“Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they’re meant to be.”–Anonymous

I’m participating in the 21-day yoga Experience at Inner Bliss Yoga Studio (IB) again—I think this is my fourth or fifth time doing it now. Every time I do it, I learn more about myself, my habits and my yoga practice. I am so excited to see what this journey will be about.

I think my body has been craving this lifestlye of eating whole foods, no alcohol, sugar or dairy, lots of water, and practicing yoga 5 days a week. It makes me think: This is how I should live all the time. I always feel amazing after I eat whole foods. My yoga practice is taken to the next level (I often feel so light that I can “fly” into positions). And overall, I feel like I am a better person to everyone around me.

I want to say that this time will be different. That this time, I will actually stay with this way of living. But that’s too many expectations. So I am going to take it one day at a time, and write about my journey as it unfolds. As Morgan, one of the lovely ladies at IB who checks you in for class, said to me, “You are so beautifully human.” So I will be human, and beautifully so.

With that said, I am going to do my best to share what I eat and my answers to the daily journal questions that Tammy provided. I am also going to note the Animal Medicine card that I pulled during my meditation:

Animal Medicine Card
Hummingbird (Joy)

Breakfast
Apple and 2 T. of Heinen’s natural unsalted peanut butter

Lunch
Salad with lettuce, spinach, mushrooms, red peppers, sunflower seeds, grilled chicken, olive oil and vinegar

Snack
7 almonds and 7 cashews

Dinner
Grilled chicken breast marinated in lime, garlic, cilantro and cumin; Guacamole made with avocados, tomatoes, red onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt & pepper; half a red pepper; Berry La Croix.

Morning Chat
How does my stomach feel – settled, upset, gaseous, calm? Consider and note what I ate in the past 24 hours.
I felt heavy and tired even though I had 8 hours of sleep. It was definitely the burger and beer I had at brunch yesterday at the Tap House—when I was eating it, it was soooo good, but then I felt sick for the rest of the evening and even into the next morning. Final answer: Not worth it.

How does my body feel, in particular my head (clear, heavy, agitated)? What is my energy level like?
I definitely had low energy and felt weighted down. I was also a bit tender–in a good way–from Lanie’s class on Saturday.

Evening Chat
What was my energy level like today?
My energy definitely got better as I drank more water. I had a busy day at work, but the light salad at lunch gave me the energy to keep going all afternoon.

Did I eat anything that produced unfavorable results or favorable ones?
I think I may have eaten too much at dinner. I had a later lunch, then yoga, then stopped at the store, so by the time I got home, I was really hungry. I had a few nuts, but then ate a big chicken breast and some guac and peppers. Now, I feel sleepy and full as I ate late, too.

Overall – how do I FEEL?
Tammy’s class really rung things out (super hot and sweaty!) and overall I already feel better–perhaps it’s all in my head at this point because I know where this is going. I think it’s time to slow down a bit and enjoy each moment.

I am off to bed to read Max Strom’s book A Life Worth Breathing, which is the perfect book to read right now because it’s all about becoming the person you want to be, the person you are meant to be.