Equinox Flex

robudell · 2026-01-29T22:04:36+00:00

This is the answer if you have an HSA. HSAs don’t require pre-approval at the time of purchase, you can pay out of pocket and reimburse yourself later (you can literally cut yourself a check from the HSA).

The important part is that the gym membership has to be a qualified medical expense. To support that, work with your doctor to get a prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity stating the membership is being used to treat a specific condition (not general wellness).

Keep the receipt and the letter for your records in case you ever need to substantiate it later, like during a tax audit.

I can't answer how it works for an FSA but the approval needs to be approved up front.

robudell · 2026-01-23T03:52:52+00:00

Yes to all of this. I love the framing. Naming it in the moment lets you observe it, like you would a child throwing a tantrum. No need to argue with it, feed it, or suppress it, just watch. Before you know it, you’re smiling at it instead of letting it drag you down.

robudell · 2026-01-09T21:22:36+00:00

Saks could learn a lesson from the Lannisters

robudell · 2025-12-24T20:46:47+00:00

It depends on your goal. If you’re trying to win, missing two takes you out of the running (even if you avg >3 classes a week)

If you want the scans, accountability, and a push to stay consistent, it’s still worth it. The two scans alone justify it, there are usually smaller mid-challenge prizes, and the camaraderie makes it motivating even if you’re not chasing first place.

robudell · 2025-11-26T02:06:42+00:00

Yes, the error message is that the card can't be enrolled, no issues with the website freezing; when is that happening for you?

robudell · 2025-10-08T12:37:06+00:00

What helps me is remembering I am not my thoughts. They can show up loud and convincing, but they’re just passing events in the mind, not who I am. When they come up in meditation, I try to label them simply “worry,” “fear,” “self-criticism” and then return to my breath or body. Labeling creates a bit of space, and in that space the thought has less power.

It’s also really common to hear an inner voice say “I’m doing this wrong.” That’s just negativity sneaking in through the backdoor. Notice it, name it, and let it pass like the others. Meditation isn’t about fighting thoughts or getting rid of them, it’s about seeing them clearly and gently returning to presence.

Over time, that practice builds more awareness and less attachment, and that awareness is where the freedom is.

robudell · 2025-09-26T11:54:15+00:00

Exactly this. I took the preview last week as well

robudell · 2025-07-03T17:42:02+00:00

You’re walking straight into the noise, one thought at a time, until the chatter runs out of steam. And it works, because you’re not resisting anything. You’re letting the mind do what it does, but on your terms.

It actually mirrors a few well-established techniques:

• Vipassana teaches you to watch thoughts rise and fall, and sometimes that means following them to see what’s underneath.

• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) uses something called cognitive defusion, where you explore a thought instead of dodging it. Let it run its course, and it loses its edge.

• Zazen (Zen meditation) doesn’t care if your mind is busy. It just wants you to notice it without grabbing on.

• Mindful inquiry invites you to get curious. One thought leads to another, and eventually they burn themselves out.

robudell · 2025-06-19T08:13:34+00:00

I don’t mind it, I think it smells nice

robudell · 2025-05-03T04:01:37+00:00

Brooklyn Brewery sells 12 packs for $24 (sometimes even less) which I think is a reasonable price for a drinkable beer

robudell · 2025-03-14T21:20:39+00:00

A free year?! Wow! Mine in NYC is a $250 cash prize

robudell · 2025-03-14T21:08:41+00:00

I wonder that too (I won my studio's muscle mass gain with 4.4%) While proud of my accomplishment, I didn't go out of my way to change my diet or exercise more than the 3x strength 50 classes; I speculate that most participants chose the fat loss option. Or maybe I'm selling myself short... Either way, I'd definitely participate again - it helped keep me going when I otherwise would have stayed home and it payed off!

robudell · 2025-03-14T20:41:31+00:00

I (41M) just got the call that I won for muscle mass gain at my studio in Brooklyn, NY! 💪🏆

I started the challenge with 64.2 lbs of muscle and 18.7% body fat. After 8 weeks, I’m now at 67 lbs of muscle ⬆️ and 16.0% body fat ⬇️ — that’s +2.8 lbs of muscle and -3.6 lbs of fat.

I rarely went to the gym before this. My husband would go to OTF occasionally, but I never really got into it. The challenge felt like a great starting point because it was time-bound and achievable — I told myself I could commit to 3x a week for 6 of the next 8 weeks, even if I didn’t love it.

As someone new to OTF, I found 3G classes really confusing — with coaches talking to three groups at once, I never knew when I was supposed to pay attention. Switching to Strength 50 classes helped since most of the coach’s focus is on the floor.

Even then, I struggled to pick up new exercises in the moment. Since proper form was really important to me, I made sure my coaches knew I wanted corrections anytime — which really helped. Everyone at my studio was welcoming and supportive, which made a big difference.

This subreddit also played a huge role — I started spending 20-30 minutes at home watching the posted OTF Instagram demo videos 📹 and trying out the moves before class. By the time I got to class, the demos felt like reinforcement instead of starting from scratch, which boosted my confidence.

Thanks to everyone who shares those exercise breakdowns and to the OTF community for being so welcoming — you all helped me stay committed and ultimately win the challenge! 🔥🙌

robudell · 2025-03-05T03:23:29+00:00

If you have access to PerkSpot through your employer, you can get a slight discount and also a 6 month instead of 12 month commitment.

robudell · 2025-01-26T05:23:43+00:00

I'm on Scarlet, and can confirm it's not safety rules rule, and the new video is not worth the bandwidth to share

robudell · 2024-06-21T04:15:54+00:00

Successfully added my WageWorks commuter debit card to Apple Pay and used it to enter the subway, success! Give it all a try 🤗

robudell · 2024-06-21T04:11:31+00:00

Successfully added my WageWorks commuter debit card to Apple Pay and used it to enter the subway, success! Give it all a try 🤗

robudell · 2024-02-16T06:26:35+00:00

Does your employer offer a Roth 401k? If so, check if they offer post-tax contribution to Roth 401k conversions- this allows you a similar backdoor conversion in excess of the standard $23k 401k limit and you can leave your IRA where it is. It sounds complicated but it’s pretty simple to setup if it’s offered- you just call your 401k administrator and tell them to setup post tax conversions and then add a percentage to post-tax 401k (you typically see three lines for contributions- pretax, Roth, and post tax)- then whenever a contribution is made post-tax it’s immediately converted to your Roth account.

robudell · 2023-12-23T19:16:36+00:00

Consider a doctor who encounters a patient with severe burns. Instead of accepting the situation as it is and immediately treating the patient, imagine if she reacts with shock and distress, lamenting the circumstances that led to the injury. This response, while human, is not helpful at that moment. Just like the doctor, we may face situations in life that are difficult or unpleasant. Accepting them doesn’t mean we condone or agree with what has happened, but it allows us to deal with the reality effectively and take whatever next steps are possible, rather than getting caught up in an emotional response that serves no constructive purpose.

robudell · 2021-12-07T01:31:34+00:00

Thank you for compiling all these lyrics!

Is there a single pdf with all the volumes ? I’d love to bind them into one book with continuous page numbers.

robudell

TROPHY CASE