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Well, it seems that Spring has fallen a little flat this year. I had set specific goals that never really came to fruition. I blame the groundhog.

Every year I watch that little bugger and this year was no different. I waited while a bunch of silly men and women stood around on a cold, February morning and put my faith in a-is the groundhog a rodent?-well, whatever he is, I put my faith and trust in him when they all proclaimed (with an actual proclamation) that Spring would arrive early this year.

I usually don't put much stock in any of that. Spring comes on March 20th whether the weather cooperates or not! But this year has been an exceptionally cold and nasty winter and I guess I wanted it to be true.

It's not.

There is snow in the forecast for Monday.

I will not be deterred. I will not let these gray days bring me down!

This healthy lifestyle of mine is going to get me through even if Spring doesn't come until May! (God forbid!)

Now that the weather report is out of the way, I would like to share one of my goals that I will begin working on in the coming weeks.

I am going to start training for a 5K. I may end up only walking it and I will be fine with that but I will be starting a modified couch to 5K program in the next couple of weeks.

My attempts at exercise over the past couple of weeks have been, at best, falling short of what I expected after eating this way for nearly three months.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I got myself worked up for "better weather". Well, since that may never get here, I need to step up my game and get a move on.

My progress as far as the eating part of this lifestyle change has been fairly steady. People are telling me they notice a difference and a lot of my clothes (from the last two sizes I purchased) are beginning to feel quite roomy. My stamina has been on a steady incline. I feel more focused and more aware of how different I feel when I eat the right foods. I am using my food extractor and "drinking my veggies" which seems to be helping with so many of my issues.

I no longer have knee pain or joint pain. I no longer have a wheeze. My feet no longer look like Macy's Thanksgiving balloons. My skin looks better. I don't seem to run out of breath like I used to while doing the simplest tasks like tying my shoes. I no longer break a sweat just trying to get ready for work. I had ringing in my ears that has subsided considerably. I no longer sweat profusely when doing minor tasks.

I have introduced more organic foods into my diet. I can't wait to hit some farms out East over the summer! Hopefully, the bounty there will be more cost effective than what I can get at the local markets.

As far as some of the other aspects of my lifestyle make-over or do-over or Mulligan-are concerned, I have gotten my house in order clearing out closets and making my kitchen more user-friendly. Even when I am making dinner, I am much more organized.

I find that now I feel like actually have time to breathe once in a great while.

I am working on that.

I am also working on getting more water into the program. When I am busy at work, I find that my water bottle just sits there. The last week, I have been trying to be more aware of it and drink whenever I get the chance.

I am also not so strict in planning my menus. Sometimes, what I planned goes out the window because I ran out of time so I do a lot of off the cuff cooking. Most of the time, it's been a success. I am trying not to buy too much food all at one time. I make two or three trips to different stores during the week and that keeps the foods I am making that much fresher.

As far as nurturing my spirit, I am going to church, meditating, doing a small amount of yoga, and praying as often as I can.

I am still feeling like I could topple over at any time but my balance is getting much better and I feel more and more stable all the time.

This coming month will be all about fitting in the physical part of this journey. If that means I have to walk at the mall because of a freak April blizzard, then so be it.

By the way, the groundhog is a rodent. Ick!

You put your whole self in...

Today I got back on the mat. The Yoga mat.

Years ago, when I was starting yet another stint with Weight Watchers, I decided I would try Yoga. I did and I loved it. But I did it to home videos...I never took a class.

They were very good tapes for beginners and the Yogi, Alan Finger, was very good at explaining it all. It definitely helped me with flexibility and centering me.

The last time I lost weight, I started with the Yoga tapes and a Pilates tape and I even dusted off some Tae Bo videos. That was before I had my dvd player. None of those will work since I no longer have the VCR. So I am trying to follow a TV show. Much harder. It would be much easier to be able to pause or rewind when I miss something because I am focusing all my energy on getting up off the floor. And they don't always show the modified versions of the poses (which I modify even further!) that fluffy gals like me can use. Yoga is a practice where you condition yourself with moves that engage your whole body and you use your own body's resistance to make yourself stronger. Well, this body is verrrry resistant!

I realize that I am much older and much larger than I was the last time. But I want to move. I am not ready for a class. The instructor would end up devoting all her time to me!

In my mind, I feel so much better and so energized that I feel like I can do anything. This morning I was reminded of my limitations. But I stuck with it. I even held some of the standing poses and downward dog for quite a bit longer than I thought I could. I know that I will reach the point where it seems effortless and I won't be holding my breath and scrunching my shoulders.

Honestly? It was the hardest thing I've done so far and at the end of the day I feel a little taller,  a little more powerful, and a lot stronger.

Namaste.