Strong

It is Day 17 of my challenge. I have gone to class every single day except for the first Saturday and Sunday of the first week, and that was because my work schedules on both of those days directly conflicted with the class schedule. However, I am determined to make up for those two days lost by doing two-a-days. Not sure when that will happen..but I am already so much stronger. People are watching me in class to correct their own form. I feel healthy, which is the best part.

I'm pretty sure this is going to be a life-long practice. I don't think I'll be able to stop going once I'm finished with this challenge. I will have to find a studio closer to home after my 30 day membership expires.

It was actually pretty ironic that the Groupon I bought back in February could only be redeemed at a specific location.

There are some coincidences in life that are just too ridiculous. I mean, what are the odds?

Anyway.

Bye.

Day 2. I am sore.

Felt nauseous in class yesterday. Went to the 9:30 am class instead of the 6am. I probably wasn't hydrated enough. I also didn't have my N.O. Intensity or L-Carnitine before class. I also was directly under the heater. I had to take a couple 30 second breaks throughout the class, but overall I think I did fairly well. On a scale of 1-10 I'd say my personal performance in class yesterady was a 5. I want to get to a 10 by the end of this 30 days. Nay, an 11.

I HATE THE HALF LOTUS POSE!!! Full lotus is ok, but half lotus completely killed my forearms. I could barely grip a tub of protein powder at work. I also hate camel pose. I can get into it just fine but I feel like it's really bad for my neck and that at any second it is going to snap like a twig and the thought of it breaking makes me sick. Our instructor did say though that because camel pose is so constricting for your spine, it will stimulate your nervous system and might cause an emotional reaction. It's crazy how the human body works. We have millions of tiny little emotion deposits all throughout our body - and occasionally we tap into them, and everything just breaks loose.

I vividly remember an experience I had at the chiropractic office shortly after my roll-over car accident. I was on my stomach and he proceeded to simply touch several points up and down my body, most of them along my spine, but he also touched several points on my knees, ankles, and ribcage. There was a place he touched very lightly, in the middle of my back, and it didn't hurt at all, but I immediately started crying. It was the strangest thing. He told me he it happens a lot and he still doesn't have an explanation for it. He simply triggered a physical part of my body that was linked to emotion that as soon as it was barely touched, caused instant waterworks... Only I wasn't just crying. I felt sorrowful. These weren't just "I didn't pass Spanish class" tears; I was crying tears of deep, deep despair. I fully believe that emotional pain and physical pain are very closely linked - if not one and the same. Anyway.

Camel pose. I hate it. Blech.

I will say this though, when I woke up this morning, I felt like my entire spine had been shifted an inch to the right. I looked in the mirror though, and realized that my posture is actually much improved. It's been hard for me to slouch today. My muscles don't want to slouch, they are more comfortable when my spine is aligned. And vice versa. Crazy, right?

I hope I can do this 30 days in a row. I wonder if I need to take a day or two off to let my muscles relax and heal - but Bikram yoga itself is SO healing and amazing already, and it's not like I'm doing any heavy lifting - I'm simply performing a series of postures that require an immense amount of concentration, flexibility and muscle control in a sweltering hot room with 25 other people.

I definitely need to take the N.O. Intensity before class today though. It was almost a completely different workout for me yesterday. My intensity level was down, I wasn't nearly as flexible, and I fatigued more easily than I had before.

So. Lesson learned. Off to class 3!

Day One: The New Leaf

As promised, here I am today. I just got back from my first 90 minute Bikram Yoga class.

Well, I was actually only there for about 65 minutes - I thought the class started at 6:30 but it started at 6. Fortunately the instructor was kind enough to let me in through the side door. As I stood there, yoga mat in hand, she turned to the class and said, "Do we want to let this one in or do you think we should tell her to turn back now while she has the chance?" To which I replied, "I would love nothing more than to come in, please." She smiled, and stepped aside. As I entered the sweltering heat, I could feel my muscles begin to loosen. My N.O. Intensity kicked in and within minutes, I was drenched in sweat.

Wow.

I am proud to say, I stuck through it all, didn't have to take a break, and despite the fact I found out I was on a cooler side of the room, I remained drenched in sweat for the duration of those glorious final 65 minutes.

I calculated it out - I burned about 865 calories this morning. If I had gotten there for the whole time, I would have burned about 1065 calories.

Needless to say, it was the best workout of my life and I can't wait for tomorrow morning.

I made sure to hydrate myself thoroughly before, during, and after class. I downed two servings of coconut water immediately after class and could almost feel the electrolytes shooting through my limbs, saturating my burning, exhausted muscles with health and wellness.

MAN can you tell I'm pumped? 29 more days to go. I have a feeling I just might have to do this for the rest of my life. I have never felt more connected to my body, more alive and more exhausted in all my life.


This Morning's Routine
*Click on bolded supplements to get a link to the products I used!*
-Woke up 5:20 am
-Had 1tbsp. of NOW Foods Liquid L-Carnitine 1000mg, Citrus, 16 ounce
-Took my multivitamin, New Chapter Perfect Energy Tablets, 36-Count and my antioxidant, focus formula New Chapter Lifeshield Mind Force, 60 Count
-Drank 1 serving N.O. Intensity with 1tbsp Twinlab Amino Fuel Anabolic Liquid Amino Acids, Mass, 2 Pound (Pack of 2)


I love that I feel this great and awake and accomplished and it's not even 9am.

This leaf? This new one, right now? I like it. It's pretty.

What Starts Tomorrow

The Challenge: Practice Bikram yoga for 30 days straight.

The Challenger: Ellyn Elizabeth Heald


The Objective: Get to know just how good my body is designed to feel.


Tools allowed: Besides willpower and the grace of God? Nutritional supplements.


I'll do a detailed post about which supplements I'll be taking, but it's pretty simple:

-Whole Food Multivitamin by New Chapter
-Omega 3.6.9 Oil by Udo's
-L-Carnitine by NOW
-Amino Fuel by Twinlab
-Lean 1 Protein Powder by Nutrition 53
-HGH 3x by Ultraplan (night-time fatburner)
-N.O. Intensity by X-Rated (Nitric Oxide for pre-workout)

I am STOKED to use the N.O. Intensity before my Bikram class tomorrow morning (at 6:30 am...) I've been using it for my at home yoga workouts and it makes SUCH a difference. I wasn't a believer in pre-workouts before I, you know, tried them, and I can tell you now I never want to work out without the N.O. Intensity. In short, it increases blood flow and gives you AMAZING controlled, steady energy for about two hours. I take a scoop of delicious Cherry Lime flavored N.O. Intensity, mix with water, and half an hour later I am ready to go. I have noticed I am much more flexible with the N.O. mix; the arginine dilates your blood vessels thus improving circulation and promoting flexibility.

I'll be posting pictures and I hope a few videos along this challenge.

Even if no one else is out there reading this, I'm glad I'm doing this on here. Putting it out in the open, even if it's for my eyes only.

Must get to bed! Gotta get up early.


"The early worm catches the worm." -Michael Scott

A New Chapter

All right so, part of my job is to educate myself and others on nutrition as well as the right products for them. I've come to the conclusion that there are 3 essential supplements everyone should have in their pantry, no matter what level of health they may be at currently. They are:

1) A high potency whole food multi-vitamin. The reason: Unless you eat and drink all organic products, you're probably not getting an adequate amount of vital nutrients necessary to your overall health and vitality. It's the basic foundation for health on which you can layer everything else.

New Chapter is my favorite brand of supplements and they are coming out with a new multi-vitamin that looks AMAZING.
It's called "Perfect Energy."

I encourage you to check out their website and read up on all their products, but honestly I cannot sing their praises any higher. They are organic, holistic, mindful of the environment, and devoted to complete and total health.

2)Omega-3 Supplement The reason: Read my previous entry "Face Fats" for a more in-depth explanation of why this is such a vital supplement to take every single day. I would have put it as number 1 but for this entry I felt like going in alphabetical order.

Omega-3's are the main structural components of every cell in our body. They improve our skin's elasticity and vibrancy, they make our hair shine, our eyes bright, lower 'bad' cholesterol and raise 'good' cholesterol, improve brain function, lubricate our joints, reduce inflammation, assist circulation, and can even aid in weight loss. In short, we all need it. A good rule of thumb is to take 1 tablespoon per every 50 pounds of bodyweight every day. Don't worry if you don't get it exactly every day - the more the better. My brand of choice? Udo's. All the way.

New Chapter also makes a fantastic Omega-3 supplement from salmon oil. Don't worry, New Chapter has their own sustainable 'farm' of salmon in Alaska. Don't be alarmed by the term 'farm' though. They really just have a section of the ocean they fish in and make sure the salmon reproduce at a greater rate than they fish. Also, the oil they harvest from their salmon is among the purest, richest fish oil in the world. Ideal for people who don't want to have to fuss with a liquid, and this specific formula also contains the Omega's 5,6,7, and 9. Ladies: Omega-7 is Amaaaaziiinnng for soft skin and hair. Just sayin ;)

And finally, 3) Something for inflammation, like TURMERIC. The reason: every body has inflammation. When you get out of bed and reach for your phone, you are stretching your muscles and bones and creating inflammation. Obviously, poor posture, repetitive physical movements (like typing on a keyboard) lack of stretching and poor circulation also contribute to inflammation. Enter: Turmeric. It's the wonder-curry of India, where incidentally, practically NO ONE has arthritis. Coincidence? I think not. So, a good inflammation product? Anything from New Chapter.
They so strongly believe in the power of Turmeric that they put it in practically everything they make, including the multi-vitamin. Specifically though, I'm gonna tell you to check out Zyflamend. The box makes it look like it's for joint pain, but even if you don't experience joint pain, you should still take it because it's good for your body.

Zyflamend contains supercritical (holistic, pure) extractions of Turmeric. This means that you're not just getting one phyto-chemical or 'active ingredient' from the spice. You're getting it all. Take twice a day, with meals. Fantastic. Your body will thank you.

Welp, there you have it. Now, while taking these 3 supplements alone will not create perfect health instantly, it will certainly get you well on your way.

Well, that's it. Hope all is well with you, my lovelies.



Oh, would it be all right if I asked everyone to give some input to this blog? Maybe make suggestions or requests for product reviews or natural cures for specific ailments? I'm just trying to get more writing ideas for you all. :)

Love!

Face Fats.

You're driving to work, as usual. You accelerate to the on-ramp of the highway. Your car jerks, sputters, then continues to accelerate. Driving along, you attempt to change lanes, but your car stalls, chokes, and dies. Stranded on the shoulder of the highway, you glance at your mileage and realize it's been over 20,000 miles before you got your oil changed.

Now, chances are no one would ever go 20,000 miles on their car without changing the oil. It's common knowledge that vehicles require regular maintenance: ever 3-5000 miles there's an oil change, tire pressure needs to be checked, alignment corrected, and electrical wiring needs to be inspected that it's functioning correctly. This is common knowledge and it's expected of every car owner to know these things and pay attention to the needs of their vehicle.

Most people take better care of their cars than they do of their bodies. If the light on the dashboard of your car came on to indicate that the oil needed to be changed, you wouldn't turn off the light and say, "There! Oil changed." You have to actually fix the root of the problem. So it is with our bodies.

Research has shown us that there are 50 different factors the body requires to function properly and maintain good health. Forty-five of these factors are nutrients: 20 or 21 vitamins, 13 minerals, 8 amino acids and 2 essential fatty acids, a source of energy (most commonly starch or glucose); water; oxygen; and light. Our body cannot make this factors on its own and therefore these factors must come from our surroundings.

As you've probably guessed, this post is going to be about the fats (the oils).

"Are you a good fat, or a bad fat?"

Now this might get a bit technical, but bear with me. Health is very precisely defined and built on the level of molecules, and ALL diseases are rooted in the behavior of molecules on the the molecular level. The fats that heal have different molecular structures than those that kill. Yes, contrary to popular belief in the 1990's, not all fats are bad.

On the molecular level, fats for the most part look the same. A string of carbon atoms linked to hyrdogen, with a methyl ending (don't worry about the technicality of this unless you're into biochemistry). A fatty acid molecule looks like a caterpillar, and the more squinched up and bent the caterpillar, the better the fat.

Butyric acid (butter) looks like a straightened out caterpillar on the molecular level. This means that it is not fluid, and has a tendency to aggregate with other fatty molecules. The result? Sticky, sticky blood.

Butter and margarine are considered what are called saturated fats. Saturated fats are those that are solid at room temperature. They are also solid at body temperature, meaning they do not pass through the arteries easily and can cause blockages. Saturated fats get their name from how they look on the molecular level; they are saturated with hydrogen molecules.

Enter the good guys. The UNsaturated fats, or even better, the POLYunsaturated fats or SUPERunsaturated fats. These are the guys like olive oil, safflower oil and flax oil. Fats that move fluidly through the bloodstream and do not bind to each other (this is because unsaturated fats are slightly negatively charged and repel each other in the blood stream).

So why do we need these good fats? Fatty acids are the main components of membranes that surround all cells and the smaller cells within the cell, the organelles (couldn't you tell?)
Now, "highly unsaturated fatty acids attract oxygen, help generate electrical currents, and help transform light energy into electrical energy, and then into nerve impulses."

Just like the oil in your car makes it run smoothly, the fatty acids in our bodies allow us to function properly. Without them, we would become very, very sick and die prematurely (not to freak you out or anything..)

Don't call me Fatty!
The number one killer in America is heart disease. Is it any surprise then that Americans are the number one consumers of saturated fats and nutrient-impoverished food in the world? Something to chew on.

It would be really easy for me to get off topic right now but I'll stick to the task at hand. Addressing healthy fats.

The fats that heal contain unsaturated fatty acids, which makes them liquid oils. These fats are the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's). Omega 3's are the most important in the family of EFA's because we cannot produce them on our own. These fats help keep our arteries supple, help carry oxygen through our blood, and can help ward off free radicals (ailing cells).

Vindicating the Snake-Oil Salesman

The term 'snake oil salesman' is usually equated with charlatans, con men, peddlers and quacks. The term is quite popular among those who administer 'professional' drug-oriented medicine. However, it was recently discovered that the oil of the Chinese water snake is the richest source of EPA. EPA is an Omega 3 with enormous health benefits. It is anti-inflammatory, lowers bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol, and promotes healthy skin, hair and nails. The next richest source of EPA is salmon oil.

Traditional use of snake oil has been proven to be therapeutic. However, modern medicine still refuses to acknowledge its benefits. Ironically, the symbol of modern medicine is the staff of Hygeia with a snake coiled around it....

More to come later...
This is an immense topic and I've barely scratched the surface. Consider this the first installment in a series. If you just can't wait and want to know more, check out the book "Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill" by Udo Erasmus. Consider it essential reading for anyone concerned about their health.

Ta for now!

"Good, Good, Good, Good Hydration."

Greetings all! Staying warm this winter? Talk about a doozie - here in Arizona the temp dropped 30 degrees in one night. Now I might be a bit of a cold weather wimp, but 30 degrees with a 20mph wind is just NOT comfortable. Desert dog as I am though, I do love the cold. It's invigorating and refreshing and the perfect complement to a cup of steaming hot Earl Grey tea, of which I am also quite a big fan. It does however, also do quite a number on your skin. Dry, chapped lips and cracked hands are synonymous with winter, and it's a constant battle to retain your body's most precious resource: its own moisture.

Now we all know about creams and chapstick and salves and lotions, but we've got all of those. What else can we do? Enter my new best friend: Coconut water.

Apart from being naturally delicious and ridiculously hydrating, coconut water is universally recognized as one of the most beneficial health tonics in existence. Because it is naturally high in potassium and magnesium, drinking 8oz of coconut water a day is enough to replenish electrolytes lost during exercise. Consequently, the potassium and magnesium is extremely beneficial for those who suffer from muscle cramps, twitches and spasms (all symptoms of a magnesium deficiency). Here's some more fun facts about my new favorite beverage:
-Coconut water is more nutritious than milk as it has less fat and no cholesterol.
-Coconut water is better than processed baby milk formulas - it contains lauric acid, a nutrient found in mother's breast milk
-Coconut water is naturally sterile as the water is naturally filtered through the husk.
-A natural isotonic, coconut water contains the same amount of electrolytes as human blood, allowing it to fully replenish and rehydrate the body. It can also be used as a substitute for plasma in blood transfusions!
-Coconut water helps to flush toxins out of the body while helping to carry more oxygen and nutrients to the cells
-It is pH balanced, and is a great cure for dehydration headaches (aka hangovers...)
-The list goes on...

My favorite coconut water brand I've tried is C20, hands down. I liked VitaCoco and ONE, but C20 tastes the best and you get the most for your money.

To sum up, drink coconut water. Just do it. You'll thank me later.

Things that matter, that I didn't remember mattered.

So, one of the most important things to me is being in shape. When I'm not in shape I feel lazy, lethargic, ugly, uninspired and generally unattractive. I'm currently not in shape. I used to work out at least once a day, sometimes twice a day. There have been a lot of changes and upheavals in my life (e.g. moving twice, making the decision not to return to school so I could work full time and pursue acting, relationships, etc.) and generally, I'm the type of person that tends to handle stressful situations by taking a nap. I'm not a confrontational person, I'm a peacemaker. So when it comes to confronting myself about my own shortcomings and bad habits, I let myself down easy because heaven forbid I get angry with myself. I don't like being angry, I think it's completely unproductive. Besides, this book I've been reading says I need to comfort the 'inner child' within and stop criticizing myself because really, on the inside, I'm still a hopeful little 4 year old girl with a skinned knee and a tear in her Sunday dress, desperate for approval.

Now, whether or not you're on board with the whole 'connecting to your inner child' idea or not, I do firmly believe there is something to be said for approving of yourself. Honestly, how many of you out there get up in the morning, go to the mirror and say, "Wow! I sure am attractive! I absolutely love everything about myself." Probably not many of you. And for those of you who do, send me a message on how to bottle your optimism and I will make you a very generous offer.

For years and years I've battled with a voice in my head that told me I needed to be just a little bit more skinny and a little bit less curvy. Let's call that voice Degrading Danielle. Danielle thinks that if I ever want to be an actress, I should have a thinner face, skinnier hips and a perfect smile. Danielle thinks that if I ever want my talent to shine on stage, I have to get rid of my physical distractions like my curvy hips and chest. Danielle thinks that I should be a standard size to fit the standard dress, and every day that I neglect to work out or eat right is an absolute and utter failure which just sends her over the edge and oh she just hammers into me. Danielle constantly compares herself to other girls and can very easily sink into depression if she feels inadequate.

Then there's Approving Anne. She looks in the mirror and sees a beautiful girl, loved and admired and tremendously talented. She encourages me each and every day that it's a good thing I'm different, and that the worst thing I could do would be to try to be like someone else. She laughs in the face of failure and just says, "Oh well! Now what did we learn?" She is bold and creative, and always has something insightful to say. She is however, lazy as all get out. She would rather stay in bed than get up early in the morning to do her yoga. When she's bored she likes to snack on things, which really pisses off Danielle, who says that being too accepting and approving is just a recipe for mediocrity, and that if Ellyn ever wants to get anywhere she needs to start taking serious action and beat herself down every day until she gets the message that she's simply not ready. Danielle is fed up with Ellyn and thinks she should give up on her dream. Anne quietly stands in the corner, smiling and saying,"Tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it."

I got the idea of naming the voices in my head from a fellow blogger, Stella, whose latest entries inspired me to make this one. So who do I listen to? I try to appease them both, but I've found that just getting up and moving is the swiftest way to see things clearly and think like only Ellyn can think. Working out has become my outlet, and it's incredible how much better, how much more alive I feel.

I did an hour and a half of yoga two days ago, walked for an hour yesterday, and did another 30 minute cardio workout today. I pampered myself last night and treated my hair to a coconut oil masque. This morning my skin is clearer than it's been in weeks, and my hair seems to be happy too.

What about you? What's your outlet? And what kind of voices do you listen to every day?