Another 30 Day Challenge

by Alexandra Ryan

Dear Caught in Southie,

Last September, after an extremely unhealthy Labor Day weekend, I committed to doing a 30 Day Challenge – 30 consecutive days of Bikram yoga and 30 days without alcohol.  I completed the 30 days of Bikram, and I made it 29 days without booze (long story).   I felt amazing after the challenge and I even lost some weight.   Up until recently, I have continued to practice Bikram yoga 3-4 times a week.  I also continue to drink.  After another Labor Day weekend, reminiscent of some of my worst nights in college,  I thought about doing a cleanse or some sort of 30 day challenge, but I just couldn’t seem to pull myself together in September.

So, here we are on October 15th, 2012.  I am officially disgusted with myself.   I think I really fell off the wagon back in July and it’s been downhill ever since.  I rekindled my relationship with the snooze button and I rarely get up in the morning to workout anymore.  I have been drinking entirely too much wine and my eating is out of control.  Over the course of last week alone, I consumed the following:

• Chicken Fried Rice (gross)
• Chinese Chicken Fingers (5)
• Crab Rangoons
• Steak and Cheese Eggrolls
• Buffalo Chicken Rangoons
• French Fries with Mayo (lots)
• 6-8 Beers
• Grilled Cheese (2)
• Saag Paneer
• At least 4 bottles of wine (most likely more)
• Chicken schnitzel burger and a half of a sausage roll
• Half of a Cheeseburger
• Campbell’s Sirloin Burger sSoup (WTF)
• Cookies
• Brownies
• Doritos
• M&Ms
• Breakfast sandwich
• Wavy Lays chips
• Bagel with Cream Cheese
• Another half of a Cheeseburger
• Saag Paneer (this isn’t a typo)
• Indian Chicken Lollipops (this means fried chicken)
• Triscuits & Cheese

I know.  I’m gross.  It’s not like I haven’t tried to pull myself together over the past few months.  I eat healthy for a few days, but then the weekend comes and I go crazy.  At work, I eat leftover meeting food.  My co-workers give me scraps because they know I’ll eat anything.  Every day around 3:00pm, I hunt around the office for m&ms, cupcakes, birthday cake…anything I can get my hands on.  Do you see the Triscuits and cheese on the bottom of that gluttonous list?  I stole those out of the communal refrigerator.   I’ve hit rock bottom. 

The only thing I have going for me right now is a Shellac manicure.  I need another 30 Day Challenge.  It is the only thing that will get me on the straight and narrow.  Coincidentally, Bikram Yoga Boston is sponsoring a 30 day challenge that begins today.   I signed up this past weekend.  Last year, I gave up alcohol.  This year, I’m focusing on my diet.  After all, it’s 90% diet, right? 

Here is my 30 Day Challenge:  

30 Days of Bikram Yoga
30 Days of “No Junkfood”

Does anyone want to join me?

Pray for me,
Alexandra