Hot Yoga vs Hot Toddy
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 1:20 AM filed under Exercise & Fitness postings
I so craved a hot toddy after work today. After reading loads of strange, life-pondering emails from my staff and having my emotions, thoughts, and hormones pulled in a million different directions, all I wanted to do was walk to the snazzy cocktail lounge across the street, put my feet up, and suck down a hot toddy. The rain had started pouring and the wind blew my hair all over the place as I left work. During the entire walk home, I started having a furious debate with myself. One side was saying I deserve to just relax, put some sweats on, and cuddle with my boyfriend on our new (effing amazing, microfiber, sectional, cushiest ever!) couch - I had had an unusually rough day and I was allowed to have another rest day. The other side was reality - come on, just go to yoga, you love yoga, you planned on going, you already paid for it, what else are you going to do, you know you'll get bored at home, you know you'll feel better, stop fighting it...As I walked into my building, the elevator opened and I hear whistling from the person coming out as he pushes his bicycle ahead of him. My boyfriend turns to face me, super in love with the fact that he's about to go on a bike ride (I can tell), and looks at me with all his gear on and stops whistling only to smile. He asked if I want to go with him, and I sweetly decline (knowing at that point that yes, of course I will go to yoga). I walked into our apartment and shoved a cookie in my mouth (amazing chocolate chip cookie I made last night!),
put my yoga clothes on and laid on the couch. The COUCH! Oh sweet heaven...my inner conflict began again. Until, at 6PM, I had to leave or stay home depressed and disappointed in myself. I grabbed my water bottle, yoga mat, keys, and took off. The minute I walked into the yoga room, I thanked myself for going. I thanked myself for every minute I was there. I felt my body again; I felt my breath; I felt my muscles. Every cell in my body thanked me.
Another benefit to Bikram is that I'm more conscious of what I eat and how much water I drink during the day - if you're not, you'll faint in class!
Today, I was grateful for:
70 apple
150 12 oz drip coffee with cold soy on top; yogurt
80 orange
280 Rawvolution Spirulina bar
250 baked salmon
100 carrot sticks
50 chocolate chip cookie
20 Goo chomp
370 tofu, banana, yogurt, honey smoothie
1370 Calories consumed
400 Calories burned (at least! Fitclick says 794 calories, so I'm estimating at intensity)
FitClick example:
Burned -500 + Consumed 1500 = 1000
BMR 2000 - 1000 = Net calories 1000
My stats:
Burned - 400 + Consumed 1370 = 970
BMR 1950 - 970 = Net Calories 980
My net calories need to be at 950, if I'm to lose 2 lbs per week.
BMR 1950 to maintain my current weight. If calories consumed minus calories burned equals 1000, I'll be taking in 950 per day of net calories. This means that for a week the total is 7000 calories (2 lbs.)
PS. The photo is my inspiration and one of my favorite poses in hot yoga (It's not me... yet!) 