The community that my studio provides is hands down amazeballs! My girl, Kristen, brought in juice & champs...mimosa time!
For which Christina popped the bottle towards the wall....just missing our kick butt teacher, Amanda
Cheers to 250!!!!
So an update on where I'm at today versus where I was back in July when I hit 100.
1. I can do a full on split!
2. I have gained 2 inches in my biceps....not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing ;)
3. I have lost 1 inch off of each thigh
4. My endurance during class has drastically improved - I can hold positions longer, push through the shake & the burn, and I can tell when my form is not correct.
5. I have definition in my legs and stomach that I have never seen before.
I am comfortable in my clothes again. I am comfortable wearing shorts & skirts again....and can finally rock a tank top without feeling ridiculously self conscious.
Am I where I want to be? No.
Am I giving myself grace? Yes.
I am still doing my 5:30am workouts at the studio. I will be incorporating their new PLATFORM class beginning this month! The extra cardio will definitely help maximize my efforts & bring about more changes.
Pure Barre fits my life right now. I know many other ladies out there that choose to workout at home, and at this stage in my life, it's not in the cards. When I'm home, I'm focused on the boys & my job - - - Murphy's Law reigns true in my household. My body is finally accustomed to my 4:40am alarm....so that 21 days to a new habit business is not accurate for me!
So tell me, do you barre? What's your choice of workout? Home or studio / gym?
A photo posted by nicole brinson (@fashionablyniki) on
You may have seen this post yesterday on my Instagram....and it is TRUE.
I found Emily Hsu Designs via an Instagram rabbit hole. Don't you just love those? A "quick look" at Instagram turns into an hour because some how you went from looking at one feed, one hashtag to 50 million.
Back to Emily Hsu and these super cute workout pants. I am always so skeptical of ordering workout gear online. I like to feel them before purchasing! Thickness totally matters when you're bending over, lifting your leg up, & doing splits!
When I received the pants, I knew right away I was going to love them! They are thicker than some of the more popular brands that I've seen (& own)....like brands that rhyme with Sneaky & Ponzy. If I had to compare them....they are a slicker fabric version of the Splits59 for Pure Barre pants that I love. They don't feel like they are just going to roll down or slide off....they hold tight without the negative effects in front or back ;)
Go check out this fun brand & tell them I sent you!
All opinions are mine. While I would have loved compensation in the form of workout pants (because really, you can never have too many) - I forked over my own hard earned dinero & bought myself a pair. And I'm happy I did!
A photo posted by nicole brinson (@fashionablyniki) on
We arrived to class about 15 minutes early & were greeted by the fab owner, Jamie - - - love her! And a ridiculous amount of people!!!! The studio was packed!!! (I'm used to the ungodly hour of 5:30am classes....with maybe 12 peeps, tops.)
I got us set up & then we sat & waited to begin....taking in all the sites....
MattyB & his guys normally dress in costume for things (thrift store plaid pants & home grown staches for a golf outing, old man jogger shorts & crop tops for softball tournaments, etc) so I was in no way surprised to see some dudes in some flashy barre gear ;)
I think I was expecting more instruction for the men - but class was normal as always! Same fast pace, and cueing.
Didn't take long for me to start laughing....
Matt was still wearing his socks at this point :)
Kicked off with our thigh workouts...as normal....
More thigh workout...and MattyB trying to figure out what the heck to do. (He could just follow me, but whatever....)
More thighs...and notice Matt's socks are gone :) He said it was too slippery, lol.
We went from thighs to stretching to rear workout to stretching to abs to final stretching.
(Sorry no pictures!)
After class, there was a little socializing with some finger foods & alcohol :) lol! And of course a group picture!
I drilled Matt after class on what he thought. In my mind, I was hoping he would have a greater appreciation for my workout regimen & a respect for how difficult it is. Even when I broached him attending class with me his response was "I hate yoga!!!" - - - um, THIS ISN'T YOGA!!! :)
Since he was complaining of being sore a few days after class, I think he got more of a workout than what he was anticipating.
Happy holiday weekend FRIDAY!!!! Can I get a WOOP, WOOP!?
So stinkin' excited for the weekend to be here.
For the fashion aspect of today's post....I have been living in my barre gear lately. Like dirtball, head to work, straight after class (even though I go home first to get the boys). So a few "staple" pieces to at least make me look presentable:
1. Zella sweater - - > this sweater is SOOO lightweight. Just gives you that coverage to make you feel like you aren't showing everything. Plus it has thumbholes. Thumbholes just make any outfit complete ;)
2. On the Mark necklace - - I live in this necklace....literally. I wear it with everything. I think it's a mixture of how cute it is but also the meaning of the arrow. It's always a great reminder to see when I look in the mirror at barre class.
(Shoot me an email if you want more info on this bracelet!)
For the fitness aspect of today's post...I was recently asked to share more on my fitness regimen by Petro over at ETB Fit. ETB is just starting up....I invite you to go check out the philosophy behind the brand HERE.
What foods do you eat pre-workout?
Well, when I've been "good" & prepped my meals, I normally 'eat on the go'. I have a 15 minute drive to my Pure Barre studio at the ungodly hour of 5am. Since I sleep until the very last minute, I have to have food that is literally grab.and.go! So my 3 go to items are: hard boiled eggs, almond butter quinoa bars, & english muffin with almond butter. I am normally famished come the middle of class, so even if I'm not "hungry", I normally force myself to eat something during my drive.
What do you listen to during your workout?
Whatever the Pure Barre mix is for the day!!! If I'm lucky to get a workout in at home with my animals kiddos, I normally am not able to wear headphones.....so I listen to them playing, or screaming, or crying.....
How do you switch up certain routines daily / weekly to stay motivated?
Motivation has not been an issue for me lately. The variety of Pure Barre workouts has been amazing. It's entirely different from when I ran 24/7....and did the occasional Physique 57 workout or Ballet Physique. The camaraderie at the studio, encouragement by the instructors & just the FUN of the workouts, keeps me so motivated & interested in the workouts. Plus no 2 workouts are exactly the same. Even if I went every day Sunday through Saturday, not one of the 55 minute sessions would be the exact same. Variety is the spice of life ;)
What do you eat or do after your workout to make sure you got the most out of your workout?
I recently discovered the importance of this!!! I am so happy to share :) So as soon as I get home, I make a PWO shake. I am totally addicted to the CLICK brand's Caramel one. So yummy!!! I just put 12 oz of water in my shaker, 2 scoops of the mix & shake, shake, SHAKE! I used to mix it with Almond Milk, but I prefer the water. I also recently started using BCAA's. I haven't quite found a favorite though....the ones I have tried are wayyyyyy sweet, so what should take me minutes to drink, takes me an hour :/ I'm currently using THIS brand.
So I drink my protein shake while I'm making my breakfast. I am a creature of habit, my breakfast is always 2 eggs & lots of spinach! I can go through 2 cartons of bulk spinach in a week, easy. Along with an 18 pack of eggs. MattyB on the other hand, thinks it's ridiculous :)
I also take my multivitamin.....which I loathe taking pills....so this is huge. I was introduced to the FitMiss brand by the fab Kate Horney - so I take their vitamins. FitMiss also has their own protein shakes....I use their Chocolate flavor one to annihilate my sweet tooth. It's awesome for making a brownie batter shake & a chocolate mug cake.
Something to note....you have to enjoy your workout. If you don't enjoy it, you won't stay motivated....especially if you are not seeing any "results". Speaking of results....stop letting the scale determine those results! Take your measurements....notice how your clothes fit....and even pat yourself on the back if you made the choice to NOT have a coke today. It's small changes over time that make lasting results! There is no quick fix. It's hard work & determination!
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my progress check in. But here you go if you missed it ;)
I have been an avid supporter of barre workouts for years. I have done both Physique 57 and Ballet Physique workouts at my home, using my beloved ballet barre that my husband got for me. Normally, I would have no problem sticking with these lovely workouts - but I need the accountability.
At this point in my life, now being mom of 2, I need that extra push for myself. I found myself not prioritizing my workout time. So when Living Social posted a deal for 10 classes at a local barre studio, I was all over that like white on rice. (Ahem, brown on rice....to be healthier.)
Enter my new found love for Pure Barre.
I just attended my 8th class. I started just under 1 month ago, and I have lost 1 inch off of my waist, hips, & chest. Incentive to continue? I think so! (Once I tailor my nutrition, I foresee more changes coming!)
The teachers at the studio I attend are awesome. Sometimes the music does get a little loud and it's hard to decipher the cuing....so when that happens I pretty much resort to "tucking" or "lifting"....haha! When in doubt, tuck!
Here is some random information regarding attending a class near you....
No you do not have to have had ballet training to take a class! Yes, you use the ballet barre, but there are no plies or arabesques. Just a lot of lifting, tucking, & BURNING! Burning = muscle building....so that is GOOD! Go with the lighter weights! Don't fool yourself....just because they say they weigh 2 pounds, they will feel like 50 pounds by about half way through the arms section. GO LIGHT! If it's your first class, skip the extra weight altogether! (Your teacher may even recommend this.) Barre workouts are all about fatiguing the muscles, and then stretching them immediately.
You HAVE to wear sticky socks. You may think they are optional, but they aren't. The studio mandates it. You will be glad for that regulation, both for hygiene & stability. I found this cute company that makes the cutest sticky socks....TOESOX go check 'em out!
You will not look like a dancer after 1 class, 5 classes, 10 classes, etc. If you're trying to transform in to the beautiful ballerina, well you're setting yourself up for a huge letdown. Not that you won't change your physique, but most dancers train for 8 hours a day - - it's their full time job. Instead focus on shaving off a few inches off of your waistline. Pay attention to how your clothes start fitting....how your need for Spanx may not be a "need" anymore. And tailor your eating habits to compliment your new found workout regimen.
You are not going to nail the form on day 1. Like anything else, the form with barre workouts takes lots of practice. This may not apply to everyone, but for the majority it will. I have seen some avid "barre-ers" where I go....lean & long ladies, who are still being corrected on form during class. Face it, when your thighs are twitching & you're supposed to be lifting 'up an inch & down an inch' - - remembering to keep your shoulders down and pelvis tucked is not at the forefront of your mind. Oh yes, your legs will twitch.
The burning sensation is normal. Unlike most of life's situations, this burning sensation is welcome & an indication that you're burning off calories!
Don't wear shorts..... Ain't nobody wanna see that.
As with any workout program, results vary from individual to individual. Optimal results are seen with combining a healthy & nutritious diet. By diet I mean eating habits.....a lifestyle change.
Is this really my first post of 2013? Why, yes. Yes it is.
Blogging has by far taken a back seat in my life. I know many of you can relate!
I thought you should know, MattyB got me a ballet barre for Christmas. I love it. It really does make SUCH a difference in my Ballet Physique & Physique57 workouts.
I also treated myself to a new yoga mat. Courtesy of Target & Neiman Marcus' designer collaboration. It was a sale purchase....don't go getting all huffy. The Target by our house just doesn't ever sell real well on the "designer collaboration" items. I was able to get it on sale when all the Christmas goods got marked down.
So here's the deal. You all know that I'm stylin' & profilin' for Stella & Dot now.
LOVE IT.
We have new pieces debuting TODAY..JANUARY 11th!!!
To kick off this new spring collection, I thought I'd host a Stella & Dot giveaway!
One lucky reader will receive either a Friendship Tie or a Julep Bangle of their choosing!
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