Well, finally updating my blog for the first time since being diagnosed with Menieres Ear and the effects of it on my hearing.

Today is day 6 of the Tone it Up 3rd Annual Bikini Series and I've done most of the workouts and eating pretty healthy considering I keep getting vertigo episodes. 

It's really hard to cook a healthy meal when your world is spinning! 

So I've made the commitment to myself that on my good days I'm going to rock the workouts has hard as I can because I want to be in the best shape I can be in for my BIG 5-0 Birthday in June! And the only way to do it is to not let the vertigo have control over my every waking hour! 

With this commitment, I also have a new Facebook page that is for the over 35 sisters of the TIU community. There are many out there who don't check in because of the age so this will be our spot for the Beach Babe challenge and all TIU lifestyle work we wish to complete!

Tomorrow is day 7 of the Bikini Series and this is the workout for all of us who are dreaming of our most wonderful dream vacations that require our bikini bodies to be in AWESOME shape!

Official...I have Meniere's Ear

It's been a while since I've posted. Mainly because I've fallen off the Tone It Up wagon completely! Fast Foods. Processed Foods. Ice Cream and very little exercise. Mostly because of these vertigo attacks I keep having and still experience today. I'm having my last pizza today and glass or 2 of wine because I may never be able to indulge my favorite foods.

This is possibly what's going on in my left ear.

Yesterday, went to the audiologist for a hearing test and it was atypical of Menieres. A low frequency hearing loss in my left ear. And there's no cure for it only ways to learn how to cope with it and treatments that may help with the episodes not lasting for so long or the time lapse in between.

So what am I to do?

Change to my life style:

1. More TIU foods, clean lean and green, home made foods

2. More exercise, movement, yoga

3. More quality me time, friend time, boyfriend and family time

4. Less coffee, salt and wine

5. Less processed foods

6. Find more support groups, learn about the disease and how I can use my mind to help my body.

7. Ask my doctor more questions and find a specialist in Menieres.

I'll end here. I'll be sharing my journey through handling Menieres and living the TIU way!

30 Day Ab Challenge

Well, I've done it! I've worked on the store enough to make it accessible to everyone on the web.

Now comes the time to work on my healthy and nutrition while working on finding a new job and keeping the store inventory up to date.

So do this I'm boarding the TIU lifestyle and Strong Like Susan 30-day Ab challenge to give myself a kick in the booty that needs to be kicked. My friend Georgie has the details on her blog:
http://www.diaryofanaspiringbeachbabe.com/2012/08/olympic-team-tiu-challenge-day-6.html

And here are my trainers! Karena on the left and Katrina on the right! They live the lifestyle that they teach and inspire all of the women on FB and on their community to be the BEST that THEY CAN BE!

Fell Off the TIU Challenge Big Time..Here's Why..

Beware! I was a little impulsive with the language and do I apologize.

I am having problems at work. No matter how I perform or improve on my skills and the manager at work has this laundry list of things that I "do wrong" all the time! I saw that the other day and I could reputtable almost everything except for things that have no real details.

I have a coworker that shares my office and she's her little spy, one day months ago telling me that I've put her in a tough situation. NO! She made the decision to be a liar and a backstabber. I don't trust her and will not talk to her except the common courtesies of humanity. She worked off campus today because she knew that the email was coming to request another "performance review meeting that will possibly lead to disciplinary action"! Well we're in a middle of a grievance and shouldn't be doing this and it's basically because she's trying to drive me crazy and out of the department. If she feels like there's not a fit then why not let me into the layoff pool so I can go on temp assignments and continue on working. Especially since I have no confidence in anything I do.

From my FaceBook Page: Fucking mgr wants a performance review and threatening disciplinary action and all the emotions and stress have finally taking it's toll on my relationship with chris..it's done i want someone in my life who can handle all the ups and down with fucking Yale university. I'm tired of this shit, give me time and space to get a new job in another department then I'll be out of your fucking life and you'll be out of mine! I'm not the loser you are Mrs. Manager of the engineering department!

So want to get back into my healthy choices, TIU workouts and feel good about myself again. It's not the University I'm angry with, it's how this person can be so hateful towards me for doing the best job that I can do! It's not like I'm lazy and pushing things off the coworker. She's part of the problem, putting on the laundry list that I'm too emotional. HELLO!?!?! Her boss is threatening me with disciplinary action, of course I would be emotional!

I'm now on another mood drug that I have to take at least once a day at 1/2 the dosage but tomorrow I'll need to take the 1/2 dosage with my other medication just to stay calm! Will I be able to do my job? Probably very slowly and trying to stay awake. The two together get me very droozy so I take them separately and it's something I have to do in order to stay calm.

I miss TIU, all the girls in the family, my friends, my, family, my boyfriend and everything that's positive and good in my life because I can't feel them right now.

My journey will begin again...Bikini season is around the corner! And I want to be hot!

Life Update and 2012 Challenge Arrived!

Good afternoon all!

Well I recovered from a crazy New Year's Eve and wish that Chris and I didn't go to the pub to bring in 2012. Why? I was so drunk that I don't remember anything after I arrived home without Chris! Yes, shouldn't have left him alone because he doesn't remember how he got home either. Somewhere along the line I called his phone and looked up the pub's phone number, don't remember that either.

I do remember pulling off my Christmas present and throwing at the window but I don't really know why I would've been so upset with Chris to do something so disrespectful. I'm really sorry about this latest outburst of anger towards him and disrespecting his home. On top of my new years list is to cut back on the drinking, doesn't mix well with the 20mg of Lexapro I'm on.


Here is the state of the necklace. ;-( as you can see it's in pretty bad shape and thank goodness there's a jewelry bead shop in his town and they'll take good care to fix it better than it was. Thank goodness too when the shop owner took out a few pieces that have a good piece of the design and I chose a piece that most resembles the stone design that they don't have. I've given them permission to replace any stones that are broken with the same or closest that resembles the color etc.

Well to get back to the TIU 2012 Challenge, had my first ever completed 30 min Booty Call at 7:30 am! It was 36 degree and windy! Made it feel like it was in single numbers! I guess we are now into winter.

M1 (Meal 1) - 16oz of water, pumpkin cranberry bread
M2 - Grande Starbucks Pikes Place coffee and a spinach, feta & egg white wrap.
M3 - Grande Starbucks gingerbread latte no whip and last of the bread with ricotta cheese w/stevia topping

Need to print out the TIU grocery list and check pantry, frig for supplies then venture out into the winter cold. May head to my parents to give them the cheese cake left over from New Years dinner, courtesy of brother & his wife. Can't be tempted by having it in my home. I want to get through the next 6 weeks with as little diversion as possible for the most results.

Today was a good step!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you!

I'm really slow on getting my vision board started. There are some many good examples of women who live the life they teach through websites, books and magazines. So that is my first challenge, to complete my vision board by Monday 1/2/2012, that way I have these great women, words and images as inspiration to start my 2012 work week in a positive frame of mind and be in a place where they can't bully me around. It's bad enough that they're burning my bridge without really giving me a chance, no matter how things approve they will never be happy.

So what are my goals for 2012?
1. Start 2012 with the Tone it Up 2012 Challenge, join here
2. Use TIU's nutritional plan and Tosca Reno's blog to learn how to eat and cook clean
3. Exercise using TIU's workout's on their monthly Calendars
4. Start using my membership at the gym, going at least twice a week
5. Go to Bikram yoga once a week to help with the detoxing of
6. Post regular updates on my progress here and on Facebook, to keep with accountability
7. Share inspiring stories that I find in my reading and on Facebook
8. Find a new job out of my current employer if possible, the cause of my stress and my pudgy belly fat
9. Continually share my experience with my friends and family, in hopes of inspiring them to live and eat clean so they can take control of their health and life.

The reason why I'm getting psyched and using all these social media tools is because at 48 1/2, realizing that I'm not 20-something anymore and need to find ways to help me stay motivated and on the path to what I feel on the inside. Most of the time I feel good but that's not enough. I want to feel GREAT!!

I have a job that stresses me out to the point of distraction and anxiety ever present during the work day. I'm on Lexapro to help curb the anxiety and recently it was increased to double strength because I couldn't control my thoughts or feelings. I have a coworker who is the managements spy and tells them everything I do wrong but never the stuff that was more challenging and done correctly.

This is stress is definitely the cause of much of my weight gain because I use so much energy to keep the walls up during the day that by dinner time I'm exhausted and a couch potato. Found TIU last spring and have tried on several occasions the TIU 7-Day Slim Down with some success but always falling off it because of work. The drive thru is so much easier than to cook. Or just snacks on the couch.

My vision is to have a happy, healthy life and body like Tosca Reno has at the age of 52! I have 3 1/2 years to get there but would like to be really close by this summer!

Also with the help of the everyone in the TIU community along with Karen & Katrina out in CA, I know I can get there!
So can you if you believe! Happy New Year! Janice

2012 TIU Challenge is Coming!!!

Hello Everyone!

Yes 2011 is just about done and Tone it UP! is busy working on their 2012 Challenge that is open to sign ups!

Here's the link: Toned in '12! For anyone to sign up for regular newsletters, workouts, and recipes.

Also to get the most of the challenge is to check out their Fat Burning System that works hand in hand with the 2012 Challenge. Their video explains it all, Tone it Up Diet.

Let's ring in 2012 together!