Drum and Dance concert tonight

Here is the performer bio:

KARIM NAGI is a native Egyptian who specializes in traditional Arab music and dance. He uses his traditional foundation to re-imagine the culture, discovering progressive deliveries and new teaching concepts. He is a virtuosic and imaginative percussionist, performing on the Egyptian Tabla, Riqq tambourine, Duff frame drum, and Sagat finger cymbals. In combines Arab Folk Dance into his performances, utilizing the Egyptian Tahteeb Cane Dance, Dabka Line Dance and Zikr Ritual Dance. He is a pioneer in the "Dancing Drummer" esthetic, combining choreographed movement with articulate drumming, done in unison. Karim Nagi is an international recording artist with careers in both America and Egypt. His project TURBO TABLA has released two cds, both internationally distributed by Universal Records. Turbo Tabla is a rare and tasteful hybrid of traditional Arab music with modern electronica, using all acoustic instruments, drums and voices.
Karim has also worked for non-Arab artists like Alicia Keys, Jane Birkin, The Boston Camerata, and The Urban Griot Project.
 

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have actually taken a drum worksop with him. It was great! My belly dance  teacher that moved to New York did a show with him back in September. It was an awesome show. So I am looking forward to this hard earned night off  from teaching. So I can gave fun ! 

Updates on last nights eating.  I did well all day til the end(hungry afer teaching 2 classes) I still fell within my calorie range if I go with daily plates net calories( after exercise is taken into consideration)  But I was hoping to stay within the target not counting my exercise calories burned!  So yes it could have been worse. So it was the thrid day in a row I have been within my goal but yet I was a little disappointed in myself for eating so much late nite.

Have an awesome day   !      Shawn

It never goes as planned!

You can plan life but things don't always go as planned!

Take for instance my last few days. Thursday I have a drum and dance concert that I want to attend in Detroit. I take weekly bellydance lessons and teach beginner level students, too. So this is an important concert to me. A chance to see some folk dance and hear some awesome music. I actually took a drum workshop last fall with this teacher. He is an awesome drummer and folk style dancer. I really enjoyed his show in the fall and am excited to get the chance to see him perform again.

Anyway back to my rant on how things never go as planned. So I emailed my boss(because I teach 2 classes on Tursday evenings) about finding a sub for my classes. Geez what a hassle  No one could sub for me on Thursday(it's too far to drive for all of her teachers!  Me included!) So she sugested I move my Thursday classes to Wed eve.......I teach Wed,too!.....But she thought it would be easier to find a sub for Wed night class because she has more teachers in that area.ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?????? I'm not finished with the whole story yet!!!  Anyway so I spent all day on the phone(yesterday. That's why no Tuesday post) trying to find a sub for my wed classes because I am teaching my Thursday classes tonight instead of Thurs.Wheeew!!   Finally after calling about 10 people I get a sub for tonight. Yay, I get to go to the concert in Detroit But it was not an easy feat!!!!

Well there is even more to this THINGS NEVER GO AS PLANNED story!

AS I was on the phone making calls to find a sub, My dh calls from Indy, telling me I got a message from someone asking me to sub Yesterday. I had a Tuesday class to teach but I really felt bad for my friend because she had bronchitis and had the same trouble  finding a sub. So I called another friend to see if she could teach my Tuesday bellydance class( she was busy)  So anyway I decided to sub for my friend with bronchitis, So I had to call my students to cancel for the evening.I hated cancelling class  but at the same time I felt so bad for my friend I wanted to help her out.   ON the PLUS SIDE!

I got in an extra hour of fitness for it. I usually only teach 1 hour on Tuesdays but I subbed 2 hour long classes.   Funny how things workout!    But that explains why I never got around to posting yesterday!

So far this week I have exercised Sat for 3 hours, Mon for1 hour, and Tuesday for 2 hours.   My normal wed is 1 hour   but with the Things never go as planned schedule change  I will teach 2 classes today. So I will get an extra hour of fitness today, too!!!!  By the end of the night I will 8 hours of fitness in since Saturday!!! Yay!!!!

My eating has been better this week also. I have stayed withing my daily calrie allowance everyday since MONday(One day at a time.) Two days in a row within my calorie range is the best I have done since I started counting calories again. I really messed up in the first couple months of the year. I am still barely holding onto Onederland.I haven't changed my weight graph.I just figure I am back on track and I will update it when I have too!That is once I start going down into the new decade  of the 180's. Because I will do it!!!!!! I am going to be in awesome shape when I reach my 40th birthday in June!!!!

God Bless you all!       Shawn

Drums Alive!

I mentioned that on Saturday mornings I take a class called Drums Alive( I actually have the manual for teaching this but need to study and am planning on teaching some of it in the cardio portion of my ball classes when I start them)

I just thought I would show you a sample from a youtube video. It is not my teacher in the video but a sample I found. My teacher has a different style. but it is similar. Just glimpse. I like it :)     OK FOR WHATEVER REASON THE VIDEOS DIDN"T POST! GRRRRR!      Go to You Tube and type in Drums Alive if you are curious about it.  It uses Stabilty balls and drum sticks and we get a cardio workout.  Maybe I will try again tommorrow to post it.

I hope it worked.   Here is another sample:

It's different  but fun!

Bad Shawn!

Well I mentioned Friday I was sooo pumped up about getting in a heavy weight training workout on Friday and I said I would hold my self accoutable today.  Well I was bad!   I did not do my workout my dh called and I talked to him for a while so then I let the time thing discourage me.

I did however make an awesome Lentil soup for dinner and I only had two bites of birthday cake. My son's birthday was Friday. He turned 7   And I had just a copuple bite of ice cream too.  

Saturday is when I am using as the start of my workout week and I did get in my Saturday Drums Alive class( 1 hour long)    and 2 hours of bellydance (my weekly lesson)    

So even though I was slacking on my Friday workout, I ate well  and got in 3 hours of physical activity on Saturday !    I could have eaten 2 pieces of cake and half gallon of ice cream but a couple of bite was GREAT! Tasty   and enough!      

Today so far I have been eating well. I teach a class this evening ,so I know I will workout  

I hope you all have a wonderful day !         Shawn

Back but not as often!

I am back but just not finding the time to blog as often.

I have the day off today No fitness classes to teach and no work at the restaurant. I still have to get in my workout for the day. Soon.....My older children get home from school in a few minutes then I can get them to take the little one upstairs so I can get in my workout. Today is supposed to be an upperbody weight training day but Yesterday in my Yoga class I did a lot more poses that hit the upperbody. A lot of lowering my body weight to the ground and other poses that strengthen the upperbody.   So I am changing thing slightly to do a lowerbody workout. I haven't done deadlifts with heavyweight for a longtime. It just seems motivating to me to really hit the weight heavy today. I usually work with lighter dumbells in my classes. Just because it's easier to carry in a set of smaller weights so I can get all my stuff in one trip. (I have a bag that has my attendance folder,boom box,weights,water etc all I need to teach) So I am excited to really work with heavier weights today.

I did eat better this week. Not as good as I wanted but better !

Workout schedule from last week was the same as the week before. All though last Friday I did not workout and this Friday I'm pumped up to do it as soon as I get done with my blog.  Monday I will report back to my blog for accounibility. Just to let you know I really did it not just talked about it like last Friday .              Shawn 

Pilates and Sculpt!

Hey there

I  am feeling back on track today. I have not been making good food choices lately  but I am doing great today

I teach Pilates and sculpt tonight . I do a warm up followed by training both upper body and lower body at the same time. Squats with overhead presses, squats with tricep kickback, lunges with bicep curls, etcetc.......It gets the hearts rate up as well as trains and sculpts the muscles :)  Then I do matwork for the last half hour of class.

I just dropped in to let ya know I am still here  

I have to get to planning that class    Shawn

TGIF

Yay ,it's Friday!  

I really am back but have been busy with my little guy. Matthew has been sick this last week. I took him to the doctor yesterday. He had an ear infection  and bronchitis. Poor little guy :(     

I have been tracking calories again  and NOT happy with the numbers! I have to work on portion control more.

On the plus side. I have gotten in my workouts so far this week. I have been keeping track Saturday to Saturday because I am part of another challenge besides BFL.  And I started that program on a Saturday.

Saturday   Drums Alive Cardio 1 hr     Bellydance 1.5 hr

Sunday off

Monday    Fat burning Pilates ( with extra emphasis on lower body)  1hr

Tuesday Belly dance and stretch  about 2 hrs

Wed      Pilates and sculpt (I really did some serious sculpting)

Thursday   Belly Dance 1 hour     Yoga/Pilates  1 hour (I focused the class a little more relaxing than usual)

So that leaves today to finish out my week.   I will do TT training(Focused more on lower body)and try to get in some extra stretching.

I had better get off the computer and get my boys up to get my first grader off to school.

Thanks for the welcomes back!!!!!     I will get around to visiting soon

Enjoy your day!       Shawn

I'M BACK!!!!!!

I am finally back!  This was only the 4th time this month that I have posted.

It was hard finding time while dh was off work. Between working days at the restaurant and nights with fitness and everthing else it was tuff finding time to blog. Now that dh is back to work I can't work days at the restaurant because of my little guy.  So I have my days free again! I can blog more often :)          

Updates...... I have missed the support of my EP pals and have been eating terrible.  Now that I have more computer time I am starting to track my calories again with daily plate.   So I should start losing again instead of just maintaining. It could be worse I have still remained in ONEderland. I consider that a blessing considering I have been eating terrible. AHHHH! BACK to WORK!!!!   I have to eat cleaner than I have been  and watch my portion size again. 

I am teaching a Pilates and Sculpt tonight. I will hit them muscles hard tonight!  

Have an awesome day!        Shawn

Thanks :)

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments and prayers :) 

I appreciate them!!!

I have been working days at the restaurant and teaching classes at night so I have been keeping busy.

My eating has been pretty good. I am not focusing on perfection just trying to get in smaller meals more times a day. And on eating healthy most of the time. I ate pizza yesterday and Tuesday for lunch but I feel pretty good about it. I didn't over eat it. And they were my own creations. Both vegetarian( No I am not vegetarian. I love meat but it's good for pizza considering most of the meat topping usually on pizzza)     One had olive oil and spices with artichoke, tomatoes,red onion, red & green peppers. Feta, Mozzeralla, and cheddar jack cheese  Oh and bannana peppers.   The other a mexican pizza with enchilada sauce, refried beans, pico,black olives, green onion and cheddarjack cheese.

I had awesome classes on Mon and Wed.  I am sore from my work!

Have an awesome day!    Shawn

YAY!!!! Shaped by Shawn.........

Here is a sample of the class flyer:

SHAPED BY SHAWN

Blending Worship and Fitness To Refresh and Strengthen

Purpose: The purpose of these classes are to promote unity among believers, while encourageing ourselves to better care for our health. My goal is to provide support and encouragement along the journey of becoming more physically fit. Fit to serve an awesome God.

Benefits include: Increased strength,energy and flexabilty, better balance and improved posture. Relaxation and fellowship with other believers.

Highlights: A good way to relieve stress. Each class will begin with prayer and include scripture and song to lift our spirits.

Who: This class is non-denominational. All are welcome !

Times and classes:  TBD Hopefully Spring 08  Pilates and Sculpt, Big Ball Blast, Yoga/Pilates mix  and Bootcamp.  

Where:  TLC Church

Cost: TBD   Try the first class FREE!

Please wear comfortable clothes to workout in. This a unique chance to honor God by keeping your body strong and fit, and achance to renew your mind by focusing on scripture and worship.

Shawn is certified by The American Council on Exercise(ACE)

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God"      Romans 12:1-2

I still have some timing and price details to workout and even a little planning still  but these classes are becoming a reality :)

The pastor also wants me to come up with programing for seniors and children. Maybe even mom and baby classes. This in an incredible opportunity. Even when I was searching for churches to solve this class crisis a few weeks ago God kept reminding me of Jeremiah 29:11 All I can say is WOW!!!   God is so AMAZING!!!!!!!

Eating updates. I have been eating decent. Not perfect but Good!  I have been exercising. I even drove through a snow storm on Wednesday to teach. All of the surrounding community eds cancelled evening activities but not the one I was teaching at. It was a long drive for what normally takes 25 min to get there. It took 1 and a half hours. Freeway backup.GRRR!  but amazingly there were 5 students still there and 2 came in right after me. It was an awesome class. They joked with me that I was punishing them for dragging me out in the snow. LOL

I haven't stepped on the scale for awhile. I will soon. I hate the scale !!!!!

Anyway been busy but am surviving and excited about "Shaped by Shawn"

Have a Blessed Day!!!!!       Shawn