What is your gas station?

I've been 'burning the candle at both ends' (excuse the cliche). From time to time I catch myself churning and churning and not really stopping to re-calibrate or look toward the vision--the big picture. The repercussion of that manifests in me as achy bones, feeling puffy, irritable, 'wound up', reactive. None of these words are ways I strive to perceive myself or live my life.

A few weeks ago I completed the Run10Feed10 10k (as advertised in this blog). It felt good to achieve this goal, I worked hard, I woke up at 5 am to run, I ran even though my knee ached, my arches hurt, I wanted to reach the goal. I did it. And now I have no desire to run. none.

"Gas Station"

I worked too many hours. I'd wake up early and work before 'work' and come home and work.  Not taking any time to recharge.  I had forgotten what my gas station is. Its undoubtedly my 90 min moving meditation.  I practice primarily Bikram Yoga--its a preference, I like the detox of sweating, I like the repitition, I like it takes so much strength and mental toughness to complete. My original Bikram teacher, in Winston-Salem would always tell a Bikram anecdote--  "all of our activities in life take energy (gas) and yoga is the gas station",

It fills us up with oxygenated blood, with clearer mind, with a stronger mind-body-spirit connection.  YES PLEASE!!

MY GAS STATION

So, on Sunday I thought--I should really go to yoga. So I went and had lots of 'stuff' emotional and physical come up and out and I felt cleansed and peaceful. I've been back 2 times since then and continue to understand right now, I need this gas station.

And coming full circle to the idea of living and journeying in community (blog about community), a conversation with a friend today crystallized for me that we need to listen very closely to the needs of our body and how we should move it at any given time--and lean into it and try to do right by what is being requested. She articulates our conversation so well here: Vibrant Life Note a quick but powerful read...

So I leave with a challenge for you to find your gas station--the thing that after you've taken part in it, you feel full, buoyant,  alive and prepared. Leave a comment, I'd love to hear what it is for you.

And now on to the good stuff:  Progress, still slow, still steady in the midst of my life having took control for a few weeks...not too bad.  I'd like to think that in times of stress and overwhelm if I don't suffer a set back, its a win!!

So...

STATS: 9/25/2012

Tricep 22 (-4)

Suprailium 26 (-1)

Patella 10 (-2)

24% body fat (yep it went down 1%)...

Weight-I don't have access to a scale right now so I don't know and will have to recalibrate, maybe this is good--I can get scale-obsessed with the best of them.(anyone recommend a digital scale for the home?)

Food Journal: has been quite inconsistent, but I'm now using the Lose It! app again and this week...is good.  Caloric intake goal is 1600 (that's not that many calories, fyi!) the lack of movement in my measurement at the Suprailium (waist) is all food. I have to come to grips that 70% of weight loss is food 30% exercise...

Exercise: As above, yoga as much as possible (3-4 X per week) and Strength 2X/week.

Up next for Project50: When you only have 15 minutes to exercise, Living with intentionality, Sometimes you just need to make up your mind...stay tuned, some day in the life blogs

Thanks for reading and for your patience!

Go fill up!