E2E Mid-week Update for Week 4: Holding steady, Moving well, Yoga in my near future, Cravings in my right now, Organic-goodies in da house...with some pics of some stuff I've eaten this week....

Okay, dinner's done, hubby's abed, and I can do an update before I polish off the dishes and drink a bit of water. Am feeling thirsty....

Tanita-san: 180.8

Holding steady.

So far this week, exercise-wise: 1 session with Pilates trainer (good one, too, and I still have some soreness today, inner thighs and shoulders, especially), 3x walking. To complete my week's goals, I should walk at least 1x more (I'm aiming for 2) and have one more strengthening session (which I plan to do tomorrow).

Mood is good. I feel slightly perkier than last week.

I got an Amazon deal for 5 yoga sessions--for $19 bucks. How cool is that?

I've never done formal yoga with a trained instructor. I did do yoga as a teen and in my early twenties, but from books and magazines...following poses. And a bit with television's Lilias. When I got huge, it was impossible. I wanted to try it again. What sold me though was the location. WALKING distance from my house--a 15 minute brisk walk, and I know, cause it's in my current walking route-- in a gorgeous location. You can see pics here.

If you saw my Onederland pics (me in the spring green tee), that was taken at the gate of the monastery. So, I'm looking forward to it.  The same yoga people offer "yoga healing dance"...and that really sounds interesting. :D

Oh, and the person who owns this yoga studio/business was Shakira's trainer. Yeah, THAT Shakira whose "hips don't lie". I don't know (and doubt) she teaches the monastery classes, but hey, ya never know? We might hear some interesting celebrity fitness stories....

So, something to spice up my routine...and allow for a nice meditative experience surrounded my medieval era "sanctified" stones.

I'm nicely stocked with some organic produce--had my co-op share to pick up today. I ate one of the AMAZING Concorde pears (end of season, sigh, sniff, sob). I had a tangelo, too, dessert after my dinner of fajita steak and chicken strips over mixed organic greens with Florida avocado (less caloric than haas) and cucumbers (also from today's organic share).

I did have a yummy dinner this week from some of last week's share, behold the amazingly good Napa cabbage, scallions, and broccoli that went into a ginger chicken stir fry:

Organic cabbage, broccoli, scallions

stir fry over the boiled chopped cabbage as "rice" base...

I'm still digging that Celestial Seasonings black cherry berry tea. It's like dessert, I swear:

Super delish with lime...ever had cherry limeade? Yeah!
I'm enjoying it in a fine English teacup and pouring
from an inherited Hungarian teapot...
I believe in drinking tea out of pretty stuff!

Breakfast Tuesday: papaya with lime, eggs "on
a plate" as Allan would say, with some ripe tomatoes (Campari)
coffee and iced green tea. The coffee is a fresh batch of Organic
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. OMG, so good.

Today's first meal: I was extra hungry in the AM--as evidenced by the partially
eaten grapefruit I noshed on while cooking-- so I added "lite"
sausages and half an organic grapefruit from last week's
coop share to a repeat of day before's breakfast line-up
...and a bit of extra spicy Mrs. Dash.

It's been warmer, so I'm ready for a cool front, I can tell you. :)

I've been highlighting--I've got an array of colored pencils and glowy highlighters and am not afraid to liberally use them--statistics and study outcomes in my challenge book, SMARTER SCIENCE OF SLIM, and reminding myself as I read, "focus on veggies, focus on protein".

Why?

Cause I still am craving taters and rice and, cause I got a glimpse of it in the freezer, gluten free toast. I bought a loaf of millet bread 6 weeks ago, and I've had exactly TWO slices since then, and gave away part of the loaf to my sis. But it's there...and I do try NOT to rely on grains. Still, since the cravings came back a bit, I do have to say, "no, no, no"...and then go select veggie or fruit or just have some tea and calm down. :)

I look forward to when the cravings bite the dust again. It's all cyclical. You just gotta hold on until it smooths out, right?

Now, to close this update with my challenge "guiding" quotes, because it's good to reread and refocus, always:

"The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indispensable prerequisite for success."
Maxwell Maltz

" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

And challengers, if your updates aren't done, DO THEM ALREADY!

Be very well, folks!