Loving life

I was sitting on my balcony reading a book and I realized just how content I am in this moment. I look up from my book and see gorgeous blue birds flying around, bluebonnets growing wild, its a peaceful view. I am truly happy and in a very good place in my life right now, which is amazing to me considering that a year ago to the date my life was a mess, and I didn't know what I was going to do.

We'd moved in with my parents in an effort to save some money, however things just weren't working out that way. After almost a year there I was at my wits end, not to mention that the cramped quarters were starting to get to all of us. I felt suffocated, and with Joe working long hard hours as a demolitions foreman, I also felt that most of the child rearing and indeed other responsibilities were left to me. Tension kept mounting and it was tearing at the very fabric of my relationship, of my little family. I knew something had to be done, and that it had to be done fast or I would be trapped in an endless rat race of working simply to pay off bills. Of living to work instead of working to live.

I knew the answer was that we needed a fresh start somewhere new, a new state with new possibilities. When I settled on Austin Tx and began preparations to move, a lot of people told me I was crazy to go some place where I didn't know anyone, and didn't even have a job yet. But I knew, I knew this was my opportunity knocking, and I was ready to fling open that door.  Yes, I was nervous but mostly determined, and I knew we could do this. In fact we HAD to do this, for Gabe, and with that motivation there was no way we could fail.

Once we got to Texas Joe was able to find work right away. I applied for and was accepted to work at an amazing company, which allows me to work from home and still take care of Gabe. This position didn't just land in my lap, I went after it vigorously, and when I was interviewed I put my all into the answers and explained just why they would need to hire me. All my hard work and belief in myself paid off and now I had the job of my dreams.

With both Joe and I working, and no child care expenses since I am at home,  life became a little easier. There are also significantly less bills which means less stress for us, as a result we are more relaxed. We were able to start spending a lot of quality time out as a family, and to really start concentrating on enjoying life, and building something wonderful here.


Now nine months later I sit on my balcony counting my blessings. I followed my dreams, I followed my heart and because of that, and the hard work we've put into it, we've built a great life here. None of this would have been possible if I'd given in to fear and stayed in NY, I shudder at the thought. I love my life now, and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm always telling people now to follow their dreams, to really go balls to wall for them, because you know what?  They really do happen. I went from nothing in NYC to a great life in Texas in less than a year, all on hard work and sheer determination. Our life is so different now and we are living our dream.

So I just want to tell all of you out there, whatever your dream is, stop thinking about it and just do it. The only person stopping you from living your dream is YOU, get off your ass, stop the bullshit, and go for what you want. We live the life we want to live, I get that now.

I'm not done either, I have big dreams for Texas and I'm working towards them every single day. I realize now if I'm not doing something to forward my goals every day, then it's a wasted day. I'm working hard towards something big here and I can't wait to see where I'll be in another nine months. The sky really is the limit.

Losing weight and Changing my life

I know, I know its been forever since I last posted a blog entry. The truth is I've been very busy, continuously challenging myself, handling the demands of being a work-at-home mom, and going to school as well. The past two months have passed by in a whirlwind, and there was barely enough time to eat sitting down, much less write. However just because I haven't' been writing, doesn't mean I haven't been a busy bee. In fact just the opposite.

As you all know I have been on a path of change, changing and reshaping my life to my liking. I love Texas, and life here is a dream come true, however there was one sliver of darkness in my otherwise pleasant world. I was overweight, not chubby, not big boned, no I was very much overweight and ashamed of it. This past December I weighed in at 180lbs and was mortified, I became determined to do something about it.

I haven't always been overweight, in fact for most of my life I was in great shape, but as often happens I let my sedentary lifestyle get the best of me. In the past I tried the Scarsdale Diet, Atkins, Herbalife, Crazy Blue Chinese Tea, and a million other ways to try to lose weight fast. I was often successful in losing the weight for a while, before it came back with a vengeance.  I no longer wanted to repeat this cycle of losing weight and gaining it back, its unhealthy and not the example I want to provide for my son. Seeing as how I make sure he eats nothing but the best, I thought it was high time I treat my body right.  So no more quick fixes for me, I knew I needed to change my habits, my eating lifestyle, and learn about nutrition. But where and how?

Thankfully I have a friend who is a Beachbody coach and I approached her about my desire to lose weight and keep it off for good. Little did I know that that one conversation, the simple act of asking her for help, would change my life forever. As my Coach she suggested I try the 21 Day fix, start drinking Shakeology, and join her challenge group. So I did, because I was desperate to lose weight and I knew I couldn't do it alone.

For 21 Days I participated in her challenge group. I posted embarrassing before pictures and measurements, I put myself out there in a way I never had before. The group kept me accountable, posting pictures of what I ate every day, and sweaty workout pictures helped to keep me in check. I met the most amazing women in this group, each one on her own journey of self discovery and weight loss, and the support of the group helped me to succeed.

21 days later I had lost 22lbs, 14" of fat, and gained a world of self confidence. I learned how to eat, what to eat, and when to eat it, and my son and hubby love the food. After 21 days I was hooked on Shakeology and Beachbody. I became a coach (mostly for the great discounts), but also to help others the way I was helped. To show others that it doesn't have to be hard, that it's not impossible to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle. I ordered a different Challenge Pack, the Les Mills Combat in order to continue on this path, and keep changing my body. I love the way my body is changing, its like having surgery without the pain or money spent. My skin is tight, muscles are forming and I've never felt better.

I will continue to eat the way I learned in he 21 Day Fix for the rest of my life, it is a great technique to keep you on the right track. There's no denying yourself, I have cookies, ice cream, I just have healthy versions of the junk they sell in stores. The 21 Day Fix helped me take control of my health and start taking my body back, and I would recommend it to anyone who has been battling their weight, and is ready for a change.




If you are tired of hiding your body, if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, and you are ready to commit to changing your life, then know that there is help out there for you. You are not alone, and all you have to do is take that first step in the right direction. Don't be afraid, you're stronger than you  think you are.


Visit my Facebook page, join one of our groups and start living the life you want:
https://www.facebook.com/ruggedrevolution

Or visit my website to learn more about Beachbody or Shakeology:
 http://akasha0713.wix.com/ruggedrevolution



Here's a sneak peak at the Challenge I'm doing now. The most fun I've ever had working out!!