Sobriety Checkpoint

I'm very proud to announce that I just passed my 10th day of Starting Sober [30 Day Habit Breaker Challenge] - WOOHOO! Wonderfully fitting as well, my 2nd sober weekend is also the New Year, New You weekend at Pure Barre Pasadena. I feel better than ever and incredibly refreshed and ready to  tackle the 75 minute Abs Intensive class today as well as a 7am hike tomorrow morning with the Pasadena Hiking Pacers. 

With each day that passes, I find myself more and more surprised about how wonderful I feel and how obvious it is to the people and world around me. While I had many reasons for spending 30 days sober, I honestly did not anticipate that cutting out a few glasses of wine during the week and vodka sodas on the weekends would affect my mind and body so drastically. 

The first 3 days were the most challenging... not because I NEEDED a drink or was even in a setting that I would normally drink alcohol, but because doing something different always feels uncomfortable. The first day of sobriety, I joked with my co-workers that I was successfully sober...... their response was, "do you normally drink before 10:00 a.m.?" The answer was no, but that wasn't the point. Changing habits effects every minute and every day of your life - regardless if you're doing it at that moment or not. The reality of the impact that habits have on us is not something that we often recognize or admit to ourselves and others, and can be incredibly important to acknowledge.

My journey has still just begun, but I feel a major shift happening throughout my entire being. I feel more alert, more enthusiastic, more prepared, more perceptive and more open to a positive mindset and physical activity overall. 

I can't lie, I've been watching TV, which is something I also set out on eliminating for this 30 day period, but I have cut back a lot. Not only that, but the more days that pass, the less inclined I am to watch TV because I'm more focused on my plans and priorities, I'm more interested in winding down at night with a book in hand, and I'm less attracted to the idea of sitting around because I'd be bored without a drink in hand or snacks to munch on... On that note, the less alcohol in my body has also translated into less desire for mindless snacking... if you ask me that's a huge WIN! 

Room Service Workout

Greetings from Orlando, Florida!

 

My two weeks are officially up and I'm excited to report that Chanel and I have made it safely across the country to our port destination. Before we board the Bud Light cruise tomorrow morning, we'll be spending the night in the snazzy Marriott Hotel with some other cruise passengers (from what we hear).

 

As with most vacations I go on, the last few days leading up to my departure have been a blur of errands, work, tying up loose ends and packing. To my dismay, I didn't get a workout in yesterday, which left me feeling hungry for the burn today before spending hours on end prancing around in my bikini... Not surprisingly though, a workout didn't seem to be in the cards today. Between leaving the house at 5:30 a.m., traveling all day in a squished airplane (with my abs contracted as much as possible of course), getting to our hotel destination and resting up before setting sail, my options for fitting in a workout were limited to borderline non-existent. Luckily, Chanel and I are motivated and we are most certainly not traveling to the land of complaints, sad faces and excuses... On the contrary, we are heading to the sea of incredible "spring break" madness, bikini babes, musical inspiration and endless great times.

So, let's freaking WORKOUT!

 

We don't have workout clothes because our bikinis obviously take up a lot of space and we're staying in your standard 'ol hotel room, so it's time to get creative. Here's a special little clip to show you some options you probably have in YOUR hotel room too :)

 

 Here's what we chose to do with some of the options you just saw:

Abs

(perform 3 rounds)

1 round equals:

5 leg lifts & lowers

5 leg in & outs

5 crunches

5 reverse crunches

5 scissor kicks

 

Legs

(perform 3 rounds)

1 round equals:

10 squats

5 right leg squats

5 left leg squats

10 sumo squats

 

Arms & Full Body
(perform 3 rounds)

1 round equals:

10 dips

10 push-ups

20 second plank

 

The moral of the story??

Next time you find yourself in a hotel room with no workout clothes and limited resources, remember that determination, creativity and your own body weight is all you really need!

 

Until next week...BON VOYAGE!

 

Gladiator Training Part 3: THE RACE!

Yesterday, on Saturday, October 6, 2012 I crossed the Gladiator Rock'n Run finish line. A goal I once thought to be impossible is now an accomplishment I'm immensely proud of and look forward to tackling again!

I could go on and on about the total insanity of the run and all 14 obstacles, and how most of it was surprisingly fun... I could tell you all about how my fellow Gladiator Goddess, Chanel and I made all the macho men look like sissy girls... I could tell you how I am SOOOO PROUD OF MYSELF I CAN HARDLY STAND IT.... but Chanel already took all the words out of my mouth!

Check out Chanel's incredible recap of the big event and our outstanding accomplishments in Officially a Gladiator on Photography + Science = Chanel.

Before

Anxiously waiting...

READY, SET, GO!

Almost to the end and still going strong!

Pumping ourselves up after freezing to death in the Polar Plunge.

Barbed wire mud pit?? Piece of cake... piece of crumb cake!

Mud Pit Masters!

Just doing a little dumpster diving...

Turns out hay really helps with slippery hands... who knew?!

Cargo net wall - this was the obstacle I was looking forward to the most and it was all I hoped it would be and more!

Pink Flamingo Chanel handling major business on the slippery wall!

Black Swan Rachel reaching the top on try #1 - like a BOSS!

Gladiator Goddesses enjoying our free cold beers after crossing the finish line!

Gladiator Training Team Nicole, Chanel, Rachel & Nick - WE ROCK!

After

I ran, I climbed, I crawled, I conquered.

Do It, Review It - Stand Up Paddleboarding

I'm constantly looking for fun new ways to get outside, be active, and enjoy each and every loved one and day in my life. That, coupled with the realization that we're now knee deep in the month of August, made me hungry for an adventure.

This Saturday, my appetite for such an adventure was satisfied when my three amazing, active, and fun loving friends and I decided to get our day started early with a trip to the Newport Beach, CA to test out the water and try stand up paddleboarding (or, stand up paddling or SUPing as some prefer to abbreviate).

Tiffany, Connie, Emily & I enjoying a wonderful day on the water!

I've gone SUPing once before (last summer), when Tiffany and I bought and redeemed a LivingSocial deal for a one hour lesson at Stand Up Paddle Co in Laguna Beach, CA. The lesson was great and mostly taught us the valuable basics. Stand up paddleboarding is done in the water while you stand on what looks like a larger than usual surf board - you use a paddle like you would in a kayak, except this one just has a paddle on one end and a handle on the other. We learned how to get in and out of the ocean, along with how to start on our knees and work our way up to standing. It was a mellow day on the water, so learning to tackle the waves wasn't too challenging. Our instructor was a sun-kissed, very easy on the eyes, not from California kind of friendly surfer dude who was a nice addition to the "sorority big sis-little sis" chit chat and giggles while we paddled around. The thing I remember the most, though, was the feeling of absolute peace and quiet on the water. Even in our group of three, the water offered endless amounts of space and tranquility for "me time." I loved it!

This time, four of us (pictured above) met up in Newport Beach, CA to try out Adventures Boat Rentals and paddle around Newport Harbor. The weather was perfect - sunny with a slight breeze, and overall, the place was really great. The staff was friendly and helpful, the prices were incredibly affordable (we spent $20 per person for an hour and a half rental), it had pretty good accessibility, and getting in and out of the water on the docks wasn't as challenging as I worried it might be. Not only that, but exploring the boats' bedroom and passing by all the fellow paddlers, kayakers, boaters and beyond was very pleasant!

The four of us all transitioned swiftly from our knees to standing on our paddleboards and I felt at ease going from standing to sitting to laying down to standing again. I kept thinking I must have improved since this same level of movement last summer would've landed me straight in the water! We even spotted a group of SUP Yogis (aka: people who do Yoga on paddleboards in the water) and tried copying them... we didn't get far but it's the attempt that counts, right??

As far as the workout aspect of SUPing goes, it seemed to differ for everyone in our group. Between the four of us though, we seemed to have almost every body part accounted for in the soreness discussion that followed our session. I found the best core/abs move (for me) occurred with I made sharp turns on the paddleboard (by holding the paddle firmly in the water on one side to turn the board in that direction - I hope that wasn't a terrible description).

Summary
SUPing is super fun, can be done without breaking the bank, and provides a refreshing workout in the beautiful outdoors! With or without tons of company, it's a peaceful break from the fast paced world we're immersed in and it's well worth an hour of your time! Take a break, grab a paddle, and get moving!

[TPBE] The Results

A month and a half ago I made a commitment to trade in my normal exercise routine for classes at Pure Barre Pasadena. I went from a steady routine of weight training, fitness classes and cardio exercise about 4 times per week to consistently attending 2-4 classes at Pure Barre Pasadena each week. What began as a hopeful attempt to improve my physical appearance turned out to be a transformation unlike anything I imagined possible.

I, personally, am pretty speechless about how much change I saw in such little time... especially since I was already in pretty good shape, I didn't change my eating habits and I mayyyybe did 2 additional "cardio only" sessions each week (Example: 20 min on elliptical outside of class), IF it was a good week. My entire concept of body types is changing, I'm finally abandoning unhealthy notions of weight control and I'm understanding what's ACTUALLY WORKING more than ever before.

The Stats
Check out [TPBE] The Starting Line for pictures of where I began!

Starting Weight: 134.5 lbs
Ending Weight: 132.1 lbs (2.4 pounds lost)
This transformation wasn't about weight loss to me but I was impressed that my weight did drop a bit. More than anything, it was about seeing how my body physically changed and responded to this style of exercise. Pure Barre taught me so much about what ACTUALLY counts when getting in shape - see "Top Lessons Learned" below for more!

Starting Bust: 35"
Ending Bust: 33" (2 inches lost)
This measurement change is one of the most interesting to me - technically, my "girls" are smaller, but because my whole upper body is more toned, the "girls" are perkier than ever and getting lots of compliments! So, ladies, maybe it's not all about size and it has more to do with shape, tone and overall appearance!

Starting Waist: 27"
Ending Waist: 26" (1 inch lost)
A smaller waist has translated into more feminine curves which I LOVE! I've never really had problems with this measurement/area but the more toned and lean, the better!

Starting "Right Below the Bellybutton": 30.5"
Ending "Right Below the Bellybutton": 29" (1.5 inches lost)
THANK YOU PURE BARRE FOR BEING THE FIRST WORKOUT THAT HAS EVERRRRRRR ADDRESSED & CHANGED THIS AREA!!!! I cannot stress enough how incredible this measurement change is for me - this is my trouble zone/insecure spot/whatever you want to call the part of my body that I've always struggled with and I'm FINALLLY feeling better about it for the first time in my LIFE!

Starting Hips:  39"
Ending Hips: 38" (1 inch lost)
Smaller hips and my butt still looks great?! Wow, I quite literally thought that was impossible. When I started working out, people would tell me, "don't lose your curves!" - Pure Barre taught me that I don't have to lose it, I can IMPROVE IT!

Starting Thighs: 23" (each thigh)
Ending Thighs: 22" (1 inch lost per thigh)
Again with the WOW... for the first time ever, I am confident in shorts or a mini skirt. For the first time ever, I look down at my legs when I'm sitting and I don't think I look fat. For the first time ever, I LOVE MY LEGS!! 

Starting Biceps: 10" (each bicep)
Ending Biceps: 10"
No change here but the difference in definition and toning is completely visible. I've been getting the MOST compliments on my arms since I started TPBE and I'm pretty sure my fat is being steadily replaced with muscle - I LIKE I LIKE!

THAT MEANS I LOST AN INCH OFF MY ENTIRE BODY IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS!


I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MEASUREMENTS OR BODY SIZE LIKE THAT SINCE I STARTED MY FIT LIFE 2 YEARS AGO... WHICH MEANS I CHANGED MORE IN 2 MONTHS THAN I HAVE IN 2 YEARS...

Top Lessons Learned

• It's actually not about weight loss - for me, at least. Pure Barre helped me WAKE UP to the reality that there can be a huge difference between losing pounds and actually changing your appearance and shape. At a certain point, I weighed less than I do now, but I wasn't in love with how I looked; my body responded to cutting calories and losing pounds by leaving me hungry, uneven and perpetually frustrated and critical. Now, instead of focusing on the scale, I'm focused on my inner core strength, my flexibility, my body measurements, my proportionality and my personal confidence level - and I'm LOVING IT! I finally understand and know that I'd rather lose inches than pounds, any day.

• It's actually not about the movement, it's about contracting and working the muscles. Pure Barre helped me UNDERSTAND that working out is supposed to be challenging, it doesn't need to be large scale and upbeat, and you have to actually focus on contracting and using your muscles if you want results. The most impossible moves were totally do-able after I properly began tightening my core... my moves became more fluid and effective when I learned to keep my hips tucked in and my posture straight... I was able to increase my reps and performance after being taught to concentrate on contracting my muscles to make the movements. 

• It's actually not boring to consistently do the "same thing." By attending classes taught by different instructors and concentrating on increasing my personal performance, it felt like a NEW and FUN challenge every time I went. In addition to supportive and motivational instructors, great music and concentrated breathing kept me going and entertained the whole way through!

THANK YOU PURE BARRE PASADENA!

I FEEL BETTER THAN EVER AND I'M DEFINITELY NOT STOPPING.


Are you ready to meet me at the barre?

Do It, Review It: Chanel Hason on Run.Yoga.Give

This special edition of Do It, Review It comes from the one and only Chanel Hason! Thank you so much for being the first ever Love Fit Life Guest Blogger, Chanel - take it away....

Hello Love Fit Life world!

When Rachel asked me to write a guest blog - I said HECK YES! I been writing my own blog called Photography+Science=Chanel for a little over 2 years now. It’s a great way to vent, spread knowledge, and make new friends J

Last weekend, I participated in an event called Run.Yoga.Give. promoted by lululemon Pasadena in order to raise money for Madison Elementary School through the Pasadena Educational Foundation. The money for the school was to keep in place their physical education department, which was unfortunately halted because of budget cuts.  

The event consisted of a fun run 5K around the Rose Bowl lead by Run Ambassador David Liston from Stadium Fitness, followed by a power yoga class on the field of the Rose Bowl lead by Liana Gannan from Yoga Blue.

My friend Josh and I decided that we were going to go for it! I’m running a 5K on June 24^th with the Love Fit Life team for the Padres Parents Against Cancer Foundation event. I thought this would be the pre-Padres running challenge J

We got there early- and soon we were off on our run! I have ran the Rose Bowl before, but cheated and didn’t run the FULL loop in entirety.  So this time, I was going to really push myself to not stop, and kick some butt. I WAS GOING TO DO THIS ALL FOR ME. Luckily Josh and I had a similar pace the whole run, so I was even more motivated to stay up with him. It is amazing the running “high” I got while doing this 5K - the whole sense of doing something good, with tons of other people running along side me, really pushed me to finish hard and fast! I focused on my pace and breathe, and at 28 minutes I crossed the finish line!

I forgot to mention that I’ve had 2 knee surgeries, luckily (or not) on the same knee. So if you may think that 5K (3.1 miles) really isn’t something to brag about, then I’d say run a 5K in my shoes. I will never fully have a healthy knee, but I’m a competitive strong woman and won’t let my knee stop me. This was a huge accomplishment in my book, and I cannot WAIT to run another 5K with the Love Fit Life Team J in less than 2 weeks.

After the run, people could do the stairs of the Rose Bowl lead by Stadium Fitness or relax until the yoga on the pristine grass of the Rose Bowl Stadium. I relaxed, and took some classic silly photos in the meanwhile ;)

When we started doing yoga, the sun was out and the weather was perfect. For an hour and a half, I was in the best mindset and my body was feeling fantastic. I was happy that Rachel and her mom joined in on the yoga after coming back from a wedding the night before!

For the rest of the entire day- I was in the best mood and my body felt golden. We ended up raising over 3k for Madison Elementary School, too! Do good things for your mind, body and soul once in a while J and fully understand why life is great.

Do It, Review It: Studio Fusion

STUDIO FUSION

16401 Gothard St.

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

(714) 596-7400

I decided to start the "Do It, Review It" series with Studio Fusion because this is where my fit life really started kicking in. I was living in Huntington Beach, not eating well (and eating WAY too much), and not getting much exercise. One day, I was introduced to the incredible Heather Lauchlan (soon to be Heather Cotsenmoyer!) and told she was someone I would totally get along with and a Zumba instructor to make things even better! Long story short - yes, she's AMAZING, yes, we get along VERY well, and yes, she's a FANTASTIC Zumba instructor that really gets me moving and motivated! Before I knew it, I was going to classes at Studio Fusion almost every weekend and absolutely loving it. With that said, here are some of the niddy griddy details to get you going:

Classes Offered?

Studio Fusion specializes in classes that fuse together different methods of exercise and dance. Most classes I've been to use low weights and various props that simultaneously give you that "I CAN DO THIS" feeling while maximizing your workout and its effects. The result is a unique and incredibly fun workout that I've become completely addicted to. Now that I'm not living in Huntington Beach, I feel devastated to the point that I recently decided to head down on some Saturday and Sunday mornings because it's such a one of a kind place that I can't get enough of (let me know if you want to join me and carpool from Pasadena/LA!). Some of my favorite classes are Zumba, Barre Fusion, Pilates Sculpt, Hip Hop Cardio Fitness, Yoga Sculpt Fusion, and I'm sure all the rest that they offer as soon as I can try them!

The Vibe?

The vibe at Studio Fusion is great. The studio is clean and absolutely adorable, the people are friendly and welcoming, and overall it feels like you're part of the family regardless of how often you go. Also, parking is free, easy, and right outside the front door which always improves my own vibe.

Worth It?

Let's be real for a minute... the main issue that most people have with smaller specialized gyms is the cost. Studio Fusion is not the least expensive, but it's also incredibly reasonable for the classes and services provided, and it's much less expensive than most other semi-comparable studios. From my experience, most places will charge you $18-$25 for a single class, while Studio Fusion comes in at a reasonable $15. Plus, if you're smart about it and take full advantage of going, you can buy a package of classes, a monthly membership, or maybe even use a coupon to try a class out for free! It is absolutely worth it in every way. I started by purchasing a package of 5 classes and quickly jumped up to a monthly membership. As aforementioned, I plan on going back on weekends I'm available so I will be purchasing another package of classes very soon!

The Results?

AMAZING!!!! I have noticed more results from Studio Fusion than ANYWHERE ELSE EVER! Seriously, it changed my entire perspective and outlook. I went from saying "this is just how my body is" to "ummm, just kidding, that's NOT just how my body is!" I even remember the moment when I realized the change... I was in a Yoga Sculpt Fusion class and we went into a down facing dog position - as I was hanging out with my head upside down, I glanced at my legs and almost fell over... My legs looks leaner than EVER before... EVER before. My whole mentality of being stuck with stubby chubby legs was over. The fusion style that they accomplish and teach so well does an outstanding job of elongating your muscles while toning your entire body to give you that long and lean look no matter how tall or short you are.

The Moral of the Story?

Studio Fusion is worth every penny and every minute spent there.

THANK YOU STUDIO FUSION for showing me first hand that fitness can be fun and that I am not trapped in a certain body type (to some extent haha) - I am longer, leaner and more toned than ever before and with your help, I'll stay that way forever!