The biggest thing I'm leaving behind in 2020 is 2020 itself. See ya never, sucka! This year hasn't been all bad for me, fortunately, but it definitely was not my favorite year ever! As is the tradition here on Flecks of Lex, I'm sharing the things I'm leaving behind in 2020, and have some inspirational friends who would like to share what they're leaving behind. Last year, I said I was leaving behind two things: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda and Dark Undereye Circles. Those undereye circles have made a triumphant return (still working on it!), but I did so much better with Coulda, Woulda, and Shoulda! Here are the 5 things I'm leaving behind in 2020: Double-Booking and Overscheduling This year started out the way most of my adult years have started: with me doing way too much. By mid-March of 2020, that was just not possible, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed! Not being able to do all of the things I normally would do made it so that I could really focus ...

I've already made it Facebook (and Instagram) official: Next week, I begin my teacher training for HIIT & Flow ! What is HIIT & Flow? The HIIT & Flow workout combines high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and power vinyasa yoga, delivering a seriously sweaty workout for all fitness levels! Strength, cardio, and mobility are the three pillars of this fitness program. I got to try HIIT & Flow for the first time last year at Summer Camp , and it kicked my butt! It was such a great workout that could be modified, but which still achieved maximum sweat potential - and this is coming from someone who hardly sweats at all! Why Am I Signing Up for Teacher Training? I love teaching group fitness classes, and I know that this is a workout that will be enjoyed by current and future students of mine! HIIT workouts can be done in a relatively short period of time, but leave you feeling like you've completed a 60-minute workout (or longer!). I want to learn how to teach th...

So... a little secret I've been keeping: I started working with a personal trainer again. I had paid for some extra sessions prior to the pandemic, and I had to use them or lose them by the end of the year, and since I'm already at the gym three times a week to teach indoor cycling, I figured, why not? I really loved my previous trainer, Laila. She pushed me and got me looking and feeling stronger, lifting heavy, incorporating some cardio and core, and just feeling like an athlete again. Unfortunately, she's not training at my gym anymore.  I felt like I was cheating on her at first, but I'm cheap and wasn't trying to lose my money, so I clearly got over that at some point, right? My new trainer is Brandon. He's new to my gym, but he's been training for at least five years. For me, starting with a new trainer is like starting with a new hairstylist for some people. You're not really sure what to expect or how things are going to work out, so maybe you...

Read my previous post, Ayurveda: What I've Learned So Far , for more background on why I've been focusing on Ayurveda so much recently, expert interviews, and more.  Last weekend, I received an Ayurveda diet and lifestyle consultation from Salila Sukumaran of Ayurgamaya . I learned and confirmed some things about myself, and took another step towards living a more Ayurvedic lifestyle in the hopes of finding more balance. It was a real eye-opening experience, and I'm excited about incorporating new-to-me routines and recipes into my life. Pro tip: Check out this episode of my podcast for my interview with Salila, as well as a discount on an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle consultation, as well as other services. I've been incorporating Ayurvedic practices into my life for about six months now, and it really has made a difference - particularly in regards to taking more time for self-care and mindfulness practices. There have been a number of products and brands I've i...

If you've been following The Sweat Fearlessly Podcast , you might have seen that I've been running an Ayurveda series the second half of this season. If you haven't listened to the podcast yet, you can check it out on Apple , Spotify , Google , Anchor , or anywhere else you get your podcasts. I have had the pleasure of interviewing four Ayurveda experts thus far, and I have learned so much from each of them. I've been really intrigued by how each of them found their way to Ayurveda, how they administer services around Ayurveda, and what simple tips they have shared. What is Ayurveda? Each of my guests shared their definition of Ayurveda, and I encourage you to give them a listen to see the subtle differences in how they define Ayurveda, but speaking very generically here, it is the science of life, and it has existed for at least 5,000 years. Full disclosure: I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I am solely practicing Ayurveda; I visit a Board-certified doct...

It's that time again! I'm sharing my goals for the remainder of December, and essentially the last few weeks of 2020. Can you believe we're less than a month from 2021? Finally, right? I have set lots of goals throughout the year, and while things have been chaotic (understatement of the century, right?), I have surprised myself in my ability to check off most of the items on my list. I have done a ton of professional development, made new connections (albeit virtually), and found ways to lose weight and take charge of my nutrition and self-care practices.  My work isn't done for 2020, though! I have some final goals for this month, so let's get to it! Teach 5 Yoga Classes My goal for this month is to teach five yoga classes. As part of my current yoga teacher training (I'm going for my 500-Hour Certification - learn more in this podcast episode ), and one of the requirements is that I teach 20 free, or karma, yoga classes. I'm getting close! In addition to ...

Last week, my friend Tikima (of Tikima Renee Fitness ) and I decided that we were going to do a TRX workout for at least 10 minutes every day of December. Yeah, we said that. And yeah, we're doing that! What is TRX? The TRX Suspension Trainer is unique! It has an anchor point and straps, and the level of difficulty of each exercise is determined by your angle from the anchor point. It creates instability, which creates core activation, resistance training by the use of your body weight, and helps you work on your balance as well. The TRX brand has a number of products, but the suspension trainer is the most popular product in the line. What Are You Hoping to Learn? We are both certified TRX Trainers , and it's been months  (it feels like at least a year, to be honest) since we've initially gotten our TRX certification. Unfortunately, we can't really teach it to anybody right now because of the pandemic; you can't really sanitize the straps the way you might other p...

The 100+ Best Fitness & Wellness Gift Ideas for 2020  I don't usually make gift guides, but... It's 2020, so nothing is usual, right? Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. What does that mean? If you purchase from one of the affiliate links, I may receive a commission. An asterisk * denotes affiliate links throughout this page. Thank you for your support of Flecks of Lex! Overview As I said, I don't usually make gift guides, but since we're in a new world with both virtual and  in-person fitness, I thought I would put together this list for people who are looking for gift ideas for the active people in their lives - or even for themselves! (Treat yo' self!) Gift-giving is my love language, and the holidays are the perfect time for me to stretch my creative muscle in decorating and selecting (and sometimes even creating) gifts. If you're participating in a virtual white elephant party, you may find this list he...

This post contains affiliate links. What does that mean? If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.   Fun fact: I have wanted a Dutch oven my entire adult life. Did I know what I was going to make with said Dutch oven? Nope. I just knew that I wanted one.  Now that I am own a Dutch oven, I am unstoppable  in the kitchen! You know how much easier it made cooking for me to know that I can make the cheese roux and  bake the mac and cheese in the same pan?! The Dutch oven is an essential kitchen tool - no doubt about it. About My New Dutch Oven from Caraway Let me tell you about my Dutch oven.  I received this Dutch oven from the brand  Caraway . It's a ceramic-coated pan that is seriously wicked easy to clean. Additionally, the coating makes it so that you actually don't need to use as much oil when you're sauteing because it's harder for items to stick to the bottom of the pan. Looking for a discount on Caraway products? Now thr...

This is a new series highlighting brands I love that also love the planet. These brands are making a difference in their material sourcing, shipping practices, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability.  Today, I want to talk with you about prAna . First and foremost, I am a huge prAna fan, so much so, that I became a prAna Influencer a few years back! (I even wrote a post a few years ago, Why I Love prAna .) Heck, I even make a beeline to the prAna section whenever I'm in REI.  I've always been struck by their excellent quality, sustainable packaging, fair labor practices, and transparency. The versatile styles are honestly just the cherry on top!  I love this brand so much, I've partnered with them for a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a free prAna outfit! Keep reading to learn more. What does "prana" mean?   Prana roughly translates to subtle energy or life force energy from Sanskrit. If you practice yoga, you've probably heard a lot abou...

The Fabletics October line is fire ! When I received a preview of some of the outfits, I could not decide what I wanted! Fabletics always knows the way to my heart, and this October collection feels like they really just get me! This month, I received the City Life 3-Piece Outfit , courtesy of Fabletics. This outfit included the following pieces: Venture Puffer Coat Kylie Cargo Jogger Camila Seamless Top If you watched my Reel this week, then you saw this outfit from every angle possible. If you hadn't seen my Reel... well... here it is! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alexis Reed (@flecksoflex) on Oct 13, 2020 at 3:58pm PDT Venture Puffer Coat It's not quite cold enough for me to wear a puffer coat, but we're getting closer to that October chill, and I'm going to wear the heck out of it once the temperature drops another 10-20 degrees! I love a good puffer coat, and this Venture Puffer Coat is different from my other coats, plus i...

You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this or any other fitness program. Do not start this fitness program if your physician or health care provider advises against it. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain, or shortness of breath at any time while exercising, you should stop immediately. I miss teaching my Tuesday night HIIT workouts on Facebook Live! I'm thinking about bringing them back because they were so fun for me to teach, but they also kept me in shape before I went back to teaching at the gym! HIIT workouts are great for so many reasons, but I think the main reason I love them is that I can hit every muscle group and incorporate cardio, core, and resistance training all in 30 minutes (or less!).  I designed this HIIT workout so that it hits every major muscle group, gets your heart rate up, and challenges you. Warm-Up You'll want to start with a good warm-up that gets your heart rate elevated and gets your muscles w...