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Hello everyone! Here is the latest on my body project!  Well, I have to say that I am feeling on a roll (not like a roll – this is good news). The food component is almost immaculate (I said almost) and I am definitely following through on my commitment to be in my body 30 minutes a day. 

I am loving my “Dancer’s Body” work out DVD (thank you Kristen).  It is exactly what I was looking for and I tell you, when exercise is fun then you are 90% there.  To tell you the truth I am having so much fun that there is little I would rather do than learn the latest dance moves and groove along to the music!  

The weather helps too – Sunday morning 8 am my husband and I were up for a Wog around the neighborhood (he runs, I wog walk/jog).  Being outside is motivation enough for me to get out and get moving.  Finally, Pilates is totally working for me. It is a 5 minute walk to the studio, I LOVE my instructor and it is all about creating a dancer’s body so it totally fits into my plan.  All in all, I am on track, feeling great in my body and anticipating what I am creating.

With all that being said I have some tips for any of you who are on your own body quest.

1) Create a fun context! What I mean by this is find a reason to take care of your body that really inspires you. For me creating the body of a dancer is way more fun than living in the idea of “having to lose weight” or that “I should exercise more”. 

Invitation: Look at your world and what you like and what inspires you and see if there is a powerful context to create your own body adventure around.

2) Make a plan! By having a plan you have a clear road map that shows you how to get from here to there.  By having the plan you are not wandering aimlessly hoping that eventually you will somehow find your way.  For me, the plan looks like a specific way and amount that I eat as well as 30 minutes a day in activity. 

Invitation: If you were to create a plan to get you from here to there what would your plan look like?  Write it down and if you dare…. do it!

3) Get some accountability! This is huge!  By committing to record what I am up to on this blog I am holding myself accountable and I am enrolling you in supporting me. I can tell you, it is one thing to slack off and know that I am slacking off and it is an entirely other thing to slack off and then get to tell you about it.  Some time in the next few months I need to produce my body of a dancer pictures  – there is no way this conversation is just going to disappear into the mist- I am going all the way because you are there on the path with me.

Invitation:  Why don’t you invite some of the people in your life to hold you accountable to what you are up to.  Who knows, you might even inspire someone to join you on the path.  

4) Make it easy and have fun! By having a Pilates studio across the street and creating my own dance studio at home (a la the “Dancer’s body” workout DVD) It is easy for me to get in my 30 minutes a day. By doing activity I enjoy instead of dreading my workouts, I am excited to do my 30 minutes.  In addition I have been playing with my food to find some wonderful ways for me to eat what I said and have fun with my food (I have found out that low fat plain yogurt, pure cocoa and stevia makes one heck of a chocolate mouse!)

Invitation: Look at what you are committed to and ask yourself how you could make the process easy and fun.  If at first you do not see how then run it by some people, play with it, there is an easy way – there is a fun way – you just have to be willing to see it. Enjoy your process my friends. I sure am enjoying mine! I invite you to take this moment to make a new commitment to yourself and your life.  Declare your commitment in this blog and let’s get started!!

HUGS!!

Joelle

P.S. If you are looking for coaching and accountability around something important in your life, I have this awesome program called 60 Days to Success that is two fun and committed months all in service of your goal.  Previous participants have taken on everything from losing 20 lbs to having the best two months of their business ever!  If you would like to talk about what you could cause in your life in the next 60 days email me or call me at 216 320 9298 and let’s explore your fabulous future!!

As I sit here feeling incredibly messy and not very “Coach Joelle-ish” I want to thank you for loving me in my messiness.

Joan and Tonetta, thank you for loving me when I have forgotten who I am and for thinking I am “cute” in my lost-ness – my gratitude is beyond words. My beautiful Jeffrey – thank you for loving me for all I am and all I am not and for having the insight to put a Lebron James bobble head and Fred Flinstone on my desk in the middle of my moment of misery. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for allowing me to be a sloppy mess and for that to be ok. May each and every one of you have people you can be messy with.

In messiness and love,

Joelle

Sigh, So here I am staring right into the face of my own gash darn humanity. 

You know, it is way easier to figure everything out behind the scenes and come to you as “COACH JOELLE” LIFE CREATOR! KNOWER OF ANSWERS!  THE GO-TO GAL WHO HAS IT FIGURED OUT!  It is a whole other matter to be facing myself with all of you along with me on the journey. 

Thank you for being there and thank you for your love and understanding as I work through my stuff. So, on the path to “HOT” – and the “body of a dancer” I WAS doing a lovely job….

Sunday – totally on with the food and went ice skating.

Monday – really nice work on the food and I had Pilates (I even received a wonderful gift from my friend Kristen of aloe infused fuzzy socks and “the dancer’s body” workout dvd! AWESOME!! ) AND THEN…

Tuesday – ate 2 pieces of whole wheat sushi in the am – 3 pieces in the pm with some rye-vita crackers – drank two cups of caffeinated coffee – had 4 ounces of fish and some asparagus and two glasses of wine and powerful conversation with my good friend Sherry and then proceeded to meet my husband at one of our favorite haunts, had an Irish coffee and then followed it up with two diet cokes and apple pie and ice cream. As I was lying in bed awake at 3:00 am as the sugar, alcohol and caffeine wore off I groaned as I realized I was going to have to share all of this with you today.  UGGG.

So, a couple of things as I recommit:

1) Caffeinated coffee is NOT AN OPTION no/way no/how – I know how my body works and it is not a healthy life-giving option.

2) For right now sugar (eg. apple pie a la mode) is NOT AN OPTION.   It creates a cycle of addiction that is not in alignment with what I choose for my body.

3) I am re-committing to no more than 1 drink on a weeknight even if I have lovely company and the wine is flowing.

4) I will eat healthy life-giving food and enough of it so that I am not finding myself at the end of the day hungry with a “devil may care attitude”.

5) I will schedule daily activity in my calendar and will keep my commitment to myself.

6) I am so clear the power of this exercise with you all as I have no interest in getting to write another posting like this one any time soon.

7) I am even more inspired and committed to having the body of a dancer in the face of my breakdown.

Just to be clear. While the exercise of recording this and the accountability is very confronting and illuminating, I am choosing what I am choosing not out of some arbitrary regiment or some list of things I am “supposed to do”.  At this point in my life I know what works and what doesn’t. I know what leaves me powerful and clear and I know what leaves me unconscious, moody and uncomfortable in my body. I am committed to being in love with my body and having my body support me in my life adventure and in my mental and spiritual clarity.

The key for me is to hold my commitment to being in a dancer’s body at the front of my mind. I will be creating new visual and mental cues to keep this at the fore front as I make choices out in the world. Thank you. I love you.

Humbly,

Joelle

Well, as I look back at day 4 and 5 of my official “body of a dancer” blogging.  I have some insights.

One thing I notice is that I seem to feel good, get on top of things and then go, “hmmm, things are going so well, I can slip a little.”  Next thing you know I have had ice cream 2 days in a row and I neglected my daily 30 minutes of activity. I can see that if I were not recording this, I would slide into my comfort zone, totally give up and start over later.  Thank goodness I am living in a greater commitment than that during this exercise.

Another thing I noticed which you will likely notice when you see my food consumption – is that I tend to get off track when I do not have the appropriate food at home. When I am running low on food, what I tend to do is eat less, I am less enthralled by what is available and then if I go out to eat in the evening I will go overboard.  A great realization and just one more excuse for a day trip to Whole Foods! ?

So, here is the scoop.

Day 4 Friday

Exercise: None – out of commitment

Banana

Leftover cauliflower and chicken in curry (1 ounce chicken)

Banana

Salad with tomato and salsa

1 cup organic chicken noodle soup (not much there at all)

1 rye crisp cracker (all gone – would normally have 3 or 4)

1 piece turkey bacon ( again a function of nothing to eat in the house)

¼ cup fresh fruit various

Roast beef sandwich with lettuce tomato, mustard on pumpernickel

Two drinks (whisky and diet coke)

Split ice cream with Jeff

Comments: General lack of enjoyment with my food and then I made up for it with drinks and ice cream after.  Ample fruit but in general not as life giving or sustaining as what I would like.

Day 5 Saturday

Exercise: None – out of commitment

1 egg,

1 piece whole wheat toast

2 pieces turkey bacon

½ tomato sliced

1 ounce buffalo mozzarella

Leftover chicken and cauliflower ( 1 ounce chicken )

Glass of red wine (terrible idea – had a nap after and work up miserable)

½ large pink grapefruit

1 piece white bread (see – that is what you get for going hungry!)

½ piece appetizer pizza (more of the same)

½ side salad, dressing on side

2 oz steak 1.5 shrimp on skewer

Asparagus and spinach

3 Hershey kisses 6 dinner mints (chocolate kind)

Everyone out for ice cream – 1 one scoop of coffee ice cream.

Comments: More from the day before magnified. Not feeling as radiant and fabulous as I was earlier in the week.

Recommit  – 100% on eating plan  -  30 minutes of activity every day

So here it is Sunday and I am back on board. Going skating this afternoon with my nieces and nephews and my darling husband. Heading to the grocery store this afternoon. All is well.

To our health!

Joelle

Notes from thursday – Day 3
Here is what I am up to:

Started the day with a cuddle and pep talk from my husband and then I was up running the stairs to get in my ½ hour of exercise for the day.

Today I decided to have a little inspiration in the background for my run so I threw in Wayne Dyer’s Manifest Your Destiny.  Thank God! I have not listened to this cd set in probably a year and it is so perfect for me to be listing to this today. If you are looking for a tool on your path to being a powerful creator in life and you are looking for great peace and being in the flow of life this is a wonderful message. It is perfect to be listening to this today because I can understand its truth at a whole new level and at the same time, it is the perfect message to tweak me back on my path during a time that has been a little more trying than what I am used to. There is love peace and wisdom available through his message. Thank you Wayne.

Love to you all.

Joelle

Wednesday was day two of on my quest for the body of a dancer. It was a great day.

Here are the details!

Exercise:  30 minutes yoga

Oatmeal, 7 pecans, raisins

Banana

2 decaf coffee with half and half

3 rye crisp hearty crackers

Green protein capsules

Salad – with tomato and avocado and carrots

1 ounce buffalo mozzarella

3 rye crisp crackers 

4 ounces chicken (organic none the less)

Cauliflower, tomato and onion in coconut curry

Salad with tomato and carrots

1.5 glasses red wine

Felt great about the food and I am suprised by how my body seems to be fine so far with the decrease in animal protein. Hmmm. We will see how that goes. I have also been standing and sitting and holding my body in accordance to what I learned in Pilates.

Going well!

Joelle

Dear sweet Ohio. I owe you an apology. 

For the past week I have been unappreciative and down right critical. I have been fantasizing of my life in the Southwest, anxious to return to my place in the sun. When you showed me the pink blossoms of spring and then hid them under two feet of snow it felt as though my heart broke. I have been weak and I forgot myself and for this I apologize. I forgot that my joy is not in the spring or in the sun or in a flower blossom. My joy is inside me and I forgot that your snow and cloud is as worthy and as beautiful as your sunshine and your green buds.

Ohio, I release you from my frustration, my upset and my resentment. Or perhaps better said, I release me, for I imagine you are just doing what you do and my upset is not really a concern to you.

I am committing in this moment to find beauty in all you have to offer me for the duration I am here.  Thank you, Ohio for your diversity in experience. Thank you for the leaves of fall and the quiet rest of winter. Thank you for the burst of color that is on its way and thank you for the warmth of summer. Come on summer!

Thank you for being open to me making my peace. 

With Love,

Joelle

Who knew 1 phone call could make such a difference?! Last summer I read a great financial book by Suzi Orman that talked all about the YFB generation – Young Fabulous and Broke (catchy eh!). It is a great book about what we are seeing with today’s 20 and 30 something’s who want it all and want it now and the unfortunate financial situations people are getting themselves into as a result.  

One of the things I found really interesting is what Suzi said about calling your credit card company and asking for a lower APR.  Hmmmm, I did not know you could do that.  I mean, I figure that if there is a lower rate they can offer me they will do it…right? Wrong! They won’t tell you, but if you call them you just might get a lower rate. As a girl who prides herself on rarely carrying a balance my interest rate has been a non-issue but today I decided to give it a try and see what I could make happen. 

Here are my results:

Card 1

FROM:  22.24% variable

TO: 18.24% variable.

Card 2

FROM: 18.24% variable

TO: 15.24% variable AND they are mailing me a Free Continental Airlines companion Certificate!

Card 3

FROM: 14.99% variable

TO: 11.99 Not too Shabby!

The exercise provided some illumination in a couple of areas.

1) Man, those numbers are high!   It is amazing that credit cards are running these kind of rates! I can see how it would really add up if you carry a balance.

2) If I ever do decide to carry a balance I will be carefully choosing which card I would use. I also mentioned this to the folks on the phone.

3) Apparently it all comes down with time and persistence.  In theory I can call again in 6 months and bring them down another 3 % and then try again in another 6 etc..  I’m on it!

So, if you find yourself getting hit with finance payments on your credit cards and you have not been in touch with you credit card provider, I encourage you to pull out your card, look on the back, call the number and say “hey, I was wondering if we could get this rate down a bit.” And see what happens!

Happy calling.

Joelle

Day one of the Coach Joelle body of a dancer project!

Hi guys!

It was a great day for my new body project.  The highlights include a trip to the Pilates studio and one incredible salad!  Pilates was lovely! My instructor is a lovely gentle soul and, get this, a former dancer! The combination of working with the Pilates machine and her gentle guiding touch gave me a fabulous workout and a really wonderful experience. 

Pilates is designed to elongate the muscles and give you a solid core. I learned about bringing my ribs in and how to hold my body – it really does make you look taller and thinner – I can see this having a significant impact on my posture. I look forward to future sessions.

I also had the delight of a beautiful salad for lunch with cilantro and avocado and tomato and carrots and I gotta tell you I cannot imagine anything more wonderful for lunch! It makes me happy that I am happy eating a salad this is good news.

So here is the scoop:

Excercize 1 hour Pilates

1 cup Tortilla soup with 3 rye crisp (heavy duty whole grain crackers)

1 banana 3 cups decaf coffee with half and half and stevia

Amazing salad with cilantro tomato and avocado

raw cashews

Green protein tablets- something new I am trying

3 rye crisps

½ cup berries

4 oz halibut

Side dinner salad, all veg, no cheese, dressing on side

Green beans

Cherry tomatoes

Glass red wine

3 bites of chocolate cake (at the table for a bday)

All in all a good day. I am standing taller and I loved my food! Here goes day 2!  Thanks for being there on the journey!  

Joelle  

p.s.  If you are taking on something similar in your life I invite you to use this space as your own accountability tool.  Say what you will do and then let us know how it is going! HUGS to you!

Ummm, so, I …uh….. HAVE TOTALLY BEEN FULL OF EXCUSES! 

That’s right! Body of a dancer?  More like body of an easter cream egg! LOL R

ecently I declared that I was taking on creating the body of a dancer and I even went so far as to list all of the actions I believed it was going to take in a previous blog. …..But then it snowed and I sure don’t like to go out in the snow. 

And then the Easter basket from my mom came. I mean, come on, Easter only comes once a year!  And then next thing you know I am drinking caffeinated coffee and scarfing down coconut Hershey kisses at my husband’s office.  BAD COACH!!

But wait… THERE’S MORE!

I even had a conversation with my beloved friend Alexandra on Friday and I made a new commitment – “ I coach Joelle will record the results of my daily commitment on my blog, starting tomorrow.”  That was Friday, yesterday (Monday) Alexandra called to check in on me – was something wrong with her internet or was I just not blogging!.  Lol!

We all have a million reasons not to do all the things we need to do to have what we want in life.  But then, we just get our reasons and we miss out on our life.  So I am committing, once again to recording my practices on the path to having the body  of a dancer in this blog.  I will record, successes, activity, and any break in my commitment (eg. “Ate 5 Easter cream eggs today” – would be a break in my commitment).

I invite you that if you have any feedback or suggestions that might support me, or adjust my action or understanding on the way to “the body of a dancer”. I invite you to comment away. Thank you for your love and support. 

Here’s to feeling like 1,000,000 bucks!

Love,

Joelle

p.s. Today I start Pilates. More details from the day to come!

Friday was a perfect day.

AM massage, picked up some special kidney nurturing food for our little sick old cat Smokey, my car got a long overdue cleaning and I had a luxurious stroll through the new Whole Foods Market that opened up down the street. Ahhh.  I walked into the place and I almost started crying. 

If you have never been to a Whole Foods it is one of those beautiful natural, organically focused grocery stores with a section for natural remedies, aromatherapy and absolutely beautiful prepared foods.  The vegetables and fruits are stacked in neat piles and their brilliance just makes you want to eat healthy.  You will not find coco puffs or count chocula here and you couldn’t pay them to sell you Sweet and Low or Equal.  It is a true inspiration!

When I first moved to Arizona 9 years ago I was introduced to Whole Foods and it was a special treat and a delight for me to visit. 

This new addition to my Cleveland home brings a feeling of peace and abundance to my surroundings. I have a vision for my future that there will be a farmer’s market around the corner from my home, for now, this is a happy interim step.

If you have not done it recently, I invite you to go to the grocery store for an adventure. Don’t go on the way somewhere else or rushing through with a list. Instead, find a beautiful fresh market store like Whole Foods or Sunflower or even a trader joe’s  and just take the time to explore.  See what interesting things they have, find combinations to spread on your toast, find a new favorite tea, pick up a new fruit or vegetable to try.  Be aware of the beauty and abundance we have at our finger tips.  What a gift. Happy Shopping!

Love,

Joelle

Hello gang!

I am delighted to report that I have taken on a new level of commitment in my quest to having the body of a dancer! When I shared this possibility with my dear friend Alexandra Jaye she was inspired to support me and to come along for the ride!  We were on the phone for a good hour on Friday (she in California (sigh) , and me in Cleveland) fleshing out our commitment to our bodies and ourselves and we created some real fun around it! I am so grateful Alexandra is supporting me in this adventure because she is passionate about health and wellness and is a phenomenal athlete. I know I have so much to learn from her.

So here is the latest clarity and action! We are both passionate about movement and self expression so there is a definite focus on bringing dancing and singing and fun into what we are creating for ourselves. Also when Alexandra asked me where I was at in the process and what I knew I needed to do something became very clear to me…

To have the body of a dancer it is not something I can do as an after-thought inside of a busy life. I got clear to have the body of a dancer, to really make it happen, I need to put my life inside of creating the body of a dancer. Another way of saying this is to that I choose to make having the body of a dancer and everything involved with creating that body a number one priority. 

In coaching we talk a lot about “context”, it is the background of the life we are living or where life is coming from.  The context I live in is “creating a delightful life” and as of right now, inside the context creating a delightful life I am creating the overarching context “living into the body of a dancer.” This is a very exciting context for me and a total inspiration that has me excited to go to the gym and passionately making and eating salads!

One other thing that was created out of my conversation with Alexandra is that we are holding a body celebration at the end of our journey to “HOT”.  We have decided that in celebration of our success, when we reach our goal, we will get together for an all-out photo shoot! HOW FUN IS THAT!! Now that is some motivation! I am totally jazzed! T

o give you a little insight on what I am clear to do at the moment to create the body of a dancer, here is what I have so far.

What I know to do:

Sleep – lots of it.

Water – conscious and intentional of consumption.

Vitamins daily and bring mid day and end of day vitamins if I am away from home.

No caffeine – not even when I am hanging out at my husband’s office and not in the form of diet cola. (bye bye caffeine-induced joy )

Carry Stevia on me at all times and have it supplied at home. (If you are unfamiliar with Stevia it is an all natural sweetener and my personal choice when it comes to healthy sweetening options. You can get it at most health food stores.)

No artificial sweeteners – bye bye diet coke.

Follow food plan to a T (see more about this by reading about my adventures with Paul Koros and the Eating for Success ™ program.)

Ample fruits and vegetables and have then chopped and ready to go in the fridge. (just like the spa fridge article from Chef Rachel click here to read)

Alcohol consumption to plan guidelines.  Max 1 drink on weekdays 2 on weekends.

Physical activity daily whether that is going to the gym, taking a class, a brisk walk or jog or dancing in my living room.

First Steps:

Pick up some Stevia (Done)

Contact Dance Studio

Contact Pilates Studio

So that is the latest in my body adventure.  I would love to hear if you have been inspired and have decided to take on something powerful for your body and your vitality. Perhaps you are taking on your own “quest for hot”.  I would love to hear about it so please share what you are up to in the comments below.

As a final note, I am very committed to this plan and having this body. Not as an event in time but as a lifestyle. If you happen to be in my world I invite you to hold me accountable to my commitment. If you happen to see or hear of me doing anything other than what I have said here, call me on it.  Thanks for your support!

Hugs on a beautiful rainy Sunday morning.

Love

Joelle