OTF Transformation Challenge: WEEK EIGHT

The Final Week

This challenge has been the motivation I needed to get back on track with my fitness. Winter had me inside and no long runs. So when the transformation challenge was announced at Orangetheory, I knew that upping my membership and participating would put me on the right track. 

My fitness journey was kick started again and I couldn't be happier. I am getting stronger and I can see my body and muscles toning. 

In addition to the five pounds I have lost, my jeans are looser and my stomach is flatter. 

While I don't have to sign in every day anymore, I continue to go five times a  week. Sometimes it is hard to go, but I never regret going. The staff and coaches have become even more like family as they shared in this journey with me. My last week was spent in another week in Vegas, but I still made it to my three required classes.  It is so hard to go to class after a red eye, but doing this has given me more energy. I feel better when I workout and I am so glad that I have started these healthy habits. 

There are days I still struggle, but I am looking forward to continuing this journey to be my healthiest self!

*I have requested my before and after photos so hopefully I will be updating this post soon!

Current Favorite Atlanta Brunch Spots

Breakfast food is definitely one of my favorite genres of food. I'll eat it any time and any where. Atlanta is a foodie city with a plenty of great brunch spots! There are so many to choose from, but right now I am putting West Egg Cafe and Ladybird on repeat. 

The line at West Egg can be over an hour most days, but the food is so worth it. I have never had a bad meal here. Their pimento grits are a must! You do not have to worry about leaving hungry because the portion sizes are more than you would think for brunch (no complaining from me!)  There is something on this menu for everyone so grab your friends and family and head over to the west side! 

West Egg menu

Ladybird is now a Beltline staple and for good reason. From the decor to the awesome outdoor patio, this is the perfect place to enjoy their brunch menu! The brunch menu is a little smaller than West Egg since they are not solely a brunch eatery. My favorite part? Their Bloody Mary! If you like them spicy like I do, you need to order one next time you pop in.  Jared's favorite item was the hot chicken biscuit. The biscuit was bigger than his face! 

Even if brunch isn't your thing, go for the atmosphere and hangout on the Beltline!

Hardcore Abs with Love You Healthy

You know it’s spring time on Atlanta when the workout workshops start popping up. My friends and I went LoveYouHealthy’s hardcore abs series and it was so good! A little mix of Pilates, squats and of course intense ab work!

photo by LoveYouHealthy

My abs were on fire after the class and I really felt it the next day. Every time I sneezed or laughed my abs cried. It is so awesome that LuluLemon has teamed up with their brand ambassadors to promote healthy lifestyles! 

Eggslut: Las Vegas

One of my favorite parts of Las Vegas besides the history and glamour is the food! My friends have been obsessed with Eggslut for quite some time and I made it a point on my second trip to Vegas so far this year to check it out. 

The line in the morning can be as long as an hour, but I promise it is worth the wait. 

Pro tip: go for lunch and breeze through! I love breakfast food anytime of the day. 

This little shop is open from 7am to 4pm Monday through Thursday and slightly later and later throughout the weekend. 

My personal fave is the:

FAIRFAX

cage-free soft scrambled eggs and chives, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and sriracha mayo in a warm brioche bun

OTF Transformation Challenge: WEEK SEVEN

Week seven was all about getting back into my workout groove after a week in Vegas and knowing I had to go back within the next week.
My sleep schedule was so off, but I was able to go to the evening classes and tried to get back on the horse. When you take a few days off, it can feel like you are starting all over again. My running was a little slower, but I made sure I was giving it my all.
I also did something at the time I would never do!

I signed up for the Dri Tri on Sunday March 18 knowing full well I was running a 5k the day before. The Orangetheory Dri Tri consists of 2,000 meters of rowing, 300 body weight reps and a 5k to finish it out. My second Vegas trip was coming fast and I knew I wasn’t going to have many chances to get my workouts in while I am there. So, I signed up for this challenge. I am so glad I pushed myself. I was the second to last one done at 55 minutes, but I was on a workout high. My body always surprises me about how much it can do! 

Hostess Gifts

I wasn't born in the South, but I have lived in Georgia for the majority of my life. I love all things about southern manners and etiquette.
One of my favorite traditions is the hostess gift. Whether it is a shower, holiday party or housewarming, a host/hostess gift is always a good idea. My husband has even gotten on board with this little tradition.
My favorite hostess gift to give is a candle. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am candle obsessed. Not only do they make great decor and go with any other gift you want to pair it with, but they also make your house smell amazing! We are always burning a candle in our home and love when people bring us a new one to try!

Anthropolige is my go to store for candle selection. They have their signature scent along with Capri Blue and Voluspa brand candles. They will also give you a box or gift bag so you're already half way done with wrapping! If you prefer to grab your own gift bag and tissue Target has a wide variety with their trendy gift bag selection!

Jared loves bringing a liquor as part of the gift as well. His current favorite is Bulleit Bourbon. We love to give something we think all the host/hostess would like. If candles and liquor aren't your thing check out the Hearth & Hand collection at Target. I love their hand towels and it is perfect for a new home or wedding shower!

Candle | Hand Towels | Bourbon | Gift Bag

March 2018 5k

Last year I was inspired to keep track of all the miles I run (outside of Orangetheory). So far I have only run 6.5 miles. I’m not going to lie, I don’t like running in the cold and rain. It’s the reason  I didn’t run my February 5k. The rain was so thick and it was freezing. Literally the temperature was below freezing. 

So this month I got back on the saddle after almost two months since my last race. My friend Rachel and I ran the Junior League of Atlanta’s 14th Annual Shamrock n’ Roll 5k. This race is so much fun! From the live Deejee to the giant crowds cheering you on at the finish line.  It definitely reminded me how important my fitness journey is. I was excited that I could still run the whole thing without stopping to walk and made it up the hills especially the last one!

 While it wasn’t the finish I was hoping for, it just reminded me that it takes dedication to achieve your goals. You can’t simply wish for it! MAKE IT HAPPEN!
I am looking forward to my next race on April 14th and am planning to take a few minutes off my time!

Spring FabFitFun Box!

It has been a little chillier than I prefer here in Georgia for the middle of March. I am so ready for spring! Today the best subscription box was waiting on my doorstep making it feel like spring had just arrived! 

This is my second FabFitFun box and I think I might love it even more than my first box! If you like new products this box is for you! Skincare, beauty, style this box has it all! 

So far one of my favorite items that I received in this box is the rolling massage tool. After a long day of work or rowing hard at OrangeTheory my muscles need a little relaxation! I immediately put it to work after opening up my box. Other items are from Dove, Free People and more! You NEED to check out this box today!

Follow this link for $10 off your first box!

Review: 'The Woman in the Window: A Novel'

This month's book club read was A.J. Finn's debut novel 'The Woman in the Window' a suspenseful thriller that keeps you turning the page. 

The way the author tells this story is so thought provoking and has you hooked the entire time. I did NOT see the ending coming which is my favorite part of this novel. Looking back Finn provides small details throughout to help build the story, but in such a clever way you are seeing everything through the main character's eyes. 

Anna Fox is a complex and interesting character. She appears to be an alcoholic with a spying problem, but the more you read about her the more you want to know what made her this way.

So grab a glass of Merlot and cozy up with 'The Woman in the Window.'

OTF Transformation Challenge: WEEK SIX

I am not going to lie, week six was a hard week for me. It was my first work trip of the year so it was hard to get the workouts in. I took the Monday 5am class, but had to leave a little early to catch my plane to Vegas. 

While I was in Vegas, I tried to walk everywhere I could, but because I had east coast meetings and late night commitments it was hard to get a full workout in. 
 I tried to eat the best I could and not give in to too much temptation which helped me come back without putting on any weight!

Taking the red eye Thursday night was exhausting, but I pushed myself to go to the noon class on Friday. It was a struggle to get through but only motivated me more to continue my fitness journey. There is no reward if you don't struggle. 
Looking forward to crushing week seven!

Day Trip to Athens, GA

Yesterday we drove up to Athens, GA from Atlanta to celebrate our friends getting married! We decided to go up a little early to have lunch and explore a few of Athens unique spots. 

We stopped at Rasin’ Cane because while you can get their chicken tenders pretty much anywhere in the Midwest, Athens is the only place in the south where I have seen this restaurant. The tea is sweet and the chicken tenders are so delicious! 

Another must is visiting the extremely popular breweries in town. How cool is it that this college town has two majorly successful breweries? We chose to go to Creature Comforts and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is open and airy, creating the perfect laid back Saturday. They also have special Athena Infusion drinks only available in the flagship spot! 

The fashion and shopping district on College Avenue is also a part of what makes Athens so great! From specialty stores to great vintage collections you can find anything you need. Especially if you are like me and forget to always pack one thing! It never matters how much in advance I plan there is always something that I forget to put in my bag. 

People love this city for a reason and this weekend reminded me why! 

VIVA LAS VEGAS

The town the mob built is always a good time with the never ending entertainment, beautiful hotels and world class food. This trip to Las Vegas, I stayed at the Flamingo, a pride project and eventual downfall Bugsy Siegel one of Las Vegas' most famous mobsters. 

From the moment you step out of your cab and see the Flamingo's neon sign you get the sense of history of the extravagance that made the 'new' Vegas.  Every hotel has a theme and as you can imagine the Flamingo's theme is flamingos. All the neon signs and shops are pink to the max with flamingos and everything flamingo related including a flamingo habitat.  

A fun new part of staying at the Flamingo is the quick access to the Linq Promenade. Fun shops and so many places to eat! Whenever I go out to the west coast, it is a must to go to IN-N-OUT Burger! I can't resist their secret sauce.  I also love to get sushi whenever I am on the road because Jared is not a fan. Right across from IN-N-OUT is JaBurrittos. They have sushi bowls and of course the trendy sushi burrittos. My favorite bowls was the Mission bowl shrimp, spicy tuna, pico de gallo, and few of my other favorite things. Their sake sangria is also a must have especially during happy hour!

OTF Transformation Challenge: WEEK FIVE

Another week of feeling good.

 To be honest there were some days this week when I wanted to cancel my classes and just sleep in. I am so happy I didn't. 

The only person who can impede my progress is me and so far I haven't been a roadblock.

Taking part in this challenge provides the accountability I need to make sure I am being the healthiest me. 

I am officially down five pounds, but more importantly I have more energy and a great supportive community. 

One of the best compliments in this transformation journey is when other's see the results of your hard work! 

Whether it is running or workout classes, I have found a couple of things that help me achieve my best on this journey. 

When I first started running longer distances my old sports bras were not cutting it anymore. I started chaffing under my chest and it was so painful. The first thing I did was research the best sports bras for long distance running. My favorite is the Lululemon Energy Bra. I have two now and  I haven't seriously chaffed when wearing them. 
Another great chaffing preventative is Body Glide for Her. A friend recommended this to me before running my first 10k and I have been using it ever since. If I wear shorts to Orangetheory I always make sure to put this on anywhere I might chaff first. It even comes in handy when we go to an all day event where I am wearing a dress and we are doing a lot of walking. 
Investing in good workout clothes have has also helped motivate me. Some of my favorite brands are Lululemon, Athleta and Zella! I always using buying a new piece of apparel to help me reach my next goal. 
A pair of good running shoes is also essential to my success. I didn't realize this until I started running more, but I had almost worn a hole in my old shoes. I invested in some Asics and it made a huge difference. My knees felt better and I could go further. 
Post-workout is so important to my fitness journey as well. Since I have upped the intensity of my workouts I had added more water and stretching , but I have also been using  African Botanics revitalizing therapy gel post shower. Just a small dab of this vegan therapy gel is all you need to help with muscle soreness. I am also really loving a good soak after the week is over to help with soreness too. I received this jar of Muscle Soak , Himalayan Salt, in my winter FabFitFun box. 

No Small Bites

Have you heard of the Fight For The Bite movement?

My friend Kelsey recently posted a video of her eating an ice cream sandwich. It was little out of the norm and caught my attention right away. As I read deeper into her post, I found out that it is national eating disorder week. Her post was/is intended to raise awareness about eating disorders and how they affect so many people. 

I mentioned how awesome she was for doing this and then she challenged me to do the same.

The world is more connected than ever these days and people are opening up about mental health. I love this! I think we all have been touched or known someone who has struggled with depression, eating disorders, anxiety, suicide, etc. 

The more we open up the conversation about mental the health, I believe the more we can help others. 

So today, I accept Kelsey's challenge and publicly take a bite! 

My relationship with food has always been an interesting one. From overeating to not eating enough, I have struggled to find the balance over the years. As I continue on this journey of health and body positivity, I am still always searching for the balance and listening to what my body needs. 

If you are in need of help or support please reach out to NEDA