Robyn Hurst - Vessels of Clay Yoga & SUP Fitness

05/30/2026

My review of the Prolon 5-day Fasting Mimicking Diet:

I tried this because it is backed by scientific research and comes from a non-profit organization. My goal was not weight loss, but hoping to tap into that cell autophagy and lower some numbers from a recent lab result as well as my biological age. Having said that, I was fascinated by the fact that this is a fast which is supposed to be protective against muscle loss. I did in fact lose two and a half pounds, which, for someone my size is a good amount, and two of those pounds were visceral fat! Time will tell on the biological age number, as one needs to go through two more rounds over the course of two more months based on the scientific study that has been performed, but I will be doing a lab test in a week and a half to see if any of the other numbers have changed. The food was tasty in general, and the support groups which have tips were very helpful. As fasts go, this was not super challenging, but I was ready to get through day five. I will be trying a different kit for next month's round. Feeling good overall!

05/28/2026

Well, I am on Day 4 of the Prolon 5-day Fast Mimicking Diet, which is a longevity supporting regimen that imitates the functions of a fast towards longevity (causing cell autophagy, among other things) while supporting the doer with nutrients via specific food and drinks. It has published studies and data to support it--feel free to look it up!

Anyway, my goals with this had to do with 3 main things:
1- Lowering my biological age (aka, not my actual age, but the number that my scanning scale says that my body thinks I am, which is older than I actually am, currently).

2-Changing body composition. I don't care about the number of pounds or kilos that I weigh, but I do care about my muscle-to-fat ratio (and especially visceral fat, which is the super yucky, self-perpetuating cycle kind when it comes to hormones), which has shifted in a not-great direction in the last few years due to perimenopause and lifestyle change. It has become more apparent in the last few months and quite frustrating.

3-Lowering numbers on components of a blood test. I recently had a second lab test repeated that I had about a year ago, and while certain high numbers that had been up were lower, they were still not out of a cautionary area in regard to my liver and inflammation. I would also like to see a certain number go up.

So, here is where I am currently: as of yesterday, nothing seemed to have changed much as far as numbers shown through my scanning scale, but I did seem to have lost 1/2 inch around my waist. No real weight change, no fat % change, but less bloat, I assume.

However TODAY-- I have lost 2.5lbs, and 2 of those pounds are visceral fat!!!! Exactly what I wanted to shift! (and I am a petite person, so that is pretty amazing).
And, as one would expect, that shifted other numbers in regard to ratios of muscle and fat and percentages there.

The biological age stays the same, which I figured it would.

I will be taking a lab test next week for the specific numbers I am hoping to influence.

The data on this regimen says that doing this for 3 rounds over 3 months (one round per month) lowers the biological age 2.5 years. That would put me just a little bit under my actual age, and I would love that!

So at this moment, I do plan on doing this again next month--probably with a different type of kit (they have options). I won't be able to do this in July due to other cicumstances, but I can do it in August before going back to school.

We shall see. The guinea pig continues!

Ps-- it has not been a heinous experience. I am allowed up to 140mg of caffeine per day through black coffee. I typically only drink an amount like that over a whole day, so, since my espresso capsules only have about 63mg of caffeines, I have been having one of those each morning followed by or preceded by a decaf one, giving me the mental/mouth feel of 2 cups of coffee. Granted, I usually have sweetener and creamer in them (not allowed on this regimen), so black coffee is not my fave, but savoring a cup of espresso? It certainly helps mentally!

The food is tasty. I have followed tips given by others to make it more so, and if anyone reading chooses to do this, feel free to ask me how I make the soup textures work best. It has also brought me back to my nearly-forgotten enjoyment of herbal teas. I like the breakfast nut bar (which I turned into "porridge" this morning with some hot water and cinnamon), the special crackers, and the "choco crisp" bar. Seriously, I have done some way harder fasts!

05/27/2026

If you use the Shop pay app, and if you have ever been interested in checking out the Pvolve system (not that it matters, but it's the one that jennifer aniston uses and is supposedly great for women over forty), there is a HUGE discount going on for the essentials bundle in the app. NOT on the regular website, but the app.

I have been curious and there's a thirty day guarantee, so I'm trying it out....

(like, it's usually $412, but right now $123.60?!?!)

It also comes with 3 months of streaming... while that is enticing, I'm not as excited about it, because our smart tv does not have the exact configuration, and so I would have to do something where i'm either casting from my phone or hooking it up to my computer... 😐

The Essentials Bundle is your step into full-body longevity training — combining 7 precision-designed pieces of equipment to build strength, stability, mobility, and cardio in one seamless system. What’s included: 7-piece total-body equipment system 3 months of streaming for new members, which i...

05/23/2026

So...I'm doing a thing next week.

I'll be the guinea pig here.

Remember that I do have a couple of nutrition certifications and a few decades of studying various dogmatic eating approaches, in the end to knowing that moderation is important and God created various foods with various nutrients for the support in various everything... So all of that to say that I generally take the best from various approaches and apply it to what works best for me--

However, in this current season of life, it can be very confusing(!).

And thankfully, there are some loud voices out there advocating for women in certain seasons now, in ways that we have not seen before.

So that's the lead up...

I am also fascinated by the studies regarding the blue zones and longevity.

I get a lot of notifications regarding Dan Buettner's (Blue Zones/longevity related) podcasts and publications, but like you, I'm inundated with notifications.
So very often, I just delete things in the moment because they may not be relevant to me at that time, and I know I could find the information later.

For whatever reason, this past week I took note of a particular podcast and decided to listen.

A lot of what I heard was fascinating, some of it I disagreed with, and some of it raised questions. if you're interested in some of my concerns and questions, you can go to the link I will provide in the comments below to see the comment that I left under said video.

Part of what sold me on giving this a try, though, had to do with the fact that the professor/ researcher in the interview does not profit from what he is advocating, and the organization which provides this particular meal plan is a nonprofit organization.

For me, this is not so much about losing any kind of weight, but about seeing my body potentially regain some years that it has lost due to stress and life changes. If they're telling me that the data shows that one cycle of this per month for 3 months has been shown to give someone two and a half years back in their biological age, my eyes and ears are going to perk up. There are times when we need to pay attention to science and studies that have proven something. Currently, my numerical age and my biological age do not match, and in fact, my biological age (which I may be citing incorrectly, but I'm talking about the number that is not my age, but what my body thinks that I am) is OLDER than I am. That's a little concerning.

I recently had some lab tests about a year after some other lab tests, and while some of the numbers are better than they were, some of them still need attention... and it's the kind of attention that I truly think is my body saying "we just need a break with some support here".

And that is what drew my attention from listening to the podcast, which I'm linking below-- there is a focus on how one could fast in a supportive way in which they do not lose muscle mass.

As a woman in perimenopause trying to gain muscle again and change my body composition ratio, which has gone a direction that I am not happy with, this is really interesting.

Add to that the fact that it's supportive and hopefully means I'm not feeling like an unhinged, crazy person longing for food, then, I'm willing to give it a go.

Having a history of slightly disordered eating due to recovery protocol from a health situation in my late 20s and then subsequent regimens I stepped into that were possibly not as well advised as I thought they were, I am cautious and skeptical at times. I will be doing this carefully.

But again, the reason I'm thinking it's worth the chance has to do with the science behind it and why it was designed.

So anyway, we shall see. I'm trying to give my body a chance to regenerate in certain areas so that can function at its best without stressing it out...

I start Monday.

Prayers that I stay rooted & grounded in God's guidance and enjoy a time of rest in various forms...and give Him glory while trying to take care of this temple.

05/09/2026

To all of the clients I served prior to the last few years who were going through perimenopause or menopause, I'm sorry.

I didn't know certain things,

And honestly, no one seemed to know certain things!
It's only been in the last few years that so much information has come out about the changes in a woman's body during this season of life.
So it's not that I ignored the information, it's that the information wasn't really out there--

and some of the information that was out there was completely wrong!

My hat's off to all of you sweet sisters who raw dogged it for so many years and tried to comply with the things you were told from the various experts & mentors & professionals who tried to serve you with whatever information they had! You were and are amazing!!!!

And admittedly as I seek counsel for the season I am in and have probably been in for several years without knowing for sure, I will sometimes look at the source and think to myself, "Do they know about perimenopause and menopause?"
If they are younger than me, I admit, I wonder if their advice is going to take into account what I know now.

I am very grateful to the professionals who are now talking about all of these things that have been gotten so wrong in the past (okay, I don't think that sentence is grammatically correct, but anyhoo)--

Here's hoping we're all able to move forward in better health in every way and in every season!

And to all the moms, all types, Happy Mother's Day weekend!

*photo of Daisy/mammacat & babies for attention and motherhood....and the "awwwwww" of it all.

04/06/2026

Hello, healthy minded peeps!

If any of you who are into hydration are also into chocolate, you might be interested in this:

(Sale of LMNT Chocolate Medley sticks/packets)
https://www.facebook.com/share/1LEFiWuHxB/

04/05/2026

The hubby brought me a new healthy thing as part of my "Easter basket"!
He knows that
A) We still have a ton of candy & snacks leftover from Christmas
B) I have been making targeted efforts in the last few weeks to support my body better in terms of the changes that come with perimeno, which means a basket full of Reese's PB eggs would not be helpful this year. (not saying you can't have a tree like that once in a while! but we had gotten into a habit of something like that seemingly every day since the holidays... and combine that with being a schoolteacher, working on my master's degree on the weekends, in perimenopause--- well the body has needed some better balance!)

ANYHOO-
this is a pleasant surprise!

And yes, that blue color DOES happen in nature because it comes from blue spiruline extract.

I KNOW! Crazy & fun!?!

I have a lot to be grateful for on this holiday, not the least of which is the fact that I don't need to be afraid of death, due to what Jesus did for me so long ago. that is the biggest and best gift.

But I'm also gonna say thanks for thoughtful ones like this one.

04/05/2026

Hallelujah. ❤️

02/10/2026

Ça c'est beau.
(This is beautiful)

For decades, Charlotte Chopin has been teaching yoga in Léré, a village in France. At 102 years old, she maintains a simple approach to aging well.Video by T...

01/30/2026

Tried this one out recently.
It wasn't too challenging in the moment, but I do feel it in my arms and chest two days later!

While it is filmed at the beach, I don't hear the ocean waves all that much so I did have alexa turn on some meditation music for me...

Sculpt your core and upper body with this energizing Seaside Sculpt workout—no equipment needed, just your body and breath! 🌊💪 This quick yet powerful sess...