2010, pronounced Twenty-Ten

November was Arthur's Ironman, Thanksgiving in Cancun/Cozumel.

December was Bobo's birthday, Christmas, visits with family and home renovations.

January is ME! :)
In 2009 I played a lot with unique veggies, raw food recipes and grains. In the Fall of 2009 Hannah, the awesome Body Ecology guru at PeopleFood, helped wean me off of red meat and chicken by subbing more veggies for the 6 meals she hand delivers to our house each week. It only makes sense then to take 2010 to the next level. So, I'm beta testing a 100% vegetarian diet for January. I shall call it the "Yummy Tummy Lifestyle" since I have fewer tummy issues and veggie food is so yummy!
So far so easy.
Mostly.
The true tests come when you are alone, out & about, with limited amount of time to eat and fast food everywhere. My litmus test came last week while at Best Buy, starving and a Chick-fil-A was staring at me from across the parking lot. I decided to follow my energy, play with this test and see what happens. Surprisingly I wasn't interested in any chicken, was happy with my waffle fry order. I smiled as I walked back to Best Buy. My true desire yielded a small serving of fried potatoes, not chicken. I didn't feel cheated or worried that I would be hungry again in a few minutes. This was plenty. It was abundance for my taste buds. I felt like I walked in excess a little, which is NOT hat I expected at all for January! Giving myself a little treat allowed me a big reward, confidence that I would not only enjoy this month but maybe be lured back to my Yummy Tummy lifestyle. (Historical note: I was vegetarian for 11 years in my teens-20's, got preggo, started eating meat again.)

Sweet!

In addition, I decided to take a 30 day yoga challenge. I'm practicing yoga every day for 30 days, ideally other people's classes, but sometimes the universe has other plans for me, I end up taking my own class. So far, again, so easy. My YMCA membership offers me classes with all levels of teachers, environments. Penny at Trotter YMCA has a nice flow that makes 1 hour feel like 20 minutes. San Diego blessed my brother Kevin & I with a private lesson from Gabriel, his magical yoga wall. If you are ever in Coronado go visit him at his candy shop in the basement at the corner of Loma and Orange Ave. His yoga wall is just across the street, not to be missed!

I also got to take an amazing and challenging class with Kristyan at Chula Vista Yoga Center, Kristyan is the only other yoga teacher I have encountered who uses silly voices like me during instruction. I loved his playful, light, yet intense spirit in class. Hopefully during my next visit to San Diego I can spend more time in the studio here. There is much to be learned here!

So, I will try to keep you up to date on my yoga challenge and what it introduces to my life. :)

The yoga challenge and vegetarian lifestyle all catapult towards victory in February for the Rock-N-Roll Marathon in New Orleans! Arthur & I will celebrate our 1st anniversary with a half marathon. Convenient timing for my January goals, eh? ;) Hopefully I will drop at least one minute per mile, ultimately shaving 13 minutes off my last half marathon time of 2:47. Good to have goals, right?

Well, my taxi will be here any minute to start my return trip home to Houston. Thank you San Diego for taking good care of my brother, providing a paradise getaway for me!

Namaste!