What I’ve Learned in My 20’s

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In about one week (9/25), I will turn the super exciting age of 30!  I cannot wait, the 20’s were fun, but they were confusing, depressing, awesome, exciting and everything in between.

Here’s what I learned in my 20’s..

  1. What you do in your 20’s shows up in your 30’s.  Listen to your Mom when she says, “wear sunscreen every day and take off all your makeup at night.”  I’m SO happy I got into yoga at 23.  It’s a skin-saver.
  2. It’s okay to go a different route.  I thought I had to have a career with benefits and work the 9-5 to make my parents happy.  When I told them this, they said, “You are not a 9-5er.”  Lesson learned.  Make yourself happy.
  3. You have control over your life road map...for the most part.  You don’t HAVE to do anything.  You make the choices, you say yes or no, you make or break commitments and that is that!  (of course there are some things that you have no control over, like, your boyfriend cheating, jobs getting cancelled, being diagnosed with a mental disorder, breaking your foot, etc.)
  4. If you aren’t making enough money, do something else! If that means getting uncomfortable, do it!  Don’t wallow in your misery, make changes NOW!
  5. You can change your body at any point in time, it’s not a quick fix, but hard work pays off.  In my twenties, I suffered a lot with this one.  “I’m not skinny enough, I don’t weigh what I want to weight, blah blah blah…”  Entering my 30’s I am damn proud of what this body has allowed me to do!
  6. You will lose people.  I am not just talking about death, I am talking about the peeps who you considered best friends.  Life will change.  People will get married, advance in their careers, have opposite schedules.  Make time for the friendships you value!  Time is so precious.
  7. Family is the most important.  How awesome is it to get older and know you always have someone you love to hang out with?  I love that at any moment I can call my sister and see if she wants to hang out or go get pedicures.  She makes me laugh harder than anyone in this world.  That is awesome.
  8. Your parents are usually right, unfortunately.  This one makes me want to take off in a full sprint.  The longer you live, the more experiences you have, the more chances you take, you learn…every time.  Parents make mistakes and they either repeat them or change.  Learn from them, they’ve been through more and that’s true at any age.  They will always be older than you.  Remind them of this, it makes them happy.
  9. Trust, mutual respect & honesty is where it’s at.  Bottom line, without these 3 things, relationships don’t have a chance in hell.  Throw in some humor, intelligence and attractiveness and you have got yourself a life partner.
  10. Do things you shouldn’t.  There were times when I knew I shouldn’t… but I did.  And I learned a TON.  Sometimes it’s fun to get into a little trouble or be bad.  Not to the point where it’s going to ruin a relationship or career, but take a walk on the wild side and let your hair down!  You can always blame it on “being in your twenties!”

30th Birthday, I am sliding in with a Hunger Games-like cape and a personality like Lucille Ball!

 

5 Ways to Lose Weight the Snail Way

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If you’ve ever tried a diet, you know that quick n’ easy ways don’t work.  I COMPLETELY understand the dieting mentality.  2 weeks and 20 pounds gone!?  Hell ya, sign me up!  2 weeks pass, you lose 20 pounds and reward yourself with ice cream, only to step on the scale and realize you’ve already gained 5 back.  It’s a roller coaster I no longer ride.

Weight Watchers my junior year of high school is where it started for me.  The weigh ins, the points, calorie counting and group talk was enough for me to develop an unhealthy relationship with food.  I felt like if I didn’t stay within the point system and lose the weight, I was a failure…and that was at 17 years old!  I maybe had 5 pounds to lose, but I became obsessed with the scale!  Eventually I cut ties with the program and lost and gained 10/15 pounds for the next 10 years.

Until I found a meal plan that worked for me.  It’s called the 80/20 rule.  80% of the time, you eat clean and 20% of the time you give in to the foods you know won’t make you feel good, but make you feel human.

Eating clean is the easiest meal plan I’ve ever followed.  It’s not a quick fix/diet, it’s an energizing, eating for nourishment and fuel way of life!  But we all know it isn’t about the food.  It’s about your life in balance.  Think about when you’re tired, all of a sudden carbs + sugar is what you’re reaching for, or when you’re sad, “HELLO CHOCOLATE!”

If you’re trying to lose weight, adopt this motto, “slow n’ steady wins the race.”

  1. Drink water.  I can’t stress this one enough.  If you are trying to lose weight, aim for the 120 ounces of water.  Even mild dehydration can alter our body’s metabolism.
  2. Eat breakfast.  This one should excite you because you get to eat right when you wake up!  If you’re bored with your breakfast, SWITCH IT UP!  Eating within the first 20 minutes of waking up gives your metabolism a jump start!
  3. Learn to cook simple + balanced meals.  You know what you’re eating when you cook on your own.  Roasting and baking are excellent options to boost flavor and cut calories.  Example of a balanced breakfast: 2 eggs + 1 egg white with spinach, avocado + 1 piece of gluten free toast.  MMMmmmmmm!!
  4. Sleep.  7 hours is the goal, some need more/less.  Lack of sleep disrupts circadian rhythms and can lead to inefficient body regulation of energy balance, metabolism and appetite.  The hormones that tell your body “I’m full, stop eating” can go awry with too little sleep.
  5. Eat frequently.  Every 3 hours or so, test it out, see what works best for you.  I wouldn’t go more than 4 hours, but that’s just me and I get REAL “hangry.” (ask my boyfriend)  Feeding your body on a regular basis lets it know food is available and it’s okay to burn energy rather than conserve and store it as fat.

Talkin’ with Yoga Light JL Chiemingo

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This 43 year old, 13 year teaching yoga light and I crossed paths in 2010 when I started going to hauteyoga Queen Anne.  She, along with a few special teachers, got my attention.

When you walk into this space in Upper Queen Anne, you are greeted by a radiant gal, ready to check you in. When JL teaches she is right there at the front door with her beautiful, glowing smile.  If you connect with her, expect a warm embrace.

I had a chance to sit down with this talented + experienced yoga friend and was amazed at her skilled preparation for weekly classes.  Long story short, here she goes!

Muah: “So miss JL, take me through a week in your life, as you get ready to prep for teaching.”

JL: “Get ready, so on Sundays I do all my class planning, Tuesdays I create music playlists and from there on I focus on a peak pose per class.  Everything else comes later.  For example, if I choose Garudasasa.

Muah: “….uhh…Eagle Pose?”

JL: EXACTLY!  See you knew it!  So if I choose eagle pose, I think about what poses I need to include to warm up the body.  I choose a day for hip openers, hearts openers, etc.

Muah: Staring into her eyes in awe.  She’s kind of incredible and she cares about her classes & students, truly cares.  It’s impossible not to be moved by her sensitive and loving heart.  And she keeps it real.  She’s not going to preach something she doesn’t practice or tell you something she doesn’t truly believe.  It’s refreshing.  And us Seattlelites are lucky she is in the neighborhood.

Check out JL’s website, workshops, retreats and Seattle-based classes.