Today was wonderful day for my Fruitarian Bodybuilding Athlete Challenge. It was also the best day so far since I moved to Gaia Yoga Gardens. That being said, I am noticing my belly is fuller than usual now that I am eating more coconut fat…
Orienting Myself to Gaia Yoga Gardens
I woke up around 8 a.m., too my sweet time to get out of bed and then headed to our work meeting. After checking in and getting assigned work for the day, I headed outside to move a heavy fridge and spent the rest of the morning building a new hut with Isabelle.
Building the hut was fun. My main job was to screw in some pieces of bamboo on the roof. I spent three hours doing that and then I took an hour long break during which I must have eaten five coconuts or more. I simply couldn’t resist. They are so delicious, so fresh and so free!! It is hard to say no.
At 1 p.m. all the new people and I met with Urba in one of the common rooms at Gaia Yoga Gardens. Urba then went over our orientation to Gaia Yoga Gardens. He showed us where Hawaii is in the map and where we are located in relation to the Puna district. Then he went over all sorts of details and logistics regarding life in the tropics and life at Gaia Yoga Gardens. The whole orientation lasted approximately three hours, without counting a break in between during which I ate two more coconuts.
After orientation was over I asked Urba a couple of personal questions about the kitchen and work involving animals and animal products. I felt relieved hearing that I don’t have to do any job I don’t like and that me vegan ideals won’t be a conflict with the community. I told Urba I was having some conflicts in my mind with all the animal products and the animal treatment at the farm and he was able to offer me some kind empathy. I felt understood and accepted despite having ideals so different to those from the majority of the members in the community.
My Coconut Addiction Hurts My Fruitarian Diet
After orientation I headed back to the coconut bar and had another half a dozen coconuts. I seriously think I had over a dozen coconuts today, water and “meat” included. I thought I was going to die from a fat overload but they actually settled pretty well. I don’t want to promote coconut eating on the fruitarian diet because coconuts are certainly not fruit, or close enough, but again, they are a much healthier, ethical and environmentally friendly option than meat, bacon, milk or cheese.
Reconnecting with the ManKind Project
Around 6 p.m. I decided to go on a walk to get my two hours of exercise for the day, I knew it was too much to ask but I am proud I still went for it. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, as I was walking down the road Ano drove by and invited me to attend a men’s group circle with the ManKind Project.
MKP is a men’s non-profit organization that holds gatherings all over the U.S. (and now even internationally). I was initiated into MKP two years ago and it made a huge improvement in my life. I had been meaning to go to some men’s group in Hawaii and it was easy to say yes when Ano stopped to invite me for the ride.
I may not have gotten the two hours of exercise that I was hoping for, but the experience and growth I gained from attending our men’s circle tonight are worth 100 stars (which of course I will not be adding to my fruitarian bodybuilding athlete challenge). I know that the photo I took is horrible and probably the worst one so far from all my fruitarian before and after pictures. However, I think that the effort counts and I am proud to finish the day with three stars.
