21 days yoga complete

I am finished with my 21 days of yoga... have I lost a million pounds? do I have ripped biceps? what about the elusive yoga butt?... No, no, and no I didnt get any of those things. Instead I received peace of mind and a solid habit of doing something good for my body every day. I have noticed that I have gotten stronger and I am able to transition from plank to cobra the correct way without flopping on the floor. I see subtle changes in my posture and my back feels a lot better. I haven't gained weight but maybe lost .5 lbs. I just have not cared about the fast results since I heard from several blogs that a yoga transformation is slow and steady.

My current challenge has been to eat a clean/whole foods diet. I have been able to do this just about every day although I have cheated a few times by drinking a coke or frappe at work... hey our tap water literally tastes like dirt. I have noticed that since I started to mainly drink water I have been blessed with the caffeine DT's aka migraines. Not so fun but hopefully I can get past them. The current challenge has really pushed me to eat healthier and caused me to experiment with preparing vegetables in ways I never imagined. I have fallen in love with beats, whole wheat flour, and quinoa. I pretty much love this new lifestyle approach and I can see myself sticking with it in the long run... Unfortunately I have discovered chocolate covered bananas in the organic frozen section of my grocery store. I have rationalized that they are better for me than ice cream and that it is ok for me to eat a whole box in one sitting lol ( well maybe not the whole box but definitely half the box). The sweet bananas with their rich fudge coating are to DIE FOR!!SERIOUSLY!!

I still havent decided on a new 21 day exercise challenge... Im thinking that it will consist of pilates/ yoga and possibly zumba. I feel like I need to throw some cardio into my routine at least 3-6 days a week. The only problem for me is time and consistency... I dont have much time on the days I work to do anything at all. On those days I have to force myself to do yoga before I zonk out from exhaustion. So doing cardio on those days isn't very realistic but none the less I could get a few days in a week. I will probably have to go buy some zumba dvds to stay on track. Fortunately, we have a great zumba instructor at my yoga studio but I can only get into see her like 1-2 days a week. Anyhow I will post my next challenge on here in a couple of days....

Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time. ~Deborah Chaskin

carob chips suck!!

ok I did my stint as a vegetarian for a good year but seriously vegans of the world quit trying to prove your stuff is just as good as every one else out there. I mean its fine that you choose not to consume animal products but you obviously miss it. If you didn't miss good animal meat and chocolate then why do you constantly try to make imitations of these things? Just be satisfied with the fruits and vegetables that god has given you! Awhile back when I was a vegetarian, I had heard of this wonderful thing called carob chips that were supposed to taste just like chocolate....first of all why? chocolate comes from a plant and can be made without milk interfering. Secondly, y'all lied! Carob does not taste like chocolate in any shape or form. Carob tastes like an oil/ wax paste with baby powder in it... yummo!! If you have not figured it out by now I just had my first taste of carob and I am thoroughly disappointed.

I have started my first day of organic/ whole foods eating and day 13 of yoga. I went to the grocery store yesterday and a local farm today to buy all of my local loot. I also tried making my own crockpot yogurt but it turned out really soupy = NO GOOD! Im going to give it another go tonight, wish me luck.In addition I have enlisted the help of several blogs out there to help me with this clean eating thing.
I went to the yoga studio this morning but I chose to do zumba instead because they only had one other yoga class. Let me tell you that is a great cardio workout!! It kept my heart rate up the entire time but I never got bored. I think I found an additional new love to supplement my yoga yay!!