V-Day

So today is V-Day. And the 'V' stands for 'Vegetarian'. 

(BTW, I really look up to true vegans - yes, they may seem a bit freaky but they're worth of respect for what they believe in, as well as for their way of sticking to those beliefs.)

It's V-Day for me today, June 24th, 2011 b-e-c-a-u-s-e my new lifestyle, as regards nutrition, is starting. Since now on, I'll only be eating vegetarian meals.

In fact, I'll be a semi-vegetarian: an ovo-lacto-pollo-pesco one. Translation: I won't be consuming any red meat (no beef, lamb, pork, ham, sausages, hot dogs, barbecue, etc) but I'll still be consuming eggs, dairy, chicken and fish. I don't really feel very comfortable about eating chicken, but as it tackles the issue of loose skin and as it helps boost your metabolism, then I'll keep having chicken once in a while, at least for the time being.

What inspired me to choose this path for myself... I was having lunch in a vegetarian restaurant with a person about whom I should say he's become a positive influence in my life lately, and suddenly I asked him why he'd turned a vegetarian. His answer was VERY inspiring. It was a sort of empathic experience, actually. I felt what he was feeling when he decided to quit on red meat. And that made me want to follow his steps and start this vegetarian phase in my life. 

Well, I'm feeling great about my decision - in fact, I'm a little euphoric. This is one of those things that make me feel happy with myself. And I want to cling to it. Feels good!

Yes, BJ, now I'll be able to look at your rabbit Ralph without feeling bad (lol).

 

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels

Friday, June 24, 2011

Overcoming a Setback

It happens — you miss a few workouts and you feel like you've fallen off the weight-loss wagon. It's tempting to mentally slap yourself around, right? (Or head for the fridge.) Before you start, I want to remind you of something: Being hard on yourself is the Old You.

The New You knows how to deal with setbacks and get back on the wagon. And after all, there are no mistakes, just learning experiences. Weight loss is a process — it takes time. You will encounter small failures — everyone does — but every pound you gain can be lost.

And if you miss a workout, it's not the end of the world! Get to the gym the next day and continue to focus on your short-term goals. Just because you made bad choices today doesn't mean you can't start over tomorrow. New day? New beginning. And don't you forget it! 

She's my hero!

It should be illegal

It should be illegal to utter discouraging words and address them to the people who are working their asses off in order to become fit. That act is no different from discrimination. Yes, I'm fat and yes, I don't look like a fairy tale princess or a top fashion model. Well, that's MY problem and not anybody else's. And there's something called freedom of speech, so I can talk about fitness, exercise, workouts, as much as I want and whenever I want. And I can dream, can't I? Dreaming is not prohibited by law. 

I can become whatever I want to become. Why not? It's my choice. I'll make my own decisions and, if I should end my days eating clean, exercising and running, until the last minute of my life, then I'm not to blame for that. I can turn into whatever I want to turn into, whether they like it or not. It's my life, anyway! 

So it's high time you put your guns down - stop criticising me, buddies. Come on, if fitness has corrupted my mind, so be it! I'm happy this way, and I'm not going to change. You think it's a bad thing that I let my fitness journey define me? Well, again - that's my choice!

And this line goes to so-and-so... Come on, buddy, whose side are you on???

Call me self-assured, arrogant or whatever you want. Well, take me or leave me - but don't bother me!

I know some day I will get there... You may not see me then, but I promise you WILL hear my laughter...

That's all I've got to say. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Life is like a cup of tea

I can see life at the bottom of my cup of jasmine tea.

And life is perfect like the leaves of a jasmine flower...

Fate?

... I keep training!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS...

... and it's truly a GREAT thing to discover where your heart beats.

A visit to Chinatown (I)

An interesting walk along the streets of Chinatown... And I had my first auriculotherapy intervention. 

 

 

Auriculotherapy

What is Auriculotherapy?

Many people have heard of reflexology where the systems of the entire body is represented on the bottom of the feet or hands, auriculotherapy is very much the same.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the outer part of the ear, the auricle, views the entire body and organ systems in an upside down fetus representation.

What can auricular treat?

Auriculotherapy can be used to treat the same body systems as standard acupuncture. This form of therapy can treat not only musculoskeletal issues, but organ system dysfunctions as well as addictions, weight loss, and smoking cessation.

Treatments for addictions, weight loss, smoking cessation are popular options using auriculotherapy. 

How is this treated?

By using needles with or without electric stimulation, or vaccaria seeds that are taped to a specific acupuncture point on the ear.