Hi hi! Happy Friday! How was the week? I hope that you’ve had a great one! The Pilot was in and out most of the week, so I’ve been wrangling the crew here. They’re fully back to school with homework and events, and while I don’t really know what our schedule will look like yet, it feels good to be back into things. I also got my first massage in over a year (bless it), met up with a friend for a yoga class, and had a dry eye specialist appt. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!

This weekend both kids have birthday parties and I’m putting the finishing touches on Vitality. If you’re looking for a hybrid 1:1 and group coaching experience, you can join in here. This will also be the *hub* for my 1:1 clients since it will host videos and downloads on multiple wellness topics in one spot. This way, they can continue to work on foundations while we work together, and also enjoy lifetime access.

Check out the details here and send me an email (gina@fitnessista.com subject VITALITY) if you have any questions.

it’s time for the weekly Friday 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.

(Pic from date night with my love!)

Friday Faves 8.25

Read, watch, listen:

Listening to the audiobook of this and it’s incredible so far. If you’re raising girls (especially ones in the tween stage), I highly recommend it.

The behind-the-scenes glimpse we all needed.

How did you prepare your child for the first day of school?

The pressure to dream big and the beauty of wanting less.

Favorite podcasts for kids.

Fitness + good eats:

Community detox! We are joining in on the massive EquiLife community detox; last time there were over 50,000 people! We start on September 11th as a group. I have a call with EquiLife later this morning and am excited to hear what they have to say. If you know you want to join in, comment on this post and I’ll email you the details as soon as I get them! I’ll also update this post after the call.

Read more

Irresistibly rich, Coffee Ice Cream is a dessert that captures the morning joy of a freshly brewed cup of your favorite java. Perfect at any time of day!

Best Coffee Ice Cream

I’m something of a fan of coffee and ice cream. I like my ice cream with coffee, my coffee with ice cream. I’m not picky about the order! But, in a perfect world, I get them both in the same amazing dish. Well, this is that dish.

This is the best coffee ice cream recipe I’ve ever tried. And, full disclosure–I’ve tried a lot of coffee ice cream recipes. Get ready to dig into a robust blend of freshly brewed coffee with just enough creamy sweetness to take the edge off.

With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the best and easiest vanilla ice cream is a great place to start.

These are my favorite inexpensive containers for storing ice cream. They’re perfect for gifting (who doesn’t love homemade ice cream?) storage, re-using, etc. I write the flavors on the lids with a sharpie and it washes off with dish soap.

I have more ice cream scoops than I can keep track of at this point and I definitely play favorites. This ice cream scoop does the best job ever of cutting through firm ice cream and still delivers a pretty scoop. It gets bonus points for being one of the least expensive scoops I own as well.

Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST Ice Cream Maker for your needs! S

How to Maintain Your Weight Loss

Can you even believe it? Our 6 week Summer Shape Up challenge is over, but girlfriend – you are JUST GETTING STARTED. Whether you are trying to maintain your weight loss or keep pushing yourself further, this is how to make it happen this fall.

Finding Your Balance

Maintaining your results doesn’t mean sticking rigidly to the same routine forever. It’s about finding the right balance between sticking to the foundational habits you’ve built during the challenge and being flexible to make adjustments that make sense for your lifestyle.

Schedule Your Workouts

It doesn’t have to be the same time every day, but schedule your MOVE workouts into your week ahead of time to ensure it’s non-negotiable part of your routine. If you need to change it, that’s ok, but reschedule it in the moment. Don’t wait to “figure it out later.” It’s too easy to let that time slide if it’s not planned.

Mix It Up…The RIGHT Way

Progress comes from repetition, but that doesn’t mean doing the same exact workout day after day. The programs in MOVE are designed to give you the best balance of training styles while still providing flexibility. Try out the new videos, take your workout outside, join Katie’s live workouts, or checkout a new class with a friend on your cardio days. Keeping it fresh can help you stay inspired and prevent any boredom from creeping in.

Read more

For today’s Focus On post, I’m thrilled to share my Orangetheory Fitness experience with you! I’ve actually wanted to try an Orangetheory workout ever since I first heard about it, and was so excited to see that there is an Orangetheory studio in Point Loma.

This workout is a game-changer, perfect for anyone looking to maximize their calorie burn and reach their fitness goals. In just 30 minutes, I was able to achieve my maximum heart rate while doing intense strength training. And the best part? I spent 12 minutes in the orange zone, which has been proven to have an excess post-exercise oxygen consumption effect (EPOC). Meaning I’m still burning calories long after the workout. Orangetheory definitely lived up to the hype – it’s an incredible workout that keeps you on your toes.

I took my first class last week and here’s what I thought.

Orangetheory Fitness

(Photo Source: Orangetheory Fitness)

What is Orangetheory Fitness?

So, picture this: You’re at the hippest fitness studio in town, Orangetheory Fitness. And boy, do they know how to make you break a sweat!

It’s a heart rate-based interval training session that combines the best of rowing machines, treadmills, and an impressive array of strength equipment. Talk about a full-body workout that hits all the right spots! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gym-goer, the beauty of Orangetheory Fitness is that it caters to all fitness levels. You can even keep track of your intensity levels with the ingenious green, orange, and red zones displayed right in front of you. It’s like a traffic light for your fitness journey, guiding you towards maximum burn and exhilaration.

Signing up for a class is a breeze, and once you get in there, get ready to unleash your inner beast – from sweat-drenched sprints on those trusty treadmills to powerful strokes on the water rowers. The name of the game here is high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and the result? A workout guaranteed to leave you feeling like a superhero. Can you say, “Kapow!”? So if you’re ready to level up your workout game and conquer any challenge, Orangetheory Fitness is the place to be. Say goodbye to mediocrity and hello to a body that’s glowing with strength and vitality!

What to Expect at Orangetheory

A calorie scorcher and a major sweatfest. Like any workout, you get out of it what you put into it, but Orangetheory is a wonderful blend of heart-pumping cardio and muscle-building strength.

When you first arrive, you receive your heart rate monitor (“pod”) for the day. You attach it to your chest strap and during the class, your name and h

The sweet crunch of summer corn and crisp slices of zucchini are brightened with a zesty dressing in this Zucchini Corn Salad.

Raw Corn Salad

Many years ago, it was this salad that was one of my first experiences with raw corn. I saw a recipe for raw corn salad in a magazine, did a double take, and had to try it. If you’ve never experienced this vegetable raw, I recommend it!

I love the different flavors of the raw zucchini and corn. With a very light lime vinaigrette, it becomes such a fresh-tasting salad for the summer months. I make it at least once a year when corn is in season.

Zucchini Corn Salad

You might be skeptical of having raw zucchini in your salad. But, trust me on this pairing. The flavors, textures, and colors are all so well balanced. It just works!

Who can deny that the taste of fresh-picked, ripe vegetables is better than vegetables that have been on store shelves for a while? I don’t limit myself to shopping seasonal produce, but this zucchini corn salad does make the most of summer’s vegetables. So, you’ll get to enjoy them while both are at their best.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• fresh corn on the cob
• zucchini
• lime juice
• olive oil
• fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper

Read more