Ommmmmmmmm.

The only trainer available for my gym session this morning was Amanda the yoga and pilates instructor. So I spent an hour doing yoga. And you guys, that is some hard shit.

No wonder devoted yogis have such lithe, dreamy bodies. There's a lot of lengthening that goes on (zip it with the short jokes, Joey). And great stretching, and pushing of muscles. My hamstrings were sore from Friday's workout, and they got another good workout today.

I've always had terrible balance, so I'm hoping to improve my balance and flexibility with yoga once or twice a week in addition to my other workouts. Question: Do you do yoga, and how have you found it most helpful? Muscle building, flexibility, balance, general well-being...?

I have three gym appointments this week, all early morning. I am so, so not a morning person. Making the 5.30 am wakeup tolerable requires advance planning: I must lay my gym clothes out the night before; I must have my water bottle filled and in the car ready to go; I have to forgo wine the night before; and I absolutely must go to bed by 10 pm.

We had three parties yesterday - a birthday celebration for my nephews, and two Super Bowl shindigs. Would you believe I didn't have any of the double chocolate birthday cake? This is partially because I totally pigged out on the lox and cream cheese. I never would have believed I could enjoy those without a bagel, but guess what? Still good, especially with a little lemon wedge. I was having a hormonal, kind of down day, so I like to think all the omega-3s in the salmon perked me up.

The Super Bowl parties were fun, and I didn't overindulge. Someone brought a delicious app of really good egg salad on an endive leaf. I really love the idea of serving dips with endive leaves rather than crackers or chips. I fully intend to do this more often. Although I guess it wouldn't work with hot dips because the leaf would wilt and then the dip would fall off.

Here's my favorite Super Bowl ad: