Hiring a trainer to get you in shape is all the rage. And the days of one-on-one sessions with an accredited and education person are long gone. With everyone and their brother now calling themselves a trainer, coach or fitness expert, you have to be overly cautious when investing money into your fitness.
If you are considering hiring a personal trainer or coach, make sure you do your homework. You are putting your health and your body in someone else’s hands. You wouldn’t let a mechanic off the street work on your car, so why would you do the same with your body?
Here are a few tips to consider before hiring a personal trainer:
Once again, I am super excited to share with you the glitter and rainbows that shoots through my fingertips and tippy tappies the vast gloriousness that has become my writing experiences with Unico Nutrition. Here are 2 of my latest articles and one even had a video starring the one and only me! and PS – If you want to try their super yummie proteins and very effective supplements, used CODE FITTOGO when you check out and get FREE SHIPPING!!!!
5 Reasons to Start Unilateral Training
You’re in the gym multiple times a week doing your thang lifting and completely rocking your workouts. Squats, deadlifts, bench press, EZ bar curls. If they make a machine for it or you can use a barbell in it – it is a part of your workout! But have your noticed a stall in your gains, bro? Have that one lagging tricep that keeps waving when you stop? Do you find yourself squatting, curling, pressing and basically living in the squat rack? (for the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THIS WORLD PLEASE DO NOT BE THAT PERSON) Well, you may be in the need of a jolt to your program in the form of dumbbells and a little thing called unilateral training. Click here to read more….
The New Year’s Resolution Check Up
I was so motivated to make this the best year of my life. Eating right, exercising, drinking my water, taking my vitamins, getting enough sleep and reaching my goals was my main focus – and I was doing great.
Then one day I caught a case of the “meh’s”. I missed my vitamins for a few days, I was slowly getting a little dehydrated and the thought of going all Beast Mode in the gym seemed like way too big of a task to handle and I couldn’t go to the gym if I wanted because I lost my damn keys. Click here to read more…
Here we go! Day 4 of my Favorite FITmas Gifts for 2015 – Stocking Stuffers. I love every single one of these items and I hope you can share them with the Fitness Fanatic on your Holiday list.
Momentum Jewelry
Momemtum Jewelry is a local company (Woodbury, MN) with an amazing reason – to encourage YOU to be YOUR best during your workout. With saying like “Every Day Is A Gift”, “Stay Strong” and “Earned Never Given” you are going to be motivated when you see your jewelry. Momentum makes workout friendly wraps, cuffs, foot notes, necklaces, earring and head wraps that are comfortable, washable, lightweight and will not tarnish.
Blender Bottle
The Blender Bottle is a must-have for anyone taking any type of liquid nutrition (pre or post-workout). This shaker bottle comes with a “Blender Ball” that does the mixing while you shake! Say goodbye to chunky supplement drinks forever!
Max Flow Sports Hair Bands
The Max Flow Sports Cross-Grip Hairband is a great gift for anyone who is tired of having their hairband distract them during their workout. Most hairbands slip off your head as you exercise, but the Max Flow Sport hairband had cross-grip technology that keeps the band securely in place so you can focus on getting your sweat on!
Cathe On Demand
Cathe.com now offers Live Streaming of her Thursday morning classes and instant access to all of her 100+ videos. Cathe One Demand is a great gift for the person who likes to workout in the privacy of their own home and loves to be challenged. Cathe is very motivating and keeps you moving with a variety for workouts for beginner and advanced exercisers. Strength training, bootcamps, cycling, circuit training, HIIT, yoga, barre – Cathe offers it all. Use code SAVE15 and get 15% off.
My Oatmeal.com
Looking for something to get the foodie on your list? A My Oatmeal Gift Card is perfect!!! My Oatmeal lets you create your own custom blend of oatmeal. Start by choosing your type of oats- steel cut, rolled, gluten free – and from there the options are endless! Add protein powder, nuts, fruit, flavorings, sweeteners, whatever your heart desires. And if you just can’t decide what yummie goodness to create, you can pick from one of their creations.
Sliders
Gold’s Gym Sliders are a fun addition to your fitness equipment. Sliders remove the impact of exercises like jumping jacks and mountain climbers and add resistance to lunges, pushups and ab exercises.
Versa Loops
Versa Loops are a very inexpensive way to take your workout to a whole different level. Slip them around your ankles to make jumping jacks brutal, wrap them around your thighs and for burn out squats, put them around your wrists to kick up pushups and, well…..I could go on and on. These little guys make any exercise just a smidge harder.
Versa Gripps
The Versa Gripps are a great tool in the gym. They take the slip out of your grip when you are sweaty, save your hands from painful callouses and allow you to disengage the forearms from exercises so the working muscles get to do all the work.
Day 3 of my favorite FITmas Gifts of 2015 is all about them bags, bout them bags, bout them bags and food prep! Going to and from the gym, to work and back home again could be a complete disaster if you aren’t prepared and organized! Here are my Favorite FITMAS Gift bags, food prep and coolers that will keep your items organized, your food cold and your meal prep a little easier!
Apera Bags
Just last week I did a review on the all new line of Apera bags and I have to say that they are THE bag if you are looking to be prepared and organized! Pockets, ventilation, insets and water resistant base, oh my! Any of these bags will get you to where you are going with everything you will need. Duffel, tote, backpack – Apera has one to fit your needs. BONUS – All bags are 20% off! No code needed!
6 Pack Bags
I have had the same Innovator 300 6 Pack Bag for 3 years and it is still in perfect condition with no sign of breaking down any time soon! This is the MUST have gift for anyone who is trying to stay on track with healthy eating. With 3 – 24oz. BPA-free containers, 2 gel ice packs that keep food cold, insulated pockets that keep food warm and extra storage for drinks, vitamins or utensils, these bags have it all. And if you are looking for a more “purse like” meal management bag, 6 Pack now has a women’s line that storage for your meals and everything you would carry in your purse all in one bag!
The Nutri Ninja
If you like smoothies, you have to have the Nutri Ninja. Gone are the days of ice chunks, pieces of spinach and hunks of fruit floating in your smoothies. The Nutri Ninja mixes anything into a smooth, delicious and nutritious drink.
Digital Food Scale
The Fitlosophy Digital Food Scale with cure your portion distortion. Eating a few extra ounces here and there might be what’s standing between you and your health and fitness goals. This digital food scale teaches you to focus on consuming healthy portions versus counting calories that can often become obsessive. You don’t know what you don’t know. So if you don’t know exactly how much you are eating, you won’t be able to see the changes.
Aroma Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
The Aroma Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer is the ultimate in food prep! Cook your rice, meat and veggies all in one pot at one time! How easy is that? Set your meal and it is ready when you get home!
Stay tuned for my Favorite FITmas Stocking Stuffers tomorrow!
It’s day 2 of the my favorite FITmas gifts and today it’s all about the gear! All of these items I use on a daily basis myself and with my clients.
Here are my 5 Favorite FITmas Gift gear items:
TRX
If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE gift to give someone, this would be it. The TRX system is great for the traveling fitness freak, an outdoor enthusiast or the average Joe who doesn’t have much space to work out. Hook the TRX up to a tree, pole or sturdy beam in your house and your set for a great workout using just your body weight. Great for all fitness levels.
BOSU
Do you BOSU? You should. The BOSU is an amazing functional tool to help improve your balance, strength, agility and speed. It can be used flat side up or flat side down. The BOSU takes exercises like lunges, pushups and planks to a whole other level.
2 Pounds Weighted Lifting Gloves
Are you ever in the gym and one set of weights is too light, but the 5 pound jump to the next set is just too much? This is when the Cathe Weighted Lifting Gloves come in. These adjustable gloves can be used for strength training, kickboxing, walking. Removable 1 lb weight packets allow the gloves to go from 0-2 lbs, making them the perfect training tool for when you are in between weights.
The Perfect Pushup
Don’t knock it until you try it! When a client of mine suggested I add the Perfect Pushup into my chest routine, I laughed at him. I am not one to try “infomercial” products because they are usually cheesy and junk. But I tried it and it took my pushup to a whole new level – it added depth and rotation into a normal pushup while keeping me in perfect form with less strain on my wrists.
The Gym Boss Timer
The Gym Boss Timer has changed my workouts and my clients workouts for the better. I no longer have to stare down the clock waiting for my next interval to start or end. Now I can just set my timer, clip it to my shirt and wait for the beep. It allows me to put 100% of my focus on the workout. Because the GYMBOSS is so small I can’t even tell that I am wearing it. And, unlike a cell phone, the clip keeps my hands free, I don’t have to worry about it falling off the equipment and I don’t have to set it down on the dirty gym floor. The GYMBOSS is less than $20, offers a HUGE selection of colors and takes the “timing” out of your workout – what more could you ask for?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Fitmas! Every year I share with you my favorite items that I have personally used in 2015 that I know are a “must have” or a “must buy” for anyone who loves fitness. This week, I will be blogging everyday about the perfect gifts you can purchase for the healthy person in your life, including yourself.
Today I am focusing on fitness clothing. I believe that how you feel in the gym sets the tone for your entire workout! If you aren’t comfortable while you are moving, you will be distracted and your workout will suffer. And if you can feel good about yourself while being comfortable, your confidence in the gym will be off the charts.
Here are 5 of my Favorite FITmas Gift items to wear while you get your sweat on:
Bombas Socks
I found Bombas socks while watching Shark Tank. With each pair they sell, they donate one pair to someone in need. So of course I had to try them out. I am very picky when it comes to my running socks. I need compression in the arch, cushion in the forefoot, heel and ankle and I hate that thick stitching band that runs across the toes. Well, when I got them, I found out these are THE perfect sock: quality materials, long lasting and comfortable. Use code HOLIDAY20 and get 20% off your order.
Chase Infinite Tanks
These workout tops from Chase Infinite not only look great and feel great, but they are designed with positivity in mind. Each shirt is printed with a POWER statement that will inspire you, motivate you and make you feel great about yourself! My favorite shirt says “Brave and Beautiful”. How can you not feel amazing walking around in a shirt that screams how awesome you are? And what makes these shirts even better is that $1 of each sale is given to great charities like Wounded Warriors, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and many more.
WSI Heater Gear
WSI HEATR GEAR is THE warmest base layer clothing on the market. And I can attest to that. I hate, hate, hate the cold. I refuse to do much outside in the winter because I always freeze. Now that I have the full HEARTR GEAR line of socks, hooded long sleeve shirt and leggings I can actually enjoy myself out in the cold elements. The HEATR Gear uses your own body heat to generate heat that stays INSIDE the clothing and doesn’t escape through the fabric. And if you happen to get sweaty, the fabric will wick away the sweat to the OUTSIDE of the clothing so you stay dry.
But don’t think that WSI only manufactures cold weather clothing. They also have a great line of wicking clothing for warm weather. So no matter what the season, you can sport WSI clothing. This Holiday Season, support a local business that takes pride in the fact that their quality clothing is made in AMERICA and created with care.
Sanuk Sandals
OK….I know! We are SO far from sandal weather, but the Sanuk Sandals are one of the best finds that I came across this year. After running races, my feet are usually: a)hot b)sweaty c)achy and d)gross. So after a long run I want to get out of my shoes pronto, but I hate wearing flip flops because I feel a little wobbly and the last thing I want to so is fall flat on my face. These sandals have banding that hold your feet in place and a super soft sole made from yoga mat material that actually feel like heaven. PS – these are also great to take on your mid winter vacay to somewhere warm!!!!
Love Your Melon Beanie
If you have to be active outside this winter, the Love Your Melon Beanie will keep you toasty warm, looking good and make your heart happy because LYM is a great cause!!!!! When you buy one of the handmade hats, a hat is donated to a child undergoing treatment for cancer. AND, each year some of these kids are given a day away from the hospital to live out a dream with a super hero (LYM Ambassador dressed as a super hero).
There you have my 5 Favorite Fitmas Clothing Gifts for 2015. Stay tuned for tomorrows post – Fitness Gear!!!
I got my first Apera Bag in 2014 and I literally use this bag EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Going to the gym, training clients, everyday errands – this bag is on my side. I love my original Fuchsia Apera Performance Duffel (read my blog post on it here) and when I was asked to review the new and improved Apera line of bags I jumped at the chance. I couldn’t decide which one of the sweet bags I wanted and since I already had one Apera bag in the pink family, I asked them to surprise me with any bag in the graphite color. 3 days later, Mr. Fed Ex man delivered me the Apera Yoga Tote.
And yes, I did that.
The first thing I noticed was the really cool pattern and color of the yoga tote. Here is a close up:
Being a new design, I was so excited to see that they kept some of the great features that the original bags had:
Tons of interior pockets to keep your stuff organized
A small, anti-microbial interior bag to keep your wet and dry clothes separated
Water proof bottom
BONUS!!! With every 3 bags purchased, one is donated to a Special Olympics Athlete
They added a few new features that really take the bag to the next level of awesome:
Exterior Water Bottle Pocket
2 extra carry handles as well as a shoulder strap
3 extra exterior pockets
A pass through to carry your foam roller or yoga mat
A padded pocket of electronics
This bag is so roomy, that I wanted to show you just what I carry in my bag
These are the necessities that I need for work: a foam roller, shoes, water bottle, towel, ipod, speakers, resistance bands, shower/cosmetic bag, tablet, wipes, perfect pushups, band, wallet and keys.
It all fit nicely in the tote with room to spare for a change of clothes. And I still had the exterior pockets empty!
If you are looking for a new gym bag, diaper bag (yep – it would be great for that too), carry all for every day or just a fun accessory, you will not be disappointed with the Apera Yoga Tote. And if the Yoga Tote isn’t what you are looking for, Apera has a variety of other bags in all shapes, sizes and colors that are sure to fit your needs. Check out their all new website and get 20% off your order. Go get your Apera Bag today and find out “where you can do from here”.
Ok, so this post has really has nothing to do with unicorns, but when I think of Unico Nutrition, I think of Unicorns and both Unico and Unicorns make me happy sooooo….
I am so excited to announce that I am a Unico Nutrition Ambassador and I will be contributing my vast knowledge of fitness stuff (running and lifting heavy things), mad cooking skills (mostly protein pancakes and coffee) and sarcasm to their blog. You can read my first blog post, Beating The Five Exercise Excuses here.
But for real though. In July I was asked to review a few Unico Nutrition products and I was instantly a super fan. Unico Nutrition offers a variety of items which are all awesome:
Now – to the good part! So, what can I do for you? As your ultra fabulous ambassador, I can offer you $5 off your when you use code FITTOGO at check out.
I can’t praise this company enough. They produce quality products that taste delicious and hold up to their claims. The customer service is outstanding and I can’t ask for nicer people to work with. And what I really love about this company is that they don’t claim to be the “beat all to end all” product that will be your magic pill. They know that you will make the change because of what YOU DO, not because of what you drink. To quote their motto: “We’re a supplement company. We’re not going to make you lose 10 pounds. We’re not going to make you gain 10 pounds of muscle. We’re not going to make you run faster, lift heavier, or set new personal bests. You’re going to do that. And we’re going to help.”
Once you buy all of the products, you must try the only post workout shake that I will drink to refuel my muscles and make my taste buds happy!
Apollo Vanilla Berry Goddess Protein Shake
1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (more or less depending how thick you like your shake)
I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to share with you that I am now a Momentum Jewelry Ambassador! What is Momentum Jewelry? Only the most workout friendly shoe charms, necklaces, earrings, head bands, cuffs and wrap bracelets that will inspire you and motivate you to to BE YOUR BEST.
Last Christmas my Beastie (my bestie who is my BEAST MODE partner in crime) gave me this wrap and I was in love with it the second I put it on. The wrap bracelet is not only comfortable and light weight, but it is also washable and will not tarnish! And for someone who sweats A LOT in the gym, I was excited to finally find jewelry that could stand up to my workouts and could be washed after my sweat sessions without the fear of destroying it!
When I checked out their website I was even MORE IN LOVE. There are so many options of items with inspiring quotes to choose from. And, what’s more, you can customize your own jewelry. I just recently ordered another wrap, a cuff and a shoe charm and I can’t wait to share photos with you.
If you would like to order your own Momentum Jewelry, visit their website, sign up for their newsletter and you will receive 20% OFF your first order. And don’t worry – they only send out a few newsletters a year so your inbox won’t be over-run with hundreds of emails. It’s a WIN WIN!
