I Love My Beautiful Body

I am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist.

Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume, You are- Make it pleasurable.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Ready For Change - Part 2; Doing 'the Work' with Affirmations

My last post entitled Ready for Change, Part 1- 'The Work'- Putting Pen to Paper went pretty deep. If you are willing to do this kind of 'work', you will find out a lot about yourself. It's like a form of meditation. Only once our attention is focused do we begin to sense and tap into a broader expanse of our environment. We can begin to see that there are possibilities outside of what things seemingly 'look' like to us at this time.

I know it takes time to sit, and write, and feel out your deepest truths, that is why it is called 'the work'. It can be easy to spend time watching the t.v, or talking on the phone, or feeling sad for yourself... but consider spending a portion of your time devoted to self improvement, self love and self empowerment, with exercises such as in the previous post. You are not doing this work for anyone else but yourself. It is personal and private. Consider discovering your feelings and growth as very sacred steps along your path to greater SELF- LOVE.

Lets review this statement from last weeks post:

"If you are not experiencing the results you want in life, change the way you do things. Change the way you talk about things, and change the way you think about things."

The "Take Charge of Your Vision- Create the List" exercises are a helpful way to navigate creating the change you wish to be and see in your life.

A student this week said she was finally shaping up in her body and was feeling good about herself physically, but inside, her emotional state was a mess and her outer life didn't match her deepest wishes and hopes. Affirmations help to bridge the gaps between body, mind and emotions so we can feel the inside better capable of matching the outside and vice versa.

I have found regular use of Affirmations to be a deeply powerful means to re-wire my mind and mouth from speaking and thinking in negatives, to thinking and speaking in positives! I like to use index cards for my affirmations and put them up all over the house, especially in front of my bathroom mirror- try it.

An Affirmation is a statement or thought pattern we habitually say or think over and over. We may find ourselves stuck in the Affirmations of "There is no hope.", "I am doomed.", "I always fail.", " Why bother, my life sucks anyway." Know that your words and thoughts create your reality and truth. What you speak into and think into your life becomes real. How do we know? Well, look around yourself. Do your thoughts and speech match your reality? What are your usual thoughts, are they reflected back to you in your environment and through those that surround you?

I know, it may seem a bit foolish to 'think' positive thoughts and 'speak' positively when your life feels like it is a mess and you feel like a mess too. But believe me- if you can allow yourself to do the work consistently, the work, works! Just give a try.. and I mean REALLY MUSTER UP YOUR SINCEREST INTENTION TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, AND BE READY TO RECOGNIZE AND RECEIVE IT. Mmmmmhmmmmm. Can I get a 'Whooo Whoooo'
from the back row!!

When doing this kind of 'work'- you become the nutty professor, the alchemist and a master of your time and space. Once you realize your thoughts and words are running the show of life, you will truly want to re-write the things you normally think and speak into the world about yourself. I will say, it takes work. The 'old you' that is used to the old ways you used to think or speak may not wish to give up the old ways of thinking. Thats ok, its a process, be gentle, kind and loving with your self, always. <3. Its like learning a new language, it may take time before the new, powerful words and thoughts you are now entertaining can actually take root and become automatic.

After doing the exercises in last weeks post, I came up with some very meaningful affirmations for myself. I would like to share a few with you.

(1) Change the way you do things.

List five simple things you can do to create more positivity and love in your life.
Sometimes I feel impatient, and forget about the blessings in my life. I use affirmations to help myself remember the basic foundation I intend my life to expand from.
Here is one of my affirmations from this exercise:

(2) Change the way you talk about things.

List the things you talk about and how you can do so in a more positive manner.
I am always complaining to my body, and to my boyfriend about my loose skin. After countless bouts of gaining and loosing weight, I find it harder to tighten up trouble areas and often get down on my body for not 'looking' a certain way. After doing the above written exercise, I decided I would no longer speak of my loose or sagging skin, and I would do my best not to focus on it in my thoughts either.
Instead I am affirming via mind and speech, the body I intend to have! It feels great speaking it into the world, I can tell my body feels more supported than before too. It's like it has been waiting for me to be nice to it, so it can start to change. As long as I held it in the reality of looking loose skinned and sagging- thats all I saw. I swear, in just a week I am beginning to see a different body shine through- it is magic. Change your mind and change your circumstances, for real! Your body is alive and hears everything you say and think, and reacts to is accordingly.

(3) Change the way you think about things.

List the top five 'negative', or limiting thoughts you have about your self or life. 'Flip the script' and write your thoughts in a changed manner. Transform them into positives.
Omg- I was in a little car accident earlier this year. My spine got out of whack and I experienced a lot of pain for what felt like- forever. I had to totally stop exercising and slowly build up my work-outs again. I am finally able to do things I just could not do for several months... Yet I still hear myself speak of 'my spine being out of alignment', or of my 'weak back' to friends etc. Not anymore- Nope, I am choosing to speak strength and well-being over my body and empower it to be its best NOW!

You are a warrior.

Be disciplined like one.

Have integrity in how you speak over your life.

Your words control your mind and co-create your life.

Next week we will get into working out and later I plan to share some yummy veggie recipes with you too! You are asking for tummy, butt, inner thigh exercises, so that is where we will continue next time. Until then, visit my website www.tuesdaymaythomas.com and check out my music and books- and Keep loving your Beautiful Body. Be gentle with yourself along the path of transformation.

Much Love and Light. <3

©TuesdayMayThomas

Subscribe to my YouTube ChannelI am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist. Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Period.

Do You like your monthly visitor? How I love and hate my period.

I Love my period because it's the time of the month when I give myself a free ticket, the green light to eat whatever I want (generally speaking) for 3-4 days while I soothe my bloated, aching belly. I don't get cramps all the time, but boy when I do- its outrageous! With regular exercise, self loving thoughts and speech, plus daily healthy eating, it's the one time of the month I let myself eat donuts, cheetos, fries, pancakes and/or pasta etc. Now don't get me wrong, I allow myself to splurge now and then, (when not on my monthly cycle) or share a desert with my boyfriend if we are out on a date and such. But ohhhh nooo- I ain't sharing when I'm on my period! lol

After five months together, my boyfriend is used to my 'period munchies' and is already planning what he wants to eat for my next months visit!! This month he made us baked Mac n' Cheese with Panko and vegan bacon on top- say what??!! And Magical pancakes filled with walnuts and chocolate chips.. I know, you wish my boyfriend would cook for you too on your period. Yep, I got it good! Now with saying all that, when I get my period I slow down my work out, eat heartily and generally gain a couple of pounds. Now this is a 'truth' I wish to change, I mean why do I have to gain weight when my period comes? Is it the exemption of exercise for up to 5 days, is it the eating of several foods I would not generally eat, is it water weight gain from all the salt in the foods I eat at that time? - The answer is yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.

Omg- okay, so this is why I hate my period (well, I don't really hate anything- but for dramatics sake- work with me..) I always gain so many 'bloating inches' and with hearty eating, and no exercise for a spell- my waistline can at times dramatically change in appearance. It's a great time for baggy shirts and loose blouses. In fact I have a certain secret couple of items in my closet just for that time of the month, cuz I ain't wearing super tight skinny jeans when my flow is flowing- unless they are super stretchy skinny jeans! Okay so I made that video you saw called the 'Waist Widdler, around two weeks ago'. Waist Widdler Video- http://www.tuesdaymaythomas.com/#!blogs/c1k2m. I was at the top of my game, feeling svelte and sporty. The lighting was good and I had fun. Then about four days later I got my period and after a couple of days in- I felt like I didn't even relate to the girl I saw in the vid. My tummy had bloated what felt like a million miles out, and all I wanted to do was eat and chill- forget about working out! 3 days onto my cycle and I stepped on the scales- I had gained 3.5 pounds ughhhh.. And it all went to my stomach! Self hate started to inch in, I blamed me for being fat and disliked my body for how it looked at that time. I looked in the mirror and all I could see was a huge bulging belly. How can this be?- I thought. Just last week I was workin' it, feeling strong and positive about my body image.

Now on a flip note- a pal encouraged me to do sit ups during my period. Truth is, I have tried it out here and there with my monthly cycle, and it has felt good to do that, though I have not by any means gotten into a rhythm of doing sit ups during my cycle, but maybe you would like to try it.

Okay- Lemme ask you- is this a common experience for you? If so, then lets slow down. One thing to realize is the body is human and changing all the time, both inside and out. The body changes when you drink wine, coffee, consume sugar, cry, laugh, lay on the couch, go to your fav Yoga or Bodysculpt class ;0, become ill or get healthy. The body has such an amazing ability to shift and change and morph into so many parallel versions of itself. Look at pictures of yourself over time- isn't it amazing; how many You's there are over time and space? Ultimately, the version of ourselves we see now is the one we are working with, or have decided to be with, but that can change too- if you want it to.

For example, remember last weeks post entitled 'Body Basics'? We talked about Conscious Posture. Look how my body changes instantly by initiating conscious posture! In the blink of an eye, I have a different body- and body image of myself... I certainly feel more confident when I sit up tall and feel my tummy rolls even out!! How about you? Try it!

Non- Conscious Posture

Conscious Posture

So if I can consider the dance my body is always doing, and understand my once a month indulgence 'period' and love myself through it- then I can master being me. And you can Master being you too. I have the gift of a generally slow burning metabolism, and missing out on working out for five days really can slow me down, especially with all my heavier eating at the same time. It can cause rapid weight gain. But the silver lining is I can just as easily get back to my steady weight, and so can you. So, the moral is, love yourself and relax into your period. Let it literally be a 'period'., a time to stop , slow down, be nice and gentle with yourself and do something for yourself you may not have time to do any other time (like eat cake!). Relax, journal, meditate, pray, forgive, reflect, release the past, paint, and get creative too.

Do you believe it is true we have a gift in our period? Is it the shedding of inner lining- that allows us to release the old and create space for the new? I just realized some guys read this blog too- and well, I say if you have a girlfriend, then you will eventually have a period too (metaphorically speaking)! - You may not have to buy maxi pads for yourself, but you may begin to understand the ebb and flow of emotions that can occur in your sweetie. It may also allow you time to reflect, relax- and get in touch with your emotional self too.

Next time you are hating on yourself for feeling bloated or indulging during your cycle, just remember you are beautiful no matter what. Do your best to love yourself when you feel on the up and up as well as when you feel down. I had to do my best to remember all that hard work at the gym has not gone to waste, just because my body fluctuates once a month for a little bit. Maybe you can ease up and be forgiving with your body too. Let it expand and contract and is finds its harmony and balance in the world we live in.

In coming posts I will talk about harmonizing energy in the face of darkness, depression and past hurts we have experienced. I will offer tools on how to master your time and space, no matter where you are.
Your job is to love your beautiful body here and now. Once that begins to become more and more real for you, it will reflect back to you in other areas of life. Be a Warrior, be a Bad-Ass ( in that cool kind of way!) and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE yourself more each day. Find something, no matter how small to love about yourself, like the color of your nail polish, or the color of your hair, your kindness etc- and tell yourself in the mirror how much you love your beautiful self. With so much love xoxo Tuesday May

©TuesdayMayThomas

I am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist. Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Body Basics 1- Good Breath & Conscious Posture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prPPFX_swAo&feature=youtu.be

Body Basics 1- Good Breath & Conscious Posture

I remember spending time with a pal while she got ready for a fabulous night out with a new guy she had started seeing. She asked if I would keep her company while she picked out what to wear and got ready. I kicked back and read magazines in the living room while she popped in and out of the loo (I grew up in Ireland, & still call the bathroom the loo sometimes!)- giving me updates about this new mystery man. In her words “ He’s a lot older than me. I have never dated an older man before...” Followed later by; “Okay I have totally exfoliated and shaved every nook and cranny- I am as soft as a baby’s butt.” We chatted while she applied her make up and did her hair. "Should I wear it up, or down?" She would ask. "Should I wear this dress, or this dress?" She enquired. The dress she chose was perfect- not too sexy, giving everything away-but just ‘hot’ enough for a second date.

All seemed perfect. She looked great and was ready for her big night out. When we left the apartment she locked her door and hugged me goodbye. She next leaned in close and said; “Thanks for your help.” It was then I found myself in a dilemma extraordinaire.... She had bad breath. Now... I know my pal, she doesn’t have the best track record for daily brushing. And I never really thought twice about it til now.

Had she simply forgotten to brush in the flurry and excitement of getting ready? Did she brush this morning before work? Or had she brushed and just forgotten to floss a piece of steak out of a molar? I paused, knowing that to be a good friend, and a real ‘sister’, I had to politely tell her that something was askew. But how do I do that? She was already running late. I had no breath mints to pass out and give her a hint. Bottom line- before she reached the exit of this building, she has to go back upstairs and brush- and as a friend, I’m here to tell her that.. somehow.

It took a second or two, but I got the courage up to carefully broach the subject by saying “You look so good and I wish you so much fun tonight with your new guy- but... to make the picture perfect, I think you gotta brush again.” She stopped in her tracks, wide eyed and looked at me in shock. Oh no, had I said too much, or said it the wrong way? She truly did look picture perfect, and I didn’t want to assume she had not brushed... “OMG!”. She said- “Thank you so much. I totally forgot to brush my teeth!” She exclaimed. She sent a text to her guy saying she would be another five minutes late and we parted ways on a positive note, with one more hug. Now that’s a friend, right?

On one hand, I’m sharing this story for all of us. Boys and girls included. The moral being ‘brush-up’ before going out, especially on a date.. no matter if it’s your 50^th date or your 5^th, trust me it will make a world of difference when it comes to getting intimate.

On the other hand, the second moral is; We can’t let each other walk around with ‘spinach tooth’, or a fly down (brothers and sometimes sisters!), or a button undone a little too far down the cleavage line when its obvious that is not the intention for the occasion; for example at a Bat Mitzvah, or christening etc. Be a good friend, or even a good stranger. I recall a very nice boy in school enlightening me to the fact I had a ream of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of my shoe. I didn’t know him as a ‘friend’, but I tell you, I considered him my pal after that!

Ok next onto conscious Body Posture. So, do you want to boost your self-esteem from the inside out? Go stand in front of the trusty mirror. And please make sure you are not using one of the circus mirrors, I have gone through a few of these before realizing I had to change it up. Some $5 wall mirrors easily warp over time, or even worse, are warped to begin with. This can make it difficult to feel good about your appearance, no matter how much ‘work’ you do on yourself- physically, mentally and emotionally.

On the other hand, a ‘skinny’ mirror may take it too far in the other direction, and upon seeing a true reflection of yourself, say in the movie theatre restroom, you are shocked to see you are not a 6foot super model with long arms and mile long legs! Haha- okay you get the drift. I had a tough time for ages with my last mirror-no matter what I did, my torso seemed way too long and my legs appeared way too short! After getting the input of some friends- who were shocked by the mirror I was using, I came to the conclusion I needed a new mirror. For a couple bucks more, I can truly see myself- not too short, not too tall, but just as I am!

Okay, once you feel a true reflection is gazing back at you, Step One: Tell yourself three times- “It is ok to change. It is ok to be beautiful. It is ok to change. It is ok to be beautiful. It is ok to change. It is ok to be beautiful.” While you do this, observe your body posture and notice if it changes at all while you speak. As you observe your posture, notice if you would like it to shift, as to reflect the more confident person you are deep within. If you are happy with your posture walk away now- otherwise keep on reading.

Stand up straight and roll your shoulders back. Lift your upper chest just slightly, and lift your lower ribs from your waistline in a comfortable fashion. Now don’t forget to breathe! Pull your lower belly in, even if it’s just a bit, and imagine a thread gently lifting the top of your head towards the sky. Now I’m not saying you have to stand like with a stiff back and ‘salute’... But by employing this mini tummy tuck and lengthening of the spine, you will ‘visually’ loose five pounds, and grow a little taller.... All while gently working your lower belly and improving your posture. Good posture is attractive, no? Do you think good posture commands respect and shows the world you are confident, and loving your Beautiful Body? (I think so!)

Maintaining good posture is about taking care of our skeletal system via its main highway- the spine! When the energy of your body is flowing in a balanced manner, and posture is improved, this aids your digestive-tract, the circulation of blood flow, and the respiratory system. Lets face it- when you poop better, or more regularly, and when you are not ‘struggling’ for the use of your hands and feet due to loss of circulation, and when you can breathe deeper and easier- your quality of life has just improved overall! You deserve the best life can offer, why not gift yourself a few blessings and try on better posture as a day to day practice. Do this in conjunction with your booty baseline work (you saw this in last weeks post, if not- see video link below) and grow yourself a new body from the inside out.

Grow A New Booty-

Beautiful Body Video Supplement 1

Summer is here! Next week we will talk about sun bathing, products for tanning, or not tanning. Plus I will post a new video (or three), sharing some of my fav at home mini workouts.

Daily Mantra-

It is ok to change. It is ok to be beautiful.

I love my beautiful body.

I am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist. Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Multi Dimensional Body

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prPPFX_swAo&feature=youtu.be

Multi-Dimensional Body

I grew up in Dublin, Ireland and sang on stage as a back up vocalist in a ten-piece Funk band called ‘The Way It Is’. I remember getting dressed up for the gigs we performed. In memory, I realize I was only focused on one dimension of my body- the front. I never paid any attention to the mirror's reflection of myself from behind, I mean- once the front looked fine, I ignored the rest.. Or maybe I just forgot ( or wanted to forget) my backside existed. I was focusing on ONE DIMENSION, or one angle of my body image- The Front.

You know when you get a new haircut and maybe you like how it looks from the front angle, but you feel you could use a snip here or there on the sides? Well this is exactly what I mean. How often do you only look at one dimension, angle, or ‘one view’ of yourself in the mirror? You are multidimensional.. and beautiful, I will add!

Here at I Love my Beautiful Body Blog, we learn to love every part of ourselves- every angle and dimension- every nook and cranny... no matter how much loathing or negativity we have put ‘there’ in the past. It is time to embrace the whole self; Front, back and sides...... within and without. Om

Okay so Back to my backside!! As I went through trials and tribulations of weight gain and loss (read my first post to catch up with us on this ) – I totally ignored my legs and especially my butt. I wore long skirts or jeans all the time. Even when I was slimmer, I still wore pants, leggings or long skirts. I never wanted to show off, or simply reveal my personally perceived ‘awful legs and ass’. A couple years ago I accidentally caught a glimpse of my naked butt in the mirror, believe me- I was doing anything but trying to look back there.. and I couldn’t fathom what I saw. My butt was flat and had lowered so far down to the ground, it looked like it had melted and slid down the back of my legs. This in turn made my legs look way shorter than they are, because they were mostly composed of a ‘downward sliding butt’.

Okay all jokes aside- we as humans have the gift of receiving a lottery of genetics from our family members. Myself and my sister have the same mom and different fathers. She lucked out and got the cute perky butt of her fathers’ side of the family, while I got the ‘wide and flat butt’ look from the females in my family. Ughhhh. Okay , it just means I have more to work with, right?.... Oh yeah- a lot more to work with! I am now learning to love my booty, but it has not been an easy path to be able to look in the mirror at my backside and say ‘I love you’ to all I see there. Though, I have learned to be grateful that I have a butt, along with thick juicy legs my boyfriend can really sink his teeth into! On the other hand, if you feel like you have no butt- you can grow one! My butt was sooooo flat, I thought I could never build up enough muscle in my glutes to lift the mass that was weighing me down. I so wished for a lifted, tight and round booty. It was about six months ago a trainer at the gym where I work asked if we could do a trade. Could I ‘yoga him’, in exchange for him personally training me.. What? My booty wishes were coming true!

Twice a week we exchanged our gifts. It was damn hard- I had to fight so much resistance and negative self talk. My butt was filled with so much self-hate it would constantly question my authority, saying “What the fxxx do you think you are doing? You will never get anywhere with all of this.. You might as well sit your fat ass down.. ” I had no car and would hustle through early morning bus rides during the cold of winter to get to the gym. My butt felt like ‘Rocky’ every time I finished a training session (picture Sly Stalone, or your butt climbing up the stairs to the Rocky theme music- while punching at the air). With discipline and the wonderful help of my trainer, I found my booty baseline. I have not reached my booty peak yet, but I am on my way- and you can be too. I am gonna share with you everything Matt (my trainer) taught me, and more!

Today we will practice a simple booty at rest/booty at work exercise for you to chew on until the next video post. Do not be discouraged-When I first started working my butt, I was so disconnected from it that I couldn’t even tell if I was flexing a butt muscle or not. Now I’m working my way to ‘twerking’ lol! Twerking is a term used to describe a certain type of butt dance you can do with your cheeky cheeks, along to the beats of a song. It is very popular within hip-hop dance circles. I will post some cheeky-twerking soon- when I do my beautiful body streetwise post- I promise..

Beautiful Body Video Supplement 1

Ok so for today- watch the video and work your booty baseline. Check it out from every angle, not just one view or dimension and see just how juicy and beautiful your body and booty truly is. Give your butt and body some positive self talk and let it know you are all going to be embarking on a journey together, where no one will return the same as before.

Just for today tell your body:

1) It is ok to change

3) It is ok to be beautiful