I may be showing my age here but I recall those two little words dominating every 5th grader’s vocabulary when Clueless first came out. That’s right…I was still in elementary school when Alicia Silverstone was the ‘it’ girl of Hollywood. Judge me all you want but I still love that movie. Alicia’s character, Cher was truly a gem. A …
This Is How Comparison Steals Your Fitness #Gainz
Know the saying ‘comparison is the thief of joy?’ Well, it’s also the thief of progress. And gainz. Last week I hit a new milestone – a 100lbs bench press PR! My weakest and least favorite lift. With a powerlifting meet coming up and a hectic schedule that’s forced my training to take a back seat, this was a huge …
5 Recovery Essentials You Haven’t Thought Of (Yet)
Two things I hate about working out: 1) The warm-up and 2) the cool-down. It’s like I love the ham and cheese in the sandwich but not the bread (and thus, not a sandwich). Clearly, you can see my dilemma. Not only are the warm-up and cool-down essential to performance, but without either one I can count on a fast …
The 5 Emotional Stages Of An Injury (And How To Train Around It)
Side note: The title of this article was inspired by a hilarious post from Pumps and Iron (about furniture). I laughed so hard I decided to ‘borrow’ it for my own post about a very serious topic. Enjoy! January 2016 started out nicely enough. No hangover (because I didn’t go out), no drama (because I was asleep by midnight), and …
Master the push-up (Part 2)
I looked in the mirror today after teaching Spin class and was so impressed with my arms. I mean, hello shapely biceps! Where have you been hiding all winter? Turns out that my quest for a stronger push-up is paying off in some sexy arms! And you know what? I kind of dig it. (Make sure you read Part 1 …
Master the push-up, once and for all (Part 1)
Once upon a time, I was knocking out some push-ups at the gym, feeling strong AF when my coach walks over and says “bring your arms a little closer,” and then walked away. I did as instructed and holy hell, I could barely get in three solid push-ups after that! Yup, I got schooled on an exercise I considered myself …
Breaking down HIIT and Steady-State Cardio for Fat Loss Goals
Cardio (noun): An over-hyped, magical formula necessary for effective fat loss. Coveted by thousands of adoring and bored fans on treadmills and elliptical machines the world over. I get it. It’s January. New year, new you, right? You’re committed. Two hours of cardio a day? No problem! In fact, let’s sign up for a marathon. That will really keep you …
Lessons From The Barbell: My Journey From Grief to Strength
“I’m too sick to come in today. Sorry.” I hung up the phone, threw it into a corner, and cried myself back to sleep. “You’ll be okay. It’ll get better,” I’d say. But it got worst. “She didn’t make it,” my mother cried over the phone. “I knew something was wrong; I tried calling all day and she never picked up.” …
One Exercise For A Tighter, Rounder And More Powerful Butt
When Sir Mix-A-Lot declared he liked big butts, he should have dedicated a lyric or two to the hip thrust. Many people will tell you that the squat is the secret sauce to a powerful and beautiful derrière. However, research shows that hip thursts and squats combined will elicit the highest levels of gluteal activation needed for a stronger booty. …
Week 4 Schedule #BlissFitHabits
Welcome to week four, fitness junkies! This last week feels a little bittersweet. I’m so proud of all of you who have jumped into this challenge with an open mind, tackled your fears and embraced the mindset and physical challenges. I am motivated by you, inspired by you and most of all, really, really grateful for you all. THANK YOU. …