To yoga or not to yoga?

That is the burning question.

I understand the idea of doing yoga along with eating raw has been off-putting, challenging, impossible, downright scary for some of you.

And, I'm here to tell you, you don't need to do yoga. Nope, not at all. Not even half a downward facing dog, or a quarter of a lotus. Nothing.

Yoga does not have to be in your life if you don't want it to be.

Whew - huge weight off the shoulders for some of you. You can breathe easily now.

I chose this plan that included yoga simply because...

1) I knew the teacher and so I trusted the information

2) I thought daily yoga would be a good way to help me keep focus

You see, yoga is what I live for (okay, maybe I'm overstating a little), it's my poison, it's my drug, it's my morning coffee when I can't have coffee. I just love yoga, it makes me feel alive and healthy and strong....... (and un-coordinated, and fat, and un-supple and crazy)... and for the good and the bad, it's just what I like to do.

But you really don't have to do it to change your life.

What you do have to do if you want to get fitter and healthier is move. Yup, you heard me - move. It doesn't matter if is bowling, badminton, basketball, bobsledding, back country skiing or basket weaving (okay, I ran out of B exercises), just move more than you normally do.

Swim if you like to swim, dance if you love to dance, walk if you love to walk. Do it at the gym, around your neighbourhood, at the local YWCA, at your friend's house or in the privacy of your own four walls.

It doesn't matter what you do or where you do it. Just get that body movin' and shakin' and jigglin' and wigglin'.

I met a group of people when I lived in the States. And I have to admit, I laughed at them at first (bad me).

I must have been living under a rock, because I had never heard of this, but they would go to a huge shopping mall before opening hours, all decked out in tracksuits and trainers and they would walk and walk around the mall.

What I realised later was that they were all people who felt vulnerable in their neighbourhoods. They were either older, or infirm, or female and they felt that it was unsafe to walk alone around their area, so they walked around a mall where there was security and people and stuff happening. And they would go round and round on their circuit until they had enough.

Every day.

I think that's great. It's clever, it's safe and it's cheap. It shows that their really is no excuse to not get out there and just do it.

Now, if you do this, don't go walk around during peak hours when you will be fighting mom's, babies and groups of teenagers. Go when it's quiet. Oh, and stopping every 10 steps to check out the merchandise doesn't count either. You have to stay focused and walk and get your heart pumping.

Yes, stay focused.

And find something you love. Find an exercise that makes you happy. And do it.

It doesn't have to be yoga.

(Photo - mine)

DAY 7... Rain and hot chocolate

Before I get to the hot chocolate, did you see the number in the title?

7 to be exact ..... I'm well into single digits, only 1 more week to go. I can hardly believe it.

When I began this, 40 days sounded like the biggest number in the world. A number that I might never succeed in reaching. It felt like being asked to count to 100 when you are a little kid and your brain can't quite figure out how to get there. And, no matter how hard you try you always get stuck around 20-something because counting to 100 seems like the hardest thing in the world. It is so far away, and so difficult, and the obstacle of three digits seems insurmountable.

That's how 40 felt a few weeks ago. And now, I'm down to a single digit and I feel like I can just see the finish line in the foggy distance. A finish line towards which I am hurtling myself at a ferocious speed.

That being said, it's pouring today. There has been nothing but driving rain since I first opened my eyes this morning. Oh, and grey skies. Rain and grey skies.

I've already been out for two sopping wet walks with my exercise partner. She enjoyed it, I didn't. She doesn't mind being wet, I do.

And now, all I want is a nice big mug of hot chocolate. A big mug I can warm my hands around while I sit next to the fire and watch the rain pour down outside.

Peppermint tea with blue agave just doesn't have the same ring to it does it? But it will have to do. I'm not giving up now silly.

DAY 35...Get a partner

If you want to succeed in getting healthy, get a partner to exercise with. This lovely girl in the picture is mine, and I can promise you, she is the best exercise investment you will ever make.

Now I know it's not feasible for everyone to have a dog, especially a big one, but let me try do some convincing... This week (as with almost every other week), I sometimes need some extra motivation to get out and do something other than yoga. Well, this little redhead helps me a lot.

Firstly, she just needs to go out. She looks deep into my eyes and says 'I'm a dog, I need to run'. What can I say, I have to take her.

Secondly, she just needs to go out. She looks deep into my eyes and says 'Do you really want me to pee on the kitchen floor?'. What can I say, I have to take her.

Thirdly, I can talk as much or as little as I want. She never minds. If I'm being too talkative and she's bored, she just runs off. If she likes what she hears, she stays next to me and angles for some cuddles. Either way, we both seem to be satisfied.

Fourth, watching her get so excited about going for a walk makes me exited to go for a walk. She literally jumps up and down when her leash is taken down from it's hook (I wish I jumped up and down at the prospect of a walk!) But seriously, it's nice to see someone so happy, and it makes me happy to make her happy, and when she's happier it makes me happier and then - well, you get what I mean.

Fifth, once your coat is on and your boots are laced and you've fished your hat out of the murky melted ice it landed in yesterday and you've found two gloves (matched or unmatched) and you are actually out the house, it doesn't seem to bad to go a little further, take a little longer, find a new path. It's the getting going that's tough, but then you have those eyes looking at you.

Sixth, we discover new things I wouldn't discover alone. Like chasing ducks across an ice laden pond in the middle of winter. I certainly wouldn't be the one running after them.

Or swimming in said pond the minute the ice starts to melt, even when it's -10C. Yup, that wouldn't be me either.

Or trying to discover exactly where Mr. Fox keeps his den. All these things we get to discover together, because my exercise partner is a little more adventurous than me.

Seventh, did I already mention I'm not a fan of pee on my kitchen floor? That accounts for good weather and bad weather. My excercise partner makes sure I get that walk in come rain, blizzard, or shine. We like to take the good with the bad here.

Eighth, my exercise partner is faster than I am. This is one of the real benefits trust me. If I walk, she trots, if I trot, she runs, if I run (you'll see that very rarely, so don't worry), she gallops. Yup, that's her, always make sure your partner is faster and sleeker than you are. I promise, it'll keep you on your toes.

So there you have it, eight good reasons not to go it alone. Go on, get yourself a partner.