I am a HUGE BELIEVER in Les Mills programs. I had my first experience with Les Mills when I tried BodyPump for the first time back in 2007. I always disliked group fitness classes (I can distinctly remember leaving in the middle of a step class at the Y to go run on the treadmill [...]
BodyPump
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Weekly Workouts: Back to Ashtanga + Last BodyPump Class
January 19, 2014 { 12 comments }Time for the weekly workout recap. This is a new weekly series that I’ve started in the last couple of months. I think it’s easier to give you a holistic view of the week and how I felt throughout than to sprinkle it throughout the week. I’m kind of trying to do the same thing [...]
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It’s January in the Fitness Industry!
January 11, 2014 { 13 comments }This week was…insane. There is no other word for it. January in the fitness industry is everything that it’s hyped up to be. I was booked solid with clients and classes and my inbox overfloweth with many other fitness and training related opportunities. I also have a list of things about a mile long that [...]
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My Favorite Treadmill Workout
October 11, 2013 { 24 comments }Happy, happy Friday! When I run outside I am happy to keep a comfortable pace while I listen to music or an audiobook, enjoy the scenery and zone out. On the other hand, when I run on the treadmill I need a lot more stimulation. One way that I entertain myself is by reviewing BodyPump [...]
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The Meal Formula That’s Working For Me Lately
October 5, 2013 { 18 comments }Good morning! It’s a beautiful day here in Charlotte. I got myself out of bed and onto my yoga mat for 7:30 a.m. super flow at Y2 Yoga this morning. I’m currently enjoying a soy latte with one pump of pumpkin spice outside of Starbucks before heading to Metro CrossFit for The Burpee 350. We’re [...]
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Running Annie // Sweet Sullie // Signs
August 23, 2013 { 7 comments }Happy Friday everyone. A few things to share… How I’ve been working out. Remember how I blogged yesterday about my 5 year BodyPump anniversary and that I was going to teach last night? Well, it was amazing and I felt so happy up there but it was SO HARD. Taking almost a month off of [...]
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My Five Year BodyPump Anniversary + Wine Wednesday & Erin McDermott Fabulousness
August 22, 2013 { 15 comments }It was so interesting to read everyone’s take on introvert v. extrovert. Reader Laurie encouraged me to check out Susan Cain’s book, “Quiet” and also to listen to her TED talk about the power of introverts. I will definitely be using one of my Audible credits for Quiet and I’ll let you all know what [...]
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WOD + Eats + New Yoga Playlist
June 6, 2013 { 11 comments }Workouts this week have been good. Lots of yoga, lots of strength and little running. I’m just really not feeling the running right now. But I did have to get some running in on Wednesday in honor of National Run Day. I did this WOD but substituted a 500 meter run for the rowing. This [...]
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Front Squat Workout + Fueling The Workouts
May 23, 2013 { 16 comments }Hello and happy end of week…especially since it’s an end of week leading into a long weekend! I have lots of updates on the food and fitness front. Let’s start with fitness. I have really been digging the direction my workouts have been taking lately. I’ve been feeling less run and more CrossFit and yoga. [...]
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BodyPump 85 Review…Oh My Legs
April 18, 2013 { 46 comments }I’m a little fitness enigma. I run, I yoga, I CrossFit, I BodyPump, I strength train on my own…I love it all. I would say that most people give up things like BodyPump when they start CrossFitting but I enjoy teaching BodyPump so much and I still really like the workout. It’s just so fun! [...]
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Grumpy Sullie and Spiced Chicken Recipe
February 21, 2013 { 20 comments }I fully recognize that as a dog momma that I think pictures of Sullie are cuter than any of you do and that at times I may seem slightly over the top with my love for her but come on… How can you not adore this face? You usually see happy Sullie. This is grumpy [...]
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6.3 Percent
January 18, 2013 { 35 comments }Happy, happy, happy Friday. I am so very excited to see the arrival of the weekend although I still have a really tough CrossFit workout to complete and client to train before I can officially call it the weekend. I bundled up and braved the pouring down cold rain last night to teach BodyPump 84 [...]
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Carb Loading…and Les Mills GRIT!
December 7, 2012 { 14 comments }I’m drowning my sorrows and preparing for tomorrow’s race with pizza. And red wine…and strawberry ice cream. Okay, I’m totally kidding when I say that I’m carb loading for a 5K. The truth is that I’ve just been craving pizza all week and something about Friday night pizza feels like complete perfection. Running nutrition lesson…despite [...]
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One Workout Away
October 23, 2012 { 30 comments }You know that saying, “You’re only one workout away from a good mood?” I experienced that in a major way last Thursday. I was scheduled to teach BodyPump at the Y but I came up with a list of reasons why I didn’t want to teach and even sent out a last minute sub request. [...]
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Crash And Burn
August 24, 2012 { 12 comments }It’s 9 p.m. on Friday night and I’m sitting on the couch under a blanket drinking chai tea and watching TLC. I ate a frozen meal for dinner. To give myself credit, it was from Trader Joe’s and actually tasted great. I tend to get in patterns where I go, go, go and then crash. [...]
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It’s Good
August 2, 2012 { 26 comments }It’s been a good day. I had my first 5 a.m. wake up call in a long time to teach a yoga/mobility private. It was awesome and totally worth the early morning. I planned on coming home for breakfast but got caught up at the gym and ended up teaching a class so I just [...]
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Humbled And Redeemed
May 3, 2012 { 16 comments }Fact: I suck at wall balls. And I don’t just mean that they’re hard and I don’t like doing them…I mean that I physically cannot perform them correctly. Rather than an effortless catch/squat/toss, I’m more slam into my chest with straight legs and hurl. It took some serious convincing to get me to do last [...]
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Hard Workouts, Good Food
April 27, 2012 { 19 comments }Happy, happy, happy Friday! Although I can’t believe it’s already Friday! When I travel on the weekends and then jump back into a busy week, time seems to fly. I’m looking forward to a relaxing weekend in Charlotte so that I can catch up and get organized. Two things that I pretty much feel like [...]
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Good Thing She’s So Cute
March 29, 2012 { 42 comments }7-Day Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 4…annnnd another green smoothie breakfast. I might get crazy tomorrow and have oatmeal for breakfast and a smoothie for lunch or afternoon snack! ;) True to my word, this was another new combination compliments of my freshly stocked freezer. I picked up frozen pineapple, mango and peaches. Here’s what went [...]
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Kicking Off Seven Days Of Green
March 26, 2012 { 94 comments }Happy Monday and happy first day of the 7-Day Green Smoothie Challenge! I kicked off my Monday by teaching BodyPump and then coming home and making a green protein smoothie. I kept it basic for day one. Here’s what we’re working with… 1 cup almond milk 6 crushed ice cubes 2 cups spinach (loosely packed [...]
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Peanut Butter, Coconut and Fruit Granola Bars
March 12, 2012 { 35 comments }It’s been quite a Monday over here and I’ve been full-speed ahead since my feet hit the floor at 5:15 a.m. My first stop was the Y to teach 6 a.m. BodyPump and then back home to clean myself up and feed my starving belly. Strength training makes me so hungry! I got a little crazy [...]
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Figuring It Out
March 9, 2012 { 37 comments }Happy Friday! I actually can’t believe that it is Friday. This was my first full week being at Metro and it flew by. I feel so lucky to be here and definitely know that it was the right decision for me to take this job. Everyone has been so welcoming and I’m so excited about [...]
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My Perfect Thursday
February 24, 2012 { 29 comments }Thursday was incredible. It was 75 degrees, breezy and the sun was shining and my day was full of things that I love to do. After “sleeping in” until 7, I made overnight oats for breakfast. Quick oats, bananas, blueberries, apples, dried cranberries, chia seeds, plain Greek yogurt, almond milk and cinnamon. Topped with Almond [...]
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It’s Enough
February 21, 2012 { 32 comments }What is it about sitting for extended periods of time that makes you so tired? You know, things like long car rides, cramped flights, meetings and trainings? I sat in CPR/First Aid/Oxygen/AED re-certification for a little over four hours yesterday and it absolutely wiped me out for the rest of the day. Although we had [...]
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Golden Goodness
February 20, 2012 { 25 comments }Happy President’s Day! I hope that some of you are enjoying a day off. Unfortunately, I am not. I taught 6 a.m. BodyPump (and had quite a few members who came for early class on their day off…so awesome!) and now I have to spend the rest of my day in CPR and First Aid [...]
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Guest Instructing In Georgia + Comfort Food
February 19, 2012 { 22 comments }I mentioned this in last night’s post but the reason for my weekend trip to Georgia was to visit with friend and blog reader, Louly, who is the director of the Y in Covington. They were launching BodyPump 80 this weekend so it was perfect timing for me to visit and participate in the launch. [...]
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End Of The Week Rundown
February 17, 2012 { 11 comments }I can’t believe it’s Friday. This week has been an absolute whirlwind of busyness and awesomeness! :D I have been going non-stop from 6 a.m. until after 8 p.m. every day and when I woke up this morning my body was definitely feeling it. I am feeling pretty run down and kind of sore and [...]
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Thank You. And I Eat Good Food.
February 13, 2012 { 23 comments }I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate the congratulatory tweets, Facebook posts and blog comments about my new career move. I also can’t express how much it means to me to read your extremely kind comments about the evolution of my career path over the past year. If you had told [...]
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Food Hate To Food Love
February 6, 2012 { 74 comments }Good morning and happy Monday! I hope that your week is off to a great start and that Super Bowl Sunday was fun. My Monday started the way that they all have for the past two years…with a 5 a.m. wake-up call to teach BodyPump. Even though I sometimes arrive to teach class a bit [...]
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BodyPump 80 Review + Friday Update
February 3, 2012 { 24 comments }I don’t think I’ve been so happy to see the arrival of a weekend since I started fitness full-time. This may have been my busiest week yet and I definitely taught the most classes that I have ever taught in one week – 18 between Sunday and today! That is insane. I am determined that [...]
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So Much Yoga
February 2, 2012 { 15 comments }It’s been a yoga-rific week. Over the past three days I have taught ELEVEN classes/privates. While I love yoga with all my heart, I do not even want to say the words “inhale upward facing dog, exhale downward facing dog” right now. And I’ve only been able to personally practice one day this week and [...]
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Overnight Oats Make A Comeback
January 19, 2012 { 25 comments }How does it happen that the days I think I’m going to get so much done and have some free time always end up being the craziest? Today started out with an easy morning but once noon rolled around it was nonstop until I got home at 7:30. I slept in until 8 and then [...]
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Just A Monday
January 16, 2012 { 16 comments }I think yesterday’s busy day caught up with me today. First, I woke up starving when my alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. to teach BodyPump. And then no amount of caffeine could get me going. And trust me…I drank a lot. Luckily, I had a pretty chill day. I taught BodyPump in the morning, [...]
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Sometimes I Eat Croissants, Sometimes I Eat Salads
January 13, 2012 { 23 comments }HAPPY FRIDAY!!! It is a beautiful day here in Charlotte. Although it’s rather cold, the sun is shining and the sky is cloudless. My day is going to be pretty relaxed and low-key. I am only teaching one lunchtime yoga class and then computer work (must catch up on email), blog stuff, a Trader Joe’s [...]
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The First Friday
January 6, 2012 { 12 comments }Good morning and happy first Friday of 2012. I don’t know about you but I am relieved that it’s Friday and that the week is wrapping up. Sometimes I feel like there is so much pressure at the start of a new year to make these big statements about what kind of year it is [...]
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2011 In Review: The Top 10
December 30, 2011 { 19 comments }I am not even sure what to think about 2011. I have said this at least 100 times but it has been a year of complete transformation. When I look back at January 1, 2011 I was working full-time in advertising, teaching two BodyPump classes per week and had just made the decision to go through [...]
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10 Days Out
December 15, 2011 { 29 comments }So. We are 10 days out from Christmas and I have done zero shopping. I haven’t even considered a list of possible ideas. Holiday cards were a no go this year. Call me Scrooge but I’m kind of just ready to put 2011 in the books and move on to January. Sigh. I should probably [...]
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Warm Me Up
December 12, 2011 { 30 comments }The week is off to a cold start here in Charlotte. I admit that I am a total baby when it comes to cold weather and I do everything I can to stay warm. I bundle up in jackets and hoodies even when I’m indoors, constantly have a scarf around my neck, camp out in [...]
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Since You Asked…
November 21, 2011 { 14 comments }I have received quite a few comments with questions recently about yoga and BodyPump. I thought it would be most beneficial if I answered them in a post in case others have similar questions. BodyPump I used to have definition from it [BodyPump] but since I’ve upped my weights it doesn’t seem to be giving [...]
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Transformation
November 20, 2011 { 14 comments }How many times have I said this? It has been a year of transformation. For the most part the transformation has been exciting and has left me feeling inspired and incredibly blessed. But it’s not all so easy. There comes a time when the shine wears off and reality sets in. And although I am [...]
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BodyPump Advanced Instructor Training
November 18, 2011 { 15 comments }Today I completed the BodyPump Advanced Instructor Module 1! I have been wanting to go through advanced instructor training for a long time now so I was thrilled to discover a course was being offered in Cary. I signed up a couple of months ago and today was the big day! I love BodyPump (read [...]
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Monday Love
November 14, 2011 { 20 comments }I hope everyone had a nice Monday. I’ve said this before but it’s one of my very favorite days of the week. I love that everyone has a “fresh start” attitude. I always say that the energy in my Monday evening yoga class is the best of the whole week. I also love starting my [...]
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(De)Clutter
November 7, 2011 { 24 comments }I am the first to admit that a big fault of mine is allowing myself to get all wrapped up in the day-to-day while pushing less interesting tasks to the side. I am terrible about staying on top of things that just don’t interest me. I will put them off and procrastinate like a champion. [...]
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Recovery Mode
November 1, 2011 { 14 comments }I’m in total couch recovery mode right now. Tuesdays do me in every time. Today I taught four yoga classes, two yoga privates and BodyPump…and managed to squeeze in my own 90 minute practice. The day started with a 5:45 a.m. wake up call for a 7 a.m. class at Charlotte Athletic Club. I made [...]
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A (Good) Long Day
October 25, 2011 { 8 comments }Whew. Tuesdays nearly do me in. I’m barely holding my eyes open on the couch over here while we watch Bridesmaids and I still need to get some work done to prepare for tomorrow. Although my day was busy, it was full of activities that I love so it’s all good. Alarm was set for [...]
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A Day In The Life
October 18, 2011 { 31 comments }Whoa Tuesday. The busiest day of the week. Snapshot. 4:45 a.m. – alarm goes off, shower #1, make coffee, get dressed 5:30 a.m. – leave house for gym 6 a.m. – private yoga session 7 a.m. – teach a vinyasa flow class 8:30 a.m. – breakfast…smoothie (blueberries, banana, spinach, milk, ice, ground flax) and pumpkin [...]
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Meat and Taters
October 11, 2011 { 10 comments }There’s a chance that I may not be able to lift my arms above my head tomorrow. No, really. I got my booty handed to me this morning. One minute I was shadowing another personal trainer at the gym and the next thing I knew I was doing the workout with the client. When he [...]
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Easy Pantry Dinner
October 4, 2011 { 14 comments }Tuesdays are my long teaching days. My day started in the dark Uptown at 6 a.m. for a yoga private… …and ended Uptown in the dark at 7 p.m. after teaching BodyPump. In between I taught three yoga classes. I did have a couple breaks throughout the day to get some things done and most [...]
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It’s All Good
October 3, 2011 { 27 comments }Hi and hope that Monday was kind to you! I know I sound like a broken record but my Monday was so good. With each day that passes I feel more and more confident that I made the right decision to take the leap of faith and change careers. The big news of today is [...]
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About That Downtime…
September 27, 2011 { 12 comments }I take back everything I said about having too much downtime this week. Today was busy, busy but I loved every minute of it! I taught four classes (three yoga and one BodyPump) and also shadowed a few personal trainers. It was really fun to hang out with different trainers and see each person’s training [...]
