teams...

I am sitting here at 5:53 with papers strewn all around me. Each of you have a page in my 3 ring binder with notes and key words/goals on it. I have matched you up in pairs and in teams for a few reasons:

1) Your time flexibility

2) goals

3) some common interest

4) something you can learn or will like about each other.

5) something I feel this person/group will add to you or your life.

I have held back on pairing myself up because there are a few "groups" that I fit into and will be checking in on.

The teams are as follows:

"Designing Mommies":

Grace

Gina

Sarah

Caroline

Rumena

"Meet me at the gym"

Noura

Dana

Iris

Martine

Christine

"The balancing act"

Tina

Deb

Mary

Nicole

Jazz

"Fresh air crew"

Ann

Suzanne

Yvonne

Katina

"lights, camera, raw"

Mimi

Rachel

Alison

"Manhattan Superstars "

Marie

Allison

Sharon

Florina

Kathleen

Joanne

"If I had a cape, I'd be a superhero"

Susan

Teri

Emily *(I would like this team to "captained" by Scott (instructor) and would love

Noreen for you guys to meet up and decide about partnerships/calling tree etc)

Elizabeth

Barbara

Scott

Please let me know if I have somehow missed someone.

We start Monday March 14th. As we "Spring ahead" we spring ahead. These season is historically a powerful one, reaching way back from pagan times through to now. I believe that there is an energy that we can all harness to guide us on this journey.

You have agreed to be a part of this and I want you to do this for yourselves and for all of the people in your life. Some rules are flexible and some are not. More than any other year, I plan on being involved and will be calling, emailing and holding you accountable to yourselves and each other. The more you reach out to your team, the more you can change your life. All of us want better friendships and to be connected to each other. We are all guilty of "being too busy" and avoiding the communication that would make that possible. Instead, we watch television, eat, read magazines, do crossword puzzles etc. This is only SIX weeks out of your lives. All of your personal details are private and I will never share them so I will use "me" (and a little bit of all of you too) as an example of what this "challenge" is about.

The First 3 days:

This is the only part of the challenge that is strict regarding food. We are doing these 3 days to cleanse our bodies of: toxins ,artificial sweeteners, pesticides, preservatives, habits, emotional connection to food, patterns and all of our "norms". This is a time that we get our own attention and say to ourselves "I am doing something big and important here". "I am taking really good care of me and loving myself as much as I love everyone else in my life". It is vital that we get excited about these 3 days. You will feel fed, energized and healthy.

*If you blow off this phase, please let me know and I will start a new team for "alternate route 6 week challenge"

This is what we are doing:

1) We are eating (all organic when possible):

a) fruits and vegetables and lean fish, chicken, tofu, turkey or eggs.

b) raw nuts (handfuls as snacks or dessert), plain yogurt/skim milk (optional) ONLY.

c) lemon/lime and herbs as seasonings.

You can eat all you want to (I encourage you to eat a ton in fact. Especially of leafy multi colored greens and veggies). You can use Olive oil after cooking (raw) and cook with safflower oil (handles heat better) or another similar type of oil.

You cannot have:

Anything processed

added salt/sugar or artificial sweeteners

During these 3 days all of us are:

1) journaling daily

2) meditating (or sitting quietly breathing deeply)/stretching for a minimum of 5 minutes a day.

3) reaching out to our team/partner. Email, text or call.

I want all of us to take these 3 days very seriously. The rest of the 6 weeks will take care of themselves but these first 3 days will be what allows us to change ourselves and our lives.

There will be "meet ups" with some fun stuff. Games, laughter, advice from specialists etc. I will be blogging/twittering (sign up to follow liquidstrength) daily.

I will be emailing your "teams" so you can all have each other's email addresses. I will not share phone numbers. It is your choice what means of contact you share but I hope that you are open to really getting involved.

I would like to have a "kick off" gathering (for anyone who would like to come) at my apartment. Drop me an email and let me know if that would interest you. Also let me know if anything has changed with your ability to do the "6 week challenge". I am excited about this.