Spring in my Step

 

The last Friday of March was a beautiful day. I had the day off from work so I ventured out to Mother Neff early to do my usual hike. The wildflowers were in full bloom so I stopped often to take pictures. It really was a nice morning hike.

The rest of my 3 day weekend was pretty uneventful. Mowing and gardening., the usual household chores and then relaxing most of the day on Sunday. I did have a really good workout on Sunday morning. I completed a slightly longer than usual yoga session, 200/400 steps on the stair-stepper and for the first time in awhile I did the Wim Hoff breathing exercise. I was surprised that it still came easily to me as it has been probably over six weeks since I last did it. I think though that my deep breathing while I meditate really helps with it. I do numerous short meditations during the day and longer ones at bedtime or during the night if I am having trouble sleeping. I also do daily Buddhist readings by the late Monk/Author/Teacher Thich Nhat Han. His writings have helped me to become more mindful and focused in my daily life. 

It is getting close to a year since I started this journey. Hiking, morning workouts, and meditations. While I felt myself become much stronger and fitter, I wasn't losing any weight. I had stopped eating most processed foods but I was still eating a diet with quite a bit of meat and dairy. Since the first of the year I have cut all animal products  by about 75-80%  from my diet. I only eat plant based foods every other week, and then allow a little bit of meat and dairy in my diet on alternate weeks. I find the longer I am on this diet the less meat I feel like eating. I also have lost a few pounds and am getting really close to my target weight. I hope with losing those few extra pounds it will relieve some of the stress on my knees and the pain will completely subside. I guess time will tell. 

It's not long until I am off to Cloudcroft for three days of hiking. I can hardly wait. Hopefully Spring will be peaking there by then. I will have a spring to my step just getting away from work for a week and out on the trails!