I started yoga after I competed back in November 2009. Competing was a wonderful experience, but there was also a lot I did wrong. After the shows I was definitely burned out and looking for something new. Whatever higher power you believe in must have been watching out because I stumbled into yoga, the type just right for me at just the right time. Two years later and I seriously can not imagine where I would be without it! Maybe that sounds melodramatic to some, but I know many of you know exactly what I mean. I can say without a doubt that it has made me a better person. It has made me more compassionate, caring, better able to deal with stress, self-confident, empowered, I could go on and on. Really amazing stuff.

So how can yoga, a practice that is both physical and spiritual, and all about non-judgement and not competing be anything like a sport where you push yourself completely to the limit, then get up on stage 95% naked, covered in spray tan, in clear hooker heals and get judge strictly on your appearance? Easy.. they both challenge me and make me a stronger person physically and mentally.. and I love them both. It hasn’t always been that way.. let me explain..

I ran across this quote in Meditations from the Mat and it completely hit home. What I’d been feeling lately, a connection and easy synch between fitness and yoga, was put into words..

Doing your best is taking the action because you love it, not because you’re expecting a reward. Most people do exactly the opposite; They only take action when they expect a reward, and don’t enjoy the action. That is why they don’t do their best. …

Our experience of life is like that of a trapeze artist–but instead of rings, we swing from one intense attachment to the next. We begin asana practice with an eye to the results. [When you start seeing results], a whole new world is presented to us. Why not hope for more of the same? Because it is in this hoping that we lose sight of the true beauty we have discovered.

We are finding that the only result worth achieving is being here now. All other positive outcomes are by-products of our present-moment awareness. To be attached to the results, be they a tighter bum or a better triangle pose, is to place the cart before the horse and to miss the point. Eventually we will find this striving unrewarding… The alternative–doing your best as an expression of your love for life.

For quite a while I thought that if I wanted to lift weights and compete that I’d be a “bad yogi.” And not going to lie, I got plenty of not-so-positive feedback (some in friendly conversation, some not as sought) from a couple yoga teachers. Yoga had won me over 100% and as I’ve discussed, I’m never one to only “test the waters.” I throw myself in!  So you can image, hearing negative feedback about fitness from people who I really looked up to created more than a little internal conflict.

What’s ironic is that I’ve probably experience more competitive people in the yoga studio than I ever have at the gym.

But let me back up. What I now see as fantastic similarities and connections between fitness and yoga has definitely not always been. Really it’s yoga that has changed how I approach fitness.

It’s Not a Lie.. It Really is the Journey

In 2009 when I was getting ready to compete, it was ALL about the end goal. I was training solely to get on that stage and check an item off my bucket list. When you focus your energy that hard on something, and have complete tunnel vision (like I tend to when I set my eyes on a goal), a lot of things tend to get sacrificed. With sacrifice, sometimes comes a bit of resentment. It didn’t seem like it at the time.. by hindsight ya know.. And when you realize what you sacrificed in order to reach that goal, then the end result becomes even more important. You (ok me) think, “If I gave up this and that and this and that.. then I better win, or none of those sacrifice would have been worth it”.. in the immortal social media words of 2011.. #fail! When it’s all about the end goal, the purpose starts to get lost. I even remember someone asking me why I decided to compete.. and I was at a loss for an answer. How can you put so many hours into something, spend a lot of time being hungry, a lot of money, loose and semblence of a social life and not be sure why? I know, I know..

So it took a couple years of being confused about the whole thing.. and a lot of down dogs..

The actually competition is such a small part of what fitness is all about for me.

Now.. I love yoga more than ever.. I love weight training more than ever.. I love being part of a team of amazing and inspiring women, and I look forward to competing again (FAP Lonestar), and may again (TX Shredder) and perhaps again (FAP Universe)..

The difference? The REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE.. it’s no longer about the stage. Getting on stage is just an added bonus during the process. It’s a fun weekend in Galveston and/or Miami. It’s not the goal, not at all. The goal is to remember each day I step on my yoga mat, each time I go to workout, and when I’m panting for breath during a functional workout (I must look hilarious and a complete wreck to anyone watching), that I get to. That I get to do that. That I’m healthy enough, that I have the time and money to get to workout, to play with new inversion, travel hours just to cheer for friends competing, and go to ridiculously amazing yoga events, and share it all with even more amazing people.

I feel so fortunate to have now found yoga teachers who are supportive of me in every way. And I think that’s helped me realize that these two “hobbies” of mine aren’t so mutually exclusive. At the same time I’ve met some of the most selfless, caring, loving and giving people I’ve ever known through fitness competitions. I don’t do yoga to be better at fitness or to be more flexible, and I certainly don’t lift in order to be able to hold a handstand longer.. I do both, because I love both.. that’s all that really matters.

*Added after Publishing Friday night:

It’s funny, today (Saturday) during yoga, the teacher said something along the lines of “isn’t it a miracle how people come into our lives just when we need them. They may not stay long but it’s a miracle that it happens.”

I laughed to myself and thought about what I had written and published in this post. I was feeling a little uncomfortable that what I had written may have come off not as positive as I meant it to. I am very grateful for each an every yoga teacher (and fitness trainer for that matter) that I’ve had, because I know that’s exactly what I needed at that time. I’m probably at such a great place with yoga & lifting because I took that break, and being exposed to different perspectives, whether I agree or not is something I value very much as well. Hope that makes sense.. Promise a not-so-serious, mostly likely recipe-post next 

Because why wouldn’t you do handstands in the middle of a hotel lobby, on a beach in Costa Rica, while wearing a halter top, after a couple margaritas.. ?! Yes yes, and after not putting enough sunscreen on that day…

I’ve been wonderful, crazy busy, but good.

Work has been the busiest since I started, I’ve been working long hours and a lot of weekends, but it made me realize more than ever how important getting in my regular workouts and sticking with my meal plan is. There are NO EXCUSES! I’ve noticed this before, but I know that getting in really strong workouts and getting to yoga is what allows me to be my most productive and creative at work. Not only that, it helps me to sleep better instead of tossing & turning all night while stressing about everything that needs to get done.

Reminding myself of this is what got me off my butt on the couch and to the gym a couple times this week.. well that and the motivation of CSF girls.. especially my workout buddy and roommate!

I’m getting it all in! This last week I felt like I really started getting into the swing of regular weights and cardio, while also getting in the yoga I need (yes I said need ). I got in all 5 weight training days, 5 cardio sessions (2 hour Spin classes, 1 Treadmill HIIT and 2 ADD cardio), and 4 yoga classes! Simply feeling great I’ve been getting it in with a schedule like this:

Monday: AM Spin and Upper Body, maybe PM Yoga

Tuesday: Lower Body and SS Cardio (AM or PM depends), PM Yoga

Wednesday: AM Spin and Upper Body

Thursday: Yoga or Rest

Friday: Lower, SS Cardio

Saturday: Upper Body, HIIT Cardio, Yoga

Sunday: Yoga or Rest

Can’t say I have too much new to report. Thank goodness for epic prep days, because having a bunch of frozen meals from previous prep weekends is what saved me the last couple weeks. I haven’t had time to spend choosing fun new recipes and all day cooking, but I made enough this, this and this weekend, that I had freezer leftovers.

This weekend I went the speedy prep route by mixing up batches of:

• Protein Pancakes
• Spinach Bars
• Mexi-cauli Salad (I need to post this recipe this week because I’m a little obsessed!)
• Chicken Breast
• Lean Ground Turkey
• Roasted Butternut & Kabocha Squash

Back in August, Sleep Number Beds contacted me asking if I’d like to try and review their bed. Before giving the obvious answer.. I have to tell you..

Last year when I moved to Texas.. yup September 2010, my beautiful (& expensive) pillow top mattress did not arrive safely. The pillow-portion got smooched from being on its side for too long, and no matter how hard I tried, I was stuck with a big lump down the middle of the bed. Well being that it was a queen size bed and I’m a single, not particularly large, person who sleeps within arms-reach of the alarm clock, the bed bump wasn’t really an issue, but also not cool.

So anyways, naturally, I said “absolutely!” to Sleep Number’s kind offer.

I had the bed delivered to my new house, and it took 2 nights before I completely fell in love with it! I seriously have never slept so well.. every night. It couldn’t have come at a better time, because as I’m getting back into consistent weight and cardio workouts, I’m sore all the time, and we all know how important good sleep is to reaching your fitness goals!

So when Sleep Number asked if I would like to host a Sleep Chat, it was another easy ‘yes.’ I don’t review a lot of products, because I always feel bad if I don’t like what they sent me for free, and don’t want to write anything bad. But in this case I’m more than happy to speak for them, recommend their beds and chat about how important good sleep is in order to get the very most out of your workouts and be your healthiest!

So if you’re free Tuesday night (and want to win a free bed!), please join me, @SleepNumberSara and @SleepGeekPete for a Twitter & Facebook chat about the Health Triangle: Fitness, Nutrition and of course Sleep!

Sleep Number Chat:

Tuesday, October 11th at 7-8pm (CST)

You can join the chat by:

1) Going to the Sleep Number Facebook page and clicking on the “Sleep Better Chat” link in the upper left corner. Log-in with a username and include #sleepnumber in all your comments.

-OR-

2) On Twitter, by following @SleepNumberSara, @SleepGeekPete and Me (@NourishedFit). Remember to include the #sleepnumber hashtag in all your tweets. This will allow us to see your feedback during the discussion.

Hope to “see” you there! 

Long weekends are amazing. I realize I’m pointing out the obvious, but it just deserves to be said. Mine was lovely and completely relaxing. I started to do a little prep for moving, but other than that just did yoga, hung out, read, watched TV and cooked. The best part is that the weather seems to have FINALLY made a switch and Sunday we woke up to cooler temperatures (“cooler” is now considered as ‘highs in the 90s’) and it feels amazing. Unfortunately that’s been overshadowed by the wildfires across central Texas. ugh, so sad, but it sounds like they’re starting to get them a bit more under control.

It’s been a fantastically yoga-filled few days! The flow sequence we’re currently doing at my main studio (if you’re ever in Austin you must go here for Hot Vinyasa!) is kicking my butt! I read a blog post once were the writer said she thought there are two groups of yoga folks: 1) Arm Balancers and 2) Twisters. I am definitely an arm balancer! haha Twists are not my favorite, or my strength (those often go hand in hand it seems), which usually means it’s something I need most.

In Someone Else’s Words

For the last couple months I’ve been reading “Meditations from the Mat” by Rolf Gates. It’s amazing. It’s broken into 365 entries, separated into 8 chapters based on the 8 limbs of yoga. I might not read a post everyday, then read a few on the weekend. Either way, it seems I come across exactly what I need to hear on any given day.

I find it so much more difficult to write about yoga than fitness. To me fitness is straight forward, which isn’t a bad thing. I have confidence talking about it, not because I think I’m an expert but because I understand it. Do this, do that, eat this, not that.. boom (ok, a bit more complex than that, but you know what I mean). Whereas yoga is this immense physical, emotional, spiritual experience, where you’ll never stop learning, changing and growing.

I think I’m getting more comfortable/use to chatting about it here, after all, it’s just might experience, so I don’t think there’s really a right or wrong. But either way, sometimes it’s nice to borrow someone else’s words.

This was an entry in “Meditations from the Mat” and while reading it last weekend I got a little teary eyed because it completely describes my experience with yoga. In this piece one of Rolf’s students is speaking:

“Before yoga, I had a nagging suspicion that something was off. I had had a lot of success in sports and academics, but my success had been an escape, a way to get approval, and this culture really rewarded me. I was a success, but I was empty and yearning inside.

Yoga breaks down the barriers to knowing your true self. Before yoga, I would get sporadic glimpses of that self, but then I didn’t have sight of my soul, or true being, I was not existing on all levels–physical, spiritual, emotional, mental. Yoga allows me to balance all four levels. On the mat, I am face with me–this beautiful soul, with all of this clutter. Yoga clears that clutter.”

I’ve warned you I get all “yoga cheesy!” Anyways.. had to share with ya’ll.. and I’ll work on my own words 

In the spirit of my continued efforts to meal plan, I went a little cooking crazy last weekend! I didn’t quite realize how much so until I was portioning it out last night, ran out of tupperware and already have half in the freezer. Love it! I shouldn’t have to cook or grocery shop for weeks.. which is perfect considering the move coming up soon. On Sunday I made:

• Curry Vegetables with Lentils and Spinach
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Stir Fry Pork Tendorloin
• Ever-Ready Bran Muffins
• Nutty Zucchini Bread

Major successes were had! I of course made a few adjustments, and I will try to get each recipe posted!

I am not a tidy cook..

Savory

First we have Chicken Tikka Masala. Ok, confession I didn’t do anything creative for this, but instead used McCormick’s Recipe Inspirations. This is the first time I’ve used this handy dandy short cut, and I love it! I am bad with spices. I have half a cabinet full, but I’m never sure what to add or what will go with what. I’m starting to get more adventurous with it, but still appreciate a nice shortcut! I used the recipe on the instructions but subbed in Plain Coconut Creamer for Heavy Cream and didn’t use the Butter it called for.

Sweet..Sort Of

I used Tosca Reno’s recipe from her 2nd Clean Eating cookbook, but made a couple adjustments. I was really happy with how these turned out. I split her recipe in 1/2, it made 27 muffins, and they have great nutrition stats (numbers below don’t include the mix-ins). These make the perfect healthy carb addition to breakfast, or a quick snack!

Bran Muffins

 2 cups Flour (I used 1 cup Whole Wheat + 1 cup Spelt)

2 cups Bran

2 tsp Baking Soda

2 tbsp Ground Flaxseed

1 tsp Salt

Stevia to taste

2 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk

3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce

1/3 cup Egg Whites

Mix-Ins: 1/3 cup chopped Walnuts + 1/3 cup dried Cranberries

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients. Mix them together. Pour into muffin tins and bake at 425 F for 15 minutes..

Um.. nothing new to report.. though I really should start packing at some point..

Have a great Thursday!

Another crappy thing, on a far far far far (keep going) level, was this blog getting attacked last week! If you happen to swing by you probably noticed the big fat (sad) google warning. Really hard lesson learned.. keep everything.. every plugin, platform, theme updated, always! Thank goodness I work with people who were able to help me get it fixed. Pheww! All set now though.. along with a new theme.

Mixing it up.. yet again  After two great months of CrossFit, I decided this week to put it on hold for a little bit. The reason is really two-fold, with a big emphasis on one of those folds.. $ and yoga. I love love love CrossFit style workouts, but it’s pretty pricey. It’s worth it for sure and wouldn’t be an issue if it was the only exercise-related activities I paid for, but with other gym members (gotta have access to Spin) and Yoga memberships, it’s just a lot. Especially since I recently found another Yoga studio I really like and monthly memberships are really the only option (it’s part of a big gym with full weight & cardio equipment and fitness classes).

But CrossFit also made me remember how much I really love lifting heavy! So I spent some time today planning out a workout schedule to fit it yoga, cardio and weight training. I’m aiming for 5 days of Yoga, 4 Cardio sessions and 3 weight training sessions.

I’m also having fun putting together new weight training routines for myself incorporating what I’ve learned in CrossFit. I’ll keep you updated!

I’ve been playing around in the kitchen lately. Over the last couple months I’ve been ~95% vegetarian. I don’t eat out a lot and tend to not include meat in the meals I make for myself. I joke I’m an ‘At Home Vegetarian’ because usually the only time I eat meat is at restaurants. Not sure how I feel about it. There is a lot I love about maintaining a mostly plant-based, whole-food diet, but I know my body does best with a diet that has a high protein-carb ratio diet and that’s not as easy to do completely vegetarian. I bought chicken today for the first time in… I have no memory of the last time I bought chicken. So we’ll see.. no labels, just aiming for clean and sticking with what my body craves. Speaking of cravings.. a new veggie recipe I’m loving!..

I’ve never liked Cauliflower. When I was a kid the only way my mom could get me to eat it was to camouflage it with a bucket of Cheddar Cheese. Perhaps that memory is what inspired this recipe combination. Well with one big difference, I love this!

Cheesy Cauliflower & Kale Salad (Vegan)

Salad (inspired by a recipe from the Low Carb Barbecue Cookbook)

1/2 Cauliflower, chopped

1/2 Onion, chopped

2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp Salt

1 cup Water

bundle of Kale

Cheesy Sauce

I used Angela’s amazing recipe, except I only used 2 tbsp of Earth Balance, and it turned out fantastic!

Microwave cauliflower for 7 minutes.

Chop Onion and sauté in a large skillet for a few minutes. Add Vinegar, Salt and 1/2 c of Water and cook for a few more minutes. Rip Kale, add to skillet, along with the rest of the water. Continue cooking until Kale is at desired tenderness.

Meanwhile make Angela’s Cheesy Sauce.

Once Onion & Kale mixture is finished, mix it in with the Cauliflower, then pour Cheesy mixture over it (I used about 1/2 of the Sauce). Mix together. Enjoy!

What’s new with you? Any new workouts that have inspired you to mix up your routine? Any new recipes that made you rethink a food you maybe didn’t like previously?

Lets hear it.. and of course link to the recipe if you have it 

So tomorrow’s my  birthday. I love birthdays, not just mine (though, lets all admit that August 15th is a pretty awesome day ), but everyone’s! We’ve always been pretty big on celebrations in my family. I have such wonderful memories from these events growing up; surrounded by family and friends for New Years, Easter, 4th of July, Birthday, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, May Day.. you name it. But what I love (and remember) the most, and what sticks with me now and carries on my  love of these events, isn’t the presents or even the cake (though I did have a fantastic piece of Chocolate Caramel cake today), is the excuse to bring people together just to have a good time, and be thankful!

As we get older (p.s. tomorrow I’m officially late 20′s.. still coming to terms with that), we get busier, have more responsibilities, places to be, things to do, deadlines to meet, and suddenly months if not years fly by without seeing those that mean so much to us.

I’ve been fortunate to have lived quite a few places since moving away from Seattle 2 days after my 18th birthday, which often makes it difficult to see some of those loved ones as much as I would like, but it also gives me great excuses to take fantastic weekend trips and soak it all up.

I think Birthdays, like New Year’s, is a great time to reflect, perhaps remind yourself what you learned the past year (whether through making a good decision or completely f’ing up), and set new intentions for the next.

Today I went to brunch with a few friends. When I sent out the Facebook invitation, I was delighted to realize I was inviting people from so many different aspects of my life: friends from undergrad, grad school, yoga, CrossFit, work, who I know from blogging and who I’ve just met in Austin. 26 was a very up & down year for me. But the rough times only make me appreciate the good even more, and right now it is so good! I could not feel more blessed to be where I am, and have such amazing amazing amazing (3x still isn’t enough) people in my life.

So much love to every single one of you!

Not all those who wander are lost..

So to close.. here are a few pictures from Wanderlust, I attended a couple weekends ago.. already counting down to next year’s!..

Seane Corn leading a flow with Michael Franti playing live. This was a fundraiser for Off the Mat, Into the World.

Music Venue

Picture taking while walking around the village before classes..

Not a bad place to practice..

Or at 8500 ft..

The view..

And of course

Well the answer is crazy simple.. because it’s fun and it makes me feel good!

Really that’s it. Everything I do related to health and fitness goes back to those points. Of course somethings are more fun than others (i.e. eating a new fun healthy dessert versus 5:30am boot camps), but usually the things that aren’t quite as fun, are the things that make me feel that much better as a result.

A lot has happened since I fell of the ‘blogging on a regular basis’ wagon, but I think the biggest change has been my perspective and attitude towards what I do to be “healthy.”

Whether you just know me from the blog, or have put up with me for the last 26 years, you know that I’m not necessarily the best with that whole “balance” thing. I have a tendency to completely throw myself into my goals with blinders on to everything else, and make whatever sacrifices necessary (ironically health sometimes ends up being sacrificed). I don’t think this is necessarily a bad characteristic, it certainly has its time & place.. but that time & place isn’t ALL the time.

This is one of the biggest ways yoga has changed me. It’s taught me to, it must be said, “chill the f%*k out”!

Photo Credit to Pure Nourishment

Moderation.. working on that evil word

I know a lot of you are, but for those who are not as familiar with yoga, there are actually what they call, “Eight Limbs.” The Asana, or physical practice, which most people think of as “yoga,” is actually just one of those limbs. One of the other limbs is the ‘Yamas’ or Moral Restraints, of which there are five. One of the yamas is Brahmacarya, which elaborates on the importance and benefits of moderation.

Of course this isn’t just referring to moderation in eating, drinking, sex, etc, but moderation with your extreme thoughts, feelings and actions. For me this is a big one, because that “all or nothing” mentality can be a hard habit to break. Now, in discussing moderation, I don’t mean being numb, but instead minimizing actions & feelings that don’t serve to benefit you, so you can instead spend energy on what is beneficial.

How it Relates

This is a notorious dieting problem, but also based in physiology. Monday’s the gym is usually packed with people trying to burn off their weekend fun. Well if you did go that crazy, a little extra gym time is certainly warranted.. but the gym seems to be much less crowded come Thursday. Then the cycle repeats. And ever notice after you eat a lot of rich sweet food you tend to crave savory & salty (I seem to always want cheese.. pizza or quesadilla anyone?)? Well it’s because they’re at opposite ends of the extremes. When you go too far one way, you want to bounce back the other!

I have been queen of this! Planning everything perfect, and if a little piece falls out of place (I miss a workout, eat 2 cheats in a week instead of one), I freak out, go to the other extreme, burn out, more pieces fall, and I just bounce back & forth (you’re shocked I’m single right?! haha). But seriously, I know I’m not the only one. I read this quote recently and absolutely love it:

“When you are stuck in a hole, stop digging.”

I mean, that’s so obvious right? But it’s something I’ve seemed to miss time & again.

So What’s the Point?

So this post isn’t my answer on how to fix it, but instead my experience on how I’m getting better with it. Yes part of the answer is Yoga, but it’s also ‘not Yoga.’ As I’m learning more about yoga outside of the asanas, and apply what I learn on the mat, in the real world, the more I know that although Yoga is a big piece, if that’s all I do, and obsess about it, I’m just taking myself to another extreme.

I suppose this post was a really long way of describing the slogan up above in the new header.. “there are no rules to this thing.” Well that’s not true, there are two.. to do things that are fun and make me feel good! And the good thing is, that’s always going to be changing. A couple months ago doing nothing but yoga was what I needed, a couple years ago, prepping for a fitness competition was the perfect fit. There is no one right way to be fit & healthy, for me or anyone else, so there’s no need to stress about trying to find it!

There are 25 more letters!

FITNESS & YOGA

I’ve really been getting back into group classes, especially Spin, and made it to a couple classes last week, including a 5:30am (crazy!). Feels great and having fun!

Yoga this week was so-so, but only because I’ve been trying out new classes & teachers, and it’s so hit or miss. I mean, I know what I like, and I’m sure some of the classes I’ve been taking lately are great for some people.. but they are so boring to me! Every time I take a boring class it makes me want to do teacher training even more! Sometimes I’ll hear a song on the radio and think “ahh this would be so awesome to put a flow sequence to!”. And during a boring class I’m so tempted to just put on headphones and do my own thing. But I don’t even if it’s boring, I know there’s always something to learn.

So I’ve been giving Yoga Teacher Training a lot more serious thought lately. Financially, it’s a bit pricey, so it’s more of a matter of the ‘when’ than the ‘if.’

But the week did end up absolutely fantastic with a Yoga Dance Party, I went to yesterday. There was a DJ spinning, and the teacher (my first time taking her) was awesome. I wish I had video from this because it was hilarious. Think being in low lunge and fist pumping, or booty-popping (hah, that sounds even funnier when you type it out) in a circle in chair pose. So awesome! I use to be SO shy about dancing in public or just letting loose, but this was a room full of people just having a great time, not caring what anyone else thought or judging anyone. So glad I went, and can’t wait for the next one!

NUTRITION

This week has been filled, as usual, with Green Protein Smoothies and my new Carrot Cake Smoothie.

A couple other fun things included..

Grilled Flatbread Panini: I used low-carb flatbread, smeared one side with vegan Queso, the other with a little hummus, added Seitan, sliced Tomato and Spinach, then grilled it on the Foreman.. amazing!

Butternut Squash with Almond Milk Yogurt..

Carrot Cake Protein Smoothie topped with 1/4 c raw Oats..

I Do It My Way

So last post I mentioned finally finding (& naturally loving.. because margaritas & mexican food are probably my biggest food weakness.. next to fake sugar) SkinnyGirl Margaritas. Well ya’ll know I wasn’t just going buy the bottles, I have to make my own. And truth.. mine’s better

Berry Skinny Margarita

1-2 shot(s) Tequila (I used blanco.. and amount depending on your “mood”)

1 shot Lime Juice (or Key Lime is fantastic too)

2 tbsp Sugar-Free Strawberry/Raspberry Syrup (of course fresh fruit is always an option)

Glass of Ice

Stevia to taste (optional)

Blend. Drink. Experience the repercussions (hopefully they’re good ones).

Oh and Boomer says ‘What’s up?!’ (iPhone pic)

Hope you’re having a beautiful weekend! Lotsa <3

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!

So March.. here we go..

March Lows

Where to even begin.. March.. it was ahh.. well lets just say that if your 20′s are for learning tough lessons, than I am doing an awesome job! I feel like I could go on & on, but for the sake of not boring you to tears, lets suffice to say I learned: trust your intuition! (could I be more vague?!  ) I absolutely believe everything happens for a reason, and that there’s really no point in being down about something that you can’t change (easier said than done).. but I still wasn’t sad to put that part of March behind me!

March Highs

So after that downer.. lets get to the good stuff!

In March I visited one of my best friends in San Francisco, and had an amazing time. Not even sure how to sum up that trip.. it involved a lot of chatting, eating, gossiping, drinking, chatting, shopping, gossiping, eating.. you get the point. Just perfect!

Then my Mom visited during SXSW and we had such a great time!!

And if you follow me on Twitter you’ve already seen this.. but I love it because I finally have a couple yoga pics, after ALL those sparkly Fitness photos..

And to end the month, I spent last weekend in Arizona for a weekend filled with friends & yoga. I did a few classes at my old AZ studio and took a couple workshops with Brock & Krista Cahill. More perfection.

Just writing that, I totally regret not staying up on blogging because there’s so much more I want to say; so many lessons learned and amazing experiences.

So what I’m looking forward to next?!.. Just 3 weeks until I’ll be in Costa Rica.. and come July I’m going to my first Wanderlust in Tahoe!

So how’s that for a quick wrap up?!

But now you.. how is everything?! Have you ever had a situation where you realized you ignored feelings you should have paid more attention to? How did you get past it?

Lotsa <3

So I’ve sat down so many times to write a post, then get distracted, or am not sure what to write, or.. something. But I miss you all!

So I totally made a liar of myself! A couple posts back I mentioned that when I “disappear” it often means things aren’t so great.. but it’s so the exact opposite this time around! Things have been completely fantastic! So fantastic that I’ve just been living & loving life  and not taking the time to snap 100 pictures or document it daily. Well that, and my days are pretty repetitive, but filled with things I love.. I’m so lucky!

So what’s been going on…

Well, I found my “yoga home” here in Austin and completely re-fell in love! So in love in fact that I actually get up at 5am, 4 times a week to make it to 6am class. And on the weekend’s I often get to see the beautiful Mrs. Cotter..

I haven’t lifted in a while.. I kind of miss it but as much as I like lifting and competing, I love how Yoga makes every aspect of my life better and makes me a better person (sounds overly dramatic, but it’s true.. more later!). But on top of Yoga 6 days a week, I still try to get in 5 cardio sessions with 3 being HIIT.. lord knows my body type needs it (haha, thanks genetics ).

I’m in the best shape I’ve been in since last August (right before I decided not to do another fitness competition).. hi abs.. I’ve missed you .. and I apologize wallet, the new Lulu outfit I bought yesterday was absolute necessary..

I’m going on a Yoga retreat in Costa Rica in May with people from my AZ studio..

I’m going to SF in March to visit one of my very best friends.. Ok.. have to brag about her.. she was on the Bachelor and just left recently

My mom’s visiting soon!

I’m finally exploring Austin..

I love my job. I get to build online communities and strategize how to make them as beneficial as possible for the client & user. A lot of what I do, I would do for fun anyway. So lucky! I’m officially a raging social media marketing dork..

Since I spend a lot of my working day in front of the computer, I often try to unplug at night.. but I’m still being a bit of blog lurker and am SO EXCITED for my favorite Fit Foodie who is rocking prep and going to rock the stage!

Excited that it’s almost SXSW time in Austin..

It snowed in Austin.. though Boomer hardly noticed..

I haven’t eaten meat in almost 4 weeks.. No, not going vegetarian. I just realized one day that I hadn’t had meat in a week, then decided to see how long I could go.. considering I’ve been graving Texas BBQ Ribs like crazy the last few days.. it might not be much longer 

But may need an intervention when it comes to these.. and I’ve still had a Green Vega Sport Protein Smoothie everyday since last November..

I also haven’t had dairy (gah.. except for Arctic Zero.. so addicted) in almost that long.. but thanks to Vegan “Yogurt” I’m ay-okay..

Based on Katie’s recipe, I use 1 tbsp Agar flakes per 1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk. Bring to a slow boil, whisking frequently, Reduce heat and continue to let it boil for a few minutes, making sure flakes are disolved. Remove from heat for a few minutes. Pour into a not-likely-to-melt container and refrigerate until solid. Place in a food processor, add 1 tsp Vanilla Extract per cup of Milk and Stevia to taste. Blend! It’s also amazing to mix in Unsweetened Cocoa Powder or my personal favorite, Peanut Flour..

I’m as happy & content (in ‘there’s always another goal in sight’ sorta way) as I’ve ever been..