This post is sponsored by my friends at NOW Foods. They’re one of my all-time favorite companies and I love their line of products, from sports supplements, to pantry essentials, beauty and skincare, and essential oils. Check it out here and use FITNESSISTA for 20% off! Also, check out the giveaway details below.

Hands in the air if you’re equally excited to be back in a routine, but also lamenting the end of summer. We are officially back in school, back to the dance-horses-homework extravaganza, and while I thrive on a schedule, things are busy, as I’m sure many of you can relate.

I’m here trying to make the week as streamlined as possible, and here are some of the things that have helped:

– Doing anything I can the night before. This means packing lunches, setting out uniforms (including hair accessories and shoes), packing snacks, and setting out water bottles to be filled. I also make a mental note of what the kids are having for breakfast, so I can make anything in advance.

– Start dinner in the afternoon. Many nights, Liv is finished with dance late, so I have dinner waiting for the crew when they’re done with their activities for the day. I’ve found that late afternoon, before school pickup, is the best chance to get some veggies chopped, and make anything I can before pickup.

– Snack prep! I try to make snack staples at the beginning of the week, so that the kids have lots of options.

Here are two favorites that they’re loving lately!

Lemon Blueberry Muffins and Chocolate Coconut Energy Bites

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

These lemon blueberry muffins have a bright and zesty flavor. P says they taste like pancake muffins! I also like that they’re not too sweet. You can absolutely increase the sweetness by adding more coconut sugar or maple syrup. Make a batch and freeze to have on hand for the week. I’ll heat them up and serve with pre-boiled eggs for a quick school morning breakfast.

Hi hi! Happy Friday! How was the week? We’re on Day 5 of our community detox and the feedback so far as been amazing! I’m doing 21 days for the first time, and I already feel SO good. I could see/feel a lot of inflammation in my face, and it’s already gone. My energy is better, sleep has been better, and it doesn’t feel daunting at all. (Even though I’ll be ready for some chocolate when this is all over.) If you’d still like to join, you can order your kit here and use FITNESSISTA10.

One of my dinners from this week: shrimp and veggie stir fry on cauliflower rice.

(The shrimp is blurry but Maze is the best part!)

What’s going on this weekend? We have a school event, baptism, and a football game. I hope you have an amazing weekend!

It’s time for the weekly Fri Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

Friday Faves 9.15

Home:

Mold testing! What a fave, right?! I’m continuing to dig into my whole situation, and mold exposure can contribute to gut imbalances and bacterial overgrowth. I know we were exposed to mold when we lived in San Diego – our little house by the beach was like 100 years old – but was curious to see if we had mold exposure here. I bought these little testing pucks and put them in various locations around the house. I won’t post the results (because EW) but we were shocked!!! The worst offenders were our couch and upstairs carpet. We’ve been planning on getting the carpet removed anyway – this just expedited the process – but we were on the computer ordering a new couch that very day.

Which brings us to the next fave:

new couch!

Our old brown

Sharing the details on Pvolve: what is it, is it worth it? You can use my link here to try it out for 7 days free.

Hi friends! How’s the day going so far? I have an eye doc appointment and am catching a yoga class with a friend. I’m on Day 3 of the detox (3 out of 21. Woo!) so I’m taking it easy and looking forward to a tasty vegan lunch today.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about P.volve. I’ve fallen back in love with P.volve after quite a few years, love their rebranding, and am so excited to see studios pop up over the US. My workouts have been pretty low-impact as I work on my healing process, and Pvolve has given me a challenging workout without being too intense.

If you’re curious about giving it a try, here are the details about it!

Pvolve review and if it’s worth it

Background on Pvolve

Pvolve is unlike anything I’ve ever tried.. and I’ve been around the fitness block lol. It’s the brainchild of two remarkable individuals, Stephen Pasterino and Rachel Katzman. Stephen, the fitness guru behind the method, created P.volve after years of research and experience. His aim was to provide a fitness solution that not only transforms your body but also enhances functionality and prevents injuries.

Stephen Pasterino: Stephen, the driving force behind P.volve, has a background in kinesiology and functional movement. His mission was to develop a workout that not only sculpts muscles but also improves the way your body moves.

Rachel Katzman: Rachel, co-founder and CEO, brought her business acumen to the mix. Her vision was to create an accessible and results-driven fitness program that could cater to people’s unique needs and lifestyles.

The pair were previously together, and have split ways, with Rachel maintaining full control over Pvolve. Stephen has gone off to do his own thing! While I absolutely like the format he helped create, he wasn’t my favorite as an instructor. I loved his method, but found him to be pretty low energy.

The P.volve Method

P.volve is built on the foundation of functional fitness, a concept that goes beyond the aesthetic aspects of working out. It’s about training your body to perform better in everyday life, enhancing your movement patterns, and reducing the risk of injuries. The method involves controlled, precise movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

Sharing a full review of my experience completing the Integrative Health Practitioner Level Two course. You can read about my level one experience here! If you’re interested in getting certified, check out the details here and use the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off. 

Hi friends! How’s the morning treating you? I’m off to a Pilates class and have a couple of coaching calls later today. Today, I wanted to chat a little bit about my recent IHP cert and the process for becoming a certified health coach if this is something you’re interested in doing!

Over 100 hours of coursework, continuing education, and some very challenging tests, and I’m now a Level Two Integrative Health Practitioner. I’ve been so excited to add functional labs to my current offerings, share them with clients, and also use these for myself and our family. The timing was also interesting, especially with my sudden eye issues and previous autoimmune symptoms. I’m working with my medical team, but also doing my own deep dive to bring my body back to balance to the best of my ability. <3

While I LOVED Level One, Level Two was everything I’d been wanting and more. I couldn’t wait to study the material each day, and during each module, I was like, THIS is exactly what I want to learn. This is how I want to help my clients. I’m so pumped to have this certification under my belt.

Here’s a list of my other fitness/health certifications: Precision Nutrition level 1, NASM Personal Trainer, NASM Weight Loss Specialist, NASM Women’s Fitness Specialist, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, Les Mills BODYPUMP, Zumba and Aqua Zumba, Barre Body, Schwinn, Yoga RTY-200 hr, Level One Raw Foods Chef, and AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. I want to continue to learn as much as possible, and have my eye on the High Performance Health certification next. 

Integrative Health Practitioner Level Two certification review

Here’s how Level Two differs from Level One:

Level One is focused on Dr. Cabral’s DETRESS protocol (diet, exercise

Is Pilates good for weight loss? I’m breaking it all down in today’s post!

Hi hi! How are you? I hope you had an amazing weekend! The Pilot worked all weekend, so the girls and I met up with friends, I taught a barre class, and we went to the farmer’s market.

Today, I wanted to chat a bit about Pilates! Since I’ve been gravitating more towards low-impact workouts to reduce stress, Pilates has become a staple in my routine lately. It’s something that I’ve loved for years, and I think it can be a great way to implement strategic (and smart) core training, in addition to endurance and stabilization with your regular strength training and cardio routine.

Pilates is known for its focus on strengthening the core, improving posture, and enhancing flexibility. Unlike high-impact workouts, Pilates is a low-impact activity that engages both the mind and body. However, it’s not always the first choice for those seeking significant weight loss. Today, I’m going to dive into the question of whether Pilates is effective for weight loss and explore the indirect yet potent benefits it offers in achieving your weight or health loss goals.

*It’s also worth noting here that it’s ok if weight loss is part of your health goals, but I don’t think it should be a #1 focus. The number on the scale says SO little about overall health and body composition. This post is titled this way so that my friends who are Googling can get some solid advice. 😉 *

Is Pilates Good For Weight Loss?

Pilates can indeed contribute to weight loss, but it’s essential to understand that it’s not a quick fix for shedding pounds. Instead, Pilates provides numerous indirect benefits that can lead to sustainable and long-term health goals, which may or may not include weight loss. For weight loss to occur, there needs to be quite a few building blocks in place:

– A calorie deficit, meaning that you’re burning more than your current intake

– A happy nervous system, because you can’t lose weight in flight or fight. Stress management, mindful eating, and

– Enough fuel! SO many women are under-eating for their activity levels and goals

– Nutrients and protein intake

– Hormone function

– Digestion

– Quality sleep

and so much more. If you need help