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

Life Ramblings

It seems everyone that I know is going through one or more transitions in their lives. Either they're tweaking their health & fitness, renovating their homes, and/or trying to get out of some emotional funk. I wonder if the state of the economy in the world has made people wake up and realize that it's time to start living and doing with what one has instead of filling our empty lives with "stuff" that we buy. I have been know to fill the void in my life from time to time by stuffing either my mouth or home with things I don't need, and I find that I still feel empty even after the stuffing has ensued. How satisfying this past month has been out of the simple use of elbow grease and revamping my home. How free I feel not to have all the clutter suffocating me and the looming feeling that I should be at home cleaning and organizing my apartment all the time. When it's done and done well...then you are left with not only a feeling of completion and pride, but you are actually left with time. Time to do other things without that guilt in the back of your mind. Time to work on your health without the would've, should've, could've-s. At least that's how my brain works. I just don't feel I can do anything else with other things hanging over me. Granted, I do accomplish many things even with a messy house, but when the mess is gone, I just find it easier to avoid the excuses not to do something.

Now here's an observation: I always feel awesome after I work-out...in fact, I actually enjoy some of my work-outs in the interim...then, why is it so dang hard to get my @$$ to the gym (or exercise at home). Why do I find excuses not to go, when I know it's good for me and I always feel good afterwards? I enjoy the good sore you get from a kickin' work-out...so why do I fight it. Why do we fight it in general? Even the most skilled fitness guru admits to forcing themselves every now and then to get in their work-out. Why oh why can't we just enjoy it and stick with it and never argue with ourselves about it? Well then I guess it would be called playing or partying instead of working-out....huh? So here's my recommendation: Remind yourself why you go to the gym...remember that feeling you have once you've achieved your daily fitness goal (don't have one? Start making them and meet them head on)...really be aware of how your body feels after your work-out, not only at that moment, but for the next few days (can you enjoy that good sore feeling or the burst of energy you've gotten from it?)...I also like finding photos in a magazine or of myself at a favorite weight to help keep me motivated (For example, I found a pic of myself on Facebook the other day and really liked the way my arms looked in it...so I asked myself, what was I doing to attain that good shape?...time to revisit that good habit!) So many things we can do to motivate ourselves. Heck I've gone as far as to tell my coworker to remind me to go to the gym on my lunch break...she giggles and has a fun time with it, and it's done in such a sweet way...our own little game and inside joke.

What's your motivation? What are you doing for you? It all starts with a deep breath and then you just gird your loins and get to it! The time to live is now, so start living and be happy in the knowledge that you are succeeding in just that...LIFE :)

Have a great day,
-Bex