In 2020 my husband and I replaced our gym membership with an at-home system called the Tonal. The Tonal is a smart home fitness system that is mounted on a wall. It features a 24-inch screen that you can select myriad workouts from, along with adjustable arms that you can attach various smart exercises pieces to. Your weight is adjusted digitally without you having to ever physically add any more ... Read more
How to Overcome Your Fear of the Gym
If you have never walked into a gym before, it's understandable to feel a little intimidated. With equipment that you don't know how to use, people with bodies you perceive to be better than yours, and rules that you don't yet understand, you can't be blamed for having some fear of the gym. It can be overwhelming for anybody, even for those who have gone to the gym but took a break in the ... Read more
How to Get Back to the Gym After a Long Break
If you have been out of the gym for a long time, getting back to your routine may seem a bit daunting. Whether your break came from an injury, the pandemic, or a vacation, staying out of the gym for long periods can cause you to lose your motivation. Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to help you get back to your regular gym routine. They include:PlanThe first step you should ... Read more
The Benefits of Joining a Gym
If you haven’t been to a gym before, then you may feel intimidated at the idea of joining one. That's something that you are not alone in feeling; many people feel the same way. The gym is a motivating place to be, full of supportive people who are all in the same position as you -- to get active. I'm sharing six benefits of joining a gym (in a safe manner, i.e. social distancing):Expert ... Read more
1 Month of Using the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle Bike
After more than a month of using the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle Bike, I can offer more opinions about it. The main one: I am happy with my purchase. I don't see myself going back to a gym anytime soon. Having the bike in my home has given me more motivation to work out after months of lacking the inspiration. I have a feeling the NordicTrack will be even more appreciated during ... Read more
Trying the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle Bike
My gym membership is currently on hold during the pandemic. I won't be going to a gym for the foreseeable future, but I still need a release for my stress and a way to get some exercise. For many months I have been interested in getting a studio bike, but I had no idea which one to purchase and I was hesitant to spend that amount on workout equipment. But the more I thought about it and the longer ... Read more
My First Workout Class at Lateral Fitness Chicago
In November I was invited to the Hacking Your Health Live Pop-up in Chicago at Lateral Fitness. It was hosted by GF Mom Certified and brought together wellness influencers and brands. Part of the event featured a tough workout by Lateral Fitness' owner. He included a free class as part of our goodie bags, and I finally used my class this month. As I mentioned in the previous post, the gym has ... Read more
My First Workout at Train Moment in Chicago
I was so sad when my yoga sculpt instructor left the gym recently, but when I learned he now trains at Train Moment in the West Loop of Chicago, I knew I wanted to try a class. Train Moment is a new fitness studio that offers group strength training combined with HIIT conditioning on the Versaclimber. The class is 50 minutes, and you divide your time among the three sections: Versaclimbers, the ... Read more
Finding Time for Fitness During the Holidays
The holiday season is busy, I get it. It's easy to let your fitness goals go for the season and start back up in January. This year I'd still like to fit in workout time because it helps with my anxiety and overall health. I've been consistent for the past couple of months and I want to keep it going despite the busyness of the season. I'm sharing ideas for how to find time for fitness during the ... Read more
Postpartum Workouts: Week 1 Recap
Welcome to a new fitness series! I joined a gym last week so that I could restart my fitness journey. Yes, I have worked out since having a baby, but it hasn't been consistent. I want to change that, so I'm sharing recaps of my workouts as I try to get back into my fitness routine. I'm recapping this both to inspire others to start, even if it's slowly, and to hold myself accountable. If anyone ... Read more