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The One Thing No One Can Take Away

 

Good evening!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thursday.  I can’t complain one bit as I woke up feeling much better and ready to take on the day!

I met Gabriela and Sara at Equinox for another wonderful Thursday spin class with Shaina. I’m always worried how people will enjoy classes but luckily Gabriela loved it too! Shaina went a little crazy on us and started getting very deep and preachy towards the end. I don’t usually like this but she made a good fact. Each day, we must figure out what is the one thing we do for ourselves that no one can take away.

Today’s class was more intense than normal with a few really tough intervals. I left class sweaty and tan! 🙂

IMG_0690After a quick shower I left the gym feeling refreshed and renewed. I think I sweat all the germs out during class!  IMG_0691Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t warm and sunny this morning. Instead it was sunny and felt like 9 degrees! My nose was already cold just a few seconds out of the gym!

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Today was a far less stressful day than yesterday and the workday went by very quickly due to all the productivity!

I enjoyed a few breaks for nourishment, but otherwise stayed busy all day.

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I left the office early to run a few errands and enjoy a relaxing evening at home complete with more delicious cereal.

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I am ready for a wonderful weekend, starting with a fun Friday!

  • Peanut Butter & Company Nutropolitan Museum event with Melissa and Sara
  • Long run with Theodora 
  • Mani & Pedi at Bliss Spa
  • A fun girl’s brunch
  • New York Junior League’s Winter Ball with Theodora and Bo

Until then, check out this amazing deal on Gilt Group today! Not a member yet? Click here to join!

The Ultimate Kit: Physique 57® 6 DVD with ball and pump

Question: What one thing do you do for yourself each day that no one can take away?

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Are You Pouring on the Pounds?

Happy Thursday! Since it’s Thursday, regular readers know that I met my gym buddy, Sara, for an awesome spin class this morning.

equinspinShaina’s spin class is an hour long on Thursdays which means it pushes us extra hard and allows us to enjoy a few extra minutes of Shaina’s music. Meghann joined us for the class two weeks ago and loved it too! Do you prefer hour or 45 minute classes? I like hour classes as I feel like I get a more complete workout.

My favorite song’s this morning was Lady Gaga’s Born This Way. I know everyone has different feelings about this song and how much it echo’s old Madonna but I love it and it has quickly earned a spot on my running playlist.

Leaving the gym this morning, I noticed that the new Spring fashions have taken over the windows in SoHo! Hopefully they are right and we’ll be able to wear these light, frilly fashions sooner versus later. For now, I’m still rotating my winter wardrobe which is far darker than my bright Spring clothes.

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On the way to work, I had the luck of snagging an empty 6 train. Many days the 6 train is so packed you can barely move but today I was able to sit down and read during my 12 minute subway ride! In fact, the extra room allowed me to notice the new ad campaign, Are you Pouring on the Pounds?  IMG_0566 IMG_0565 IMG_0564While the images of fat pouring out of the fruit punch and energy drink are a bit disgusting, I think this is an effective and strong campaign! Unfortunately, there are still a number of people who don’t realize how unhealthy soda, punch, and energy drinks are if consumed on a regular basis. One of my friends from home recently decided that he wanted to lose a few pounds and the first suggestion I made was that he give up sweet tea. Many restaurants put an unbelievable amount of sugar in their tea! for example, McDonald’s now famous sweet tea has more than 28 grams of sugar in the 32oz size!!

I’ll step off my soap box now to share this mornings breakfast with you. :)  Due to this morning’s intense workout, I brought some fruit to work for a morning snack as I don’t know if my oats and banana will hold me over as well as normal.

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Question: How do you feel about ad campaigns like the one featured above? love hem or hate them? Are they too graphic?

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Gym Buddy = No Snooze Button

Hi Lovelies!

148806_10100301645332153_2202253_60497894_918234_nSara here from Miles & Manhattan. Since Ashley is spending time with her wonderful hub and family right now (they’re probably all saying ‘y’all’ a lot. I love that she says that, don’t you???) I’m sending lots of warm thoughts her way and I am popping in for a quick post.

I am sure many of you readers know that Ashley is quite the workout-ista, and has an aggressively awesome workout schedule she tends to follow. The good news (for me) is that Ash and I both belong to Equinox (the gym I proclaim my undying love for all month except when I get my credit card statement…) and have become what I like to call gym buddies, partners in insanity and crime when it comes to the gym. (And friends in non-gym life, of course!)

Before I worked out with Ashley, my snooze button got a lot of working out too. I frequently convinced myself I was too tired, or too sore or I’d go later. None of which were true, as I am sure you can imagine. I was kind of stuck in a rut, bored with many lonely morning of wandering around they gym by myself or making a fool out of myself in group exercise classes alone.

Now, I have someone to make a fool out of myself WITH! I still look pretty “special” sometimes when they try to throw some “step” moves into classes (Step? Isn’t that from the 80’s?? Don’t you have to be COORDINATED to do that?? I digress…) Working out with Ashley has been truly a savior in my routine for many reasons.

Here are some reasons why Gym Buddies are Awes-fied:

  1. Some also interested in working out and staying fit while most of your friends think you’re an utter nut job for going to a 6:30 am spin class
  2. Some you feel accountable towards and would feel bad if you slept in a missed a class or workout with them. MOVITATION meets humiliation 😉
  3. You can share workout goals, challenges or ideas. And your aforementioned friends don’t have to listen to your class reviews or constant analysis of which classes you want to go to and why. Your GYM BUDDY is stuck listening instead 😉
  4. Walking around the gym alone can be intimidating for some people. Having someone there with you can give you motivation to try new machines or even simply stay longer, doing a couple more abs while you gab.
  5. Who doesn’t like a buddy? 🙂

But I know what you’re thinking. Not everyone can have a gym buddy. Sometimes you live far away from family and friends or your friends don’t work out, there are tons of legitimate reasons. In the case you aren’t as lucky to have an Ashley to workout with, here are some suggestions:

  1. Make a FUN workout schedule. Pack your schedule with classes you enjoy or runs on new paths, make it interesting and mix it up!
  2. Go to free classes! In NYC, you can basically get a free first class at any specialized (yoga, spin, pilates etc etc) studio. Capitalize on that! Call around and ask, then mix up your routine with exciting new classes.
  3. If you you’re a gym rat, try to see if anyone seems to share your schedule. Keep an eye out for regulars. Then….
  4. Smile at the gym. Smiling at random people might seem creepy, but the more you smile, the more likely you are to strike up a conversation with a fellow gym go-er which brings me to…
  5. Strike up a convo! Compliment someone on their workout outfit, ask for advice/about their routine, ask abut a class or instructor. Then make sure when you see that person subsequently, always smile, wave and try to chat. You might just find yourself with your very own Ashley!

What are your tips for staying motivated? And how you feel about gym buddies??

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