat-Yoga 
Sun- Cardio

Drink lots of water.
Eat smaller portions of food. (come on 10 day fast helped you with this).
Eat lots of veggies and fruits, cut out processed foods and sugars.

Great work hard.
Get lots of sleep.


You can do this Me! Just a little determination, effort, and yes waking up in the early morning to hit the gym, that's when this body will burn the fat and set the metabolic pace for the day. We can do this together!
See you in 2 weeks!

Love!

Breathe

 

Health: Making the Change - Diet and Life

I have never followed a diet, but I have stayed conscious of what I put in my body...(maybe it has a name, but it's my own conscious effort based on lots of research). Sometimes I do slip up, and put bad things in to my body (ie. cake, cookies, frappucino, ice cream, chips...) however for the most part, and unless in dire situations require (travel) I have cut out the major evils: Soda, fast food, junk food etc. Because I don't want to do that to me anymore.
Eating healthy doesn't mean having that slammin' "Victoria's secret model body", that takes a combination of eating healthy and exercise. Also remembering we all different, chemically, genetically, physiologically, psychologically - yep, no one is equal or perfect. So some people eat more than others and never put on a pound. Some people may diet and lose weight, on others diets may not work. Some people put on weight faster than others. We need to work with what we have- ourselves. One major thing we need to remember is its the FAT  that is bad (which we think is weight); one maybe thin but have bad fat in the blood, arteries, around the heart. Exercise and Eat healthy, unless you want to sport some nice hospital bills when you are 50. Also remember some mirrors suck, and make us see what isn't there. Then again what our minds think are perfect bodies is different from what doctors will say is healthy. Media has made us believe thin is sexy, and sexy is in... thus being ridiculously skinny is Hot and desirable. So forget trying to have Kate Beckinsale's body, her bone structure is different, or Robert Pattinson's (Twilight) chiseled jaw, or Alessandra Ambrosio's skinny body... sadly most of it is CGI, or photoshop, or just their luck to be born that way! (Thank you Lady GaGa for that song). Most women will have wider hips than guys, and there's nothing wrong with broad shoulders, some men are just built smaller than others... We all have our strengths and we can work with it. Don't give up!

Here are some rules I follow to stay healthy, fit, young and active:

1- Balance: If you tried dieting and it hasn't worked try balancing it with exercise. if you've been exercising but not lost a pound, watch what you are eating. Just because you exercised does not mean you can eat the burger and the Tiramisu, in fact you should have neither  - go for the grilled chicken salad, and water or hot green tea. In fact when trying to lose weight substitute all drinks with hot green tea (Chinese/Japanese variety). Jasmine Tea is also good. Exercise and a balanced meal and you will see the flat fall away (no need for lipo).

2- Teas: As mentioned above Tea's can work miracles especially Chinese/Japanese variety. Jasmine Tea is also good. Do not add sugar or any sweeteners. The hot water and whatever is naturally in those leave does its own work. There are some diet teas out there, they just give you diarrhea  which leads to dehydration.

3- Hydrate: now as you start exercising more, and eating less, remember to drink tonnes of water. Add a slice of lemon to add taste, but def do not drink "energy drinks" and whatnot, they often have sucralose, fructose, sugars which you don't want putting in you body. Sucralose has been linked to some forms of cancer in high concentrations (artificial sweeteners). Water and tea are your best and healthiest bets. Juices - have sugars in them, fruits are best eaten whole, but if you wish to hydrate using juice, then use fresh fruit and squeeze it yourself, you get the natural sugars, plus all the other nutrients which are so great for you!

4- Self Discipline: For some this method is like turning your life around. It's a major adjustment, but basically this way you are not only trying to lose fat/weight but get healthy (so you boost your immune system, get fit, live longer, battle any genetic diseases, etc). It's not easy and takes immense self discipline and being mindful. Ask people for help, ie. your partner, family, if i want dessert don't let me and to help me out please don't have any either. It's like saying no to drugs - Just Say NO! ask for support from friends and family. If they don't get it, they really don't care about you inwardly and outwardly, and most likely don't care about their own bodies either.

5- Love yourself: We have to want the best for ourselves to have the determination to see this through. We need to learn to love our-self despite everything and work with it. No one else can do these things for you - motivation, health and care. So do yourself this one thing. Do something you love, once a week for an hour or more if you can spare, and do something you for yourself once a day - might be small in example meditate for 3 minutes, buff your nails, spend 5 extra minutes on your hair or yoga for 10 minutes, read a gossip column that makes you giggle, or look up that sports car you want to buy ... one day. Focus on you and breathe. Get some good deep breathing in. I spend 5 minutes everyday making a list of things I am grateful for. See my blog post as an example. This also helps me do the next point:

6- Laugh: make sure you laugh for 5 minutes everyday. Make yourself smile, even if it's a crappy day, and things will look up. I especially focus on the positive things when I have a bad day, (The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes), otherwise it usually spirals downhill. So I make the list, and smile and laugh... this also helps my colleagues smile and laugh too. We have the power to turn crappy days around!

7- Cut it out: Sugars, carbs- breads, rice, pasta, dairy products (except yogurt -helps digestion), oily foods, deep fried, fatty food, alcohol, caffeine, processed food, frozen foods, cigarettes, other drugs... detox your body. If we want to burn fat and lost the flabs... we have to get our innards to work the right way (Liver, kidney, adrenal glands, intenstines etc...). So before getting off any meds ask your doctor what you can do, otherwise recreational drugs, alcohol and ciggies is a no no (also it is so gross what it does to your body... if you want to be that gross inside why not just drink the sewage water?). (Sorry about that I am dead against smoking and drugs, and lately 60 days sober as of today). This leaves you with veggies, meats (cut the fat off), lentils, yogurt, grains (wheat), corn, nuts, fruit and HONEY! Make sure your caloric and carbohydrate intake is a little less than what you burn, so your body will be forced to burn the excess fat you have stored. Your body stores fat for the case you don't have food later. Our bodies still react primitively to our food intake although so much has changed (evolution takes forever).

8- To Eat: veggies, meats (cut the fat off), lentils, spinach, yogurt, beans, grains (wheat), corn, nuts, fruit and HONEY! Eat fruit very separate from all other meals (hour after or before). Never drink water with meals (messes with digestion) but do drink lots of water. Hot water and hot green tea with meals is awesome. Honey is awesome you can substitute it for sugar in most things. Also I have a healthy cake you may eat which is totally vegetarian and maybe vegan, find the recipe here on this blog of mine. Breakfast: make it good - cereal, almond milk. Banana, some nuts (raw walnuts, almonds, and some peanuts). If you can get a hold of some - sunflower seeds, pecans, pistachios and cashews are great too. Lunch: Keep it light, a soup and salad and maybe an apple. Dinner: should be even lighter, salad (seaweed and spinach), yogurt, maybe a lentil soup (Dhaal). Indian cuisine rasaam, sambar, oopma, any beans (kidney, soy, butter, etc.) are great. Roti is also ok, just limit it to 1 or 2. Fish is great! It's the best meat out there... eat it!

9- Exercise: Best time - Early morning; Duration - 1 hour minimum; Type- Cardio for atleast 21 minutes straight (depending on age)
If you work out first thing in the morning it wakes up your body and revs up the metabolism process, this helps burn fat. The more fat you have the longer you need to do cardio to get the fat burning.
If you are new to working out increase the work out everyday by a little, but remember to push yourself the right amount. Running and swimming are preferred forms of cardio. Bicycling is acceptable but then you have to do twice as much as how much you would run- example run 3 miles in 30 minutes, then do 6+ miles in an 30 minutes and 20 minutes extra (same for elliptical).
If you can't do early mornings, then pick evening before dinner. Make sure it is 1-2 hours after any meal you have had (gym buddies help, but make sure you don't pick up their bad eating/exercise habits). If you can commute to work via walking/ bicycle. Get as much walking and stairs in during the day. Skip the elevator/escalator. So right now I'm about 130lbs, as I begin working out, I will burn fat and lose weight, but at some point I will start building muscle (awesome), however I will begin to weigh more (Muscle weighs> fat wights). So I might go down to 120, but I will gain back 3-4 lbs in muscle.
Yoga and Pilates is great for creating muscle, stamina, balance and flexibility. Meditation is great to create a calm after the work out and the stresses of the day. If meditating in the morning, set your goals and intentions and what flavor you want the day to be (strawberry with a twist of comedy and a sprinkle of love). I usually go all out and mediate for the universe to send me tonnes of love :-P Make a routine for yourself.
ie: after 30+ minutes of cardio, (hopefully you would have broken a good sweat), work on abs, glutes (toning) for another 30 minutes. If you can, try 60 minutes of cardio and then 10- 20 minutes of toning. Once a week try going to a dance class, zumba, aerobics, jazzercise, pilates, abs glutes toning class.

10- Posture: Remember to have good posture while doing anything! Pretend you are Princess Kate or Catniss, whatever works for you... 007!? So while running, exercise, and even while working (and especially during down time), make sure your back is straight and you are keeping good posture... to avoid injuries. For some tips on the proper physiological mechanics my blog Running the Right Way and Feeling the World with Our Feet talk about the topic and also give insight into new ways of exercising and enjoying it more.

Lastly: Self Image... you don't have to be skinny like a model, all of us have different bodies. Love yours, no one else in the world has it! You also don't need to look like a sumo wrestler... it's probably not very healthy. So be healthy, mindful and take care of yourself. You have one life, it is yours, what you do with it is up to you. I hope you live it well!

Happiness is what you make of it. Don't settle for less. I think, you can get up and go make a change for yourself and be healthy Inside and Out!


Breathe!

Grilled meats (marinated in a little bit of soy sauce) and Corn on the cob... make sure you clean the grill very well every time. Carbon compounds can form and become dangerous in large concentrations (carcinogenic, but honestly, what isn't these days?).

Salad - Tomatoes, onions, olives, artichoke hearts, bamboo, carrots, cucumbers, and avocado... home made dressing with lemon juice, garlic and other spices.