The past week has been rough on the old diet and exercise routines. I haven’t been able to go to the yoga studio since we moved. It sucks. I have been getting a lot of exercise but I feel like crap. Our new house has individual thermostats for each room so I can heat up our bedroom to about 90 degrees. I turned the heat up in our bedroom and did an at home Bikram class. It went really well. I worked just as hard as I do at the studio. As much as I love having my mom here it is really screwing with my routine. I miss my yoga classes so much. I can’t wait until next Friday! I can drop Miss Agnes off at school and head down to the studio.

It was a busy weekend. Saturday we hit up the farmers market in Vancouver. It was such a great time. I can’t wait to shop there the weekends this summer. So much produce.

Yesterday, my mom, Agnes, and I went to the Portland Classical Chinese Gardens. It was absolutely beautiful. The flowers, trees, water building, and pathways are amazing. We stopped in the tradition tea house for some tea and snacks. Agnes was so cute. She shared tea with her grandma and ate some handmade almond cookies. Mmm… I have a bunch of pictures from yesterday that I will post later. I am too tired to mess with iPhoto.

Agnes starts her new school tomorrow. I hope she likes it as much as she did her old school. After I drop her off I have to head over to my doctor appointment. I am having back surgery in the next few weeks and I need to get everything all set up. I am hoping that this will be the last time I need the surgery. Between the surgery and the Bikram my back should be as good as new by the end of the fall. My mom and I are going to IKEA tomorrow too. I need to get a bunch of stuff for the new house.

Later this week I am taking my mom to the Japanese Gardens. I want her to see as much of Portland/Vancouver as possible.

For Mother’s Day we are taking my mom to The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve for brunch. Sean and I went for dinner here the other night and it was fantastic. I think my mom will totally dig it.

“I was an anti-advertisement for yoga" ~ S. Iyengar

This is my challenge for the month of April or until my mom gets here on the 22nd. But she already knows I have to keep going to the yoga classes. I miss my mom horribly but she is going to be here for three weeks so I am definitely going to need a break! 

1. Exercise every day. 

a. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Bikram yoga. 

b. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday carido and weights at the YMCA. 

2. Eat mindfully. 

3. Drink 1 cup of Superfood everyday. 

4. Eat fruit everyday. 

5. Eat breakfast everyday. 

6. Continue to drink 1 gallon of water everday. 

7. Continue to work on portion control. 

8. Quit snacking! Ugh, this is where I fail the most. They maybe veggie chips but it's not like they are good for you! When I get bored I snack. It's bad. 

Wow. That is a lot but I can do it.  I have to do it. 

I went to yoga Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. I feel amazing. I think the mix of yoga, cardio, and weights is really going to help me bust past this plateau. 

"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me." ~ Henry Ford

It is funny how life works. I have been going through the motions of working-out and watching what I eat but my heart really isn’t in it. Thanks to my best friend who is inspiring me to keep with it and stay strong.

After reading Jody’s blog the other day about her trip to a Bikram Yoga studio opened my eyes. I haven’t done yoga in years especially Bikram. I have become addicted to Nia classes and my cardio/weight lifting. She first introduced me to Bikram about 5 years ago and I am forever in her debt. As I was reading her blog it was like we were talking on the phone and she was telling me to find a class.

So, I went to a class today. It kicked my butt! I had trouble with some of the poses especially the toe stand. I don’t think in my entire life I am going to be able to do it correctly. ☺ There was something about the final dead body pose when I realized (even though Jody has told me time & time again) the Universe is taking me where I am supposed go.

Thank Jody. Thank you for always supporting me, pushing me when I need to be pushed, and doing that last shot when we should have stopped hours ago. ☺

I love you.