You Will Blindly Follow Me? the Naked Truth & the Bikram 30-Day Challenge...

How do you like my old suit? It was custom tailored... one of a kind! I have to wear it every single day. Sometimes I get sick of it, sometimes it looks down right sexy. Sometimes I neglect it, but now I am really taking care of it. You have one too, right?

I am posting this for the world to see because I have started the 30-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge. After last night's wonderful class, the answer popped into my head, "yes, I can do this everyday now." And so it goes, I will try my best to do the most disciplined thing I can do this side of military bootcamp.

I am posting my body picture to contrast how 30 days of Bikram changes it. I am NOT weighing myself as I am not concerned about pounds at all. I believe that unless you are morbidly obese, the number of pounds you carry is not the measuring stick for health. How do you feel? How do your clothes fit? Listen to your body, it speaks to you and does not lie. Currently, I have no idea how much I weigh, but I do know I feel as healthy as ever. I hope this is a topic that most can relate with because I have struggled with my weight and body image since grade school. Not only does Bikram Yoga make my body feel strong and leaner than ever before, but it has helped me shed the fear and doubting mechanisms that had previously haunted me. I do not care anymore what anyone thinks of my body. It is mine and I am the one who has to live in it.


That being said, I will be posting updates along the way and another picture on the morning of Day 31. I will not be doing a class-by-class thing because it will infringe on the other great things we could be talking about and learning from each other. If there are any major changes, slip-ups, or epiphanies along the way I'll be sure to document them along with the weekly run-thru summaries. I will also be posting summaries of what I eat just to keep me honest. I'll tell you right now though, no matter what kind of burritos, pizza, or other non-essential goodies get devoured on top of my usual diet, I start everyday with a Hemp smoothie containing hemp protein powder, hemp milk, coconut milk (sometimes), hemp oil, coconut oil, cinnamon, peanut butter (sometimes), and various leafy greens, veggies, and low-glycemic index fruits like cranberries or pineapple. Also, I take a fish oil supplement everyday mainly for the Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA which is an Omega-3 fatty acid and a primary structural component of the human brain and retina. It is only found in algae or the fish that eat said algae. This is the product I use and it is amazing! http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Chapter-Wholemega-Fish-Oil-1000mg-120-Softgels-/290596097795?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a8e08f03#ht_1619wt_1165

Here is a finished 30-Day Challenge blog ~ http://www.yoga.com/ydc/enlighten/enlighten_document.asp?ID=458&section=9&cat=144 ~ if you want to get an idea for what someone goes thru during this time. Its a long read, but the first couple paragraphs have good info. I hope I inspire myself even more to let go and dive deeper... maybe some will follow.

"One step closer to hitting bottom," he whispers with a cheshire grin... JVR

*more links to "smoothie" ingredients:

~ here's the best deal for Hemp Powder on the market bar none (trust me i've gone thru a lot of different brands/deals) - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nutiva-Bulk-Organic-Hemp-Protein-Fiber-Powder-3-Pound-Bag-/290632733809?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43ab0f9471#ht_1302wt_1165 

~ Hemp milk! the Original Unsweetened is obviously the healthiest, but the Chocolate is the tastiest! ;) http://livingharvest.com/products/milk

~ Coconut oil http://nutiva.com/products/coconut-oil-organic-benefits-nutiva/

~ Coconut milk http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/product.php?p=so_delicious_beverage_hg_original