Getting My Booty Kicked: 3 Things to Remember When You Start {back} At The Dailey Method Workout


You all know how much I love The Dailey Method workout? For the past year and half my girls Samantha and Shelie at the Carlsbad location have kept me lurching towards that goal of flat abs and a tight, little, lifted "seat." But here is my confession. I took a hiatus. 

I dropped the ball {from between my clenched thighs} and pretended like I was going to back "next week" - only that lasted from about November - January. And every "next week" something new stopped me from slipping on my grippy socks and getting myself back in there. 

Oh, the excuses! Some, like minor dermological surgeries, were good. Some, like "my hair is too dirty to work out today," were really, really, really lame. Truth be told, I was scared to go back. Scared to look at myself in the mirror tucking and clenching for 60 minutes. Scared of the muscle aches and soreness. And 100% scared to death of planking again. But then a challenge for the month of February got me in the door. The lure of new socks (I'm so easily won over with THINGS) and the realization that I had run out of reasons not to, kicked my motivation into gear. 

And I learned a few things along the way:

1) It will hurt like a moth%^*%^&ker the day after your first class back.

To put it nicely, I was hobbled. You should have seen me trying to get down the millions of stairs that we apparently have in this house... it was laughable. My quads were tighter than a tuned snare drum. But I didn't let it stop me. I hobbled my way back in two more times that week..

2) After the third class, you will feel like a rockstar.

Classes 1 and 2 made me say words that my mother would be ashamed to hear me say. Class 3 I think I managed a laugh and smiled during at least one point, and by class number 4? I felt AMAZING. I was already holding my stomach in a little tighter, lengthening my spine without thinking about it and able to plank for a least half of the time frame they want you to. I felt good. SO good I even went and tried on new jeans. {which, I don't suggest you do after just 3 classes because in all honesty I was the same size. But I FELT smaller and that counts for something, right?!}

3) You WILL see results. You WILL be happy. 

To me, the most amazing thing about The Dailey Method are the results. I'm an instant gratification type person. I don't even like online shopping because you are forced to wait 3-5 business days. Call me Veruca Salt, because when I want something I want something NOW. And I see results quickly with TDM. 

While I can't promise that you will also results, remember that I hadn't worked out for about (COUGH) 3 months (COUGH) and I have visible results after 4 weeks. I can see it, and others have noticed. 

In the next few months The Dailey Method will be rolling out a new challenge - the INTERVAL CLASS. I will admit, I'm scared. But also excited. I have no clue what it will entail other than I'm sure that I will cry part way through the first one. But I'm ready.

BRING IT ON TDM

 

*Note that I was not compensated in cash to write this post. I got a free pair of pretty green socks and a little off the monthly cost, so I am not lying to you. I will also say that I'm doing other things that I will talk about over the next few weeks (diet related) that may have helped me. Or not. Who knows. 

The Red Lipstick Experiment, Can A New Lipstick Make You Happy?

So, I've been working on this thing called HAPPINESS. 

This doesn't mean that I'm unhappy, or that I'm sad per-se, it means that I'm working towards a positive mental and physical state for my life. I, my friends, was in a funk -  and needed to do SOMETHING. So over the past month, I've made a few changes to help ME be a better ME.

Mental and physical go hand in hand, so some of what I'm doing is for body, while some things may just be simple, everyday things. What I'm looking to find is that key combination... that elusive word "balance". Not just in my life, but in my body and soul. 

I'm calling these "Happiness Experiments;" Something I try out to see what, if any, affect it has. After attending a "Happiness Bootcamp" last month, I realized the main reason that habits don't change and resolutions don't stick for me is because I throw them all out there at once. I'm also keen to declare FAILURE when the outcome isn't what I envisioned it looking like. With "experiments" there are no passes, no fails. You are trying something out. Taking it out for test drive. Trying it on for size. Some things may stick, while others don't. 

Which brings me to Lipstick. 

{Yes, you were wondering how I was going to get back around to make-up, huh?} 

It is a proven fact that new lipstick makes you happy. This has been a phenomenon tracked in women since World War 2. Lipstick is an inexpensive, non-permanent change that can spice things up. 

This particular experiment was inspired (and enabled) by my good friend, Romy of RomyRaves. Romy is the queen of fun accessories and make-up, and she's lucky enough that she's channeled this into an amazing online presence and working relationship with top beauty brands. A few weeks ago when she came down and spent the weekend with me, not only was she sporting this super hot new lipstick, she brought some for the rest of us to try. I mentioned my current love affair with Avon's Totally Kissable line a few weeks ago - but the shade I was loving over was a very pretty, but very neutral pink color: totally right in my comfort zone. 

But there was Romy - rocking this red hot lip (in Avon's Make-Out Red) that made people stop and stare. And honestly, I was in awe by her bravery and ability to work that shade. Over the next week or so I kept trying on the same color that Romy wore, only to wipe it off a few seconds later. It wasn't doing it for me - it wasn't right. Digging into my bag of Avon goodies that Romy brought for me (she knows a way to my heart is through my make-up bag!) I finally got up the nerve to try another color - Red Embrace

WAY better for my coloring, this red is more of a coral-red, rather than the pink-red Romy was wearing. While bright and eye-catching, with minimal other make-up I actually wore it in the daytime... and loved it. It gave my casual jeans and shirt look a kick, but it wasn't too much. It was way different than what I normally wear, but every time I caught my reflection I kept thinking how much I liked it. 

This experiment was deemed a success! I'm throwing this lipstick into heavy rotation and going to wear it with a smile.  

Anne Hathaway at the Oscars: Let's Forget About the Nipples and Talk About HER Tiffany & Co. DIAMONDS

Congrats Anne on your win for one of the most memorable cinematic scenes of 2012. Now I'm going to take a moment to direct people north, away from your pointy chest area (which honestly was probably more a sign of her last minute dress change not being perfectly fitted for her body) to the FABULOUS diamond necklace you have gracing your throat. 

Photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.First question I asked T&Co was "Is she wearing the necklace backwards?" as, when people moved away from asking what she against bras, was the second most talked about part of her outfit. The answer is NO, that she is wearing it correctly, and it's supposed to hang in the back. Just another reason she is SO HAPPY she decided to shave her head for Les Miserables. 

The necklace is part of the exclusive 2013 Tiffany and Co. Blue Book which debuts in May.