Mail Day: Lulu haul for the week

This is what I got in Lulu WMTM last week.

1) Swimsuit. Ordered this Thursday morning, arrived Saturday morning.
I have the black and white stripe bikini and really needed a one-piece for boogie boarding. My sister lives at the beach—and I feel like the current tries to take off my bikini bottoms. Figured a one-piece was the answer. This swimsuit fits really well. The mesh panels are a nice detail. And I think this would be a good suit if I take up lap swimming at the gym. If the black one goes on markdown, I'll buy it in a heartbeat. $29 for a $108 swimsuit. I like that price.
The only drawback of the swimsuit, is that it shows a little more butt that I'd like it to. (I do have a big butt for my size.)

2) Sculpt short
I have this quest to find shorts that look good on my big quads. With a 6 inch inseam, these are longer than some of the Lulu shorts, so I thought I'd give them a try. You can wear them as long as you want—they stretch out. I think I'm on the fence on these and we'll see if I'll wear them. I need more shorts, so this is a step in the right direction. Think I'm going to pass on ordering this in another color. $29 is a good price but I don't love them enough to get another pair.

3) 105 singlet in heathered jeweled magenta
I love the 105 singlet and am so sad they're not making it anymore. When this one went on markdown, I snatched it up. $39 isn't the best price and this was the slowest of my orders to arrive. I ordered it Tuesday (that's when they added it to WMTM) and it got here the next Wednesday. The color isn't as bright as I'd like (like the CRB), but it's nice and I've already worn it. I'll keep an eye out for a brighter tank in the mean time.

Handstand practice

Missed my workout at the gym today, so I had to improvise.

25 minutes on the exercise bike—with weights
Assisted pull-ups
Russian twists, crunches, scissor switches and flutter kicks
Handstands

Handstands turned into a selfie party. It started because I wanted to see my form, but then I kept playing. I ended up using a shoe as a camera holder and setting the iPhone timer for 10 seconds. I got some awful shots (below).

The top one is a shameless but I like it. My arms look a little too open (see how my forearms aren't in line with my arms. Weird). L handstands are a good strength exercise.

L handstands
• Sit on the floor, with your back against the wall. With your legs straight, see where your feet are. That's where you want to put your hands.
• Stand up and turn around and put your back towards the wall. Put your hands down in that spot you just measured and walk your feet up the wall.
• You want your body at 90 degrees. You want your legs to be a straight line. You want your back to be a straight line, with the bend at your waist (opposite of sitting down on the floor when you were figuring our where you hands go.)
• Try and hold it.
• It gets easier with practice, but it's killer on my arms.

 #stronggirls.

Adventure in flying trapeze: Single reverse and the blooper reel

Last night I took class with one of my friends and we both worked on single reverse. This is the trick:

1) When you get clipped in the lines, stand backwards
2) Turn around and face the catch trap. For take off is right hand under grip, left of center, and left hand right of center
3) You jump off and right yourself as soon as possible. (Untwist your hands and turn towards the board)

Untwisting my hands for single reverse. When did I get lats?

4) The teacher will call for you to change your grip and put your right hand in an over-grip

Flying. #lululemon Top Speed Crops. 

5) Next it's swinging forward, backward, forward in big kicks
6) Legs up, hook your knee. One leg straight up, the other the bar is in your knee pit.
Not like the split catch because the bar is under your knee (closer than in split catch)

Me being upside down. Legs up with knee hooked.

7) Reach and look towards the catch trap.

We practiced getting out of it—backflips and straightening your body. I never quite got the straighten your body. But it's not needed for the catch.

When it was time for catching—My friend Martha caught it. Both times. Yay her.

My first time, I didn't kick big enough and they never called for legs up. I watched the video and it was indeed a small kick but I'm strong enough that I think I could have made it without the kicks.  So I never got to try it. They called for me to backflip out.

I told Kaz I didn't kick big because I was afraid of kicking the board.

My second and final attempt at catch, I kicked much bigger. And kicked the board. Yay me!

I bruised the bottoms of my feet and that was it for the night.

So no catch for me, which honestly bummed me out. I'm trying to stay positive
1) It's almost a funny video. And I didn't really hurt myself. I was lucky I didn't hit my shins.
2) And really I wanted another turn because I know I've got that trick.  So I'm mad at myself for not getting it.

I guess I need to go back as soon as I can. So I don't forget. Hmm. Thinking about going again Friday Not sure I can afford it.


Notes to myself for next time
1) Keep your feet together
2) Kick big
3) If you're going to hit the board, swing up so you're over the board.
4) Hook your knee—the very back of it should be against the bar
5) Don't be too hard on yourself. It's not an easy trick.

Lululemon for $19—yes please

Once a year, Lululemon has an online warehouse sale where you can get Lululemon at a steep discount. Lululemon doesn't really go on sale so this is kinda awesome.

I bought too much.

Here's what I got:

• Shan't Surf Hipster, $19
I love my Lululemon bikini. It is so awesome. Meaning, it really works for my athletic body type.  I've been looking for pieces to mix and match with it. This will work perfectly. Huzzah!

• Groove shorts for $24
I wanted another pair of shorts. I had my eye on these, then last week they were in We Made Too Much last week for $39 or so. They disappeared quickly—before I could decide if I wanted them. For $24 I'll take them.

• Find Your Om scarf, $34
I wanted this scarf since the day it came out (but didn't want to spend $59). I have a budget for workout clothes and by the time I could make another purchase, this scarf had disappeared. I'm happy to get it at a sale price. I love black and white and love scarves. I can't wait to wear this.

• Wonder Under Crop in black and regal plum, $39
I love my Wonder Unders and have wanted another pair. And $39 is a steal price for crops of any brand: Nike, Under Armour. I love this purple so I'm excited about these (normally $82).

And I should have been done after that, but they mark items down as the sale progresses, so after some price cuts I bought even more. (I need a support group).

$9 the small towel.
I already have one. It's great for my gym bag. I wanted another one, so I could have a towel while I wash my other towel.

• 50 rep bra for $19
This is a great price for a sports bra. I already have this bra in black and white stripe and like it. And I'm always washing my sports bras. I could definitely use a few more.

• Sweat to Swim Fast Bra, $19
Hybrid Sports bra/swimsuit top—works for me. I had my eye on this and when it dropped to $19, I snatched it up.

• Yin to You Sweater, $34
I watched this sweater in January/February in We Made Too Much. It got marked down to $59 and I could never quite bring myself to buy it. They marked it down to $34 and I decided I needed it. I got the blue and am hoping it will fit.

• Stash it crop for $34
I can always use another pair of crops. This is a great price (normally $88). I opted for the black animal print, though I'm worried I should have gotten plain black or the ones with the reflective transformers decal.

I'm pretty excited about my purchases. I would have liked a few tanks or tops, but they didn't have a lot I was interested in.

A lot of people were complaining about how underwhelming the sale was. And yes, a lot of these pieces were previously marked down, but I got a few things I'd been looking at at significant discounts. These are good prices for workout clothes—period, regardless of luxury prices. I just hope I love most of them.

But that's my Lulu budget and then some for the month. So just hoping they don't sell out of anything new and cute in the coming weeks.

Flying Trapeze: Pullover shoot

Where Sara is told to "THROW IT DOWN"

Pretty sunset at class.

Another night of Flying Trapeze. I was super excited all day, looking forward to going to my happy place. I got to trapeze insanely early. I was that excited.

Tonight class was me, a medical student, a gymnastics coach and a family of four first-timers—a young mom, her cousin and two nieces or cousins.

It was my second night of working on a pullover shoot, which I kept forgetting the name to and was calling a popover. The instructors seemed to understand what trick I was referring to, so close enough!

Last class my trick did not go well. I wouldn't let go of the bar so my goal for the night was to let go of the bar. !! I'm afraid that heavy bar would slam into my legs and bruise me. (They assured me it wouldn't.) So to prepare, I watched the video of the trick a dozen times. It looks like I can do this. Will my brain let me?

First go round, I didn't let go of the bar. I rushed my pullover—way too fast. I can slow it way down and it will actually be better for the trick to not sit on the bar waiting forever for the call.

Second time up, I almost let go of the bar. I let it go for two inches and then got scared so I regrabbed it. ! (They did tell me I have an excellent pullover. I didn't tell them I practiced on a pullup bar for an hour this week. Let them think I'm a natural ;)

My third time up, I let go of the bar. I didn't pump shoot so I totally belly flopped, nose-dived and went straight into the net. But I let go. Which is a step in the right direction. I did more of the same the next time up. I put my hands forward too fast for a catch and need to worry more about going up. I also needed to pump my arms and legs and throw the bar down more.

"Throw it down," Kaz said.  Quote of the night.

I got a good lesson in NOT locking my arms out and throwing the bar down with open hands. Kaz is such a good, positive instructor.

Then it was time for catches. The coach was working on a front somersault catch. She is amazing to watch. The medical student worked on her swing most of the time and then worked on catching a cutaway (which is very similar to a layout and gorgeous and fun to watch). I love coming to leap to watch the tricks the others do.

The four first-timers were working on knee hang. I wanted so much for them to catch the trick. It's such a great feeling to get that catch. Two of them caught it. I was happy. We all cheered for them. The other two said they had fun and need to come back to get it. Getting your feet over is hard. And I was really happy everyone at my birthday party caught their trick. I have awesome friends. :)

I didn't think I'd catch the pullover shoot. I asked Kaz if he wanted me to try catching something else. He said no. So I was going to work on the trick. At worst, two more practice attempts at pullover shoot. I could use the practice.

First time up, I totally belly flopped off the bar and touched fingers with the catcher. Progress! Second and final time up, I pushed down better (still could throw harder)  and touched a hand with the catcher. I told Kaz, the instructor, I felt like two or three more tries and I'd have the trick. The class had one fewer student than normal, so he said if the catcher had it in him, I could possibly go again. I kept my safety belt on.

Everyone finished their tricks, and the medical student got a third try at catching her cutaway. They touched hands. It was so close. But she didn't catch it. I have a video of her super-close-almost-catch and Kaz screaming "Noooooo" when she missed was the funniest thing. He wanted her to get it sooo much.

I was taking my belt off thinking I wouldn't get a bonus turn, when Kaz asked if I was going. Yes, yes I want to try it again! So I had one of the ladies help me put my belt back on and scrambled up the ladder. I didn't think I'd catch it, but if I could throw the bar down harder I could be that much closer to catching it next time.

And I caught it!!!!

I screamed with a dork. I was so excited.

It was a totally off-balance catch. Rhuben caught my hands, not my wrists and I slipped out early. But it was a catch. He held me for a few seconds before I fell onto the net. I think he almost took my pinky nail with him he was trying to hold on so hard. I was worried I hurt him. We both assured each other we were fine.

I watched the video, and you can see my legs pump shoot. So much better than last time. My pullover is more controlled. I threw the bar down some. Yes, I could clean the trick up some and it needs work. But I feel like once you get a trick, then you work to clean it up. It doesn't have to be perfect the first time.

So I was high as a kite for 90 minutes after the catch. And I do really like the trick. I like pulling over the bar.

This is why Leap is my happy place. It's a great feeling to master a new trick—that adrenaline is amazing. It's cool to watch the video and see what your'e capable of. The people are so nice, positive and encouraging.

Can I get a flying trapeze in my backyard because I'm obsessed?

I really want some glow in the dark tights for my next class. Anyone know where I can buy some?

How to Afford Lululemon

Lululemon is the company famous for $100 yoga pants. It seems so ridiculous really. Who would over pay that much for yoga pants?

Here's the thing. The clothes are super nice. The fabric is soft. The pieces are well made. And if you don't 100% love a piece, bringing it back is hassle free.

So why would you pay $100 for yoga pants? Because they're made really well and you'll wear them all the time. You will feel amazing in the clothes—because they fit you well and because you feel like some part of some not so secret awesome society.

So how do you afford Lululemon?

1. Start small. 
My first piece of Lululemon was a sports bra. It was $48. I really wanted a bra with a strappy back and I was at my local Lululemon for a free barre class. I decided that sports bras typically run $20-$50 so it was doable to spend that much on this piece. It's not really that much more than a normal bra.

2. Budget.
I spend too much on clothes. I wish I could save up for a new car and not spend the money every month, but I do. So I set aside $100 a month for clothes and shoes. So work clothes, new running shoes, workout clothes. That's my budget. So if I don't need anything else, that means 1-2 new pieces of Lululemon a month. So set a budget, and then you know what you can get. Or if you need to save for a purchase.

3. Sale pieces.
Lululemon doesn't really go on sale. Their sales model is based on pieces selling out super quickly and about 90% of their merchandize is sold at full price. But there's that 10%.

Every Thursday at around 11 a.m., they'll mark down a few pieces online in their We Made Too Much section (that's their term for clearance). So $90 pants are $70. And $52 tanks are $39. This can help you save money. The pieces are final sale. No returns or exchanges. You'll need to know what size you are. So I always check out the markdown rack at my local store. It's usually out of season pieces, clothes that didn't sell well and items being discontinued. Then I can try them on and see if I want them.

There are also Lululemon outlets. The closest one to my house is in Orlando (11 hours away).

Lululemon does quarterly clearance sales. March 19th, they marked down a lot more than usual. And once a year Lululemon does an online warehouse sale. This year the sale was July 16-17. It started 11:30 p.m. July 15 and ended around 6:30 p.m. July 17. It was over quicker than expected. There were about 140 pieces on sale to begin with and about 70 pieces when the sale ended. (I posted about what I bought), but you can get $80 crops for $40 and $50 sports bras for $19. Pieces sell out quickly and some (not all) of the prices will drop as the sale progresses. I kept checking for price drops and ordered a few things on the last day of the sale after the prices dropped. Hands down, these are the best prices of the year and your best bet to snatch Lululemon up at a good price (if you don't live near an outlet.)

4. Goal pieces
Set a goal and reward yourself. When I ran 3 miles in under 25 minutes I bought myself a pair of Lululemon tracker shorts. I love them. I wear them twice a week and need another pair. Next goal: run an actual 5k, instead of laps around the track.

5. The staples. 
If you're a Lululemon newbie, go to a showroom and try on some Wunder Unders and see what you think. Their classic pieces that feel great on. And you can slowly build up. One pair of crops, one pair of shorts, a sports bra, a tank, some casual T's. Gradually build your collection based on what you need and what you wear often. I think if you buy an $80 pair of crops and wear then 1-2 times a week for 3 years, that's money better spent then the $40 crops you never wear (I have a lot of those.)

So that's it. You can now get a Lululemon addiction. You can stalk the blogs—get the Thursday preview of the Tuesday releases. Check what's new in the clearance section and plan your next purchase.

Only by the time you have money for it, it will probably be sold out ;) Lululemon stuff sells out fast. But they come out with more stuff every week. So if the crops you want sell out before your Lululemon budget rolls over, there will be more crops. And other brands. Or maybe you don't need to spend the money anyway.

Crops I wanted but sold out super fast. I didn't have the money :( 

Heat rash

For the last month or so, I've been breaking out in some sort of rash on my face. It even extends to my neck.

This has never in my life happened.

The first time it happened I thought it, I figured it was just a fluke. Allergic reaction to something? I didn't wear makeup and let it heal. It cleared up in a few days.

The second time it happened, I was a bit more concerned. I was about to go to the dermatologist, but couldn't find an in-network doctor with good reviews.

It could be a food allergy. I am allergic to everything. I thought it might be sunflower seeds in the new salad I was obsessed with. After all,  I'm mildly allergic to sunflower oil. It could have been the Rite-Aid brand face wash I bought instead of the Olay brand. My coworker who used to work at a dermatologist's office (and who has a teenage daughter) thought it might be heat rash. Did I wash my face after working out? Did I wear makeup while working out? I know I didn't have anything clogging my pores because I'm out of Clinique CC cream that I usually put on in the morning, but I didn't wash my face. I was running trails outside and there's not a convenient bathroom to splash water on my face.

It noticed the rash again Wednesday morning. And my coworker was right. It's heat rash. I didn't wash my face after a sweaty workout last night. I took a shower within an hour of getting home, but didn't remember to wash my face right away. I did wash my face after the same workout last week and was fine.

So mystery solved. It should clear up in a few days. No dermatologist needed. I just need to wash my face after I sweat.

Which is so weird. Because I'm 32 and this has never happened to me before.

Not when I ran cross country in high school—sweating in the Georgia heat. And not for the last two years of working out. I've done plenty of sweaty workouts. Do I always remember to wash my face?

I'm in my 30s. I haven't had breakouts in years. My skin is good so I don't remember to wash my face, but maybe I do if there's a sink around. This particular studio is between spaces and in a spot without a sink nearby and that has to be it. That and the one time I went for an outdoor run and didn't have a bathroom nearby.

The moral of this story is: wash your face after you sweat. And your skin can change at any time.

Year midpoint goal check

Half of 2015 has flown by. How is this possible?

But what a great time to look at my fitness goals from January and see where I am.

1) Get my left split.  Done.

Doing a split at Pure Barre. 

2) Front tuck on the floor (with a spring board is acceptable).  Haven't tried. I can't figure out run, run punch. 

3) Climb once a month. I got certified to climb in February and have climbed twice and mean to go this weekend (before even looking at this post.) I miss climbing.

4) Keep trying new classes (once a month if I can find something new).

Have tried trapeze, a new barre class, a different Pure Barre, a SPARC class, fitness class at Rush, ninja course at Rush and took up running. I'd say good progress is made on this.

Taking a class at SPARC.

5) Take a class at Leap Flying Trapeze school.  Done. Obsessed.

6) Try the 6 a.m. Pure Barre class. Have yet to do.

7) The the vertical pole class at Canopy. My goal to do this summer maybe this month. 

8) Hold a handstand for at least 5 or 10 second. I'm still working on my handstands but think I've gotten a five second hold a few times.

Handstand on the beach.

9) Buy something from Lululemon. (Maybe a cute top for my birthday). I have 20 or so pieces and am a total Lululemon addict. I've spent my lulu budget for the month and aren't allowed to buy anything else.

10) Keep working on 6-pack abs. (One day!). My abs are looking good from Pure Barre. Not six-lack, but it's a something pack when I suck in ;) 

So, four of these goals I can check off as done, with two in progress and four to work on. I'd count this as progress.

Maybe I should even add a few goals. (Not necessarily by the end of the year.) 

1) Bump up running to twice a week.

2) Run a 5k. Before next summer.

3) Run a 5k in under 25 minutes.

4) Get a fitness tracker.

5) Touch my feet to my head. (Handstand scorpion).

Working on my scorpion. I can hold my
 own weight for about two seconds! Will get this trick. 

6) Do body composition testing.

7) Make a fitness plan for the fall.
8) In 2016, find some relay races to run in like the Chick Fil-A Half or the All Comers Track meet.
9) Take a class at Blast.
10) Try a pilates class.