Today was supposed to be a day of study, I had a couple of assignments that I needed to work on and an exam to study for. Unfortunately the day did not pan out that way. My family needed much support so I did not get to my study until much later and my mind was elsewhere.

Food was generally good – my habits here are pretty static. Again, meditation and exercise was missed. I keep reminding myself that this is just a little bump, and we will get to the other side soon.

Summary on how I felt health wise:
Not too bad considering.

The challenge was only challenging for me in the areas of meditation and incantations. My lifestyle did not change that much, only for some reason I did face more life challenges than I normally would. It became obvious after the first few days how important it is for me to be prepared. Because my food choices are limited, and I spend a great deal of time on the road, it’s very difficult to eat away from home unless I take my food with me.

I am displaying many alarming symptoms from missing the meditation, breathing and incantations. It’s apparent that I am feeling overwhelmed and anxious lately and the meditation and breathing would be very advantageous in alleviating those symptoms.

Well, how did I go? Did I miss anything do you think? Have I missed the point?

I was up at 4:30am and managed to prepare my snacks and meals for the day. I struggled to stay awake on the drive up and had a general malaise feeling all day. Driving over 1200 kilometres a week is starting to take its toll. Food was good – usual green smoothie, fruit and nuts for snacks, and salads for lunch.

We had dinner out as we had guests for the weekend. I ordered a green salad and only drank mineral water.

We had meditation in class today, so I mentally did my incantations and my own pranayama practice.

Summary on how I felt health wise:
Very tired. I am still feeling tired and lacking spark. I think I may need to up my protein levels a bit more and look at a different iron supplement.

As my visitors did not leave until late, I didn’t get in any meditation or incantations, but I did take them for a long walk around the farm which was meditative.

Summary on how I felt health wise:
Still weary. I am thinking its mental fatigue with the driving and studying and needless worry.

I don’t think the purpose of the challenge was to make you feel crap - I think we are supposed to be bouncing off the walls with energy. Not happening, dude!!

The rest of the day was okay – very fresh garden salad for lunch, a freshly picked watermelon from my garden for snacks, and steamed veggies and tofu for dinner. I combined my new incantation with my breathing and meditation – multitasking!

Summary on how I felt health wise:
My stomach was bloated and I felt very sluggish most of the day after the ghastly breakfast. However, I did feel a little calmer and as I studied for the rest of the day, I did feel that the information was sinking in.

Summary on how I felt health wise:
I have been feeling very anxious lately. I even broke a tooth! Here’s a break through. I have been going over and over about what my incantation should be. I now know that I have been seriously overthinking it. Like probably everyone, I was thinking it needs to be “I want to be happy” or something similar. But happiness to me isn’t being joyful all the time, but content and accepting. I am happy in this case. Hence, I’ve decided that with the pressure I am placing on myself to do well at school and to be everything to everyone at home, my incantation will be “I am calm and serene”.

While I’m the first to say to others, ‘be gentle on yourself’ and ‘don’t overdo it” – that doesn’t apply to me. I may be gentle to myself, but at the moment I have to be available to everyone. It’s not a martyred choice or me wanting to be ‘needed’. It’s just the way things are at the moment. I know this is just short term and the stresses will pass, but I do need to look after myself emotionally – which I can do.

Summary on how I felt health wise:
The outcome of my visit to the Naturopath confirmed that I my health is improving. I have lost 2 kilograms and the inflammation in my body seems to be reducing. My liver is still unhappy so we’ve added another detox powder to put in my smoothies - Metagenics Thermo Phase Detox. I’m also including lemon juice in warm water in the mornings. I know I’m feeling a million percent compared to this time last year. I’m living – really living. I’m not confined to my bedroom with air purifiers and ice packs on my face. Life is so much better.

This was not a typical day. Actually I don’t think I’ve had a typical day for some time. I was not in my own home as I was looking after two little delights. So the day started with a gorgeous demanding little 7 month old angel wanting her bottle, and then her equally delightful sister joining the morning madness.

As with yesterday, I forgot to breathe. I managed to make my smoothie, as I had all the makings with me. My diet wasn’t too bad, lots of fruit and tomatoes and zucchini as the garden yielding well at the moment. I even managed half and hour on the bike today and I managed to do 10 minutes of meditation when I got home from babysitting. I’m still working on coming up with an incantation. For some reason, I’m resisting this one.

Summary on how I felt health wise:
Although I did come home tired from the two days with my gorgeous girls, I still felt blissfully rested. I adore them and I am always left with a warm glow after spending time with them.

Okay onto my ‘fessing up!

Breathing:

No. Seriously did not get a chance to actually stop and breathe yesterday.  I had two tiny people that I absolutely LOVE attached to me until really late.

Juicing:

Managed the usual smoothie, okay.

Diet:

mm. what didn’t I eat. Actually I think I’m being too hard on myself.  Snacks were a plum and apple. Lunch was a salad with quinoa, apple, tomatoes, olives and capsicums, and greens.  I had too many coffees and dinner was tofu and left over salad.  I know I slipped in some sweet biscuits occasionally. It just seemed like I was eating all the time and badly, but maybe it wasn’t so bad.

Exercise:

Just a 20 minute walk with two tiny delights in the pram.

Meditation:

No - fell into an exhausted sleep.

Water:

Not quite enough.  I got thirsty too many times, so I obviously was not drinking enough.

Incantations:

Not unless “I’m a little teapot” counts.

Summary:

It was a beautiful day really, couple of days as I stayed overnight.  I think maybe looking into the delightful faces of two tiny little baby girls and listening to their gorgeous little voices should be as good as, if not better than meditation and incantations!  And surely dancing around the room to the Wiggles would count as exercise.

Yesterday was a bit topsy turvy!  I realise what is missing in my life - Planning!

Breathing:

Yesterday was a day of shallow breathing! Mostly in panic.  I wanted to spend the day on assignments and on-line tests to catch up with my study, but it didn’t pan out that way - so I was a little stressed.

Juicing:

No green smoothie!  I missed it soooo much.  Arggh!  This is why I need to plan.

Diet:

Not good.  Well, not bad.  I think I’m being a little hard on myself here.  I didn’t get lunch until late in the afternoon, and had two attempts at making dinner and burnt them both.  I had a melt-down and ate two pieces of dark chocolate. So much for no added sugar.

Exercise:

Yay! Got one. Yes, I did thirty minutes on the bike.

Meditation:

No.  I should have.  - Learnt my lesson there.

Water:

Mostly I did okay here, but I was out - without snacks, and without water for a few hours.  I was unprepared and suffered for it.  I was hungry and very thirsty.  Very dumb.

Incantations:

No. Dammit.  I must do these.

Summary:

How did I feel?  Tired, stressed, and generally blah.  I had a rough night sleep wise.  Its pretty clear why.

So, I need to plan!  I visited Crazy, Sexy Life and I am going to start a menu plan.  I’m on the road a lot, so I am going to pack a cooler bag every time with vegan snacks, smoothies and water, water, water.  I cannot believe I went out without my water bottle.  I never do.  I think I need a backpack.

Yesterday was one of those days that don’t go according to plan.  I usually like to live in the moment, so to speak.  But my mind was on the study that was screaming at me, and I wasn’t ‘rolling with it’.   If I had just let go and enjoyed the interruptions, I’m sure the day would have panned out better healthwise.

I’m starting to understand the purpose behind this assignment don’t you?

So question for you - are you a planner?  How do you plan your day foodwise and how do you prepare for outings?

I was absolutely exhausted!

How did yesterday go?  Okay, exercise was a big nil, as I didn’t get time, and yoga was only 20 minutes of Ujjayi Pranayama. Which was nice though.  Just before an Anatomy and Physiology written test.  I felt lovely and centred and cruised through the exam.

Okay I need to sort this somehow so that I can write it up in an essay form later.

Breathing:

Check - Ujjayi for twenty minutes.  Wish we’d had time for some yoga poses though.  My back struggles with the long drive. I so needed some space between my squished up vertabrae!

Juicing:

Made a green smoothie to have in the car on the way up.  It had in it - about 2 cups of spinach, an apple, strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds, soy protein and G-Tox mix.

Diet:

Okay, not real flash as I wasn’t prepared. I spent too much time on Friday studying for the exam and not enough food prep.  I had grapes for morning snack, lunch was brazil nuts and raw cashews, a plum and nectarine, and dinner in the car on the way home was a rather large but not ripe peach.  Where is the vegies and leafy greens!

Exercise:

Nil!

Meditation:

20 minutes.

No Television:

This is a given, so I’m not going to continue to comment on this one.  This is my lifestyle choice, so it will get very repetitive and boring!

Incantations:

Nil - still need to work out what I want these to be.

Water:

Check - probably easily drank the mandatory 2 litres without any fuss.  I need my water though.  Should look at that, maybe my cells are still dehydrated.

Summary on how I felt health wise:

Really really tired and emotionally drained.  My stomach was sore and tender and I just felt fragile all day.  I think this could be from the driving up and down that highway and the stress around the study load.  The work load is getting heavy and I’m not feeling in control.

But on a positive note - I still really love it.