I’m totally obessed with fitness information. I subscribe to Shape, Self, and Fitness, and I regularly check the websites for those magazines as well. I like to browse Cooking Light, and I regularly read the Hungry Girl blog. The thing is, you could never tell by looking at me. Even though I do exercise, I have some medical issues that slow down my metabolism, and I’ve been carrying around extra pounds for a few years now (it got even worse after I got married). So, I decided to do something about it. This fall, I signed up for a 3-month, 2 semester yoga class. I love yoga, and I was really missing my regular practice. Plus, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get out of the house and get in touch with my spiritual side. So imagine my dismay when I called the day before class was supposed to start (to find out what building to go to) and was told that the class was being cancelled because not enough people had registered. You see, even though I live in the Atlanta metro area, there is a shortage of yoga studios around, so I had signed up at a local park that had a minimum registration requirement. Since they didn’t notify me in advance that the class was cancelled, I didn’t have the chance to try to squeeze into a class at another park. So I’m SOL on that one. There’s still a chance that the October session will go through, though, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I decided to come up with a new plan. I’ve read time and again that the most successful people set small, reachable goals. Even though I know that, I never think that way. I always want to just "lose weight" or "wear a smaller size." This time, though, I’m setting two goals. I started on 9/11/06, with a goal to lose 5-10 pounds by 10/07/06. I know 5 lbs. is more likely, but 10 would be neat! I have reasons for the 10/7 date that are too long to go into, but they involve a football game, the symphony, and my anniversary. In addition to that, I would like to lose a total of 21 pounds by the end of the year. That would put me at a weight I would be happy with, as well as bring me to the BMI that I want (and no, I’m not going to divulge my current weight. No power on this earth could make me do that!). I’m also upping my water intake, cutting back on my Diet Pepsi intake, and trying to eat well and in moderation. I’ve tried many times to keep a food journal, and I just HATE it, so I probably won’t be doing that. I’ll keep you posted on my success.

My inspiration photo. I know Britney is totally insane now, but she had a rockin’ bod before she started poppin’ out kids. Every time I see this picture it makes me want to exercise. I had the opportunity to buy the poster for $2.00 to hang in my home gym, but I was too embarrassed to actually buy a Britney poster. Now I totally regret it.

I don’t really get the whole Kate Bosworth thing. To my knowledge, I’ve only seen her in one movie, and while she was okay, I wasn’t particularly impressed. She may be talented, but really, she just strikes me as a sort of average girl. She’s attractive, but I don’t find her especially pretty, and I think she’s frighteningly thin. I don’t really care that her eyes are different colors, or that she and Orlando Bloom have apparently split up again.

HOWEVER…

I do really like her hair in the above photo. During her press junket for Superman Returns, her hair looked awful (see right). It was brassy and she had these horrible bangs. But now it looks soft and pretty. This photo is from NY Fashion Week, and I love the shorter, relaxed look. Plus, it looks as though her hair is longer in front and flippy in back, which is the way mine is, and will probably continue to be until my layers grow out. My hair appointment is on September 29, so I have about three weeks to figure out what to do…any suggestions?

I’ve actually been reading quite a lot lately, but two titles really stood out to me. The first was Morrigan’s Cross, the latest effort from uber-author Nora Roberts. It seems that she writes a mass market trilogy every year (last year it was the In the Garden trilogy, featuring Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily). This season she brings us the Circle trilogy, of which Morrigan’s Cross is the first. It is the tale of Lilith, an ancient and powerful vampire determined to destroy the world. In an effort to stop her, the goddess Morrigan recruits six people from different places and times to form an army. Each recruit brings a special skill: Hoyt, a powerful sorcerer from the past; his twin brother Cian, who was long ago turned by Lilith; Glenna, a present-day witch; Moira, a princess and scholar from the mythical land of Geall, and her cousin Larkin, a warrior and shape-shifter. Last to arrive is Blair, a tough demon fighter with Buffyesque sensibilities. This first part of the trilogy brings the fighters to Ireland, where they begin their training for the upcoming battle. Of course, the story isn’t all about war; it wouldn’t Nora Roberts without love. In the midst of all the fighting, Hoyt and Glenna find tenderness and passion; Roberts handles it deftly, making it both romantic and sexy. The remaining books in the series, Dance of the Gods and Valley of Silence, will be released at the beginning and end of October, respectively. I’m looking forward to them.

I also just finished New Moon, Stephenie Meyer’s sequel to the best-selling Twilight. If you’ve read Twilight, you know that it’s the tale of star-crossed lovers: Bella, a teenage girl, and Edward, the vampire who both loves her and who is dangerously drawn to her blood. New Moon opens with an incident that convinces Edward that Bella will never be safe with him; he ruthlessly breaks her heart and leaves her, promising that she will never see him again. His departure leaves Bella in a near-catatonic state; it is months before she can function again. She finds solace in her friend Jacob, and the two of them begin to form a powerful bond. Just as Bella begins to wonder whether she can live happily without Edward, all hell breaks loose: Jacob transforms into something dangerous, and becomes remote and withdrawn. Bella simultaneously discovers that Edward is determined to end his own existence and must do all that she can to save him. Her actions place her in the middle of two powerful and opposing factions, and she must struggle to save both her relationship with Edward and her friendship with Jacob. I won’t reveal whether Bella’s wish to become a vampire is granted, but I will tell you that Meyer has planned at least two more novels in the series, as well as a companion to Twilight, which tells the same story from Edward’s perspective. Delicious.

now I have a conductor’s cap! Trust me, it is tres chic (though a teensy bit big, since I have a tiny head).

This is so true for me:

Listening To Our Bodies
Illness LessonsWhen our body, mind, and spirit are in balance, we experience good health. But sometimes we get caught up in life’s parade of change and movement, and things get out of balance. Just as there are seasons in nature, our bodies go through times of cleansing and times of activity. Illness is one way our bodies restore the balance they seek, as it cleanses the buildup of unwanted manifestations of negative energy in our system. When we are not feeling our best, we can go beyond addressing the physical symptoms to listen to our bodies as they tell us the changes needed to restore balance.

Our bodies give us signals, but if we don’t listen when they tell us that they are tired or stressed, then the imbalance increases and a stronger message is required, one that is generally expressed by illness or dis-ease. The first step to regaining equilibrium involves slowing down, eating healthy food, getting more rest, and taking soothing remedies. Once we have nurtured ourselves with these things, we can begin examine our illness for the message. A heavy head may be a sign that we have been thinking negatively, harboring anger, resentment, or guilt. A sore throat may be telling us we have been speaking without integrity-gossip, insults, twisting the truth, or even speaking ill of ourselves, all of which can knock us off balance. A sore throat and swollen glands can also mean you are cleansing and processing some powerful emotions at present. Stomach problems could mean that we are having trouble accepting or “digesting” something. Only you have the knowledge of your thoughts and choices that will allow you to decipher the messages from your body. All it takes is time and attention.

When we take the time to listen to our bodies we can learn how to restore our balance and improve our lives. By honoring the messages of our bodies, we can turn a time of illness into a constructive time of restoration, healing, and revitalization.