I haven’t taken a hot yoga class in a few weeks, but today I’m headed back to a nearby Corepower Yoga studio for a Hot Fusion class. The class follows a strict series of 26 postures in a room heated, I think, to 105 degrees. What I love about this class is that, at some point during the practice, I realize that I’m aware only of what’s happening on mat. I haven’t mastered the art (and I do think it’s an art) of focusing solely on my breath, but I suspect that will come with time.
It’s hard to believe this is already Day 5 of 100 Days of Yoga. At least two of those days have not been anything to write home about, but I suppose this is like anything new. Part of building the habit is simply coming to mat, making time for the experience and building the foundation day by day.
Today is also the start of three other 100 day challenges: 100 Days of Managing Calories, Sodium & Cholesterol, 100 Days of Mindful Eating and 100 Days of Burning 500+ Calories. Here’s why they matter. I’ve passed the stage of being able to eat anything I want and not gain weight. For me, that stage lasted about 12 years, then I hit puberty and WHAM! I ballooned to 170 pounds, far too much for a 5’7″ frame.
Why burn 500+ calories/day? That equals 3500 calories or 1 pound per week. I’m currently 156 pounds with a BMI of 24 and, according to my home scale, 38% body fat. My target is 145-150 pounds (not a huge difference), a BMI of 20-22, and a body fat range of 20-22%. Dropping six pounds is doable. Converting 20+ pounds of fat into muscle is going to be hard.
Why track and manage calories, et al? I have a family history of heart disease and diabetes, so managing what I eat is a big deal. I just had a blood test done (I’ll post results later). What I’m interested is if/how managing calories, sodium and cholesterol over a 100-day period will affect those numbers. Does oatmeal (ugh!) really work? Can I lower my bad cholesterol (admittedly high) and overall cholesterol number without affecting my good cholesterol? How will managing calories make me feel?
Why mindful eating? My husband eats all of his meals in the man cave, paying homage to the big screen TV. I’ve gotten in the habit of eating while watching the upstairs TV. I want to see what happens if I go back to eating at the table, even if I eat alone. Will I eat less? Will I eat more slowly? Will I enjoy what I eat or just feel lonely? Will I lose weight?
