Hey, babe! Question for ya. Do you ever get bloated? Chances are, you’re nodding vigorously with a repulsed look on your face. Bloating is a majorly gross feeling and can feel like an inescapable part of life sometimes. While we may not be able to take away your bloating forever, I’ve discovered some ways you…
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You’ll spell your name to create your own customized workout. Perfect for at home or the gym! 
Hi hi! How’s the day going? What are you up to? I’m catching a barre class then heading out shopping with the girls. We’ve never been to the outlet mall nearby, so I think we’re finally going to check it out.
Before we blitz, I have an all-new workout for ya!
Today’s workout is totally customizable depending on your name. I always love to play workout games and constantly find ways to change things up. For this one, you’ll find the letters in your name and do each corresponding move in a circuit, moving quickly from one exercise to the next. I’ve included some home modifications, too, just in case you’re getting a sweat at home or while traveling. To make it a longer workout, repeat the circuit 3 times, OR try doing your full name!
Here’s what the workout look likes:
Details for each letter in the Spell Your Name Workout:
A = 15 burpees
B = 20 bench hopovers
C = 30 curtsy lunges
D = 15 heavy deadlifts
E = 1-minute plank
F = 25 frog crunches
G = 30 kettlebell swings
H = 30-second bar hang (at home: 12 heavy biceps curls)
I = 1-minute inchworm
J = 30 squat jumps
K = 25 kettlebell squats
L = 20 jumping lunges
M = 30 medicine ball slams
N = 12 broad jump burpees
O = 1 minute row for distance (or 1 minute jump squats)
P = 12 assisted pull-ups (or lat pulldowns on a machine or with a resistance band)
Q = 40 high knees
R = .25 mile run or walk (at home: 2 minutes of plyometrics or high knees)
S = 30 step-ups on a sturdy chair or bench
T = 30 toe touch crunches
U = 12 heavy biceps curls
V = 20 V-ups
W = 30 walking lunges
X = 20 X-jumps
Y = 25 triceps dips
Z = 25 skaters
So, what exercises make up your name? Feeling bad for the people with super long names right about now.
Are there any rep or exercise games you like to play?
xo,
Gina
Some more *fun* workouts:
15 minutes, 15 moves total body workout
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Hi friends! How are you? I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We met up with the family for Pizza Saturday, did a donut run, I took another hot yoga class and got in a strength workout, and we went to the pool not once but twice on Friday with friends.
I’m catching an early Peloton class – Alex’s classes are my faves right now – and then we’re spending the rest of the day enjoying some summer adventures. School is starting next week (what?!), so I feel like it’s the last hurrah. About a month ago, I felt like summer was dragging on forever, and here I am wishing it would last just a little longer. I’m absolutely craving a little bit of routine again (and solid blocks of time during the day to work), but at the same time, I’m going to miss these lazy mornings and days at the pool.
Hands in the air if you’re watching The Bachelorette tonight. I’m feeling ALL the emotions: excited, scared, nervous, devastated. I’ve read all the spoilers so I’m 99.9% sure it doesn’t go the way I’d like it to go, man, all the drama has made for some fabulous TV entertainment.
Today’s post is a little bit random, but aren’t those ones the most fun? I thought I’d share 7 life lessons that I’ve had to learn the hard way. You know what I’m talking about: the things you think are going to work out splendidly but end up being a major fail.
Always put an extra pair of underwear (bonus for an extra outfit), contacts, and a toothbrush with toothpaste in your carry-on backpack for all humans in your travel party. Our checked baggage has been lost too many times. When I was stuck in Phoenix with the girls and zero necessities, I told myself that I will never, ever make this mistake again. (Thankfully our cousins swooped us up for a Target run so I could get some essentials!)
On the same note: never leave the house without snacks and water bottles for all. Something about driving makes the everyone equally parched and starving.
Nail salons are for nails and waxing/threading salons are for eyebrows. Many years ago, I let a nail technician sweetly convince me that I should get my eyebrows waxed. As I felt her spread the wax from my eyebrows all the way down to cover my entire eyelid (!) I prayed I wouldn’t end up like Christina from Grey’s Anatomy.
“Mama took my eyebrows.”
(Source)
Don’t cook the Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi according to package directions. You’ll have a goopy, soggy mess. Pan saute in a little avocado oil for about 10 minutes and they’re crispy perfection.
Cutting your own bangs is always a bad idea.
If you hate a book, quit reading it. Reading time is too precious to waste on novels that don’t suck you in with their story or provide relevant information.
Never put steak in the Instant Pot. This is something I’ll never forget. While the Pilot was deployed, I bought a nice grassfed steak from Whole Foods that the girls and I could share. I have no clue how to grill – my mom is now determined to teach me – and pan-searing never quite works for me, so I figured I’d put it in the Instant Pot. I retrieved a chewy, round, leather shoe. As Liv was chewing it (and each bite took maybe 30 chews for it to be possible to swallow), she sadly said, “I hate steak.” I had to remind her that she actually loves steak when it’s cooked properly. 
(Thankfully the Pilot and Kyle have cooked steak many times since this sad occasion.)
I’d love to hear any of the random things you’ve learned lately; drop your life tips in the comments sections. Can’t wait to read these.
xo
Gina
The post 7 things I learned the hard way appeared first on The Fitnessista.
Week of 7/22
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Hi hi! Happy weekend to ya. What are you up to? The girls and I are having a Friday Fun Day – going to the Children’s Museum and then hitting up the pool with some friends. We’re officially done with camps and I can’t believe that school starts so soon! The rest of the weekend will be the usual shenanigans: lots of time with the fam, catching up on stuff around the house (I’m finally picking a paint color for the dreaded red wall), and work stuff. I have something exciting (*cough* leggings *cough*) that will be launching August 8, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some of my faves from the week and around the web. I always love to hear what you’re loving, too, so please shout out a fave in the comments section below.
(Wearing this dress)
A momcation! I shared this one Instagram and so many friends said they used it to casually hint to their husbands that they could use a little R&R. I was feeling worn down after some rough nights of sleep around here. With the Pilot’s job transition, it has really shaken up our routine, and unfortunately, sleep has been affected. [Sometimes, I hesitate to write about sleep because I undoubtedly receive a few “You’re a bad parent! Make your kids sleep!” comments. Our kids are well-behaved, kind, polite, little loves, and sometimes they don’t sleep so well. I’ll take that any day of the week over a kid who sleeps peacefully through the night but is a jerk to other people.] Anyway, I was a walking zombie after being awake since 3:30am for about 3 days, and Tom booked me a room at the Lodge so I could catch up on some zzzzs.
It. was. everything.
I drank red wine out of a Yeti cup, snuggled on the couch in a blanket reading for 3 blissful hours, and then slept for 10. I woke up to the sun peeking through the clouds, and felt like a new human being. Cheers to doing what we need to do to take care of our selves so we can give to others, and cheers to the husbands out there who sometimes know exactly what we need.
Celebrating Nani’s birthday! The fam came over for a little birthday feast and celebration. Kyle grilled steaks and asparagus,
madre brought amazing potatoes, and I made the usual enormous cheese board,
and Uncle E’s famous pasta salad.
We drank margaritas, spent the evening taking turns holding baby August and watching one of the kids’ many performances for us, and ate cake and cupcakes. It was perfect.
Duolingo. Does anyone else use this fun tool? It’s a great way to practice another language and has been an excellent opportunity to brush up my español. (Growing up, I always did the thing where family would speak to me in Spanish and I’d answer in English. I understand it perfectly, and minored in it in college, but don’t practice speaking very frequently.) You can follow friends through the app, and it’s always good inspiration to practice for a little while each day.
I took at class here at Sumit Yoga in Tucson, and LOVED it. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a really hot 60-minute yoga class. (Usually if I practice yoga it’s slightly warm and 60 minutes.) About two of the class blocks were Bikram-inspired, and it felt good to go back to poses I used to love so dearly. (In a weird way. Like I enjoy having zero amount of dry clothes on my body since I’m entirely drenched in sweat and struggling to hold poses for 60 seconds, but it felt so amazing when it was over.)
I have a Groupon for this month, so I’m excited to try more of their classes.
Looking for a kettlebell workout? Try this one!
Summer workout and chill playlists.
Don’t forget that you can still get 21 days of Les Mills On Demand for free with my link here! Try BODYPUMP, Grit, or BODY ATTACK. They’re all so good and perfect for end-of-summer travel or catching a quick workout at home. Check out my full review here.
So many great pieces still in stock for the Nordstrom Sale, like these cozy joggers, my fave leggings ever, this everyday v-neck, this gorgeous pendant (perfect holiday gift), the best pajamas, and my very fave bra. Some of my top picks from this years’ sale have sold out, so I’m happy that they still have a variety of sizes in stock for some of my beloved staples.
If you’ve been wanting to try the new Countertime, it’s now officially on the site as a full regimen. Check it out here! If you start with one item, I would do the serum or the supreme cream.
Raise your hand if you cried watching the new Mister Rogers trailer.
Do you have a personal ritual?
5 things to stop doing when you’re struggling.
“Whole Place Locked” by So Dope and 5ILVA came up on my Spotify playlist and really put some pep in my workout step.
Life lessons we can learn from our pets.
This breakfast! 4 liquid egg whites, 1 whole egg, nutritional yeast and sriracha + a Mikey’s English muffin with Kite Hill cream cheese, Everything But the Bagel seasoning, and leftover asparagus.
Can’t wait to try these zucchini muffins.
Happy Friday!
xo
Gina
The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista.
