Hard Work and Dedication

As you know, if you have been reading my blog, I am on a diet and following a specific fitness routine. It has been a hard journey but I have lost many inches and about 12 pounds now. I go to the gym 5 days a week and do an hour of cardio and strength train 3 days a week and follow a diet of 6 small meals a day.

It has been stressful at times, trying to make all of my meals for the day in a hurry or not having an hour to fit in my day to get to the gym, or feeling tired and not wanting to work out, or following my diet when friends want to drink and eat out.

I have definitely messed up and not followed things to a T at times, but I have gotten right back on track after. I think that is the most important thing with any diet. It needs to become a lifestyle and that way when you eat ice cream or cookies or chips, you don’t overdo it and get right back to eating healthy. I have learned so much through all of this.

I am such a driven person, but I really didn’t think my body was capable of losing weight and getting in shape anymore, but this fitness plan proved me wrong. I now have more energy, love working out, and feel more confident.

Yesterday the most amazing thing happened…I hadn’t been to zhumba in a while and I went and all the ladies ran after me after class and were like “OMG you lost so much weight!!!” “What did you do?” Even the instructor said it, so it was really cool. I even gave out the fitness guy’s number to a couple people, so that they could work with him because I have never met him but he just tells me what to do through e-mails and coaching’s on the phone. If anyone reading wants his number, I would be glad to give it.

He has definitely been an angel to my life, but the craziest thing is that I did everything. He hasn’t been next to me yelling to work out or showing me what to do or watching what I eat. I did it with my own mind, body, and soul. I truly believe anything is possible now and am looking forward to getting into even better shape.

Learning

Today I went to New York for a voice lesson and on the way there and on the way back, I read a book called The “Official” Grad Book. It is a book that I found on my bookshelf that my parents gave me when I graduated college in May of 2009. I had forgotten about it and although it has been over a year since I graduated, it had a lot of great advice and wisdom in it that rang true for today.

Here are some of the quotes that really resonated with me:

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” –E.E. Cummings

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, “I used everything You gave me.” –Erma Bombeck

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” –Judy Garland

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”-Herman Melville

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and, if they can’t find them, make them.” –George Bernard Shaw

There were many others in the book too and it really inspired me on the train. All of a sudden when I looked up, this girl asked if she could sit with me. We started chatting and it turns out she was a model and going to do some modeling in NY. We talked about our hopes and dreams and it was really cool to hear about her world, as she was the same age as me. I love that. I love learning about people and learning their paths. It was so cool to see someone else following their dream. I hope that the majority of people in the world don’t lose site of their dreams or at least find a way to include a part of their dream into their life.

Own Best Friend

"Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend."
— Elizabeth Gilbert
Today I had training for a new job that I just got teaching children music and theater. I first had to drive an hour away to the headquarters to sign all of the paperwork. After I finished signing everthing, I had some time to kill before I went to the next location for training. To my surprise, there was a movie theater in the hotel where their headquarters were. I decided to go to the movies...alone.


It was a weird moment, deciding to go alone, but I felt excited in a way. I had been wanting to see Eat, Pray, Love all week and my friends were all busy. As I purchased the ticket alone, I felt a feeling of almost freedom...was I actually going to the movies alone? I never thought I would do that. I walked into the theater and not a soul was there. Where would I sit...I kept changing seats, trying to have the perfect view, knowing no one was watching me anyways. As the movie began, I felt myself almost surrender to it. I didn't have to think about monitoring my emotions. I belly laughed, cried, smirked, stretched my legs out and relaxed. I realized I actually could watch with no inhibitions instead of worrying what a friend or date might thing of my "movie reactions". I truly reacted.

Lately I've realized that you have to be your own best friend all the time and really can't wait for people to create your own happiness. I am a go getter and like to do things and so if I have to do them alone, I have decided, I am going to do that...and whoever wants to come along for the ride...hop on board! :)

looking back

Tonight I decided to look at an old notebook I have to check out what I used to write about. I am 23 years old and life seems to be moving so fast. Recently I ended two important things in my life and am moving on and changing my direction...sometimes when you decide on something, you can second guess yourself, but then sometimes something can remind you that everything is going to be okay. I came across something I wrote when I was 20 and it was amazing because it rang true for today and really put things into perspective...I'd like to share it here...

"Water fills my mind, body, and soul
energizes me for the day
fills me up and I feel full
of a life that is gonna go my way

I run to release my stress and fears
I think of all I've seen
Suddenly I'm feeling tears
a reflection stares at me in the tv screen

hard work, passion, and dedication
heartbreaks, lost friends, and far away love
but through it I kept my ambition
I know someone is watching me above

I still see the beauty around me
even though things don't seem right
people don't see what I see
but I'm not gonna lose sight

everything happens for a reason
and my glass aint empty
right now it's my favorite season
and I'm going to be twenty
so I'm gonna smile all I can
follow my own path
just like God's plan."
-Nicole D'Onofrio

It's a Mind Thing

Last week, my friend Jenny came to visit me from Connecticut. It was really nice to be with her for a week, but I wasn't on vacation, so I had to work, still go to the gym, and fit in fun stuff to do. I decided to have Jenny come to the gym with me.


When I arrived, I realized that I didn't have my ipod with me. I freaked out and told Jenny that I'd never be able to get through my workout without it. Not only that but there were only 2 treadmills left and one of the tv's was broken on one. Jenny wanted to watch tv, so I let her have that treadmill. I didn't know what to do but Jenny said I should just try it without the ipod, instead of driving all the way home.


At first it was really hard, but soon I was doing it with ease and because I didn't have headphones in my ears, the trainers and people at the gym kept on talking to me. I was so happy, when I was done and realized I was using my ipod as a crutch and giving it all the credit ha ha.


Another day, I only had 4 hours of sleep and really wanted to go to zhumba. I thought I'd be so tired to go, but I went and someone even said to me, you look so awake and refreshed. After that I went to work and then came back to the gym to do more of a workout.


It is crazy what you can do when you put your mind to it. So think big!

Everyday Angels

I woke up this morning tired, and moody. The sky was hazy and it started to rain. I went to the train station and sat down on a bench next to this lady and called my grandma. Just as I was saying goodbye and I love you to her, a lady said in a harsh tone, “Excuse me, can you move because I do not want to hear your conversation.” I moved quickly and felt sad.

I decided to get something to drink for the train ride and the guy working there, said you are looking so beautiful as he rang me up. Something so small but it made me smile.

I had a voice lesson in the city and on the way back, I decided to buy another drink for the ride back. The lady at the cash register said to me, “Is that your real hair?” I said yes and she said I mean the color. I said that I dye it now but it was blonde most of my life and it would be brown now. She was like “ahhhh well the reason I am asking is because the color looks so good on you!” Again, this made me smile.

I believe that life has little angels sometimes that remind us that we are doing okay or not to get down on ourselves. Two small comments, but to me they were big and were what I needed at those exact moments.

That is why I believe in honesty. Sometimes we shut out what we feel for a person because we are nervous as to how they will view us, but I think it is important to say what you feel and compliment. You never know how big of an effect it will have on a person.

Life Changes

Sometimes life can make us feel stuck. That is what I felt was happening to me recently. I was doing too much at once and feeling overwhelmed and unsure of my direction.

Luckily, I was able to go to Florida and clear my mind. The beach is where I always seem to find the answers. I do not know what it is about it, but it gets me to a place where I can truly understand myself.

While I was there, I was reunited with old friends, as well as new. I felt my personality come back and felt free. I read a book while I was there, called “Think Big and Kick Ass” by Donald Trump. It inspired me to push for more and really dream big.

I believe that everything happens for a reason and every job, relationship, and obstacle teaches you. I don’t live with regrets, but I live with a sense of learning from everything. I realize sometimes some things have a limited stay and you can only give so much to them. I now know more of where my life needs to go and hope that I can continue to grow everyday with everything I do and that I can always hear what my heart is trying to tell me.