workout

SHINY LEGGINGS // MY FAVORITE ACTIVEWEAR TREND FOR SPRING

04.12.2017

Happy Wednesday loves! Hope your week is going well. Today I’m sharing a look that I’ve been absolutely loving lately and have been seeing everywhere. I feel like shiny leggings used to be for the super stylish fitness instructors who were only confident enough to rock them. Or something you would wear on a night out (to resemble leather leggings). Butttttt, lately I have started seeing them pop up everywhere and become an activewear staple next to our basic black workout leggings.

Shiny leggings can be intimidating at first and you may think that if you dont have the perfect legs you cant pull them off. However I have found shiny leggings to be super flattering on most body shapes and the fabric is probably the most comfortable I own!

OUTFIT DETAILS: Cropped Sweatshirt // Shiny Leggings // Shoes

Torrey Fox Photography

Today I’ve paired my favorite shiny leggings with a cute crop sweatshirt from Puma. These leggings have a high waist and look so cute with a loose crop top. They are so comfortable, I have been wearing them nonstop! I also think they really add a bit of style to any outfit, regardless of what top you’re wearing. I like to avoid wearing the same fabric on the top as the bottom, so I’ve mixed it up with cotton on top. I also prefer to wear more of a loose top if my leggings are tight and body hugging or visa versa.

And more of my favorite shiny leggings are below! I am obsessing over this burgundy pair and may also need to snag these black cropped leggings.

Have a great rest of your week and thanks for stopping by! xo

POPSUGAR SQUAT CHALLENGE

04.06.2017

I love a good challenge, so when I saw this squat challenge from Popsugar I thought I’d give it a try! I also really enjoy breaking up my normal routine with something new. You guys have heard me say this a million times, but it’s superrrrr important to keep your body guessing so it doesn’t get used to the same movement. This challenge doesn’t take any time at all but brought a lot of focus on the booty which I’m constantly trying to grow and strengthen. For more of a challenge do this routine daily with weights. I’ve been doing this with 10 pound weights in each hand.

Try it and let me know what you think!

BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES YOU CAN DO ANYWHERE

04.03.2017

Outfit details: Tank / Sports Bra / Leggings / Shoes

Hope you all had a great weekend! The weather was a perfect 80 degrees here in San Francisco this weekend so I’ve taken most of my workouts outdoors lately. I’ve been running much more often but also incorporating more body weight exercises. I love body weight training and plyos mostly because you can do them anywhere, anytime. If you dont have a gym membership or weights at home these are the exercises for you!

Its important to remember that you dont have to spend hours in the gym. All you really need is 30 mins of high intensity training each day. This workout only took me 30 mins and definitely got my heart rate up and sweating.

All you need for this workout is a park bench. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Run 1 mile
20 jump squats
20 skaters
20 park bench push ups
20 park bench step ups
20 bench dips
Repeat 3 times

When it comes time to workout I really like having my workout already in my head and planned so once I start sweating I keep my heart rate up and dont stop to think about what to do next. I have found it super helpful to have a library of exercises on my phone and ready for me. I usually write them down in my notes section so I can easily access at anytime. Below is a library of my favorite body weight training exercises to give you some new and fresh ideas. Screenshot the below, and create a workout of your own! I love focusing on 1-2 muscle groups per workout but when I body weight train I often like to work the whole body.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Legs

Lunge: Lunge from all angles! Lunges are the best to grow the booty in my opinion. At the gym I like to use weights but this exercise can be done without as well. Just increase your reps.
Lunge Jump: My go-to move to get my heart rate up
Curtsy Lunge: Want a perkier butt? Try the curtsy lunge! Also helps with posture.
Squat: Jump squats are also something I like to incorporate often. I prefer lunges over squats but also great to incorporate both.
Pistol Squat: Aka long leg squat, requires strength and flexibility. I love working on these often to continuously improve.
Step up: Find a park bench or stairs and step up one leg at a time or jump up with both legs
Calf raise: Dont forget to work your calves! Often neglected, but important muscles especially for runners!
Wall sit: Place your back against your wall and sit shoulder width apart. This exercise works mostly your quadriceps.

Chest and Back

Push up: Try on an incline and decline for variety.
Superman: Will strengthen your lower back and core muscles by isolating them as you lift your arms and legs off the floor.

Arms and Shoulders

Tricep dip: This exercise gets the job done. Tone the back of your arms with tricep dips.
Push ups: I also love diamond push ups which makes your triceps work even harder!

Core

Flutter kicks: To work your lower abs and hip flexors flutter your legs up and down in small movements to create tension.
Plank: There are so many variations to try. Planks build isometric strength to help sculpt your waistline and improve your posture. And depending on the type of plank you try, you can also engage your back, arms, shoulders, glutes, and hamstrings. Win! Here are a few variations:
- Forearm plank
- Straight arm plank
- Side plank / add a twist
- Plank with arm/leg lift
- Plank jacks
Russian twist: Lie down on the floor placing your feet either under something that will not move or by having a partner hold them. Your legs should be bent at the knees. Elevate your upper body so that it creates an imaginary V-shape with your thighs.
Bicycle crunch: Simple yet effective!
Crunch: You can try different varieties here as well. Try with your feet flat, feet on the floor or legs to one side.

What are your favorite body weight exercises? Let me know if the comments!

SHOP MY LOOK

Product Love: What’s in my Gym Bag

02.21.2017

Alright babes, I’ve come across soooo many great products lately that I am excited to share today! I am a total product junkie and feel strongly that I need a product for everything. Today I am sharing what products I like to use before or after the gym. I sometimes lug everything around with me if I cant make it home after a workout and I definitely like to make sure I have everything with me in case of an emergency. These products are also mostly minis so they are great to travel with!

Don’t mind my bag- I can barely zip the thing! 🙂

The Yuni Beauty team sent me a few products a year or so ago and I’ve been using their products ever since. They recently reached out to me to let me know that their products are now at Sephora so I was excited to see their new packaging and try a few more! I have been using Chillax, a muscle recovery gel nonstop and its definitely an all time favorite. I can’t live without it these days, it has really been helping with the tension I have in my neck and shoulders. I also really love their shower sheets and Flash Bath no rinse cleansing foam.

I also love a good facial spray. I usually spritz both before I head out for a workout, then after I wash my face post workout. This Evian facial spray is super refreshing and non scented for when I need something a little less aromatic. I also spray my hair with dry shampoo every single time I finish a workout. I LOVE the Detox Dry Bar dry shampoo or Elizabeth and James Nirvana dry shampoo. Fresh smelling hair is always a must for me! Especially if I sweat on the daily I only like to wash my hair twice a week.

Alright guys, here is the roundup of my favorite “gym bag” products:

Water: I never leave the house without water. I usually buy Smart Water and I’m not sure if it’s because of the name or the size of the bottle. I think I’ll go with the size of the bottle. 🙂 I usually pick up a case from Safeway and take them to the gym with me each evening.
Yuni Beauty Chillax Muscle Recovery Gel: This is the product that got me really excited about the brand Yuni. This stuff really works. This gel helps tired muscles and joints in an instant and smells great as well. The rollerball application is quick, easy and mess-free and the bottle is quite large, giving you a lot of product for the money. This is now my go-to pain reliever for minor aches and pains. Highly recommend!
Yuni Beauty Flash Bath: This no-rinse cleansing foam is perfect for a quick “no-water” clean up before changing back into street clothes. All Yuni products smell great, doesn’t leave my skin sticky and also helps to moisturize the skin. I carry this in my gym bag for a mid-day freshen up post workout.
Yuni Beauty Shower Sheets: These wipes are great! Similar to the Flash Bath but in a sheet format. They are large and super convenient. Love love love!
Deodorant: My go to is the Secret Outlast Clear Gel. It doesn’t leave any white marks and has become a repeat offender from the drugstore.
Dry Shampoo: I usually rotate between Dry Bar’s Detox , Ouai Dry Shampoo, or Elizabeth and James Nirvana Dry Shampoo. I love my hair smelling fresh and can’t live without my dry shampoo collection. Each have a very different scent and none leave a white cast in my hair.
Evian facial mist: Such a great refresher product. I also use sometimes mid day to wake me up a bit. This is non scented, but if I want more of a refreshing scent I love the Caudalie Beauty Elixer.
Nuetrogena Makeup remover wipes: I have talked about these many times, but these are the best makeup remover wipes in my opinion. I dont use any other makeup removers other then these. They take away makeup after one swipe and have never irritated my skin. I also like to use them after the gym when I have no makeup on to wipe away sweat and dirt. I buy these in cases from Amazon.
Fresh Sugar Lip Therapy: I love this chapstick! It makes my lips soft and hydrated. It is a bit pricey for a chapstick, but I’m a huge fan of the Fresh brand and think its worth the price.

SHOP THE POST:

Pilates ProWorks Review: San Francisco Marina Location

02.12.2017

It has been a lonnnggg time since I last did reformer pilates! As you all know I love my current rotation: weight training, running, yoga. BUT I do love to mix it up a bit and always like to add pilates in the mix when I am in a rut and need something a little different. As I’ve said before, we always want to keep our body guessing and make sure we dont get used to a certain routine.

A few weekends ago Pilates ProWorks (the San Francisco Marina location on Union Street) invited me to experience a class. The studio offers reformer pilates, mat boxing and TRX classes but I decided to go with the reformer. Right around the corner from my house, I signed up for a Saturday morning class with Clarissa. From the moment I walked in, the staff was super friendly which is something that I notice and take note of right away. The class before me was just finishing up so after a few minutes it was time to take to the reformer. The class was super intimate which I loved. It was only a class of 10 or so which was great and didn’t feel too crowded like your average studio. The studio was extremely clean, equipment was super well maintained, staff was friendly and the teacher was excellent- thank you Clarissa!

I have done pilates quite a few times, but it’s been awhile. I wasn’t exactly comfortable on the reformer at first, but after Clarissa set me up and showed me how to adjust the resistance I was good to go. The class was challenging and targeted muscles that I have not used (or noticed I used) in a long time! The moves are repetitive but that is certainly the exhausting part. If I am sore the next day, I can tell that was a great workout. And I WAS sore! We focused mostly on legs, so I am wondering if different body parts are focused on each class. Let me know in the comments if you are familiar!

I will say, I do prefer more high intensity workouts and am looking forward to trying the mat box or TRX class next. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t break a sweat and for me that’s key to feeling like I had a great session. Also, classes fill up FAST! I had a hard time booking actually and I would definitely feel disappointed if I had to schedule like that often.

(2 images above via Pilates ProWorks)

Tips for your first class:

Bring grippy socks with you to class as they are required. You can also purchase them at the studio for $15
There are not showers at the Marina location and not a lot of space to hang out so its best to plan to go home and shower after class
Introduce yourself to the instructor and let him/her know you are new. The will keep an eye on you during class and make sure you are doing moves correctly in order to avoid injury. They will also show you how to work the reformer and adjust resistance
Bring a water bottle and prepare to be sore the next day!

The facts:

Pilates ProWorks was founded in San Francisco in 2010 by a husband and wife duo and since have launched 15 studios in the US and South America.

Pilates Pro classes deliver a powerful 40- or 55-minute workout in a small group setting, in which each person works on their own FitFormer™ Pilates machine. This class combines resistance, lengthening, strength training, and cardio to aid in weight loss, define muscle, improve strength, endurance and flexibility, and boost energy.

matBox is a full-body workout that brings together Kickboxing, Pilates and Yoga into one powerful 55-minute session. The class starts with a round of high-intensity kickboxing with a punching bag. Then, the gloves come off and you hit the mat for a round of Pilates to strengthen your core. The final round incorporates Yoga to leave you aligned, balanced and fully invigorated. The result is a balanced mix of high-energy and focused intensity that tones, aligns and blasts calories. (Cant wait to try this class next!)

San Francisco locations:

2238 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123 (Marina)
563 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111 (Fidi)

If you want to check out a class they have a few deals running!

Purchase a whole year of unlimited classes in 2017 for $2,017. This works out to $168 per month.
For new clients, enroll in a FIT 10 autopay membership and get your whole first month for $20.17. This works out to $12.34 per class.

Regular prices:

New clients: $20 for your first class or $135 1 month unlimited
1 class is normally $30
They also offer 5, 10 or 20 packs (click here for full price list)

Have you taken a class at Pilates ProWorks before? If so, did you enjoy?

Thanks for reading! xo

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