I have had an up and down relationship with fitness my entire adult life.  There have been times where I am dedicated and consistent with my routine and other times where the routine is non existent.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy working out and feeling my best, it’s more about the things I could be doing that seem more enjoyable: going to happy hour, sleeping in, pool time, napping…

With that being said, since getting engaged last Fall I have really been trying to slowly find a routine that is sustainable for the long haul.  Not only do I want to look and feel my absolute best in a wedding dress, I want to look and feel my best for life.  I want to be healthy.  I want to be able to eat the things I enjoy (20% of the time…more on that later).  I knew in order to achieve this goal I needed to both change the way I eat and find a workout or workouts that inspire me.  So, what am I doing?

Food

A little over a year ago I was super bloated, I had stomach aches almost every day, I felt lethargic, and I was getting rashes on my elbows, stomach, and lower back.  I started doing some research and read a lot on the negative impacts that gluten and traditional cow’s milk dairy have on many of our bodies.  I decided to try cutting out most of those things and see how I felt.  I adopted a bit of an 80/20 lifestyle: 80% of the time I eat gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free and 20% of the time I indulge in foods I love because YOLO.  I ordered True Roots by Kristin Cavallari and began trying the recipes she swore by.  Over the last year I have realized that gluten and dairy free don’t have to mean taste free.  There are SO many delicious recipes that I make every single week that Chris loves as much as I do.  I have also watched the rashes clear up, my bloating decrease, and the stomach aches disappear.  Now, again, I’m not perfect AT ALL and sometimes indulge a little too much.  I love cheese and on vacation it’s hard for me to completely eliminate that but the balance is sustainable for life which is my goal.  The most important thing for me in all of this is that I still eat.  I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day.  I also snack on things like homemade hummus, trail mix, smoothies, berries, turkey sausage, and applesauce.  I also still enjoy wine and the occasional cocktail when I want one.  I am not about to start depriving myself of things I love just to be a certain size…that’s not what a true healthy lifestyle is about.

Fitness

Back in my 20s I loved hiking Runyon Canyon in LA and taking yoga classes a few times a week.  The two were the perfect combination for me to feel strong and look my best.  Since moving to Palm Springs I have watched my weight go up and have struggled finding the right activity to keep me inspired.  I tried hiking but 6 months out of the year it is just way too hot (and snakes…nope).  I was going to the gym but found myself bored on the treadmill or elliptical, giving up after 20 minutes.  I finally tried my first Orangetheory class back in February and LOVED it!  The 60 minutes flew by thanks to the mix of cardio and HIIT.  The coaches were motivating, the pushes were short enough to handle but effective enough that I started seeing results after 5 classes.  I have been on a once a week schedule since February, only missing when I had my wisdom teeth removed in June, and I can’t wait to add a second class in the Fall.

About a month ago I also began taking Full Psycle spin classes a few times a week.  The classes are are only 45 minutes which I love and combine spinning with light weight training, the perfect full body workout.  One of my favorite parts of my Full Psycle classes is the sense of community and constant encouragement from the instructors.  Since beginning Full Psycle I can feel myself getting stronger.  My legs are more muscular, my shoulders and arms have definition, and my clothes are fitting me so much better.

The best part of both workouts is the metrics.  Each has an app where I can track my calories burned, miles, minutes in each heart rate zone, and overall energy (spin) or splat points (OTF).  I am super competitive so seeing myself improve class over class against myself is the perfect way to stay inspired and always give my all.

I still enjoy yoga as a balance to all the cardio and HIIT I am doing but have not been great about a weekly class.  Palm Springs has a few donation based classes including one at Sunnylands and one in a park near my house that I have tried.  Free People in Palm Springs also does a complimentary yoga class a few times a year (including one on August 23rd if you will be in town!) that is a fun, indoor option to enjoy.

*Please remember, I am NOT an expert.  What I am sharing with all of you is simply what is working for me.  

XO, Niki