Fitness Friday: Working Out with fitmob + Athleta Giveaway!

There’s an awesome new fitness trend that is making the ability to take a bunch of classes at different gyms more readily accessible. As someone who has lived in an apartment complex with a gym for the past 3 years, I find it hard to want to pay for a gym but at the same time, feel like I’m missing out on some of the fantastic classes that are available for gym-goers. Enter fitmob.

Founded by Snapfish co-founder and entrepreneur/VC Raj Kapoor as CEO, tech guru and martial arts champion Paul Twohey as CTO, and worldwide fitness expert Tony Horton, fitmob is a San Francisco-based company that is described on the their website as:

“An authentic fusion of fitness, community and technology. fitmob combines the power of community with the convenience of a mobile platform to create a fun, affordable and rewarding workout experience in your neighborhood. It’s a new fitness movement with YOU at the center.”

They have a huge array of classes ranging from cardio and strength to barre, yoga, TRX, and more. For just $99/month, you’re able to attend classes with over 75 studios and trainers to choose from as many times as you can get your butt to class! In addition to their Passport program, they’ve also introduced MobTribes, described as on their website as:

“…a shared personal training that’s fun, affordable and all about results. You’ll be matched with a top-rated personal trainer to lead workouts at a convenient location picked by your MobTribe of 4-6 friends.

Your MobTribe will meet twice a week in a 6-week program designed for results! We’ve done plenty of research and studied the science of shared group training.

With MobTribes you’ll get personal attention, nutrition tips, daily activity tracking and off-day workouts, without the price tag of personal training.”

I had the opportunity to attend one of their workouts, Weapons of Ass Reduction [love the name!], last week but unfortunately couldn’t work out the commute with my work schedule. I absolutely plan on giving this a go and checking out a bunch of studios in SF, along with some of their own workouts, in the near future. How could I pass on the opportunity to push my limits? Eeeexxactly!

And now for the giveaway!

Want to enter for your chance to win a $50 Athleta Gift Card? [You do. The new winter line just came in!] Click here to enter and keep cross your fingers!

If you’re free, join fitmob + Sweat Pink #HolidayFitList Twitter Party on Tuesday, November 4th from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST. More details on the event coming soon!

Food for Thought

Do you prefer indoor or outdoor workouts?

I received the opportunity to take part in the fitmob campaign through my ambassadorship with Fit Approach. All opinions are my own.

Link Love #32

Have you entered my Bob’s Red Mill giveaway yet?

Well, I’m happy to report that last night was fun! I’m so glad I was able to find a seder to go to and this was definitely a family that reminded me of my own. The random breaks for song, a Rabbi rap, lots of laughter, and an extremely full belly. Other than being home with my own family, I couldn’t have asked for more and I’m so thankful to have found such a welcoming group of people. There were quite a few empty wine bottles at the end of the night too 😉

Health

“Stressing Over Stress is What Makes Stress So Stressful” – Cotter Crunch

“Stressing Over Stress is What Makes Stress So Stressful” – Cotter Crunch
Don’t compare you to…YOU. – Carla Birnberg
Is Being Really Lean Really Worth It? – Molly Galbraith
Looking “Fit” Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Being Healthy – Jen Comas Keck
Ask a Yogini: Why Practice Yoga Inversions? – Love Life Surf

Fitness

The Extra Dirty Thirty Full Body Workout – Lifting Revolution

The Extra Dirty Thirty Full Body Workout – Lifting Revolution
Challenge Yourself at the Gym – Slim Sanity
Greatist Workout of the Day: Furious 10 – Greatist
How to Complete a Chin Up: 9 Tips to Pull Yourself Over the Bar – Your Trainer Paige
Post Workout Nutrition: What Do We Need and Why? – The Little Honey Bee

Food

Torched Salmon in Green Juice Sauce – Lady and Pups

Torched Salmon in Green Juice Sauce – Lady and Pups
Red Wine Fig Jam – Food Babbles
Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs – Eating Bird Food
Coconut Banana Oats Bowl with Crunchy Black Sesame Quinoa Cereal + Mango – Half Baked Harvest
Gruyere and Asparagus Potato Noodle Casserole – Inspiralized

Food for Thought

Have you ever spent a holiday with a family you’d never met before?
What was one of your favorite posts from the past week?

FitBloggin’.. It’s What’s Trending

I’m completely exhausted. I can’t walk or sit down. And I cannot stop smiling.

I had been looking forward to FitBloggin’ for months and was so psyched when the weekend was finally arriving. I knew it was going to be super informative and a good time, but I don’t know that I realized exactly how much fun I was going to have.

Over the course of 2 1/2 days, I spent my time working out, collecting swag, munching on some rather amazing food, collecting swag, listening to presentations, and, oh yea.. did I mention collecting swag?! I think I smell a few giveaways… 😉

Friday morning started bright and early with 6am yoga. And while everyone kept telling me I was crazy to be waking up so early when I was taking a day off of work, I knew I didn’t want to miss any of the workouts, and I’m so glad I didn’t! We also got a little taste of crossfit with 2 sets of AMRAP squats, sit ups, and burpees, and finished off with an awesome workout with Cathe Friedrich. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d go with Cathe’s workout; definitely left there sweating!

That last picture on the bottom left cracks me up! That was some sort of squatting shoulder push up and yes, it felt just as silly as it looks!

Saturday’s workouts were extra sweaty which I was totally ready for. Bootcamp with Erin from Power Fitness was by far my favorite workout of the weekend. When she said “don’t stop moving,” she meant it, 6am or not! She’s a pistol and I absolutely loved her!

Trampoline BOUNCEcamp with JumpSport followed and Jami was the only one brave enough to make a fool of herself with me. It was a good workout that got a little crazy at the end and I would absolutely do it again! The last workout on Saturday was ZUMBA. Holy moly was that fun! It was my first ZUMBA class and I let myself go!

The food on all weekend was great and we were quite ravenous after our workouts. Buffet style = going back for seconds!

I’ve already started planning some new recipes inspired by these meals and can’t wait to share them! (Mmmmmmm muesli!) And I definitely had my fair share of popchips. No complaints here.. they were such a great sponsor!

As for the biggest part of FitBloggin’, the presentations, I walked away with an incredible about of information that I can’t wait to break out. One of my favorite presentations was Harnessing the Power of YouTube by Sarah. I took the most away from her talk and can’t wait to put some of her ideas to use! Look out for some video posts soon 😉

In the midst of all of the workouts and chats, I got the opportunity to meet some of my favorite bloggers; Brittany from Eating Bird Food and Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers. I’ve been following their blogs for quite some time now and it was so great to finally get to chat with them in person.

And with that, I leave you with some of my absolute favorite moments of the weekend. I can’t thank Roni Noone enough for putting this amazing conference together and for doing such an incredible job with everything. I had the time of my life and hope to see everyone next year in PORTLAND!!

*Thanks to Kate, Mary, and more for the pics!

Copycat This or That

Starting at about 6:15 this evening, my weekend (including Friday) will be consumed by FitBloggin’, a conference “for bloggers interested in fitness, wellness, good food and a healthy lifestyle. Two days of education, networking, friendship and fun.” I am SO. STINKIN. EXCITED! Nathan and my parents got me my ticket for my birthday and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift.

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to learn about how to improve my blogging and get in some fantastic workouts with everyone, including yoga, crossfit, trampoline BOUNCEcamp, and more! I’m also excited to finally meet so many bloggers that I’ve been chatting with over the interwebs and others whose blogs I’ve been following, like Brittany @ Eating Bird Food, Julie @ PBFingers, Gina @ Skinnytaste, and so many more!

Courtesy of Robert McClintock

And in the spirit of FitBloggin’ and a healthy living blog, Brittany shared a “This or That” survey that peaked my interest and seems oh so appropriate for the upcoming weekend!

1. Run/workout in the heat & humidity or freezing temps and snow?
I’d have to say heat, maybe not humidity. I mean, I do hot yoga because the stretches are so much deeper and it just feels good get a good sweat!

2. Have washboard or flat abs?
Flat abs. In reality though, I’d take either. No arguments here!

3. Dr. Oz or the Doctors?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Dr. Oz and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Doctors. Soooo Dr. Oz by default?

4. Cardio or strength?
Both!

5. Cravings: Protein or carbs?
Carbs. Carbs. Carbs! Growing up, I practically ate pasta everyday. These days, I crave oatmeal for breakfast like no one’s business!

Check out my delicious oatmeal recipes!
Chocolate Protein Oats
Cinnamon Raisin Overnight Protein Oats & Quinoa
Pumpkin Spice Latte Proatmeal

6. Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?
Tone It Up! 😉

Honestly though, I haven’t done either of their workouts but I think I’d have to say Team Bob.

7. Frozen Yogurt or Ice cream?
Froyo all the way!

8. To train: upper body or lower body?
Lower body. There’s just nothing like waddling around like a penguin the day after an awesome workout!

9. Protein powder or food with protein?
Food with protein. While I like using protein powder in shakes and pancakes, I definitely prefer a more natural option on a regular basis.

10. Lunges or squats?
Squats. Lunges are quite possibly up there with burpees.

11. Sweet or salty?
Sweet! My sweet tooth shows no mercy!

12. Workout attire: cute or comfy?
At this point, comfy. Though, I find myself looking online recently for some cuter options.

13. Body Pump or heavy lifting?
Heavy lifting with some Body Pump thrown in every now and then for good measure.

14. Yoga or pilates?
Yoga. Hot, hot yoga!

15. Nike or Adidas?
Asics?

16. Running on treadmill or outdoors?
Outdoors as long as it’s not too humid or too cold!

17. Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s?
Both! I have a Whole Foods so close to me that I usually opt for that, but I do love Trader Joe’s when I can make it out of the city. (Especially when I can get to Virginia!)

18. Summer or Winter Olympics?
Summer. I love the swimming!

19. Exercise classes or videos?
These days it’s videos since I don’t belong to a gym, but when I did, I’d go for the classes!

20. Steamed or roasted veggies?
Roasted, for sure! There’s just nothing like a perfectly roasted squash or brussel sprouts! Or maybe a roasted squash soup? 😉

Speak Up!

Do you have an opinion about any of the survey questions? I’d love to hear your thoughts!