Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Lemonade Was A Poor Choice

After a hiatus of several weeks, I decided it was time to get back to Bikram. I am done with my half marathons for the spring, so I can now try to find a way to balance yoga and running. On Monday I made sure to hydrate a little more than usual during work (which meant about 12 cups of water and just as many trips to the bathroom) and I went home to change before class. As I filled my giant water bottle with ice cubes, I was struck by a brilliant idiotic idea. Instead of just plain water, I decided that it would be more refreshing if I mixed half lemonade and half water in my water bottle. What is more refreshing on a hot day (or in a hot studio) than a tall glass of iced lemonade? I filled the bottle with my mixture, then decided I should get a little extra hydration in before class...so I chugged half of the water bottle (probably the equivalent of 2 cups) and then refilled it.

I got to the yoga studio a little bit early to set up my mat and relax before class started. I was excited to run into Gina, and she set up her mat next to mine. As class started I didn't feel so great - I felt the sudden pains of heartburn, followed by immediate nausea and dizziness. I tried to concentrate on the poses and ignore how I was feeling, but it was no use. In the middle of one of the poses I was so sure that I was about to lose my lunch lemonade that I grabbed my mat and towel and made a run for it. Since it was in the middle of a pose and the class was packed, I was literally bobbing and weaving through everyone's outstretched legs in midair. Had I been witnessing this myself I surely would have lost my composure and burst out laughing. Instead, I bolted for the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face until the nausea subsided. How embarrassing.

I knew that if I didn't go back to Bikram right away then I never would. I'd make excuses and never try again, for fear of another embarrassing episode. So on Tuesday I packed my yoga stuff in the morning so that I could go straight there from work. Again I hydrated all day to prepare for the 90 minutes in 105 degrees. In the beginning of class I felt a little uneasy again - a few waves of queasiness hit me, but I just kept taking deep breaths and worked through them. The class seemed longer and harder than usual, but when it was over I felt really amazing. 

I got home a little bit after 6pm, ate some frozen mango (an amazing post-Bikram snack) and showered. Then Pat surprised me by getting home at 7! He was supposed to have a late meeting, but had rescheduled it and came home instead! All we wanted to do was relax, so instead of cooking we ordered a pizza and watched No Strings Attached.

The pizza was phenomenal. We got a veggie pizza (no olives on Pat's side) and I topped mine with some fresh avocado.


I've had this several times, but last night it tasted especially good, maybe because I'd worked really hard in yoga. After a really busy weekend and two hectic days at work, I needed a relaxing evening to spend time with Pat. After the movie (which I really liked - I love Natalie Portman) we went to bed early! Do I sound old if I say that pizza, a movie and early to sleep is a perfect night? Oh yeah...we also paused the movie for a quick trip out for ice cream. It was the perfect night.

Have you had any bad experiences with food/drink before working out?

What's your perfect night?

5 comments:

  1. I've never had any bad experiences w/ food before working out. Sometimes if I drink coffee right before, I am like a crazy person running on the treadmill. Kinda makes me laugh. I've never had avocado on a pizza - MUST TRY!

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  2. OH gosh- I did that with ORANGE JUICE ONE TIME! It was terrible!! I feel your pain!!!

    Your pizza AND night SOUND AMAZING! (; You're not old- your smart!!

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  3. I've had lots of experience eating something before a run that did NOT agree with me. The first time I ever ran 10 miles, I ate sushi beforehand. And I only ever eat the raw fish. It was horrifying!
    :)

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  4. oh I've totally been there. especially with the hot yoga and quesy stomach! glad you finally got to enjoy it!

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  5. In think pizza, movie and an early night with an ice cream break is a pretty great night too!

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