This morning’s work out is brought to you by the July issue of Self.

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Each month Self features great work outs that are always fun to mix up my routine with.

First up out of the mag was the 8 minutes to Slim basic training routine.

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The routine is quick and easy with each set only lasting a minute. Granted, a very intense non-stop minute that only moved on to another very intense minute for a total of 8.

I repeated the routine twice and felt like I had already worked up a sweat in that 16 minutes.

If you don’t have a copy of the issue, the routine can be found here.

Next up was the monthly strength card inserts.

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I do not have a stabilizing ball, but I managed to do 2 sets of the other moves that can be found online here.

I finished up my morning work out with a little core work and stretching.

Breakfast was my official return to cereal.

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In my bowl I had

  • 1/2 cup Meghann’s Running Mix
  • 1/2 cup Kashi Cinnamon Harvest
  • 1/4 cup Praline Pecan Granola
  • 1/2 Peach
  • Blueberries
  • Oiko Plain Yogurt

It was actually the last of the Cinnamon harvest cereal so there was lots of crumbs of shredded week that blended amazingly with the yogurt. :)

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Bikini Confidence…

On Part I of my cruise posts Heather had left me a wonderful comment that got me thinking.

The comment read..

You have a level of bathing suit bravery that I am fairly certain I have not had since I was 10. You are awesome.

I immediately sent her an e-mail stating the bathing suit bravery has not always been there. In fact if you were to go back and look at photos from any other cruise I have taken you would be hard pressed to find any photos of me in a bikini.

However, this vacation I would say about 50% of the photos taken of me on the cruise were in fact of me in nothing, but a bikini and I was proud of it.

I know I don’t have what the majority of America would call the ‘world’s perfect body,’ but I have the perfect body for me. I have strong legs, sexy curves,  defined arms and a belly that jiggles. The last year I have worked hard for my body and when you work hard for something, you should not be ashamed of it.

Yes, I was brave for posting a picture of myself in a bikini for all of the world to see, but honestly I never thought twice about. My body has run a marathon, completed a triathalon and can hold a plank for a minute and a half, how many models in magazines can say that? I have a real body and I am not ashamed of it any longer.

Who is with me? Who is ready to generate that bikini confidence this summer? Stop hiding and start living! :)

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