Did y’all know I made a first attempt at Bikram years ago? The year? 2007. The place? Bend, Oregon. It was the first time I had every heard of this crazy hot yoga shizznizzle and decided to take a leap and try it out. I shook, I sweated, I fell over… and I fell in love.

Until after the class. Short story even shorter, I was EXHAUSTED. I damn near passed out on the way home the first day. I made it through about five classes and gave up because, even though I felt great during the session, I got absolutely nothing done afterwards. I could barely lift my fast-food meal to my mouth!

Fast forward five years. Now, I feel like a newborn baby! I know it’s only Day 2/60, but DAYUM!

Now, I WAS tired yesterday after class, but an hour nap took care of that and it felt nowhere near the fatigue that was the Oregon experience. Today, I feel all brand new and stuff. I even went on a quick 40-minute, 3-mile hike with my father this morning before Bikram. Check that out, ladies and gents: TWO workouts today.

So, what’s the difference?

Y’all know that Bikram is the same 26 poses. The same Hades-inspired temperature. The same 90 minutes. What’s DIFFERENT is my diet, plain and simple. When I lived in Oregon, there wasn’t a fast-food joint that I didn’t frequent on the regular. I didn’t put together that the food was what was “weighing me down”. Now, I’m hooked on wheatgrass shots and fresh juice. I’m salivating over kale avocado salads and veggie-packed nori rolls. I’m taking in real, honest to goodness nutrients into my body, and my body is reacting in kind. The food is the difference.

Bikram at 6:00 AM tomorrow. I’m all giddy!