Archives for June 2012

06/29

To Blog, or Not To Blog…

Should I blog every day?

Maybe, but I have a life to live. 
And so does everybody else. 
And nobody is sending me hate-mail because I’ve taken a few days off. 



The earth is still spinning…
 so I’m not going to stress over it. 
You shouldn’t either. 

Holler. 
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Filed Under: blog, life
06/28

Decision Making: What you “Should” Do

I’ve been thinking a lot lately on decision making and what sets me apart from others on the stress, success, and happiness scales. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that when I’m debating anything, I take into consideration, first and foremost, my gut instinct on whether or not it makes me happy. And I’m talking REALLY happy, not just moderately satisfied. It’s with this attitude that I’ve been able to thrive in my profession and in life. This photo pretty much sums up my decision-making process:

photo via Frank Adellia

When I think about starting a new endeavor, either travel, love, life, or work-related, I ask myself the question in the photo above:

“Do I really want to do ____?” 
Then I answer. Honestly. 

It may sound like a silly question, 
but SO many people
 answer no or maybe to this question 
(maybe without even realizing it)
 and they DO IT ANYWAY. 
And that’s when they get stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, etc. I’ve seen so many of my clients and friends dissatisfied with their job/ their relationship/ their life overall and, 9 times out of 10, it’s because of something they’re doing that they DON’T LOVE, but they think they “should” do. 
Should I leave my job? 
Should I switch my career at this age?
Should I date/marry this person? 
Should I have kids one day? 
Should I learn a new sport/hobby?
Should I get in better shape? 
Should I buy this car?
All of these questions are very important and these endeavors can take lots of time/dedication to achieve, but you can’t do it unless you REALLY WANT IT. So stop asking if you “should” and start asking if you “want”! 
And if you don’t really want it, 
  don’t do it 
because you think you “should”. 
That’s the worst reason to stay in any situation. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong then that feeling probably won’t change as time goes on. And, in my experience, it can become worse over time and it gets harder to fix later on down the road. It’s like when you go on a date with a new person and they’re really sweet, nice, funny, attractive, etc, but you’re just not feeling anything huge when it comes to chemistry. There’s nothing wrong with them and you “should” like them, but you’re not really into it. So you go on a few more dates, even though you’re not in it and then it gets harder to break things off later. A silly example, but if you’re doubting at the beginning, it’s not likely to get better. 
“Doubt means don’t” 

Oprah said that shit! 
And it’s SOOOO true. 
And Oprah’s not usually wrong. 
Her billion dollars back her up on that statement. 

Should I quit this job? I’m only 3 weeks into it! Maybe…
(This happened to me when I was a server at an Italian restaurant when I was in college). No, but I hated that job from day 1, and quitting gave me motivation to find a new one, asap, that paid more and had better hours. Yes, I gave my 2 weeks notice after 3 weeks of working, but I was better off by quitting. I got a new job quickly that allowed me to make more money and get more sleep. I was happier and didn’t spend the entire school year hating my life. And I’m pretty sure the managers were ok with having me gone. 
Should I leave college at the beginning of the semester to go to Greece for a couple months?! Hell yes!
I caught a lot of shit for this one… Yes, it could have put me behind on my graduation schedule. Yes it could have been a huge disaster. But it wasn’t. I only stayed in Greece for a couple weeks, but would have regretted it forever had I not taken the chance. And since I was already out of school, I got to do some more traveling and then work to save up money for the next semester. I also took summer classes the next year so I still graduated on time and with all my buddies. 
Should I move to San Diego with only $800 to my name?! Hell yes!
Yeah… probably could have saved more for this one, but I was a week out of college and that’s all I had. Yes, I ate peanut butter for a few days at one point, Yes, there was a time when I was so broke a friend of mine called me $8 Ami (and still does to this day) because I was out of town, at a conference and only had that much in my bank account. But while I lived there, I worked my ass off, learned as much as I could, and I am where I am today because I took that chance. Because I WANTED it. 

I’m using these small examples to carry over my point: 
Don’t worry about what you “should do” 
Worry about what you “want to do.”


And if you do really want it? 
FUCKING DO IT! 

Take that leap of faith!
And don’t let anything or anybody stand in your way! 
So if you’re mulling over a decision in your head today, ask yourself the question above and answer honestly. Then start working toward that destination. If you’re doubting, then find a different pathway. Not all is lost if you change your mind, but a lot can be lost if you head down the wrong road for too long…

Maybe you should, maybe you shouldn’t, but it’s YOUR life and you’re the only one that has say over it. So don’t worry about everybody else. 


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Filed Under: happiness, health, life
06/28

Decision Making: What you "Should" Do

I’ve been thinking a lot lately on decision making and what sets me apart from others on the stress, success, and happiness scales. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that when I’m debating anything, I take into consideration, first and foremost, my gut instinct on whether or not it makes me happy. And I’m talking REALLY happy, not just moderately satisfied. It’s with this attitude that I’ve been able to thrive in my profession and in life. This photo pretty much sums up my decision-making process:

photo via Frank Adellia

When I think about starting a new endeavor, either travel, love, life, or work-related, I ask myself the question in the photo above:

“Do I really want to do ____?” 
Then I answer. Honestly. 

It may sound like a silly question, 
but SO many people
 answer no or maybe to this question 
(maybe without even realizing it)
 and they DO IT ANYWAY. 
And that’s when they get stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, etc. I’ve seen so many of my clients and friends dissatisfied with their job/ their relationship/ their life overall and, 9 times out of 10, it’s because of something they’re doing that they DON’T LOVE, but they think they “should” do. 
Should I leave my job? 
Should I switch my career at this age?
Should I date/marry this person? 
Should I have kids one day? 
Should I learn a new sport/hobby?
Should I get in better shape? 
Should I buy this car?
All of these questions are very important and these endeavors can take lots of time/dedication to achieve, but you can’t do it unless you REALLY WANT IT. So stop asking if you “should” and start asking if you “want”! 
And if you don’t really want it, 
  don’t do it 
because you think you “should”. 
That’s the worst reason to stay in any situation. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong then that feeling probably won’t change as time goes on. And, in my experience, it can become worse over time and it gets harder to fix later on down the road. It’s like when you go on a date with a new person and they’re really sweet, nice, funny, attractive, etc, but you’re just not feeling anything huge when it comes to chemistry. There’s nothing wrong with them and you “should” like them, but you’re not really into it. So you go on a few more dates, even though you’re not in it and then it gets harder to break things off later. A silly example, but if you’re doubting at the beginning, it’s not likely to get better. 
“Doubt means don’t” 

Oprah said that shit! 
And it’s SOOOO true. 
And Oprah’s not usually wrong. 
Her billion dollars back her up on that statement. 

Should I quit this job? I’m only 3 weeks into it! Maybe…
(This happened to me when I was a server at an Italian restaurant when I was in college). No, but I hated that job from day 1, and quitting gave me motivation to find a new one, asap, that paid more and had better hours. Yes, I gave my 2 weeks notice after 3 weeks of working, but I was better off by quitting. I got a new job quickly that allowed me to make more money and get more sleep. I was happier and didn’t spend the entire school year hating my life. And I’m pretty sure the managers were ok with having me gone. 
Should I leave college at the beginning of the semester to go to Greece for a couple months?! Hell yes!
I caught a lot of shit for this one… Yes, it could have put me behind on my graduation schedule. Yes it could have been a huge disaster. But it wasn’t. I only stayed in Greece for a couple weeks, but would have regretted it forever had I not taken the chance. And since I was already out of school, I got to do some more traveling and then work to save up money for the next semester. I also took summer classes the next year so I still graduated on time and with all my buddies. 
Should I move to San Diego with only $800 to my name?! Hell yes!
Yeah… probably could have saved more for this one, but I was a week out of college and that’s all I had. Yes, I ate peanut butter for a few days at one point, Yes, there was a time when I was so broke a friend of mine called me $8 Ami (and still does to this day) because I was out of town, at a conference and only had that much in my bank account. But while I lived there, I worked my ass off, learned as much as I could, and I am where I am today because I took that chance. Because I WANTED it. 

I’m using these small examples to carry over my point: 
Don’t worry about what you “should do” 
Worry about what you “want to do.”


And if you do really want it? 
FUCKING DO IT! 

Take that leap of faith!
And don’t let anything or anybody stand in your way! 
So if you’re mulling over a decision in your head today, ask yourself the question above and answer honestly. Then start working toward that destination. If you’re doubting, then find a different pathway. Not all is lost if you change your mind, but a lot can be lost if you head down the wrong road for too long…

Maybe you should, maybe you shouldn’t, but it’s YOUR life and you’re the only one that has say over it. So don’t worry about everybody else. 


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Filed Under: happiness, health, life
06/22

Tetons (hee hee)

It’s been a crazy week. 
So here are some photos 
from the Tetons in Wyoming last week, 
courtesy of my iPhone. 
’cause it’s impossible to use 
the actual camera that I own… 
Happy Friday! 

Me and Jenn

Maxin’ and relaxin’ 

Reunited with her hubs, after a month! 

Road trips are the ish… 
until next time…

winners!
; )
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Filed Under: Jason Burton, jenn, Road Trip, Wyoming
06/18

Because we needed another one of these…

Last week for me consisted of a 
road trip out west,
followed by a TRX event even further west
in San Fran, at our headquarters. 
We always have these intense training weekends
when we’re launching a new course. 
Lots of studying, presenting, 
and TONS of workouts.  
I can barely move today. 
BUT we have a fair bit a fun.*
…
 *Extreme understatement. 
This is what happens 
when some of the best of the fitness industry
leaders have some down time: 
Because we all need to hear this song more…
at least Shana and I did… 
; ) 
Happy Monday, guys! 
Make it a good week. 
*And be on the lookout for our new program, TRX Group Rip Training, starting in July! 
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Filed Under: San Francisco, TRX, video
06/15

Road-side Yoga

When road tripping, you usually have at least one looooong-ass day where you’re in the car just trying to charge it. Monday was that day for us. We did 12 hours! After a while your ass hurts, your back gets stiff, and you get a little achy all over. We pulled over somewhere in Nebraska for a quick yoga session to get loosened up. Jenn led us through a little yoga flow (’cause besides being the ish, she’s also yoga instructor) and then we did a couple stretches.

A little piriformis stretch
to stretch the hips: 
A little forward fold action for
hamstring/spine lengthening
(which you can do with straight or bent knees):
And just like that, 
we’re back on the road
and feeling refreshed
; ) 

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Filed Under: jenn, Road Trip, stretching, yoga
06/12

Road Trip Dance Party 3

We made it to Wyoming today! 
The trip wasn’t bad at all… 
especially when you have the 69 Boyz 
serenading you through the journey. 
For your viewing pleasure, 
a flashback to 1994:  

Road Trip Tootsie Roll from Ami Scouton on Vimeo.

See? It’s a gift for the eyes AND the ears. 

You’re welcome. 
; ) 
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Filed Under: dance party, jenn, Road Trip, video
06/11

yes, please

i’m ok with this movie coming out soon… 
but i’d be even better if it came out today. 
can i get an amen?
btw, 
i helped my boyfriend, matthew mcconaughey train for this movie
#truestory
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Filed Under: boyfriend, matthew mcconaughey, movie
06/10

To Wyoming with Jenn! And my Road Trip Tips

Jenn and I are heading west today!
With Jazz Hands!!
Our Plan:
We’re going to haul ass to Wyoming 
hopefully arriving Tuesday,
to reunite her with her hubs,
and have some fun in the Tetons
for a hot second
until I have to go to San Fran on Thursday…
I’ve done LOTS of roadtrips, 
including 3 across the country. 
You can have a kick-ass road trip
or you can have a crap road trip. 
Presenting: 
Ami’s 10 Best Ways 
To Ensure You Have 
A Kick-Ass Roadtrip: 

1. Choose a low-maintenance road trip buddy(ies) 
Road trips are usually long, with not a lot to do, so make sure you’re traveling with a friend/friends that are ok with that. If they’re not good in small spaces or not ok with having nothing to do for a while, maybe have them fly out and meet you at your destination instead. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with somebody who’s not having fun and being a downer. 
2. Have many playlists on hand. 
One minute you’re going to be stoked and want fun/upbeat music, but a few hours in, you’ll probably want to chill out. Have a few different types of music on hand so you can choose what you want to listen to when you’re in different moods. Pandora is great for this, with its many stations but you might not always have reception to stream music from your smart phone. 
3. Know your route/stops ahead of time. 
You don’t need to plan your exact route and places to stop because it usually changes once you get going, but at least have an idea. You don’t want to be lost/off track on your first day —-> Buzzkill. 
4. Discuss budget ahead of time. 
Everybody in the car needs to agree on how much they’re spending and who’s responsible for what when it comes to how much money you’ll need. How are you splitting gas? Will you pay for hotel rooms and stop at sit-down restaurants along the way or are you camping and eating Taco Bell? Either way, make sure everybody’s on the same page from the start. 
5. Be open to change. 
Traffic happens, routes change, schedules get delayed. Be ok with this because there’s NOTHING you can do about it once you’re on the road. Know how to go with the flow so you’re not the crabby dude in the car! —> refer back to #1. 
6. Be ok with silence
Words don’t have to fill every minute of the drive. Don’t feel awkward to stay silent for a while, especially if your trip lasts several days. You don’t want to be the annoying one in the car that won’t shut up. 
7. Have some padding in your schedule. 
It’s best to have some padding just in case you get the urge to do more than you planned on your trip, or take a different route that will add extra miles/time. You don’t want to be rushed if you don’t have to be. 
8. Plan fun things. 
If you’re in a time crunch and even if you only have a 10 minute stop here or there, try to plan it so there’s a little fun on your trip. Pull over to see the world’s largest ball of twine, the smallest cow, or any other town’s claim to fame. You’ll have a fun photo, a fun story, then get back on the road. Don’t make it just driving! 
9. Have games on hand! 
Take it back to your childhood days. Play the out-of-state license plate game, car bingo, Mad Libs, etc. See how many truckers you can get to honk their horns at you (without getting propositioned to flash your junk). Truth or dare is a fun car game as well. Whatever you do, don’t forget to have fun. And adding a little competition to your trip never hurt anyone… ; ) 
10. Have an awesome end of trip celebration. 
Give yourself a way to celebrate once you’ve made it to your destination. Pop open a drink, go play outside, celebrate with a nice dinner. Either way, congratulate yourselves on a trip well traveled! 
Moral of the story: 
Pick awesome buds
and be mellow. 
Here we go! 
Happy Summer and Road Tripping everybody! 
See you in a few days! 

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06/09

TRX Rip Training

I’ve been doing a lot of Rip Training lately… 
Partly because it’s my job. 
Mostly because I want a six pack.
#noshame
And I have to perform a modern dance this evening,
in front of a lot of people, 
wearing only a sports bra and small shorts. 
#nopressure
Photo by Adrian Li
Watch this video and you’ll see why it’s badass: 
AND 10,000 bonus points goes to whoever 
can find me in the video! 
(Leave a comment with the exact time I enter the frame to receive your points*) 
*that aren’t useful for anything other than bragging rights
#makeyourbodyyourmachine
Visit TRX
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Filed Under: abs, Rip Trainer, TRX

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