My Fuel, December 28, 2011

My fuel
Christmas 2011
December 28, 2011
By Gina Yoryet Roman



This Christmas was very peaceful and quiet which gave me time to reflect a little on all of 2011’s happenings and to yearn spending time with all the members in my family.
Every holiday season two or three of us get together but we are so far apart and some have their own families that it can never be all of us.
I picture my niece and nephews, all those cute little bundles of terror monkeying around in the living room, destroying everything that comes their way, screaming in laughter and having fun worry free in their own innocent way.

I also close my eyes and envision my sisters and I, going to a professional photographer and taking pictures together, the five of us, all the ladies in the family, forever engraving the image of just us in our hearts and going back twenty years ago when we would lend each other our shoes, our dresses and skirts, when we used to sleep on the same bed because we were terrified of the dark, being there for each other when we used to sneak out the window when my parents didn’t let us go out at late hours and endless memories.

All those priceless momentos of my childhood wouldn’t be complete without them because they are the only ones who know me like the palm of their hand, the only ones who have been there for me all my life and the only women who will stand out for me till the end of time.

This warm season also took me back to some time ago when I asked God to lift me up and help me be the person he wants me to be so I could help others.


But the most meaningful thought was that despite my desire to look and feel better physically and possess and accomplish more in life, I’m very satisfied with writing, with my fitness goals and most of my short term goals that have been met and the long-term ones that are still in the works.

And one of the many things that fulfilled me throughout 2011 were all the meaningful comments (I wish I would’ve kept them all) people posted on my articles.
Although I'd never expressed how grateful I am, those words pierced right through my soul, they are what has kept me going and motivates me more…
They are my fuel.

Among those words, I only got a not so positive comment once but not about my writing, it was more about not having an interest in reading my posts but for the most part, all of them have been great.
When I wrote “Be Thankful for the Simple Life,” last November, a friend of mine called me crying because she was so touched by my writing.

I was like WOW! I never thought that my writing would make such an impact on someone…
Another one of my clients and a woman I am very fond of left me a voice mail once telling me how much she enjoyed all my posts.

I even got two comments from O. P., someone I don’t even know but takes the time to read and add commentaries about my writing!

Those wonderful people are my drive, what else could I ask for?...


From: RV
To: GYR
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 9:37 PM
Subject: Feliz Navidad!
Hola Yoryet!

Wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I enjoy reading your essays, so please keep up the writing.

From: AW
To: GYR
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 9:06 PM
Subject: RE: December sixteen
Hi my dear, For sure you are a wonderful writer. I am very proud to know you and I know that someday I will say that I knew her when.
I hope that you have a wonderful Holiday! Take care of yourself and I wish you great things for 2012!
AW

From: ER
To: GYR
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: The Simple Life
Yoryet,

This is nice... hope you have had a great Thanksgiving

Miss you...

Regards,
ER


From: AM
To: GYR
Sent: Fri, June 10, 2011 12:08:46 PM
Subject: Re: Do life experiences define the “I” now
Wow, you're such a great writer Yoryet. Your an inspiration. It sounds like you've really grown to love living in Mexico. I think it's great that your so involved in your community.
Yoryet. You were a good friend and have good memories of us hanging out.
God Bless
AM

Chronicles of my workout routines (January 1st, 2011)

Chronicles of my workout routines (January 1st, 2011)
December 27, 2011
By Gina Yoryet Roman


This post was originally written on January first 2011 but it was never posted until now. The reason why I held off this long is because in 2012 my routines will be taken one step further, work towards one of my fitness goals; get more toned up, keep at my current weight and gain a little more muscle at the same time…

Foregoing the things that we are passionate about can be one of the most shattering experiences in life because they are what keeps one going, and that is exactly what fate was holding for me a year and half ago. (perhaps was it my negligence for treating my body like an animal?)

Running had to be put back on the back burner because of runner’s knee, a decrease in skeletal muscle mass as we age.

Long distance running is the perfect therapy to deal with grief for a hard core runner. Although as of sometime in July or August of last year (2010) I took a “short” break from running due to Sarcopenia, a severe injury - age related loss of muscle, that forced break has lengthened a lot more than expected.

I desired with all my heart to go back into action and compete again sooner rather than later, yet life is full of setbacks and little did I know that running had to be forgotten perhaps forever.

And so I had to look for other activities to complement or practically replace running and release all the frustration, anger, stress, anxiety and all the bad vibes and get in better shape.

And so it happened. Even though I am not nearly fitness model looking, I feel in the best shape ever…

December sixteen

December sixteen
By: Gina Yoryet Roman
December 16, 2011



Number one thing to do was to turn off my phone as soon as my alarm went off and go M. I .A. (Missing in Action)this particular day.

The last few December 16th’s, I’ve spent them meditating (for whatever that means because I can never sit still for long), or at least reflecting in the privacy of my space – the four concrete walls that know me more than anyone else and those which have witnessed the very best and worst of me. Those concrete blocks that know my inner nature, my downfalls, my crisis, my joyful moments, my drive, they sense my frustration, my bad vibes, my ups and downs, and they never tire of monitoring me, they will always be there so willing to listen without uttering a single word when I tell them that the more I try to know, the more mysterious life becomes.

Those walls that watch my grip and my fingers move as I type every week. They stare back at me when I gaze at them to come up with new ideas every time lack of motivation hits me. So the last couple of days I’ve been thinking about last year when I first got committed to writing every week, it’s happened but I’d never written on a December 16 ever before so I am wrapping up my day writing.

With this in hand, I thought about some of the best gifts and commitments “I” can give to “Me,” Number one is to keep up with my regular workout routines until I can no longer move, perhaps if I live till I am 85, 90, I will still find a way to keep exercising.
Number two (among a few others), writing, since that is one of my greatest passions in life. I’ve loved writing as far back as I can remember. Since I learned how to form my first words, I’d always write, my journal was always my most faithful companion. When I was in college I would always write so eagerly, writing was my favorite class which was something to always look forward to. And I still have some of my latest writing since my arrival here. Nevertheless, I never thought that some day I’d write for a magazine or a newspaper and that traces of my writing would be left every where I’ve been.

That’s why this December 16, I concluded that all those traces of writing will become one. My biography…
But what will my main theme be to begin shaping up the puzzle? Will it be possible to talk about specific circumstances that will re-open wounds and make my heart bleed again? Will I bear talking about my two greatest loves in life? Would it be a good idea to mention my fears and flaws? Which by the way I’ve always been very cautious about not mentioning since anything one says can be used against one.
Will I be inspired to talk about my goals? Will I be able to accomplish one of my most desired goals in my journey? Will I be able to talk about my strengths and weaknesses? Will my happiest moments be part of that one piece of writing to make it whole?

And so January first, 2012 will be my landmark.
Perhaps my drive will be “Atlas,” The Greek ´Primordial Titan bearing the heavens. That amazingly looking God holding the entire world from not falling. Atlas´ strength is something everyone would envy because even though he is trembling, down on his knees, his arms getting weak, he somehow makes the greatest effort and manages to hold the world with the last of his strength.

Sometimes I feel like Atlas, especially when my world seems to be going down and when I’ve felt like giving up, I hold on to my universe even in the midst of chaos, tragedies, when I take two steps forward but it really feels as if I took three steps back, when I’ve been able to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, the fact that I’ve taken the less traveled road when I am in a labyrinth of solitude surrounded by pessimism, negativity, rage, frustration and all the negative feelings to think of.

Even when I’ve wanted to vanish from earth, I’ve still managed to get a hold of my world just like Santiago in the Alchemist, at the beginning of the book, there’s a scene where he’s walking and holding a spoon with a seed in the middle trying to keep his balance. The seed symbolizes him, standing lost in his world (the spoon), not knowing where to go and trying to keep his balance to not fall into the abyss. He goes in search of his dreams and find happiness and he doesn’t cease until he finds them. .

The same way Atlas and Santiago are able to stay intact regardless of their pain or the obstacles lying ahead, they are not daunted by these tiny mental matters.
Perhaps I will only give up when the last river has been poisoned, when the last star in the sky has disappeared, when the last tree has been cut, when the last human being has died, when the world comes to an end, when the last fish has been caught, when the last cockroach has been killed, when the last fly has vanished, when the last computer has been invented, when people stop lying cheating on each other and taking advantage of one another, when the last wicked human being has died,

Perhaps when I have expired then will I stop holding on to my world and fighting my battle, just like one true warrior I've known all my life...

Ralph Waldo Emerson
What Lies Behind Us and What Lies Before Us are Tiny Matters Compared to What Lies Within Us

Georgia O'Keeffe
I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.

Killing Us Softly

Killing Us Softly
December11, 201
By Gina Yoryet Roman

There was this article in yahoo news a few days ago in which Jessica Beil was quoted about dieting. Maybe she meant to project the message differently but she was literally complaining about always being hungry because of all the diets she has tried causing some resentment and making it impossible for her to stop obsessing with food.

She confessed that she really suffers with the ongoing depriving diets which don’t permit her to splurge on all the goodies she likes. She sounded very miserable for not being able to eat.

According to Jessica, “You spend months and months training and dieting like crazy, it is the toughest experience, you look amazing but you are miserable, I literally dream about food because you normally eat tedious and boring food such as chicken breast and vegetables all the time when in reality all you crave is bread, pasta, croissants, that is all you think about.”

She also expressed her disgust on Hollywood’s expectations of women and how demanding it is for females to maintain themselves on the borderline of falling into an eating disorders.
The pressure has always been there but it keeps getting more and more competitive, and on top of that, there will always be a glass ceiling in Hollywood as far as men and women. The media is not as hard on men as it is “ok” if they have a belly and are bald headed, even gray hair can be considered sexy in “mature” men but women cannot let those things happen.

That is one of the many reasons why all female celebrities as well as almost every woman are willing to do whatever it takes to be thin without realizing that they take things to the extreme.

Female celebrities neglect to understand that fame is “Killing Them Softly,” or I should say, they let themselves fall into this Hollywood fantasy image, they keep up with the expectations until their body can’t take it any longer. They fall on denial neglecting to see that all they’re doing is sabotaging their image.

What woman doesn’t want to be thin and beautiful? But things are very extreme taking into account that the profile of a typical woman on tv is far from real.
About 95% perhaps more famous women don’t look human anymore because of a number of plastic surgeries and on top of that the images are photo shopped.

This can have a negative impact especially among teenagers as the suicide rate keeps increasing dramatically because more young adults are starting to develop eating disorders in desperate search of the best method to be thin and attractive.
Ever since I got into Health and Fitness I’ve been all for eating healthy, looking and feeling good but within a limit. Leading a healthy lifestyle backing that with an active life is one of the best gifts you can give to “YOU.”

I’d have to disagree with Jessica Beil though. She’s exaggerating a bit too much because there isn’t any need to diet, never, not a single time in life. It is not as dramatic as she made it sound. Another thing that people don’t want to understand is that when someone chooses to adopt a healthy lifestyle, it doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless. I always look at my food and working out the same way I look at the clothes I wear, I mix them, match them and see which one gives me better results and it is actually a ton of fun.

I cannot think of a single time of my life when I’ve gone into a diet, I do go through moments where I pamper myself though and I release the craving beast within. Of course I feel the guilt trip immediately after that but in reality I am worry free because those calories will vanish sooner or later.

And although one of the most depressing factors in life for me is NOT having anything to eat, I’ve never been obsessed with food, I get my hands on anything whenever I want it as frequently as I want it and problem solved.
Many women look at it from a different perspective, they strongly believe that the extra weight is going to disappear right away, they think that dieting is momentary but in reality, it is a lifetime habit.

Sometimes women don’t see that we are all shaped differently and they get frustrated when they cannot get the same results as the women who come out on tv.
They waste a lot of time, money, energy and effort trying to look like someone else and they also let themselves be deceived by many myths that should’ve been debunked long ago for good.

Let’s say for instance when an amazingly fit woman comes out on tv advertising diet pills or this magic gel that will make your muffin top disappear without even having to lift a finger.
The first thing that goes into women’s minds when they see this woman is, “I’m going to buy that product and I am going to look like her within a week!” and they get frustrated when they don’t get the expected results.

We all have different metabolisms, bodily needs, lifestyles, demands, so we have to make the best of what we have.
I strongly believe that we as women should never imitate other women and we shouldn’t let ourselves be killed softly by society’s high demands. I always go by these fitness rules to avoid being hungry and feeling frustrated.

1) If you crave it, eat it (just watch the frequency).
2) Don’t let those calories creep on your love handles, get up, stay active, keep moving.
3) Watch the portions but first and foremost, be loyal to your health which doesn’t mean that you have to starve all the time.