Why yoga?

<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm dead, dog tired tonight. I have no pearls of wisdom for you, I'm empty. I've been sitting here staring at my screen trying to think of something intelligent to say, or even something stupid to say, anything, but I'm just drawing a big, fat blank. It's like I've run out of words.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Why yoga?</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I wanted to mention why I was thinking about a yoga class. Not so much for spirituality or chanting to the supreme guru guy (whoever that's suppose to be, I have no idea). I have my own guy I pray to, and he's not some guru in India.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The reason I'm thinking about a yoga class is because I realized last week at the Kundalini yoga that I'm totally out of touch with my body. Even though I didn't like the chanting and weird breathing in Kudalini, there was something kind of cool about actually noticing my body. Paying attention to my breathing, to the stretching, to how it feels to move my body very slowly, to acknowledge my body.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When I hit the gym in the mornings, I hit it hard. I don't stretch to start, I just jump on that StairMaster or a spinning bike and away I go. My intent is to burn as many calories as quickly as possible in 30 minutes. According to my Polar Heart Rate monitor, it's usually around 220 calories for the StairMaster or 300 for the spinning bike. My goal is to get my heart rate up to around 150 and an average of 129. My resting heart rate is 54.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then I hit the weights, trying to go as heavy as I can manage. Recently I've backed off a little on the size of weights since hurting my right shoulder and left elbow. Today my trapezius feels kind of shredded (thanks to Seated Rows with 67.5 pounds). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm still lifting 20-pound dumbbells and using 50-pound barbell for my lunges, but no crazy stuff like the 25-pound dumbbells. I doubt I'll ever work up to the 25-pound dumbbells. I think maybe I'm just not built like a guy and will never lift guy-sized weights. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I rarely stretch afterwards, simply because I don't have time. I'm in a hurry and stretching is a luxury. So that's why the yoga, and that's the only reason. I don't expect it to change my life or make me happy, I thought it might help my balance and make me more limber.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Squat machine</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I discovered a cool new machine at my gym today that</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> I had never noticed. It's a squat machine. I hate doing squats (next to lunges) because I have this fear that I'll squat down and not be able to stand back up, or just fall over. It's part of a small, ongoing fear that the old lady (me) that works out with all the young, buff guys is going to embarrass herself one of these days. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The machine is a MaxiCam (one of the big boy toys) and it's called a squat/calf machine. I totally loved it and my buttocks are super sore tonight. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4M2MSBRdkeenHA7ztK1ohJlvUu2sX_3oQT5Lkxue3bRTozWNPp9ear0lZyL85meurPb_dUmtqMBxP-pzZD5Xl3FbBzaODa5TeHXdhAJDUwhCnLRg_-3dnOeA4mhbSApPNZNWIRUo0Cn0/s1600-h/squat+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4M2MSBRdkeenHA7ztK1ohJlvUu2sX_3oQT5Lkxue3bRTozWNPp9ear0lZyL85meurPb_dUmtqMBxP-pzZD5Xl3FbBzaODa5TeHXdhAJDUwhCnLRg_-3dnOeA4mhbSApPNZNWIRUo0Cn0/s320/squat+machine.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Binging</strong></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I guess I need to mention the elephant in the room. The binging. So far so good. Last night was fine even though I slept the sleep of the damned. In other words, I'm not sure I actually even slept last night. Yet I still didn't go crazy with the eating. I had a couple small snacks, but I didn't eat any cheese (even though I know where to find it now). Actually, it's kind of lost it's appeal. It's just cheese, not crack or something.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Strength Training Book</strong></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I bought this book at Costco a few months ago and just started using it. I love it and it was only $11.99. I have six other books on strength training but this one is my current favorite. I love that it shows you which muscles you're working, and exactly how to do the exercises. Great book for a beginner or a pro.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9Sz5QZFwFsMLPjbnUKYj98l-Mo43eeiK61muUkH5gYdA6BAMml83FCc3CaExO1iJfVFNt9kL9Ohf3p7oXil5iXr-Chj6Ai7cSx63_OLyBDruaAv0acQE2UcobtmxFMJI2WE8HeBbAor_/s1600-h/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9Sz5QZFwFsMLPjbnUKYj98l-Mo43eeiK61muUkH5gYdA6BAMml83FCc3CaExO1iJfVFNt9kL9Ohf3p7oXil5iXr-Chj6Ai7cSx63_OLyBDruaAv0acQE2UcobtmxFMJI2WE8HeBbAor_/s320/book.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Long post for someone out of words.</span><br /></div>

Why yoga?

I'm dead, dog tired tonight. I have no pearls of wisdom for you, I'm empty. I've been sitting here staring at my screen trying t...

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Kundalini Yoga...no thanks

It turns out I kind of hate Kundalini Yoga. This is what I hate: the chanting words that I don't know what they mean and I can't pronounce. The weird poses that hurt my ankle bones. The breathing. Oh my God!...the breathing by protruding my belly button when I breathe out makes me light headed dizzy. I hate all of it. <br /><br />At first it seemed kind of nice. It seemed comforting, relaxing in the yoga studio. The lights were dimmed, the soft Indian music, everyone spoke in whispers. We had a really pretty lady Indian yoga instructor. Then she told us to close our eyes and she started the chanting thing. <br /><br />She'd given us a paper with the mantra. I couldn't prounce the words. I couldn't get down the sing-song chanting thing she was doing. It felt weird and uncomfortable. I kept wondering what the words meant.<br /><br />AD GURAY NAMEH, JUGAD GURAY NAMEH,<br />SAT GURAY NAMEH, SIRI GURU DEVAY NAMEH<br /><br />I looked it on Google. The above mantra means:<br /><br />This is the Mangala Charn Mantra, and is chanted for protection. It surroundsthe magnetic field with protective light, and means "I bow to the primal Guru (guiding consciousness who takes us to God-Realization), I bow to wisdom through the ages, I bow to True Wisdom, I bow to the great, unseen wisdom."<br /><br />This just isn't for me. I have three more classes but I have no interest in going. It seems like a total waste of time. <br /><br />I've tried the hot yoga, you might remember my <a href="http://diana135.blogspot.com/2009/05/hell-hatha-hot-yoga.html" target="blank">post</a> on that one. I'd rather have my eyes poked out with a hot stick than go through that torture again.<br /><br />The only thing left to try is good old Hatha Yoga. There's a cute little studio down the street from where I live. They have a good reputation so I think I'll give them a try. I don't consider yoga exercise. I think of it more of as mental calming and relaxation. I could use some of that in my life so I'm willing to give it one last try. It can't be any worse than the last two yogas I've tried.

Kundalini Yoga...no thanks

It turns out I kind of hate Kundalini Yoga. This is what I hate: the chanting words that I don't know what they mean and I can't pro...

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Monday Is A Fun Day

<p>I started out my week just right, at the gym! I got in <strong>40 minutes</strong> on the <strong>cross ramp</strong>…burning over <strong>450 calories</strong>!! Felt great! Afterwards I made up my <strong>favorite oatmeal combo</strong> with <strong>PB2</strong> and a <strong>small banana</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkE65gREmcqREAyr_zbD7SHwaaFG8Wy9-GYCG8JoG_H1SduVtuI080gL6gDowZw3Wt0r6bs02bNaRsPCghyphenhyphenLtZ74H-z4wWRQoG-KEQe6oqhiXZckiBtqCFp8gK_esPtbZLUwPqQu3GZy_N/s1600-h/DSC05758%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05758" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR76ltz8aa9yvv9-X1moLe8LP6qNV1sO8AyG3oRy9rZahgTiN5BeWBJwakyrVoygePdAAuQ3zaVAXkqEOisYs7l96tmTXbBnRUsNDAW8sCAwVcPlrpTzcA2DDZa0osW9K8Sv-Iqthz4Kjk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05758" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Today was the day of snacks! It was a short work day for me, so I didn’t take an official lunch break. Around 10:30am I had my first snack, a <strong>gold delicious apple</strong> for <strong>1 point</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSobJDdAcUGe2WRyb_e05ZxutLn-N-h159FpIR_qnDXEorvnisClZTNzDWhh4n7w1IVoct14hbQDxkRD26ZZgQwuff8pU2KB7DHkRBvVfnmb9pq_sVTzexWdzAevR5hROd0F8oCRvOyKX/s1600-h/DSC05759%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05759" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuuS7gyywTeUi_dWFQ6Y2mtPO_XNr3y-pm8l7JRTeRlhpXjYY31xL9AaaBmd5EwcVjEKLp9y3w-pU-W-4vNh2ExHFYN0U_xm_YI_NJRIgl1uoVmEOoncGiqR2ZI8I2O72HnZwsb6oWvxc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05759" width="404" /></a></p> <p>A few hours later I munched on these delicious <strong>grapes</strong> for another <strong>1 point</strong> snack!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb15eiDNAnfywiyBBKRrgCa09b6UeshL_AXrgi49izmiBii0OrCM41noqgnuVM47-ZIc2sksz_b98LZFliFqQ4FSTBvJC15sxhnSK7DvNl-ybi-wL1nrEKnfL8-jxaXWX2vYoQPuNO2_zh/s1600-h/DSC05760%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05760" border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKeMWNY7y1w1gYo960IgeHWoLqJPIhEh94ofm0YXQmGXFvd56IzZIQJbu7EE7XGh-HZbdZqVeq6Zs-n5CqZ0yzeNCrKBo9f6Ya9xqKYNNXF2X7vhknwerI8S4H_4-cp-4WYByP2VVAARq/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05760" width="404" /></a></p> <p>And then right before I left work at 2pm I mixed up some <strong>yogurt</strong> and <strong>grape nuts</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong>. I had to stop at the grocery store before I got home and didn’t want to be<strong> s-t-a-r-v-i-n-g</strong> while I was there and this <strong>did just the trick</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvyrWyYaEOeb-sWosf9_iIYuMizlTOH9T22psRoUFiTBDZ47WoNviO5QAZUbSWfCr3d7xBj3Ade72Ypq7bia77GWmeIOIvsoWcWfgABMTIhQZkG4t9YvHiwqjj6ITmi6k8mEN9LKnIbQY/s1600-h/DSC05761%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05761" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIZYFwBVRSBWuqXjKyVht5NePGOR3rOrGMaKOkmsPx2-gUxZuUdH34EzmzzaTIFOGuYg9FfBxXmBAHZurkvvlyddcCc707aupkvhLD1wMe3K29MRv3Z0wut-s8k0Zp_TeYeqtA7NauIns/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05761" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I did a little tidy-ing up when I got home while munching on some <strong>animal crackers</strong> in between (<strong>2 points</strong>)….because my cousin and her <strong>super cute little boy</strong> were coming to spend the night with us! They arrived around three and the <strong>chit chat</strong> <strong>didn’t stop</strong>! It was so fun to catch up with her and play with her lil guy!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjiH4xhyphenhyphenMmH3k9pYngst8rtD4OJOmepiEn9edPEY0Jt9GFYK72NoTwL_3kJesmAhzHqRVaiiIpT8cPlRzb_vuoJeg1l93D0ta5qIh1RDSvgz6QCaklZd7q1HxRnjxyeUI8ztx61szusjM/s1600-h/DSC05767%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05767" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgTzzcx9iMp8wcFxQIvHJI5ufT3gD1GplgTF_vHpCmv0GIRl6bqum6tctpeMBpkBBbjVTDkytIxUOMjzJFb32j4o5KgCXXqEkhkaevFP-oMcEvMC6KHkS1vH8a0-qopi2NdNZhv1_4HER/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05767" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Since I was fresh out of baby food we had to make a quick run to Target to pick up a few things for him, but before we did I realized <strong>I still hadn’t eating any lunch</strong> :( so I had snack #5 of the day, a serving of <strong>cottage cheese</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong> to hold me over because it was already about 5ish. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclhx90pt89HaKdYC5WKRliBaFJYWg25Rd2hassDgjCg2DgmGNbll_5O5yQnSeJPlJv-TShR7JW0WYYOTTLB0QHY-2CFMqI8fmDZKjCKK03kkD_suwgdiQGOC21x9CXlZ1_cTOtgJxTUtR/s1600-h/DSC05762%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05762" border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsCFZgM7AjIepeHWg-aIdlFwn3rRe0NRZWTSLZFX_Y5iuQosX2-GR4NCmRgWbxKwC_dl50v53FDC5zcPjSNbVCxD3d4TlG7qZffVIuKB3m26_gEbhp3JnvwE9Zc0ZhlCbH8ZZaC3akkxD/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05762" width="404" /></a></p> <p>When we got home we had a nice, <strong>low point supper</strong>! I must say, my cousin was quite <strong>impressed</strong>, she couldn’t believe that it was low point! My plate consisted of <strong>green beans</strong>, <strong>grapes</strong>, and <strong>1 serving of creamy baked chicken</strong> <strong>(X2)</strong> for a total of <strong>9 points</strong>. Mmmm, so delish!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURfHNCIo_zm2rOei88UvXNTESgVJukqLZ3P-WjcI6xMswgYh-w7qV6j7TJ1QMCTKFVJjoFTw_QKZAYTSnLW96VelKWOWEdPa8nfveFIH0BmHRAWMgZxvjC1rAnxeMuWiIgHjPrcesYeAS/s1600-h/DSC05763%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC05763" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxqd9gEvonDtpgvic0SgjTib2Mvv1WWmSIi2ni5P_f0CUe3IQfkp4NQQKSxcVCt4HJHhwpDHlQM6piYZWKwy-XMo9Ou4P2w4qDiFFfHvVprx5IZdOcof3MWd0yyUZRzV2Ve1xmkaSa2Pe/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC05763" width="404" /></a></p> <p>If you haven’t tried this recipe, you MUST!!! I got it from <a href="http://happytexans.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a> over at <a href="http://happytexans.blogspot.com/">Happy Texans</a>. Not only is it good, but it’s also SUPER easy!! So without further ado, here it is:</p> <p><font size="4"><strong>Creamy Baked Chicken (4 </strong><b>pts/breast)</b></font></p> <ul> <li>4 6-oz chicken breasts </li> <li>1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken </li> <li>1/4 cup water </li> <li>2 cups Stove Top stuffing mix </li> <li>1 c. fat free chicken broth </li> <li>4 oz. low fat (or fat free) swiss cheese </li> </ul> <p>Cut chicken breasts in half so you have 8. Place in 9x13 pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup and water. Put Swiss cheese on chicken breasts. Pour soup over chicken. Sprinkle crushed stuffing mix over chicken. Drizzle chicken broth over. Bake for about 45 minutes or until done. Check it at 40 minutes because every one's oven is different. </p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p>We spent the rest of the evening watching the Bachelor and catching up! She lives in WI, so we don’t get to see each other as often as we would like. And her little boy is probably the <strong>best baby</strong> I’ve ever been around. He  never got crabby once the whole day! Oh and she also help me download <a href="http://skype.com/">Skype</a>. I’ve heard lots about it, but never used it before. Her hubby is in AZ doing some training for the Army so they use it all the time to keep in touch! So we skyp-ed my <strong>SIL</strong> and then my <strong>cousin’s hubby</strong>…it is <strong>SO cool</strong>!!! <strong>Have you tried Skype??</strong> Or was I <strong>THE</strong> last person in the world to download it!! ;)</p> <p><strong>MONDAY’S STATS</strong> <br />POINTS = 21/24 <br />WATER = 116 oz <br />EXERCISE = 40 min cross ramp</p>

Monday Is A Fun Day

I started out my week just right, at the gym! I got in 40 minutes on the cross ramp …burning over 450 calories !! Felt great! Afterwards I ...

Read more »