Day 91 or a new beginning!

Level: C 1.1.1

Day: 1

Today I started Continuity - finally! 

It took me a week to get back, sort out some administrative issues back in Bremen - like visas, work, meetings, and I finally did the driving theory exam! Passed it right away from first attempt, and now am really really afraid of the practical part - but everything comes in time, so I won't worry about it now.

Continuity. Ah, where do I start?!

1. I LOVE the new DC! There are many good and a few still negative things. Starting with the positives, first, it has a warm-up. The Meta DC was criticized sometimes because in it you just start jumping - off, there you go! Now the DC has a short stretching and warming up and starts with a lower-intensity jumps and moves on to higher intensity, and slows down by the end again.  Second, it has much more interesting moves and actually something similar to simple choreography. So I can now say jump-dancing, not just jumping :) But really, DC in Meta had little to do with dance - it was more of jumping with some movements. Lots of jumping jacks and so on. Now it actually has some hip movement and dancy moves - so important for a woman's body! 

See what I mean? Lots of dancing :) 

Third, I found that at least for me Tracy gave encouragement in exactly the right moments... When I needed it - here she comes and says something along the lines "Just jam with it, girl!" It feels really encouraging. Fourth, it simply is more exciting and I guess - new. By the time you get to Continuity, you are so tired of Meta DC you want to vomit :) Now I am happy about some change. That said, the DC still doesn't have the cool-down in the end (though moving slowly into MS after that provides a little bit of a sort of cool-down). Besides, I found the video montage in places badly done - the movement changes and your screen is focusing on feet and not arms, so you don't know what you are SUPPOSED to do with arms. I mostly improvised and did something, but I think this should not happen in a DC - you have to be able to see all moves. 

I mean there is a lot of legs in this one!!!!

But nonetheless, I love the DC! Wohoo!

2. I love the plain white background in Continuity (like above). I mean the design with day-light and sofa and large windows in Meta was cool. But then the moves are so much more visible on the simple white background. And it doesn't distract your mind - you concentrate on Tracy and her moves. Perfection in simplicity!

3. The MS is challenging, and I love getting back into it. It does feel a little bit easier that level 9 of Meta, though the balancing exercises are a killer!!! I am falling mostly while doing those instead of doing them actually :) But I think it will come. Also because of all the balancing you have to do, you feel that all your muscles are engaged. Amazing!

I mean how on earth are you supposed to balance on a weight... with one hand??!!

All in all, I loved my first day of Continuity. It feels good to be back on the train. :) My body was hungry for exercise, and felt so good to start moving again - finally! 

As I mentioned before, I decided to change the schedule of workouts to 3+1 instead of 6+1. This means I will workout for three days in a row and rest one day. This would mean that I will still work out 5-6 times a week at least, but I won't have one specific day for a rest day - it will rotate around the week. It will also be psychologically easier (one of the tricks for the laziness inside us - I will write more about the tricks soon), as you don't have to go on for 5 days in a row, but just 3. Easy-peasy! For this purpose I also created a new tracking calendar (follow the link to a pdf file) - which is convenient, because it starts with first workout day of the 3, and finishes with the rest day, so you can start with the next sheet with no days' skipping and so on, it will just logically flow from one to another. This was something that annoyed me in the tracker on TAM website: it has 5 workout days in the end of the page and then you have to start again with the 6... You know what I mean? Now I don't have such problem (yes, I know I am a bit of a nerd...):

You can use this if you would also like to do 3+1 schedule! Just download and use :)

As to the rest of the goals I set earlier... I am still drinking from time to time - meeting a friend today for instance for a beer. But will quit as promised on the 6th of August. I am still procrastinating... Damn it. But I am one step closer to the driving license - I passed the theory test yesterday. I didn't have any soda, I woke up at 7 several days in the row except for today - after all it is Saturday and I simply can't not rest just a little bit... I haven't gotten too far with my work, but I will tomorrow! Yey! :) I love the energy that the exercise gives me!

Challenge number two

(Results are coming, but still a little later...)

Being done with Meta means that I DID IT! I managed to win my laziness and succeed in the challenge I set for myself. But I am essentially challenging person. This is how I work and succeed: I set challenges for myself, and I do everything I can to succeed, and even if I don’t, I know I did everything I could to achieve the goal. Mostly I do succeed though. :)

These past 5 months I have had one of the most difficult challenge I have ever had. It was tough, and sometimes I did feel horrible, but never did I want to give up. But my goal of healthy lifestyle is not achieved yet. It is a much longer process. So it is time to set some new intermediate goals towards the bigger goal.

Right now I’m travelling, so there isn’t much I can do. But I am back in Bremen on the 1^st of August. This is when my new challenge starts. And I need to set several challenges, and not only for work out. So this is the list of little things that I will try to do for a month (exactly 31 day):

1. Get up every day no later than 7, be in office no later than 9 (or start working at home at 8:30).
2. Go dry: quit drinking ANY alcohol for a month (start date: August 6).
3. Quit red meat – only lean and white meat and fish.
4. Quit any soda (this is going to be quite easy I think).
5. Start Continuity (23 workouts at least: 3+1 schedule).
6. Finish Chapter 5 and 6 – fully.
7. Get the driving license.
8. Record all procrastination, don’t do more than an hour a day.

So. The list is long. I know. And it will be hard, but this is my new challenge for one more month. I will report on all these things. Right now what is important for me is my PhD – so I have to work, I have to concentrate, and the workout should help me on my way, not distract me.

Time for a New Life and New Beginnings! :)

Historical moment: Meta finished!!!!

Wohooooooo!!!!!!!


Today I triumphantly finished the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis! I LOVED IT!!! The workout went great, I had a great mood, and I am so so so happy! I will start Continuity shortly, but right now I just want to celebrate! YUPPIIII!!!!! Today I am celebrating!!!!!

Our last day in Switzerland. The last day of Meta too. I'm ecstatic and deserved a little celebration!

I DID it!!!! Yey!!!! Honestly - never thought I would be here. But I am. It is a real reason to be proud of yourself.

Just look at those muscles!!!!............ 

Results will be a little later. As we are travelling tomorrow (and packing today), I don't really have time. But soon folks! :)

PS All my little funny photo session in a video :):

Summer snacks

You know, I love summer. I really love it. I don't like when its hot. and actually prefer summer with cool-ish weather, and sometimes don't even mind rain. But. What I DO like in summer are the veggies and fruits. They taste so good, and maaaaan - so much better than the tasteless things of winter. I am now addicted to strawberries and blueberries, and tomatoes, and apricots... Boy.

My wonderful summer snacks...

We played tennis today for two hours. Then swam for half an hour... Then I did abs a little. But really I was too dead to do Meta... I mean c'mon - nearly three hours of sporty activities!!!! So I took a bath and started working :)

Day 89 and a half....

Quick update: I am still not done with day 90. I don't know if it is psychology or really just destiny that it takes longer than I thought it would... Well I did make it to aquagym today (which is good) - it was rather pleasant... I can't say it was extremely hard, but some of the moves were a little challenging. It was nice to be in the water and move around. Was pretty funny as my bf decided to join as well and he ended up being the only guy in the class. Haha! It was pretty endearing. My brave man in the clutches of 15 or so women :) 

Well after that we had brunch, and I have to be honest - I either ate something bad, or I ate too much strawberries and blueberries as snacks later, or drank too much tea (which has never been the case for me!) or... well I don't know actually. But I'm feeling like shit. My stomach hurts, and I have a headache. Boy. I even took a bath to try to relax a bit, calm down the tummy and ease the headache, and while it relaxed me, it didn't help much. 

Talking about bath - got this new bath oil today. I try to take baths with moisturising stuff in them, so that skin takes the water better. And up to now I tried lots of stuff - using creams and milks, and oils after shower, and taking bathsalts... Buying gels for sensitive skin. And I found two best and easiest ways to keep skin moistured: scrubs and gels with natural oils, and oils for baths. So, one of the best scrubs and gels and all sorts of bath and shower cosmetics I discovered so far for myself is Bomb Cosmetics - a UK based company of handmade and natural bath and shower goodness. I have this wonderful scrub - which smells like candy (and they have lots and lots of stuff for bath which looks like cakes and candy - love it!).

And here in Switzerland I discovered the Kneipp company. It was formed originally in the 19th century in Germany (how didn't I know about it before??!!!) by Sebastian Kneipp. They also have tons of goodness for body and soul and all natural mmmm! Today I tried an almond-flower oil for dry and sensitive skin - which you just put a little in the bath and enjoy. You don't even need a moisturiser after that!!!! Great feeling! And they have really lots of stuff! I'm tempted to order half the store. :)

Anyway, going back... I gave up on working out more today. Simply can't. Tomorrow is tennis at 8 in the morning... Tomorrow is also my last working day in Switzerland. :( We are leaving on Sunday to travel back to Prague and then Germany. Sigh. I don't wanna leave. Going back means going back to the office as well. Working not in the relaxed atmosphere of the Alps with your man looking after you... It means sitting till 10pm in the office, eating whatever you would get on the way, having tons of people bothering you and interrupting work, having lots of meetings, missing my bf... 

Ah. Sigh.

Off to bed early today - long day tomorrow, and then packing and driving a lot again. Have a good day people!

Day 89!!! Almost there!

You know when you have this feeling of separation duties in a relationship...? Well, I definitely now know who is the cook in our little family. Seriously. And it is NOT me. I mean I can cook. I know how to do dishes - and pretty well, I can follow a recipe, I can even make something pretty... But I never enjoy it as much as my bf does, and I never get the food to be SO yummy. During this one month stay in Switzerland my bf was spoiling me by cooking good and yummy. I can't say it was always super healthy, but I tried to keep the unhealthy part to the minimum, and my bf tried to comply with it. But some of his dishes were absolutely amazing!!!!

Spanish tortilla. Absolutely delicious!!! And probably the least healthy dish...

Steak with red-wine-mushroom sauce, salad and raclette - another traditional Swiss specialty.

Another variation of steak and raclette...

And yet another variation... With mushrooms, tomatoes and the Swiss potato pancake. 

Workout. Well, I did day 89 yesterday, and was supposed to do day 90 today. But... I simply didn't want to finish. Don't get me wrong. I would love to finish Meta, but I like it so much, I feel like I don't want to say bye to it. And besides, I have been keeping really busy by working - I started writing up my thesis intensively, so I don't have much time. (Though again - to be honest - we procrastinate longer I think than we work out... so it is not an excuse - I know it!) Anyway, day 90 tomorrow. I'm going to do aquagym tomorrow morning, and then head home to do MS and DC. So I will have a nice and refreshing start of the day! Wohoo! Results soon soon soon!

My UNhealthy addictions

I know I am trying to encourage healthy eating, and working out, and generally leading healthy life style. Well.... I am not judging when you don't lead a healthy life style... So I expect not to be judged by anyone as well. I am only human, and of course I am far from perfect. The fact that I WANT and ASPIRE to lead a healthy life does NOT mean that I always DO lead it. 

So, today I wanted to make a little confession. I wanted to talk about my little addictions which I have... Everyone has weak sides, I know it. And I have to be honest: I am not precisely trying to fight them too hard. I am simply trying to slowly reduce them, but I do NOT even WANT to live without them. So here we go...

1. M&M's. I know it is silly. I know. But when I have a pack of those yummy chocolated peanuts with probably artificial colouring, I just go peanuts! I ask my bf to buy them ONLY in small packs, because I end up finishing the whole pack anyway - regardless of the size. 

This is a pretty big pack.... And I still ate it in like 2 days...

So as you can guess, lots of my calories almost every day come from the M&M's. Sigh. But I am planning to go a little bit down on them.

2. Raffaello's. Yes, I love the coconut filling and cream... And I know, it is again lots of sweet calories, but I can't resist when I have an open pack of them in front of me. Though it is easier than M&M's.

Finally and the worst...

3. Wine. I LOVE red wine. I didn't use to, but I love it now. We sometimes have wine with dinner almost every day. And I know it is not healthy at all, it is not a bit too much chocolate, but when the good bottle of wine is open and on the table, boy I need one more glass of it. It tastes sooo good. So we decided not to drink anything alcoholic during the working week, and go out on the weekends, it works most of the time. And starting in August I am quitting drinking and going dry for 30 days. Need to clean my body. :) So that's a good step forward, I think!

A bit of French cuisine

As we are in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, we experience a lot of French culture as well. Particularly French type of cuisine... Yeah, it is famous all over the world, and as an absolute fan of food, I like it here too. The portions are small, but oh so pretty. :)

A little starter with salmon:

Mozzarella and tomatoes starter:

Salmon and aubergine starter:

The very real foie gras:

Main course: pork with mashed potatoes and mushrooms (sounds very simple, but the taste was exquisite!)

Main course: cod with mashed sweet potatoes and zucchini

Main course: calf meat prepared "basse temperature" (cooked for about 4-5 hours at only 18 degrees) with cream risotto, bacon (which I didn't eat) and cheese

Main course: beef steak with potato pancakes and veggies

Dessert: chocolate cake (I have no idea what the golden things were made of, but it looks beautiful)

Dessert: apricot cheese cake

Dessert: pineapple tortellini

Dessert: apricot sorbet with apricot liqueur

If you are not getting hungry just looking at all this, you are a very strong person! :)

Just to make sure there are no misunderstandings: I have NOT eaten all of these by myself, and not in one go :) It would be waaaay too much food. This is simply a summary of some of the food we had so far. Yum. I love Italian cuisine, but French is not so bad either!!! :)

Day 86 (AAAA!!!!) of Metamorphosis

Boy, it does feel like a home stretch!!! I get excited every time I am doing the workout! 

Today was awesome - I jumped with energy and smile on my face, then MS was tough, but I went through it  in high spirits. The first move still kicks my ass and the supporting leg... But I manage. Arms are still tough, but I am managing now at least. Might start adding weights on day 87 or 88... For at least a couple days. After MS I had nice breakfast, took a shower, signed some post cards to send to friends, and now am off to work. Sigh. Nothing exciting on my side today - no sunrises or hiking, just the beauty of the mountains. 

But hey - just 4 more workouts and I will finish META!!!! WOHOOO!!! I will have to celebrate and get myself something really special. ;)

Day 85 of Meta and the sunrise to remember...

Today is day 85. I feel like dragging it all. I really do. Because I don't want Meta to finish. And no, I am not doing it on purpose, it happens, but I do have the feeling that I want to stop time for a while and hang in there - in that last level. Is it because I am not completely satisfied with the results? I might have been eating a bit too much, I can't check my weight as there are no scales. I have been having problems sticking to the workouts every day, because there is always so so so much to do.

But anyway. Enough of self pity :) The good news - I did day 85 today! 5 more days folks! Just 5 more days! It has been a great wonderful time! Today I did the workout in the evening, but it is still kicking my ass. Some of the MS exercises I can repeat after Tracy, some I really have to stop every 5-10 reps and rest for some seconds. It is tough!!!

But today was a great day. It actually felt too long and may be even as if it were two days. In the morning (well, at night) we woke up at 3:30 and went to see the sunrise on top of the mountain. Well guess what? If it is 15 degrees C here during the day, it was 0 up on the top. But boy was it so worth it!!! We went with 3 (!!!) ski lifts to the very top (where the skiers are even not normally allowed) of Mont Fort. We even saw the Mont Blanc - the highest peak in Western Europe (we don't count the Russian Elbrus, which is higher hohoho... :D) But all in all, guys, judge for yourself - it was even more beautiful in real life!!!

Most of these pictures - simply no comments... We were too frozen to really appreciate it all right there. But after doing this great trip, having these pictures.... We definitely will remember this for a lifetime. 

Do you know what it is like to go from about 15 degrees to 0? This is what it is like... And a hoody doesn't help! There was snow! In the middle of July. Boy was I freezing! 

There is Mont Blanc behind me...  Yeah!

A leisurely ride on a ski lift is nice when the sun is already out and the air is getting warmer. :) 

How big is the difference when you go down... and note - not all the way down! 

All in all, great day! We had a small breakfast after the sunrise and crashed for a nap. Then Liuba did a lot of "window-shopping" online, tried to work and workout. Well, the day was good anyway. :)

Enjoy your surroundings people!

Hiking...

I did day 84 yesterday - I think, but today we went off for a hike... 

I mean we ARE in one of the most beautiful places in the world, with countless opportunities for outdoor activities, like hiking, cycling, picnicking, etc. etc. So, we decided to take advantage of that. And we did NOT regret it! But to leave some energy for me to work afterwards, we decided to do an easy-ish hike - mostly flat-ish and downhill. So we took a ski-lift to the top and then hiked across the mountain-picks for 1.5 hours, and then started the descend,  which took us another 1.5 hours. It was absolutely and totally beautiful!!! And folks, this time I was all prepared, and even though we both were tired by the end, it was doable and I didn't complain once! :) 

We didn't regret our decision to hike. Not for a second. The views were magnificent, the weather - warm, and I managed not to burn. I loved the exercise, and truly after 3 hours of hiking, we both were exhausted, but in a good way. I did want to do the MS in the evening, but then I got too tired. So, we are off to the mountains tomorrow again - to see the sunrise!!! And I will try to continue the MS. It is indeed hard to do, when you are travelling and are not in a consistent routine. Sigh. :)

Just some views on our way :) 

Just a view... You get used to the beauty of nature so fast... It was at 2400 meters, my head was spinning a bit,a nd it was getting hard to breath. But magnificent still!

Little mountain river... Beautiful and refreshing... :)

Yes, cows. Just like that. We are in Switzerland after all... There were lots of them!

The water of this mountain lake was really cold!!!! :)))

All in all, we saw everything one should see in Swiss Alps (in the summer at least): mountains, snow, lake, mountain rivers and small waterfalls, pastures and cows, forests... Great day!!!