The big reveal - please vote for me!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

This week is looking pretty tame so far and I'm glad...definitely need some down time:) Yet, something very sad happened this morning as I was outside looking for Nemo (seriously, he must have a girlfriend somewhere as I can never find him). A beautiful cat, just like Nemo's colorings had passed away beside my garage. I was so in shock when I first found him/her! I thought it was Nemo until I saw the paws. I don't know what happened and I feel so sad about this. I'm thinking it might have been hit by a car and ran into my car to hide (like cats do). I'm going to call the SPCA and see what I should do as it may have died from something other than being hit by a car. It had my heart beating so fast and I am still shaken and saddened by it. There was no collar on him/her and I didn't want to touch the poor thing. I need to grab a pair of gloves and see if there is a tattoo! And of course I still couldn't find Nemo at this time so that had me freaked right out. Luckily he came in minutes later:)

Ryan then had "the talk" with me saying he isn't going to be around forever and I don't want you to get crazy when that time comes. I hit him and started to cry!! Geesh! He's one to talk though! He would be crying right along with me...but shhh don't tell him I told you so:)

Okay I think it's time to move on to something a bit more joyful for the day, don't you think?

It's actually a pretty exciting day as the turbulance training contest voting has begun and I made it to the final voting!!! WAHOO!!

If I win I am for sure passing on the wealth to you all!! So it's a win win! Please tell anyone and everyone to vote who wouldn't mind either!!

All you need to do is go here

Click on the women under 40 link

Scroll down until you see Melissa (I'm the second one!)

Check the box and click vote!

That's it! You can read my essay if you want. I won't be offended if you don't! Don't pictures speak a 1000 words anyways?

PS that contest was completed eating a high raw, vegan diet!! It does a body good:) So click here to vote

PPS the voting ends on Wednesday so head on over to the site now!! Thank you in advance!

Stay tuned for my kombucha, cashew cheese, wheatgrass, and much more!

Living in the moment!

Happy Thursday beautiful people!

I'm doing one of my 24hour fasts (started at 8AM) and so I'm feeling super productive and reflective. Yes, that's what no food does to me:)....not bad, hey? I have around a week left of my 12 week transformation challenge with Craig's Turbulance Training. And I'm giving it all I've got!!! Then you get to see a picture of me in a bikini again...lol..oh the suspense!!!

Craig is so fantastic, he posts encouraging quotes every day on his facebook fanpage and on his members forum. They are oozing with inspiration, tough love, and reality checks! Seriously, they have kept me going when I doubted myself, was bathing is self pity, wanted to quit, diverted from my goals, felt like I wasn't enough etc etc.

Here is one that he posted recently that I think is so profound and something that I don't do enough of...living in the moment.

"The Secret of Health in both body and mind is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly." Buddha

I'm a worrier, plain and simple. But I have gotten 100 times better being with Ryan because he takes on this philosophy without even knowing it, and it has finally rubbed off on me!

Still I find that if I don't nip it in the bud, my mind and emotions wander and I start thinking about the future (and the past) - work, babies (not preggers), school, money, my body, what's for dinner on Friday nigh and on and on it could go! Yet, I have this precious day of which I do not cherish enough and am either trying to hurry time along or to reverse it. I'm not saying I won't set goals or have ambitions, I'm just going to focus more on what I can TODAY to get me there, versus worrying about tomorrow or a week from now (or what I could have done a week ago).

It's not going to be easy for me but I think this will greatly change my perspective and make me see how grand life really is:)

I recently started watching (haven't finished yet) The Age Of Stupid (watch the trailer here) and they featured a girl in Africa who had been devastatingly affected by the work of Shell. She so badly wanted to get out of Africa and move to America to wear "nice clothes" and get an education. Then she said something like If I lived in America I would never want to die. She was referring to the bounty of EVERYTHING we have here in the Americas. And she's right.

So then why do I worry? Because I'm not living in the moment and grateful for this amazing life.

So...RIGHT NOW I'm grateful for:

Coffee - I have access to amazing organic coffee (helping me get through my fast)

Craig Ballentyne - for being so dedicated to helping people succeed in fat loss and to just becoming a better person

Internet - I can literally get a degree from all the amazing information out there and it has benefited my life in extraordinary ways

My body - For being able to carry me through life so effortlessly - even when I torment it or don't love it unconditionally.

***I'm always grateful for my love, my family, my health..I'm just living in the moment and those are what came to me right then and there.

PS I have this spare room that is probably going to be vacant for awhile so I was thinking of loading the walls with inspirational quotes and pictures. It's going to be my vision WALL! What do you think?

PPS I thought I would finish this post with some beautiful sweet pea blossoms that I picked from my work garden. They are so vibrant and fragrant. The area around my desk smells so yummy:)

Have a wonderful day...and let's try to live in the moment:)

Pink phones and Bikini's

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I'm so glad that everyone is having fun with all the surveys out there. I love reading them and I learn a lot about the person writing them too! Check out my survey answers here. So, did I get your attention with my title? I've got one fantastic announcements and one that is pretty personal so kindness from ya'll would be greatly appreciated:)

First up, the hubby got the job he has been waiting 9 months for! I'm going to back track here a moment and tell how it all came about. So, before Ry and moved to Nelson for him to go to school, he worked for a closet/blind/glass installation company. Another piece of this story revolves around the fact that he chronically loses his cell-phones. So, the last time he lost his phone I asked around my family if anyone had an old one (because we know he will most likely lose this one so no iphone for him). My cousin-in-law said she had a spare one I could have. So, I go to her house to pick it up and she thought the phone was for me and didn't tell me that it was pink or "salmon". Because he needed a phone stat, I took it and he's been sporting it ever since (go figure this is the phone he doesn't lose). So, one day at a job site he had to use his phone for something and this guy made a comment about the color (in a kind way) and that kick-started their conversation which led the guy offering Ry a job helping him build staircases and other construction jobs. This was about a month before we were moving to Nelson...bummer. Yet, the guy said to call him when he was done school and maybe something would still be available. As we are less than a month away from moving home (wahoo!), Ry called him and he still has the job! The guy even said "I have been waiting for your call." How cool is that? We are both elated because this is the kind of work he is passionate about and loves doing! Go figure a pink phone could lead to a job. Way to go Ry!

Okay now onto the more personal aspect of this post. I know I've been keeping the suspense high with my bikini talk and I'm here to lay it all out and tell you what's going on! So, you have heard me mention that I used Turbulance Training workouts at the gym. I really do love them and they push me beyond what I would normally push myself! So, when Craig announced that it was time for another Transformation Contest, I felt that it was my time to push myself even further. I am one of those people who would run away when the going gets tough..and I want to break this and prove to myself that I can push through the tough times and make it over those mountains! So, what is the transformation contest? Well, its a 12 week long chance to shine! You have to use Turbulance Training workouts (you don't need to buy them if you don't want to, he offers tons of free ones on his blogs) for 12 weeks, take before and after pictures, and write a 300 word essay about your experience. These 12 weeks are not only about losing weight, its about me learning about my body (I don't do this enough), and pushing to be the best I can be! If you get the most votes (the public votes) I can win $1000 plus a three year membership to his site. Not bad, hey? There are also second and third place prizes as well. I am really looking forward to this experience because I know its going to teach me a lot about myself.

I am watching what I eat a little more than usual but nothing crazy. I am trying to consume more veggies instead of my raw treats (although I'm not going to be depriving myself completely ) and so basically I'm getting most of my carbs from fruits and veggies!

So, where does the bikini fit into all of this..well as I'm already started into the contest I took my "before" photos..and yes, in my bikini. I almost took them outside too because I though the lighting inside was too horrible, but we worked around it indoors. I wasn't going to post the pictures but I think doing so will only increase my motivation. I'm not saying that I'm fat or anything of that nature...this is all about me pushing to another level and thriving on the "I can" mindset. So, without further delay..here are my before picts!



Phew...it was hard to insert these! Don't mind the sleepy face in the first pict...it was early:) and the paper in the back...its part of the rules:). I know another lovely lady who was nervous about posting picts that show more than the face....so please be kind:)

So, during the next twelve weeks I will be posting a little more on the nutrition/workout side of things but don't worry I'll be keeping it light:) Thank you for your support! And as always...

This handsome guy wishes all the ladies (and even the gents) would hear his message!

Just in case you needed to see it again!!!! (Don't mind my recycle bag in the back..lol)

PS I'm starting a new goal today...to learn more words for my vocabulary! Here are two:

Imbricate - Having overlapping edges, as tiles on a roof, or scales on a fish

Scarper -To flee, especially without paying one's bill

Have a fantastic rest of your day!!!

Bittersweet!

Hey all,

The post title explains a lot about the weekend I had. First off, I tried a new brand of dark chocolate from my local co-op. It is called Flirt and the company is Zazubean. I didn't read all the ingredients, just the first couple as I didn't want any milk ingredients in there. Anyways, so I got home and took a closer look and that's when I noticed the bar contained horny goat weed. I have not heard of such a weed so I looked it up and apparently it is a much valued herb in Chinese medicine. Its use , as you might have guessed, is to support a healthy sex life. So, if your are looking for a little natural booster, try some horny goat weed and combine it with dark chocolate and, well, you have an electric combination! Some other ingredients in there were maca and damiana leaf. Maca is an ancient tuber that grows in the Andes and was used by the natives in the area for a multitude of uses, including increasing sexual performance. Yet, according to Dr.Weil studies on the subject are not conclusive. I think maca is a healthy food and so if it helps in the bedroom or not, I am happy to eat it , especially with chocolate! Damiana leaf is another shrub from Central and South America. A good, old wikipedia search says that this herb was used by the natives of these areas in a tea form. It is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Yet, the main reason why I bought this chocolate was because it had acai berries and cherries in it, plus the wrapper is an awesome pink color!. This is the real truth, I swear (wink, wink)! I really liked the chocolate but I thought there should have been more acai and cherries in there. There are 9 flavors available and they all have funky names like Squeeze, Smooch, and Ego! There is only one possible no-no about this chocolate bar. It contains glycerin. I have emailed the company to see if this is vegetable-based which I really hope it is. Although, I wish there was no glycerin in there at all.

The hubby and I enjoyed two visits to just one of the great coffee shops in Nelson called Oso Negro. Everything about the place is great. Two levels of seating, great organic coffee and tea, fresh baked goodies (mostly vegan), and lunch too! The best part about it for us is that it is only 10 steps from our place. Talk about convenience! If you are planning on coming to the Kootenays this place is a must try!


Onto my workouts, I just finished week 2 of my Turbulance Training Journey! I am totally loving it so far and can't wait to try more of Craig's programs (check out my post on how fun TT is). I am currently using TT intermediate and bodyweight intervals. I am so dedicated to this and even took pictures so I can compare my body before and after. I might even feel gutsy one day and post them on here...eek! So, I hope your fitness routine is kicking you in the but and getting you the fat loss (or muscle gain) you want.


Now for the bitter part of my weekend. I have a second job and am liking it so far! It's always hard to start working in a new atmosphere but the other employees and the manager are great! There was mistake with the schedule and I was put down to work when I requested time off for when my mom was in town. I got super upset and it seemed like I might have to work the whole time she was going to be here. All weekend I had knots in my stomach and was withdrawn because I was so looking forward to the visit which then seemed ruined. I found out today that I am good to go and only have to work one short day. Yippee! I don't know why I let myself get that way but I did. I know it is not healthy! I am definitely going to work on this.


Then I made some cookies as the hubby was craving something sweet. I didn't want to search through all my cookbooks and blogs for a recipe so I trusted supercook and put in the ingredients I had and chose a recipe. Well, they turned out horribly and were nothing what a oatmeal cookies should be. The hubby sprinkled some brown sugar on top and then resorted to dipping them is some of my mom's apricot jam. I should have know better than to use a recipe on a site that I never used before. Oh well, live and learn!

TME79FWWATAE



I hope you had a SWEET weekend! I'm looking forward to this week of preparing for my mom to come and I want to make some good food too!

Working out the fun way!

Hello all,

I think its safe to say that Craig Ballantyne's fitness philosophy has changed my world. He opened up my eyes to the scientific ways of fatloss. It was not only fascinating, it was the real deal. There are too many gimmicks out there stating you can lose weight with minimal exercise, no exercise, or even with a pill. These are a CROCK, please do not fall for them. Fat loss takes work and discipline but the benefits to your health really are endless. And I'm not talking about going on the elliptical for an hour. This is similar to what I used to do at the gym, pumping my arms to the beat on my ipod, watching the calorie counter go up thinking the fat cells were being incinerated around my body. Then I read Craig's free ebook The dark side of cardio , and, boy, did that open my eyes. I had been doing it wrong all these years, and was mad at myself for not realizing this sooner. I didn't have too much to lose, 10 pounds maybe, but they weren't budging. And now I knew why. I was doing too much slow cardio and not enough resistance training paired with HIIT (high intensity interval training). Did you know that reisitance training with HIIT at the end of you workouts will allow you to burn fat throughout the day? Now that is cool. So, I changed my workouts overnight and have not looked back since. I signed up to be on Craig's email list and I'm telling you, they are so awesome and fun (and full of cute pics of his dog). He puts sample workouts in them too and that's what I have been basing my routines on. At first it was strange to think a 30 minute workout or a body weight workout could be effective but, oh by golly, they are. The first workout really humbled me, to say the least. I had on my cool shoes and my super cool yoga pants, I was ready. Things were going well and I was having a great time until I had to go on my knees. I was still quite cocky at this point thinking 15 girlie push-ups would be a breeze. It was only after I was breathless from doing only 8 of them that my ego was brought back down to earth. I forgot one of Craig's recommendations is to drop your ego at the gym door. Lesson learned.

Since moving to the Kootenays, having gym passes wasn't in the budget so I have been doing all my workouts at home. Yes, people, it can be done. I have been wanting to buy his program for awhile and then I received an email that he was having a half price sale at Turbulance Training. I bought the program and completed Workout A from the intermediate program. It was awesome, challenging, and fun, all the things I hoped it would be. So, if have some fitness goals you want to reach , give Turbulance training a try!