bikini acceptance.

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I’ve got to be honest - I never thought I’d be one of those body acceptance blah blah blah people.

Haha. I think that came out wrong.

I guess what I mean is that I don’t find anything wrong with wanting to lose weight and even aim to be *gasp* skinny (yes, I said the S word). Those things seem to have become taboo in the blog world, and I think that’s unfortunate. Especially when the irony is that so many behind the “body acceptance” movement are actually the most restrictive.

WHOA. I digress. Writing a blog post at midnight will do that to ya. Where was I going with this again?

I remember. So, the other day when I was putting together my part 2 Vegas recap, I decidedly left out a few photos. And what did they all have in common?

I was in my bikini.

As someone who considers herself to be pretty damn confident, I was kind of bothered by this. Why did I care enough to purposefully leave out those photos?

After thinking it through, I came to a pretty solid conclusion. It’s not that I feel like I’m “fat” or unworthy. I don’t even think it’s necessarily an insecurity.

When it comes down to it, I think it’s an issue of pride. That my body isn’t what it used to be. It isn’t what I feel like it should be for how much I exercise. It’s that if I just waited a few more weeks, I’d have a better bikini body to show for.

And you know what? I had no idea that I felt that way until I wrote that post. Good ol’ GML, once again helping me dig up any issues left behind, ha.

So here I am, drinking the body acceptance Kool Aid, I suppose. But I’m totally down with that, because I’m in favor of FREEDOM in all shapes and forms. So these are a few revelations I’ve had over the past few days…

Why can’t my body look like it used to? Because it doesn’t. Because bodies change. Because I’m not 17 anymore - I’m a grown woman, and proud of it.

Why don’t I have washboard abs and a thigh gap? Because that’s not how I’m built. At least not right now.

Don’t get me wrong - I love fitness and aiming to be healthy. And do I still want to lose some weight? Yes, and that’s okay. But, as I focus on the changes I make in my body, I never want to forget that the real importance lies in the changes that happen in my heart. My soul. My character.

Yes, I want to feel confident in my own skin and proud of the work I’ve put into my fitness. But even more so, I want to be confident in the condition of my heart. In the destination of my soul. In the character I’ve built through overcoming hardship, surrendering my life to God, and becoming a woman that stands for more than just a “perfect” figure.

Related posts:

That Time I Took My Shirt Off In SoulCycle
Life: Unfiltered
Underneath It All
You Are More

305 Fitness review.

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Last week I took a new fitness class here in New York called 305 Fitness.

A friend of mine is an instructor there and I had been wanting to take a class forever. I always put it off, though, because I’m not exactly awesome when it comes to choreography. A few of my other friends recently started raving about the class, so I figured it was about time to try it out for myself!

305 was definitely unlike any class I’ve ever taken, and it was SO much fun. Here’s some of the background info + my thoughts on it.

About 305 Fitness

It’s a high intensity, Miami-inpsired (hence the 305) full body workout. All classes are 55 minutes long, with a focus on high-intensity rhythmic cardio. Classes also feature sprint intervals, sculpting, and a stretch cooldown. They have an arms class and a legs class (I took the legs class). It’s the type of workout that is good for those who are looking to have more of a dancer’s body/physique.

Pros:

* It’s FUN. 305 is just a crazy good time. Most of the time it felt less like a fitness class and more like a big dance party. It’s definitely a great class to go to with a group of friends. In fact, for your first time I would suggest going with friends if you can - it helps take the edge off if you’re not exactly the world’s best dancer.

* It’s a killer workout. The class is pretty much non-stop for 55 minutes with a few small breathers in between (and the strength part, which slows down a bit). There’s a lot of big + high intensity movements so you’ll find yourself out of breathe a lot, but it’s so fast-paced that you just have to keep going. You’ll definitely be sweating at the end!

* No equipment needed. With the exception of dumbbells in the arms class, there’s no equipment needed! Just make sure to wear comfortable clothes (that can handle a lot of jumping and wide range of movement) and sneakers.

* Great music. Get this - each class has a live DJ in it. How cool is that?! I loved that aspect - it made the class that much more fun and felt more like being in a club than a fitness studio.

Cons:

* The choreography can be confusing. When the class first started, I remember thinking CRAP - there is no way I’m going to get this choreography. I ended up catching on enough to still get a good workout, but I still had to really pay close attention throughout the whole class. I’m sure after going regularly you catch on more, but because of that I don’t think 305 is a class you’d want to go to sporadically.

* Primarily cardio workout. With the exception of the (arms or legs) strength section of the class, 305 is definitely more of a cardio workout. The strength portion isn’t exactly intense either.

* Cost. Classes are $32 each, but the cost does go down if you purchase a package.

* Only 2 locations. So far there are only locations in NYC and Washington D.C.

The verdict:

I’m a fan of 305 Fitness. I think it’s especially great for someone that loves cardio but doesn’t necessarily like “normal” cardio like running or cycling. It’s the epitome of a FUN workout that doesn’t feel much like exercise at all. If you’re in NYC or DC, I definitely suggest checking it out!

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Does 305 Fitness sound like a workout you’d enjoy? Are you a fan of dance-inspired fitness classes?

 

lessons in flexible dieting (AKA - just eating).

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For the past couple of months I’ve been experimenting embracing Flexible Dieting. I hate even calling it that because the thing is - it’s not dieting. Does anyone have a suggestion for what else we can call it…? 😛

I actually must admit that I haven’t even been strictly adhering to the principles (i.e. tracking macros) of Flexible Dieting. In fact, I’d say the way I’ve been eating is closer to Intuitive Eating. AKA…just eating.

I wanted to share of the things I’ve learned over the past few weeks because a handful of you asked me to share more about my experience - specifically breaking free from the whole “clean eating” (Paleo) mentality. I’ve said this a million times and want to say again - that I don’t find anything wrong with Paleo style of eating. I had a lot of great results (physically, mentally, etc.) from eating that way, and I really do think it’s one of the healthiest ways to eat. It’s just not for me, and I think these points will explain a bit more why.

1. I don’t like meat as much as I thought I did. I’ll probably never cut it out completely, but when I go with my cravings/what my body wants, most of the time that’s a combination of plants + grains (as you can see in the meals above).

2. I don’t want to have to control my sweet tooth. I get it - sugar isn’t good for us blah blah blah. But quite frankly - I just don’t care anymore. I love treats, and I’d rather find a way to fit them into my life on a daily basis.

3. I am naturally a healthy eater. I don’t know when I started to think I had to try harder to eat healthy. I naturally gravitate toward foods that are good for me, so I think I really can just trust my body (as cliche as that sounds - it’s true!).

4. Logging meals is extremely helpful, but not a necessity (for me). About a week ago I stopped tracking my meals on MyFitnessPal. I’ll probably still log a few days a week just to keep me on track, but I don’t want to become obsessed or dependent on it.

5. Arctic Zero is my jam + one of the few “diet foods” I can get behind. The Cookie Dough, Salted Caramel, and Toasted Coconut flavors are so ridiculously good.

6. So is Free Bread. I eat it toasted almost every morning with smashed avocado + a fried egg. It’s the best gluten free bread I’ve tried - hands down. The flavor and texture is perfect.

7. Breaking the mentality that sugar/carbs/dairy are the devil isn’t so easy. It’s everywhere! But each day it gets easier and easier to trust myself/my body over what everyone else is saying.

8. Instead of ignoring cravings, I’m embracing them. Sometimes that means I’m going to eat a cupcake in the middle of the work day. Other times that means a salad. And yes - sometimes I still want a big plate of “clean” meat and veggies. Nothing is off limits, and that’s a wonderful way to eat/live.

…that’s I’ll I’ve got for now! I’ll make sure to do a follow up post as I continue on with Flexible Dieting (which, I think I’m going start calling Just Eating. ha).

Can you relate to any of these?

a very work & play kind of day.

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Hey guys!

It’s definitely time for a little day in the life action, yes? I realized I haven’t done a DITL post since I started my new gig as a full time Social Media Director, so this will give you a bit of a glimpse into my new routine. Every day can be totally different from the next, but yesterday was pretty standard for a Friday-in-the-life for me.

7am: Wake up. Coffee. God time.
7:45 - 9am: Do my daily social posts + catch up on emails and Podio tasks.
9am: Get dressed, eat a banana, head to SoulCycle.

9:30 - 10:15am: One of the best SoulCycle classes I’ve had in a while. (Read about it here.)
10:45 - 12:45am: Went Hu Kitchen for a late breakfast. Caught up on more work.

12:45 - 2pm: Headed up to Midtown to pick up samples from two of our clients for a photo shoot next week.

2pm: Went home. Finished up more work (scheduling posts). Wrote blog post. Drank a green protein smoothie.
3pm: Wrapped up with work for the day. Got ready for a late afternoon rooftop party at Le Bain.

4:30pm - 6:30pm: Hung out there with Sydney and Martina. It was such a beautiful afternoon/evening!

6:30pm - 9pm: Went home, made myself breakfast for dinner (avocado toast + eggs). Washed it down with half a pint of this deliciousness 😛 Seriously - this stuff is UH-mazing.

9pm: Watched a little bit of TV. Got ready (again). Drank some coffee.
10:30pm: Headed down to Le Poisson Rouge for their weekly 90’s party + my friend Jenn’s birthday celebration.

If you’re ever in New York on a Friday (and a child of the late 80s/90s ;)) you’ve GOT to go to this party. It is ridiculously fun. Zero pretentiousness, fun people, and sooo much nostalgia. The cover band (The Bayside Tigers) is incredible!

2am: Way past my bedtime 😉 Headed home to end what was quite the perfect (work & play) Friday.

And now here I am on Saturday morning, coffee in hand, excited for the long weekend!

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Do you have any fun plans for Memorial Day Weekend?
What’s your favorite 90’s song?

that time i took my shirt off in SoulCycle.

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Yeah yeah, total clickbait title 😉

Something cool happened this morning at my SoulCycle class that I couldn’t wait to share with you.

First - some back story. About a month ago, Sydney, Rachel and I came up with a little challenge for ourselves called #MissionSBOnly. We made it to be a fun way to hold each other accountable as we all wanted to take our fitness to another level and get in our best shape ever for this summer + some upcoming trips.

What does SB stand for, you ask? Sports Bra. Mission Sports Bra Only. If you’ve ever taken a group fitness class, or even just been at a gym, you’ve probably seen that chick who has the confidence (and probably the bod to match) to rock no shirt - only a sports bra.

Well, at SoulCycle, those girls are everywhere. And they are quite inspiring, to say the least. Not just because they have rockin’ bodies, but because they have that confidence to go with it. I’ll be 100% honest with you - sometimes I look at those girls and think, “why not just put a shirt overtop?” But you know what? When I stop and check myself, I realize that that’s me judging, and even more so - that’s me being envious. I want to rock the SB only too!

Anyway. I digressed a bit there. My point is that my goal isn’t just to have that body, it’s to have that confidence. Of course one day I want to feel like my hard work has paid off and it shows on the outside. But today…today I decided that I’m not going to wait for the abs any longer.

So in the middle of my class with Danny (my first class with him - he’s definitely a new favorite) - I don’t know what came over me, but I realized I wasn’t going to wait for some big, special moment any more. I was going to MAKE that moment. So I peeled off my sweat-soaked pink tank top, and finished the class in all my sports bra only glory.

Did my body jiggle and roll in places I’d rather it not? Sure did. But did I care, or even think once what anyone else thought? Hell. To the. No. Even though my body isn’t where I want it to be one day, I rocked that sports bra only like I was the hottest, fittest girl in the room.

The funny thing is, that small decision motivated me to get where I want to be a trillion times more than feeling like I had to keep myself “covered up” until I reached my goal. It was empowering. It was freeing. A shift happened in me - not just related to fitness, but in my character.

My main takeaway from my first time being that girl in her sports bra? Don’t wait until tomorrow. Life doesn’t start 5 pounds from now. It doesn’t start when you get your dream job, meet your dream guy, or when you make six figures. It’s happening now.

And look - that doesn’t mean you can’t/shouldn’t have goals. I sure as still heck do, and getting a flatter tummy is one of them. But I wonder if the whole idea of faking it ’til you make it can help those goals come to fruition just a bit faster…

Can you relate to this? What goal in your life can you fake it till you make it right now?

eats & moves | 5.11.15.

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Weekly Workout Recap | GirlMeetsLife.com

Once again I need to play a bit of catch up with my workout recap, oops! For the sake of accountability I’m trekking all the way back to April…

Week of 4/19: took 2 cycling classes, off the rest of the week.

Week of 4/26:
4/26 - off
4/27 - 45 minute Peloton cycling class
4/28 - 45 minute SoulCycle class
4/29 - off
4/30 - 45 minute SoulCycle class
5/1 - off
5/2 - 25 minutes treadmill intervals, 25 minutes strength training

Week of 5/3: went for a 40 minute jog on Monday, off the rest of the week

As you can see, I’ve been doing a bit of pendulum swinging in the exercise department, ha. The week of 4/19 was tough mostly because there was just a lot going with with work/She Is Free, but last week I honestly just needed a break…mostly mentally.

I wish I could say I was one of those people that likes to work out when I’m feeling stressed/overwhelmed - and sometimes that is the case - but most of the time feeling like I need to squeeze exercise into what is already a busy time just makes things worse. I’m learning more and more than *for me* making sure I don’t let myself get mentally/emotionally drained is more important than exercise when it comes to being healthy.

With that being said, the week off was great (and totally served its purpose), so I’m excited to get back into some sweat sessions this week!

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As far as my eats go, I’m keeping up with Flexible Dieting (AKA IIFYM) and loving it. I’m definitely still in the experimental phase and trying to get over the clean eating/Paleo mentality that I somehow adopted over the past year. Some of my meals have looked like:

(sushi, Juice Press, burrito bowl, steak, Arctic Zero)

Clearly I haven’t been starving 😉 I’ll be honest - my macros haven’t been entirely on point. I’m getting there slowly but surely. But from the start I had decided I didn’t want to be super strict. I do think that my goals will eventually tighten up, but right now I’m focusing on (re)learning how to eat healthy and balanced without feeling like sugar and *gasp* gluten are going to kill me in my sleep.

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What are your fitness/health goals right now? Do you prefer to exercise or rest when you’re feeling stressed?