"GO TO SLEEP!"

The title of this post is truly one of the greatest moments in reality television history, but I digress.

It's the first Friday of the month, which means it's time for yet another Fit Friday! As I said before, not every post will be about fitness or weight loss, but about living a fit life all around. This month, we are talking about sleep.

I've only watched Iyanla, Fix My Life once (twice, but it was the same episode at a later time,) but I love watching and hearing what inspirational tidbits Iyanla Vanzant has to say on other TV shows or on Twitter. In watching Iyanla Vanzant during a health segment a few weeks back, I found myself having, as ironic as this may sound, an awakening at the one thing she believes one can do to improve their health immediately:

"If you wake up on Tuesday, go to sleep on Tuesday."

I am definitely guilty of waking up one day and going to bed the next. While I sleep like a rock and get enough sleep each night, sometimes my inability to pull myself away from what I'm doing, (important things like watching TV, pinning, shopping online...) or thinking about the next day, has me staying up longer than I should be. I know sleep is important, so developing a bit of a pre-bedtime ritual has helped to get a better night's rest.

Shutting down (most) of my devices an hour before bed and writing down last minute thoughts and to-do's definitely helps, but if it's one thing I look forward to come bed time, it's the pillow mist from Bath and Body Works. No matter what is going on, whether I am ready for bed or a bit restless, once I get a whiff of that lavender, I'm not up for much longer. 

The more that I learn about physical and mental health, the more I realize just how important it is to get enough sleep and enough quality sleep. For me, getting enough sleep not just ensures that I have enough energy for my workout and the day, but it means that I wont be cranky and looking for carby/sweet foods later in the day. Mentally, it helps me to think clearly and feel at ease, not anxious. It took me many, many years, but if it's one thing I'm glad I've learned in life, it's to value my sleep!

With that, I wish you a fantastic weekend filled with fun and a good night's rest! 

Summer Workout Wear

Working out in the summer can be one hot, uncomfortable experience. While I wake up earlier to get my daily workout in before it gets too hot, nothing keeps me dry (and sane!) like switching up what I wear. (AKA an excuse to buy more workout clothes...)

The same way my regular clothes change from season to season, so do my workout clothes. Cotton tops are replaced with polyester ones (they dry faster!) and leggings are swapped for shorts, sometimes capris. Being sweaty after a workout is expected, especially if its tough. But staying sweaty until I take off said clothes? Blech, not necessary. For me, these few changes make all the difference, especially with a great source of cool air and a cold bottle of water on hand.

LOOK 1: C9 by Champion tank, Old Navy Shorts 

LOOK 2: Old Navy tank, Xersion capris

LOOK 3: Under Armour Victory tank, Old Navy Running Shorts

What are some of your "stay dry" essentials for summer workouts?

Favorite Workout Of the Moment: Tabata

It feels like months have gone by since my first post for "Fit Friday," (still unsure of the title but whatever!), but here we are! As I said before, the topics will vary, but for this month I wanted to share my favorite workout at the moment: Tabata.

A while back, I tweeted one morning that I much preferred to do my Pilates for the day from the comfort and convenience of my bed. Soon after, my friend Lauren tweeted me back telling me that I should give a Tabata a try. A Ta-whata?! I had to google it since I had never heard of it before, but was immediately intrigued at what I had found. If it hadn't been my rest/stretch day, I definitely would have done it that morning. I made it a plan to give it a try the following week, and what I thought was going to be an easy workout, had me panting and sweating, just two minutes in. What initially felt like torture has become one of my favorite workouts.

So what is Tabata? It's actually quite simple. It's a form of high intensity interval training (or HIIT), comprised of one or more exercises performed for 8 rounds. Each interval last for 20 seconds, with 10 seconds of rest between each interval. Total time? Four minutes. So a Tabata could look like this:

20 seconds of lunges, 10 seconds rest, 20 seconds of burpees, 10 seconds rest...

OR

20 seconds of lunges, 10 seconds rest, 20 seconds of lunges, 10 seconds  rest...

I typically stick to one exercise per interval as I forget easily. And when I'm not making up my own workout, I'll follow along to one on YouTube (I especially love this one). I've been incorporating Tabata's into my workouts, about twice a week and I can definitely see a difference and feel myself getting stronger. Besides that, I love Tabata for a number of reasons:

1. With the exception of a timer, it requires no other equipment. Weights and machines can be incorporated into the workout, but it's not necessary. Bodyweight all the way, baby! To keep time, a wall clock or stopwatch may work, but there are a number of free apps out there specifically for Tabata, (I use Gymboss) to keep accurate time.
2. It's quick, yet effective- Time is tight for many people, so a Tabata leaves no excuses. But it works.
3. Tabatas are completely customizable. There is no one way to do a Tabata, which is great for when I feel like focusing on certain areas.
4. It can be done anywhere. At home or on the go, all that is needed is space to move about freely. It will definitely be my go-to workout while on vacation.

If you've ever done a Jillian Michael workout, you can definitely do a Tabata. Consult with your doctor if necessary, but know your fitness level and start slow. If you give it a try, let me know! You may hate me initially, but that feeling (and the next day soreness) will pass :)

Have you ever tried a Tabata workout? What is your favorite workout at the moment?

Time to Detox.

By the look of things, this week is shaping up to be a quiet one, perfect timing for a nice detox.

Workout Wear and January Playlist.

Before I even decide what I am wearing for the day, I decide what I am working out in. My workout style has definitely changed since this post and with good reason. For starters, the big tees got too big, and I found myself literally trapped in all the fabric. While function is always first and foremost in what I work out in, I found myself enjoying my workouts more when I was "dressed up," if you will. As they say, "when you look good you feel good," and that definitely holds true to active wear. 

Since I dedicate just as much time (and money) to my workout wardrobe as I do my regular wardrobe, here are some of my tried and true favorites, many on sale this week with the new year!

Managing Healthy Goals and the Holidays.

via

With the holiday season in full swing, one thing I've been getting asked quite often is not what I want for Christmas, (am I too old for that?) but what it is I eat during the holidays. Based on their reactions, I know the answer I give people shocks them.

Because my answer is everything. I eat everything during the holidays.