Weaning is a metaphor for life

Yes ladies and gentlemen, my little man is six months, and I have decided to stop nursing, I am on day 2, it takes 3 days for the baby to forget about it.  I have cabbage leaves in my bra, and feeling very tender in that area.  I just found a great straight up article about a mom who was over it with her toddler:

http://kids.baristanet.com/2012/01/lazy-moms-guide-to-weaning-a-toddler/

I nursed my older two for 10 months, and then my milk ran low, they never needed formula because by that time they were both eating and drinking everything.  With my baby, I think since he was 5 weeks early, he is not too keen about food, gives me funny faces.  My milk is running low, and he likes his formula, so I am going to introduce food slowly, he is liking the sweet potatoes and green beans :)  It is amazing how with every child and with every circumstance, it is just a very personal decision, there is no right or wrong in motherhood and childbearing.

It got me thinking about weaning in general, from bad habits to different stages in life.  I coach clients on transforming their nutrition habits in order to guarantee results.  For myself in my motherhood journey, my nutrition has given me such energy and health, and now am excited for the #BBB Before Baby Body, I am working out 5 days a week, and with stopping nursing, and really ready to get my body 100% back.

I have some homework to do from my Next Level business seminar, and then I am getting ready to PARTY, my good friend who is turning 21!  She is so not 21 in her life and everything she has been through, but I am excited to bring in this milestone with her.  I have to think real hard about 21 for me, I don't think it was a big deal, in Miami everyone is having fun way before 21 - LOL.  I graduated High School in 1991, I was 18, and was in a community college for 2 years, so that is 20, I must have already been in Florida International University, I was studying International Relations, before I switched to Hospitality Management.  I had a chance to have a semester in Prague, which I think at that time was still Czechoslovakia - AMAZING.  Wow, no direct memory of 21, I think it is my culture that I come from, in Russia, Birthdays are just a reason to have fun, there is no big attachment to a number.  Even this year I am turning 40, and I keep on changing my mind what I want to do, I think I just want a thrill with some good friends, just me time, Thank God my husband supports it. 

Click and Go :) Have a good night everyone

Shavua Tov,
Have a Great rest of your Weekend,
GMAR CHATIMA TOVA
May you be inscribed in the book of life,
Yulia

Scary Brain

I feel blessed being the happiest person in the world, always seeing things positive, and not really wanting to leave my happy space.  However, sometimes reality shows up, and my MO is to FIGURE IT OUT.   (Modus operandi  is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "method of operation".^[1] The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning. In English, it is often shortened to M.O.)

I stay calm, breathe, my brain goes into scenarios, always trusting that the outcome will be ok.  I really do have this unwavering trust in God, the Universe, and all things good, that everything will always turn out for the best.  I love to use the phrase, why worry in advance?  Sometimes life gives you a circumstance where it is not so easy to stay composed.

I do not like to watch news, and I feel that watching TV shows about all the bad things that can happen, get your mind jumping to what if's.

Why am I talking about all this?  I had a Scary Brain moment yesterday, we did not notice that our son Eli Tzvi was sleeping soundly under my daughter's covers, and for some reason we thought he might have walked out the door.  I looked in every closet, under the beds, even got in my car to drive around wondering where he would want to wander off to.  I have had a few moments when he was a toddler that he got away from me, and Thank God, I went into my detective mode, and everything was handled, and he was fine.

As nuts as the household seems at times, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I guess these moments make us feel grateful and appreciative of what we have.  Each morning we should wake up with gratitude, we have so much, but also we have so much to do, so our focus is on the GO.  It is so important to STOP and take a moment to feel good about what you accomplished in your life, and for the life you have. (note to self)

Honesty, Power, Love,
Happy Day of Rest,
Happy Weekend,
Shabbat Shalom

Action and Passion

Smile :) Put a smile in your voice, have you heard that before? It is so amazing when we set an intention, decide that our day is going to be wonderful, and dare to dream big.  It really is a choice, everything else is emotions, feelings, interpretations, and opinions.  In pictures we always want to see the happy moment, I am trying to explain to my baby to give me a nice smile, luckily he looks good in every pose, LOL.

 

Had an amazing Hot Mama Power Walk today, a great workout and great conversation.  Women really need each other, we need to talk, we need to express, we need to see that everyone is going through something, we love to compare notes, to give and take advice.  I am so blessed that this is my mission, and that it nurtures me as well.  I just came back from lunch with a good friend that I met in one of my Pilates classes.  It is so interesting to see the stages of life people move through, where different things take priority, different choices are made, what was important then is not the main focus now.  I am being very general because details do not matter, we all have stuff, and everything is valid and wonderful, and as long as we keep growing, striving to learn, BE THE EXAMPLE, and treat yourself good.  It must start with you, or who else is going to do it.

Focusing on hitting my goals for the day, and using my time wisely, it feels like juggling, but it all comes down to ACTION and PASSION.  When something makes sense to you, and you decide to give it your all, tell the world, live it, be it, then results will come.  Just Action is not enough, Just Passion is not enough. 

My are of focus is ACTION, the Passion I got overflowing, but I let myself off the hook, due to valid reasons, but those reasons are still excuses and they are not moving me forward.  So I am excited to learn from my course how to learn from when something is not working, try something else, and if that is not working, keep figuring it out, find a strategy, handle it.  It feels good to not give up, and be on the right path.

Multi tasking and doing things last minute are also areas that I am going to handle as I pre plan my day, and when the daily schedule gets cancelled or I have extra blocks of time, I will know what priority can be handled to use that time wisely.

It all makes sense in my head, and I love to learn, and now here it goes, time for ACTION.

Whatever I do, my coaches will do, and so far all of the coaches on my team love their nutrition program, but have busy lives, the business is a great part time income.  I am ready for the FULL TIME mentality.

This whole blog is me talking to myself :)
Coach Yulia
 

Therapeutic and Inspirational

Woo Hoo!  Just got back from an awesome workout at the Culver City Stairs with my friend and client.  Today is just right, last night I talked to my accountability partner, and was so inspired by her action and organization.  She is a few years older than me, and lost over 30 pounds, is running Fit Clubs, looks amazing, and is really goal oriented, a great role model for me.  This morning was the only time I had to work out, it was just 8am and my friend text me to meet at 8:45am.  I told her I was helping get the older kids ready for school, and will be there as soon as I can.  It turned out perfect, on the way there I was able to connect with a good friend of mine on the phone that I have not talked to for a while, and we talked about life, and it is so cool when you have friends you have known for a long time, so amazing to know them through different stages of life.  She was telling me that she really enjoyed my blog and related to it at this time of her life, and I was telling her how much I enjoyed writing it, so she coined it, my blog is Therapeutic for me and inspirational for my readers - YAY!  I saw quite a few moms on my hike, so I gave out flyers to my Hot Mama Power Walk, and everyone enjoyed seeing me wearing my baby and getting it in.

 

I have a few clients this afternoon, then a wonderful friend and fellow coach coming over afterwards.  I want to talk to her about our huge convention which is in Long Beach, CA this October 18-21, 2012.  If anyone you know is interested in learning more about the Health and Wellness Industry, Nutrition, Herbalife, Getting in the Best Shape of Your Life, and No Boss, please get in touch and I will tell you more :)

 

I have two classes tonight, one at 24 hour fitness, I love the energy of a large group, usually 20 or more people in that class, all types, shapes, sizes, colors, energies, and levels, and everyone syncs in to the flow of the class, gives themselves their undivided attention, and FEELS GOOD.

 

Then I have a private Yoga with a group of amazing women, we do it late after all the kids are asleep, they are so committed, even if exhausted, I am always leaving that class full of energy, even if I had a long day.

 

Feeling blessed for all the challenges in my life, my goal today is to communicate and listen with my family, friends, and clients - track my goals on my guage sheet - #PLAY THE GAME!

 

#FeelGood

Coach Yulia

 

 

Only YOU can transform

This awesome pic was taken Sunday afternoon on our way to take a family picture through my front seat window - LOVE!

In light of my Jewish New Year, thoughts of new beginnings, resolutions, and goals are swimming in my mind.  I have just started a new business seminar, The Next Level, to manage my time and get the results and success of my dreams.  I am getting healthier and more fit, and feel better than ever, ready to really get in the best shape of my life.  So the only thing left is to take actions, track my progress, and I am so excited tonight I am meeting my new accountability partner.  Everything is about getting out of our head and going for it.

These few days have not been easy, being with the kids all day, they are so intense, and by they I mean the older two.  Yes my baby has baby needs, but overall he is a go with the flow energy. I love our holidays, but they are intense in their time, and even socialization, not to mention tons of yummy food.  It sounds funny to moan about it, but its amazing how when you are with people delving into all your wishes and hopes for the future, it gets very intense.  As well as being in the moment of your family, when it is not so easy to stay calm and patient.  Let's just say I am going to look at it this way, I am more motivated then ever to be the best Yulia, woman, wife, mother, business woman.  All I can work on and transform is myself, not my children, not my husband, not my family, not my friends, and not my clients - that has to be their decision. 

All I can do is BE, the example of focus, determination, excitement, and SUCCESS :)

YOU CAN JOIN ME!

Health or Wealth, what is your goal?

Coach Yulia
323.377.0707
nutritioncoachyulia@gmail.com
 

Picture Day

Today in my community everyone is running around doing last minute things for the holiday which lasts two days.  We have celebrations, pray, eat, and stay away from the world, cars, computers, TVs, etc.  So I will not be writing my blog on Monday, you will hear from me Tuesday night when the holiday is over.

One of the things I really wanted to do is take a family picture when my baby turned 6 months, and today they have some good deals, and once our holidays begin it will be non stop for a month, so we are squeezing in a family picture in a few hours.  I am excited, and I am trying to prepare the kids to smile and enjoy, and my husband is going along with it quite well.  I have not always been picture crazy, but it is so amazing to look back at memories, and especially with kids, we are so in the moment with our kids, I cannot believe my 4 year old was such a cute chubby way back when.  I also cannot imagine Matisyahu older at this point.  Our kids really keep us present, but they also remind us of time moving.  I know when I look in the mirror, I see the same girl I have seen since my teens, and turning 40 in a month doesn't change anything.  I have grown up with the mentality that age is just a number and a great reason to celebrate.

Eli Tzvi is probably 2 1/2 and Ziona Sofia is just over 1, its funny how sometimes she sees pictures of him with his long hair and things its her, and they both see baby pictures and think its Matisyahu, they are both so yum!

I was looking into my blimp idea, and lucky me, California is the only place that actually has a ride, its quite pricey, so I am considering if and how I will do it.  I love being in the air, and I think in my way of being, I am in the clouds sometimes :)

Feeling blessed for the last five years, husband, three babies, a new career with Herbalife, my health, my future, my spiritual connection.

Thank God for it all,
Shana Tova,
Happy New Year,
Life is Beautiful,
Yulia

Hot Winds

Today we had our day of rest, and the Santa Ana winds decided to make their appearance for the first time this year.  The LA weather we have been having has been odd, but I always laugh that we are shocked when we don't have our hollywood perfect weather of sunny with a cool breeze.  I grew up in Miami, where we live in Air Conditioning, so you only feel the humidity in spurts.  It was so odd for me to go to places that are nice on the outside, or even cold on the outside, with no air conditioning inside, it just felt so stuffy. Now the place we live, we have one A/C unit that works great, the rest of the house stays really cool, its an old building that keeps the heat out.  The only thing we need is our ceiling fans on, and we have a standing fan as well to circulate the air.  I think for me its this circulated air that I need, otherwise it just feels yucky, stuffy, and sweaty.  I am not a sweaty person, but I think after a hot blooded husband and three hot blooded kids that took after him, my chemistry has changed.  I am in my last days of nursing as well, I think my hormones are all out of whack.  This morning my husband took the kids to synagogue and I rested with the baby, our place felt great.  Once we got up, we got ready, I stepped outside and felt the blow drier effect, same effect is in Las Vegas, and all over Arizona.  It's also interesting how in Miami the sun is not that strong, it is super humid.  Out here the sun is so strong and hot, if I am in it too long, I feel queasy, but the amazing thing is that in the shade it is nice and cool, except for when the Santa Ana Hot Winds come to visit. In Hebrew it is amazing that the word for wind also has a few very intense meanings:   Ruach: breath, wind, spirit Original Word: ר֫וּחַ Transliteration: ruach Phonetic Spelling: (roo'-akh) Spirit and breath, so beautiful, the source of life physically and spiritually, it so amazing how the wind outside affects us as intensely.  My community is embarking on a month full of holidays where we reflect on our past year, ask forgiveness for our actions, make new goals and commitments, and start over with a clean slate.  I am so excited for the year ahead, it starts tomorrow night, we have plans to celebrate with good friends, eats apples, honey, pomegranate, round challa bread, and many other delicious and sweet foods to spill over into the year ahead. Stay cool everyone and please stay hydrated, This too shall pass, Have a Great Weekend, Shavua Tov, L'Shana Tova, Yulia A shout out to my Babushka Anna, who turned 97 this September, in this pic - 88th birthday, my mom is behind me, and she just told me that my grandmother's memory has gone, and she thinks she is forever 88, so amazing.  From her my mom and I get such a happy spirit, complete trust in that things will be ok, we love life to the fullest, and bring light to everyone around.