My First Spin Class

A few weeks ago I stumbled across a Groupon for 5 spin classes at a local studio called Pure Ryde. I paid $43 for 5 classes, a $90 value...apparently spinning isn't cheap. I've been wanting to try spinning for a while now, so I finally bit the bullet and went for my first time last night. 

Whenever I try a new workout or venture into a different gym, I'm always a little nervous and intimated. I imagine I'm not alone in feeling this way. I like being in my comfort zone and knowing what I'm doing, so I really had to convince myself to attend the class. But I'm SO glad I did. 

The studio is only about a mile or two from my office so I had plenty of time to arrive, change clothes, and get familiar with the bike before the 6:00 class started. This specific studio is "clip-in" only, which means you have to either bring your own clip-in shoes or you can use the ones the studio provides (no regular tennis shoes allowed). Most places make you pay extra for shoe rental, so I was pleasantly surprised when Pure Ryde told me they were included with the class (as well as a free towel rental). 

I was one of the first riders to show up so I had a few minutes alone with the instructor, Aimee. She was very friendly and helped me properly adjust my bike and clip in my shoes. I've never clipped my shoes into any bike before, so it was a feeling I had to get used to. I had about 15 minutes before class started and slowly peddled to warm up my legs while others arrived. I noticed Aimee helping a few other people, so I felt more comfortable knowing I wasn't the only newbie. 

There were 24 bikes in the room, with the instructor in front on a stage facing the class. Once everyone arrived, Aimee kicked everything off with a great warm up. There is a tiny computer screen at the front of your bike that shows your speed (RPM's) and the instructor guides the class to keep each individual's RPM's within a specific range during certain songs. She also has you adjust your resistance from time to time to mimic hills and increase your heart rate. 

One thing I really enjoyed about the bikes and was not expecting was that they rotated from side to side. I was imagining stationary bikes but these could actually veer from left to right, giving you a great arm and core workout as well. Their website describes the bikes as "state-of-the-art equipment allowing you to experience the most dynamic indoor cycling classes around. They are the only stationary bikes in the world that allow riders to move in three planes of motion throughout the workout. As a result the workouts are more dynamic, intense and incorporate more muscle groups during use than a traditional indoor cycling bike." Most people view spinning mainly as a leg workout, but these bikes work more muscles and help tone the entire body. 

The music was upbeat and extremely motivating and I loved that the studio turned off the lights during class (with dim light on the instructor). My only complaint was the comfort level of the seats. I imagine this to be the same at any studio because most bicycle seats are not very tushy friendly, if you know what I mean. They did have seat cushions at the front of the studio, but I was already clipped into the bike and too stubborn to go get one. Next time I will grab one and hopefully that will help! I'm a bit sore in the bum area today. 

I will definitely be back for my 4 remaining classes! It was a great workout and good change of pace from my normal exercise routine. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay $20 something dollars for a class, but thankfully I am a member at Gold's Gym where they have certain spinning classes scheduled on their calendar. I may test those out soon! 

Pure Ryde still has their Groupon up here. They have studios in 3 other locations in addition to Austin: Oxford, MS, Bethesda, MD, and West Bloomfield MI. I highly recommend it and encourage others to try it if you haven't already! 

Friday At Home Workout

Happy Friday! 

We all know by now that running is my preferred method of exercise. But sometimes I like to mix it up and work on my strength training. If I'm not taking a class at the gym, I usually incorporate some at home workouts 1-2 times a week. 

I ran 4 miles yesterday and played sand volleyball after work, so my cardio was taken care of. I woke up this morning and completed the below workout in my apartment (ceiling fan blazin'). 

Whether you have 10 minutes or 30, this workout can be incorporated to fit into any schedule. I completed each set 3 times and it took me around 30 minutes. If you only have 10 minutes, go through it once and call it a day! It'll still get your heart racing and you will definitely work up a sweat. 

In the 3rd Set, I used 8 lb dumbbells. Feel free to use whatever weight you're comfortable with. 

I've included some links below with pictures of some of the workouts, in case you might not be familiar with their names.

- Glute Kickbacks
- Russian Twists
- Bird Dogs
- Downward Dog Ab Crunch 
- Squat Kicks

After I completed 3 rounds, I did about 5 minutes of random yoga stretching before it was time to get ready for work. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Silent Run

Notice anything different?? 

Thoughts on the new design? I'm diggin' it. 

Today marks 2-weeks strong of No-Meat May! I haven't had any intense cravings for it, minus my Chipotle withdraws, but that's a whole different issue all on its own. I have an addiction to the place and the green tabasco, not the chicken itself. That will 110% be my first meal in June. 

This morning I headed out for a 4 mile run before work. It's been pouring rain here for the past two days, so when I woke up this morning to the best weather ever, I decided to take advantage of it. 

On my run, I did something that I normally don't do (if it does happen, it's on accident). This morning I purposely ran without my GPS, iPod, or knee brace. I had this random desire to "be free" (please don't accuse me of being an Austin hippie). 

It was so amazing and liberating. I'm usually focused on my pace (AKA "when can I take a walking break") and what song is playing, that I sometimes forget to just enjoy the run and scenery. Since it's been raining, everything was extremely green this morning. Mixed with the cool breeze, and no humidity, today started out delightful. 

By taking away the distractions, not only was I able to focus on enjoying my surroundings, I was more in-tune with my form and breathing. Sometimes I forget how important those things are! It was refreshing and I see myself leaving those things behind at least once a week. 

Vegetarian Check-In

Happy Friday Eve!

Today marks one week since I started my May goal of eating primarily vegetarian. So far, it hasn't been that difficult!

By opting to not buy meat products at the grocery store (money saver - cha-ching) and with all of the vegetarian options at restaurants these days (especially in Austin), I haven't struggled with this goal as of yet.  I haven't even been tempted with it. 

In my previous post, I did mention that I'd be aiming for 90% vegetarian, with absolutely no animal flesh products consumed. I have had a little bit of eggs and cheese, but not a lot. Even in my drunken stupor during this weekend's country concert extravaganza, I still managed to stick to veggie options from the food trucks (falafel gyros, anyone?). 

Here are some foods that have made up most of my diet for the past week:
- Homemade fruit and Matcha Green Tea smoothie for breakfast
- Sweet Potatoes
- Quinoa
- Black Beans
- Veggie Chipotle (more on that in a minute)
- Veggie Pizza
- Salad...lots of salad
- Hummus and carrots
- Almonds
- Artichoke Ravioli
- Cantaloupe, Strawberries, Apples 

I enjoy all of these foods so I feel like I can stick with this goal throughout the rest of the month. And who knows, maybe I'll convert full-time? Maybe. 

Side Note: The only thing I'm really upset about is my Chipotle addiction. I usually go there about once a week and get the Chicken Salad Bowl. I went there on Friday and got the salad with the grilled veggies and was NOT impressed. I don't like grilled onions or grilled peppers, so major disappointment there. Even if I left off the grilled veggies, I still don't think it's worth $6.50 for lettuce, black beans, and salsa (PLUS guac...yes, I know it's extra). This will be my Kryptonite. 

May's Goal

Where is this year going? 

It's flying by, which means another monthly goal has come and gone and it's time for yet another one on my list.

April's goal of Insanity was put on hold about half-way through the month due to a foot injury. I'm finally 100% back to normal and have been incorporating more cardio into my daily routine. I'm so happy to get back into it. As much as I loved having an excuse to be lazy and go straight to my couch every day after work for 2 weeks, deep (deep) inside, I really wanted to go out for a run. 

While I originally planned for May to be month #2 of Insanity, I really have missed running and want to enjoy our last month of "Spring" and being outdoors while I can. So I've opted to save Insanity month #2 for June or July when it's unbearably hot outside and I can stay indoors to complete those workouts. 

Which leaves the big question (big for me at least)...what goal do I want to pursue for May? 

Yep - Vegetarian May. 

At least 90% Vegetarian. 

I'll be cutting out all animal meat (chicken, beef, pork, fish, etc.) and will not purposely drink milk, eat eggs, or consume cheese on it's own. 

HOWEVER, if I find myself with a piece of cake at my fingertips, I'm eating it. If a meal contains eggs, milk, honey, butter, etc. and is unavoidable to eat (i.e. a catered event, no other options, my lack of veggie education and knowledge), then there's a 50/50 chance it's going to wind up in my belly. But all animal flesh products will be off limits for the next 31 days. 

Wish me luck! I don't usually eat THAT much meat, but chicken does end up in my diet about 3-4 days a week. 

Here is an updated list of my monthly goals for 2014:

January – 30 days of Yoga and/or Pilates, Daily Meditation

February – Go Gluten Free 

March – Keep a Food Journal 

April – Do Insanity

May – Vegetarian

June – Do Insanity 

July – Water challenge (drink half my weight in ounces a day)

August – Alcohol Free

September – Paleo diet

October – No sweets or processed sugar

November – No eating out

December – Squat/Ab challenge

Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder

Happy Earth Day! My foot is finally better and I cannot wait to get back into my normal exercise routine. Although April is technically still "Insanity Month," I'm going to wait to restart the program for May's goal. While my foot is feeling 95% back to normal, I don't want to push it and re-injure anything, so I'd rather start back with some lower intensity workouts for the remainder of April while attempting to stick to a healthy diet (weekends have been killing me lately)! 

But have no fear, I have received some help in the healthy eating department. 

A few weeks ago, a rep from Kiss Me Organics reached out to me to sample their Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder. I'm a lover of normal green tea, and I had heard of Matcha before, but I still wasn't 100% sure what is was or what made it so great. After doing a little bit of research, I decided to give it a go.

Some of the benefits of their Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder include:

• ALL DAY ENERGY & FOCUS
• ALL-NATURAL CALORIE BURNING BOOSTER
• INCREASES BODY METABOLISM
• IMPROVES SKIN HEALTH
• 137x ANTIOXIDANTS OF BREWED GREEN TEA
• VARIETY AND FLEXIBILITY WITH RECIPES

"USDA Organic Matcha Green Tea can only be used in a powdered form because, unlike brewed green tea, it contains the entire tea leaf which dramatically increases the nutritional content." 

There are many ways you can consume Matcha. So far, I have only included it in my morning fruit smoothies, but apparently you can use it in baking, seasoning, cooking, or just drinking it with water/milk as you would normal tea. It's a great way to sneak in some healthy benefits without altering the taste too much. But fair warning, depending on the amount of powder you add, the color of your food might be green-ish (it's great for Christmas or St. Patrick's Day). 

Before adding it to my smoothie, I gave it a taste so I would know if it would alter the flavor at all. I assumed that it would be somewhat sweet (similar to a protein powder or shake mix), but it didn't have much of a taste at all...definitely not sweet! You only need 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per day to reap the listed benefits, so it doesn't take much. I incorporated a spoonful of the powder into my usual mix and enjoyed! 

The product is available exclusively thru Amazon.com and runs about $25.00 for a 4 oz supply. Depending on how much you use per day, that should last you anywhere from 24-48 days. 

I've only used it about 5 times so far, but I do notice having more energy throughout the day. I'll make sure and do an update on the other potential benefits after my first supply is gone! 

Matcha Green Tea Powder - ORGANIC

Insane Yet?

Today would have been the two-week mark for my April goal of doing Insanity. Everything was going great and I kept up with the schedule for 12 days! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do it for the past few days due to an injury.

It makes me very frustrated, angry, sad, annoyed, etc. that I haven't been able to workout due to something that is out of my control. 

I completed my 6th half marathon on Saturday and I believe that is what sparked the cause of my new injury. After the race, I felt fine and don't remember an exact point in time during the run where I may have injured my foot. The next day, I woke up and my body wasn't sore like usual - which was surprising. Instead, I felt like I had bruised the outer bone of my left foot. It wasn't extremely painful so I continued on with my Sunday and completed a few errands. By the end of the day, I was limping. 

I got up and went to work yesterday and did a little "self-diagnoses" thanks to Google (not always recommended, but I was curious if other people had experienced this after long runs). I came away with what I believe to be Peroneal Tendonitis. 

According to my "research"...

"The peroneal tendons run on the outside of the ankle just behind the bone called the fibula. The reality is that there is tendinosis, which means that there is enlargement and thickening with swelling of the tendon. This usually occurs in the setting of overuse, meaning a patient or athlete doing a repetitive activity which irritates inflames the tendon over long periods of time.​ People having peroneal tendinosis typically have either tried a new exercise or have markedly increased their activities. Characteristic activities include marathon running or others which require repetitive use of the ankle. ​As discussed above, improper training or rapid increases in training and poor shoewearshoe wear can lead to peroneal tendinosis."

So there you go - that describes my situation perfectly. Overuse and improper training (I hadn't ran in 3 weeks before Saturday). Thankfully, I don't believe it to be a severe case and it should hopefully heal on its own with some rest. If the pain continues, I will be going to see a doctor within the next few days, but I'm praying that staying off of it and taking some time off from leg exercises will do the trick (I'm pretty stubborn when it comes to seeing doctors...I do not like taking excessive medications just to mask the pain and not fix the real issue). However, I would be open to physical therapy. 

If my diagnosis is incorrect, this could very well be a stress fracture. But I'm not sure I'd be able to walk with that going on. There is no bruising or swelling, so I don't believe it to be the case. 

Hopefully this will subside soon so I can get back on track!