Makin' It Work During the Busy Times

My new play opens this week. Such a fast and furious process! I definitely haven't been able to hit the gym as much, but have tried to combat the reduction is exercise with reducing my calorie intake a little, avoiding alcohol during the week, and not beating myself up (too much) about not being able to go. This week, I absolutely cannot get to the gym Mon-Fri so I must formulate a plan.

Yesterday after a rehearsal I decided I needed to get moving. Mr. BB30 wouldn't be home for a while (he is busy being famous with the play he wrote and is starring in that is selling out-woo hoo!) so I had some time at home to myself. As we know, I hate jogging with every fiber of my being, so I decided to hit up ExerciseTV.com and download a cardio kickboxing workout. It's only about 23 minutes long, but very effective. $2 well spent. My heart rate was up for sure. (Although, I doubled up on repetitions since they were a little slower than what I am used to). It's going to be a great one to have on hand. I knew I needed to keep going so I went to my reliable go-to, The Shred (Level 2). I ended up breaking a mean sweat and feeling very proud that I chose exercising over my sofa and Drop Dead Diva (but seriously-how cute is this show!) I took a cool down walk around the block with my doggie where he hit on some neighbor girls (he loves the ladies). Then I discovered that I had put toothpaste on a zit to dry it up and didn't take it off. Neighborhood weirdo.

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Thanks for the toning Jillian!

So, while the super ambitious part of me thinks I can attempt to squeeze in a 20 minute workout before I need to leave for rehearsals everyday this week, I have to stay realistic. Some nights I need to ARRIVE at 6:30pm. There just won't be time. But I will do my best to get in a few quick workouts to keep my bod in check. I can do that. I can make that happen. I have to choose to make that happen.



Today in gratitude I am grateful for my lovely fellow actor Tim and how enjoyable this crazy fast process has been all thanks to him. I am so lucky to have had this opportunity to bond with him and have full trust in my fellow actor. Friend love!

Well That's That

Another day of packing up and carefully preparing ensued to get to my exciting call back yesterday. I gave it my all and am pleased to be one of just 15 called back after two days of auditions. Alas, I was released with a few other people after a couple of hours (it was a four hour call back) which 99.364% of the time means you are out. With last month's major big time show loss followed by two minor show losses, another disappointment earlier this month, and now this, I am just down. Ne'er was there a girl who has more passion for performance than I, but as Patty Smyth says, "Sometimes love just ain't enough."

Something very interesting happened though. I walked out of the place and went into auto-pilot old-self  mode and asked myself what multitude of terrible things I would eat in anger and sadness. I couldn't come up with anything. When I got home I had a couple of cocktails, but really, I didn't have the desire to eat over my pain. BREAKTHROUGH! I'm trying to focus on that today.

This week my workouts are scheduled as follows:

Monday: Tabata Boxing and Cardio Barre Sculpt
Tuesday: Strength Boxing (Try kickboxing with weights-it ain't easy!)
Wednesday: off-pity party
Thursday: off-Attending a theatre benefit
Friday: Kwando Kickboxing
 
Monday at Tabata the instructor had 20% discount cards for Lucy Active Wear. She said she would give them to the people who gave it their all in class. I always give it my all but I tried to push harder (even doing full out push ups during warm ups instead of modified girl ones). Alas, no reward. I was bummed. I have chosen to believe that the incentive was there for people who don't work hard each time and needed extra motivation. Yes, that's it, but still my feelings were hurt after all of my months of hard work. I wouldn't have used it anyway. These would have still cost me over $60.

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Well, that was nice and dreary, but hey, dreary patches are an honest part of the journey. I think I should start keeping a gratitude journal again so I can pull myself out of this slump and focus on good things...like the fact that I haven't had multiple surgeries on my eyeballs! Visit http://dishingfordana.com/

Nubbins

Happy April. I can't believe it. Time flies.

My birthday is one month from last Sunday.

The weekend brought on some harsh realizations and tough stuff. All three of my very promising auditions fell through. With having inside connections for two of them and the other just feeling outstanding, I am shocked. I got a very nice personal email from one of the places (personal emails are rare-they typically form "thanksbut no thanks" emails). There are so many factors that weigh in on casting decisions from height to age to union vs. non union. I always thought I would outlast everyone and finally make it, but my stamina is starting to truly waver for the first time. One day at a time, one step at a time.

Thank God for my fitness classes. Friday's Kwando Kickboxing class was my sweatiest most intense yet. I pounded out my frustrations and air-punched several nameless people in the face. I was spent. I looked like I had been in a Bikram class. Monday I tried Tabata Boxing which is a similar Taebo-style class, but the moves are done in fast repetitive circuits (tabatas). Round house kicks are my favorite. I just really enjoy kicking, and bonus, it's great for saddle bags! I love air-round house kicking wrong-doers in their bellies. I'm such a lady. This is how you do one:

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Tuesday night I went to a new class, Barre Burn. This was ballerina/bar, pilates/yoga mix of a class all about toning up. There were many planks in the beginning with really irritate my crazy arm injuries.I know I just need to get my behind back to accupuncture. It's a phone call and a nice walk away, I don't know why I am procrastinating. I know it would help calm my racing mind and all of my anxiety as well.

Wednesday was my day off of exercise, but I still really wanted to move. So, I took a nice mile long walk to one of my favorite thrift stores to look around and get some inspiration. Do you all read New Dress A Day? Marissa is brilliant and inspires me to bust out the sewing machine I got for Christmas but haven't devoted a weekend to playing with. Two miles total. The walk felt good. Dare I say my body craves movement now?

Oh hey, let's make soup!

Like I mentioned last week I've come upon several sales on fresh brocoli lately. There was so much leftover stalk-age (or nubbins) that I decided I would start making soup from it. I've done this a couple of times. I call it Nubbin Soup.

I chop up the nubbins (approx 2 cups) and steamed them until they were soft.

Then I added one cup of florets to my second steamer tower and steamed everything for seven more minutes.

I cooked up one cup of chopped onions and six grated cloves of garlic with just a kiss of olive oil.

Then I let everyone get friendly in the pot for five minutes.

Then I added in four cups of vegetable broth, one additional cup of water and blended away with my trusty Cuisinart immersion blender. Her name is "Cusi Jefferson". Move it on up, girl!

I like to swirl in some shredded Daiya Cheese in my bowl before eating it and/or add in some cooked brown rice. Either way it's mega comforting and DELISH!

Go forth and get yo' Nubbin on!

What "use it all up" creations have you made lately?

A Recap of My Week

I present to you my week:

Monday
Leave home 7:45am
Day Job (a long offsite event)
Day Job evening team building event
Arrive home at 10pm

Tuesday
Leave home 7:30am
Day Job (another long offsite event)
Rush home for a snack and changing clothes
Bikram Yoga Class
Arrive home at 8:30pm

Wednesday
Leave home 7:45am
Day Job
Day Job After Hours Event
Attend play and pre-show gathering
Go to grocery store
Arrive home at 10:45pm

Thursday
Leave home 8:15am
Site visit for 100 person work function I am planning
Day Job
Rush home for snack, pick up Mr. BB30, pet dog
Career Job-Performance
Attend cocktail gathering for our friends getting married on Saturday
Arrive home at 11:15pm

Friday
Leave home 7:45am
Day Job
Rush home for snack, pick up Mr. BB30, pet dog
Career Job-Performance
Attend closing weekend party
Go to Grocery store
Give friends rides home
Arrive home 1:15am

Saturday
Make breakfast
Give my dog lots of love
Chores
Get dressed for wedding
Leave house at 12pm
Attend monthly women’s meditation seminar (dressed for a wedding)
Attend wedding ceremony
Leave wedding festivities and high tail it to show
Career Job-Performance
Return to wedding reception
Grab a drink with after party-ers
Arrive home 2am

Today
zzzzzzzzzzzzz, love dog
Make breakfast
Leave house 11am
Grocery shop
Return home for shower and snack, blogging
Career Job-Final Performance
Go to drugstore
Arrive home aprox 5pm
Clean apartment
Make lunches for the week
Cook Dinner/Thanksgiving Test Drive
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I am tired just reading that. Yes, there is only one day of Bikram in there. Bbut hey, with my schedule, that's pretty darn good. I realize that there are many fun things on my agenda from the past week, but really, there are just too many things. It's always bittersweet to close a show, but it's time to put this baby to bed and get some more personal time back. I'll be test driving some Thanksgiving contenders this week so I'll be excited to share that. Then..VACATION!

Final Stretch!

I am in the final stretch of getting my current show opened, and Saturday I will perform in a one night only show and bust out some Janis Joplin. All this of course is being done on top of a full time day job. I have to admit, I am starting to feel this current lifestyle wear on me more than ever before. Sometimes I wonder how much longer I can take it. It can't be good for me to work so much (as I noted when I did not recognize my dull face in the mirror this morning), but alas, one job pays the bills (which I am very grateful for), the other doesn't YET. I will get back my Sun-Wed evenings beginning October 11th. So, 2.5 weeks! (Although with a Sunday matinee-Sunday night doesn't really count.)

While I have been pretty good about getting in a Bikram class at least once a week during September, it's been tough. I have to force myself to go because the lure of my sweatpants and many backed up hours of fall television is so strong, but I do it. I know I owe it to myself and I owe it to my body that I've worked so hard on not to neglect it when the going gets tough and time gets crunched. I also know I feel 10 times better about everything after I go. It clears my mind and I sweat out my toxins and stress. My plan is to get to class as much as possible most likely three times per week (Saturday midday, Monday nights, and Wednesday nights). While I could smush in two more on Sunday morning and Tuesday night, I know that is a bit crazy and a recipe to get sick. I will use Sundays and Tuesdays as back up classes or for I-am-feeling-great-ambitious-week-rockstar classes. Three cheers for me for not going overboard. It's hard for me to reign myself in somtimes and not go crazy with diving back in to more agressive exercise. My immune system will thank me.

I have been craving food lately when I am not hungry-a definite sign of stress (and exhaustion as well).
Things I crave lately:

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Salsitas live in the vending machine at work and I rue the day I tasted of them!

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Diet Coke

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Chocolate Chips
(Nope, not all chocolate contains milk.)

MMMM Bleeding Heart Bakery Cake Balls!
Baked Goods

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Wild Berry Skittles

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Salt, Salt, and More Salt

I have kept myself relatively on track which is a miracle.
My weapons include:

• Lots of breathing
• Water (I make myself drink 32 ounces before I make a decision to have a DC-works well, and I usually get distracted during that time and forget about the DC....but I admit that sometimes I just gotta have one.)
• Hot Tea
• Not beating myself up when I indulge a bit (no sense in that!)

I will prevail!

What are your biggest cravings when you're stressed? What are your tips to fighting them?

I Am In Fact Still Alive: Updates

Hello All:

Wowsa-I am a busy girl! Between the day job, a hectic job related day trip last week, rehearsals, and life, I am barely fitting in breathing and sleeping. In some ways this is great, because I have no time to over indulge. In some ways this is bad, because I am super stressed out and sometimes feel as though I could have an emotional binge at any moment.

Yesterday the day job celebrated Halloween. Of course, temptation roared it's head as we kick off a season of eating that doesn't end until Easter!

Surprisingly, it wasn't at challenging as the doughnuts! I sampled one of the pretzel rods dipped in some white chocolate and called it a day. Hmm...maybe it's getting easier.

Today I was gifted (or cursed) with four King Size chocolate candy bars. I gave one away and haven't touched the others. I am feeling particularly crazy and panicked and kind of hungry right now, so I should want to tear into one, but I really don't. Maybe those old habits are breaking afterall!

There are several odds and ins that I need to address:

Q: BB30, isn't your next measurement day and 6 month pic post due soon?

A: Yes, on November 3rd, and I am nervous! Even though I have six months to go and this will just be a check in, and I made it through the hardest part of taking the original shot, being photographed in a bikini is still scary!

Q: Doesn't your show open soon and thus time to sport your goal dress.

A: Yes, and I am nervous about that too, but will come clean and show pics regardless of the outcome. I am keeping the faith though!

Q: Why aren't you posting very often?

A: Because I am lame and manage the little time I have poorly.

Q: How are you dealing with being so busy and exercising?

A: I suppressed it and kept pushing forward until had a melt down on Saturday. Who knew one shrinking girl could produce so much snot?

Q: What are these leg lifts, arm and tricep goals you show in your weekly goals?

A: Oh those. Although I have been pretty good about my cardio and still averging about three workouts a week, I have been trying to do some simple toning moves everyday.

Leg Lifts: Lying on my back, starting with legs up, keeping them staright and bringing them down as close to the floor as possible, then bringing them back up. Good for the belly. I try to get in at least 20 a day. This week I have already skipped somedays, but I have been pretty diligent otherwise.

Arm circles: Good ol' gym class arms circles. Arms straight out in a 'T' position, making 100 small toning backward circles. I noticed my arms weren't slimming down so I wanted to give them some attention. This is easy, seems effective, and quick to do (I can even do them back stage).

Triceps: After getting on track with regular leg lifts and arm circles, I decided to throw in some daily tricep curls. I did fine last week with this new addition, but have failed miserably this week. No matter, still four days to get some in and four days are better than none!

Tricep Curl

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Q: Are you noticing any differences in your bod?

A: I am actually am starting to feel slimmer. As the temp drops and I pull out my fall/winter clothes from last year I see and feel that they are undeniably bigger. It's really rewarding! And in the vein of too much information, I am going to mention my unmentionables and share that I have to start buying new undies, because friends, I have saggy drawers! I can also no longer avoid an updated pro bra fitting! Okay, twist my arm and make me go girly shopping! (Although I could use some help finding the time to get this done.)

I must sign off and head to rehearsal land.

Love and whole grain goodness,

BB30

STRESS

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It has been a stressful week for me. I find that as I mature emotion manifests itself differently for me. I feel it in my body so much more and I ache instead of cry it out. Check out this article from The Washington Post on how different parts of our bodies are effected by stress. Tension headaches-oh yes, sounds quite familiar!

All the more reason to embrace exercise is it not? In the spirit of healthy living I will do a little yoga today. Good for my body and my mind.

What's your favorite de-stressing form of exercise?

Monday marks another measurement day, and all the typical thoughts are running through my head. Will I have lost any inches? Will I have gained inches? Will I have hit a plateau? Why won't my darn scale move??

Whew. I definitely need some stretching and breathing!!!