Friday, January 27, 2012

Do You Sleep?

I've never realized how not sleeping can mess you up in so many ways.  I've had a rushed couple of weeks and not a lot of sleep and here is how I've been affected:


1. Can't formulate complete sentences.
2. Making poor food choices.
    -craving sugary donuts!
    -eating when I'm not hungry.
    -overeating.
    -drinking more caffeine than normal.
    -overdoing it with the candy.
3. Lack of energy.
4. Not wanting to exercise.
5. Swollen face.
6. Gained weight.


I'm not kidding, I experienced all of these things from lack of sleep.  Last night I got the sleep I needed and then some and felt like a completely different person today.  Disgusted by the choices I've been making in the past couple of days and ready to get healthy again, I signed up for a yoga meditation class tonight and am taking this Friday night off from the night life.  I do love to boogie, but it will be in my dreams.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Restorative Yoga Playlist


Om Shreem Shriyei      6:00 Steve Gold
Higher Love 3:33      James Vincent Mc Morrow Silver Lining
Upward Over the Mountain 5:58 Iron & Wine
Purna 6:35    Steve Gold
Last Orders 5:02 Richard Hawley
Ferryman's Tale 6:08 Manish Vyas & Prem Joshua Water Down the Ganges
Any other Time 4:09 Thomas Newman
Shiva Moon II (The Ocean Mudra) 2:45   Prem Joshua Mudra
Here, There & Everywhere 2:35   Pedro Guasti
Desire 3:56     Deepak Chopra
Autumn 8:59     Soulfood Serenity
River Flows In You   3:09 Yiruma
There Is a Light 5:38 Steve Gold Let Your Heart Be Known

Tonight I taught a Restorative Yoga class at Cornerstone Studio in Bellevue.  Regardless of the wind that almost blew me off the road on my way back home, I still feel at ease with the world.  Thank you for coming and allowing me to restore myself.


Thursday, January 19, 2012

3 Day Juicing Cleanse or Not...

People do cleanses for different reasons.  No time for small talk, let's get down to it!  I did a juice cleanse because I suffer from vertigo.  And I do not use to word 'suffer' lightly.  I'll admit, sometimes it is fun.  It feels like I'm high on mary j. but lately it's gotten worse and I'll be damned if it continues to downward spiral.  That's where the cleanse enters the story.


The 3-Day cleanse I chose is from a little company called Strawberry Moon Juice.  The juices I chose contain nothing but fruits and vegetables.  The daily calories range from 900-1200 per day, depending on the content.


I chose this cleanse because it does not contain caffeine, alcohol, dairy and/or nuts.  I don't know if the vertigo is brought on by a nut allergy, the coffee I inhale daily or wine I drink a couple nights a week.  Sure some might say, just eliminate nuts from your diet!  But foods sneakily hide nut ingredients, read below:


Information found from: http://www.foodallergy.org/page/tree-nut-allergy



Some Unexpected Sources of Tree Nuts



  • Salads and salad dressing
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Breading for chicken
  • Pancakes
  • Meat-free burgers
  • Pasta
  • Honey
  • Fish dishes
  • Pie crust
  • Mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring)
  • Mortadella (may contain pistachios)

Day 1:


I drank 2 juices, it's 5:45pm and I don't feel that hungry.  The first juice was interesting.  It tasted like cucumbers and mint.  The second juice was like drinking a carrot.  I'm not sure if you're supposed to do this, but I heated the 2nd juice up in the microwave and pretended it was hot tomato soup.  It tasted better heated up.  I'm scared I'll get hungry later so I'm waiting as long as I can for the 3rd and final juice of the day.  After I suck it up, I am left with as much caffeine free tea that this little heart desires!


Beginning of Day 2:


Wake up with a cold.  And a massive headache.  Caffeine withdrawal?  Quite possibly but this one is stifling and I have ish to do today.  I try the morning juice for Day 2.  I just cannot do it.  I know a lot of people who LOVE these juices, but I am not one of them.  I make my decision with these excuses: I am already a healthy eater, I love fruit, I don't eat meat or dairy and my headache is calling for coffee.  I give in.


Afterthoughts:


So I made it one day.  And oddly enough, that one day eliminated my sugar cravings.  I drank more water and I had a good night sleep.  I wasn't even hungry the entire day, I stopped eating (juicing) at 7:00pm and liked waking up with a hungry belly.


I'm at the exact same weight.  Perhaps because I overindulged the night before Day 1.  I can honestly say that cleanses, 30 day yoga challenges, and/ restricting certain foods from my diet, backfires.


The 30 day challenges make me love yoga less, making it a chore rather than a joy.  The idea of a 3 day cleanse made me overeat the night before it started, therefore making me gain unwanted pounds and if I take out cereal from my breakfast, I am not a happy camper.


Lesson learned?  Eat moderately, get plenty of fruits and veggies, switch to decaf after noon and don't eat as much sugar.  Perhaps a 1 day juice cleanse is just what I needed!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Yoga Classes!

TEACHING A MIX OF POWER/HATHA/RESTORATIVE YOGA!
EVERY TUESDAY
7:45-8:45PM
@ CORNERSTONE STUDIO IN NEWPORT HILLS, BELLEVUE, WA!
DROP-INS $15 OR BUY A CLASS PASS.
Namaste!


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Eating Out of the Freezer!

Me gusta mucho!  I haven't had Mac & cheese in ages, so this was a special treat!  I put some Siracha on top and devoured this tasty dish in record speed!  Think it was 300 cals, so not that bad for ya either!
Shocked!
It tasted way better than it sounded...& both of these items were on sale
last week at Whole Foods!
Around 330 calories and didn't even need the Siracha!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Create Your Own Heaven!

I got to thinking last night.  I had just enjoyed a hot cup of cocoa with marshmallows and thought, "this is seriously my idea of heaven."  I love everything about this duo and I'd like to indulge in drinking this yummy bevy every night & by golly, I will!  (yes, I said by golly).
My heaven.
This isn't the most inexpensive combo.
Both @ Whole Foods.
It's $9 for the Cocoa & $4/5 for the mallows.
I use 1 tbsp. of cocoa to make it last longer.
The Dandies are vegan, gluten free & gelatin free (a rare find).

What's your idea of heaven? (besides the obvious, family & friends)...I'm talkin' indulgences!