LIFE

December 01, 2014 by Melissa

Let's catch up:

More yoga. MORE YOGA! I have had some big goals in yoga and have probably mentioned my realization at not taking full advantage of my access to reach them. Now there are more days in my life and more time on my schedule to bend and flex toward a better me and a stronger body. Daily. From breathing, to how I connect with other living things, and even getting my ass above my head more often. It must go down that way: through practice. And not from thinking about it or dipping my toe in the lake of greatness that could be.. but taking a dive into what is and what's possible.

I ran my first race in over a year on Turkey Day and it was in another city (which has been a goal--and still is--on my list). On Thanksgiving 2014, I ran a 4.5 mile race in Indianapolis with my boyfriend and his family before partaking in the annual holiday feast that we all know and love.

REMINDER: I was injured and am working on recovery on my right hip.

The kicker is not only did I run a race. Not only did I not stop at all. I ran it faster than any other race I've done! I ran 4.5 miles averaging sub 10 min each mile. What whaaaat! That's huge! And I am so damn proud of myself which gets me amped to finish this 100 miles by Dec as well as the half marathons I'll be running throughout the year in 2015. Much like the yoga, reaching goals takes practice and this totally helped to make the vision of running in 2015 more clear.

Yay! Also was spotted by the boo at the end and he ran alongside me with a few notes of inspiration and a way to get out of my head and back out into the world by talking about other things.

Hubert. That's my humidifier. He's bomb.

I am at a space in my health life that I have my stable foundation that works and it's not always lifting weight or eating salad. Usually it's things like using a humidifier, eating protein after workouts, and sleeping.

Friends.

I'm a loner and a social butterfly. If the test of refueling is true then technically I am an introvert because I get my energy from being alone. But I love me some humans! They're nice. And they make me laugh. They are good to dance with. And nothing beats realizing that you all have a strength or struggle in common.

So here is a pic of me with a few peeps that are cool and can catch the beat. :) Dalia and I both teach at the same fitness studio, her fiancé, my boyfriend giving all that 'tude at the top, plus a mutual friend James (Dalia and I both had acquaintance with him before we ever made acquaintance with one another. Trippy!)

We danced and drank good drinks in downtown Chicago on a warm autumn night a time ago. It was fun!

And finally dinner at Café Ba Ba Reeba in LP.

My company prides itself on connection and interpersonal relationships. So one night we took Ambassadors of our store out to dinner for tapas served family style and it was really cool.

We talked and drank vino and would pause every few minutes to bring a focus to presence. What it means to us and our leadership and the holidays. It was so romantic. To flirt with ideas and look life on the eye and tell it you love it.

It was next level for us as individuals and as and team. I'm so grateful that I was able to participate and kick off the season with such intent. (This is a partial capture of the super messy table that we left behind that night.)

Life

October 09, 2014 by Melissa

The last few weeks have been filled with a lot of delight.

I checked out the Greenline Coffee in the Woodlawn community in Chicago. The company is an extension of Sunshine Ministries that employs youth with job training skill and knowledge. My favorite part is seeing them flex their customer service muscles. I had a Nutella waffle with berries + bacon and eggs on the side of. They use a pearl sugar (which could be a normal sugar--but I'm not connoisseur) and the sweetness is just right.

I've also been exploring what health & fitness means to me. So I've decided to transform my regimen around my goals and less about being fit or strong.

What's resulted is having my toosh in yoga classes almost three times a week! I've had a goal to be able to do a handstand (starting with a wall-free forearm stand) for a long time now and just realized that a yoga class here and there won't get me to that experience. #duh #shouldHAVEhadAv8MELISSA #headKNOCK

The bending and stretching gets easier and more challenging by the day! And I am finding the beauty in: staying in your own lane. It's a practice that means that I don't bend or flex to impress anyone. I just do what makes me feel strong and beautiful. Yes I will push myself to a pose I've never tried or want to perfect or even know that I cannot do.. but "standing forehead to knee" pose just gives me attitude when I even think about it. So I stand strong in my single-leg mountain pose "thing" like a freaking BOSS!

But you better believe I'm taking wheel. And I'm doing one leg and then the other! Wheel is my JAM! I like to say that I'm just "a wheelin' and a dealin'", laugh at my cornyness, and move on.

I realized this morning that I'm plugged in with some industrious and socially tuned in people and had to share about my friend Lydia's production projects: 18th And Bronzeville & The Armoire From. 18th And Bronzeville is a full production house with Lydia handling the biz, her friend Staci making the art come alive, and Akeea getting the buzz out on behalf of the artist.

The Armoire From is their first production mini-comedy-series about a man who is struck with amnesia and is trying to navigate a situation or two having lost his short-term memory. The idea of it is hilarious and from what I've seen, the process of getting it done is successful!

On Monday, 18th and Bronzeville did a kickstarter fundraising event at North Bar in Chicago and not only was it great to meet some more dope people but I've reconnected with some great friends and associates from 10 years ago (or more).

In that pic it's myself, Lydia, and Morgan. We started kindergarten together and all graduated from the same high school!

It's so funny because we used to laugh at our parents saying: "I've known so & so for 20 years!" Back then that seemed so long and impossible.. and yet here we are!

Click this link to get your give on.

X
Melissa

Trying to create a life where my actions match my word.. + my fitness inspirations [PICS]

August 08, 2013 by Melissa

So..

I don't think I've been to the gym in MONTHS. I run, workout at home (rarely), and take fitness classes; but I haven't plugged in my earbuds and pumped iron in a very long time.

Yesterday I was getting SUPER stressed over something kind of stupid and it occurred to me that the super emotional side of me over the past few months probably is a result of my diet getting more dirty and my lifting getting more scarce! Don't get me wrong.. I would always try to take classes that involved a lot of strength versus cardio, but it just isn't the same.

Because I'm on this mission to create possibility and greatness and this big, lovely, life for myself I realized that being a woman of my word (to myself and others) might just be the pivot point on the rest of my success. Perhaps it's only a big part & not the center, but it's still major. Keeping your word.. Living out your fantasies.. They're only an utterance and action away! If I dream of running 5 miles in the morning (which I do) then I should just get up and go run them. I shouldn't talk myself down to being more reasonable because of my schedule for the day, community, weather, etc. I should simply do it. Maybe I won't do it first thing in the morning every time, but I'll put it on my list of things to do and make the time for that greatness to appear in my life. That connection between my behavior and my higher self where "proud" happens. Those are my favorite moments.

In order for me to be this "woman of my word", I went ahead and reactivated my gym membership yesterday! : ) I'm so excited to get back in the best shape of my life. Lifting heavy and often is my favorite way to break a sweat. Alone. My music. My level. My goals. My time. My drive.

I also think that this change will get my eating back on target as well. There was a point where I ate like a bodybuilder. Clean eating (ENOUGH CALORIES FOR MY LIFESTYLE.. NO STARVING MYSELF), lots of water, simple recipes, real food.. all the time. It got kind of scary though. I was nowhere near having an eating disorder, but the amount of focus I had on my diet even starting to judge others for theirs.. it was ugly and it had to stop. I definitely think that I took it too far when I backed off, but now that I know the two extremes then I am looking forward to finding my happy medium for my nutrition practices. Basically truly adopting the Michael Pollan's mantra: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

I am going to ease back into the gym, w/ split days, three days a week. I used to do almost six days, but I gotta take baby steps. I'll do, lower/upper/core OR lower/upper/full spread between Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays, when I can help it. (I'll be in the gym three days a week, though.) At least one yoga class per week. One fitness class per week (probably cycling for a while. I'm really bad at it and want to improve). Maybe a tabata session in my home or at the gym or studio. Not sure. But it comes down to gym time @ 3 days per week, yoga once a week, a fun fitness class once a week, and I'll run often. I know I want to get up to about 5 miles on average, but I just don't know how often I want to do it, yet. I'm gonna give myself room to find my running sweet spot through the fall.

My vision for my ideal workout week starting in Winter '13 is (in no particular order)...
Day 1 3-5 Mile Morning Run + Bi's, Tri's, Chest
Day 2 3-5 Mile Morning Run + Back, Core
Day 3 3-5 Mile Morning Run + Glutes, Quads, Hammies (aka LEG DAY!! lol)
Day 4 3-5 Mile Morning Run + Yoga
Day 5 3-5 Mile Morning Run or Rest + Class
Day 6 3-5 Mile Morning Run + Cardio Day or Rest
Day 7 Rest Day or Active Rest Day :)

I am SOOOOOOOO excited to get back to ME! I lost 30 lbs by being me and I'll get stronger by being me. Drooling at the thought of amazing shoulder, ab, and glute definition. Excited by the potential sounds of clinks and weights dropping to the floor. Sweat. Life. Love. PASSION. Get ready America *super hero finger point*cape flapping in the wind* it's ON. : ) YAY!!

LATER!! OMW to the gym.

LOTS OF LOVE!

Melissa B.

AND..

Each of these ladies below inspire me to run, lift, eat, and live like it matters. I'm not a favorites kind of person nor am I fanatic about anyone, but once my fitness journey began, I looked/look to these ladies for tips and tricks of the trade. Amazing strength right here: