Nutrition Nut on the Run

Anxiety & Exercise + This Week’s Workouts

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Hi, good morning, happy Monday!

A week or so ago, I shared about my struggles with anxiety and exercise, particularly fitness trackers, on Instagram. And while I’ve mentioned that anxiety plays a part in my life many times on the blog, I’ve never gotten too deep into the specifics. But earlier this month I rewarded myself, so to speak, with a new Apple Watch for working my butt off in February – putting in the work and crushing goals with my Beautycounter business. And it inspired me to open up a bit… because purchasing a fancy smartwatch was more symbolic to me than job well done.

I’ve worn fitness trackers in the past, but they became a trigger for my anxiety, allowing numbers (i.e. heart rate) to cause unwanted spikes of cortisol. A 1 hour high-intensity workout could turn into a 3 hour panic attack. So, I took a much needed break from tracking, focusing on how my body felt without a number to make feel unsafe in my own body. After a long hiatus (roughly two years) of wearing a fitness tracker, I signed up for an Orangetheory Fitness membership last July. I was unsure how I would do (mentally) with a heart-rate based workout that is all about numbers.

Each class was equally as much of a mental workout as it was physical. This was definitely a big step forward for me. And, in all honesty, having my heart rate displayed on a large screen in bright orange and red was triggering for me some days. Some workouts, I chose not to wear the heart rate monitor because I knew my body was more than capable of crushing the workout at hand, it was my mind that was the obstacle.

So, from the outside, my new watch may appear like a materialistic new toy, but to me it signifies my continued effort to trust my body — to be comfortable in this healthy, vibrant body that always has my back.

It’s been a few weeks now, and I’m throughly enjoying the watch. I’ll admit, I’m not using it to its full functionality yet, but I’ve enjoyed the extra motivation to move a bit more via daily goals and connecting with a handful of friends who also wear an Apple Watch. I’m happy to say it hasn’t been triggering thus far, and if it ever does, well I know what to do!

Weekly Workouts | Week of March 18

Monday – 2 mi. walk

Tuesday – OTF + 1.5 mi. walk/run

Wednesday – 2.5 mi. walk

Thursday – OTF

Friday – rest 

Saturday – OTF + 2 mi. walk

Sunday – rest

I had all the intentions to do some sort of movement on Sunday, but my body told me otherwise. I slept in until 10:45am(!), and if that wasn’t a sign enough, my body was sore and felt wiped out (#pms).

This week is officially my last week at Orangetheory, at least for a bit. While the workouts have been incredibly fun and challenging, I’m taking a break to save up some extra money for summer travel (OTF isn’t cheap!).

Walking (with Koba) has been one of my favorite ways to move lately. Something about the combination of low-impact movement, fresh air, and Vitamin D — it’s been meditative and I crave it!

Do you wear an Apple Watch or fitness tracker?

Have you ever experienced exercise-induced anxiety/panic attacks?

Switching Up My Fitness Regimen (Again) + This Week’s Workouts

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It’s been a while since I’ve shared my weekly workouts (if you’re new here, I used to share them frequently).

Before I moved to Florida (one year ago!), I considered myself a “gym rat.” Making the cross-country move led to a lot of changes, one of them being not joining a gym right away. At the end of July, I bit the bullet and decided to give Orangetheory Fitness a shot. One month in with 15 workouts completed, I wrote my thoughts about it here. I love OTF. I had a lot of fun with it, and it was a change of pace from coming up with my own workouts. But then I got burnt out — mentally (and financially). Boutique fitness gyms are not budget friendly; so, after 6 months of consistent heart-rate based HIIT workouts, I decided to put my membership on hold.

Which brings me back to home workouts — something I am very familiar with. I think it’s going to take me a bit to switch back into the mental game of home workouts + running. I’ve been considering purchasing an at-home based workout program, but can’t make up my mind. There are so many good ones out there — Madeline Moves and the Good Sweat Guide are both catching my eye.

Workouts | Week of February 4

Thoughts overall: I’m glad I got in six days of intentional movement, but I consider several of my workouts “light.” Wednesday, I had killer headache and only managed a sluggish 2 mile jog, but Thursday’s strength workout felt great and left me so very sore. This week’s workouts were a good reminder that workouts don’t need to be long to be effective!

Monday, February 4

Sculpted Superset Workout

+ 100 high knees, 10lb. overhead

(3x)

5 “shoulder rainbows”, 10lb.

5 push-ups

2 mi. dog walk

Tuesday, February 5

shoulder workout

2 mi. dog walk

Wednesday, February 6

2 mi. jog

Thursday, February 7

home workout:

(3x)

5 walkout push-ups

10 goblet squats, 25lb.

15 kettlebell swings, 25lb.

(3x)

5 single arm dumbbell snatch each arm, 25lb.

5 burpees

(3x)

10 deadlift, 75lb.

5 single leg deadlift each leg, 25lb.

10 glute bridges, 25lb.

(3x)

10 reverse lunge + shoulder press, 25lb.

10 reverse lunge + squat, 25lb.

—

50 walking lunges, 50lb.

50 cruches, 15lb. plate overhead

15 deadlifts, 135lb.

Friday, February 8

rest day

Saturday, February 9

Madeline Moves full body workout

2 mi. jog

Sunday, February 10

Dorm Room Dumbbell Workout

 

I often share snippets of my workouts in my Instagram stories, so feel free to follow along for ideas!

Let’s chat!

Have you ever tried an at-home based workout program?

What are you loving about your current fitness regimen? Or are you itching for change?

Florida Life // Year One

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I’m sitting on the couch on the last day of January, reflecting on the past 365 days. I know what you’re probably thinking… wasn’t I supposed to do that last month before 2019 began?

Well, today, February 1, marks one year since I hopped on a plane with a one-way ticket to Florida. So, in my eyes, my “New Year” starts today.

Never in one million years did I think I would reside in Florida… but, at the tailend of 2017, life swiftly directed me east (with an epic, spontaneous cross-country road trip!). Never in one million years did I think the military would be a part of my life either, but it has been a significant aspect of my life since fall of 2015. Oh, Life, you always give us exactly what we need.

After moving across the country – literally from one opposite corner to the other – I shared monthly recaps of this new chapter of “Florida Life”. You can find those here:

Florida Life // Months 7 & 8

Florida Life // 6 Months In

Florida Life // Months 4 & 5

Florida Life // Month 3

Florida Life // Month 2

Florida Life // Month 1

But the recaps of Month 9, 10, 11, and 12 never made an appearance in due time… so here we are, officially one year later. Transitions are hard. You probably know that. We all go through transitions, all of the time. Some are more significant than others. After much of the newness wore off, I didn’t feel as inspired to share… to be vulnerable, frankly. To share while I was in the thick of my personal transition. And while I’ve been in the Southeast a for a full trip around the sun, I am still navigating through this transition.

If I am being honest, “Florida Life” has been an extremely challenging chapter, for both me and Nick. But, with any chapter, we know this is only temporary and it, too, will come to a close; so, we do our best to keep our chins up and be grateful for the experience… even if it is tough a lot of the time.

I’ll be blunt and say that I do not like living in Florida. If you couldn’t guess, it is drastically different than Northern California. City living isn’t for us (we’re in the busy, traffic-y Tampa Bay area), and that’s okay. One, of the many, things I’ve learned this year is that it is good to learn what you don’t like, and what you don’t want, because it helps to clarify what you do.

Rather than share the highlights of Year 1, I’d rather share thoughts, reflections, and lessons learned. Because, let’s be real, I, too, can be guilty of falling into the trap of using social media (and my blog) as a highlight reel.

Florida Life // Year 1: Thoughts, Reflections & Lessons Learned

1. Despite being 3,000+ miles away from my hometown, family, friends, my Chico community, my safe place(s)… my anxiety has been at a record low.

2. Officially becoming a #dogmom was one of the best things about this year. Koba helped me through the humps and hard days more than she will ever know.

3. Anything with repetition gets a bit easier, time after time. Including driving in horrific traffic on the daily.

4. Living in a sea of box stores, toll roads and bumper to bumper freeways makes me appreciate my rural, humble, Humboldt roots.

5. I am not a huge fan of talking on the phone, but long conversations with my girlfriends are everything to me now.

6. I may have overreacted by hiding in the bathtub with that tornado warning.

7. When you’re navigating through a challenging time, add things to your calendar that bring you joy: trips, self care, date nights. The little things are the big things.

8. Your environment has a huge impact on your overall happiness and wellbeing. If you are able, chose to reside in a place that meshes with your values.

9. This move has instilled in me the confidence to move to new places. But, overall, my confidence has seen better days.

10. Nick and I are polar opposites. There is no way we could have survived this year without each other. #gratefulAF

Florida Life // Year 1 #tampa #florida #lifeinmytwenties

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This past year I got real comfortable being uncomfortable, endured hurricane season and hellishly-humid weather, gave my best attempt at being a dog mom to the sweetest puppy, got a non-wellness related job, started a new business, switched up my exercise routine, tested my strength at Orangetheory, expanded my tribe of like-minded, driven women, avoided any alligator sightings, cherished a culturally-diverse Thanksgiving, improved my military vocabulary, laughed a lot, and became a lot more in tune with who I am at my core, and how I want to cultivate a life I love.

I don’t have a magic eight ball to know when and where we’re headed next, so you can follow along on Instagram as we explore Florida livin’ until the adventure continues!

My Word for 2019

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Hi & happy New Year! It’s 2019 — how wild is that?

I set goals and intentions in past years, but the idea of a “word of the year” was calling to me for 2019. It seemed simple and non-binding. Gentle yet encouraging.

It may have taken me 10 days, but I’ve finally settled on my word for 2019: BELIEVE.

I am choosing to let this word guide 2019, and, in doing so, guide me into a more confident, fearless, independent woman.

Dear 2019, allow me to…
— believe that my worth does not lie on my resume nor on my paycheck
— believe that my body will always chose a path towards healing
— believe that I am capable of much more than I give myself credit for
— believe I can manifest the lifestyle of my dream
— believe my body is beautiful
— believe I am right where I am suppose to be

2018 was a year of embracing uncertainty. I got dang comfortable being uncomfortable. I know 2019 won’t be a walk in the park, but I believe it’ll be exactly what I need to unleash the wildly confident and capable woman inside of me.

2018 was essentially a year of drastic change and unknowns. And while I don’t have 2019 mapped out (does anyone?), I want to feel more confident in my abilities, my strengths, my story… I want to feel rooted in who I am and therefore come closer to living out my true passions.

Believe you can and you are already half way there.

If choosing a word for the year sounds appealing to you, too, here are couple of resources:
— Why You Need A Word of the Year & How To Choose It
— This 3-step template is beautiful (and free!)

Did you choose a word for the year? I’d love if you shared yours!

The Weekender

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Hi!

It’s been a really nice, low-key weekend around here, and as I am on my computer with a puppy snoozing at my feet, I felt inclined to share in this little space of mine I show up at every so often.

The Weekender

— The highlight of our weekend was, without a doubt, dog-sitting a 4-month-old miniature Australian Shepard, Georgia; Nick and I both fell head over heels. She and Koba have been playing non-stop, and aside from pee puddles in the house and needing to chew on all the things, the house feels even homier with the double dose of puppy love. 

— I am planning to make these grain-free gingerbread chocolate chip muffins via Lexi’s Clean Kitchen in the morning. How could I not be excited about breakfast this week? 

— It was a big week for Beautycounter! Get this: Beautycounter is the top trending beauty brand of 2018! Yes, that means people are Google-ing safer personal care products. We are making strides towards getting safer skincare in the hands of everyone, and it is so exciting! To top it off, Beautycounter also won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award to recognize our work in Washington DC fighting for better beauty laws. It feels pretty darn good to be a part of this movement.

— We are headed to cold Colorado on Sunday, and to say that we are ready to head West is an understatement. The mountains (and family time) are calling! 

— Christmas came early in the way of a beautiful Omega juicer, and Nick and I immediately jumped on the celery juice train. Of course I want to juice more than stalks of celery, but I am very curious to see what the hype is all about. Seeing that I deal with chronic gut/skin issues, I am eager to see if sipping straight celery juice, in fact, has miracle healing powers. I recommend checking out @medicalmedium, the man and NY Times best-selling author behind said celery juice “movement.”

— We had the best quick lunch at Fresh Kitchen Saturday afternoon after a gym date, and now I want to eat all the mashed cauliflower – holy yum!

I’m off to snuggle puppies and get ready for this final week before a much-needed Christmas vacation! 

xx Hill

Have you tried celery juice?

What holiday recipes have you been enjoying?


A Few of My Favorite Things: 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

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Hey hey! Happy (Cyber) Monday! It’s been a while friends, too long!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are easing back into the week. Mondays are now work-from-home days for me, so I’ve been up since 6:00am working away on all things Beautycounter (see below for the incredible Cyber Monday sale!).

Truth be told, I have mixed feelings about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and holiday shopping madness in general. On one hand, I LOVE a good deal, but I am also a minimalist-in-the-making and don’t like to give or receive “stuff” without a purpose. I am more of a practical gifts kinda gal. With that, here are a few of my favorite things (some arguably more practical than others). The best thing is 90% of them are on sale today!

A Few of My Favorite Things | 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

1. Best of Beautycounter

This is my absolute favorite set from the 2018 Holiday Collection. Why? Because it includes four of our best-selling products: a bit smaller in size than our regular products, they are ideal for a Beautycounter newbie to try our signature products, or for someone who adores our safer skincare already and wants the ideal travel size. Plus, they all come in a classy white box that needs nothing more than a simple bow.

2. Lucky Brand Basel Flat Bootie

I’ve had these booties for a few years and they are a staple in my wardrobe; they can be dressed up or down and literally go with everything. I have another pair in my cart because mine are pretty worn and well-used. They are so comfortable and such a classic bootie that can be worn for years (I’ve got proof!).

3. Beautycounter New Nudes Lip Gloss Trio

These glosses are stunning! High-impact shine, non-sticky moisture, super flattering, and the best part… a hint of mint! I’m obsessed with the Spice color. This set is perfect to break-up and turn into three separate gifts for girlfriends, hair stylists, etc.

4. Kleen Kanteen – Insulated

I use my Kleen Kanteens every day! I take two to work with me: one with coffee, one with water. They do the best job at keeping hot liquids hot, and cold liquids icy cold. I’m partial to Kleen Kanteen because they are a local (to me) company. Tomorrow, I am purchasing a few of these California canteens as 100% of the profits will go to the Camp Fire relief efforts.

5. #GirlGetAfterIt Muscle Tank

Cassidy, of The Wellness Rookie, has got a good thing going: “MORE THAN JUST A HASHTAG. WE’RE A WELLNESS MOVEMENT BRINGING WOMEN TOGETHER THROUGH MOVEMENT, CONVERSATION, AND COMMUNITY.” I’d totally rock this #girlgetaftertank for an Orangetheory workout. Plus, I love supporting other small business and female wellness entrepreneurs… and she’s based in Bozeman, Montana (another special place to me).

6. Stasher Bags

I’m hoping Santa brings me a set of Stasher Bags, as, well, we haven’t bought plastic bags in forever (and it feels really good!). We currently wash and reuse the handful that we do have, but mostly use glass tupperware. Our beautiful Earth needs more attention than ever before, and reducing waste (especially plastic!) is something we can all work on. Plus, Stasher bags come in a variety of colors and sizes that make packing and storing food all too convenient; they can be used for travel, too!

7. New Balance Thermal Vest

Before moving to Florida, puffy down vests made up 75% of my fall/winter wardrobe. I’m itching for the day when I can say that again! A black down vest is so versatile – not only do I wear mine for outdoor running and hiking, but they’re also a staple with jeans and booties for casual weekend outfits.

8. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

I use Vital Proteins unflavored collagen peptides in my coffee every morning. Curious about collagen? Read this post: Why I Love Collagen Peptides.

 

A Few of My Favorite Things: 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As always, opinions are entirely my own. 

The Skincare Duo That Changed My Skin

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I wasn’t born with flawless skin.

Let’s be real, who is!?

Then enter nearly a decade of battling acne and not wearing enough sunscreen for my fair, freckled skin… here I am at 29 already treating acne scars, sun spots, and fine lines.

Luckily, I have a better understanding now how to take care of my skin (hello SPF and moisturizer!), so – fingers crossed – my thirties will be a better decade for my complexion than my twenties.

My skin has responded well to Beautycounter products, but it wasn’t until I started using the Overnight Resurfacing Peel (a.k.a. the miracle worker!) in tandem with the Rejuvenating Radiance Serum that I started to see a noticeable difference.

For the past 8 weeks, I have been using the peel 3-4x per week, and I have been using the serum 1-2x per day. I can’t wait to see how my skin looks and feels after 12 weeks, and 16…

Both products help to increase radiance and even skin tone, but I imagine the peel is doing a lot of the work with 15 botanically-derived acids that gently yet effectively exfoliate your skin. It also works to minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and dark spots without irritation or over-drying. The biggest difference I’ve noticed is the texture of my skin – it’s so smooth!

Overall, my skin tone is more even, fine lines aren’t as prominent, and any dullness has been replaced with a year-round glow – hallelujah!

My Results Using the Overnight Resurfacing Peel & Rejuvenating Radiance Serum

  • The texture of my skin is smooth and soft
  • My skin tone is more even and brighter – it glows!
  • My pores are less prominent

Benefits of the Overnight Resurfacing Peel

  • Promotes cell turnover for a smoother complexion
  • Minimizes the appearance of pores
  • Reduces the appearance of fine lines
  • Reduces appearance of dark spots and age spots
  • Evens skin tone
  • Boosts radiance

Beautycounter’s Chief Scientist called the Overnight Resurfacing Peel their “most high-performance product to date.” This peel will give you quick results versus some of the other Beautycounter products that take continued use to notice a visible change.

How should I use the peel?

  • Use the peel 3-4x a week at night in place of your serum, before a moisturizer
  • Wait 3-5 minutes after applying the peel before applying your moisturizer and eye cream
  • Leave on overnight and complete your usual morning skin regime – no need to rinse off

How does the peel work?

  • 15 botanically-derived acids resurface your skin without causing irritation – it’s gentle, yet effective!
  • 9 of those are resurfacing acids that work to renew the skin by sloughing off dead skin cells
  • 6 are soothing acids that rehydrate and replenish skin
  • Note: skin does not actually peel or flake off like a peel that you may get from a dermatologist

Benefits of the Rejuvenating Radiance Serum

  • Helps even the look of skin tone
  • Reduces the appearance of wrinkles
  • Improves hydration
  • Lightweight and easily absorbed

How should I use the serum?

  • Use morning and night after cleansing, before applying moisturizer
  • Massage gently into face and neck with upward strokes, follow with moisturizer

Beautycounter is proof that safer products can be high-performing, too.

Beautycounter is committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what’s required by U.S. law. They prohibit the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals, all while ensuring the products perform and that they’re as indulgent as any other luxe personal care product on the market.

Get a bottle of the Overnight Resurfacing Peel here.

Get a bottle of the Rejuvenating Radiance Serum here.

If you don’t have a skincare routine you love, fill out this quick questionnaire – I’d be happy to help you!

Cheers to safer skincare and happy, healthy skin!

xx Hill

Florida Life // Months 7 & 8

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I’ve lived in Florida for a little over eight months – time flies! Before we know it, a year will have flown by. But I’m kinda sorta okay with that. I never want to rush through life, but after eight months, Nick and I have established that Florida Life isn’t for us. We still have a bit more time here in the Southeast, but, fingers crossed, we will be packing up our belongings by the two year mark. We’ll see! #militarylife

So, let’s catch up on the last two months in Florida (a.k.a. August and September)…

Labor Day 2018 at Honeymoon Island State Park before we got rained out!

Florida Life // Months 7 & 8

Doing

I’d say the biggest adjustment the past couple of months has been getting back into the groove of working again. I started a part-time job in Human Resources at the end of July, so now my week days start with early alarms and a dreaded commute.

Outside of working 30 hours a week, much of August and September was spent acclimating to the hellishly humid and wet dog days of summer. I feel like weather in Florida is backwards. Anyone else feel me? Summer was VERY rainy! We could expect an afternoon thunderstorm almost daily. Both Nick and I have never experienced thunder and lightning like that in Tampa Bay.

Most every weekend, between dodging said storms, we explore new gator-free places for Koba to swim. She’s a water dog at heart and unfortunately has spent far too much time indoors due to the heat and humidity.

Speaking of Koba, I think I think the highlight of my summer (and hopefully her’s too!) was that a brand new dog park opened just a few blocks from our during house Labor Day Weekend. I don’t know who enjoys trips to the park more, me or Koba, but I am so appreciative that we now have a place for our puppy to play and socialize, and it’s just a sweaty, 15-minute walk away.

August was also an exciting month for my Beautycounter business, accomplishing goals while getting more in tune with my why behind this business and how it supports my dreams. Heads up: Beautycounter’s holiday line launches this Thursday! Hello, new products and incredible gift sets for everyone on your list (hey, it’s never too early to start your holiday shopping).

My simple Beautycounter makeup routine for early weekday mornings.

Feeling

With a regular work schedule and regularly scheduled workouts, a sense of routine is helping me to feel more settled. I still long for the ease and comfort of Chico more often than not – sometimes it’s for my favorite coffee shop and running trails, other times it’s for happy hours with girlfriends, my healthcare practitioners, and the proximity to the family. I definitely miss the sense of community. On the other hand, I feel proud of my ability to adapt. And honestly, sometimes I surprise myself with how well I’m doing despite not having my support circle anywhere near. A small town girl for 28 years adapting to city living involves a lot of change, and I’m doing my best to embrace it.

Activities & Adventures

We didn’t venture far from the Tampa Bay area this summer due to said new job and, well, our spring was full of travel. We did enjoy a free Brett Young concert with friends on a random Wednesday night at Armature Works, our favorite hangout spot.

Koba and I post Orangetheory sweat sesh, September 2018.

Exercise

Orangetheory, 100%. I jumped on board the OTF train at the end of July (read: My Thoughts on Orangetheory Fitness), and I’m really enjoying it! I think it was just the thing I needed to get through the peak of summer, as exercising outside is nearly impossible due to the weather. I go to four classes per week, on average, and haven’t been doing much else aside from that and walking the dog. I am looking forward to start running outside again as the temperature continues to drop.

Hurricanes

Zero! Not holding my breath, as hurricane season isn’t over. Well, Hurricane Michael is sweeping through at this very moment, but – knock on wood – we’ll remain out of his path.

Alligators

Zero!

Thank you to those of you who have stuck around through my lulls of blogging. This November will mark nine years since the birth of Nutrition Nut on the Run, and it’s captured varying seasons of my life for almost a decade. I look forward to continue sharing on this platform from time to time, though posting consistently hasn’t been my strong point of late. I hope you will stick around – it’s a joy to have you here! 

xx Hill

Florida Life

August Favorites

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Tonight, Nick and I were standing outside on our back deck as chicken was grilling on the BBQ and Koba roamed the yard; we looked at each other with the same look — the look of “OMG, we are so grateful to be outside and not be smothered by sweltering hot humidity.” Y’all, September is here, and I couldn’t be more excited. Why? Because it means fall, my favorite season of all, is around the corner. I’ve heard that fall isn’t drastically different from summer here in Florida… but I can dream, right? You can bet come October 1, I’ll be decorating my house with all the autumn things.

Before flipping the page to another new month, I want to share a few favorites from August: wellness things, life moments, inspiring words, and the like!

August Favorites 

⏤ This post from Jessie May: My Vegan (Health) Story. After sharing a personal update/brain dump on my own health (read: E.coli 0157:H7 | How It Changed My Body & My Life), this beautifully written story gave me refreshing insight on how I can view my own wellness journey with more grace.

…health isn’t everything. Its wonderful, helpful, and enjoyable to be in good health – absolutely. But it doesn’t deserve to be an idol it our lives, as so many of us make it to be, and here in America it is incredibly idolized. Being present in your life for what it is today, being grateful for all that you do have, and giving your love and attention to others is really so much more important. Yes you need to take care of yourself in order to love and serve others well, and it should be apart of your life, but (in my opinion) it should not be your life.” – Jessie May

⏤ Birch Benders Paleo Toaster Waffles: While I by no means eat strictly Paleo, or any other label for that matter, I have been enjoying these grain-free/dairy-free (and no added sugar) waffles for an easy, satisfying breakfast. I usually top with nut butter, seasonal fruit (in lieu of sugary jam), and hemp hearts.

⏤ Orangetheory Fitness: I hopped on board the OTF train one month ago, and I’m having a ton a fun with it! My body is constantly being challenged, and the endorphin highs have been a blessing. Read: My Thoughts on Orangethoery Fitness

⏤ Avocado Egg Salad: For some reason, I’ve been craving egg salad (yes, like egg salad sandwiches) ever since Nick made one recently. I simply chop a couple of hard-boiled eggs and mash with ripe avocado, a few chopped Kalmata olives, and Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning. Top on rice cakes, a piece of toasted sourdough, or wrap inside a piece of butter lettuce.

⏤ Setting Intentions & Accomplishing Goals: This past month, I set the intention to do more things that make me feel good… and I did just that. How? I set small, manageable daily goals, wrote them down (key!), and then checked in daily with my new accountability partner. It didn’t seem like much day to day, but looking back at the month, I accomplished personal goals by allowing my priorities (the things that make me feel good!) to be my focal point.

Wishing you all the joy, inspiration, peace, clarity, and determination to make September shine!

xx Hill

What were your August favorites? 

Blast from the past!

⏤ August Favorites 2013

⏤ August Favorites 2012

My Thoughts on Orangetheory Fitness

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I am not ashamed to say that I’m a gym rat. The gym is one of the places I feel my absolute best. Before I moved to Florida, I had been going to the same gym for about two and half years. It had nearly everything a workout junkie could need, but I never had a crush on it (as I did for the WREC during my college days). Then I quite my job, moved across the country, and left my gym membership behind. You always appreciate something more once its gone, isn’t that so?

For the first six months in Florida, Nick and I checked out a variety of gyms in the area, meanwhile getting our sweaty on via at-home workouts, runs in our neighbored, and inconsistent workouts at the base gym. The base gym is incredible (all the functional fitness and olympic lifting equipment one could need!!), and I’d go there regularly in a heartbeat, but it is not practical as we don’t live close enough.

Long story short, an Orangetheory Fitness studio opened up just a few miles from our house (conveniently located to the brand new Sprouts). I knew of Orangetheory, but had never tried it. I was apprehensive of having a studio type membership which wouldn’t allow me the freedom to workout at my leisure. I am all for intuitive exercise, listening to your body, and moving in a way that feels good to you.

That said, I also enjoy a high intensity workout and my body does well with metabolic conditioning. Nick and I tried a complimentary class at the end of June and had a lot of fun. I went back and forth about getting a membership for a few weeks, but ultimately decided to try the unlimited membership when they were having a promotion.

It’s been exactly four weeks since I hopped onboard the OTF train, and I have done 15 classes/workouts in that time. Here are my thoughts so far…

What is Orangetheory Fitness?

“Backed by the science of Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (or EPOC), Orangetheory’s heart rate monitored training is designed to maintain a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. We call it the afterburn. Our members burn an estimated 500 to 1,000 calories in 60 minutes. And keep burning calories for up to 36 hours.” – Orangetheory®

What I Like

– The variety: Every class is different! Not only does it keep the workout interesting, but it challenges my body by doing different exercises nearly every workout. There are “power days”, “endurance days”, and “ESP” or “endurance strength power” days, so some workouts are focused more on cardiovascular endurance while others are target at strength and power. Since the classes are group personal training style, I don’t get to choose what exercises I do compared to if I were to design my own workout in the gym, i.e. yesterday’s exercises on the strength floor were 80% core-focused — I would have never programmed that for myself in a hundred years!

– The accountability: You have to sign up for classes in advance to reserve a spot in a class; this is done through a handy app. Since you’re required to plan in advance (and are charged if you miss a scheduled class), you’re held accountable for following through and completing your workout.

– The app: Speaking of the app, it’s not fancy by any means, but not only does it allow you to schedule and cancel classes easily, but it also tracks your workouts. I like being able to look back and see the work I’ve done. Again, while I embrace intuitive exercise and listening to my body versus religiously counting stats from a tracker, I think it’s neat to see a collective of your workout stats. In addition, to the app, you also get an email with your stats after every workout.

– The “afterburn”: I am sore after most every workout, and if I’m not sore, my muscles are fatigued. I will recognize here that this is a sudden increase in interval training for my body, so I’d only expect it to be sore. Because of this, I haven’t really done many other workouts aside from OTF in the past month. Between OTF and taking Koba on walks, my body has been feeling really good. Now all I need is to stretch…

– The mental benefits: As I mentioned, I feel best moving my body, and that’s often in a gym setting (if not out in nature). The endorphin highs are exactly what I’ve been missing. When does a workout not put you in a good mood!?

– The music: This is a small thing, but it really is nice not to have to worry about your own workout music and mess with earbuds or constantly be skipping through a Spotify station. So far I love the music choices – it’s loud and motivational.

My Thoughts on Orangetheory Fitness #orangetheoryfitness #iloveOTF #HIIT

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What I Don’t Like

– Focus on calories: I don’t focus on calories in regards to my diet, and likewise, don’t feel the need to when it comes to exercise either as they don’t relate to or support my goals. I assume the “calories burned” aren’t entirely accurate, so it could potentially throw someone off who does pay attention to calories. OTF also has weight loss challenges which I definitely don’t support (fast weight loss), but obviously I choose just not to participate in such activities/programs.

– Heavy on running: A lot of the workouts are heavy on the running, but understandably so. Using the treadmills is an efficient way to get your heart rate up and into the desired orange zone where, in theory, you’ll see an increase in calories burned during and after the workout (hence the “afterburn”). I simply love lifting weights, so some days I wish the majority of the class was spent on the weight floor.

– Lack of coaches: The studio I go to is very new and only has three coaches, which doesn’t seem like a lot to me. Luckily, the classes I go to most are taught by my favorite coach, but I guess I was surprised there weren’t more.

– Membership cost: The cost of the membership is not cheap. For this reason alone, it prevented me from signing up for several months. Boutique fitness gyms are “in” right now, and they’re all getting away with silly high class prices.

– Late fees: If the base membership cost wasn’t high enough, you are charged extra for canceling a class late (less than 8 hours ahead of time) or missing a class. #accountability I haven’t done this, but I’ve been charged twice by accident, and it’s super annoying.

Picky Things

– I wish the classes were a full 60 minutes (rather than 50-55 minutes) and I wish my studio offered the 90-minute classes, at least on the weekends. I discovered a nearby studio offers one 90-minute class on Saturday mornings, so I may have to check it out.

– As a brand new OTF member, I don’t feel like I was introduced to the gym very well: how studio-specific things work like check-in, “tread cards”, the OTF lingo, etc. I’ve had to ask a lot of questions.

Overall

I’m rolling into my fifth week of classes, and the most important thing is that these workouts are making me feel good. In just a few short weeks, I feel like I am already noticing changes in how I feel physically and mentally. While the cost of membership surely isn’t cheap, right now the cost is worth it for my overall happiness. I know that OTF will not be my sole mode of fitness forever, but it’s fitting the bill right now, I look forward to the workouts, and am enjoying the change of pace (hah, literally!). Yay for trying something new and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

“You didn’t come here to be comfortable.” — favorite quote from Coach Lindsay

Let’s chat!

Have you tried Orangetheory Fitness?

Do you enjoy heart rate-based training? What’s your favorite style of interval training?

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