Brina

I’m Picky, Not a Child

When it comes to fitness, I’m pretty much set. I know what I like, what works for me, and how to do it. I also like keeping up with new trends and trying new things. But when it comes to food and nutrition, I’m a little more complicated. This is really important to me rightContinue reading “I’m Picky, Not a Child”

Dirty Duck 5K

I crossed the finish line with green and yellow powder paint in my nose, ears, and mouth, and feathers floating off of me. I looked through paint-covered sunglasses for Sister and Boyfriend. It didn’t take long to find them standing off to my right, outside the Wild Duck. I smiled a green and yellow smile and met upContinue reading “Dirty Duck 5K”

Time and Motivation

I don’t have time. it’s one of the primary excuses people have for not exercising regularly. Another is motivation. People start feeling discouraged – because results take time, and the work is hard – and after a while, they loose their motivation to keep going. These are similar to the issues I’m facing, but in a weirdContinue reading “Time and Motivation”

My Happy Place

Seven miles from my house, and about 1,500 feet above the valley I call home, is my oasis – my happy place. I love to hike, it’s one of my favorite ways to exercise and push my body to get stronger. And all the while I get to clear my mind, find some inner peace,Continue reading “My Happy Place”

Living the Life

Not all that long ago, the thought of working with a personal trainer terrified me. I always considered personal trainers to be people who have been fit all their lives and I was embarrassed by my less-than-fit condition. I remember working out at a 24 Hour Fitness in the Bay Area and seeing someone workingContinue reading “Living the Life”

Filling the Fitness Need

I have been a long-time subscriber of popular health and fitness magazines. I keep trying to find the one that really speaks to me, but there are subtle little things that keep me from really loving most of them. What really kept me interested were the success stories from real women – the ones whoContinue reading “Filling the Fitness Need”

Success and Next Steps

Well, I did it. A couple of days ago, I passed my exam and am now an ACE certified personal trainer. I have to admit, it’s all a little surreal. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride filled with mixed feelings of incredible doubt to supreme self-confidence. On Friday, I went to the universityContinue reading “Success and Next Steps”

Game Face

There’s that pesky little saying that the only constant is change. This is sometimes super annoying to hear because it’s obnoxiously true. And lately, I’ve been rolling with the punches and waiting for things to “settle down,” when in reality, there’s not much chance of that anytime soon. Here’s why: My boss quit. Nine monthsContinue reading “Game Face”

Fitness – It’s a Lifestyle

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve had to make some choices that I felt were needed, but still left me feeling a little bit guilty. One, as I’ve talked about, was that I made the choice to take a week off from kickboxing when my morning routine got bumped up a notch as IContinue reading “Fitness – It’s a Lifestyle”

Sweet Rest Days

This week has been challenging. I entered the second mesocycle of the DailyBurn workout program that I’m doing, and it’s been a wonderful but exhausting change of pace. I’ve gone from roughly 30-35 minutes of cardio and strength training to about 45-55 minutes. At 5:30 in the morning, that’s really saying something. And while inContinue reading “Sweet Rest Days”