10 Day Challenge Amendment

Yesterday when I was driving in the dark to my studio, yawning my face off, I had a feeling.

I didn't want to put on my heart rate monitor.

Usually, I love wearing it. I love knowing exactly the number of calories I burned, I like being able to check how much of class is left, I enjoy being able to monitor, you know...my heart rate.

But for whatever reason, yesterday I just was not in the mood. So I didn't wear it. And it made for a wonderful, spiritual practice.

So that gave me thoughts. Why don't I not wear it through the entirety of my little challenge? I can pretty much gauge how many activity points I burn at this point based on how hard I feel myself working, and I know I won't lie to myself and give myself more than I deserve. And it might be a nice break from the rigidity, and it will free me up from focusing on the time and calories of yoga as opposed to the breath and the movement. Maybe my HRM ties me too much to the fitness of yoga, and takes me away from the mental aspects, which is what this challenge is about to me.

So yes, I like this new amendment. No heart rate monitor for my 10 Day Challenge.

Just free, beautiful yoga.

Screen Free Week

So, my log out thing is going...okay.

I didn't watch a movie on Monday, in fact have not turned my television on at all. Win. And I did leave my laptop at work Monday, and Tuesday, and yesterday...

But yesterday, oh yesterday. I spent the whole night on my inherited iPad. So really, what's the difference? At least with my laptop, I can write and such. The iPad is purely for consumption, not creation.

And I have a feeling tonight would be along the same lines.

Then I found out that about a week and a half from now is Screen Free Week, which is just what it sounds like. April 29th through May 5th you're supposed to unplug it all, every single thing, and live your freaking life, man.

Of course, this isn't entirely realistic, I have to work, and my phone is surgically attached to my hand, and whatnot. But hey, what a fortuitous coincidence!

So I am amending my self-created challenge, because I can, and I DO WHAT I WANT.

I'll take my computer home tonight, and stay tech-free for three nights next week too, then follow the world like a lemming during the actual Screen Free Week starting on April 29th.

Yes.

THANK GOD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SO BORED.

I need a hobby.

My Confession, Part Two: And A Challenge

I have yet to go to yoga again this week. This is my confession.

I have excuses, but that's all they are. Excuses. Not real reasons.

I said Sunday that I thought I knew why I'd slacked off on going, and I definitely think I was right. I am psyching myself out.

Originally, I planned to wait on signing up for the teacher training program for a month or so, and I wanted to challenge myself to practice five times a week until then, which is the requirement for the program. This, of course, made my brain seize up and spaz out. Even after I had decided to sign up yesterday, I've still be feeling panic at the idea of practicing, which is just silly. It's like now that I've taken this next step, I've placed all this pressure on myself to be better or more impressive than I am, which is just...silly.

So how am I combating this?

With a 10 Day Yoga Challenge, of course!

Which absolutely seems counterproductive, I realize this. "Oh, I'm feeling pressure so let's put MORE PRESSURE ON MYSELF!" I'm a genius.

But what have I been saying about momentum and inertia? When I don't go, that allows a sliver of doubt to creep into my soul, and it's harder to get me back to the studio.

So why don't I just...not not go for 10 days? Or at least try?

That's the idea.

I can do any class I want. Restorative, non-heated, whatever. It just has to be 10 days.

Aaaaand....go.

Diet Coke: The Reunion

Challenge achieved. No Diet Coke for the entirety of Lent. Go me.

But...I'm not giving it up forever.

I am, however, giving it up as a habit. I'm not going back to my daily dose. I'm not going to have it every time I'm out, every time it's around, every time I step foot into the work kitchen.

I am, however, enjoying one right now.

Oh, sweet sweet Diet Coke, HOW I HAVE MISSED THEE.

BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES!

10KCAL Challenge Reward: Sephora Slut

By request of an anonymous commenter, I'm going to share with you the plethora of treats I bought myself as a reward for burning all that sweat in my 10K Calorie Challenge! I went a little nuts. Thank you to my parents for the birthday Visa gift card that made this excess possible.

And then I figured, why just tell you what I bought, when I can SHOW YOU?

On my face.

Last night (no, I didn't go anywhere. I got painted up to fuck around my apartment):

• Laura Mercier Foundation Powder in No. 2 (LOVE!)
• Laura Mercier Illuminating Powder Blush in Mocha Spice Quad (A donation from my mama to the charity of "Make Taylor Pretty".)
• Mac Mineralize Concealer in NW15 (Excellent coverage for my zombie circles.)
• Benefit High Beam Highlighter (Have had this before, am a huge fan.)
• Sephora Crayon Jumbo Eyeliner in Purple Glitter (Also bought in brown.)
• Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette (Christmas gift from my parents, obsession.)
• Benefit They're Real Mascara in Black (Funny story. I was going to buy the full size of this to try, but when I was in the check out line I saw the sample size of the Bad Gal lash, which I love, so I decided to just stick with that. Then lo and behold, because it's my BIRTHDAY MONTH, I got a "birthday turn-on" kit with a highlighter and sample mascara! Turns out, I prefer the other one anyway.)
• Victoria's Secret Glossy Lip Tint in Boudoir Pink (Bought this in Vegas. PUCKER UP.)

This morning:

• Foundation, Blush and Concealer
• Kiss My Face Olive & Aloe Moisturizer (This was a sample in the goodie bag from the Barbara Ireland Walk, and I am OBSESSED. I ordered a full size online, it's my new daily moisturizer.)
• Sephora Ultra Smoothing Primer (It feels good going on, we'll see how it holds up throughout the day.)
• Benefit Watt's Up! Highlighter (From my birthday gift from Sephora, a more golden color than the High Beam. I like it for days!)
• Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette
• Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara
• Blistex Silk & Shine (Also from my goodie bag.)

10KCAL Final Check In: SUCCESS!

I AM A CHAMPION.

I AM A MOTHERFUCKING WINNER.

10,000 CALORIES OF SWEAT IS VERY SMELLY.

Tomorrow I'm going shopping for PRETTY NEW MAKEUP TO MAKE ME PRETTY.

Previous Total: 8,723

3/12     510 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2

3/14     921 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2/Hot Power Fusion

Current Total: 10,154
Calories Remaining: 0
Days Remaining: 0

10KCAL Challenge Check In #3

WOO.

CALORIE BURN.

ROCKING THIS SHIT.

When I get my new makeup I'm going to have a lot of fun experimenting and trying fun looks from tutorials on YouTube and fancy shit like a pretty real girl, and then I'm going to go to yoga and sweat it all off. Yeah.

Also, I'm gonna buy a boyfriend.

Previous Total: 6,088

3/1     450 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2

3/2     880 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2/Hot Power Fusion
3/5     410 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2

3/6     474 calories    Hot Power Fusion
3/7     421 calories    Hot Power Fusion

Current Total: 8,723
Calories Remaining: 1,277
Days Remaining: 5 

Yoga Gush And 10KCAL Challenge Check In #2

I. Am. Soaring.

I had an awesome practice this morning. Not the highest calorie burn ever, not the hottest or hardest class ever, but it was just...beautiful. I didn't have the best balance, I didn't nail all my poses, but I just felt...centered. Free. Connected to my body. I barely took any resting time, I hardly looked at my watch, and I am in glorious mood.

I even tried camel today! Camel is one of my most feared poses...I get anxiety attacks when I try it. I don't like the way it feels on my throat. But today, I gave it a go.

And my toppling tree was amazing.

Got my yummy sweaty yoga glow. Alas, now I must shower it off and go to work.

Boo.

Previous Total: 3,179

2/21     450 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2
2/22     489 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2
2/23     334 calories    Walk with puppies
2/24     725 calories    Beach walk with puppies
2/26     471 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2
2/28     440 calories    Hot Power Fusion

Current Total: 6,088
Calories Remaining: 3,912
Days Remaining: 14

10KCAL Challenge Check In #1 and Reward!

Psh. This challenge is in the baaag, baby.

Booyah.

2/14     440 calories    Hot Power Fusion
2/15     530 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2
2/17   1473 calories    Hike to Hollywood Sign
2/18     444 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2
2/19     292 calories    Hot Yoga Level 2

Current Total: 3,179
Calories Remaining: 6,821
Days Remaining: 23

Almost a third of the way there, and so many days left to go! I'm chugging along, doing great, pouring so much sweat.

But can I just say? With the climbing of THE GIANT HILL on Sunday, yoga Monday, yoga this morning (though 6AM classes are usually pretty mellow, as evidenced by my low calorie burn (YOU HEARD ME 6AM))...I am sore today. Yes, I am sore. I do not wish to move.

And I have decided on my reward!

You know what I really want? You know what I really neeeeed?

Nice, new make-up. I got some fancy eye shadows from my parents for Christmas, but I use cheap drugstore foundation and mascara, and that's probably why I have no boys in my yard even though my milkshake is just as good as the other girls. And makeup makes me feel good about myself. So that's what my reward will be when I kick this challenge's ass. Nice foundation. Some mascara. A lip gloss or two. Maybe some nail polish.

Make me pretty.

10,000 Calorie Birthday Challenge

Early last year, I purchased a GroupOn for a month of unlimited hot yoga at CorePower Yoga (and hey, if you live in LA, they're running it again!). Including the week you get free just for signing up, I enjoyed five weeks of yoga at their Wilshire studio for so very cheap, and I went a lot. I challenged myself to burn 4,000 with my new heart rate monitor from when I started up until my birthday, and I achieved and surpassed my goal. My reward was my awesome Spiritual Gangster sweatshirt, which keeps me nice and cozy when I head to class at 7AM.

March 2012, Santa Barbara

The thought crossed my mind earlier today that I must be right around my one year anniversary with the studio, so out of curiosity I checked out my Google calendar and went back to February 2012. Turns out, today is on my one year anniversary of hot yoga!

I remember going to class for the first time. I was terrified. Of being the worst, the fattest, the slowest. Of being myself. And I spent at least 50% of that class, if not more, flat on my mat in child's pose. But I remember that when I left, I was filled with such a buzzing, thrilling, electric energy, I knew I wanted to back again. And again. And again. And sure, I still spent lots of time laying on my mat, and I sometimes do to this day, but every time I get better and stronger, every time I go longer, and I am so, so glad to be back at it again. I can't believe I ever stopped.

Thank you, CorePower Yoga. You've given me so much. 

SO, I've decided this Birthday Challenge thing should become an annual occurrence. I love traditions. And so, this year, I am attempting to burn 10,000 calories.

You heard me right. 10,000 CALORIES.

If that sounds like a lot, that's because it is. Here is my rationale:

1) 4,000 was easy, and that was a year ago, and I need to challenge myself more, so 5,000 isn't enough.

2) But everything between 5,000 and 10,000 is an obnoxiously non-whole number.

3) I could do 7,500 I guess but that just feels like cheating. 

4) Including today and my birthday, I have 31 days to achieve this goal, which is about 323 calories a day, or 2500 a week. 

5) I burn approximately 500 every time I go to yoga. So I'm looking at 5x week yoga or other kinds of exercise. 

6) I can push myself to do that for a fancy reward. 

A REWARD YOU SAY? Psh, you thought I wasn't going to reward myself with something paid for out of my tax refund? YOU BET YOUR ASS I AM.

I haven't decided what it is yet. I'll let you know as soon as I do. But it's gonna be awesome.