Vemma Bod•ē Experiment / Exploration

There's nothing like exploring a new nutrition plan to get me to blog again! A couple of my dear friends are really into this Vemma thing. When they first told me about it, I didn't understand exactly what it was, and was in my "everything you need you can get from the earth and all else is unnecessary" phase. While I still know that's true, I also know that in reality, I don't have enough variation in my diet to get all of the nutrients I need, especially living my mostly-vegan lifestyle and cooking/grocery shopping for one! So I'm beginning the Vemma Bod•ē program, and so far, this is perhaps the best plan I've encountered for my lifestyle... And here's why:

1. There's structure, even though its not a super-strict plan. The guidelines give you freedom to choose your favorite foods and meals.. I always do best with a structured plan.
2. Convenient! The app texts you to remember to eat and what types of foods to go for, and the shakes are easy to mix! Everything is laid out for you simply.
3. Eating so often: great for my energy levels teaching spin classes and this is a convenient way to train myself to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. The app alerts you every 3 hours after waking for that meal or snack time.
4. It goes in line with my nutrition philosophies... I can edit my plan as no meat/dairy, and I do the plan my own way to be true to what I believe is best for my body.
5. You get 2 High Carb days per week and one GUILT FREE DAY!
6. It's a good product! This company is about simplicity, quality, and nutrition. The nutrients are all derived from plants, and not man-made. That's it, and I can still maintain my mostly-vegan lifestyle with the program. And no, I don't work for them... ;)

Those are my thoughts so far with week one... I'm excited! I'm thankful that my friend, Scott introduced me to this stuff, and that I finally listened. :) So far, it's great!

♥AshPiece 
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Auditioning is Hard

I had an interesting audition yesterday. My entire day until 6:15 pm was wrapped up in it. So many people were there that it took forever to get through the 300+ list. 8 am to 6 pm, no callback, and I was almost late to my evening spin class.

Why was I in such a good mood all day? I was thinking about it on the train, and I realized something; I don't really hate audition days as much as I can make it seem sometimes. I really feel like I've adopted the mindset of those around me in the past, and it has hindered my audition life making me absolutely dread auditions. It's the popular belief that all the people are insane and that it completely sucks to wait around all day to get your 30 second chance. The facts are true, but perspective is everything. I learn good details sometimes about certain things from those people that feel they must be heard at all times (or you could choose to get intimidated and stressed out). Also, an audition day is an opportunity I have to read, play with my iPad, explore Pinterest, listen to music, and whatever else I want completely guilt-free because I am actively doing what I came to New York to do. Best part: I get to showcase my talent for some live human beings! Also by adopting this mind-set, I am much more likely and excited to pack my XL bag and trek to the studio... It's like taking your work to Starbucks, but if at the end of every Starbucks work session you got to play the lottery for free. :)

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I've heard people say their day was wasted from being overlooked or typed out. You never know what the people in that room are thinking or seeing in you, and if you ask me, what wasted your day was you and that attitude. If you expect the worst, how will you ever receive the best?? It just doesn't make sense! Ask and you shall receive, people.

So for all those haters: if it's really that bad, move back to Iowa... The theatre will be just fine without your attitude. But if this is what you really want, change your mind and you'll find it's a much kinder world than you give it credit for.

♥AshPiece 
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Spin Courtesy 101

 

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I found this on Pinterest a while back, and I just had to share... I am amazed at some of the things people find acceptable to do during spin class that is not, in fact, spinning. It's hard because we're adults, and I don't want to feel like a middle school teacher telling the gabbing ladies in the corner to be quiet, or the uninterested chick in the front row to get off her cell phone. I would think these things would be common knowledge. If you wish to partake in other activities while you work out, go to the cardio room and hop on a machine, don't sit front and center of a class that someone spent time designing and ignore the teacher who puts effort into making sure you have a good, effective class. 

For me, taking a dance or group fitness class is a favorite activity because for that hour, I am focused on following and learning what that instructor has in store for me that day. All of my worries, responsibilities, and mental noise are suspended for that time while I enjoy doing something good for my body and soul. Why would you wreck that by checking you face-ta-grams?? Zen out from your iPhone, and even your workout buddy's latest breakup, for that time and just feel that sensation of positive work within your body. This is YOU time! Don't miss it!

♥AshPiece 
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Fit-bug Food: Spaghetti Squash

Bed of spaghetti squash, topped with a sautéed combo: including spinach, broccoli, sundried tomatoes, tempeh, garlic, tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, and spices. Don't forget the Sriracha!

Y'all.. Spaghetti squash is my new homeboy!!! Seriously if you haven't tried it you should. It's SO yummy and has many uses. Cooking for one is... well the norm right now, so I baked the squash last night and ate half of it with tomato sauce. I popped the other half in the microwave today while I sautéed my creation. I do this a lot-- just throw things in a pan and see what happens. This one turned out really well and it's mostly VEGGIES!! Happy munching!

♥AshPiece 
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Finally.

Here's what happened... At the beginning of July, I became extremely ill. Not to get too graphic, but my body was moving blood out where it naturally shouldn't. I had the worst pain of my life... It was absolutely excruciating. After a few days of trying to let it pass, I finally went to the ER, only to end up back in the hospital, and stayed there, a few days later. Nobody could figure out what it was that was attacking my body, but there were many concerns of the possibilities. It was a truly frightening time. After concluding that it was some sort of food-borne something, they killed it with some really intense antibiotics that basically wipe out your entire system. Weeks later, I found out (through a survey company for the city's health department--more on NY doctor fails later) that the little punk was Salmonella that took up camp in my abdomen. The Internet would later inform me that about 400 people die from it per year.

Where am I going with this? I can divide my year, very clearly, into before I got sick and after... It took about a month to recover and feel normal again physically, and after that, I was completely unmotivated. It seemed so unfair that I had to go through that because at the time that I got infected, I was completely vegan and had been for a few months, and it was probably a lazy food-worker handling my veggies (I'm pretty positive of where I got it). All I wanted to do after that was work, be with my friends and fella, and that's about it. No auditioning, no voice lessons, no healthy eating, no yoga... The high I was on the first half of the year was a mere memory, and although I tried over and over to gain that back again, something kept holding me back and my heart wasn't in it as it had been before. Luckily my job required that I be pretty active, but I wasn't doing any of the supplemental exercise to keep my body evened out (spinning is such a repetitive movement on a few specific parts of the body). Life comes at ya... and for some reason this one took me down, HARD.

Finally, I am feeling motivated again. I'm remembering those reasons why I originally adopted a plant-based diet, and am learning to treat myself well again. As my eating and negative thinking spiraled out of control, my self-talk became absolutely abysmal... I was constantly belittling myself and thinking it was all my fault that I lost the drive I had before. There are so many reasons that I believe factored into it, but that negative self-talk and self-punishment was definitely the primary culprit.

So here I am, back in the saddle, ready to enjoy my life as it is today, and get back to that journey of wellness and revive my passion for health and life! Stay tuned... life is good, and I'm going to CELEBRATE it!

♥AshPiece 
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Today's inspiration from Kris Carr's blog about Crazy Sexy Manifesting ... Read it. LOVE it. You're welcome. :o)

Location:New York,United States

Six Vegan, Plant-Based Weeks Completed!

 

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Here's my recap: I think I stopped blogging about my journey because A. I was SLAMMED busy, and B. I hit a major weight plateau. Here's the difference from this plateau and others in my past: I just kept going with my plan. I made myself remember that this was not just to finally reach my goal (and healthy) weight, but MOST importantly, it is for my longevity of health and disease prevention. Y'all, it's not that hard. I know the thoughts you can have against the right choices, and as I pass people with various food choices in their hands on the street, I remember those thoughts:

"I only have time to grab a quick pastry or bagel, so at least I'm not getting the one drizzled in chocolate: I'm saving calories I could have eaten!"

or

"I can only afford pizza right now.. It's so much cheaper and I love it."

or

"Since I worked out today and I feel I need (HA!) caffeine, I'll have a coke just for today. A reward!"

These thoughts are self-sabotage. At the surface, they don't seem so harmful, but these are those quick everyday decisions that add up to a truckload of BLEH. Yes, every day you could have eaten a gallon of lard, but you don't... that doesn't automatically make you healthier. Pick easy-to-grab fruits and veggies. You can't afford the medical bills and years off your life that result from years of pizza/junk and the resulting disease; a couple of extra bucks for the fresh salad (lite dressing on side) isn't much in comparison. And stop lying to yourself about the need for caffeine, and if you must partake, the least damaging would be an unsweet iced tea, or black iced coffee. 

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After a few weeks, it'll be a new habit for you, and your old lifestyle seems unfathomable. Also, I am a firm believer in jumping in head-first (after doing your research). Any time I've tried to "incorporate" new healthy choices, or add on the good stuff gradually, it's been a half-assed attempt that didn't change my habits or addictions. After six weeks strong, I'm on to another six... hopefully more and on for life, but I'll take it six by six! Jump on in y'all, the water's fine!!

♥AshPiece 

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Spin Playlist: ANIMAL!

aNiMaL!! (Lots of 4's)

Warm-up: Animal -Neon Trees
Leavin' -Jesse McCartney
Calabria 2007 -Enur
Hey Mama (Remix) -Black Eyed Peas
A Public Affair -Jessica Simpson
Beep -The Pussycat Dolls (ft. Will I Am)
Battlefield -Jordin Sparks
Trouble -Pink
Canned Heat -Jamiroquai
Sinorita -Justin Timberlake
Firework -Katy Perry
Cool-down: Many the Miles -Sara Bareilles

Enjoy!

♥AshPiece 

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