Things Will Only Get Better.

Hey Y'All!!! I'm BACK BACK BACK!! OMG Vacation was WONDERFUL. Just what the doctor ordered-- I listened to my own advice and did NOT work in any way while I was gone. I unplugged and chilled out and was on NO schedule at all. It was heaven. I stayed ACTIVE too. The first day I did a 90 minute power walk in the HOT Miami sun. Total Sweatfest. And then every day except Monday I got in a great workout, from power walk/run/sprint/walking lunge intervals (90 minutes) to some INTENSE Hot Yoga. Kids, I'm DOWN with the yoga more than ever now. And, I'm also kind of dating RUNNING again. He and I are taking it slow but I'm cool with it...it felt great to run again and for me, it's all about the breathing and then I'm ROCKING IT.

Check out my post walk/run/sprint/walking lunge vlog:

I LOVE this stretch. And wow I did things in yoga class that I've never done. DANGIT I didn't shoot a vlog with my BFF Kelly, the Yoga Queen of all-- but even though I didn't, stay tuned because she will be a part of our upcoming FitFluential Road Trip Events!!! So if you want to take some seriously intense and educational yoga sessions, stay tuned. ;-)

Much of what resonated with me in these yoga sessions was how important it is to overcome our fears. Kelly asked me to do drop-backs-- where basically you arch back and end up in a backbend. I was like HELLLLLLLLLLL NO I WON'T. She said, "Why not?" I said, "I can't". And she goes, "Oh you will now!". While I started sweating bullets she came over to spot me and guess what, I did it, and then, the next three days I did it. And guess what- I'll be practicing daily and WILL do them unassisted. 

Go ahead. Call me a tiger. Cuz I'm GREEEEATTTT!!! Anyway, I was sooo enjoying the hot yoga, the running outside, the down time and of course just Miami. I took time out to focus on my future, on what I want to do in LIFE and what I saw, what I plan to do, what I know will be is AMAZING. Life-- well things will only get better. 

Word UP.

I saw this video yesterday and had to share it. I won't tell anyone how to workout but when I do it, I like to PUSH IT, whether it's 90 minutes of hot yoga or just a killer session boot camp like this. Especially now. I'm in it to win it.

I'm back to wearing Under Armour sports bras for running-- although I'm going to start trying a lot of brands. I'm determined to find other fits and ones that I like. For those of you busty chicks like me, what's your fav??

Also, do you bring your phone with you when you run- for long runs? 

Here is my ramble-on-a-thon vlog from earlier in the week. Please forgive the ratty-ass hair thing going on, I couldn't see that it was sticking up all over the place. I was talking here about my love affair of yoga, beyond the workout part.

Ahhh. Good times. All that to say, I am very much about a whole lotta Namaste in my life here and forevs!!! ;-) 

I'm sharing this gem from Tony Horton, because if any of you are skeptical of yoga not being tough or for guys or an intense workout, check this:

Game Face ON!

What's UP kids? How was your weekend? I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. Call me crazy, but I'm ready for Fall weather. I know, I know. I am not sure why, but I really only ENJOY hot weather when I'm on vacation, laying out on the beach, with a Cabana boy named Juan bringing me cocktails that look like this: 

Oh Hot DANG!!! I'm counting down to my Miami trip NOW!! (6 weeks!! WOOT!)

So, anyway, yes, I'm ready for Fall. And then for several vacation escapes that will include the above adult beverages and a LOT of shopping. Amen. 

My BFF and her daughter left today, and sadly we forgot to vlog and get them to join me. OOPS. But I was pretty proud of myself that I worked out each day that they were here, as you know! See, you CAN fit in your workouts even with a busy schedule, with kids around, with out-of-town guests, you name the excuse, I will knock it DOWN!!

Um Day #2 of no soda!! and no artificial sweeteners!! KAPOW!! I mention in my vlog below how happy I was to "re-discover" my Arbonne NRG Fizzy Tablets, to add to plain water to make it taste good and fizzy and "control appetite" (not that this is why I'm adding them but hey, I'm down with that.) If you are interested in getting some, you can order from my Arbonne website by CLICKING HERE. 

Week #1 of my Running Training is DONE and I feel GREAT. So loving it, and as I mention in my vlog below, I now want to focus on of course continuing my training and planning for a 5K and then a 1/2 marathon and a REAL marathon eventually, but also balance with my weight training and such. 

ALSO CONGRATS TO MY BFF @AmyLBurford who ran her first 1/2 marathon today!! WOOT!!! DANG girl, she just started running end of April!!! 

Have you noticed I am no longer asking questions about cramping with running?? It's gone! See what a difference it made that I have FRIENDS both here IRL and in my bloggysphere to help guide me.....that my body just needed to adjust to the high impact and such. When I was just "winging it" alone (prior to when I was blogging) I gave up too soon. I am SO glad I faced my fears of not being able to run and did it.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What (fitness-wise) have you conquered as far as fears or doubts?? Is there still something out there that you want to conquer/try?

I have a second question of the day too, now that I think about it. Who is like a major motivation for you? For me, with running, and perhaps in general, it is these two kick butt chicks: 

Jessica Biel and Rene Zellweger. Oh crap. One more question of the day, for you runners: What brand running shoes do you love and why?