In my last post I asked if you’ve ever done a workout that made you say “WTF AM I DOING” halfway through, and a few of you said yoga. Well, I think I have stumbled upon the craziest of “WTF yoga” out there—Bikram. A friend of mine talked me into going to a class, and since the studio has a “one week unlimited” deal, I felt I needed my money’s worth so I went three times in one week. I’m sure you’ve heard of Bikram before, and I had too, but I thought I’d do fine since I’ve done Vinyasa yoga in a heated room before.
Um. Not the same. At all. Picture a sauna. Now picture working out in a sauna. With 25 other people. That’s Bikram. You start sweating after the first exercise….which is just breathing! Your heart is racing even when you’re in Savasana (lying on the floor) It’s not nearly as “zen” as other yoga I’ve done before, but between the heat and the stretching, I definitely feel “cleansed” when I leave the room. I can’t afford to keep going more than maybe once a week, but I’m going to try to keep it up because in some sadistic way, I really like it.
And, at least at my studio, the people in class are all different shapes and sizes, so I don’t feel out of place. The last time I took yoga at a studio, I felt like the only one who was “bad” at it (and the only one not a size 2, thanks). At Bikram, I know that as long as I’m trying my hardest, I’m doing well.
Oh and I love the quotes the teacher says, things like, “Try not to drink water until I say so. It’s like taking a shot without your friends” and “Small heart attack now to ward off the big one later” and “If you wipe the sweat off, it’ll just come back.” Ok, it’s probably less funny when I’m not on the brink of collapse.
On the food front, I’m trying to turn into Popeye.
I had some routine bloodwork done (which, if you have insurance, I highly recommend getting once a year. No matter how healthy your lifestyle, there are genetic factors to health you can’t know about. Stepping off the soapbox now…) and I was told that I’m slightly anemic. Now, I thought that between my diet and my multivitamin, I was pretty covered, but maybe my body just doesn’t process iron that well? I don’t eat much red meat but I do eat turkey, eggs, chicken, etc. So I don’t know, but when I looked up symptoms of anemia, it sure sounded like me. Pale skin, fatigue, cold hands/feet, etc.
Now, I’m trying to eat even more iron-rich foods to bring up my iron levels. I want to give blood again (I have the universal blood type so they love me) but I haven’t been able to in a long time, because of my low iron. I bought a huge tub of spinach and I’ve been trying to eat as much of it as possible, paired with either some meat (like sliced turkey) or fruit high in Vitamin C to increase the absorption of the iron in the spinach. (Here’s a list of more about high-iron foods here…umm organ meats? Pass on that, thanks)
(Please remember I am NOT a medical professional and I really have no business giving anyone any type of medical or nutritional advice. Doesn’t seem to stop me, though.)
This morning, after Nina and I went on a run, I chopped up a ton of the spinach and blended it with protein powder, soymilk, strawberries, banana, and pineapple. I topped it off with Kashi Heart 2 Heart cereal. I love how you can put a lot of spinach in a smoothie and you really can’t taste it at all…promise!
I need new cereal! I like the H2H but I don’t eat cereal often so it tends to go stale before I finish it. Boo.
Questions:
1. Have you been tested for any vitamin or mineral deficiencies? Do you pay attention to the amount of iron in your diet?
2. What is your favorite cereal?
I’m off to go grocery shopping (I’m developing a Whole Foods problem…this can’t be good!), drop off some clothes at Goodwill, then get ready for work tonight (picking up some overtime hours). Tomorrow Mitch and I are going on a hike and he’s making my favorite BBQ chicken sandwiches for dinner…oh and I’m sure there will be some chocolate eaten 
Have a great weekend and a Happy Valentine’s Day!
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I CRAVE (and I mean crave) spinach…I wonder if that means I have an iron deficiency…who knows? My mom is anemic but I have never been tested! My favorite cereal (as an adult) is probably multigrain (gluten-free) puffins but my favorite kid cereal is hands down, cinnamon toast crunch! haha! Sometimes you just need a little kid cereal in your life!
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Never been tested (though if those are the symptoms it sounds like I could be anemic, too!).
Just finished a bowl of my fave cereal – Nature’s Path Red Berry Crunch. Yum! I especially like to est it with a spoonful of peanut butter.
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I get blood test all of the time because I have hypothyroidism and I am in recovery from Anorexia so my doctors have always kept a very close eye on my blook work and I also have very low white blood cell counts!! So I am very aware of my blood work and make sure to take supplements and medications to balance everything out!!
My favorite cereal is probably Total Cereal,Corn Flakes, or Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch!!
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My favorite cereal is a tie between Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms. Super healthy right?
I bet I have anemia. My feet and hands are always cold and I’m tired a lot. Hmmm…..maybe I need some more spinach!
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I’ve been to a few hot yoga classes and always wonder why they don’t let you drink water in the beginning of the class.
I like Life and Frosted Mini Wheats the best, I think. I pretty much like any cereal except the kinds with raisins in them.
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i don’t think i could handle bikram – i once did regular yoga in a really hot classroom and wanted to kill myself. i am very impressed with those who can do it!
do you cook with a cast-iron skillet? i have heard it adds iron to food….
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I am also slightly anemic. I bruise easily. I also am Vit D deficient but that comes along with living in the Pac NW.
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The last time I tried to give blood I was turned away b/c of my low iron count. Thanks for the link to the list of iron-rich foods! I am definitely going to start paying attention to my iron intake. Hopefully it’ll help my perma-cold hands and feet. I don’t really eat cereal very often, buuuuut I’d have to say my favorite would be regular ol’ Cheerios.
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Bikram! Of course! You’re a brave woman. I don’t even like doing Vinyasa yoga!
I used to get bloodwork done every year when I was a vegetarian and covered by insurance, now I’m neither, but I probably should! Oddly, my iron always checked out despite my poor eating habits back then. But I’m a fainter – I typically pass out after needles. Canadian Blood Services won’t let me donate because of it!
Favourite cereal is Kashi Honey Almond Flax. Also why I don’t buy it
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[...] « My New Crazy Endeavor, and Why I’m Becoming Popeye [...]
Hey Hallie! I am so loving your blog
It’s great to hear what you have been up to! And please let me know the dates you and the boy will be in MA so I can see if I can come out and see you guys!! It would be super fun.
Anyways. Since you’re eating spinach more now (which is awesome!) my friend Sheryl who you might have met a few times at IC has made this amazing spinach and strawberry salad. I made it tonight and made a really tasty homemade dressing. Here is the link for the salad and dressing recipe. Very good!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spinach-and-Strawberry-Salad/Detail.aspx
Enjoy!
Carolyn
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