Tag: Soul Cycle

4 Day Weekend…Yes Please!

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Happy Belated 4th of July! I don’t know about all of you but that was a relaxing and much needed 4 day weekend. It was a bit weird that 4th of July landed on a Tuesday but hey, i’ll take the extra day off! Last Thursday Soul Cycle finally opened it’s long awaited doors to the public. The anticipation has been for some months now with the original target date being in May. Of course if you are familiar with anything in Los Gatos, it usually takes light years for everything to be approved by the Chamber of Commerce so it’s not surprising that there was some sort of delay. Never the less, with the delay came a whole day of community riding on behalf of Soul Cycle! What does this mean? FREE classes all day. You don’t have to tell me this twice, anything FREE with Soul Cycle is an extra bonus to my day! With that said, since I usually travel to Palo Alto to take the class I rounded up a couple of my favorites to join in on the fun. There was no room for any excuses!!!! Los Gatos is CLOSE & the class was FREE so what more can you possibly want! I sent out a text to some friends and even called and signed them up so they could get the full experience without having to pay the usually $32/class. (I know, it seems expensive) When you actually put it into perspective that is the price of 2 glasses of wine, so you make the choice! For me, the money will be spent either way so why not spend it in a way that benefits my health!

Friday morning I headed down to Newport Beach with some girlfriends to hang for the weekend. The weather was a perfect 75 degrees. Sunday we rented bikes and rode from Newport to Hunnington….that was fun! We ate a few great restaurants: ARC being one of them [pictured above] and True Food Kitchen. If you have never been there it’s a MUST! For my local Bay Area friends they have one at Stanford Mall and it’s definitely work the trek. Check it out- it’s real food that actually tastes good. What a concept! I spent 4th of July with family BBQ-ing & cooking some favorites. It couldn’t have been a better end to the long weekend! I hope you all had a great time even if you didn’t venture out of town!

xo Sarah

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Bare Bowls.

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My friends! If you have never been to Bare Bowls in Palo Alto is a MUST. I have had the last week off of work in between changing jobs which means I have worked out more than usual (double days). Usually I head to Soul Cycle on Sundays and make it a once a week treat, but when you have lots of time on your hands why not pick up a few extra classes in between. Bare Bowls is 5 minutes away from the Soul Cycle in Palo, so needless to say it’s a great snack or lunch after your class. This one pictured above is called the Trailblazer. This includes: handmade almond butter, Acai base, strawberry, banana, and dates. Seriously, it was so good I went two days in a row!!!! There is a also a location in Burlingame if you are closer to San Francisco! Get in there….SO delish!

Fit Tip: How to get a Flat Belly.

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Here is a glimpse of my weekend in a nutshell. It seems like working out is more on the rotation than anything else these days! Saturday morning’s circuit training workout was so freakin hard, but I survived(barely haha). Yesterday I hit up Soul Cycle per usual on Sunday to end the week with a great ride followed by an amazing acai bowl from Bare Bowls in Palo Alto. Can we say yummm! I am here today with some tips for a flat belly. Ladies, I know you’re ready for this one!

You gotta Move it to Lose it.

  • It’s no secret that in order to get that weight off you have to move. You can do all the crunches in the world but a healthy body is a result of a healthy and active lifestyle. Cardio helps with burning calories but weights and core workouts help build muscle to show dem babies off. It’s also important to stick to a routine. When you are consistent you will see results.

Eat Real Food. 

  • Believe it that the food you eat usually more often than not is in direct correspondence with the way you are feeling. Are you tired, sluggish, or bloated? Or the opposite- energetic, alive and ready to take on the day? Depending on what you eat will determine how you feel. Also note, if what you are consuming doesn’t ever go bad, well then, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. Fact.

Bad Carbs

  • Everything in moderation, including moderation. Anything including white flour, bleached flour, sugary cereals, breads should not be in your usual grocery store rotation. These types of foods can hinder  your way to a flat belly. I know, I know, I am human too and I love pasta, toast, bagels etc. Do I eat them regularly? No. Why? Because I want to look good! Yes, sometimes I have them but it’s a treat not a necessity. Once it becomes a routine to ditch these foods you won’t feel such a need to think about them.

Planks & Crunches.

  • It’s a must. Planks are all the rage! Any crunches, oblique workouts, medball exercises and stability will all help with your core strength. With better core strength comes A…A…..ABS!

Drink H20. 

  • You have to do it. Drinking water daily not only helps reduce bloating but also helpe eliminate any waste or toxins in the body. If you aren’t a fan of plain water add some mint, basil, lemon or fruit to help with your consumption.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your journey to a flat belly!

Weekend Goals.

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Crazy for Acai…How good does this look!

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Can’t forget to put in the work.

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T.G.I.F. I think this is my favorite day of the week. Everyone is winding down usually from a hard week at work and looking forward to their weekend activities. My Weekend Goals?Eat, Sleep, Repeat. Who am I kidding? I am an on the go freak! Most people like to do nothing on the weekends while I on the other hand am an early riser and go- go – go type of person. It’s just who I am! Not a bad habit I might add. I have absolutely no plans this weekend but to workout Saturday (curcuit training) and Sunday (Soul Cycle) which means extra time in the kitchen to try a new recipe or two. This is so random but while I always search on Pinterest for recipes – sweet potatoes are not in my usual rotation of grocery finds but I am determined to get them to be an,” I more than like you kind of thing.” Speaking of plans this weekend, I have also been on and off reading Rising Strong by Brene Brown for some weeks now (One of my favorite authors) and I am determined to finish it this weekend. Do you guys have anything exciting going on?  I will be traveling to Miami for a good friends wedding in a few weeks so I will definitely enjoy a little R&R this weekend! I am wishing you all a great Friday and weekend ahead!

Feels Good To Be Newtritionsavvy!

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Friends! It’s Thursday. You know what that means? Almost the weekend. I am happy to report after two months of diving into the new year my workouts and progress have beeen quite succesful. I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to planning my week and where my time is spent. I mention all the time that I don’t have alot of exactly that….time. Between 2 jobs, you really have to be disciplined and strategic when it comes to planning 5 workouts a week. I have managed to maintain 3 circuit workouts, one yoga class and one Soul Cycle class a week. At first, I was like holy cow this is alot but the more you do it the more routine it becomes and the better you get. Who can argue with that?

Here are some tips to Track  Your Fitness without jumping on that scale we all love so much.

  1. But first….take a selfie. There is nothing better than documenting progress. Yes, we all want to look great after our first workout but is that realistic? Probably not. What is realistic is seeing the progress you make in just 2 weeks, a month, 2 months etc. I always take pictures to remind myself that my workouts actually ARE working and I am seeing a shift in the way my body looks. Side by side pictures are a great way to track the changes being made. Also remember, you actually DO have to TRY to put in effort to see change!! Don’t forget that!
  2. Tracking is the name of the game. If we don’t remember we didn’t do it, right? Wrong! It’s so important to not only track your workouts but also track the food you are consuming. It’s easy to think we are commited without holding ourselves accountable, but in the end when you write down the action you are completing you will start to see the results. A detailed calendar of your week ahead can really do wonders for your workout/eating routine. I know for myself, when I have things come up during the week- I rearrange ahead of time which workout will work best on each day. Pre planning. Like they say, Fail to plan…plan to fail.
  3. How do your clothes fit? This can be the ultimate tell all of how your progress is coming along. Yes our clothes fit all the time, but the way they fit is the real question. There’s nothing more exciting than putting on your pair of favorite jeans that fit just a little less snug then a few weeks prior. Maybe the scale lies(I think it does haha), but your clothes never will. Let’s face it….they make us! Sometimes we feel sexy, frumpy, athletic all based on how we feel in our clothes. Am I right ladies??
  4. Increasing Strength. I have noticed in the last 8 weeks that my strength and ability to life heavier and go longer during my workouts has significantly increased. The ab circuit no longer makes me feel like I want to die! The barbell cleans are no longer a fear because I can actually add 10 lbs to the bar and do them right! What a rewarding feeling. Progress not perfection. I remind myself of this all the time. If you can do more today than you did yesterday than you are on your way. Believe that.
  5. Stop stressing. The scale is the scale. I speak for myself when I say my weight has nothing to do with the way I look and feel. (Within reason). In the last 2 months I haven’t really lost weight but if you see a before and after picture from January 1 to February 25 you will see inches gone and a major strength increase. Changing my perspective to “where I want to be and am I putting in the work to get there?” has also helped with my confidence. Any success in life takes time and hard work. Your body rewards those that dedicate time to take care of it. It’s your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.

How do you track your fitness progress? I would love to hear!

Soul Cycle Sundayz.

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Happy Monday! I had such a great weekend! It’s not often that I am able to relax and have some down time, but this weekend I managed it quite well. I usually workout both Saturday and Sunday because #1 I love it and #2 I want to be efficient with at least 4-5 workouts per week. Sundays are for something different away from the usual circuit training. Soul Cycle has been on the rotation for quite some time. I set the alarm for 7:30- leave by 8 and hit the class at 8:30. Every week I always ask my friends if they are interested in going and the typical response is,”you are crazy- we want sleep!” I get it but for some reason this week they wanted to join. Would I ever say no to that?? NEVER! I signed them up on Monday when the classes were released and so from 12pm on was a 6 day countown. They made it! Got their butts up, hustled in the class and let’s get real they actually enjoyed it! It might not be something they wake up early for every Sunday but at least they incorporated something new in their weekly routine. After class we headed to Local Union 271 in downtown Palo Alto. The food was great…local and organic. What more can you want? The rest of the weekend was spent at the farmers market, cooking and lounging watching football.

While I hope you all have a great week, remember this:

“You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions and your intentions create you reality.”-Wayne Dyer

The Sweetest Goodbye | HELLO 2016!

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Outside Lands 2015

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Kent Avenue Photography

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Hawaii

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Putting in work creates results! Boom!

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T-Swift

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Entering 30 with my favorite chicks

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First Barry’s Class

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Highschool Besties

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Free Passes to Disneyland…score!

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Brophy Bros. for lunch!

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New Years Day Sunset 2016

 

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Ok, let me just start off by saying this was an AMAZING year! I traveled all over, made new friends and lived through the first year in my 30’s!!! YES! Looking back trying to gather all these pictures really puts into perspective how lucky I am. Don’t get me wrong, I hustled my ass off when it came to work and I can’t tell you how many times people would ask over and over if I even worked! YES! I worked, alot but so worth it when I look at all these amazing pictures. I love to travel and I love to enrich my mind of positive things. If anything I have learned this last year is that time really is money and when you don’t have it you make the most of it. I don’t recognize my friends enough that make me laugh on a daily basis or my family that is always there to create a great support system that comes in handy during the 365 days of each year. Take a minute and take a breath to say thank you for everything that occured in 2015. Good AND Bad, because without the bad we aren’t challenged to be better.I have learned, I have loved and most importantly I am a wiser me because of these things.

10 New Things I did in 2015.

10. Went to New Orleans for a Bachelorette…best beignets EVER!

9. Committed in June to serious workouts.(You know what I mean, there is working out to say you went, and then there is dialing in and really hustling to the max capacity and let’s not forget eating clean in addition). Jillene and I sort of found each other after running after class a couple times and decided we would work as each others accountability partners. I have two jobs so it’s not always easy to get to the gym ALL the time, but commiting to 4-5 days a week made a huge difference.

8. Traveled to Hawaii for my first time. It was a week of bliss for the mind and soul. I can’t wait to go back!

7. Discovered that alternate workouts like Soulcycle are good for exactly that…your soul. I enjoy waking up early on Sundays and getting my day started with the right mindset.

6. While in Hawaii I jumped off a 20 ft cliff. This was beyond scary and like anything the more you wait to do it the more anticipation you build up in your head that is totally unncessary. Life lesson learned: JUST DO IT NOW!

5. Went on another bachelorette to Miami with my best friends from highschool. Aside from the celebration aspect it was so nice to get together to reminisce as well as be with my girls as we are entering our 30’s. Comparing stories and realizing we aren’t the only ones going through struggles. Between families, careers, relationships and where society tells us we are supposed to be…don’t believe it! Be YOU….the BEST you!

4. I discovered Cheryl Strayed. She wrote the most amazing book, “Tiny Beautiful Things” and I reccomend every person read this book. Life, lessons, imperfection, growth and satisfaction. If you feel any discontent in your life or are looking for a good read check it out. It’s beyond awesome!

3. Went to Boston and climbed the Bunker Hill Monument Steps. Also visited Harvard University….Talk about inspiration!

2. Did my first photoshoot with Kent Avenue Photography. Tara, you are amazing and your ability to capture natural beauty is insane. I have never been happier with photos of myself…you are magical.

  1. The best thing I learned and did new was practice that perfection is not reality! I am letting go and have let go of the idea that being perfect is of any kind of normal. What is normal anyway? To me it’s putting in the work. Like I said before I have two jobs beacause I LOVE to travel- and well, with that it’s expensive. I also love to be busy and keep my mind motivated. This last year I have become extremely fond of Brene Brown and her life lessons. Perfection is a sign of insecurity and at the end of the day we only have control over ourselves and ourselves only. What you see online daily:Facebook, Instagram, Bloggers pretend lives are not real it’s only a perception. Just put in work in YOUR life and you will most definitely see the results you want to see. I say this with the upmost honesty and integrity. It’s not always easy. Some days I am tired, some days I really wish I had a million dollars and could do whatever I wanted. Some days, lets get real I wish I was born with a supermodel body but guess what? I don’t have a million dollars or that body (I love cheese and chocolate too much) and depending on our life some days are good and some are REALLY good! It’s all about perspective. Can’t emphasize that enough. Thanks to all the people apart of my 2015.

“Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.” -Brene Brown

 

 

Soul Sundayzzz.

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soul cycle{Soul Sunday @ Soul Cycle in Palo Alto}tomatoes {Abundance}flowers {Favorite part about Farmers Market}sarah and jillene

{Always Blogging}

Friends! It’s been a minute. Most of you all know that me and Jillene  have been working our butts off in the gym as well as out. In this time of accountability you are sort of forced to recognize things that can alwaaaays be improved. I see people in my life all the time (including myself) that have so much room for growth if they just change their perspective. We all have the option every single day to change at any time. We can create new habits, make new choices, say yes instead of no, or no instead of yes, be happier, healthier, stronger, whatever we want to be.

Since working out with this chick, we have made it a point to do at least 4 FNS(circuit training) workouts a week. Some weeks are harder than others, depending on the weekend events, work load and energy level in general. We do allow days off because lets face it, we are human and sometimes we need a break. Nevertheless, we are dedicated and don’t make catching breaks the center of focus! We have started to take Soul Cycle on Sundays as an amazing wake me up and weekend accountability…and well, one of our favorite gals Casey is the instructor when we go. All the more reason.  I am fairly new to Soul Cycle but I will say it’s a great 45 minutes to just decompress. The candles are lit, music is on point, the lights are off and you ride with the intention of moving forward, not worried about anyone else and letting go of all your “things” we collect in our minds throughout the week! Oh, and all the while your revelation takes place it’s an amazing workout. Your pace, your resistance. It’s all up to you.

It’s easy to fall of track, but even easier to stay on if you set yourself up for success! If I am ever feeling tired I just tell myself, “It’s only an hour and you will feel SO much better after.” Believe that!  After Soul Cycle this weekend we went to the Menlo Park  farmers market for flowers and weekly veggies. I am a firm believer that when you set aside time to do things for you, you are a lot more productive throughout your week. Work, Gym, Cooking, Friends, Family…it all takes time, but with the right planning you can learn to balance it all!

Happy Tuesday…make it a great week!