Blog Posts

the path of the new year 2018 and reflections on the year behind us 2017.

1/1/2018

It’s that time of year for reflecting, cleaning, and planning! We all love it, right? Or maybe not? For the past few days we have been cleaning up from the holidays, taking down decorations, vacuuming up pine needles (and my tree isn’t even real), doing laundry from traveling up north to IL, putting away stuff and getting our minds wrapped around 2018.

Each year my husband I write out goals for everything. We write out goals for ourselves, spending time with each other, family, business, and life in general. When we do that we are creating a roadmap for our future and a template for success. Each year we reassess those goals our each July to see how we are doing.

I have to say when I sat down to look at what I wrote last year, and where that roadmap took me this year, I am really pleased when it comes to the work I have done in the little world of hooping, fitness, and health that I live in.

My classes at the Venetian River Club are going strong and I was brought back on as contract instructor in September of this year, after my summer hiatus, to continue Hoola Fit Hoop Fitness Classes. Going into 2017, my work as a contractor had been cancelled, but I worked hard to keep them going independently. I am currently running two classes: one inside on Wednesday afternoons from 1 PM to 2PM, and the other on Friday mornings poolside from 9 AM to 10AM.
Can I say that I am just so blessed to hoop with this community of people that I live in. Thank you, Venetian Peeps, for filling my life with so much joy.

This summer I took hooping on the road and with the help of some family and friends I taught Hoola Fit classes in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa as I worked my way to speak at the Wahls Protocol Seminar this past August. What an honor it was to work with Dr. Terry Wahls and her awesome staff of people in Iowa.

Speaking of hooping… that is exactly what I did at the Wahls Protocol Seminar. I talked about hula hoops and the benefits of core strengthening by hooping. I shared my MS story and hooped with so many people there. Every day I was there, I was filled with joy because I saw people smile and move. Many of those people came up to me and started by saying something like, I did this as a kid, but I don’t think I can do this now OR I could never do this as a kid. The faces of joy, of successfully moving a hoop around their waist was awesome to see. I only wish that I could make the hoop more magical for other people who need to gain back what MS has taken away. Autoimmune diseases can be cruel and unkind. I hoop, and hope to never feel the depths of destruction that MS can have. Sorry peeps, that was a few lines of reality on the joy of my hooping. If I did not have my hula hoop or healthy foods or the hope that I do have, I might be scared constantly about what tomorrow might bring.

Hoop Connections - My new Mini-Series Classes. I have one Mini-Series under my belt and I am excited about the next one I am putting together. These classes are about finding flow, having fun and enjoying “recess time” as an adult. Who didn’t have fun at recess? Come on, it was the best part of the day after lunch time with friends. My hope is to create a happy hooping time to meet people’s hooping desires; to move past the exercise aspect and jump into some good old fashion fun - recess style.

And finally, TRX Suspension Training. If you don’t know what it is, Google it and you well get the run down faster then I can tell you. I was trained last spring and through the urging of a couple of the Venetian Health Club people I started classes this fall. Charlie, my boss, was really instrumental in making this class happen. I did TRX years ago and frankly I was not very good at it back then, but I liked it. Rich and I are committed to working more TRX into our fitness plans at home as well. It’s good for both of us. Here is why I like it. If you can hang on to two straps, you can use your body weight to challenge your muscles. While doing this, now that you’ve Googled it, you know that you need to keep your posture in a plank position. By keeping your posture in a plank position, you continue to work those abs while working other muscles. Bingo - super awesome stuff. Regarding abs, one of my goals is FINDING THEM again and SEEING THEM again. Yes people at 54 and I really think I can find my abs. That’s just a hoot, right?
I love that this class is a good mix of men and women and that the Venetian is supporting it. I am having a blast growing my training skills, working with people, and as always, MOVING. You have to move your body people. Move it or lose it!

And finally - Stories from the Hoop Circle continued all year on my YouTube Channel. I find great personal joy in finding out people’s stories of health and fitness. Talking to everyday people who journeyed beyond the health system in their quest to find health and feel better. I am thrilled to hear the stories of people finding fitness and a better self because of it. I do think that as I move to the older side of life, with my beautiful gray hair, I feel like people don’t think they can be FIT at an older age. I also see food as being a huge challenge for people. I get that and I understand that feeling. Being fit and choosing health food options is not easy when you have long term choices that are not best for your body. It can be really tough and even scary - I know, I’ve been there. My hope is that someone will see one of my interviews and be inspired by my guests - because the people I meet are truly inspirational. Thanks, peeps, for sharing your stories.

YouTube Channel - Restorative Hooping with Crazy Amy continues with hooping tips and more. Some of my wonderful hooping peeps don’t like that I call myself Crazy Amy. I always say: “Crazy in a good way!” But I am slowly I am switching it to ‘Awesome Amy the Hoop Lady’. Thanks, ladies, I am all about being positive whenever possible.

Links to my YouTube Channel can be found on this Awesome Links Tab of www.AmysHoopCircle.com

It’s New Year’s Day and I am ready to kick 2018 into gear! How about you?

Try a new food!

12/8/2017

My goal for the new year is to make our food base broader in my family. It seems we are in a bit of a food rut. And while my family has come a long way on their healthy food choices we don't all eat the same foods. I acknowledge that this is a challenge at times in the cooking and lunchbox for school department. My husband has now become more open to trying new things as has my youngest daughter. For a long time, my husband was rigid and close minded about eating anything he THOUGHT he might not like. He has come a long way from the meat, bread and potatoes guy he once was.

We still have more food ground to cover. The family is now mostly gluten free, and on board with healthy fats and we loves them. The sticky area is getting more veggies into our diet. Still my peeps at home are more fruit/carb lovers. Both my husband and child know that veggies are powerful foods, and they find it hard to get past eating their faves just spinach and broccoli. It is a work in progress. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED - I got this!

My commitment to trying new foods means searching for recipes we all eat and like. No easy task when you look at my plate of options. Being mostly diary free, egg free and totally gluten free leaves us with hurdles to clear. I decided that I will make recipes even if they are not 100% AMY compliant, so that they are at least eating some new foods on the healthy side of life. My focus will be creating dishes that have yummy veggies. I too need to broaden my veggie base. I am working to then modify new recipes to be AMY compliant. For example using a vegan egg instead of a real one. I have an egg sensitivity.

My husband heard of a cook book by Anna Vocino called, Eat Happy and ordered it for me. At this point I have tried three recipes of hers and really like them. I am now sharing healthy foods with two of my hooping classes. At the end of each class I have a little food component that I added to the class a food topic or recipe. Last week the topic was, Ghee and we tried some. This week I made Anna's Vocino's, Apple Spice Muffins. Anna has Celiac Disease and for her, this book was a labor of love. Her Muffins on page 202 were yummy. They did have eggs in them and I substituted the dairy milk out with Hemp Milk. It worked just fine. On the next go around, I am going to use flax seed eggs as I mentioned above and and see how that works.

The muffins got the approval of my family and both hoop classes. That was a big thumbs up! I always know when a recipe is not approved at home, because my husband will make a face, even when he is trying not too. My daughter will say, "This is okay!" and not eat the rest of it. In the hoop circles, when someone says, "That's an interesting flavor." It is usually not because they like the new foods. I feel good when people say they like something new.

I first started sharing foods with my classes, because one day after class a lady asked me what was in my green smoothie that I was toting. She wanted to know because she had gained weight and knew my story included losing 50+ lbs and I had kept it off. I said I would bring a drink in for her to try the next week. The next week I brought in my Vitamix blender and the ingredients and shared it with the whole class. Since then I have been bringing in something new each week. Trying new foods can be challenging. A new recipe takes time and if you are not sure you are going to like it, it can be challenging to invest time and money into making a new dish. Especially if it is not your your typical food palate. Let's just say you only cook broccoli one way and don't love it. Maybe a new way you will love it more! It is easier to find out if you like a new dish if someone else cooks it and you try it. Or the challenge can be simply buying a new food that is packaged on the shelf because you are not sure you are going to like it. No one really wants to waste money. Here is my thought, if I bring something like Ghee and people like it, and find out why it is good for them, they might add it to their diet. If I bring in a new recipe that is healthy and they like it, maybe they will add it to their diets. I brought in bacon wrapped Brussels sprouts and they were delicious. People loved them, even someone who had not been a Brussels sprout fan. If people are willing to try one thing that is a healthy food and they didn't eat it before, maybe they too can broaden their food base or swap out a bad food. I think is is a win if I can share information and people are receptive to it and if someone adds too or improve the food they are eating.

- Food is wonderful and a part of who I am now, a bit of a self professed foodie.

And if you have not read about me prior. I was at my all time high, 192 pound on a 5'4" frame. I am now 134 lbs. I have stayed roughly this way for 5 years. My diet choices and changes were a direct result of being diagnosed with MS in 2012. A big thanks to Dr. Terry Wahls for blazing a food trail and sharing it with the world via TedTalk. I am blessed with a hula hoop, good food and a fantastic family.

Food: Small changes can be big winners!

12/3/2017

FYI - It is official, the crazy time before the holidays has begun. And the holiday season is off an running at full speed. I have elected to add a new hoop and food class to my plate before traveling at the end of the month to celebrate the holidays with my family. Why am I doing this now? Because this class has been in the works since I returned home from presenting at the Wahls Protocol Seminar last August. I truly love moving with people, seeing smiles and finding a way to work food into the conversation. Food really matters a lot. Interestingly, I think people THINK that food is easy for me. And truly in some ways it is easier now because a lot of the foods I once ate like bread, pasta, and even lots of deserts, just make me feel so bad that when I do choose to eat something “because it looks so good”, I am once again “physically” reminded that it is NOT good for me. I usually end up feeling uncomfortable, bloated or just sick. That usually cures me from running back to that food. I am not super human and I do have a few food items that challenge me. It’s a dance with some foods for me. I still challenge myself by forcing myself to, Think about that choice Amy. I do talk to myself and it slows me down from impulsively doing something I do not want to do!

So the trick for a lot of people is finding out that healthy foods cooked in great ways - tastes good! And once you taste something cooked in a yummy way, it might even be something you could serve to your family and be confident they would try it and maybe even like it. Boiled green beans as a kid I NEVER liked. But now, green beans cooked the right way for me - I love them. I am still mastering how to cook these yummy beans myself.

I think people basically KNOW that they need to eat healthy and that the adage, Garbage in - Garbage out, applies to the machine we live in: Our Body. Additionally I truly believe, You are what you eat. Sadly, many people want to eat whatever they want to eat and hope that drugs prescribed by doctors will solve their problems. And don’t get wrong, I do believe medications have their place and we have some very brilliant doctors in this world. However, I think the real question in a health crisis should be, What caused the problems? And, Can food help my recovery? I can only speak for myself and my story and this is how I approached it.

I was a meat, pasta, white potatoes and bread person when I had my first significant attack of MS. In that window of time with an onslaught of tests and evaluations I viewed a TedTalk by Dr. Terry Wahls about about her recovery from MS and my world changed. Something triggered inside of me and I decided that maybe food was my answer. That moment in time when someone decides that food REALLY matters enough to start thinking about it, has to happen at a personal level. I don’t think it can be forced on anyone. However, as a cook for my family I think it can be assisted. In my house, when I cooked vegetables that didn’t taste horrible, my family started coming along with me on a food journey of their own.

I won’t elaborate on their food journey - just that given a chance to try new foods; a vegetable, healthy snack or a main dish that they would not have tried otherwise, was convincing enough for them. GREEN foods really did not have place in our house. My goal was to make vegetables taste good enough to put on their plate and have it be eaten. I added a food component to my new class for this reason. I hope that I just might help someone cross the bridge to making their own meals a little healthier. Because really, we spend a lot of time thinking about food, where to eat, what to eat, when to eat, and what to spend money on or how long will it take to make food or pick up food. But if we are eating the Standard American Diet, we often don’t spend much time thinking about the quality of what we eat and how it is affecting our health. My hope is to nudge some people into thinking about healthy foods in new ways.

My journey started with smoothies - green smoothies and antioxidant berries. That was a change for me. And it had a radical effect on my body. I started loosing weight and feeling better - what an awesome combination. And I did this by drinking a smoothie for breakfast and lunch and then had a paleo dinner. This was my starting place. I went from meat, pasta, white potatoes and bread to green foods at three meals a day and it was miraculous. It was a shocking transformation. So this is why I am sharing foods in the new year. I hope to move with more people and nudge more people towards yummy foods. And in my family I am always working to find new yummy healthy foods for them. And I battle the same issues so many people do when it comes to food and food prep, busy schedules, limited shopping time and low energy to create new food dishes/snacks. But now I am taking that last item - creating new food dishes/snacks and focusing on it. My New Years Resolution starts now…………………ready GO!

A DAY AT THE BEACH - Picture 11/11/17

11/12/2017

DAY 7 - A day at the beach

11/12/2017

This was not just any day at the beach. It was a sculpting day at the beach.

I was up early and excited. I thought I was packed the night before, but really I still had a lot to do before I left.

FOOD - NO COFFEE. I packed a green smoothie, bone broth, 2 kombucha drinks, 1 probiotic drink, water, salad, plantain chips and green tea.
I was fine all day with no dip in energy, until I got to the movies after a day in the sun and then... I felt a little tired.

I did this amateur event in 2014 and won, Honorable Mention. I went into yesterday ready for a great day in the sun, and to have fun! I was excited to be there and once I saw the competition in action, I decided to just do my best! I still hoped maybe for, Honorable Mention, but I was not not sure that was happening! It did not, I GOT THIRD PLACE. I was so surprised!

My sculpture shown here was entitled, MY CUP OF TEA. In the tea cup was a beach with a sand sculpture in progress and shells. And water running over over the side of the tea cup. Next to the cup was a magazine titled, SK Beach. And then water was lapping up at the foot of the sculpture. I worked from 9:30 until 3 and stopped only to drink and eat. No dip in energy at all.

I had on a floppy hat to protect, long sleeves, and made sure to eat. I also put on plenty of sun screen after working for a while without (Vit D).

I moved to Florida in 2013 because we did not know what future had in store for me at I was diagnosed with MS. And I have to stay, that if you had asked me THEN would I be digging in the sand at an event like this, the answer would have been NO. I love living here in Florida close to the beach. I especially love that my life has been transformed by water and waterside events like Cassi's regattas and hooping at the beach or poolside. And I have been known to hoop at regattas too. A great way to kill some time and get some exercise into what is usually a long day.

Today I am feeling pretty blessed. Thanks Mr. B for moving us to Florida.

COFFEE - A week without coffee has been a challenge for me. I love coffee, coffee shops and the habit of going into coffee shops. Yet this week has proved a number of things to me. Habits are hard to break, coffee is not totally necessary for my life and that maybe I should focus on what I CAN do, not what I CANNOT do. This past week, Rich and I walked twice on the beach during what would have been my coffee stop time. I think that time was well worth it. If I don't stop for coffee, I can walk on the beach. Also, by Thursday I was not experiencing a dip in energy at all. If I don't drink coffee, I have energy all day long. And even on a few days I noted not sleeping well the night before and yet I had energy. This was going into the end of the week. Additionally in the lattes, the Almond Milk used has sugar in them, so I may also have been dealing with a dip from the sugar I was drinking.
SELF EXPERIMENT - Week 2 of no Coffee coming up!

I will post at the end of the week before Thanksgiving week - the coffee update!

day 6 - no coffee, no crash

11/11/2017

Day 6 was pretty amazing because I was up early and then ran through my day and found myself running into the evening before I realized that - wait - NO TIREDNESS LANDED in my face! What ? That was great!

And since I am typing this on DAY 7 and I have big plans for today, I am pretty stoked. I am an amateur sand sculpture today on Siesta Key - well if I make the cut off. They only have so many slots. After I am done typing I am off and running again today.

I have my plan and I am ready to go. So today, Since I did not sleep great last night I am hoping the beach and the sun have a breeze today. I know from the past I have a certain recovery factor from being outside and working hard in the sand. I LOVE CREATING LIKE THIS.

DAY 7 here I come....

DAy 5 - without coffee, no crash today!

11/9/2017

Today I celebrate no crash in my energy. At no time did I feel like I needed to nap. It was awesome.
Here is the short scoop on the day and contributing factors.

Bedtime/Sleep/Rest/Rested: I did NOT sleep well. Up at 2:20 and 5:00 AM. Why I do not know. I did however have a headache brewing. I took something at 5:00 AM and generally something like develops into a migraine for me. But today it did not.
Food: For the last few days I have felt bloated and just uncomfortable, so I decided to do bone broth for the day. I did it all day and then had a small dinner. Three bacon strips, three small gluten free pancakes with ghee on them - lots of it. Tea and water the rest of the day and one kombucha in the afternoon.
Coffee: None - But late in the day when life was NOT going well with the kids and some holiday planning - I really wanted a cup!
Sugar: No sugar searching happened. I was good.
Water: Check - doing it. Still challenging.
Movement : Check - Walked on Siesta Key this morning and it was lovely. How lucky am I that I live so close.
Schedule: Was good this morning and this afternoon it grabbed me by the tail and tried to run away with me...............but even with challenges I pulled it back in.

5 Days - feeling pretty proud.
I am kind of excited to see how my energy is tomorrow. I might be doing a bone broth day again tomorrow too. We will see. I feel worlds better today.
Onward,
Amy

DAY 4 - And not so bad, without coffee

11/8/2017

So I am actually feeling pretty darn good today. And that is a good thing since my daughter has been home from rowing for two day and my husband is feeling "it" come on. His running nose started at dinner. And so the family goes. While I wish everyone was feeling better, with one week until Thanksgiving I am glad to maybe get the sickness out of the way.

Energy was good today and I really did not have a crash in how I FEEL today. That was good and I look forward to a good day tomorrow. Really stopping for a latte is about the experience as much as it is about the coffee. I have always loved coffee shops, how they smell, meeting nice people, sitting and enjoying book or planning out the day. So I miss THAT, but the coffee, we will see. Overall if I feel better without coffee - we'll stick with no coffee.

Here is the quick scoop on the day.

Bedtime/Sleep/Rest/Rested: I did sleep great and woke early. Felt refreshed and had a good day. I DID lay down for like 15 minutes and rested today. But it was NOT the all out overall feeling of - MAN I NEED TO NAP NOW. So I am happy. Today and my energy were good!
Food: Two smoothies and dinner. Had plantain chips as a snack.
Coffee: None
Sugar: No sugar searching happened. I was good.
Water: Check - doing it. Still challenging.
Movement : Check - Lifted weights at the gym! And taught a hoop class today in the community. I love teaching in community.
Schedule: I got a lot done on my desk today and I was really happy about that. Planning ahead and moving forward.

I have to say that this has been a pretty nice day! I am thankful!
Onward -
Amy

DAY 3 - A DAY WITHOUT COFFEE IS A DAY WITH TEA!

11/7/2017

Day 3 has been interesting. I so wanted to feel better for having said good-bye to my yum yum yummy coffee. Today seemed like a fail, and yet I know from past experience (yes, I have played "the getting rid of coffee blues" before) I might have a dip in how I feel, before feeling better coffee caffeine free.

Here is what happened - I got up extra early today because my daughter needed to be up early. And while I am not doing anything for her, I just want her to know that I care about her and that if she needs to be up she is not alone. I did not go back to bed after she left for school and so I was down on sleep from the get go today.

I napped in the car when I was waiting to pick up my daughter from high school. I was in a parking lot not a drive up line! I passed out for a solid half hour and it felt good. But I have to say I have felt sluggish all afternoon. That's the scoop............ one day at a time. I know tomorrow will be better. As for the rest of the modifications from the day - a quick update.

Bedtime/Sleep: Did not sleep great. Wanted to make sure I was up with my daughter and I know that is why I did not sleep well. Heading to bed early tonight.
Food: Two smoothies, and awesome lunch of leftovers. Dinner is veggie pizza on a gluten free crust.
Coffee: None and it called my name!
Sugar: I caved on a LARA BAR as I ran out of the door to get my daughter. I know this is just a habit I need to break. Yesterday I took some nuts with me. I resolve to be better tomorrow.
Water: Check - doing it.
Movement : Check - Lifted weights at the gym!
Schedule: Not too bad. Got a lot done on the front end of the day. Still need to continue to tweak my planning for efficiency.

I rate myself a B+ today because I stuck to my plan for no coffee and I want to see if a whole week makes a difference. I got this.
Onward Peeps!
Amy

Day 2 - Coffee adjustment +

11/6/2017

Siesta Key, FL in a hazy sunrise. Now that is an awesome way to start the day with or without coffee! Mine was without coffee.

Day 2 - To bring you up to speed. Yesterday I declared that I have been too tired and I was gong to tackle it the best way I know how, with food or I should say with food elimination. I said I would keep you posted on my tweaks to my life to hopefully chase away fatigue this week. Day 2 of no coffee has been almost complete and I really have had a very good day. I would say that when I picked up my daughter after school today - a yawn slipped out and I shook off a little bit of tiredness. It could have been simply that I finally sat down after being busy all morning.
Bedtime
Last night not late and I slept fairly well. Up at 6 and out the door at 6:30 am. Did not stop all day.
Food
Coffee - none and I missed it! Had match tea and I make it light. Drank kombucha and I think I might have had a little too much - felt a little bloated. It can do that to you. Such yummy stuff. Two smoothies today, good dinner, snacked on nuts and crazin mix (crazins are sugary often - have to watch that). No Lara bars - just because I LOVE THEM too much.
Water
Drinking some now. Not really my thing. Working on it!
Movement
I got in some burpees, curls with weights and counter dips (Like bench dips but counter height - not ideal - but something!) Not my best workout, but I got something in and exercise is cumulative. So yippee for me.
Schedule
The beginning of my day was awesome. Picture above. The day rolled out nicely. I still have a lot to do, but worked to put priority to my day. Still needing to get the day routed better with moving my daughter from school to activities and getting errands in. I feel like I could harness some MORE day for me if I planned a little better.

It is now 9 PM and I am ready for bed. Because of Day Light Savings Time, I know I am ready to turn it in early!
Day with out Coffee and life tweaks - GOOD! Very good.
Onward,
Amy

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