Fasting, Recovery, and Bikram Yoga...Oh my..

So I did a 4 day fast recently and am so stoked for the energy and willpower to pull it off. Maybe I should say God Power instead of willpower. Thank you God for the power to juice fast for 4 (almost 5) days! It felt so good to take a break from eating. I detoxed a little bit. Shed a few pounds, of course! Bonus! Got some great sleep! Did not disturb my wife's sleep by snoring. Apparently, when I eat cleaner and I'm less fat, I tend not to snore! Lately, I've been snoring quite a bit! Anyway...not really sure how to recap since my last post, but thought I'd post something to get some thoughts out of my head!

Went to a very good meeting tonight! I thought it was going to be a dry meeting because I sized up the speaker based on his looks! Terrible right! I hate when I do that! Part of me wanted to turn around when I noticed the chair person. So glad I stayed. I always get something out of every meeting I go to!

The topic was on Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it!

I didn't get a chance to share! I haven't really given step 10 a good look lately, but realized tonight that it is very much engrained in my daily life! I'm constantly taking my inventory and am very aware of the actions I need to take in order to help me live happy, joyous, and free! Now, whether or not I take the action is a very different story! Lately, however, I've been taking a lot of action in many areas of my life that I feel is helping to make me a better human being.

List of actions:

• I'm sober today
• Got to a meeting tonight
  
• Asked someone to sponsor me
• Made an appointment with my dentist
• Recently sought counsel of a nutritionist
• Started to see my therapist more regularly
• Showing up for work on time
• Present for my children and wife
• Starting to attend Bikram Yoga classes regularly

Those are the list of actions that I've taken recently that are helping me so much. I've been very lazy in the self development area of my life and am confident that I will continue to take the right path with the least resistance.

Not sure where I'm going now...I'm tired of looking at the screen.

I should mention that I regret drinking the coffee today. I should have listened to my inner self that said, don't do it! But hopefully I learned that my body doesn't respond well to it any longer. I do not plan on drinking any tomorrow or the day after. I pray that I stay away from it! It's a drug that my body and mind crave and deep down I know that I can't drink it without having ill effects! I just felt amped and edgey. Oh well...progress not perfection! Thank god tomorrow is a new day.

Bikram was very tough this morning. Actually, this was the toughest class I've had since I started. I'm not really sure what it was, but I'm just thankful that I went and got through the practice! I'm pretty sure I'll go tomorrow.

Anyway...

--Namaste

Bikram Yoga Rocks

I know, I know...it's been so long since I've posted. It's ok really, because it's not like I have any followers or anything. (Not that my ego wouldn't mind having some followers.) This is really a place for me to come and share what's happening with me. I try to be honest with my eating. However, that's not a very true statement. Because if I was honest, I'd be writing about all the shit I've been eating. Total Crap. Bad for you food. I struggle with food. I hate that I struggle at all with anything. Food would have to be at the very very top of my issues these days.

The reason I'm writing right now is because I'm feeling good. My eating is clean today and I have good energy. I never write when I eating crap! Ever! I write when I'm feeling good or possibly when I'm about to eat crap. If I haven't, I will start coming here to vent about my feelings regarding my cravings and desires to eat foods that are not on the list. Good point, maybe I'll make the list now. I wasn't planning on doing this, but I feel it would be a good exercise. Speaking of exercise, I was recently turned on to Bikram yoga. I'm so stoked on this new find. It may be that my yoga practice is helping figure this stuff out. All I know is if I eat like shit the day or night before doing bikram, the classes are harder and I struggle. More on Bikram later...Back to my list of foods to stay away from:

Abstinance List:

1. Coffee--> I have to stay away from coffee. I'm a total addict and I LOVE a good caffeine buzz and it totally fucks with my energy and food intake.
   
2. Refined flour--> I can hardly imagine not ever having slice of sourdough bread again, but need to test the waters here. (I actually have an appointment with a nutritionist next week. Hoping she can shed some light on my struggles!)
3. Potato Chips--> They're not that healthy for you and it may be a food that I should stay away from.
   

This is doable for the near future. At least until I can get some professional advice! I definitely have issues! I wish I was normal and could not trip on food or alcohol or coffee.

I think I'm starting to get tired writing now! It sure does feel good to write again. I love this forum. I found some great Bikram blogs that are so fun to read. I can't believe how much I love doing Bikram yoga. I feel soooo gooood when I'm done with my practice. I want to be a Bikram instructor! I'm gonna start saving now! My goal is to do it in 2012! Stoked! Stoked! Stoked!

Today's intake:

spring water--76 oz
2 cups of chai tea (with raw honey)
32 oz of green smoothy
1 pear
fresh apple juice--32oz
celery & broccoli with hummus
2 oranges
raw almonds--1/2 c

I need to write down yesterdays intake:

2 venti coffees from starbucks
steel cut oats with banana and brown sugar
spaghetti with alfredo and veggies from cafeteria (bland)
beans and tomatoes (cafeteria) --not bad
peanut butter cookie (cafeteria) very good, but super greasy

When I got home from work at 11pm then I had:

ritz crackers and cheddar cheese
ritz crackers and smoked salmon (from costco) very good
small lunch bag of lays barbecue chips
2 bowls of lucky charms with almond milk

I think that's it. I may be forgetting something. It's the night eating of junk food that's been hard to break, but that's about to change! At least that's my honest intention! I will go to a meeting tonight, maybe. Tomorrow for sure! We'll see how I feel at midnight. I'm kinda sleepy eyed right now...therefore, i'm signing off

--Namaste

Abstinent Day 2

It's actually day 3. I attempted to do an update via my new ipad, but for some reason it wouldn't bring the focus to the main body to update....Oh well...Maybe I'll try again. I was at work taking a break in my car, tapping into google's free wifi. Anyhow...

Feeling pretty good for day 3. Basically I've been all raw for 3 days now. It's amazing how clear my head and how much more energy I'm feeling. Except for some trader joes hummus I used to dip my broccoli and peppers into, i've been raw.

Yesterday's intake:

2 cups of chai tea with honey
1 plum
2 quarts of green smoothy
1/2 quart of coconut choc/maca/cayenne smoothy
handful of nuts/gogi mix
2 quarts of spring water

I finally made it to our local spring to harvest some water. It takes 20 minutes per 5 gallon bottle. It makes me feel good knowing i'm putting spring water in my body vs. the RO water! I harvested 4 5gal jugs, so I should be good for a while.

My eating habits have been so bad lately. I've gained, within the last couple of months, at least 10 lbs. I'm at 200 lbs. I'm so uncomfortable lately, something has to give. My food choices have been awful as well! It's so crazy to me that I've been eating so poorly! It's mostly the night eating as well as some poor food choices that have contributed to my weight gain and my low energy!

The good news is "tomorrow is a new day"! and I can make a change anytime I choose! I love the early morning brisk air we've had lately. I can feel the seasons changing and I'm looking forward to changing with it! So here I go! Ready to post as much as I can to document my food intake as well as my daily progress and feelings.

Peace