And the Progress Continues

Alright, the first day "back at the blog" went well I think. I maintained my online "journal" and accomplished everything I set forth yesterday. Now to keep the momentum going. All we can do is take it moment by moment, day by day...a lesson I've learned the hard way. If you're an absolutist (like me) about things, you may find that if you don't bend, then you may break. Unfortunately, I've been known to be a little hardcore/strict on my diet and then have one slip up and be like "F#@K it , I already messed up the day, I might as well enjoy the rest of the day, week, month, year"...you get the idea. So the plan is to make good decisions when they come and not beat myself up if I have a few mis-haps or unplanned things come into my life...besides you can always burn a few more calories if you eat a few more than you planned.

On the opera front: I had a quasi-terrible coaching yesterday. Last week the allergies hit me hard and gave me a little laryngitis, thus Monday being my first vocal day back, I didn't feel I did my best singing...on the positive though, I did get through all of "Emmeline" memorized (which is saying a lot, due to the score's difficulty).

On the weight progression: I am on the right track and already 2 lbs. down from yesterday. I look forward to when the scale will say 10 lbs. down and my clothes say 2 inches in :) I think I'll see great progress in the next two weeks. I just have to continue to eat clean, watch my calories, and work-out almost everyday.

Here's today's fitness/nutrition log:

7:30 am - 2 medium organic hard boiled eggs (152 calories), water, herbal tea (lemon rose)

Supplements: Multi-Vitamin (Trader Darwin's Women's), 1200 mg Calcium w/200 IU vitamin D (10 calories), 595 mg potassium gluconate, milkthistle.

10:30 am - Organic Decaf Coffee w/organic half & half (100 calories) and half of a 0% organic plain yogurt (50 calories) w/stevia extract

1:00 pm - Organic Quinoa (127 calories) & Organic Red Beans (110 calories)

Baked Organic Cherries (54 calories)

Water

2:30 pm - Workout: 1 hour of moderate walking

3:30 pm - Organic Chicken Vegetable Soup...mmm (170 calories)

Baked Organic Cherries (54 calories)

5:30 pm - Decaf Coffee w/half & half (110 calories)

7:30 pm - Orange (62 calories) & cup of organic skim milk (110 calories)

End of Day Stats:

Total of 1109 calories

Total of 11,000 steps today

Have a great day!
-Bex

Back on the Blog

I know, I know...I've been terribly neglectful to this poor old blog, but things are about to change. I'm going to utilize the "Not a Fat Opera Singer" blog for exactly what it indicates...the not fat part and the opera singing. Let me catch you up with the goings-on's in my life.

Opera: I received a last minute contract from Dicapo Opera to cover Harriet Mosher and perform in the women's ensemble in their new production of Tobias Picker's "Emmeline". We will perform in NYC from Sept. 10-13 and then take the show to Szeged, Hungary to perform in the Mezzo Television Opera Festival & Competition Nov. 15 & 16. In December, I will sing my first Musetta in La Boheme with Opera Manhattan and I'm up for several other contracts with other companies for the rest of the year, but am waiting to hear back on those.

Weight Loss: I've lost 10 of the almost 30 lbs. I gained last winter, and now I will lose the remaining 20. Now that my toes have healed (oh yeah, I had some toe mis-haps, fractures, toenail issues...long story) I will start my cardio and sculpting regiment and will continue to keep my diet lean, clean and pumping (I've gone organic and gave up sodas and chemicals). The plan is to do a daily log on here to keep myself honest and accountable. I have to admit that when I keep a journal, I keep the weight off...it really seems to help. So, here goes...sorry if it's TMI and a bit boring, but at least you know I'm being proactive about it ;)

Starting weight 156.5 lbs. (ugh!)

8:00 am - 0% Greek yogurt w/packet of Stevia (90 calories)

Herbal Tea (Lemon Rose) & Water

Supplements - Calcium w/D (1200 mg-calcium, 200 IU-vitamin D, 10 calories), Potassium Gluconate (595 mg ), Trader Darwin's Women's Multivitamin

11:20 am - 15 Sundried Almonds (105 calories), 3 organic prunes (60 calories), & some organic baked cherries (54 calories)

Water

1:40 pm - Organic Quinoa (127 calories) & Organic Red Beans (110 calories)

Water

2:30 pm - Workout: Guerilla Cardio, 30 minutes on treadmill (5 minutes warm-up, 20 minutes HIIT in 1 minute intervals, 5 minutes cool down) Highest Heart Rate 181, fastest running pace 7.0, lowest walk pace 3.5

4:30 pm - Organic Quinoa (127 calories) & Organic Red Beans (110 calories)

Water

5:45 pm - Grande Decaf coffee w/skim milk and some 1/2 & 1/2 (220 calories)

6:45 pm -1 orange (62 calories) & 2 oz. raw organic cheddar cheese (220 calories)

7:45 pm - 2 cups organic skim milk(180 calories)

End of Day Stats:

Total of 1413 calories

Total of 13,000 Steps Today

Have a great day folks.
-Bex

Finding Balance

Wow Wow Wow...Have I been going through some crazy times...Actually, that's normal. However, the stress levels in my body are really high right now and I've been having weird little shock-like responses. I know it has to do with hormones and stress, but GOD, it's really an odd feeling that gives me almost the heebiegeebies. It's like I walk around with my shoulders up around my ears and the hair on the back of my head, neck, back and arms is always standing on end...again, it's a really odd feeling. I've been practicing my uji breathing when I feel stressed, which is most of the time, and it has been helping!...However, I realize it can't be healthy walking around like this. Granted, I've been dealing with alot, but I've got to get my body under control. Currently I'm reading Jillian Michaels' new book "Master Your Metabolism", I just bought it yesterday and am only in the 1st chapter, but she immediately lets you know that a lot of our problems with our health has to do with hormones. Hormones ARE your Metabolism. Hormones are triggered by everything from what you eat, to stress, to how much sleep you get to...well you get the point, literally everything! Even though I'm producing 4 operas, running an opera company, working a day job, performing, auditioning, trying to manage my weight, about to have a birthday, and trying to survive day to day, I've also been dealing with other outside factors that involve people I love and trying to help them with their struggles. I think I'm pretty much at my breaking point people. I WISH I could afford a vacation, but it's also the time that I've already prioritized to those above mentioned things that make it seem almost impossible to get away. I generally use my vacation days from my day job toward going on tour and pursuing my actual Opera Career. I haven't had a vacation in almost 5 years and I haven't gone home to Texas for longer than that *cry*. Look, I'm not complaining really, I made the choice to sacrifice what I have to in order to have my career, and generally that's time (and sometimes stability, both mentally and monetarily).

So, what to do? Well, I'm going to do what I know works for me:

• I've got to get control of my eating. Balanced blood sugar levels always keep the irritability factor in check, thus I've got to eat right and often.


• I've got to continue my work-outs. Working-out really does help lower the stress factor in my life AND it gives me more energy, when I pair it with the next to do on the list.


• Get ample sleep! I have to have to have to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Sadly I average 5-6 hours and that's just not enough for my bod...ESPECIALLY when I'm working-out 5-6 days a week.


• Give myself breaks. I must step away from the computer, rehearsal, and any other necessary evil long enough to breathe, relax and refocus or I'm no good to anyone. I also have to include that I've got to "give myself a break" when it comes to self-judgements. Big deal if I don't do everything perfect all the time...that's the beautiful and "perfect" thing about being human. From weakness we find strength, you can't have one without the other.

I think that's a good list to start (continue) with. I'll finish the book I'm reading soon and see if there isn't anything else that will help me find balance in my life. Perhaps tweak a few things that I'm doing.

Oh, I should share that I had my biometric screening yesterday, and although my finger is still sore from the finger prick *owwwuh* my results were surprising to me. I'm considered in the very good to excellent range of health!...so big YAY all around. My cholesterol was very good in both the HDL & LDL categories, my blood sugar was great, and my blood pressure was better than normal...so I must be doing something right. I have to say that even though my eating hasn't been the stellar example that I would like it to be, it's not terrible...AND I have been working out pretty consistently, even if it's just getting in my 10K steps a day. Also, I do think that my regular intake of ground flaxseed has been helping with getting some good Omega 3's in my system as well as a nice source of non-soluble fiber (keeps a girl regular...TMI?)

Anywho, its time to get back to aforementioned day job. I hope everyone is well, and feel free to chime in with any suggestions, questions or comments.

Have a great day,

Bex