Instagram Yoga Challenges - all levels!

Hey all!  I just wanted to share with you two yoga challenges I will be participating in soon.  I've been wanting to try yoga for a while now, for more flexibility and for weight loss.  I think if you're looking to challenge your body in a more gentle way than traditional exercising, this could work for you.  Both of these challenges are for September.

The first one is the #BalanceBasics challenge hosted by @laurasykora @beachyogagirl and @kinoyoga. These ladies will be providing poses and modifications, for all levels.  They'll be posting pictures daily and there will be prizes for participating!  The challenge is sponsored by +Athleta (@athleta) who you will have to follow, as well as the hosts, to participate.  Just make sure to use the hashtag #balancebasics when you post pictures and/or videos of your poses.  You can find the poses here: http://instagram.com/p/sCmoQTlj8P/

The next challenge is for everyone, but is especially targeted for us curvy girls.  It's the #sizedoesntmatter challenge hosted by @mynameisjessamyn and @yoga_davina. This challenge is sponsored by @yogablissbox, @buddha_pants, and @invertyoselfclothing (you have to follow the hosts and sponsors to participate).  This challenge also has great prizes for participating!  You can find the poses here: http://instagram.com/p/sLgGQOkO_2/. There will be poses and modifications, and I believe this one will be more beginner-friendly.  Just make sure to use the hashtag #sizedoesntmatter  when you post pictures and/or videos of your poses.

I started trying some of the poses, and yes some are harder than others.  These are challenges, so CHALLENGE YOURSELF!  Even if you spend the next month focusing on perfecting one pose, just go for it.  I am working every day on my balance and flexibility.  I am a beginner with yoga, but every journey begins with a single step.  Think of how much I will have accomplished 3 months from now.  Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

Check these fierce ladies out and let me know if you'll be participating in the comments below.  Also, if you recommend following anyone else for newbie yogis?  And by the way, you can find me on Instagram @k_hiraldo. 

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps. Check it out =) 

12-Week Body Transformation + Lifestyle Blogger Conference

I previously entered a contest for a chance to win a scholarship to attend the upcoming Lifestyle Blogger Conference.  Latina Lifestyle Bloggers is also hosting another opportunity to not only attend #LALLBLOG14, but also serve as a Brand Ambassador for one of the conference sponsors, 12-Week Body Transformation.

Imagine what your life will be like in 12 weeks.  12 weeks from now it'll be either on the same trajectory it's in or be on track towards fulfilling your goals. If one of your goals is to transform your health, 12WBT can be a great option.  They offer meal plans, fitness plans, and tons of support.  12WBT is more than just giving you options to lose weight, it is truly about a lifestyle change.  I underwent (and am still going through) a major lifestyle change which began December 1, 2012.  I committed to changing my eating and fitness habits to lead a more fit and fabulous life. I am still working on my fitness goals and am taking it day-by-day.  I think working with 12WBT can help to give me a clearer focus on what my ultimate health and fitness goals are.  As Deepak Chopra affirmed in one of his heart meditations, "the body is the garden of my soul".  I am taking out the weeds in my garden and making room for roses, so to speak.

Being given the opportunity to attend this conference will also greatly help me with my blog.  I am truly passionate about writing and sharing my story.  I know that I am vital to this world and my voice is a vital force for the Universe.  I want to take my words and wisdom to new heights, and my blog is a vehicle to get the messages out there.  I know attending this conference will allow me to learn more about sharing my story effectively, and will also help me network with other like-minded individuals.

The Lifestyle Blogger Conference will be held on March 27-29 in Los Angeles.  Feel free to check out the event page for more information.

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

I forgive myself for being fat

I follow a great deal of amazing teachers and healers, including Deepak Chopra, Sonia Choquette,

Mike Dooley, among others.  I receive daily messages of inspiration and compassion to help me on my journey, and I recently noticed within the last two months I've been receiving a lot of messages about forgiveness.  I read them but the messages didn't connected with me, so they get deleted.  I always thought, well I don't have anyone to forgive.  I thought of forgiveness as something you did when someone hurt you, when you want to release that toxic energy.  I never quite clicked with forgiveness, until now.

To back track a little bit, I noticed within the last 2-3 months, since I've been more serious about improving my health, my ego has been so negative and draining.  I find myself fighting constantly to remain positive, optimistic; to guide myself gently.  But the voice has become louder, more aggressive, berating; all around just putting me down and making me feel so low.  I get so low sometimes I don't even know how to continue.  Thankfully I've learned to just let things be and take a break when things get overwhelming.  I stop what I'm doing and enjoy stillness.  I'll take a walk or just lie down, to calm the voice in my head.  The more I try to fight, the worse it gets so I just let it be.  I let my Ego have a tantrum moment and then eventually it's over (at least momentarily).  I figure my ego is scared and feeling doubtful of progress.  She's so used to feeling like a failure that it's a natural tendency to prepare and plan to fail. 

So as I read one of the most recent posts about forgiveness it dawned on me so suddenly that the first person I need to forgive is myself.  I need to forgive myself for the negative thoughts, actions, and emotions that I've pretty much given to myself.  The first forgiveness action, which I think will help me with my weight loss, is to forgive myself for being fat.  I forgive myself for being hard on myself, for criticizing myself, for giving up on me, for seeing and treating myself like shit, for feeling guilty when I eat or even think of eating, for overeating, for craving junk foods, and the list goes on and on...I think what I'll do is write out a list of all the things in the "fat" category I need to release myself from and forgive myself for.  I think I'll create some kind of forgiveness ritual, maybe burning the paper I write on, and creating beautiful reminders to stay on the forgiveness train.

Let me know, what are some things you can forgive yourself for?

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

What a difference a year makes!

I'm wishing myself a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY this month.  I'll share with you in a later post more about my story but just to give you a taste; last year I was unemployed, broke(n), depressed, and pretty much living in a pit of sorrow and self-pity.  The photo grid above shows pictures of me last summer (top row) and this summer (bottom two most recent).  Was my change drastic?  YES!  Maybe not drastic with the weight loss but definitely drastic with my LIFE!  I did a total bullshit makeover.  I got up, moved across the country and told myself I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK!

And guess what?  It did!  I might have gone through hell to get here but it's all worth it because now all I taste is victory juice from my P.I.M.P cup! So I'm raising my glass high because it's champagne and caviar dreams for me baby!

I just completed my first 5 weeks of Focus T25! I only have 5 more weeks to go and then I'm done!  I can't believe I'm already half way through.  Feeling so motivated and overall just excited about the great things to come.  Goals start out like that, a step at a time and then before you know it...complete.


By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

People on the bus think I'm pregnant

I've known this for a long time and it's semi-hilarious.
My belly jelly is bigger than my breasts, so depending on the clothes I'm wearing it can stick out a lot more than usual, creating the illusion of a pregnant belly.  I avoid all empire waists because of this.
So without fail, people on the bus (and trains back home) feel bad for me when they see me standing up and offer me their seat.  Maybe you'd be offended and ashamed by this, and while I'm not happy about my belly being so big, I choose to see the silver lining; I always have a seat on the bus! And I'll even admit sometimes I stick out my belly a little bit more if I'm really tired after a long day at work and want a seat.  It works for me.  I never confirm I'm preggo and no one asks.  If they did ask I would tell them the truth; I'm just fat.

I've come to rely on my belly for so many things.  I can push things out the way with it, I can use it to hold things up; I've learned so many little tricks to adapt to my situation.  I don't know when it became so "comfortable" to deal with it, until it became extremely uncomfortable, especially moving around in the summer.  It didn't really bother me that people would give up their seats and when I realized why they were doing it, I chose to see the positive rather than freak out about it.  At least they have nice intentions.  But it's also another reality check.  I don't want to go through life as a fake pregnant lady.

I've started to slowly let go of my "baby" and visualize myself without it.  I honestly don't even know what it'll feel or be like for me but I most likely won't be getting offered any more seats on the bus...and that's OK.

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!