Inches lost and girly clothes ;)

Darn mad i missed tonight's class my husband got a call from our friend and had to help him. I seriously need to find a sitter!

So I measured myself and compared against pre-challenge

Chest, lost 5 inches the girls are gone.

Waist, down 5.5 inches thank you Half Moon pose

Hips, lost 4 inches

Arms, down 1.5 inches

Thighs, down 4 inches

Calves, down 2.5 inches

That's about 22.5 inches lost and down from a size 12 to size 8 pants. Hopefully a size 4 or 6 someday.

I found myself at a girly boutique and was worried I was too fat for the store, I still see myself as an obese person, I was so self conscious in the store around petite sizes, worried everyone was wondering why I was in there. I grabbed a loose shirt darn no extra large only large is the highest, well guess what that was way too big! I ended up getting smalls and mediums. I found myself purchasing dresses I would never imagine wearing, no more smocks and mumus.

I will be in class tomorrow tho a busy day kids have their Cubscouts event.

Day 57, did CLASS 60!! Whoo hoo

Well did my 60 classes in 57 days but will still keep going to the final day. How nice to have my 60th class with Val.

Reflecting on the sixty day challenge, pre 60 I could not lock my knee out. Plus I had weak knees from a still existing knee fracture. On camel I would not reach my foot. On spine twist i couldn't reach my knee and wrap my arm on my back. Now I can say I could do all the above. I still wobble and struggle but I fall out less and dig deeper.

I truly enjoyed the friendships I had made during this challenge. I joked with Ching we are like the tv show lost, all of us characters have our own personal story what brought us to this practice. I am used to seeing my fellow challengers daily, I think that is the one thing I will miss most after this challenge is done. Everyone will go back to their own schedule and won't see everyone as often.

This has been a great workout that became a part of my life like brushing teeth. I am so fortunate to share this with my parents and husband.

I can say I lost 60 pounds without dieting, and reversed my type 2 diabetes.

I consistently been coming to my endearing Pasadena studio since June 20, 2011. Even after the challenge my journey to get healthier continues.

I am happy to announce I went down 4 dress sizes since the challenge, I will weigh in tomorrow. I'm sort of boycotting the scale, but I notice my body slimming.. My belt now wraps around my waist and I had to make new holes on my belt so I can wear it.

My dad took a pic of me a day before the challenge on his 60th birthday. I took the other pic yesterday to show my friends my new cut. Here I noticed my face is smaller. Thanks to Ching and her photography I noticed my body is smaller too.

It's true the scale lies when it comes to doing this yoga

So I posted earlier that I try not to go on the scale and create unnecessary anxiety, but hey I did and still the same if not up a pound from the thirteen I had lost since the challenge.. In class tonight while in half moon I thought to myself my body looks smaller, then I went into denial and said I have body dismorphia. Just an hour ago i said what the heck and dug into my closet and pulled out dresses and tops that were once tight. I literally drowned in them, darn it everyone is asleep in my house and I can't share and show. Here's a big one I actually fit in my single digit size pants!! With minimal to hardly at all muffin top. That is 4 pants sizes dropped since I started Bikram. I am only sharing this for the folks who said they are not dropping pounds.. It's true, just like Bikram said you notice a drop in inches first then bam weight loss. Hopefully I will get a surprise gift on my bday this Sunday!

Locked Knee made it to Change

I wanted to blog today March 21, 2012 four days short of my 41st birthday I did locked knee (on fractured knee) and made it to change, was still wobbly but made it to change. One out of four this evening wasn't bad, I felt tonight my locked knee is getting stronger and ironically my bad knee is getting better than my good knee. Even on standing bull pose I almost got my body to parallel the floor. I was in a positive mood and was grateful to Tom's positive dialog and tips. Loved the triangle tip on taking the two heels and pushing them toward each other it helped anchor the lunge better. I also was so happy that I am surrounded by a great group of 60 day challengers. You go Ching for pushing harder tonight, I promise tonigh was the only night I wou D press like that. I just know you can do it.

Day 47, class 50 reflection and ending the challenge with a boom!

I am about 10 classes short to the finish line. I plan to go past my three banked classes and finish with all my fellow challengers.

I have not been blogging maybe bc I don't have great words of wisdom, I have my good days, bad days.. Lately sick days but I'm plowing through like everyone else. I am sorry I can't blog about each pose, what I have been doing is taking each minute and pose at a time. I focus on calm breathing and just listen to the narrative dialogue of the teacher I am currently with. Sometimes the dialogue sticks sometimes it doesn't I am hoping my muscle memory will keep up where my old brain hasn't. I still cuss at my shaky locked knee.

I have been consistent with my dietary intake since the challenge began, eating almost vegan, mostly vegetarian and no dairy. I experienced the deliciousness of natural foods like cilantro and basil, the creative ideas with tofu. I have been suffering from a nasty chest cold, been eating lots of vegetarian pho, yum!

My husband is now an official auto debiter no longer and intro rookie, I've never seen him so energetic, confident and healthy he's been eating clean with me. Our kids are learning from us. See pics below our mats for two, he sprays them daily, our increasing inventory of yoga towels, trying to get more dude colors so no picking on him if he comes in with a pink towel :).

Well I last weighed in a few weeks ago and had a total of 13 lbs loss since the challenge, which will make 57lbs total since I started yoga. In fact my friend emailed me a pic of myself at a charity dinner (roaring 20s, I don't wear hats etc) see pic below. It was so hard for me to look at. I see myself everyday and only my belt and jeans tell me my progress. I have not been going on the scale bc I don't want to treat this as a diet, it's a LIFESTYLE!! I'm worried everyday the weight would creep back like it did in the past but so far this has been my most successful and favorite health regime. You go in tortured and leave refreshed with a clear mind. I have been gaining zits ugh, I bring in extra towels and have Neutrogena acne cleansing wipes for before and after class.

Now that we are two weeks to the finished line, I want to reboot this challenge to a 14 day challenge, we shall see!

Been living off this soup this week, the salty clear broth helps my chest congestion.

Hubby made a mat drying section in our car port, tea tree oil spray right next to the mat.

Got a little Yogitoes crazy during the challenge but they were $30 bucks.. starting to get more dude colors for Karim.

Yes thinner but covered in polka dots.

Class 39, 40 and 41 on day 38

Yes I am nuts and paying for it today, I was dragging and lethargic did my Dad's powerade and sea salt combo that helped. Overall the three classes I did ok, except for being a bit crunchy and sore, I would hydrate all day in preparation for the next class, orange flavor Ultima is my new pal.

I am a few weeks shy of my 41st birthday and have my own personal health challenge. I wanted the three classes be my way of rebooting my yoga training. Everything has been pretty consistent so far now my hubby is along for the ride we have double the yoga laundry.. Having three boys we do laundry all the time anyways. My biggest challenge is still balancing on a locked knee. I find myself practicing locked knee while getting ready for work, making my coffee in the morning it's nuts!! Tho I do notice my upper leg muscles coming out. I also find myself practice leg twist under my desk and during business Zzzzz meetings. My energy level has been up and down, but my biggest reward is watching my family participate and get healthier everyday! Well got to get ready for Miranda's class.