Some thoughts on meditation

I did 20 minutes of meditation this morning. I was having some trouble staying with it, but I came to realize something. Instead of simply focusing on my breathing, I found that it was better to focus on the effect of my breathing. Like feeling my lungs expand. Or more specifically, focusing on the sore places on my spine, and feeling the flow of energy to those places. Or feeling the the breathe deep down below my abdomen.
Today I did the upper body workout. I think I am ready to take some weights up, but the bench press, barbell curls, and two-bench tricep still humble me.
Today's weigh-in: 155.8 lbs
Breakfast: Fake sausage with egg and cheese on a whole wheat english muffin
Lunch: orange scone from Panera
Dinner: Two manwiches (with fake meat, of course), two ears of corn, and s'more.
Snacks: Cinnamon Crunch bagel, granola bar
Drinks: OJ, 3 20-oz waters, and a glass of wine.

Day 23

Today I did an hour+ of yoga: Baron Baptiste's The Next Challenge. Mindfulness was very much an issue. When I was on, my tree and eagle poses were rock-steady. But my mind was wandering, mostly thinking about my next chiro appointment. And then would fall out of the poses. I held back some so as not to undo the adjustments. I had also just taken the dogs for a 30-minute walk, so maybe I was a little tired too.
For some reason, I was craving carbs all day. The menu reflects that...
Breakfast: orange-cranberry scones
Lunch: Portobella-Mozeralla Panini and chips
Snacks: granola bar, a cinnamon crunch bagel, and a dutch apple bagel
Drinks: OJ, two 20-ounce waters.

Day 22

I had the most amazing meditation this morning. I'm not sure if it was because I spent a little longer (20 minutes), or maybe because I was breathing easier after my adjustments yesterday. But any way, I find myself focusing on my inner light, and I felt warm and surrounded by love.
Then in the gym I did the lower body workout, but without the squats it was way less of an adventure than it usually is.
Today's weight: 153.4 lbs.
Breakfast: Yogurt and granola with fresh strawberries.
Lunch: a big fruit salad.
Snacks: two granola bars, and a couple handfuls of peanuts.
Drink: a glass and half of OJ, and 2 20-ounce waters.

Day 21

The news from the chiropractor was not so bad. I am encouraged that after just one session, I was able to lift me arms over my head without pain. I will need to go twice a week for the next six weeks, but I am sure that my energy will be the better for it.
In the meantime, I need to stop doing squats, which takes away much of the joy/challenge of the lower-body workout. But this is just a temporary setback.

Today was supposed to be a rest day, and that is what I am doing. I am enjoying the pranayama my adjustment has granted me.

Day 20

I did a lot of stuff yesterday! First, I spent about 90 minutes weeding and mulching, which wasn't terribly hard work, and actually gave me a chance to practice mindfulness and calm in action. Then I went to the gym for an EEE-GAD workout, which was tough but uplifting. Then Sue and I and our friend Joseph took the dogs for a long hike up in Shingletown.

Today is the follow-up with the chiropractor, to set my course of treatment. I will have to wait until after that to plan my workouts for the week.

Weigh-in: 155.0 lbs
Breakfast: Yogurt and Granola with strawberries
Lunch: two grilled cheese sandwiches on whole wheat bread.
Dinner: Some pasta w/aspargus that Joseph's wife Julie made.
Snacks: a couple of Balance bars, some fruit, and an ice-cream sandwich
Drinks: two glasses of OJ, tons of water, and a glass of wine.

Day 19

Yesterday was cardio: Sue and I went swimming at Whipple Dam for about 2 hours. She was trying to coach me so that I was swimming more than just flailing. I started to get better, I think, but I'll need to start swimming more regularly.

The menu....
Breakfast: whole-wheat pancakes with strawberries and faux sausages
Lunch: Fruit-and-Nut Combo Bar
Dinner: We fired up the grill for Veggie Burger on whole-wheat bread, with cheese, red peppers and onions; and corn on the cob.
Snacks: Two Honey Graham crackers, a handful of Tortilla chips, an ice cream sandwich, and two smores.
Drinks: Two glasses of OJ, enumerable glasses of water (plus about a third of the lake at Whipple Dam), and two glasses of wine.

Day 18

Well, the chiropractor felt like I need a lot of adjusting. The things he said tracked with what I've been experiencing, so I'm guessing he's right.

Sue and I did the lower body work-out today. It was tough; we were pretty happy to get through it.

Today's weigh-in: 155.2 lbs
Today's diet:
Breakfast: Fake sausage patty with egg and cheese on a whole wheat English muffin.
Lunch: left-over pasta.
Dinner: Garden burger.
Snacks: 2 PowerBars, a couple handfuls of mixed nuts, and an ice cream sandwich
Drink: 2 20-oz waters, a 16-oz Gatorade, and a 12-oz Dos Equis.

Day 17

I decided to give my knee a day off and not do the lower body workout. Instead I mowed the lawn and then did yoga ("Core Strength").
Yesterday's menu:
Breakfast: orange scone from Panera (yum)!
Lunch: 12-inch Veggie Patty sub from Subway
Dinner: Pasta with ChickPeas and sizzling sage.
Snacks: A couple handfuls of mixed nuts, two oatmeal-raisin cookies, and some Chex Mix.
Drink: 3 20-oz waters, a 16-oz Gatorade, and a 12-once Dos Equis.

I also made an appointment with the chiropractor for today, to see if I can relieve some of the chronic issues with my shoulders. My future workout scheedule could be altered by the results of that visit.

Day 16

Today Sue and I did upper body work at the gym. It was the humbling experience that Ilg intended it to be. I had to take the weight down on the bench: I was barely pushing up 50 lbs! And my form totally broke down on barbell curls during the last 20 seconds or so. But I remembered to swallow my ego, and just do what I could do, as well as I could do it.
Today's weight: 156.4 lbs.
Also, I've been giving short shrift to the nutrition segment of the plan, so today I will starting keeping a record of what I'm eating.
Breakfast: Yogurt with granola and fresh strawberries.
Lunch: Fandango Salad from Panera, and leftover torellini with pesto.
Snacks: a couple handfuls of mixed nuts, and a wild berry Powerbar, which was not so good.
I had two 20-oz bottles of water, and a 16-oz Lemonade Gatorade.

Day 15

Last night I ran in the Longest Day 5K. (Refer to my other blog if you want the details of that.) I felt good afterwards, maybe too good, like I didn't put everything into the run. But today my knee is really sore, which to me means that my cardio has to be something other than running for a week or so. It's supposed to get hot, so swimming should be just the thing.

Day 14

Instead of rest, Sue and I did a short yoga practice last night. This week is going to be much different from Ilg's prescription, because I am running in a 5K this evening.
So tomorrow I'll lift upper body, and then I'll do lower body either Thursday or Friday, with a longer yoga on the other day.
It's supposed to be hot this weekend, so I think I'll swim for my longer cardio workout.

Days 12 & 13

Yesterday, Sue and I did many hours of yard work, which was a pretty good workout in and of itself. Today, we did the EEE-GAD at the gym, and we did well in spite of our numerous aches and pains. Today's weighin: 155.8 lbs.

Day 11

Yesterday I did the upper-body strength training. I almost made it through the two-bench triceps with having to put my foot down.
Today's weigh-in: 155.8 lbs.

Days 9 & 10

I ran yesterday after work, and afterwards I had another episode. I had chills I couldn't shake, and every time I moved my arms or legs it felt like poison was being released from my joints. Maybe I'm freeing some toxins through my workouts, but it was painfull and terrifying nonetheless.

Today I am just taking it easy. Sue and I did meditation this morning, which was good. If I do anything else today, it will be yoga. I think I should skip the race on Saturday: I'm too dehydrated. I'll save up for the race Tuesday evening instead.

Day 8

Sue and I did the lower-body workout today. I think we both agree that the second set of jump squats is just brutal, and the second round of leg extensions is just plain mean. But it’s a good workout, and a good tired.  

Today’s weigh-in: 158.2 lbs.

 

Day 7

This was supposed to be a rest day, but I was feeling very stiff, so I did yoga (Unlocking Athletic Power, again). And Sue and I meditated for 13 minutes this morning. The dogs were a distraction, but I am enjoying the meditation anyway.

I will need to digress from Ilg's prescription quite a bit this week, because I am running a 5K on Saturday, and I really want to set a PR. So Tuesday will be lower body, Wednesday I'll run, Thursday is upper body, and then Friday a longer yoga. EEE-GAD will probably be Sunday again.

Mindfulness is still a struggle, but how can there be a warrior without a struggle?

Days 5 & 6

Yesterday was supposed to be total body day at the gym. Instead, it was total body day outside weeding and mulching.

Today, Sue and I toughed out the EEE-GAD workout, and we plan to go biking later. And I have to weed-eat and mow the lawn. That should be enough for one day, right?

Today's weigh-in: 156.2

Day 4, part 2

After work, I did intervals at the track (And then around the parking lot at the BJC.) I wasn't quite as exhausted as I thought I would be, but it was rough. Especially that fifth 1-minute-max run.
I think it's time to get new shoes, though. My ankles are feeling very stiff this morning.

Day 4, part 1

I did 12 minutes of meditation this morning. I was having a lot of trouble staying focused, but I feel better after rereading the stuff on www.meditationcenter.com. One thing about WF, or maybe more with Steve’s voice in the book, is that he can be very pedantic and demanding. Things must be done a certain way, etc. But Jim Malloy at meditationcenter.com reminds me that the greatest hindrance to successful meditation is analyzing it and worrying about whether you are doing it correctly. Relax, focus on breathing, and recognize that distractions will always be there; I need to recognize them and let them go. As Baron says, “as often as you forget, remember.”

Namaste

Day 3

Upper body day at the gym. My arms are so tired I can barely steer the car. Today's weigh-in: 158.8 lbs.

Day 2

So I've already deviated from the Green Tara's prescription.

Yesterday, instead of doing an hour of yoga in the evening, I did a 30-minute session in the morning. It was Baron Baptiste's "Unlocking Athletic Power," which I highly recommend. Then in the evening I ran 10KM. I hadn't run in 10 days, and I felt like I needed some high-volume cardio work.

I was tired, legs especially, at the end of the day. I wonder if being mindful means I have to notice all my aches and pains? I am a little concerned about my right knee: it's very sore on the medial aspect, especially during weight-bearing flexion.

Day 1

Yesterday I began my Wholistic Fitness journey. I started with 10 minutes of meditation in the morning, under the guidance of the Meditation Center. I had some trouble staying focused on my breathing: I'd left the door to the room open, and I could just feel the open door.

Over lunch I hit the gym for the Green Tara lower-body workout. That 4th set of leg extensions was tough: that wasn't sweat in my eyes, it was tears. But I got through it all. Yea, me.

Today's weigh-in: 158.0 lbs.