Today's work out!

Hey, all.
I got sick last week and so my work out suffered. I sure made up for it today with killing my arms and rest of my body!

Pre-workout:
I drank two large glasses of water with my breakfast of an apple with peanut butter. Then, I also drank a small mug of green tea with honey. I did this about an hour or so before I worked out. I also drank another tall glass of water during the workout, itself.

First:
 
This work out was meant to be a warm-up. However, it was a LOT harder than I thought it would be. This is especially true for my shoulders and arms.

Then:

Again, this workout video was a lot harder than I imagined it would be, but I found it to be fun, nonetheless.
I used 5lb weights in each hand and by the end, they felt like they were 20lbs instead of 5!

Finally:

After doing the two previous videos, I thought it would be good to do a cool-down and so I did this Jillian Michaels one. It was relaxing and a super nice reward after killing my body!

Have a nice day and don't forget to breathe!
--Dana

Today's Work out

Today I worked on my lower body! My butt is still on fiah.

First, for a warm up, I did this video:

Total Body Warm Up

Next, this:

Lean Legs Work Out with Cassey Ho

And finally:

Firm Booty Work Out With Cassey Ho

By the time I did this one, my legs and butt were dead. Next time, I'm going to switch this one (this one is harder and longer) with the lean legs work out. Whew. I feel the burn still!

Journaling and journaling ideas.

Lately I have been really into journaling. Not so much, "Dear, journal...today I did this, that, and this." My journal is more about self-care routines, what I think about future goals for myself and how I think I can attain them, what I'm grateful for, stress management, and just other random feelings/circumstances/and so on. In this blog, I wanted to share what I've found helpful in coping with stress and just daily life things that sometimes can get in my way.  (My journal pictured above!)

The first thing I wrote about in my journal was actually something from a book I was reading, 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism' by Gary Gach. In the book I saw this really interesting looking set of lines and thought to turn it into a journal exercise:

Am I suffering? What's the situation? (Be brief)

What keeps me from being happy? What am I attached to about my suffering?

How do I identify myself with it? Is it real? Does it have a life of its own? Is is physically present here and now? Is it in my mind? Is it permanent?

What if I let got of my attachment to all in the situation that's not immediately present, and the self-image I identify with that situation? Then would I be happy?

How can I cultivate a better way of living that doesn't let me fall into the same patterns I fell into over again?

Here's a picture of my journal entry:

I've made journal entries using the same exercise and every single time, the answer to, "Is your suffering permanent?" has been 'No.' Try it! Don't worry about being precise in your writing or having to impress anyone or yourself with the answers. Just write whatever pops into your mind at the time. Then, Once you're finished, read over your answers and reflect :)

Some other journal exercises I have done are:

• Write three things that made you happy today (do this before bed and reflect)
• Self-care assessment tool, found here: Take it now!
• Mandala; gratitude mandala (seen to the right)
• Writing down random feelings or thoughts that come into my mind
• Journaling about meditation

(Gratitude Mandala)

Finally, and I just did this exercise today, is drawing a picture of how I feel when I am stressed. Then, I wrote down things that make me stressed out. After reflecting on my picture, I think my next journal exercise would be to draw how I feel when I am happy/optimistic...then write down things that make me feel that way. I will post when I do that one! 

For now, I leave you with my awesome (and by awesome, I mean bad) drawing. I hope this has given some new ideas to you out there who journal! 

--Dana.

Healthy Changes

Hello, all. I have recently decided to get back into the whole blogging about my health and fitness stuff. (I'll also be posting random journal entries, book reviews, and so on as seen in previous posts) I've missed it. I've also really gotten into taking care of myself, more so than I was before. I don't claim to be a personal trainer, nutritionist, or anything of the sort. Some of you may think I should be working out for an hour or two at a time or something else. This is just what works for me. I'm not trying to lose weight, really. I just want to have more energy and be a bit more in shape. Go at your own pace and do whatever feels right to you :)
 So, I plan on posting recipes, workouts that I do, and even some holistic health things! Stay tuned! For now, I'll show you the work out I just did and my post work-out snack.

First I did:
5 minute butt lift

Then:
Waist Whittlers-100 Challenge
This one was especially hard. It works your arms, back, shoulders, as well as your entire core. It burned, made me sweat, and it was surprisingly fun!





Finally:
Get Happy Routine
This I did as a sort of cool-down.

My post-work out snack I kind of oops on. I was making myself a smoothie: Vanilla protein powder, about a half a cup of almond milk, a handful of frozen peaches, and (it was supposed to be) a half a frozen banana. Instead, the banana was really a nub of frozen ginger I had mistaken for a banana. Oops. It still tasted good, though! Ginger is also very good for your immune system!

Just something...

I had a roller coaster of a day. I just needed to write out the things in life I will and won't be to remind myself that even with so much negative energy around me, I'm not budging on my goals. I don't even care if anyone reads this, but I just needed to write it out.

I will (do/be/have)

do yoga every single day

kind

try meditation

loving

a social worker who truly loves their job

generous

visit my aunt in California

forgive

do small deeds rather than no deeds at all

compassionate

stay positive even when all the odds are against me

happy

graduate and reach my academic goals, including SAC and CADC

embrace change

volunteer/charity work

healthy

people around me who support me and I do the same for them

joy

be comfortable with who I am and in my own skin

just enough

the friends I have now because they kick ass

strong

live in a world where equality actually means equality

peace

a place I feel is truly home and not just a place I sleep

love

my own family who will not have to guess if I love them or not; they'll simply know it

clarity

learn to cook really well

gratitude 

accept things I can't change

travel

I won't (do/be/have)

stop

negative, volatile, or uncaring people around me

give up

second guess myself as much

  insecure

afraid to try new things

lazy

anything hold me back from what I truly want in my life

sad

apologize for who I am or the choices in my life I believe are right

angry

judge others on their surface

greedy

isolated in my own home

negative

apologize for good things that happen in my life

narcissistic 

feel bad because I am not a size zero

hate

waste my time or energy

ignorance

hold grudges for those who have wronged me

depressed

More Sunshine Characters.

Here Nikki!

Gaspard as Myles:

 This one's eyes are a lil' funky, sorry lol

This one I like better :)

























Annnnnnnd 'cos it was so cute :)

Sunshine Characters.

Here, Nikki :)

Choices for Sophie:
 Emily Browning-Before and After

Thora Birch

(I did one with her hair pink, but my lap top didn't save it : ( )







Choices for Alex:
Jessica Stam-Before and After