Home sweet Home

whew- it's good to be here at home!  WOW am I cold... not used to this as much as I LOVE it!
Here's a brief update on the latest:
After a big meeting with Julie on Thursday, the decision was made to WAIT on LA.  There are other ideas brewing but for now, WAIT is what is called for.
I'm seriously disappointed even though I completely agree with the decision.  I'm also elated because I have had a totally great fantastic spectacular time teaching the last few days! Fun Fun Fun!  I do love crushing the locals !! Ha!  What an interesting experience to have such opposing emotions at the same time.
Being at home with Rob is wonderful wonderful.  AND there's a serious relief in being clear about what's happening which is really what I wanted from this journey to LA. 
I'm ready to focus everything on more workouts, personal training and group coaching HERE so get ready... fun cool stuff coming your way.   I'm hoping to schedule a group goal-setting workshop for the month of January... more details to come, but it should be really fun to make some healthy changes together at the start of 2012!  I also don't know how yet, but I want to bring yoga to REV- and REV yoga will be loud with a big sweat... so those are just a couple of ideas already brewing in the old A-train noggin.
If I don't blog again before Thanksgiving... I'm wishing you a wonderful holiday full of gratitude and filled with love!
Over and out for now... Angela Freebird Freeman... home at last.

ps-  one more trip down after Thanksgiving to do some climbing with Rob and then he's helping me pack it up! :)  BTW...Anyone want to rent a studio in WeHo for the month of December- let me know... it's going to be available!

Tick Tock

Countdown is on for driving home.
Packed:  starting right now
GPS: Check
Dachshunds ready: Check
One more meeting with realtor: Tomorrow hopefully
Surprise Rob and arrive a day early: I hope so, fingers crossed.
Idaho or bust! ;) yip yip

Sunday Sunday

So the trip to Santa Barbra fell through.  dang it.  But the dachshunds and I went ahead and drove out to a dog beach in Malibu on Sunday anyway.  Gus and I loved it and Tink well... here is where she wanted to be (see second picture!)  The waves were terrifying to her and she started panting and pulling on the leash to go back- poor little high strung girl.
Today I went out to Santa Monica to another Revolutionary Exercise Gym- (again dang it they took our name!) and took a Core Barre class (ouch) and a Rowing Class (different). They run 94 workouts a week... and no workouts on Saturday or Sunday afternoon so that is one packed week.  Nice vibe in the studio... I'll go back for a spin class.  Moral of the story.... one more gym in LA that doesn't do anything like what we do.  So it's all good.  (even though they have our name which is less than ideal)
This week's plan is to meet one more time with the realtor and look again (inside the units this time) at the 4 potential locations.  All are very appealing in their own way... One in particular is super interesting.  It's on top of a grocery store (Pavillions) on Santa Monica between Robertson and La Peer Drive.  Not a lot of walk by action at all (none- unless we can get a sign downstairs above the grocery store?!? that would be unbelievably good) AND a huge gigantic parking lot AND a killer view AND a balcony area. This may be beyond our price plan (not sure yet) and I am absolutely NOT getting excited about it (remember the deflated air balloon I blogged about last time) but still, I am a teensy tiny bit hopeful.  If for nothing else other than there are 4 possibilities lined up to look at.

I am excited to get home and teach teach teach!!  Have some ideas for a big Turkey workout week!  Keep you posted.... right now I think a nap is called for then back at it! Onward and Upward!

Happy Sunday to one and all!  A

Amy in the House

So- it's been a while-  here' the latest and the greatest....

First of all- Yippee!  24 hours of Amy Martin yesterday.  Fun Fun Fun!  I kept getting lost (even with GPS) because I was so distracted and happy to be spending time with her!  Totally worth the drive to LAX! (which is painful by the way)
Second- Tony Robbins, Unleash the Power Within (UPW) was super exciting and motivating.  Go see him is you ever have an opportunity!  I LOVED IT!
Third- I start with a new realtor today!  It's been an up and down search for spaces... I have to tell you that the one I loved is most likely gone.  Dang it.  They are renting the parking lot to someone else.  This is absolutely okay because I am taking every single set back as a sign that we are not supposed to be there.  That said I am still on an emotional roller coaster because I get so excited about a potential space, e-mail Julie and call Rob... up up  up- yip yip yip and then when it doesn't work out, I feel like someone punched a big hole in my hot air balloon and I come barreling to the ground. 
So a couple of new goals for Angela: 
First- steady betty girl... just enjoy the journey, spaces will come and go and God's in charge... stop the roller coaster!
Second- Get back on the workout schedule.  I haven't worked out  (except for hiking runyon almost every day and one yoga class) since last Wednesday.  Yes while all of you are enjoying Rob and lawnmowers, I have been slacking.  (TR took a ton a ton of time- 8 am to midnight or later most days... but still)  TODAY I figure out where to do a REV workout.  I have to tell you, (this is good and bad news) that I really don't enjoy any of the workouts here or gyms (except Equinox and they don't do day passes) so I may have to find a park and do it outside!!  I love the yoga but none of the big box gyms have a good energy vibe and I just can't do another cross-fit thing - (not my favorite).  So making myself accountable... I will find someplace to get fired up and workout TODAY.
Then- off to Santa Barbra.... Amy is up there and I am going to check it out.  I'm starting some research on gyms after I get done with this blog and I'm going to get the scoop. 

PLUS I found a dog beach up there- yes yes yes... Gus is super excited as you can see from the photos!

Okay- I will be home in 7 days... yes yes!!  Driving again (oh my god...)

Here's to a successful space search today! thanks for reading!!  See everyone soon soon soon!

Re-Entry

well- reentry is tough.  Much harder than expected. hmmmm.

Good weekend in Idaho that went way to fast.  Great turn-outs for all my classes so I was incredibly grateful to see everyone and ouch my tush is seriously still feeling the halloween workout.  Jane took pictures of the halloween fun and this is my favorite one (tough to choose though)... Angie looks great at Stephen Tyler (much better than Stephen does right?) and this picture is how my whole weekend was... FUN!

All I could think yesterday was, tomorrow will feel different.  And it does... sort of.  I am and have been working on my attitude and changing my thoughts.  Not as easy I would expect but the hour of power this morning helped (it was really only 45 minutes b/c I ran out of time) AND then off to my favorite AA meeting.   I figure getting it up and out here on the blog will also help.

The space I love is most likely a no go.  Apparently there is a recording studio upstairs and most likely we are going to be too loud.  Obviously just not meant to be but I am not sure what plan B is or how to find out plan B so I'm just (for now) trying to do the next indicated thing and NOT get too far in the future.  My brain is naturally wired to future trip the what ifs and seriously that is not a good place for me right now.

For today... send e-mails.  Re-visit the properties list (maybe I missed something). Call the Broker (maybe he has some new ideas).  Go for a run with music blasting. Get ready for Tony Robbins tomorrow.  Eat healthy food, (having a salad for breakfast- strange I know).  This is going to work out exactly how it's supposed to work out.

Okay- that's the weho update and most likely won't hear too much from me over the weekend as this Tony Robbin's workshop is 4 big days (especially Friday and Saturday). 

PS- walking on coals is on the agenda apparently tomorrow night ... that should be empowering! :)  Bring it!

Next Stop K town

One more post before I hit the road tomorrow and get back on Idaho soil (yes!)

I see 7 of you have signed up for FRIDAY!  Yip Yip!  Can't wait to workout!  10 am! sign up now!!

So- the Valley- OUT OUT OUT.  Nope Nope Nope.  If I'm going to live in LA, it's going to be in WeHo.  That's pretty much just the way it is.  over and out.

Have 4 properties to look over with Julie this weekend so I'll keep you posted.  One is way out in the lead b/c of the location, parking and price.  One small problem is a little wall that is less than ideal but I have some ideas.

Dachshunds are prepared for their little time away from mom for 4 days. Oh dear, if there's anything that I get nervous about, it's this... HA.  (moving to LA- piece of cake... leaving my kids for 4 days with someone I've just met... troublesome at best)

I heard you got snow... yahoo!  (I hiked in shorts this morning btw)

Thanks for working out with me this weekend and helping me pay for this dog sitting! 

See everyone in about 39 hours!!! 

oh dear another one

now I'm into Halloween Riddles... my word.  Here's the LA one of the day...


Q:  Which skeleton won the beauty contest?



A:  No body

too much.
okay- Century City is OUT.  nothing there.  A few leads in WeHo but holding out for my favorite on La Cienega and Rosewood.... we shall see.

Two properties in Studio City to look at tomorrow (yes, I know it's the Valley- maybe just need to get an athletic foot in the LA door)

HOME IN 2 DAYS! Yip Yip!

Today's Riddle

Q: How do you mend a Jack-o-lantern?

A: With a Pumpkin Patch.  HA HA HA HA HA !!  This is a great riddle to receive in your mailbox from Idaho! :)  Thanks Keeli and Kara Peterson!!

AND now for a WEHO update:

So its been a productive last few days.... hence the lack of blog.  First- a great weekend started on Friday with a birthday cake for 8 years at my new AA home group-  they sing like it's a choir practice with enormous enthusiasm.  (FUN)

Friday night's activities were treat or treating on the REAL wisteria lane.  (btw those houses aren't real)  

Saturday was a great day over in Los Feliz having lunch with the very talented and wonderful Rob Grad.  That area was hip slick and cool (thank goodness I was with Rob as I am not!!) AND the drive back on Hollywood blvd. was entertaining!  People everywhere.  Let me re-phrase.. weird people everywhere.  It was wonderful.

Sunday's highlight was volunteering at Spooktacular (my friend Jessica's oldest daughter's school fund raiser) in Encino!  Let's just say, Halloween is GOING ON already down here.

The SEARCH is on for a space.  IT'S on.  I found a great space in West Hollywood with a parking lot for rent on Rosewood and La Cienega Blvd.  That's not too far from Beverly Hills but still in WeHo AND located between Melrose (happening street) and Beverly Blvd.  (big HUGE shopping center on that street and La Cienega) so I'm thinking ... YES.  One small detail, there's a wall in there that doesn't work (currently it's a deco art shop) but we aren't sure that it is structural.  (more to be revealed in hopefully the next post)

There's a couple of other maybes BUT nothing so far seems as good as this.  Parking is (no, not surprisingly the issue) so that is what makes this such a GEM.  (the parking costs but still... it's there!!)

Plan B is looking into Studio City (yes, I know it's in the Valley) but it may be a more doable rent (with parking) to get our athletic foot in the door here in LA.

I'm still hooked on adding YOGA to our program.  I'll be teaching some yoga workouts over Thanksgiving week so you all can see what you think.  It's yoga to LOUD hip music and it's a workout.  I LOVE IT.  I sweat in it like it's Bekrim . BUT it's not so it's FUN!  (no offense Bekrim but this is way more fun!)

I think that's it for now down here.  I've been working the computer and jumping in the car scouting full time Thursday, Friday, yesterday and today.  (time out for a brief lunch today with Jess to discuss location location location)

We haven't even done Runyon Canyon yet today b/c it was raining this morning, but off we go after this blog so I can clear my head, do my hour of power and visualize greatness, and Tink and Gus are ready.

BTW that's Tink and Gus having a rough afternoon poolside at Jessica's house.  Yes, they had a comfy bed set up in the shade but in true California fashion opted for the sunshine.
Life is good- I can't wait to get home to crush in the gym this weekend!! Come workout with me... I need to pay for the dog sitting !!!  Help Help - win win- you get a great workout and I get to keep Gus and Tink safe down here without me! :)
Over and Out the door we go to Runyon Canyon! :)

Thursday Affirmations- oh yeah

Dachshunds are worn OUT from almost 2 hours in Runyon Canyon this morning.. ha ha.

okay- things are GREAT GREAT GREAT today.  I'm feeling it.

Had an amazing hour of power out at Runyon this morning and came up with some new affirmations.  (and they are working already!)

Here's just one: 
THANK YOU Universe for giving me the perfect space THIS WEEK for our gym in la, with plenty of parking, that will attract TONS of clients at a price we can easily afford. 
Yes- a bit wordy but that's IT!  I'm ready and I'm not messing around with "finding" a space anymore or stressing about it.   I'm ordering it off the Universe menu.  AND I'm affirming in the NOW that it has already happened. 
AND so I got home to 2 phone calls from helpful people AND now have a broker.  yip yip yippee!  If that isn't the Universe saying OKAY Angela, YES!  then I don't know what else it is.  So great!  He didn't actually have a space for me today, but I am giving the Universe until the end of the week.  (after all I don't want to be pushy)
What else? well, I'm cranking on weekly e-mails and need to post my new Thursday Tune for REV facebook.
I've recovered from the drive home from Santa Monica last night.
I got to talk to my darling Rob today for a while :)
I had a GREAT talk with REV Corp. (Julie) and the only thing I am missing is a BIG REV workout... I'll have to crush myself tomorrow solo... you all can enjoy Friday 8:30 am, double 6X around.  
More later- thanks for reading!  MISS EVERYONE AT HOME, but LOVE the big city.  I'll leave you with my other new affirmation this morning:

"I'm a highly sought after trainer and EVERYONE wants to workout with me."

"Thank you for my new great job teaching to HUGE groups and training wonderful people."

I guess that's actually 2 but what can I say, I am fired up today! :)

8 is Great

Hi all- well today I turned 8 in AA.  Wow.  8 full years without a drink or a drug and it's nothing short of a real live miracle.  One of my "normie" friends (that's what we alcoholics call you all that can drink normally) asked me what would be different in my life today if I wasn't sober.  Everything.  I would be an emotional disaster, stressed out, lonely if not dead.  (not to be dramatic but I really believe it to be true)  I wouldn't have Rob or the gym or have this amazing opportunity in LA.  To say that I am forever grateful to Alcoholics Anonymous would be a serious understatement.  

Due to a series of events today, I was unable to go to a meeting (which is super disappointing) and so I am going to share my story with anyone still reading this blog. I'll attempt to keep it brief, but please realize that if I was to just list all the things I was grateful for, I would surely lose all readers as it would take so long.

In AA when we tell our story, the guideline generally speaking is to tell HOW IT WAS, WHAT HAPPENED, AND HOW IT IS NOW.

Here it goes.

HOW IT WAS:  I started abusing exercise as a teenager, but not too seriously until college.  I had what I now know is exercise bulimia but back in the early 90ites that just wasn't really recognized.  I dropped out of college due to this dis-ease.  Nothing was working even therapy.  (he wanted me to gain weight- come on get serious please) and then well, I found alcohol.  Problem solved.  Exercise?  huh- let's party.  I partied hard until I was 29 and had consequences but nothing that was making me think I needed to change.  I started dating Rob just before I turned 30 and started personal training just about the year before. Between Rob (who I was in love with immediately) and the training, I really cut back on the partying and in true alcoholic manner switched additions again.  This time it was workaholism.  oh dear.  I became a binge drinker, only drinking every other weekend or so but with horrible consequences.  First the hang-overs were brutal.  My body would get used to me NOT pouring excess drinks into it so when I did, it was awful. Add to the mix drugs and well- not good.  I also began realizing how NOT authentic I was.  Here I am teaching exercise and health and oh yes, I drink and do drugs (just recreationally) a couple times a month.  hmmmm.     

Well 8 years ago yesterday I met with 2 of my good friends in Hailey at Sushii and had 2 light beers.  Seriously that was my last big bender.  (I had a resentment about this for a year at least- ha) I spent the night in Hailey with them because things were so tense at home with Rob.  He simply wasn't behaving the way I wanted him to and that was really stressing me out.  I was encouraged to mind my own business by someone I really trusted and admired.  I was supposed to let Rob mind his own life and I could look after mine. That was so far off my radar that I seriously had to hear it constantly and still was failing miserably.  But that weekend the straw broke the camel's back and off  I went to an Alanon Meeting.  (after all he had the problem?!?) and then ended up in a Coda meeting the next day. (holy shit- that was an eye-opener, maybe I do have something to do with this problem) and then due to lack of other program meetings I ended up in AA. 

WHAT HAPPENED:  Somehow I stayed sober for a week.  holy cow. This was much harder than expected.  I mean considering I'm not really an alcoholic.  (I don't even drink every week much less every day).   Then Rob broke up with me and had me move out.  Um yeah, that was devastating.  No Rob, No home, No mood altering substances.  (in my zest, I decided to quite sugar also- good lord in heaven)  Somehow, I made it through Halloween and then 2 weeks later.. Rob was sober.  We still lived apart for another 6 months to work on our sobriety separately but getting a second chance with the man who is the love of my life was really a gift.  Unfortunately, getting sober still basically sucked.  (sorry but it was rough) It took me 3 months and  reading in the big book about alcoholic drinkers and heavy drinkers and that yes there is a difference.  (basically... this is my interpretation of it... alcoholic drinkers have an unmanageable life due not just to the drinking but due to the screwed up thinking' heavy drinkers just drink a lot)  Okay, I'm an alcoholic. Dang it.  This seriously sucks.

Not everything sucked that first year, but it was rough and I literally cried in every meeting.  Every one. And I went to a meeting pretty much daily.  That's a lot of crying.  There was just some serious emotion coming out.

The insainty was that I still thought I had a high bottom.  HA HA HA.  Denial and Delusion.  Seriously, a high bottom.  I was only addicted to everything and feeling my feelings was just impossible for me, but hey, high bottom.... I hadn't been drinking every day.  Whatever, I was just so good (amazingly good) at switching addictions that I didn't need alcohol all the time.  Work worked, other people's problems worked, food worked, exercise worked... as long as  I didn't have to stop and feel, I was okay.  This all changed with the removal of the drugs and alcohol.  Like a big spotlight on everything and the other addictions, well they got worse.  Holy Cow.

I got a second sponsor and God bless her she met with me once a week for almost 2 years to take me through the steps.  That helped a ton.  (a ton)

In the years since I've worked the steps in OA (overeaters anonymous) and WA (workaholics anonymous) and every time I do it another layer comes off and the idea of a high bottom gets more and more ludicrous.

Three years ago, I had a heath crisis (for lack of a better word) that brought me to my knees.   I seriously don't think I would have lived through it without my sobriety and a program.  (as it was I feel like I barely survived)  

HOW IT IS NOW:  It turns out that health crisis was the best gift ever from the universe (although I'm not signing up for it again, lesson learned).  It made me learn how to look at things that aren't going the way they SHOULD as a gift and an experience to be learned from.  Do I do this all the time?  No, and sometimes it takes a while foe me to come around to this type of thinking but I can honestly say that now, I truly do look at experiences and life that way.  Gifts and lessons to teach me something. (even the getting stuck in traffic AGAIN for an hour tonight- there's something... although I think it's as simple as STAY on this side of the 405 but who knows).

The financial crisis that I find myself in is a gift; a chance for me to grow and learn how to do things differently.  An opportunity to receive help.  A chance to be challenged.  I constantly remind myself to let go of the outcome and do the footwork.  

I'll finish my story by saying that I heard from my new favorite teacher, Tony Robbins, that DESIRE comes from the Latin root meaning "of the father".  I am striving for balance and happiness and also nurturing my DESIRE for a big life, full of teaching exercise to the masses. This has been my dream for a long time and now here in LA, I'm ready for it to become my destiny.  (there are certainly masses- all of which were trying to get home at the same time as me tonight!!) Whether it does or doesn't work out is okay as I believe God's will be done, but at least with AA and my sobriety, it's a possibility.   Yippee for me, Thank you AA, Thank you Universe and Thank you dear friends for letting me share.  Sobriety Rocks.

Terrific Tuesday- 10-18

Things are good here in West Hollywood today.  Started with the early morning Runyon thing again, shorter than usual today just over an hour.  We started in the dark which didn't work very well... my companions (Gus and Tink) felt they needed to alert me by barking furiously at all other hikers.  Unfortunately there are a lot of other hikers out there at 6 am and so they did some leash time until it got light out.  At the top of the hike it was clear and beautiful and you couldn't see the city at all because of the cloud cover.  People were friendly this morning at least after it got light out and my companions were unleashed and NOT making a racket... (maybe they were friendly because they forgot they live in a city since we couldn't see it through the clouds) and all in all good start to the day.

Then it got better...

I found a 7:30 am AA meeting off of Hollywood Blvd, close to Runyon (found parking and made it early nonetheless).  I was greeted at the door by three very enthusiastic gay men and I felt like I was the belle of the ball.  (which you all know how I enjoy being the belle of anything). I've been to some good AA meetings but this one was super. We read about step 4 (which for those of you normies reading is all about taking a personal inventory and can be quite a dreaded step in AA circles).  People were chuckling and teasing each other and it was wonderful.  After a 20 minute speaker, the meeting was open to sharing.  I finally raised my hand and got called on... see it's my 8 year birthday tomorrow and I feel like its a good thing to stay connected and that's easier to do when sharing.  So I shared that I was new to the area and didn't know anyone and was feeling a bit isolated.  Well, that was the magic thing to say as I was introduced to tons of people post meeting.  Several of which were from Idaho- ha!  OH and the hugs- oh my, I'm not really a hugger but I have to admit that it was nice.  I felt really welcomed and I think I have found my home group for the next 3 months. AND I get to have a birthday cake on Friday with everyone (not a real cake, but real candles) so YIPPEE for that.

My last workout today at the Brick.  I keep trying it and thinking that I will like it and I just really don't.  Too much standing around.  We didn't even start the warm up until 9:30.  (class time begins at 9:15- and you guys think my demos are long- ha!)  The warm up was interesting, we laid on the floor on our bellies and then she'd countdown and we were to run to the other side of the room, trying not to trip on the equipment (or each other) and do the something she told us to do while we were on our bellies. So first time push-ups, second time fast jacks, knee tuck jumps, hip thrusts and high five at least 5 different people (naturally that one I liked).  It was funny but not really much of a w/u really.  Anywho.. the workout was fine.  She didn't like my push-ups and I won't do dips (both because I think it's just silly to jeopardize your shoulder health for a stupid exercise or depth)... and I did sweat although not that much.  We finished with 5 minutes of traditional non impressive abs.  All in All I have to pass on doing more over there.  I was going to try the cross-fit but the hairs on the back of my neck rise up at the thought of A. Standing around during my workout time and B. upright rows and shrugs (I mean really, bigger traps- yucky).  

I'm officially out of clean workout clothes so today is laundry day.  (not my favorite but at least the machines are in the building complex and I can work while waiting for the dryer- which by the way, my timer just dinged, so off to more fun for me!)

I miss my friends and clients, Griswald, the snow and especially Rob today but grateful for the opportunity to be here to see if this can happen.

oh and last thing- getting my hair done today from someone not named Tracie Smith and to say that I am nervous about it is an understatement.  yikes.

Saturday night attack of the uncle eddie cookies

hmmm-
Well I need to be blogging for the REV website and all I can think about it what's happening for me personally so getting it down here on the old personal blog and checking in with everyone.  (hey hi everyone)
It was a FUN weekend but I somehow ended up with not only desert tonight, but a lot of desert tonight... huh?  Not sure what exactly happened but here's how the weekend started:
Friday- took the morning to go to "the Valley" where my girlfiriend from 20 years ago in the Desperado days lives.  We had a FUN day of shopping (halloween costume- check) and going to lunch (mexican in celebration of the Desperado days) and manicures. ($13 and my nails look killer- no really killer, the color is called "after dark in lincoln park")  So driving home yapping on the phone with my darling sister in Boise and whoops, I miss the exit off the 405.  and then whoops I miss the correct turn on the next exit and next thing I know holy cow holy cow, I'm on the Santa Monica side of the 405 at 4 pm on Friday trying to get to West Hollywood (HOME).  There's just nothing like it, sitting in stand still traffic watching the traffic lights turn again and again and again and again and you haven't budged. 4-5 times at each light which are very short blocks apart.  Knowing that you are absolutely STUCK and can do nothing. Seriously, NOTHING.  Now, I like to think that I can somewhat roll with things, have a good attitude if given enough time, but NO not with this.  I was so tweaked by the time I got home, I seriously didn't know what to do with myself.  I took an hour LONGER because of missing an exit and then a turn.   Oh the penalty for being a chatty cathy on the phone.

Footloose in the theater last night helped a ton.

Back in the car this morning to drive to Burbank. Hiked for over 2 hours in Wildwood Canyon.  I should have taken my phone and took pictures.  It was high and there was a cloud cover so just looking down over the valley filled with pillowy (is that a word- doubtful, but gives you the right image right?) clouds and it was FUN.  Did the hour of power which if you haven't been following is my new thing from Tony Robbins. (5 minutes breath work, 10 minutes gratitude list, 15 minutes visualizing, 30 minutes of affirmations)  I'm totally in to it.  Anyway, had major ah ha moments with the hour of power, listened to Tony Robbins on the CD player for the 30 minute drive over and home.  Totally focused on fueling healthy, rocking LA, finding the perfect gym space.
Met with the NEW dog sitter, Betty  in Burbank.  Such a NICE NICE gal- older.  She couldn't be nicer.  Tink jumped up on her couch and totally did the Tink on her back thing to get her belly rubbed... then nudged poor Betty's hand if she had the nerve to stop rubbing the Tink tummy.  Betty has a great home with a yard.  AND HAD A PICTURE OF HER AS A BABY SITTING WITH A PET DACHSHUND.  Yes, I kid you not. Totally a God thing, don't you think?  I am really comfortable leaving the kids with her which is saying a lot as you ALL know how crazily neurotic I am about my children.

Worked out at cross-fit today (not the regular cross fit but a cardio version of it) Ran 1.6 miles to the gym before (had to run fast as I was late) and then jogged home.  Class was nasty- different than rev but nasty all the same.  (I crushed it :)  It's fun to do b/c I am enjoying the research, but  I think if I did this type of workout a lot I would bulk on up... not what  I want.  I did really enjoy one of the exercises, our feet were hooked into a wheel and we had to walk across the room on our hands for 2 minutes.  ouchy mama! Loved it.

then home and  here's where I believe the cookie onslaught began getting set up.... I started searching for flights home and the original flight was up $100 AND the times weren't going to work.  An hour later, I'm e-mailing Julie because I don't know what to do... spend more money, skip coming home, try to fly home Thursday instead of Friday but then can the dog sitter do it and that's another $85... and the insanity in the brain began.  LUCKY me, Julie is the voice of reason and complete cut and dry decision making.  Her e-mail to me.  Come Home.  Simple eh?  God bless Julie.  I mean really, I am so blessed to have Julie as a partner.

Booked my flight home!! I'll be at the gym on Friday, October 28 at 10 am to "SV Sculpt meets LA update" sculpt/ass whoop anyone who's up for it!! Get ready to GO BIG whoop whoop.

Went to yoga to unwind from the flight search/stress session.  Home by 6.  Super yum healthy balanced dinner... then oops, the frozen coconut bliss bar (small- no biggie).. then whoops again, another bar (I mean they are small so...)  And then, the cookies attacked.  Uncle Eddie's vegan molasses cookies somehow ended up in my cupboard.  oh my... well, they aren't there anymore.  I need to do better with my neurotransmitting something or other that I am learning about through my Ultimate Edge with Tony Robbins but clearly, I am not there yet.  (YET being the absoluetly operative word here).

Shoot.  Better luck tomorrow.  Back to the drawing board with my new coach Tony.

That's the weekend so far down here in So Ca.

One more thing... Rolling in the Deep by Adele was on the yoga playlist tonight.  I listened to that song non-stop skinning up the mountain last year and it really made me happy and homesick all at once.  I miss everyone and I want SNOW!  But I love it here despite the 80 degree weather today, the cookie attack and rush hour traffic.  I am enjoying the challenges and looking forward to finding the Ultimate Space.

Gotta walk the kids- Runyon Canyon is ON tomorrow morning bright and shiny! Bring IT

Pain and Pleasure

Okay- here's my Tony Robbin's work for the day.  Feel free to join me if you want...

This session is called Pain and Pleasure- the controlling forces that direct your life.  I'm sharing this with you on the off chance that it helps someone but mainly because writing it out will help cement it in my life.

okay here it goes:  Basically everything we do in our lives is driven by our need to avoid pain and gain pleasure.  Ultimately this lesson is talking about learning to control the motivating forces of pain and pleasure.  With me and Tony so far?  (obviously I'm shortening all this up)

"IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR, YOU MUST FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON:
1. how NOT changing your behavior will be more painful than changing it.
2. How changing it will bring you measurable and immediate pleasure.


Here's my homework- (again, feel free to join in)

STEP 1:  Four new actions- What are four new actions I know I should take NOW? 

1. I know I should eat healthier and an appropriate amount

2. I know I need to stay focused on locations for our gym in WeHo

3. I know I need to continue to follow through with this Tony Robbins Program

4. I know I need to buy a mop and a vacuum of some sort b/c my floor is yucky 12 days in

STEP 2: Pain I've associated with following through- what is the pain I've associated with these actions in the past?

1. Tight clothes and shame about being a trainer with a belly AND I HATE being hungry.  Uncomfortable and restless and irritable.

2. Guilt over wasting time AND fear about not getting it done in the 3 months I'm here. 

3. Irritation about spending money on something I clearly feel is important and FEAR about missing out on success.

4. Having to wear slippers b/c the floor needs to be cleaned and it bugs me.


STEP 3: Pleasure I've associated with not following through- what is the pleasure you took from not following through in the past

1. Yummy naughty food as for sure pleasurable and I really enjoy being full.

2. More time to work out, nap, cruise the computer for how to get around in the big city.

3. More time for other stuff- mainly #2's stuff

4. NO more time in the car trying to figure out where to buy the cleaning materials. (pain in the you know where to get to the store, get supplies in the car and then into the apartment and then use them)

STEP 4: Pain if I don't follow through- what will it cost me if I don't follow through?

1. Stress about opening a gym in LA and not looking the part, not having the ultimate energy to run my business, enjoy my workouts and take care of my dogs.

2. It could cost me the opportunity to open down here and change my financial situation. (very painful!!)

3. Everything could be more difficult or maybe not happen OR take longer to happen with opening the gym here and making the personal changes in my body I want to make.

4. Keep wearing slippers- (not really that painful truthfully :)

STEP 5: Pleasure if I do follow through- What are the benefits I will gain by taking action in each of these areas now?  How will it enhance my life?  How will it create greater joy, happiness, success, freedom or pride?

1. Shopping for clothes will be more fun, I will feel more confident as I look for gym space.  I will be able to better lead by example to my clients- more authentic. Getting dressed will be easier, less time and energy.  I will have more energy providing the opportunity for more experiences which creates the opportunity for more joy.  It would be FUN to look as strong as I am.

2. It will be a huge relief to make enough money to pay all my bills on time (even early) INCLUDING my taxes.  It will be GREAT to be able to take a vacation with Rob.  I will LOVE teaching numerous classes with tons of people in every single one of them.  It will be super rewarding to train additional employees.  It will feel really rewarding to help more people enjoy the process of getting stronger and feeling better about their bodies and having their bodies work better for them in their lives.

3.  I already am enjoying how my day feels after the hour of power and I've only done 3 days worth.  I always enjoy learning something new and making healthy changes and this is a GREAT opportunity to grow because it will BRING ME more pleasure instead of why I usually do changes like this which is to AVOID or get out of pain.  Of course to be completely honest I am in some discomfort about possibly moving and making a big leap of faith professionally so that doesn't hurt either.  I want this move if it happens to be successful! :)

4.  I will have a clean floor to walk around on and I will feel more like a decent human being.  (ha!)

on that note, it's time for a nap. That's all the Tony homework for today- more tomorrow.

PS- I did follow through on some other homework from Saturday's workshop and bought myself a calendar and dry erase board.  My goal is to get it hung up today and get started with posting my schedule which will be color coded on priorities (naturally it will be color coordinated.. who do you think is talking here?!?  Office supply store lover #1! 

Wednesday- yes- it's Wednesday

12 days in and here's what's happening. 

Yippee!  A killer morning and here's why.  First up at the crack of 5 am and started my day loving the 2 wieners that were hogging my bed space, a quick prayer of gratitude on my knees (yes I know- strange) and then immediately thought of my workout partners in K.  Heidi, Sharon, Henno and Julie doing 8 is great without me and I sent them my good energy to ROCK it.  Whether that energy actually got all the way to K is undetermined but after a great walk over in the Palidades Park I returned to car to hear that not only did Henno get 9 in the lane this morning but when they were given an option to do a bonus cardio they picked, hip thrusts, frogs and split jumps.  (go team)
Then I got to train Jan Haagen who Pam Sable introduced me to this summer ON THE BEACH in front of her Marina Del Rey place.  Kicking someone's ass just got more fun by doing it in the sand. 
Even better than crushing Jan and her friend Sondra was the super helpful information that they shared with me about locations.  Jan's husband is a shopping center developer something (please don't quote me on his official job title as chances are high that I'm getting it wrong) but basically they know a whole lot about Beverly Hills (BH from here on out) and West Hollywood (WEHO).  So yip yip and yippee to that.
AND she is going to drive over to "the city" tomorrow and drive me around.  oh yes... it's working... people are coming into my life to help me on this journey.
I was going to go to Yogahop in Santa Monica on my way home but holy cow it was already 80 degrees and I was worried that the kids would get too hot in the car even in the shade.  dang it.

no worries off to a speedX class tonight at the brick and then another yoga at UP DOG.  Maybe highway to hell will be on the playlist again.  (who would have ever thought to put highway to hell on a yoga place list... apparently Stephen Weigand)  Got to say- I enjoyed it simply because it was so strange. 


OH yes and I did my hour of power this morning- did you?

Tuesday 10-11

Okay- so good day so far.  Worked out with Lindsey Gardner in Beverly Hills this morning at 6 am.  Loved the instructor- he was funny.  Told us all to stop sweating that it was NOT okay in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood okay but leave that sweating outside of BH.  40 people in the 6 am class.  Naturally I loved the energy of all the people.  Picture is of us at breakfast after the workout.

I made my way home (tried to skip the GPS so naturally I got lost and it took a while- thank you to God for great Tony Robbins CD playing to help with the car time) There were 2 dachshunds waiting who were very unclear and very unhappy about skipping Runyon Canyon- especially Gus was like what the f... mom? (sorry dude, have to figure this out!!) So we  just walked about out neighborhood for an hour but it started getting too hot-  yes, I'll say it again, October 10 in WeHo- too hot to be out walking past 10.  Poor us huh?  I'm trying to wrap my head around ENJOYING warm and not wishing I was in the SNOW with my puffy coat.

Have yet to do my hour of power today due to the early start at the gym but will do it tonight IF I can- apparently it is still going to be in the high 60ties at 7 pm so I am not sure a nightly session on Runyon is possible.  hmmmm

My affirmations today are:  Thank you to all the powers of the Universe for directing us to the perfect location for REV-LA where the parking is abundant, the clients are flowing in and we can easily afford the rent.  (keep you posted on how that works out) AND This is a FUN adventure that makes me smile.  (trying to smile more, it really throws people off at first but then they smile back)

One last thing- my new banker (had to spend a bit of time at the PINK Wells Fargo today) thinks I have the right personality to do this gym thing here and I slightly (more than slightly to be honest) blew his mind when I said I don't own a key to my home in Sun Valley.  Was fun to see someone else trying to wrap their head around something strange instead of me :) hahaha!

It's going to be a great week

It all started today with the closest parking space ever to Runyon Park.  I had to get out and double check just to make sure I could really park there.  You'll see my video of it (yes it was that good that I had to video it- this is a big deal... we usually have to drive around for a while to find a parking spot within what feels like miles! Then naturally my challenge to A. find the park again and B. find my car post hike... like I said, big deal)
So the new thing in my life is to start the day with Tony Robbin's Hour of Power.  5 minutes of breathing (while walking) 4 breathes in through the nose and 4 breathes out through the mouth.  Then 10 minutes of a gratitude list.  It's good- 10 minutes takes a while and I have time to REALLY be grateful for a lot.  (today the parking space was on the list- ha!)  Then 15-20 minutes of affirmations- out loud- I know right, people think I am nuts... I've even started singing them because apparently that engages both sides of my brain and hello.. need all the help I can get.  Finish with detailed visualization... of the day, the week, my goals whatever.  Apparently it's best to say it like it's already happened so I just give thanks for the things I want to happen like they have happened.  For Example:  Thank you Universe for my mini cooper that I can zip from my killer home with a yard in West Hollywood to Runyon Canyon to walk my dogs before going to teach at my ripping Gym called REV that is totally busy all the time with it's thousands of clients who love our workouts and our  amazing employees.   
I love this new routine and I am talking about some serious endorphins coming at me by the end of the hour.  I become quite chatty by the end the hour and can't help but smile at everyone which really throws some people off but for the most part they are okay with it.
So that is the latest news from me here in WEHO.  To all that read this- please try an hour of power (or 15 minutes of power or whatever)  it ROCKS!