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We’ll be getting eXtremely Flexy in this NEW all-levels flexibility class! Xtreme Flex is your go-to class for all-things stretchy, flexy and contortiony! Whether you are already super flexible or just getting started on your flexibility journey, we’ll take your flexibility to the next level and help you become stronger and more balanced along the way. Bring a buddy or make a friend in class because we’ll be using a combination of individual and partnered stretching, paired with various apparatuses, to push our bodies to the limit. We’ll be hitting all of your favorite spots: splits, hips, back, shoulders, chest, hand/arm balances and much more!
Proper Attire: Form-fitted leggings or tights, leg warmers and layers on top.
Yesterday I started a new diet in hopes that I can finally get the rest of this weight off. I’m tired of being in this weight limbo, not knowing if I’m a fat skinny girl or a skinny fat girl…and not being able to buy new clothes that actually fit. So needless to say, I am really determined to finish up this weight loss journey. I’m on a low calorie diet which means that I really have to watch what I eat. Lots of veggies and chicken for protein, some fruit and water galore. Not being able to eat any of the foods I like (which includes french fries and bread) is dreadful but I know that this temporary sacrifice will be worth it in the end. While I’m not exactly sure what my final weight will be, I do hope that I can at least break 170 by end of this 21-day phase. Eventually I would like to get down to 150 but I’m going to take it one step at a time and focus on making it to the 160’s. To dedicate myself even more to my goal I have decided to find other healthy and positive changes that I can make in my life along the way. I am hoping that these additional changes (big and small) will help keep me focused, motivated and that they will result in a better me overall in the end.
Day One: New Diet. OK so much like everyone else I don’t really care for the word “Diet”…so let’s just say I’m cleaning up my eating and making better decisions in the kitchen. As I mentioned above, today marks the first day of my 21 days of change. The basis of this 21-day phases is to eliminate the rest of this weight – hopefully in time for my competitions. The from there I can get back on a regular training schedule so that I can tone up my body, get some abs and maybe even some more booty!
Day Two: Natural Nails. Over the last year I’ve really enjoyed getting a little wild and sexy with my nails – longer lengths, fancy designs, bold pink tones and more recently black tips. I guess it was my way of having a little personality and freedom at work (since Pink hair was out of the question lol). I really enjoyed wearing the long, bold and unique designs, but I also hate the pain that comes with breaking them. Instead of getting the plastic tips, I usually just get the colored powder over my own nails…which means when I break a nail: I REALLY BREAK A NAIL. I was on Pinterest the other day and came across a more natural looking style that I really liked so I decided to give it a try. And since I’m currently training for two upcoming competitions I decided to go shorter as well.
Day Three: New Shoes. New Brand. A peek in the gym section of my closet will tell the tale of a woman that adores her NIKE gear. Pretty much all of the gym clothes and shoes I buy are NIKE…except for a few pieces of Under Armour that I really like. I had a gift certificate for DSW and finally decided to go check out their shoe selection. Since my focus is currently on getting fit, I decided to go with what I needed most: comfortable gym shoes. No normally, it’s NIKE or nothing, but today I decided to try on something different…and to my surprise I really liked they way they felt. And they were PINK! While I’m not giving up my love for NIKE gear, I think I may be a little more open to trying out other brands of gear.
Day Four: New Tunes. I’m a big fan of music. I listen to music all day everyday and I actually don’t think I could survive without it lol. And I have an even bigger appreciation for musical variety since I’ve been pole dancing. Many times I find myself listening to a song while planning a routine or thinking of what moves would fit best “here” and “there”. So needless to say that it’s always a great day when I discover new music and new artists. Today is one of those days. I came across an artist by the name of Emeli Sandé and I am totally diggin her vibe. After one of her tunes caught my ear (and my SoundHound) I decided to look her up on iTunes and sample her album…I instantly fell in love and added it to my collection.
Day Five: PoshMark. Today I discovered PoshMark. It’s a new iPhone app that is designed for individuals that want to buy, sale and trade clothing and accessories…basically like an eBay for Fashion. This app makes it easy for you to shop other people’s closets from anywhere. The items range from gently-used clothes, new clothes that are no longer wanted, new clothes that didn’t fit properly and an endless supply of new and gently-used accessories. What’s really neat is that it’s built in the form of social media where you can make posts, set up parties, upload pictures, comment and chat about the various items. I’m a big fan of online shopping myself, so I think this is a really neat way to clean out and add to your closet. And I think it just might come in handy in the near future with cleaning out my closet since many of my clothes no longer fit.
Day Six: Homemade Strawberry Lemonade. With the diet I’m on, my options for snacks and drinks are seriously limited…well more like nonexistent However in addition to an unlimited amount of water, there are a few fruits that I’m able to have (in moderation of course). I decided to use my fruit options to make a fresh and yummy lemonade…and to give myself just a “taste” of something other than water. I used strawberries, lemon, ice, water and stevia to create this quick and easy drink. I simply cut up a few strawberries and added them to my tumbler cup, along with some fresh squeezed lemon juice, the ice and a few packets of Stevia…just for a little natural sweetness. Super good and still healthy! I actually found an article last week on how to create your own naturally flavored water using various fruits and herbs. Once my diet is up and I can consume some additional fruits I think I’m going to give a few of the recipes mentioned in that article a try!
Day Seven: AM Pole Class. Typically my schedule keeps me on the GO 24/7, which means that I don’t usually have as much free time and pole time as I’d like. Right now I’m lucky to have just a little bit of ME time each day that I’m able to steal for myself although I usually end losing it back to work in the middle of the night. With my ME time today, I decided to go check out a morning pole class at The Girls Room – Frisco for the first time. With the exception of a few Saturdays, I’ve only every poled at night. So being able to take a class during the day was new and exciting. Being able to pole so early in day actually made for a really great start to my day. The class was small but lively. I was able to get in there and really focus on tackling some moves that needed my attention. This is definitely something that I want to try and do more often!
Day Eight: Sweet Treat. Being limited in my food options during this 21 day phase is starting to take its toll. I miss food variety and eating what I want, when I want. While I know that having a clean and healthy diet is best for me, I’m still human (and a woman) and have those sweet cravings. I’ve been eating a handful of strawberries as a snack here and there, but tonight I thought I’d try and sweeten them up just a bit to help with my sugar craving. Since I am able to have Truvia and Stevia sweeteners, I decided to sprinkle a bit over my bowl of strawberries and boy was it Yummy!
Day Nine: Closet Organization. My closet is one of those places in my house that gets a lot of action. Typically, I’m buying new things and trying to make room for it in one of my closets – which are all pretty packed. But lately I’ve found myself getting rid of a lot of things that are now too big and no longer fit (yay weight loss!). So while doing laundry today I went on a cleaning binge and decided to organize my drawers…which have spent the last few months packed with unfolded clothes. I’m happy to now have a little less clothing clutter and more organization and order in my closet.
Day Ten: Watch Lust. In the past I’ve never been much of a watch fan. I’ve had plenty of nice ones but never really wore them. Then last year I bought a nice Rolex for that special man in my life and have been a little envious of his new piece ever since…it just looks so damn good around his wrist! In addition to the physical transformation of my body, I’ve also noticed that my style is starting to change and mature as well. Which is probably why I really want some dazzling wrist gear of my own. Then by chance today I ran across an image of a watch that I’d seen a few months back and realized just how much I liked that watch. I love the fact that it has both PINK and diamonds. I’m thinking that I might add this to my accessory wardrobe to help further evolve my new style and look 🙂
Day Eleven: Stage Poling…and in public. Last night one of my pole sisters invited me to a local event she was performing at that featured a handful of fun local bands. The invitation to tag along gave me the opportunity to practice poling on a stage pole and performing in front of a crowd…of people that I don’t know. In the past I might have strayed away from the opportunity but I decided that I needed to do it. I have two competitions coming up in March and one of them will be using stage poles, so this was a great chance for me to really test out my courage and ability to perform on a mobile pole. I’m glad that I didn’t pass up the event because I was able to run through my list of tricks that I was considering for competition and get some real practice experience on the stage pole. I might even invest in my own stage pole in the future.
Day Twelve: Aerial Yoga. I’ve been trying to make sure that I’m being active every day, which means cardio, pole or dance of some sort. This morning I decided to check out the Aerial Yoga class at Vertical Fitness Dallas and OMG it was amazing! It was the perfect blend of stretching and strength – without the usual pressure that traditional yoga puts on my feet. And when you’ve had 4 broken feet and had surgery to put in a screw then any foot-friendly workout opens a window of new opportunity and possibility. I was able to get in a great stretch to undo some of the damage of last week’s workouts, worked my core and enjoyed some relaxation. I’ve already signed up for class again next weekend and I’m looking forward to making Aerial Yoga a part of my weekly routine and my ME time.
Day Thirteen: Snacks! Decided to try out a yummy snack idea to help calm some of my cravings. Since I am not able to go out to a mexican food restaurant and enjoy a bowl full of chips with salsa and guacamole, I came up with a pretty good, easy-to-make substitute. My version of chips and guacamole uses wheat Melba toast topped with home-made avocado spread. To create the spread, I mixed avocado, lime, cilantro, onion, pepper, cayenne red pepper, and minced garlic together. It was a great way to get a taste for what I’d been missing…without going overboard.
Day Fourteen: Handstand Variation. I’m part of a group on Facebook called Dallas Handstand February. Everyone in the group is dedicating February to working on their handstands. This is a great way for those that are new to get started and for those that are already experienced to really push themselves to the next level. Today I was able to push myself to a new level with this handstand variation that includes a super back arch. Despite being super sore I felt accomplished. I am still hoping to get my handstand balance (no wall) back soon…haven’t been able to do that in years.
Day Fifteen: Inversions and Conditioning Class. To help myself get prepared for my upcoming pole fitness competitions, I’ve been attending pole and dance classes daily. Tonight I decided to try out the new Inversions and Conditioning class at Vertical Fitness Dallas. We started off with a 10 minute run, then moved on to some light weight lifting and then finished off with a few really awesome pole combos. I really liked that the class had a mix of pole and a real gym workout. I was especially excited about the pole combos that we learned, which included a run that I’d seen Amy Henderson do at her Burlesque performance. Now my attempts at the combo drop weren’t nearly as awesome as hers [Amy], but I’ve got the mechanics down and now I just need to work on cleaning it up.
Day Sixteen: More FOOD! Being on this VLCD diet and trying to come up with snack and food ideas that don’t violate my diet has reminded me of how much I really like to cook. Over the last couple of years I’ve been lucky enough to have a special guy in my life that also likes to cook and handles most of our meals…but now I’m back in the kitchen and loving it! Tonight I took my daily chicken lunch/dinner and added in some bell peppers and onions. I cooked the pepper and onion blend on the stove and then added in the chicken and a little avocado on top. It was a nice change from my usual chicken and asparagus matchup…not as good as a plate full of sizzling fajitas but still yummy!
Day Seventeen: They FIT. This is actually more of a celebration post. Last night I decided to try on a pair of old (as in I bought them two years ago) but new (as in, I’ve never worn them) shorts. I bought these shorts about two years ago and couldn’t get them up around my thighs and over my bum. I’m usually a big picture freak and take pictures of myself daily, but for some reason during this 21 day phase I’ve been either a little camera shy, lazy or just more focused on food and working out. So anyways, I randomly decided to try on these shorts – figuring that would be a true test of my progress…way better than a picture right?!? And to my surprise they FIT! So excited that I wore them to pole class. Celebrating my success! Mission get fit or die trying.
Day Eighteen: Aerial Yoga Saturdays. So today I went to my second aerial yoga class at VFD and fell in love with it all over again. Today was more challenging for me than last week’s class. I know that part of it was because I was tired and feeling weak from the diet and all of the physical activity I’ve been doing. But this class is so helpful and rehabilitating. Once school starts back I won’t be able to go to the Saturday classes, so I’m going to enjoy them as much as I can for now. At least I have the sunday classes!
Day Nineteen: Leg warmers and Leggings. So my last few classes I’ve been wearing leggings…mostly because that’s all that fits these days (yay weight loss). Anyways, I’ve found that I’m really liking the combination of leggings and long leg warmers to dance in, and as long as I’m not doing any serious pole work that requires leg to pole contact then I’ve been able to get away with my new look in my dance and pole classes. It actually works out great for Aerial Yoga as well, as some of the poses we end up in will make the silks tug and pull on your skin in uncomfortable ways. To top it all off I threw on my heels today and really set the look off. Loving the my new pole style…it makes me feel super sexy.
Day Twenty: New Sites and New Ventures.I have a couple of new projects that I’m working in for my pole adventures and also my photography. One of them (FreeStyle Friday) is already in motion and the other in still in the planning phase. I am super excited because I’ve been keeping a log of notes and plans for both (a mix of sticky post-it notes all around my house and also on my phone and iPad) and I can finally see that things are coming together very well. I am looking forward to really getting these ventures off the ground, sharing them with you all and watching them grow!
Day Twenty-One: 10 Pounds Down. Today is a day of accomplishment. During my 21 days of change I was able to drop 10 pounds and reach another milestone in my weight loss. The last few weeks have been challenging and tiring. I worked really hard to stay active and keep my workouts intense. The change in my diet had its ups and downs…and some intense moments of cravings. Thankfully I didn’t fall off course too much and was able to stay focused and achieve this wonderful goal. I’m going to take a few days off and then go at it again. If I can lose 15-20 more pounds and tone up I think my body will definitely be beach and pole ready!
I think Thursday is now my other favorite day of the week in addition to FreeStyle Friday! Even though it is the longest night of my week, I’m definitely digging Thursdays because of my new class routines. I started off the night with some cardio; I made it a little past my goal of 45 minutes. Then ran home with just enough time to shower, empty my memory card, talk my bestie into going to pole class with me and make it to Vertical Fitness Dallas for Stretch and Contortion class. During class we worked on straddles and splits. While my middle split is S-L-O-W-L-Y progressing, I am happy to say that my left split and my over-split on my right side are coming along very well! We did’t get to work on back bends this week but I’m looking forward to hopefully getting that in next week or maybe a little practice on my own. After stretch class I stayed for a bit to record some spins for possible use in a future VFD promo. It’s funny how your mind goes blank when you’re put on the spot. I couldn’t remember half the spins that I know. But I was able to knock out a few good ones, including my all-time favorite: Kandy Kane!
After Stretch class we darted around the corner just in time for Pole After Dark at Zensual. This class is so much fun. I love the atmosphere and how relaxed and laid back the class is. We’re able to go in, get some sensual basics and then just let the music take control and move our bodies. Switching the music up each week – R&B and Rock – is also fun. I enjoy being exposed to new music and seeing how my dance and my body adjust to various songs. Despite being seriously tired, I decided to take another crack at our FreeStyle Friday song after class. It didn’t turn out as well as I would have hoped. I was noticeably tired from the 4 miles of cardio, stretch and contortion class and Pole After Dark class that I had done before recording this. However, I am happy that I was able to incorporate some new elements into this freestyle. Take a look…
Lately I’ve been focused on “dealing with work and life” and in turn allowed my own personal goals and feelings to be buried beneath it all. So one of my goals for 2013 is to take better care of myself and do more for me. I think that the only way to transform your outside is to first transform from within…otherwise the outside changes are just temporary. I’m even more determined than ever to finally finish this transformation that I started and to make it a total makeover of both my body and my mind. Recently I came into some “extra” hours in the day which I have declared “ME TIME”. By dedicating this time to myself (in the gym) I am hoping to get past my fitness plateu and refocus on my fitness goals so that I can finally drop these last 15-20lbs.
So with the help of my trainer, I’ve reignited my Finding Fitness Journey to getting fit, fab and fierce with a 45 day challenge. Getting back on track with my fitness started in the kitchen. I had to clean my diet up and eliminate some of those “feel good” foods that had crept their delicious way back into my diet; although I must admit that cleaning up my diet has been easier this time around and my body has happily welcomed back the green foods and endless bottles of water.
Getting my exercise back on track has been a little more challenging – mentally and physically. After we returned pole competition I ended up sick for a month and during that time picked up an extra 6 pounds and 4 inches around the waist. So I’m having to undo that damage just to get back to where I was, and then start back towards my initial fitness goals from there. To achieve this, I’ve been getting in 3 hours of cardio every day. Some days I split it up into two parts…resting and snacking (healthy of course) in between each session. Other days I just push past and hit all 3 hours at once. Some days I find that it’s definitely more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. A combination of music, movies on Netflix, reading and positive reinforcement all play a part in me getting through my strenuous cardio sessions…but it gets a little easier with each workout.
When I started my Fit in 45 challenge I started out at 180 pounds, 23.2% body fat and 34.5 inches around the waist. Not bad considering I was 232 at my heaviest, but I know that I still have room for improvement. Standing at five foot nine I know this body of mine has a lot of potential!
I’m almost two weeks in and I think I can already see some improvements to my body…especially in my mid-section. My tummy is starting to look like it wants to flatten out, I feel less bloated and more shapely and I think I’m actually starting to finally see my once deeply-buried skinny bones (Yay!). For my next weigh-in I’m hoping to be down more than a handful of pounds and at least an inch or two in the waist.
I think what drives me most is that when I look in the mirror, more often I see the person that I want to be and I think that’s what helps my determination and dedication. I really see the potential of what my body can be and it makes me want to work harder. I’m also looking forward to being able to finally get that new, smaller wardrobe. Don’t get me wrong, I love to shop…but spending money on in-between clothes is really more of a waste. I’d honestly rather get down to the size that I want to be and then treat myself to some new gear.
Ok, I am officially on AB Watch! Over the last few weeks I’ve been eating extra clean and stayed faithful to my cardio…and to my surprise and excitement there are actually some abs starting to peak through! Now, in addition to the recent weight loss (to the tune of 30+ pounds), the possibility of ABS is extremely exciting to me as it will be my first set ever!
Despite NOT being overweight in high school, I still never had any distinguished abs. Like most girls I had the flat tummy and some nice curves, but no chiseled 6 pack. Then once I started breaking feet 4 years ago and gaining massive weight…I really never thought ABs would be a possibility. But to my amazement I’m finding that anything is possible…including my very own six pack (or maybe just four lol). Right now I’m down to 17.7% body fat and looking forward to getting that down even more. I’m even more determined now than ever to complete this transformation. Its my own personal extreme makeover. Yay me!
Last night I was disappointed to find out that I did not make it to MTPS this year…talk about being bummed. Ironically there were two other ladies with the same last name as me…so I was momentarily excited and then quickly disappointed: TWICE. But it was definitely a bitter-sweet moment. Even though I didn’t make the cut, it was beautiful to see just how much the Texas pole community has grown. There is just so much talent and support, and I am super proud for everyone!
I spent the better part of my day dissecting my tryout video over and over, asking myself What could I have done better or different? Were my toes pointed enough? Did I hold that trick long enough? Should have done another “one last recording”? I guess at this point those are just open-ended questions. I guess I had put so much thought and focus on my hopes of making it, that I never really thought about what would happen (or how I would feel) if I didn’t make it.
So now as I think about where to go from here, I am reminded of what actually got me to this point: FITNESS. What started me on this journey of wanting to be a more serious pole competitor was my desire to be more more healthy and more fit. And what has helped me on my fitness journey is my desire to become a better pole dancer.
When I first started losing weight, I was amazed at how much more I could do on the pole and how much better I was at holding and executing tricks. Since my 2011 MTPS tryout I have successfully dropped over 30 pounds. I’m aiming to drop 20 more, so now I have an opportunity to really focus and put forth the necessary effort to achieve that goal.
Looking back, I can’t help but to say that I’m proud of myself for what I have accomplished, and I’m super thankful to have such a wonder trainer and friends that have encouraged and motivated me along the way.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EA57vjY1rE
My 2011 MTPS Amateur Tryout (representing PFS)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wTaki8ifLo
My 2012 MTPS Fitness Tryout (representing TP Fitness)
