GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Ode to Elena – A Self Portrait

By

blue-twist-lines_MkvEmA8O

 

 

 

My thoughts tonight could not stay on the subject I wanted to blog about as I was deep into my past.    Memories flooded my mind so I wrote it out.  I decided to share it here.

Ode to Elena

Elena was born from the passion of a touch, from the depth of a look, from the whisper of a name.

In an instant, Elena lived and embraced all of the emotions that filled her in that moment.

Elena existed in spurts of time filled with love and loving, laughter and smiles, touches and caresses.

Elena was moved by the music that filled her air, the wine that wet her lips, and the dance that swayed her hips.

Elena was the dark-skinned sun worshipper who straddled her lover on crisp white sheets beneath the moonlight that guided them.

Elena was the one whose hand he held to his chest to feel the tempo of his heartbeats.

Elena lived and loved, loved and lived, so much, too much, grabbing, holding, reaching, wondering, yearning, and waiting …for the next time.

Then one time the next time ended.

And Elena died – just as she was born – in an instant.

 

Greta Grypp Report #3

By

SuperChgWomanAs I stated last month, March was going to be a better month.  It was.  Greta actually gave me a “thumbs up” to show her approval.    My focus this month was on evaluating the mistakes from February and researching some new methods to improve my journey.   When my girlfriend and fellow blogger, Anne, called me with the news she was revamping her healthy routine with eating “clean and organic”, I decided to try something similar.   (You can read about Anne’s journey at http://www.amivintageyet.com).

I recalled that I had a book in my Kindle library entitled “The Virgin Diet” that I had skimmed through previously.  It promoted starting with an eliminating detox diet to help with food intolerances and to aid in weight loss.   I decided to do it.    I had already given up gluten and experienced positive results so I knew the benefits of eating clean.   However, this diet required that I give up more – soy, corn, peanuts, dairy, eggs, and sugar/artificial sweeteners in addition to the gluten.    Also, it required eating organic veggies, pasture-raised chicken/turkey, grass-fed beef / pork, and wild seafood that contained little or no mercury.

So, I adjusted my previous plan.  I knew I was going to have to organize and prepare food for every meal.   It also meant I would have to cook more which requires time from my already burdened schedule.   I was determined so I worked my plan to get started with Cycle 1 – the elimination diet for 21 days.

I have just completed 7 days of the 21 days and I lost 7 lbs.   I feel really good and have steady energy.    The amazing thing is I have no cravings.   When I gave up only the gluten I still had some cravings.   Now that I gave up the other 6 food items I have no cravings.

This month I did try to start exercising again after my biking accident last month but I started too soon.   I worked out on my treadmill and my knee started to ache again.  I think I need to wait a little longer to do any weight-bearing workout.  This week I plan to try exercising again using only my stationary bike.

Overall, I am back on track with “getting a grip” on changing my health.   I am reaching beyond my old methods and embracing some new ones.   I will share information about them as I move along on my healthy path.

 

Greta Grypp – Report #1

By

SuperChgWomanThe journey that began 28 days ago is still on course.   My primary mission to remove gluten from my diet has been hard but successful.    In the first 10 days it was really tough and it was a conscious effort to shop for the right foods.   However, I found it is true that you can find all that you need to eat in the perimeter of the grocery store.

The amazing thing is I continued to eat chocolate, ice cream, falafel chips, nuts, guacamole dip, and I still lost weight.   I was not trying to lose weight this month but I lost 8 lbs just getting rid of wheat from my diet.   I plan to continue to refine this method and follow the guidelines in the book “Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight” by William Davis, M.D. since I know I have gluten sensitivity.

The eating goal for February is to remove sugar from my diet – refined (permanently) and natural from fruit (until I reach healthier weight).  The only allowable substitute sweetener will be the natural one from the Stevia plant, Sweet Leaf.   Also, I will stop snacking in-between meals and eat at specific time intervals.   I do want to lose weight this month and continual grazing inhibits that for me.

In the past, a nutritionist calculated that I need to drink 92 ounces of water per day.   So, I rounded it up to 100 ounces and have been consistently drinking it every day.   It is amazing how my skin and hair appearance has improved.   Also, the craving for other drinks has disappeared and my appetite has been suppressed.   I contribute my increase in drinking water to be an important factor in the unexpected weight loss I experienced this month.

For the 3-6-5 MOVE movement, I did increase my motion this month consistently for 30 minutes per day.   I focused on incorporating the increase in the normal things I do each day – using the walking trail on the campus of my “day” job, riding my stationary bike while watching TV, walking around the perimeter of the parking lot before going into the grocery department, and walking around the mall after going to the movie theatre.   I did continue my long weekly bike ride on the Saturdays that we had good weather in preparation for our first large group ride in about 2 weeks.

For February, my 3-6-5 MOVE goal is to restart and incorporate organized cardio workouts into my daily life – using my equipment and DVDs at home.   I just don’t have time to go to the gym during this month.   Luckily, in my at-home gym, I have a treadmill, a new stationary bike, an elliptical, several DVDs by Leslie Sansone, weighted body bars + DVDs, a BOSU – so the only reason to go the gym is for the companionship.

This month was not too productive for my creative life.   I had some family matters that popped up and required my attention so I had to take a break from blogging but I did “revamp” my novel draft and will start the next revision/rewrite on  Monday, 2/2/15.

So, I avoided a Greta Grypp butt-kicking this month – which is a good thing.

 

QUESTION(S)

How did you do in the first month of the New Year?

Get a Grip – On CHANGE

By

SuperChgWoman“Change.  The frightening frontier.  This is the personal journey of a baby boomer.   Her ongoing mission: To manage the life process by jumping on, riding with, and holding on to change – to seek out a healthier and peaceful lifestyle – to boldly transform a lifelong dream into a creative new life!”

I have a simple resolution for 2015 and the years ahead.    I need to get a grip.   I have foregone many healthful and helpful practices in my life for the sake of convenience.   I have made some choices for the sake of comfort because what I really wanted to do was a bit uncomfortable.   Now, I am paying the piper because even though I have a good life it is not the great life that I know I can reach.   Since I truly believe the idiom that the present day is the first day of the rest of your life, I have decided to implement the practices that will improve my health and lifestyle.  I have decided to be uncomfortable so that I can be propelled to the next level and to my destiny.

I know I am human.  I will have days that I will vacillate.  So I used my creative juices to make a method to help me with a kick in my butt on those days.    Meet my little friend, Greta Grypp, at the top of the post.   Her whole purpose is to be my change manager, my voice of reason, my cheerleader, and my shero when the road to permanent life changes becomes a little steep.   When I start to succumb to choices and behaviors that will veer me from the path of change, I will envision Greta with her booted foot raised and in position to kick my butt into compliance.

My first mission is to introduce my creative voice to more readers through my blogging life and through my budding novelist life.   This is the most difficult mission because every writer has an inherent fear of putting their words out into the universe.  Also, the publishing world is changing and there are some great but frightening choices for new novelists.   Greta will probably wear out a couple pairs of boots kicking me with this mission.

My second mission is to get healthier.   You know when you are younger you can get away with skipping out somewhat on a healthy routine but when you become “vintage” (as my blogger gal-pal Vintage Woman at http://www.amivintageyet.com calls it) you can’t do that anymore.    I have decided to make a simple start by doing three basic things (1) eat natural, gluten-free, and single-ingredient foods (2) move – walk, dance, bike, play, jump, whatever – my body for at least 30 minutes a day.  I call this my 3-6-5 Move movement (3) Drink 96 ounces of water per day.    For me, these three changes need to be implemented simultaneously for beneficial results.   Each month, I will make another change to enhance my healthier choices.

Now, I have my initial missions and my cheerleader but I need a virtual crew.   I have a virtual crew for my first mission (the writing life) but I need a virtual crew for the second mission.   It is always fun to have others to share the healthy lifestyle changes with as you gain confidence and knowledge from the interactions.   I plan to give a Greta Grypp report periodically on my progress with information on discoveries I make along the path of change.   Hopefully, some of you will consider joining me in the 3-6-5 Move movement and report back with comments on your progress, too.

Change is really all about choices.   Choices are the compass and the wheel of life.   They make life movement and they control the direction of that movement.   Because of that sometimes it takes all of your courage and will to make one.   However, the opportunity to make a choice is a gift and the change it engenders is the reward.

QUESTION(S)

Will you come join me in the 3-6-5 Movement?   If so, reply back with a comment on the post.

Letting Go for the New Year

By

Evening SeaIt is the last day of the year.   The New Year starts on tomorrow.       December 31st is a good day to look back on the past year and “let go” of those internal and external things that will prevent you from productively moving forward in the New Year.   A “letting go” ritual is a good way to start implementing change in your life.

A “letting go” ritual can be as easy as making a list and physically destroying it or using your imagination to create an entire “letting go” scenario.    One scenario I employ is to imagine I am standing on a small cliff over a beach watching the rolling waves.   Riding on each wave is something or someone that I am letting go.   I like this scenario because it is not destructive……it is not “labeling” the thing I am letting go…… it is just simply carrying it away to another shore.

For some of us, letting go is difficult – especially when there is another person involved.   However, it can be a cleansing and healing experience.   It can be a peaceful ritual that can truly foster personal growth.     Consider it as another positive way to bring in the New Year.   Try it.

QUESTION(S):

How do you celebrate the end of one year and the start of the New Year?