Saturday, November 2, 2013

Back to square zero

I'm back to square zero.

I could say square one, because I do have the knowledge of what to do to get back to the healthy me-- but I truly feel like I am starting ALL over again. Sigh.

So, what happened? How did I gain 15-20 lbs back and lose all muscle tone and strength? I stopped. I had some health issues starting in June and I was nervous to work out- so I stopped. I felt sad and frustrated and didn't exactly emotionally eat. I wasn't stuffing my face, but I ate "normal." I didn't stick to Paleo and most certainly indulged in more than my fair share of dairy and sugary sweets. I had surgery back in September and I got SO MANY amazing gluten free cupcakes. And, guess what? I ate them ALL. And, when they were gone...I got more. This, my friends...is how you gain 15 lbs easily. It's really pretty easy. Don't work out, don't stick to your nutritional plan and indulge in sweets whenever you feel like it. Oh, and I forgot-- stop taking your vitamins and drinking enough water. That will make you feel just about as good as gaining the weight in the first place did.

So, here I am...in the vicious cycle that is attempting to be healthy, fit and happy. As I have posted many times before. For me, personally, all three of those go hand-in-hand. And, part of MY happiness is being healthy and fit. Over the past 5 months- I have done everything but create those healthy and fit habits to keep myself happy.

...I'm in progress and slowly starting to get it all back together. How?

I joined a new gym (although, I do miss Fit Girl Studio!) and started working with Kelly (wwww.paleoinfused.com) on my nutrition again. I'm cutting out sugar and dairy 100% again on top of my wheat/gluten- because I FELT good when I did. I'm 2 days back on track with my eating and now forcing a workout routine is looking to be a big challenge. I need to just do it, but- it's easier said than done.

How is everyone doing now that the weather is getting cooler? If you've fallen off, or not, get back on and share the journey with me!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Cleveland Yoga

This past weekend I was headed to our annual family party in Cleveland. My cousin suggested that while the guys were golfing we could hit up a yoga class. My cousins go to Cleveland Yoga regularly and really like their hot yoga (not Bikram) classes. But, I haven't really been practicing yoga that much lately and my other cousin (Tiffany) wanted to take a beginner class. I was game! We both signed up as a drop-in ($15- which is also the price of a 1 week unlimited for new clients).

We signed up for the 8:30 basic yoga class on Saturday. We got there a bit early and were the first ones in the room. There were cubbies (not lockers, though) at the front. You also were responsible for bringing your own mat and towel (I've gotten really spoiled by free mats and towels at Fit Girl). We signed a waiver and headed into the studio.

We were the first ones in the class and noticed the guide lines on the floor. I've never seen that before! We took a spot in the back and sat on our mats. Right when class was about to start- BAM- the room was PACKED! We even had to move our mats over to make room for people.

The instructor started in the front of the room with some basic moves. The start of the class (15-20 minutes) was all introduction and learning basic moves. At that point, I thought it was going to be super boring, to be honest. After the start, we went through a flow and I was in a familiar spot. The instructor did a nice job of circling the room and giving verbal corrections but no hands-on adjustments.

The only downfall? We hadn't signed up for a hot class but we happened to look over at the air and it was at 89 degrees. We were all DRIPPING sweat! The instructor even announced, "Well- it's hotter in here than in the hot studio today!" I forgot my towel and I was really wishing I had it after about 20 minutes!

I enjoyed the class and if I lived in Cleveland I would probably do some drop-in classes. Thanks Seth for introducing us to a new studio!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

OhhmmmmM! I went with the flow

I've been at Fit Girl since the fall but somehow I had never taken Yoga Flow...until last night! I have had a very wonky schedule lately and haven't been able to get to many classes. I typically prefer to go to morning or early evening class (early evening are out during the summer due to working) instead of late class. I got to the studio a little bit early and grabbed a mat and block. Andrea was all smiles and excited that I was finally trying her class!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I've taken Spin Flow, Sculpt Fusion Yoga and Restorative Yoga but...generally speaking...I've never found yoga to be "my thing." But, after signing up for a yoga class (at Cleveland Yoga) with my cousins this weekend I figured I should take a class here first.

I LOVED IT! Class started with a group "Ohmm" and moved into some stretching. I was actually very comfortable with many of the postures and even had a lot of experience with most of them from my other classes. The flow section was familiar because of Sculpt Fusion Yoga (with Lindsey).

I even attempted a posture that I had never heard of before and seemed very hard:
Flip Dog starts off in downward dog. Then, you lift a leg straight back and into the air. Next, you bend the knee isnt a tabletop/shelf position and gently release you body around to "flip" and rest the other leg onto the floor. 

I had a super embarrassing moment (although no one flinched and no one made me feel bad)- we were all against the wall doing stretches up the wall and then had the option to go into a back bend/leg lift. I was able to do it and hold it until I fatigued. When I got fatigued I took a break and started it again. The second time, when I came down, I didn't straighten my legs. Instead, I came into a tuck position which made me slam my heels into the wall and make a loud BOOM! Oops! Andrea asked if I was okay and assured me, "The wall isn't going anywhere." Whew! I was so embarrassed!



At any rate, Thanks Andrea for helping me give yoga another shot! I'll be back on my mat soon ;)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Paleo Pancakes





Okay,Okay! I'm posting my (not-so-SECRET) recipe for PALEO PANCAKES!

These delish treats are protein packed, sweet (almost like crepes to me) and the BEST weekend breakfast EVER!

Ingredients:
  • 1 banaana
  • 2 eggs
  • optional: sprinkle of cinnamon, blueberries, apples, coconut, strawberries, chocolate chips, etc


Directions:
  1. Crack 2 eggs, whisk 
  2. mash up 1 banana into mixture
  3. Add cinnamon
  4. Heat up butter or coconut oil in a pan
  5. Cook pancakes on medium/high heat (smaller usually come out best) until the edges bubble a bit and seem brown
  6. ENJOY!








Spin Shred did it again!

Spin Shred...oh how I love to love you!

I took Spin Shred with Liz yesterday and my legs are on fire today. Now, you'd think it would be my arms because of the crazy arm circuit...but as of yet they're feeling okay!

My legs are a different story. Maybe it was the heel-click squats, or the squat into side kicks.Oh, or maybe it was just the 40 minutes of spin included in class. Oy!

At the start of class, I was chatting with a friend (don't worry it before BEFORE class started) and then Liz starts her welcome chat. She tells us that we've got a great class with great music and a killer arm series that's sure to burn... a fellow fit girl and I locked eyes and started laughing. Liz looked at us and had a huge grin. She wasn't lying!Our arm series was killer and had many people dropping to their lightest weights or no weights at all. The very last series we ALL did without weights and it was STILL a killer! Sometimes I wish that we could have our macho guy-friends, boyfriends and husbands come in and attempt to do our workouts with "little weights" and see how they feel haha. I am SURE they couldn't keep up!

Well played Spin Shred...I'm sore. You did it again!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Carrot,Apple & Sweet Potato Mash

I had  TON of carrots that I needed to use up and wasn't sure what to make with them. I finally decided to just go steam them but as I looked in the fridge I remembered that I had a few sweet potatoes also. I have a terribly habit of letting produce spoil (although, I've gotten much better about this).

I LOVE making sweet potato mash all sweetened up for Thanksgiving and that's where I got this idea from. It's uber sweet, all natural and hit the spot! You can alter this to fit your needs. My measurements are estimates, because I didn't intend on writing the recipe to share :) BUT, once I tried it I knew I had to share with my fellow Fit Girls.

If you try it, let me know! ENJOY!


Ingredients:
2 cups of diced carrots
2 apples, diced (skin off)
2 sweet potatoes, cubed (skin off)
1/2 cup pineapple, cubed
2 tablespoons of raisins (optional)
1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of grassfed butter (optional)

Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to boil
Add carrots, potatoes and apples and let boil for 20-25 minutes or until the carrots are tender
Drain and place in a large bowl
Use a potato masher to mash all together
Add 1 tbsp of butter
Add pineapple and raisins
Blend in 1 tbsp of cinnamon
ENJOY!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Try yo best!

I KILLED my workouts today. I didn't do everything perfect- but I took quick breathers when needed and hopped back in....and I TRIED MY BEST...YO!

This morning, I walked 2 miles to the studio (due to Pride parade and my parking fiasco yesterday-walking was the best idea) and then took barre ..followed by Spin Shred.

Barre is getting better and better. It isn't easier- but I'm able to do more skills and push myself harder.
two wins:

  • I held a tabletop plank for the first time ever
  • I finally got strength to do tricep dips (not the modified version)


Before Spin Shred started, we were all sitting on our cycles talking about our love/hate relationship with various moves in cardio barre and ballet body. In particular, we discussed Michelle and Gina and how they have you doing moves that make you say, "SAY WHAT?!?!" Someone explained that Gina has an infectious personality and, "Even when you are dying with whatever move you're doing, she makes you think you're loving it!" I <3 my instructors!

Spin Shred had a really challenging shred portion. But, it felt really nice to get back on the cycle. I've been missing spin lately.

What did you do to sweat it out today?

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Bacon wrapped asparagus and peppers

Ingredients:

  • Asparagus
  • Red pepper (yellow or orange would work as well)
  • Bacon (or prosciutto )
  • balsamic vinegar
  • salt
  • pepper
  • optional:goat cheese

Directions:

  1. Wash and cut the asparagus
  2. Wash and cut the pepper into strips
  3. Make a "bundle" of 3-4 asparagus spears, 2 pepper slices and (optional) goat cheese
  4. Wrap a piece of bacon around the bundles
  5. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar
  6. Top with salt and pepper to taste
  7. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes- turn over after the first 15 minutes.


Super foods for Fit Girls

Many of us have heard about these "super foods" but what are SUPERFOODS anyway?

Superfoods are foods that gained the term SUPER because of their amazing nutritional benefits. Many of these fruits and vegetables can bring you nutritional power and vitamins even in small amounts. These foods are best consumed in their natural state. Ignore the food companies who are trying to jump on the bandwagon by adding these super foods to their already processed items- that shortcut won't get you the health benefits that eating these foods will in their clean state.

Below are a list of easy to find, affordable and delicious SUPERFOODS that you can add into your daily diet.

Spinach

These beautiful leaves carry protein, vitamin K, folate/folic acid and a decent amount of fiber. Spinach is all-around nutritious. Spinach is said to be the ultimate pregnancy food for the folate/folic acid inside of the delicious leaves. In addition, spinach helps fight eye disease, helps with constipation and heart disease.

Get it in: I add spinach to all of my shakes and smoothies. I have a salad at least once a day filled with spinach and or kale. I, personally, try to get in about 3 cups of spinach a day.  (Try to buy organic leafy greens due to pesticide use).

Kale

Kale is a beautiful leaf that is a cousin to cauliflower and broccoli.  Kale contains more tun 45 flavonoids, which help with inflammation. On the national ranking system for food nutrients kale ranks among the top in nutrient dense foods . Many researchers believe that kale can significantly reduce cholesterol. 

Get it in: Kale Chips are the easiest way for me to get my kale in. I do not love the taste, unless it's in marinated salad. So, I have a bit of a hard time adding it to my shakes. There are many delicious recipes for kale salads, though. I just have a hard time perfecting them! (Try to buy organic leafy greens due to pesticide use).


Blueberries

-They're packed with vitamin C, high in potassium and have anti-inflaitory properties. Many doctors believe that these blue gems can reduce your risk of heart disease.  Blueberries carry the same health benefits frozen as they do fresh. 

Get it in: Frozen blueberries are perfect to add to a morning shake, pancakes (paleo pancake recipe) or all by themselves. I can gobble them up quickly, they're so delicious! (Always buy organic berries due to their soft skin and the use of pestesides)

Beets

I was always turned off to beets as a child. They just looked…gross. However, they're on of my favorite foods now! I can never pass up a salad with beets. Beets contain a high amount of vitamin C, folate, potassium, fiber (4g per cup) and antioxidants. The antioxidant acids found in beets are said to be great for  those with Diabetes or high blood pressure.

Get it in: shredded beets are easy to add to salads. I find myself getting a large container from my local Whole Foods and that lasts me a few days. Beets are also delicious steamed and sliced, marinated in balsamic and even shredded and added into a berry smoothie.

Quinoa

Quinoa (Keen-Wah) is technically a seed but many refer to it as a grain. Quinoa has a nutty taste and is found in many South American countries. This superfood is about 20% protein and a great source of protein for those who are gluten free. It also contains a large amount of fiber, iron and manganese (an antioxidant that helps with anti-aging by protecting your body from free radicals). Quinoa is also one of the only foods that contains all 9 essential amino acids (which are used in helping your body build muscle and body tissue)- which makes this food GREAT for athletes, seniors and everyone in-between. 

Get it in: I use quinoa in everything. I don't eat many grains, but this is one that is easy to make an exception for. I posted my recipe for quinoa stuffing on FGIP ( now make it with black rice and quinoa). I also make quinoa and add it to my meal as a side dish or an addition to my salads. 

Black Rice

I wasn't familiar with black rice until my dietician, Kelly at Paleo Infused Nutrition, mentioned it to me! I've come to learn why she recommends it to clients who are looking for a grain with many health benefits. Black rice boasts more antioxidants per tablespoon than blueberries (which we all know are an antioxidant superfood). That in itself is enough to sell these beauties to you. In addition, black rice bring you a high amount of vitamin E. Black rice is sometimes called the "forbidden rice" because it was once kept for the nobles in China while commoners could not harvest and eat this rice 

Get it in: Black rice is the perfect side dish. I enjoy adding it to my lettuce wraps for "tacos" or mixing in grilled vegetables. Keep an eye out for my Sage Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Rice recipe: coming soon.

Paleo egg soufflé


Ingredients:
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 cup of coconut milk
  • 1 tsp of baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of almond flour
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
  • Optional: Asparagus, caramelized onions, spinach, mushrooms
Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees 
  2. Crack your eggs into a soufflé dish
  3. add coconut milk
  4. Add garlic, salt, pepper (to taste)
  5. Add baking powder and almond flour and mix well
  6. Add your vegetables (make sure to add caramelized onions (I made these prior) right before you bake as they can cook the eggs if they're still hot
  7. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a knife runs dry and the top is golden brown.




Frustration

This morning- I feel like the world is against me. Okay, that's a bit dramatic but...this morning sucks.

I woke up early to go to spin and barre. I didn't leave myself enough time to walk to spin (8am) so I decided to just go to barre and drive there instead (the weather is super iffy). I got dressed, sat down and read some fitness articles and then headed to the studio. I got there at 8:40 and got a prime parking spot. When I walked to the meter to pay I realized that I didn't have my debit card. Fabulous. So, I circled around my old neighborhood to find free street parking. FAIL. I got stuck behind a garbage struck on a side street for 15 minutes. It was 9:02 by the time I got off that street. As I drove by the studio, I saw everyone in their beautiful chair sits. I drove down another street hoping that if I found parking right away I could run into class late. FAIL. FAIL. EPIC FAIL. I couldn't find parking. I drove back home VERY FRUSTRATED.

This was a LONG week. I am trying to dedicate myself to living healthy and making it part of my life. I did well on the eating front. I ate clean, minus some frozen yogurt...summertime weakness. But, as far as getting to the studio- my schedule would only allow for mornings (6am) and after working late and long days I just couldn't do it every morning. I went to class Mon, Wed and planned on Sat and Sun. Now that Saturday is out- I won't even reach my minimum goal of getting to barre 4 times (which I prematurely posted on Facebook about my pride in doing so!) this week. Not to mention that there's a new$5 cancelation (within 2 hours of class)/missed class fee- so that's a bummer. I even drove in the monsoon storms on Wednesday so that I didn't have to miss a class ha

Okay- annoying, whiney, complainy and crying post can now come to an end. It was a bad morning and it'll be over soon. I just need to remember to check for my card now that I'm driving to the studio. Lesson learned, I guess.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Gettin' my strength back- yo

I took my first barre class, in way too long, on Saturday. I am determined to get my strength back and so I made it a priority to get to class this morning with Elena. My goal is to get to the barre 4+ times this week.

Well, today felt like it was my first barre class...ever. I had to stop so many times and give my thighs or glutes a rest. I had to shake it out and during our final abs section...I know you're so surprise...I even cried a bit. I just felt weak and upset at myself for losing my strength. But, I am being pro-active and workin' on it. I just need to KEEP with it. Right?

I did have another victory today- I wanted ice cream SO bad this afternoon. But, I ran into Trader Joes to get blueberries instead ;) WooHoo- trying to stay dedicated!

Tomorrow, I'm doing to be a little bit better at the barre than I was today. Only up from here!

xo


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Taking Control

In my life, my weight has been a never ending struggle. I have been super heavy, I've been comfortable, I've lost it the unhealthy way and the healthy way. I've been obsessed and given healthy living my all and I've given up more times than I can count. Weight to me, isn't about a number. Most of the time now, I don't even use my scale.  Weight is about a feeling. I FEEL confident and more comfortable when I'm thinner and more fit looking.

Over the past few months, I've lost that feeling. I started losing my confidence and feeling very uncomfortable and I couldn't find the motivation that I once had to stick to my healthy-living ways. And, that...scared me. I have spent so much time over the past year trying to live my life the "right" way. I wanted eat perfectly (Paleo-which started mostly because of my food allergies) and workout religiously. I did it, for many months. I saw results. I stayed positive- and somewhere along the way I let go. I don't want to give up again. This isn't some fad diet and weight loss competition I'm in. It's about fitness, health and living happily. I don't want to give up on THAT.

So, I'm taking control. I need to remind myself that it's not about what you do occasionally- it's about what you do most of the time. It started to become that I was working out and eating balanced ocassionally and eating sugar and junk with little working out MOST of the time...the EXACT OPPOSITE of how I WANT to live my life!

With summer break officially here, I've begun my clean (balanced) eating and workouts again. I'm taking control in order to gain what I had started losing: myself. 

Happy Sunday, all! Thanks for the never ending support for my fellow Fit Girls. If I can do this, you can too! xo


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Hiatus

Hi fellow fit girls!

Just wanted to drop a note by to say HELLO! I've kind of been on a hiatus. I moved over the past two weeks and i've had some personal schtuffff to take care of. I have THREE more school days with students left and then it's SWEET SUMMER TIME! I'm ready to have an amazing 8 weeks of health driven relaxation and fitness! Stay tuned to follow me on the summer version of Fit Girl in Progress!

Thanks for always staying loyal,





Sunday, June 9, 2013

It's okay - but it's time to prioritize ...

I've realized that I can't NOT workout. I can't NOT eat healthy. Every time i slide off of my path and gain weight I realize that I'm just NOT a happy person in this state. I've slacked off for a long time for various reasons. AND IT'S OKAY- but, IT'S TIME TO PRIORITIZE!

It's time to stay focused on remember why I'm are doing this in the first place. I want to feel good. I want to be happy and I want to look my best.

This week, I'm going to take it DAY by DAY to get myself back on track. HEALTH is a huge priority and this week- each day..I need to prove/remind myself of that.

This is me, taking a deep breath and realizing that it's all going to be okay. It's OKAY to be a work in progress. I'm okay :) sigh...

Sunday Start-up with SpinShred

This morning I woke up earlier than expected and headed to Spin Shred. 8am class on a Sunday isn't everyone's cup-o'-tea (there were only 4 of us) but I LOVE taking early classes! I was able to get my workout in before I headed to brunch with family. And, I was able to start my day off feeling good about my choices!

What's your favorite time of the day to workout?


Monday, June 3, 2013

It was all because of the SUN!

Last night before bed I thought to myself, "You know what? I will cancel spin in the morning and just take a class in the evening." so, I got on my FG app and canceled my spin class with Sarah.

But, mother nature had other plans- at 5:30 a.m. the sun was lighting up my entire bedroom and woke me up! I looked at the clock and realized, "What a nice surprise! I CAN make it to spin!"

I got up, threw clothes on and headed to the elevator. When I got to the elevator I saw a fellow fit girl heading to spin. I was half asleep and looked like a hot mess but the point is...I got up and got myself to spin!

It was a good thing I DID get up this morning because I had zero energy tonight to head to the studio for a class. Everything happens for a reason ;)

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Sprint to summer! 20 more days!

My SPRINT to SUMMER started this morning at 8:00 am. at Fit Girl! I RAN over to the studio and hopped on a cycle ready for SPIN SHRED with the fabulous, Michelle! When I was grabbing my water I even heard a fellow Fit Girl tell Michelle, "I'm addicted to Spin Shred- going to both Evanston and here!" That about sums it up- SPIN SHRED is AMAZING. Mostly because it marries cardio and toning together so perfectly. 20 minutes of grueling cycling, 20 minutes of strength and toning intervals and 20 minutes back on the cycle to get another burst of heart-pumping cardio. LOVE IT!


I spent the rest of my life pretending like Summer in Chicago had already started. My husband and I dined al fresco for brunch at Wishbone. Then, we headed to Mai Fest (which ended up being a stroll around Lincoln Square and then off to the park with my niece) for some city-fun. I'd say that I had a very successful Saturday!

What did you do today to get your sprint to summer going strong?!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Workout: Memorial Day Madness

After looking at your BBQ schedule for tomorrow you may have realized that...
 1. your gym is probablay closed or has limited hours 
 2. you're pressed for time to get a workout in.

So, in swoops your Fit Girl in Progress!

 Check out my Memorial Day Madness workout to get a quick burst of cardio and some total body training in in 20 minutes!

Let me know how you like it!
ENJOY and have an awesome holiday!
xoxo

Friday, May 24, 2013

Healthy holiday tips!

This holiday weekend the majority of people will take in an obscene amount of extra (unbalanced) calories while partying by the pool with beers in hand and sitting by the grill with hamburgers and chips on their plate. And, while I think that enjoying good food and having fun is AWESOME and MUCH NEEDED... on top of the crazy caloric intake... most of us will NOT be active this weekend. 

So, DON'T BE THE MAJORITY!

If you're heading to a BBQ or party this weekend try to eat something light before you head out so that you're not SO tempted to eat unnecessary goodness (or if you're like me...things that are tempting but just might make you sick). Also, make sure to get a workout in early in the day will really help you stay on track. I am much less likely to gorge on the bad stuff if I've already busted my booty trying to be healthy by getting my fitness on in the morning. Finally, be prepared! Put a few bars (I like zingbars and kind bars) in your purse and carry a water bottle so you're ready for whatever may come up!

I'm not saying don't eat some good foods, have a few drinks and enjoy yourself! NOT AT ALL! Just start your day off right, keep your goals in mind and be prepared and your weekend will be even better.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Stay focused, fit girls... it's almost SUMMER!




FG Studio Summer Challenge!


I am SO excited for Fit Girl Studio's SUMMER challenge!It's not too late to jump in- the challenge starts on June 1. I KNOW that I will use it as incentive to get my butt workin' out! If you're interested in trying out Fit Girl for the first time, let them know that Fit Girl in Progress sent you ;) Enjoy!

The deets:


 It's Time! Sprint into Summer Fit Girl Challenge
Look fab. Feel great. Win prizes.  
  In case you're not keeping track, summer is less than one month away. Let me repeat:SUMMER IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY! But no worries ladies, it only takes a few weeks at Fit Girl to feel beach body ready.  AND since we're totally into doing whatever it takes to make you look and feel your very best, we'd like to challenge you in a fun and uber rewarding contest. 
Take the Fit Girl SPRINT INTO SUMMER Challenge with us!
  
Ready? Here's how it works:
  
From June 1- June 21 all Fit Girls will be handsomely rewarded for attending classes, referring friends, and sharing their experience at Fit Girl Studio.
  
Set? How it all breaks down:
  • Earn one point for each day of class attendance
  • Earn two points for each friend you refer to Fit Girl Studio (must be new client)
  • Earn one additional point each day you share your Fit Girl experience and mention it on facebook, twitter, or instagram (**you must tag @fitgirlstudio and #fgsummersprint for tracking)   
GO! What's at stake:
  
Besides looking fab and feeling great (all challengers are winners!) the top 3 Fit Girls with the most points win:
1st Place - $250 lululemon gift card 
2nd Place - $100 Nike gift card
3rd Place - $80 Michael Anthony Salon gift certificate
  
  
GAME ON & GOOD LUCK! Oh, and may the force of Fit Girl be with you!
  
 No registration required! Attendance, referrals, social media tags, and point totals will be tracked from June 1 to June 21 automatically.
For more information email contact@fitgirlstudio.com

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Part of being a FitGirl (in progress)

I was sitting here thinking about what being a Fit Girl means to me and I realized that its way more than simply working out at a fun studio named "Fit Girl."

Since starting at fit girl I've been thrown into this environment where everyone is supportive. It's been nearly 7 months since I first contacted Michelle about Fit Girl. Since then I've taken this crazy fitness journey and learned that it was much more about learning about myself than just fitness. I've learned that I can achieve pretty much anything I want if I stick to it. I learned that having a supportive group of like minded people around you can make all of the difference and I learned that its most certainly about progress not perfection.

So- to me.. Being a fit girl means:
Being part of something wonderful. Taking health and fitness and placing it as a huge priority in your life. It means waking up early and pushing yourself through challenging times. It means working hard and focusing on progress not perfection. Being a FitGirl is pretty fabulous ;)

Thanks for all you've given me and all you've helped me grow- Fit Girl Studio !

Monday, May 20, 2013

Sticking to plan! Cardio day- check!

Just checking in with my fellow fit girls! I spoke to Gina, a fab instructor at FG , and discussed balancing workouts with cardio- strength alternating and adding stretching/yoga in. Today was cardio and while I didn't find the energy to go straight to the studio after school (I ended up missing classes)- I did get up and clock in a 5k run and some strength training when I got home!

I grew up in Florida so today's heat was all to familiar! I love running by the lake after a hot day when it's just starting to cool down. I had a great run and I'm very proud of myself! Thanks, Gina, Michellr and all of the other Fit Girls for helping keep me on track!

Group cycling certified!

Yesterday, I DID IT! I finished my group cycling certification. I was so proud if myself for completing a goal for myself that I set for the year!

We practiced running our own song and broke into teams to help create a class playlist. I had a lot of fun and got a great workout in. Maybe with more practice, I can lead my own class someday! If you've got a goal- GO for it! You've got nothing to lose :)

Xo

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Chasin' dreams, settin' goals and smashin' them!

I found my love for fitness a few years ago when I picked up running. I never did team sports growing up (I danced, swam, tennis, etc) and I never thought I was that athletic. I was overweight and felt doomed to stay that way. But, running was my first step to learning to love fitness and learning how to set fitness goals for myself. However, since coming to Fit Girl Studio, I realized that I could accomplish much more than I ever thought possible. My most recent goal? To get my "group cycling" (aka "spin") instructor certification. Today, I find myself halfway towards accomplishing that goal!

I put my goal in writing, signed up and now I'm smashing that goal! 

Today was my first day of a two part instructor certification class. I learned about teaching bike set-up, coaching positions and postures, form, etc. I got a bit of practice coaching with another student and even got a mini-spin class (30) mins and some ab work in. 3 hours later- I'm halfway to my goal! I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds.

Thanks for a great first day, Michelle! :)

Back on track! 33 days until summer!

I've worked my little BUTT off this past week in an effort to get in the best shape that I can, and get back on track, by summer! For me, I know that setting goals and challenges (personal) are so very important. I do best when I stick with very specific and attainable goals and take it day-by-day. I wanted to go this week with working out EVERY day (even though some days it was just being active with my niece) and sticking to Paleo with NO SUGAR. It's Saturday and I've done that. I got to spin a few times and sculpt fusion yoga. Now, I'm getting ready for spin instructor training (which i'm SO excited about!). I kept focused and on track and it shows. I have already lost that water-weight/bloat and I just feel better.

On that note, I share with you a quote that I found and just love...


Hope you have a GREAT Saturday, Fit Girls!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

35 days until SUMMER!

If you can't tell-- I've been struggling for MONTHS now.
A few sweets turned into daily runs to get gluten-free cupcakes.
A few skip days from the studio turned into only going 2-3 times a week.
Deciding not to do morning class every morning turned into NEVER taking morning classes (except for two weeks ago when I did it as a "challenge" to myself).
Missing a few barre classes turned into NEVER going to barre and ONLY going to spin.
A few slip-ups over a few months and...BAM! 10ish lbs are back on and I feel MISERABLE.

I don't feel miserable because of the number on the scale. I feel miserable in my skin because I worked my A$S off to get myself in shape and I feel a though I've let myself and everyone around me down.

Sure, I ate generally healthy. I was still active and I live a pretty healthy lifestyle. But, for ME that doesn't work. For me, being healthy and continuing on this weight-loss and healthy living journey takes 100% focus and dedication. I can't just eat what I want. My body doesn't work that way. I can't just workout sporadically. My body needs consistent strength training and cardio. I need to STAY FOCUSED.

So, I'm here t tell you that I'm on day 3 of
-No sugar
-Workouts daily (Studio 5 times a week)
-Planning my meals.

I KNOW that I can achieve my goals
-if I'm honest
-if i'm focused
-if I am sticking to my plan.

So...Here it is. A new start. I'm tired of starting over so I need to stop giving up.
I'm setting off on another challenge: The 35 (tomorrow) days until summer challenge!

I need to do this for myself to remind myself of what I can achieve. I need to be strict (the healthy way) because I KNOW that's what MY body needs. And, I need to kickstart my on-track lifestyle again.

Join my on my journey- and let me know how your journey is going!

xoxo,

Love your Fit Girl IN PROGRESS

Saturday, May 11, 2013

You'll never get these minutes back...

In spin class this morning, Michelle said something that reminded me of how I need to stay dedicated. Michelle said to us during a climb, "If that felt easy to you, it probably was. Push yourself harder- you'll never get these minutes back!"

I/me/we are NEVER going to get these minutes back. Each minute, day, week or month that you've set a goal and veered off from it, you've thrown that time away. When you choose not to give it your all- you're standing still.

So, just incase you need a reminder today... work hard to stay focused and accomplish those goals because... You'll never get these minutes back!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Progress and goal setting

Hey FG's!

I hope you've had a wonderful MONDAY and that it wasn't just another manic Monday... (ya, I got jokes...)! 
Last week I had set two goals for myself:
1. Break my sugar habit
2. Take 5 morning classes.

How did I do?
1. I haven't broken that sugar habit. I did well for a few days and then I found my way back to the sugar. It's almost like I NEED to do a 21 day sugar detox. Oy :/
2. I took 5 morning classes and went for 3 evening runs! WOOHOO! I struggled a few mornings a week. It's really easy for me to get up for spin but the other classes not so much. I fought thru it and went to FIVE morning classes last week! I took the weekend off to recover and just stay active via living the city life (walking downtown, etc).

How am I doing this week?
 Well, it's Monday..

1. I had a gluten-free cupcake and chocolate today. YES, I KNOW! I'm YELLING at myself too! But, I'm HONEST! I have to find a way to break this darn cycle. Tips?! I need to think of something to tell myself before I reach for that sugar.
2. I did NOT wakeup for my morning class. However, I did get my tired butt up off of the couch and get to spin tonight. I kicked butt and felt proud. Thanks, Kathlneen for being so motivating tonight!

What's my gameplan for the week:
1. Figure out a way to get myself out of this sugar funk!
2. Get my butt to the studio 5 days this week
3. Take at least 3 barre classes this week

What are YOUR goals for the week? Come on... SHARE THEM WITH ME! If you haven't set goals yet, CHOOSE TWO and POST them here! Let's keep each other accountable!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Bad habits...

Over the past few weeks-almost two months (if I'm being honest)- I've taken back on two terrible habits that I REALLY need to break:

1. Eating SUGAR!!
2. Skipping morning workouts.

For me, number one is harder to break than number two. It is the second day of the week and I've found myself indulging (almost gorging) on sugary things. I've said it before...Yes, I eat CLEAN. BUT, just because it's a CLEAN candybar or cookies- it's still JUNK for you! 

Morning workouts are a whole other story! From October-January, I went to the studio nearly EVERY morning without batting an eye. I started my fitness journey by going to morning classes and it was just the norm to go. Now, however, it's BEYOND PAINFUL to get up and go. I don't know why. I can't put my finger on it. I LOVE working out. I LOVE Fit Girl Studio. I LOVE my classes and fellow FGS members. But, I haven't been able to get myself to the studio. 
...This week... this week is different. It might only be Tuesday but I've gotten my butt up and worked out at 6 a.m. EVERY day this week (errr...I mean, two days this week). I'm making a change. Even if my body is totally fighting it. I am building a healthy habit again.

As far as the sugar- my mom put it quite accurately when she texted me (in response to my venting about being disappointed in myself) these words, "You have to get your head together!"

It's MIND over MATTER. I KNOW I can do it. I don't have to eat that sugar or go on a hunt to find a gluten-free sweet treat... I need to break the habit. Personally, I can't just indulge every once in a while. It throws me off completely. 

Sighhh...

I'm a work in progress; that's for sure!

What are your bad habits that you just can't seem to break?! Or, what healthy habits are you trying so deperately to make stick? 

Saturday, April 27, 2013

I love running and FGS! Finding Balance

...and FGS

THE weekend of the the year has finally arrive-Beautiful weather is upon us!

It's the first weekend of the year that we can finally sigh, "YES! Warmer weather is finally here!"

I was SO excited to run outside this weekend and then I had to sit down and remind myself of something. While I will always be a runner. I love running and it is part of who I am. I do NOT want to fall back into the runner's-rut that I was in prior to starting at Fit Girl Studio.

Before starting at FG, I had just finished my first marathon. I was able to run for hours and feel pretty good. I had endurance and my cardio health was obviously great. However, I was still really overweight and had zero upper body strength. I wasn't toned and needed to find my way. I realized how much barre could transform my body and I was BEYOND thankful to FG for helping me learn what I could do WITH running AND total body toning. I realized that just like exercise and eating right have to go together...so do cardio and strength training/toning.

So, as I remember back to this...and warm weather finds us... I need to have a game plan. I LOVE spin, but I know that I am going to be running at least 3-5 times a week. I should probably scale back on my  spin classes and really focus on a huge part of what Fit Girl offers- barre and sculpt fusion yoga. I am excited to see how far I can go once I put these two together -my passion for running and my love for barre. I'll keep you posted on how I am at balancing my workouts!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend Fit Girls!


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I LOVE MY READERS! We're all in progress...

I LOVE MY READERS!

Living a healthy/fit/clean life in an unhealthy/unfit/messy world is not easy. Sure, in theory it's easy- workout, make clean foods and stick to a plan. But, it's not the reality. We are all living, breathing, science experiments and every person is different.

I have great days and HORRIBLE days. Some days I feel "good" and some I feel out of shape. I get hard on myself and I sabotage my own fitness/health journey (sub-consciously of course). I try to learn and research everything I can. I plan out my meals and workouts. But,sometimes it just doesn't go as planned. I hate feeling like I've let myself down but (truthfully-I know it's totally bad to think this way...) I also hate feeling like I've let my dietician and the instructors at my studio (my friends and mentors) down. Sometimes I try my BEST, sometimes I tell myself that I'm trying my best and sometimes I'm just trying.... I'm a work in progress. I make a lot of mistakes and I am the only one who can figure out how to get myself out of them. Even if I ask for help, there's no one else who can DO my LIFE for me. I'm a work in progress... a FIT GIRL IN PROGRESS!

These messages came to me today from readers- one about my recipes and one about my weightloss journey and both MADE my day. Thank you SO much for sharing my journey with me. It might be a crazy one- but it's mine...and I hope that I can help some of you along the way ;)

xo

In regards to a recipe that I posted on FGiP:

Dear Fit Girl in Progress,
I wanted to make sloppy joes, you know easy - it's baseball season. I am grain and dairy free and wanted a paleo friendly version. I had tried another recipe about a month ago. It was bland and flat. After a quick google search, your recipe for Sloppy Jills came up. I made them tonight. Amazing. Your taste buds speak to me. I ate this over spaghetti squash - so good. I will make this again, and again, and again! Keep the fantastic recipes coming!
Lynn J.


In regards to this blog post about my journey:
Hey Fitgirl,
I'm Julia and I live in Australia and I found your blog and love it. I've been working my way through all your missives from the Fit Girl progress journey and this one struck a chord. the description of photos, being the fat one, and cardis in different colours is me too. But not any more. I lost a significant amount of weight over the last 4 years and now I've hit a plateau because of migraines, and the last 5 kilos of stubborn tummy fat. I do 4 dance classes a week and personal training with a gym trainer once a week. I also mostly, eat clean and lean, but sweets and coffee are my fallbacks. The lack of motivation or belief that I can be just fit, athletic and absolutely cute seems still just a little beyond me and its really bugging me as its preventing me from going to the gym and smashing out a workout (there are boys at that gym and they check my arse out every time). Hmm. If nothing else, its nice to find one other person on the planet who's tackling the problem with a positive attitude towards fitness! 



Monday, April 22, 2013

One workout away from a good mood

OK, let's get the complainer/annoying/whiney stuff out of the way: I had a pretty craptastic day. It started out bad, I was tired and annoyed all day and dealing with random drama. So, after work I did something that I haven't done in a while (although I have been eating a lot of sugar...): emotionally ate. I went to the produce market to get some fruits/veggies and then to Whole Foods. In my car, on the way home, I totally full-out binged. NOOOO!!!! I ate a Carol's gluten free cookie and a Swirlz (gluten free/vegan...but soy containing) cupcake-- then some maple covered almonds. Generally clean food? Yes. Absolutely horrible choice? Yes. I don't typically feel "bad" about what I eat anymore. If i want something, I eat it. But when you do something like binge or eat a bunch of junk just because...it's a pretty crappy feeling. I came home and wanted to cry. I told my husband how miserable I was and that I thought I'd just stay in on this beautiful afternoon/evening and lay in bed (and cry).  I was annoyed because I spent too long grocery shopping that I missed sculpt yoga and barre- AND spin was full!

Then...my day turned around!!

I checked the Fit Girl Studio app one more time and saw that there was an opening in spin for 6:30. The clock read 6:22. I have 8 minutes to change, RUN to the studio and get on the cycle. And THAT my friends is EXACTLY what I did. I pushed myself harder than I knew I had energy for and left feeling proud and accomplished.

I forgot to mention that I got an email today about spin instructor certification training. I immediately signed up and although it wasn't exactly a top priority in my budget- I'm STOKED to be getting instructor training and taking a step towards accomplishing one of my goals for 2013! WoopWoop!

Let me tell you ALL...don't EVER forget that...


You're only one WORKOUT away from a good mood :)


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Day of Rest

Let's start this off with by saying that my goal this week was only one thing:
MORNING WORKOUTS.
I had a goal to wake up 5 days a week this week and go to morning workouts.

On Wednesday, I was off of work so I didn't go to my 6a.m. class. Instead, I went to a spin class in the evening. I didn't feel bad about it though because I still worked out. But, last night I was up most of the night because of our horrible thunderstorms. I woke up at 4:45 a.m. again and I realized that the park was flooded and the lightening was downright scary. So, I canceled my 6 a.m. barre class. I felt bad about it all day and intended on working out this evening. However, I was too tired that I just wanted to sleep. Naturally, for me, I felt guilty for not working out and sticking to my plan. 

I decided to stop feeling guilty and remind myself that I've worked out the past 5 days consistently and I'm climbing back to the top. I took a nice nap, relaxed and made a healthy home-cooked dinner for my husband and myself. And... I didn't feel bad for my day of rest!

...with that said, I will be getting my butt to spin at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Do you have a specific rest-day?


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Avocado, mushroom & onion burgers

I don't have the best pictures of these but I had some grassfed beef and I realized that I've never really made burgers before. I either get them pre-formed and my husband grills them (only in the summer in Chicago) or I make frozen turkey burgers. So, I decided to give it a whirl-making burgers on the stove, that is. I made 4 mini-burgers (1 lb would've made 6 but I made a bigger burger with the remaining for my husband) and they were delish! If I could've, I most certainly would've grilled them.

One more note: I "stuffed" my burgers but could you easily use the add-ons for topping your burger instead.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb of grassfed organic ground beef
  • hamburger seasoning
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1/2 small onion
  • 1/2 cup of onions


Directions
I mixed all of the ingredients into my ground beef and then cooked them over medium/high heat for about 5 minutes on each side (they were thick so they took longer). I'm the amateur at burgers, so cook 'em up the way you like the best! haha
I served my burgers over a bed of lettuce, added more mushrooms, onions and even topped with a fried egg (the former-vegetarian in me is dyingggggg).

Paleo Chocolate Crunchies

I simply can't think of a title good enough to describe the deliciousness of these sweet treats. They are SO good that I made a tiny batch this time (it's the second time that I've made them and I made 1/4 of the recipe) in order to help with portion control- haha.


Ingredients:
(this yields a large portion of about 15-20 "crunchies")


  • 1 cup of chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup of almond butter
  • 1/3 cup of raw honey
  • 1/3 cup of coconut oil (I use a bit less to make them less messy and hold up a bit better)
  • 1 cup of Coconut Flakes (I crumble them to make them a bit smaller)
  • 1 cup of pecan pieces
  • 1 tablespoon of cinnamon (eyeball it)
  • Salt (a sprinkle on top of each finished "crunchie" before you let it cool


Directions:


  1. melt chocolate, almond butter and honey on the stove top over medium heat
  2. Add coconut flakes, pecan pieces and cinnamon to the mixture
  3. Turn down the heat and mix a final few times
  4. spoon mixture onto a baking tray or even into molds (I used my infamous heart shaped mold the second time that I made it. They popped out very easily)
  5. sprinkle just a bit of salt over each crunchie
  6. Set in the freezer for 20-30 minutes or until solid
  7. ENJOY!