FlyWheel Indoor Cycling

My husband and I had to be in NYC a few weeks ago for work, so we flew out early to spend the weekend there. We opted into staying near our old stomping grounds, the Upper West Side. I highly recommend our hotel, you can read my review here.

I like to plan out my workout times in advance when I travel, so I can plan other stuff around it. The hotel only had a small workout room, and I couldn’t get a weekend Equinox pass, so I finally decided to splurge on a legit NYC cycling class.

My first choice was SoulCycle. I checked Friday afternoon and all of the early morning sessions for Saturday and Sunday were booked! I then checked FlyWheel, which I read about in a BlissTree article on my way to NYC. I logged onto FlyWheelSports.com and while creating my profile to sign up for a class, I realized that the first class is free = yes!

I arrived a few minutes early to the Upper West Side studio, just so I could get settled in. The check in process was easy, all I had to do was log into one of the computers and click a button. My cycling shoes were already pulled for me and put in a cubbyhole that corresponded with my bike number. Shoes, lockers, waters and towels are all included in a class price ($32/class, but again, first class is free).

A FlyWheel rep helped me adjust my bike once the studio was ready. At every bike there are weighted bars and a digital resistance/RPM reader. I’m use to just guessing what my resistance is at, but these bikes tell you your exact resistance or ‘torque.’

Instructor comes in, lights go off, and there is a dim spotlight on the instructor. She starts the music, David Guetta, and I knew I was going to like this class. The whole time I felt like I was at a club, and the instructor was the DJ. She was so energetic and into the music, I loved it.

Every couple of songs the instructor would change the screens in the front of the class to show our ‘scores.’ When signing up for the class online, you can ‘opt in’ to this feature, and see how you are doing compared to others in the class. While signing up, I thought ‘why not.’ And I’m glad I did, because it really pushes you to go farther! After class, you can check your performance online, finding how far you rode, approximate calories burned, etc.

The class was made up of sprints, hills and one song dedicated to an arm work with the weighted bars. According to my heart rate monitor, in a normal cycling class, I average 300 calories burned. After this class, I was at 480. AWESOME way to start a Sunday!

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the class, but I didn't want to be a total tourist :) When visiting a city that has FlyWheel locations, I will definitely take another class. It was an amazing workout. 45 minute and done for the day! 

Clean Eating Blueberry-Banana Protein Crepes

For the past few years I've called myself a 'clean eater,' but lately, I've been super serious about it. Making my own snacks, prepping meals for the week, down to making my own granola. The all natural, organic kind at the grocery store still contain processed junk!

The past few weekends I've been making Clean Eating Blueberry-Banana Protein Crepes for our post workout meal and they have been phenomenal. I started with a recipe I found in Oxygen Magazine, but made a few moderations....

Ingredients
4 egg whites
1 scoop of vanilla protein
1 tsp of cocoa powder (optional...can also use cinnamon)
3 tablespoons of almond butter
1/2 cup blueberries
1 banana

Whisk together the egg whites and vanilla protein. Less lumps the better. I used my new Cuisinart hand blender and it worked it into a really smooth batter. If yours a little thick, add a tablespoon or two of water to it.

Spray a non-stick pan with olive oil spray and pour a 1/3 of the batter into the pan over med-low heat. Once the sides start to cook (probably after 1-2 minutes) add 1 tablespoon almond butter to half of the crepe, along with some blueberries and banana slices. Fold over (like in the picture of above) and let cook a few more minutes. Repeat for the other 2 crepes.

Serving size is one crepe. This recipe makes about 3. Enjoy!

Stay Motivated in the New Year

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fun and healthy holiday.

New Year Resolutions have been set and I'm sure like previous years, one of the top trending resolutions is to get in shape. One of the main challenges with this goal is staying motivated. It's easy to buy a gym membership, but staying motivated and actually using that membership is a whole other challenge. Here are some of my tips and strategies to staying motivated and dedicated to working out....

Pump Up the Volume
Music is very important. A solid playlist and up beat music can really affect your mood and workout. I use to struggle with ear buds that fit my small ears, but finally found a set that stay in while I bounce around with my workouts (Sol Republic Amp In-Ear Headphones, below). And you don't need a fancy iPod to get you through a workout. Download the Pandora app to your phone (it's free!) to get rocking tunes to get you through a workout. This is also a great way to discover new songs.

Set Milestone Goals
Whether it's the first 5lbs lost or mastering a pull up (this is one of my goals!), set goals and 'rewards' along the way. I like to treat myself to pedicures or a massage when I meet one of my goals. It also helps to stick to these goals when you write them down. Get a cute notebook (I like the mini Moleskin, below) that you can carry with you in your purse or workout bag so you can jot down your progress.

Fit Fashionista
Treat yourself to some new workout clothes! Since this is such a popular time for people to get active, Marshall's and TJMaxx has a TON of gym gear on display. Name brand pieces at great prices. Invest in coordinating tops, bottoms, sports bras and headbands. If you feel good going to the gym, you'll have an even better workout. 

What's your New Year's Resolution? Please share how you plan on sticking to your goals!

Stay Motivated in the New Year by lipglossbreak

UnderArmour Shoes and Crop Pants / Sol Republic Amps HD In-Ear Headphones / Girls Gone Sporty "Sweat Sexy" Fitness Tank from ViewSport / Moleskin notebook

Sponsored Post: pvBody Sample Boxes

Different companies are popping up everywhere with sampling programs, and they are really quite genius. Beauty, cooking and accessory sample boxes are a fun way to try out new brands and products. And now adding to the list, workout clothes!

pvBody takes the guess work out of trying to find fun, new workout clothes, at a reasonable price. All members take a style quiz so the pvBody team can select the best gear for you to try out. Along with providing your sizes, you’ll specify what kind of workouts you enjoy, style and color preferences, etc. The pvBody team will select a workout top and bottom set for you that matches your needs and style.

I took the style quiz last month and indicated that I’m more of a cardio/weights and gym girl, and the outfit I received was perfect for my next kettlebell and cycling class!

I received an electric blue top from Eloy and black leggings from Nux (both pictured to the right). I couldn’t be happier with both pieces. The blue top is great for any type of workout, from yoga to a high intensity cardio class. It contains a built in bra that is comfortable and secure. For lower impact workouts, you can totally get away without wearing a sports bra with this top.

The leggings are super comfortable as well. These are great for any type of workout as well, from yoga to running to cycling. They fit comfortably right above my hips and are great for the cold weather we're getting in Michigan. I always hate wearing sweatpants over gym shorts. These are also great as every day leggings. Or if you're planning on running errands after the gym, you can throw on a sweater and a pair of boots and look stylish right from your workout.

As a special intro offer, pvBody is offering you a $15 Lululemon gift card with sign up, plus 25% off your first month subscription! Use this link to get this special offer!

Easy peasy lemon squeezy: pvBody is easy. Take the quiz, sign up and boom, an awesome package arrives at your door each month with a hand picked outfit for you!

Every outfit is styled just for you by a pvBody expert. Each month you receive an outfit worth $150, but you pay just $49.95. You’re getting great, quality pieces for a fraction of the retail cost thanks to the relationships pvBody has built.

pvBody is not just another clothing company, but a lifestyle brand. Their blog is a great place to check out tips and tricks for healthy, delicious meals and at home workouts.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of pv.body. The opinions and text are all mine.

Mandarin Tilapia Spinach Salad Recipe

Tonight I tried a new recipe from Oxygen magazine, Mandarin Tilapia Spinach Salad. I think Mike told me about 5 different times how good it was. Here's the recipe with the modifications I used.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup sliced almonds (I used pecans I had left over from a salad I made last week)
1 mandarine orange, halved, unpeeled (local market didn't have mandarins, so I used 3 tangerines)
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
6 oz tilapia
Red pepper flakes
2 cups of baby spinach
2 cups mixed greens
Sea salt and ground pepper to taste (I didn't use salt, I normally don't ever add it to my recipes)

1. Heat oil in a skillet and brown almonds over medium heat, about 5 minutes.
2. Squeeze juice from the orange halves into a small bowl.
3. Add orange juice and in vinegar to skillet. Stir in chopped celery and parsley. Mix all ingredients together and remove from pan; leave the heat on.

A good way to test if Tilapia is done is to rub the top with a fork. If it flakes, than it's done!

4. Brush tilapia fillets with olive oil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Brown on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
5. Combine spinach and mixed greens in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked fish and pour almond mixture overtop. Garnish with extra orange slices, and season to taste.

Voila! Finished product. I was wishing we had big salad bowls in our apartment for this meal. I was surprised at how much the tangerine juice covered the salad. No extra dressing needed. This was a quick recipe. Took me less than 30 minutes to make. It will definitely become a staple for when I need to whip up a quick, clean meal!

Beautiful Change Challenge #4 - Relax Your Mind

For the 4^th installment of the Beautiful Change Challenge, I was tasked with sharing what I do to relax spiritually and mentally. Well, this is definitely a ‘challenge,’ because lately, I don’t have a whole lot of time where I can do this! I know this is the case for a lot of folks, whether it’s kids or work or both, it’s hard to ‘check out’ of daily life and find your ‘happy place.’

As much as I’d like to tell you that you can always make time for yourself, I know first hand, its hard, and sometimes you can’t. But…you can make the time where you are busy, more enjoyable, and more relaxing. Here are some ways I like to fit in things that relax me, while I’m at work or on the go…

While at work...

Find a music download site where you can listen to new music and make playlists (make sure it’s a legal one!). iTunes works, but sometimes its fun to listen to new music, and not the tunes you hear every day.

Make yourself a play list for your different moods, plug in your headphones, and listen to the tunes while you work. I know this isn’t feasible for everyone, but its something I do to relax myself when things get stressful at work.

While traveling..

I travel a lot for work. It’s tiring and I miss my family while I’m away, but there are little things I do while on the road that help me relax and even look forward to a plane ride.

I treat myself to Starbucks while waiting for my flight. I don’t like to drink too many sugary Starbucks drinks, but while traveling, I treat myself to a Chai tea latte or nonfat Vanilla Café Latte while I’m waiting at my gate for my flight. Only treating myself while traveling makes me dread not heading to the airport that much because I know a Starbucks Cafe Latte with a shot of soy and sugar free Hazelnut is waiting for me.

Watching movies while on flights is also a good way to get ‘me time.’ There are some movies I know I can’t pay my husband to watch with me, so when I’m on a plane, that is when I get my chick flick time in! Also, don’t forget your favorite magazine or book!

While driving…

Books on tape! Dying to read the latest 50 Shades of Grey? Get it on audiotapes to listen to during your commute. You’ll probably look forward to being stuck in traffic!

If you can do something similar to my ‘escapes’ each day, even for 10 minutes, to get your mind off your daily stresses, it will probably lead to you being more productive for the rest of the day. 

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