Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Switch your New Years resolution mindset

Hi friends! Happy New Years Eve! What are you up to this evening? I’m excited to take the girls to a Noon Years Eve party (more my style than staying up until midnight) and Meg is going to be my dinner date since both our hubbies are working. Later tonight, I’m really looking forward to watching the ball drop on TV and hanging out with the crew. It should be low-key and perfect. 

Since it’s prime time for resolutions and goal setting, I thought I’d share some tips as we brainstorm any New Years changes or resolutions. While I don’t love the pressure of an ambiguous date, I do love the fresh feel of a new year. I especially love the fresh feel of this year because it’s ended on kind of a blah note. I’m really looking forward to a shiny new start and chance to shake off the shadows that have been around for the last few months. It feels so amazing to take out my planner, jot down ideas and goals and start to fill the pages. 

While I don’t think you need to wait until New Years to make a change – if you want to go after something, do it now! – I thought I’d share some tips to consider as you’re planning your goals.

Tips for smart New Years resolutions:

Maybe you don’t want to change anything, and that’s AMAZING. This time of year, we’re often flooded with messaging that makes us feel like we NEED to change or that we’re “less than.” You’re absolutely perfect the way you are. If what you’re doing is working, and you’re happy and fulfilled, keep doing your thang. Don’t feel like you have to make a resolution or any drastic changes because everyone else is doing it!

Instead of focusing on subtracting from your routine, think about adding. I feel like a lot of resolutions are centered around deprivation, which can set you up for a feeling of failure. (Really it also just sucks the fun out of life.) Also, what makes you want something more than anything? Telling yourself you can’t have it. Instead of taking things away from your routine, think about what you can add. More vegetables on your plate, more meditation minutes, more time outside, more memories with the people you love, more soul fulfillment, more reading, etc. What can you do MORE of this year for a happier, healthier you? 

Don’t make changes you don’t want to sustain indefinitely. If it doesn’t make you excited, don’t do it! If you’re doing something that you don’t want to do forever, it’s not worth it. Aim for lifestyle changes you can implement for the long haul. 

For fitness resolutions, make sure they’re SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Goals should be achievable within a certain time frame and make sense for your lifestyle. Be sure to crosstrain (don’t do the same thing every day), take rest days, fuel yourself appropriately, and get proper guidance and coaching to avoid injury.

Enlist a buddy, or someone who knows what you’re up to. I don’t share all of my goals with everyone – that would be annoying because I have a new one pretty much every day – but a select few people in my life know what I’m up to and check in with me. Have someone join you on your goals, or even just share your goals with someone you love that will be cheering for you.

Are you into the resolution thing or not so much? What’s something you want to do MORE of in 2020?

See ya next year 🙂

xo

Gina

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Monday, December 30, 2019

An Antidote to CrossFit: Going All in on Dan John

The antidote to Insta-coaching, CrossFit haters, geezer coaches, and trolls is a return to the fundamentals of training. Cue Dan John.

Greg Glassman is a controversial choice for Coach of the Decade if you define coach in a certain way, or you think Glassman is all about marketing, or you're mad at CrossFit because, well, they really do make some fitness professionals pretty mad. You can't say the same about Dan John. So, here’s an antidote to the CrossFit bug to balance it out for all those people who were mortally offended by our choice of Glassman as Coach of the Decade.

read more



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Powerful 12-Minute Medicine Ball Workout


Workout equipment: Medicine Ball

Workout type: 12 Minute

Timer setting: 18 x :10 x :30

1. Squat throws
2. Ball transfer push ups
3. Burpee medicine ball slams
4. Lunge w/ rotational twist
5. Medicine Ball Mountain Climbers
6. Sit up + throw

Bonus: 50 Medicine ball twists

——————————————————

Leave your reps in the comments below.

My reps for today’s workout:

Squat + throws 17, 16, 16
Ball transfer push ups 14, 13, 13
Medicine ball burpee slams 8, 8, 8
Lunge + rotational twist 14, 13, 13
Medicine ball mountain climbers 76, 77, 77
Sit up + throws 18, 17, 17

Did you do this workout?

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Top posts of 2019 (and survey help!)

Hi friends! Hope you’re enjoying the morning! I don’t know about you, but I’m so ready for 2020 to begin. The end of 2019 can pretty much go in the trash can lol. Even though I’ve been feeling way better, I’m still a bit tired and achy. I haven’t worked out since Xmas eve, and I just feel ready to feel like myself again, get back into a routine, and not feel like I could nap at any second. 

As I set my intentions for the upcoming year, I always like to go back and check out my blog posts to see which ones performed well. Some of these are usually expected, and some are complete surprises! It gives me a little glimpse into the type of content that you’re looking for and I like to use some of these ideas to plan future posts. 

When I’m planning my content for the next year, I also use your survey suggestions and topic requests. If you haven’t done this year’s survey yet, please take 2 minutes here! Your feedback is invaluable to me (and yes I’ll have a sneaky giveaway to celebrate this week!).

Here are my 19 top blog posts for 2019: 

1) PiYo review month 1. This is one of those posts that continues to do well every single day and I’m afraid to mess with it even though the photos are a total nightmare. Carry on, old post. 

2) Potty training tips from two nanas. This is from that one time that my mom and nana potty-trained Liv in 24 hours. She was a little over two years old and it was a game changer. I was really excited to use their strategies for P, but she ended up potty-training herself around 18 months. She screamed at me, “NO DIAPERS” every time I went to put a diaper on her, so finally I stopped… and turns out she didn’t need them any more. These kids are a mystery in the best way, I tell ya.

3) How to combine baby led weaning with purees. This one was unexpectedly controversial. Turns out people get fired up about how other people feed their babies, despite epic disclaimers and “talk with your pediatrician and do what works best for your family.” Both of our kids had purees in addition to baby led weaning for convenience and it worked out well for our family. They’re both awesome and adventurous little eaters now.

4) When I got my breast implants removed and my experience with explant. This was an important post for me and one where I really put it all out there. I was so thankful for all of the support I’ve received about this and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made for my health. 

Breast explant surgery

5) My full review of the Peloton App. Even if you don’t want to invest in the Peloton bike or treadmill, you can absolutely still get an awesome workout using the app. They have so many workouts available, including bootcamp, meditation, and yoga, plus you can use the app on a spin bike or treadmill at home or the gym. I use the app on my old spin bike for about a year before purchasing a Peloton bike. 

6) Top 5 easy healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These are some of our go-to staples that we still enjoy all the time!

7) Baked breakfast cookie. This is a convenient and portable breakfast treat. I haven’t made it in a while, but I have a feeling that it will be making a comeback. Liv is changing schools next semester and it starts earlier and is a bit farther, so as much as I’d love to have time for them to eat at home, we’ll probably have a lot of car breakfasts. 

8) Full Peloton bike review and is the Peloton bike worth it? The Peloton bike is one of my favorite purchases EVER and I still use it at least 2-3 times a week. The Pilot is into it now, too! I’m obsessed with my bike and if you’re considering gifting yourself one for New Years, my code gets you $100 off accessories: XXKJQU.

Peloton bike2 1024x683

9) Morning detox drink. This is one of my classic drinks and I especially love it during the winter months. According to Liv, it smells like death, but I look forward to it. 

Morning detox drink 3

10) Homemade nibble bars. These are the perfect little bars for toddlers and tiny hands! I need to make some for Augs. 🙂 

11) How to keep your guinea pig cage clean. This was an important post to write because I did SO much research before we got guinea pigs to make sure our house wouldn’t smell like a barn. The strategy really works and visitors are usually impressed by how clean the cage is and the fact that Livi’s room doesn’t smell. 

Holding the guineas

12) Fitness categories page. This is where I keep all of my workouts and they’re organized by muscle group and type of workout!

13) Orangetheory vs. Barry’s Bootcamp. This one is a comparison between Orangetheory and Barry’s Bootcamp with what makes them difference. I feel like it could use an update since I feel like the Orangetheory workouts and technology have changed quite a bit. 

14) 1 month of baby food, 1 hour, $20 – round 2. Baby food posts are always on my top lists. Since we’re done on the babies front, I think I should make food for a baby friend of ours so I can take some new pics. 🙂 

15) Healing timeline for breast explant and diastasis recti repair. In this post, I broke down my healing journey and what it looked like. It was a ROUGH recovery, but I’d do it again tomorrow if I needed to. I wanted to write this post because when I was first researching getting my implants out and having my diastasis recti repaired, I couldn’t find anything like this. I wanted to know how I could build up my movement, exactly how I’d be feeling, and any tips for a better recovery.  

16) My review of the book Thinner, Leaner, Stronger. While this isn’t my favorite strength training or healthy living resource, I liked it way more than I expected. 

17) Exciting cable machine exercises. This post is if you’re sick of doing the same ol’ cable exercises. It includes some of my favorite ways to switch it up!

18) DIY shower steamers. I love these little beauties! They’re like a bath bomb for your shower and made with natural ingredients. 

DIY shower steamers with essential oils

19) 1 month of baby food, 1 hour, $20. The OG baby food post. This one absolutely needs new photos but I’m really proud of the recipes. It’s been fun to see mamas make this food for their babies over the years. 🙂

So tell me friends: is there a post on the blog that stuck out to you that you really loved? Any topic requests for 2020?

See ya soon with some tips for New Years resolution mindset.

xoxo

Gina

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Sunday, December 29, 2019

An Antidote to CrossFit: Going All in on Dan John

The antidote to Insta-coaching, CrossFit haters, geezer coaches, and trolls is a return to the fundamentals of training. Cue Dan John.

Greg Glassman is a controversial choice for Coach of the Decade if you define coach in a certain way, or you think Glassman is all about marketing, or you're mad at CrossFit because, well, they really do make some fitness professionals pretty mad.

read more



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Coach of the Decade: Greg Glassman, CrossFit's Founder

One man has helped shape the way people train in gyms this last decade. He has had few peers when it comes to influence and his presence is felt worldwide.

 

In an interview with CNBC, Greg Glassman, the 63-year-old founder of CrossFit, said that CrossFit’s success happened without a business plan, without any marketing. Dave Werner, the founder of CrossFit North, the first affiliate.

 

read more



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Coach of the Decade: Greg Glassman, CrossFit's Founder

One man has helped shape the way people train in gyms this last decade. He has had few peers when it comes to influence and his presence is felt worldwide.

 

In an interview with CNBC, Greg Glassman, the 63-year-old founder of CrossFit, said that CrossFit’s success happened without a business plan, without any marketing. Dave Werner, the founder of CrossFit North, the first affiliate.

 

read more



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Friday, December 27, 2019

Speedy Sprinter Bodyweight Workout


Workout equipment: None

Workout type: Challenge

Timer setting: Stopwatch

Complete 8 rounds:

1 Sprints
15 Air squats
10 Push ups
10 V ups

——————————————————

Leave your time in the comments below.

My time for today’s workout: 13:11

Did you do this workout?

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Friday Faves

Hi friends! Happy Friday and hope that those of you who celebrated Christmas had a very merry one. Ours started off on a high note with an amazing dinner at my dad’s house. We had a Mexican food feast (tamales, rice, beans, enchiladas, the works) and it was so much fun watching all of the kids together.

IMG 3977

Little Augs is getting so big!

Later that night, I started crying like a giant weirdo and couldn’t stop. It turns out that it was my immune system crashing and burning. It took about 45 minutes for me to will myself to fill and roll the cinnamon rolls, and I went to bed with the chills, convinced that I was just exhausted from non-stop activity since October.

IMG 3998

The girls were PUMPED with all of the goodies that Santa brought! They tested out their new pogo sticks while I put nana’s egg casserole and the cinnamon rolls into the oven, and then the rest of the family came over for brunch and to exchange gifts.

IMG 3999

Madre brought over grammies and Christmas coffee cake,  

IMG 4003

plus a ham and fresh tamales.

We all ate together and sat in the living room in pure Christmas chaos.

IMG 4004

While we were opening gifts, I still had the chills and got slammed with an awful headache that made my eyes hurt, and my mom told me to go lie down. I ended up sleeping for two hours and spent the rest of the day in bed. 🙁 It was reassuring to know that the girls were cared for and enjoying playing with the cousins, but I was super bummed to essentially miss Christmas. The family ended up heading out around 5pm, when P and Liv both crashed out (Liv came down with a fever, too) and we all ended up sleeping throughout the rest of the day and into the night. The Pilot was gone this year which was a bit of a bummer, too. He spent his Christmas in Puerto Rico so we did stockings before he left.

Two of my very favorites in one pic. <3 

IMG 4008

(He’s cute, right?!)

The good news is that Liv’s fever broke overnight and she was doing great, and I was feeling way better by yesterday morning. I’m probably 95% better today, but am still going to take it easy. I definitely think all of the sleep and constant water helped, along with the usual wellness shots 2x a day, this cold + flu magic, oscillococcinum, and elderberry

IMG 4010

So… Christmas was not exactly as expected, but it’s still been a magical and wonderful time of year. I told Kyle I was bummed that I missed most of Christmas day, but he reminded me that our family gets together ALL the time, so missing out on one morning isn’t that big of a deal. It made me feel better. <3

Before we head into Friday Faves, I have an extra exciting giveaway winner to announce. Thank you so much to all of you who entered the Favorite Things giveaway + helped me out with this year’s survey. I have so much content to prepare for 2020 and I’m so thankful to those of you who spent the time to send ideas and feedback. The lucky winner of the huge giveaway is comment #598: Marina!

*The lucky winner has been emailed*

Stay tuned for a sneaky giveaway 😉

Here are some of my favorite things from the week and around the web:

Read, watch, listen:

Hilarious tweets about white elephant, yankee swap, and dirty Santa gift exchanges.

The most real children’s clothing ad I’ve ever seen.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

News anchors losing it over their co-worker’s horrible artichoke dip.

Fitness + nutrition:

How to create New Year’s resolutions that actually stick.

30-minute full body HIIT workout.

Interesting article regarding HIIT timing.

My latest post for WebMD with things to consider before you join a gym. 

Don’t forget to sign up for your free 21 days of Les Mills on Demand! Perfect if you’re looking to shake up your routine as we head into 2020. 

5 things to keep in mind as you set your goals for 2020.

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Beauty + fashion:

Purple shampoo. I got highlights for the first time in 80 years, and she recommended a purple shampoo to keep the highlights from turning red and brassy, which often happens to me. I only have to use it every couple of weeks and the highlights are still a pure, ashy blonde color. It’s very drying, so I wouldn’t recommend using this regularly, but is perfect for protecting color and highlights. 

All of the post-Christmas sales!

Here are some of my favorites:

Everlane choose what you pay. I ordered this cute dress, another one of these shirts, and this wrap dress. 

Thinx is 20% off. I haven’t blogged much about this, but I switched to Thinx over a year ago and have been extremely happy with this option. It’s another way to be earth-friendly if you don’t like the cup. (I don’t use a cup because it has uses suction and pressure to be held in place.) 

Gap up to 75% off everything.

Banana Republic 60% off sale styles and 40% off regular price. This sweater is so cute for Valentine’s Day, which is bananas that it will be here before we know it. 

Nordstrom half-yearly sale! Love these flannel pajamas, these booties, my fave leggings ever, these glittery kids’ Uggs, this polar bear backpack, and this men’s half-zip.

Happy Friday, friends!

xoxo

G

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Thursday, December 26, 2019

Sweet Potato Brownies

Gluten free and with no added sugar, these 83-calorie brownies are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth without exceeding your calorie goals.

The post Sweet Potato Brownies appeared first on Under Armour.



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What It Took for This Obese Doctor to Take His Own Health Advice

Kevin turned to food for comfort as he dealt with the death of his father. He chose a healthier path when his sister was diagnosed with cancer.

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Holiday Bodyweight HIIT Workout


Workout equipment: None

Workout type: 12 Minute

Timer setting: 18 x :10 x :30

1. Burpees
2. Dive bomber push ups
3. Jump lunges
4. Air squats
5. Plank pike jumps
6. V ups

Bonus: Handstand practice

——————————————————

Leave your reps in the comments below.

My reps for today’s workout:

Burpees 9, 9, 9
Dive bomber push ups 8, 7, 7
Jump lunges 32, 31, 30
Air squats 27, 27, 27
Pike jumps 32, 31, 32
V ups 16, 15, 15

Did you do this workout?

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Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas Eve! To all of my friends celebrating this week, I hope you’re having a beautiful holiday season. I hope you’re surrounded with family, friends, lots of good food, tasty sweet treats, your favorite cocktail, and happy memories. I know the holidays aren’t always holly jolly for everyone, so if you’re going through a tough time, I’m sending you a lot of love and a big virtual hug. It’s been hard without my Tata around this holiday season… it still just feels weird and wrong… but I’m thankful to be around so many people I love so much.

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas! I’ll be unplugging to celebrate with the fam, but I’ll see ya soon. (Don’t forget to enter the Favorite Things giveaway, too!)

 

xo

Gina

(+ the Pilot, Livi, P, Bella, Caro, Donut, and Lollipop)

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Monday, December 23, 2019

Legs + Core Sandbag HIIT Workout


Workout equipment: Sandbag

Workout type: 12 Minute

Timer setting: 18 x :10 x :30

1. Sandbag squats
2. Push up hops
3. Sandbag clean & presses
4. Pike Shoulder Touches
5. Walking lunges
6. Push up plank jumps

Bonus: 20 Single leg deadlifts / side

——————————————————

Leave your reps in the comments below.

My reps for today’s workout:

Sandbag squats 16, 15, 15
Push up hops 18, 17, 17
Sandbag clean + presses 9, 8, 8
Pike shoulder touches 27, 27, 27
Walking lunges 22, 21, 21
Push up plank jumps 14, 13, 13

Did you do this workout?

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Speedster Jump Rope HIIT Workout

  Workout equipment: Jump rope Workout type: 12 Minute Timer setting: 18 x :10 x :30 1. High knees w/ jump rope ...

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