I spent a very health-full weekend at Shanti Retreat on Wolfe Island near Kingston, Ontario. This was another 'victory' for me.  I am fortunate to have a 'chair yoga' group in my community so I had begun to realize the benefits of gentle yoga for helping with balance and the beginnings of movement of long-defunct muscles.  I signed up for a mat yoga class a few months back, and even though I have difficulty getting up and down to the mat, and problems with poses that use the knees, there are still many things I can do.  So, I decided I wanted a more 'instructive' yoga session.  Shanti is in a peaceful location.  The food is vegetarian and healthy, and I did 4 yoga sessions of about 1.5 hours each, plus meditation.  I survived and thrived. I really want to try to begin a daily yoga practice in my life...there, I set a new goal :-)

About five years ago when we moved into this house we put in a nice tub downstairs...a deep soaker.  And I have never been able to get into it to enjoy it...until yesterday.  Not only did I get in, I got OUT.  It's almost as hard as getting out of a kayak, but I feel like I was able to soak off about a pound of old skin.  Gosh it is good to be able to enjoy a nice bath.  One of the many little pleasures of getting rid of cumbersome fat.

Today, August 13, I got in a kayak. This was not a graceful act, and when I exited, I ended up in the water. But, hey, I did it...and I even paddled around the bay for 10 minutes.  This would NOT have been possible 4 months ago.  Getting in a kayak or canoe, and being on the water, has been my 'vision' for the past year as I focused on why I was doing this.  I need a few more lessons, and I need stronger arms, but it's a beginning, and I am pretty darn happy about this :-)

Finally today I saw movement on the scale.  I felt like I was firming up a bit, but seeing no movement on the scale for 3 weeks can be a bit discouraging.  I am faithfully entering my food and activities in a journal and counting protein, but it is clearly time to count calories too...I suspect I am eating too much. The good news is that adding 2T of Bran Buds to my breakfast has really helped with bowels. Now if only I could get my hips to stop aching so I would be more motivated to walk and do other exercise.  But all in all, I feel that I am learning to live well with my new leaner stomach :-)  I hope everyone else out there is doing well too!