Well as many of you now know, I donated half of my liver to my step father on 1/26/15. Since then, I really can't complain about anything progress wise because I am doing great! They say when you hit that 2 month mark you feel like a new person and boy were they right! I noticed so much happening at that 2 month mark. I noticed myself getting stronger, a lot more energy, more clarity, increased endurance ... I was really just starting to feel like ME again!
With that being said, I have still really been listening to my body and taking it one day at a time. I started easing into my workouts at the 5 week mark, but they were very gentle and modified. I never pushed myself past my limits or went against the advice of my doctors. I knew where my limitations were so I pushed them slightly but never in a reckless manner.
Each week, I push myself a little more and have been on a really great path - feeling just a little stronger everyday. My surgery was done laproscopically, so my abdominals were not cut and I've never had any issues with my incision, so in these aspects, I've been extremely lucky! I've had no issues with doing any of my kick boxing workouts, interval training or hiking. Believe it or not, the most challenging practice to get back into has been my yoga. So many people think yoga is really gentle and it should be easier then those other high intensity workouts but I beg to differ! Yoga is an incredible workout for strength and flexibility. Every move focuses on your core and toning your body. The core work, bending and twisting has been where I really need to listen to my body, modify and go at MY pace. With that being said, yoga also makes me feel my best! It helps me to connect to myself and reduce pain I have from other issues. It really helps me on all levels, so I've been eager to get back to it.
On Saturday, I completed a great yoga session that had me feeling wonderful and I went on about my day. I was out all day walking around and felt completely fine. That night I came home and was sitting on my couch doing some work on my computer. Out of no where I started to get a good amount of pain around my incision. Even though I had done yoga hours ago, it was showing up now. I'm sure it was from all of the stretching and there being some scar tissue present that I need to work through.
Since I haven't had any set backs like this, it was a humbling reminder that my body is still very much healing and I need to respect that. I've backed off my activity, other then some minor walking, for a few days so I can focus on healing. I received the message loud and clear :)
It's also time to brag about some very special challengers - who made some really great progress last week!! You guys know me, there is nothing I love more then to brag about the people around me who are working really hard to change their lives!! Nothing is more inspiring to me :) This week we celebrate these 3 incredible women:
* Ashlie - Dropped 1 whole pant size! Ashlie has been working so hard to implement healthy habits into her life and also eliminate others that are no longer serving her. She walked a total of 15 miles this week and has also been putting a lot of time into getting her vegetable garden ready. Nothing better then being able to go into your backyard to pick your fresh produce! Keep up the awesome healthy work girl!
* Tianna - Yep this isn't the first time you're hearing her name lately and certainly not the last!! Tianna is charging her health right now after having her precious son in October. I admire T so much because she has really not had an easy road. She had a rough pregnancy, and a rough post partum. She is working through a lot of health obstacles to get back to feeling like her again ... and even more awesome :) She is following her meal plan, getting in her workouts and plugging into her accountability group and is now down 8.7lbs!! Girl you are KILLING it and I'm SO proud of you!!
* Aimee - Last, but definitely not least, is Aimee. Aimee has my heart this week, not gonna lie! Aimee has been investing in herself big time! She has seen a lot of progress but she has also seen a lot of frustration and self doubt. She is getting to the root of what she needs to work on to free herself and that's the hardest work of all! However, the hardest work is the most worthwhile and Aimee's hard work is starting to pay off! She just started a new adventure with T25 and is loving it! She is also eating well, investing in her personal development and checking in with her accountability partner regularly! She is setting herself up to win :) I'm so proud of all of the hard work you've done to get her Aimee - don't you ever stop!!
Are you wanting to create YOUR success story but don't know where to start, please reach out to me at heatherchristine312@gmail.com or Facebook.com/heather.dalton.754
You don't have to do it alone and it doesn't have to be so hard :)
This week was such an incredibly powerful one! I am in the middle of yet another spiritual shift, and there are so many profound things happening in my life. I have really been connecting to Reiki and meditation. For those of you who are not familiar with Reiki, it is a Japanese word used to describe a system of healing that is based on energy.
Rei - is the term used to describe the creative mind and the creative expression of "God." Everything is Rei; all that you see, smell, taste, touch, feel and hear. Rei is creation and simultaneously you know within your heart you are part of it.
Ki - is the vital energy that fuels creation, Life Force Energy. Ki powers the motion of the universe. It is the force that animates everything from a field mouse to an exploding star. It is also known in other traditions as prana or chi. Ki flows through our channels in our electromagnetic bodies supplying us, literally, with our life force energy.
In essence, Reiki is love. It can be highly effective in treating: Stress, anxiety, issues from the past, releasing pain, connecting with yourself, eliminating disease, and so much more.
I have known for a number of years that I was put on this planet to be a healer. I became a certified massage therapist after I received the message I was a healer in Maui, while receiving a massage on the beach. This was no ordinary massage though, he used a didgeridoo to send healing vibrations all over my body, which put me into a profound state of relaxation. I left that session knowing I was supposed to heal people on some level. After I received my certification, I went on to work at a few spas but that was never my calling. I loved the connection I made with my clients and especially loved performing reflexology.
I moved on from doing massage as a career because it was exhausting and hard to make a living from. It started to drain my passion and I knew it was time to move on.
I am currently a health coach with a mind, body, spirit approach. I love to help my clients really thrive on all levels and that includes work in many areas of their life. I have found my way into this new modality of healing, and it has opening so many doors for me. It has also put me on the path to being the healthiest I've ever been physically and mentally.
I have now known for some time that something else was going to present itself to me ... I could just feel it!! I knew there was still something I was supposed to be doing and again I have received the message loud and clear!! I have now been called to become a Reiki instructor and I couldn't be more excited.
I will be taking Reiki One next month with my Reiki mentor, Loretta Brown in Seattle. I have no doubt that this will open so many spiritual doors for me and I just can't wait to see where this takes me. Stay tuned for updates on my spiritual journey :)
Because of this powerful shift, I'm noticing so many blessings in my business too. My clients are really pumped and charging their health! There is an awesome energy going on right now and people are just straight up kicking butt!!! This week I could not select just one Challenger of the Week because so many of them are rocking. I want to give a shout out to 4 very special people this week:
* Christine Spies - Just kicked off April with the 3 Day Refresh and dropped 3.8lbs and fit into an old pair of jeans ... how exciting is that!! I know we all have an old pair of jeans we'd love to fit into!
* April - Just flew out of the gates and week one with her new health plan, lost 6lbs!! She even had a birthday this week!! Girl I'm so proud of you - keep up the amazing work!!
* Tianna - Not to be outdone, Tianna rocked week one of her plan too, losing 6.7 lbs!! Wow girl :)!! Tianna just had a baby in Oct and is really dedicated to feeling like herself again. I admire your determination and know you are going to crush your goals!!
* Carlos - He is just my hero :) Carlos has a really huge goal of losing 100lbs and I'm so pumped to say he's just about half way there! He is so motivating and inspiring it fills my heart weekly! We talk every week and every week I'm just so proud of his determination!!
Nothing compares to seeing these amazing people conquer their excuses and their goals!! Is it always easy? No! But they all have and amazing fitness plan, nutritional plan and support!!
Do you want to create YOUR success story? Don't wait a second more!! Start taking one step at a time today - you don't have to do it alone! Reach out to me at heatherchristine312@gmail.com
