No Strings Attached

Typical for me, I've been eating the Engine 2 Diet now for over a month and I haven't lost a pound.  The good news is that my weight has stabilized more.  I still go up and down four pounds on any day, but no more and no less.  I think perhaps this is a period of time when my body is realizing it isn't a yo-yo.  It doesn't have to perform tricks.  It doesn't have to react every time someone jerks on the string.  It can just be!  No strings attached, just free!

I started a Yin and Hatha Yoga class.  It is wonderful.  It isn't rough, or pretzel in its approach.  It is about deep breathing, stretching, connecting from the inside out.  I'm amazed how centered I am when I leave.  There I can breathe.  There I can relax.  There I am safe.  No phones, no demands, no papers to write, no books to check in or out.  I'm just there and all is right with the world.   Of course the problem with that is that it only lasts 2 hours and then I'm back out in the midst of the other ants racing around to build the hill.  I try to hang on to some of it, but the world works to rob me of my peace.  I guess that is its job.  My job is to ignore it, to say no, and to use my breathing to stay connected.  If I'm with the ants, I'm the one humming, peacefully to myself in the corner.

Off to make myself a Rip's big bowl.  I'm totally addicted to this breakfast.  It is so good and lasts all morning! 

Still Vegan After All this Time

Well, long time no write.  I have a good reason.  I saved my dog and screwed up my right arm, shoulder and neck.  I'm still in the pinch of things with my neck and shoulder so my fingers on the right hand are stilt tingling and a bit numb.  I didn't want it to be my neck but the longer this goes on the more I'm suspecting a disc or something of that nature.  I'm calling tomorrow to get an appointment with a neurologist just for safety sake.  Today I also learned at my other doctors that I have a lymph node I need to have examined (swollen).  It is on the same side as the injury so I feel confident that it is merely inflammation or maybe infection, but I could have gone another 100 years without having a doctor get serious with me over a node in my neck. 

But enough of that crisis, I started yoga, to help with my injury and love it!  I have always wanted to attend a yoga class but felt intimidated.  I mean we've all seen yoga teachers, lean, flexible, other worldly peace and tranquility.  What in the world would an uptight, anxious, chubby library clerk be doing in a yoga class?  The answer is loving it.  I do what I can and accept that it is enough for me.  I'm not as flexible as the other ladies in the class, but then again I'm new.  I think my injury, this vegan life and yoga are all about God teaching me patience.  When I say teaching, I don't mean He's teaching me in a slap my knuckles with a ruler sort of way, but just life circumstances and the lessons that can be gleaned from even painful and difficult circumstances.

I am afraid that since I started the new semester I haven't been very creative in my eating.  I've had way too many days of eating Rip's Big Bowl and a Veggie Burger.  I know I need to add better meals preparation, planning and execution to my list but honestly between the pain in my neck, numbness in my dominate hand and stress of online classes with an injury, I have felt too overwhelmed and still feel too overwhelmed to give a hoot about cooking. 

I haven't lost any more weight but I haven't gained.  For this yo-yo I am counting that as progress. 

I've missed this community.  Maybe reading the other blogs I will once again find the inspiration to add more color to my plate and my palate.