Thank you all very your warm ‘welcome backs!’ .. mwah, love ya!
So I hardly talked about Fitness.. or Nutrition for that matter in the last post.. generally a focus of the blog, given the name and all 
. But as Averie always says, it’s a blog about life!
FITNESS
So it seems I’ve pretty much made the complete switch from using Yoga as a supplement for traditional “fitness” (in the competitive sense) and weight training, to using cardio and intermittent weight training as a supplement for Yoga!
So how’d all that happen? Well I guess I’ve come a long ways. Basically I finally said “screw it”.. I’m just going to do what I want and enjoy it. Because the truth is, I always kind of felt like a Fitness fake.. ok let me explain.
I love working out.. that’s for absolute certain. The feeling after a great Spin class or Leg workout is pretty awesome. But I was never one of those people who would be so excited to hit shoulders & back.. and say afterwards “ahh I killed it!” haha.. I like lifting, but I think I probably always liked the end result more than the actual process. It’s the same with Fitness competitions. I love the actual competitions and the amazing people you meet along the way, but the actual process of getting there.. not really all that awesome. There were lots of days I went to work out because I felt I “had” to if I wanted to reach an end goal (and I’m crazy competitive & stubborn), not because I really wanted to that day.
A Funny Group
Fitness competitors are a funny group when prepping for a show. I think few people will say “yes I just love being hungry all the time, so exhausted I can hardly move, being bitchy to everyone and having a non-existent social life!” BUT I think at the same time there is a sense of accomplishment and feeling of slight superiority for doing those things, and putting your body through something that few people do, in order to look a certain way. But it started to bother me when I felt like all the girls around me were in a competition to see whose diet was the most ridiculous. When you see things like “I get to eat 15 almonds today, yay! And tomorrow I only get 5″ or when someone says “I’m going 7 days at <30 carbs, then one day at 600 carbs, then back to 20. Oh you’re eating 100g, oh no wonder”.. ahh what? .. okkkk. As both a really competitive person, and someone who has had past eating disorders, this was both a completely natural and completely stupid fit. But I think after my first go-around with competitions, I started to see that. I have nothing but complete respect for competitors, but if I get to choose between doing something where I love how it makes me look and something that makes me feel good, makes me healthier and makes me a better person, better able to handle the ups & downs of crazy life.. well that leads me to Yoga..
Yoga <3
So Yoga is different. I am excited and want to go to Yoga everyday! The type of yoga I love goes by all sorts of names, but I guess it’s most often called Hot Power Vinyasa. I started practicing in December 2009, after my first fitness competitions, and it wasn’t long before I’d completely fallen in love.
The problem was, that for pretty much all of 2010 I had the idea in my head that even though I wanted to focus on yoga, that I “needed” to still do all my other Fitness workouts. But I loved yoga, so I tried to add it on top of all my other workouts, and it wasn’t long before it was just too many different things to manage. It wasn’t until this January, with a new job, new attitude, and plenty of extra weight (from months of being not-s0-happy looking for a job.. and eating chocolate cake 
), that I decided to stop doing what I thought I “should” do and just do what I wanted. Soon I was in the Yoga studio 5-6 days a week, absolutely loving it, eating completely clean, and starting to get in better shape.
And as you all know, the better you feel, the more you want to work out! So I was doing cardio because I wanted to, and just recently I started adding weights back in.
I’ve really developed a more consistent practice over the last 3 months, and am continually astonished by the impact it’s had on my life. Yes, with some poses, but much more so off the mat (many future posts on that!).
Who knows what the future holds.. I might compete again someday.. but right now I’m loving exactly where I’m at!
Namaste
Oh.. I recently purchased this piece from the fabulous Eliza Lynn Tobin. Check out her shop on Etsy!
Fun Links
I am so happy for you – that you seem to have found the perfect fit for you. That’s part of what fitness is isn’t it?
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
Thank you so much! I completely believe there is something out there for everyone.. it’s just a matter of finding it
Doing what you love to do is awesome
That’s sort of where I was at when I thought I wanted to compete. I felt like I was slowly getting sucked into that culture, and you do start to feel superior, which is kind of why I decided to quit when I did. I decided it was more more important to just do what I love, and still be able to enjoy life in the meantime:)
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
“Sucked in” is a good way to describe it.. and it’s so easy to be! I mean, I think it was the perfect thing I needed at the time, and it’s actually part of what lead me to yoga, so I’m definitely thankful for that!
Love your post and the new blog! It looks great! I LOVE LOVE LOVE yoga. Yoga and running are my 2 passions. They allow me to focus on me, my thoughts, and the power of my body. I try to go to my yoga studio twice a week and it has so many emotional and physical benefits. Have a great Hump Day!
thanks for the update! as a frequent reader (not-so-frequent commenter) i wondered how you were doing. glad to see that you’re happy & healthy!
love this quote: “Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?” ~ Mary Oliver
Congrats on taking big ole’ gulps of air!
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
So glad you left a note
And love that quote!
yes fitness competitors are CRAZY seriously some days I go to the studio, you should be a fly ont eh wall for conversations we have…its interesting to say the least. I did a whole post on this as you know (then we texted which I LOVED)The process has been amazing and I am so very excited, BUT I do a sense of unbalanced and unnatural or healthy attitude towards food. Also toward workouts. I want to WANT to workout and go tto the gym and somedays I just feel like I HAVE to. I know I am so close and I am so excited, but i have to say I will be so thrlled when i can have a whole apple and not feel guilty about it!
I love this post and so happy you found yourself through yoga. I plan to do a lot more of it after my competition!!
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
As always, you are the absolute sweetest! I’m bummed my Costa Rica trip is the same weekend as your competition, but I’m still absolutely planning to come out to Boston this year.. and we’ll of course of to do a bunch of yoga.. and eat fun foods
Have a wonderful day!
I love that you started to listen to YOU & now are doing what feels right. That is how a person sticks with it long term AND we can always change along the way!
Having done competitions, I get it. I never liked the dieting part & said it. I do love lifting, as yo know!
But the whole dieting is so unhealthy. I will say I am glad I did it & a great accomplishment though not gonna do it again!
I have always wanted to try that hot yoga!
Good for you Alyson!
i know the feeling of “having” to work out.. that was me BEFORE i found group exercise.. funny how now working out is “fun” ( i am slightly masachistic
) but my fitness level and body completely changed with my attitude as well. no more running “because i have to” but dancing, punching, spinning cuz i LOVE to! glad you are BACK!