Reflecting on A Little Obsessed

This week I tried A Little Obsessed in preparation for 80 Day Obsession. The planning part was the most difficult. I did that the week before. After reading the materials provided, I had to rethink my school days. I started by making a schedule or a daily plan. The next step was to go through the list of foods and figure out what I liked to eat and how to combine them. I made all meals exactly the same for the five days to make meal planning easy. I figure, as I get better at this, I will have more variety and choices. I can freeze a meal or two each meal prep and eventually have a plethora of choices in stock.

Next, I had to figure out my workout block. I was not planning on working out the same time each day. I go to hot yoga Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6am before work. This is a necessity for me as a 43 year old high school dance teacher. Tuesdays and Thursdays I can work out in the morning. I can have my pre-workout meal as a I drive to school and do the workout in the studio before classes start. My spare is in block B, which rotates, so Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I can use my spare block. This worked well for the half hour workouts. Fortunately for me, I have one week left of this semester and in semester two I have two spares because I teach two x blocks after school. (I have four dance teams.) So, I will easily be able to fit in my hour workout and still have time to do my work for school, and start on some of my homework for university. (And then have time to be a mom when I come home! Thank-you again to my husband for supporting my dreams and staying home with our son and making him a good little man.)

The Workouts were inspirational and motivational. I did not play music with them - but I plan to. That will pump me up more. I enjoyed listening to Autumn's breathy voice as she powerfully worked through each exercise and continued to give guidance. I was glad when she told us she had an earpiece and someone counting for her - because I was really thinking she was a super human being able to talk and keep count. (A skill that I have never accomplished - unless with help of music and a totally embedded warm-up.)

I did not receive my challenge pack yet. I am Canadian... maybe it takes longer to get here? So, I improvised. I also only had 3 lb weights (60 of them!) So, I held many little weights and used a Cando band (Theraband) tied in a knot. I used my socks and sometimes a towel as sliders. It will be harder when I have the heavier weights and stronger resistance bands. I also wore socks a lot instead of shoes - but I will bring my sneakers for the cardio days. That will be easier on my legs and feet. Nonetheless, this practice for the 80 Day Obsession was a gratifying rehearsal. I learned that I could plan my meals and not be hungry. I was eating more often than usual but healthier things. Something, I knew I should always do, but never made the time to do.

I am trying not to get obsessed with the scale. I did sneak it out on Thursday morning and Friday morning... and I went from 164 to 156! I might have to take the batteries out of the scale and hide them both in different places to deter myself from over looking. However, I am glad that I looked again because it gave me some concrete evidence that this is really going to work. It also made me wonder if I should be on the maintenance plan because of the extra yoga and dance classes that I do and teach. This is something that I will keep and eye on. If I am feeling hangry, I will bump up to the other meal plan and see how that goes. I mean eight pounds is a lot for four days.

Needless to say, on the way home from school on Friday I needed to get gas. This will be my area of weakness, this is where I have allowed myself to get my chips and Dr. Pepper once a week. AND, you KNOW I got them Friday after school on the way home... in full knowledge that this will be the last Friday for 80 Days that I get to enjoy my snack while listening to the radio in my car without interruption, just me, the road, and my treat! Time to invent some new driving treat. Apples and cheese is good too!!

Saturday 1 - 2 YHot - Sandra w/ Jaqueline

I met one of my alumni dancers, Jaqui, for a YHot class today. It was so nice to practice with her. She has a beautiful practice and very strong. We took a nice sweaty picture after class. I am going to get her to come back to Harbour with me next.

Here are some things I liked the YHot series: the balancing, the longer triangle series, the super quad stretch, the hip flexor stretch.

I stepped on the scale! Updated Meal Plan for A Little Obsessed

I bought a scale. Yes, I am the person who swears by not having a scale. I have probably told you weighing yourself is stupid. When I was an anorexic ballerina, I would obsess over the numbers. When that part of my life ended, so did weighing myself. All I wanted was to be able to eat like a normal person without caring.

Well, I am happy to say, I have achieved that. I can drive into the gas station on the way home from school and shamelessly purchase chips and Dr. Pepper - but not everyday - but when I get gas or if it has been a tough day at work - I reward myself with this guilty pleasure. I can buy ice cream without caring what the person at the register thinks of me. (They probably aren't thinking about me - they are counting the hours till they are off or until their next break.)

For A Little Obsessed, I need my starting weight to figure out the meal plan. I didn't have a scale. I ordered one from Amazon when I ordered my meal prep containers. I got it. It didn't have batteries. I bought batteries. I put them in this morning. I stepped on the scale....

Now, before I tell you what it said, I am not upset about the number. Why? I planned my meals already without the scale. I estimated my weight more than what I thought it would be. I guessed I am probably 180 lbs. That way, I wouldn't be disappointed - because there was no way I could be more than that. I am tall. I am muscular. I will weigh more. When I was anorexic I was 109. When I was in high school I was 135. I am 43 and I have had a child and even though I work out a lot and consistently, I eat what I want when I want. So.... here it is: (excuse the ugly naked dancer toes!) 

Now that I know my real weight, I had to adjust my plan for this week. Oh wait! My challenge pack has not arrived either - so I don't have the containers to measure the amounts of each food and I don't have the Shakeology.

OK: I took out one purple, one yellow, and changed the Shakeology meal. Now, I just have to go grocery shopping tomorrow. I don't think I will have to do a lot of prepping. It is pretty simple food for this first try.

Updated meal plan:

Friday 10 - 11:30 Ballet - Delina

I couldn't remember who Delina was. I was so excited for today to do PBT and ballet with Beverly - but PBT was cancelled and Beverly was no longer on the schedule. I was going to go to yoga because I couldn't remember who Delina was, but then I thought, I can always go to yoga and I don't usually get to go to ballet - go to ballet. I went. I love DELINA. I remember her now. She is an awesome teacher. She is very clear with her explanations of the exercises. She gives progressions when you do exercises twice. She gives good feedback and corrections and her timing for class is awesome - we got a lot done in an hour and a half. I will definitely be going back to her classes.

And she is CUTE as a button! (Not that that matters!)

Thursday 10 - 11:30 Contemporary - Emmalina

One word: MODIFY
Why did I take a contemporary class with a healing right shoulder? There were a lot of should rolls today. I did the first few but then realized... something wasn't right... so, I decided to modify all things right shoulder. Not as much fun for me - but I have to keep healing so I am ready for my 80 Day Obsession.

Love Emmalin and the blonde human who knew what she was doing! 

Thursday 7:45 - 8:45 - OHHY - Robyn

I love having Robyn as a teacher. I always get a tidbit of information that makes me better. Today, she lengthened my neck in standing separate leg. It is odd how you can think your spine is neutral but you are just used to how you usually hold your head. So, I will remember this pointer and add it to my Robyn collection along with use your inner thighs not your toes. Don't clench your toes!

Wednesday 10 - 11:30 Ballet - WenWei

I had a nightmare last night and couldn't get back to sleep - so I skipped 6am yoga. Whatever - it is the holidays!

Ballet with WenWei was flowing like water. Constant reminders to people in class to ground and relax the shoulders, long neck, loose but strong. It reminded me of this summer when I took his Qi Gong class at Way out West.

I do have one complaint, I am not sure if it was my brain shutting off or him speeding up to fit in the last few exercises, but I did not get the second petit allegro. He was marking it and not saying the steps... and I just couldn't figure out what he was doing. The first one and the grande allegro - no problem... just that second one... tripped me up. There is nothing like grand allegro - I wish we had more time to do more of them. It feels so free.

AND, I am still the goofy smiling person enjoying class. There was one other smiler today, Ralph. Why so serious ballet dancers? Enjoy the movement, the struggles and the successes.

Prepping for A Little Obsessed Jan. 8 - 12

I have been hesitant to focus on my food intake since I had eating problems as a young dancer. I have not had a scale or looked at my weight when I was pregnant. I just ignored it and was happy being able to eat food and eat what I want, when I want. I was a picky eater until I was 30. I made a change and tried new things and realized that most of them are good. However, I now think I can focus on healthier eating without going too crazy. (A little obsessed?) The food part of this challenge will be the hardest part for me. I have been watching meal prep videos, I ordered containers and a scale, and I have planned my food. I am keeping it simple. I am going to try just eating the same thing for five days. (That doesn't bother me - I actually prefer this for some reason.) THEN, I will take the weekend off and meal prep for my first week of the 80 Day Obsession. 

Here is my plan: 

Tuesday 12 - 1:30 Contemporary Jazz - Julio

The silence continues! After silent yoga class - I forgot my hearing aides when I went to dance. I also forgot them the last Sunday when I went to ballet. So, I stared akwardly, watched for cues, and asked people questions.

We started laying on the floor, breathing, engaging different parts of our cores.

Warm-up - Black and Gold still in rotation.

ATF: Improv with verbs. Let's see if I can remember the list we did: bounce, spiral, rebound, stab, ooze, shoot. I liked shoot - I ran straight across the floor like a bullet.

Choreo: I didn't know the song. Boom... da da... rhythm. A lot of floor... almost all floor actually. I needed more space - I was standing in my usual spot (I know... I should move around - but I couldn't hear... and it is close to the music and the teacher.) - the choreo travels right - so I had to either dance into the wall or move. I moved. It was still too squishy to do all together. I was holding on and grasping for group time - we got it... and that was way better. I almost got it in time with the music. Down, back up, down, back up, cabriole facing tummy to the ground to end... more like a temps leve.... THEN, he said - everyone one last time... so I joined everyone.. and BAM! A tall human smoked me in the jaw with her foot. She said sorry - but I totally understand - tall human problems. She took me out though. I tried to keep going.. but was too disorientated. Dance is dangerous.

It was a definite knee pad day. Love those Capezio gel knee pads!

Tuesday 7:45 - 8:45am One Hour Hot Yoga - Dan / Silent class

I haven't taken the silent class in a while. I slept right till 7:30. (How am I going to get up at 5:45 tomorrow?) Usually, I count during the silent class, but this time, I tried to focus on the breathing. I probably ended up counting my breaths... in 8's. But, it was a start. I couldn't let my minder wander as much, because I had to focus on when the change was. There was a human close to me who kept changing early, so I had to watch that, that didn't trigger my own change.

My right shoulder / pec was sore today. I guess it was too early to add in the bow. I reined in back in today. My right hammy was also mad at me, so I chilled on that too.

Looking forward to contemporary at noon - hoping there are no moves that will hurt me or that are easily modified.

I left the class feeling very calm.

I was also thinking in yoga, (yoga thoughts), I may not post as I used to. I may post once a week or once a month when I get busy with teaching and school again. I won't feel pressure to just post because I have to - it is ok to catch up later - and just write about classes when I have time or something important came up. I am happy that I am back writing though. I missed this. All those thoughts in my head, I now have a place to put them again. (My husband will thank me... no more after yoga crazy ideas for him.) 

Monday 9:30 - 10:30 One Hour Hot Yoga - Keiko

My favourite yoga family! 

I am back! I have decided to start posting again for 2018. I may not have time to post a lot each time - but I am determined to get back at it.

This morning I took the first yoga class of 2018. Keiko was greeting people at the door. She gave me a hug and her son gave me a hug. He is so tiny and cute. When class was over, I saw him at the door looking for mommy to come out.

Class was good. I noticed my right hamstring was sore. I had been doing the splits after class the last few days - so I gave it a rest today. There was a woman from ballet in class. I didn't know she did yoga. She had a beautiful class. She was doing the splits with a block under her heel as I left. I felt jealous... but heal then move forward.

I like Keiko's classes because she is always smiling. I like to smile back at her but then sometimes I notice other people not smiling and very focused. How can you not smile back? She is so sweet? I got to be me though - geeky smile and nerdy try hard.


I was injured in Cross Fit on November 6th. I injured my right shoulder / pec. It was so bad I couldn't sleep. I had to use (and still use) pillows to support my shoulder because it would hang when I slept. I had to modify postures that reached to the back like bow and some that reached forward like half tortoise. Each week I try the postures again to see if there is pain, and if not, I hold them for a little bit. Today, I did one standing bow and one bow pose. It seems my shoulder is getting better.

I have also been adding the splits in after class as I have not had to rush off to teach. However, my right hamstring is now feeling sore and over stretched. (from ballet or stretching after class?) So, I will add that injury to my calendar and lay off the extra stretching until it feels better.

November 2015 - December 2017

I may have stopped posting - but I didn't stop doing! I should have posted the calendars with the injuries in them. I might go back and do that if I have time. That is another reason I like the blog - to see and remember what ailments I have had, what caused them, what I did to help them or how I modified.